[OVERVIEW]
Mega Venusaur, with its great bulk, can act as a great tank or wall in CAP. It is able to counter common Water-types in the metagame like Rotom-W, Krilowatt, Keldeo, Manaphy lacking Psychic, and Azumarill due to its typing. Its Poison typing also allows it to check Fairy-types like Mega Diancie and Mega Altaria, to get rid of Toxic Spikes, and hit common switch-ins like Charizard, Tomohawk, Aurumoth, and Talonflame hard with Sludge Bomb. Mega Venusaur's ability Thick Fat removes two of its prominent weaknesses, allowing it to switch into weaker Fire- and Ice-type moves. Mega Venusaur also beats common defensive walls such as Cyclohm, Pyroak, and Clefable, outspeeding and hitting the latter two super effectively with Sludge Bomb. Furthermore, Mega Venusaur's access to Synthesis lets it stay healthy throughout the match. Finally, Mega Venusaur deals with rain teams well because it is able to shrug off rain-boosted attacks like Hydro Pump and Thunder and can heal off damage with Giga Drain.
However, Mega Venusaur is weak to the ever-present Flying- and Psychic-types, like Talonflame, Tornadus-T, and Aurumoth. While its Speed is decent, it leaves Mega Venusaur outsped by many threats, including said Flying- and Psychic-types. Additionally, Mega Venusaur cannot deal with special walls aside from hitting them with Knock Off. To make things worse, it cannot hold Leftovers for passive recovery, and its Synthesis is weakened in rain and sandstorm.
[SET]
name: Offensive Tank
move 1: Synthesis
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Sludge Bomb
move 4: Hidden Power Fire / Knock Off
item: Venusaurite
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Modest
evs: 232 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 20 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Synthesis gives Mega Venusaur reliable recovery, one key factor to its effectiveness. Giga Drain hits common Water-types, 2HKOing Rotom-W, Manaphy, and Krilowatt and having a small chance to OHKO Keldeo and Azumarill; Rock-types, OHKOing Mega Diancie after Stealth Rock and OHKOing Stratagem; and Ground-types, having a chance to 2HKO Colossoil. It also provides Mega Venusaur with semi-reliable recovery. Sludge Bomb 2HKOes common switch-ins like Mega Charizard X, Aurumoth, Life Orb Tornadus-T, and Talonflame as well as 2HKOing Mega Charizard Y, Volkraken, and Tomohawk after a bit of prior damage. It also hits prominent walls hard, 2HKOing Pyroak and Cyclohm and having a chance to OHKO Clefable. Hidden Power Fire rounds out Mega Venusaur's coverage, hitting Steel-types super effectively. It has an 81% chance to knock out standard Cawmodore after Belly Drum and Sitrus Berry recovery, achieves the 2HKO on Scizor and Ferrothorn, and nets the 3HKO on Kitsunoh, Choice Scarf Jirachi, and Mega Metagross. Knock Off can be used to remove Tornadus-T's Assault Vest and Chansey's Eviolite and damages Psychic-type switch-ins like Aurumoth and Latios, but it leaves Mega Venusaur horribly walled by Cawmodore, Scizor, and Ferrothorn.
Set Details
========
20 Speed EVs let Mega Venusaur outspeed Adamant maximum Speed Azumarill before it can OHKO Mega Venusaur with a +6 Play Rough. However, only 16 Speed EVs are required to hit this benchmark if you're not using Hidden Power Fire. 252 Special Attack EVs and a Modest nature maximize Mega Venusaur's Special Attack stat, letting it pummel its foes with Giga Drain and Sludge Bomb. Running 232 HP EVs maximizes Mega Venusaur's recovery from Synthesis while also reducing damage from Stealth Rock and Spikes. Chlorophyll is used for rare circumstances where sun is up, as it doubles Mega Venusaur's Speed on the turn it Mega Evolves. Even though Chlorophyll won't see much usage, Overgrow is completely useless, as Venusaur will want to Mega Evolve before it is at low health.
