[OVERVIEW]
Lunala sets itself apart from the myriad special attackers in Ubers with its solid offensive presence, wallbreaking power, and access to one of the best Ghost-type attacks in the game: Moongeist Beam, which has few answers outside of Dark- and Normal-types. Lunala isn't short on coverage options either, which helps it pressure threats that would normally check it, such as Yveltal and Arceus-Dark. A key aspect of Lunala's viability is Shadow Shield, which makes it difficult to revenge kill without prior damage or powerful super effective hits, a challenge that is made even harder by its good special bulk. With these attributes in mind, Lunala is able to utilize a variety of wallbreaking sets such as Calm Mind and Choice Specs, making it a flexible option for many types of offensive teams. Lunala is also able to outspeed the base 90 Speed tier along with some notable threats such as Rayquaza and Tapu Lele, but it isn't as fast as many commonplace offensive threats such as Xerneas, Yveltal, Arceus, Mega Salamence, and Mega Lucario if it doesn't have a Z-Hypnosis boost. Its typing, while offering good immunities, renders it four times weak to Ghost and Dark, with the former having a lethal revenge killer in Marshadow and Pokemon of the latter being able to prevent Lunala from using Moongeist Beam freely and possibly being able to Pursuit trap it. Despite Moongeist Beam's respectable power, it only has 8 PP, meaning Lunala gradually loses effectiveness over the course of the match. It also needs support to keep Shadow Shield intact, which not all offensive teams can accommodate for. Lunala's wallbreaking prowess makes it a solid option to consider when teambuilding, but it faces heavy competition from Marshadow as an offensive Ghost-type due to Marshadow's Speed and coverage options.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Moongeist Beam
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Psyshock / Hypnosis
item: Ghostium Z / Psychium Z
ability: Shadow Shield
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Calm Mind gives Lunala a substantial power boost, providing it with the ability to break down bulkier teams and even sweep if it gains a Z-Hypnosis boost. Moongeist Beam's power is greatly improved by a Calm Mind boost and Ghostium Z, along with being the best STAB option Lunala has in its arsenal. Focus Blast rounds out Lunala's perfect neutral coverage and can tear apart Dark-types and non-Chople Berry Extreme Killer Arceus without residual damage. Psyshock is a great tool for dealing with special walls without needing to use Calm Mind, particularly Blissey and Chansey, since they nullify Moongeist Beam and Never-Ending Nightmare and can take a Calm Mind-boosted Focus Blast. Hypnosis has many uses, which include putting Dark-types and other threats to Lunala to sleep and potentially giving Lunala a Speed boost and a better matchup against offense through Z-Hypnosis.
Set Details
========
Ghostium Z gives Lunala access to Never-Ending Nightmare, which flattens anything that doesn't have significant special bulk or a resistance to Ghost. This power boost is not to be underestimated, as Lunala can KO defensive Ho-Oh, support Arceus, defensive Primal Groudon, and defensive Primal Kyogre if Stealth Rock is up and Lunala has a Modest nature. Psychium Z, however, opens up a more sweeper-oriented playstyle with Z-Hypnosis, which gives Lunala a Speed boost by one stage when used. This can give Lunala an almost free turn to set up a Calm Mind, render threats such as Dark-types inactive, and improve Lunala's matchup against offense. Maximum investment in Special Attack and Speed gives Lunala the greatest potential to use its offensive prowess effectively. A Modest nature is the preferred option for Ghostium Z and Psyshock sets, maximizing Lunala's wallbreaking capabilities and increasing the offensive presence of Never-Ending Nightmare, Calm Mind and Psyshock. Otherwise, a Timid nature should be used with Psychium Z and Hypnosis, as Lunala can then outspeed and get off a Hypnosis on Modest Yveltal, some variants of support Arceus, and 124 Speed Extreme Killer Arceus while getting the greatest Speed boost from Z-Hypnosis.
Usage Tips
========
Never-Ending Nightmare, when coupled with a Calm Mind boost, is easily one of the strongest attacks in the tier. Despite this, Dark-types can take this attack rather comfortably, so saving Ghostium Z when facing Dark-types such as Yveltal, Alolan Muk, and Tyranitar is a good idea when attempting to break down bulkier teams. Z-Hypnosis is a great option against offensive teams, but it doesn't serve much of a purpose against slower, defensive team archetypes, as a simple Calm Mind boost and using Hypnosis on Dark-types or other threats is a safer option. Keeping Shadow Shield active over the course of the match is extremely important, as it is a solid back-up option for setting up Calm Mind safely, and a safety net if a boosted Never-Ending Nightmare fails to KO a dangerous foe or Focus Blast or Hypnosis misses when attacking. Shadow Shield is also integral for the Z-Hypnosis set's safety when facing Marshadow, as a Life Orb-boosted Shadow Sneak can KO Lunala without Shadow Shield up. Setting up a Calm Mind after putting Lunala's checks to sleep with Hypnosis is the preferred method of Z-Hypnosis sets, but some targets can be 2HKOed without a Calm Mind boost, so be aware of Lunala's damage output as to not waste a precious sleep turn with Calm Mind when two Moongeist Beams would do the job better. Using Z-Hypnosis on Dark-types and Pursuit trappers can remove their utility and effectiveness against Lunala. Arceus-Dark and Yveltal are prime examples of Z-Hypnosis targets, as they are faster than unboosted Lunala and Arceus-Dark is unable to use Defog when asleep. Be very prudent with Z-Hypnosis, as using its boost too early can waste the boost and remove the set's benefits and Lunala's potential advantage against offensive teams.
Team Options
========
Yveltal can cover Lunala's severe weakness to Ghost- and Dark-types, as well as potentially wear down the opposition to the point that Lunala only needs a Z-Hypnosis boost to sweep. Fairy-types such as Xerneas, Arceus-Fairy, and Magearna provide solid answers to Dark-types such as Arceus-Dark and Yveltal. Magearna prevents Arceus-Dark from getting into Calm Mind wars with Lunala by using Heart Swap, while Xerneas can save a paralyzed Lunala with Aromatherapy. Arceus-Fairy can provide Defog support to protect Shadow Shield and can take on Marshadow effectively. Sticky Web users such as Smeargle and Shuckle can alleviate the need for a Z-Hypnosis boost and the difficulty of using Never-Ending Nightmare safely, making them good partners for this Lunala variant. Entry hazard removal is vital to help prevent breaking Shadow Shield early into a match, as Shadow Shield can potentially be a fallback for a Hypnosis or Focus Blast miss. Because of this, entry hazard removers such as support Arceus, Excadrill, Cloyster, and Giratina-O can assist Lunala in getting the most out of its bulk from Shadow Shield. Stealth Rock users can help Lunala power through checks and break potential stops to a Z-Hypnosis sweep such as Focus Sash Pokemon when facing offensive teams, so Primal Groudon, Landorus-T, and Dialga are helpful partners. Like Sticky Web users, carriers of a paralysis move such as Primal Groudon, Klefki, Giratina-O, and Zygarde can remove the need for a Z-Hypnosis boost and make Never-Ending Nightmare easier to use, since it allows Lunala to outspeed faster threats and potential checks.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Moongeist Beam
move 2: Focus Blast
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Psyshock / Thunder
item: Choice Specs
ability: Shadow Shield
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Moongeist Beam is extremely powerful when boosted by Choice Specs, allowing Lunala to be more reckless when using it against bulkier Dark-types such as Alolan Muk and Tyranitar. Focus Blast, however, is still the superior option against Dark-types, cleanly KOing non-Chople Berry variants of Extreme Killer Arceus and Tyranitar with no residual damage, as well as chunking Arceus-Dark. Ice Beam always KOes Mega Salamence and Zygarde-C and hits Yveltal hard. Psyshock is a useful tool for Lunala to circumvent Blissey and Chansey, as they are the only special walls that can handle a Calm Mind-boosted Focus Blast and ignore Never-Ending Nightmare. Thunder can be used over Psyshock to better break through defensive Ho-Oh and defensive Primal Kyogre, as Psyshock doesn't OHKO Ho-Oh and 2HKO Primal Kyogre after Stealth Rock. Also, Thunder can KO Celesteela after Stealth Rock damage.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack and Speed investment allows Lunala to use its wallbreaking assets to its greatest potential. With the power boost from Choice Specs, a Timid nature can be used without a significant power drop and doesn't make Lunala miss out on too many KOs. A Timid nature also lets Lunala outspeed Rayquaza, 124 Speed Arceus formes, and neutral Speed Xerneas and Yveltal and lets it Speed tie with opposing Lunala in a worst-case scenario. Alternatively, a Modest nature gives Lunala more power, letting it deal more damage to Ho-Oh and get a KO on Arceus-Dark with Focus Blast after Stealth Rock, but it loses the ability to outspeed Yveltal and 124 Speed Arceus formes, most notably Extreme Killer Arceus.
