QC Checks: by two QC members in the past 9.9
GP Checks: Calm Pokemaster, ShakeItUp, Komodo
[Overview]
<p>Thanks to its mixed bulk and great defensive typing, Vullaby makes an excellent addition to any Little Cup team. Although it has lackluster offensive stats, Vullaby's decent Speed and great STAB moves make up for it. In addition, Vullaby's broad movepool makes it incredibly versatile; access to moves such as Roost, Toxic, and Taunt give it the ability to support your teammates time and time again. By no means is Vullaby indestructible, though; faster Taunt users shut support sets down completely, and Steel-types wall sets lacking Hidden Power Fire. Nevertheless, with the right support, Vullaby can prove to be quite the tough nut to crack.</p>
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Toxic
move 2: Taunt
move 3: Roost
move 4: Knock Off / Whirlwind / Hidden Power Fire
item: Eviolite
ability: Big Pecks
nature: Bold
EVs: 36 HP / 236 Def / 236 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>A combination of Vullably's sublime mixed bulk combined with Eviolite allows it to run a very effective defensive set, as it can keep many common threats in check. Roost is a reliable form of recovery, and paired with Toxic, Knock Off, and Taunt, Vullaby can remove thee opponent's Eviolite, cripple them with Toxic, force them to attack with Taunt, and simply heal off the damage with Roost. Taunt also serves to shut down boosting sweepers and entry hazard users which try to setup on Vullaby. Whirlwind and Hidden Power Fire are also viable alternatives for the last moveslot; while the former helps to rack up entry hazard damage, the latter provides Vullaby with an offensive option against the Steel-types that otherwise wall it.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EV spread is very simple, maximizing both of Vullaby's defenses give it an excellent defensive spread of 23 / 27 / 24. Hidden Power Fighting is an option over Hidden Power Fire in order to OHKO Pawniard, but Hidden Power Fire still snags the 2HKO and hits the more popular Ferroseed much harder. Big Pecks is the preferred ability here as any weather damage can be Roosted off, while any decrease in Vullaby's defenses undermines the effectiveness of this set.</p>
<p>This set is designed to survive as long as possible, spreading Toxic among your opponent's Pokemon, knocking off items, and occasionally nabbing a KO off Toxic damage. Because of the switches it can force, Vullaby greatly appreciates entry hazard support; a set running Whirlwind can capitalize on this even further. This set has a dreadful weakness to Taunt coming off anything that resists Fire, so Magic Bounce Natu makes an excellent partner, bouncing the oppoistion's Taunt right back and safely U-turning back to Vullaby.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Punishment
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Hidden Power Fire
item: Choice Scarf
nature: Jolly
EVs: 36 HP / 240 Atk / 200 Spe
IVs: 30 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With a Choice Scarf equipped, Vullaby becomes an excellent revenge killer for some of the most prominent sweepers in the metagame. Brave Bird OHKOes Dragon Dance Scraggy, and takes a large chunk out of anything that doesn't resist it. Punishment serves as a secondary STAB, dealing heavy damage to set-up sweepers. U-turn always works well on a Choice Scarf set, allowing Vullaby to scout for potential counters. Hidden Power Fire rounds off the moveset, providing much-needed coverage on Steel-types such as Ferroseed.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>With maximum Speed and a Jolly nature, Vullaby reaches 16 Speed, outrunning +1 Scraggy thanks to the Choice Scarf boost. Attack is maximized, and the remaining EVs are placed into HP to make taking strong priority moves easier. It should be noted, however, that Choice Scarf Chinchou Speed ties with this set and can OHKO with STAB Thunderbolt.</p>
<p>This set is specifically made for revenge killing Scraggy, so a team that struggles with the lizard appreciates this set greatly. Unfortunately, Vullaby has a dreadful fear of Chinchou, so teammates which can handle it are needed. Hone Claws Diglett is a great option; it can switch into Thunderbolt and proceed to go to +6 / +6 behind a Substitute while your opponent quivers in fear. This Vullaby also serves as an excellent ghostbuster, as any Dark-type move with STAB behind it can easily OHKO Gastly.</p>
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Air Slash
move 4: Roost
item: Eviolite
ability: Overcoat
nature: Timid / Modest
EVs: 36 Hp/ 236 SpA / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set takes advantage of Vullaby's acess to Nasty Plot, giving it the power it needs to potentially sweep. The idea is to switch in on something that Vullaby can scare off, and then Nasty Plot on the switch. Air Slash and Dark Pulse are two reliable STAB moves, hitting a wide range of threats pretty hard after a boost. Both moves also come with a nifty chance to flinch the foe, which can prove to be game-changing. Again, Roost serves as a reliable form of recovery.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>With a Timid nature and the given EVs, Vullaby hits a daunting 28 SpA after one Nasty Plot. A Timid nature and maximum Speed EVs give Vullaby 16 Speed, putting it above many unboosted common threats, such as Scraggy. Eviolite is a must here, as it provides the bulk necessary to pull off a Roost when necessary. Overcoat is chosen over Big Pecks in order to prevent sandstorm from cutting your sweep short.</p>
<p>Wynaut makes a good partner for this set, as it can give your Vullaby a free turn or two to set up Nasty Plot safely. This set has trouble dealing with opposing Steel-types that resist both STAB attacks, so Vullaby appreciates Pokemon like Magnemite which can trap and eliminate them beforehand. Magnemite also has nice type synergy with Vullaby; it laughs at the Rock-, Electric-, and Ice-type attacks that threaten to knock Vullaby out of the sky, while Vullaby is immune to any Ground-type attacks that threaten Magnemite if it doesn't run Magnet Rise.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Vullaby doesn't have many options other than those listed. Foul Play is nearly useless in LC, and the decline of Oran Berry usage makes Pluck seem very weak in comparison to Brave Bird. Mean Look, Taunt, and Toxic can make a good trapping set, but its use is very situational.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Steel-types are Vullaby's best checks, as they wall any Vullaby without Hidden Power Fire, resist both of Vullaby's STABs, and are immune to Toxic. Magnemite should be noted becuase it can strike Vullaby back with a super effective STAB boosted Thunderbolt. Poison-types are also immune to Toxic and resist U-turn, but they have trouble countering the Choice Scarf set effectively due to the damage output of a neutral Brave Bird. Staryu doesn't care about being poisoned due to Natural Cure, and his ability to heal off the damage by using Recover and smack Vullaby with super effective Thunderbolt or Ice Beam. Chinchou falls in the same boat as well, being able to cure Toxic with Heal Bell and hit you with STAB Thunderbolt or Volt Switch, but Chinchou cannot heal itself reliably. Larvitar is another great counter, as it would actually enjoy the poison because of Guts and will simply smack you with Guts-boosted STAB Stone Edge or Rock Slide. Lileep doesn't like being poisoned or Taunted at all, but it can poison you and Recover off the damage it has taken. Under sandstorm, Lileep's Special Defensive is multiplied by 1.5, making it a solid counter to the Nasty Plot set.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Vullaby receives Weak Armor from the Dream World, which lowers its Defense and raises its Speed when hit by a physical attack. This is completely useless on the Defensive set, but it could work on the Nasty Plot set as you could go +2 SpA / +1 Spe, which is definetly frightening. However, it makes you much weaker to priority moves which are very common in the Little Cup metagame.</p>
