[OVERVIEW]
Weavile is one the fastest Pokemon in VGC and one of the fastest Fake Out users. It has great STAB types; the combination of Dark and Ice hits many Pokemon super effectively, and not many Pokemon resist both. Weavile also has STAB Knock Off, which is great for crippling Pokemon that really need their item. Weavile can use its great coverage to deal with Pokemon that its teammates struggle with, notably being able to OHKO the most prevalent Intimidate Pokemon, Landorus-T, even at -1 with its STAB Ice-type moves. Weavile has good coverage to deal with some Steel-types, which would give it trouble otherwise. Weavile is good at preventing Trick Room from being set up, thanks to Fake Out and Knock Off hitting most setters super effectively. However, Weavile is an extremely frail Pokemon that relies on its Focus Sash, and its dreadful defensive typing doesn't help its poor bulk at all and gives it many weaknesses to common attacking types.
[SET]
name: Offensive Support
move 1: Fake Out
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Icicle Crash
move 4: Low Kick / Protect
item: Focus Sash
ability: Pressure
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Weavile is a great user of Fake Out because it outspeeds many other Pokemon with Fake Out or Quick Guard. Fake Out is very useful for giving allies a free turn. Knock Off is Weavile's go-to move; it does good damage and is useful for getting rid of a Pokemon's item. Icicle Crash hits many Pokemon super effectively and deals with big threats such as Landorus-T and Mega Salamence. Low Kick is Weavile's best option for coverage and deals with Steel-types that would normally give it trouble, such as Bisharp and Heatran. Protect can be used over Low Kick for the good utility it provides.
Set Details
========
A simple spread of maximum Attack and Speed is used to allow Weavile to hit as hard and as quickly as possible. Focus Sash is used because Weavile is frail and normally would be OHKOed by many strong Pokemon in VGC. Pressure is not a very useful ability, but it provides some utility over Pickpocket by whittling down select moves' PP; this is especially useful against moves with only 5-8 PP, such as Close Combat. Pickpocket is also generally bad because Weavile can potentially take a bad item with it, such as a Choice item.
Usage Tips
========
Weavile is used well as a lead, immediately providing Fake Out support. After using Fake Out, Weavile should be dealing as much damage as possible throughout the match. Weavile can use its good STAB coverage to knock out or weaken Pokemon that its teammates have trouble with. Knock Off should be used to cripple Pokemon that like their item, such as Choice Scarf and Sitrus Berry users. Don't be afraid to switch out Weavile when it's in a bad position, as its Fake Out support can be useful again later on in a match as well.
Team Options
========
Weavile is a good teammate for Fighting-types because it can deal with Ghost- and Psychic-types for them. Sylveon is a good teammate because it can get a free turn to use Hyper Voice with Fake Out support, while Weavile has Low Kick to deal with Steel-types that threaten Sylveon. Mega Charizard Y appreciates Weavile's ability to deal with Landorus-T so that it won't have to fear the fast Rock Slide coming its way. Mega Charizard Y also appreciates Weavile's Fake Out support so it can get free turns to use Heat Wave. Strong physical attackers, such as Kangaskhan, Terrakion, and Talonflame, also appreciate Weavile's ability to get rid of Landorus-T easily.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Life Orb is a good item option, as it boosts Weavile's damage output considerably, but losing Focus Sash is not good for Weavile because it limits its longevity. Ice Shard can be used if you want some priority, but it's very weak and fails to OHKO Landorus-T, unlike Icicle Crash. Beat Up can be used with Terrakion; this is a hard strategy to pull off but can be powerful when pulled off correctly. However, Whimsicott's Beat Up deals less damage to Terrakion, and Whimsicott also has support options for Terrakion that Weavile doesn't, such as Tailwind.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Intimidate**: Landorus-T is not a problem, but other Pokemon with Intimidate can tank Weavile's attacks and make it almost useless. Arcanine, Hitmontop, and Scrafty can all take Weavile's attacks easily and threaten it with super effective moves.
