Yanmega

Yanmega, The Ogre Darner Pokémon. This six-legged Pokémon is easily capable of transporting an adult in flight. The wings on its tail help it stay balanced. It prefers to battle by biting apart foes' heads instantly while flying by at high speed.

Overview

Having gained a much needed evolution in DPP, Yanmega is an interesting Pokemon. Yanmega was one of many Pokemon to benefit greatly from the new physical/special split, taking a focus on Special Attack despite its typing being previously physical focused. As a focused specially offensive Bug-type, Yanmega didn't come out as one of the best, but it's far from a minor threat due to two amazing abilities in Tinted Lens and Speed Boost. Yanmega may just appear to be yet another Bug/Flying Pokemon with few redeeming qualities, but it does manage to sneak by with enough options for a fun pick.
Positives
Abilities - Both Speed Boost and Tinted Lens are strong enough abilities to break Pokemon, see Blaziken as an anecdote of the former. These are definitely a bit wasted on Yanmega but are major reasons to even consider using Yanmega. The fact that nothing actually can resist Yanmega is a major upside of the Pokemon, especially as a Bug-type, and being able to abuse Choice Specs so well makes it a powerful revenge killer.
Offensive Stats - While not fantastic, Yanmega is no slouch in the offensive department. 116 Special Attack ensures Yanmega will hurt most things that aren't specially defensive, while 95 Speed gives Yanmega a decent Speed tier, especially for Speed Boost sets.

Negatives
Defensive Stats - Yanmega has weak defenses meaning that bulky Pokemon can easily remove Yanmega in 2-3 hits. Its physical bulk isn't that bad but its special bulk is so bad that even resisted hits will hurt a lot. With Yanmega's typing, this means that the window for getting in and applying pressure is hard which results in a lot of leaning on U-Turn and Volt Switch support.
Typing - Yanmega sadly has terrible typing making it 4x weak to Stealth Rock. This limits how often Yanmega can come in and look to gain momentum as it will lose half its health. This also makes it mandatory to run a hazard remover, but with the new Defog tutor this is much easier support to provide.

Abilities

Tinted Lens - Not very effective attacks deal double damage - This is one of the best abilities in the game up with things like Bulletproof and Adaptability. There is little reason to not use this ability on a wallbreaking set, ignoring a resistance is a huge deal for a Pokemon with such shaky offensive typing.
Speed Boost - Raises Speed by 1.5% at the end of each turn - A solid ability as it allows Yanmega to really abuse Choice Specs and act as a sweeper, but overall weaker than Tinted Lens. This is an option that few other Pokemon have though so it's still worthy of consideration.
Frisk - Reveals opponent's Held Item - This isn't exactly a worthless ability, but it's thoroughly inferior to either of Yanmega's other abilities. Avoid using this ability at all costs.

Movesets

Choice Specs

- Air Slash
- Bug Buzz
- Giga Drain
- U-Turn
Item Attached: Choice Specs
Ability: Tinted Lens
EVs and Nature:
4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature

With Choice Specs and Tinted Lens Yanmega is a powerful wallbreaker. Bug Buzz is the main STAB, Tinted Lens makes it very powerful while Air Slash is slightly weaker but hits a few things that Bug Buzz doesn't hit as hard. This is primarily important for Pokemon such as Moltres and Talonflame that have a 4x resistance to Bug Buzz, or otherwise Flying-weak Pokemon. Giga Drain is a nice coverage, dispatching Water- and Ground-type threats with ease. U-Turn is a nice final option as it can allows momentum and allows Yanmega to bait in threats, as Yanmega will often force switches due to its power.

Life Orb

- Air Slash
- Bug Buzz
- Giga Drain
- Protect
Item Attached: Life Orb
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs and Nature:
4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest / Timid Nature

With Speed Boost Yanmega can act as a powerful sweeper, easily cleaning up weakened threats at the end of the game. Bug Buzz is still the main STAB move, decently spammable despite lacking the Tinted Lens boost, while Air Slash is a slightly less powerful STAB with better coverage and a nasty flinch chance. Giga Drain is still nice for coverage, dispatching Ground-type threats pretty easily while providing some healing from the Life Orb recoil. Protect is a staple for Speed Boost sets to get a free buff, though be careful of giving an opponent a free turn when using this.

Other Options

Ancient Power - Ancient Power can be used over Giga Drain to allow Yanmega to OHKO Moltres but that's all it does.
Items - You can mix up items with the abilities, Tinted Lens with an Expert Belt can allow some nice damage into Pokemon that assume Yanmega is choice locked or Choice Specs with Speed Boost to try and sweep similar to Salamence. Buginium Z with Bug Buzz can also be a neat surprise but will typically be inferior to a Choice Specs set.

Partner Ideas

Hazard Control - Controlling hazards is a must for Yanmega and makes Rapid Spin and Defoggers excellent partners. Gligar is a strong option as it can Defog and set up Stealth Rock, while Forretress can spin hazards and set up Spikes which Yanmega likes to help secure some OHKOs. However, Forretress shares a Fire weakness so that will need to be addressed as well, though the Volt Switch support it provides can help keep some momentum against this.
Nidoqueen - Nidoqueen can easily take a lot of the threats that are a problem for Yanmega while providing Stealth Rock and Toxic Spikes. Nidoqueen also can slowly chip at defensive walls like Snorlax and just remove threats such as Mega Steelix and Florges that wall Yanmega otherwise.

