Virizion
[OVERVIEW]
Virizion stands out for its near-unique ability to check Mega Kangaskhan, Landorus-T, and Water-types in one slot. Virizion is able to check Mega Kangaskhan reliably thanks to its base 108 Speed and a powerful Close Combat. Landorus-T is manipulated by Virizion's presence, as Landorus-T gives either Virizion or Virizion's partner the ability to attack, unthreatened. Virizion's fantastic Special Defense lets it take on many special attackers without any investment, the Water-types primarily. Being a Grass-type, Virizion is immune to Rage Powder, allowing it to ignore Amoonguss's redirection, which can be useful. While it's not the primary reason for Virizion's usage, Virizion can provide decent support in Quick Guard and Taunt. Quick Guard can shut down the many priority-centered Pokemon of the VGC 2015 format, such as Thundurus, whereas Taunt can cripple support Pokemon, such as Clefable, as well as Aegislash, which is reliant on King's Shield.
The main limiting factor to Virizion's success is its mediocre attacking stats; both its Attack and Special Attack sit at base 90, which means that Virizion is reliant on its Life Orb in order to deal consistent damage. Virizion is weak to many common offensive Fire-, Ice-, Flying-, and Fairy-types primarily. This is only compounded by Virizion's poor coverage, STAB or otherwise, leaving Virizion no way to hit common Pokemon such as Aegislash, Gengar, Mega Salamence, and Amoonguss. These two factor combine to make Virizion very easy to check, even unintentionally.
[SET]
name: Physical Attacker
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Leaf Blade
move 3: Stone Edge / Quick Guard
move 4: Protect
item: Life Orb
ability: Justified
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Close Combat is Virizion's main damage output and can OHKO Mega Kangaskhan and most Steel- and Rock-types. Close Combat, being a powerful move, will deal decent damage even to neutral targets. Leaf Blade is Virizion's secondary STAB move and will deal super effective damage to Water-types, considerably denting, if not OHKOing most of them. The third slot is reserved for either Stone Edge or Quick Guard. Stone Edge lets Virizion take on Flying-types, such as Mega Charizard Y and Thundurus, patching up its mediocre coverage; however, it only has 80% accuracy and is somewhat unreliable. Quick Guard blocks all priority moves, most importantly slower Fake Outs and Talonflame's Brave Bird. Quick Guard lets Virizion provide useful team support that it otherwise lacks. Protect blocks all attacks, allowing Virizion's partner to take down a threat for Virizion.
Set Details
========
252 EVs in Attack and Speed with a Jolly nature works fine, as Virizion is primarily trying to deal damage quickly. Life Orb ensures that Virizion can pick up the OHKO on Mega Kangaskhan with Close Combat. Justified boosts Virizion's Attack by one stage when hit by a Dark-type move; this ability is highly situational, but it can be useful.
Usage Tips
========
With Quick Guard and Virizion's high Speed, it can block most Fake Outs, which makes it a good lead. By being able to stop the use of Fake Out, Virizion allows its partner to get off an attack that it otherwise wouldn't be able to. This can create a lot of momentum on turn one. Because Virizion is specific in what it checks, being Mega Kangaskhan, priority users, and Water-types, it is important to play with it conservatively until these goals have been achieved. This is to ensure that it isn't a wasted Pokemon. Being reasonably fast and strong, Virizion can clean up games with some support; Tailwind is particularly useful.
Team Options
========
Heatran is capable of beating a lot of the Pokemon that Virizion can not touch, primarily Aegislash and Amoonguss. On top of that, Heatran's ability, Flash Fire, deters the use of Heat Wave and Fire-type moves in general. Suicune can set up Tailwind for Virizion, and Tailwind makes Virizion faster than the entire unboosted metagame and faster than many Pokemon with boosted Speed. Suicune's Water typing lets it take on the Fire-types that threaten Virizion. Virizion, Heatran, and Suicune make a decent Fire / Water / Grass core together. Psychic-types, such as Latios and Mega Metagross, beat the Poison-types that threaten Virizion. Latios is also able to set up Tailwind for Virizion, and Mega Metagross threatens the Fairy-types that aim to check Virizion.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
========
Taunt is a decent support move that importantly shuts down Aegislash among others. Lum Berry and Occa Berry are two other potential items that Virizion can run. Lum Berry cures Virizion's status ailments, making it less weak to burns and paralysis. Occa Berry weakens the effective of Fire-type moves, letting Virizion attack more freely without risking being OHKOed by Fire-type moves. However, both items lower Virizion's damage output to where it can't OHKO Mega Kangaskhan. A special set could be used to avoid burns and Intimidate, but it would rely on the unreliable Focus Blast for Fighting-type coverage.
