[OVERVIEW]
Jirachi is a strong support Pokemon in the Doubles OU metagame thanks to its great defensive typing and ability to redirect hits with Follow Me to grant easy setup opportunities and free turns for its teammates. Additionally, it is able to take advantage of Serene Grace to cause the foe to flinch with Iron Head, and it also has access to reliable speed control options in Icy Wind, Trick Room, and Thunder Wave. Jirachi's Steel typing and bulk make it an excellent choice especially, as it checks powerful attackers such as the island guardians and Mega Salamence. However, its lack of offensive investment can make it Substitute bait against Pokemon such as Heatran and Aegislash, as well as being weak against common spread attacks like Earthquake and Heat Wave.
[SET]
name: Follow Me
move 1: Iron Head
move 2: Follow Me
move 3: Icy Wind
move 4: Protect
item: Sitrus Berry
ability: Serene Grace
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 168 Def / 88 Spd
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Iron Head is the main STAB move, as it deals good damage to common Fairy-types such as Tapu Lele, as well as being able to cause slower targets to flinch thanks to Serene Grace. Follow Me allows Jirachi to absorb hits for its teammates and lets it provide free turns for its partner to either set up or take out opposing Pokemon without fear of being attacked. Icy Wind provides speed control and can check threats such as Mega Salamence and Shaymin-S while also being a way to soft check the likes of Landorus-T. Icy Wind can also make the foe slow enough for Jirachi to try and cause the foe to flinch until it's KOed with Iron Head. Trick Room is a great option for slower teams that can be a more reliable and effective form of speed control to help slow teammates that can be used over Icy Wind or Protect. Protect lets Jirachi stall out field conditions, lets its partner handle threats, and lets it scout foes' moves.
Set Details
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The Special Defense and HP EVs with a Careful nature allow Jirachi to survive a Heat Wave from Timid maximum Special Attack Mega Charizard Y, with the remaining EVs placed in Defense. Sitrus Berry maximizes Jirachi's longevity, allowing it to redirect more hits for teammates. Some alternate spreads for a faster Jirachi include 56 Speed EVs to outpace Pokemon such as Tapu Bulu or a -1 Mega Salamence.
Usage Tips
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Jirachi is a glue Pokemon for a lot of teams, as it that can help teammates set up or survive a turn they otherwise would not. Jirachi is often used best in the mid- to late-game when attempting to help a teammate set up a boosting move or a Substitute to attempt to sweep. Using Jirachi as a pivot can be a good idea too, as its typing and bulk make it uniquely qualified to switch into the likes of Mega Salamence and Tapu Lele. Jirachi's attacking moves may not be powerful, but the secondary effects make up for this, as they provide utility and often free turns through flinches.
Team Options
========
Jirachi fits on many types of teams and thus can support many different partners effectively. Jirachi works very well with setup sweepers such as Mega Salamence and Azumarill, allowing them to freely set up with Dragon Dance and Belly Drum. Substitute attackers such as Kyurem-B and Volcanion can more easily get behind a Substitute with the Follow Me support. Other Pokemon that appreciate Jirachi's typing and redirection are Dragon- and Dark-types, as Jirachi can take on Fairy-types and opposing Dragon-types. Pokemon such as both Landorus formes as well as bulky Water-types are able to take on many of Jirachi's checks such as Fire- and Steel-types. Slow attackers that function best with Trick Room or Icy Wind support such as Heatran and Hoopa-U can make good partners as well.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Safety Goggles lets Jirachi soak up Spore and bypass Rage Powder, but these moves are uncommon, so Sitrus Berry is preferred. Thunder Wave provides more crippling speed control than Icy Wind and lasts the whole game but misses out on hitting common Ground-types like Landorus-T. Helping Hand is a fine option to boost a partner's moves when you don't want Jirachi to redirect attacks. Rocky Helmet helps to chip down physical attackers and punish Fake Out and U-turn. Stealth Rock can act as a check against Charizard as well as other Fire-types, especially if Jirachi can get Stealth Rock up early in the game. Shuca Berry can allow Jirachi to take a Tectonic Rage from Landorus-T or an Earth Power from Landorus and then hit back with an Icy Wind or set up Trick Room.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fire-type Pokemon**: Fire-types resist both of Jirachi's common moves while Heatran and Volcanion can both set up Substitutes in front of Jirachi, and it can't do anything back. Pokemon such as Volcarona can set up Quiver Dances in front of Jirachi while Mega Charizard Y can OHKO Jirachi with an Overheat or hurt its partner as well with a powerful Heat Wave.
**Dark-type Pokemon**: Dark-types such as Hoopa-U threaten to OHKO Jirachi with Hyperspace Fury while Hydreigon threatens it with a powerful Dark Pulse. As Jirachi is most often uninvested in its Attack and Special Attack stats, it cannot really punish these Dark-types beyond redirecting a super effective hit from a partner.
**Ghost-type Pokemon**: Pokemon like Mega Gengar and Aegislash are very threatening to Jirachi, as Gengar can trap Jirachi and deal a lot of damage with Shadow Ball or cripple it with a Will-O-Wisp while Aegislash walls Jirachi and can either set up a Substitute or KO it with a powerful Never-Ending Nightmare.
**Taunt**: Taunt from Pokemon such as Tapu Koko or and Thundurus can shut down one of Jirachi's primary functions and leave its teammates vulnerable.
**Spread Attackers**: Spread attacks like Heat Wave and Earthquake cannot be redirected and also hit Jirachi super effectively while Rock Slide may not hurt Jirachi but could hurt its partner.
**Ground-type Pokemon** Pokemon like Landorus-T, which threatens Jirachi and its partner with its Earthquake or could even OHKO Jirachi with a Tectonic Rage, and Landorus, which can OHKO Jirachi with an Earth Power, immediately threaten Jirachi but do have to be cautious of a potential Icy Wind.
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