Mimikyu, the Disguise Pokémon. This Pokémon lives in dark places untouched by sunlight. When it appears before humans, it hides itself under a cloth that resembles a Pikachu. Mimikyu was only recently identified as a Pokémon. Previously, people thought it was just a ghost wearing a cloth. Even as it struggles beneath the cloth to repair the broken neck of its disguise, Mimikyu keeps up its impersonation of Pikachu. It has taken damage and can no longer hold the head of its cloth disguise upright. For as long as it lives, Mimikyu will never forget its attacker.
Overview
Mimikyu returns as one of the best one on one artists in the game in the ninth generation. This is thanks to the absurd ability that is Disguise, which negates the first attack thrown at Mimikyu for a small pittance of an eighth of Mimikyu’s HP when it breaks. This has made Mimikyu an amazing blanket check against established setup sweepers, able to come in, endure a boosted attack without issue and then dispatch them in any number of ways, from crippling them with Curse or Will-O-Wisp, or simply picking them off with its great STABs and priority in Shadow Sneak. That is not even getting into Mimikyu weaponizing the free turn Disguise gives it to safely setup Swords Dance. Ghost Fairy is fantastic both offensively and defensively, giving Mimikyu a host of immunities and two very spammable STABs that are hard to resist. Mimikyu’s Ghost typing also gives it a robust disruptive movepool which has done much to contribute to Mimikyu’s success.
This is all despite Mimikyu’s middling stats. Base 90 Attack is far from impressive even after a Swords Dance boost and Mimikyu lacking a truly strong Ghost STAB means offensive sets can and do struggle against bulky Fairy resists. Mimikyu’s hit taking ability is also somewhat suspect, with good Special Defense and average Defense let down by a decidedly below average 55 HP, making Mimikyu that much more exposed once Disguise is broken. Disguise’s one and done nature prevents Mimikyu from switching in freely for fear of prematurely breaking Disguise and requires a good read on the opponent for when Mimikyu should be brought in. Four moveslot syndrome also hits Mimikyu hard, with it unable to handle bulky threats without its disruptive moves but lacking in coverage and/or power if it runs those moves. Generations of power creep have not helped matters either, with bulkier threats forcing Mimikyu to the wayside. Mimikyu’s base 96 speed also leaves a bit to be desired, ironically making Mimkyu itself vulnerable to revenge killing once Disguise is busted. This does not stop Mimikyu from being unique in its capabilities and a trainer willing to put the love and care into it from being well rewarded.
Positives
Disguise is one of the best abilities in the game, being a hit negation that keeps Mimikyu healthy.
Ghost Fairy is an amazing typing both defensively and offensively, having invaluable immunities, few weaknesses and STABs with wide Super Effective and Neutral coverage.
Fantastic movepool with several disruption options enabled by Disguise in tandem with select physical coverage and Swords Dance makes Mimikyu an unpredictable opponent.
Negatives
Base 90 Attack is low for an ostensibly offensive Pokémon, leaving Mimikyu struggling against walls even after a boost.
Base 55 HP brings down decent defenses, having Mimikyu struggle to take hits after Disguise is broken.
Disguise’s one-shot nature makes using Mimikyu difficult.
Movesets
Disguise Dance
-Swords Dance
-Play Rough
-Shadow Claw
-Shadow Sneak
Ability: Disguise
Item: Life Orb
EVs and Nature:
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
Mimikyu makes for an effective setup sweeper, able to use any free switch to safely set up Swords Dance thanks to Disguise. Play Rough is your primary STAB for its greater power and wide super effective coverage, threatening many popular Pokémon like Dragonite, Annihilape, Baxcalibur, Tyranitar, Gallade, Breloom and more. Shadow Claw is recommended as secondary STAB hitting many of the targets that Play Rough doesn’t, especially Gholdengo while being Mimikyu’s best option against Poison types like Clodsire and Gengar. Shadow Sneak provides invaluable priority, allowing Mimikyu to pick off faster frailer attackers once its Disguise is broken, broadening its utility against offensive teams.
Tera Types:
Mimikyu gets tons of mileage out of its base typing and thus isn’t that Tera reliant, though its unimpressive attack makes offensive Terastalizations tempting. Mimikyu is a rare Pokémon that can make good use of Stellar Tera, given both of its STABs are fantastic offensively and it usually benefits from keeping its base typing. Tera Ghost is a more reliable standard, giving a massive boost to Shadow Sneak that outright enables late game sweeps while pushing Shadow Claw to be slightly stronger than Play Rough in neutral scenarios. If running Drain Punch, Tera Fighting should be considered, giving Mimikyu an added boost on its best coverage move against Steel types.
