RU Spotlight: Shaymin

Art by Tikitik.

Introduction

Shaymin has dominated the tier for a while now, boasting a plethora of different sets and proving itself as a metagame-defining Pokémon. It takes advantage of passive balance staples like Milotic and other influential Pokémon like Mega Blastoise. Fantastic stats all around let it revenge kill Pokémon like Swords Dance Bruxish and force out wallbreakers like Yanmega. Shaymin has great bulk for an offensive Pokémon, and that in conjunction with Synthesis allows it to switch into and check Pokémon like Zygarde-10% and Mega Blastoise throughout games. Its incredible versatility forces multiple turns of scouting and safe play to play around it correctly. For example, Pokémon like Noivern and Mandibuzz can easily lose to Shaymin, forcing your opponent to play carefully.

Shaymin's most common set, three attacks, is an extremely powerful option that can eventually run over many teams. Shaymin's versatility gives it potential to break past defensive answers such as Registeel with creative options like Leech Seed + Substitute. Z-Celebrate Shaymin has the potential to clean a multitude of teams or outright win games when supported by Pokémon like Alolan Golem. The Choice Scarf set threatens nearly every setup sweeper in the tier, only missing out on a couple of threats like Jolly Shell Smash Barbaracle and Dragon Dance Zygarde-10%.

Three Attacks

/ Shaymin @ Grassium Z / Life Orb

/ @ Grassium Z / Life Orb Ability: Natural Cure

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

Timid Nature

IVs: 0 Atk

- Seed Flare

- Earth Power

- Air Slash

- Synthesis

Shaymin's three attacks set has been its most influential and common set for quite a while since Nat popularized it early in SM. It can run a plethora of moves like Hidden Power Fire, which lets Shaymin beat a traditional defensive answer to Bronzong and surprise Escavalier trying to check it, and Hidden Power Ice to snipe switch-ins like Noivern. Seed Flare's potential to drop Special Defense can let Shaymin power through switch-ins like Bronzong. Also, thanks to Synthesis and Natural Cure, Shaymin is very hard to wear down and can stay healthy for entire games. This replay demonstrates Shaymin's ability to break down defensive checks with Life Orb-boosted attacks while also showcasing a creative option in Rest.

Leech Seed

Shaymin @ Leftovers

@ Leftovers Ability: Natural Cure

EVs: 252 HP / 36 SpA / 216 Spe

Timid Nature

IVs: 0 Atk

- Leech Seed

- Substitute / Protect

- Seed Flare

- Air Slash

Leech Seed + Substitute lets Shaymin outright ignore common switch-ins like Registeel. For example, if Shaymin uses Leech Seed or even Substitute as one of its defensive answers switches in, it can stall them out with a combination of Leech Seed and its other attacks, as it will be safely behind a Substitute. It can be compared to a more relevant Pokémon in OU, SubSeed Serperior, which can just beat Pokémon on the switch like Heatran that would normally threaten it. When building around Leech Seed Shaymin, take into account your team's weaknesses when deciding on the set. For example, a team weak to Milotic should opt for 252 Special Attack and Speed EVs to more easily pressure it, as Shaymin using the bulkier spread can be walled by variants running Special Defense investment. Here's a replay of Leech Seed Shaymin chipping down its answers throughout the game and eventually winning.

Z-Celebrate

Shaymin @ Normalium Z

@ Normalium Z Ability: Natural Cure

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

Timid Nature

IVs: 0 Atk

- Celebrate

- Seed Flare

- Air Slash

- Earth Power

Shaymin's standard coverage of Seed Flare + Air Slash + Earth Power lets it hit the majority of the metagame, letting it take out nuisances like Fire-types, Steel-types, and opposing Grass-types. When building around this set, consider using a trapper like Alolan Golem or Sneasel so that Shaymin doesn't have to worry about being walled late-game by defensive threats. Choice Band Alolan Golem in particular can trap annoying Steel-types like Bronzong and Registeel with Fire Punch and Earthquake, respectively, from the get-go so that Shaymin can potentially outright win. Creative options like Synthesis + Hidden Power Ice can be explored when paired with Alolan Golem, with Hidden Power Ice sniping checks like Mandibuzz and Noivern and Synthesis giving Shaymin longevity. Hidden Power Ice hits Grass-types as well, but make sure to chip them down before sweeping, as it's significantly weaker than Air Slash. A Modest nature can be run, but keep in mind that Shaymin will be slower than Pokémon like Choice Scarf Roserade.

Choice Scarf

Shaymin @ Choice Scarf

@ Choice Scarf Ability: Natural Cure

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

Timid Nature

- Seed Flare

- Healing Wish

- Air Slash

- Earth Power

Choice Scarf Shaymin hits a good Speed tier, outpacing a ton of setup sweepers like +1 Feraligatr and Adamant +2 Barbaracle and outspeeding other Choice Scarf users like Gardevoir. It obviously also has the speed to revenge kill wallbreakers like Virizion and Salazzle. Make sure to pack answers to defensive Pokémon like Cresselia and Mandibuzz that more offensive sets can power through, as Choice Scarf Shaymin's damage output is very lackluster and can have Seed Flare PP stalled very easily, leaving your team helpless against said defensive threats. Here's a replay showcasing Shaymin's ability to switch in and force out attackers as well as give powerful wallbreakers a second chance with Healing Wish.

Closing Words

Try Shaymin out in the RarelyUsed metagame. I can assure you that you won't be disappointed!