Pyukumuku Movesets & Competitive Sets

Moves Block is used to prevent the target from switching out, which can allow Pyukumuku to PP stall foes with Spite more effectively or force more Toxic damage to quickly rack up. Recover gives Pyukumuku reliable recovery and allows it to continuously check threats throughout the match. Spite, in tandem with Block, allows Pyukumuku to deplete the PP of Poison Heal and Magic Guard users and beat Manaphy. This especially helps against Calm Mind Clefable, which is otherwise a very annoying threat to any stall team that lacks Haze Toxapex. Rest is used to relieve Pyukumuku of status and beat other defensive walls such as Chansey and Toxapex, but, more importantly, it allows Pyukumuku to effectively outstall Mega Sableye if Block gets bounced back and traps Pyukumuku. Taunt may also be used instead of Rest to accelerate the PP stalling. Alternatively, Toxic and Soak are also viable options instead of Spite and Taunt. Toxic is Pyukumuku's main and only real form of damage and, in conjunction with Soak, allows it to poison the majority of the tier, barring certain Magic Guard, Magic Bounce, and Poison Heal users. Soak allows Steel- and Poison-types to get hit by Toxic and can also remove the target's access to its STAB-boosted moves. One of the main advantages of using Toxic + Soak is being able to cripple common switch-ins such as Tapu Koko and Tapu Bulu, making it more effective against offensive teams. Set Details A Bold nature with maximum HP and Defense investment allows Pyukumuku to more easily handle the large number of physical attackers in the tier. Unaware allows Pyukumuku to check setup sweepers by ignoring their boosts. Leftovers allows Pyukumuku to avoid important 2HKOs from strong offensive threats and gives it a small amount of passive recovery. Usage Tips It's best to preserve Pyukumuku's HP and keep it healthy enough to check setup sweepers such as Hawlucha and Manaphy and some wallbreakers such as Mega Swampert. Use Recover liberally to keep Pyukumuku healthy and scout possible Z-Moves from wallbreakers such as Landorus-T, which might put it in range of regular attacks. Keep Pyukumuku away from common Taunt users such as Heatran to prevent it from getting crippled. Use Block when you suspect the opponent to stay in with a trappable target, such as against Clefable if Pyukumuku is running Spite. If using the Soak + Toxic variant, try not to reveal Soak- against Steel and Poison-types such as Celesteela and Toxapex until you have trapped them with Block. Team Options Pyukumuku only fits on stall teams, so staples of the archetype are the best teammates. Mega Sableye is a good example here, as it can bounce back Taunt from Heatran and check non-Z-Move variants. Chansey is able to take on a large variety of powerful special attackers that can overwhelm Pyukumuku such as Choice Specs Ash-Greninja, Tapu Koko, and Mega Latios. It can also utilize Heal Bell to cure Pyukumuku of status. Zapdos is able to check an otherwise devastating stallbreaker in Mega Gyarados while also removing entry hazards that may cut into Pyukumuku's longevity. Physically defensive Tangrowth can also deal with Mega Gyarados, and with Hidden Power Fire or Sludge Bomb, it can deal with Kartana or Tapu Bulu, respectively. Hippowdon is able to soft check physical attackers that Pyukumuku cannot, such as Mega Mawile and Choice Band Tyranitar, while also providing a useful Electric immunity. Jirachi, while sometimes harder to fit on stall teams, is able to take on important threats in Tapu Lele and Kyurem-B and pass Wishes to Pyukumuku.

