Weavile

[KurashiDragon]

Weavile
Typing: Dark / Ice
Base Stats: HP: 70 / Atk: 120 / Def: 65 / Spd: 125 / Sp. Atk: 45 / Sp. Def: 85
Ability: Pressure: When this pokemon is hit by your opponent's move, the PP is decreased by 2 instead of 1.
This is a defensive ability. Really it's pathetic on weavile. Why it would actually need this at all is really beyond me. What the hell were your thinking Game Freak? Really?

Dream World Ability: Wicked Thief: May steal the opponent's item when weavile is hit by a contact move.
This is depressing. Many people were really hopeful that this ability would work the way we all thought it would. Then troll freak comes up and kicks us all a new one. This ability had real potential. The potential to make Weavile viable as something more than the dragon killer of last gen. This ability is bar useless on Weavile. This ability only works when the opponent attacks you with a contact move. (i.e Ice punch.) This is really not good when you consider attacking weavile at all is like taking a hot knife to butter.

Illegal Moves with Wicked Thief

Fury Cutter
Knock Off
Snore
Spite
Swift
Mud Slap
Low Kick
Headbutt

Notable Illegal Moves

Low Kick: With the addition of HGSS came low kick. This move gave weavile a very good fighting type move that it could use over brick break. Now that 5th gen has come around I'm afraid that, as a 4th gen move tutor move it's not viable with Wicked thief.

Level Up Move Data:

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Lv1: Embargo, Lv1: Revenge, Lv1: Assurance, Lv1: Scratch, Lv1: Leer, Lv1: Taunt, Lv1: Quick Attack, Lv8: Quick Attack, Lv10: Screech, Lv14: Faint Attack, Lv21: Fury Swipes, Lv24: Nasty Plot, Lv28: Icy Wind, Lv35: Claw Sharpen, Lv38: Night Slash, Lv42: Fling, Lv49: Metal Claw, Lv51: Dark Pulse

New Level Up Move Data

Lv35: Claw Sharpen: Increases Atk and Acc by 1 stage. Other / BP -- / Acc 100%
I can understand why they'd give this move to weavile but really there's no point in using this move on weavile. There's nothing notable that can use the Acc increase and it's outclassed by Swords Dance in the atk increase

Egg Move Data

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Counter Spite Foresight Bite Crush Claw Fake Out Double Hit Punishment Pursuit Ice Shard Ice Punch Assist Avalanche Feint

New Egg Move Data

Avalanche: Power Doubles if user recieved damage this turn. Physical / Bp 60 / Acc 100
Sux on Weavile. Weavile relies on it's speed to revenge kill. There's no reason to use this move.

Feint: Only works if the opponent uses moves like Protect and detect. Physical / Bp 30 / Acc 100
Useless. Useless last gen and useless this gen...... except even more so with the power decrese.

TM Move Data

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TM01 - Claw Sharpen, TM04 - Calm Mind, TM06 - Toxic, TM07 - Hail, TM10 - Hidden Power, TM11 - Sunny Day, TM12 - Taunt, TM13 - Ice Beam, TM14 - Blizzard, TM15 - Hyper Beam, TM17 - Protect, TM18 - Rain Dance, TM21 - Frustration, TM27 - Return, TM28 - Dig, TM30 - Shadow Ball, TM31 - Brick Break, TM32 - Double Team, TM33 - Reflect, TM40 - Aerial Ace, TM41 - Torment, TM42 - Facade, TM44 - Rest, TM45 - Attract, TM46 - Thief, TM47 - Ankle Sweep, TM48 - Troll, TM52 - Focus Blast, TM54 - False Swipe, TM56 - Fling, TM63 - Embargo, TM65 - Shadow Claw, TM66 - Payback, TM67 - Get Even, TM68 - Giga Impact, TM75 - Swords Dance, TM77 - Psych Up, TM81 - X-Scissor, TM84 - Poison Jab, TM85 - Dream Eater, TM87 - Swagger, TM90 - Substitute, TM94 - Rock Smash, TM95 - Back Out, HM01 - Cut, HM03 - Surf, HM04 - Strength

New TM Move Data

TM47 - Ankle Sweep: Lowers Speed by 1 stage. Physical / Bp 60 / Acc 100
Ok I don't care what you say. This clearly should've been low kick. The name just says so much. Why is this not low kick..... but with bp? Whatever the case this move is just a worse version of Brick Break so try to avoid this one.

