[OVERVIEW]
Cresselia's stellar HP and fantastic defenses alongside its pure Psychic typing and ability Levitate allow it to check key threats in the tier such as Nidoqueen, Salazzle, Dragalge, and the plentiful amount of viable Fighting-types that other Pokemon struggle with. Having a myriad of support moves like Moonlight, Lunar Dance, and Calm Mind to go alongside its great bulk gives it more options and flexibility. As Cresselia has a good Speed stat for a defensive Pokemon, it can cripple and check foes easier, which let it be a good Fighting-type check, outrunning prominent Fighting-types like Pangoro, Bewear, and Machamp to hit them with its STAB attacks or coverage moves. Having a useful coverage move in Moonblast enables it to deal with Dark-types like Pangoro more efficiently. Unfortunately, Cresselia's lackluster offensive stats leave it quite passive, and in addition to that, its typing makes it vulnerable to common Bug-, Ghost-, and Dark-types like Escavalier, Decidueye, and Zoroark.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Moonlight
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Moonblast
item: Leftovers
ability: Levitate
nature: Calm
evs: 248 HP / 204 SpD / 56 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Moonlight is Cresselia's primary source of recovery, enabling it to deal with offensive Pokemon better. Psychic is Cresselia's main STAB attack, allowing it to take on top tier threats like Nidoqueen, Salazzle, and Bewear well. Toxic can put bulky Pokemon on a timer, and Cresselia can stall foes out with Toxic alongside the recovery from Moonlight, but it fails to check some defensive Pokemon like Umbreon and Florges with Heal Bell or Aromatherapy. Moonblast allows Cresselia to hit Dark-types such as Pangoro and Sharpedo super effectively, which would otherwise prove troublesome to Cresselia.
Set Details
========
56 Speed EVs allow Cresselia to outspeed Adamant Bewear and Pangoro. The remaining EVs are placed into HP and Special Defense to better take on foes like Nidoqueen and Salazzle. Leftovers provides passive recovery, mitigating the usage of Moonlight's low PP. Fairium Z can be used to beat Pokemon like Machamp and Pangoro while alleviating Knock Off damage but misses out on the consistent, passive recovery that Leftovers offers, which Cresselia desires. Cresselia can run 124 Speed EVs in order to outrun both Jolly Bewear and Adamant Pangoro, but the considerable decrease in bulk generally isn't worth it.
Usage Tips
========
Cresselia should be brought in against foes like Nidoqueen, Chesnaught, and Kommo-o that can't deal too much damage to it and proceed to force them to switch or support the team with its utility moves. Unfortunately, due to Moonlight's low PP, it should only be used when necessary and sparingly. Psychic can remove a lot of key Poison-types such as Nidoqueen, Salazzle, Roserade, Dragalge, and Venusaur, but be cautious of remaining Dark-types on the opponent's team, as if a Dark-type switches in on an incoming Psychic, it puts Cresselia in a very vulnerable position. If a Fighting-type is out on the field and your opponent has a Dark-type in the back, it's typically better to go for Moonblast, as extra damage from STAB is usually not worth giving a free switch. Additionally, be weary of Zoroark disguised as a Fighting- or Poison-type, as it can trick you into using Psychic against the disguised Zoroark.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that can handle Steel-types as well as Dark- and Bug-types make great partners, as Cresselia fails to do much to them. Machamp is a good partner for Cresselia, as it can come in on incoming Toxic and hammer Steel- and Dark-types with its super effective STAB attacks. Machamp and Bewear also love Cresselia's Healing Wish support due to their lack of recovery, so they are not worn down quickly. Umbreon is a nice defensive partner for Cresselia, healing any status ailments with Heal Bell, taking Dark- and Ghost-type attacks well, and providing Wish support. Umbreon also appreciates Cresselia's pure Psychic typing for Fighting-types. Florges can do the same as Umbreon but can be used to deal with Dark-types like Pangoro and some Bug-types more easily. Salazzle can come in on an incoming Toxic and decimate Bug- and Steel-types like Escavalier, Durant, Doublade, and Bronzong. In a similar vein, Nidoqueen can also absorb Toxic and beat down specific Bug- and Steel-types; in addition to that, it can set up hazards in Stealth Rock or Toxic Spikes, helping Cresselia's Calm Mind set wear down foes quicker. Chesnaught is a good partner for Cresselia, checking Pokemon that would otherwise threaten it such as Dark-types like Pangoro, as well as setting up hazards for the team. Gligar can deal with Steel-types like Doublade and Registeel decently well, and if Gligar has Acrobatics it can soft check Pokemon like Decidueye and Pangoro. Also, having the ability to remove hazards is great for any team. Torkoal can check Steel- and Bug-types well due to its sun-boosted Fire-type STAB attacks and assist Cresselia's longevity by increasing the amount of health regained by Moonlight, which heals 75% in the sun.