Welcome to Smogon! Take a moment to read the Introduction to Smogon for a run-down on everything Smogon, and make sure you take some time to read the global rules.
The Winner of Week 19 goes to KidMagic's Thunder Wave Latios! Graduations for entering the Hall of Fame!
The Pokemon for Week 20 is Venusaur!
/
Venusaur has been OU since Generation 5 with its Hidden Ability Chlorophyll, then in Generation 6 it got a Mega Evolution giving it the Bulk that it needs. Mega Venusaur is often used on Balance, or Stall like teams mostly to abuse it's bulk and somewhat stall with it's Poison typing. However Mega Venusaur is still weak to Flying and Psychic type attacks even with it's Thick Fat ability so it needs some team support to function properly in its roll. However in this metagame Mega Venusaur has lessened in usage mostly because of Tornadus-Therian being a very common Pokemon, also Amoonguss can also preform about just as well and doesn't even need to waste a Mega Evolution slot leaving more variety for other Mega Pokemon.
So knock off is a pretty uncommon option and often overlooked on Mega Venu in favour of HP Fire, Sleep Powder or Leech Seed. However, the utility it provides can be valuable to team mates such as Clef and Keldeo who can have an easier time breaking Heatran and Torn-T respectively. This is especially effective since they are common switchins to Mega Venu.
BTW EQ Mega Venu is garbage, please don't run it p_q
Venusaur @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 29 HP
- Giga Drain
- Growth
- Hidden Power Fire
- Earthquake / Sludge Bomb
Other (good) options: Sleep Powder in fourth slot, EQ+SBomb without HP Fire
Other (usually bad) options: Energy Ball, Solar Beam
The classic fifth gen ChloroSaur may have lost the ability to play with permanent sun, but that doesn't mean it isn't threatening on CharY+Venusaur builds (and, on occasion, even Ninetales builds). Growth's ability to turn it into a complete monster on both sides of the spectrum in a single turn is a genuinely incredible attribute to have. LO bolsters power as far as possible, while max speed+Modest allows it to hit as hard and fast as possible under the sun. Giga Drain is the STAB and it heals off any LO recoil that Venusaur takes while generally improving its longevity beyond this, HP Fire is important for its ability to nail Scizor, EQ nails Heatran while working alongside Growth to turn Venu into a fearsome mixed attacker despite the -atk nature and Sludge Bomb is Venusaur's most powerful move when using Giga Drain while providing solid neutral coverage alongside Giga Drain.
Too lazy to do an actual 2.5k and sick of trying to preserve it, so shoutouts:
General idea: Despite Weather Ball is illegal alongside Chlorophyll, it still remains perfectly fine with Overgrow in its base form, thus losing the possibility to outspeed opposite Charizard Y. Then, the Megastone will allow Venu to become the powerful tank we all know.
It is very useful and strong alongside a weather setter because:
(a) In rain (Politoed), Weather Ball helps towards Fire types i.e. Heatran;
(b) In sun (opposite Charizard Y or our Heat Rock Klefki), Weather Ball is a way better HP Fire;
(c) In sand (Hippowdon, Tyranitar), Weather Ball replaces HP rock towards Flying types i.e. Talonflame which carelessly switch-in.