Usage Tips
========
Locking into Moongeist Beam can give Dark- and Normal-types an opportunity to switch in and force Lunala out, despite it doing more damage to Dark-types than typical Lunala sets. Yveltal in particular can come in on Moongeist Beam and threaten Lunala with Sucker Punch, while special walls such as Blissey and Chansey can take a Focus Blast and get a Wish off to assist checks to Lunala that lack recovery such as Alolan Muk. Locking into Moongeist Beam or Focus Blast is also dangerous if the opposing Arceus's forme is unknown, as both Arceus-Ghost and Extreme Killer Arceus can take advantage of one of them and set up for free. Thunder and Focus Blast's inconsistent accuracy can potentially lead to Lunala losing a turn, so be aware of these limits and try to get the most out of these moves. For example, an opportune use of Thunder can let Lunala lure in and KO Yveltal, which can give it more opportunities to use Moongeist Beam.
Team Options
========
Since this variant of Lunala has no way to boost its Speed and can potentially lock itself into an inopportune move, it is more vulnerable to Ghost- and Dark-types than Lunala sets with Calm Mind. Arceus-Dark and Yveltal both act as solid checks to Ghost and Dark-types, and Arceus-Dark can get more setup opportunities thanks to Lunala pressuring special walls such as Blissey, Chansey, and Ho-Oh with Psyshock. Yveltal is a good option for giving for Lunala more opportunities to switch in with U-turn, but the two overlap slightly in wallbreaking roles, and entry hazard removal would be in greater demand for the two of them. Entry hazard users can greatly help Lunala's wallbreaking capabilities and help it secure KOs. Notable entry hazard setters include Primal Groudon, Dialga, Landorus-T, Excadrill, and Cloyster. If Lunala carries Thunder, sweepers such as Z-Geomancy Xerneas, Mega Salamence, and Swords Dance Arceus formes greatly appreciate Lunala dealing with Celesteela, as well as physical walls for the latter two, with Moongeist Beam. Fairy-types such as Xerneas and Arceus-Fairy can fend off Dark-types, the latter in particular also deterring Marshadow, and appreciate Lunala's ability to pressure special walls with Psyshock. Paralysis users such as Zygarde, Klefki, and Primal Groudon can help alleviate Choice Specs Lunala's lower Speed and let it handle offense better.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Substitute can allow Lunala to set up on incoming Dark-types as well as protect itself from status or an attack after a Focus Blast miss, but it breaks Shadow Shield upon use and, therefore, must be used with caution. A defensive set of Lunala with Will-O-Wisp and Roost can provide an aspect of utility that Lugia does not, crippling physical attackers and providing an immunity to Shadow Tag. However, Lunala is slower and less physically bulky, and its poor defensive typing and weakness to Dark-types leave it more easily exploited, especially if Shadow Shield is broken, making it a niche option at best. In addition, Lunala would have to run Shadow Ball over Moongeist Beam to take maximum advantage of its longevity, which hurts its offensive presence. Alternatively, a defensive SubToxic set with Recover and Ice Beam or Shadow Ball can be used against team compositions that lack Steel-types, due to Toxic, at the cost of not covering physical attackers. A Lum Berry or Spooky Plate can be used on the Calm Mind variant of Lunala if a team member already has a Z-Crystal, as the former gives extra protection against status while the latter bestows a consistent power boost on Moongeist Beam. Fightinium Z makes Focus Blast more powerful against Dark-types, makes sure it always hits once, and lets Lunala KO bulkier variants of Arceus-Dark and Extreme Killer Arceus after Stealth Rock. However, Lunala loses the benefits from Never-Ending Nightmare and Z-Hypnosis, and faster variants of these Arceus formes bypass this benefit and can KO Lunala with either a boosted Judgment or Shadow Claw, respectively. Moonblast is a more accurate alternative to Focus Blast against Dark-types, but it overlaps in coverage with Ice Beam and doesn't offer enough power to pressure bulkier Dark-types such as Tyranitar and Alolan Muk. Magic Coat can lure potential status users and cripple them instead, greatly increasing Lunala's longevity and effectiveness against tankier foes such as support Arceus formes, but it takes up an important moveslot that can be used for a coverage option such as Ice Beam or Psyshock.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Yveltal**: Due to Dark Aura and its Speed tier, Yveltal can easily outspeed and KO Lunala through Shadow Shield with nearly every Dark-type move that it has, most notably Sucker Punch, which can revenge kill Lunala through Shadow Shield if Yveltal is given proper investment. Yveltal's bulk is also rather troublesome, with it using Roost or Oblivion Wing to mitigate the damage of all of Lunala's moves bar a Choice Specs-boosted Ice Beam or Thunder. However, Dark Pulse cannot KO Lunala with Shadow Shield intact and a Calm Mind boost.
**Alolan Muk**: Alolan Muk can confidently tank any of Lunala's attacks and can either chunk it with Pursuit as it switches out, Knock Off Lunala's item choice and potentially KO it after Stealth Rock, or revenge kill it with Shadow Sneak if Lunala has been worn down enough.
**Arceus-Dark**: Though it is 2HKOed by Focus Blast and can be setup fodder to Z-Hypnosis Lunala, Arceus-Dark is wholly capable of dealing with most variants of Lunala with Judgment. Lunala also has to switch out if Arceus-Dark switches into a Choice-locked Moongeist Beam, giving Arceus-Dark a free turn to do whatever it wants.
**Ho-Oh**: Ho-Oh is very effective at handling Lunala if Stealth Rock isn't up, because it is able to take Never-Ending Nightmare and Choice Specs Moongeist Beam to a degree. It also can nullify Shadow Shield and the possibility of it being restored by HP recovery with Toxic and Sacred Fire burns, making it a formidable foe for Lunala. Stealth Rock, however, is a heavy impediment to Ho-Oh's defenses, and Ghostium Z and Choice Specs Lunala can ignore its special bulk if the entry hazard remains.