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Lunar Dance can be used to heal a weakened or crippled teammate late-game when Cresselia is no longer needed in battle. It can also be used to heal sweepers or Pokemon with no reliable recovery. A more physically defensive set can be run, using the same moves as the specially defensive set with a Bold nature to become a better Fighting-type check as well as taking on Dark-types better, having the bulk to take physical attacks from Sharpedo and Pangoro, which gives it a better chance to fire off a super effective Moonblast. Although physically defensive Cresselia is viable, the specially defensive set is usually more useful in a metagame where Pokemon like Nidoqueen and Salazzle are so prominent. A set with Calm Mind, Psyshock, Moonblast, and either Substitute or Moonlight can be used. Substitute helps it avoid status moves like Toxic, which would otherwise cripple it and put it on a timer, and Moonlight helps its overall longevity and ability to deal with offensive threats easier. The EV spread is 248 HP / 204 Def / 56 Spe alongside a Bold nature, maximizing its Defense to the fullest to become one of the best Fighting-type checks while having enough Speed to outrun Adamant Pangoro and Bewear. Thunder Wave can cripple fast foes such as Salazzle, Roserade, and Swellow, allowing Cresselia to outspeed them and deal with them better. Additionally, Thunder Wave can support slower wallbreakers like Machamp. Hidden Power Fire can be used over Psychic-type coverage, letting Cresselia hit Bug- and Steel-types harder, but without Psychic-type coverage it falls short to Fire-types like Salazzle, Moltres, and Rotom-H as well as Poison-types such as Nidoqueen, Dragalge, Roserade, and Venusaur. Ice Beam can be used to better deal with offensive threats like Flygon, Zygarde-10%, and Decidueye. Trick Room is another option on Cresselia, allowing it to support slower sweepers or wallbreakers. Lunar Dance should be used alongside Trick Room to bring a sweeper back up to full health. Additionally, Mental Herb can be used with Trick Room, enabling Cresselia to always set up Trick Room thanks to Mental Herb curing it of Taunt. Sunny Day can be used to boost the recovery of Cresselia's Moonlight and also assist sun teams if their primary sun setter has fainted. Dual screens can be used to give sweepers more opportunities to set up; it should also be used alongside Lunar Dance to heal them right back up to full HP. Light Clay can be used to elongate Reflect and Light Screen's usage, although a dual screens set is heavily outclassed by Uxie, which does the job much better.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Escavalier**: Due to Escavalier's Bug / Steel typing and good defenses, it can come in against almost all of Cresselia's attacks with ease, as well as Toxic or Thunder Wave. Choice Band Megahorn OHKOes all of Cresselia's sets, and Escavalier can also Pursuit trap Cresselia depending on how low its health is at.
**Steel-types**: Doublade resists two of Cresselia's most common attacks, and it can either begin to set up on it, put it on a timer with Toxic, or attack with its STAB Ghost-type moves. Defensive Steel-types like Registeel and Bronzong don't care about anything that Cresselia can throw their way, and they can put it on a timer with Toxic or use the opportunity to set up hazards. Durant has STAB Bug-type attacks and Black Hole Eclipse to deal huge damage to Cresselia, and it doesn't care much about Cresselia's attacks bar the rare Hidden Power Fire.
**Dark-types**: Without Fairy-type coverage, Cresselia can be left highly susceptible to a lot of Dark-types. Pangoro, Sharpedo, and Zororark can all deal massive damage with their STAB attacks. Zoroark can disguise itself as a Fighting- or Poison-type to trick Cresselia into going for a Psychic-type attack, giving it a free opportunity to deal massive damage with a STAB move or set up.
**Bug-types**: Durant has strong STAB attacks as well as Black Hole Eclipse in tandem with Hustle to deal huge damage to Cresselia and doesn't care much about Cresselia's attacks bar the rare Hidden Power Fire. Araquanid can trap it with Spider Web and eventually KO it with Toxic damage and STAB Liquidation. Yanmega's Bug Buzz does a chunk to Cresselia, and it doesn't take much damage in return from Cresselia's attacks.
**Bulky Setup Sweepers**: Curse Snorlax can set up against Cresselia with ease thanks to its great Special Defense. It also doesn't care about Toxic due to Rest and Immunity, and Snorlax can even beat Calm Mind Cresselia due to Defense boosts from Curse, considering Psyshock takes into account the foe's Defense, and Body Slam eventually overwhelming it due to Moonlight's low PP. Comfey can shut Cresselia down with Taunt and proceed to set up with Calm Mind because it is naturally faster.
