Mimikyu

Mimikyu, The Disguise Pokémon. Its actual appearance is unknown. A scholar who saw what was under its rag was overwhelmed by terror and died from the shock. A lonely Pokémon, it conceals its terrifying appearance beneath an old rag so it can get closer to people and other Pokémon. If its neck is broken or its rag torn during an attack, it works through the night to patch it.

Overview

Mimikyu is a fantastic Pokémon. While many people dismissed it at first due to its desire to look like a Pikachu, it has a fantastic ability that acts as a free Substitute. This allows for Mimikyu to set up and, with its stats, potentially sweep up and do some serious damage. It truly is a Pokémon that you shouldn't underestimate, andi t's even getting its own Z-Move in USUM, for which this article will be updated
Positives
+ Its ability is fantastic
+ It has a solid Attack and Speed stat
+ Its Special Defense is really solid

Negatives
-Its movepool is somewhat limited
- Its Defense is mediocre at best
- With its typing, you'd expect more Special uses, but its Special Attack is surprisingly poor

Abilities

Disguise - Once per battle, the Pokémon can withstand one damaging attack without receiving any damage. Damage inflicted through entry hazards, weather or status conditions will not break the disguise. Damage from Confusion will break the Disguise - This ability is brilliant, giving Mimikyu a free Substitute so you can do what you need to do

Movesets

PikaBOO!

-Swords Dance
-Shadow Sneak
-Shadow Claw
-Play Rough
Item Attached: Life Orb/Ghostium Z
Ability: Disguise
EVs and Nature:
4HP/252Atk/252Spd
Adamant or JollyNature

This is really the standard Mimikyu set, using the powerful physical attacks of its own typing as well as Shadow Sneak to get some extra priority. The idea here is to get a Swords Dance up during the Disguised portion of the battle, which pushes Mimikyu's Attack up to really strong levels. From there, Shadow Sneak will hit hard, while Play Rough and Shadow Claw can do serious damage which can just outright decimate most opponents that don't resist it..

Other Options and Partners

Splash - No, really. If you don't think that Swords Dance is a good choice as you will only be using it once, then using Z-Splash will boost Mimikyu's Attack up higher, though you do have to sacrifice additional items. It's a gimmicky option but it can work
Leech Life - Leech Life got a major buff in Sun & Moon and can be used on Mimikyu to great effect

For partners, you need to prepare for things to try to burn it, so Pokémon like Heracross or Hariyama with Guts can do some serious messing with the opponent in those situations

VGC, Double, & Triple Battle Options

Mimikyu is one of the trickiest Pokemon to deal with in VGC 2017. While it does not blow opponents away with its base stats, its fantastic ability, great movepool, and unpredictability make it difficult to handle. Although offensive Mimikyu can outrun Tapu Lele and threaten opponents with powerful z moves, the most common move seen on this ghost in doubles is actually Trick Room. Between Disguise and only having two weaknesses, Mimikyu reliably sets up Trick Room most of the time, especially if it holds a Mental Herb. Alongside Belly Drum Snorlax, Mimikyu also forms one of the scariest duos in the current format.

Undercover Agent

-Shadow Claw
-Play Rough
-Trick Room
-Destiny Bond / Taunt
Item Attached: Ghostium Z
Ability: Disguise
EVs and Nature:
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature

Jolly Mimikyu with max speed outspeeds up to Tapu Lele and Arcanine, while maximum attack helps it do as much damage as possible. The ghost z crystal gives Mimikyu a powerful Never-Ending Nightmare to take out bulky Tapu Lele or Metagross. Alternatively, the ghost Z move can be paired with Destiny Bond to help a teammate set up. The z version of Destiny Bond basically becomes a combo of Destiny Bond and Follow Me, which can be useful against slower enemies, especially with Mimikyu's signature ability, Disguise. Disguise is fantastic in giving Mimikyu the ability to take one hit.

Shadow Claw and Play Rough are strong STAB moves to give Mimikyu good offensive presence, and Shadow Claw can also be paired with Ghostium Z. Trick Room is great on Mimikyu, as Disguise helps Mimikyu reliably set it up and counter your opponent's speed. Destiny Bond is mainly used to pair up with the z move as previously mentioned, but can be useful in other situations too. Taunt supports the team in stopping certain moves used by your opponent to set up.

