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[VGC] Cresselia Moveset - Special Attacker/Tank - Printable Version

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+---- Thread: [VGC] Cresselia Moveset - Special Attacker/Tank (/Thread-VGC-Cresselia-Moveset-Special-Attacker-Tank)

[VGC] Cresselia Moveset - Special Attacker/Tank - Black117 - Feb 26, 2015

[Image: cresselia.gif]
Cresselia


Typing: Psychic
Base Stats: HP: 120 / Attack: 70 / Defense: 120 / Sp. Atk: 75 / Sp. Def: 130 / Speed: 85
Immune: Ground moves (Levitate)
Resist: Fighting (x1/2), Psychic  (x1/2)
Weak: Bug (x2), Ghost (x2), Dark (x2) ,
Style: Attack
Variant: Special Attacker
Ability: Levitate - Grants immunity to Ground type moves as well as Spikes and Toxic Spikes


Notable Moves:


Psychic
Moonblast
Moonlight
Safeguard
Psycho Shift
Psyshock
Calm Mind
Toxic
Hidden Power (RIP HP Fighting :,c)
Sunny Day
Ice Beam
Protect
Light Screen
Rain Dance
Shadow Ball
Reflect
Rest
Energy Ball
Thunder Wave
Psych Up
Swagger
Sleep Talk
Substitute
Trick Room
Gravity
Helping Hand
Icy Wind
Magic Coat
Skill Swap

OVERVIEW
If there is a Pokemon that has been consistent in nearly every year in the VGC format, it's definitely Cresseila. Blessed with a nearly 120/120/130 overall defenses, this Space Duck isn't going down anytime soon. Over the years, Cresselia is often considered among the best Speed Control Pokemon in the game with access to three: Thunder Wave, Icy Wind, and Trick Room. Though her low base 75 Special Attack is considerably poor compared to the likes of other special attackers,  Cresselia can still be an offensive threat and with proper investment, heck an invested Cresselia can beat a Landorus-T or even Mega Salamence with just one Ice Beam. One of the many attributes I love about Cresselia is how adaptive it's movesets can be to fit any style of team archetypes whether its' bulky offense or trick room. Of course, Cresselia has a rather shallow movepool, its one many few Pokemon that can stick around for awhile and dictate the battlefield to it team's favor if given the opportunity . This build showcased here takes a rather unique spin to Cresselia by turning this Space Duck into an bulky tank while still maintaining an supportive role.

DuckHunt Cresselia @Rocky Helmet/Safety Goggles/Colbur Berry
Ability: Levitate
EVs:  HP 228 / Def 116 / SpA 116 / SpD 4 / Spe 44 (6 leftover evs)
Nature: Bold
- Calm Mind
- Moonlight
- Icy Wind / Ice Beam
- Psyshock / Psychic / Moonblast


The Build
This set is a deviation from the traditional defensive Cresselias that most of you all who have seen in previous VGC years. Initially when I was team building my first VGC 2015 team, I wanted to take advantage of Cresselia naturally high defenses to support the team as long as possible.  I have tried some interesting moves such as Skill Swap, Thunder Wave, Helping Help, and Screens (Reflect and Light Screen),  yet I felt that Cresselia was always a sitting duck with little to no offensive presence (which it literally was during practice sessions). Then I realized that most VGC teams tend to have a "surprise" Pokemon up their sleeves and knowing Cresselia has a titanic defenses (120/120/130), I thought that maybe I can build around Cresselia herself instead of it being a supporting cast member.

First off, Calm Mind is one of the best setup moves in the entire game as it boost both the special stats by one stage (x1.5). Usually whenever Cresselia and with a Screener such as Rotom-W since I tend to either go with Calm Mind and either Reflect/Light Screen from my specially  to stack Cresselia's overall bulk through the roof. Its astonishing how many special hit Cresselia can take after these boost while it can begin picking off pokemon with its boosted attacks. Keep in mind however, Calm Mind is best "saved" whenever Cresselia has the chance to setup considering the opponent might start doubling up on the space duck. Moonlight was added just because I needed a move that can give Cresselia longevity whenever I'm setting up at least two Calm Minds. Honestly, Moonlight itself is Cresselia's saving grace as it can just throw off my opponent momentum completely off guard and either continue setting up or attacking with either the combination of Icy Wind, Psyshock, Moonblast, etc. In addition, I can use Moonlight in conjunction of Rocky Helmet just to wear down any physical attackers like Mega Kangaskhan, Landorus-T, Mega Salamence, Mega Metagross, Mega Swampert, Bisharp, etc. Sometimes I do alternate items between Rocky Helmet, Safety Goggles, or even Colbur Berry just to give Cress more setup opportunities. Icy Wind is a very annoying speed control attack which drops the both opposing pokemon's speed by one stage. This move alongside Moonlight has been clutch in so many situation its not even funny. Best example of this move being clutch both during a semi-final and finals match against Abruptfury and Dunsel. In all of these matches, Cresselia used Icy Wind at the most critical junction of the battle and it effectively shifted the battle all to my favor. After the speed drops, my opponent's Pokemon were slow enough for either my own Pokemon (Landorus-T, Mega Kang, or Heatran at the time) effectively pick them off. I'll link the battle codes of those matches in the description. During that tourney, I wanted to try out Moonblast as a semi alternate attack to at least hit Bisharp. In the end, Psyshock was main attacking move that made Cresselia go "mixed" and hit AV users harder.