**Tyranitar**: Tyranitar can take advantage of Choice-locked variants of Lunala when they are not locked into Focus Blast by negating Shadow Shield with Sand Stream and trapping it with Pursuit. If played correctly, Tyranitar can massively reduce the effectiveness of Calm Mind Lunala and Choice Specs Lunala through the course of a match.
**Marshadow**: Marshadow can easily dispatch Lunala with Spectral Thief if Lunala does not have a Z-Hypnosis boost, and can even revenge kill the Z-Hypnosis set with Shadow Sneak if Shadow Shield is broken. However, Marshadow's poor bulk prevents it from switching into Lunala unless it is Choice-locked into an inopportune move such as Focus Blast or Ice Beam.
**Entry Hazards**: Lunala is vulnerable to both Stealth Rock and Spikes, which break Shadow Shield and make Lunala more prone to either being revenge killed or weakened by strong attacks.
**Status**: All forms of status conditions greatly harm Lunala in some way. Both Toxic poison and burns, which normally wouldn't affect special attackers too much, remove Lunala's Shadow Shield benefits, and paralysis cripples Lunala's Speed and any advantage it has against offensive teams. Because of this, Lunala must play carefully against common status carriers such as Chansey and defensive Ho-Oh, which can potentially take hits and retaliate with Toxic or Sacred Fire, respectively.
**Arceus-Ghost**: If Lunala doesn't have a Z-Hypnosis boost, Arceus-Ghost can either force it out or KO it with an unboosted Shadow Force due to it being faster than Lunala, but it crumbles to Moongeist Beam if it is outsped.
**Extreme Killer Arceus**: Similarly to Arceus-Ghost, Extreme Killer Arceus variants that have more than 124 EVs invested in Speed can outspeed Lunala variants lacking Z-Hypnosis. However, it needs to use Swords Dance to KO Lunala with a Life Orb-boosted Shadow Claw and falls to Focus Blast after Stealth Rock damage, despite Focus Blast being inconsistent at times.
**Mega Gengar**: Though Shadow Tag doesn't work on Ghost-types like Lunala, Mega Gengar can outspeed and revenge kill Lunala if Shadow Shield is not active with either Shadow Ball or a status-boosted Hex.
**Support Arceus**: Support Arceus formes such as Arceus-Water, Arceus-Ground, and Arceus-Fairy can cripple Lunala with Toxic and stall out Moongeist Beam's low PP with Recover unless Lunala uses either a Calm Mind-boosted Never-Ending Nightmare or Z-Hypnosis. Some support Arceus formes can outspeed Lunala due to their typical Speed investment exceeding the positive base 90 Speed tier.
[OVERVIEW]
* Lunala is a formidable special attacker with access to Moongeist Beam, the best Ghost-type move in the game, which has very few direct switch-ins outside of Dark-types.
* Diverse coverage options which Lunala can use to pressure opposing Pokemon that would otherwise check it.
* Good special bulk coupled with Shadow Shield makes Lunala difficult to revenge kill without strong super-effective hits or prior damage.
* Useful sets such as Choice Scarf and Calm Mind gives Lunala a chance to fit on many offensive teams as a revenge killer, wallbreaker or sweeper.
* Choice Scarf Lunala in particular is an excellent choice against offense; immunity to Normal and Fighting make it an effective check to both Extreme Killer Arceus and Mega Lucario, and is a solid answer to Psychic Terrain teams.
* Lunala is able to outspeed the base 90 Speed tier and some notable threats such as Rayquaza and Tapu Lele, but isn't as fast as offensive staples such as Xerneas, Yveltal, Arceus, and Mega Lucario if it doesn't have a Choice Scarf.
* Despite offering useful immunities, Lunala's typing renders it four times weak to Ghost and Dark, which the latter takes advantage of by preventing Lunala from using Moongeist Beam freely.
* Shadow Shield needs support to remain intact through the course of a match, something that offensive teams cannot always provide.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Moongeist Beam
move 2: Focus Blast
move 3: Psyshock
move 4: Ice Beam
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Shadow Shield
nature: Modest
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Moongeist Beam is Lunala's strongest attack, and hits anything that isn't a Dark- or Normal-type for neutral damage.
* Focus Blast is Lunala's most powerful option against Dark-types as well as Extreme Killer Arceus and gives Lunala perfect neutral coverage, but is rather inconsistent due to its accuracy.
* Psyshock hits special walls and tanks hard such as Blissey, Ho-Oh and Primal Kyogre by exploiting their physical defense, and hits hard due to STAB boosts.
* Ice Beam is effective in revenge killing Mega Salamence, as well as doing massive damage to both Yveltal KOing Zygarde-C.
Set Details
========
* Maximum Speed investment with a Modest nature lets Choice Scarf Lunala outspeed Deoxys-A, neutral natured Pheromosa, and bulkier variants of Mega Salamence with one Dragon Dance boost.
* A Timid nature outspeeds Pheromosa and below while surprising Modest variants of Choice Scarf Xerneas and Yveltal, but loses a considerable amount of power to outspeed this benchmark.
* Choice Scarf is the main item of the set, mitigating Lunala's poorer matchup against offense and bolsters its revenge killing potential, and a Modest nature increases Lunala's power enough to threaten bulkier opponents such as Zygarde-C, Arceus, and Yveltal.
Usage Tips
========
* Shadow Shield is an extremely effective tool in Lunala's role as a revenge killer; usually Lunala can survive multiple hits thanks to the reduced damage it offers. Because of this, keeping away from residual damage, be it Sand, status or entry hazards, is vital to Lunala's longevity.
* This variant of Lunala works best against offense and Psychic Terrain archetypes, as it outspeeds most offensive unboosted Pokemon, can revenge kill Deoxys-A, the centerpiece of Tapu Lele cores, and can KO bulkier threats such as Extreme Killer Arceus with Focus Blast after Stealth Rock damage. Maintaining momentum against offensive teams is what gets Lunala opportunities to switch in and shine against them.
* Paralysis absolutely cripples Choice Scarf Lunala, as not only that its Speed is hampered, but it can potentially waste Shadow Shield's benefits by being unable to move after being attacked. Avoid paralysis as much as possible.
* Be cautious when using Moongeist Beam against a team carrying Pursuit users or threatening Dark-types in general, which can quickly end Lunala's offensive presence if not addressed properly.
* Locking into Moongeist Beam also poses a problem against teams with an unknown Arceus forme, as it can potentially give Extreme Killer Arceus a free turn to set up.
* Though Lunala can effectively revenge kill opposing threats, racking up residual damage against sturdier opponents is recommended in case something goes wrong, especially against foes that can KO Lunala through Shadow Shield, such as a boosted Extreme Killer Arceus' Shadow Claw.
* Moongeist Beam ignores defensive abilities such as Multiscale and Sturdy, and Shadow Shield is not ignored by Mold Breaker and Teravolt, so Lunala can be used to deal with a variety of targets such as Lugia, Skarmory, Mega Gyarados and Zekrom.
Team Options
========
* Ghost- and Dark-type resistances are important to have when teambuilding to ease the pressure that those types have on Lunala. Pokemon such as Yveltal and Arceus-Dark can accomplish this while having the ability to break through bulkier teams for Lunala to finish off after they have been weakened.
