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-
Pressure
- Enemy attacks lose one extra PP. Increases wild encounter rate.
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Pickpocket
- The wielder immediately steals an item from an attacker using a contact move.
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Level 100 Statistics (see level 5, 50, 100)
|
Min- |
Min |
Max |
Max+ |
| HP |
70
|
- |
281 |
344 |
- |
| Atk |
120
|
248 |
276 |
339 |
372 |
| Def |
65
|
149 |
166 |
229 |
251 |
| SpA |
45
|
113 |
126 |
189 |
207 |
| SpD |
85
|
185 |
206 |
269 |
295 |
| Spe |
125
|
257 |
286 |
349 |
383 |
Overview
Weavile finds itself in a solid position in UU as both a set-up sweeper and physical attacker. Without Scizor to scare it out, Weavile can successfully boost with Swords Dance, a move that only augements its already great base 120 Attack. Its base 125 Speed is not unwelcome either, as it places Weavile in a unique Speed tier that only the uncommon Swellow shares. Despite its frailty and weaknesses to Stealth Rock and Mach Punch, Weavile can fill a unique role with its stats and STABs.
With base 120 Attack and access to Swords Dance, it is no wonder Weavile has a boosting set. Swords Dance gives it that crucial +2 Attack, enabling it to hit hard with its relatively low Base Power moves. While Weavile's frail defenses may suggest otherwise, it can find opportunities to set up. For example, Weavile generally forces out the omnipresent Roserade; even if this does not happen, however, a healthy Weavile can survive one of defensive Roserade's attacks. While it is more risky, you can attempt to force Flygon out, though there is a risk of unpredictable players simply attacking.
Ice Punch is the main STAB move, OHKOing nearly all Pokemon weak to it after a boost. This includes bulky ones, such as physically defensive Eviolite Hippopotas. Most of those that are neutral or resist Ice Punch are KOed by Night Slash with prior damage, including Slowbro. The few Pokemon bulky enough to survive either of these two attacks, such as Snorlax, are swiftly destroyed by Low Kick.
Team Options & Additional Comments >>>
The biggest toss-up with this set is what move to use for Weavile's Ice-type STAB. Ice Shard has a few benefits over Ice Punch, the most prominent being the ability to prevent revenge killing, to an extent. For example, Choice Scarf users, such as Flygon and Nidoking, are cleanly OHKOed by Ice Shard; they would otherwise easily outspeed and KO Weavile. Physically frail Pokemon, including Roserade, are still OHKOed by a +2 Ice Shard as well. However, there is a significant power difference that causes Weavile to miss KOes on bulky Pokemon weak to Ice, such as Rhyperior and Hippopotas. Therefore, if your team does not have issues with bulky Pokemon, Ice Shard will yield better results.
The EVs are straightforward, mainly because Weavile doesn't have much else to do. Jolly is crucial in order to outspeed positive-natured base 115 Speed Pokemon and other Jolly Weavile. However, a bulkier spread of 76 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD / 176 Spe with a Jolly nature is viable. It still outspeeds positive-natured base 115 Speed Pokemon, the next fastest Pokemon in UU bar the uncommon Swellow. The increase in HP allows Weavile to take a few resisted special hits better, such as stray Shadow Balls or Ice Beams, actually letting it set up on them. However, this variant will be outsped by other Weavile, which can turn out badly. Life Orb is the preferred item, as after a Swords Dance it is crucial to attain 100% OHKOs on Pokemon such as Mew. However, Expert Belt helps lessen residual damage, which is especially useful if your team does not employ a spinner.
A pressing matter for Weavile is Stealth Rock, stripping 25% of its HP with each switch in. Luckily, Hitmontop has good synergy with Weavile, as it can switch in on Psychic-type moves directed at the spinner. Weavile can also take out the odd Flying-type threatening Hitmontop. Furthermore, Weavile finds hazards useful for KOs, as after they switch a few times, bulky Water-types such as Blastoise and Milotic, which could otherwise phaze or status Weavile, will be destroyed. Roserade is a great choice to provide these hazards, as it has strong special attacks to complement Weavile's physical ones. Likewise, Choice Specs Kingdra works exceptionally well with Weavile, as Draco Meteor can soften bulky Water-type Pokemon, allowing Weavile to sweep. And lastly, some small additions that will make Weavile's time easier: clerics, such as Togekiss, to heal the random status—though if you play carefully, such support is unneeded.
This set focuses on trapping and eliminating frail Psychic- and Ghost-types, such as Azelf and Mismagius, respectively, rather than trying to sweep the opponent. Thus, Pursuit is the crucial move on this set. Ice Shard is the most useful Ice-type move in the second slot, and is important for revenging Choice Scarf users such as Flygon. Low Kick, while not particularly playing on Weavile's strong points with this set, rounds out the coverage to hit the Steel-types that resist both Pursuit and Ice Shard. It also ensures a clean OHKO on Snorlax, and is the best attacking option against Rhyperior. The primary choice in the final slot is Ice Punch, as it provides Weavile with a move stronger option than Ice Shard to hit the bulkier Pokemon weak to Ice, such as Shaymin and Zapdos.
Team Options & Additional Comments >>>
If you find that you have issues with bulkier Psychic- or Ghost-types, Night Slash is an option for Weavile in the final slot. This allows it to deal damage to Mew without being stalled out by the weaker Pursuit (although if Mew manages to burn Weavile, that's something else). In line with this lack of power trend, Weavile prefers Choice Band as the item to maximize its damage output. This, in turn, however, means Rapid Spin support is appreciated to make Weavile's constant switching not a burden. Hitmontop is a great choice, as it also give Weavile a free switch in to Psychic-types and spinblockers and an opportunity to trap the opponent.
That said, Life Orb is an option over Choice Band for the ability to switch moves—a Weavile locked in to Pursuit gives Pokemon such as Bisharp, Escavalier, and Heracross a free switch in and potential set up, which could prove troubling. However, the lack of overall power is disappointing. Regardless, Fighting- and Normal-types are fans of Weavile, as they can pull off a sweep with the lack of Psychic- and Ghost-types. Stoutland and Snorlax, for example, can spam their Normal-type STABs and at least not run in to any Pokemon immune to them. Machamp no longer has to worry about its rather weak Payback and instead can spread confusion with repeated DynamicPunches.
Other Options
Weavile has a few other options. Fake Out is a nice +3 priority move with guaranteed flinch, but Weavile is extremely fast anyway, and prefers the coverage of its STABs and Low Kick. Taunt is a useful move to prevent Pokemon such as Swampert from setting up hazards, but such Pokemon can usually KO Weavile, making Taunt not a safe option. Furthermore, there is not much room for these moves on Weavile's sets. Focus Sash and Counter are a gimmicky pair of moves that can KO an unsuspecting opponent, but this really wastes Weavile's potential, and Wynaut is usually better at CounterCoat (not to mention Focus Sash has a high chance of being broken by hazards). Brick Break is perhaps the most considerable, as it provides more reliable damage, but most Pokemon in UU are heavy enough to the point where Low Kick will outdamage Brick Break, Snorlax and Rhyperior being prime examples.
Checks and Counters
The easiest way to counter Weavile is probably to outspeed it with a priority move such as Mach Punch, or a Choice Scarf user, such as Chandelure. Choice Scarf Flygon is a good choice if Weavile is not carrying Ice Shard. Otherwise, bulky Fighting-types, Hitmontop in particular, and Intimidate Arcanine can threaten Weavile out. Steel-types that are not weak to Low Kick are also troublesome; Bronzong and Escavalier come to mind. However, they must beware of a boosted Night Slash or Low Kick, respectively. The same goes for bulky Water-types, such as Blastiose, Swampert, and Milotic, though they must be careful if entry hazards are up. Sableye is another annoyance, with its Prankster Will-O-Wisp and Recover, though it cannot switch directly into Weavile's Night Slash.
