Jynx (NU Analysis)

Oglemi

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https://www.smogon.com/dex/dp/pokemon/jynx

[Overview]
- One of the most dangerous Pokemon in NU thanks to its high Speed and Special Attack backed by a reliable sleep move in Lovely Kiss
- Psychic / Ice is a great offensive typing and Jynx has a ton of coverage options
- Pretty versatile in its sets and can get the jump on some checks and counters, but has a few consistent counters in the tier
- Extremely frail physically and misses out on the base 100s, but at least outspeeds all the base 80s and 90s in the tier and destroys the only common phazer in the tier, Nidoqueen
- Stealth Rock weakness does it no favors either, though it should almost always be either coming in late-game to sweep or super early-game before it's up on the field

[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Substitute / Lovely Kiss
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Lovely Kiss / Grass Knot
item: Life Orb
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
- Possibly Jynx's most immediately threatening set and is meant to either sweep late-game or cripple as many Pokemon as possible before bringing out a cleaner like Charizard or Scarf Medicham
- The main draw to using Jynx is that very few defensive Pokemon exist to take it on, and functions as a wallbreaker/sweeper for the team. A bit more reliable as a wallbreaker than Magmortar and Charizard too thanks to its more accurate moves, and has more utility and power over Haunter
- Substitute + Life Orb can wear out Jynx quickly but this set isn't going to last that long regardless, and Substitute protects it from Sucker Punch, Bullet Punch, and a plethora of other revenge killers like Charizard
- If you want to forgo Substitute to open a moveslot for Grass Knot that's totally doable, and it gives Jynx a nice weapon for Slowking and is Jynx's best weapon for Regirock

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
- Timid is needed to have a chance of outspeeding neutral nature base 100s, as well as Speed tying other Jynx and Haunter and outspeeding all the base 80s and 90s. The extra power of Modest isn't needed anyway
- Shadow Ball is there as another coverage option if you're scared of Grumpig and it also retains the hit on Slowking, but Grass Knot is better overall
- The thing about Jynx is that she can't OHKO a whole terrible lot that aren't weak to her moves, but 2HKOes a shit ton, so there exist a lot of Pokemon that can check her but can't outright counter her. This includes stuff like Magneton, bulky Skuntank, all of the Fire-types, Hypno and Lickilicky
- Speaking of Hypno, it and Grumpig easily counter this set with Hypno not even being fazed by Lovely Kiss thanks to Insomnia. This makes Skuntank and Pokemon like Sharpedo and Pinsir good teammates to take it out
- Good defensive backbones to switch into revenge killers are good to have as well, making stuff like Mantine and Sandslash good teammates

[SET]
name: Luna (Substitute booster)
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Calm Mind / Nasty Plot
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Lovely Kiss
item: Leftovers
nature: Timid
evs: 52 HP / 200 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
- This set capitalizes on nearly all of Jynx's positive qualities, including its access to Lovely Kiss and its great power and speed
- Goal is to get in on something Jynx forces out, preferably Vileplume, set up a Substitute, and boost with Calm Mind until Jynx is powerful enough to sweep
- Substitute protects Jynx from Sucker Punch from Skuntank as well as from revenge killers like Charizard, Tauros, and other base 100s and Scarf users like Medicham
- Lovely Kiss should be used on something that can outspeed Jynx as it's behind a Substitute, and then get Jynx's Substitute back in tact and KO them with Ice Beam

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
- EV spread is tailored to OHKO 4/0 Skuntank at +1 after Stealth Rock, allowing Jynx to put it to sleep, boost with Calm Mind, and KO it (unless it's bulky/Black Sludge in which case it's 2HKOed anyway).
- A bulkier EV spread of 220 HP / 32 SpA / 252 Spe can be used so that 0 SpA Vileplume can't break Jynx's Substitute at +1 and a ton of other special attackers at +2, but they should never stay in on Jynx in the first place once they see Calm Mind
- Leftovers is recommended since this set's goal is more to sweep over time, and depends on Jynx being able to tank through hits by the opponent
- Standard Slowking is still not always 2HKOed by Ice Beam at +6 and can stall out with Slack Off, meaning it's highly recommended it's removed before attempting to sweep with Jynx, making Skuntank a good partner
- Lickilicky can easily tank Jynx's attacks even at +2 and threaten with Return, so it should probably be removed beforehand as well
- Hypno can't be put to sleep and easily tanks Ice Beam at +2, break Jynx's Substitutes with Seismic Toss, and threaten to cripple Jynx with Thunder Wave. Skuntank is a good partner for this reason as well as a teammate like Pinsir or Shiftry
- Fire-types like Magmortar are 2HKOed when Jynx is at +2 and are put to sleep by Lovely Kiss if Jynx is behind a Substitute, meaning they shouldn't be your first answer to it, 252/252 Regirock is in the same boat

