Reuniclus [Standard]

Overview:

Reuniclus is amazing, it's probably the most threatening Psychic type in the Standard metagame. Typically when you see a Reuniclus you should expect either Trick Room or Calm Mind, but those aren't its only useful sets. The two things to expect on Every Reuniclus are 424 HP and the ability Magic Guard, so when someone brings one in on your ferrothorn... DO NOT LEECH SEED. The real information is in the actual analysis so if you read all this, you wasted your time. I love Reuniclus!

Sets:
Trick Room
Breakdown (Reuniclus) (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SAtk
Quiet Nature (+SAtk, -Spd)
- Trick Room
- Psychic
- Focus Blast
- Shadow Ball
Trick Room is the most standard Reuniclus set. Reuniclus is the most threatening trick room sweeper/setter combo in the Standard metagame. Magic Guard protects it from life orb recoil, hazards, burn and poison, making Reuniclus not only a powerful offensive threat but a viable tank. Psychic, Fighting, and Ghost provide great coverage. Important threats to an incomplete type triad include: Tyranitar and Scrafty to Reuniclus lacking Focus Blast, Sableye, Shedinja and all Psychic types to Reuniclus lacking Shadow Ball. Psychic is necessary to hit things that aren't weak to either Ghost or Fighting as STAB makes it Reuniclus's most powerful and reliable move.

Calm Mind
Breakdown (Reuniclus) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Calm Mind
- Psyshock
- Focus Blast
- Recover
Calm Mind Reuniclus functions as "noob repellent" or "crit bait" on most teams; if it can set up to +2 that usually means it can set up to +6. Magic Guard protects reuniclus from the lesser forms of Phazing, including Leech Seed and Toxic, without having to worry about those factors Reuniclus's job of setting up is much easier. It also recovers health every turn with no chance of residual damage nullifying it which comes in handy more often than one might expect. Psyshock is there to make Reuniclus a mixed attacker while still relying only on it's special attack stat to deal damage, this gives it the upper hand in Calm Mind wars. Finally the glaringly obvious move that's missing is Shadow Ball. Calm Mind makes up for Reuniclus not being able to hit Psychic types for very effective damage since psychic types tend to be special attackers anyway.

Triple Status
Breakdown (Reuniclus) (M) @ Flame Orb
Trait: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 40 Def / 216 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Thunder Wave
- Trick
- Toxic
- Recover
This set seems very unorthodox, that's because it is. The advantage of triple status is that if you know what your opponent is going to switch in, you can cripple no matter what. There is no Pokemon that isn't affected negatively by one of Reuniclus's three statuses. The disadvantage of this set is that it takes eons to kill anything and it often finds itself countering the same threats as other Reuniclus sets do only in a different way. Tricking a Flame Orb after you've already been burned not only takes away an opponent's lum berry if they have one, it eats it. Thanks to that if you decide you want your flame orb back so you can cripple another physical attacker later, you can safely trick without healing your opponent's status. Notable Pokemon which tricking a Flame Orb pays off incredibly on include: lum berry Dragonite, Scrafty, and Chansey. Several other Pokemon don't appreciate being burned but those three, specifically get added disadvantages when tricked a flame orb. Dragonite's lum berry is lost. Scrafty's Shed Skin loses it's use. Chansey's Natural Cure loses it's use and it also loses it's eviolite leaving it vulnerable.

Dual Screens
Breakdown (Reuniclus) (M) @ Light Clay
Trait: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 40 Def / 216 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Recover
- Psyshock
Dual Screeners really don't need much explaining, it's their job to set up Light Screen and Reflect and then let something else come in and set up. Magic Guard is the key advantage that makes dual screening Reuniclus seem viable. All in all, there are better Pokemon to run Dual Screens for most people's tastes, but Reuniclus is as capable as most Psychic types of running a Dual Screens set. Psyshock is a completely disposable move, it can be replaced with whatever move Reuniclus gets that would help your team.

Checks and Counters:
Choice Banded Scizor is extremely threatening to every Reuniclus set, able to OHKO all but the Calm Mind set. Calm Mind Reuniclus is easily countered by Sableye or Shedinja who are each immune to both of it's attacks. Triple Status reuniclus typically doesn't require any specific counter but if you're looking for one, try other Reuniclus sets, Espeon, Gliscor or Sigilyph.

Teammates:
Scrafty works excellently with any Reuiniclus set, other than that, they have more specific partners. Trick Room Reuniclus works best when partnered with other slow yet offensive pokemon, examples include: Machamp, Scizor, and Metagross. Calm Mind Reuniclus conforms well with any team, useful teammates include Dual Screeners to allow it to set up, Serperior is a notable non-Psychic type Dual Screener. Triple Status Reuniclus is best paired with set up sweepers that take advantage of crippled opponents. There are endless Pokemon that benefit from status crippled opponent's. Dual Screen Reuniclus is best partnered with set up sweepers as well, it could also be used for stall teams.