* Entry hazard removers are integral to keeping Shadow Shield intact for as long as possible. Notable users of Rapid Spin or Defog include Cloyster, Excadrill, support Arceus formes, and Giratina-O. However, using Giratina-O is not recommended as it makes Dark-types such as Yvetal trickier to deal with.
* Mega Lucario can offensively check Arceus-Dark and potentially gain a Justified boost when switching in on Judgments from slower sets. It is also extremely good at breaking down walls and bulkier teams that Choice Scarf Lunala struggles to deal with.
* Entry hazard setters such as Primal Groudon, Dialga, Landorus-T, Excadrill, and Cloyster are useful in wearing down the opposing team and breaking Focus Sashes of notable revenge kill targets such as Deoxys-A. Removing opposing Lunala's Shadow Shield can also open up opportunities for Lunala to revenge kill them, as long as its own Shadow Shield remains intact.
* Xerneas can ward off Dark-types and can remove potential paralysis that Lunala can pick up with Aromatherapy.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Moongeist Beam
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Psyshock / Hypnosis
item: Ghostium Z / Psychium Z
ability: Shadow Shield
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Calm Mind lets Lunala set up on an asleep Pokemon, potentially sweep with both a Calm Mind boost and potentially Z-Hypnosis, breaking through bulkier teams as well as support Arceus formes.
* Moongeist Beam is the best STAB option that Lunala has, breaking through bulkier targets, especially after a Calm Mind.
* Focus Blast rounds out Lunala's perfect neutral coverage and tears apart Dark-types and Extreme Killer Arceus.
* Psyshock is a useful tool for Lunala to circumvent Blissey and Chansey, as they are the only special walls that can handle a Calm Mind-boosted Focus Blast and ignore Never-Ending Nightmare.
* Hypnosis can put many threats to sleep, including Dark-types, and Z-Hypnosis also increases Lunala's Speed by +1, easing its matchup against offense.
Set Details
========
* Ghostium Z allows Lunala to use Never-Ending Nightmare, which devastates anything that either doesn't have significant investment in special bulk or resists Moongeist Beam, including defensive Ho-Oh after minimal residual damage as well as support Arceus and both defensive Primal Groudon and defensive Primal Kyogre after Stealth Rock if Lunala has a Modest nature.
* Psychium Z, however, gives Lunala Z-Hypnosis, which boosts Lunala's Speed by one stage and the opportunity to set up a Calm Mind with almost no drawbacks if Hypnosis hits the opponent. Z-Hypnosis is very beneficial for Lunala outside of this, as it prevents Dark-types from acting against it and greatly improves its capabilities against faster teams.
* A Modest nature is preferred with both Ghostium Z and Psyshock, enabling Lunala to wallbreak to the best of its ability with both Calm Mind, Never-Ending Nightmare, and insurance against special walls with Psyshock.
* A Timid nature should be used with both Psychium Z and Hypnosis, as it helps Lunala get off Hypnosis or Z-Hypnosis against Yvetal, some variants of support Arceus, and 124 Speed Extreme Killer Arceus, along with getting as much Speed as possible from the Z-Hypnosis boost.
* Maximum Special Attack and Speed investment increases Lunala's power and improves its matchup versus offense.
Usage Tips
========
* Never-Ending Nightmare is one of the most powerful attacks in the tier if boosted by a Calm Mind, but it is usually taken quite well by most Dark-types, so preserving Ghostium Z's effects when facing Dark-types such as Yveltal, Tyranitar and Alolan Muk is important when looking to either clean or break through certain threats.
* Z-Hypnosis is more useful against offensive teams due to Lunala's average Speed, but doesn't make too much of an impact against bulkier, slower team archetypes, which simply using Calm Mind and putting Dark-types to sleep is more useful.
* Maintaining Shadow Shield is extremely important for Lunala over the course of a match, as it is a solid fallback option if Never-Ending Nightmare is not backed up by entry hazards or Hypnosis or Focus Blast misses when attempting to set up or attack.
* Setting up Calm Mind can prove to be difficult when not using Z-Hypnosis, so attempting to come in on double switches or bluffing a Choice Scarf set can be useful tips to safely use Calm Mind.
* Also, setting up Calm Mind when putting Lunala's checks to sleep with Hypnosis is normally the best course of action for Psychium Z sets, but knowing when an unboosted move will 2HKO a Pokemon regardless of the boost can secure a 2HKO instead of wasting an extra sleep turn with Calm Mind.
* Using Z-Hypnosis on Dark-types and Pursuit trappers is a smart move, as their utility is greatly reduced when unable to act. Dark-types such as Yveltal and Arceus-Dark are great options to use Z-Hypnosis on, as they are naturally faster than Lunala and the latter can potentially lose its ability to remove entry hazards with Defog for those sleep turns.
* As with most Z-Moves, the effects of Z-Hypnosis can only be used once, so using it too early can potentially waste the boost and remove this set's benefits against offense.
Team Options
========
* Yveltal provides a key Ghost- and Dark-type resistance for Lunala to rely on, and can break down bulkier offense teams so Lunala only needs to use Z-Hypnosis to sweep.
* Fairy-types such as Arceus-Fairy and Xerneas are solid answers to Dark-types and Yveltal, while Magearna prevents Arceus-Dark from setting up Calm Minds alongside Lunala with Heart Swap. Xerneas can also prevent Lunala from being crippled by paralysis with Aromatherapy support.
* Sticky Web users such as Smeargle and Shuckle relieve the need to use Z-Hypnosis and the difficulty of using Ghostium Z and Never-Ending Nightmare without a Timid nature, making them excellent partners for Ghostium Z Lunala.
* Entry hazard removal, be it Defog or Rapid Spin, is absolutely necessary to protect Shadow Shield in case of a Hypnosis miss, so effective entry hazard removers such as Excadrill, support Arceus formes, Cloyster, and Giratina-O are integral support options for Lunala.
* Stealth Rock users can help Lunala muscle through checks that are weakened and breaking potential Focus Sash users when facing offensive teams, so Primal Groudon, Landorus-T, and Dialga are potent team members in this case.
* Potential carriers of Thunder Wave or Glare such as Primal Groudon, Klefki, Giratina-O, and Zygarde can cripple faster threats so Lunala doesn't have to use Z-Hypnosis to outspeed its checks.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Moongeist Beam
move 2: Focus Blast
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Psyshock / Thunder
item: Choice Specs
ability: Shadow Shield
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Moongeist Beam is extremely powerful in tandem with Choice Specs, letting Lunala be a bit more reckless when facing Dark-types due to the increased power.
* Focus Blast, however, is still a powerful option against Dark-types, obliterating Extreme Killer Arceus, Arceus-Dark, and Tyranitar with no residual damage involved.
* Ice Beam always KOs Zygarde-C and Mega Salamence, and hits Flying-types such as Yveltal rather hard.
* Psyshock circumvents special walls such as Blissey and Chansey, while offering an alternative STAB option outside of Moongeist Beam.
* Thunder, however, trades the ability to decimate Dragon-types to better deal with Yveltal, physically defensive Ho-Oh, and defensive Primal Kyogre, as Psyshock doesn't OHKO defensive Ho-Oh after Stealth Rock damage and barely 2HKOs defensive Primal Kyogre after Stealth Rock damage. Thunder can also lure and KO Celesteela if Stealth Rock is up.