A wall of calcs
252+ SpA Mega Venusaur Weather Ball (100 BP Water) vs. 244 HP / 192+ SpD Gliscor in Rain: 316-374 (89.7 - 106.2%) -- 37.5% chance to OHKO
252+ SpA Mega Venusaur Weather Ball (100 BP Water) vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Rotom-H in Rain: 326-384 (107.2 - 126.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Mega Venusaur Weather Ball (100 BP Water) vs. 72 HP / 0 SpD Passho Berry Volcarona in Rain: 165-195 (50.1 - 59.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (Sludge Bomb is not a guaranteed 2HKO 69,5% of the time)
252+ SpA Mega Venusaur Weather Ball (100 BP Water) vs. 96 HP / 0 SpD Victini in Rain: 346-408 (94.7 - 111.7%) -- 68.8% chance to OHKO
252+ SpA Mega Venusaur Weather Ball (100 BP Water) vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Nidoking in Rain: 434-512 (143.2 - 168.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Mega Venusaur Weather Ball (100 BP Water) vs. 248 HP / 192+ SpD Heatran in Rain: 250-296 (64.9 - 76.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ SpA Mega Venusaur Weather Ball (100 BP Fire) vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Ferrothorn in Sun: 452-532 (128.4 - 151.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Mega Venusaur Weather Ball (100 BP Fire) vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Mega Scizor in Sun: 496-588 (144.6 - 171.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Mega Venusaur Weather Ball (100 BP Fire) vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Dry Skin Toxicroak in Sun: 306-360 (99.6 - 117.2%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO
252+ SpA Mega Venusaur Weather Ball (100 BP Fire) vs. 252 HP / 120 SpD Amoonguss in Sun: 362-426 (83.7 - 98.6%) -- 75% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252+ SpA Mega Venusaur Weather Ball (100 BP Fire) vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Lucario in Sun: 460-542 (163.7 - 192.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Mega Venusaur Weather Ball (100 BP Fire) vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Skarmory in Sun: 310-366 (92.8 - 109.5%) -- 56.3% chance to OHKO
252+ SpA Mega Venusaur Weather Ball (100 BP Fire) vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mega Heracross in Sun: 330-390 (109.6 - 129.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Mega Venusaur Weather Ball (100 BP Water/Rock) vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mega Houndoom in Rain/Sand: 250-296 (85.9 - 101.7%) -- 12.5% chance to OHKO
252+ SpA Mega Venusaur Weather Ball (100 BP Fire/Water) vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Gengar in Sun/Rain: 217-256 (83.7 - 98.8%) -- 75% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252+ SpA Mega Venusaur Weather Ball (100 BP Fire/Rock) vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Beedrill in Sun/Sand: 276-326 -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Mega Venusaur Weather Ball (100 BP Fire/Rock) vs. 16 HP / 0 SpD Scolipede in Sun/Sand: 312-368 -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Mega Venusaur Weather Ball (100 BP Rock) vs. 88 HP / 0 SpD Gyarados in Sand: 230-272 (65.1 - 77%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after sandstorm damage and Leftovers recovery
252+ SpA Mega Venusaur Weather Ball (100 BP Rock) vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mega Pidgeot in Sand: 276-326 (89.9 - 106.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
252+ SpA Mega Venusaur Weather Ball (100 BP Rock) vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mega Charizard X in Sand: 262-310 (88.2 - 104.3%) -- 25% chance to OHKO
252+ SpA Mega Venusaur Weather Ball (100 BP Rock) vs. 96 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Tornadus-T in Sand: 168-198 (52 - 61.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after sandstorm damage
252+ SpA Mega Venusaur Weather Ball (100 BP Rock) vs. 248 HP / 108 SpD Mandibuzz in Sand: 214-254 (50.5 - 60%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252+ SpA Mega Venusaur Weather Ball (100 BP Rock) vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Mega Pinsir in Sand: 496-588 (183 - 216.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Mega Venusaur Weather Ball (100 BP Rock) vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Talonflame in Sand: 416-492 (115.8 - 137%) -- guaranteed OHKO
EVs spread: EVs are the same of the dex for the offensive set bar 4 less EVs into Spe due to the lack of HP Fire which reduces Spe by one point.
Usually Venusaur is setup fodder for a lot of shit since it can't do anything back but Sludge Bomb or Drain. But with Roar however it gains phasing capabilities which works really well with Hazard Stack teams which are really common and the ability to stop setup sweepers.
