[OVERVIEW]
Yanmega carves itself a niche on Bug-type teams as a cleaner that can do its job effectively thanks to a passable Special Attack stat and access to Speed Boost to consistently boost its Speed. Yanmega is able to use a handful of coverage moves depending on its team composition for a select few checks to Bug-type teams like Mega Charizard Y, Heatran, Landorus-T, Garchomp, and Ferrothorn; unfortunately, very few of these coverage moves are strong, thus disabling it from covering multiple Pokemon at once. While Yanmega's typing is decent offensively, it's rather lacking defensively, leaving it weak to common Fire-, Electric-, Ice-, Rock-, and Flying-type moves. In particular, Stealth Rock takes away 50% of Yanmega's health because of this typing. Yanmega also has relatively poor bulk, which means that it has a hard time taking hits, even neutral or even some resisted hits.
[SET]
name: Speed Boost Cleaner
move 1: Protect
move 2: Air Slash
move 3: Giga Drain / Bug Buzz
move 4: Ancient Power / Hidden Power Ice
item: Life Orb
ability: Speed Boost
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Protect allows Yanmega to scout for Z-Moves and guarantees that it gets a Speed boost. Air Slash is Yanmega's main Flying-type STAB move, capable of dealing massive damage to Pokemon like Kommo-o and Mega Heracross. Giga Drain allows Yanmega to bypass Pokemon that otherwise check it like Mega Diancie, Seismitoad, Mega Swampert, and Gastrodon. Bug Buzz can be used instead of Giga Drain, since it is Yanmega's strongest STAB move and allows it to bypass Dark- and Psychic-type Pokemon like Hydreigon and Mew, but Bug-type teams don't have much trouble dealing with the teams these Pokemon are on, thus making it kind of unnecessary. Ancient Power can be used to hit Volcarona, Mega Pinsir, and Mega Charizard Y for extra damage, all of which are threats to Bug-type teams. The reason to use Ancient Power instead of Hidden Power Rock is because of its chance to boost all Yanmega's stats, which can be quite useful at times. Hidden Power Ice allows Yanmega to beat Pokemon 4x weak to it, mainly Dragonite, Garchomp, and Landorus-T. Hidden Power Fire is yet another option to hit Scizor, Mega Scizor, and Ferrothorn, which are all capable of taking Yanmega's STAB attacks.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment with maximum Special Attack investment and a Modest nature maximizes Yanmega's offensive potential. A Timid nature can be used to outspeed certain Choice Scarf users at +1 like Heracross and Landorus-T, which it'd otherwise get outsped by. Speed Boost allows Yanmega to gain a boost in Speed every turn, allowing it to outspeed a majority of the metagame after just one turn. Life Orb further enhances Yanmega's damage output.
Usage Tips
========
Yanmega is best used as a late-game cleaner to cleave through the opposing team once it is weakened. Be mindful when using Protect, since other setup sweepers like Volcarona might benefit from this turn to set up for themselves. It's best to not switch Yanmega in on Stealth Rock so Yanmega can switch in more times during the match, and it's best to keep Yanmega as healthy as possible in general, especially if the opposing team has a priority user. Yanmega's bulk is pretty bad, so it should avoid directly switching in on an attack in general; it's best to bring Yanmega in via a fainted teammate, on a double switch, or via a slower U-turn from teammates like Mega Scizor. Yanmega can also be brought in on Pokemon like Mandibuzz, Jellicent, Gastrodon, and Quagsire, which tend to have a passive nature. Try to avoid getting paralyzed, because this makes Yanmega rely on Speed boosts too much. Use Yanmega's coverage moves to hit what is on the opposing side of the field, as it is generally ineffective to predict with Yanmega. It should also be considered if it is actually worth it to reveal Yanmega's coverage moves early-game, since the opponent might scout for it, and knowing Yanmega's coverage moves allows them to play around it accordingly.
