Kangaskhan Movesets & Competitive Sets

Moves Fake Out gives Mega Kangaskhan free chip damage the first turn it switches in and possibly stalls a turn of residual damage. Seismic Toss is Kangaskhan's main damage source. As its damage output isn't reliant on Mega Kangaskhan's Attack stat, it allows Mega Kangaskhan to freely invest in other stats. It also bypasses the Defense stat to take advantage of bulky foes with low HP such as Toxapex and Shuckle, though this also leaves its damage output lacking against targets with high HP stats. Shadow Claw gives Mega Kangaskhan super effective coverage against most Ghost-types, which are immune to Kangaskhan's STAB attacks and Seismic Toss after it Mega Evolves. Crunch is an alternative coverage move against Ghost-types that adds some power and a chance to drop the foe's Defense stat in exchange for being unable to hit Marshadow super effectively. Sucker Punch can be run instead of Crunch or Shadow Claw, allowing Mega Kangaskhan to revenge kill fast Psychic-types such as Ultra Necrozma and Mega Mewtwo Y in tandem with Fake Out. However, it is much less reliable against Ghost-types, as many rely on status instead of direct attacks to take out Mega Kangaskhan. Body Slam is a decently powerful STAB option with a high chance of paralysis thanks to Parental Bond. This grants Kangaskhan a lasting, though unreliable, method of crippling many threats. The possibility of the foe being paralyzed before it can move can also let Mega Kangaskhan break through walls that would otherwise stall it out with Recover, such as support Arceus formes. Rock Tomb is an alternate form of speed control that offers coverage against Flying-types, notably OHKOing offensive Ho-Oh and preventing Mega Salamence from setting up Dragon Dance on Mega Kangaskhan. It is preferred over Body Slam if Mega Kangaskhan is paired with Toxic Spikes support. Set Details The defensive investment allows Mega Kangaskhan to survive a Double-Edge from Mega Salamence, a Focus Blast from Lunala, and a Precipice Blades from Primal Groudon after Stealth Rock as well as two neutral Judgments from support Arceus formes from full health. 232 Speed EVs with a Jolly nature allow Mega Kangaskhan to outspeed everything up to and including Lunala and Yveltal. The remaining EVs are invested in Attack to increase Mega Kangaskhan's damage output. Scrappy is the ability of choice pre-Mega Evolution, giving Kangaskhan the option to damage Ghost-types with Fake Out, Body Slam, and Seismic Toss before Mega Evolving. Usage Tips Attempt to status foes or set down entry hazards, particularly Toxic Spikes, before sending out Mega Kangaskhan, as its damage output is often sorely lacking without the support of residual damage. For example, one layer of Toxic Spikes means support Arceus formes are no longer able to stall out Seismic Toss with Recover and nets Mega Kangaskhan the 2HKO on defensive Primal Groudon with Seismic Toss. Fake Out gives Mega Kangaskhan a safe way to damage foes and Mega Evolve and can be especially helpful in stalling out a turn of residual damage, particularly against a boosted foe such as Geomancy Xerneas. However, avoid being too predictable with Fake Out, as some switch-ins hoping to take advantage of Fake Out's low damage output, such as Necrozma-DM, can be heavily punished with a different move such as Seismic Toss. Kangaskhan can opt to not Mega Evolve immediately to retain Scrappy, allowing it to damage and immobilize Ghost-types with Fake Out or attempt to paralyze them with Body Slam. Make use of Kangaskhan's Ghost-type immunity and decent bulk to take on threats that cannot outspeed or OHKO it such as Lunala and Calm Mind Arceus formes in a pinch, either slowing them down with Body Slam or Rock Tomb for another teammate to take them on or dealing significant damage with its STAB attacks or coverage. Recognize what threats Mega Kangaskhan can or cannot take on in a one-on-one scenario and, if necessary, preserve it against threats it cannot defeat, as Mega Kangaskhan's Fake Out can be useful against sweepers that have set up and Seismic Toss can clean up weakened teams later on in the game. If running Body Slam, Mega Kangaskhan can be played recklessly to try and spread paralysis in matchups where it is otherwise of little use. Using Body Slam or Rock Tomb to slow down foes before attacking with Seismic Toss the next turn can help maximize Mega Kangaskhan's damage output against faster Pokemon. Team Options Toxapex is one of Mega Kangaskhan's best partners, providing it with both a check to Fighting-types and Toxic Spikes support. The residual damage from a layer of Toxic Spikes lets Mega Kangaskhan's Seismic Toss crucially 2HKO support Arceus formes and defensive Primal Groudon and synergizes well with Fake Out. Cloyster is an alternative Toxic Spikes setter that trades Toxapex's durability and ability to switch into Fighting-types for a much greater offensive presence and the ability to remove entry hazards with Rapid Spin. Dark types such as Yveltal, Arceus-Dark, and Tyranitar can take on Ghost-types for Mega Kangaskhan. Additionally, Tyranitar can trap Mega Gengar with Pursuit, removing a prominent threat to both Mega Kangaskhan and any Toxic Spikes setter it may be paired with. Fairy-types such as Xerneas and Arceus-Fairy provide Mega Kangaskhan with a solid check to Marshadow, Zygarde-C, and Mega Sableye, all of which Mega Kangaskhan has trouble with. Primal Groudon can set Stealth Rock, blanket checks many offensive threats to Mega Kangaskhan, and pressures many of Mega Kangaskhan's defensive answers, such as Giratina and Zygarde-C, with powerful STAB attacks, coverage, and Toxic. Ultra Necrozma can lure Mega Sableye, which walls Mega Kangaskhan, and break through it with Swords Dance-boosted Outrage.

This set intends to maximize the benefit of Parental Bond in becoming as immediately threatening as possible. Consequently, a spread of 252 Atk / 252 Spe and using Double-Edge is the most common approach, although utilising a bulkier spread with Frustration is an option. For example, 164 HP / 228 Atk / 116 Spe outspeeds positive-natured base 70s and ensures Low Kick OHKOes foes such as Heatran and Hydreigon. This can be taken further with 228 HP / 228 Atk / 28 Def / 4 SpD / 20 Spe, which outpaces neutral base 70s and survives attacks such as Landorus-T’s Tectonic Rage and Choice Specs Hydreigon’s Draco Meteor.

Fake Out's guaranteed flinch gives Mega Kangaskhan's partners more time to set up. STAB Double-Edge deals strong consistent damage making use of Parental Bond, letting Mega Kangaskhan 2HKO Pokemon like Xerneas and Primal Kyogre. Bite forces the opponent to respect the possibility of being flinched every turn while the user is often inclined to play for it. Low Kick allows Mega Kangaskhan to OHKO Pokemon like Stakataka as well as chunk Incineroar, Ferrothorn, and Primal Kyogre without the recoil from Double-Edge. Sucker Punch is an alternative to Low Kick as it lets Mega Kangaskhan get the jump on faster Ghost-types like Mega Gengar as well as enabling it to take out any low HP targets before they can move. Roar lets Mega Kangaskhan force out Trick Room setters and boosted Xerneas. Mega Kangaskhan always wants to invest in Speed first, as it naturally outruns common restricted Pokemon like Xerneas and Yveltal at maximum Speed, while also giving it the fastest Bite possible. Scrappy lets Kangaskhan utilize Fake Out on Ghost-types before Mega Evolving, allowing it to hit Pokemon like Lunala and Mimikyu as well as break Shadow Shield and Disguise. Mega Kangaskhan is often paired with Xerneas to enable it to set up with Geomancy with Fake Out and Bite while pressuring Steel-types like Stakataka with an OHKO from Low Kick. Mega Kangaskhan also is paired with strong spread attackers like Primal Kyogre and Primal Groudon which can opt for a fatal Water Spout and Eruption. It is commonly led with Pokemon that can utilize speed control like Tornadus and Whimsicott so they can grab momentum early on and sweep with powerful restricted Pokemon in the back. This lets Mega Kangaskhan do its job as effectively as possible, as it allows it to lead and grab momentum for a team in comparison to making it a solely offensive juggernaut reserved in the back for late-game.

