Lunatone

Lunatone, The Meteorite Pokémon. Lunatone becomes active around the time of the full moon. Instead of walking, it moves by floating in midair. The Pokémon's intimidating red eyes cause all those who see it to become transfixed with fear. Lunatone was discovered at a location where a meteoroid fell. As a result, some people theorize that this Pokémon came from space. However, no one has been able to prove this theory so far.It was discovered at the site of a meteor strike 40 years ago. Its stare can lull its foes to sleep.

Overview

So this is it, the final Pokémon of the Week for Generation 6, and we are going in with another tie in, Lunatone. Lunatone is the special focused variant of Solrock but like Solrock, it just doesn't excel at what it can do. It has a bit of a wide movepool, with its lunar focus giving it access to moves like Moonblast, but it just can't do a lot of damage and is too frail to really use on most formats. It's just not all that good. It's a shame as it and Solrock are an interesting concept, but it just can't do much amazingly
Positives
+ Lunatone has a very unique movepool for a Rock-type, boasting access to Heal Block, and Moonlight which gives it some very useful support options to set it apart from other Rock-types.
+ While not great, base 70 HP and base 85 Special Defense is almost acceptable Special bulk if you plan to use Lunatone in a very restricted format. Levitate is also really useful on something with a Ground-type weakness.

Negatives
- If we're being honest, none of Lunatone's stats are great. Its bulk is average at best, its Special Attack is nothing to write home about, and it's not very fast either.
- Its movepool is too physically focused.
- Lunatone's typing leaves quite a bit to be desired, cursing it with many common weaknesses and not enough useful resistances to make up for it.
- Really you should just not be using Lunatone competitively unless you're set on using a Sun/Moon theme team right now.

Abilities

Levitate: Damage dealing Ground-type moves have no effect on this Pokémon. Cannot be trapped by Arena Trap ability. Takes no damage from Spikes. This is wonderful ability on a Pokémon with a Ground-type weakness, especially on one with so many other weaknesses. As is usually the case with Levitate Pokémon you don't really have another option, but this is perfectly fine for Lunatone's very modest standards.

Movesets

Clangers and the Soup Dragon

- Rock Polish
- Psychic
- Ancient Power
- Earth Power / Moonblast
Item Attached: Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs and Nature:
252 SpA / 252 Spd / 4 Def
Modest Nature

This is a rather standard Lunatone set. You have the Rock Polish to boost Lunatone's Speed up to a passable level. Psychic will do a decent amount of damage with STAB. Ancient Power may not be powerful, but the chance of boosting all stats is always good. Earth Power and Moonblast can give vital coverage to various other types that can threaten it.

Other Options

- Lunatone can make use of Baton Pass in conjunction with Rock Polish or Cosmic Power in order to help a teammate sweep, as well as avoid Pursuit. However, there's typically a better option for this.
- Moonlight is a decent way for Lunatone to have some form of - Pain Split gives Lunatone another means of recovery

VGC, Double, & Triple Battle Options

First glances at Lunatone's moveset reveal that a lot of them are simply symbolic, Moonblast cause it's a moon, Ice Beam because Solrock got Flamethrower etc It oughta learn Moongeist Beam, and on that note Solrock should learn Sunsteel Strike. Not that it's gonna help them THAT much competitively. It would just be flashy, which IS why one would run Lunatone competitively... right?

Cheeze

Psychic
Moonblast / Ancient Power
Skill Swap
Protect / Earth Power
Item Attached: Life Orb
Ability: Levtitate
EVs and Nature:
252 SAtk, 252 HP, 4 Def
Modest Nature

Lunatone will pull more weight with a Sandstorm Partner, preferably Tyranitar, who doesn't mind getting Levitate from a Skill Swap. Psychic is Lunatone's Strongest STAB Moonblast is coverage for Dark Types, though since Lunatone is only going to be used in a casual environment, transfering one with Ancient Power isn't a bad idea for Secondary STAB, since it STILL doesn't learn Power Gem Skill Swap has always been janky in Doubles, but it can reset weather, re activate intimidates, take away Parental Bonds. It's very strong when strong abilities are involved. Protect is always a strong option, but Earth Power gives Lunatone additional coverage on Steel Types, who resist both of Lunatone's STABs alongside its other coverage options.

The most you'll probably see Lunatone in any competitive sense in Tate and Liza's Gym. Lunatone needs a little re working before it'll see itself in serious competitive play.

Countering Lunatone

In all honestly, Lunatone is pretty easy to deal with in most normal circumstances. Weaknesses to Bug, Dark, Ghost, Grass, Steel, and Water moves means there's no shortage of easy ways to defeat it. As Lunatone is more Specially focused, going the physical hits may be best, which is good for Bug, Dark, Grass and Steel, but it will still fold to most special moves. It's just not that good. Like Solrock, we could list all the Pokémon that can deal with it but that'd just be a waste of our time as it's even bigger than Solrock's.

Locations in Games

Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Meteor Falls (Sapphire)
Trade from Sapphire/XD ( Sapphire/Emerald)

FireRed/LeafGreen:
Trade from Sapphire/XD

Colosseum/XD:
Snagged from Cipher Admin Snattle in Citadark Isle (XD)
Trade from Sapphire (Colosseum)

Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Lake Verity Surroundings, Lake Verity, Lake Acuity, Lake Valor, Mt. Coronet, Spring Path, Turnback Cav

HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Safari Zone

Black/White:
Route 13, Giant Chasm

Black 2/White 2:
Route 13, 22, Giant Chasm

X/Y:
Glittering Cave

Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Meteor Falls (Omega Ruby)
Trade from X, Y, Omega Ruby (Alpha Sapphire)

Animé Appearences

Lunatone has made a few appearances in the anime. Most notably, the Gym Leader Tate and Frontier Brain Brandon used one in their battle against Ash

# -English Episode Name- -Jp. Episode Name- Pics
363 Crazy As A Lunatone! Mystery! Pokémon From Outer Space?! Pics
375 It's Still Rocket Roll to Me Tate & Liza! Space Center Battle! Pics
376 Solid As A Solrock Mossdeep Gym! Lunatone & Solrock! Pics
397 Not Aired Ash & May! Heated Battles In Hoenn! Pics
517 Dawn's Early Night Pokémon Contest! Hearthome Convention! Pics
M12 Arceus & The Jewel of Life Arceus - Towards Conquering Space-Time Pics
M13 Zoroark - Master of Illusions Phantom Champion Zoroark Pics
1070 Chasing Memories, Creating Dreams! Gladion & Lillie! Chasing a Father's Phantom!! Pics
1140 Trials of a Budding Master! The Great Farfetch'd Trial! Pics
1149 Beyond Chivalry... Aiming to be a Leek Master! Aim to Become Leek Master! Stay With Me, Chivalry!! Pics
1164 A Midsummer Night's Light! Cresselia's Midsummer Night's Light! Pics
1222 The Mew from Here! Project Mew Pics