[OVERVIEW]
Illumise has the ability Prankster, (AC) which helps it to pass Substitutes to its teammates, (RC) as well as annoy walls with Encore by locking them into their support moves. Although it faces competition from Volbeat as the Prankster user of choice, it is a better user of Substitute + Baton Pass because Bug Buzz is a better attack option than U-turn. Like Volbeat, however, (or some kind of transition bc the shift from "decent thing about Illumise" to "nah Illumise is bad" is kinda jarring w/o a transition) Illumise is also affected by all entry hazards and cannot function throughout the entire match. It has a hard time against offensive teams, as it is relatively frail and has difficulty setting up on even resisted hits, though it gets more room against balanced teams, (RC) and will be pivotal in letting a teammate set up and sweep.
[SET]
name: Substitute + Baton Pass
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Baton Pass
move 3: Encore
move 4: Bug Buzz
item: Leftovers
ability: Prankster
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpDef
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Prankster Substitute acts as a shield for Illumise, which and it can be passed to teammates with priority Baton Pass. Encore is used to lock the opposing Pokemon into a move that allows Illumise to set up, for example like on a Focus Blast from Raichu. Locking a Clefairy into Soft-Boiled prevents it from using Moonblast or Thunder Wave and also gives you a free turn. (that sentence might be better in Usage Tips.) Bug Buzz prevents you Illumise from being Taunt bait, and it also does relevant damage to Grumpig, which is the most notable phazer in the tier metagame. Thunder Wave can be used to slow down a setup sweeper, but it doesn't have any other specific use, nor does Illumise have room for it. Roost can be used over Bug Buzz to have for some longevity, especially on teams that lack entry hazard control, but it makes you Illumise Taunt bait with zero offensive presence.
Set Details
========
248 HP EVs are used to maximize Illumise's out the bulk while letting it being able to come in on Stealth Rock at least 4 four times. Maximum Defense EVs coupled with the a Bold nature allow it to come in on resisted physical hits like from foes such as Ground- and Fighting-types better, and then Illumise can Encore them to ease setting up. Leftovers provides passive recovery, which is good because the residual damage from resisted hits and entry hazards builds up quickly.
Usage Tips
========
Illumise should be sent in on only resisted attacks, like such as a Close Combat from a Machoke, or on a setup move such as Calm Mind from users like Calm Mind Duosion, and then Encore them to get a free turn. Walls like Lickilicky and Clefairy, after which it can lock them into their support move, or possibly even Stealth Rocks in case of Clefairy . (yeah idk what happened here, please fix it yourself. and remember that it's Stealth ROCK not rocks) When given the chance, pass Substitutes to setup sweepers like (if you're listing examples, use "such as" instead of "like". if you are using it to mean "similar to", "like" is okay. idk which you were intending, so I'll leave the two "like"s in this sentence to you to edit) Shell Smash Carracosta or Nasty Plot Raichu, (RC) or to wallbreakers like Stoutland. Sometimes Baton Pass can be used without any boosts by itself to grab momentum and bring in a slow wallbreaker. Sometimes Encore is can sometimes be very obvious, and your opponent can get a free switch if they predicted right,; (ASC) therefore, it should be used carefully.
Team Options
========
Frail setup sweepers, such as like Raichu, Simipour, and Pawniard, are excellent recipients of a Substitute and threaten common switch-ins to Illumise such as like Dodrio and Rapidash. Setup sweepers that which have trouble because of their typing, like such as Barbaracle, Carracosta, and Beartic, and wallbreakers, like such as Stoutland and Kadabra, are also good recipients of a Substitute, which allows them to as they can weaken the opposing team without worrying about status. Illumise is very quickly worn down by all forms of entry hazards, so spinners or Defoggers, such as like Armaldo and Pelipper, (AC) respectively, are instrumental in helping Illumise to do its work over a longer course of the match. As Illumise causes many switches with Encore and the teammates it brings in with Baton Pass, entry hazard setters like such as Armaldo and Roselia are good partners to Illumise, helping as they help rack up residual damage on the opposing team. Volt Switch and U-turn users, like such as Zebstrika and Monferno, pair well with Illumise, (AC) as they keep momentum in your favor.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Weather sets with Rain Dance or Sunny Day are usable, but since because a slow U-turn is preferred on such builds over Baton Pass, Volbeat is a slightly superior choice for that role chosen more often as it harder with U-Turn than Illumise. Though this makes Volbeat slightly superior, Illumise is still a fine user of the strategy, though. Toxic can be used to wear down a bulky Pokemon, as well as deter it from staying in for long, though besides that it serves no specific purpose, (AC) as Encore and Baton Pass force switches anyway. Tailwind can be used right before fainting to help the team, but it's very situational and only useful on teams consisting of slow wallbreakers,; (ASC) otherwise, (AC) Encore is almost always better.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Offensive Pressure**: Offensive pressure from Pokemon with super effective moves, like such as Dodrio and Rapidash, or strong neutral moves, like such as Ursaring, prevent Illumise from keeping its Substitute, which hinders it a lot from doing its job.
**Residual Damage**: Illumise is affected by all forms of entry hazards, (RC) and only has Leftovers for passive recovery. It's worn down even more quickly if it gets hit by Knock Off.
**Infiltrator**: Jumpluff and Ninjask can both hit it Illumise super effectively through its Substitute; Jumpluff can the Sub, or in Jumpluff's case, use Sleep Powder as well, and therefore. Therefore, passing a Substitute in front of these Pokemon is mostly rendered futile, (AC) as the receiver doesn't get in safely either. (AP)