TM48 - Troll If more than one pokemon uses troll in a double or triple battle this moves bp increases. Special / Bp 60 / Acc 100
The conclusion....... Troll Freak is a troll.

TM67 - Get Even If a partner has been koed this turn, this attacks Bp increases. Physical / Bp 70 / Acc 100
Not useful outside of Double and triple battles. Even then it's not all that good.

TM95 - Back Out: Lowers Sp. Atk by 1 stage. Special / Bp 55 / Acc 100
Useless with that 45 base sp atk.

Move Sets

Weavile's Ultimate Revenge
Weavile @ Choice Band / Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Jolly / Adamant
Evs: 252 Atk / 216 Spd / Hp 40
~ Ice Shard
~ Low Kick
~ Pursuit
~ Ice Punch / Night Slash
You know the old Saying. If it aint broke don't fix it. The metagame has changed drastically around Weavile sense last gen. This set might actually be very viable this gen as it's capable of revenging Stuff like Non-Yache Ononokusu, Shandera, Sazandora, and many more.

Leading The Charge
Weavile @ Normal Gem
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Jolly
Evs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd / 4 Hp
~ Fake Out
~ Taunt
~ Low kick
~ Ice Shard
This set is mostly like the 4th gen except for a few key differences. 5th gen came with new items. The normal gem is one of these and can make for a great first turn. The set up is simple. Lead with Fake Out. Normal gem will activate which will increase the power to STAB levels making for a good first turn if you can successfully flinch your opponent. Taunt is to stop those stealth rocks that ruin your day. Low Kick is useful for taking on sturdy leads who would otherwise give this set a very hard time. Ice Shard is for STAB and priority.

Final Thoughts
Weavile didn't get much of anything this gen. A bad ability, almost no new moves, and certainly nothing viable. There were so many variables that Game Freak could've done that would've made Weavile so much better. It almost seems like Weavile is going into the grave and isn't coming out for a very long time. However, all of what I just said is pretty much just a rant. Weavile isn't useless this gen cause of some very good positives. The metagame around it has changed DRASTICALLY! Stealth rock is not as common as it once was, the metagame is VERY offensive orriented, and the pokemon that weavile would just love to check in the game have either come back from ubers or have been added to 5th gen. If people consider Weavile's positives and compare them to the negatives, you'd see that weavile just might have a chance to really change itself into a viable revenge killer.

[Don Honchkrorleone]

Great as a lead with Wicked Thief, removing Sashes, Scarfes, Lums... Can gimmickly pair with Fling if the item is not that you want.

[Murkglow]

Oh Weavile how I love thee... Both of my OU teams use Weavile as a Lead and the new ability just might make it better (though honestly I don't know if I'd get a lot of use out of it, it's still probably better then pressure).

Anyway here is the set I use:
Weavile @ Focus Sash
Ability: Pressure, Nature: Jolly
Hp 4 / Atk 252 / Spd 252
- Fake Out
- Ice Shard
- Night Slash
- Taunt

We'll have to see how it does in the future... I wonder, does Wicked Thief activate once your focus sash breaks?

[Shining Kestral]

Are you sure Wicked Thief works that way? I'm a little doubtful.

Dream World Ability: Wicked Thief: Steals the opponent's item whenever the opponent touches it.

The way this is worded, I would assume that it only activates when the opponent attacks Weavile with a contact move, not when Weavile attacks. I've tried searching but haven't seen any clarification on what the ability does. Has anyone tested it yet?

[Murkglow]

Originally Posted by Fat Shining Kestral

The way this is worded, I would assume that it only activates when the opponent attacks Weavile with a contact move, not when Weavile attacks.

It does read that way. It's be nice to get the ability tested.

[KurashiDragon]

@ Shining Kestral

That's my assumption as well. However, I'm hopeful that it's whenever weavile touches the opponent which is why I said it like that.