Cresselia's stellar HP and fantastic defenses alongside its pure Psychic typing and ability Levitate allow it to check key threats in the tier such as Nidoqueen, Salazzle, Dragalge, and the plentiful amount of viable Fighting-types that other Pokemon struggle with. Having a myriad of support moves like Moonlight, Lunar Dance, and Calm Mind to go alongside its great bulk gives it more options and flexibility. As Cresselia has a good Speed stat for a defensive Pokemon, it can cripple and check foes easier, which let it be a good Fighting-type check, outrunning prominent Fighting-types like Pangoro, Bewear, and Machamp to hit them with its STAB attacks or coverage moves. Having a useful coverage move in Moonblast enables it to deal with Dark-types like Pangoro more efficiently. Unfortunately, Cresselia's lackluster offensive stats leave it quite passive, and in addition to that, its typing makes it vulnerable to common Bug-, Ghost-, and Dark-types like Escavalier, Decidueye, and Zoroark.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Moonlight
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Moonblast
item: Leftovers
ability: Levitate
nature: Calm
evs: 248 HP / 204 SpD / 56 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Moonlight is Cresselia's primary source of recovery, enabling it to deal with offensive Pokemon better. Psychic is Cresselia's main STAB attack, allowing it to take on top tier threats like Nidoqueen, Salazzle, and Bewear well. Toxic can put bulky Pokemon on a timer, and Cresselia can stall foes out with Toxic alongside the recovery from Moonlight, but it fails to check some defensive Pokemon like Umbreon and Florges with Heal Bell or Aromatherapy. Moonblast allows Cresselia to hit Dark-types such as Pangoro and Sharpedo super effectively, which would otherwise prove troublesome to Cresselia.
Set Details
========
56 Speed EVs allow Cresselia to outspeed Adamant Bewear and Pangoro. The remaining EVs are placed into HP and Special Defense to better take on foes like Nidoqueen and Salazzle. Leftovers provides passive recovery, mitigating the usage of Moonlight's low PP. Fairium Z can be used to beat Pokemon like Machamp and Pangoro while alleviating Knock Off damage but misses out on the consistent, passive recovery that Leftovers offers, which Cresselia desires. Cresselia can run 124 Speed EVs in order to outrun both Jolly Bewear and Adamant Pangoro, but the considerable decrease in bulk generally isn't worth it.
Usage Tips
========
Cresselia should be brought in against foes like Nidoqueen, Chesnaught, and Kommo-o that can't deal too much damage to it and proceed to force them to switch or support the team with its utility moves. Unfortunately, due to Moonlight's low PP, it should only be used when necessary and sparingly. Psychic can remove a lot of key Poison-types such as Nidoqueen, Salazzle, Roserade, Dragalge, and Venusaur, but be cautious of remaining Dark-types on the opponent's team, as if a Dark-type switches in on an incoming Psychic, it puts Cresselia in a very vulnerable position. If a Fighting-type is out on the field and your opponent has a Dark-type in the back, it's typically better to go for Moonblast, as extra damage from STAB is usually not worth giving a free switch. Additionally, be weary of Zoroark disguised as a Fighting- or Poison-type, as it can trick you into using Psychic against the disguised Zoroark.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that can handle Steel-types as well as Dark- and Bug-types make great partners, as Cresselia fails to do much to them. Machamp is a good partner for Cresselia, as it can come in on incoming Toxic and hammer Steel- and Dark-types with its super effective STAB attacks. Machamp and Bewear also love Cresselia's Healing Wish support due to their lack of recovery, so they are not worn down quickly. Umbreon is a nice defensive partner for Cresselia, healing any status ailments with Heal Bell, taking Dark- and Ghost-type attacks well, and providing Wish support. Umbreon also appreciates Cresselia's pure Psychic typing for Fighting-types. Florges can do the same as Umbreon but can be used to deal with Dark-types like Pangoro and some Bug-types more easily. Salazzle can come in on an incoming Toxic and decimate Bug- and Steel-types like Escavalier, Durant, Doublade, and Bronzong. In a similar vein, Nidoqueen can also absorb Toxic and beat down specific Bug- and Steel-types; in addition to that, it can set up hazards in Stealth Rock or Toxic Spikes, helping Cresselia's Calm Mind set wear down foes quicker. Chesnaught is a good partner for Cresselia, checking Pokemon that would otherwise threaten it such as Dark-types like Pangoro, as well as setting up hazards for the team. Gligar can deal with Steel-types like Doublade and Registeel decently well, and if Gligar has Acrobatics it can soft check Pokemon like Decidueye and Pangoro. Also, having the ability to remove hazards is great for any team. Torkoal can check Steel- and Bug-types well due to its sun-boosted Fire-type STAB attacks and assist Cresselia's longevity by increasing the amount of health regained by Moonlight, which heals 75% in the sun.