Moves Block allows Pyukumuku to trap opposing Pokemon and either PP stall them with Spite and Rest or wear them down with Toxic. Toxic is Pyukumuku's only way to deal damage, but Spite allows it to trap Pokemon that can ignore Toxic damage, including opposing Rest users, Steel- and Poison-types, and Clefairy. While Rest may seem redundant alongside Recover, it allows Pyukumuku to trap and remove Toxic users such as Mudsdale and more effectively preserve PP while stalling other Pokemon. Set Details Unaware ignores stat changes, which prevents setup sweepers like Gurdurr, Omastar, and Combusken from capitalizing on Pyukumuku's passivity. Ghostium Z or Poisonium Z can be used depending on whether Pyukumuku opts for Spite or Toxic. The former allows Pyukumuku to fully recover any lost HP in a pinch, while the latter increases its Defense by one stage and enables it to more reliably stomach hits from physical threats. Z-Toxic can also be used to poison Taunt users such as Oricorio-E. Both options also make it immune to Trick and Switcheroo, which can be problematic for stall, though this is at the cost of losing out on Leftovers, which provides passive recovery, lessening the frequency at which Recover and Rest need to be used. Usage Tips Block can sometimes come as a surprise to opponents and shouldn't be revealed until Pyukumuku is able to trap and KO an opposing Pokemon. Similarly, Z-Toxic has excellent surprise value in being able to status Taunt users that aren't expecting it and should be preserved until the time is right. Refrain from switching Pyukumuku in while entry hazards are up, as they can limit its ability to reliably check setup sweepers like Dodrio and physically offensive threats like Kangaskhan. Recover should be used frequently, as Pokemon such as Kangaskhan only need Pyukumuku slightly weakened to be able to 2HKO it. Pyukumuku is extremely passive, and as such can be easily exploited by setup sweepers capable of breaking through it such as Alolan Raichu and Shiftry. Be very careful to avoid opponents capitalizing on its nonexistent offenses. Team Options Pyukumuku can only reliably fit on stall teams in need of a switch-in to setup sweepers, as its sheer passivity would cost any other team too much momentum. Specially defensive Pokemon are great partners to have and complete a solid defensive core alongside Pyukumuku, as they are each capable of handling one another's checks. Audino is a notable example, being a staple on stall and providing useful cleric support to reduce the number of times that Pyukumuku has to use Recover and Rest. Grass- and Electric-types like Victreebel, Oricorio-E, and Alolan Raichu are capable of easily exploiting Pyukumuku, especially if it lacks Toxic. Therefore, checks like Articuno, Regirock, and Claydol are essential to have. Entry hazard removers such as Skuntank and the aforementioned Claydol and Articuno are important teammates to have as well, since Pyukumuku can be chipped by Spikes easily. Pyukumuku should not be a stall team's only physical wall, as strong Choice Band wallbreakers such as Stoutland and Aggron will break through it; a second wall such as Mudsdale or Regirock is vital.

Moves Soak allows Pyukumuku to inflict Poison- and Steel-types with Toxic poison, as well as remove the STAB boost from the attacks of foes, which can help Pyukumuku take strong neutral hits from wallbreakers and Z-Move users. Block lets Pyukumuku trap Pokemon and stall them out with Toxic; eliminating key threats to stall teams. Additionally, it prevents the opponent from continuously switching between two Steel- or Poison-types, which would effectively prevent Pyukumuku from doing anything. Spite lets Pyukumuku PP stall defensive threats it would otherwise be unable to beat such as Snorlax, and waste PP for moves such as Synthesis or Heal Bell. If running Spite, Rest is an option to aid Pyukumuku in PP stalling the opponent. It can also allow it to act as a status absorber for its team. Set Details The given EV spread with a Bold nature simply maximizes Pyukumuku's physical bulk. A more specially defensive spread of 252 HP / 108 Def / 148 SpD with a Calm nature allows Pyukumuku to take Salazzle's Acid Downpour into Sludge Wave after Stealth Rock. Usage