Edit: I made a request for someone to test Wicked thief in the research thread. I hope someone does so. I hope even more that it works the way we all want it to.

[R.B.G.]

On the revenge killer set, Choice Band is a better option.

You net all the same OHKO's that you would before, and snag a couple more, such as some Desukan (needs confirmation) and Burunkeru.

With all the new Ghost and Dragon-types, Weavile will be showing it's very well-designed self on many teams.

[KurashiDragon]

kk then R.B.G., I'll put that as an option over life orb. However, I still wanna keep life orb for versitility

[Sol64]

Can thief/wicked thief work on NPC trainers?

[KurashiDragon]

That's a question for the research thread. However I'm guessing that it can sense thief does work on NPCs in DPpTHGSS.

[Sol64]

Oh yeah, i'll post it in there
and i've tested it, it doesn't work. They took off the feature to keep the stolen item...

[KurashiDragon]

kk then.

Does anyone think weavile would function well as a swords dance sweeper? I didn't put the set up cause I feel it would be outclassed as a sweeper by the likes of pokes like ononokusu.

[-Manaphy--]

Originally Posted by Fat KurashiDragon

kk then.

Does anyone think weavile would function well as a swords dance sweeper? I didn't put the set up cause I feel it would be outclassed as a sweeper by the likes of pokes like ononokusu.

Yeah, he probably could.

Weavile @ Life Orb Pressure
252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe Jolly / Adamant
~Ice Punch / Ice Shard
~Night Slash
~Swords Dance
~Low Kick

He has pretty nice attack with good Speed, boosted further by Life Orb. Pressure is used for Low Kick and his other ability isn't too helpful here.

[Rubber Ducky]

I'm guessing Wicked Thief only works if you have no held item?

[KurashiDragon]

@Rubber Ducky

Off topic: Funny name

On Topic: My train of thought was that Wicked Thief is like Thief in that it steals the opponents item when you have no vids and when you successfully make contact with an attack. (Exactly like the move thief.)

@-Manaphy--

I know it can use a swords dance set but I was wondering if weather or not it's outclassed?

[JeffreyLebowski]

Is it just me, or does Technician compliment Weavile better? Technician @ Ankle Sweep/ Ice Shard/ Pursuit? I guess Wicked Thief is good, with all the random pokes that got Technician, i just feel GF missed an opportunity.

[Crystic]

Originally Posted by Fat JeffreyLebowski

Is it just me, or does Technician compliment Weavile better? Technician @ Ankle Sweep/ Ice Shard/ Pursuit? I guess Wicked Thief is good, with all the random pokes that got Technician, i just feel GF missed an opportunity.

No, no, Gamefreak knows exactly what they're doing. They think Mr.Mime and Kricketune are better suited to the ability. That's why they suck.

Anyway, Weavile could run a Swords Dance set and 'technically' not be outclassed since no pokemon are Dark/Ice IIRC. It could work late game altough Scizor would be better suited with better bulk, typing, teched priority, stronger stab moves, etc.

[jchen]

Originally Posted by Fat KurashiDragon

kk then.

Does anyone think weavile would function well as a swords dance sweeper? I didn't put the set up cause I feel it would be outclassed as a sweeper by the likes of pokes like ononokusu.

It really can't. Scizor and scarftran rape the shit out of it, and you'll be hard pressed to fine a team without one of those two. Not to mention it cant really kill any walls because the BP of its attacks is just so pathetic. Lucario's Close combat is almost TWICE as strong as Weavile's ice punch/night slash with both at +2.

[KurashiDragon]

I think Wicked thief applies more to flavor than competitive speaking. Technician would be good for an ability though. Still, wicked thief does do good. I'm curious to see what new sets will come from wicked thief.

jchen

Exactly. That's the kinda post I'm looking for. Weavile has nutreality or weakness' to almost every single priority out there.

[-Manaphy--]

Originally Posted by Fat KurashiDragon

I think Wicked thief applies more to flavor than competitive speaking. Technician would be good for an ability though. Still, wicked thief does do good. I'm curious to see what new sets will come from wicked thief.

jchen

Exactly. That's the kinda post I'm looking for. Weavile has nutreality or weakness' to almost every single priority out there.

