Name: Meraruba (メラルバ)
National Dex Number: 636
Type: Bug / Fire
Abilities: Flame Body - 30% Burn chance upon contact, Swarm - 1.5x Base Power boost on Bug-type moves when HP is at 1/3rd (Dream World)
Egg Group: Bug
Base Stats (Min - Max)
HP: 55 (20 - 25)
Attack: 85 (11 - 19)
Defense: 55 (9 - 16)
Special Attack: 50 (9 - 15)
Special Defense: 55 (9 - 16)
Speed: 60 (10 - 16)
Level Up Moves:
Lv1: Ember, Lv1: String Shot, Lv10: Leech Life, Lv20: Take Down, Lv30: [M488], Lv40: Bug Bite, Lv50: Double-Edge, Lv60: Flame Wheel, Lv70: Bug Buzz, Lv80: Amnesia, Lv90: Thrash, Lv100: Flare Blitz
Egg Moves:
String Shot
Harden
Foresight
Endure
Zen Headbutt
Morning Sun
Magnet Rise
TMs and HMs:
TM04 - Calm Mind, TM06 - Toxic, TM10 - Hidden Power, TM11 - Sunny Day, TM16 - Light Screen, TM17 - Protect, TM20 - Safeguard, TM21 - Frustration, TM22 - Solar Beam, TM27 - Return, TM29 - Psychic, TM32 - Double Team, TM35 - Flamethower, TM38 - Fire Blast , TM42 - Facade, TM43 - Nitro Charge, TM44 - Rest, TM48 - Troll, TM50 - Overheat, TM59 - Complete Burn, TM61 - Will-O-Wisp, TM62 - Acrobat, TM76 - Bug Resistance, TM87 - Swagger, TM89 - U-Turn, TM90 - Substitute, TM93 - Wild Bolt
Warning: This may contain a mild case of hype.
Meraruba, unlike its evolution, does not get Butterfly Dance. Not like it would do Meraruba that much good. While Urugamosu is a powerful special attacker, Meraruba has much higher Attack than Special Attack. In fact, its Attack is actually higher than its evolution. But Meraruba shouldn't be compared with its evolution. Instead, it should be compared with other Fire-types.
Meraruba's main difference from other Fire-types is obviously its primary typing, Bug. From an offensive standpoint, Bug / Fire are two very good STABs to have. Being a Fire-type brings high power STAB moves like Fire Blast and Flare Blitz to the table, while being a Bug-type brings excellent utility STAB moves, like Bug Bite and U-Turn (although Bug Bite is less useful due to the presence of Berry Juice). Those two STABs also cover each other very well. And the only Pokemon that resist them both are maimed by Wild Bolt, which Meraruba surprisingly learns. Defensively, if you want a defensive Fire-type for your team, Meraruba isn't your insect. A brutal 4x weakness to Rock hurts, taking out a whopping 50% of its health with Stealth Rock on the field. While it's typing offers a few nice resists, most notable being an Ice resist, that weakness to Stealth Rock hurts quite a bit. However, it may still have a chance as a defensive Pokemon, but I'll delve into that in a bit. As a Fire-type, Meraruba is unique. And as a Bug-type, even more so. And being unique is always good, since you have little to no competition. But definitely use Meraruba with Rapid Spin support.
Being unique by typing is only good if you have the stats to back it up. And luckily, Meraruba has the stats. It's easy to see the Fire / Bug-type is going to be best played as a physical attacker. With a fantastic base 85 Attack, Meraruba is going to be hitting like a truck. Base 60 Speed isn't to shabby either, giving Meraruba a good Speed for Choice Scarf. Its others stats are only average though. 55 / 55 / 55 defenses are decent enough and base 50 Special Attack is just too low to do any immediate attacking with.
So, it has good Attack and Speed. But does Meraruba have the moves to abuse them? Oh yes it does. Flare Blitz, U-Turn, Zen Headbutt, Bug Bite, Return, Wild Bolt, Double-Edge and Bug Bite coming off of 18 / 19 Attack is going to hurt like hell. Nitro Charge not only does damage, but it even boosts its decent Speed to a level at which Meraruba can sweep. Meraruba even has decent special attacking options, such as Bug Buzz, Fire Blast and Hidden Power, which all can be boosted by Calm Mind. Most surprising though are Meraruba's defensive moves. Will-O-Wisp, Light Screen, the previously mentioned Bug Bite and Morning Sun all combined form a rather formidable defensive set. Flame Body's chance of burning the opponent even makes it more annoying. Morning Sun is even noteworthy on the offensive sets, as it helps Meraruba recover from Stealth Rock and Life Orb damage.
