[OVERVIEW]
Larvesta has a unique defensive typing and a cool ability in Flame Body that make it a reliable check to Fighting-types, Grass-types, and other physical attackers like Pawniard. It also has high Attack and access to two strong STAB moves in U-turn, which can be used to keep or generate offensive momentum, and Flare Blitz. Morning Sun provides Larvesta with reliable recovery; however, its Bug / Fire typing leaves it with a troubling 4x weakness to Stealth Rock and a weakness to common Flying- and Water-type moves.
[SET]
name: Bulky Pivot
move 1: U-turn
move 2: Flare Blitz
move 3: Will-O-Wisp
move 4: Morning Sun
item: Eviolite
ability: Flame Body
nature: Impish
evs: 76 HP / 236 Def / 156 SpD / 36 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
U-turn allows Larvesta to gain momentum and switch out against a possible counter, and Flare Blitz is a powerful STAB move. Will-O-Wisp is more reliable than Flame Body to spread burns against physical attackers, and it can be used to wear down walls such as Porygon and Spritzee as well. Morning Sun allows Larvesta to heal itself.
Set Details
========
76 EVs are invested into HP to allow Larvesta to switch into Stealth Rock twice. 236 EVs are put into Defense in order to increase its physical bulk and allow it to deal with common physical attackers such as Mienfoo and Pawniard. This EVs spread also allows Larvesta to not be OHKOed by Diglett's Rock Slide. 36 EVs are put into Speed to reach 13 Speed, and the remaining EVs are invested into Special Defense to maximize Larvesta's bulk. An alternative spread of 76 HP / 236 Def / 196 Spe can be used to reach 16 Speed, which allows Larvesta to Speed tie with Pawniard and outspeed non-maximum Speed Mienfoo. Eviolite further increases Larvesta's bulk, and Flame Body is a very useful ability that allows it to threaten physical attackers with a 30% burn chance.
Usage Tips
========
Larvesta is a great option for VoltTurn teams, being able to deal with Fighting-types while still gaining momentum. Larvesta should be switched into physical attackers to threaten them with a burn or use U-turn to gain momentum if you predict a counter to switch into it. You must be wary of double switches by the opponent, though, because Larvesta switching into physical attackers is very predictable.
Team Options
========
Rapid Spin users and Defoggers make for great teammates for their ability to remove entry hazards; Staryu and Drilbur are both top-notch spinners, not to mention that the former covers Larvesta's Water-type weakness while the latter covers its Rock-type weakness. Archen and Vullaby can provide Defog support, but Rapid Spin support is more appreciated, as Larvesta needs Stealth Rock set up on the opposing field to pressure switch-ins properly. Teammates that resist Flying- and Water-type moves are also appreciated; Chinchou is a great option, as it resists both those types and can also form a VoltTurn core with Larvesta that can keep momentum. Chinchou can also beat other Water-types with an Electric-type move and is able to take Fletchling's attacks. Magnemite checks Fletchling as well, and it provides VoltTurn support. Grass-types such as Foongus, Ferroseed, and Pumpkaboo-XL can take care of annoying Water-types and create a Fire / Water / Grass core with Larvesta and Chinchou. Ferroseed can deal with Rock-types as well and can set up Spikes in order to help Larvesta pressure the opposing team. Dark-types such as Pawniard and Scraggy appreciate Larvesta's ability to deal with Fighting-types. Diglett is a really good teammate because it takes care of other Fire-types, Chinchou, and Skrelp and can get some other KOs after Larvesta's U-turn damage. Larvesta also helps Diglett get into battle with its slow U-turn.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: U-turn
move 2: Flare Blitz
move 3: Wild Charge
move 4: Morning Sun / Zen Headbutt
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Flame Body
nature: Jolly
evs: 76 HP / 236 Atk / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
U-turn is a powerful STAB move and allows Larvesta to gain momentum and switch out of its checks or counters. Flare Blitz is another strong STAB move that hits even Pokemon that resist it hard. Wild Charge allows Larvesta to hit bulky Water-types such as Staryu, Tirtouga, and Skrelp. Morning Sun allows Larvesta to recover its HP when it is given a free turn and doesn't need to hit hard or gain momentum. The move is useful if Larvesta loses its item to Knock Off as well. Alternatively, Zen Headbutt can be used to hit Fighting-types and Skrelp super effectively, even though Flare Blitz generally hits harder and Zen Headbutt doesn't give Larvesta any advantages in terms of coverage.