Team Options
========
When using Yanmega, entry hazard removal Pokemon like Armaldo and Forretress are required because of its 4x weakness to Stealth Rock. Armaldo and Forretress are both also capable of setting up hazards, allowing Yanmega to get KOs more easily. Assault Vest Araquanid is a good teammate because it can take Ice- and Fire-type attacks with relative ease for Yanmega thanks to its ability Water Bubble. Galvantula is capable of setting up Sticky Web for Yanmega, which allows it to outspeed more Pokemon and be less reliant on Speed Boost, as well as threatening Flying-types with its STAB Electric-type attacks. Pokemon like Choice Scarf Buzzwole and Choice Scarf Heracross can be useful if Yanmega is lacking Bug Buzz, as they are capable of dealing with Psychic-, Dark-, and Rock-types, which Yanmega tends to struggle against. Yanmega also appreciates Pokemon that are able to dispose of Steel-types, since it has a hard time dealing with them; Volcarona, Buzzwole, Heracross, Mega Heracross, and Mega Pinsir are capable of doing so. Pokemon that can weaken walls like Mega Pinsir, Volcarona, Mega Heracross, and Mega Scizor are very useful for Yanmega, as they ease its job to clean up.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Yanmega can opt to use a Tinted Lens set instead of Speed Boost to break walls, but the consistent boosting of Yanmega's Speed Boost is way too good to pass up. Hidden Power Ground can be used to OHKO Heatran and Stakataka, which in most cases can completely wall Yanmega, but this is generally not preferred because Yanmega has to give up an important coverage option.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-type Pokemon**: Steel-types are capable of walling Yanmega depending on the coverage moves it runs; for example, if Yanmega is using Hidden Power Ground, it can bypass Heatran and Stakataka but is walled by Mega Scizor, Ferrothorn, and Celesteela, whereas it can deal with these Pokemon if running Hidden Power Fire.
**Stealth Rock**: Because of Yanmega's 4x Rock-type weakness, it loses 50% of its health upon switching in, limiting its potential opportunities to do so.
**Chansey**: Chansey checks any Yanmega set thanks to its huge HP and Special Defense stat that is backed by Eviolite; it can just keep wearing Yanmega down because it doesn't take much damage from Yanmega's moves at all.
**Specially Defensive Walls**: Yanmega struggles heavily against specially defensive walls such as Mantine, Cradily, and Mega Sableye because they can easily shrug off any of its attacks.
**Rock-type Pokemon** Rock-type Pokemon like Mega Diancie, Terrakion, Cradily, and Nihilego are capable of dealing with Yanmega thanks to their 4x super effective STAB moves; however, they have to be wary of Giga Drain, as it will do a decent chunk of damage to them.
**Super Effective Coverage**: Due to Yanmega's poor defensive typing and rather lacking defensive stats, it tends to get KOed by a lot of common super effective coverage moves such as Electric-, Ice-, Rock-, Fire-, and Flying-type moves.
**Priority**: Due to Yanmega's poor defenses in tandem with Life Orb recoil, it gets worn down relatively fast to the point where it's in range of priority attacks from Pokemon like Scizor, Dragonite, Mimikyu, and Diggersby.
Yanmega carves itself a niche on Bug-type teams as a cleaner that can do its job effectively thanks to a passable Special Attack stat and access to Speed Boost to consistently boost its Speed. Yanmega is able to use a handful of coverage moves depending on its team composition for a select few checks to Bug-type teams like Mega Charizard Y, Heatran, Landorus-T, Garchomp, and Ferrothorn; unfortunately, very few of these coverage moves are strong, thus disabling it from covering multiple Pokemon at once. While Yanmega's typing is decent offensively, it's rather lacking defensively, leaving it weak to common Fire-, Electric-, Ice-, Rock-, and Flying-type moves. In particular, Stealth Rock takes away 50% of Yanmega's health because of this typing. Yanmega also has relatively poor bulk, which means that it has a hard time taking hits, even neutral or even some resisted hits.
[SET]
name: Speed Boost Cleaner
move 1: Protect
move 2: Air Slash
move 3: Giga Drain / Bug Buzz
move 4: Ancient Power / Hidden Power Ice
item: Life Orb
ability: Speed Boost
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Protect allows Yanmega to scout for Z-Moves and guarantees that it gets a Speed boost. Air Slash is Yanmega's main Flying-type STAB move, capable of dealing massive damage to Pokemon like Kommo-o and Mega Heracross. Giga Drain allows Yanmega to bypass Pokemon that otherwise check it like Mega Diancie, Seismitoad, Mega Swampert, and Gastrodon. Bug Buzz can be used instead of Giga Drain, since it is Yanmega's strongest STAB move and allows it to bypass Dark- and Psychic-type Pokemon like Hydreigon and Mew, but Bug-type teams don't have much trouble dealing with the teams these Pokemon are on, thus making it kind of unnecessary. Ancient Power can be used to hit Volcarona, Mega Pinsir, and Mega Charizard Y for extra damage, all of which are threats to Bug-type teams. The reason to use Ancient Power instead of Hidden Power Rock is because of its chance to boost all Yanmega's stats, which can be quite useful at times. Hidden Power Ice allows Yanmega to beat Pokemon 4x weak to it, mainly Dragonite, Garchomp, and Landorus-T. Hidden Power Fire is yet another option to hit Scizor, Mega Scizor, and Ferrothorn, which are all capable of taking Yanmega's STAB attacks.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment with maximum Special Attack investment and a Modest nature maximizes Yanmega's offensive potential. A Timid nature can be used to outspeed certain Choice Scarf users at +1 like Heracross and Landorus-T, which it'd otherwise get outsped by. Speed Boost allows Yanmega to gain a boost in Speed every turn, allowing it to outspeed a majority of the metagame after just one turn. Life Orb further enhances Yanmega's damage output.
