Cresselia stands out as one of the premier Legendary Pokémon in the VGC (Video Game Championships) landscape. While formidable competitors like Kyogre and Xerneas may exhibit greater raw power, Cresselia excels in its resilience to damage and its capacity to bolster its teammates. This dual capability has solidified its reputation within the VGC, leading many to regard it as overpowered.
Seizing the championship title at Worlds three times—specifically in 2010, 2012, and 2015—Cresselia has also enjoyed considerable success in Regional and National tournaments. In this article, we will delve into the attributes that affirm its dominance within the Pokémon VGC meta.
What Makes Cresselia a VGC Powerhouse?
To comprehend why Cresselia is considered a game-changer in the Pokémon VGC, we must examine four critical components that contribute to the effectiveness of any competitive Pokémon: typing, ability, base stats, and movepool.
Cresselia’s Impressive Base Stats
Here are Cresselia’s noteworthy base stats:
- HP: 120
- Attack: 70
- Defense: 110
- Special Attack: 75
- Special Defense: 120
- Speed: 85
- Total Base Stats (BST): 580
It’s worth noting that in Generation IX, Cresselia experienced a slight degradation in performance, losing 10 points from its defenses. Historically possessing a 600 BST and formidable defensive stats of 120/120/130, this Pokémon has often compensated for its Psychic typing vulnerabilities, particularly in a competitive environment dominated by threats like Incineroar.
This exceptional bulk is integral to Cresselia’s longevity in battles, enabling it to withstand most neutral attacks and optimize EV (Effort Value) training to absorb some super-effective hits. Although its offensive capabilities are not its strong suit, using a STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) Psychic or Psyshock can yield substantial damage rather than mere chip damage.
Supportive Moveset
Cresselia boasts one of the most versatile movepools in Pokémon VGC, which arguably contributes significantly to its sustained success. Here’s how Cresselia can support various team roles:
- Speed Control: Thunder Wave, Icy Wind, Trick Room
- Self-Healing: Moonlight, Rest, Lunar Blessing
- Teammate Healing: Lunar Dance, Lunar Blessing
- Status Healing: Lunar Blessing
- Status Prevention: Safeguard
- Opponent Hindrance: Trick, Gravity, Skill Swap
- Ally Assistance: Helping Hand, Ally Switch, Skill Swap
- Dual Screens: Reflect, Light Screen
- Weather Setting: Sunny Day, Rain Dance
- Stat Copying: Psych Up
- STAB Offense: Psychic, Psyshock
- Offensive Coverage: Ice Beam, Thunderbolt, Tera Blast, Dazzling Gleam, Moonblast, Shadow Ball, Energy Ball, Grass Knot, etc.
Among these options, Lunar Blessing stands out as particularly remarkable. This unique move allows Cresselia to heal both itself and its ally while curing any ongoing status afflictions.
Furthermore, Cresselia’s ability, Levitate, offers it an invaluable immunity to Ground-type moves, notably Earthquake, enhancing its defensive strategy.
Effective Use of Cresselia in Pokémon VGC
Cresselia is an excellent candidate for Terastallization, which can mitigate its Psychic typing vulnerabilities. Popular choices for transformation include Fairy, providing enhanced defense against Dark and Dragon types, while Poison offers an advantage against Fairy types.
In terms of items, a Mental Herb proves invaluable in avoiding disruption from Taunt for a crucial turn. Additional options include Safety Goggles to safeguard against Spore attacks from Amoonguss, or a Rocky Helmet to penalize physical attackers.
The Sassy nature is commonly adopted for Cresselia, particularly when employing Trick Room strategies. By slowing down its speed, Cresselia can effectively utilize the Trick Room environment, allowing it to act before opponents and either deal damage or support teammates with healing.