Moves Nature's Madness and Night Shade in conjunction with Parental Bond after Mega Evolution is what enables Mega Kangaskhan to 2HKO virtually the entire metagame. Nature's Madness brings opposing Pokemon down to at most only 25% of their maximum HP, leaving them within range to be KOed by Night Shade. Night Shade is the best constant-damage move, as it hits Giratina and other Ghost-types, which are generally a bigger threat than the Normal-types that Seismic Toss hits. The third slot should be used as recovery so Mega Kangaskhan can heal off chip damage and weaker attacks. Strength Sap is the best option, as it takes advantage of the high average Attack stat of Pokemon in Balanced Hackmons to recover massive amounts of damage instantly while lowering the foe's Attack stat and making it even more difficult for them to take Mega Kangaskhan down. Shore Up can also be used as recovery, as it is slightly more reliable, healing a consistent half of Mega Kangaskhan's maximum health. The last slot is typically used for coverage. Extreme Speed is a fantastic STAB move that lets Mega Kangaskhan hit faster threats that switch into Nature's Madness or even Night Shade as well as finish off Normal-types. Mega Kangaskhan can also run Seismic Toss so it can KO Normal-types immune to Night Shade, but this is generally not necessary, as Extreme Speed takes out both Regigigas and Arceus, the only relevant Normal-types Mega Kangaskhan has to deal with, after Nature's Madness. Alternatively, Anchor Shot can trap opposing Pokemon and reliably take them down, while Sunsteel Strike can be used to hit Shedinja and Mega Audino for decent damage, and Taunt can be used to shut down Prankster recovery and generally passive Pokemon. Set Details Kangaskhanite enables Mega Kangaskhan to take advantage of Parental Bond. With Parental Bond, Nature's Madness reduces the target's HP to only 25%, while Night Shade and Seismic Toss deal 200 HP of damage, letting Mega Kangaskhan 2HKO the entire metagame, barring foes with passive recovery. Misty Surge is the best ability to use before Mega Evolution, protecting Mega Kangaskhan from being statused (in particular, with sleep) and weakening Dragon-type attacks that it might have to face. It also prevents opposing Toxic Orbs from activating, letting Mega Kangaskhan break down Poison Heal users such as Giratina and Xerneas. Intimidate can also be used to weaken opposing physical attacks and create more safe opportunities for Kangaskhan to come in and Mega Evolve. A Jolly nature is used to maximize Mega Kangaskhan's Speed so it can beat up to maximum investment base 99 Speed Pokemon such as Yveltal and Xerneas. If no physical attacks are used, a Timid nature with 0 Attack EVs is preferred to minimize confusion damage and reduce opposing Strength Sap healing from typical users such as Giratina. Usage Tips This set is best used as a liberal check to most common metagame walls, especially before it Mega Evolves, and can still take advantage of Misty Surge to prevent itself from being crippled by status they tend to carry. Early-game, Kangaskhan can serve as an immediate offensive threat whose Misty Terrain can prevent opposing Toxic Orb Poison Heal users from activating their abilities. This is also the ideal time to take advantage of Mega Kangaskhan's wallbreaking ability, as it can be used to easily bring down opposing walls within KO range of partner sweepers. Use Nature's Madness only if Night Shade and Seismic Toss don't 2HKO, as they have far more PP, won't miss, and generally 2HKO most of the metagame anyway. Use recovery moves when there is a free opportunity to—that is, on a predicted switch or against more passive Pokemon that can't deal much damage. Avoid recklessly Mega Evolving unless you plan on staying in, as Kangaskhan can be switched in and out to support its teammates with Misty Terrain. Once Misty Terrain has ended, be wary of status effects, as sleep shuts Kangaskhan down, burn reduces the power of Extreme Speed, poison reduces its longevity, and paralysis makes it easier to pick off. Be wary of slow pivots, as Mega Kangaskhan struggles to confront offensive Pokemon that they can pivot to, especially if they pivot out the turn Mega Kangaskhan switches in. Mega Kangaskhan also generally has difficulty wearing them down anyway, especially if they have Regenerator. If Strength Sap and Extreme Speed are used, Mega Kangaskhan can even check Imposter Chansey, as it cannot be KOed by its own Nature's Madness and Night Shade, and it does not have to fear Extreme Speed once the opposing Imposter user's Attack is lowered. Alternatively, if Anchor Shot is used, this set can even trap Imposter users to PP stall them to death while healing off attacks. Team Options Pokemon with passive recovery, mainly Poison Heal Giratina and Regigigas, or Prankster make great partners to shut down Imposter users. For example, offensive Poison Heal users like Xerneas have great offensive synergy with Mega Kangaskhan as well, as they can reliably put opposing Pokemon to sleep, granting Mega Kangaskhan an easy switch in while it counters bulkier checks and counters in return. Alternatively, Prankster Ghost-types can easily switch into Nature's Madness and recover without fear of being picked off by Extreme Speed. Shedinja can also fulfill this function if Mega Kangaskhan does not use Sunsteel Strike, but its vulnerability to entry hazard damage makes it unreliable. Mega Kangaskhan also appreciate counters to Shedinja itself, as Shedinja is one of the only walls that it cannot break down. Mold Breaker Pokemon such as Mega Gengar as well as surprise Mold Breaker moves work well for this, and Ghost-types such as Giratina also serve as good defensive teammates for this reason. Powerful, fast sweepers like -ate users, Mega Mewtwo Y, and Mega Gengar enjoy having walls weakened and can help check offensive Pokemon that threaten Mega Kangaskhan. Slow pivots work well to shield Mega Kangaskhan from attacks and bring it in safely, and they can neutralize annoying abilities such as Poison Heal and Regenerator to help Mega Kangaskhan wallbreak. Toxic Spikes support, though a niche option that is relatively rare, can also be useful, as it lets Mega Kangaskhan wallbreak more easily without needing to waste two turns to KO opposing Pokemon.

Parental Bond lets Power-Up Punch give Mega Kangaskhan two Attack boosts, acting much like an attacking Swords Dance. Double-Edge is Mega Kangaskhan's most powerful STAB. While the recoil hurts, the power is needed to sweep and break through walls. Earthquake hits Steel-types such as Aegislash hard, while avoiding contact. Sucker Punch gives Mega Kangaskhan priority for picking off threats, but Rock Slide is another move that doesn't make contact, and can also flinch foes. Consider leaving Mega Kangaskhan for late game, since the massive amount of recoil it takes can lead to it getting KOed early in the game. Pack in wall breakers, especially for Pokemon that commonly carry Rocky Helmet such as Cresselia, Celesteela, Ferrothorn, and Slowbro. Consider a way to heal Mega Kangaskhan, such as Lunar Dance, Healing Wish, Z-Memento, or Z-Parting Shot, since this will allow use of Mega Kangaskhan more comfortably early in the game.

Moves Fake Out is mandatory to ensure a safe Mega Evolution and deals decent damage with STAB and Parental Bond, being able to get vital chip damage on threats. Return is the main STAB move with 102 Base Power and can 2HKO or OHKO most Pokemon that do not resist it after a bit of prior damage. Alternatively, Body Slam can be used in this slot for its 51% paralysis chance, allowing Kangaskhan to muscle through some of its defensive checks, such as support Arceus formes. Crunch is the preferred option in the third slot, hitting the Ghost-types that are immune to Kangaskhan's STAB attacks, such as Arceus-Ghost, Giratina-O, Mega Gengar, and Lugia; it also comes with a nifty 36% chance to lower the target's Defense. Power-Up Punch in the last slot allows Kangaskhan to break through defensive walls that rely on status and longevity to deal with it, such as Skarmory and support Arceus, and avoid becoming setup fodder for Mega Salamence switching in after a boost. Another option for the last slot is Seismic Toss, which can surprise opposing Pokemon, 2HKOing Skarmory and Ferrothorn as they switch in, and should be used if running Body Slam as well. Nevertheless, Mega Kangaskhan is by no means limited to these move options, given its expansive movepool. Double-Edge can be run as the primary STAB attack for more immediate power at the cost of longevity. Ice Punch can be run in the third slot, allowing Kangaskhan to fish for freezes on Lugia while retaining coverage on Giratina-O and not allowing Kangaskhan to become setup bait for Mega Salamence. However, it should not be run simultaneously with Crunch due to their redundancy. Earthquake, Low Kick, and Sucker Punch are all additional options for the fourth moveslot. Earthquake can be used to hit the Steel- and Rock-types that resist Return, notably Tyranitar, Klefki, and Arceus-Rock, as well as being Kangaskhan's best option to hit Primal Groudon and Mega Gengar. Low Kick OHKOes Dialga and prevents Extreme Killer Arceus from setting up. Finally, Sucker Punch is notable for its effectiveness against offense and use as a secondary form of priority to pick off weakened attackers. Set Details Scrappy is the preferred ability pre-Mega Evolution, allowing Kangaskhan to hit Ghost-types with its STAB attacks. Maximum Attack investment with an Adamant nature allows Kangaskhan to hit as hard as possible, while maximum Speed investment allows it to outspeed most support Arceus formes. A Jolly nature can be used instead to outspeed Excadrill, Rayquaza, and maximum Speed Ho-Oh. Finally, 80 EVs can be shifted from Speed to Defense to avoid the OHKO from Jolly Life Orb Extreme Killer's +2 Extreme Speed, as well as an unboosted Precipice Blades from maximum Attack Primal Groudon after Stealth Rock, while still outspeeding neutral base 90s. Usage Tips With access to Fake Out, Kangaskhan can be used to antilead against many offensive teams that utilize a suicide lead. Fake Out can also be used repeatedly to wear down setup sweepers and can let Mega Kangaskhan perform as a last-resort check to the likes of Xerneas by switching out and back in after you sacrifice something. Body Slam in conjunction with Seismic Toss can allow Mega Kangaskhan to deal with the support Arceus formes that otherwise easily check it by first paralyzing them and then spamming Seismic Toss. However, if the opponent has Pokemon that could deal recoil damage, such as Skarmory and Ferrothorn, using Seismic Toss first is usually the best option. Crunch should be used if expecting a switch into a Ghost-type and Ice Punch can be used to fish for freezes on Lugia. If running Power-Up Punch, boost on something that does not threaten Mega Kangaskhan, such as non-Rocky Helmet Skarmory, or on a predicted switch. As Kangaskhan's bulk is nothing impressive, avoid switching it in directly on attacks, but keep in mind it can survive most unboosted neutrally effective moves from full. Try to bring it in via a double switch or when you expect your opponent to go for a recovery or utility move. Keep it away from status, as burn and paralysis make it effectively useless and poison greatly reduces its longevity and makes using Fake Out a liability. Team Options Pokemon with the ability to set Toxic Spikes, such as Cloyster and Scolipede, make great partners, as Kangaskhan can rack up residual poison damage with Fake Out. Dark-types such as Arceus-Dark, Yveltal, and Darkrai are notable for their ability to pressure the Ghost-types that are immune to Kangaskhan's STAB attacks and are especially helpful if it is not carrying Crunch. Additionally, Pokemon to break through or cripple bulky walls such as Skarmory, Ferrothorn, and support Arceus formes, such as Lava Plume Primal Groudon, Ho-Oh, and Hex users, are greatly appreciated. However, Body Slam / Seismic Toss variants can break through the aforementioned walls as well, while Fire Punch roasts specially defensive Skarmory and Ferrothorn. If Mega Kangaskhan is not carrying Earthquake or Low Kick, Pokemon to deal with Rock- and Steel-types, such as Primal Groudon, Arceus-Ground, and Landorus-T, make good partners. Also helpful are Pokemon that deal with Kangaskhan's offensive answers, such as Arceus-Rock, Arceus-Ground, and Xerneas.

