tennisace
not quite too old for this, apparently
Hi there.
[Overview]
<p>Let's be honest here: a cute ice cream cone doesn't really look all that threatening. Maybe if Vanilluxe was a Stay-Puft marshmallow, people would be more afraid of it in battle, but unfortunately, it's stuck melting in the sun. Joking aside, Vanilluxe does have a few things going for it. Its base 110 Special Attack ranks among the top fifteen of NU, and it has passable bulk to boot. However, that's about where the list of Vanilluxe's perks ends. It has an extremely shallow movepool, and its Speed stat falls just short of base 80, the gold standard for NU. Finally, the cherry on top is the fact that Ice is unequivocally the worst defensive typing, so realistically, Vanilluxe has a hard time actually taking advantage of its bulk.</p>
[SET]
name: Autotomize
move 1: Autotomize
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Hidden Power Fighting / Hidden Power Grass
move 4: Substitute / Water Pulse
item: Leftovers / Life Orb
nature: Modest
evs: 32 HP / 252 SpA / 224 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This is the best set Vanilluxe can use in the Neverused metagame. Autotomize doubles Vanilluxe's Speed while also cutting its weight in half—which admittedly isn't all that useful. Regardless, STAB Ice Beam off of base 110 Special Attack will severely maim anything that doesn't resist it. Hidden Power Fighting provides the best single-move coverage with Ice Beam, allowing Vanilluxe to put the hurt on Normal-, Dark-, Ice-, and Rock-types that give it problems, such as Probopass. Substitute rounds out the last slot when using Hidden Power Fighting, which gives Vanilluxe a free turn to boost its Speed with Autotomize if it can force a switch, orwill protect it from a powerful blow. Alternatively, Hidden Power Grass can be used over Hidden Power Fighting in order to maim Quagsire and Alomomola while still hitting Regirock super effectively. In that case, Water Pulse is the best move to use in the last moveslot, since it rounds off the coverage with the previous two moves by hitting Camerupt and Probopass super effectively.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs given allow Vanilluxe to outspeed base 75 Pokemon with maximum Speed investment and neutral Speed natures, such as Absol, before a boost. At +2, Vanilluxe outspeeds everything up to +1 base 100 Speed Pokemon, which includes common Choice Scarf users, such as Rotom-S and Braviary. The choice between Life Orb and Leftovers is the classic argument between power and survivability. When using Substitute, Leftovers is recommended so Vanilluxe doesn't die too quickly; otherwise, use Life Orb. As for other usable moves, the only really viable option is Flash Cannon, which hits Regirock harder than Hidden Power Grass or Fighting, and also does super effective damage to Jynx, who would wall Vanilluxe otherwise and either put it to sleep or set up on it.</p>
<p>Vanilluxe needs quite a bit of support to work effectively. It has huge problems getting past bulky Water-types in general, so Pokemon that can beat them are helpful. Exeggutor and Victreebel, for example, can power through Water-types, while Vanilluxe chases away bulky Grass-and Flying-types that give them trouble. In addition, Vanilluxe has no way to boost its Special Attack, so hazard support of any sort is much appreciated. Garbodor can set up Spikes and Toxic Spikes while tanking Fighting-type attacks easily; Mesprit can set up Stealth Rock and dual screens while doing the same. Cacturne can set up Spikes while also scaring away bulky Water-types.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>You could always change your order to a banana split. Jokes aside, Vanilluxe has few tricks up its cone. The most viable set not listed is one with Rain Dance and Weather Ball, which allows Vanilluxe to be a somewhat decent support Pokemon on a weather team. Frost Breath is an option over Ice Beam on the main set if Calm Mind users such asMesprit, Jynx, and Misdreavus are problematic, but Vanilluxe will likely lose to them anyway. Taunt is somewhat usable thanks to Vanilluxe's decent Speed; it outpaces all of the common walls in the tier and can stop them from setting up. Vanilluxe has a usable base 95 Attack stat, but the only moves it can really take advantage of are Ice Shard, Icicle Spear, Explosion, and Return, as it is too fast to abuse Avalanche and it really can't take too much of a beating. Ironically, Vanilluxe's only other boosting moves are Iron Defense, Acid Armor, and Harden, which is funny because Ice is a really terrible defensive type. Finally, Vanilluxe can use Light Screen if you're desperate for a food-based team supporter.