[OVERVIEW]
Lugia is a very versatile Pokemon in the ADV Ubers metagame, able to act as an offensive or defensive threat. Its great natural bulk, Pressure, and many good utility moves let it work incredibly well as a catch-all physical wall. Defensively, it fits best on stall teams to shut down many threatening physical wallbreakers such as Groudon and Rayquaza. Lugia also has strong attacks in Aeroblast and Earthquake, allowing it to act as a good wallbreaker with Choice Band and its workable Attack stat. However, Lugia's typing leaves it susceptible to many prevalent offensive types in the metagame such as Electric, Ice, and Ghost from strong attackers like Latios, Deoxys-A, and Kyogre. The defensive set's reliance on Whirlwind to make progress can also be a double-edged sword; it stops setup sweepers before the endgame but exposes Lugia to Substitute sweepers and Immunity Snorlax if they are the last Pokemon remaining.
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Reflect
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Whirlwind
move 4: Recover
item: Leftovers
ability: Pressure
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 160 Def / 96 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Reflect and Whirlwind let Lugia be an effective stop to physical wallbreakers like Groudon, Heracross, and Rayquaza, using Reflect on their attacking moves to take more hits and phazing setup variants that boost too high for even Reflect to handle. Toxic is the main way Lugia makes progress, alongside Whirlwind. Poisoning foes like Ho-Oh severely reduces their longevity, and residual damage from Whirlwind with Spikes makes up for Lugia running no attacking moves. 96 Speed EVs allow Lugia to outrun maximum Speed base 90s with a neutral nature such as Groudon and Kyogre, as well as important slower foes such as Adamant Heracross. Lugia can also afford to run less Speed in favor of a tankier set, with only 16 Speed EVs being needed to outrun and set up Reflect against a -1 Speed Snorlax if Lugia gets paralyzed.
Team Options
========
Lugia fits best on very bulky team structures that utilize its slow pace and walling abilities while defensively covering for its shortcomings. It has multiple exploitable weaknesses to common attacking types like Ghost, Electric, and Ice while also lacking any Special Defense investment. Blissey is a strong switch-in to special attackers like Kyogre, Latios, and Latias, can absorb status from Pokemon like defensive Ho-Oh, and can even provide Lugia with incredible Aromatherapy support. Blissey's Light Screen also lets Lugia take essentially any hit and respond with Toxic or Whirlwind, something important in the Calm Mind Kyogre matchup. Forretress is practically mandatory so Whirlwind can force progress with Spikes. It also provides a Ghost resistance to help against Pokemon like Choice Band Deoxys-A, which can overwhelm even Lugia. Deoxys-D is a good switch-in to most other strong special attacking Psychic-types like Latios and Latias, Mewtwo, and Petaya Berry Deoxys-A, which Lugia cannot handle itself. It also provides the crucial Spikes support Lugia wants and is another Pressure user, allowing for easier PP stalling against opposing defensive teams. Snorlax is one of the better pivots into Latios, Latias, and Mewtwo and has Immunity to cover for Lugia's terrible weakness to Toxic, making it a strong partner as well.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Aeroblast
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Whirlwind
item: Choice Band
ability: Pressure
nature: Jolly
evs: 116 HP / 252 Atk / 140 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Choice Band Lugia is a strong and fast wallbreaker, using its good natural bulk to come onto the field multiple times per game. Aeroblast is a strong STAB move and is used most, breaking past most Pokemon that don't resist it. Shadow Ball is used to hit bulky Latias the hardest as well as dent opposing Lugia and Dusclops, which can Pressure stall Aeroblast. Earthquake is needed to threaten Metagross, and it also covers more niche Pokemon like Tyranitar and Steelix. Whirlwind can be a last-ditch effort against setup sweepers, using Lugia's massive natural bulk to stomach a hit and remove a threat like boosted Groudon in a pinch. The Speed EVs and a Jolly nature are needed to outspeed Modest Latias and Latios, and Lugia needs maximum Attack investment for power.
Team Options
========
Magneton is an excellent partner for Lugia, removing Steel-types like Forretress and Skarmory to let it more easily spam Aeroblast. Latios and Latias provide Lugia with a lot of support by switching into Kyogre, which can threaten Lugia with Thunder, as well as being offensive but sturdier Groudon checks in combination with Lugia soft checking it. Deoxys-A appreciates Lugia's ability to bait in and chip Steel-types like Forretress and Metagross, which can take a few hits from Deoxys-A, and Lugia benefits from Deoxys-A baiting in Skarmory, which Lugia can't break with any attack. Fire-type coverage on Pokemon like Snorlax and Metagross in sun is also good for baiting in and weakening Steel-types like Forretress and opposing Metagross.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Ice Beam can be used on either set to threaten Pokemon like Rayquaza and physically defensive Groudon, but its lack of power overall makes it somewhat situational. Recover can heal the Choice Band set on the switches it forces, but it's not a favorable move to be locked into. Toxic can similarly be used in the last moveslot, but it is a risky move to click early, as Steel-types are the traditional Lugia answer.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Pokemon such as Forretress, Skarmory, Metagross, and Steelix are immune to everything defensive Lugia does aside from phazing them, and the former two can use it to set up Spikes. Many Steel-types also resist Choice Band Lugia's Aeroblast, but Earthquake can still threaten Metagross and Steelix. Skarmory completely walls Lugia and can threaten to use Toxic while also setting up Spikes.
**Latios and Latias**: Equipped with Refresh, Latios and Latias are completely unbothered by defensive Lugia and threaten it out with powerful Thunders or Ice Beams. Both Pokemon can also survive even a Choice Band Shadow Ball from Lugia and revenge kill it.
**Aerodactyl**: Aerodactyl outspeeds Lugia and does massive damage with its strong STAB Rock Slide that can flinch Lugia down. Its Rock typing also lets it pivot into Choice Band Lugia and offensively pressure it.
**Special Wallbreakers**: Strong Thunders from Deoxys-A, Mewtwo, and Kyogre can heavily chip Lugia and threaten paralysis, breaking through its massive bulk quite easily.
**Status**: Blissey, Skarmory, Ho-Oh, and opposing Lugia all commonly carry Toxic, which heavily limits Lugia's long-term defensive capabilities. Thunder Wave from Pokemon like Kyogre and Groudon does the same, letting Lugia get beat out by Rock Slide Groudon and Roar Kyogre, as well as others like Heracross.
**Ho-Oh**: Defensive Ho-Oh can tank even Choice Band Aeroblast and use Pressure to stall Lugia out of moves to threaten it. Ho-Oh also carries Toxic and Sacred Fire commonly, threatening Lugia with a very debilitating status.
**Taunt**: Fast Taunt users such as Deoxys-S, Gengar, and Mewtwo completely shut down defensive Lugia; however, they don't bother Choice Band sets.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Fc, 511624]]
- Quality checked by: [[SuperEpicAmpharos, 306959], [Inspirited, 127823]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [Muk, 33374]]
Lugia is a very versatile Pokemon in the ADV Ubers metagame, able to act as an offensive or defensive threat. Its great natural bulk, Pressure, and many good utility moves let it work incredibly well as a catch-all physical wall. Defensively, it fits best on stall teams to shut down many threatening physical wallbreakers such as Groudon and Rayquaza. Lugia also has strong attacks in Aeroblast and Earthquake, allowing it to act as a good wallbreaker with Choice Band and its workable Attack stat. However, Lugia's typing leaves it susceptible to many prevalent offensive types in the metagame such as Electric, Ice, and Ghost from strong attackers like Latios, Deoxys-A, and Kyogre. The defensive set's reliance on Whirlwind to make progress can also be a double-edged sword; it stops setup sweepers before the endgame but exposes Lugia to Substitute sweepers and Immunity Snorlax if they are the last Pokemon remaining.
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Reflect
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Whirlwind
move 4: Recover
item: Leftovers
ability: Pressure
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 160 Def / 96 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Reflect and Whirlwind let Lugia be an effective stop to physical wallbreakers like Groudon, Heracross, and Rayquaza, using Reflect on their attacking moves to take more hits and phazing setup variants that boost too high for even Reflect to handle. Toxic is the main way Lugia makes progress, alongside Whirlwind. Poisoning foes like Ho-Oh severely reduces their longevity, and residual damage from Whirlwind with Spikes makes up for Lugia running no attacking moves. 96 Speed EVs allow Lugia to outrun maximum Speed base 90s with a neutral nature such as Groudon and Kyogre, as well as important slower foes such as Adamant Heracross. Lugia can also afford to run less Speed in favor of a tankier set, with only 16 Speed EVs being needed to outrun and set up Reflect against a -1 Speed Snorlax if Lugia gets paralyzed.