Set Details
========
* Maximum Special Attack and Speed investment allows Lunala to utilize its wallbreaking abilities to its greatest potential.
* Thanks to Choice Specs, a Timid nature is used without a noticeable drop in power and doesn't miss out on many KOs, and lets Lunala outspeed Rayquaza, 124 Speed Arceus formes, neutral Speed Xerneas and Yveltal, and Speed tie with opposing Lunala at worst.
* A Modest nature allows Lunala to get more power out of its move set, dealing extra damage to Ho-Oh and nabbing a guaranteed KO on Arceus-Dark after Stealth Rock, but it loses the ability to outspeed 124 Speed Arceus formes, including 124 Speed Extreme Killer Arceus.
Usage Tips
========
* Like the Choice Scarf set, locking into either Moongeist Beam or Focus Blast can give many Dark-types and Normal-types many opportunities to switch in and force Lunala out, though Moongeist Beam does a lot more damage to resistances. Yveltal in particular can usually come in on both and can threaten with Sucker Punch, and Normal-types such as Blissey and Chansey can tank a Focus Blast and can potentially use Wish to keep very important Lunala checks such as Alolan Muk healthy.
* Also, locking into either Focus Blast or Moongeist Beam is dangerous if the opposing Arceus forme is unknown, as both Arceus-Ghost and Extreme Killer Arceus can take advantage of one of them and set up for free, which is more dangerous since Lunala doesn't have enough Speed as the Choice Scarf set to revenge kill either of them.
* Both Thunder and Focus Blast's shoddy accuracy can put a damper on Lunala's wallbreaking potential, so be aware of these problems when locking into it.
* However, if Lunala carries Thunder, it can lure in and KO Yveltal if predicted correctly, which allows Lunala to use Moongeist Beam more freely.
Team Options
========
* Since this Lunala set isn't as fast as the Choice Scarf or Z-Hypnosis variants, it is more vulnerable to Ghost- and Dark-types as a result. Calm Mind Arceus-Dark can fill this role and doesn't have to worry about setting up as much due to Lunala handily dealing with special tanks such as Blissey and Chansey. Yveltal can also address this, and can safely bring in Lunala with U-turn, but the two overlap slightly as wallbreakers and better entry hazard control is usually needed.
* Entry hazard users can greatly help Lunala's wallbreaking capabilities and nabbing KOs. Notable entry hazard setters include Primal Groudon, Dialga, Landorus-T, Excadrill, and Cloyster.
* If carrying Thunder, physical sweepers such as Mega Salamence and Swords Dance Arceus formes greatly appreciate it removing Celesteela, a common Pokemon on balance teams, and severely damaging other physical tanks with Moongeist Beam.
* Fairy-types such as Xerneas and Arceus-Fairy can deal with Dark-types and takes advantage of Lunala's ability to exploit special walls with Psyshock.
* Paralysis is useful since this Lunala set isn't as fast as the Choice Scarf and Z-Hypnosis variants, so common users such as Primal Groudon, Klefki,
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Substitute is an effective option for Lunala to take advantage of opponents switching into Dark-types when it comes in, and can protect itself in case of status or if Focus Blast misses, but it breaks Shadow Shield upon use and thus must be used extremely carefully.
* A defensive set of Lunala with Will-O-Wisp and Roost can provide an aspect of utility that Lugia does not, crippling physical attackers and immunity to Shadow Tag. However, Lunala is slower and less bulky on the physical side, and its poor defensive typing and weakness to Dark-types is more easily exploited, especially if Shadow Shield is broken, making it a niche option at best. In addition, Lunala would have to run Shadow Ball over Moongeist Beam to maximize its longevity, which hurts its offensive presence.
* Alternatively, a defensive SubToxic set with Recover and Ice Beam or Shadow Ball could be used, but instead of dealing with physical attackers, this variant instead excels against team compositions that lack Steel-types due to Toxic.
* Lum Berry is an option on Calm Mind sets if a Z-Crystal slot is already used on the team and if status is a problem.
* Spooky Plate can also be used on Calm Mind sets that can't use a Z-Crystal, making Moongeist Beam pack more of a punch against bulkier teams.
* Fightinium Z makes Focus Blast more powerful and consistent against Dark-types, and can KO bulkier variants of both Extreme Killer Arceus and Arceus-Dark after Stealth Rock. However, faster variants bypass this benefit and can KO Lunala with either a boosted Shadow Claw or Judgment, respectively.
* Moonblast is a safer coverage option against Dark-types than Focus Blast, but it does overlap in coverage with Ice Beam while not offering enough power to potentially KO bulkier Dark-types such as Tyranitar.
* Magic Coat can lure potential status users and cripple them instead, greatly increasing Lunala's longevity and effectiveness against tankier opponents such as support Arceus formes, but takes up an important moveslot that can be used for coverage options such as Ice Beam or Psyshock.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Yveltal**: Due to Dark Aura and its Speed tier, Yveltal can easily outspeed and KO Lunala through Multiscale with nearly every Dark-type move that it has, most notably Sucker Punch, which can revenge kill Choice Scarf variants through Shadow Shield if given proper investment. However, Dark Pulse cannot KO Lunala with both Shadow Shield and a Calm Mind boost. Yveltal's bulk is also rather troublesome, with it using Roost or Oblivion Wing to mitigate the damage of all of Lunala's moves bar a Choice Specs-boosted Ice Beam or Thunder.
**Alolan Muk**: Alolan Muk can confidently tank any of Lunala's attacks and can either chunk it with Pursuit as it switches out, Knock Off Lunala's item choice and potentially KO it after Stealth Rock, or revenge kill it with Shadow Sneak if Lunala has been worn down enough.
**Arceus-Dark**: Though it is 2HKOed by Focus Blast and can be setup fodder to Z-Hypnosis Lunala, Arceus-Dark is wholly capable of dealing with non-Choice Scarf variants of Lunala with Judgment. Lunala also has to switch out if Arceus-Dark switches into a Choice-locked Moongeist Beam, giving Arceus-Dark a free turn to do whatever it wants.
**Ho-Oh**: Ho-Oh is very effective at handling Lunala if Stealth Rock isn't up, especially Choice Scarf sets due to their weaker offensive presence, though it is able to take Never-Ending Nightmare and Choice Specs Moongeist Beam to a degree. It also can nullify Shadow Shield and the possibility of it being restored conventionally with Toxic and Sacred Fire, making it a formidable opponent for Lunala. Stealth Rock, however, is a heavy impediment to Ho-Oh's defenses, and Ghostium Z and Choice Specs Lunala can ignore its special bulk if the entry hazard remains.
**Tyranitar**: Tyranitar can take advantage of Choiced variants of Lunala when they are not locked into Focus Blast by negating Shadow Shield with Sand Stream and trapping it with Pursuit. If played correctly, Tyranitar can massively reduce the effectiveness of both Choice Scarf and Choice Specs Lunala through the course of a match.
**Entry Hazards**: Lunala is vulnerable to both Stealth Rock and Spikes, which break Shadow Shield and make Lunala more prone to either being revenge killed or weakened by strong attacks.
**Status**: All forms of status conditions greatly harm Lunala in some way. Both Toxic and burns, which normally wouldn't affect special attackers too much, remove Lunala's Shadow Shield, and paralysis cripples Lunala's Speed and any advantage it has against offensive teams. Because of this, Lunala must play carefully against common status carriers such as Chansey and defensive Ho-Oh, which can potentially take hits and retailate with Toxic or Sacred Fire, respectively.
