Mix and Mega
Overview
Weavile has the niche of being the best Ice-type Pokemon in the metagame. Weavile can outspeed most of the metagame after it Mega Evolves and thanks to Refrigerate and its ability to use Fake Out and Feint, Weavile has the ability to outprioritize many Pokemon, such as Extreme Speed Dragonite and Zygarde. Weavile also has good offensive typing, hitting most of the metagame for neutral damage. Thus, it can force many switches when out on the field. However, as the definition of a glass cannon, Weavile doesn't have many switch-in opportunities, on account of being both extremely frail and weak to entry hazards such as Stealth Rock. Weavile tends to be held back by its poor movepool; however, due to a lack of preparation for Ice-type coverage, making it an anti-meta offensive typing, Weavile's lack of coverage often doesn't matter.
Glalitite
- Weavile @ Glalitite
- Ability: Pressure
- EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
- Jolly Nature
- - Fake Out
- - Feint
- - Return
- - Low Kick / Throat Chop
Set Comments
Moves
Fake Out is a key move for Weavile, allowing it to deal free damage on foes, as well as breaking Mimikyu's Disguise and Dragonite's Multiscale, while also allowing it to revenge kill boosted sweepers such as Dragonite and Zygarde. Feint is another great move, which allows Weavile to beat out slower Pokemon using Extreme Speed, and outprioritizes most other moves. With a refrigerate boost, Weavile's Return is a huge threat to any Pokemon that doesn't resist it and is the strongest STAB move of choice on this set. Another good move that can be used on Weavile is Low Kick, since it provides good coverage and knocks down bulky Steel-types that resist Ice-type attacks, such as Arceus-Steel, Kartana and Dialga, as well as opposing Weavile and Arceus-Rock. Finally, Throat Chop is the best Dark-type STAB move for Weavile.
Set Details
Glalitite is the only viable item you want to use on Weavile. Giving 40 Attack, 20 Speed, and Refrigerate, it transforms Weavile into a monstrously powerful revenge killer. Refrigerate, turns all of Weavile's Normal-type moves into Ice-type and gives them a 1.2x multiplier. This allows Weavile to spam a high powered Ice-type Return, as well as STAB priority in Fake Out and Feint. 252 Attack EVs allow Weavile to hit as hard as possible, while 252 Speed EVs coupled with a Jolly nature allows Weavile to hit 427 speed, outspeeding key threats such as Metagrossite Mimikyu, Pinsirite or Salamencite Dragonite, and Absolite Tapu Lele.
Usage Tips
Due to Weavile's extremely frail state and inability to usually switch in safely, it's best pivoted in and used as a revenge killer when Pokemon are weakened. Weavile's high Speed and access to high priority moves allow it to revenge kill threats such as Dragonite, Zygarde and, Hoopa-U. However, since Weavile is unable to switch-in freely, it's best to use slow pivots such as Zapdos and Scizor to get it in safely. Make sure that entry hazards, especially Stealth Rock, are off the field. Having them on the field limits Weavile's switch in opportunities to a maximum of 4. Finally, since you want to mega evolve as fast as possible with Weavile, use Fake Out to get a safe turn to do so.
Team Options
Red Orb users such as Primal Groudon, Raikou, and Togekiss make for good partners for their ability to check bulky Steel- and Water-types such as Arceus-Steel, Suicune, and Manaphy. Primal Groudon is recommended because it also does the key job of setting Stealth Rock, allowing Weavile to revenge kill more easily. Also entry hazard removers, specifically Arceus-Ground, are great team members for Weavile, as they get rid of the dreaded Stealth Rock. Arceus-Ground is recommended specifically for its ability to handle most Steel-types. Another good team member for Weavile is Venusaurite Zapdos, being able to stall out most of its weaknesses, which also works as a good slow pivot for Weavile, using Volt Switch to get it in. Other slow pivots such as Scizor are also good teammates for Weavile, weakening the opponent's Pokemon and then allowing Weavile to come in safely off of the U-turn or Volt Switch. Tapu Koko, a faster pivot, makes for a great partner because of its ability to safely check Water-types such as Suicune and Manaphy and can use Volt Switch to get out quickly. Finally, Pokemon such as Golisopod are good team members because they appreciate Weavile's revenge killing skills and ability to take down Pokemon like Dragonite and Zygarde.
Strategy Comments
Other Options
Swords Dance can be used to boost Weavile's Attack to even higher stages, but it misses out on the coverage that Throat Chop and Low Kick give it. Pursuit could be used instead to allow Weavile to trap Pokemon and net a KO or get free damage off. Double-Edge could also be used over Return; however, its recoil means that Weavile's survivability goes down even further. Finally, Knock Off is a possible option for Weavile to take off items. However, it's extremely unreliable and much, weaker since Mega Stones don't activate the 1.5x multiplier.
Checks and Counters
- Steel-type Pokemon: Steel-type Pokemon such as Celesteela, Arceus-Steel, and Magearna are good checks for Weavile, since not only do they take minimal damage from its STAB attacks, they threaten to KO back with their own STAB moves. However, most of them must be wary of Low Kick. Additionally, Celesteela doesn't usually worry about Low Kick, resists Ice-type moves with Venusaurite and threatens to KO.
- Water-type Pokemon: Water-type Pokemon such as Manaphy, Suicune, and Arceus-Water resist Weavile's attacks, allowing them to stall it out.
- Fire-type Pokemon: Fire-type Pokemon such as Red Orb Togekiss and Red Orb Raikou not only resist and easily KO Weavile with their STAB moves, but they're a prominent force in the metagame because of Red Orb giving the Fire-type to any Pokemon that wields it.
- Bulky Venusaurite Users: Any Pokemon, such as Zapdos or Celesteela, that uses Venusaurite can usually take on and KO Weavile, since Ice-type moves are its main way of dealing damage.
- Faster Pokemon: Pokemon such as Pherosoma, +1 Dragonite, Choice Scarf Xerneas, and Kartana can take advantage of Weavile's frailty and OHKO it easily with most moves.
- Bulky Pokemon: Any Pokemon, such as Arceus or Tyranitar, that can survive one of Weavile's hits and attack back can usually deal with it.
- Stealth Rock: Since Weavile is weak to Rock-type moves, Stealth Rock shortens its lifespan, limiting Weavile to a maximum of four switches. Furthermore, most Pokemon, such as Arceus-Rock and Tyranitar, that set Stealth Rock can easily beat Weavile.