Usage Tips
========
Venusaur should Mega Evolve as soon as possible, as its base forme has lower defenses and doesn't have Thick Fat. Switch into resisted hits or into moves to which Mega Venusaur is immune, such as Spore, Sleep Powder, Leech Seed, and Toxic. Use Giga Drain when Mega Venusaur needs the extra health while maintaining offensive pressure. Use Sludge Bomb if you predict the opponent to switch into a Pokemon that resists Grass, such as Charizard, Tomohawk, or Aurumoth. However, use Hidden Power Fire if it's a Steel-type switch-in, such as Ferrothorn or Scizor. Mega Venusaur does not appreciate residual damage, so it needs to avoid burns. Additionally, it can be worn down easily, especially on the switch, so try to keep its HP up at all times.
Team Options
========
Heal Bell users like Cyclohm, Clefable, and Chansey can remove burns, which otherwise wear down Mega Venusaur and compromise its bulk. Spinners such as Tomohawk and Colossoil and Defoggers such as Scizor, Latios, and Skarmory are helpful to clear entry hazards off the field, which can wear down Mega Venusaur over the course of a match. Mega Venusaur appreciates teammates that resist Flying-type moves like Cyclohm, Krilowatt, Rotom-W, Heatran, and Skarmory as well as teammates that resist or are immune to Psychic-type moves like Heatran, Skarmory, Slowbro, and Colossoil. They appreciate Mega Venusaur's resistances to Fighting-, Water-, Electric-, and Grass-type moves. Strong physical attackers like Colossoil, Azumarill, and Scizor can take out specially bulky Pokemon like Chansey. Additionally, Scizor can remove Kyurem-B, which can bypass Mega Venusaur's Thick Fat with Teravolt and threaten it with Ice Beam. Pivots like Tornadus-T, Landorus-T, Colossoil, Scizor, and Rotom-W help Mega Venusaur switch in safely to get a free turn to use Synthesis. Pursuit trappers like Bisharp, Colossoil, and Tyranitar can remove Psychic-types; in return, Mega Venusaur can tank the Fighting-, Ground-, Grass-, Water-, and Fairy-type moves aimed towards them.
[SET]
name: Defensive Tank
move 1: Synthesis
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Sludge Bomb
move 4: Hidden Power Fire / Knock Off / Leech Seed
item: Venusaurite
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Calm
evs: 248 HP / 144 Def / 96 SpD / 20 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Synthesis heals 50% of Mega Venusaur's HP, which allows it to heal after taking powerful hits. Giga Drain provides Mega Venusaur with semi-reliable recovery, 2HKOing common Water-types like Rotom-W, Keldeo, Azumarill, Manaphy, and Krilowatt; 2HKOing Rock-types like Mega Diancie and Stratagem; and 3HKOing Colossoil. Sludge Bomb is Mega Venusaur's most powerful Poison-type move and, due to the lack of Special Attack investment, is used mostly to check Fairy-types like Clefable and Sylveon and Grass-types like Necturna, Pyroak, and Breloom, as well as 3HKOing Cyclohm. Hidden Power Fire is the preferred option in the last moveslot, as it 3HKOes Leftovers Ferrothorn and 2HKOes Scizor, as well as generally hitting Steel-types hard. Knock Off is another good option, as it removes items from Mega Venusaur's switch-ins, such as Mollux's Choice Scarf, Tornadus-T's Assault Vest, and Talonflame's Sharp Beak; punishes Psychic-types like Aurumoth and Latios; and wears down opposing walls. Leech Seed is also an option to wear down checks such as Heatran and Mollux and provide extra recovery for Mega Venusaur.
Set Details
========
20 Speed EVs are needed to outspeed Adamant maximum Speed Azumarill, as it could otherwise 2HKO Mega Venusaur with a +6 Play Rough. Only 16 Speed EVs are required if not using Hidden Power Fire, though. Running 248 HP EVs maximizes Mega Venusaur's HP stat while minimizing Stealth Rock damage. 96 Special Defense EVs and a Calm nature let Mega Venusaur tank an Analytic Fire Blast followed by a non-Analytic Fire Blast from Choice Scarf Volkraken and heal off the damage taken. The 144 remaining EVs are invested into Defense to help Mega Venusaur tank physical hits better. Since Overgrow is completely useless, Chlorophyll is the preferred ability, which doubles Mega Venusaur's Speed for one turn in sun.