Moves Even if it's resisted, Return is your go-to move for dealing damage, capping out at 102 Base Power and working off Mega Kangaskhan's base Attack of 125, further boosted by Parental Bond. Fake Out gives Kangaskhan great utility and can help you set up or KO with your partner, as well as dealing heavy chip damage to help Return nab KOs. However, if you already have Fake Out support or feel Mega Kangaskhan should be more concerned with itself than with its teammates, Protect can be used in Fake Out's place to give Kangaskhan more longevity and, more importantly, make Kangaskhan less prone to double-targeting. Sucker Punch is mainly for priority, but is occasionally good for hitting Ghost-types when they decide to attack. Power-Up Punch makes Kangaskhan a deadly force to be reckoned with, allowing Return to 2HKO Pokemon that resist it, such as Mega Mawile. It also helps Kangaskhan recover from a burn it might have suffered or multiple Intimidate Attack drops, as well as dealing chip damage for it and its partners. Set Details Scrappy is generally the more useful ability for regular Kangaskhan, allowing it to Fake Out Ghost-types such as Chandelure and Aeigislash or even Power-Up Punch them for a boost. However, Inner Focus can be useful to help a partner set up Tailwind or other such moves in the event that you need to get off a Fake Out (for instance, Talonflame might have to set up Tailwind against Tyranitar while Kangaskhan gets Faked Out by a faster user). Either Jolly or Adamant natures will work for Kangaskhan. As Mega Kangaskhan sits at base 100 Speed along with other threats such as Charizard and Salamence, it's usually best to go with a Jolly nature to get the jump on Modest Charizard and Salamence and at worst Speed tie with Timid ones. If you value consistent power over Speed ties, Adamant is the superior option. A bulkier EV spread is worth considering, but is usually unneeded. Thanks to Kangaskhan's natural bulk, a mere 4 HP EVs will allow Kangaskhan to survive the vast majority of common moves such as Salamence's Draco Meteor and Rotom-H's Overheat at full health. Another reason to consider a bulkier EV spread, however, is to underspeed other base 100 Speed Pokemon for use alongside Trick Room, or to make Kangaskhan more resilient when used alongside Tailwind. Usage Tips If it isn't obvious by now, unless you're making use of Scrappy or Inner Focus, you should make a point to Mega Evolve as soon as possible. From there, use Return often and keep Kangaskhan from being burned by switching out, which also resets Fake Out, allowing you to apply pressure later in the match. You should be careful not to get greedy with Power-Up Punch boosts, especially when Kangaskhan isn't actively being supported with teammates threatening KOs or more simple support options such as Follow Me/Rage Powder. One use of Power-Up Punch at +0 will more than likely be all you need to power through opponents with Return and Sucker Punch, aside from Pokemon that resist Return, which are usually 2HKOed. Using Power-Up Punch often is not a bad idea when Kangaskhan is burned or has been Intimidated, however. When using Protect, try to bluff having Fake Out by using Return on the first turn and switching out soon after to seem like you're trying to reset Fake Out. Since most Kangaskhan don't Protect and are usually double-targeted because of this, Protect is best used as a surprise move late-game. Additionally, make a point to put yourself into a position where you can KO or incapacitate at least one Pokemon with your partner when Protecting for the best results. Team Options The best ways to support Kangaskhan are to give it Pokemon that can easily switch with Kangaskhan and redirect and/or prevent Kangaskhan from being double-targeted. Amoonguss does all of the above, as it doesn't particularly mind being burned, can use Rage Powder and Spore, and does a good job of taking Fighting-type attacks. In the same sense, Salamence makes a good switch-in, softening later attacks with Intimidate and doing a good job of eliminating Steel-types with Fire Blast. Chandelure, Talonflame, and Rotom-H can OHKO Steel-types such as Ferrothorn and Mawile and often do a good job of checking Ghost-types as the more popular ones have a secondary type that's weak to Fire. Talonflame gets a specific mention for its ability to use Tailwind, allowing Kangaskhan to outspeed problematic Pokemon such as Kingdra in the rain and Mega Manectric, as well as its ability to straight-up OHKO Fighting-types with Brave Bird. Other offensive Pokemon such as Gardevoir, Tyranitar, and the previously mentioned Salamence appreciate Kangaskhan's Fake Out and form a hyper-offensive lead and/or core to immediately apply pressure on the opponent and punish slower teams. Other Pokemon that take on pure supportive roles that work well with Kangaskhan include Klefki, Meowstic-M, and Smeargle. Klefki and Meowstic-M can prevent burns altogether with Safeguard and follow it up with Swagger for free Attack boosts or use Reflect and Light Screen to make Mega Kangaskhan even more formidable. Smeargle is viable once again in VGC14 thanks to Dark Void being unbanned. Kangaskhan can Fake Out a Pokemon to allow Smeargle to fire it off, allowing Kangaskhan to comfortably use Power-Up Punch next turn. Something to watch out for when using Smeargle + Kangaskhan however are the Lum or Chesto Berries that are commonly used to check Dark Void. Another thing to keep in mind when using each of these pure supportive Pokemon is Taunt, which can completely shut down your setups.

Moves Return is Mega Kangaskhan's strongest and most consistent attack without any drawbacks, making it optimal for this set. Double-Edge's power is not necessary at +2 Attack and the recoil can end Mega Kangaskhan's sweep early, making it a generally poorer choice. Thanks to Parental Bond, Power-Up Punch boosts Mega Kangaskhan's Attack by two stages per use, granting it the power to easily sweep through teams. Sucker Punch provides a means of hitting faster foes and thereby improves Mega Kangaskhan's chances of sweeping through them with minimal risk. Fake Out provides utility by giving Mega Kangaskhan's partner a free turn to attack or maneuver into a better position. If you'd prefer Mega Kangaskhan had the ability to defend itself for a turn, Protect can alternatively be used in place of Fake Out. Set Details Inner Focus prevents Kangaskhan from flinching and losing a turn. Scrappy can be used instead if you'd prefer the ability to Fake Out Ghost-types, although you should be aware that they're less common in VGC16 than they have been in previous years. A Jolly nature and 252 Speed EVs allow Mega Kangaskhan to outspeed the majority of foes. The remaining EVs are invested into Attack to allow Mega Kangaskhan to hit as hard as possible after the former goal has been met. A spread of 4 HP / 172 Atk / 76 Def / 4 SpD / 252 Spe is notable for allowing Mega Kangaskhan to survive opposing Jolly Mega Kangaskhan's Low Kick should you be willing to give up the appropriate Attack EVs. An Adamant nature improves Mega Kangaskhan's damage output, but it leaves Mega Kangaskhan more reliant on Sucker Punch to deal with faster foes. Usage Tips This set aims to get Mega Kangaskhan into a position where it can set up with Power-Up Punch and then proceed to sweep. Don't use Power-Up Punch if the opponent has counters, as it's a weak move if you don't then capitalize on the boosts in the following turns with either Return or Sucker Punch. Try to particularly focus your game plan around eliminating Will-O-Wisp and Intimidate users, as they're the most likely candidates to prevent Mega Kangaskhan's sweep. Remember against Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre that Sucker Punch can reduce the damage of Water Spout and Eruption should they be faster as a result of speed control such as Trick Room. Base Kangaskhan is slower than its Mega Evolution, so be aware of this on the turn you choose to Mega Evolve. Also bear in mind the option of not Mega Evolving immediately in order to make use of Inner Focus or Scrappy. Team Options Follow Me and Rage Powder users are important because they increase Mega Kangaskhan's chances of successfully setting up with Power-Up Punch. Those that resist Fighting-type moves, such as Amoonguss, Togekiss, and Clefairy, make for particularly good redirection users. Smeargle also has access to Follow Me, and its Dark Void provides more opportunities to help Mega Kangaskhan set up. Mega Kangaskhan also has Fake Out to help Smeargle safely get off Dark Void. Furthermore, Smeargle can then use Transform on your boosted Mega Kangaskhan, leaving you with two +2 Mega Kangaskhan to put on double the offensive pressure. Dark-types such as Yveltal and Weavile are valuable because they provide checks to opposing Ghost-types. Additionally, Yveltal's Dark Aura powers up Mega Kangaskhan's Sucker Punch. Talonflame provides a check to opposing Fighting-types and a form of speed control in Tailwind. Psychic-types such as Cresselia and Meowstic also resist Fighting-type moves and have a variety of helpful support moves. Cresselia has multiple options for speed control, and its Helping Hand can boost Mega Kangaskhan's attacks. Meowstic can use Safeguard to prevent status such as paralysis and burn from hindering Mega Kangaskhan's sweep.

