Pokemon Focus: #469 - Yanmega

Introduction

Today we cover one of the 4th-generation Pokemon that is in the HeartGold/SoulSilver Johto Pokedex, and readily obtainable before receiving the National Dex, thanks to being an evolution of a Gen II Pokemon based on learning a move. (Mamoswine, previously covered, was another example of this.) Yanmega is the evolution of Yanma, a sort-of novelty Pokemon in Gen II that would appear in a "swarm" (the debut of this concept, where a rare Pokemon would appear in large numbers somewhere). Really, it had no real use outside of being pure novelty as it just joined the ranks of other weak Bug types. Gen III did it a small favor by giving it a couple new moves as well as Speed Boost, arguably one of the cooler abilities in the game.

Gen IV was the real breakthrough point for this Pokemon, as it gained a wicked new evolution, one that actually had fairly good stats. That, and it has some of the best abilities in the game, including the aforementioned Speed Boost, but also a new one in Tinted Lens that can prove extremely helpful. It's typing is still bad and gives it many weaknesses, including a crippling one to Stealth Rock, so it will need much help from its teammates to be effective. If it has said help, though, it's easily one of the best Bug Pokemon out there not named Heracross or Scizor, and easily the best special-attacking Bug out there.

Capture/Training

Yanma can be found on Route 35. Just like in Gold/Silver, they appear with a killer 1% spawn rate! ...unless they swarm. Activate a Swarm of them, and you can catch them fairly easily (as easily as one can catch a Pokemon with a 75 catch rate, at least).

Yanma evolve into Yanmega at Lv. 33, when they learn Ancientpower. If the move is not learned, it will not evolve. Delaying the evolution to Lv. 38 to learn Hypnosis is an option, as Yanmega does not learn that move, and having a sleep-inducing move can be useful.

Statistics

86 HP, 76 Atk, 86 Def, 116 Sp. Atk, 56 Sp. Def, 95 Spd

Those are awfully good stats for a Bug-type. 116 Special Attack will hurt, and it actually has decent physical defense. (Special Defense, on the other hand, is a fair weakness.)

Stats should definitely focus on Special Attack. As for Speed, it's more important if Yanmega doesn't have Speed Boost. If it does, it doesn't need a whole lot more, though it can still use them; more importantly, it's not as big of a deal if Speed is hindered by its nature.

Movesets

Yanmega has two great abilities to choose from. Speed Boost gives it an instant Speed stat-up every turn, which means it's already outrunning most foes after 1 turn, and can outrun almost anyone after 2 turns... and it will outrun everyone if it lasts 6 turns. It combines well with Protect, since that move will give you one free speed boost right away. An alternative option is Tinted Lens, which has the fun effect of doubling the power of any not-very-effective move. In other words, any attack of it will actually hit neutral if it would normally do only 1/2 damage, and will do 1/2 damage if it would normally do 1/4 damage. This makes it that much harder to counter Yanmega, and does wonders for its type coverage.

Such awesome abilities need some good Special STAB primary moves to take advantage of them, and Yanmega delivers with Bug Buzz and Air Slash. The former is the Bug variation of Psychic, with the same side effect, though that's all secondary to being a strong Bug-type STAB move that has a way of knocking out unsuspecting Psychics and Darks. Air Slash is a bit less powerful, but can flinch the opponent, which is nice considering it's likely Yanmega will be going first if it has Speed Boost. If Tinted Lens is in effect, it should be noted that no Pokemon won't take at least neutral damage from Bug Buzz or Air Slash. The alternative to Bug Buzz is Silver Wind, which will have a 10% chance in making Yanmega nearly unstoppable.

A Yanma without Tinted Lens will need some supporting moves that can hit the Pokemon it can't hit so well with its STAB moves. For a Yanma with Tinted Lens, it's looking more at those Pokemon that it can hit for super-effective damage to complement its neutral-hitting capabilities. If Hidden Power can be managed, a Ground-type move will score super-effective hits on Steel-types, which the non-Tinted Yanmega has trouble with. Otherwise, there's the option of Giga Drain to strike Rock-types, as well as Water-Ground types. Shadow Ball is mainly just to hit Ghosts, moreso if Tinted Lens isn't in effect. Psychic strikes more at Poison-types, which the Bug-type does have some problem with if it's not Tinted. Also, Silver Wind isn't the only super-boost move Yanmega has access to; it can use all three of them! Ancientpower is needed to evolve Yanma anyways, whereas Ominous Wind is an alternative to Shadow Ball.