Usage Tips
========
Defensive Mega Venusaur acts as a great wall and pivot; it can switch in, heal off damage, and force switches for its teammates. It can easily switch into Krilowatt, Rotom-W, Azumarill, Keldeo, Manaphy lacking Psychic, and Mega Diancie and fight back with Giga Drain; Mega Venusaur can also switch into Sylveon and hit back with Sludge Bomb. Giga Drain should be used as much as possible, as Mega Venusaur needs the recovery, while Sludge Bomb is mainly used to hit a Grass-, Flying-, Dragon-, or Fairy-type. Hidden Power Fire should be used to hit a Steel-type that's switching in, unless it's Heatran.
Team Options
========
Entry hazard removers like Skarmory, Scizor, Colossoil, and Tomohawk can rid the field of Stealth Rock, which Mega Venusaur does not like; Skarmory in particular appreciates Mega Venusaur's resistance to Electric-type moves and can take on some of Mega Venusaur's weaknesses in return. Heal Bell users such as Cyclohm, Clefable, and Chansey alleviate stray burns, which wear down Mega Venusaur a lot due to its lack of passive recovery. Colossoil and other Dark-types deal with incoming Psychic-types, while Mega Venusaur can check Fighting- and Fairy-types that give them trouble. Ground-types like Colossoil and Garchomp are helpful to eliminate Heatran, one of Mega Venusaur's counters, while Mega Venusaur can absorb Grass- and Water-type moves for them. Flying-types give Mega Venusaur problems, so Cyclohm and other physical walls that resist Flying-type moves are great teammates. Pivots like Tornadus-T, Rotom-W, Colossoil, and Scizor can be used to help Mega Venusaur switch in more easily when it is low on health and needs a chance to use Synthesis safely.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Earthquake hits Heatran, Mollux, and Plasmanta super effectively, which would otherwise wall Mega Venusaur. Sleep Powder can cripple a switch-in, but Mega Venusaur has a hard time finding a moveslot for it because it would rather run its STAB moves, Hidden Power Fire as a coverage move, and Synthesis for reliable recovery. Venusaur can run a Chlorophyll sweeper set with Life Orb and Growth; in this case, Mega Charizard Y and Sunny Day Tomohawk make for great teammates. However, a Chorophyll sweeper set is not the best because Venusaur's damage output is mediocre, and it has a hard time setting up.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Flying-types**: Flying-types like Talonflame, Tomohawk, Tornadus-T, and Cawmodore annihilate Mega Venusaur with their STAB moves, although Sludge Bomb or Hidden Power Fire can damage them on the switch.
**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types like Aurumoth, Latios, Latias, and Mega Gardevoir also destroy Mega Venusaur with their STAB moves. However, Sludge Bomb can damage these Pokemon on the switch, especially Mega Gardevoir.
**Fire-types**: Despite Mega Venusaur's Thick Fat, hard-hitting STAB Fire-type attacks, such as sun-boosted Fire Blast from Mega Charizard Y, Flare Blitz from Mega Charizard X, and Fire Blast from Volkraken, can knock it down quickly, though these Pokemon should be aware of the possible Sludge Bomb or Sleep Powder when switching in. Heatran and Mollux wall Mega Venusaur unless it runs Earthquake.
**Special Walls**: Aside from Knock Off, Chansey and specially defensive Jirachi can take anything that Mega Venusaur throws at it and stall out Synthesis PP with their own recovery as well as Seismic Toss and Iron Head, respectively.
**Kyurem-B**: Teravolt nullifies Thick Fat, which makes Ice Beam super effective on Mega Venusaur. Kyurem-B can always 2HKO Mega Venusaur with Ice Beam as well as OHKO offensive variants with Stealth Rock up, while Mega Venusaur can only 3HKO it at best with Sludge Bomb.
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