Analysis
The real fairy type threat in this meta is Alcremie. If you do not have a team that can handle a well-setup Alcremie YOU WILL LOSE, if you do not get a crit.
The Set
Every set-up alcremie needs to run acid armour with max defense and recover to be viable. This is a physical meta, and alcremie cannot sweep without having its defense raised. It needs to recover to buy time to set-up as well. It is highly suggested to run calm mind in order to better take special hits and gain the power to actually sweep. I suggest draining kiss as the attacking move since it allows for recovery even after it can no longer use Recover (which is to be expected when it is only 8pp). Alternatively, alluring voice or mystical fire can be used, but doing so is not recommended. Alcremie cannot sweep if it gets badly poisoned or falls asleep, so use of a flame orb is reccomend to prevent that. A flame orb also allows you to run aroma veil to prevent taunt and encore (instead of Sweet Veil to prevent sleep).
Alcremie can set up on Zygarde’s outrage which is its most powerful dragon type attack, but can also set up on Weezing and Tauros as seen in this replay. However, this game was close so be careful what you choose to set up on. Notice how this sweep would have ended if not for draining kiss—that is the risk you take when opting for alternatives.
The counterplay to this pokemon is clear smog, haze, or phasing. Without at least one, your team is extremely susceptible to an Alcremie sweep. However, if you do have this counterplay, Alcremie is essentially a useless pokemon/dead slot (whichever term you like better) until the stat resetting pokemon is removed, so be cautious when using this set.
Alternative Sets
Alcremie does not have the bulk to consistently counter physical juggernauts like Tauros, Breloom, banded Zygarde, Arctozolt, and Ambipom. It does, however, counter Bewear and can run aromatherapy if needed. Therefore, alternative sets for alcremie do exist but would have to be very team specific.
Teammates
The common pokemon Alcremie Counters are Weezing with Clear Smog and Bewear with roar. Bewear feints to Draining Kiss after some chip, but Weezing is the main issue. Pair Alcremie with a physical spam core to destroy Weeazing, or use a powerful special attacker like Sigilyph to take advantage of Weezing switching in to Alcremie.
Written by turtles12