Jolteon
QC: 3/3 (atomicllamas, 49, Arikado)
GP: 2/2 (The Dutch Plumberjack, Muk)
[OVERVIEW]
With a blistering base 130 Speed, Jolteon outspeeds the entire unboosted RU metagame. In combination with its respectable base 110 Special Attack, this makes Jolteon a great choice for any team desiring a late-game cleaner and revenge killer. Volt Absorb allows Jolteon to block Volt Switch, making it a great tool to kill off opposing momentum. Alternatively, Jolteon can utilize Substitute along with Baton Pass and Wish to become an incredible momentum grabber and the only offensive Wish passer in all of Pokemon. On the downside, base 110 Special Attack is good but not great, so dedicated special walls give Jolteon a hard time. It is also extremely frail both physically and specially, making it vulnerable to revenge killing from priority attackers and Choice Scarf users. Nonetheless, Jolteon's offensive versatility means it is worthy of a spot on nearly any offensive or balanced team.
[SET]
name: SubPass
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Baton Pass
move 3: Thunderbolt
move 4: Wish / Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Grass
item: Leftovers
ability: Volt Absorb
nature: Timid
evs: 80 HP / 252 SpA / 176 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Substitute sets up a shield for Jolteon and its teammates against weak attacks and status moves. Baton Pass allows Jolteon to pivot around and give its Substitute to a teammate. Thunderbolt prevents Jolteon from being Taunt bait; the move is also used to scare out Water- and Flying-types such as Alomomola and Fletchinder. It's also a good move for sweeping in general thanks to Jolteon's decent Special Attack and blazing Speed. Wish further cements Jolteon's role as an offensive supporter by restoring a teammate's health. The move can also be used to heal off Substitute damage. Alternatively, Hidden Power Ice nails Flygon and Grass-types, both of which are common switch-ins to Jolteon, while Hidden Power Grass lets Jolteon do something against Rhyperior, Seismitoad, Gastrodon, and Lanturn. Heal Bell is another option for Jolteon to further support its team.
Set Details
========
176 Speed EVs and a Timid nature are enough to outspeed Jolly Dugtrio, allowing Jolteon to Baton Pass out of a matchup with Dugtrio before getting hit with Earthquake. 80 HP EVs are just enough to avoid the OHKO from +2 Fletchinder's Acrobatics after Stealth Rock and Adamant Drapion's Knock Off. The remaining 252 EVs go into Special Attack to maximize the power of Jolteon's attacks. Volt Absorb lets Jolteon switch into stray Electric-type attacks and block Volt Switch. Leftovers gives Jolteon passive recovery, making it less reliant on Wish and allowing it to set up Substitute several times in the battle if it needs to.
Usage Tips
========
This set should be used on offensive teams as an early- and mid-game momentum grabber. Bring Jolteon in against Pokemon that it forces out, and then set up Substitute on the predicted switch. However, don't switch Jolteon directly into the foe; its frailty along with Substitute damage will cause it to be worn down quickly. Jolteon is the only offensive Wish passer in the entire metagame, allowing it to maintain momentum for the team. After setting up a Substitute, pick off the opposing wall with Thunderbolt or use Wish to heal an offensive teammate that has been worn down. Alternatively, simply use Wish instead of Substitute as the foe switches should the situation call for it. If running Hidden Power Grass, use it to hit Rhyperior on the switch so that Jolteon does not get phazed, and if running Hidden Power Ice, be sure to utilize its ability to surprise Flygon on the switch.
Team Options
========
You need teammates that Jolteon can support and that have good synergy with Jolteon. Mega Glalie enjoys Jolteon's Wish support to heal off Stealth Rock damage and takes on the Ground- and Grass-types that Jolteon struggles against. Other physical attackers that can break down Grass-types include Druddigon, Escavalier, Emboar, and Fletchinder. Grass-types such as Virizion and Rotom-C can smash Seismitoad, Rhyperior, and Gastrodon should Jolteon lack Hidden Power Grass.