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Vanilluxe is unfortunately slow before a boost, and is outsped by many Pokemon that can either hit it super effectively, or hard enough so that Vanilluxe won't be able to KO in return. Magmortar, Sawk, Swellow, Cinccino, Tauros, and Mach Punch Gurdurr are just a few of an extremely long list of Pokemon that can outspeed and KO an unboosted Vanilluxe. After a boost, Vanilluxe becomes much harder to revenge kill, but Magmortar and Sawk in particular won't take much damage from a neutral Hidden Power.</p>
<p>As stated before, bulky Water-types are a problem for Vanilluxe, as it has a hard time getting past Alomomola and Quagsire without Hidden Power Grass. In addition, since Vanilluxe has no way to boost its Special Attack, special walls handle it very well. Miltank and Grumpig work especially well, since they both have access to Thick Fat, and Miltank in particular can heal off any damage with Milk Drink. In the same vein, Lickilicky can shrug off any attack Vanilluxe throws at it, and either phaze it with Dragon Tail or put the hurt on with Body Slam or Return. Cryogonal can't do much direct damage to Vanilluxe, butit can inflict poison with Toxic, Rapid Spin away any hazards set up by its teammates, and Recover off any damage Vanilluxe inflicts, while taking little damage from a resisted Ice Beam. Finally, SubCM versions of Mesprit and Jynx set up fairly easily on Vanilluxe, since Vanilluxe cannot boost alongside them. In fact, most SubCM Pokemon in NU—with the exception of Serperior—will beat Vanilluxe one on one.
[Dream World]
<p>Vanilluxe obtains Weak Armor from the Dream World, which in itself is a decent ability. However, because of Vanilluxe's lack of resistances, it's going to be hard to find time to not only take a hit, but retaliate strongly enough to not get 2HKOed. It also doesn't help that Weak Armor boosts one of the stats that Vanilluxe can boost on its own through Autotomize.</p>
[Overview]
<p>Let's be honest here: a cute ice cream cone doesn't really look all that threatening. Maybe if Vanilluxe was a Stay-Puft marshmallow, people would be more afraid of it in battle, but unfortunately, it's stuck melting in the sun. Joking aside, Vanilluxe does have a few things going for it. Its base 110 Special Attack ranks among the top fifteen of NU, and it has passable bulk to boot. However, that's about where the list of Vanilluxe's perks ends. It has an extremely shallow movepool, and its Speed stat falls just short of base 80, the gold standard for NU. Finally, the cherry on top is the fact that Ice is unequivocally the worst defensive typing, so realistically, Vanilluxe has a hard time actually taking advantage of its bulk.</p>
[SET]
name: Autotomize
move 1: Autotomize
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Hidden Power Fighting / Hidden Power Grass
move 4: Substitute / Water Pulse
item: Leftovers / Life Orb
nature: Modest
evs: 32 HP / 252 SpA / 224 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This is the best set Vanilluxe can use in the Neverused metagame. Autotomize doubles Vanilluxe's Speed while also cutting its weight in half—which admittedly isn't all that useful. Regardless, STAB Ice Beam off of base 110 Special Attack will severely maim anything that doesn't resist it. Hidden Power Fighting provides the best single-move coverage with Ice Beam, allowing Vanilluxe to put the hurt on Normal-, Dark-, Ice-, and Rock-types that give it problems, such as Probopass. Substitute rounds out the last slot when using Hidden Power Fighting, which gives Vanilluxe a free turn to boost its Speed with Autotomize if it can force a switch, orwill protect it from a powerful blow. Alternatively, Hidden Power Grass can be used over Hidden Power Fighting in order to maim Quagsire and Alomomola while still hitting Regirock super effectively. In that case, Water Pulse is the best move to use in the last moveslot, since it rounds off the coverage with the previous two moves by hitting Camerupt and Probopass super effectively.