Overview
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- Diverse movepool allowing great utility and offensive capabilities at the same time.
- Niche ability Effect Spore over other grass types in the tier which works well with it's defensive responsibilities in checking physical attackers such as Gatr and Gurdurr.
- Decent 75/85/90 bulk which makes Vileplume a great defensive pokemon.
- Fantastic base 110 SpA allowing Vileplume to perform an offensive role alonside it's defensive role.
- Mediocre base 50 speed can affect it's ability to recover reliably.
- Can be set up fodder for a lot of special attackers such as Mismagius.
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Name: Defensive
Move 1: Giga Drain
Move 2: Sludge Bomb
Move 3: Synthesis
Move 4: Aromatherapy / Sleep Powder / Hidden Power Fire
Ability: Effect Spore
Item: Black Sludge
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Nature: Bold
Moves
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- Giga Drain grants additional recovery on top of passive Black Sludge recovery and reliable Synthesis recovery.
- Sludge Bomb is a powerful STAB move for Vileplume and it's 30% chance to poison added to potential Effect Spore activation allows Vileplume to cripple teams.
- Synthesis grants reliable recovery.
- Aromatherapy can be used to allow Vileplume to support the whole team not only with Effect Spore but as a cleric as well.
- Alternatively, Sleep Powder can be used for additional sleep support and give free turns for recovery.
- Hidden Power Fire stops Vileplume being completely stopped by Ferroseed.
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- 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA utilizes Vileplume's potential as a fantastic physical wall whilst also allowing it to hit hard when needed.
- Black Sludge is preferred over leftovers just in case of trick from a Rotom or Spiritomb.
- Effect Spore over Chlorophyll because there's no guarantee of being in sun unless you bring it yourself.
- Bold nature to give maximum bulk.
Usage Tips
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- Vileplume is a reliable fighting resist but needs to be wary of coverage moves like Ice Punch on Gurdurr's, Throh's and Hariyama.
- If Vileplume's Black Sludge is knocked off, be sure to always synthesis to maintain full HP as you will no longer receive passive recovery.
- Be sure to synthesis when your HP gets below 65% (use your judgement here though) because Vileplume should be kept healthy to take the hits it needs to.
- Be wary of Feraligatr that carry Ice Punch because even after just one free turn to set up, Vileplume can't switch in.
- In general, be careful of water types that carry ice coverage like Floatzel and Samurott.
- Vileplume can be used as a cleric or can go on the offensive, nothing particularly wants to take a sludge bomb at neutral damage.
Team Options
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- Vileplume likes to be paired with any bulky water type such as Feraligatr to absorb fire and ice attacks aimed at Vileplume.
- Spiritomb and Pawniard work well with Vileplume as they absorb psychic attacks and Vileplume can take those fairy and fighting attacks aimed at Spiritomb and Pawniard respectively.
- T-wave support allows Vileplume to perform many of it's roles a little better as it's speed certainly hinders it's recovery at times.
- Probopass can switch in on flying and psychic hits aimed at Vileplume so makes a good team option.
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Name: Offensive
Move 1: Giga Drain
Move 2: Sludge Bomb
Move 3: Hidden Power Fire
Move 4: Synthesis / Sleep Powder
Ability: Effect Spore
Item: Life Orb / Black Sludge
EVs: 116 HP / 252 SpA / 140 Spe
Nature: Modest
Moves
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- Giga Drain is Vileplume's most reliable grass STAB and provides some recovery when Vileplume hits hard.
- Sludge Bomb is Vileplume's powerful poison STAB move and it's 30% chance to poison added to potential Effect Spore activation allows Vileplume to cripple teams.
- Hidden Power Fire stops Vileplume being completely stopped by Ferroseed as well as providing coverage for Klinklang.
- Synthesis grants reliable recovery.
- Alternatively, Sleep Powder can be used to allow Vileplume to handle pokemon it's 3 offensive moves can't and support the whole team.
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- A modest 116 HP / 252 SpA / 140 Spe EV spread gives Vileplume maximum power and the 140 speed EVs allow it to outspeed Lanturn before it Volt Switches or Ice Beams Vileplume.
- Life Orb is preferred on offensive Plume over Specs as Vileplume becomes easy set up fodder when locked in to a move.
- Black Sludge can be used since it doesn't play too differently but Life Orb Vileplume is much harder to switch into for offensive threats.
- Effect Spore over Chlorophyll because there's no guarantee of being in sun unless you bring it yourself.
- Modest nature because the set doesn't bring max speed so maximum power is preferred.
Usage Tips
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- Life Orb means Vileplume majorly threatens it's type advantages and keeps offensive threats like fire types well at bay as they don't want to switch into a Life Orb Sludge Bomb.
- Vileplume is a reliable fighting resist but needs to be wary of coverage moves like Ice Punch on Gurdurr's, Throh's and Hariyama, particularly on the offensive set as it's not as bulky.
- You cannot switch Vileplume in on Feraligatr with the offensive variant since Gatr outspeeds and will KO at +2.
- Be sure to Synthesis when your HP gets below 65% (use your judgement here though) because Vileplume should be kept healthy since it's less capable of taking hits than the defensive set.
Team Options
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- Vileplume likes to be paired with any bulky water type such as Feraligatr to absorb fire and ice attacks aimed at Vileplume, especially since the offensive set cannot take hits as well.
- Offensive psychic types like Mesprit make good teammates for Vileplume as they can take down bulky poison types like Muk.
- Spiritomb and Pawniard work well with Vileplume as they absorb psychic attacks and Vileplume can take those fairy and fighting attacks aimed at Spiritomb and Pawniard respectively.
- Sticky Web support can make Vileplume a deadly tank if it can outspeed threats that would usually outspeed it.
- Probopass can switch in on flying and psychic hits aimed at Vileplume so makes a good team option.
Other Options
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- A Choice Specs set is viable as it will OHKO ferroseed with HP Fire and can destroy switch ins like offensive Cryogonal.
- Leech seed can be used but restricts your ability in that you cannot use it with effect spore.
- A sunny day sweeper set with Chlorophyll and life orb can be used if you play a sun team.
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- **Set up sweepers**: If already set up to at least +2, a lum berry Feraligatr can 2HKO max Def Plume. Additionally, any special set up sweeper such as Uxie or Mismagius can set up on Vileplume and start doing work.
- **Fire types**: Pokemon such as Pyroar and Magmortar seriously threaten Vileplume with powerful Fire Blasts, even a physical variant can threaten.
- **Psychic types**: Strong Psychic types like Uxie and Mesprit threaten Vileplume especially since they're bulky enough to take offensive hits from Vileplume.
- **Strong special attackers**: Including ghost types and especially ice types that can either set up on Vileplume or destroy it with a super effective move.
- **Poison types**: Pokemon such as Muk and Arbok can absorb hits from Vileplume and possibly set up.
- **Certain grass types**: Ferroseed and Quilladin both resist Giga Drain and are immune to Sludge Bomb so without HP Fire they can set up spikes on Vileplume.
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