Keep in mind, player need to address whether Cresselia can either go for Icy Wind drops or setup with Cali Mind at the right moment instead of blindly going for one repeatedly. Remember even with the special stat boosts from Calm Mind, Cresselia won't 1HKO opposing Pokemon because of its low special attack stat. Most of the time, Cresselia is essentially doing chip damage against my opponent for my other Pokemon to effectively knock them out.  Lately I switch Icy Wind for Ice Beam since there are situations where I cannot hit a Pokemon like Landorus-T because I risk giving say Bisharp or Milotic a Defiant/Competitive boost.  Don't expect Cresselia to "sweep" in a VGC battle because there are pokemon capable of walling this set like Aegislash, Bisharp, Hydreigon, Snarl users, or etc, which is why I have Pokemon like Heatran, Terrakion, Mega Kangaskhan, Sylveon, Mega Charizard Y, Landorus-T, and etc just to help her out. I did mention that Cresselia can work best when given screen support such as from Rotom-W or Raikou as it make her into a formidable wall/tank. Yes it requires setup and turns, but this can ensure Cresselia can get off Calm Minds or an transform her into an offensive tank.  


Offensive Calculations:

  • With one or two calm mind boost with 116 SpA evs:
    +1 116 SpA Cresselia Psyshock vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Mega Kangaskhan: 63-75 (34.8 - 41.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO (potential 2HKO if Kang takes rocky helmet damage
    +1 116 SpA Cresselia Psyshock vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Mega Charizard Y: 76-91 (49.6 - 59.4%) -- 99.6% chance to 2HKO
    1 116 SpA Cresselia Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 180 Def Amoonguss: 134-158 (60.6 - 71.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Black Sludge recovery
    +1 116 SpA Cresselia Icy Wind (spread) vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mega Salamence: 92-112 (54.1 - 65.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
    +1 116 SpA Cresselia Icy Wind (spread) vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Garchomp: 100-120 (54.6 - 65.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
    +1 116 SpA Cresselia Icy Wind (spread) vs. 56 HP / 0 SpD Landorus-T: 104-124 (60.8 - 72.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
    +2 116 SpA Cresselia Psyshock vs. 232 HP / 84+ Def Suicune: 63-75 (30.8 - 36.7%) -- guaranteed 4HKO after Leftovers recovery
    +1 116 SpA Cresselia Psyshock vs. 96 HP / 116 Def Sylveon: 76-90 (41.7 - 49.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

Defensive Calculations:

  • With one or two calm mind boost :
    252+ SpA Mega Charizard Y Heat Wave vs. +1 228 HP / 4 SpD Cresselia in Sun: 61-73 (27.2 - 32.5%) -- guaranteed 4HKO
    252+ SpA Mega Charizard Y Overheat vs. +1 228 HP / 4 SpD Cresselia in Sun: 114-135 (50.8 - 60.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
    252+ SpA Choice Specs Pixilate Sylveon Hyper Voice vs. +1 228 HP / 4 SpD Cresselia: 58-69 (25.8 - 30.8%) -- guaranteed 4HKO
    252+ SpA Sheer Force Mega Camerupt Heat Wave vs. +1 228 HP / 4 SpD Cresselia: 51-60 (22.7 - 26.7%) -- 21.2% chance to 4HKO
    252+ SpA Mega Camerupt Eruption (150 BP) vs. +1 228 HP / 4 SpD Cresselia: 61-73 (27.2 - 32.5%) -- guaranteed 4HKO
    252+ Atk Life Orb Bisharp Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 228 HP / 116+ Def Cresselia: 164-195 (73.2 - 87%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
    252+ SpA Mega Abomasnow Blizzard vs. +1 228 HP / 4 SpD Cresselia: 42-51 (18.7 - 22.7%) -- 70.5% chance to 4HKO after hail damage
    252+ SpA Choice Specs Hydreigon Dark Pulse vs. +1 228 HP / 4 SpD Cresselia: 116-140 (51.7 - 62.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
    252+ Atk Parental Bond Mega Kangaskhan Double-Edge vs. 228 HP / 116+ Def Cresselia: 117-139 (52.2 - 62%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
    252+ Atk Aerilate Mega Salamence Double-Edge vs. 228 HP / 116+ Def Cresselia: 112-133 (50 - 59.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
    252+ Atk Mega Swampert Waterfall vs. 228 HP / 116+ Def Cresselia in Rain: 88-105 (39.2 - 46.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
    252+ Atk Huge Power Mega Mawile Sucker Punch vs. 228 HP / 116+ Def Cresselia: 124-146 (55.3 - 65.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Summary:
In conclusion, Calm Mind Cresselia can nasty surprise against one who expect a more Defensive/Support Pokemon in VGC. With the right amount of support, Cresselia becomes an offensive, self-sustaining tank capable of swaying the momentum of the battle to your favor.

Thanks for the read!

RE: Cresselia - Attack (Tank) - Justin - Feb 26, 2015

Holy crap great job on this build! really detailed!

RE: [VGC] Cresselia Moveset - Attack (Tank) - Podfighterninja123 - May 21, 2015

Detailing it is all that counts, i may use it some day if i need a bulk set :P

RE: [VGC] Cresselia Moveset - Attack (Tank) - Black117 - May 21, 2015

I would like to point out at if you use Calm Mind Cresselia in a "live tourney", chances are its will get timer stalled given players have 15 minutes to battle. Honestly it works better in Battle Spot since Cresselia has more time to setup and can actual timer stall the opposing team if it gets a ton of setup. Pokemon with Snarl, Encore, or heavy hitting attacks are you best bet to beat Calm Mind Cress.