**Fighting-types**: Weavile is 4x weak to Fighting, so most Fighting-types have an easy time with Weavile. Breloom and Conkeldurr have Mach Punch to bypass Weavile's high Speed. Scrafty has Intimidate to weaken Weavile and easily take its attacks.
**Fairy-types**: Most Fairy-types can take Weavile's attacks and hit back with strong super effective moves. Clefable can redirect and tank Weavile's Knock Offs. Mawile is a hard stop to anything Weavile wants to do and even has Intimidate before Mega Evolving. Sylveon not only threatens Weavile itself, but with Pixilate Hyper Voice, it can deal a lot of damage to Weavile's partner as well.
**Steel-types**: Low Kick is not enough to deal with every Steel-type. There are many that take neutral damage from Fighting and give Weavile a lot of trouble. Mega Mawile takes anything Weavile can do and threatens it with powerful attacks. Scizor, as well as Mega Scizor, against which Knock Off doesn't receive the power boost, can attack Weavile with a priority Bullet Punch. Mega Metagross can take a Knock Off and bring Weavile to its Focus Sash or just take it out. If Weavile isn't running Low Kick, Bisharp and Heatran also become big issues, both threatening Weavile with super effective STAB moves.
**Speed Control**: Weavile relies on its great Speed to do well. Once speed control comes into play, Weavile is easy to pick off when it's getting outsped. Suicune is bulky enough to take Weavile's attacks and set up Tailwind. Trick Room gives Weavile a lot of trouble once it's active, but Weavile threatens most Trick Room setters. However, there are some setters, such as Aromatisse, which aren't afraid of Weavile. Thunder Wave is very troublesome for Weavile; even though the most common user, Thundurus, can be KOed with Icicle Crash, it has Prankster to get off a Thunder Wave before Weavile attacks. Other Pokemon with Thunder Wave, such as Clefable, can tank Weavile's attacks and paralyze it.
Weavile is one the fastest Pokemon in VGC and one of the fastest Fake Out users. It has great STAB types; the combination of Dark and Ice hits many Pokemon super effectively, and not many Pokemon resist both. Weavile also has STAB Knock Off, which is great for crippling Pokemon that really need their item. Weavile can use its great coverage to deal with Pokemon that its teammates struggle with, notably being able to OHKO the most prevalent Intimidate Pokemon, Landorus-T, even at -1 with its STAB Ice-type moves. Weavile has good coverage to deal with some Steel-types, which would give it trouble otherwise. Weavile is good at preventing Trick Room from being set up, thanks to Fake Out and Knock Off hitting most setters super effectively. However, Weavile is an extremely frail Pokemon that relies on its Focus Sash, and its dreadful defensive typing doesn't help its poor bulk at all and gives it many weaknesses to common attacking types.
[SET]
name: Offensive Support
move 1: Fake Out
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Icicle Crash
move 4: Low Kick / Protect
item: Focus Sash
ability: Pressure
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Weavile is a great user of Fake Out because it outspeeds many other Pokemon with Fake Out or Quick Guard. Fake Out is very useful for giving allies a free turn. Knock Off is Weavile's go-to move; it does good damage and is useful for getting rid of a Pokemon's item. Icicle Crash hits many Pokemon super effectively and deals with big threats such as Landorus-T and Mega Salamence. Low Kick is Weavile's best option for coverage and deals with Steel-types that would normally give it trouble, such as Bisharp and Heatran. Protect can be used over Low Kick for the good utility it provides.
Set Details
========
A simple spread of maximum Attack and Speed is used to allow Weavile to hit as hard and as quickly as possible. Focus Sash is used because Weavile is frail and normally would be OHKOed by many strong Pokemon in VGC. Pressure is not a very useful ability, but it provides some utility over Pickpocket by whittling down select moves' PP; this is especially useful against moves with only 5-8 PP, such as Close Combat. Pickpocket is also generally bad because Weavile can potentially take a bad item with it, such as a Choice item.
