Continuing our Trick Room setter analysis series (click here if you missed the Mimikyu article) our second will focus on a Pokémon with little usage (barring a second place finish at US nationals in 2013) throughout the history of VGC; introducing Misdreavus!
Its base stats are hugely underwhelming for the most part; 60/60/85 spread across bulk isn’t too fantastic, until eviolite is added into the mix. Similarly to Mimikyu, Misdreavus has fairly high speed for a Trick Room user and an acceptable base Special Attack stat for a defensive Pokémon.
It’s important to note that, with fairly low base stats, Misdreavus will often need the support of its partner Pokémon to avoid two powerful attacks so Trick Room can be set.
Set 1: Swallower of Z Moves
Misdreavus @ Eviolite
Ability: Levitate
Level: 50
EVs: 236 HP / 76 Def / 196 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
– Pain Split
– Trick Room
– Will-O-Wisp
– Shadow Ball
If you look on Sun and Moons damage calculator for a Misdreavus calc, you’ll come across a similar spread to this. However, that particular spread wastes a few HP EV’s as often full investment isn’t completely necessary. Thanks to the Eviolite and a crafty EV spread, this Misdreavus can survive many of the most powerful Z moves available in the format
Special:
252+ SpA Tapu Lele Shattered Psyche (175 BP) vs. 236 HP / 196+ SpD Eviolite Misdreavus in Psychic Terrain: 138-163 (83.6 – 98.7%) — guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Raichu-Alola Shattered Psyche (175 BP) vs. 236 HP / 196+ SpD Eviolite Misdreavus in Psychic Terrain: 102-121 (61.8 – 73.3%) — guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Gengar Never-Ending Nightmare (160 BP) vs. 236 HP / 196+ SpD Eviolite Misdreavus: 152-182 (92.1 – 110.3%) — 56.3% chance to OHKO
252+ SpA Golduck Hydro Vortex (185 BP) vs. 236 HP / 196+ SpD Eviolite Misdreavus in Rain: 118-141 (71.5 – 85.4%) — guaranteed 2HKO
Physical:
252+ Atk Gyarados Hydro Vortex (160 BP) vs. 236 HP / 76 Def Eviolite Misdreavus: 130-154 (78.7 – 93.3%) — guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Metagross Shattered Psyche (160 BP) vs. 236 HP / 76 Def Eviolite Misdreavus: 136-162 (82.4 – 98.1%) — guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Talonflame Supersonic Skystrike (190 BP) vs. 236 HP / 76 Def Eviolite Misdreavus: 117-138 (70.9 – 83.6%) — guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Arcanine Inferno Overdrive (190 BP) vs. 236 HP / 76 Def Eviolite Misdreavus: 142-168 (86 – 101.8%) — 12.5% chance to OHKO
The moveset is fairly straight forward and based off a Trick Room set I used on Jellicent in VGC 15. Will-O-Wisp is invaluable to this set as the ability to cripple physical attackers, whilst being able to take powerful special hits due to the EV spread, makes Misdreavus difficult to knock out cleanly without double targeting. Pain Split takes the place of recover adding to Misdreavus’s survivability whilst also being able to chip the opposing Pokémon.
The attacking move comes down to personal preference between Night Shade and Shadow Ball. Shadow Ball offers some important damage to Pokémon it is super effective against whilst Night Shade combines nicely with Will-O-Wisp and Pain Split in wearing bulkier opposition down.
0 SpA Misdreavus Shadow Ball vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Tapu Lele: 72-86 (49.3 – 58.9%) — 98.4% chance to 2HKO
0 SpA Misdreavus Shadow Ball vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Metagross: 86-104 (55.1 – 66.6%) — guaranteed 2HKO
0 SpA Misdreavus Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 68 SpD Marowak-Alola: 86-104 (51.4 – 62.2%) — guaranteed 2HKO
0 SpA Misdreavus Shadow Ball vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Kartana: 63-75 (46.6 – 55.5%) — 71.5% chance to 2HKO
However, if you find your team struggling more against physical attackers:
Set 2: Physical moves? Lol.
Misdreavus @ Eviolite
Ability: Levitate
Level: 50
EVs: 236 HP / 252 Def / 20 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
– Pain Split
– Trick Room
– Will-O-Wisp
– Shadow Ball
This set functions the same as the above set; only, instead of guaranteeing survival against the most powerful special Z moves in the game, this Misdreavus survives some of the strongest physical attacks in the meta:
252+ Atk Gigalith Continental Crush (180 BP) vs. 244 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Misdreavus: 114-135 (68.6 – 81.3%) — guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Kartana Bloom Doom (175 BP) vs. 244 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Misdreavus: 126-148 (75.9 – 89.1%) — guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Metagross Shattered Psyche (160 BP) vs. 244 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Misdreavus in Psychic Terrain: 153-180 (92.1 – 108.4%) — 50% chance to OHKO
188+ Atk Thick Club Marowak-Alola Shadow Bone vs. 244 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Misdreavus: 144-170 (86.7 – 102.4%) — 12.5% chance to OHKO
252+ Atk Thick Club Marowak-Alola Shadow Bone vs. 244 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Misdreavus: 152-180 (91.5 – 108.4%) — 43.8% chance to OHKO
252+ Atk Gyarados Hydro Vortex (160 BP) vs. 244 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Misdreavus in Rain: 144-171 (86.7 – 103%) — 18.8% chance to OHKO
Whilst still surviving some of the more common special attacks around:
252+ SpA Life Orb Tapu Lele Psychic vs. 244 HP / 12 SpD Eviolite Misdreavus in Psychic Terrain: 125-148 (75.3 – 89.1%) — guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Tapu Koko Thunderbolt vs. 244 HP / 12 SpD Eviolite Misdreavus in Electric Terrain: 106-126 (63.8 – 75.9%) — guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Raichu-Alola Thunderbolt vs. 244 HP / 12 SpD Eviolite Misdreavus in Electric Terrain: 72-85 (43.3 – 51.2%) — 6.3% chance to 2HKO
252+ SpA Choice Specs Torkoal Eruption (150 BP) vs. 244 HP / 12 SpD Eviolite Misdreavus in Sun: 133-157 (80.1 – 94.5%) — guaranteed 2HKO
Misdreavus has access to other interesting moves which could be utilised based on what your team needs most. I couldn’t find space for any of these in the two stock spreads, but feel use the moves and EV spreads from the sets above as a starting point, to create a Misdreavus tailored to your specific needs!
Moves – Honourable mentions:
Hex
Perish Song
Destiny Bond
Thunder Wave
GoldenrodPress 
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