Lugia, The Diving Pokémon. It sleeps in a deep-sea trench. If it flaps its wings, it is said to cause a 40-day storm. It is said to be the guardian of the seas. It is rumored to have been seen on the night of a storm. Lugia's wings pack devastating power-a light fluttering of its wings can blow apart regular houses. As a result, this Pokémon chooses to live out of sight deep under the sea.
Overview
The 'Great Wall' Lugia holds the title of possible the best wall in Ubers. With its massive defensive stats and solid typing, Lugia can go head to head with a lot of offensive threats in the tier making it a consistent stall staple in the tier, having solid typing and being a solid abuser of Rest/Sleep Talk. Lugia also gained a major blessing in BW much like its opposite Ho-Oh in its Hidden Ability Multiscale. This kept Lugia a top tier threat even in the massive power creep the happens each gen. However Lugia is also only good at being a wall, limiting its flexibility and makes it easier to predict compared to Groudon or Ho-Oh. Nevertheless, Lugia should be considered and respected when teambuilding or playing into as it isn't an easy wall to break, earning its nickname the 'Great Wall'.
Positives
+Multiscale allows Lugia to be an incredible pain to handle, especially with access to Roost to maintain full health.
+Strong typing allows Lugia to answer a lot of threats in Ubers such as Mega Blaziken, Primal Groudon, Mewtwo X, Mega Salamence, and check boosting sweepers
+Lugia has enough tools to apply pressure and abuse its abilities, with moves such as Roost, Rest, Substitute, Dragon Tail, Whirlwind, and Toxic.
Negatives
-Lugia has so 4 move slot syndrome, as it wants one more move than it can carry, which hurts it. Because of this, Lugia losses to Taunt really easily.
-Lugia is predictable, having subpar offensive stats. This takes away from a surprise factor and makes it easier for your opponent to plan on handling Lugia
Abilities
Pressure - Doubles Power Point usage of the opposing Pokémon - A nice stall ability, works well enough if you don't have access to Multiscale but is inferior to Multiscale
Hidden Ability (Available):
Multiscale - Damage done while at full health is halved - An amazing ability as it allows Lugia to answer other threats that it couldn't otherwise such as Primal Groudon and Ho-Oh. This triggers every time you are at full health.
Movesets
Great Wall
-Whirlwind
-Toxic
-Roost
-Substitute/Ice Beam
Item Attached: Leftovers
Ability: Multiscale
EVs and Nature:
252 HP/160 Def/96 Spd
Bold Nature
Lugia is fairly locked into moves, suffering from 4 move slot syndrome. Roost is the first one, helping to heal Lugia from being worn down as well as continue to renew Multiscale making it incredible hard to break through. Substitute is next, benefiting from Multiscale as well if you are at full health, furthering how hard it is to break through Lugia. This also blocks status moves, a bane to Lugia. Next is Whirlwind, allowing Lugia to phase out threats that try to boost in its face as well as wear down threats with hazards such as Spikes and Stealth Rocks. Lastly is Toxic, the main form of damage for Lugia, this also allows Lugia to win stall wars against other walls or tanks such as Giratina or Groudon. Ice Beam earns a mention as well over Substitute as a way to beat or pressure threats such as Zygarde Complete and Mega Salamence. This also gives a way to do anything through Taunt.
Other Options
Dragon Tail - Another option over Whirlwind, this allows the ability to phase through Taunt but you lose the ability to phase Xerneas.
Rest - Another option for healing, you would run Rest and Sleep Talk instead of Substitute and Roost. This voids the weakness to status but lose the ability to maintain Multiscale as easily.
Possible Partners
Defog Support - Because of Multiscale, Lugia needs hazard control to truly shine. Thankfully most defoggers work well with Lugia such as Arceus Water and Arceus Dark. Tentacruel or Fortress can be used as a spinner but Lugia brings a weakness to Ghost as it is.
Spike Users - Because of Lugia's main "damage" is through entry hazard phasing, Spike setters go well with Lugia. Skarmory and Forretress are both solid users, Skarmory capable of phasing while Forretress can hazard control. Greninja also earns a mention for being one of the best offensive Spike setters though Lugia is a more stall team Pokémon.
Zygarde Complete - Zygarde Complete pairs well with Lugia to make a defensive core, answering Ho-Oh & Groudon better than Lugia can as well as sponge up status moves that Lugia hates to take.
Tyranitar - Tyranitar excels as partner with its ability to Pursuit trap some counters such as Lunala and Giratini O that can harass Lugia who can't break through them. Tyranitar with a Choice Band or Choice Scarf can also break Giratini, Mega Gengar, and Mewtwo. Finally, Tyranitar can interrupt Kyogre's or Groudon's weather with its own.
VGC, Double, & Triple Battle Options
(Soul) Silver’s box legendary was an uncommon Pokemon back in VGC 2016. Without its Hidden Ability to help it take hits better, Lugia could not keep up with the incredible damage put out by the Primals and Geomancy Xerneas. While we may not see another format like VGC 2016 for a while, Lugia still has its fun tricks, and its bulk and speed does make it a reliable Tailwind setter.
IT’S A CRIT!