Moves Double-Edge is Mega Kangaskhan's STAB move of choice, as it makes it as immediately threatening as possible. However, Return is still a viable alternative if you're running a bulkier EV spread and therefore find the recoil associated with Double-Edge undesirable. Low Kick is useful for hitting Steel-types that resist Double-Edge, like Ferrothorn and Dialga, super effectively and for dealing significant damage to opposing Mega Kangaskhan. Sucker Punch provides the set with a strong priority attack to hit faster foes before they can strike. Fake Out imparts a great deal of utility, as it gives Mega Kangaskhan's partner a partially free turn to attack or set up while a foe is unable to move. You may also opt to use Protect over any of Low Kick, Sucker Punch, or Fake Out if you prefer Mega Kangaskhan to have the ability to defend itself for a turn. Set Details Inner Focus is chosen to prevent Kangaskhan from being flinched by opposing Fake Out users, thereby preventing the loss of a turn. Scrappy can also be used in order to hit uncommon Ghost-types. A Jolly nature and 252 Speed EVs are used to allow Mega Kangaskhan to outrun as many foes as possible. The remaining 252 EVs are placed into Attack to allow it to hit as hard as possible. Alternatively, a spread of 4 HP / 172 Atk / 76 Def / 4 SpD / 252 Spe can be run if you'd like Mega Kangaskhan to have the ability to survive opposing Jolly Mega Kangaskhan's Low Kick and are willing to sacrifice some of its damage output to accomplish this. An Adamant nature is viable to increase Mega Kangaskhan's damage output, but this then doesn't allow it to outspeed foes such as positive-natured base 90 Speed Pokemon. Usage Tips This set aims to deal as much damage as possible with strong attacks. Leading with Kangaskhan is usually a good idea, as it can then use Fake Out to gain early momentum. Be aware of situations where Double-Edge's recoil would put Mega Kangaskhan into KO range of a foe's attack. Using Sucker Punch against a faster Primal Kyogre or Primal Groudon, potentially as a result of speed control such as Trick Room, may be wise to reduce the damage of a potential Water Spout or Eruption. Be aware of Kangaskhan's lower base Speed in comparison to its Mega Evolution on the turn it Mega Evolves to avoid being caught off guard as it's outsped. However, you may also wish to intentionally delay Mega Evolving in order to remain slower for a turn if you anticipate Trick Room. Remember that not Mega Evolving is also an option in order to make use of Inner Focus or Scrappy. Don't be afraid of switching Mega Kangaskhan out, as preserving the option to use Fake Out later on may be useful. Team Options Fake Out makes setup sweepers like Geomancy Xerneas and Swords Dance Groudon or Scizor good partners, as it gives them the ability to set up more safely. For a similar reason, this also makes Smeargle a good partner, as Fake Out can make it easy for it to get off a Dark Void. Dark-types like Yveltal and Weavile can help Mega Kangaskhan beat opposing Ghost-types that it finds problematic. Yveltal's Dark Aura is also able to power up Mega Kangaskhan's Sucker Punch. Speed control from Pokemon such as Thunder Wave Thundurus is valuable for helping Mega Kangaskhan deal with faster foes. Talonflame resists the STAB moves of and can KO opposing Fighting-types, and it also provides a form of speed control in Tailwind. Psychic-types such as Cresselia and Meowstic likewise resist Fighting-type attacks and provide various support. For example, Cresselia has access to speed control in the form of Trick Room and can boost Mega Kangaskhan's attacks with Helping Hand. Meowstic's Safeguard protects Mega Kangaskhan from status and can combine this with a Swagger aimed at it to boost Mega Kangaskhan's Attack stat.

Moves Return is Mega Kangaskhan's most powerful STAB move without any drawbacks. Power-Up Punch boosts Mega Kangaskhan's Attack to higher levels, letting it muscle its way past bulkier targets and OHKO a good portion of the metagame; it's also a decent coverage move against some Steel-types such as Bisharp and Heatran. Sucker Punch lets Mega Kangaskhan get around its average Speed; it also lets Mega Kangaskhan hit Ghost-types such as Aegislash and Gengar, albeit unreliably. Fake Out lets Mega Kangaskhan snag momentum, letting a partner set up for free or deal with foes without much pressure; it also deals decent damage and is useful for stopping a foe from setting up field conditions such as Tailwind and Trick Room. Alternatively, Protect can be used to shield Mega Kangaskhan from attacks in order to buy time to position itself in order to keep its boosts; Protect also lets Mega Kangaskhan stall out field conditions and defend itself while a partner deals with an opposing threat. Set Details Scrappy allows Mega Kangaskhan to hit Ghost-types before Mega Evolving, letting it use Fake Out on and stop setup from the likes of Jellicent and Chandelure. Inner Focus is an option in order to prevent flinches, letting Kangaskhan surprise opponents and delay foes for a turn without regard for opposing Fake Out users. The EV investment maximizes Mega Kangaskhan's offensive potential, and an Adamant nature boosts its power to higher levels. Alternatively, a Jolly nature can be used in order to outrun other neutral-natured base 100 Speed Pokemon and Speed tie with positive-natured ones, though Mega Kangaskhan will be slightly weaker. Usage Tips Mega Kangaskhan should apply as much pressure to the opponent's team as it can with its raw damage output and ability to set up with Power-Up Punch. Leading with Mega Kangaskhan can be a good idea in order to grab momentum quickly by using Fake Out while Mega Evolving, providing it with some firepower while simultaneously giving it a free turn to set up and get into a favorable position early. On a similar note, using Mega Kangaskhan's Fake Out to get into a good position mid- or late-game can be a good play. Be careful, though, as while Fake Out always seems like the play to make when Mega Kangaskhan first enters the field at any given time, this is not the case; it really depends on in-battle circumstances, and there are times when Return or Power-Up Punch is the better move. Mega Kangaskhan can also utilize Scrappy before Mega Evolving to make Ghost-types such as Chandelure and Jellicent flinch, stopping them from setting up Trick Room. Mega Kangaskhan should only use Power-Up Punch when there's a good opportunity to do so, such as when it's paired with a redirection user or the opponent's active Pokemon aren't threatening; a boosted Mega Kangaskhan applies tremendous pressure, as it can easily blow holes in opposing teams with its extremely powerful attacks. Don't use Power-Up Punch too soon, though, as setting up too early, such as when the opponent still has a healthy counter to Mega Kangaskhan in the back, means that Mega Kangaskhan will just waste a turn using a weak attack when it's forced out in the next few turns. Mega Kangaskhan should use Sucker Punch when it's threatened by a faster foe in order to get the first hit and possibly avoid unnecessary damage; this is especially true when it has Attack boosts, in which case Sucker Punch becomes particularly powerful. Some speed control support such as Tailwind and Thunder Wave works wonders for Mega Kangaskhan, as this lets it outspeed, attack, and KO foes it can't safely beat otherwise, such as Keldeo and Choice Scarf Landorus-T. It's also a good idea to pair Mega Kangaskhan with a redirection user, such as Amoonguss or Togekiss, in order to get safe turns to set up with Power-Up Punch or attack. It's a good idea to take out foes with Intimidate in order to make Mega Kangaskhan's job easier, as these Pokemon can easily come in and soften Mega Kangaskhan's blows to manageable levels. Don't let Mega Kangaskhan get burned, as this greatly will weaken its power, though Power-Up Punch can remedy this somewhat and a burned Mega Kangaskhan can still be useful if it can use Fake Out again to gain momentum. Team Options Being an offensive Pokemon, Mega Kangaskhan appreciates teammates that can remove or match up well against its own checks and counters. Pokemon that can take on Ghost-types such as Aegislash and Gengar serve well; Hydreigon can take out both with its Dark Pulse, and Talonflame can hit both hard with its high-powered STAB moves. Both Hydreigon and Talonflame also fare well against opposing Steel-types, except Heatran in Talonflame's case. Teammates that can beat Fighting-types such as Keldeo and Terrakion make for good picks; Latios can outspeed and KO them with its Psyshock, and Aegislash can easily take any of their moves and strike back with its STAB moves. Pokemon that match up well against Choice Scarf Landorus-T and Mega Diancie are also good; bulky Water-types such as Rotom-W and Suicune can strike back with a STAB move, your own Landorus-T can weaken their blows with Intimidate and KO the latter with Earthquake, and Deoxys-A outspeeds and KOes both of them with Psycho Boost. Teammates that can provide speed control support are handy to have, as they can help Mega Kangaskhan get KOs safely by letting it outspeed a wider range of foes. Tailwind from the likes of Talonflame, Latios, and Togekiss can be helpful, with the latter also having access to Follow Me and Encore, the latter of which can lock defending foes into Protect. Thunder Wave support from Pokemon such as Thundurus is also useful, and Cresselia can set up Trick Room in semi-Trick Room builds. It's important to note that Mega Kangaskhan can help these supporters by nabbing opportunities with Fake Out. Redirection helps Mega Kangaskhan greatly by giving it safe opportunities to set up with Power-Up Punch; Amoonguss can redirect moves with Rage Powder and put foes to sleep with Spore, and Togekiss has Follow Me and boasts additional support in Tailwind. Partners that can take advantage of the free turns Mega Kangaskhan can provide also work well; Substitute users such as Heatran, Kyurem-B, and Aegislash, Belly Drum Azumarill, and Deoxys-A all appreciate the opportunities to set up (or in Deoxys-A's case, attack) brought by Fake Out. Having Bisharp as a partner also works well because, in addition to being able to take out problematic Ghost-types, it takes advantage of any incoming Intimidate users thanks to Defiant.