[SET]
name: All-Out Attacker
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Signal Beam
move 3: Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Grass
move 4: Volt Switch
item: Life Orb / Choice Specs
ability: Volt Absorb
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS
Moves
========
Thunderbolt is Jolteon's reliable STAB attack, dealing massive damage to Pokemon such as Qwilfish, Fletchinder, and Alomomola. Signal Beam allows Jolteon to take on the Grass-types that resist Thunderbolt, such as Rotom-C; it also sees use against Malamar. Hidden Power Ice hits Flygon, Amoonguss, and Virizion super effectively, all of which are common switch-ins to Jolteon. Hidden Power Grass can be used instead to hit Gastrodon, Quagsire, Seismitoad, and Rhyperior. Volt Switch allows Jolteon to bail out of a bad matchup and maintain momentum for your team. Charge Beam can be used instead to discourage opponents from sacrificing their Pokemon to Jolteon. Hidden Power Water is also an option to hit Ground-types hard, particularly Mega Steelix and Mega Camerupt; the move also retains coverage against Rhyperior.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack and Speed investment allows Jolteon to hit as hard and as quickly as possible. A Timid nature is necessary to Speed tie with opposing Jolteon so that your own Jolteon can finish off a weakened one. Volt Absorb lets Jolteon switch into stray Electric-type attacks and block Volt Switch. Life Orb increases Jolteon's damage output without forcing it to change moves, though Choice Specs can be used if Life Orb's recoil damage is unappealing. However, because specially defensive Pokemon give Jolteon a hard time, locking it into a single move can be detrimental.
Usage Tips
========
Jolteon should only enter the battlefield on a free switch or a predicted Electric-type attack, particularly a Choice-locked one from the likes of Rotom-C and Magneton. With Life Orb, this set is best used as a mid-game revenge killer and a late-game cleaner. With Choice Specs, however, this set fulfills the role of a powerful early- and mid-game wallbreaker. If the opponent has a Pokemon that is immune to Electric, be sure to take it out early on in the match so that Jolteon can freely spam Volt Switch. When revenge killing a foe, try to KO it with Volt Switch in order to maintain momentum. If the opponent switches Pokemon, use Volt Switch to bring in a response to the opponent's Jolteon check. You can also attempt to hit the switch-in with the appropriate coverage move, which is especially important when trying to surprise Flygon with Hidden Power Ice.
Team Options
========
Jolteon pairs well with VoltTurn staples such as Rotom-C, Meloetta, Braviary, and Eelektross, as it is adept at wearing down foes and maintaining momentum for your team. Dedicated wallbreakers such as Mega Glalie and Tyrantrum can break down bulky Pokemon, paving the way for Jolteon to switch in and clean up. Hitmonlee can also break special walls and provide Rapid Spin support, preventing Jolteon from being worn down as easily. Fire-types such as Houndoom, Mega Camerupt, and Emboar appreciate Jolteon's ability to smash Water-types, particularly Alomomola. Fire-types can also destroy Bug-neutral Grass-types such as Virizion and Amoonguss; however, Houndoom loses to Virizion. Entry hazard support is necessary to inflict passive damage on opposing walls, giving Jolteon an easier time cleaning them up. Druddigon is a great Stealth Rock setter because it can take on the Steel- and Grass-types that wall Jolteon, while Jolteon beats the physical walls that Druddigon cannot break.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Shadow Ball can be used to hit Ghost- and Psychic-types hard, though Jolteon typically prefers its other coverage moves. Heal Bell can work on the offensive set to help Jolteon clear its team of status ailments if need be. Rain Dance allows Jolteon to function as an offensive supporter; Jolteon can also take advantage of rain itself by using Thunder and Hidden Power Water. Jolteon can Baton Pass stat-boosting moves such as Work Up, Agility, and Charge Beam to its teammates, but it would typically rather pass Wishes to them. Moreover, Jolteon's frailty gives it a difficult time passing stat boosts. Roar allows Jolteon to phaze special walls that try to heal themselves with Wish.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Revenge Killers**: Due to Jolteon's frailty and vulnerability to being worn down, priority attackers such as Fletchinder and Hitmonlee as well as Choice Scarf users such as Tyrantrum and Mesprit can pick it off easily.
**Pokemon that Resist or are Immune to Electric**: Grass-types such as Tangrowth, Amoonguss, and Virizion can switch into Jolteon's Electric-type attacks; Amoonguss and Virizion are also neutral to Signal Beam, forcing Jolteon out. Ground-types such as Mega Steelix, Mega Camerupt, Flygon, Dugtrio, Rhyperior, and Seismitoad block Jolteon's STAB attacks completely, though they must be careful of whatever Hidden Power type Jolteon is running.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Dedicated special tanks such as Registeel, Uxie, Meloetta, Druddigon, and Escavalier take pitiful damage from most of Jolteon's attacks, easily forcing it to exit the battlefield. Fortunately, Jolteon can still use Volt Switch and Baton Pass to maintain momentum against opposing walls.
**Passive Damage**: If running Life Orb, Jolteon is vulnerable to being worn down rapidly. Even without Life Orb, repeated switching into Stealth Rock and Spikes, as well as burn and poison damage, will quickly take its toll on Jolteon.
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