Mimikyu - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle | Pokemon Sword and Shield

This is a strategy guide for using Mimikyu in competitive play for the games Pokemon Sword and Shield. Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, Builds, and Held Items to use with Mimikyu, as well as its strengths and weak points.

Mimikyu - Related Articles
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Mimikyu

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Mimikyu
Abilities
Disguise	Once per battle, the shroud that covers the Pokémon can protect it from an attack.

Type Defenses

	Type
Takes 4x damage	-
Takes 2x damage
Takes 0.5x damage	-
Takes 1/4x damage
Takes 0x damage

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

Best Nature for Mimikyu

What are Natures?

How to Learn Mimikyu's Egg Moves

Moveset & Best Build for Mimikyu

Standard Moveset & Best Build

Thanks to its ability, Disguise, Mimikyu is able to take damage equal to only 10% of its maximum HP the first time it is attacked. This prevents it from fainting in one blow, allowing it to execute at least one move without fail. Mimikyu can use this opportunity to use Swords Dance, starting it off with a 2-stage attack boost that even foes with type advantages can't scoff at. If its opponent isn't careful, Mimikyu is capable of sweeping an entire party.

Because Mimikyu starts off with so-so Base Stats, it's advisable to have it hold a Life Orb to boost its attacking power.

Trick Room Moveset & Best Build for Mimikyu

Standard Moveset & Best Build

These values are from base stats and ideal EVs, excluding external factors.

Thanks to its Ability Disguise, Mimikyu is able to take damage equal to only 10% of its maximum HP the first time it is attacked. This definitively prevents it from fainting in one blow, allowing it to execute at least one move without fail.

Mimikyu can use this opportunity to bring out Swords Dance, starting it off with a 2-stage attack boost that even foes with type advantages can't scoff at. If its opponent isn't careful, Mimikyu is capable of sweeping an entire party.

Because Mimikyu starts off with so-so Base Stats, it's advisable to have it hold Life Orb to boost its attacking power.

Alternate Move Choices

Trick Room Moveset & Best Build

These values are from base stats and ideal EVs, excluding external factors.

This moveset uses Mimikyu's Disguise ability as a shield to safely use Trick Room. After using Curse, you can attack first thanks to the effects of Trick Room.

Its Kee Berry boosts defense, which is useful after the protection of Disguise wears off. Trick Room's effects will allow you to attack first, even before a Max Airstream boosted Gyarados.

Alternate Move Choices

Cursed Substitute Moveset & Best Build

These values are from base stats and ideal EVs, excluding external factors.

Substitute creates a decoy that will take hits for you while you attack. Use Substitute when faced with a slower opponent and create a useful punching bag, especially against Dynamaxed foes. Make your decoy last longer with the chance of lowering your opponent's attack with Play Rough.

If your HP gets too low to use Substitute, use Curse and switch out, or use Pain Split to recover HP, while reducing your opponent's HP.

Alternate Move Choices

How to Use Mimikyu Effectively

Use Swords Dance to turn it into a Physical Sweeper

Mimikyu's typical strategy is to use Swords Dance to boost its attack, then sweep through the opposing team with powerful attacks. Disguise allows it to carry out a Swords Dance without fail, so it's able to take out a wide variety of foes despite its unassuming appearance.

Dynamax and use Max Starfall for best results

Although Mimikyu would normally fall prey to the Burn status effect, the effects of the Fairy-type Max Move Max Starfall create Misty Terrain for five turns, which protects all Pokemon from status effects. The battle reverts to an all-out brawl at that point, so the value of party members temporarily moves away from team play and onto individual power, allowing Mimikyu to keep slugging away and doing what it does best.