Moves Double-Edge lets Mega Kangaskhan KO or at least deal significant damage to foes, though it comes at the cost of recoil. Return is a usable alternative if Double-Edge's recoil is unappealing, though it's weaker and contrasts with the set's goal, which is to land swift KOs. Low Kick hits opposing Mega Kangaskhan, Kyurem-B, and Steel-types such as Bisharp and Heatran for heavy damage. Seismic Toss can also be used, always dealing 200 HP damage thanks to Parental Bond, which is enough to 2HKO a good portion of the metagame, and lets Mega Kangaskhan deal consistent damage regardless of type matchups and opposing Attack control in burns and Intimidate. Sucker Punch lets Mega Kangaskhan circumvent its middling Speed; it also hits Ghost-types such as Aegislash and Gengar, albeit unreliably. Fake Out lets Mega Kangaskhan grab momentum and lets a partner freely set up or take out foes without much trouble; it also hits for decent damage and is useful for stopping a foe from setting up field conditions such as Tailwind and Trick Room. Set Details Scrappy lets Mega Kangaskhan hit Ghost-types before Mega Evolving, allowing it to use Fake Out on and stop setup from the likes of Jellicent and Chandelure. Inner Focus can be used in order to prevent flinches, letting Mega Kangaskhan surprise and delay foes for a turn without the need to consider opposing Fake Out. Full Attack and Speed EV investment puts Mega Kangaskhan's offensive capabilities to the highest level, and an Adamant nature lets it attain swift OHKOs, such as with Low Kick on opposing Mega Kangaskhan. A Jolly nature can also be run in order to outrun other neutral-natured base 100 Speed Pokemon and tie with positive-natured ones, though Mega Kangaskhan will hit for noticeably less damage as a result. An alternate EV spread of 144 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def / 108 Spe with an Adamant nature can be used for considerably more bulk and the same high attacking power while still outrunning most of the same threats that the main spread allows Mega Kangaskhan to, getting the jump on the base 70+ Speed range. Usage Tips Mega Kangaskhan's goal is, essentially, to wreak as much havoc to the opposing team as possible with its very powerful attacks, allowing teammates to clean up later. Leading with Mega Kangaskhan can be a good idea to punch holes early, with the option to use Fake Out to Mega Evolve and wrest for momentum on the first turn. On a related note, Fake Out can also be useful to attempt to grab momentum mid- or late-game. Watch out, though, as while using Fake Out whenever possible may be tempting, there are times when simply using an attack such as Double-Edge or Low Kick is the better play overall. Mega Kangaskhan can also take advantage of Scrappy by not Mega Evolving immediately, using Fake Out against Ghost-types such as Chandelure and Jellicent to stop them from setting up Trick Room. Mega Kangaskhan should run-and-gun to do as much damage as it can, taking out or at least weakening the checks and counters of its teammates in order to create a win condition with one of them later on; for example, using Mega Kangaskhan's Low Kick to take out Heatran can let your Talonflame be free to pick off foes later on. As Low Kick is generally less seen on Mega Kangaskhan compared to Power-Up Punch, it can be useful for catching opponents off guard and landing a surprise KO. When running Seismic Toss, Mega Kangaskhan can deal consistent damage regardless of the foe's typing or any factors to its Attack, letting it face off against any threat and still deal solid damage with ease. Against a faster foe, use Sucker Punch in order to put some damage in and move first, possibly saving Mega Kangaskhan from unnecessary damage if it attains the KO. Using speed control support such as Tailwind and Thunder Wave can greatly help with Mega Kangaskhan's job, letting it beat down and KO faster threats such as Keldeo and Choice Scarf Landorus-T safely. Take out foes with Intimidate as soon as possible in order to help Mega Kangaskhan perform its job more smoothly, as those Pokemon can easily come in and weaken Mega Kangaskhan's blows. In addition, don't let Mega Kangaskhan get burned, as this will significantly weaken its attacks, turning it into a non-threat for foes to take advantage of; however, a burned Mega Kangaskhan can still be useful if it can use Fake Out again for momentum. Team Options Because Mega Kangaskhan is an attacker, it appreciates teammates that can deal with its checks and counters. Teammates that can beat Ghost-types such as Aegislash and Gengar are good picks; both Hydreigon and Talonflame can OHKO them with their own STAB moves while also being able to fare well against Steel-types, except for Heatran in Talonflame's case. Pokemon that can take out Fighting-type foes such as Keldeo and Terrakion also serve well as teammates; Latios can KO them with Psyshock, and Aegislash can take their attacks and hit back with its STAB moves. Teammates that match up well against Choice Scarf Landorus-T and Mega Diancie also work; bulky Water-types such as Rotom-W and Suicune can take them out with their STAB moves, your own Landorus-T can weaken their blows with Intimidate, and Deoxys-A can outspeed and KO them with Psycho Boost. Teammates that can provide speed control support are great to have, as they can help Mega Kangaskhan outspeed and safely KO a wider range of threats. Tailwind setters such as Talonflame, Latios, and Togekiss are good options, with the latter also boasting great support moves in Follow Me and Encore, the latter of which can lock foes into Protect. Thunder Wave support from Pokemon such as Thundurus is also useful, and Cresselia can set up Trick Room for semi-Trick Room builds. Teammates that can clean up foes after Mega Kangaskhan has weakened them work well; spread move users such as Landorus-T, Heatran, and Terrakion are good choices, and Talonflame can pick off weakened foes with its Gale Wings Brave Bird. Mega Kangaskhan can be a good teammate for Pokemon that want certain threats removed or weakened; for example, Pokemon that dislike the presence of opposing Heatran, Mega Kangaskhan, and Kyurem-B appreciate Mega Kangaskhan's ability to KO them with Low Kick. Partners that can make use of the free turns Mega Kangaskhan can create with Fake Out also work well; Substitute users such as Heatran, Kyurem-B, and Aegislash, Belly Drum Azumarill, and Deoxys-A all appreciate the opportunities to set up (or in Deoxys-A's case, attack) brought by Fake Out. Bisharp can be a good partner, as, in addition to being able to take out Ghost-types, it can take advantage of opposing Intimidate users with Defiant.

