[OVERVIEW]
Venusaur is an excellent choice for sun teams, as it packs a good Speed tier, offensive stats, and most importantly, bulk. It also has useful moves such as Growth and Sleep Powder to break teams. Venusaur is exclusively a choice for sun teams, as it is outclassed by Roserade and Shaymin otherwise. Moreover, Venusaur gets completely walled by offensive Dragon-types such as Kommo-o, Dragalge, and Goodra. These threats get a free switch into Venusaur and can threaten its team. Despite its doubled Speed in sun, Venusaur is still outsped by threats such as Choice Scarf users in Durant and Trace Gardevoir. On the other hand, Venusaur lacks the necessary power to break teams if it tries to outspeed these threats with a Timid nature.
[SET]
name: Sun Sweeper
move 1: Growth
move 2: Sludge Bomb
move 3: Giga Drain
move 4: Hidden Power Fire
item: Life Orb / Grassium Z
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Growth increases Venusaur's Attack and Special Attack by two stages in sun, making it a threatening sweeper. Sludge Bomb is the strongest attack, hitting Fairy- and Grass-types such as Florges, Shaymin, Virizion, and Comfey for super effective damage. Giga Drain takes care of bulky Water-types such as Milotic and Blastoise, as well as replenishes lost HP from Life Orb recoil and damage. Solar Beam can be used over Giga Drain for more damage output at the cost of only being able to use it in sun. Hidden Power Fire is used to hit Chesnaught, Escavalier, and Durant while chipping away HP from the likes of Bronzong and Doublade. It is also stronger in sun. Sleep Powder is an alternative to Growth, allowing Venusaur to induce sleep on a threat to allow a teammate like Leafeon to set up Swords Dance much more easily. It can also be used over Sludge Bomb to make Venusaur more threatening in the sun due to Sleep Powder + Growth, but then Venusar will heavily rely on sun to do any significant damage.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack and Speed EVs with a Modest nature are used to ensure Venusaur gets the best out of its wallbreaking capabilities. A Timid nature is optional for outspeeding Choice Scarf Durant and Speed tying with Choice Scarf Gardevoir, but Venusaur will then lack the power to break the opposing team. Life Orb is used to further increase Venusaur's offensive capabilities; the recoil can be ignored, as Giga Drain helps recover from the lost HP. Alternatively, Grassium Z can be used to KO a defensive threat with Bloom Doom, but it is useless otherwise. It is preferred to pair it with Solar Beam, as it gives Venusaur a way to KO a threat once they have been lured in after they realize the Grass-type STAB move is Solar Beam.
Usage Tips
========
Always try to switch Venusaur into bulky Water-types, as they lack a way to threaten Venusaur, apart from Air Slash Mantine and Slowbro, and use Growth on the next turn, as they will usually switch out. Giga Drain is the most spammable STAB move and should be used over Sludge Bomb if both KO the foe, as it can recover health. Use Growth on setup fodder such as Florges and Comfey, but be wary of setting up in front of Foul Play users like Umbreon, as Growth also raises Venusaur's Attack stat. Venusaur also draws its checks in, mainly Goodra, Dragalge, and Steel-types, so use that to your advantage. It is wise to save Venusaur until late-game, as it can become a dangerous late-game sweeper. Growth should be usually used on attacks that do not KO Venusaur, as it can just replenish HP with Giga Drain.
Team Options
========
Torkoal is a mandatory partner for Venusaur, as it sets sun, which allows Venusaur to fulfill its niche in the tier. Torkoal also helps the team by providing Stealth Rock support, as well as Explosion to weaken threats and give a free switch in opportunity for Venusaur. Ninetales is another option for a sun setter, which itself acts as a setup sweeper, making Sleep Powder Venusaur a preferred choice in that case. Chlorophyll users, especially Leafeon, are also good partners for Venusaur, as they can take care of Venusaur's Dragon-type checks, as well as benefit from Chlorophyll. Venusaur also helps Leafeon by taking care of defensive Pokemon. Zoroark is a nice partner for Venusaur, as it can take advantage of Venusaur's ability to lure its checks to cripple them with Knock Off or Choice Specs Dark Pulse. Wallbreakers such as Tyrantrum and Dragon Dance Flygon are appreciated; they resist Fire-type moves for Venusaur and can weaken the opposing team for Venusaur to clean.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Venusaur can utilize a defensive set, but it is outclassed by Chesnaught's utility and Roserade's speed and power. It can also use a Swords Dance set with Power Whip and Earthquake, but its Attack stat prior to setting up is relatively low, and it does not become very threatening even after a boost. Substitute + Leech Seed is also optional, but Whimsicott and Shaymin are better users of those moves due to Prankster and Natural Cure, respectively. Z-Celebrate is an option, but Venusaur lacks both the power and speed to break through the opposing team after the boost.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dragon-types**: Goodra and Dragalge can switch into Venusaur multiple times and KO it with their STAB moves. Bulletproof Kommo-o also resists Venusaur's STAB moves and can KO it back. Noivern and Flygon can take a hit and attempt to KO Venusaur with their STAB moves.
**Steel-types**: Specially defensive Steel-types such as Registeel and Bronzong take little damage from Hidden Power Fire and can either wear Venusaur down over the course of the game or set up entry hazards.
**Gigalith**: Gigalith cannot check Venusaur directly, but Sand Stream removes sun, so Venusaur cannot take advantage of Chlorophyll for the rest of the game if Torkoal is down.
**Fire-types**: Moltres, Salazzle, and Rotom-H resist Grass and can KO Venusaur easily. They also benefit from sun, as their Fire-type moves get stronger.