**Arceus-Ghost**: If Lunala doesn't have Choice Scarf or a Z-Hypnosis boost, Arceus-Ghost can either force it out or KO it with an unboosted Shadow Force due to it being faster than Lunala, but crumbles to Moongeist Beam if it is outsped.
**Extreme Killer Arceus**: Similarly to Arceus-Ghost, Extreme Killer Arceus variants that have more than 124 EVs invested in Speed can outspeed Lunala variants lacking Choice Scarf and Z-Hypnosis. However, it needs to use Swords Dance to KO Lunala with a Life Orb-boosted Shadow Claw and falls to Focus Blast after Stealth Rock damage, despite Focus Blast being inconsistent at times.
**Mega Gengar**: Though Shadow Tag doesn't work on Ghost-types, Mega Gengar can outspeed and revenge kill non-Choice Scarf Lunala if Shadow Shield is removed with either Shadow Ball or a status-boosted Hex.
**Support Arceus**: Support Arceus formes can cripple Lunala with Toxic and stall out Moongeist Beam's low PP with Recover unless Lunala uses either a Calm Mind-boosted Never-Ending Nightmare or Z-Hypnosis. Some support Arceus formes can outspeed Lunala due to their typical Speed investment exceeding the positive base 90 Speed tier.
* Lunala is a formidable special attacker with access to Moongeist Beam, the best Ghost-type move in the game, which has very few direct switch-ins outside of Dark-types.
* Diverse coverage options which Lunala can use to pressure opposing Pokemon that would otherwise check it.
* Good special bulk coupled with Shadow Shield makes Lunala difficult to revenge kill without strong super-effective hits or prior damage.
* Useful sets such as Choice Scarf and Calm Mind gives Lunala a chance to fit on many offensive teams as a revenge killer, wallbreaker or sweeper.
* Choice Scarf Lunala in particular is an excellent choice against offense; immunity to Normal and Fighting make it an effective check to both Extreme Killer Arceus and Mega Lucario, and is a solid answer to Psychic Terrain teams.
* Lunala is able to outspeed the base 90 Speed tier and some notable threats such as Rayquaza and Tapu Lele, but isn't as fast as offensive staples such as Xerneas, Yveltal, Arceus, and Mega Lucario if it doesn't have a Choice Scarf.
* Despite offering useful immunities, Lunala's typing renders it four times weak to Ghost and Dark, which the latter takes advantage of by preventing Lunala from using Moongeist Beam freely.
* Shadow Shield needs support to remain intact through the course of a match, something that offensive teams cannot always provide.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Moongeist Beam
move 2: Focus Blast
move 3: Psyshock
move 4: Ice Beam
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Shadow Shield
nature: Modest
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Moongeist Beam is Lunala's strongest attack, and hits anything that isn't a Dark- or Normal-type for neutral damage.
* Focus Blast is Lunala's most powerful option against Dark-types as well as Extreme Killer Arceus and gives Lunala perfect neutral coverage, but is rather inconsistent due to its accuracy.
* Psyshock hits special walls and tanks hard such as Blissey, Ho-Oh and Primal Kyogre by exploiting their physical defense, and hits hard due to STAB boosts.
* Ice Beam is effective in revenge killing Mega Salamence, as well as doing massive damage to both Yveltal KOing Zygarde-C.
Set Details
========
* Maximum Speed investment with a Modest nature lets Choice Scarf Lunala outspeed Deoxys-A, neutral natured Pheromosa, and bulkier variants of Mega Salamence with one Dragon Dance boost.
* A Timid nature outspeeds Pheromosa and below while surprising Modest variants of Choice Scarf Xerneas and Yveltal, but loses a considerable amount of power to outspeed this benchmark.
* Choice Scarf is the main item of the set, mitigating Lunala's poorer matchup against offense and bolsters its revenge killing potential, and a Modest nature increases Lunala's power enough to threaten bulkier opponents such as Zygarde-C, Arceus, and Yveltal.
Usage Tips
========
* Shadow Shield is an extremely effective tool in Lunala's role as a revenge killer; usually Lunala can survive multiple hits thanks to the reduced damage it offers. Because of this, keeping away from residual damage, be it Sand, status or entry hazards, is vital to Lunala's longevity.
* This variant of Lunala works best against offense and Psychic Terrain archetypes, as it outspeeds most offensive unboosted Pokemon, can revenge kill Deoxys-A, the centerpiece of Tapu Lele cores, and can KO bulkier threats such as Extreme Killer Arceus with Focus Blast after Stealth Rock damage. Maintaining momentum against offensive teams is what gets Lunala opportunities to switch in and shine against them.
* Paralysis absolutely cripples Choice Scarf Lunala, as not only that its Speed is hampered, but it can potentially waste Shadow Shield's benefits by being unable to move after being attacked. Avoid paralysis as much as possible.
* Be cautious when using Moongeist Beam against a team carrying Pursuit users or threatening Dark-types in general, which can quickly end Lunala's offensive presence if not addressed properly.
* Locking into Moongeist Beam also poses a problem against teams with an unknown Arceus forme, as it can potentially give Extreme Killer Arceus a free turn to set up.
* Though Lunala can effectively revenge kill opposing threats, racking up residual damage against sturdier opponents is recommended in case something goes wrong, especially against foes that can KO Lunala through Shadow Shield, such as a boosted Extreme Killer Arceus' Shadow Claw.
* Moongeist Beam ignores defensive abilities such as Multiscale and Sturdy, and Shadow Shield is not ignored by Mold Breaker and Teravolt, so Lunala can be used to deal with a variety of targets such as Lugia, Skarmory, Mega Gyarados and Zekrom.
Team Options
========
* Ghost- and Dark-type resistances are important to have when teambuilding to ease the pressure that those types have on Lunala. Pokemon such as Yveltal and Arceus-Dark can accomplish this while having the ability to break through bulkier teams for Lunala to finish off after they have been weakened.
* Entry hazard removers are integral to keeping Shadow Shield intact for as long as possible. Notable users of Rapid Spin or Defog include Cloyster, Excadrill, support Arceus formes, and Giratina-O. However, using Giratina-O is not recommended as it makes Dark-types such as Yvetal trickier to deal with.
* Mega Lucario can offensively check Arceus-Dark and potentially gain a Justified boost when switching in on Judgments from slower sets. It is also extremely good at breaking down walls and bulkier teams that Choice Scarf Lunala struggles to deal with.
* Entry hazard setters such as Primal Groudon, Dialga, Landorus-T, Excadrill, and Cloyster are useful in wearing down the opposing team and breaking Focus Sashes of notable revenge kill targets such as Deoxys-A. Removing opposing Lunala's Shadow Shield can also open up opportunities for Lunala to revenge kill them, as long as its own Shadow Shield remains intact.
* Xerneas can ward off Dark-types and can remove potential paralysis that Lunala can pick up with Aromatherapy.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Moongeist Beam
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Psyshock / Hypnosis
item: Ghostium Z / Psychium Z
ability: Shadow Shield
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Calm Mind lets Lunala set up on an asleep Pokemon, potentially sweep with both a Calm Mind boost and potentially Z-Hypnosis, breaking through bulkier teams as well as support Arceus formes.
* Moongeist Beam is the best STAB option that Lunala has, breaking through bulkier targets, especially after a Calm Mind.
