QC: erisia / Hootie / rozes and boltsandbombers
GP: Luka~ and Snobalt / The Dutch Plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
Victreebel's main niche in NU is being one of the best sun sweepers in the tier. With fantastic wallbreaking capabilities thanks to its very high Special Attack stat and great overall coverage with STAB moves in Solar Beam and Sludge Bomb, it's a staple on almost every sun team. It also has access to Weather Ball, a very strong Fire-type move in the sun that hits Pokemon that its STAB moves can't. What separates Victreebel from other sun sweepers like Exeggutor is that it can outspeed a large portion of Choice Scarf Pokemon under the sun without running a Timid nature, thus allowing it to have more power. However, Victreebel cannot function outside of sun due to its lackluster Speed and defenses, which leave it susceptible to common priority moves such as Bullet Punch, Fake Out, Ice Shard, and Sucker Punch.
[SET]
name: Chlorophyll Sweeper
move 1: Solar Beam
move 2: Sludge Bomb
move 3: Weather Ball
move 4: Sleep Powder
item: Life Orb
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Solar Beam is Victreebel's preferred Grass-type STAB move, as it has no downside besides the fact that it must be used when sun is active. Sludge Bomb allows Victreebel to hit Fairy- and Fire-types that its other moves can't like Mega Audino, Clefairy, Charizard, and Ninetales. It's also the only move that Victreebel can use outside of sun. Weather Ball is Victreebel's coverage move, giving it a 100 Base Power Fire-type move when used under the sun that hits Steel- and Poison-types like Klinklang and Garbodor, which don't care about both of Victreebel's STAB moves. Lastly, Sleep Powder is used to put Pokemon to sleep and allow Victreebel to subsequently launch strong attacks or potentially get sun up again if it has faded. It also allows Victreebel to play around Sucker Punch users like Kangaskhan by shutting them down completely.
Set Details
========
Life Orb gives a nice boost to Victreebel's overall power and allows it to make full use of its great coverage by switching between its STAB moves and Weather Ball. Cholorophyll is the only viable ability, as Victreebel's only niche in NU is to be a sun sweeper, and if its ability isn't activated, it's borderline useless. A Modest nature gives Victreebel another boost to its power, allowing it to OHKO or 2HKO most foes. Running a Timid nature is an option to outspeed Choice Scarf Scyther and Pyroar, but it comes with a significant decrease in power and doesn't let Victreebel outspeed enough relevant Pokemon, so it's usually not recommended. Maximum Special Attack and Speed investment allows Victreebel to dish out as much damage as possible while also outspeeding most Pokemon under the sun.
Usage Tips
========
Setting up Sunny Day before bringing in Victreebel is crucial to its effectiveness as a sun sweeper. Try to utilize the five to eight turns that Sunny Day provides very efficiently with Victreebel, as every turn counts. Try to use Sleep Powder against Pokemon that Victreebel can't OHKO such as Garbodor, Skuntank, and Assault Vest Hariyama and Magmortar, as there's a good chance Victreebel will get KOed back if it can't OHKO the foe due to its generally low defenses.