Overall, Meraruba is a unique and powerful Pokemon. It's weakness to Stealth Rock may cripple it, but when you get pass that, Meraruba can be a monster of an attacker. Defensively, its probably the best Fire-type put there, but there are better Bug-types. But offensively, it is nearly unmatched in terms of power. Meraruba is one of those Pokemon that will sweep unprepared teams. For taking out this insect, your best bet is residual damage. With a massive Stealth Rock weakness, high-power recoil moves and Life Orb damage, its biggest weakness is itself. Little Cup should prepare for this powerful addition.
Sets:
Name: Physical Attacker
EVs: 76 HP / 236 Atk / 196 Spe
Item: Life Orb / Berry Juice
Ability: Flame Body
Nature: Jolly / Naive
~ Flare Blitz / Flame Wheel
~ Wild Bolt
~ Nitro Charge
~ Bug Bite / Hidden Power Grass / Morning Sun / Substitute
Slashitus, ahoy! Of all of the sets Meraruba can run, this is one that will probably be sweeping teams. Flare Blitz coming off of 18 Attack is going to hurt anything that isn't immune to it or resists it. Flame Wheel is mentioned if you don't want Meraruba taking massive recoil damage. Wild Bolt hits those pesky Water-types that resist Flare Blitz or Flame Wheel. Nitro Charge should be used almost always first, so Meraruba can raise its Speed high enough it won't easily be outsped. Bug Bite is great for stealing berries and STAB. Hidden Power Grass hits physically defensive Rock / Ground-types who laugh at Meraruba's attempts to damage them. Morning Sun can heal Stealth Rock damage and recoil. Substitute is always good, and can be used as a "safety net" against attacks. But using Substitute with Flare Blitz and Life Orb is not recommended.
Name: Choice Scarf
EVs: 76 HP / 236 Atk / 196 Spe
Item: Choice Scarf
Ability: Flame Body
Nature: Adamant / Jolly
~ U-Turn
~ Wild Bolt
~ Flare Blitz
~ Flame Wheel / Bug Bite / Zen Headbutt
With U-Turn and Choice Scarf, Meraruba has the potential to be an excellent revenge killer. Wild Bolt and Flare Blitz offer great coverage with U-Turn and are powerful attacking options. Flame Wheel for Fire-STAB without recoil. Bug Bite for a Bug-STAB that won't make you switch out or for removing Oran. Zen Headbutt hits bulky Poison-types and Fighting-types, like Koffing and Machop. A pretty self-explanatory set.
Name: Divine Wind
EVs: 236 Atk / 76 Def / 196 Spe
Item: Liechi Berry
Ability: Flame Body
Nature: Jolly
~ Flare Blitz
~ Wild Bolt
~ Nitro Charge
~ Morning Sun
Here's a fun but risky set that can actually take advantage of Meraruba's Stealth Rock weakness. The goal is to raise your Speed with Nitro Charge, use recoil damage to activate Liechi, heal with Morning Sun when you get the chance and proceed to sweep. It's a kamikaze set, but it can easily tear open holes in the foes team so its teammates can sweep.
Name: Special Attack
EVs: 76 HP / 36 Def / 196 SpA / 196 Spe
Item: Berry Juice
Ability: Flame Body
Nature: Timid
~ Calm Mind
~ Bug Buzz
~ Fire Blast
~ Hidden Power Ground
Although 14 Special Attack may not seem like much, after a Calm Mind it becomes a much more respectable 21 Special Attack. Bug Buzz's decent PP and great base power makes it your main attacking move. Fire Blast hits most Pokemon that resist Bug Buzz. And for Fire-types, Meraruba can have fun with Hidden Power Ground. This set has a surprise factor which may just give you an edge.
Name: Defensive
EVs: 236 HP / 156 Def / 116 SpD
Item: Berry Juice
Ability: Flame Body
Nature: Impish
~ Will-O-Wisp
~ Light Screen
~ Morning Sun
~ Bug Bite
Will-O-Wisp lowers the opponent's Attack and damages the foe over time, making it perfect for a defensive set. Light Screen raises Meraruba and it's team's Special Defense, which goes well with the Attack drop from burn. Morning Sun for healing and Bug Bite for stealing berries. Not a very complicated set.
