[OVERVIEW]
By virtue of its behemoth bulk; access to Recover, and Flying typing which grants it a Spikes immunity, Lugia is the bulkiest Pokemon in GSC Ubers. 106 / 130 physical bulk allows Lugia to switch into almost every physical attacker and, paired with Curse and Whirlwind, beat them one-on-one. This makes Lugia a very valuable defensive piece for a lot of teams that can also work as a potential wincon. Its monstruous Special Defense also lets it avoid the 2HKO from every non-STAB Thunder, meaning only Pokemon like Zapdos and Jolteon can consistently 2HKO it with unboosted attacks. Lugia can even run moves like Surf and Toxic to turn the tables on Pokemon that usually give it trouble, like Golem, Steelix, and Rhydon, while supporting its team.
However, Lugia struggles to deal meaningful damage until it gets going with Curse boosts. Furthermore, Lugia's strongest attack is Aeroblast, which has only 8 PP, so it can get stalled very easily by smart pivoting, restricting Lugia to only phazing foes until it can safely start attacking. Lastly, Lugia's inability to get past metagame beasts like Zapdos and Tyranitar limits its utility for the majority of the early- or mid-game to acting as a phazer and soft counter to physical attackers.
[SET]
name: Curse
move 1: Curse
move 2: Aeroblast
move 3: Whirlwind
move 4: Recover
item: Leftovers
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
This is Lugia's most consistent set. Curse and Whirlwind, coupled with its absurd bulk, allow it to check many threats with ease. It can easily switch into Vaporeon, Heracross, Snorlax, and Mew and phaze them with Whirlwind. Aeroblast is the only attacking move on this set, as there are no Pokemon immune to Flying-type attacks; its high critical chance can also overwhelm checks like Curse Snorlax and Barrier Mewtwo. Using Aeroblast and Whirlwind in concert turns Lugia into one of the most threatening late-game presences in Ubers.
Earthquake is an option over Whirlwind, as Lugia commonly baits Tyranitar and other Pokemon weak to Ground, such as Steelix and Jolteon, into the field. However, not having Whirlwind means that Lugia is unable to beat Barrier variants of Mewtwo, a Pokemon that would otherwise be helpless against it, and is an infinitely worse late-game presence because Pokemon like Ho-Oh and opposing Lugia can phaze it.
Team Options
========
Lugia struggles heavily against Pokemon like Tyranitar, Golem, and Rhydon, all of which resist Aeroblast and can annoy Lugia with Roar. Because of this, Earthquake Snorlax is a good teammate, as it commonly lures them out while also checking other threatening Pokemon for Lugia, like Zapdos and Jolteon. Lugia, in return, can potentially beat Pokemon like Barrier Mewtwo for Snorlax. Pokemon that can lure in Electric-types like Zapdos and Raikou for Lugia, such as Exeggutor, Self-Destruct Mewtwo, and Self-Destruct Snorlax, are also good teammates. Cloyster and Forretress can lay down Spikes for Lugia, making its Whirlwind all the more threatening, and provide some offensive pressure with Toxic and Explosion. Cloyster additionally can threaten Tyranitar with its STAB Surf. On more defensive teams, Celebi is also a good partner for Lugia, as it can comfortably switch into the Electric-type Pokemon that annoy Lugia and use Heal Bell to ensure that status does not ruin Lugia.
[SET]
name: Supportive
move 1: Surf
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Whirlwind
move 4: Recover
item: Leftovers
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
This set trades Lugia's original approach of a Curse sweeper and turns it into a supporter for its team. Surf can OHKO Pokemon like Golem and Rhydon, 2HKO Marowak and Steelix, and potentially threaten Tyranitar. Toxic allows Lugia to put pressure on the enemy team by incurring crucial passive damage. This gives Lugia an option to put Pokemon like Zapdos, Tyranitar, and Cloyster on a timer. Cloyster will be pressured to use Explosion earlier after it's been poisoned, while Tyranitar and Zapdos will be forced to use Rest. Whirlwind lets Lugia phaze threatening Pokemon like Vaporeon, Snorlax, and Mew, as thanks to its massive bulk, it only fears Self-Destruct and Explosion from them.