Team Options
========
The most important teammates for Victreebel are Sunny Day setters such as Liepard, Mesprit, and Regirock. Entry hazard setters such as Regirock and Mesprit can provide Stealth Rock, which can break potential Focus Sashes and further increase the chances of pulling off a sweep with Victreebel; these two in particular can also set up Sunny Day. Mesprit in particular can provide a variety of support roles and the ability to weaken common switch-ins to Victreebel such as Hariyama, Weezing, and Garbodor. It also has the ability to bring in Victreebel safely with U-turn or heal it late-game with Healing Wish. Other sun sweepers and Fire-types such as Exeggutor, Shiftry, and Charizard can take advantage of the sun with their abilities or use boosted Fire-type STAB moves to break through Steel-types. Shiftry can easily lure and KO Skuntank, one of Victreebel's most reliable checks, with Explosion. Lastly, a fast, non-weather-dependent Pokemon such as Tauros, Archeops, or Choice Scarf Sawk allows the team to regain momentum in case sun fades away.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Giga Drain is usable over Solar Beam to help recover damage from Life Orb recoil and entry hazards. Knock Off and Sucker Punch are also viable options over a coverage move, as Knock Off removes the foe's item and Sucker Punch can provide priority for Victreebel. A fully physical set is an option considering it's backed by an impressive 105 Attack stat, but Victreebel lacks any good physical Poison-type STAB moves. A mixed set is also an option by running Power Whip to defeat the Pokemon Victreebel lures in like Hariyama. Encore, Growth, and Sunny Day are all options for the fourth slot. Encore can be used to disrupt Pokemon like Kangaskhan and Hariyama that want to stall sun out with Fake Out and KO Victreebel with other priority moves. Growth can allow Victreebel to double both of its attacking stats in the sun, though using this move is not recommended with Victreebel's frailty. Sunny Day can allow Victreebel to set up its own sun or support its teammates with it.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Specially defensive Pokemon such as Sliggoo and Assault Vest Hariyama and Magmortar can easily take on Victreebel due to their boosted Special Defense. Magmortar and Sliggoo in particular are immune to Sleep Powder due to their abilities, and Hariyama can stall out sun turns with the use of Fake Out as well. Musharna can also stall out Victreebel's sun with the use of Moonlight and Calm Mind.
**Poison-types**: Poison-type Pokemon such as Skuntank and Garbodor resist both of Victreebel's STAB moves and can OHKO it in return, though they should be wary of Sleep Powder so that they don't become severely crippled.
**Weather Setters**: Snow Warning users such as Abomasnow and Aurorus can immediately get rid of sun with their ability. Other Pokemon that can set weather such as Prankster Rain Dance Liepard can also stop Victreebel from sweeping.
**Strong Priority**: Strong priority moves like Sucker Punch, Fake Out, and Ice Shard from Pokemon such as Kangaskhan, Hariyama, and Abomasnow can easily wear down Victreebel.
GP: Luka~ and Snobalt / The Dutch Plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
Victreebel's main niche in NU is being one of the best sun sweepers in the tier. With fantastic wallbreaking capabilities thanks to its very high Special Attack stat and great overall coverage with STAB moves in Solar Beam and Sludge Bomb, it's a staple on almost every sun team. It also has access to Weather Ball, a very strong Fire-type move in the sun that hits Pokemon that its STAB moves can't. What separates Victreebel from other sun sweepers like Exeggutor is that it can outspeed a large portion of Choice Scarf Pokemon under the sun without running a Timid nature, thus allowing it to have more power. However, Victreebel cannot function outside of sun due to its lackluster Speed and defenses, which leave it susceptible to common priority moves such as Bullet Punch, Fake Out, Ice Shard, and Sucker Punch.
[SET]
name: Chlorophyll Sweeper
move 1: Solar Beam
move 2: Sludge Bomb
move 3: Weather Ball
move 4: Sleep Powder
item: Life Orb
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Solar Beam is Victreebel's preferred Grass-type STAB move, as it has no downside besides the fact that it must be used when sun is active. Sludge Bomb allows Victreebel to hit Fairy- and Fire-types that its other moves can't like Mega Audino, Clefairy, Charizard, and Ninetales. It's also the only move that Victreebel can use outside of sun. Weather Ball is Victreebel's coverage move, giving it a 100 Base Power Fire-type move when used under the sun that hits Steel- and Poison-types like Klinklang and Garbodor, which don't care about both of Victreebel's STAB moves. Lastly, Sleep Powder is used to put Pokemon to sleep and allow Victreebel to subsequently launch strong attacks or potentially get sun up again if it has faded. It also allows Victreebel to play around Sucker Punch users like Kangaskhan by shutting them down completely.