* Focus Blast rounds out Lunala's perfect neutral coverage and tears apart Dark-types and Extreme Killer Arceus.
* Psyshock is a useful tool for Lunala to circumvent Blissey and Chansey, as they are the only special walls that can handle a Calm Mind-boosted Focus Blast and ignore Never-Ending Nightmare.
* Hypnosis can put many threats to sleep, including Dark-types, and Z-Hypnosis also increases Lunala's Speed by +1, easing its matchup against offense.
Set Details
========
* Ghostium Z allows Lunala to use Never-Ending Nightmare, which devastates anything that either doesn't have significant investment in special bulk or resists Moongeist Beam, including defensive Ho-Oh after minimal residual damage as well as support Arceus and both defensive Primal Groudon and defensive Primal Kyogre after Stealth Rock if Lunala has a Modest nature.
* Psychium Z, however, gives Lunala Z-Hypnosis, which boosts Lunala's Speed by one stage and the opportunity to set up a Calm Mind with almost no drawbacks if Hypnosis hits the opponent. Z-Hypnosis is very beneficial for Lunala outside of this, as it prevents Dark-types from acting against it and greatly improves its capabilities against faster teams.
* A Modest nature is preferred with both Ghostium Z and Psyshock, enabling Lunala to wallbreak to the best of its ability with both Calm Mind, Never-Ending Nightmare, and insurance against special walls with Psyshock.
* A Timid nature should be used with both Psychium Z and Hypnosis, as it helps Lunala get off Hypnosis or Z-Hypnosis against Yvetal, some variants of support Arceus, and 124 Speed Extreme Killer Arceus, along with getting as much Speed as possible from the Z-Hypnosis boost.
* Maximum Special Attack and Speed investment increases Lunala's power and improves its matchup versus offense.
Usage Tips
========
* Never-Ending Nightmare is one of the most powerful attacks in the tier if boosted by a Calm Mind, but it is usually taken quite well by most Dark-types, so preserving Ghostium Z's effects when facing Dark-types such as Yveltal, Tyranitar and Alolan Muk is important when looking to either clean or break through certain threats.
* Z-Hypnosis is more useful against offensive teams due to Lunala's average Speed, but doesn't make too much of an impact against bulkier, slower team archetypes, which simply using Calm Mind and putting Dark-types to sleep is more useful.
* Maintaining Shadow Shield is extremely important for Lunala over the course of a match, as it is a solid fallback option if Never-Ending Nightmare is not backed up by entry hazards or Hypnosis or Focus Blast misses when attempting to set up or attack.
* Setting up Calm Mind can prove to be difficult when not using Z-Hypnosis, so attempting to come in on double switches or bluffing a Choice Scarf set can be useful tips to safely use Calm Mind.
* Also, setting up Calm Mind when putting Lunala's checks to sleep with Hypnosis is normally the best course of action for Psychium Z sets, but knowing when an unboosted move will 2HKO a Pokemon regardless of the boost can secure a 2HKO instead of wasting an extra sleep turn with Calm Mind.
* Using Z-Hypnosis on Dark-types and Pursuit trappers is a smart move, as their utility is greatly reduced when unable to act. Dark-types such as Yveltal and Arceus-Dark are great options to use Z-Hypnosis on, as they are naturally faster than Lunala and the latter can potentially lose its ability to remove entry hazards with Defog for those sleep turns.
* As with most Z-Moves, the effects of Z-Hypnosis can only be used once, so using it too early can potentially waste the boost and remove this set's benefits against offense.
Team Options
========
* Yveltal provides a key Ghost- and Dark-type resistance for Lunala to rely on, and can break down bulkier offense teams so Lunala only needs to use Z-Hypnosis to sweep.
* Fairy-types such as Arceus-Fairy and Xerneas are solid answers to Dark-types and Yveltal, while Magearna prevents Arceus-Dark from setting up Calm Minds alongside Lunala with Heart Swap. Xerneas can also prevent Lunala from being crippled by paralysis with Aromatherapy support.
* Sticky Web users such as Smeargle and Shuckle relieve the need to use Z-Hypnosis and the difficulty of using Ghostium Z and Never-Ending Nightmare without a Timid nature, making them excellent partners for Ghostium Z Lunala.
* Entry hazard removal, be it Defog or Rapid Spin, is absolutely necessary to protect Shadow Shield in case of a Hypnosis miss, so effective entry hazard removers such as Excadrill, support Arceus formes, Cloyster, and Giratina-O are integral support options for Lunala.
* Stealth Rock users can help Lunala muscle through checks that are weakened and breaking potential Focus Sash users when facing offensive teams, so Primal Groudon, Landorus-T, and Dialga are potent team members in this case.
* Potential carriers of Thunder Wave or Glare such as Primal Groudon, Klefki, Giratina-O, and Zygarde can cripple faster threats so Lunala doesn't have to use Z-Hypnosis to outspeed its checks.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Moongeist Beam
move 2: Focus Blast
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Psyshock / Thunder
item: Choice Specs
ability: Shadow Shield
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Moongeist Beam is extremely powerful in tandem with Choice Specs, letting Lunala be a bit more reckless when facing Dark-types due to the increased power.
* Focus Blast, however, is still a powerful option against Dark-types, obliterating Extreme Killer Arceus, Arceus-Dark, and Tyranitar with no residual damage involved.
* Ice Beam always KOs Zygarde-C and Mega Salamence, and hits Flying-types such as Yveltal rather hard.
* Psyshock circumvents special walls such as Blissey and Chansey, while offering an alternative STAB option outside of Moongeist Beam.
* Thunder, however, trades the ability to decimate Dragon-types to better deal with Yveltal, physically defensive Ho-Oh, and defensive Primal Kyogre, as Psyshock doesn't OHKO defensive Ho-Oh after Stealth Rock damage and barely 2HKOs defensive Primal Kyogre after Stealth Rock damage. Thunder can also lure and KO Celesteela if Stealth Rock is up.
Set Details
========
* Maximum Special Attack and Speed investment allows Lunala to utilize its wallbreaking abilities to its greatest potential.
* Thanks to Choice Specs, a Timid nature is used without a noticeable drop in power and doesn't miss out on many KOs, and lets Lunala outspeed Rayquaza, 124 Speed Arceus formes, neutral Speed Xerneas and Yveltal, and Speed tie with opposing Lunala at worst.
* A Modest nature allows Lunala to get more power out of its move set, dealing extra damage to Ho-Oh and nabbing a guaranteed KO on Arceus-Dark after Stealth Rock, but it loses the ability to outspeed 124 Speed Arceus formes, including 124 Speed Extreme Killer Arceus.
Usage Tips
========
* Like the Choice Scarf set, locking into either Moongeist Beam or Focus Blast can give many Dark-types and Normal-types many opportunities to switch in and force Lunala out, though Moongeist Beam does a lot more damage to resistances. Yveltal in particular can usually come in on both and can threaten with Sucker Punch, and Normal-types such as Blissey and Chansey can tank a Focus Blast and can potentially use Wish to keep very important Lunala checks such as Alolan Muk healthy.
* Also, locking into either Focus Blast or Moongeist Beam is dangerous if the opposing Arceus forme is unknown, as both Arceus-Ghost and Extreme Killer Arceus can take advantage of one of them and set up for free, which is more dangerous since Lunala doesn't have enough Speed as the Choice Scarf set to revenge kill either of them.