Team Options
========
As this Lugia set doesn't carry ways to boost its Defense, physical attackers can overwhelm it. Additionally, Lugia can have trouble repeatedly switching into Pokemon like Snorlax, Marowak, Mew, and Mewtwo if it's paralyzed, so Pokemon like Barrier Mewtwo and Celebi are appreciated. Barrier Mewtwo can check threatening attackers alongside Lugia, while Celebi can provide Heal Bell support to ensure status does not ruin Lugia. Tyranitar can comfortably absorb Lovely Kiss from Snorlax and check Mewtwo without a Fighting-type coverage move; it can also potentially beat opposing Tyranitar one-on-one if it gets enough Curse boosts. In return, Lugia checks Pokemon like Mew and Earthquake Snorlax for Tyranitar.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Hydro Pump is an option on Curse sets over Whirlwind on Growth + Baton Pass teams. It allows Lugia to 3HKO Tyranitar, OHKO Golem, and 2HKO Marowak unboosted, and is not bothered by Curse, which means that Tyranitar can't boost its Defense to shrug the damage off. However, not having Whirlwind really hurts Lugia's late-game presence, as it can get phazed with relative ease. Hydro Pump also suffers from the same PP problem Aeroblast has, making it very hit-or-miss.
Ice Beam is another option on Curse sets over Whirlwind to #HKO Zapdos consistently, potentially 2HKO Golem and Rhydon, and threaten everything that switches into Lugia with a freeze. However, it doesn't do much outside of this, as Ice Beam is generally not a strong move, and not having Whirlwind means that Lugia can't be used to sweep until all enemy phazers are out of the picture.
Mystery Berry is yet another on Curse sets to help circumvent Lugia's PP problems, giving it more leeway to attack. However, not having Leftovers really hurts Lugia's ability to regularly switch into Pokemon, as now it is forced to use Recover more often.
Lastly, support sets can run Thunderbolt over Surf to 2HKO Cloyster, as Cloyster commonly stays in on Lugia to inflict Toxic on it. However, not having Surf means that Pokemon like Golem, Rhydon, and Steelix now wall Lugia.
Ice Beam is another option over Surf to pressure Zapdos with a 3HKO, threaten Golem and Rhydon with a potential 2HKO, and spread freeze. However, it doesn't offer much outside of this, and Lugia would much prefer running other options.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Zapdos**: Zapdos is one of the best counters to Lugia, as it fears nothing from it bar the rare Ice Beam and can 2HKO Lugia with STAB Thunder. Zapdos is also immune to Spikes, which means that Lugia can't wear it down via Whirlwind and Spikes damage. Lastly, Zapdos is bulky enough to withstand even a critical hit from Lugia and use Rest to heal all the damage done.
**Electric-type Pokemon and Moves**: Raikou resists Aeroblast and can 2HKO Lugia with Thunder but must be careful of Earthquake, as Lugia can potentially beat Raikou one-on-one if it has enough Curse boosts. Although it doesn't like switching directly into Lugia, Jolteon can force Lugia out with a Boosted Thunder. Pokemon that carry Thunder, such as Mewtwo, can also potentially threaten Lugia if paralysis triggers.
**Rock- and Steel-type Pokemon**: Tyranitar resists Aeroblast, has high enough bulk to ensure not even critical hits threaten it, can use Curse alongside Lugia, and can deny phazing attempts with Roar, making it one of the best checks to Lugia available. It must be careful of Earthquake, however, as the move has a chance to 2HKO it. Rhydon and Golem operate similarly to Tyranitar but are bulkier and thus not as afraid of Earthquake; they can even phaze a -1 Speed Lugia. Skarmory resists Aeroblast, can use Curse alongside Lugia, can deny phazing attempts with its own Whirlwind, and does not mind Earthquake thanks to its Flying typing. Lastly, Steelix is bulky enough for +1 Earthquake to not 2HKO it, can use Curse alongside Lugia to take even less damage, and can phaze Lugia with Roar.
**Status Conditions**: Paralysis, paired with very strong attackers like Marowak and Belly Drum Snorlax, can overwhelm Lugia very easily. Sleep-inducing moves from Snorlax and even Exeggutor can also ruin Lugia, as it doesn't commonly run Sleep Talk, so it can be a punching bag for up to six turns. Lastly, Toxic from the likes of Cloyster and Forretress is also annoying for Lugia, as it'll be forced to switch out eventually, losing all of its Curse boosts.
**Physically Bulky Pokemon**: Pokemon like Umbreon are sufficiently bulky to withstand even boosted attacks from Lugia. Umbreon can even negate any Curse boosts with Growl and cripple Lugia with Toxic. Other, more obscure Pokemon, like Miltank, can also deter Lugia's offense by denying Curse boosts with Growl and even potentially inflict a paralysis with Body Slam.
**Haze Users**: Quagsire can deny Lugia's Curse boosts with Haze, potentially stalling the PP out of Aeroblast in the process. Lugia will have to make the choice of attacking or not, as Quagsire lives a boosted Aeroblast and can heal all damage done with Rest. Other, more obscure Pokemon like Omastar can also use Haze to deny Lugia's sweep attempts, and Omastar does not care about critical hits because of its Rock typing, although it must be careful of Earthquake, as the move 2HKOes it at +1.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/corvere.306317/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/mr-378.5541/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/isa.168574/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/dex.277988/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/wrathoftheleopard.511181/
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