Team Options
========
Lugia fits best on very bulky team structures that utilize its slow pace and walling abilities while defensively covering for its shortcomings. It has multiple exploitable weaknesses to common attacking types like Ghost, Electric, and Ice while also lacking any Special Defense investment. Blissey is a strong switch-in to special attackers like Kyogre, Latios, and Latias, can absorb status from Pokemon like defensive Ho-Oh, and can even provide Lugia with incredible Aromatherapy support. Blissey's Light Screen also lets Lugia take essentially any hit and respond with Toxic or Whirlwind, something important in the Calm Mind Kyogre matchup. Forretress is practically mandatory so Whirlwind can force progress with Spikes. It also provides a Ghost resistance to help against Pokemon like Choice Band Deoxys-A, which can overwhelm even Lugia. Deoxys-D is a good switch-in to most other strong special attacking Psychic-types like Latios and Latias, Mewtwo, and Petaya Berry Deoxys-A, which Lugia cannot handle itself. It also provides the crucial Spikes support Lugia wants and is another Pressure user, allowing for easier PP stalling against opposing defensive teams. Snorlax is one of the better pivots into Latios, Latias, and Mewtwo and has Immunity to cover for Lugia's terrible weakness to Toxic, making it a strong partner as well.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Aeroblast
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Whirlwind
item: Choice Band
ability: Pressure
nature: Jolly
evs: 116 HP / 252 Atk / 140 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Choice Band Lugia is a strong and fast wallbreaker, using its good natural bulk to come onto the field multiple times per game. Aeroblast is a strong STAB move and is used most, breaking past most Pokemon that don't resist it. Shadow Ball is used to hit bulky Latias the hardest as well as dent opposing Lugia and Dusclops, which can Pressure stall Aeroblast. Earthquake is needed to threaten Metagross, and it also covers more niche Pokemon like Tyranitar and Steelix. Whirlwind can be a last-ditch effort against setup sweepers, using Lugia's massive natural bulk to stomach a hit and remove a threat like boosted Groudon in a pinch. The Speed EVs and a Jolly nature are needed to outspeed Modest Latias and Latios, and Lugia needs maximum Attack investment for power.
Team Options
========
Magneton is an excellent partner for Lugia, removing Steel-types like Forretress and Skarmory to let it more easily spam Aeroblast. Latios and Latias provide Lugia with a lot of support by switching into Kyogre, which can threaten Lugia with Thunder, as well as being offensive but sturdier Groudon checks in combination with Lugia soft checking it. Deoxys-A appreciates Lugia's ability to bait in and chip Steel-types like Forretress and Metagross, which can take a few hits from Deoxys-A, and Lugia benefits from Deoxys-A baiting in Skarmory, which Lugia can't break with any attack. Fire-type coverage on Pokemon like Snorlax and Metagross in sun is also good for baiting in and weakening Steel-types like Forretress and opposing Metagross.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Ice Beam can be used on either set to threaten Pokemon like Rayquaza and physically defensive Groudon, but its lack of power overall makes it somewhat situational. Recover can heal the Choice Band set on the switches it forces, but it's not a favorable move to be locked into. Toxic can similarly be used in the last moveslot, but it is a risky move to click early, as Steel-types are the traditional Lugia answer.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Pokemon such as Forretress, Skarmory, Metagross, and Steelix are immune to everything defensive Lugia does aside from phazing them, and the former two can use it to set up Spikes. Many Steel-types also resist Choice Band Lugia's Aeroblast, but Earthquake can still threaten Metagross and Steelix. Skarmory completely walls Lugia and can threaten to use Toxic while also setting up Spikes.
**Latios and Latias**: Equipped with Refresh, Latios and Latias are completely unbothered by defensive Lugia and threaten it out with powerful Thunders or Ice Beams. Both Pokemon can also survive even a Choice Band Shadow Ball from Lugia and revenge kill it.
**Aerodactyl**: Aerodactyl outspeeds Lugia and does massive damage with its strong STAB Rock Slide that can flinch Lugia down. Its Rock typing also lets it pivot into Choice Band Lugia and offensively pressure it.
**Special Wallbreakers**: Strong Thunders from Deoxys-A, Mewtwo, and Kyogre can heavily chip Lugia and threaten paralysis, breaking through its massive bulk quite easily.
**Status**: Blissey, Skarmory, Ho-Oh, and opposing Lugia all commonly carry Toxic, which heavily limits Lugia's long-term defensive capabilities. Thunder Wave from Pokemon like Kyogre and Groudon does the same, letting Lugia get beat out by Rock Slide Groudon and Roar Kyogre, as well as others like Heracross.
**Ho-Oh**: Defensive Ho-Oh can tank even Choice Band Aeroblast and use Pressure to stall Lugia out of moves to threaten it. Ho-Oh also carries Toxic and Sacred Fire commonly, threatening Lugia with a very debilitating status.
**Taunt**: Fast Taunt users such as Deoxys-S, Gengar, and Mewtwo completely shut down defensive Lugia; however, they don't bother Choice Band sets.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Fc, 511624]]
- Quality checked by: [[SuperEpicAmpharos, 306959], [Inspirited, 127823]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [Muk, 33374]]
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