EVs and Items:
Standard Sweeper array of Max Speed and Max Attack investment is recommended. Mimikyu’s Speed and Attack need every drop of help they can get. Going full speed with Jolly Nature is recommended so Mimikyu can get the jump on dangerous Pokémon like Baxcalibur, Annihilape, and Gholdengo who can OHKO Mimikyu outright if Disguise is broken (or even with Disguise in Baxcalibur’s case) but struggle to stomach Mimikyu’s STABs in turn. Life Orb is recommended for the item, giving Mimikyu the biggest boost possible while retaining move flexibility, allowing Mimikyu to more easily reach knock-outs than otherwise with its Attack. Red Card is an interesting alternative, allowing Mimikyu to provide defensive utility by absorbing a boosted Pokémon’s attack and forcing them out with Red Card, wiping away their boosts, which can potentially start a reverse sweep in Mimikyu’s favor.
Partners:
:
Mimikyu finds itself a staple on offensive teams as a silver bullet against opposing setup and reverse sweepers, providing an offensive check that doesn’t drag the team down while Mimikyu appreciates its offensive partners chipping opponents into KO range. Offensive Steel types are at the top of this list. With Mimikyu completely lacking coverage for Poison types, they make for natural switch-ins, so Steels with their Poison immunity make for great partners. Archaludon and Gholdengo stand out with their Special offense fantastic at compromising the physical walls Mimikyu struggles with. Other stellar Steel types include Revravroom, Scizor, Magnezone and Kingambit. Reuniclus also deserves mention, its Future Sights an incredible deterrent for Poison types, allowing Mimikyu to setup safely and deal even more damage.
Answers to Steel types are highly recommended for Mimikyu, especially if it isn’t running Drain Punch given Mimikyu’s unimpressive Attack and low powered Ghost STAB against Steel type’s generally high Defense. Rotom-Heat is excellent at this, not only melting Steel types with Overheat, but clipping prominent physical wall Dondozo with its Electric STAB while opening more setup opportunities with Will-O-Wisp and Thunder Wave support. Blaziken is another great option, its Speed boost allowing it to check normally faster targets Mimikyu struggles with while its dual Steel smashing STABs deny safe refuge for every Steel type.
Other Options:
Drain Punch is fantastic coverage against Steel types like Kingambit and Excadrill who tend to be too bulky for Mimikyu’s STABs and helps offset the Disguise and Life Orb recoil, giving Mimikyu some extra longevity.
Wood Hammer is Swords Dance Mimikyu’s best option for bulky walls like Dondozo, Hippowdon and Garganacl, though the recoil adds up quickly, especially with Life Orb.
Doubles and VGC Options
The many factors that allow Mimikyu to excel in singles also allow it to flourish in Doubles. Disguise preventing Mimikyu from being OHKO’d is invaluable, all but forcing opponents to double up on Mimikyu to take it out on the first turn, an act that can be easily punished. Mimikyu’s Ghost typing is part of what makes Disguise so valuable, preventing opponents from breaking Disguise or simply disrupting Mimikyu with Fake Out. With these traits, Mimikyu has made a name for itself as one of the most reliable Trick Room setters in the game, requiring very specific answers to stop. It is not just Trick Room that Mimikyu’s packing, with excellent disruptive options like Curse, Will-O-Wisp, Charm and Taunt that can leave an opposing team’s offense in shambles, on top of the normal offensive prowess Mimikyu brings to the table. Sadly, Mimikyu’s lack of bulk post Disguise and direct power issues remain much the same, which can make it volatile for a Pokémon otherwise valued for its consistency.
Spooky Room
-Trick Room
-Play Rough
-Shadow Sneak
-Destiny Bond
Ability: Disguise
Item: Mental Herb/Safety Goggles
Tera Type: Grass/Dark
EVs and Nature:
228 HP / 252 Atk / 28 Def
Adamant Nature
Mimikyu is bar none one of the most reliable Trick Room setters around. Its typing makes Fake Out a non-issue and focus firing awkward, while Disguise mandates Mimikyu get hit at least twice to be taken out. Add in a Mental Herb or Safety Goggles to block Taunt or Spore respectively alongside the appropriate Tera type and it becomes impossible to stop a Turn 1 Mimikyu Trick Room without very specific combinations of Pokémon and moves. Play Rough remains Mimikyu’s primary STAB option and is thankfully a good one, hitting Dragonite, Annihilape, Garchomp, Grimmsnarl and Murkrow hard. Shadow Sneak provides vital priority for Mimikyu, allowing it to pick off weakened targets without repercussion, vital considering how Mimikyu’s relatively high speed makes it a liability in Trick Room. Destiny Bond is a unique way Mimikyu can force a catch-22 for the opponent; setting Destiny Bond up on the last turn of Trick Room, so when it expires, your opponent must either sacrifice a Pokémon to KO Mimikyu or let it re-establish Trick Room.
