v3 when fam?
First up let's discuss my favorite Mega Mawile set.
Mega Mawile seems to be doing alright in SM. Its raw power is definitely carrying it places, and Swords Dance is still as terrifying to switch-in as ever. The nerf to Sucker Punch and Psychic Terrain being a potential factor does harm Mega Mawile a bit, but it's still a pretty powerful Pokemon that I think will be used effectively once more people have used it more and the meta progresses. Let's talk about my favorite set:
Mawile-Mega @ Mawilite
Ability: Intimidate
- Play Rough
- Sucker Punch
- Thunder Punch
- Focus Punch / Fire Fang
This is one of my more favorite All-Out Attacking variants of Mega Mawile at the moment. Mega Mawile often forces switches, so Focus Punch can be free game to catch anything like Heatran and Ferrothorn on the switch. It also does a significant amount of damage to Skarmory - if you're slower Roost Skarmory will be in huge trouble and Counter is the best move to fight back against you - which still means you'll get a lot of damage in. Thunder Punch is your best move against Toxapex and Celesteela while being an alternative way to beat Skarmory up if you're faster. Fire Fang (and Iron Head) are still acceptable moves on All-Out Attacker as well.
I recommend pairing with Koko; especially if you use Thunder Punch / Fire Fang as Thunder Punch will still do a fuckton to Heatran under Electric Terrain circumstances.
Is Brick Break a viable option on Mega Mawile?
I mean of course you lost the sheer power of Focus Punch but it sure is a hell lot more reliable if you're running Focus Punch without Substitute. I rather get chip damage off of a wrong prediction rather than be completely useless for a turn.
Focus Punch's main use is to kill Heatran in one hit but it's a risky play that could go wrong very badly or you have to give up an important coverage slot or SD slot for substitute to be on the safer side.
Brick Break basically neuters Heatran by taking a lot more than half its health away and to the point where Heatran is basically useless and can't come in on anything that hits it with neutral damage.
252+ Atk Huge Power Mawile-Mega Brick Break vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Heatran: 294-348 (91 - 107.7%) -- 43.8% chance to OHKO
252+ Atk Huge Power Mawile-Mega Brick Break vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Heatran: 294-348 (76.1 - 90.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
Both the offensive and defensive variants are heavily damaged and are taken out by Sucker Punch anyway. With some Stealth Rocks up and some chip damage done they are taken out in one hit.
Focus Punch is either a risky play or take another move slot up. Is its extreme power so good that it makes the reliable Brick Break not viable in comparison?
Focus Punch in general makes you a lot harder to switch into and it puts Skarmory into really bad spots:
252+ Atk Huge Power Mega Mawile Focus Punch vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Skarmory: 175-207 (52.3 - 61.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Huge Power Mega Mawile Focus Punch vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Skarmory while Roosting: 350-414 (104.7 - 123.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
It also helps against scenarios where you're missing Iron Head and need to do significant damage to Mega Mawile (assume already Mega Evolved) and Magearna:
252+ Atk Huge Power Mega Mawile Focus Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Magearna: 274-323 (91 - 107.3%) -- 81.3% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252+ Atk Huge Power Mega Mawile Brick Break vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Magearna: 137-162 (45.5 - 53.8%) -- 92.6% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252+ Atk Huge Power Mega Mawile Focus Punch vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Mega Mawile: 255-300 (83.8 - 98.6%) -- 37.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252+ Atk Huge Power Mega Mawile Brick Break vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Mega Mawile: 128-151 (42.1 - 49.6%) -- 26.6% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock
Obviously the very latter scenario could have Intimidate as a factor, but it just helps demonstrate that you're still hard to switch into.
Focus Punch has its cons, but the problem is simply Brick Break is too weak and doesn't really punish any switch-ins as significantly as you want it to. Brick Break for example 2HKOes Ferrothorn, so that's 2 rolls of Iron Barbs (+ potential Rocky Helmet) against your Mega Mawile. Focus Punch also means you don't have to beat Skarmory on Roosting, so you can afford to be bulkier to help take neutral hits easier as well.