Tips Due to Pyukumuku's stellar bulk and defensive typing, Pyukumuku can be used as a direct switch-in to the Pokemon that it can check such as Barbaracle and Zygarde-10%. Use it as a counter to setup sweepers such as Necrozma and Cloyster that can threaten the team if they get out of control. Make sure to use Recover liberally so Pyukumuku remains healthy enough to check what it needs to throughout the match, and utilize Wish or Heal Bell from its teammates if it's at lower health or statused. Use the combination of Soak and Toxic on defensive Poison- and Steel-types such as Dragalge and non-Choice Band Escavalier to wear them down easily. If the opponent has two Steel- or Poison-types and is switching between them to prevent them from being inflicted with Toxic poison, trap one of them with Block and proceed to Toxic stall it. Remember that trying to inflict Toxic poison on offensive Toxic-immune Pokemon such as Choice Band Escavalier is not always worth the trouble, since Pyukumuku will be forced to tank at least two hits in the process, making it an unwise choice if Pyukumuku is low on health. Soak also removes the STAB damage boost from foes, which makes the matchup against Pokemon such as Salazzle and Bewear much more favorable. Avoid switching into multiple layers of entry hazards with Pyukumuku, since it can get worn down easily and has difficulty checking threats when weakened. Team Options Pyukumuku appreciates being paired with a cleric such as Articuno. These allow it to play more recklessly, since they can heal it late-game with Wish and cure its status condition with Heal Bell. Fairium Z Cresselia can provide a much-needed answer to Mold Breaker Pangoro, which can otherwise run through an unprepared stall team, as well as a check to many Pokemon that threaten Pyukumuku such as Rotom-C, Virizion, and Mega Ampharos. A Defog user such as Mandibuzz or Articuno can remove entry hazards so Pyukumuku can stay healthy more easily and more reliably counter setup sweepers thanks to Unaware. Registeel acts as a blanket check to special attackers and provides utility in Stealth Rock, helping wear down the opposing team further. Xatu can be used to bounce Taunt, Toxic, and entry hazards back to the opposing side of the field. Dragalge can always check Salazzle without having to play around its Acid Downpour, which can be valuable for Pyukumuku’s team.

Moves Block allows Pyukumuku to trap more passive Pokemon that cannot directly threaten it such as Mega Aggron and Sylveon in order to either PP stall or Toxic stall them. The move also allows Pyukumuku to trap threatening stallbreakers such as Nasty Plot Infernape and Lucario that Pyukumuku can beat due to Unaware. Toxic allows Pyukumuku to cripple Pokemon such as Taunt Hydreigon and Mega Manectric that would otherwise switch in freely. It also lets Pyukumuku stall out offensive Pokemon that it beats, such as Calm Mind Latias, Nasty Plot Togekiss, and Volcanion. Soak allows Pyukumuku to use Toxic against Steel- and Poison-types, which are otherwise immune to it. It also helps Pyukumuku against targets such as Cobalion and Lucario by removing the STAB bonus from their attacks. Spite allows Pyukumuku to PP stall stallbreakers such as Reuniclus and Substitute + Calm Mind Chandelure that are unable to be stalled out with Toxic. Rest in conjunction with Spite allows Pyukumuku to beat stallbreakers such as Block + Toxic Slowbro while also allowing it to break stall teams itself by trapping and PP stalling targets such as Blissey and Alomomola. Recover lets Pyukumuku check targets such as Nasty Plot Infernape and Lucario throughout the game without needing to use Rest. Set Details Unaware allows Pyukumuku to beat boosting special attackers such as Infernape, as well as some weaker boosting physical attackers such as Mimikyu. Usage Tips Pyukumuku should be brought in against threatening stallbreakers such as Nasty Plot Infernape and Lucario in order to wall and potentially trap and remove them, and its HP should be carefully conserved otherwise to take their Z-Moves reliably. However, Pyukumuku should be wary of physical sets from both these Pokemon, as they are capable of 2HKOing it. Pyukumuku should try to avoid Toxic users unless it needs to trap