Countering Yanmega

Snorlax - With its high Special Defense and Health, Snorlax is a strong answer to Yanmega. Being Normal type, Snorlax isn't impacted by Tinted Lens and can threaten Yanmega with powerful Returns or Pursuits while Yanmega can't do much back to it.

Moltres - Resisting both of Yanmega's STAB moves, Moltres can easily stop Speed Boost Yanmega and if EVed defensively, it can easily resist Tinted Lens Yanmega and threaten back with Flamethrower. Offensively Moltres does lose in Speed but can easily threaten Yanmega or just revenge kill with a Choice Scarf. It only really needs to fear the rare Ancient Power or Air Slash flinches.

Locations in Games

Red/Blue/Yellow:
Not in game

Gold/Silver/Crystal:
Not in game

Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Not in game

FireRed/LeafGreen:
Not in game

Colosseum/XD:
Not in game

Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Evolve Yanma

HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Evolve Yanma

Black/White:
Evolve Yanma

Black 2/White 2:
Route 3, Pinwheel Forest

X/Y:
Evolve Yanma

Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Trade from X/Y

Sun/Moon:
Trade from Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon

Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon:
Ultra Space Wilds

Let's Go, Pikachu!/Let's Go, Eevee!:
Not in game

Animé Appearences

Yanmega has made a few appearances in the anime. Most notably it was used by Jessie during her Sinnoh League journey.

# -English Episode Name- -Jp. Episode Name- Pics
M10 The Rise of Darkrai Dialga VS Palkia VS Darkrai Pics
548 Thief That Keeps On Thieving The Yanma Capture Operation! Pics
552 Hungry For the Good Life! The Gluttonous Swinub at Mr. Backlot's! Pics
553 Fighting Fear With Fear! Gligar! Wings of Friendship!! Pics
P11 Not Aired Pikachu's Great Ice Adventure Pics
555 The Psyduck Stops Here The Psyduck Roadblock Pics
557 Up Close and Personable Research Release - "The Legend of the Lake"! Pics
560 Lean Mean Team Rocket Machine Return to the Basics, Team Rocket! Pics
561 Playing the Leveling Field The Dancing Gym Leader! Fantina Appears! Pics
563 Battling the Generation Gap Pokémon Contest! The Celestic Convention! Pics
570 Shield with a Twist Hearthome Gym! VS Fantina! Pics
574 A Breed Stampede The Way To Befriend Pokémon! Pics
578 Steeling Peace of Mind! Riley & Lucario! Pics
579 Saving the World from Ruins The Hidden Ruins of Iron Island! Pics
580 Cheers on Castaways Isle! The Pikachu-Piplup Drifting Chronicle! Pics
582 Another One Gabites the Dust Pokémon Contest! Akebi Convention!! Pics
584 The Drifting Snorunt Froslass In A Blizzard Pics
585 Noodles: Roamin' Off Team Rocket Breakup!? Pics
586 Pursuing a Lofty Goal PokéRinger! Big Decisive Sky Battle!! Pics
587 Trials and Adulations! Clash! Mamoswine VS Aggron! Pics
589 The Lonely Snover The Lonely Snover! Pics
590 Stopped in the Name of Love Evolution! This Time For Piplup!? Pics
601 Uncrushing Defeat Uxie's Shadow! Pics
603 Beating The Bustle & Hustle! Everybody Participate! Pokémon Hustle!! Pics
605 Three Sides to Every Story Marill, Piplup & Elekid! Pics
610 Where No Togepi Has Gone Before! The Worst Togepi In History! Pics
620 The Battle Finale of Legend! Dialga and Palkia! The Final Battle!! Pics
623 Double-Time Battle Training! Double Battle! Mamoswine & Cyndaquil! Pics
628 A Marathon Rivalry! Get Fired Up Snorlax! Prince of Pokéthlon! Pics
630 Playing the Performance Encore Double Battle! VS Plusle & Minun! Pics
636 Keeping in Top Forme! Fly Shaymin! To the Far Side of the Sky!! Pics
639 Dawn of a Royal Day! Dancing Togekiss! Pokemon Contest Princess!! Pics
640 With the Easiest of Grace! Togekiss! The Battle Which it Becomes Magnificent!! Pics
642 Last Call, First Round! Grand Festival! The Art of Flame & Ice! Pics
643 Opposites Interact! Mamoswine & Pachirisu! The Ice Chandelier - Decisive Blow! Pics
644 Coming Full Festival Circle! Semi-Final! Who is Heading to the Final!? Pics
646 For The Love Of Meowth Goodbye Team Rocket! Meowth's Love! Pics
659 Memories Are Made of Bliss Memories are Pearl! Friendships are Diamond! Pics
M17 Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction The Cocoon of Destruction and Diancie Pics
858 A Slippery Encounter! The Weakest Dragon Ever! Enter Goomy!! Pics
859 One for the Goomy! Dedenne Does Its Best! All for Goomy!! Pics
864 An Oasis of Hope! Into the Badlands! Fight, Goomy!! Pics
872 Defending the Homeland! A Fight in the Wetlands! Goodra VS Florges!! Pics
873 Beyond the Rainbow! Conclusion! Goodra, Somewhere Over the Rainbow!! Pics
926 A Diamond in the Rough! Find Carbink! Goodra and Dedenne!! Pics
942 Facing the Needs of the Many Farewell, Ash-Greninja! Xerosic Strikes Back!! Pics
943 Till We Compete Again A Zero With No End! Till the Day We Meet Again!! Pics
1234 Rocket Revengers! Team Rocket's Counterattack! Pics