Moves Return is the STAB move of choice, as it hits hard, though Double-Edge can be considered instead to hit harder but at the cost of some recoil. Low Kick can be used as a Fighting-type move to KO opposing Mega Kangaskhan. Power-Up Punch can also be used in that moveslot, as it allows Mega Kangaskhan to pseudo-bypass burns and Intimidate while helping Mega Kangaskhan boost its Attack. Sucker Punch covers Ghost-types and gives Mega Kangaskhan a priority move. Finally, Protect is used to guarantee Kangaskhan a completely safe Mega Evolution; it also protects Mega Kangaskhan from spread moves from its partner, such as Earthquake. Fake Out fits a more supportive role, dealing damage to a target, causing it to flinch, and allowing a partner to KO the target. Set Details The EV spread allows Mega Kangaskhan to take multiple hits with ease and hit as hard as possible. The defensive investment lets Mega Kangaskhan survive a max Attack Mega Kangaskhan's Low Kick, an Adamant max Attack Iron Fist Conkeldurr's Drain Punch, and a Modest max Special Attack Choice Specs Hydreigon's Draco Meteor. It also allows Mega Kangaskhan to avoid the 2HKO from Flash Cannon from Quiet max Special Attack Aegislash, which is one of Mega Kangaskhan's most solid counters. The Speed EVs allow Mega Kangaskhan to outspeed Pokemon with base 145 Speed and below under Tailwind, which helps a lot against fast offensive Pokemon, such as Mega Lucario and Mega Metagross. Kangaskhan can only outspeed Adamant max Speed Bisharp after Mega Evolving, however. Usage Tips This set is difficult to lead with if Mega Kangaskhan carries Protect, as it cannot use Fake Out and cause the foe to flinch, making it and its partner vulnerable to being KOed. Kangaskhan can easily KO bulky Pokemon when they have taken prior damage, so Mega Kangaskhan is useful for late-game cleaning. It also outspeeds quite a few Pokemon if Tailwind is set up, so Tailwind can be used to make Mega Kangaskhan shine mid-game. Team Options Although this set does not fear Fighting-types as much as the All-Out Attacker set does thanks to its extra bulk, it still has problems with status and Intimidate, making Defiant or Competitive users such as Bisharp or Milotic, respectively, good partners for Mega Kangaskhan. The only Fighting-type move that OHKOes Mega Kangaskhan is Close Combat, which Ghost-types such as Aegislash are immune to, and Flying- and Fairy-types such as Talonflame and Sylveon can easily OHKO most Close Combat users. An Intimidate user such as Landorus-T or Scrafty can also help Mega Kangaskhan stay on the field longer. Because Mega Kangaskhan appreciates Tailwind support, bulky Tailwind users such as Zapdos and Togekiss make for good partners. Fighting-types such as Mega Lucario can OHKO Mega Kangaskhan even after Intimidate, making Follow Me or Rage Powder users, such as Amoonguss and Togekiss, imperative. Sableye, Klefki, and Rotom-W are problematic, so a fast Prankster and Taunt user such as Thundurus also makes for a good partner.

Moves Return is the main STAB move of this set, as it hits hard without any other negative effects; however, Double-Edge can be used to allow Mega Kangaskhan to hit harder but with recoil. After a Power-Up Punch, Mega Kangaskhan can KO most common threats in Battle Spot Doubles with ease. Low Kick can be used over Power-Up Punch to OHKO Pokemon that are weak to it, such as opposing Mega Kangaskhan and Hydreigon. Ice Punch can also be used in that moveslot, as it hits two common Intimidate users, Landorus-T and Salamence, as well as Amoonguss, super effectively. Sucker Punch is needed on this set, as it is the only move that Mega Kangaskhan can hit Ghost-types with after Mega Evolving; it's the only move on the set that has priority and a decent Base Power. Fake Out is an incredibly useful utility move, allowing Kangaskhan to Mega Evolve safely. Set Details The EV spread allows Mega Kangaskhan to outspeed many threat and to hit as hard as possible. As Mega Kangaskhan has only one weakness and decent bulk, it can survive many hits without any investment in bulk. 252 Speed EVs and a Jolly nature allow Mega Kangaskhan to outspeed Mega Charizard Y. An Adamant nature allows Mega Kangaskhan to deal significant damage against bulky Pokemon such as Sylveon, Amoonguss, and Rotom-A whilst still outspeeding many Pokemon. Usage Tips With an appropriate partner, Mega Kangaskhan can be an amazing lead Pokemon, as it can either Fake Out a foe and let its partner KO the foe, or just heavily damage a target, though there aren't many Pokemon that can survive Mega Kangaskhan's attacks after they have taken damage. Team Options Mega Kangaskhan has three main weakness: Fighting-types, status, and Intimidate. Defiant or Competitive users such as Bisharp or Milotic can deal with Intimidate users, making them good partners. Bulky Ghost-, Psychic-, Flying-, and Fairy-types, such as Aegislash, Thundurus, and Sylveon, make for good partners as well, as they are able to deal with Fighting-types with ease. Intimidate users, such as Landorus, Hitmontop, and Gyarados, are also able to deal with Fighting-types and other physical attackers. Will-O-Wisp users, such as Rotom-A and Sableye, and Thunder Wave users, such as Thundurus and Cresselia, can support Mega Kangaskhan by inflicting its foes with status, allowing it to sweep more easily. Prankster users, such as Thundurus and Whimsicott, can also help with this.

Moves Thanks to Parental Bond, Power-Up Punch hits twice, letting Mega Kangaskhan double her Attack with just one use. Double-Edge is Mega Kangaskhan's hard-hitting STAB move, giving her great offensive presence before a boost and serious wallbreaking power after a boost. However, if you are worried about Mega Kangaskhan getting worn down by the recoil, you can opt to use Return at the cost of making Mega Kangaskhan more reliant on boosting. Sucker Punch gives Mega Kangaskhan a useful priority attack, allowing her to pick off weakened faster threats and even potentially sweep through battle-worn teams. Just note that Sucker Punch can result in mind games due to its failure against Pokemon using support moves. Earthquake is the most reliable option for the last moveslot, allowing Mega Kangaskhan to slam Steel- and Rock-types and avoid recoil from Garchomp, Ferrothorn, and Rocky Helmet users. Rock Slide doesn't offer great coverage compared to Earthquake, but in exchange, it lets Mega Kangaskhan hit Gengar and Ground-immune Rocky Helmet users such as Zapdos and Cresselia. With the help of Parental Bond, Rock Slide also has a 51% chance to cause the foe to flinch! Finally, Substitute can be used with a bulkier EV spread to allow Mega Kangaskhan to muscle through some of her defensive checks. Even against offensive Pokemon, Substitute can make Mega Kangaskhan extremely difficult to check, as playing around Sucker Punch becomes more difficult. Secret Power offers no additional coverage and is rather weak, but its 51% chance of paralysis and ability to avoid Rocky Helmet damage can make it a good move to pair with Double-Edge. Set Details Jolly is the preferred nature for sweeping, as it allows Mega Kangaskhan to outspeed threats such as Landorus-T and Hydreigon as well as Lucario and Kangaskhan before they have Mega Evolved. However, Adamant allows Mega Kangaskhan to be a bigger threat early in the game, as she is thus less reliant on boosting. Maximum Attack and Speed EVs are preferred for maximum sweeping power, while the 4 Special Defense EVs ensure that Porygon2 will not get a Special Attack boost. Scrappy is the preferred base ability for Kangaskhan. This allows her to hit Ghost-types before Mega Evolving. This is especially important against Gengar, which is a common switch-in to Mega Kangaskhan. Scrappy also allows Kangaskhan to use Power-Up Punch on Aegislash switch-ins, letting her OHKO Aegislash with a +1 Earthquake after Mega Evolving. If using Substitute, consider a bulkier EV spread of 132 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def / 4 SpD / 116 Spe with an Adamant nature. This allows Mega Kangaskhan to survive some impressive attacks, such as Choice Specs Latios's Draco Meteor, +2 Aegislash's Flash Cannon, Landorus-T's Superpower, and Choice Band Garchomp's Outrage. The Speed EVs are designed to let Mega Kangaskhan outspeed Breloom. Thanks to the HP EVs, Mega Kangaskhan also takes less damage from Rocky Helmet, allowing her to take on Cresselia, Suicune, and defensive Rotom-W more easily. Usage Tips If using Mega Kangaskhan early-game, try to focus on attacking the foe instead of setting up. This is a particularly effective tactic against offensive teams, because even if Mega Kangaskhan goes down early, the amount of damage she will have dealt can open up holes for teammates to sweep. Setting up early may seem appealing, but most teams will have offensive checks that can cut Mega Kangaskhan's sweep short. If your strategy requires Mega Kangaskhan to last longer, focus on using non-contact moves such as Earthquake and Rock Slide early on, as one of the most common responses to Mega Kangaskhan is to switch in a defensive Rocky Helmet Pokemon. Common Rocky Helmet Pokemon to watch out for include Suicune, Cresselia, Zapdos, Talonflame, Gyarados, Hippowdon, Garchomp, Ferrothorn, and Serperior. When planning to sweep with Mega Kangaskhan, focus on softening her defensive checks such as Cresselia, Suicune, and Porygon2. Doing this can allow Mega Kangaskhan to smash through them with a boosted Double-Edge or Return, leading to a potential sweep! Usually, it is better to Mega Evolve Kangaskhan on the first turn, as the Speed boost allows her to outspeed important threats such as Hydreigon and positive-natured Lucario. However, if you are facing Gengar or Aegislash, holding off on Mega Evolution can actually be a good idea. Thanks to Scrappy, Kangaskhan can hit Gengar before she Mega Evolves with Return or Double-Edge, making it a less reliable check. As for Aegislash, using Power-Up Punch as it switches in can allow Kangaskhan to OHKO it with Earthquake after Mega Evolution! During Team Preview, if you notice that your opponent's team is packed with defensive Mega Kangaskhan checks such as Porygon2, Cresselia, and Suicune or contains offensive checks such as Blaziken and Terrakion, don't be afraid to bench Kangaskhan if you feel like other Pokemon provide a better matchup. Mega Kangaskhan may be extremely dangerous, but even she can't bust through an entire team on her own. Team Options Rocky Helmet Pokemon such as Suicune, Cresselia, and Hippowdon are huge problems for Mega Kangaskhan, as their good bulk and the residual damage can stop her from sweeping. Knock Off can get rid of their main source of residual damage, with good users including Blaziken, Conkeldurr, and Azumarill. Tricking Choice items onto them can also cripple them. Rotom-W and Rotom-H are the best Pokemon for this job, while Togekiss can Trick them a Choice Scarf as well. Finally, residual damage from sources such as Stealth Rock can weaken foes enough to put them into Mega Kangaskhan's KO range, which can help in avoiding further chip damage from Rocky Helmet. Garchomp, Hippowdon, and Swampert are particularly good users of Stealth Rock. While using more than one Mega Evolution may seem like a waste of a teamslot, it can work well in Mega Kangaskhan's case provided that they cover Pokemon that give her issues. Mega Gengar is the perfect example of this, as it has Shadow Tag to trap many of Kangaskhan's defensive checks and counters. Mega Charizard X is also a good choice, as it can set up on Suicune and Ferrothorn. Finally, one notable strategy is pairing Mega Kangaskhan with Lunar Dance Cresselia or Healing Wish Latias. These moves can bring Mega Kangaskhan back from the brink of being KOed, giving her another chance to sweep!

