Calyrex Ice Trick Room: setup, turns and counters

Trick Room is one of the most punishing strategies in ChampionsVGC Regulation Set M-A, and Calyrex Ice is its best win condition. The goal is simple: reverse speed for five turns, then let Calyrex Ice sweep with Glacial Lance while Chilling Neigh snowballs its Attack. Executing that plan, however, takes precise positioning.

The core duo

Calyrex Ice is paired with Indeedee-F in almost every list. Indeedee sets Psychic Terrain to block priority such as Fake Out and Sucker Punch, and redirects attacks with Follow Me. This gives Calyrex a safe turn to set Trick Room. Once the room is up, Indeedee can use Expanding Force for spread damage or Helping Hand to push Glacial Lance into one-hit-KO range.

Setting Trick Room safely

The worst outcome is losing your setter before the room goes up. Lead with Indeedee-F plus Calyrex Ice only when you expect Fake Out or single-target pressure. Against double-target leads, consider leading Incineroar alongside Calyrex to drop Intimidate and soak one hit, then pivot Indeedee in the following turn. Mental Herb on Indeedee protects against Taunt, and a 0 Speed IV ensures you move last under Trick Room.

Using the five turns

Turn one is usually Trick Room plus redirection or Fake Out. Turns two through four are your damage window: Glacial Lance chips both opponents and raises Calyrex's Attack with each KO. Turn five is your cleanup window; if the game is not decided, you need a secondary plan. Most lists carry a second restricted or a bulky cleaner such as Kingambit for when Trick Room expires.

How to counter it

If you face Calyrex Ice TR, your priorities are Taunt, stall and type pressure. Taunt the setter to deny Trick Room, use Protect to burn turns, and bring Fighting or Fire coverage to threaten Calyrex directly. Steel-types such as Metagross can survive a Glacial Lance and retaliate, but they must avoid repeated Earthquakes or Fire coverage.

For the full paste, matchups and replays, visit the Calyrex Ice Trick Room team page.