Usage Tips
========
Weavile is used well as a lead, immediately providing Fake Out support. After using Fake Out, Weavile should be dealing as much damage as possible throughout the match. Weavile can use its good STAB coverage to knock out or weaken Pokemon that its teammates have trouble with. Knock Off should be used to cripple Pokemon that like their item, such as Choice Scarf and Sitrus Berry users. Don't be afraid to switch out Weavile when it's in a bad position, as its Fake Out support can be useful again later on in a match as well.
Team Options
========
Weavile is a good teammate for Fighting-types because it can deal with Ghost- and Psychic-types for them. Sylveon is a good teammate because it can get a free turn to use Hyper Voice with Fake Out support, while Weavile has Low Kick to deal with Steel-types that threaten Sylveon. Mega Charizard Y appreciates Weavile's ability to deal with Landorus-T so that it won't have to fear the fast Rock Slide coming its way. Mega Charizard Y also appreciates Weavile's Fake Out support so it can get free turns to use Heat Wave. Strong physical attackers, such as Kangaskhan, Terrakion, and Talonflame, also appreciate Weavile's ability to get rid of Landorus-T easily.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Life Orb is a good item option, as it boosts Weavile's damage output considerably, but losing Focus Sash is not good for Weavile because it limits its longevity. Ice Shard can be used if you want some priority, but it's very weak and fails to OHKO Landorus-T, unlike Icicle Crash. Beat Up can be used with Terrakion; this is a hard strategy to pull off but can be powerful when pulled off correctly. However, Whimsicott's Beat Up deals less damage to Terrakion, and Whimsicott also has support options for Terrakion that Weavile doesn't, such as Tailwind.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Intimidate**: Landorus-T is not a problem, but other Pokemon with Intimidate can tank Weavile's attacks and make it almost useless. Arcanine, Hitmontop, and Scrafty can all take Weavile's attacks easily and threaten it with super effective moves.
**Fighting-types**: Weavile is 4x weak to Fighting, so most Fighting-types have an easy time with Weavile. Breloom and Conkeldurr have Mach Punch to bypass Weavile's high Speed. Scrafty has Intimidate to weaken Weavile and easily take its attacks.
**Fairy-types**: Most Fairy-types can take Weavile's attacks and hit back with strong super effective moves. Clefable can redirect and tank Weavile's Knock Offs. Mawile is a hard stop to anything Weavile wants to do and even has Intimidate before Mega Evolving. Sylveon not only threatens Weavile itself, but with Pixilate Hyper Voice, it can deal a lot of damage to Weavile's partner as well.
**Steel-types**: Low Kick is not enough to deal with every Steel-type. There are many that take neutral damage from Fighting and give Weavile a lot of trouble. Mega Mawile takes anything Weavile can do and threatens it with powerful attacks. Scizor, as well as Mega Scizor, against which Knock Off doesn't receive the power boost, can attack Weavile with a priority Bullet Punch. Mega Metagross can take a Knock Off and bring Weavile to its Focus Sash or just take it out. If Weavile isn't running Low Kick, Bisharp and Heatran also become big issues, both threatening Weavile with super effective STAB moves.
**Speed Control**: Weavile relies on its great Speed to do well. Once speed control comes into play, Weavile is easy to pick off when it's getting outsped. Suicune is bulky enough to take Weavile's attacks and set up Tailwind. Trick Room gives Weavile a lot of trouble once it's active, but Weavile threatens most Trick Room setters. However, there are some setters, such as Aromatisse, which aren't afraid of Weavile. Thunder Wave is very troublesome for Weavile; even though the most common user, Thundurus, can be KOed with Icicle Crash, it has Prankster to get off a Thunder Wave before Weavile attacks. Other Pokemon with Thunder Wave, such as Clefable, can tank Weavile's attacks and paralyze it.
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