As a Trick Room setter, one wants to invest into Mimikyu’s bulk over its Speed so it outslows as most targets in Trick Room. Everything else goes into Attack to get the most out of Play Rough and Shadow Sneak. Adamant Nature is preferred over Brave so Mimikyu does natively outspeed troublesome targets like Archaludon and Dragonite out of Trick Room. Mimikyu’s Tera Type is complete in service of getting Trick Room up and is dependent on Mimikyu’s item. If running Mental Herb, Tera Grass is recommended to block Spore from Amoongus, while Tera Dark is preferred if running Safety Goggles to block Prankster Taunt. Do note that both of these options do expose Mimikyu to Fake Out, so be sure your opponent isn’t running a Fake Out user before popping that Tera..
Other Options:
Will-O-Wisp is great for crippling opposing physical attackers, especially opposing Steel types like Kingambit, and Excadrill. Charm is a more accurate option that isn't blocked by Fire types, though it lacks the persistence of Will-O-Wisp as well.
Curse is mainly for Commander Dondozo, of which it is a death sentence, though works wonderfully against the number of threats that like to stick around and stack boosts (like Archaludon, and Bulk Up Annihilape), and works as a pseudo-Perish Song in endgame states.
Preferred Partners:
As a Trick Room setter, Trick Room sweepers love pairing with Mimikyu to take advantage of the speed control it provides. Ursaluna Bloodmoon is the most prominent example, its Ground STAB efficiently dispatching the Poison, Steel and Tera Steel Pokémon that give Mimikyu trouble while being an excellent pivot into Ghost moves looking to ruin Mimikyu’s day. Torkoal is another example of a Pokémon that flourishes in Trick Room while melting opposing Steel types.
Countering Mimikyu
Mimikyu’s viability lives and dies with Disguise, so ways to bypass it are fantastic to deprive Mimikyu of its utility. Mold Breaker Pokémon are anathema to Mimikyu, bypassing its Disguise and laying bare its poor HP for all to see. Excadrill and Tinkaton are most notable in this aspect with their Steel STAB leading to a quick OHKO, though both being naturally slower than Mimikyu does lead to concerns of Will-O-Wisp. Multihit Attackers are also great at getting around Mimikyu’s aegis, with Baxcalibur’s Icicle Spears, Meowscarda’s Triple Axel, and Breloom’s Bullet Seed all being dire threats even if none of these Pokémon like Will-O-Wisp or Play Rough in turn.
Steel types are a problem for Mimikyu both defensively and offensively. Scizor and to a lesser extent Metagross are nightmares for Mimikyu once its Disguise is busted, their potent Bullet Punches making quick work of it. Other bulky Steel types like Skarmory, Revavroom, Magnezone, and Kingambit, work well, their high Defense nullifying any offense that isn’t Drain Punch for the latter two and wielding Super Effective STABs for quick knockouts, though most of them loathe Will-O-Wisp.
Other checks to Mimikyu are highly dependent on moveset. Offensive sets are regularly stymied by walls, especially bulky Poison types for which Mimikyu has no coverage. Amoonguss, Fezandipiti, Galarian-Weezing, and Clodsire are nigh impossible for Mimikyu to get over without multiple boosts while they can all shut Mimikyu down with Toxic and wear it down with their STABs. Hippowdon and Rhyperior excel against unboosted Mimikyu can stomach anything except Wood Hammer and KO back with their own STABs.
Such Pokémon falter in the face of Curse Mimikyu who between Curse and Pain Split as adept at forcing defensive walls out lest they get chunks of their HP ripped out. Offense is the best defense in this case, taking advantage of the HP costs from Disguise and Curse to quickly return Mimikyu to rest. Faster Attackers like Banded Flygon, Gengar, Terrakion, and Hisuian Typhlosion, can all eliminate Mimikyu quicky even if they can’t safely switch into Mimikyu’s STABs.
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:
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:
Thrifty Megamart
Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon:
Thrifty Megamart
Let's Go, Pikachu!/Let's Go, Eevee!:
Not in game
Sword/Shield:
Bridge Field, Giant's Mirror, Slippery Slope, Frostpoint Field, Giant's Bed, Old Cemetery, Snowslide Slope, Giant's Foot, Frigid Sea, Three-Point Pass, Ballimere Lake
Max Raid Battles: Hammerlocke Hills, Rolling Fields, Slippery Slope, Frostpoint Field, Giant's Bed, Old Cemetery, Giant's Foot, Frigid Sea, Three-Point Pass, Ballimere Lake
Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl:
Not in game
Legends: Arceus:
Not in game
Scarlet/Violet:
East Province Area Two, Tagtree Thicket, West Province Area Three, Chilling Waterhead, Infernal Pass, Kitakami Wilds, Oni Mountain, Timeless Woods
Fixed: North Province Area Two
Tera Raid Battles: 5 Star Raid Battles , 6 Star Raid Battles
Anime Appearences
