Lunala [WIP]

[Andyboy]

[OVERVIEW]

• Lunala is one of the most potent specially offensive threats in Mix and Mega through its unique typing, signature Z-move, and set-up options
• Lunala's is able to take advantage of the lack of Dark-, Normal-, and Ghost-type Pokemon in the metagame by abusing its powerful signature Ghost-type STAB Moongeist Beam
• Lunala's signature Z-move Menacing Moonraze Maelstrom is devastatingly strong enabling it to OHKO offensive threats such as Terrakion, Zygarde, Zeraora, and offensive Primal-Groudons.
• Lunala has access to excellent set-up options such as Calm Mind, Substitute, and Tailwind as well as great secondary coverage options in Moonblast, Focus Blast, Ice Beam, Thunder, and Psyshock
• Lunala's signature ability Shadow Shield transforms a Pokemon with a myriad of defensive flaws into one of the best blanket checks in Mix and Mega capable of 1v1ing and revenging almost every offensive threat in the metagame if it is at full HP
• This ability also enables versatility within the roles Lunala can accomplish such as defensive Defog sets that utilize Lunala's reliable recovery option in Roost
• Despite its excellent ability and offensive typing, Lunala's Ghost/Psychic typing suffers from two 4x weaknesses to Dark and Ghost making it susceptible to Dark-types such as Tyranitar, Mandibuzz, Darkrai, Yveltal and Weavile and Ghost or Dark coverage
• Because it relies on its Shadow Shield so heavily, Lunala is dramatically less effective when it suffers chip damage and is highly susceptible to hazards

[SET]
name: Calm Mind Z
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Moongeist Beam
move 3: Moonblast / Focus Blast
move 4: Substitute / Tailwind / Roost
item: Lunalium Z
ability: Shadow Shield
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

• Moongeist Beam is Lunala's Ghost-type STAB that serves as its primary tool for breaking teams and revenging opposing threats
• Calm Mind is Lunala's setup option that simultaneously raises its special bulk and attacking power enabling it to boost up against fellow special attackers and plow through opposing teams
• Moonblast is the primary secondary coverage option that enables Lunala to hit Dark-types that commonly deal with Lunala such as Mandibuzz, Darkrai, and Yveltal
• Focus Blast is a capable replacement for Moonblast that allows Lunala to overwhelm most Blissey sets in combination with Substitute as well as OHKO unmega'd Tyranitar and Darkrai if they try to directly switch in on Lunala. However, this coverage option fails to hit Mandibuzz and Yveltal for Super Effective damage like Moonblast
• Substitute enhances Lunala's wallbreaker capabilities by blocking status from Blissey and support Arceus formes, and additionally pressure special attacking Pokemon Lunala wishes to set up on with Calm Mind.
• Tailwind is another set up option that enables Lunala to double its speed and greatly hinder common revenge killers like Kartana, Terrakion, Darkrai, and Zeraora from doing their job even after Lunala's Shadow Shield is broken
• Roost provides Lunala with additional longevity as a cleaner and the opportunity to restore its Shadow Shield ability after it is broken. However, this option leaves Lunala susceptible to status and does little to heighten its breaking power if it doesn't have opportunities to recover up to full HP
• Thunder is another coverage option Lunala can utilize to have a 94.5% chance of 2HKOing max Sp Def Mandibuzz after one Calm Mind while also hitting Ho-oh and Primal-Kyogre for significant damage

Set Details
========

• 252 SpA and Spe EVs allow Lunala to hit as hard as it can while capitalizing on its unique base 97 speed tier to outspeed max speed Primal-Groudon and support Arceus formes.
• Modest nature can also be used, particularly in tandem with Tailwind as Lunala outspeeds everything it wants to after it sets up a Tailwind without the extra speed Timid nature provides
• Alongside a Modest nature, an alternative spread of 132 HP / 252 SpA / 132 Spe can be used to maximize Tailwind Lunala's bulk while still outspeeding the fastest Pokemon commonly used in the metagame, Diancite Shaymin-Sky after it sets up a Tailwind
• Lunalium Z gives Lunala access to Menacing Moonraze Maelstrom a devastatingly powerful nuke that severely maims or OHKOs any opposing Pokemon that don't resist it or have substantial special bulk particularly when Lunala has boosted its SpA with Calm Mind
• Shadow Shield halves damage if Lunala is at full HP dramatically increasing its defensive effectiveness, ability to blanket check and perform as a revenge killer due to being able to tank boosted attacks from a wide range of offensive threats like Terrakion, Kartana and Zygarde
• This ability also adds to Lunala's offensive prowess as it is much harder to take down as it has an excellent foundation to begin stacking its SpA and SpD with Calm Mind
• Unlike Multiscale, this ability is not nullified by Sunsteel Strike, Moongeist Beam, and the abilities Mold Breaker, Terravolt, and Turboblaze

