Trick Room
Team Guide
Trick Room inverts the entire turn order — the slowest Pokémon moves first. By converting Speed disadvantage into strategic dominance, Trick Room teams have remained a top-tier archetype throughout VGC history.
How Trick Room Works
Full Speed order reversal
While Trick Room is active, the slowest Pokémon moves first. The effect lasts 5 turns (including the turn it was set), then disappears on turn 6.
Speed is still calculated normally
Trick Room reverses the order using the same Speed stats. Tailwind ×2 still applies — but under TR, the faster Pokémon now acts last.
Psychic-type move — blocked by Taunt
Trick Room is a Psychic move and can be prevented by Taunt. Dark-types cannot use Trick Room. Imprison also prevents it.
Re-setting cancels early
Using Trick Room again while it’s active cancels the effect immediately instead of extending it — opponents can exploit this to reset speed order.
Best Trick Room Setters
Cresselia
S-Tier- ✓Extremely bulky; nearly impossible to OHKO
- ✓Full utility suite: Trick Room + Lunar Blessing + Moonblast + Protect
- ✓Can run Tailwind or Taunt to punish opponent TR
Porygon2 (Eviolite)
S-Tier- ✓Eviolite raises bulk dramatically; nearly impossible to OHKO
- ✓Diverse support movepool (TR, Helping Hand, Icy Wind, Recover)
- ✓Trace ability can copy opponent’s powerful abilities
Indeedee-F
A-Tier- ✓Follow Me redirects single-target moves to protect TR setter partner
- ✓Psychic Surge ability blocks priority moves on the ground
- ✓40 base Speed moves first inside TR
Top Trick Room Abusers
| Pokémon | Lv50 Spe (0 IV) | Key Move | TR Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calyrex-Ice | 26 | Glacial Lance | Restricted legend; guaranteed slowest in almost all TR matchups |
| Iron Hands | 53 | Wild Charge | Electric Terrain double boost; Fake Out utility; massive Attack |
| Ursaluna (Bloodmoon) | 37 | Blood Moon / EQ | Extremely high Attack; Ground coverage under TR is dangerous |
| Abomasnow | 32 | Wood Hammer | Hail setter + TR abuser; Blizzard becomes accurate in Hail |
| Torkoal | 20 | Heat Wave | Weather setter (Sun) + near-guaranteed first move in TR; Fire spread damage |
| Gholdengo | 84 | Make It Rain | Special attacker in TR; Good as Gold prevents status moves |
* Speed values at 0 IVs, 0 EVs, Speed-reducing nature (Brave/Quiet), Level 50.
Building a Trick Room Team
Choose 2 Trick Room setters
Always include at least 2 Trick Room setters so if the first is KO’d, the second can re-establish. Setters must be bulky enough to survive after setting TR for the abusers to act.
Choose 1-2 abusers (slower = better)
Abusers need the lowest possible Speed to guarantee first-move priority under TR. Run 0 IVs + Speed-reducing nature (Brave/Quiet). Ideal abusers reach below 70 Speed at Lv50.
Include a non-TR fallback
TR expires after turn 5. Include 1-2 members that function outside Trick Room — either faster Pokémon or a Tailwind setter — to cover the transition after TR ends.
Cover the Taunt weakness
Taunt is Trick Room’s hardest counter. Include a member with a priority move (Fake Out into KO), a fast Pokémon that outspeeds and KOs the Taunter, or Mental Herb on a setter.
Counter-Play: Beating Trick Room
Taunt
Prevents Trick Room from being set. Prankster Taunt (Whimsicott, Grimmsnarl) is the hardest and most reliable counter to TR setup.
Setting TR yourself (cancel)
Use your own Trick Room while theirs is active to cancel the effect immediately. Requires a TR setter on your side and precise timing.
Revenge KO the setter
KO the TR setter before it sets — or KO abusers immediately after TR is established so there’s nothing dangerous to threaten your team.
Imprison
A Pokémon using Imprison while holding Trick Room prevents opponents from using it. Less common but completely shuts down TR teams if successful.
Deep Dive: Trick Room Core Members
Read detailed guides for each Trick Room abuser to understand exact EV spreads and moveset options.