The other Grass event legendary, Shaymin seems for the most part to play kind of like Celebi... until the Sky Forme makes its appearance. Whereas Land Forme Shaymin plays with a very balanced style that adapts to many situations, Sky Forme is an all-out sweeper capable of abusing Serene Grace to demolish teams before they have the chance to touch it. Overall, Shaymin is yet another event-legendary with a variety of options to choose from, although it is its Sky Forme that really steals the spotlight competitively.
Capture/Training
Event Pokemon, so unless an event occurs, you'll have to trade for it.
A note is to be made about Shaymin's Sky Forme, as it has specific conditions for activating, and has different moves it can learn (which can be kept in Land Forme). Sky Forme can be activated using a Key Item called the Gracidea Flower, which the Goldenrod Flower Shop girl will give you. It is only available from 8am to 5pm, and will revert back to Land Forme if frozen or put in the Box.
Shaymin in both forms is a little difficult to train, thanks to the high levels at which it learns moves, not learning its signature Seed Flare until level 100. As such, it is more of an exhibition Pokemon that should hopefully make training easier for your lower-level Pokemon.
Stats
Land Forme:
100 HP, 100 Atk, 100 Def, 100 SpA, 100 SpD, 100 Spe
Sky Forme:
100 HP, 103 Atk, 75 Def, 120 SpA, 75 SpD, 127 Spe
Two different forms, two different stat spreads. Whereas Land Forme Shaymin has the same spread as pretty much every other "fairy" event Legendary, Sky Forme is much more offensively built, with a strong Special Attack stat and the tenth highest Speed Stat of any Pokemon. It's much more frail, though, so be careful.
EV-ing this Pokemon is somewhat tricky, since once it learns Seed Flare, it won't be able to gain any more EVs, so be careful how you go about it. Since Celebi works better as a defensive Grass fairy, it might be best to just go all-out offense for Shaymin.
Abilities
This Pokemon's abilities also change with its form changes. In Land Forme, Shaymin only has access to Natural Cure. This ability works just as well on Shaymin as it does on Celebi in curing it of its status simply with a switch-out.
Upon attaining Sky Forme, Shaymin switches out Natural Cure for Serene Grace. This is where Shaymin starts to get deadly. Seed Flare's 40% chance to drop Special Defense becomes a ridiculous 80% chance. Not only that, but Shaymin also gets access to Air Slash with a 60% flinch rate. Needless to say, both are quite fearsome ways to turn the tides of a battle, and really highlight Shaymin-S's offensive qualities.
Moves
One cannot start reviewing Shaymin's offensive options without mentioning its signature move, Seed Flare. This attack is monstrous. 120 Base Power and 85% accuracy is generally considered the balancing point between massive power and workable accuracy, but what really makes the move dangerous is its secondary effect: a 40% chance of dropping the opponent's Special Defense two levels. This makes it hard to just resist a hit, as even the hardiest of special walls (read: Blissey) can fall to two of these flares after the first cuts its Special Defense in half. And that's before you factor in Sky Forme, whose Serene Grace kicks the chance of this happening to a whopping 80%! The only downside, really, is that Shaymin does not learn this move until level 100. Until then, it will have to make do with the usual assortment of special Grass toys: Energy Ball, Grass Knot, Leaf Storm, and SolarBeam (in sunlight). Due to Seed Flare's low PP, Shaymin can also use one of these moves in addition to Seed Flare. Physical Grass attacks are also something of an option, thanks to decent Attack stats: Seed Bomb is your only option here, though.
Sky Forme Shaymin gains the Flying-type and a few Special STAB moves to go with it; the move can be kept on Land Forme Shaymin, despite it not really being Flying-type. That said, the only real notable move here is Air Slash. Decent power and a 30% chance to flinch works well with both forms, but especially Sky Forme who can abuse Serene Grace for 60% flinch rates.
As for Shaymin's other moves, the best is by far Earth Power. Covering Shaymin's Fire weakness and inability to hit Steels, as well as many of Shaymin's other weaknesses, it really rounds out its coverage... and there's nothing wrong with that 20% chance of a (single-level) Special Defense drop, either. As for other moves, there is just Psychic (basically a Psychic-typed Earth Power), and Ominous Wind, for a 20% chance of a full-stat boost. And, if it works out, Hidden Power. Despite its decent physical power, it really does not get much in the way of physical attacks. Your best bet here is to make the most of Serene Grace: abuse Headbutt's and Zen Headbutt's flinch rate and Secret Power's... all sorts of secondary effects.
Quick Attack isn't much, but it might mess up someone. And there's probably nothing funnier than a Shaymin pulling off the infamous Focus Sash-Endeavor-Quick Attack combo. Snore is another joke move to be used with Rest, especially if you can successfully pull off two flinches (and at 30% flinch rate, 60% with Serene Grace, that is possible).
Leech Seed is a great move to have on a Pokemon with Shaymin's speed. In addition to being a very successful SubSeeder, it also works as a good way to cripple an opponent and/or force a switch. Worry Seed is a more situational way of messing someone up. Of course, Toxic is also available.
Aromatherapy is a great support move. It generally works better on Land Forme, with its better bulk.
GrassWhistle is an unreliable but potentially useful way to completely mess up an opponent. However, there is a catch; it only learns the move in Diamond/Pearl. Be sure to trade Shaymin over to Diamond version before teaching it this move.
Synthesis heals, and is great in sunlight. Rest works on Land Forme, where a simple switch cures Shaymin of its sleep.
Growth is Shaymin's main way of powering up. Swords Dance is the main outlet for a physical Shaymin.
Psych Up is another situationally useful move.
Safeguard protects Shaymin from status for a while.
Healing Wish allows Shaymin to give one last gift to a teammate.
Effective Movesets
1. Choice
- Seed Flare
- Air Slash
- Earth Power
- Psychic/Rest
Item: Choice Scarf/Choice Specs
Note: The first three moves are pretty much necessary, but the last is flexible. Rest should only be used on Land Forme.
2. Rest-Sweeper (Land Forme)
- Seed Flare
- Earth Power
- Leech Seed
- Rest
Item: Life Orb
3. Support (Land Forme)
- Seed Flare
- Rest
- Aromatherapy
- Leech Seed
Note: Due to Sky Forme not really being built to take hits, this set works best as Land Forme.
4. SubSeed
- Substitute
- Leech Seed
- Seed Flare
- Air Slash/Earth Power
Note: Air Slash is preferable for hitting Grass-types hard, but Earth Power is acceptable, particularly on Land Forme.
5. Growth
- Growth
- Seed Flare
- Earth Power
- Air Slash
6. Healing Wish
- Seed Flare
- Earth Power
- Air Slash
- Healing Wish
7. Serene Grace Abuse
- Seed Flare
- Air Slash
- Secret Power
- Ominous Wind/Earth Power
Closing Notes
Seed Flare is a powerful attack, but that's about where the distinctions between Land Forme Shaymin and Celebi stop, really. Thankfully, Sky Forme brings a whole new level of pain, thanks to its ability to cripple teams with Serene Grace-boosted moves and great offensive stats. When the Gracidea Flower blooms, do not underestimate the Pokemon of Gratitude.
Future Sight
The only notable change for Shaymin is that Growth now increases both Attack and Special Attack by 1 stage, and by 2 stages in sunlight. This will be more useful on the generally bulkier Land Forme.
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