Checks and Counters
============
**Poison-types**: Mega Venusaur, Amoonguss, and Gengar all counter Virizion. Mega Venusaur can 2HKO it with Sludge Bomb, while Virizion can't do anything to it. Amoonguss can take any hit from Virizion, and it will win one on one. Gengar can burn Virizion with Will-O-Wisp or 2HKO it with Sludge Bomb, and Gengar is immune to Close Combat and resists Leaf Blade.
**Flying-types**: Mega Salamence and Talonflame can both OHKO Virizion with their respective Flying-type STAB moves. Talonflame might want to use Flare Blitz to avoid risking Quick Guard, which blocks Brave Bird. Mega Charizard can OHKO Virizion with its Fire-type STAB moves; however, Charizard must beware Stone Edge.
**Defensive Type Advantage**: Aegislash and Latios are immune to or resist both Virizion's STAB types. Latios can OHKO it with Psyshock, and Aegislash can take any hit comfortably, as it is immune to Close Combat and resists Leaf Blade, and it is able to 2HKO with little prior damage.
**Fairy-types**: Many Fairy-types are able to OHKO Virizion with their STAB moves. Sylveon and Mega Gardevoir can both OHKO it with Pixilate-boosted Hyper Voice and take any move. Togekiss can OHKO Virizion with Air Slash and resists Virizion's dual STAB. Mega Mawile has Intimidate, which weakens Virizion's attacks, and can OHKO it with Play Rough.
**Status**: Virizion is completely reliant on it Attack and its Speed, so either burning or paralyzing it can make dead weight, provided there is sufficient offensive pressure.
**Intimidate**: Virizion is reliant on its Attack stat to remain unaltered to pick up the OHKO on Mega Kangaskhan. The Attack drop can be reset by switching out, so this shouldn't be your only check to Virizion.
[OVERVIEW]
Virizion stands out for its near-unique ability to check Mega Kangaskhan, Landorus-T, and Water-types in one slot. Virizion is able to check Mega Kangaskhan reliably thanks to its base 108 Speed and a powerful Close Combat. Landorus-T is manipulated by Virizion's presence, as Landorus-T gives either Virizion or Virizion's partner the ability to attack, unthreatened. Virizion's fantastic Special Defense lets it take on many special attackers without any investment, the Water-types primarily. Being a Grass-type, Virizion is immune to Rage Powder, allowing it to ignore Amoonguss's redirection, which can be useful. While it's not the primary reason for Virizion's usage, Virizion can provide decent support in Quick Guard and Taunt. Quick Guard can shut down the many priority-centered Pokemon of the VGC 2015 format, such as Thundurus, whereas Taunt can cripple support Pokemon, such as Clefable, as well as Aegislash, which is reliant on King's Shield.
The main limiting factor to Virizion's success is its mediocre attacking stats; both its Attack and Special Attack sit at base 90, which means that Virizion is reliant on its Life Orb in order to deal consistent damage. Virizion is weak to many common offensive Fire-, Ice-, Flying-, and Fairy-types primarily. This is only compounded by Virizion's poor coverage, STAB or otherwise, leaving Virizion no way to hit common Pokemon such as Aegislash, Gengar, Mega Salamence, and Amoonguss. These two factor combine to make Virizion very easy to check, even unintentionally.
[SET]
name: Physical Attacker
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Leaf Blade
move 3: Stone Edge / Quick Guard
move 4: Protect
item: Life Orb
ability: Justified
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Close Combat is Virizion's main damage output and can OHKO Mega Kangaskhan and most Steel- and Rock-types. Close Combat, being a powerful move, will deal decent damage even to neutral targets. Leaf Blade is Virizion's secondary STAB move and will deal super effective damage to Water-types, considerably denting, if not OHKOing most of them. The third slot is reserved for either Stone Edge or Quick Guard. Stone Edge lets Virizion take on Flying-types, such as Mega Charizard Y and Thundurus, patching up its mediocre coverage; however, it only has 80% accuracy and is somewhat unreliable. Quick Guard blocks all priority moves, most importantly slower Fake Outs and Talonflame's Brave Bird. Quick Guard lets Virizion provide useful team support that it otherwise lacks. Protect blocks all attacks, allowing Virizion's partner to take down a threat for Virizion.