* Both Thunder and Focus Blast's shoddy accuracy can put a damper on Lunala's wallbreaking potential, so be aware of these problems when locking into it.
* However, if Lunala carries Thunder, it can lure in and KO Yveltal if predicted correctly, which allows Lunala to use Moongeist Beam more freely.
Team Options
========
* Since this Lunala set isn't as fast as the Choice Scarf or Z-Hypnosis variants, it is more vulnerable to Ghost- and Dark-types as a result. Calm Mind Arceus-Dark can fill this role and doesn't have to worry about setting up as much due to Lunala handily dealing with special tanks such as Blissey and Chansey. Yveltal can also address this, and can safely bring in Lunala with U-turn, but the two overlap slightly as wallbreakers and better entry hazard control is usually needed.
* Entry hazard users can greatly help Lunala's wallbreaking capabilities and nabbing KOs. Notable entry hazard setters include Primal Groudon, Dialga, Landorus-T, Excadrill, and Cloyster.
* If carrying Thunder, physical sweepers such as Mega Salamence and Swords Dance Arceus formes greatly appreciate it removing Celesteela, a common Pokemon on balance teams, and severely damaging other physical tanks with Moongeist Beam.
* Fairy-types such as Xerneas and Arceus-Fairy can deal with Dark-types and takes advantage of Lunala's ability to exploit special walls with Psyshock.
* Paralysis is useful since this Lunala set isn't as fast as the Choice Scarf and Z-Hypnosis variants, so common users such as Primal Groudon, Klefki,
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Substitute is an effective option for Lunala to take advantage of opponents switching into Dark-types when it comes in, and can protect itself in case of status or if Focus Blast misses, but it breaks Shadow Shield upon use and thus must be used extremely carefully.
* A defensive set of Lunala with Will-O-Wisp and Roost can provide an aspect of utility that Lugia does not, crippling physical attackers and immunity to Shadow Tag. However, Lunala is slower and less bulky on the physical side, and its poor defensive typing and weakness to Dark-types is more easily exploited, especially if Shadow Shield is broken, making it a niche option at best. In addition, Lunala would have to run Shadow Ball over Moongeist Beam to maximize its longevity, which hurts its offensive presence.
* Alternatively, a defensive SubToxic set with Recover and Ice Beam or Shadow Ball could be used, but instead of dealing with physical attackers, this variant instead excels against team compositions that lack Steel-types due to Toxic.
* Lum Berry is an option on Calm Mind sets if a Z-Crystal slot is already used on the team and if status is a problem.
* Spooky Plate can also be used on Calm Mind sets that can't use a Z-Crystal, making Moongeist Beam pack more of a punch against bulkier teams.
* Fightinium Z makes Focus Blast more powerful and consistent against Dark-types, and can KO bulkier variants of both Extreme Killer Arceus and Arceus-Dark after Stealth Rock. However, faster variants bypass this benefit and can KO Lunala with either a boosted Shadow Claw or Judgment, respectively.
* Moonblast is a safer coverage option against Dark-types than Focus Blast, but it does overlap in coverage with Ice Beam while not offering enough power to potentially KO bulkier Dark-types such as Tyranitar.
* Magic Coat can lure potential status users and cripple them instead, greatly increasing Lunala's longevity and effectiveness against tankier opponents such as support Arceus formes, but takes up an important moveslot that can be used for coverage options such as Ice Beam or Psyshock.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Yveltal**: Due to Dark Aura and its Speed tier, Yveltal can easily outspeed and KO Lunala through Multiscale with nearly every Dark-type move that it has, most notably Sucker Punch, which can revenge kill Choice Scarf variants through Shadow Shield if given proper investment. However, Dark Pulse cannot KO Lunala with both Shadow Shield and a Calm Mind boost. Yveltal's bulk is also rather troublesome, with it using Roost or Oblivion Wing to mitigate the damage of all of Lunala's moves bar a Choice Specs-boosted Ice Beam or Thunder.
**Alolan Muk**: Alolan Muk can confidently tank any of Lunala's attacks and can either chunk it with Pursuit as it switches out, Knock Off Lunala's item choice and potentially KO it after Stealth Rock, or revenge kill it with Shadow Sneak if Lunala has been worn down enough.
**Arceus-Dark**: Though it is 2HKOed by Focus Blast and can be setup fodder to Z-Hypnosis Lunala, Arceus-Dark is wholly capable of dealing with non-Choice Scarf variants of Lunala with Judgment. Lunala also has to switch out if Arceus-Dark switches into a Choice-locked Moongeist Beam, giving Arceus-Dark a free turn to do whatever it wants.
**Ho-Oh**: Ho-Oh is very effective at handling Lunala if Stealth Rock isn't up, especially Choice Scarf sets due to their weaker offensive presence, though it is able to take Never-Ending Nightmare and Choice Specs Moongeist Beam to a degree. It also can nullify Shadow Shield and the possibility of it being restored conventionally with Toxic and Sacred Fire, making it a formidable opponent for Lunala. Stealth Rock, however, is a heavy impediment to Ho-Oh's defenses, and Ghostium Z and Choice Specs Lunala can ignore its special bulk if the entry hazard remains.
**Tyranitar**: Tyranitar can take advantage of Choiced variants of Lunala when they are not locked into Focus Blast by negating Shadow Shield with Sand Stream and trapping it with Pursuit. If played correctly, Tyranitar can massively reduce the effectiveness of both Choice Scarf and Choice Specs Lunala through the course of a match.
**Entry Hazards**: Lunala is vulnerable to both Stealth Rock and Spikes, which break Shadow Shield and make Lunala more prone to either being revenge killed or weakened by strong attacks.
**Status**: All forms of status conditions greatly harm Lunala in some way. Both Toxic and burns, which normally wouldn't affect special attackers too much, remove Lunala's Shadow Shield, and paralysis cripples Lunala's Speed and any advantage it has against offensive teams. Because of this, Lunala must play carefully against common status carriers such as Chansey and defensive Ho-Oh, which can potentially take hits and retailate with Toxic or Sacred Fire, respectively.
**Arceus-Ghost**: If Lunala doesn't have Choice Scarf or a Z-Hypnosis boost, Arceus-Ghost can either force it out or KO it with an unboosted Shadow Force due to it being faster than Lunala, but crumbles to Moongeist Beam if it is outsped.
**Extreme Killer Arceus**: Similarly to Arceus-Ghost, Extreme Killer Arceus variants that have more than 124 EVs invested in Speed can outspeed Lunala variants lacking Choice Scarf and Z-Hypnosis. However, it needs to use Swords Dance to KO Lunala with a Life Orb-boosted Shadow Claw and falls to Focus Blast after Stealth Rock damage, despite Focus Blast being inconsistent at times.
**Mega Gengar**: Though Shadow Tag doesn't work on Ghost-types, Mega Gengar can outspeed and revenge kill non-Choice Scarf Lunala if Shadow Shield is removed with either Shadow Ball or a status-boosted Hex.
**Support Arceus**: Support Arceus formes can cripple Lunala with Toxic and stall out Moongeist Beam's low PP with Recover unless Lunala uses either a Calm Mind-boosted Never-Ending Nightmare or Z-Hypnosis. Some support Arceus formes can outspeed Lunala due to their typical Speed investment exceeding the positive base 90 Speed tier.
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