[OVERVIEW]
Buizel finds a niche as one of the few Pokemon in Little Cup to hit 19 Speed. Buizel has access to STAB priority in Aqua Jet, which is decently powerful coming off of its sizable 16 Attack. Buizel is also one of only four Pokemon in Little Cup with access to Water Veil, which prevents Buizel from being burned and consequently having its Attack cut. However, this is where Buizel's positive qualities come to an end. Buizel is very frail, and its frailty is augmented by Life Orb recoil. Buizel's coverage options are subpar at best, and it lacks any way to hit Water-types for significant damage. Additionally, Buizel finds competition from Corphish as a physical Water-type attacker, because Corphish has superior defensive stats, a better movepool, and Adaptability-boosted Water-type attacks. The only reason to use Buizel over Corphish is for the much higher Speed.
[SET]
name: Life Orb Attacker
move 1: Aqua Tail / Waterfall
move 2: Ice Punch
move 3: Brick Break / Pursuit
move 4: Aqua Jet
item: Life Orb
ability: Water Veil
nature: Jolly
evs: 236 Atk / 36 SpD / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Aqua Tail is Buizel's strongest physical STAB attack, but only has 90% accuracy. Waterfall is often preferred for its reliable 100% accuracy, but comes with a noticeable drop in power. Ice Punch hits Grass- and Dragon-types super effectively, most notably 2HKOing Foongus and Cottonee. Brick Break punishes Pawniard, Ferroseed, and Porygon, but just falls short of 2HKOing Ferroseed. This option is best run in tandem with Spikes support. Alternatively, Pursuit allows Buizel to revenge kill Gastly without fail. Aqua Jet provides valuable priority, allowing Buizel to pick off weakened foes such as Abra.
Set Details
========
Life Orb raises Buizel's damage output dramatically and makes it a threatening attacker. The given EVs maximize Attack and Speed, with the remainder put into Special Defense, as it is the only remaining stat that can be boosted with 36 EVs. A Jolly nature maximizes Speed, allowing you to outspeed dangerous Pokemon such as Gastly and tie with others such as Abra.
Usage Tips
========
Buizel's high speed and access to priority makes it a fantastic revenge killer. Buizel has very poor bulk with Life Orb and should not be switched into any remotely strong attack; this further emphasizes its role as a revenge killer. Buizel can be switched in on Will-O-Wisp thanks to Water Veil, but is open to punishment from common Pokemon that carry the move, such as Ponyta's Wild Charge. Additionally, be aware that Buizel has no real way to beat Water-types, and is actually at a disadvantage against common ones such as Chinchou. As such, staying in on Water-types is not advised.
Team Options
========
Buizel can't get around Water-types, so a Grass-type teammate such as Foongus or Ferroseed is valuable. These two in particular can switch in on common Water-type Pokemon such as Chinchou and support Buizel with entry hazards and Spore, respectively. Grass-types also cover Buizel's only two weaknesses, Electric and Grass. Electric-type Pokemon are very threatening to Buizel, and the most common one, Chinchou, threatens Buizel both offensively and defensively. This makes Pokemon immune to Electric-type attacks, such as Chinchou and Hippopotas, great teammates for Buizel. Buizel generally needs help to get around Porygon, Ferroseed, and other bulky Pokemon, so a Fighting-type wallbreaker such as Pancham is a great teammate. Any teammate that values the removal of Gastly can benefit from Buizel's presence if it is running Pursuit. Cottonee is an especially nice teammate, as it fears Gastly and also beats Water-types for Buizel.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Buizel can viably run a specially offensive set utilizing Hydro Pump and Ice Beam in conjunction with a Life Orb or Choice Specs. This allows Buizel to gain great coverage through Hidden Power while also taking advantage of a generally physically defensive metagame. Buizel can viably make use of Substitute and Focus Punch to run a SubPunch set, which is capable of OHKOing Porygon and Ferroseed after prior Stealth Rock damage. Buizel also has access to Switcheroo, allowing it to run Choice Band to both increase its damage output and cripple walls by limiting them to one move. Iron Tail 2HKOes Snubbull and Spritzee; however, it is generally less useful than Brick Break or Pursuit. Finally, Buizel can run a Bulk Up set and has access to Baton Pass to pass its boosts to a teammate; however, it is completely outclassed as a Bulk Up sweeper by Timburr and as a Bulk Up passer by Mienfoo. In can also pass Agility, but doing so would require Buizel to be a dedicated Baton Passer, something better done by Torchic. Alternatively, Buizel can opt to just run Baton Pass, in order to pivot out of unfavorable switch-ins and retain momentum.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Buizel has no way to hit Water-type Pokemon for any significant damage. Chinchou, perhaps the most common one, also possesses a super effective secondary STAB to threaten Buizel.
**Bulky Pokemon**: Buizel lacks the power to break through bulkier walls such as Porygon and Ferroseed. Due to Buizel's low defenses, it is unable to beat these Pokemon without dying to their attacks first.
**Revenge Killers**: Because Buizel is very frail, it isn't hard to pick off after a few rounds of Life Orb damage. Strong priority and Choice Scarf users, such as Fletchling and Gothita, can beat Buizel without too much trouble.
Buizel finds a niche as one of the few Pokemon in Little Cup to hit 19 Speed. Buizel has access to STAB priority in Aqua Jet, which is decently powerful coming off of its sizable 16 Attack. Buizel is also one of only four Pokemon in Little Cup with access to Water Veil, which prevents Buizel from being burned and consequently having its Attack cut. However, this is where Buizel's positive qualities come to an end. Buizel is very frail, and its frailty is augmented by Life Orb recoil. Buizel's coverage options are subpar at best, and it lacks any way to hit Water-types for significant damage. Additionally, Buizel finds competition from Corphish as a physical Water-type attacker, because Corphish has superior defensive stats, a better movepool, and Adaptability-boosted Water-type attacks. The only reason to use Buizel over Corphish is for the much higher Speed.
[SET]
name: Life Orb Attacker
move 1: Aqua Tail / Waterfall
move 2: Ice Punch
move 3: Brick Break / Pursuit
move 4: Aqua Jet
item: Life Orb
ability: Water Veil
nature: Jolly
evs: 236 Atk / 36 SpD / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Aqua Tail is Buizel's strongest physical STAB attack, but only has 90% accuracy. Waterfall is often preferred for its reliable 100% accuracy, but comes with a noticeable drop in power. Ice Punch hits Grass- and Dragon-types super effectively, most notably 2HKOing Foongus and Cottonee. Brick Break punishes Pawniard, Ferroseed, and Porygon, but just falls short of 2HKOing Ferroseed. This option is best run in tandem with Spikes support. Alternatively, Pursuit allows Buizel to revenge kill Gastly without fail. Aqua Jet provides valuable priority, allowing Buizel to pick off weakened foes such as Abra.
Set Details
========
Life Orb raises Buizel's damage output dramatically and makes it a threatening attacker. The given EVs maximize Attack and Speed, with the remainder put into Special Defense, as it is the only remaining stat that can be boosted with 36 EVs. A Jolly nature maximizes Speed, allowing you to outspeed dangerous Pokemon such as Gastly and tie with others such as Abra.
Usage Tips
========
Buizel's high speed and access to priority makes it a fantastic revenge killer. Buizel has very poor bulk with Life Orb and should not be switched into any remotely strong attack; this further emphasizes its role as a revenge killer. Buizel can be switched in on Will-O-Wisp thanks to Water Veil, but is open to punishment from common Pokemon that carry the move, such as Ponyta's Wild Charge. Additionally, be aware that Buizel has no real way to beat Water-types, and is actually at a disadvantage against common ones such as Chinchou. As such, staying in on Water-types is not advised.
Team Options
========
Buizel can't get around Water-types, so a Grass-type teammate such as Foongus or Ferroseed is valuable. These two in particular can switch in on common Water-type Pokemon such as Chinchou and support Buizel with entry hazards and Spore, respectively. Grass-types also cover Buizel's only two weaknesses, Electric and Grass. Electric-type Pokemon are very threatening to Buizel, and the most common one, Chinchou, threatens Buizel both offensively and defensively. This makes Pokemon immune to Electric-type attacks, such as Chinchou and Hippopotas, great teammates for Buizel. Buizel generally needs help to get around Porygon, Ferroseed, and other bulky Pokemon, so a Fighting-type wallbreaker such as Pancham is a great teammate. Any teammate that values the removal of Gastly can benefit from Buizel's presence if it is running Pursuit. Cottonee is an especially nice teammate, as it fears Gastly and also beats Water-types for Buizel.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Buizel can viably run a specially offensive set utilizing Hydro Pump and Ice Beam in conjunction with a Life Orb or Choice Specs. This allows Buizel to gain great coverage through Hidden Power while also taking advantage of a generally physically defensive metagame. Buizel can viably make use of Substitute and Focus Punch to run a SubPunch set, which is capable of OHKOing Porygon and Ferroseed after prior Stealth Rock damage. Buizel also has access to Switcheroo, allowing it to run Choice Band to both increase its damage output and cripple walls by limiting them to one move. Iron Tail 2HKOes Snubbull and Spritzee; however, it is generally less useful than Brick Break or Pursuit. Finally, Buizel can run a Bulk Up set and has access to Baton Pass to pass its boosts to a teammate; however, it is completely outclassed as a Bulk Up sweeper by Timburr and as a Bulk Up passer by Mienfoo. In can also pass Agility, but doing so would require Buizel to be a dedicated Baton Passer, something better done by Torchic. Alternatively, Buizel can opt to just run Baton Pass, in order to pivot out of unfavorable switch-ins and retain momentum.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Buizel has no way to hit Water-type Pokemon for any significant damage. Chinchou, perhaps the most common one, also possesses a super effective secondary STAB to threaten Buizel.
**Bulky Pokemon**: Buizel lacks the power to break through bulkier walls such as Porygon and Ferroseed. Due to Buizel's low defenses, it is unable to beat these Pokemon without dying to their attacks first.
**Revenge Killers**: Because Buizel is very frail, it isn't hard to pick off after a few rounds of Life Orb damage. Strong priority and Choice Scarf users, such as Fletchling and Gothita, can beat Buizel without too much trouble.
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