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs given allow Vanilluxe to outspeed base 75 Pokemon with maximum Speed investment and neutral Speed natures, such as Absol, before a boost. At +2, Vanilluxe outspeeds everything up to +1 base 100 Speed Pokemon, which includes common Choice Scarf users, such as Rotom-S and Braviary. The choice between Life Orb and Leftovers is the classic argument between power and survivability. When using Substitute, Leftovers is recommended so Vanilluxe doesn't die too quickly; otherwise, use Life Orb. As for other usable moves, the only really viable option is Flash Cannon, which hits Regirock harder than Hidden Power Grass or Fighting, and also does super effective damage to Jynx, who would wall Vanilluxe otherwise and either put it to sleep or set up on it.</p>
<p>Vanilluxe needs quite a bit of support to work effectively. It has huge problems getting past bulky Water-types in general, so Pokemon that can beat them are helpful. Exeggutor and Victreebel, for example, can power through Water-types, while Vanilluxe chases away bulky Grass-and Flying-types that give them trouble. In addition, Vanilluxe has no way to boost its Special Attack, so hazard support of any sort is much appreciated. Garbodor can set up Spikes and Toxic Spikes while tanking Fighting-type attacks easily; Mesprit can set up Stealth Rock and dual screens while doing the same. Cacturne can set up Spikes while also scaring away bulky Water-types.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>You could always change your order to a banana split. Jokes aside, Vanilluxe has few tricks up its cone. The most viable set not listed is one with Rain Dance and Weather Ball, which allows Vanilluxe to be a somewhat decent support Pokemon on a weather team. Frost Breath is an option over Ice Beam on the main set if Calm Mind users such asMesprit, Jynx, and Misdreavus are problematic, but Vanilluxe will likely lose to them anyway. Taunt is somewhat usable thanks to Vanilluxe's decent Speed; it outpaces all of the common walls in the tier and can stop them from setting up. Vanilluxe has a usable base 95 Attack stat, but the only moves it can really take advantage of are Ice Shard, Icicle Spear, Explosion, and Return, as it is too fast to abuse Avalanche and it really can't take too much of a beating. Ironically, Vanilluxe's only other boosting moves are Iron Defense, Acid Armor, and Harden, which is funny because Ice is a really terrible defensive type. Finally, Vanilluxe can use Light Screen if you're desperate for a food-based team supporter.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Vanilluxe is unfortunately slow before a boost, and is outsped by many Pokemon that can either hit it super effectively, or hard enough so that Vanilluxe won't be able to KO in return. Magmortar, Sawk, Swellow, Cinccino, Tauros, and Mach Punch Gurdurr are just a few of an extremely long list of Pokemon that can outspeed and KO an unboosted Vanilluxe. After a boost, Vanilluxe becomes much harder to revenge kill, but Magmortar and Sawk in particular won't take much damage from a neutral Hidden Power.</p>
<p>As stated before, bulky Water-types are a problem for Vanilluxe, as it has a hard time getting past Alomomola and Quagsire without Hidden Power Grass. In addition, since Vanilluxe has no way to boost its Special Attack, special walls handle it very well. Miltank and Grumpig work especially well, since they both have access to Thick Fat, and Miltank in particular can heal off any damage with Milk Drink. In the same vein, Lickilicky can shrug off any attack Vanilluxe throws at it, and either phaze it with Dragon Tail or put the hurt on with Body Slam or Return. Cryogonal can't do much direct damage to Vanilluxe, butit can inflict poison with Toxic, Rapid Spin away any hazards set up by its teammates, and Recover off any damage Vanilluxe inflicts, while taking little damage from a resisted Ice Beam. Finally, SubCM versions of Mesprit and Jynx set up fairly easily on Vanilluxe, since Vanilluxe cannot boost alongside them. In fact, most SubCM Pokemon in NU—with the exception of Serperior—will beat Vanilluxe one on one.