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Lunar Dance can be used to heal a weakened or crippled teammate late-game when Cresselia is no longer needed in battle. It can also be used to heal sweepers or Pokemon with no reliable recovery. A more physically defensive set can be run, using the same moves as the specially defensive set with a Bold nature to become a better Fighting-type check as well as taking on Dark-types better, having the bulk to take physical attacks from Sharpedo and Pangoro, which gives it a better chance to fire off a super effective Moonblast. Although physically defensive Cresselia is viable, the specially defensive set is usually more useful in a metagame where Pokemon like Nidoqueen and Salazzle are so prominent. A set with Calm Mind, Psyshock, Moonblast, and either Substitute or Moonlight can be used. Substitute helps it avoid status moves like Toxic, which would otherwise cripple it and put it on a timer, and Moonlight helps its overall longevity and ability to deal with offensive threats easier. The EV spread is 248 HP / 204 Def / 56 Spe alongside a Bold nature, maximizing its Defense to the fullest to become one of the best Fighting-type checks while having enough Speed to outrun Adamant Pangoro and Bewear. Thunder Wave can cripple fast foes such as Salazzle, Roserade, and Swellow, allowing Cresselia to outspeed them and deal with them better. Additionally, Thunder Wave can support slower wallbreakers like Machamp. Hidden Power Fire can be used over Psychic-type coverage, letting Cresselia hit Bug- and Steel-types harder, but without Psychic-type coverage it falls short to Fire-types like Salazzle, Moltres, and Rotom-H as well as Poison-types such as Nidoqueen, Dragalge, Roserade, and Venusaur. Ice Beam can be used to better deal with offensive threats like Flygon, Zygarde-10%, and Decidueye. Trick Room is another option on Cresselia, allowing it to support slower sweepers or wallbreakers. Lunar Dance should be used alongside Trick Room to bring a sweeper back up to full health. Additionally, Mental Herb can be used with Trick Room, enabling Cresselia to always set up Trick Room thanks to Mental Herb curing it of Taunt. Sunny Day can be used to boost the recovery of Cresselia's Moonlight and also assist sun teams if their primary sun setter has fainted. Dual screens can be used to give sweepers more opportunities to set up; it should also be used alongside Lunar Dance to heal them right back up to full HP. Light Clay can be used to elongate Reflect and Light Screen's usage, although a dual screens set is heavily outclassed by Uxie, which does the job much better.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Escavalier**: Due to Escavalier's Bug / Steel typing and good defenses, it can come in against almost all of Cresselia's attacks with ease, as well as Toxic or Thunder Wave. Choice Band Megahorn OHKOes all of Cresselia's sets, and Escavalier can also Pursuit trap Cresselia depending on how low its health is at.
**Steel-types**: Doublade resists two of Cresselia's most common attacks, and it can either begin to set up on it, put it on a timer with Toxic, or attack with its STAB Ghost-type moves. Defensive Steel-types like Registeel and Bronzong don't care about anything that Cresselia can throw their way, and they can put it on a timer with Toxic or use the opportunity to set up hazards. Durant has STAB Bug-type attacks and Black Hole Eclipse to deal huge damage to Cresselia, and it doesn't care much about Cresselia's attacks bar the rare Hidden Power Fire.
**Dark-types**: Without Fairy-type coverage, Cresselia can be left highly susceptible to a lot of Dark-types. Pangoro, Sharpedo, and Zororark can all deal massive damage with their STAB attacks. Zoroark can disguise itself as a Fighting- or Poison-type to trick Cresselia into going for a Psychic-type attack, giving it a free opportunity to deal massive damage with a STAB move or set up.
**Bug-types**: Durant has strong STAB attacks as well as Black Hole Eclipse in tandem with Hustle to deal huge damage to Cresselia and doesn't care much about Cresselia's attacks bar the rare Hidden Power Fire. Araquanid can trap it with Spider Web and eventually KO it with Toxic damage and STAB Liquidation. Yanmega's Bug Buzz does a chunk to Cresselia, and it doesn't take much damage in return from Cresselia's attacks.
**Bulky Setup Sweepers**: Curse Snorlax can set up against Cresselia with ease thanks to its great Special Defense. It also doesn't care about Toxic due to Rest and Immunity, and Snorlax can even beat Calm Mind Cresselia due to Defense boosts from Curse, considering Psyshock takes into account the foe's Defense, and Body Slam eventually overwhelming it due to Moonlight's low PP. Comfey can shut Cresselia down with Taunt and proceed to set up with Calm Mind because it is naturally faster.
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