Overview
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Espeon is, in a word, outclassed. Nearly every role Espeon can fulfill, another Pokemon can do better. Espeon's main competitor is Deoxys-S, which is better than Espeon in both offensive and supportive roles, boasting much higher Speed, superior coverage, and access to Stealth Rock. Magic Bounce is a goosolid ability, but Espeon struggles to make good use of it because of its frailty and bad defensive typing. However, Espeon does still haves its uses in the OU metagame. It is great at shutting down Deoxys-D and other hyper offense leads, while also being able toand can prevent Stealth Rock from going up without wastby simply being a turn using Taunton the field. It also makes Baton entire playstylePass teams viable in full Baton Pass, as Magic Bounce is a necesswith its ability for these teams. All in all, while there is generally very little reason to use Espeon in OU, it still manages to carve itself a small niche.
Dual Screens
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name: Dual Screens
move 1: Light Screen
move 2: Reflect
move 3: Baton Pass
move 4: Yawn / Psychic / Psyshock
ability: Magic Bounce
item: Light Clay
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
nature: Timid
Moves
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Espeon can support sweepers weak to Stealth Rock with Light Screen and, Reflect, in addition toand Magic Bounce, let Espeon support Stealth Rock weak sweepers by giving them a much easier time setting up and keeping entry hazards off the field. Baton Pass is useful because it maintains momentum, which is important in orderd helps to make the most of the 8eight turns that Light Screen and Reflect last. It also allows Espeon to escape Pursuit from the likes of Tyranitar, Bisharp, and Aegislash unscathed. Hidden Power Fighting can be used over Baton Pass to surprise and OHKO unsuspecting Bisharp, but it has little use otherwise. Yawn may sound gimmicky at first, but it is great for forcing switches and allowing a sweeper to come in for free. It also prevents Espeon from becoming setup fodder. PsychicEspeon can be used to give Espeonrun Psychic for a STAB attack so it has a way of defending itself with. However, Espeon is fairly weak without investment or a boosting item, so the move isn't all that useful. Additionally, withouif Espeon does not run Yawn, Espeon has even there is littless of a reason to be used it over Deoxys-S. Psyshock hits special walls harder than Psychic does, but Espeon cannot deal much damage to defensive Pokemon regardless sincedue to it is rather weaklack of power.
Set Details
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Maximum Speed investment makes full use of Espeon's good Speed tier, which letsstat, allowing it outspeed threats such as Keldeo and Terrakion. Max HP gives Espeon much-needed bulk, which is important for setting up screens. Light Clay is a must as it extends the number of turns that Light Screen and Reflect are active.
Usage Tips
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It is usually best to lead with Espeon in order to get Ddual Sscreens up as early as possible, especially against teams with Deoxys-D. However, youEspeon can also switch Espeon in on hazard setters or Pokemon that can't do much to it and proceed to set up screens. It is usually best to set up Reflect first, as it patches up Espeon's Defense stat is pathetic and easily takenDefense stat andvantage of. This allows Espeon to set up both screens much more easily. After both screens have been set up, immediately switch or Baton Pass to a sweeper in order to mtake thadvantage most of the few turns of screens you havem. If the opposing Pokemon threatens to set up on Espeon, youYawn can be use Yawnd to force it out and gain momentum with Baton Pass or an opportunity to set up. It is often better to use Yawn and let Espeon faint after setting up screens than keeping it around, as this way you can maintain momentum much more easily.
Team Options
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This set should be used in conjunction with setup sweepers in orderweak to Stealth Rock to give them an easy time setting up. This set should only be used with sweepers thatHowever, if Espeon's partners are not weak to Stealth Rock, as Deoxys-S is otherwise a much better Ddual Sscreens setter. Mega Charizard X abhors Stealth Rock and is already fairly bulky, so it is a good teammate tofor this set. Mega Pinsir, Bulk Up Talonflame, Dragon Dance Dragonite, and Volcarona are also good partners for the same reasons. Keldeo is a good partner tofor this set because it can easily sdeal witch in on the Dark-types that often switch in on Espeon. Terrakion is similar in this regard and loves getting a Justified boost fromwhen it switchinges into a Dark-type move.
Baton Pass
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name: Baton Pass
move 1: Baton Pass
move 2: Stored Power
move 3: Morning Sun / Substitute
move 4: Dazzling Gleam
ability: Magic Bounce
item: Leftovers
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
nature: Bold
Moves
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Baton Pass is obviously mandatory, as it is what even allows this set to work in the first place. Stored Power reaches a frighteningly high bBase pPower after a lot ofenough boosts are accrued, which letsallowing Espeon to sweep late in the game. Morning Sun is used to keep Espeon healthy, as it needs to be able to switch in on a moment's notice. Substitute can be used in case Espeon'sa teammate's Substitute getis broken, but cutting down on Espeon's health is rarely a good idea for any reason. Dazzling Gleam hits the Dark-types that are immune to Stored Power for super effectively damage, particularly Sableye, the greatest enemy to Baton Pass teams.
Set Details
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Max Defense and HP are used becauseinvestment is run as Espeon needs to be as healthbulky as possible at all times in order to be able switch into opposing Pokemon, with the goal of bouncing back phazing moves or Taunts. Similarly, Leftovers is the preferred item because ithey allows Espeon to remain healthy without relying too much on Morning Sun.