The fact t-wave latios won sorta made me loss faith in the pokemon community but dw about dis. So heres Worry Seed Mega Venusaur. Basically catch the shit that switches into Mega Venusaur and they get Insomnia cause of Worry Seed. Dis is beneficial for things like Kyurem-Black which has teravolt which negates Thick Fat but when Worry Seed hits it loses Teravolt. Also stuff like Torn-T because if it's at a % were Hazards can kill Worry Seed prevents Regenerator from working etc so rocks kills Torn-t. So worry seed basically fucks over stuff like Mega Pinsir, MG Clef, Gliscor, Kyu-B, Torn-T, Mega Medi, etc. 100 Speed is just for Rotom-W to outspeed and kill. Basic shit outside of Worry Seed.
Growth Mega Venusaur
Venusaur-Mega @ Venusaurite
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 236 HP / 252 SpA / 20 Spe (No Speed EVs if running Quiet nature)
Modest/Quiet Nature
- Growth
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
- Earthquake / Synthesis / HP Fire
Growth on Mega Venusaur is mainly meant to break past opposing bulky sweepers (notably Clefable and Suicune) as well as some Pokemon that can try to wall it. Sweeping isn't its main goal, but it is capable of doing so and is a nice to have as a secondary win condition. Earthquake hits Heatran primarly and can also damage neutral targets that resist STAB when boosted. Synthesis allows it to check what it usually does, but Giga Drain can also suffice for recovery on this set. HP Fire is an option for Ferro, Scizor and stuff that are kind of annoying to deal with otherwise.
Venusaur @ Venusaurite
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 232 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 20 Spe
Modest Nature
- Giga Drain
- Venoshock
- Hidden Power Fire / Synthesis
- Toxic
Scraping the barrel here - Venusaur has a pretty small movepool - but, in a similar vein to Hex Gengar, using Venoshock over sludge bomb gives offensive M-Venu a way to quickly and effectively boost its damage output. HP fire is preferred to not be walled by steels, however if running with toxic spikes, synthesis could replace toxic instead so you could have both.
The damage difference is quite significant (30%, essentially a life orb boost), allowing you to break through some of your usual counters:
252+ SpA Mega Venusaur Sludge Bomb vs. 96 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Tornadus-T: 112-133 (34.6 - 41.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after toxic damage
252+ SpA Mega Venusaur Venoshock (130 BP) vs. 96 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Tornadus-T: 163-193 (50.4 - 59.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after toxic damage
Venusaur-Mega @ Venusaurite
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Power Whip
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
First things first your probably thinking im crazy. Thats because i am. However something i did notice was that mega venu actually has a workable attack stat. Base 100's not god awful so i figured that this would be a rather fun niche set. The sets pretty simple with power whip being your main stab attack naturally it hits water and ground types as well as rock types. Next you have earthquake for hitting heatran which otherwise walls this set. Knock off rounds the set off baiting in chansey as well as psychic types like the latis. It also lures in AV torn-t which typically will come in and force venu out so baiting it with knock off is really nice in that regard as it can help something in the back such as scarf keld. Swords dance is the last move on this set which allows venu to boost its attack stat this allows venu to sweep more slower teams and it shouldent be hard to grab a sd thanks to thick fat+venus natural bulk which is pretty damn good even uninvested. Will get replays shortly.
Venusaur-Mega @ Venusaurite
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Power Whip
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
First things first your probably thinking im crazy. Thats because i am. However something i did notice was that mega venu actually has a workable attack stat. Base 100's not god awful so i figured that this would be a rather fun niche set. The sets pretty simple with power whip being your main stab attack naturally it hits water and ground types as well as rock types. Next you have earthquake for hitting heatran which otherwise walls this set. Knock off rounds the set off baiting in chansey as well as psychic types like the latis. It also lures in AV torn-t which typically will come in and force venu out so baiting it with knock off is really nice in that regard as it can help something in the back such as scarf keld. Swords dance is the last move on this set which allows venu to boost its attack stat this allows venu to sweep more slower teams and it shouldent be hard to grab a sd thanks to thick fat+venus natural bulk which is pretty damn good even uninvested. Will get replays shortly.