[OVERVIEW]
Excellent bulk, Magic Guard, and access to Recover make Reuniclus an excellent Calm Mind user. This is compounded further by a strong STAB Psyshock, which enables Reuniclus to break past Chansey and win most Calm Mind wars. However, its extremely low Speed stat forces it to almost always take a hit before boosting or attacking. Alternatively, Reuniclus can use its low Speed to its advantage through an offensive Trick Room set sporting unresisted coverage, allowing it to tear through offensive teams. While its Psychic typing lets Reuniclus check most Psychic- and Fighting-type Pokemon, such as Mega Medicham, it leaves Reuniclus weak to the prevalent Dark-, Ghost-, and Bug-type attacks in the meta. In addition, certain Psychic-types, such as Tapu Lele and Mega Alakazam, can carry coverage able to severely damage Reuniclus, while some Fighting-types such as Keldeo and Terrakion have secondary STAB moves strong enough to muscle past it. Despite these flaws, Reuniclus can shine in the OU tier by taking advantage of either offensive or defensive teams.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Psyshock
move 3: Shadow Ball / Focus Blast
move 4: Recover
item: Leftovers
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 212 Def / 44 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Calm Mind allows Reuniclus to boost its Special Attack and Speical Defense. After a boost, Reuniclus will be extremely bulky and have drastically improved offensive presence. Psyshock is Reuniclus's main STAB attack, enabling Reuniclus to break past special walls such as Chansey as well as other Calm Mind users such as Clefable. Shadow Ball is used to deal heavy damage to Psychic-types in exchange for the ability to hit Dark-types. Focus Blast can be used over Shadow Ball to let Reuniclus take on Dark- and Steel-types. Most importantly, when unboosted, it is able to OHKO Greninja and Weavile on the switch as well as Tyranitar after Stealth Rock damage. Recover is used to keep Reuniclus healthy, allowing it to reliably get multiple Calm Mind boosts and counter Mega Medicham.
Set Details
========
Magic Guard makes Reuniclus immune to Toxic, Leech Seed, entry hazards, and all other forms of passive damage. Immunity to Toxic in particular is amazing for a Calm Mind user, as the amount of damage Toxic deals increases every turn and can put a stop to sweeps. 252 HP EVs and 212 Defense EVs with a Bold nature give Reuniclus sizable physical bulk, giving it the most opportunities to sweep after setting up Calm Mind. It also allows Reuniclus to set up on Mega Medicham and handle Mega Metagross better. 44 Speed EVs let Reuniclus outspeed Toxapex, letting Reuniclus attack it before it has a chance to use Haze, as well as Slowbro, giving Reuniclus an advantage in a Calm Mind war. Leftovers increases Reuniclus's longevity by providing passive recovery.
Usage Tips
========
Reuniclus can be used early-game to check certain threats, such as Mega Medicham. However, avoid setting up early-game. Wait until Reuniclus's checks are significantly weakened. Remove Dark-types before setting up if using Shadow Ball. If using Focus Blast, you can use Reuniclus to lure in Dark-types and attempt to hit them on the switch in. If possible, use Recover liberally to stay out of range of a special critical hit. Set up versus exploitable Choice-locked Pokemon or otherwise passive Pokemon.
Team Options
========
Calm Mind Reuniclus fits well on teams that otherwise have a good matchup versus offense. Good teammates to fill this role are Greninja, Tapu Koko, and Mega Metagross. Dugtrio is able to trap Tyranitar and other Pursuit users. Screech or Groundium Z + Earthquake Dugtrio in particular are also able to trap Unaware Clefable. Magnezone can trap Mega Scizor, which threatens Reuniclus with U-turn, and Skarmory, which could otherwise phaze Reuniclus with Whirlwind. If running Focus Blast over Shadow Ball, Pursuit trappers can be useful to remove or weaken troublesome Psychic-types such as Jirachi. Good Pursuit trappers include Mega Metagross, Weavile, and Tyranitar. Answers to Dark- and Ghost-types are necessary. Magearna makes a good partner for this reason, while Fighting-types such as Keldeo and Terrakion are solid answers to Dark-types. Spikes support is very useful for weakening grounded checks to Reuniclus. Greninja is able to pressure Mega Sableye, threaten offensive teams, and lay Spikes, making it an exceptional partner. Tapu Lele is another good partner, as it is able to pressure stall and power up Reuniclus's STAB move, letting Reuniclus punch holes even before obtaining a Calm Mind boost.
[SET]
name: Offensive Trick Room
move 1: Trick Room
move 2: Psychic / Psyshock
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Shadow Ball
item: Life Orb
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Quiet
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Reuniclus will almost always move first under the effects of Trick Room due to its low Speed stat, causing it to become a devastating late-game sweeper after using the move. Psychic is Reuniclus's main STAB attack, though Psyshock could be used to aid in finishing off special walls in exchange for a bit of power. With maximum investment and a Life Orb, either move deals heavy damage to unresisted targets. Focus Blast is necessary coverage, allowing Reuniclus to OHKO most relevant Dark-types, such as Greninja and Tyranitar, as well as deal heavy damage to Steel-types. Shadow Ball enables Reuniclus to break past the Psychic-types that would otherwise halt its sweep such as Mega Metagross and Jirachi.