[SET]
name: Life Orb + Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Shadow Ball / Lovely Kiss
item: Life Orb
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
- A very quick and offensive threat to a lot of defensive teams that rely on Hypno and Slowking to keep Jynx in check
- At +2, Jynx easily OHKOes standard Hypno and Slowking with Shadow Ball after Stealth Rock
- Shadow Ball is chosen over Grass Knot for the express purpose of taking out those two threats, and at +2 Ice Beam has a 50% chance to OHKO 252/252 Regirock after Stealth Rock
- Lovely Kiss is still an option over Shadow Ball if Hypno or Slowking are not a factor, but it's recommended to then use a Timid nature if going this route as the extra power of Modest is no longer needed to net those KOes. Lovely Kiss also lets Jynx beat Lickilicky one-on-one and cripple other threats like Skuntank

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
- Modest is needed to net the specific KOes on Hypno, Slowking, and Regirock
- Timid can be used to make sure that Jynx isn't outsped by positive base 90s and most notably max Speed Magmortar, but Nasty Plot Jynx functions more as a massive wallbreaker than a sweeper
- Pokemon that appreciate the removal of Hypno and Slowking make the best teammates, meaning Medicham and other Fighting-types, Fire-types like Dragon Dance Charizard and Typhlosion, and offensive Water-types like Floatzel are all good Pokemon to pair with Jynx
- This Jynx in particular is easily revenge killed, and because it should be played on heavier offense teams, should have Pokemon waiting in the wings to take advantage of these revenge killers, offensive Trick Room Slowking, Dragon Dance Whiscash, and Nasty Plot Ninetales are some examples

[SET]
name: Lead
move 1: Lovely Kiss
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Taunt / Fake Out
move 4: Psychic / Taunt
item: Focus Sash
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
- One of the better anti-leads that can stop a ton of normal hazard users from getting anything up and defeats a large portion of the other offensive leads
- Jynx has one the fastest Fake Outs apart from Persian, Purugly, and Sneasel, (Lopunny and Raichu too but they shouldn't be leading) all of which are pretty easy to switch into and don't lay hazards
- Lovely Kiss cripples the opponent right off the bat and gives Jynx's team immediate momentum as the switch then has to be able to tank Jynx's hit, which is limited to a few special walls, namely Slowking, Hypno and Lickilicky, forcing the opponent to reveal them immediately and allowing Jynx's team to plan to take them out early
- Taunt ensures that no hazards go down and stops Slowking and Hypno from using Thunder Wave to try and cripple Jynx's teammates on the switch
- Psychic can be used instead as it OHKOes lead Hitmonchan and Machoke and gives Jynx a weapon for Fire-types

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
- Protect can be used to stop the three faster Fake Out users from breaking Jynx's Focus Sash, but they're pretty rare and as said before, easy to switch into
- Pokemon that can take advantage of or take out Jynx's typical counters make the best teammates, Skuntank, Pinsir, Magneton, and Cacturne are good examples
- This Jynx excels at preventing hazards from going up on Jynx's side of the field, meaning it fits well on teams that have a heavier Stealth Rock weakness, teams that rely on a double Fire sweep or sun teams in particular. Still a good idea to bring a spinner along with just in case though

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Shadow Ball / Grass Knot
move 4: Trick
item: Choice Scarf
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
- A unique Choice Scarf user in that it's one of the strongest but also one of the fastest with it equipped
- Gardevoir typically does the role of Choice Scarf Psychic-type better due to its higher power and bulk, but it's quite a bit slower and only Speed ties with Scarf Medicham, whereas Jynx easily outspeeds and has STAB Ice Beam that helps it plow through a few Pokemon Gardevoir can struggle against
- The choice between Grass Knot and Shadow Ball comes down to which Pokemon you'd prefer to have the chance to break through, with Shadow Ball probably granting the best overall coverage on like Medicham, Haunter, Hypno, and Slowking all in one move, but it also allows a late-game Tauros to switch in for free. Grass Knot will also allow a few Pokemon to switch in quite easily, namely Charizard, but it's a great weapon for Regirock and Slowking.
- Trick can be used earlier in the game to cripple Lickilicky, Hypno, and Slowking to allow a teammate to use them as set up fodder later in the match

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
- Timid should be used to outspeed as much as possible as that's the major draw to this set
- Lovely Kiss is another option to use in either the third or fourth slot to put an incoming Skuntank or something out of commission
- Jynx becomes exceptionally easy for Skuntank and other priority users to revenge kill with this set as they don't typically have to worry about Lovely Kiss, but those that rely on Speed alone, such as Charizard and Tauros, will find the tables turned on them if they switch in for the revenge kill
- Pokemon that can use Skuntank as set up fodder, such as Curse Regirock and Substitute Magneton, or that can easily revenge kill it like Hitmonchan make good teammates

[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Shadow Ball
move 4: Focus Blast
item: Choice Specs
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
- A Choice Specs turns Jynx into an immediate wrecking ball once switched in, and while hard to use, it allows Jynx to wallbreak and remove its usual defensive checks and counters to open a sweep for a teammate, all without set up
- Ice Beam nearly always 2HKOes standard Hypno after Stealth Rock, which can really turn the tides to your favor if Hypno is your opponent's main check to Jynx
- Shadow Ball ensures the KO on Hypno and nails Slowking and Grumpig
- Focus Blast is mostly for Lickilicky and is also the best hit Jynx has on Regirock and Regice

