Here we have the NU tier's version of a SunnyBeamer. Sunflora lacks the Speed and the reliable Sleep move to make it comparable to an Exeggutor in OU or Vileplume in UU. In the NU environment though, it can clean up decently late game. This is pretty much an all or nothing sweeper, so the Petaya boost is more valuable than Leftovers would be. That is also why Grasswhistle is in the last slot. Its accuracy is hard to take, but it is the only option available to get rid of your counter and keep sweeping. The EVs given are if you are Timid, as they will make you faster than Jolly Raticate and Adamant Sneasel after a Sunny Day. If you are Modest, just max Special Attack and Speed.
Sunflora has the hit points and special defense to wall pretty well in NU. This would probably be the preferred role for Sunflora as it does a better job at this than at sweeping with its large Special Attack. It makes a nice SunnyBeam counter, especially if your opponent tries to Sunny Day in front of you as you will always survive at least one Hidden Power Fire. If you have to switch in on the Sunny Day, you can just Synthesis stall until the sunlight fades. Other OptionsEncore is always worth a mention. It learns Endeavor, too, and NU is full of Quick Attackers to pair it with. Growth is an option to boost your Special Attack. Swords Dance and Curse are comedy options, but Sunflora does learn them. EVsFor the SunnyBeamer, the only real question is Timid or Modest. Modest gives you quite a boost in special attack but you will be slower than Jolly Raticate after you Sunny Day and tied with Timid Plusle / Minun if you use Hidden Power Fire as that will lower your speed IV by one. Timid allows you to outspeed everything in NU after the Sunny Day, but you may lack the power necessary. The special wall may surprise you if EVed similarly to the spread above. Modest Plusle's Hidden Power Ice is a 4HKO; likewise for a defensive Whiscash's Ice Beam. STAB Ice Beam from most Dewgong and Piloswine (200 Special Attack and below) is a 3HKO. You can go even more defensive at the expense of your attacking power, should you choose to. OpinionIf you venture outside of the NU game, you'll find it quite underpowered and unable to withstand most offense, especially on the physical side. Sunflora is definitely an overlooked Pokémon, even in Never Used, but it can be quite useful to a NU team in a couple different roles. CountersOU: Special Walls like Snorlax or Blissey will stop the SunnyBeaming set with ease. Sunflora is incredibly slow and almost any amount of OU offense will send it packing. Praying for a Grasswhistle and Leech Seeding something are pretty much the only things it could do in this metagame. UU: Vileplume will take whatever you can dish out and put you to Sleep or Sludge Bomb you. Muk cuts it off easily. Hypno walls it. Physical attacks from most things are still too much for poor Sunflora to take here. NU: Swalot will stop the SunnyBeamer cold and has Liquid Ooze for your Leech Seed. Pidgeot cannot be OHKOed at full health by anything you can dish out unless you have Hidden Power Ice and a Petaya boost and will try to come in on a predicted Razor Leaf or Sunny Day. Roselia will try to come in and Spike or Aromatherapy on the walling version and can Synthesis off your super effective Hidden Power. |
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