Chi-Yu
VGC Guide
Chi-Yu’s Beads of Ruin ability reduces every Pokémon’s Special Defense by 25%, combined with its monstrous 135 SpAtk and dual Fire/Dark STAB. Heat Wave under Sun delivers catastrophic spread damage to both opponents. As one of the four Treasures of Ruin, pairing Chi-Yu with Chien-Pao creates a devastating dual-Ruin defensive reduction stack.
Beads of Ruin: Full-Field SpDef -25%
Beads of Ruin reduces the Special Defense of every Pokémon on the field (including allies) by 25% (×0.75). This means Chi-Yu’s effective SpAtk output is amplified by approximately 33%. Heat Wave and Fire Blast hit both opposing targets significantly harder. Note: the reduction also affects allied Pokémon’s SpDef, so consider team composition carefully.
Dual Ruin Stacking with Chien-Pao
When Chien-Pao (Sword of Ruin: all Defense ×0.75) is on the field with Chi-Yu, opponents simultaneously suffer -25% Defense AND -25% SpDef. Chi-Yu’s special Fire damage + Chien-Pao’s physical Ice/Dark damage creates a complementary core that cannot be handled with a single defensive focus.
EV Spreads
Team Partners
Koraidon’s Orichalcum Pulse sets Sun, boosting Chi-Yu’s Heat Wave by ×1.5. Sun Chi-Yu is one of the highest SpAtk threats in VGC.
Sword of Ruin + Beads of Ruin: opponents suffer -25% Def AND -25% SpDef simultaneously. Chien-Pao’s physical Ice/Dark complements Chi-Yu’s special Fire/Dark.
Fake Out enables safe Chi-Yu entry. Parting Shot reduces opposing SpAtk, indirectly protecting Chi-Yu whose own SpDef is also reduced by Beads of Ruin.
Tailwind pushes Chi-Yu’s 135 base Spe to 270, securing speed priority over the entire field. Prankster Taunt prevents opposing Trick Room setups.
How to Counter Chi-Yu
Rock and Water are super-effective against Fire-type. Kyogre’s Origin Pulse under Rain OHKOs Chi-Yu; Rock Slide provides a reliable physical threat.
Chi-Yu’s full defensive weaknesses: Rock ×2, Water ×2, Ground ×2, Fighting ×2. Ground and Fighting coverage from physically offensive Pokémon can pressure it effectively.
Chi-Yu’s 135 base Spe becomes a liability under Trick Room. Slow TR setters like Porygon2 or Cresselia flip the speed order and enable slow physical sweepers to outspeed Chi-Yu.
Specially defensive sets and Assault Vest mitigate Beads of Ruin’s SpDef reduction. AV Incineroar can absorb multiple hits and continue providing utility.