Usage Tips
========
Yanmega is best used as a late-game cleaner to cleave through the opposing team once it is weakened. Be mindful when using Protect, since other setup sweepers like Volcarona might benefit from this turn to set up for themselves. It's best to not switch Yanmega in on Stealth Rock so Yanmega can switch in more times during the match, and it's best to keep Yanmega as healthy as possible in general, especially if the opposing team has a priority user. Yanmega's bulk is pretty bad, so it should avoid directly switching in on an attack in general; it's best to bring Yanmega in via a fainted teammate, on a double switch, or via a slower U-turn from teammates like Mega Scizor. Yanmega can also be brought in on Pokemon like Mandibuzz, Jellicent, Gastrodon, and Quagsire, which tend to have a passive nature. Try to avoid getting paralyzed, because this makes Yanmega rely on Speed boosts too much. Use Yanmega's coverage moves to hit what is on the opposing side of the field, as it is generally ineffective to predict with Yanmega. It should also be considered if it is actually worth it to reveal Yanmega's coverage moves early-game, since the opponent might scout for it, and knowing Yanmega's coverage moves allows them to play around it accordingly.
Team Options
========
When using Yanmega, entry hazard removal Pokemon like Armaldo and Forretress are required because of its 4x weakness to Stealth Rock. Armaldo and Forretress are both also capable of setting up hazards, allowing Yanmega to get KOs more easily. Assault Vest Araquanid is a good teammate because it can take Ice- and Fire-type attacks with relative ease for Yanmega thanks to its ability Water Bubble. Galvantula is capable of setting up Sticky Web for Yanmega, which allows it to outspeed more Pokemon and be less reliant on Speed Boost, as well as threatening Flying-types with its STAB Electric-type attacks. Pokemon like Choice Scarf Buzzwole and Choice Scarf Heracross can be useful if Yanmega is lacking Bug Buzz, as they are capable of dealing with Psychic-, Dark-, and Rock-types, which Yanmega tends to struggle against. Yanmega also appreciates Pokemon that are able to dispose of Steel-types, since it has a hard time dealing with them; Volcarona, Buzzwole, Heracross, Mega Heracross, and Mega Pinsir are capable of doing so. Pokemon that can weaken walls like Mega Pinsir, Volcarona, Mega Heracross, and Mega Scizor are very useful for Yanmega, as they ease its job to clean up.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Yanmega can opt to use a Tinted Lens set instead of Speed Boost to break walls, but the consistent boosting of Yanmega's Speed Boost is way too good to pass up. Hidden Power Ground can be used to OHKO Heatran and Stakataka, which in most cases can completely wall Yanmega, but this is generally not preferred because Yanmega has to give up an important coverage option.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-type Pokemon**: Steel-types are capable of walling Yanmega depending on the coverage moves it runs; for example, if Yanmega is using Hidden Power Ground, it can bypass Heatran and Stakataka but is walled by Mega Scizor, Ferrothorn, and Celesteela, whereas it can deal with these Pokemon if running Hidden Power Fire.
**Stealth Rock**: Because of Yanmega's 4x Rock-type weakness, it loses 50% of its health upon switching in, limiting its potential opportunities to do so.
**Chansey**: Chansey checks any Yanmega set thanks to its huge HP and Special Defense stat that is backed by Eviolite; it can just keep wearing Yanmega down because it doesn't take much damage from Yanmega's moves at all.
**Specially Defensive Walls**: Yanmega struggles heavily against specially defensive walls such as Mantine, Cradily, and Mega Sableye because they can easily shrug off any of its attacks.
**Rock-type Pokemon** Rock-type Pokemon like Mega Diancie, Terrakion, Cradily, and Nihilego are capable of dealing with Yanmega thanks to their 4x super effective STAB moves; however, they have to be wary of Giga Drain, as it will do a decent chunk of damage to them.
**Super Effective Coverage**: Due to Yanmega's poor defensive typing and rather lacking defensive stats, it tends to get KOed by a lot of common super effective coverage moves such as Electric-, Ice-, Rock-, Fire-, and Flying-type moves.
**Priority**: Due to Yanmega's poor defenses in tandem with Life Orb recoil, it gets worn down relatively fast to the point where it's in range of priority attacks from Pokemon like Scizor, Dragonite, Mimikyu, and Diggersby.
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