Moves Double-Edge's absurd power is well worth the recoil. Sucker Punch gives Mega Kangaskhan a valuable priority move to pick off weakened foes and lets Mega Kangaskhan clean through weakened, faster foes such as Garchomp and Mega Salamence. Earthquake gives Mega Kangaskhan coverage against common Steel- and Rock-types such as Aegislash and Tyranitar. The last moveslot is an incredibly diverse toss-up. Fake Out is a great option that gives Kangaskhan a turn to Mega Evolve without worrying about its starting Speed and can wear down foes into revenge KO range. Rock Slide allows Mega Kangaskhan to dodge Rocky Helmet damage and has a 51% chance to cause the foe to flinch your foes. Ice Punch OHKOes Garchomp and does a huge amount of damage to Mega Salamence, while Fire Punch grabs an OHKO on Ferrothorn and a 2HKO on Skarmory. Facade may not offer any additional coverage, but it ruins teams that rely on Will-O-Wisp to defeat Mega Kangaskhan. While Crunch may seem inferior to Sucker Punch, being able to attack even if a foe uses a support move or switches makes it a valuable tool against Gengar. Finally, Secret Power, while weak, avoids Rocky Helmet damage and gives Mega Kangaskhan a 51% chance to paralyze her foes. If you wish, you can get rid of Earthquake to free up another moveslot. However, this makes Substitute Aegislash a much more serious issue. You may also replace Sucker Punch with Fake Out. While getting rid of Sucker Punch reduces Mega Kangaskhan's cleaning potential, it does allow room for more reliable coverage moves. Set Details Maximum Attack and Speed EVs are recommended to maximize Mega Kangaskhan's offensive presence, while 4 Special Defense EVs ensure that Porygon2 will not get a Special Attack boost from Download. Scrappy is the best ability for Kangaskhan, as it allows her to hit Ghost-types before Mega Evolving, which is especially important against Gengar switch-ins. Choosing between an Adamant nature and a Jolly nature can be a difficult decision. Going with an Adamant nature maximizes Mega Kangaskhan's offensive power; it is especially recommended if using Fake Out, as the extra chip damage can be game winning. A Jolly nature, on the other hand, allows Mega Kangaskhan to outspeed Adamant Mega Kangaskhan, Landorus-T, and Lucario before it Mega Evolves. Usage Tips Usually, you'll want to Mega Evolve Kangaskhan as soon as possible for the extra Speed. This is especially true if your Mega Kangaskhan has Fake Out, as this move will grant her a free turn to Mega Evolve. The main exception to this rule is when facing Gengar. Hitting Gengar on the switch with Double-Edge before Mega Evolving can ruin its plans to cripple Mega Kangaskhan with Will-O-Wisp. Mega Kangaskhan works in every stage of the game, but your strategy should change depending on what stage of the game you want to use her. If you plan on using Mega Kangaskhan early in the game, use her to try to weaken the foes for another teammate to sweep. This is usually a good tactic against offensive teams, where sacrificing Mega Kangaskhan may not be as big of a deal. If you want Mega Kangaskhan to last longer, avoid using contact moves such as Double-Edge. This lets you scout for Rocky Helmet switch-ins. If you plan on using Mega Kangaskhan late-game, try to clean up the weakened team with Double-Edge and Sucker Punch. This is the tactic to use if you see a team with bulky Pokemon such as Porygon2, Cresselia, Hippowdon, and Suicune, as these Pokemon will check Mega Kangaskhan when they are healthy. If your opponent has a team full of Mega Kangaskhan checks, it may be wise to bench Mega Kangaskhan. While Mega Kangaskhan is one of the most dangerous Pokemon in the game, even she won't be able to overcome a team designed to check her! Team Options By far the biggest issues are defensive Rocky Helmet Pokemon, which can take advantage of Parental Bond and force Mega Kangaskhan to lose significant portions of her health. Common Rocky Helmet users include Suicune, Cresselia, Gyarados, Hippowdon, Zapdos, Talonflame, and Serperior. Especially watch out for Rocky Helmet Garchomp and Ferrothorn, which take away over half of Mega Kangaskhan's health if she makes contact! Getting rid of Rocky Helmets can be a big help. Trick Rotom-W with Choice Scarf or Choice Specs can cripple most defensive Pokemon, while Blaziken and Conkeldurr can use Knock Off to get rid of Rocky Helmets, and they can also defeat Porygon2 with their Fighting-type STAB moves. Nasty Plot Thundurus also deserves a special mention for being able to get surprise sweeps on these defensive Pokemon. Another big problem for Mega Kangaskhan is offensive Fighting-type Pokemon such as Blaziken, Choice Scarf Heracross, and Mega Lopunny, which outspeed and OHKO her. Pokemon that resist Fighting are an excellent answer to this problem. Cresselia and Latias are excellent choices, especially because they can use Lunar Dance or Healing Wish to heal up Mega Kangaskhan. Talonflame is a more offensive answer, smacking Fighting-types with priority Brave Bird. Landorus-T works well too, thanks to its great ability, Intimidate. Mega Kangaskhan is great at dealing quick, small-risk damage thanks to Fake Out and punching holes through a team thanks to Double-Edge. This makes fast, powerful sweepers such as Talonflame, Blaziken, Greninja, and Thundurus good teammates. They can also take Will-O-Wisps that threaten to cripple Mega Kangaskhan. Another good teammate for Mega Kangaskhan is Baton Pass Blaziken. Blaziken can use Speed Boost and Bulk Up or Swords Dance to pass on boosts to Mega Kangaskhan. With Speed and Attack boosts, Mega Kangaskhan can become almost unstoppable! Most Battle Spot teams will have a game plan against Mega Kangaskhan, so running backup Mega Pokemon can be a good tactic against well-prepared teams. Mega Gengar is an excellent choice, being able to check Mega Kangaskhan's defensive checks thanks to Shadow Tag. Meanwhile, Mega Charizard X is able to use Mega Kangaskhan checks such as Suicune and Ferrothorn as setup fodder.

Thanks to Kangaskhan's moderately high bulk and Scrappy ability, it can make a very effective user of Focus Punch. Kangaskhan's sizable 105 / 80 / 80 defenses allow it to take hits surprisingly well, and in turn making its Substitutes very resilient, allowing it to play around Seismic Toss users with ease. Focus Punch allows Kangaskhan to punch holes in the Rock- and Steel-types that it lures in, even having a high chance of 2HKOing Rhydon after Stealth Rock damage. Return allows Kangaskhan perfect neutral coverage alongside Focus Punch with the aide of Scrappy, as well as providing a move with neutral priority for hitting slower Pokemon safely. Sucker Punch is the icing on the cake, allowing Kangaskhan to pick off faster Pokemon, with Substitute preventing the opponent from playing around it. The given EV spread allows Kangaskhan to produce five consecutive 101 HP Substitutes with enough Speed to outpace Jolly Crawdaunt, allowing it to KO it with Return before it can respond. A faster spread of 80 HP / 252 Atk / 176 Spe can be used to get the jump on base 80 Speed Pokemon such as Gallade and Kabutops, though it comes with a noticeable drop in bulk that hurts its ability to switch in repeatedly. In terms of support, Misdreavus is a solid partner for taking on Fighting-types, spreading burns to indirectly make Kangaskhan's Substitutes more resilient to physical attacks, and providing Heal Bell support to prevent Kangaskhan from being crippled by status. Considering Kangaskhan is adept in luring in and wearing down Normal-type resists, other strong Normal-types such as Cinccino and Zangoose are excellent partners for Kangaskhan for sweeping late-game. Strong Fighting-types, such as Gallade and Hitmonlee, appreciate Kangaskhan's ability to combat Ghost-types and wear down physical walls to clean up late-game, while also wearing down Rock- and Steel-types.

