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