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[OVERVIEW]
With its ability Pixilate and access to Hyper Voice, Sylveon scores a lot of OHKOs and 2HKOs, making it quite threatening to a wide range of Pokemon. Sylveon works fantastically as a late-game sweeper and wallbreaker, and it can fit in well with a variety of different teams and playstyles, such as Trick Room or hyper offense. While Sylveon's special bulk is solid and allows it to tank many hits from special attackers, its downfall comes with its bad Defense and Speed, as well as its weakness to common Steel-types, such as Bisharp and Aegislash.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Hyper Voice
move 2: Moonblast
move 3: Psyshock
move 4: Hidden Power Ground / Hidden Power Fire
item: Choice Specs
ability: Pixilate
nature: Modest
evs: 56 HP / 200 Def / 252 SpA
[SET DETAILS]
Moves
========
Pixilate- and STAB-boosted Hyper Voice becomes an extremely powerful spread move, and it is one of the few attacks that can go through Substitute, making it particularly useful for hitting Substitute users such as Kyurem-B. Moonblast is used as a second STAB move, as it doesn't get completely halted by Wide Guard like Hyper Voice does, and it is also slightly more powerful than Hyper Voice on a single target. Psyshock provides coverage for threatening Poison-types, such as Amoonguss and Mega Gengar. Both Hidden Power Ground and Hidden Power Fire provide coverage for Steel-types, especially Aegislash, as it is a common counter to Sylveon and can block Hyper Voice with Wide Guard. Hidden Power Ground also nearly OHKOes standard Heatran, which is a big threat to Sylveon.
Set Details
========
Choice Specs increases Sylveon's already great Special Attack, making it a very powerful and dangerous threat. Also, because Sylveon will mainly be using Hyper Voice, it does not suffer much from the inability to switch attacks. Full Special Attack investment and a Modest nature ensure as much firepower as possible. 56 HP EVs and 200 Defense EVs allow Sylveon to survive a Return from Mega Kangaskhan. Maximum HP investment is also a viable spread option, as it gives Sylveon more special bulk, giving it a chance to survive more than two rain-boosted Hydro Pumps from Ludicolo. Another alternative spread option is 176 HP / 252 SpA / 80 Spe if one plans to use Sylveon on a Tailwind team. Under Tailwind, 80 Speed EVs let Sylveon outrun base 110 Speed Pokemon such as Mega Diancie. A Quiet nature and 0 Speed IVs should be used if Sylveon is being used on a Trick Room team. Even if you aren't using Sylveon on a Tailwind or Trick Room team, you still might want to consider a Quiet nature and 0 Speed IVs in order to Speed tie with opposing Sylveon in Trick Room.
Usage Tips
========
Sylveon will be using Hyper Voice 99 percent of the time; however, it should not use Hyper Voice if it is in a 1v1 situation against a Pokemon that is weak to one of its coverage attacks or when it's facing a Wide Guard user. In fact, Sylveon should only be brought onto the field if Hyper Voice threatens most of the opposing Pokemon, as Sylveon's coverage options are pitifully weaker. Threats that tank Hyper Voice should be removed by Sylveon's teammates before you bring it onto the field, allowing Sylveon to spam Hyper Voice and demolish entire teams with ease, but this is not always practical. Instead, Sylveon can be used early-game to force opponents to switch in Steel-types, pivot out, and then return later when the Steel-types can no longer switch in safely. Sylveon should also avoid switching into hits due to its low Defense, but if the opponent has two special attackers, barring Heatran and Aegislash, on the field, such as Rotom-W and Cresselia, Sylveon might be able to come in freely.
Team Options
========
Sylveon pairs well with Fire- and Fighting-types, such as Heatran, Mega Charizard Y, Talonflame, Scrafty, and, when on a Trick Room team, Conkeldurr, to keep Steel-types at bay. Ground-types, such as Landorus and Mamoswine, pair best with Sylveon, as they hit all of the types that resist its Hyper Voice for super effective damage. Landorus and Mamoswine also threaten Amoonguss, which is a threat to Sylveon. Fake Out users such as Mega Kangaskhan and Hitmontop can also immobilize active Pokemon that threaten Sylveon, as well as help it get a guaranteed Hyper Voice by taking out Wide Guard users. Due to Sylveon's low Defense, Intimidate Pokemon and Will-O-Wisp users such as Scrafty and Sableye, respectively, are good partners to weaken physical attackers that threaten it. Sylveon also pairs up well with users of redirecting moves, such as Amoonguss, as they can help divert away powerful hits, leaving Sylveon free to spam Hyper Voice. Trick Room and Tailwind users such as Cresselia and Suicune, respectively, are good teammates for Sylveon. Cresselia is especially great with Helping Hand support to make Hyper Voice even more powerful.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Shadow Ball can be used over Psyshock, Hidden Power Ground, or Hidden Power Fire, as it is Sylveon's best attack for hitting Aegislash, but it's typically not worth sacrificing a moveslot for. Life Orb and Pixie Plate are alternative items for Sylveon if you want to switch between attacks or run other support options such as Protect, Helping Hand, and Calm Mind. However, not running Choice Specs makes Sylveon's attacks a lot weaker, often to the point where it ceases to be threatening due to its low Speed. Sylveon can also run an offensive Calm Mind set with Leftovers, though its poor Defense doesn't allow it to set up easily without teammates with things such as redirection support. Baton Pass can also be used on the Choice Specs set as a means of reliably escaping from Shadow Tag users that check Sylveon, but it's very niche and is generally not worth sacrificing a moveslot for. Lastly, Hyper Beam hits extremely hard and can OHKO Mega Kangskhan, but having to recharge every other turn devastates Sylveon.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Typing Advantage**: Anything that resists Hyper Voice is unafraid of Sylveon. Steel-types, such as Mega Metagross, Bisharp, and Aegislash, are everywhere in Doubles OU, and they can completely ruin Sylveon. However, they should watch out for Hidden Power Ground and Hidden Power Fire. Bisharp can also be OHKOed by Hyper Voice. Mega Gengar and Venusaur also threaten Sylveon with their Poison-type STAB moves, and Amoonguss threatens Sylveon with Spore. All of these Pokemon, however, should watch out for Psyshock. Mega Charizard Y and Volcarona have the bulk and Fairy-type resistance to tank Sylveon's attacks, and Mega Charizard Y can 2HKO it in return and Volcarona can set up on it with Quiver Dance. Heatran is also concerning, as it has a 4x resistance to Fairy-type moves and access to the powerful Flash Cannon; however, it should watch out for Hidden Power Ground.
**Strong Physical Attackers**: Physical attackers that can tank a Hyper Voice and hit hard, such as Mega Kangaskhan and Azumarill, can typically take Sylveon out, . Mega Kangaskhan is also almost guaranteed to OHKO Sylveon with an Adamant nature and Double-Edge.
**Utility**: Wide Guard users such as Hitmontop and Aegislash completely halt Sylveon when it's locked into Hyper Voice.
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