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
- Modest is definitely an option on this set and it guarantees the 2HKO on Hypno with Ice Beam and Jynx's attacks deal more damage in general, but Timid is preferred to allow Jynx to switch in and out and garner some KOes it otherwise could not, the KO on Magmortar in particular is nice
- Trick is an option in the last slot as well, but Jynx can 2HKO nearly every wall with the appropriate move as it is, so using Trick is usually a waste of time
- This Jynx relies on your opponent switching in their walls into Jynx's attacks to work properly, so Jynx should be played early and force your opponent to switch out; this can be accomplished by switching in on Vileplume and forcing it out, etc.
- Stealth Rock support is highly recommended for this set to succeed properly, otherwise Jynx won't be able to 2HKO Hypno and the like.
- This set is easily revenge killed by Skuntank and faster Pokemon like Charizard, but as Jynx's main goal should be wallbreaking and not sweeping, it doesn't really need any defensive partners once its goal is accomplished. Just make sure to pair her with Pokemon that appreciate the removal of walls like Hypno and Slowking, stuff like Medicham is good.


[Other Options]
- Heal Bell and Wish are there but just outclassed by Hypno and Gardevoir
- Light Screen and particularly Reflect can be used to give Jynx a jump on its common revenge killers
- Focus Blast and Signal Beam are other coverage options but don't do a whole terrible lot that Jynx's other moves do
- Toxic always an option to cripple Slowking but Jynx is usually better off muscling its way through its enemies

[Checks and Counters]
- Slowking easily tanks Jynx's STAB moves and can even tank through unboosted Grass Knot in a pinch
- Hypno is immune to Lovely Kiss and resists Psychic, breaks Jynx's Substitutes with Seismic Toss and forces it out
- Grumpig is basically unaffected by anything not named Shadow Ball but is put to sleep by Lovely Kiss
- Gardevoir, Politoed, and Scarf Magneton can all easily take on most Jynx sets once Sleep Clause has been activated.
- RestTalk Mantine can absorb Lovely Kiss and likely outlast Jynx in the long run, though it's smacked around by Luna and Nasty Plot
- Lickilicky can tank any of Jynx's attacks and KOes easily with Return after Stealth Rock
- Skuntank annihilates Jynx with Sucker Punch and Pursuit but has a tough time switching directly into her.
- Charizard, Typhlosion, Floatzel, and Tauros comfortably outspeed and KO her with almost any of their attacks but they too have a tough time switching in. Tauros and Dodrio have the added bonus of being able to Pursuit her to ensure she's KOed.
- Regirock and Camerupt can typically tank one of Jynx's attacks and KO
- Regice can easily tank literally anything Jynx throws at it and come out on top
 
Last edited:

Honko

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You'll prolly wanna get another opinion on this one cuz I was honestly never a fan of Jynx for most of the time I played NU.

Is Luna really good in NU? There are fewer common special walls that use weak-ass special attacks Jynx can set up on than in UU. She can set up on 0 SpA Slowking, but can't 2HKO even at +6 without a crit if it's mixed or specially defensive, so it has a decent chance of stalling her out of Ice Beams even if she sets up perfectly. Idk, I've never tried it in NU but I don't see why I would use it over a SubNP set.

Also not sure why I would use Specs over LO NP tbh. Hypno avoids the Ice Beam 2HKO with Protect.

I don't think Fake Out is completely necessary on the lead. The majority of leads don't carry Focus Sash, and many of the ones that do will have Protect or a faster Fake Out. (I may be wrong, but I doubt it.) I'd usually prefer the flexibility of running both Taunt and Psychic over the occasional very specific utility of Fake Out. Not sure how I would organize the moves, but Fake Out should be slashed with something imo.

Gardevoir handles Jynx quite well after sleep clause is activated, add to C&C. Same for Politoed. Scarf Magneton is a pretty decent offensive check as it can take a hit from anything but Focus Blast (either as it switches in or as it breaks a Sub) and then OHKO with Flash Cannon. Include Dodrio in the list of revenge killers, and mention that it and Tauros can both use Pursuit to guarantee Jynx dies.
 

Oglemi

Borf
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Ya actually NP and CM are kind of interchangeable on Luna, but the main draw to CM which I guess I didn't explain is that at +2 Jynx can't be revenge killed by basically any special attacker; 252 SpA Life Orb Charizard Fire Blast vs. +2 52 HP / 0 SpD Jynx: 236-278 (83 - 97.8%) (and in return Jynx KOes with Ice Beam if it switched into SR), Haunter's Shadow Ball does even less, and there's a few others, but basically CM Luna is crazy hard to revenge kill without a physical attacker. But yea I can agree that CM is less useful in NU than in UU so NP isn't a bad idea either.

Specs is definitely the worst Jynx set that's "usable" but idk I used to see it enough that I figured I would write it up and there was a time when people were raving about how hard Specs was to switch into and it does fit well on Choice-heavy teams.

Ya I shifted the lead a bit with the slashes, I just always use Fake Out but it's probably not always needed.
 

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