Set Details
========
Life Orb gives a nice boost to Victreebel's overall power and allows it to make full use of its great coverage by switching between its STAB moves and Weather Ball. Cholorophyll is the only viable ability, as Victreebel's only niche in NU is to be a sun sweeper, and if its ability isn't activated, it's borderline useless. A Modest nature gives Victreebel another boost to its power, allowing it to OHKO or 2HKO most foes. Running a Timid nature is an option to outspeed Choice Scarf Scyther and Pyroar, but it comes with a significant decrease in power and doesn't let Victreebel outspeed enough relevant Pokemon, so it's usually not recommended. Maximum Special Attack and Speed investment allows Victreebel to dish out as much damage as possible while also outspeeding most Pokemon under the sun.
Usage Tips
========
Setting up Sunny Day before bringing in Victreebel is crucial to its effectiveness as a sun sweeper. Try to utilize the five to eight turns that Sunny Day provides very efficiently with Victreebel, as every turn counts. Try to use Sleep Powder against Pokemon that Victreebel can't OHKO such as Garbodor, Skuntank, and Assault Vest Hariyama and Magmortar, as there's a good chance Victreebel will get KOed back if it can't OHKO the foe due to its generally low defenses.
Team Options
========
The most important teammates for Victreebel are Sunny Day setters such as Liepard, Mesprit, and Regirock. Entry hazard setters such as Regirock and Mesprit can provide Stealth Rock, which can break potential Focus Sashes and further increase the chances of pulling off a sweep with Victreebel; these two in particular can also set up Sunny Day. Mesprit in particular can provide a variety of support roles and the ability to weaken common switch-ins to Victreebel such as Hariyama, Weezing, and Garbodor. It also has the ability to bring in Victreebel safely with U-turn or heal it late-game with Healing Wish. Other sun sweepers and Fire-types such as Exeggutor, Shiftry, and Charizard can take advantage of the sun with their abilities or use boosted Fire-type STAB moves to break through Steel-types. Shiftry can easily lure and KO Skuntank, one of Victreebel's most reliable checks, with Explosion. Lastly, a fast, non-weather-dependent Pokemon such as Tauros, Archeops, or Choice Scarf Sawk allows the team to regain momentum in case sun fades away.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Giga Drain is usable over Solar Beam to help recover damage from Life Orb recoil and entry hazards. Knock Off and Sucker Punch are also viable options over a coverage move, as Knock Off removes the foe's item and Sucker Punch can provide priority for Victreebel. A fully physical set is an option considering it's backed by an impressive 105 Attack stat, but Victreebel lacks any good physical Poison-type STAB moves. A mixed set is also an option by running Power Whip to defeat the Pokemon Victreebel lures in like Hariyama. Encore, Growth, and Sunny Day are all options for the fourth slot. Encore can be used to disrupt Pokemon like Kangaskhan and Hariyama that want to stall sun out with Fake Out and KO Victreebel with other priority moves. Growth can allow Victreebel to double both of its attacking stats in the sun, though using this move is not recommended with Victreebel's frailty. Sunny Day can allow Victreebel to set up its own sun or support its teammates with it.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Specially defensive Pokemon such as Sliggoo and Assault Vest Hariyama and Magmortar can easily take on Victreebel due to their boosted Special Defense. Magmortar and Sliggoo in particular are immune to Sleep Powder due to their abilities, and Hariyama can stall out sun turns with the use of Fake Out as well. Musharna can also stall out Victreebel's sun with the use of Moonlight and Calm Mind.
**Poison-types**: Poison-type Pokemon such as Skuntank and Garbodor resist both of Victreebel's STAB moves and can OHKO it in return, though they should be wary of Sleep Powder so that they don't become severely crippled.
**Weather Setters**: Snow Warning users such as Abomasnow and Aurorus can immediately get rid of sun with their ability. Other Pokemon that can set weather such as Prankster Rain Dance Liepard can also stop Victreebel from sweeping.
**Strong Priority**: Strong priority moves like Sucker Punch, Fake Out, and Ice Shard from Pokemon such as Kangaskhan, Hariyama, and Abomasnow can easily wear down Victreebel.
Last edited:
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