Ready for Halloween

-Play Rough
-Trick Room
-Shadow Claw / Shadow Sneak / Taunt
-Psych Up / Taunt
Item Attached: Mental Herb
Ability: Disguise
EVs and Nature:
252 HP / 212 Def / 44 SpD
Relaxed Nature

This set helps form one of the scariest duos in VGC 2017. Trick Room Mimikyu next to Belly Drum Snorlax is unstoppable against certain teams, and Mimikyu's access to Psych Up makes it even more terrifying. The key to this set is being able to always set up Trick Room. Max HP with 212 EVs in defense with a Relaxed nature allows Mimikyu to always survive a Jolly Kartana's Smark Strike, as well as a Jolly Garchomp's Tectonic Rage. The remaining EVs are put in Special Defense to best survive strong special attacks like from Tapu Koko or Tapu Lele, but this is best achieved if you can eliminate their terrain to weaken any boosted attacks. Disguise again lets you take any one hit, and Mental Herb prevents Mimikyu from being Taunted, leaving only a few ways to prevent your Trick Room from going up.

Play Rough is Mimikyu's strongest STAB, and no Pokemon are immune to it if it is your only attack on the set. Trick Room is the whole reason to use this set to help Snorlax sweep. Shadow Claw is strong STAB that, unlike Play Rough, has perfect accuracy, but Shadow Sneak is powerful priority if Mimikyu can copy Snorlax's boost. Taunt helps prevent your opponent from reversing your Trick Room, and Psych Up copies Snorlax's boosts to turn Mimikyu into a threat that cannot just be ignored.

Other Options & Team Ideas

-Fairium Z is an alternative z crystal to pair with Play Rough for powerful damage.
-Focus Sash is another option to help set up Trick Room, but does leave you open to being Taunted.
-Life Orb and Choice Band have seen some use on more offensive Mimikyu.
-Protect is not too commonly seen since Mimikyu is immune to (most) Fake Out and Disguise lets it take a hit, but it can still be useful sometimes.
-Wood Hammer gives grass coverage against Pokemon like Gastrodon, while Leech Life gives some recovery.
-Swords Dance boosts Mimikyu's decent attack, and turns it into more of a threat.
-Will-O-Wisp, Thunder Wave, and Toxic are all status moves with some use.
-Curse is a rarely used option, but sees some use to put an opponent (especially bulky ones or who use set up moves) on a timer.

-Snorlax. See the second set!
-Other Trick Room sweepers like Torkoal and Gigalith thrive once Mimikyu sets up your speed control.
-Arcanine and other Intimidate Pokemon help increase Mimikyu's bulk, especially for Trick Room setup. Arcanine can also threaten Celesteela and other steel types who give Mimikyu trouble.
-Tapu Fini's terrain blocks status moves, such as sleep to prevent Trick Room or burns to cripple Mimikyu's strength. Tapu Koko's terrain also blocks sleep attempting to prevent Trick Room, and Volt Switch is nice to get off damage and bring a sweeper in for Trick Room.
-Hariyama's Fake Out sets Trick Room go up, and it can be a threat under Trick Room as well. In return, Mimikyu can handle most Tapu Lele sets for it.
-Porygon2 and other Trick Room setters like that Mimikyu can Taunt slower Taunt or Roar users, or you can simply play mind games with your opponent about which Pokemon will set up Trick Room.
-Terrain control to weaken strong special attacks from Tapu Koko or Tapu Lele help Mimikyu out.

Countering Mimikyu

Various Pokémon with abilities such as Mold Breaker are a good option. They will hit through the Disguise and stop Mimikyu from doing most of its shinanegans. Then, go with Pokémon such as Poison-types, Steel-types or Ghost-types to monopolise on the weaknesses. Solgaleo with its Sunsteel Strike and Sunraze Smash will blow through Mimikyu as if it wasn't even there

Locations in Games

Red/Blue/Yellow:
Not in game

Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Not in game

FireRed/LeafGreen:
Not in game

Colosseum/XD:
Not in game

Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Not in game

HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Not in game

Black/White:
Not in game

Black 2/White 2:
Not in game

X/Y:
Not in game

Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Not in game

Sun/Moon:
Abandoned Thrifty Megamart

Animé Appearences

Mimikyu has made many appearances in the anime. In this, it is being used by Jessie and has a massive hatred for Pikachu

