[SET]
name: PuP + Encore
move 1: Frustration
move 2: High Jump Kick
move 3: Power-Up Punch
move 4: Encore
item: Lopunnite
ability: Limber
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
Frustration is capable of blowing apart frailer opponents like Weavile and Volcarona after Stealth Rock and 2HKO-ing Tapu Lele, Tornadus-T and Choice Scarf Landorus-T. Frustration is also used over Return to prevent Ditto from having access to a strong STAB option if it turns into Lopunny, with many Ditto being at maximum happiness which significantly reduces Frustration's power. High Jump Kick nails Kartana, Ferrothorn and Heatran for a OHKO while being the strongest STAB move Mega Lopunny's arsenal. Power-Up Punch is used as a way to boost Mega Lopunny's Attack stat while doing decent chip damage to anything wanting to switch-in on it, with boosted Frustration being able to 2HKO Toxapex and Gliscor and making High Jump Kick OHKO Mega Mawile. Encore is used to take advantage of defensive Pokemon clicking status moves, such as Landorus-T and Heatran using Stealth Rock, Toxapex using Recover, or Latias-Mega and Gliscor using Roost. This interaction creates an awkward scenario for the opponent, forcing them to switch into a powerful STAB move or give Lopunny a free turn to set up with Power-Up Punch.
Set Details
========
A Jolly nature on Mega Lopunny allows it to outpace Ash-Greninja, Tapu Koko and Modest Mega Alakazam, which are all important targets for it to outspeed.
Usage Tips
========
This set is most effective as a wallbreaker and a sweeper, using the Attack boost from Power-Up Punch to puncture holes through teams while disrupting defensive walls with Encore. Mega Lopunny should be brought in whenever one of its powerful STAB moves are best to use, handling threats such as Heatran and Greninja when given entry by a slow pivoting move or as a revenge killer. Forcing defensive switch-ins like Toxapex or Gliscor to recover their HP is ideal, as locking them into their respective move with Encore gives Mega Lopunny the opportunity to set up with Power-Up Punch while the opponent must choose to switch out or stay in with their crippled Pokemon. Lopunny must be careful of strong defensive switch-ins that can immediately threaten it like Clefable or Zapdos, as well as Rocky Helmet users like Landorus-T, so it must be played much more carefully into these matchups.
Team Options
========
Mega Lopunny loves to be paired with other wallbreakers that can work in tandem with it to break apart the opposing team while covering its weaknesses, as well as teammates that love it's ability to disrupt defensive checks. Offensive partners such as Kartana, Garchomp and Victini work excellently with it, being able to weaken defensive walls for Lopunny to sweep with boosted attacks, with Kartana taking on Slowbro and Clefable, Garchomp beating down Landorus-T, Zapdos and Toxapex, and Victini destroying Skarmory and Celesteela. Defensive pivots that can make up for Lopunny's inability to switch in to most moves safely such as Landorus-T, Rotom-W and Assault Vest Magearna are fantastic options, with the former baiting in Tornadus-T and opposing Landorus-T and the latter two forcing in Chansey, Ferrothorn and Magnezone. Landorus-T also acts as a hazard setter with access to Stealth Rock, helping bring down opposing Pokemon in range of a Power-Up Punch into a STAB option. Other hazard setters such as Ferrothorn, Heatran, Greninja and the aforementioned Garchomp also work lovely with Lopunny, with Ferrothorn and Heatran having a particularly good match up into Clefable while walling Skarmory, and Greninja being able to pressure Slowbro while being able to switch into Weavile's Ice Shard in a pinch. Magnezone can act as a surefire way to trap and handle Steel-types Lopunny may not want to deal with while having an excellent matchup into other physically defensive walls it can not break through confidently, forcing them to use their recovery or status moves which Lopunny can Encore them into.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rae.540289/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user2.102/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.103/
Last edited:
