What is Too Fast for Trick Room? A Comprehensive Guide

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The question of “What is too fast for Trick Room?” is central to understanding and effectively utilizing this powerful move in Pokémon battles. In essence, a Pokémon is considered “too fast” for a Trick Room team if its Speed stat is so high that it undermines the core strategy of Trick Room, which is to allow slower Pokémon to move first. The ideal candidates for a Trick Room team are those with low Speed, allowing them to take advantage of the reversed turn order, while a Pokémon that’s naturally fast will not benefit as much and may even hinder the team’s synergy.

A good benchmark to consider is a base Speed stat of 85 or below for sweepers. However, the specific threshold for what constitutes “too fast” is nuanced and depends on several factors. This guide will explore these factors in detail, along with some helpful FAQs, to give you a comprehensive understanding of optimal Speed ranges for Trick Room strategies.

Understanding the Mechanics of Trick Room

Before delving into the specifics of what constitutes “too fast,” it’s crucial to understand how Trick Room operates. Trick Room is a Psychic-type move that reverses the move order for five turns. Normally, Pokémon move in order of their Speed stat, with the fastest going first. Under Trick Room, this order is flipped, meaning that the Pokémon with the lowest Speed moves first, and so on up to the fastest.

It’s important to note that:

Trick Room has a -7 priority, meaning it will be used after all moves with a normal priority.
Move priority is not affected. For example, a priority move like Quick Attack will still go before a slower Pokémon’s move, even under Trick Room.
Trick Room duration is fixed to 5 turns. There is no way to extend the duration using items like Light Clay, which only impacts Reflect and Light Screen.
From Generation V onward, Pokémon with a Speed stat of 1809 or more will still act before those slower than 1809, even under the effects of Trick Room. This high number rarely comes into play, but it is important to be aware of.

Why Speed Matters for Trick Room

The core idea behind a Trick Room team is to make use of powerful Pokémon with normally low Speed stats. These Pokemon can take advantage of the turn order reversal and attack before faster, offensive threats that would otherwise outspeed them. Think of heavy hitters with low speed that can’t usually attack first, or bulky monsters that can set up while going first to do devastating damage. In contrast, if a Pokémon on your Trick Room team is too fast, it won’t be able to reliably go first under Trick Room, which defeats the whole purpose of the strategy.

What Constitutes “Too Fast”?

As previously stated, 85 base Speed is often a good benchmark for sweepers on a Trick Room team. Here is why:

Slower than Tyranitar: A Pokémon with base 85 Speed, 0 IVs in Speed, and a negative Speed nature will be slower than Tyranitar, which is often one of the slowest Pokémon you’ll encounter in the OverUsed (OU) tier in competitive battles.
Maximizing Move Order: Lower speed ensures your team consistently moves first under Trick Room.
Strategic Advantage: Slower Pokémon often boast higher base Attack or Special Attack stats, allowing them to hit harder and use their turn advantage to the maximum.

However, this doesn’t mean every Pokémon on a Trick Room team should be under 85 base speed. Trick Room setters are usually a little faster, as their job is to set up the Trick Room as soon as possible, and they will often use moves that are not intended to take out the opponent, such as Follow Me and Protect. Speed for setters is usually around 100, however this should not be higher, as a very fast setter will not be good for a Trick Room team.

The Problem with High Speed

Why is being too fast problematic?

Reduced Effectiveness: A high-Speed Pokémon will still act after the slower opponents in Trick Room, effectively nullifying any benefit of the move.
Wasted Potential: High-Speed Pokémon on a Trick Room team are essentially wasting their Speed stat, which could have been put to better use.
Team Inconsistency: High-Speed Pokémon can disrupt the synergy and consistency of the Trick Room strategy.

Building a Consistent Trick Room Team

Creating a consistent Trick Room team requires careful planning, paying close attention to the following:

Identify Trick Room Setters: Pick Pokémon who can reliably set up Trick Room. These Pokemon usually have good survivability and can live long enough to set up Trick Room safely.
Choose Low-Speed Sweepers: Select offensive Pokémon with a base Speed of 85 or lower that can take advantage of the reversed turn order.
Invest in Speed IVs and Natures: For most Trick Room Pokémon, you’ll want 0 IVs in Speed, and a nature that reduces Speed (like Brave or Relaxed).
Team Synergy: It is important that all Pokémon work well together and cover each others weaknesses.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is a Base Speed of 70 Slow?

Yes, a base Speed of 70 is generally considered slow for most Pokémon. Pokémon with a base Speed of 70 or lower are prime candidates for Trick Room teams. However, keep in mind that a Pokemon with base 70 speed could be worth investing in speed if it has access to Agility or Rock Polish.

2. Can You Outspeed Trick Room?

From Generation V onwards, Pokémon with a Speed stat of 1809 or higher will still act before slower Pokémon, even under Trick Room. However, reaching such a high Speed stat is virtually impossible under normal gameplay circumstances.

3. Does Prankster Affect Trick Room?

Yes, the Prankster ability increases the priority of non-attacking moves by +1. While this can be useful, Trick Room’s naturally negative priority of -7 means it goes last in most situations. Prankster would change the priority to -6 but wouldn’t have it take effect before other Trick Room/Wonder Room/Magic Room users.

4. Does Light Clay Affect Trick Room?

No, Light Clay does not affect the duration of Trick Room. Light Clay only increases the duration of Reflect and Light Screen. There are no items that increase the duration of Trick Room.

5. How Do You Counter Trick Room?

There are several ways to counter a Trick Room team:

Taunt: Prevents the use of Trick Room by the setter.
Fake Out: Can disrupt the Trick Room setter on turn one if timed properly.
Stall: Use moves like Protect and Detect to waste Trick Room turns.
High Speed Pokemon: If you are confident you can knock out most of their team before the Trick Room comes into effect, speed might be the solution.

6. Does Trick Room Affect Gyro Ball?

No, Trick Room does not affect the power of Gyro Ball. Gyro Ball’s damage is based on the user’s Speed compared to the target’s Speed, and not move order. If the user’s Speed rounds down to 0, Gyro Ball’s power is set to 1.

7. Is Trick Room a Good Move?

Yes, Trick Room is an excellent move in the right situations. It allows slow Pokémon to shine and can significantly turn the tide of battle by enabling sweepers to move first. It’s especially strong with hard hitting, bulky Pokémon who often do not get to make use of their offensive stats.

8. What Type is Trick Room?

Trick Room is a Psychic-type status move.

9. How to Make Use of Trick Room?

To use Trick Room well, the team must consist of slow Pokémon that can attack hard, and one or two setters who can reliably get the move out with their abilities.

10. What is a Good Speed for a Pokémon?

This depends on the team. For fast sweepers, a speed of 110+ is usually good, but for Trick Room, anything lower than 85 base speed is optimal.

11. What are the Slowest Pokémon?

Some of the slowest Pokémon include Shuckle, Munchlax, Pyukumuku, Trapinch, and Bonsly. They all have a base speed of 20 or less.

12. Does Lagging Tail Make You Move First in Trick Room?

No, the Lagging Tail item ensures the Pokémon always moves last in its priority bracket, regardless of Trick Room or other turn order modifiers. This means the Pokemon will go last in either a regular battle or a Trick Room battle.

13. Does Psychic Terrain Stop Spore?

Yes, Psychic Terrain prevents any grounded Pokémon from being inflicted with status-inducing moves like Spore.

14. Does Speed Matter in Pokémon?

Yes, Speed is the stat that dictates the order in which Pokémon attack in a battle, unless a move has priority, or a move like Trick Room has been activated.

15. What is Too Fast for Pokémon Go?

In Pokémon GO, if the game detects you are moving faster than around 30 mph (48 km/h), it will not register the distance you travel. This is a safety feature to prevent accidents while playing the game while driving.

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding what constitutes “too fast” for a Trick Room team is vital for success. Aiming for a base Speed stat of 85 or below for sweepers and paying careful attention to IVs, natures, and team synergy will help you master this potent strategy in Pokémon battles. Always ensure your team works together and covers each others weaknesses to maximise results. Remember, the key is to empower slow, powerful Pokémon by allowing them to move first, creating a powerful and effective team.