As Yanmega's physical strength is somewhat lacking, the only Physical attack of note is the always-useful U-Turn. STAB (and Tinted Lens) helps make up for the lack of raw power, and no matter how you look at it, it's free damage when you need a switch.

As mentioned before, if you can hold off on evolving Yanma until level 38, you get Hypnosis, which Yanmega can't learn on its own. The move works well as a disruptive attack, despite its 60% accuracy.

Special note shall be given to Protect, particularly on the Speed Boost Yanmega, since one Protect will give you an automatic 1.5x boost to your Speed.

That's really it, really. Yanmega is not meant to be a supporter; it's meant to go on an all-out offensive, using either of its great abilities, and blow away as many enemies as possible before it goes down. Use it as such, as Yanmega is one fearsome dragonfly.

General Moveset
- Bug Buzz/(primary Bug attack)
- Air Slash
- (secondary attack)/(support move)
- (support move)/U-Turn

That's really the gist of it. To note, using a secondary attack and U-Turn means Yanmega is all set for a Choice item, particularly the Specs which will all but ensure the rapid demise of enemies. It's recommended that doing so uses Tinted Lens as the ability, since it makes it hard to switch in to Yanmega without taking a fair amount of damage.

Teammates

First of all, Yanmega has a really hard time dealing with Stealth Rock. 50% upon switch-in absolutely hurts. Yanmega definitely needs a Rapid Spinner on its team. As far as type coverage goes, the Tinted Lens Yanmega doesn't need much, but the Speed Boost Yanmega needs someone to take care of Steel-types. A physical attacker is also generally recommended to take down special walls. Defensively, an anti-Rock-type is definitely needed. Other weaknesses are Fire, Electric, Ice, and Flying. With a low Special Defense, the first three can be especially problematic. Make sure to have Pokemon to cover those bases.

In general, Yanmega is an offensive Pokemon, and fits best on offensive teams.

Effective Movesets

1. Lead
- Bug Buzz
- Air Slash
- Protect
- Hypnosis
Ability: Speed Boost
Item: Expert Belt/Focus Sash (Battle Frontier only)
Suggested Nature/EVs: Modest, 104 Def, 252 SpA, 152 Spd
Comments: The idea here is to use Protect to clinch the Speed Boost, then do some damage. If you can't hit hard enough, Hypnosis can knock an enemy out of commission for a while.

2. Choice Specs
- Bug Buzz
- Air Slash
- Psychic/Shadow Ball
- U-Turn
Ability: Tinted Lens
Item: Choice Specs
Suggested Nature/EVs: Modest/Timid, 4 Def, 252 SpA, 252 Spd
Comments: Really, all you need is Bug Buzz or Air Slash. No Pokemon will 4x resist both. Shedinja can't stop this set, either. U-Turn for scouting purposes.

3. Life Orb Speed Boost Ver. 1
- Protect
- Bug Buzz
- Air Slash
- Shadow Ball
Ability: Speed Boost
Item: Life Orb
Suggested Nature/EVs: See 2.

4. Life Orb Speed Boost Ver. 2
- Hypnosis
- Bug Buzz
- Air Slash
- Shadow Ball
Ability: Speed Boost
Item: Life Orb
Suggested Nature/EVs: See 2.

5. Life Orb Tinted Lens
- Hypnosis
- Bug Buzz
- Air Slash
- Shadow Ball
Ability: Tinted Lens
Item: Life Orb
Suggested Nature/EVs: See 2.

6. Substitute Speed Boost
- Substitute
- Bug Buzz
- Air Slash
- Shadow Ball
Ability: Speed Boost
Item: Leftovers/Petaya Berry (Battle Frontier only)
Suggested Nature/EVs: See 1.

7. Substitute Tinted Lens
- Substitute
- Bug Buzz
- Air Slash
- Hypnosis
Ability: Tinted Lens
Item: Leftovers/Petaya Berry/Salac Berry (Berries for Frontier only)
Suggested Nature/EVs: See 2.