them, as removing the status with Rest allows Pokemon such as Psychium Z Nasty Plot Celebi and Substitute Chandelure to come in and 3HKO it. Be careful to conserve Block's PP, as opponents can easily stall out all uses of Block if they switch into a Ghost-type or a U-turn or Volt Switch user. When you predict one of these Pokemon to come in, it is better to either heal up with Recover or double switch instead of wasting Block's PP. If running Soak, Pyukumuku should use it to weaken opposing Pokemon such as Lucario and Cobalion by removing their STAB multipliers, allowing it to better take hits from them. This also allows Pyukumuku to wall Swords Dance Terrakion in a pinch, but only if Terrakion's Z-Move was already used. If running Spite, Pyukumuku should usually only use it against trapped foes in order to conserve its PP. It's often necessary to have a high number of PP for Spite in order to reliably take on Pokemon such as Celebi, Reuniclus, and Chandelure. Pyukumuku should avoid trying to PP stall foes such as Tentacruel and Mantine that have high-PP moves such as Rapid Spin and Haze, and Suicune should also be avoided due to Pressure unless PP stalling it is absolutely necessary. If running Rest and Spite, Pyukumuku should attempt to trap more passive entry hazard setters such as Mega Aggron, Empoleon, and Blissey, as it is not bothered by Toxic and can prevent them from setting entry hazards later in the match, although it should be wary of Roar from the former two. Spite Pyukumuku should also attempt to trap variants of Gligar that do not have U-turn, which is otherwise annoying due to Immunity. If Spite Pyukumuku does not have more important targets, it can be used to dismantle bulkier teams by eliminating Pokemon such as Alomomola, Slowbro, and defensive Moltres. Pyukumuku should be careful about using Rest against targets that aren't trapped, however, as this can offer free turns to the opposing team. Pyukumuku should be careful to scout the movesets and items of Pokemon such as Celebi and Togekiss, as Celebi can run Grassium Z on its Nasty Plot set to break through Pyukumuku, while Choice Scarf Togekiss can use Trick to cripple Pyukumuku and make it functionally useless. Team Options Pyukumuku fits on stall teams that appreciate its ability to beat many specially offensive stallbreakers such as Infernape and Lucario. Blissey is a fantastic partner for Pyukumuku, as it can set Stealth Rock to chip away at Pyukumuku's common switch-ins such as Scizor and use Heal Bell to cure Pyukumuku of status, which is especially helpful for Rest variants. Mega Altaria is a fantastic partner for Pyukumuku, capable of easily taking on physical attackers such as Crawdaunt, Tsareena, Haxorus, and Zeraora that force out Pyukumuku. It can also take Knock Off for Pyukumuku, act as a cleric with Heal Bell, remove entry hazards with Defog, and beat one of Pyukumuku's hardest checks in Taunt Hydreigon. Quagsire can form a double Unaware core with Pyukumuku, helping with physical setup sweepers such as Swords Dance Terrakion and Scizor that Pyukumuku can't deal with. It also provides an Electric immunity to help deal with non-Hidden Power Grass Mega Manectric trying to gain momentum on Pyukumuku. Quagsire can also help to punish U-turn spam with Counter, which also lets it deal with Mega Altaria and Bug Bite Scizor more reliably. Gligar can help deal with Terrakion while providing Defog support to Pyukumuku. In conjunction with Quagsire, it can also cover all variants of Mega Manectric, making Pyukumuku's team much less weak to Volt Switch spam. Nihilego can help Pyukumuku deal with Pokemon such as Leaf Storm Celebi while providing a stronger answer to Nasty Plot Togekiss that does not rely on not flinching. It can also set up Stealth Rock, allowing Blissey to run other moves such as Heal Bell and Wish, and absorb Toxic Spikes that would otherwise hinder Pyukumuku. Scizor can act as a strong answer to Leaf Storm Celebi while providing Defog support and helping deal with Swords Dance Haxorus, which is able to easily break through both Quagsire and Pyukumuku due to its ability Mold Breaker. In return, Pyukumuku can check the Fire-types such as Infernape and Chandelure that can use Scizor as setup fodder.