Set Details
========
252 EVs in Attack and Speed with a Jolly nature works fine, as Virizion is primarily trying to deal damage quickly. Life Orb ensures that Virizion can pick up the OHKO on Mega Kangaskhan with Close Combat. Justified boosts Virizion's Attack by one stage when hit by a Dark-type move; this ability is highly situational, but it can be useful.
Usage Tips
========
With Quick Guard and Virizion's high Speed, it can block most Fake Outs, which makes it a good lead. By being able to stop the use of Fake Out, Virizion allows its partner to get off an attack that it otherwise wouldn't be able to. This can create a lot of momentum on turn one. Because Virizion is specific in what it checks, being Mega Kangaskhan, priority users, and Water-types, it is important to play with it conservatively until these goals have been achieved. This is to ensure that it isn't a wasted Pokemon. Being reasonably fast and strong, Virizion can clean up games with some support; Tailwind is particularly useful.
Team Options
========
Heatran is capable of beating a lot of the Pokemon that Virizion can not touch, primarily Aegislash and Amoonguss. On top of that, Heatran's ability, Flash Fire, deters the use of Heat Wave and Fire-type moves in general. Suicune can set up Tailwind for Virizion, and Tailwind makes Virizion faster than the entire unboosted metagame and faster than many Pokemon with boosted Speed. Suicune's Water typing lets it take on the Fire-types that threaten Virizion. Virizion, Heatran, and Suicune make a decent Fire / Water / Grass core together. Psychic-types, such as Latios and Mega Metagross, beat the Poison-types that threaten Virizion. Latios is also able to set up Tailwind for Virizion, and Mega Metagross threatens the Fairy-types that aim to check Virizion.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
========
Taunt is a decent support move that importantly shuts down Aegislash among others. Lum Berry and Occa Berry are two other potential items that Virizion can run. Lum Berry cures Virizion's status ailments, making it less weak to burns and paralysis. Occa Berry weakens the effective of Fire-type moves, letting Virizion attack more freely without risking being OHKOed by Fire-type moves. However, both items lower Virizion's damage output to where it can't OHKO Mega Kangaskhan. A special set could be used to avoid burns and Intimidate, but it would rely on the unreliable Focus Blast for Fighting-type coverage.
Checks and Counters
============
**Poison-types**: Mega Venusaur, Amoonguss, and Gengar all counter Virizion. Mega Venusaur can 2HKO it with Sludge Bomb, while Virizion can't do anything to it. Amoonguss can take any hit from Virizion, and it will win one on one. Gengar can burn Virizion with Will-O-Wisp or 2HKO it with Sludge Bomb, and Gengar is immune to Close Combat and resists Leaf Blade.
**Flying-types**: Mega Salamence and Talonflame can both OHKO Virizion with their respective Flying-type STAB moves. Talonflame might want to use Flare Blitz to avoid risking Quick Guard, which blocks Brave Bird. Mega Charizard can OHKO Virizion with its Fire-type STAB moves; however, Charizard must beware Stone Edge.
**Defensive Type Advantage**: Aegislash and Latios are immune to or resist both Virizion's STAB types. Latios can OHKO it with Psyshock, and Aegislash can take any hit comfortably, as it is immune to Close Combat and resists Leaf Blade, and it is able to 2HKO with little prior damage.
**Fairy-types**: Many Fairy-types are able to OHKO Virizion with their STAB moves. Sylveon and Mega Gardevoir can both OHKO it with Pixilate-boosted Hyper Voice and take any move. Togekiss can OHKO Virizion with Air Slash and resists Virizion's dual STAB. Mega Mawile has Intimidate, which weakens Virizion's attacks, and can OHKO it with Play Rough.
**Status**: Virizion is completely reliant on it Attack and its Speed, so either burning or paralyzing it can make dead weight, provided there is sufficient offensive pressure.