Usage Tips
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This set is only useful on dedicated Baton Pass teams. Espeon is by far the most useful Pokemon on any full Baton Pass team, and is in fact what makes such teams viable in the first place. Espeon has two crucial roles on full Baton Pass teams. The most important of these roles stems from Espeon's immunity to moves whichthat would otherwise stop Baton Pass teams dead in their tracks. These, which include Whirlwind, Taunt, Roar, and Encore. The second role Espeonit plays on Baton Pass teams is that of a sweeper., as Stored Power is ridiculously strong after a few boosts, and is even capable of destroying even Pokemon that resist it. Only attempt to sweep when youEspeon haves enough boosts, particularly in Speed, Defense, and Special Defense. Espeon, as it may end up having to take multiple priority hits as it attempts to sweep, so making sure it can survive them is crucial. Baton Pass to Espeon whenever you predict a phazing move, Taunt, or Encore. This is very important because if one of these moves hits, recovering from way, as it is nearly impossible as it essentially forces you to startto recover after being hit by one of these match over. Always bs. Be sure to always have a Substitute up, as it is the only way to protect Espeon and its teammates from critical hits. It also blocks status-inducing moves and Leech Seed. Whatever you doAs a general rule, don't let Espeon die. It's just too important. Losing Espeon nearly always results in a loss, wherget KOed, as it's crucial to its team's losing any other Pokemon can still be recovered fromsuccess.
Team Options
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Scolipede is nearly mandatory on Baton Pass teams. It is by far the best Pokemon to, as it can reliably pass Speed boosts with, and it can also pass Defense boosts with Iron Defense. Mr. Mime is another near-required Pokemon. It is the only hope Baton Pass teams have of beating, as it is immune to Perish Song. It also, and has handy immunities to Roar, Dragon Tail, and Bug Buzz. Mr. Mime is far from useless outside of its immunities, though. I, as it can Baton Pass Calm Mind boosts and Substitutes, while it also hasand has access to the ever-handy Encore, which is great f. Vapor setting up on one of Mr. Mime's many immuncan be a good partner, as ities. Vaporeon has a useful immunity to Water-type moves and, can boost its Defense with Acid Armor. It also, has great defensive stats, and possesses a good typing, so it is useful for walling certain threats. Mew has a plethora of boosting moves, the most notable of which is the rare Amnesia. It also has access toincluding Calm Mind and, Iron Defense, though these aren't exactly hard moves to fit on other Pokemonably, Amnesia. Celebi has a useful defensive typing and access to Calm Mind, though its manyultitude of common weaknesses can hold it back, particularespecially its weakness to Flying-type attacks. Zapdos has a great typing and can boost with Charge or Agility. Scizor is a very helpful teammate as it is great at defeating Unaware Clefable, which otherwise laughs at Baton Pass teams. It can also, and can boost with Iron Defense orand Swords Dance. Mawile is the only Pokemon in the game with the combination of Intimidate and Baton Pass. It, has a fantastic typing, and it can pass Iron Defense and Swords Dance boosts. Smeargle can learn every move in the game, but Ingrain is the only one that makes it worthreason to using over oe it, as ther Pokemon is Ingrain, whichve gives the entire team an incredibly useful immunity to Roar and Whirlwind, which gdecreatly lessenssing the pressure on Espeon and Mr. Mime to block . Furthese moves. It alsormore, it has a handy health-restoring effect. However, Smeargle has pitiful bulk and is very match-up dependent, as it is completely useless against common leads such as Deoxys-D.
Other Options
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Espeon can run an offensive set, but it faces harsh competition from a plethora of other Psychic-types, mainly Deoxys-S, Latios, and Alakazam, all of which outclass offensive Espeon for one reason or another. In addition, such a set is very easily walled by common Pokemon and fares even worse against Espeon's usual checks and counters. Because it has such glaring flaws, and is outclassed by so many Pokemon, offensive Espeon is rarely, if ever, worth using. Espeon has access toWhile a Calm Mind. While this set may seem appealing at first becausdue tof Espeon's good Special Attack and Speed stats, in addition to as well as its immunity to Roar and Whirlwind, it is actually a terrible option for. Calm Mind Espeon. This is because of Espeon' struggles against many common opponents due to its awful Pphysical bulk, bad defensive typing, and susceptibility to nearly every common form of priority in the OU tier. Because of this, in addition to the fact that Calm Mind Espeon still struggles against many very common and good Pokemon, Espeon will rarely, if ever, be able to sweep against skilled opponents.
Checks & Counters
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**Dark-types**: Dark-types, particularly Tyranitar, Bisharp, Mandibuzz, and Greninja, are a huge issue for Espeon. The main re, ason is that they can easily knockKO Espeon out with atheir strong STAB moves. The other reasoIn is thaddition, they are immune to Stored Power, so they and can impede Espeon's sweep. However, many of them take quite a bit of damage from a boosted Dazzling Gleam.
**Aegislash**: Aegislash crumbles Espeon with little effort. It can OHKOes it with Shadow Ball and, 2HKOes with Shadow Sneak. It can also, and trap Espeon with Pursuit. Aegislash takes very little damage from any of Espeon's attacks save for a greatly boosted Stored Power.
**Scizor**: Scizor can easily come in on Espeon and gain momentum off of it or flat-out OHKO it with U-turn. It can also pick off a weakened Espeon with Bullet Punch.
**Physical aAttackers**: Espeon has awful physical bulk, so most physical attackers can easily 2HKO it with a neutral STAB move. Examples include Talonflame, Garchomp, and Excadrill. Additionally, Baton Pass Tteams as a whole struggle when put under a lot of pressure by obsceneld by powerful attackers such as Choice Band Staraptor and Mega Heracross, the latter of which can bypass Substitutes with its multi-hit moves.
**Prankster Taunt**: While they obviously don't beat Espeon itself, Prankster Taunt users such as Thundurus and Sableye are a huge problem for Baton Pass teams.
