Mimikyu - Moveset & Best Build | Pokemon Sword Shield

Build #1 - Life Orb Physical

Disguise and Swords Dance

Mimikyu's ability Disguise protects you from an attack once per battle. This ability goes very well with many moves including Swords Dance to set up.

As Fast As Possible

It is recommended to breed a Mimikyu with high Speed EVs since the current meta makes several players opt to use Mimikyu.

Buy Time During Dynamax

With 1 turn of Disguise and 2 turns of Max Guard, you can completely nullify your opponent's Dynamax with Mimikyu. You will be able to use this strategy to buy some time when you have a particularly unfavorable matchup.

Recommended Moves

Move/Type	Reason
Play Rough	90% accuracy. Becomes Max Starfall, which prevents status conditions.
Shadow Claw	Deal higher damage than Shadow Sneak so it's good to have for Pokemon Mimikyu is faster than.
Shadow Sneak	You can always attack faster than the opponent so using this move with Sword Dance is very effective.
Swords Dance	Use this move while you haven't activated Disguise to safely set up.

Build #2 - Trick Room

As Slow As Possible

Slow & steady wins the race when it comes to Trick Room, so make sure you have 0 speed IVs & a speed reducing nature! Unfortunately, Mimikyu isn't very slow to begin with, so don't expect to always come out on top.

Get Off Trick Room With Ease

Mimikyu's ability Disguise allows it to use Trick Room & live to tell the tale. It's best to combine it with other Pokemon who benefit form Trick Room, like Rhyperior, Conkeldurr, or Greedent.

Curse Opponents Before Fainting

If you anticipate that your Mimikyu won't last long after its Disguise is down, consider Cursing your opponent. When a Ghost-type uses this move, it cuts its own HP by half but deals a lethal damage over time debuff to the opponent, dealing damage at the end of every turn.

Recommended Moves

Move/Type	Reason
Play Rough	90% accuracy. Becomes Max Starfall, which prevents status conditions.
Shadow Sneak	Useful to get priority if your opponent is slower than you (therefore faster in Trick Room)
Curse	Cuts own HP by 50% but places a curse on the opponent, dealing 25% damage at the end of every turn. Deals a lethal blow to the opponent.
Trick Room	Reverses the speed of all Pokemon, so slow Pokemon will go first, etc. Easy for Mimikyu to set up.

Build #3 - Pain Split

A Physical Tank Slaying Build

The purpose of this build is to trick opponents into thinking this is a standard attacker Mimikyu and lure out their bulky physical tank. At that point, you can set up Substitute and Curse to wear down your opponent.

Several Nature Choices Available

This particular build is highly customizable in terms of natures you can run. In addition to Jolly, you could also choose Impish (Def↑ / Sp.Atk↓) or Careful (Sp.Def↑ / Sp.Atk↓) if you want to prioritize your defenses instead. Think of what Pokemon you want to put this build up against and adjust accordingly.

Adjust EVs According To Your Nature

If you're going for a more defensive build, change the Speed EVs into Defense or Sp. Def to match your nature of choice.

Curse Is A Must

The move Curse will allow Mimikyu to devastate physical tanks which it normally would struggle against. After landing a Curse, you can set up Substitute to prevent getting burned or paralyzed. Pain Split will allow you to bring opponents to a low HP and allow Curse to finish them off easily.

Freedom With Item Choice

Although we recommend bringing a health recovery berry since you'll be cutting your HP with Curse and Substitute, there are many other possible items you could bring. If you include more physical attacks, a Life Orb would be okay. Tricking a Choice Scarf or Flinging a Light Ball is also a possibility.

Recommended Moves

Move/Type	Reason
Play Rough	90% accuracy. Useful STAB move to have as a backup if you need to attack.
Curse	Cuts own HP by 50% but places a curse on the opponent, dealing 25% damage at the end of every turn. Deals a lethal blow to the opponent.
Substitute	Sacrifice 25% health to create a Substitute which takes damage for you. Useful to prevent Status conditions from being applied to you.
Pain Split	Puts you and your opponent at the same HP. Useful after hurting yourself with Curse/Substitute to bring down enemy tanks.

Other Viable Moves

Move/Type	Reason
Shadow Sneak	Useful to get priority if your opponent is slower than you (therefore faster in Trick Room)
Fling	Deals damage and throws items at your opponents. Useful if you want a guaranteed paralysis via. Light Ball.
Will-o-Wisp	Burns opponents.
Trick	Switches items with the opponents. Useful for passing along a Choice Scarf.
Shadow Claw	Deal higher damage than Shadow Sneak so it's good to have for Pokemon Mimikyu is faster than.
Wood Hammer	Powerful Grass-type move. Could be useful vs. Quagsire/Gastrodon/Seismitoad.
Thunder Wave	Paralyzes opponents.
Taunt	Forces opponents to use only attacking moves. Can block many tanks from setting up.
Phantom Force	Disappear and then attack the next turn. An interesting move, but easy to dodge/switch into.