# -English Episode Name- -Jp. Episode Name- Pics
946 Loading the Dex! Good Rotomorning, I am the Rotomdex, Roto! Pics
947 First Catch in Alola, Ketchum-style! Enter Rowlet! I Got A Pokémon in Alola!! Pics
948 Yo, Ho, Ho! Go, Popplio! Popplio, Do Your Balloonest! Pics
949 A Shocking Grocery Run! Zing Zap Togedemaru! Pics
955 The Sun, the Scare, the Secret Lair! The Extracurricular Lesson is on Mareanie?! Pics
956 Racing to a Big Event! The Great Alola Pancake Race! Pics
957 Getting to Know You! The Fruit of Courage: Lillie and Vulpix! Pics
959 They Might Not Be Giants! A Tiny Trio on a Big Adventure!! Pics
966 Getting the Band Back Together! Here's a Real Shocker! A Dugtrio Split-Up?! Pics
968 A Team-on-Team Tussle! The Fight Over the Crystal! Team Rocket VS Team Skull!! Pics
971 Pulling Out the Pokémon Base Pepper The Fierce Pokébase Match! Aim for a Home Run to Turn the Tide!! Pics
981 Mimikyu Unmasked Mimikyu's Disguise! Pics
985 Alola, Kanto An Alola! in Kanto! Brock & Misty! Pics
988 Now You See Them, Now You Don't! Nebby's Panic! The Teleport Happened Suddenly!! Pics
998 The Professors' New Adventure! Thank You, Solgaleo! You are Our Nebby!! Pics
1003 Getting a Jump on the Competition! Lillie is Soaring Through The Air! The PokéSled Jump Tournament! Pics
1004 A Mission of Ultra Urgency! Set Off! You Are Our Ultra Guardians!! Pics
1005 Acting True to Form! The Dark Meowth is Alolan Meowth!? Pics
1010 Love at First Twirl! Pika Pika Sparkling Love! Poipole Spins Round and Round!! Pics
1016 Why Not Give Me a Z-Ring Sometime? Team Rocket, Get a Z-Ring!! Pics
1017 Tough Guy Trials! This Tough Old Geezer's the Island Kahuna? Pics
1018 Some Kind of Laziness! Tapu Bulu! Intense Slacker Training!! Pics
1019 A Battle Hand-Off! The Decisive Super Battle! Pikachu VS Mimikyu!! Pics
1020 Guiding an Awakening! Nanu's Grand Trial! The Awakening of Lycanroc! Pics
1031 Full Moon and Many Arms! Lunala VS UB: BLACK! A Battle at Full Moon!! Pics
1033 Securing the Future! Connect to the Future! The Legend of the Blinding One!! Pics
1034 A Plethora of Pikachu! It's an Outbreak-chu! The Pikachu Valley!! Pics
1037 A Haunted House for Everyone! Ghost Pokémon Everywhere! Everyone's Haunted House!! Pics
1054 Show Me the Metal! Arrival in Alola! Melty Metal Panic!! Pics
1057 Beauty is Only Crystal Deep! Beauty and the Meowth Pics
1060 Drawn with the Wind! Shaymin, Meltan and Sandy! Lost Explorers!! Pics
1065 Spying for the Big Guy! You're Being Watched! Team Rocket's Alola Forms!! Pics
1072 Battle Royal 151 Brawl! Battle Royal 151!! Pics
1073 Battling Besties! Mallow & Lana! A Fully Powered Battle of Friendship!! Pics
1074 The Battlefield of Truth and Love! Jessie VS James! A Battlefield of Love and Truth!! Pics
1075 Imitation Is the Sincerest Form of Strategy! Overcome Decidueye!! Pics
1078 The Final Four! The Semifinals! Kiawe VS Gladion! Pics
1079 Getting Down to The Ire! Rising Fire! More Than One Rival!! Pics
1080 The Wisdom Not to Run! Guzma the Undefeated! Pics
1087 From Z to Shining Z! The Greatest Z in Alola! Tapu Koko VS Pikachu! Pics
1089 Thank You, Alola! The Journey Continues! Thank You, Alola! Respective Departures!! Pics
1126 The New Old Gang of Mine I Am Back! Nice to See You, Alola! Pics
1165 All Out, All of the Time! Fully Powered! The Alola Desert Island Race!! Pics
1234 Rocket Revengers! Team Rocket's Counterattack! Pics