Venusaur is an excellent choice for sun teams, as it packs a good Speed tier, offensive stats, and most importantly, bulk. It also has useful moves such as Growth and Sleep Powder to break teams. Venusaur is exclusively a choice for sun teams, as it is outclassed by Roserade and Shaymin otherwise. Moreover, Venusaur gets completely walled by offensive Dragon-types such as Kommo-o, Dragalge, and Goodra. These threats get a free switch into Venusaur and can threaten its team. Despite its doubled Speed in sun, Venusaur is still outsped by threats such as Choice Scarf users in Durant and Trace Gardevoir. On the other hand, Venusaur lacks the necessary power to break teams if it tries to outspeed these threats with a Timid nature.
[SET]
name: Sun Sweeper
move 1: Growth
move 2: Sludge Bomb
move 3: Giga Drain
move 4: Hidden Power Fire
item: Life Orb / Grassium Z
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Growth increases Venusaur's Attack and Special Attack by two stages in sun, making it a threatening sweeper. Sludge Bomb is the strongest attack, hitting Fairy- and Grass-types such as Florges, Shaymin, Virizion, and Comfey for super effective damage. Giga Drain takes care of bulky Water-types such as Milotic and Blastoise, as well as replenishes lost HP from Life Orb recoil and damage. Solar Beam can be used over Giga Drain for more damage output at the cost of only being able to use it in sun. Hidden Power Fire is used to hit Chesnaught, Escavalier, and Durant while chipping away HP from the likes of Bronzong and Doublade. It is also stronger in sun. Sleep Powder is an alternative to Growth, allowing Venusaur to induce sleep on a threat to allow a teammate like Leafeon to set up Swords Dance much more easily. It can also be used over Sludge Bomb to make Venusaur more threatening in the sun due to Sleep Powder + Growth, but then Venusar will heavily rely on sun to do any significant damage.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack and Speed EVs with a Modest nature are used to ensure Venusaur gets the best out of its wallbreaking capabilities. A Timid nature is optional for outspeeding Choice Scarf Durant and Speed tying with Choice Scarf Gardevoir, but Venusaur will then lack the power to break the opposing team. Life Orb is used to further increase Venusaur's offensive capabilities; the recoil can be ignored, as Giga Drain helps recover from the lost HP. Alternatively, Grassium Z can be used to KO a defensive threat with Bloom Doom, but it is useless otherwise. It is preferred to pair it with Solar Beam, as it gives Venusaur a way to KO a threat once they have been lured in after they realize the Grass-type STAB move is Solar Beam.
Usage Tips
========
Always try to switch Venusaur into bulky Water-types, as they lack a way to threaten Venusaur, apart from Air Slash Mantine and Slowbro, and use Growth on the next turn, as they will usually switch out. Giga Drain is the most spammable STAB move and should be used over Sludge Bomb if both KO the foe, as it can recover health. Use Growth on setup fodder such as Florges and Comfey, but be wary of setting up in front of Foul Play users like Umbreon, as Growth also raises Venusaur's Attack stat. Venusaur also draws its checks in, mainly Goodra, Dragalge, and Steel-types, so use that to your advantage. It is wise to save Venusaur until late-game, as it can become a dangerous late-game sweeper. Growth should be usually used on attacks that do not KO Venusaur, as it can just replenish HP with Giga Drain.
Team Options
========
Torkoal is a mandatory partner for Venusaur, as it sets sun, which allows Venusaur to fulfill its niche in the tier. Torkoal also helps the team by providing Stealth Rock support, as well as Explosion to weaken threats and give a free switch in opportunity for Venusaur. Ninetales is another option for a sun setter, which itself acts as a setup sweeper, making Sleep Powder Venusaur a preferred choice in that case. Chlorophyll users, especially Leafeon, are also good partners for Venusaur, as they can take care of Venusaur's Dragon-type checks, as well as benefit from Chlorophyll. Venusaur also helps Leafeon by taking care of defensive Pokemon. Zoroark is a nice partner for Venusaur, as it can take advantage of Venusaur's ability to lure its checks to cripple them with Knock Off or Choice Specs Dark Pulse. Wallbreakers such as Tyrantrum and Dragon Dance Flygon are appreciated; they resist Fire-type moves for Venusaur and can weaken the opposing team for Venusaur to clean.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Venusaur can utilize a defensive set, but it is outclassed by Chesnaught's utility and Roserade's speed and power. It can also use a Swords Dance set with Power Whip and Earthquake, but its Attack stat prior to setting up is relatively low, and it does not become very threatening even after a boost. Substitute + Leech Seed is also optional, but Whimsicott and Shaymin are better users of those moves due to Prankster and Natural Cure, respectively. Z-Celebrate is an option, but Venusaur lacks both the power and speed to break through the opposing team after the boost.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dragon-types**: Goodra and Dragalge can switch into Venusaur multiple times and KO it with their STAB moves. Bulletproof Kommo-o also resists Venusaur's STAB moves and can KO it back. Noivern and Flygon can take a hit and attempt to KO Venusaur with their STAB moves.
**Steel-types**: Specially defensive Steel-types such as Registeel and Bronzong take little damage from Hidden Power Fire and can either wear Venusaur down over the course of the game or set up entry hazards.
**Gigalith**: Gigalith cannot check Venusaur directly, but Sand Stream removes sun, so Venusaur cannot take advantage of Chlorophyll for the rest of the game if Torkoal is down.
**Fire-types**: Moltres, Salazzle, and Rotom-H resist Grass and can KO Venusaur easily. They also benefit from sun, as their Fire-type moves get stronger.
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