-Aeroblast
-Ice Beam / Psychic / Psyshock
-Tailwind / Recover
-Protect / Recover
Item Attached: Weakness Policy
Ability: Multiscale
EVs and Nature:
84 HP / 252 SpA / 172 Spe
Timid Nature
Okay…I could go through a standard bulky Tailwind support set, but since Lugia does not hit the double-battle fields often, let’s talk about a set that is a lot more fun. The basic strategy is to pair Lugia with a Pokemon who knows Fling, and to have that teammate Fling a Lansat Berry at Lugia. Fling, a dark-type move, will activate Lugia’s Weakness Policy, while the Lansat Berry will increase Lugia’s critical hit ratio. Combined with Aeroblast's high critical-hit ratio, Lugia can crit everything in its path at +2 special attack. Maximum special attack helps you sweep, while 172 EVs in speed with a Timid nature outspeeds max speed Xerneas at level 50. The rest of the EVs are placed in HP for more bulk, but the speed and HP can be adjusted to outspeed whatever you feel necessary. Multiscale is the ability of choice (especially paired with Recover), as it is much more useful than Pressure.
Aeroblast is Lugia’s signature attack and best takes advantage of this strategy (but make sure you maximize its PP). Ice Beam has great coverage in general, but a Psychic move can be chosen for secondary STAB. Psychic is the stronger of the two, but Psyshock can hit Pokemon like Primal Kyogre much harder. Tailwind can combine for the ultimate setup to increase your speed, but Recover can maximize your longevity and can gain back Multiscale. Protect is still the best move in doubles, but may not be quite as necessary since Lugia has fantastic bulk.
Other Options & Team Ideas
-Leftovers, a Sitrus Berry, or a 50% pinch berry can help keep Lugia healthy on support sets. The terrain Seeds can be paired a Tapu, as Tailwind support Lugia is really just a super-powered Mandibuzz.
-A variety of coverage moves is available for Lugia alongside Aeroblast. Shadow Ball hits Giratina hard. Hydro Pump can decimate Primal Groudon if Desolate Land is not active. Thunderbolt provides electric coverage, but Thunder can hit Primal Kyogre harder and will not miss in the rain. Earth Power is also useful for Primal Groudon or Heatran. Giga Drain provides nice recovery while still doing good damage.
-Weather Ball is cool tech move to surprise the opponent. Using Weather Ball on a Primal Groudon as you switch in a Primal Kyogre next to Lugia will OHKO the Groudon, and you can also surprise Pokemon like Ferrothorn or Mega Scizor with a fire-type move in Groudon’s sun.
-Icy Wind is another useful form of speed control that provides chip damage.
-Whirlwind can ruin Trick Room or Geomancy setups.
-Lugia can work similarly to Cresselia with Calm Mind setup. Recovery items work well, but since Lugia does have access to Recover, a Kee Berry can boost its physical defense. A Flyinium Z can also be very strong on a Calm Mind set for a powerful attack.
-Using Psych Up to copy Geomancy or Extreme Evoboost boosts can make Lugia nearly unstoppable.
-Mega Rayquaza is an amazing partner for Lugia, as its Delta Stream eliminates Lugia’s weaknesses to electric, rock, and ice.
-Fake Out support can help Lugia set up Tailwind cleanly.
-Pokemon with Fling are of course great support for the featured set above. Weavile and Ambipom are two that may deserve extra consideration, as they both outspeed Lugia to use Fling before it attacks, and they can use Fake Out to support Lugia for Tailwind setup.
-Redirection to keep Lugia safe from attacks can be very useful.
-Despite its great bulk, Lugia is fast, so it does not love battling in Trick Room, so ways to prevent or counter it are good.
Countering Lugia
Taunt Users - Because of the nature of Lugia, Taunt users cripple it hard. This can be alleviated with Ice Beam or Dragon Tail, but it will cripple what Lugia is capable of doing. Yveltal is the best as after it can pressure what comes in with its wall breaking ability while Mega Gyarados can use this as a chance to boost.
Steel Types - Being immune to Toxic, Steel types can switch in without any real fear and harass Lugia. Ferrothorn can set up hazards in its face, while Scizor and Dialga can apply pressure. Outside of phasing, Lugia lacks a true way to deal with these threats, however with Spike support they will get worn down fast.
Mega Gengar - Mega Gengar is capable of just Shadow Tag trapping Lugia and, if it doesn't have Substitute or not have it up yet, KO it with ease while fearing minimal in return. Lugia can stall with Whirlwind or Dragon Tail but it will lose if you can't handle Mega Gengar.
Mega Sableye - Lastly, Sableye and its Mega Form earn a mention with its normal forms ability Prankster, allowing it to priority Taunt Lugia, and Mega Sableye's Magic Bounce, bounce off Toxic and Whirlwind. Mega Sableye after can just pressure Lugia with Foul Play or Shadow Ball.
Locations in Games
Red/Blue/Yellow:
Not in game
Gold/Silver/Crystal:
Whirl Islands
Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Naval Rock (Emerald)
Trade from FireRed/LeafGreen/Emerald (Ruby/Sapphire)
FireRed/LeafGreen:
Naval Rock
Colosseum/XD:
Snagged from Cipher Boss Greevil in Citadark Isle (XD)
Trade from FireRed/LeafGreen/Emerald (Colosseum)
Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Trade from HeartGold/SoulSilver
HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Whirl Islands
Black/White:
Transfer from Generation IV/Dream Radar
Black 2/White 2:
Transfer from Generation IV/Dream Radar
X/Y:
Trade from Alpha Sapphire
Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Sea Mauville (Alpha Sapphire)
Trade from Alpha Sapphire (Omega Ruby)
Sun/Moon:
Transfer from Generation VI
Animé Appearences