Counters for Mimikyu

U-turn and Volt Switch

The moves U-turn and Volt Switch deal damage while also switching out the user, so they can be used to knock out Mimikyu's Disguise while also bringing out a Pokemon with a good matchup against Mimikyu.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Corviknight	Ranking：★★★★★ ・Being slower than Mimikyu, you'll get the chance to switch after seeing Mimikyu's first move. ・With a high Defense and good type matchup to Mimikyu, it can take an initial hit without a problem.
Toxtricity	Ranking：★★★★☆ ・Being slower than Mimikyu, you'll get the chance to switch after seeing Mimikyu's first move. Best Ranked Battle Build for Toxtricity

The Mold Breaker Ability

The Ability Mold Breaker allows Pokemon to ignore the effects of Disguise and attack Mimikyu directly from the first turn. Excadrill in particular, with its high Attack and use of Iron Head to hit Mimikyu where it hurts, is top of the list for effective Mimkyu counters.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Excadrill	Ranking：★★★★★ ・High Base Attack ・Hit Mimikyu's weak spot with Iron Head Best Ranked Battle Build for Excadrill
Haxorus	Ranking：★★☆☆☆ ・High Base Attack ・Hit Mimikyu's weak spot with Iron Tail

Best Teams Featuring Mimikyu

All our Best Teams are available for free rental, and usable in Ranked Battle with no EV Training necessary.
All Best Teams for Ranked Battle

Best Durant Team for Ranked Battle

Best Durant Team for Ranked Battle
Grimmsnarl	Durant	Ditto
Hydreigon	Mimikyu	Snorlax

This is the team that made Durant, a minor Pokemon unseen in the metagame, into a superstar. Even ignoring all the trends, it's notable for its highly aggressive attacking style.

You can try out this team to get a feel for using Mimikyu together with Durant, or even use it as your go-to team if it fits your play style.
Best Durant Team for Ranked Battle

Best Arcanine Team for Ranked Battle

Best Arcanine Team for Ranked Battle
Arcanine	Hydreigon	Tyranitar
Corviknight	Mow Rotom	Mimikyu

Born from one player's love of one Pokemon, Arcanine, this team takes advantage of Arcanine's already-high Base Stats, supported by Assault Vest to make it a powerful player both offensively and defensively.

In addition to Arcanine, this team features a host of other surprises, such as a Pressure Corviknight, a Special Attack-using Tyranitar, and a stall-ready Mimikyu, that might change your preconceptions about the competitive scene as a whole.
Best Arcanine Team for Ranked Battle

Related Links

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Movesets & Best Builds for Isle of Armor Pokemon
Scizor	Kingdra	Magnezone
Volcarona	Chansey	Blissey
Talonflame	Azumarill	Galarian Slowbro
Porygon2	Urshifu Single-Strike Style	Urshifu Rapid-Strike Style
Slowbro	Alolan Marowak	Dragalge
Klefki	Lycanroc	Amoonguss
Poliwrath	Palossand	Mienshao
Starmie	Heracross	Comfey
Porygon-Z

Movesets & Best Builds for New Pokemon
Dragapult	Galarian Corsola	Toxtricity
Galarian Darmanitan	Corviknight	Dracovish
Grimmsnarl	Rillaboom	Duraludon
Cinderace	Alcremie	Dracozolt
Hatterene	Eiscue	Inteleon
Pincurchin	Frosmoth	Zacian
Sirfetch'd	Flapple	Coalossal
Centiskorch	Arctozolt	Zarude
Galarian Weezing

Movesets & Best Builds for Returning Pokemon
Mimikyu	Wash Rotom	Gyarados
Ferrothorn	Aegislash	Excadrill
Tyranitar	Hydreigon	Heat Rotom
Arcanine	Mamoswine	Toxapex
Togekiss	Cloyster	Durant
Snorlax	Charizard	Sylveon
Lucario	Hippowdon	Umbreon
Conkeldurr	Quagsire	Gastrodon
Lapras	Whimsicott	Rhyperior
Goodra	Haxorus	Glaceon
Mow Rotom	Type: Null	Gengar
Milotic	Gardevoir	Flygon
Chandelure	Lanturn	Torkoal
Bisharp	Seismitoad	Silvally
Butterfree	Primarina	Incineroar
Blastoise	Decidueye	Venusaur
Darmanitan	Alolan Ninetales	Gothitelle
Crawdaunt	Clefable	Reuniclus
Kommo-o	Terrakion	Cobalion
Virizion	Noivern	Fan Rotom
Toxicroak	Pelipper	Jellicent
Celebi	Clefairy	Hitmontop
Diggersby

Movesets & Best Builds for Gigantamax Pokemon
Gigantamax Grimmsnarl	Gigantamax Snorlax	Gigantamax Charizard

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Tier List		Best Builds		Series 6 Buffs
Doubles Tier List		Team Building		Rental Teams