[OVERVIEW]
Vileplume is one of the premier physical walls in the NU tier. Its Grass / Poison typing allows it to resist common Fighting- and Water-type attacks from Mienshao, Lucario, and Basculegion. Vileplume excels in punishing foes for making contact, dealing damage with Rocky Helmet and spreading status with Effect Spore. Despite being a wall, Vileplume isn't completely passive; with Giga Drain and Sludge Bomb, it can threaten serious damage on Vaporeon, Sylveon, and Avalugg, and Vileplume can potentially poison foes with the latter. Leech Seed and Strength Sap further Vileplume's longevity and weaken checks like Registeel and Alolan Muk. Special wallbreakers like Dragalge, Chandelure, and Porygon-Z can easily overwhelm Vileplume. Defensive Steel-types such as Copperajah and Klefki that resist both of Vileplume's STAB moves wall it well but risk being worn down by Leech Seed.
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Sludge Bomb
move 2: Giga Drain / Stun Spore
move 3: Leech Seed
move 4: Strength Sap
item: Rocky Helmet / Leftovers
ability: Effect Spore
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe
tera type: Water / Fairy
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Giga Drain hits offensive Ground-types like Swampert and Flygon that resist Sludge Bomb. However, Stun Spore can be run instead for extra utility, allowing Vileplume to spread paralysis for teammates. Leech Seed allows Vileplume to make progress against special walls like Registeel, Cresselia, and Dragalge. Effect Spore and Rocky Helmet can punish U-turn pivots like Mienshao and Flygon and other contact attackers like Lucario and Basculegion. Leftovers can be used to keep it from being too passive and having to heal up as often. Tera Water is used to resist Fire- and Ice-type attacks in a pinch from Chandelure, Mienshao, and Cloyster; on the other hand, Tera Fairy removes its weaknesses, notably to Fire and Psychic, while improving its matchup versus Fighting-types like Mienshao, Gallade, and Infernape.
Defensive Steel-types like Copperajah and Registeel wall Vileplume's STAB moves, so Fighting-types like Mienshao and Gallade and Fire-types like Chandelure and Infernape pair well with it. Vileplume also needs support from more specially defensive teammates to take on special wallbreakers like Dragalge, Chandelure, and Inteleon. Options like Registeel, Incineroar, and Milotic can resist these wallbreakers' strong special attacks. Psychic-types like Assault Vest Gallade and Cresselia and Dark-types like Brute Bonnet and Alolan Muk also support Vileplume, helping it against Psychic-type threats like Munkidori, Indeedee-F, and Gallade. Powerful Fire-types like Infernape, Incineroar, Chandelure, and Hisuian Typhlosion also pose a threat to Vileplume, so teammates like Vaporeon, Swampert, and Diancie help it handle these threats.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Growth can be used over Leech Seed, allowing Vileplume to take advantage of bulkier Pokemon that can't threaten it like Alolan Muk and Brute Bonnet, but losing out on Leech Seed means Vileplume can't take on or chip away at Steel-type checks like Registeel and Klefki. Heavy-Duty Boots can be used to ignore entry hazards and to decrease passivity by not needing to heal as often, but the sheer punishment of Rocky Helmet or healing of Leftovers is usually preferred. This value is often not seen long-term, as Vileplume is often tasked with taking Knock Off repeatedly.
Checks and Counters
====
**Special Wallbreakers**: Special wallbreakers like Chandelure, Munkidori, and Porygon-Z can all easily beat Vileplume down with their powerful super effective and even neutral attacks.