Set Details
========
236 Attack EVs are used to maximize the damage dealt with physical moves, and 196 Speed EVs and a Jolly nature let Larvesta reach 16 Speed, which is crucial to outpace the whole unboosted metagame and to Speed tie with other 16 Speed Pokemon holding a Choice Scarf. The remaining EVs are invested into HP to allow Larvesta to switch into Stealth Rock twice. Flame Body can burn foes that attack Larvesta with contact moves.
Usage Tips
========
Switch Larvesta into Fighting-type moves, but be aware of Knock Off, which removes its Choice Scarf. If possible, avoid bringing Larvesta on the field when Stealth Rock is set up. Use U-turn when predicting a counter or a Pokemon that resists Larvesta's moves to switch in in order to gain momentum. Use Flare Blitz or Wild Charge instead when the opponent has no Pokemon that resist these moves. Use Morning Sun when you have a free turn and Larvesta's HP is low.
Team Options
=========
Larvesta appreciates Stealth Rock removal from the likes of Drilbur and Staryu. Chinchou and Magnemite are also great teammates, as they resist the Flying- and Water-type moves that Larvesta is weak to and create a VoltTurn core with it. Pokemon such as Dwebble, Pawniard, and Onix can check Flying-types as well and provide entry hazard support, which helps Larvesta pressure the opposing team. In particular, Pawniard synergizes well with Larvesta because they cover each other's weaknesses. Grass-types such as Pumpkaboo-XL, Ferroseed, and Snivy can complete a Fire / Water / Grass core with Larvesta and Chinchou. Diglett is a really good teammate because it takes care of other Fire-types, Chinchou, and Skrelp and can get some other KOs after Larvesta's U-turn damage. Larvesta also helps Diglett get into battle with its slow U-turn.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Sunny Day can be used to provide sun support for Grass-types with Chlorophyll while increasing the amount of recovery from Morning Sun and boosting the power of Flare Blitz; it also negates Larvesta's weakness to Water-type moves. Toxic can be used to cripple bulky Pokemon such as Spritzee, Porygon, and Ponyta, but Larvesta would lose the possibility to cripple physical attackers with Will-O-Wisp. Flame Charge can be used in order to boost Larvesta's mediocre Speed. Larvesta can also run an offensive set with an EV spread of 76 HP / 236 Atk / 156 Def / 36 Spe; this will allow Larvesta to hit harder but forfeits a lot of bulk. Sleep Talk can be used to counter Foongus, allowing Larvesta to switch into Spore without losing a turn due to sleep.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Stealth Rock**: Stealth Rock is an obvious way to counter Larvesta, as it can't switch in readily while Stealth Rock is on the field.
**Rock-type Pokemon and moves**: Random Rock-type moves from Pokemon such as Mienfoo can KO Larvesta. In addition, Rock-types such as Archen, Onix, Tirtouga, and Tyrunt can all OHKO Larvesta with their STAB moves. They must be wary of Will-O-Wisp, though.
**Flying-types**: Fletchling can hit Larvesta hard with a priority Acrobatics, but it must be wary of a Flame Body burn. Vullaby is annoying as well, being able to remove Larvesta's item and KO it with its STAB moves while not taking much damage from Larvesta's attacks.
**Water-types**: Water-types such as Staryu and Chinchou can switch in and threaten Larvesta with a super effective STAB move, but the former does not appreciate switching into Wild Charge and Larvesta can also escape from both on the switch with U-turn. Tirtouga can threaten Larvesta with a Stone Edge or set up a Shell Smash, but it risks being hit by Will-O-Wisp or Wild Charge. Omanyte can also be a threat to Larvesta, as it doesn't care about getting burned.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types such as Ponyta resist Larvesta's STAB combination and can threaten it with a strong Flare Blitz. Even though Fire-types technically wall Larvesta, they risk losing momentum while taking chip damage in the process due to U-turn.
