So I was testing some stuff out recently, and I was trying to find a Pokemon that could give me a free turn to switch in my Swellow, so I wouldn’t have to resort to Protect, allowing me to use Quick Attack or Pursuit to increase my chances of sweeping. I then remembered that Butterfree had a 97.5% accurate Sleep Powder that could easily and reliably shut down one of the opponent’s Pokemon, if only it were fast enough. Thus I came up with this set. I'm not sure if it is exactly original, but here it is.
@ Choice Scarf
Ability: Compoundeyes
EV’s: 6 Def/ 252 Spe/ 252 SAtk
Nature: Timid
- Sleep Powder
- Stun Spore
- Toxic
- Bug Buzz
When equipped with a Choice Scarf, a Timid nature and the given EV’s in speed, you will be able to outspeed almost all UU leads and put them to sleep. Here is how Butterfree deals with the most common leads in UU:
Ambipom- Takes the Fake Out and survives, then puts him to sleep since this Butterfree can outspeed base 125’s and less.
Froslass- Outspeeds and sleeps it.
Uxie- See Froslass.
Moltres- Choice Scarfed leads beat Butterfree, but non-choice scarfed are outsped and put to sleep.
Alakazam- See Froslass, also can 1HKO it with Bug Buzz. (does 97.6% - 115.1% to the average Alakazam)
Arcanine- If it uses Extremespeed, it can do some damage, but otherwise, it is outsped and slept.
Spiritomb- See Froslass.
Cloyster- See Froslass.
Snover- Haven’t faced one yet, but I assume that Butterfree can sleep it.
Electrode- It’s a huge pain, since it outspeeds Butterfree and can taunt it. However, Bug Buzz can deal 48.7% - 57.9% to it so it has a high chance to 2KO.
As you can see, Butterfree does fairly well against the top 10 leads. The only ones it really loses to are Electrode and Moltres if it is scarfed. Against Pokemon who are usually faster than Butterfree, this set provides a nasty surprise to them if they try to taunt or attack. Against slower leads however, you will have to predict whether they will keep their lead in or not, since you do not want a Honchkrow coming in for free. Against said Honchkrow, you can cripple it with Stun Spore or Toxic on the switch.
Once you have slept a Pokemon with Butterfree, you will have to switch. Later in the match however, Butterfree should have many great opportunities to come back in and spread status around. It really isn’t hard to switch Butterfree into a predicted Earthquake or a Close Combat and start spreading around the status of your choice. This helps it aid the team throughout the match rather than just in the first turns. Stealth Rock hampers it, of course, but with the proper support this thing can be a real pain for the opponent.
For the last move, I recommend Bug Buzz simply because even though Butterfree has less than decent special attack, with 252 EV’s in special attack, it deals 52% - 61.7% to any Honchkrow coming your way, which can easily dispose of it if it was already weakened before. Also, the chance to 1HKO Alakazam is great.
The EV’s for this thing are fairly simple. Just max out special attack and speed. With 252 EV’s in speed, you reach 393 speed, which speed ties with scarfed Magneton, Politoed, and Poliwrath with a + speed nature. Then, dump the remaining EV’s into defence.