**Intimidate**: Virizion is reliant on its Attack stat to remain unaltered to pick up the OHKO on Mega Kangaskhan. The Attack drop can be reset by switching out, so this shouldn't be your only check to Virizion.
Virizion
Overview
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[Pros]
########
name: Physical Attacker
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Leaf Blade
move 3: Stone Edge / Quick Guard
move 4: Protect
ability: Justified
item: Life Orb
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
nature: Jolly
Moves
========
========
========
Team Options
========
Other Options
########
Checks & Counters
########
Overview
########
[Pros]
- Checks Mega Kangaskhan, Landorus-T, and Water-types.
- Fast, 108 speed.
- Quick Guard and Taunt support.
- Close Combat strong STAB.
- Good Special bulk, alright overall bulk.
- Mediocre Attack and Special Attack stats.
- Weak to common offensive types, Fire, Ice, Flying, Fairy.
- Very limited coverage, STAB and otherwise. No way of touching Aegislash, Gengar, Latios, Mega Salamence, Amoonguss, Mega Venusaur, etc.
########
name: Physical Attacker
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Leaf Blade
move 3: Stone Edge / Quick Guard
move 4: Protect
ability: Justified
item: Life Orb
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
nature: Jolly
Moves
========
- Close Combat OHKOes Mega Kangaskhan, and most Steel- and Rock-types. Decent damage to neutral targets.
- Leaf Blade, secondary STAB hits Water-types for super effective damage.
- Quick Guard blocks priority moves, such as Brave Bird from Talonflame, etc.
- Stone Edge OHKOes Charizard Y and hit other Flying-types for super effective damage.
- Protect blocks all attacks, allowing for a threat to be taken down.
========
- Life Orb ensures that Virizion can OHKO Mega Kangaskhan.
- Jolly nature makes Virizion as fast as possible.
- Justified boosts Virizion Attack, but is very situational.Lacks a better ability.
- 252/252 spread works fine, Virizion is mainly trying to deal damage.
========
- Quick Guard can stop Fake Out, making Virizion a decent lead.
- Virizion is specific in what it checks [Kangaskhan, etc.], so it should play cautiously until it pick up the needed OHKOes or provided its Quick Guard support. Ensures that it isn't a wasted pick.
- Being reasonably fast and strong Virizion can clean up games with some support.
Team Options
========
- Heatran beats a lot of the Pokemon that Virizion can't touch, Aegislash, Amoonguss. Flash Fire deters Heat Waves and Fire-types in general.
- Suicune can provide Tailwind support, and threatens Fire-types.
- Psychic-types like Latios and Mega Metagross beat the Poison-types which threaten Virizion.
Other Options
########
- Taunt, decent support. shuts down Aegislash.
- Lum Berry cures status ailments, lower damage output to where the OHKO on Mega Kangaskhan isn't guaranteed though.
- Occa Berry, weakens Fire-type moves, same problem as Lum Berry and more niche.
- Hypothetically a special set could be used but would rely on Focus Blast for Fighting-type coverage.
Checks & Counters
########
- **Poison-types**: Mega Venusaur, Amoonguss, and Gengar all counter Virizion. Mega Venusaur can 2HKO with Sludge Bomb, Virizion can't do anything to it, same for amoonguss. Gengar can burn Virizion with Will-O-Wisp or 2HKO with Sludge Bomb, is immune to Close Combat and resists Leaf Blade.
- **Flying-types**: Mega Salamence and Talonflame can both OHKO Virizion with their respective Flying-type STAB moves. Talonflame might want to use Flare Blitz to avoid risking the Quick Guard. Mega Charizard can OHKO with its Fire-type STAB moves, be aware of the rare Stone Edge.
- **Defensive Type Advantage**: Aegislash and Latios resist Virizion's dual STAB. Latios can OHKO with Psyshock. Aegislash will win by wearing Virizion.
- **Status**: Virizion is completely reliant on it Attack and its Speed, either burning or paralyzing it can make dead weight provided there is sufficient offensive pressure.
- **Intimidate**: Virizion being reliant on its Attack stat remaining unaltered to pick up the OHKO on Mega Kangaskhan. The Attack drop can be reset by switching out. This shouldn't be your only check to Virizion.
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