Buneary
Normal-Type
[Overview]
- Great Speed and Attack along with a formidable offensive movepool
- A wide variety of support moves ranging from Encore to Healing Wish
- Normal typing does not provide any benefits causing Buneary to take at least neutral damage from every type other than an immunity to Ghost-type moves
- Has access to the powerful Return as STAB, while it is Normal-type hitting many Pokemon for neutral damage, it is also resisted by many common Pokemon
- With Run Away Klutz being Bunearys ability aimed more for in-game play, they are not as useful competitively
- While it may fit a variety of spots into a team, is also outclassed by a variety of other Normal-types
[SET]
name: Anti-Lead
move 1: Fake Out
move 2: Switcheroo
move 3: Return
move 4: Encore / Ice Punch
item: Flame Orb / Choice Scarf
ability: Klutz
nature: Jolly
evs: 236 Atk / 36 Def / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
- Lead set is run to high effectiveness by Buneary
- With access to Fake Out it gives an opportunity to obtain free damage and break Focus Sash or Study Pokemon
- Switcheroo is useful crippling many Pokemon, while Flame Orb gives a status to Pokemon cutting their Attack stat and dealing damage over time, Choice Scarf is useful locking Pokemon into one move and forcing them to switch out, along with that can also steal the Eviolite from many Pokemon decreasing their bulk by a hefty amount and making them easier to KO
- Return is Buneary's primary STAB, with a very high Base Power and neutral coverage on a variety of Pokemon makes it a good option but also does bait Ghost-type Pokemon who resist Normal-type moves
- Encore is useful locking Pokemon into a move, while this is aimed to be used with the Flame Orb since Choice Scarf does also lock Pokemon into moves, it is a good option supporting your team by removing many set up sweepers such as Scraggy and Murkrow
- Ice Punch is a good move, with getting useful coverage on Pokemon such as Gligar and Misdreavus who will take a Return as if it was nothing
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
- Anti-Lead set is great wreaking havoc on many of the Pokemon who may try to set up entry hazards such as Stealth Rock and Spikes right off the bat although with Gen V, the ability of switching teams according to your opponents team makes it hard to be sure of what your opponent will start off with
- The EVs and nature given bless Buneary with a high Speed stat of 18 allowing Buneary to outspeed the greater amount of total of Pokemon
- Klutz nature is a must with Flame Orb or Choice Scarf, it makes these items useless for Buneary but still are annoying to the opponent
- An Adamant nature works well to increasing power for speed but must watch out for Ghost-types as they will shut Buneary down if not running Ice Punch
- Misdreavus is a useful teammate hitting Ghost-types hard with Shadow Ball along with being immune to Fighting-type moves and in return Buneary is immune to Ghost-type moves and can cripple many bulky Pokemon that may stand in Misdreavus's way
- Slowpoke is a good teammate, with a large Defense stat and resistance to Fighting-type moves can save Buneary in many situations not to mention Regeneration and Slack Off keep it alive for a long time
- Gligar is great, with a Fighting-type resistance and access to moves like Swords Dance can switch in, take barely any damage then set up for a potential game ending sweep
- With access to moves such as Encore, Sweet Kiss and OVerhead Throw, with a few entry hazard set up teammates can be useful forcing switches all over the place
- With access to some strong moves that get some good coverage, Buneary can run a Choice Band set, or if the side affect of being unable to switch moves is unappealing, a Life Orb works too
- Buneary can also run a Choice Scarf set, even when no EVs are invested Buneary still hits 22 Speed with a Chocie Scarf outspeeding everything in the tier and most common Choice Scarf users who aim for 21 Speed. This also allows you to invest more into your offensive stats and bulk. Buneary is though outclassed by other Choice Scarf Pokemon aside from access to Switcheroo
[Checks and Counters]
- Fighting-type moves damage Buneary greatly, with below average defenses makes Buneary an easy target of Scraggy and Meditite who carry Drain Punch and will take some extra health gladly but must fear being tricked the Flame Orb as it will cut their Attack stat
- Priority users of Mach Punch and Vacuum Wave are a nuisance, going first in all cases rendering Buneary's great Speed sat null and void
- Misdreavus is a good check, immune to Normal-type moves and can retaliate with Will-O-Wisp or set up a Nasty Plot, must watch out for Choice Scarf as it will lock Misdreavus into a setup move and force to switch out
- Pawniard is a good counter resisting Normal-type and can come and set up a Swords Dance to sweep your team but must watch out for either the Flame Orb or the Choice Scarf
- Cottonee is a good counter, with access to priority Encore and Substitute will force Buneary to switch out often but must watch out for the Choice Scarf.