Kangaskhan's well-rounded stats and movepool allow it to effectively take on the role of a bulky attacker. Thanks to its Scrappy ability, Kangaskhan can much more safely capitalize on the neutral coverage of its STAB moves than its Normal-type brethren. Thus, Kangaskhan's Double-Edge is significantly more difficult to switch into, 2HKOing defensive pivots such as Slowking and Amoonguss while also OHKOing frail offensive Pokemon like Sceptile. While Double-Edge's extra oomph does help compensate for Kangaskhan's average Attack stat, the recoil can be rather off-putting, which makes Return a respectable alternative. Drain Punch provides perfect neutral coverage alongside Kangaskhan's STAB attack of choice, allowing it to hit Rock- and Steel-types for reasonable damage while also allowing Kangaskhan to recover some HP. However, considering the natural physical bulk of Rock- and Steel-types, Earthquake is also a very viable option, with its extra damage output allowing Kangaskhan to wear down Pokemon like Rhydon and Steelix better. With Kangaskhan's bases covered with its first two moves, it can focus its attention on versatility. Fake Out allows Kangaskhan to deal what is essentially "free damage," allowing it to hit any Pokemon lacking Inner Focus or Steadfast without immediate consequence. This extra damage not only aides Kangaskhan in checking a variety of frailer sweepers, but also allows it to beat Smeargle safely, breaking its Focus Sash with Fake Out and outpacing and finishing it off with another attack. However, this luxury must be played carefully, as simply clicking Fake Out every time Kangaskhan switches in can easily be exploited. Sucker Punch offers Kangaskhan a priority move of use after its first turn on the field, and forms an effective 1-2 punch alongside Fake Out, allowing it to take down a variety of frailer Pokemon, including but not necessarily limited to Galvantula, Sceptile, and Accelgor. While the extra power of an Adamant nature is often preferred, especially considering half of Kangaskhan's attacks are already priority-based and thus do not often require Speed, Jolly should never be overlooked, as the ability to Speed tie dangerous Pokemon such as Moltres and Lilligant and outpacing Entei is incredibly valuable for any Pokemon. A Jolly nature also ensures Kangaskhan can outspeed unboosted Gallade and Kabutops, both of which also remain very threatening Pokemon. While the generalized power of Life Orb is helpful and does help in picking off offensive Pokemon with less prior damage, Silk Scarf is often the superior choice, as it better complements Kangaskhan's natural bulk and helps in preventing it from being worn down by entry hazard damage and weaker attacks as easily. This is especially true when Kangaskhan is running Double-Edge, as the accumulative recoil puts Kangaskhan on an uncomfortably short timer, even with the recovery Drain Punch provides. Crush Claw can be used, as its high chance of Defense drops allows it to force bulkier Pokemon out with the prospect of taking unnecessarily hefty hits, though it often means losing out on Fake Out, a major draw to Kangaskhan. Fire Punch offers Kangaskhan an attack capable of dispatching Escavalier and Durant cleanly, though using it means either dropping its other coverage option, and in turn losing its ability to hit Rock-types, or Fake Out. Fire-type Pokemon like Entei, Moltres, and Emboar make excellent partners for Kangaskhan, not only taking on Steel-types and Tangrowth comfortably, but also switching into Will-O-Wisps that would otherwise cripple Kangaskhan. Spikes support helps Kangaskhan wear down bulky Rock- and Steel-types that give it problems, as well as dedicated physical walls such Poliwrath and Tangrowth. Smeargle is useful partner for setting up early-game hazards, and Qwilfish is a useful fallback for fast Fighting-types that can also provide Thunder Wave support to help alleviate Kangaskhan's average Speed stat. Thanks to Kangaskhan's ability to comfortably take on Ghost-types, it makes it one of the better Pokemon for Normal-type stacking, with partners such as Tauros, Zangoose, and Sawsbuck all benefiting from its ability to wear down their preliminary checks and counters so that they can sweep late-game. Choice Scarf Rotom-C offers a solid switch-in to Tangrowth and bulky Water- and Rock-types that give Kangaskhan troubles and a partner capable of safely revenge killing most Steel-type setup sweepers that Kangaskhan has difficulty facing. Strong Fighting-types, such as Gallade and Hitmonlee, appreciate Kangaskhan's ability to combat Ghost-types and wear down physical walls, aiding their ability to sweep, while in turn they are capable of pressuring bulky Rock- and Steel-types that check Kangaskhan.

Luckily Kangaskhan was blessed with the perfect moves and qualities of a SubPuncher. The ability to create 101 HP Substitutes, perfect coverage between Focus Punch and Return, and a priority move in Sucker Punch tick all the boxes when it comes to a SubPuncher. Substitute and Focus Punch are the foundation of the strategy. Switch into something that doesn't threaten you, use Substitute on the switch, and then Focus Punch. Return is there just in case you can't use Focus Punch, while Sucker Punch is for priority, which is nice to have on the set. The SubPunch set has great potential, as it can 2HKO many common UU threats, making it difficult for them to remove Kangaskhan's Substitute without getting KOed. Due to the lack of Attack investment, physical walls with reliable recovery, such as Tangrowth and Slowbro, can beat Kangaskhan, especially due to Regenerator and strong STAB attacks. The Speed EVs allow Kangaskhan to outspeed max Speed base 55 Pokemon and uninvested Rotom. If you need to increase Kangaskhan's Speed, a spread of 212 HP / 120 Atk / 176 Spe with a Jolly nature can be used to outspeed base 80 Speed Pokemon. However, this Speed tier is no longer as important as it was in DPP, and Kangaskhan will have a hard time beating many faster opponents. Double-Edge can be used over Return to hit Kangaskhan's switch-ins harder. Expert Belt can be used to fake a Choice Band in order to lure in Steel-types, and then dispose of them with a well-timed Focus Punch, clearing the way for a teammate to sweep. However, this strategy is unreliable, and should not be trusted completely.

Unlike it's Normal-type friends, Kangaskhan can use a Choice item without fear of Ghost-types switching in and forcing it out, as Scrappy allows it to hit them with its Normal- and Fighting-type moves. Hammer Arm provides perfect coverage with Double-Edge. Kangaskhan also has access to Drain Punch, which can be used to counteract hazards or Pokemon which outsped and hurt it before getting KOed. However, due to its low HP regaining abilities, Hammer Arm is generally superior to Drain Punch. Aqua Tail is the only thing that can 2HKO Rhyperior running 140 HP EVs, while Earthquake deals high damage to Pokemon like Qwilfish, Nidoqueen, and Arcanine. Sucker Punch should only be used for revenge killing if you're feeling gutsy. The EVs should be obvious, max Attack and Speed for a Pokemon whose job is to outspeed and KO its opponents. Kangaskhan has a relatively vast movepool, allowing it to pack specific moves to beat certain counters or whatever the team might need. Life Orb can be used if Kangaskhan needs to change moves to keep momentum on its side, but a loss of 10% of its max HP each time it attacks is a downer. Victini makes an excellent partner for Kangaskhan, with its good bulk, resistance to Fighting-type attacks, and ability to take on Rock- and Steel types with Grass Knot and V-create, respectively.

This set makes full use of Kangaskhan's Scrappy ability. Fake Out causes any target, except for those with Inner Focus, to flinch in fear for the first turn. Return provides Kangaskhan with a powerful STAB move. However, Double-Edge can be used over it, trading survivability for extra power. Low Kick provides coverage alongside Kangaskhan's STAB move, hitting most Rock- and Steel-type Pokemon super effectively. Between Return and Low Kick, Kangaskhan can hit everything except for Shedinja for neutral damage. Kangaskhan's final move is up to one's preference. Protect allows Kangaskhan to block incoming attacks, which is very valuable in VGC. Sucker Punch provides Kangaskhan with another priority attack, letting it pick off weakened opponents, or strike first against faster opponents. Lastly, Helping Hand allows Kangaskhan to boost the power of its ally's attacks, providing additional team support. 28 Special Defense EVs in addition to 252 HP EVs guarantees that Kangaskhan will survive a Life Orb-boosted Draco Meteor from Latios. The remainder of the EVs are then placed into Attack to provide some strength to Kangaskhan's moves. Holding a Chople Berry stops Fighting-type Pokemon, such as Terrakion, Gallade, and Hitmontop, from OHKOing Kangaskhan with Close Combat or other Fighting-type attacks. A Normal Gem can be used instead of a Chople Berry, allowing Kangaskhan to dish out respectable damage with a STAB attack. An alternate EV spread of 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe can be used with a Life Orb, providing Kangaskhan with a more offensively-oriented role on the team. Kangaskhan works great with Pokemon such as Tornadus and Volcarona that use set up moves, such as Tailwind and Quiver Dance. Its ability to flinch Ghost-type Pokemon with Fake Out lets Kangaskhan play a big role in stopping them from setting up Trick Room. To further prevent Trick Room from being set up, Dark- and Ghost-type Pokemon make good allies, hitting many of the common Trick Room users super effectively. If Kangaskhan is running Helping Hand, Choice Scarf users, such as Abomasnow and Chandelure, can be great partners as they outrun most Pokemon and their spread moves can be boosted by Kangaskhan's Helping Hand.

Other Options: Rock Slide