Usage Tips
========

• Calm Mind Lunala wants to find the ideal window to set up and clean through opposing teams while also keeping its Shadow Shield initially intact
• Lunala wishes to torment bulky Pokemon that struggle to hit it hard after it begins stacking Calm Minds such as support Arceus formes, many Blissey sets and Mew
• Because it is so initially bulky with Shadow Shield, Lunala can find additional setup windows many special sweepers don't enjoy. Therefore, it is essential to keep hazards off as if that is accomplished, Lunala will be significantly more threatening
• If there seems to be no set Ghost resist on team preview, it is a solid strategy to lead Lunala and begin forcing KOs or softening up defensive cores for fellow threats to capitalize later in the game
• However, it is also important not to be too reckless setting up with Lunala particularly with Substitute or Tailwind variants as unless it has Wish or Healing Wish support, it will not get multiple opportunities to use its Shadow Shield ability while attempting to sweep
• The threat of Menacing Moonraze Maelstrom dramatically changes the dynamic of how opposing teams are forced to play around Lunala so one should only pull the trigger against a boosted Zygarde, Terrakion or Zeraora or other scenarios where it is deemed necessary or advantageous enough to do so
• Lunala is one of the best countermeasures to surprise threats due to its outstanding ability to tank almost any boosted hit with Shadow Shield intact. Therefore, it is an effective strategy to attempt to preserve this excellent safety blanket until late game to avoid being counter-swept by potential lures like Lucarionite Zygarde or Pinsirite Terrakion

Team Options
========

• One of the most infamous offensive partners for Calm Mind Lunala is Terrakion as it is able to pressure common Lunala answers like Mandibuzz, Blissey, and Gyaradosite Toxapex
• In turn, Lunala is able to set up on and blow past many of Terrakion's defensive counterplay such as Sablenite and Banettite Buzzwole, Arceus-Fairy, Manectite Latias, and Slowbro
• Magearna is a fantastic partner that can deal with any Dark-types that may threaten Lunala
• Manectite Magearna is the most notable set to pair with Lunala as it can also check Pokemon like Kartana, Altarianite Zygarde, and Zeraora that can revenge Lunala after its Shadow Shield is broken
• Arceus-Fairy is another Fairy-type that pairs well with Lunala as it also does an amazing job handling Dark-types and can also check potential revengers for Lunala in Terrakion and Altarianite and Lucarionite Zygarde
• If it is running Defog, it also has the ability to switch in and Defog on offensive rockers like Tyranitar and Terrakion and allow Lunala to keep its Shadow Shield
• However, this Pokemon tends to be quite passive without Calm Mind so it can be checked by Gyaradosite Toxapex and Blissey which have the ability to wall Lunala, creating some tough situations for this core.

[SET]
name: Bulky Defog
move 1: Defog
move 2: Moongeist Beam
move 3: Roost
move 4: Toxic / Ice Beam
item: Lunalium Z
ability: Shadow Shield
nature: Timid
evs: 16 HP / 84 Def / 208 SpA / 200 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

• Defog is Lunala's means of removing hazards
• Moongeist Beam is Lunala's means of threatening opposing threats out, particularly with its Z-Move intact
• Roost allows Lunala to recover 1/2 of its HP and establish its Shadow Shield again in the event that it is broken
• Toxic better equips Lunala to stall out Pokemon that can otherwise take advantage of its passivity such as bulky Arceus formes and Ho-oh
• Ice Beam is an alternative option that allows Lunala to deal with Lucarionite Zygarde and Salamencite Noivern while also giving Lunala a way to punish Sablenite Mandibuzz from continuously switching in as this Pokemon completely walls out Toxic variants of Defog Lunala
• Will-O-Wisp can be considered in place of Toxic and is used to cripple physical attacking threats like Kartana, Terrakion and Zeraora
• This move also gives Lunala a means to bypass the threat of Metagrossite Tyranitar that otherwise completely hinders it from doing its job

Set Details
========

Describe the other aspects of the set such as what the EVs do and nature/item.

Usage Tips
========

Describe how to use the Pokemon in question.

Team Options
========

Describe some teammates that would be a good idea to pair with this Pokemon.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

List some options for the Pokemon user that are plausible but not always recommended due to either being not consistent enough or too outclassed by other Pokemon in the metagame.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Hazards**: Describe why the Pokemon is a threat.

**Dark Types**: Describe why the Pokemon is a threat.

**Blissey**: Describe why the Pokemon is a threat.

**Sablenite Magearna**: Describe why the Pokemon is a threat.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[, ]]
- Quality checked by: [[, ], [, ], [, ]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]
[/LIST]

 

[Funbot28]

Andyboy please get this out of WIP as soon as possible

 

[Funbot28]

Andyboy plz don't make me lock dis :<

 

[Funbot28]

Andyboy 24 hrs before locking