Jirachi

This analysis was written by User:Raimon and formatted by User:charizard8888
Jirachi is an interesting pokemon in the 1v1 metagame, relying on outspeeding and flinching the opponent for a win, because with Serene Grace both of Jirachi's stabs, Iron Head and Heart Stamp, gain a 60% chance to flinch. It has a good defensive typing in Steel and Psychic, being able to take on common threats such as Tapu Lele and Kyurem-Black. Jirachi does not need to soley rely on its ability to flinch the whole time, as it can outspeed and 2HKO offensive pokemon such as Porygon-Z and Mega Lopunny. The access to Trick in its movepool allows it to cripple bulkier pokemon not holding Z-Stones or Mega Stones and easily defeat them, such as Chansey. Certain good matchups like crustle and mega-venusaur are still more unreliable than other Pokémon’s good matchups since they still rely on flinches. Jirachi's high speed stat lets it outspeed the entire unboosted metagame in tandem with Choice Scarf.
=Choice Scarf=
Jirachi @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Iron Head
- Heart Stamp
- Trick
- Fire Punch
==Set Comments==
===Moves===
Iron Head is the main move of the set, and is very spammable. Provided RNG is in your favour you can flinch opponents such as Tapu Koko and Primarina into submission. Heart Stamp is the secondary stab, and is preferred to zen headbutt for the increased accuracy and flinch chance. It allows Jirachi to have a better matchup versus Charizard Mega-X or Y, once again provided RNG is in your favour. Trick allows Jirachi to cripple bulkier pokemon such as Chansey and Porygon2 and easily flinch them into submission. Fire Punch allows Jirachi to hit steel types which are unlikely to be flinched to death such as Ferrothorn, Genesect, Mega Scizor and Magnezone
===Set Details===
Max speed and max attack with a jolly nature is run to maximise the damage output and speed of Jirachi, reducing the amount of flinches needed to win, and also being fast enough to outspeed and flinch the pokemon it needs to such as Tapu Fini and Kyurem-Black. Choice Scarf allows Jirachi to outpace a majority of the metagame including threats such as Tapu Koko and Jumpluff, giving Jirachi an opportunity to win via spamming its flinching moves. Serene Grace is the main reason Jirachi is able to function as well as it is, giving its stabs the ability to flinch opposing pokemon into submission
===Usage Tips===
At team preview look if the opponent has any bulky steels which resist both stabs, or a pokemon which can easily OHKO Jirachi such as Mega Charizard, as its unlikely you will flinch every time to get the win versus these pokemon, although it is possible. As it is a choice pokemon, its easy to use, just click the appropriate flinch move and pray, or use the coverage move to hit resistances to the stabs
===Team Options===
Garchomp is a very good team mate, being able to outspeed and OHKO both Charizard Mega evolutions easily, as well as beating bulky steels such as mega metagross and aegislash which could trouble Jirachi. Kyurem-Black likewise is very good for the same reasons. Heatran is also a good team mate, as it deals with offensive fire types like Mega Charizard-X or Y which can trouble Jirachi, in return for Jirachi beating fighting types which trouble Heatran. Charizard Mega-X or Y are both good options for dealing with bulky steels which are annoying for Jirachi to face, such as mega metagross, aegislash, celesteela, mega mawile.
=Strategy Comments=
==Other Options==
Special Jirachi with Calm Mind is usable, however its outclassed by the choice scarf set, and other pokemon such as Tapu Lele which perform the role of bulky offensive special Psychic pokemon better. The only reason special is remotely good is because phsyical scarf is expected.
==Checks and Counters==
*Strong offensive Fire types: Pokemon such as Mega Charizard-X or Y are able to easily OHKO Jirachi
*Bulky steel types: Pokemon such as celesteela and Mega Metagross take barely any damage from Jirachi's stabs, and even with fire punch it can not really touch them, and is easily defeated
*Bulky Pokemon: Bulky pokemon which take 4 or more flinches to take out from Jirachi are unfavourable match ups for Jirachi, such as mega gyarados
Category:Analyses