Yeah, but nothing is really similar to SD Weavile. It's pretty unique. The weakness to priority sucks, but there is always Ice Shard.

[KurashiDragon]

Really..... ice shard is bitter sweet. It's able to hit dragon's well enough but apart from that it has some of the worst types to hit. Not only that but the number of types that resist and outright stop is far to much to really call ice shard anything more than situational. It would take a whole nother pokes to make swords dance viable. Unlike Infernape and scizor who've got raw power and versitility on their side, weavile doesn't have that luxury. I needs a partner far more than any swords dance sweeper.

[SJCrew]

One of the things I loved most about the Mence-less metagame of HG/SS OU was that Weavile could finally stop clinging on to Ice Shard for dear life and show off a little muscle with Ice Punch. You'd be surprised at how many Zapdos/Gliscor/Shaymin/Celebi I could now just switch in on and KO because people think all I have is that weak ass Ice Shard or Weavile isn't strong enough to do it. Wrong on both accounts.

Since Dragons and Ghosts are still around, so is Weavile. Unfortunately, it now has to tread more carefully than ever with both Scizor and the absolute abundance of Mach Punch. If by any chance it doesn't make the cut to OU, I can't even imagine what UU could possibly do to stop it (but knowing the UU playerbase as it is now, they'll just pull arguments out the wazoo and say it's fine, like the Heracross meta).

[PK Gaming]

Stealth Rock will still be common.

You can import your gen 4 pokemon into gen 5 via pokeshifter.

Since Dragons and Ghosts are still around, so is Weavile. Unfortunately, it now has to tread more carefully than ever with both Scizor and the absolute abundance of Mach Punch. If by any chance it doesn't make the cut to OU, I can't even imagine what UU could possibly do to stop it (but knowing the UU playerbase as it is now, they'll just pull arguments out the wazoo and say it's fine, like the Heracross meta).

There is no way you can assume that gen 5's UU is going to similar to gen 4's UU. UU is definetely going tocompletely change in gen 5. I think it's going to be filled with a lot of strong pokemon in this gen and it seems likely Weavile will end up there.

[KurashiDragon]

I never really got into 4th gen uu so I'm staying out of that one.

@SJcrew

That's very true. This new offensive orriented metagame is also a weakness for Weavile given it's frailty, weakness to many priority moves, the new ability, Justice Heart, and a loss of a check in Extremespeed Dragonite. (That last one is just one I made up really) However many of the Theorymon top tier threats are weak to weavile and I can see it being put on a team to check these threats. If you can play a team around Weavile I suspect you'll go far in the metagame.

@PK Gaming

Yea I already knew that but it seems as though stealth rock has diminished in the metagame. Lots of new threats have surfaced. I suspect that the begining of the metagame will be very kind to weavile with a smaller poll of stealth rock teams.

[Murkglow]

Originally Posted by Fat KurashiDragon

That's very true. This new offensive orriented metagame is also a weakness for Weavile given it's frailty, weakness to many priority moves, the new ability, Justice Heart, and a loss of a check in Extremespeed Dragonite. (That last one is just one I made up really) However many of the Theorymon top tier threats are weak to weavile and I can see it being put on a team to check these threats. If you can play a team around Weavile I suspect you'll go far in the metagame.

I don't agree with this.

Weavile was already getting OHKO'd fairly regularly so the meta is getting stronger doesn't actually hurt her that much (the difference between dead and deader is pretty small).

Justice Heart is also largely a non-issue. The fact that it doesn't give Immunity combined with Dark's relative rarity make it so only poke who don't have a better ability are going to use it. I hardly think it'll be a big problem for Weavile (though it is something to think about).

Not being able to Ice Shard Extreme Speed Dragonite anymore is annoying though.

Originally Posted by Fat KurashiDragon

Yea I already knew that but it seems as though stealth rock has diminished in the metagame. Lots of new threats have surfaced. I suspect that the begining of the metagame will be very kind to weavile with a smaller poll of stealth rock teams.

I don't think SR is going anywhere. It hasn't gotten any worse since last gen so until I see the decline in the meta myself (which is hard since there isn't really a meta yet...) I don't think I'll be counting it out.