Moves Spite allows Pyukumuku to reliably PP stall Pokemon that it can't wear down with Toxic such as Komala, Muk, and Duosion. It's also Pyukumuku's sole move able to bypass Substitute. Toxic allows Pyukumuku to wear down Pokemon using less PP than with Spite. However, unlike Spite, Pokemon immune to Toxic such as Bronzor and Komala are common. Rest is a secondary recovery move that allows Pyukumuku to more reliably PP stall Pokemon that can't 3HKO it such as Floatzel and Bulk Up Komala. It also allows Pyukumuku to remove potential status, which allows it to beat Pokemon that rely on Toxic to break walls such as Regigigas. Block allows Pyukumuku to remove a Pokemon from the game, since it will lose its PP before Pyukumuku because of Spite, Rest, and the inability to switch to save PP. This also makes Toxic stalling more reliable, since the foe will lose more and more health at the end of each turn. Set Details Unaware allows Pyukumuku to beat setup sweepers such as Bulk Up Komala and Swords Dance Combusken. Poisonium Z allows Pyukumuku to Toxic an opposing foe through Taunt. It also prevents Pyukumuku from suddenly becoming Choice-locked by Pokemon such as Switcheroo Floatzel. If Pyukumuku doesn't run Toxic, it can instead hold a Ghostium Z to still benefit from the immunity to Trick and Switcheroo and reduce Knock Off damage. It also provides Pyukumuku with one-time full recovery. Leftovers can be run over a Z-Crystal since it gives Pyukumuku passive recovery, which allows it to avoid the 2HKO from Choice Band Komala after Stealth Rock and the 3HKO from Duosion. Usage Tips Switch in Pyukumuku against Pokemon that can set up or can't 2HKO it, such as Crustle and Combusken. It's important from Team Preview to identify which opposing Pokemon is the most dangerous. Such Pokemon that must be trapped by Block will be the target of Pyukumuku's Z-Move in order to ease pressure off its teammates. Use Recover to keep Pyukumuku at full health to check threats such as Choice Band Komala. Switch out if the opposing Pokemon can 2HKO Pyukumuku or commonly packs Taunt or Substitute, such as Vigoroth or Regigigas. If the opposing Pokemon can 2HKO Pyukumuku, use Recover. Otherwise, it should use Block, Spite, or Toxic first and then Recover. If you know the foe can cripple Pyukumuku with Taunt, use Z-Toxic to bypass Taunt. The Defense boost is also nice, since it allows Pyukumuku to avoid the 2HKO from Choice Band Toucannon. However, since it can only be used once, it should not be prematurely wasted. Pyukumuku can use Rest to cure status such as poison; however, you shouldn't do this if Pyukumuku needs to be awake to take on an opposing Pokemon. Rest also improves Pyukumuku's effectiveness at PP stalling, and if the opposing Pokemon can't 3HKO Pyukumuku, using Rest will allow Pyukumuku to use less PP than the foe. Team Options Pyukumuku's passive nature limits it to only fitting on stall teams. If used in another archetype, Pyukumuku drains to much momentum and invites some threats to freely come on the field. Lickilicky is Pyukumuku's partner of choice because of its ability to take on special attackers and immunity to Taunt. It can also remove Pyukumuku's status thanks to Heal Bell. Pokemon such as Altaria, Avalugg, Bronzor, and Gourgeist-XL that can take on offensive Grass-types are potent teammates. Pokemon immune to Electric that can beat Electric-types and disturb VoltTurn cores such as Silvally-Ground are great partners. Entry hazard control is a requirement on any stall team; for example, with Stealth Rock up, Pyukumuku is unable to switch into Choice Band Komala. Good hazard removers on stall include Altaria, Avalugg, Silvally-Ground, and Silvally-Dark. Natu is also a great teammate for its ability to bounce Taunt back. If holding a Z-Crystal, Pyukumuku becomes a sufficient Knock Off absorber, which is appreciated by Pokemon that hold Eviolite such as Bronzor.

For full USUM 1v1 analyses, you can check out the USUM format page.

With Z-Purify, Pyukmuku can pass a boost in every stat, potentially setting up a sweep for a teammate. Otherwise, this Pyukumuku can be used much like any other Toxic stalling Pyukumuku, even if it isn't as good at its job as the above set.

Pyukumuku's lack of offensive moves beyond Counter may be embarrassing, but it has a niche as a wall thanks to Unaware, allowing it to check some sweepers. Unusual among defensive Pokemon is Soak, which can allow Pyukumuku to Toxic stall Steel-types. Counter is also a good way to deal with physical attackers once the opponent runs out of good Pyukmuku switch-ins. Just note that Pyukumuku is crushed by anything with Taunt and has no offensive presence to speak of.