**Tentacruel**: Tentacruel's Liquid Ooze poses a unique threat to Vileplume, which cannot meaningfully damage it with Giga Drain or Sludge Bomb. Liquid Ooze prevents Leech Seed from healing Vileplume and threatens to OHKO Vileplume if it attempts to use Strength Sap.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hammer798.641404/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/powerofmemes.583607/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/stories.400664/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adorluigi.528364/
Vileplume is one of the premier physical walls in the NU tier. Its Grass / Poison typing allows it to resist common Fighting- and Water-type attacks from Mienshao, Lucario, and Basculegion. Vileplume excels in punishing foes for making contact, dealing damage with Rocky Helmet and spreading status with Effect Spore. Despite being a wall, Vileplume isn't completely passive; with Giga Drain and Sludge Bomb, it can threaten serious damage on Vaporeon, Sylveon, and Avalugg, and Vileplume can potentially poison foes with the latter. Leech Seed and Strength Sap further Vileplume's longevity and weaken checks like Registeel and Alolan Muk. Special wallbreakers like Dragalge, Chandelure, and Porygon-Z can easily overwhelm Vileplume. Defensive Steel-types such as Copperajah and Klefki that resist both of Vileplume's STAB moves wall it well but risk being worn down by Leech Seed.
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Sludge Bomb
move 2: Giga Drain / Stun Spore
move 3: Leech Seed
move 4: Strength Sap
item: Rocky Helmet / Leftovers
ability: Effect Spore
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe
tera type: Water / Fairy
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Giga Drain hits offensive Ground-types like Swampert and Flygon that resist Sludge Bomb. However, Stun Spore can be run instead for extra utility, allowing Vileplume to spread paralysis for teammates. Leech Seed allows Vileplume to make progress against special walls like Registeel, Cresselia, and Dragalge. Effect Spore and Rocky Helmet can punish U-turn pivots like Mienshao and Flygon and other contact attackers like Lucario and Basculegion. Leftovers can be used to keep it from being too passive and having to heal up as often. Tera Water is used to resist Fire- and Ice-type attacks in a pinch from Chandelure, Mienshao, and Cloyster; on the other hand, Tera Fairy removes its weaknesses, notably to Fire and Psychic, while improving its matchup versus Fighting-types like Mienshao, Gallade, and Infernape.
Defensive Steel-types like Copperajah and Registeel wall Vileplume's STAB moves, so Fighting-types like Mienshao and Gallade and Fire-types like Chandelure and Infernape pair well with it. Vileplume also needs support from more specially defensive teammates to take on special wallbreakers like Dragalge, Chandelure, and Inteleon. Options like Registeel, Incineroar, and Milotic can resist these wallbreakers' strong special attacks. Psychic-types like Assault Vest Gallade and Cresselia and Dark-types like Brute Bonnet and Alolan Muk also support Vileplume, helping it against Psychic-type threats like Munkidori, Indeedee-F, and Gallade. Powerful Fire-types like Infernape, Incineroar, Chandelure, and Hisuian Typhlosion also pose a threat to Vileplume, so teammates like Vaporeon, Swampert, and Diancie help it handle these threats.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Growth can be used over Leech Seed, allowing Vileplume to take advantage of bulkier Pokemon that can't threaten it like Alolan Muk and Brute Bonnet, but losing out on Leech Seed means Vileplume can't take on or chip away at Steel-type checks like Registeel and Klefki. Heavy-Duty Boots can be used to ignore entry hazards and to decrease passivity by not needing to heal as often, but the sheer punishment of Rocky Helmet or healing of Leftovers is usually preferred. This value is often not seen long-term, as Vileplume is often tasked with taking Knock Off repeatedly.
Checks and Counters
====
**Special Wallbreakers**: Special wallbreakers like Chandelure, Munkidori, and Porygon-Z can all easily beat Vileplume down with their powerful super effective and even neutral attacks.
**Tentacruel**: Tentacruel's Liquid Ooze poses a unique threat to Vileplume, which cannot meaningfully damage it with Giga Drain or Sludge Bomb. Liquid Ooze prevents Leech Seed from healing Vileplume and threatens to OHKO Vileplume if it attempts to use Strength Sap.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hammer798.641404/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/powerofmemes.583607/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/stories.400664/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adorluigi.528364/
Last edited: