Lead Vaporeon - I thought I'd write this up properly
Vaporeon @ Expert Belt/ Leftovers/Lum Berry
Modest nature
188def 252spatk 68spe
-Hydro Pump
-Hidden Power Grass/Wish/Surf
-Ice Beam/ Wish/Surf
-Quick attack
I mentioned this in the previous page after seeing an anti-lead Golduck which I realised had the same movepool and inferior stats. This lead is fairly simple, utilising the water-type moves that are so effective against the lead metagame, coupled with a weak priority move to finish off sashed opponents. Basically, this is very similar to Starmie and Empoleon, except that it beats a larger number of leads at the expense of Stealth Rock / Rapid Spin.
The choice of moves is difficult. Hydro Pump’s power is necessary as shown in the list below, as is quick attack to finish off sashed leads. For the remaining two moves, HP grass should be considered with Expert Belt for Swampert. Surf lets you beat Infernape, Aerodactyl and Hippowdon without relying on shaky accuracy. Ice beam lets you beat Aerodactyl and Gliscor with good accuracy, and allows you to beat Dragonite, whilst also giving you good coverage for use outside of the lead metagame. Wish and Heal bell can be used otherwise for support.
Here is a list displaying how it fares against common leads:
Azelf – The standard is KOed by Hydro pump followed by quick attack
Metagross – Hydro Pump 2HKOes, as does Surf + Hydro Pump (accuracy). You outrun all that run 24 speed or less. Meteor Mash/EQ and bullet punch do pathetic damage.
Swampert – an expert belt Hp Grass OHKOes most of the time (97% min.) Note that this is higher than for standard Empoleon’s
Grass Knot. If not running HP grass and expert belt, Hydro Pump 2HKOes.
Aerodactyl- Hydro Pump, Surf and an expert belt Ice Beam all bring it down to its sash to be finished by Quick attack.
Jirachi – Hydro pump 2HKOes, as does Surf + Hydro Pump. You will outrun it after being tricked a scarf. Its attacks do little.
Infernape – Surf and Hydro Pump both activate the sash easily. Quick attack to finish. His grass knot does poor damage on account of Vaporeon’s low weight.
Roserade – a poor matchup. If you want, you can break its sash with Quick attack. Its leaf Storm OHKOes, and a combination of non-EB ice beam and quick attack does not KO for you (so lum berry/grass-resist berry don’t work without Blizzard)
Heatran – Surf and Hydro pump both OHKO (non-EB surf has a small chance to miss the KO, but will always be finished by Quick Attack). You have a chance to survive an explosion.
Tyranitar – an expert belt hydro pump OHKOes even the Specially bulky standard most of the time. Tyranitar’s attacks do little.
Gliscor – easy OHKO with Surf/Ice beam/ Hydro Pump
Hippowdon – Hydro pump or an EB surf to OHKO.
Smeargle – You can break its sash, and beat it with Lum. Vaporeon does not mind trick too much.
Machamp - 2HKOed by Hydro Pump. With Lum berry, you can do this fairly easily.
Vaporeon can of course provide support to the team in ways that Starmie and Empoleon cannot. Wish and Heal Bell are notable options in this regard, since Vaporeon will certainly be returning later with its fantastic bulk. Starmie also performs badly against some leads like Jirachi, who U-turns out, Aerodactyl, who 2HKOes with Rock Slide or even EQ after LO recoil, and Tyranitar, who survives a LO Hydro Pump almost all of the time and OHKOes back with Payback/Crunch. Empoleon loses to Infernape and other fighting-type leads, as well as missing the OHKO on Tyranitar due to running Focus Sash/Chople berry, and losing to Mamoswine (increasingly uncommon but still.) Oh and Vaporeon is a massive surprise and an embarrassment to your opponent!