Set Details
========
Life Orb is used to give all of Reuniclus's moves a necessary power boost while still allowing Reuniclus to switch between attacks. Magic Guard negates Life Orb recoil, allowing Reuniclus to more comfortably sustain damage while setting up Trick Room. 252 HP EVs contribute to Reuniclus's bulk, allowing it to easily set up Trick Room and potentially avoid a faint if a KO is missed during a sweep. 252 Special Attack EVs with a Quiet nature allow Reuniclus to hit as hard as possible, ensuring it nets as many KOs as possible under Trick Room. 0 Speed IVs in conjunction with the Quiet nature make Reuniclus as slow as possible, allowing it to go first the majority of the time when under the effects of Trick Room.
Usage Tips
========
This variant of Reuniclus lacks recovery. As such, avoid bringing it in until late-game when its checks have been sufficiently weakened and its counters removed. Stack entry hazards early-game while forcing in as much of the opposing team as possible to chip away at them. Late-game, bring in Reuniclus off a free switch in to ensure it has enough HP to set up Trick Room.
Team Options
========
Tapu Lele is Trick Room Reuniclus's premier partner. Psychic Terrain boosts Reuniclus's STAB move and protects it from Sucker Punch and Fake Out, which could otherwise waste a valuable turn of Trick Room. Tapu Lele also breaks stall for Reuniclus. Mega Mawile makes another great partner. It can pivot in on Dark- and Bug-type attacks, benefits from Trick Room, and can wallbreak. Other wallbreakers such as Hoopa-U break down Reuniclus's checks, allowing it to sweep late-game. Pokemon that can break through stall teams, such as Alolan Marowak, are necessary. Entry hazards are another requirement. Spikes setters like Greninja and Ferrothorn do a great job weakening certain bulky Steel-types not weak to Focus Blast, such as Magearna and Mega Mawile. Finally, Dugtrio can trap Chansey, which counters this variant of Reuniclus, and certain Dark-types such as Tyranitar so Reuniclus doesn't have to risk Focus Blast. Dugtrio can also force damage on trapped Pokemon if it is unable to KO them, potenitally putting them in range of Reuniclus's attacks. Magnezone could also be used to trap troubling Steel-types, such as Celesteela.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Life Orb could be used over Leftovers on Calm Mind Reuniclus to give extra power and require fewer boosts to begin sweeping. Alternatively, a Colbur Berry could be used on Calm Mind Reuniclus to alleviate its weakness to Dark-types, allowing more freedom in using Focus Blast or potentially Signal Beam, while a Kee Berry could be used to create additional physical bulk. However, the passive recovery Leftovers provides is typically preferred. Toxic could be used on Calm Mind Reuniclus to break past Unaware users. Other options include Grass Knot for Quagsire and Electrium Z + Thunder for Pyukumuku. Gigavolt Havoc also has the benefit of blowing through Tapu Fini and certain Steel-types, such as Celesteela. Unfortunately, all of these options sacrifice otherwise necessary coverage. A Choice Specs set could be run to take advantage of Reuniclus's high Special Attack stat, turning it into a wallbreaker. This set could also use Future Sight to pressure the opponent's switches two turns down the road, but the strategy is hindered by Reuniclus's extremely low speed. An Assault Vest could be run with Regenerator, turning Reuniclus into a bulky pivot. However, this set is mostly outclassed by other pivots such as Tangrowth.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-types**: Dark-types, such as Greninja, Tyranitar, Weavile, and Hoopa-U, are immune to Reuniclus's STAB attack, forcing it to rely on the inaccurate Focus Blast. In addition, if Calm Mind Reuniclus opts to run Shadow Ball over Focus Blast, the majority of Dark-types can easily beat it one-on-one.
**Ghost-types**: Ghost-types such as Gengar and Alolan Marowak offensively threaten Reuniclus. Alolan Marowak in particular forces Reuniclus out with Shadow Bone, a difficult move to switch into, pressuring Reuniclus's team. Mega Sableye is a big threat, as it completely walls Focus Blast Calm Mind Reuniclus and removes its passive recovery with Knock Off. Calm Mind variants of Mega Sableye can also set up alongside Reuniclus and are immune to Psyshock.
**Bug-types**: Bug-type Pokemon such as Mega Scizor force Reuniclus out with U-turn, gaining momentum in the process.
**Taunt**: Taunt users such as Tapu Fini shut down Reuniclus's Recover and Calm Mind, allowing it to be worn down and beaten, or Trick Room, preventing a sweep.
**Unaware Pokemon**: Unless Reuniclus runs Toxic or a rare coverage move, Unaware Pokemon such as Clefable and Quagsire are able to reliably wall and PP stall Calm Mind Reuniclus or otherwise have enough bulk and recovery to beat Trick Room Reuniclus.
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