Larvesta has a unique defensive typing and a cool ability in Flame Body that make it a reliable check to Fighting-types, Grass-types, and other physical attackers like Pawniard. It also has high Attack and access to two strong STAB moves in U-turn, which can be used to keep or generate offensive momentum, and Flare Blitz. Morning Sun provides Larvesta with reliable recovery; however, its Bug / Fire typing leaves it with a troubling 4x weakness to Stealth Rock and a weakness to common Flying- and Water-type moves.
[SET]
name: Bulky Pivot
move 1: U-turn
move 2: Flare Blitz
move 3: Will-O-Wisp
move 4: Morning Sun
item: Eviolite
ability: Flame Body
nature: Impish
evs: 76 HP / 236 Def / 156 SpD / 36 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
U-turn allows Larvesta to gain momentum and switch out against a possible counter, and Flare Blitz is a powerful STAB move. Will-O-Wisp is more reliable than Flame Body to spread burns against physical attackers, and it can be used to wear down walls such as Porygon and Spritzee as well. Morning Sun allows Larvesta to heal itself.
Set Details
========
76 EVs are invested into HP to allow Larvesta to switch into Stealth Rock twice. 236 EVs are put into Defense in order to increase its physical bulk and allow it to deal with common physical attackers such as Mienfoo and Pawniard. This EVs spread also allows Larvesta to not be OHKOed by Diglett's Rock Slide. 36 EVs are put into Speed to reach 13 Speed, and the remaining EVs are invested into Special Defense to maximize Larvesta's bulk. An alternative spread of 76 HP / 236 Def / 196 Spe can be used to reach 16 Speed, which allows Larvesta to Speed tie with Pawniard and outspeed non-maximum Speed Mienfoo. Eviolite further increases Larvesta's bulk, and Flame Body is a very useful ability that allows it to threaten physical attackers with a 30% burn chance.
Usage Tips
========
Larvesta is a great option for VoltTurn teams, being able to deal with Fighting-types while still gaining momentum. Larvesta should be switched into physical attackers to threaten them with a burn or use U-turn to gain momentum if you predict a counter to switch into it. You must be wary of double switches by the opponent, though, because Larvesta switching into physical attackers is very predictable.
Team Options
========
Rapid Spin users and Defoggers make for great teammates for their ability to remove entry hazards; Staryu and Drilbur are both top-notch spinners, not to mention that the former covers Larvesta's Water-type weakness while the latter covers its Rock-type weakness. Archen and Vullaby can provide Defog support, but Rapid Spin support is more appreciated, as Larvesta needs Stealth Rock set up on the opposing field to pressure switch-ins properly. Teammates that resist Flying- and Water-type moves are also appreciated; Chinchou is a great option, as it resists both those types and can also form a VoltTurn core with Larvesta that can keep momentum. Chinchou can also beat other Water-types with an Electric-type move and is able to take Fletchling's attacks. Magnemite checks Fletchling as well, and it provides VoltTurn support. Grass-types such as Foongus, Ferroseed, and Pumpkaboo-XL can take care of annoying Water-types and create a Fire / Water / Grass core with Larvesta and Chinchou. Ferroseed can deal with Rock-types as well and can set up Spikes in order to help Larvesta pressure the opposing team. Dark-types such as Pawniard and Scraggy appreciate Larvesta's ability to deal with Fighting-types. Diglett is a really good teammate because it takes care of other Fire-types, Chinchou, and Skrelp and can get some other KOs after Larvesta's U-turn damage. Larvesta also helps Diglett get into battle with its slow U-turn.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: U-turn
move 2: Flare Blitz
move 3: Wild Charge
move 4: Morning Sun / Zen Headbutt
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Flame Body
nature: Jolly
evs: 76 HP / 236 Atk / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
U-turn is a powerful STAB move and allows Larvesta to gain momentum and switch out of its checks or counters. Flare Blitz is another strong STAB move that hits even Pokemon that resist it hard. Wild Charge allows Larvesta to hit bulky Water-types such as Staryu, Tirtouga, and Skrelp. Morning Sun allows Larvesta to recover its HP when it is given a free turn and doesn't need to hit hard or gain momentum. The move is useful if Larvesta loses its item to Knock Off as well. Alternatively, Zen Headbutt can be used to hit Fighting-types and Skrelp super effectively, even though Flare Blitz generally hits harder and Zen Headbutt doesn't give Larvesta any advantages in terms of coverage.