[Dream World]
<p>Vanilluxe obtains Weak Armor from the Dream World, which in itself is a decent ability. However, because of Vanilluxe's lack of resistances, it's going to be hard to find time to not only take a hit, but retaliate strongly enough to not get 2HKOed. It also doesn't help that Weak Armor boosts one of the stats that Vanilluxe can boost on its own through Autotomize.</p>
[Overview]
[SET]
name: Autotomize
move 1: Autotomize
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Hidden Power Fighting / Hidden Power Grass
move 4: Substitute / Water Pulse
item: Leftovers / Life Orb
nature: Modest
evs: 32 HP / 252 SpA / 224 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
- it’s a… killer ice cream cone
- really Nintendo? I got nothing.
- however it has decent all around stats, nice 110 spa, passable bulk
- trolly 79 spe means it doesn’t tie the numerous base 80 mons in NU
- movepool? Lol
- oh did I mention it’s the best defensive type ever: pure Ice
[SET]
name: Autotomize
move 1: Autotomize
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Hidden Power Fighting / Hidden Power Grass
move 4: Substitute / Water Pulse
item: Leftovers / Life Orb
nature: Modest
evs: 32 HP / 252 SpA / 224 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
- Pretty much the best set this mon can do.
- Autotomize doubles speed (and lowers weight but that doesn’t matter much at all)
- Ice Beam hits shit hard
- Hidden Power Fighting is the best single coverage move with Ice Beam, but if you opt not to use Substitute, Water Pulse + Hidden Power Grass gives better all around coverage.
- Leftovers is so you don’t die really fast with Substitute, Life Orb for more power.
- EVs outspeed Adamant max Speed Absol (and other Base 75’s), and at +2 outspeeds every single common scarfer in the tier (up to +1 Base 100’s which is like everything).
- Alternately you can max speed to outspeed basically everything but why bother, you lose power which you really need.
- Flash Cannon for Jynx over HP Fighting, also hits Regirock harder (but not Probopass)
- Vanilluxe appreciates Pokemon that scare away Bulky Water-types normally since they take neutral from Hidden Power Fighting and resist Ice, Exeggutor and other Grass-types are great partners because Vanilluxe can KO those pesky Flying-types that plague them.
- It also really appreciates hazard support, Garbodor for Toxic Spikes, Cacturne for Spikes, Mesprit for Stealth Rock. Garbodor and Mesprit in particular are nice because they can take any Close Combat in the tier for Vanilluxe like the bros they are.
- lol
- Somehow gets Rain Dance and Weather Ball, so a weather support set is somewhat viable, if you enjoy overlooking every other good Rain supporter.
- Frost Breath
- Taunt and semi-decent speed?
- Physical set off 95 base attack with Ice Shard and Explosion and Icicle Spear and Return because those are really the only viable physical moves (too fast for Avalanche in NU and you shouldn’t be taking hits)
- Acid Armor, Iron Defense, Harden are its only other boosting moves
- Light Screen if you want people to laugh at you
- did I mention it gets Ice Beam and Autotomize please use that
- Magmortar roasts it before a boost
- In fact before a boost a lot of things can KO this or at least do serious damage, such as Sawk, Swellow, Tauros, Cinccino, etc.
- Thick Fat pkmn like Miltank and Grumpig laugh at your pathetic unboosted attacks, Lickilicky thinks you look fat
- Cryogonal laughs at you because you’re the dumbest Isshu Ice-type and can Toxic or Haze or Rapid Spin in your face.
- SubCM Mesprit can set up in your face and win eventually, same with SubCM Jynx.
- Weak Armor is decent but you shouldn’t really be taking any kind of hits with Vanilluxe, and besides you have a way to raise your speed anyway. If it was a +1 boost to like SpA I would endorse this but I can’t.