Set Details
========
236 Attack EVs are used to maximize the damage dealt with physical moves, and 196 Speed EVs and a Jolly nature let Larvesta reach 16 Speed, which is crucial to outpace the whole unboosted metagame and to Speed tie with other 16 Speed Pokemon holding a Choice Scarf. The remaining EVs are invested into HP to allow Larvesta to switch into Stealth Rock twice. Flame Body can burn foes that attack Larvesta with contact moves.
Usage Tips
========
Switch Larvesta into Fighting-type moves, but be aware of Knock Off, which removes its Choice Scarf. If possible, avoid bringing Larvesta on the field when Stealth Rock is set up. Use U-turn when predicting a counter or a Pokemon that resists Larvesta's moves to switch in in order to gain momentum. Use Flare Blitz or Wild Charge instead when the opponent has no Pokemon that resist these moves. Use Morning Sun when you have a free turn and Larvesta's HP is low.
Team Options
=========
Larvesta appreciates Stealth Rock removal from the likes of Drilbur and Staryu. Chinchou and Magnemite are also great teammates, as they resist the Flying- and Water-type moves that Larvesta is weak to and create a VoltTurn core with it. Pokemon such as Dwebble, Pawniard, and Onix can check Flying-types as well and provide entry hazard support, which helps Larvesta pressure the opposing team. In particular, Pawniard synergizes well with Larvesta because they cover each other's weaknesses. Grass-types such as Pumpkaboo-XL, Ferroseed, and Snivy can complete a Fire / Water / Grass core with Larvesta and Chinchou. Diglett is a really good teammate because it takes care of other Fire-types, Chinchou, and Skrelp and can get some other KOs after Larvesta's U-turn damage. Larvesta also helps Diglett get into battle with its slow U-turn.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Sunny Day can be used to provide sun support for Grass-types with Chlorophyll while increasing the amount of recovery from Morning Sun and boosting the power of Flare Blitz; it also negates Larvesta's weakness to Water-type moves. Toxic can be used to cripple bulky Pokemon such as Spritzee, Porygon, and Ponyta, but Larvesta would lose the possibility to cripple physical attackers with Will-O-Wisp. Flame Charge can be used in order to boost Larvesta's mediocre Speed. Larvesta can also run an offensive set with an EV spread of 76 HP / 236 Atk / 156 Def / 36 Spe; this will allow Larvesta to hit harder but forfeits a lot of bulk. Sleep Talk can be used to counter Foongus, allowing Larvesta to switch into Spore without losing a turn due to sleep.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Stealth Rock**: Stealth Rock is an obvious way to counter Larvesta, as it can't switch in readily while Stealth Rock is on the field.
**Rock-type Pokemon and moves**: Random Rock-type moves from Pokemon such as Mienfoo can KO Larvesta. In addition, Rock-types such as Archen, Onix, Tirtouga, and Tyrunt can all OHKO Larvesta with their STAB moves. They must be wary of Will-O-Wisp, though.
**Flying-types**: Fletchling can hit Larvesta hard with a priority Acrobatics, but it must be wary of a Flame Body burn. Vullaby is annoying as well, being able to remove Larvesta's item and KO it with its STAB moves while not taking much damage from Larvesta's attacks.
**Water-types**: Water-types such as Staryu and Chinchou can switch in and threaten Larvesta with a super effective STAB move, but the former does not appreciate switching into Wild Charge and Larvesta can also escape from both on the switch with U-turn. Tirtouga can threaten Larvesta with a Stone Edge or set up a Shell Smash, but it risks being hit by Will-O-Wisp or Wild Charge. Omanyte can also be a threat to Larvesta, as it doesn't care about getting burned.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types such as Ponyta resist Larvesta's STAB combination and can threaten it with a strong Flare Blitz. Even though Fire-types technically wall Larvesta, they risk losing momentum while taking chip damage in the process due to U-turn.
Last edited:
