Larvesta (Analysis)

metsrule158

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QC: 2/2 [Darkamber] [Diana]
GP checks: 2/2 [cosmicexplorer] [Flora]

[Overview]
<p>One look at Larvesta may tell you that it's a one-dimensional, but powerful, physical sweeper, and there's no doubt why. It has a great Attack stat and can reach up to 14 Speed, making it a viable Choice Scarf user. Larvesta has access to a variety of moves that give it perfect type coverage, such as Flare Blitz, U-turn, and Wild Charge. However, Larvesta's typing is one of the worst, if not the worst, as Stealth Rock makes it lose 50% of its health when switching in. Fortunately, its typing gives it an immunity to Will-O-Wisp and a resistance to the common Fighting-type attacks. Larvesta's defenses are usable and it has a good ability in Flame Body, allowing it to cripple its opponent before going down. Just make sure you can keep Stealth Rock off the field and you have one fierce bug in your hands.</p>

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Flare Blitz
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Wild Charge
move 4: Zen Headbutt
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Flame Body
nature: Adamant
EVs: 76 HP(SPACE)/ 236 Atk / 76 SpD / 116 Spe

[Set Comments]
<p>With a Choice Scarf, Larvesta can act as an effective revenge killer and scouter. Flare Blitz is Larvesta's strongest attack, doing huge damage to most neutral opponents. U-turn can scout the switch in while dealing damage at the same time. Wild Charge hits Mantyke really hard and OHKOes Frillish on the switch-in. Zen Headbutt is super effective against the common Mienfoo, and has a chance of landing a flinch on the opposing Pokemon.</p>

[Additional Comments]
<p>The given EVs maximize Larvesta's Attack stat and reach 14 Speed, with the rest put in bulk and HP, allowing Larvesta to switch into Stealth Rock twice. Stealth Rock completely wrecks Larvesta because it deals 50% of Larvesta's maximum health, so a Taunt Gligar will be helpful to it. With Taunt, Gligar can stop Stealth Rock from being set up. Another useful partner to use is Staryu, who resists Larvesta's Water weakness and can spin away Stealth Rock should you be unable to stop it from going up.</p>

[SET]
name: Flame Charge
move 1: Flame Charge
move 2: Flare Blitz
move 3: Bug Bite / Acrobatics
move 4: Wild Charge / Zen Headbutt
item: Life Orb / Oran Berry
ability: Flame Body
nature: Jolly
EVs: 236 Atk / 76 Def / 196 Spe

[Set Comments]
<p>The goal of this set is to raise Larvesta's great Speed stat to a higher level and sweep through weakened teams with its coverage moves. Flame Charge is the crux of this set, allowing Larvesta to deal damage and boost its Speed to 21 at the same time, outspeeding a wide majority of the metagame (excluding Choice Scarf users). Once boosted, Larvesta can devastate teams with Flare Blitz, though the recoil in conjunction with Life Orb could render Larvesta quite low in HP.Bug Bite can steal an Oran Berry to restore Larvesta's HP and deal damage simultaneously. Wild Charge is here to provide more coverage over Water-types such as Frillish.</p>

[Additional Comments]
<p>The given EVs max out Larvesta's Attack and Speed stats, while putting the rest into its Defense stat. Acrobatics is more useful if using an Oran Berry, as it hits Meditite, Mienfoo, and Scraggy for super effective damage. Once again, Taunt Gligar prevents Stealth Rock from being set up, which makes switching Larvesta in a lot less dangerous. Mantyke, unless using Swift Swim, is immune to Water-type attacks aimed at Larvesta, so it is also a great partner. Ferroseed helps by setting up entry hazards, making it easier for Larvesta to sweep.</p>

[Other Options]
<p>Larvesta's movepool includes Will-O-Wisp, Light Screen, Amnesia, and Morning Sun, but it really can't use any of them very well, as its defensive stats are not that great. Larvesta is given a ton of powerful, special attacks; however, its Attack stat is a lot better than its Special Attack stat, meaning it would be pointless to use them. Larvesta could use Calm Mind, but once again, its Special Attack stat is not great.</p>

[Checks and Counters]
<p>Stealth Rock is one of Larvesta's many fears, dealing 50% of its max HP on the switch in. Munchlax survives Flare Blitz because of Thick Fat, and easily KOs Larvesta with a STAB Return. Any Rock-type move will easily destroy Larvesta. Wooper resists Flare Blitz, is immune to Wild Charge, and can easily KO Larvesta with a STAB Waterfall or Earthquake. Gligar simply walls Larvesta's attacks and can just OHKO it with Earthquake or set up and sweep its entire team. If Houndour gets a Flash Fire boost, Larvesta is not going to be a happy camper, since it either has to switch out or try to survive one of Houndour's boosted STAB moves, both of which do major damage to this little creature. Priority users such as Dratini counter the Flame Charge set, as the recoil from Life Orb in conjunction with Larvesta's weakness to Stealth Rock makes it very susceptible to priority attacks.</p>
 
Flame Wheel AND Flare Blitz are 100% accurate moves. Don't ever use Flame Wheel - it has half the power of Flare Blitz. Not even worth a mention anywhere when Larvesta has access to Flare Blitz. Also, mention how Wild Charge destroys Frillish switch-ins (it's a good check otherwise since it resists both Flare Blitz and U-turn) and it isn't threatened by Will-o-wisp like other physical attackers might be.
 
Yes, seconding that Flame Wheel sucks horribly.

Choice Band is outclassed by LO. You're already taking horrendous amounts of recoil by using Larvesta, there's no problem in a bit more. Plus, you switch less with Life Orb. I'd like to see a Flame Charge set, which is unique for its neutrality to ground and STAB Bug Bite, which provides reliable secondary STAB that doesn't cause recoil.

Mention Acrobatics, it could be cool with Oran Berry or something to hit Meditite...or something. It's more powerful than Bug Bite when unencumbered, and gets ok coverage with fire.

Munchlax can take Flare Blitzes with Thick Fat and kills it with Return.

Rock moves kill it.

Priority would beat the Flame Charge set. Dratini, Meditite, and Carvanha are good options.

You say Carvanha counters the scarf set, but it doesn't. It is easily KO'd by U-turn or Wild Charge, and takes truckloads from Flare Blitz.

Gets Will-O-Wisp, Light Screen, Amnesia, and Morning Sun, but really can't use any of them very well.
 
What. It gets Acrobatics? That's a disturbing image lol

and yes, Carvanha will probably be OHKO'd by Life Orb Flare Blitz after a tiny bit of damage lol@base 20 defenses

Wow I completely forgot Flame Charge that needs to go in something like

[SET]
name: Flame Charge
move 1: Flame Charge
move 2: Flare Blitz
move 3: Bug Bite / U-turn / Acrobatics
move 3: Wild Charge / Zen Headbutt
item: Life Orb / Oran Berry
ability: Flame Body
nature: Jolly
EVs: 236 Atk / 76 Def / 196 Spe
 
I might slash Zen Headbutt over Wild Charge on the Flame Charge set, due to the immense popularity of eviolite fighters.

I'd also suggest removing U-Turn from that set.
 
Remove U-turn on the Flame Charge set. It wastes your boosts and makes you take even more SR damage.

Wooper resists Flare Blitz and Wild Charge and doesn't take too much from anything else, and can Waterfall/Counter/EQ you to death.

Once that's in,

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[QC 1/2]

EDIT: Don't slash ZHB over Wild Charge. Super effective ZHB does the same amount of damage as neutral STAB Flare Blitz, and all fighters but lolmakuhita are hit neutral by Flare Blitz, iirc. Meanwhile, Wild Charge is useful for Water-types, which, while rare, do exist, and do actually resist Flare Blitz and therefore kill Larvesta. Killing Archen is like a bonus.
 
thank you Darkamber for the QC stamp.
correction: Zen Headbutt is not slashed over Wild Charge for any of the sets.
 
I'm not sure why Staryu isn't listed as a teammate. Gligar won't always be able to prevent SR from going up, and spin support is incredibly useful for larvesta. Also, they have okay synergy together as far as types go.
 
On the Choice Scarf set's Zen Headbutt comment says "Zen Headbutt has a chance of landing a critical hit, meaning it will do a lot more damage."

But Zen Headbutt has an equal chance to get a critical hit as all the other moves on the set, so I'm wondering what you meant.
 
Diploman said:
On the Choice Scarf set's Zen Headbutt comment says "Zen Headbutt has a chance of landing a critical hit, meaning it will do a lot more damage."

But Zen Headbutt has an equal chance to get a critical hit as all the other moves on the set, so I'm wondering what you meant.
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Yea, it actually has a (slightly) higher chance to flinch, not to Critical.
 
Um sure I was going to stamp this a bit ago but got distracted by the goings-on in #littlecup. Larvesta did better than I expected, just move the 76 Defense EVs on the sets to HP so if you absolutely have to you can switch into Stealth Rock twice without dying.

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QC 2/2
 
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metsrule158 said:
[Overview]
<p>Larvesta can be a very strong threat if used correctly. Larvesta can be seen with has a great Attack stat if the right nature and amount of EVs are used. Larvesta and can reach up to 14 Speed, making it a viable user of a Choice Scarf. It Larvesta has been given access to a variety of moves that will hit everything for neutral damage give it perfect type coverage. However, Larvesta's typing is one of the worst, if not the worst, as Stealth Rock ruins its fun by making it lose 50% of its health on the switch in. Fortunately, its typing gives it an immunity to It is not affected by Will-O-Wisp unlike many other physical sweepers, which is a good thing and a resistance to the common Fighting-type attacks. Its Larvesta's defenses are pretty high and it has a good ability in Flame Body, which really helps it allowing it to cripple its opponent before going down.</p>

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move1: Flare Blitz
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Wild Charge
move 4: Zen Headbutt
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Flame Body
nature: Adamant
EVs: 76 HP/ 236 Atk / 76 SpD / 116 Spe

[Set Comments]
<p>Flare Blitz is Larvesta's strongest attack, especially after the STAB bonus kicks in doing huge damage to most neutral opponents. U-turn will help Larvesta switch out if there is a bad matchup can scout the switch in while dealing damage at the same time. Wild Charge hits Mantyke really hard and OHKOs Frillish on the switch-in. Zen Headbutt is super effective against the common Mienfoo, and has a chance of landing a flinch on the opposing Pokemon, which really helps Larvesta and is super-effective against Mienfoo. This set is really just to KO anything and everything that comes by Larvesta's way as quickly and cleanly as possible meant to act as a hit-and-run attacker, doing as much damage as possible all at once.</p>

[Additional Comments]
<p>The given EVs are to maximize the Larvesta's Attack stat, make the Speed stat as high as it needs to be, and reach 14 Speed, with the rest put in bulk and HP, allowing Larvesta to switch into Stealth Rock twice raise the special defense stat of Larvesta, and increasing the HP a notch so that it can switch in three times. Stealth Rock laughs at the presence of completely wrecks Larvesta because it deals 50% of Larvesta's maximum health, so a Taunt Gligar will be helpful to it, stopping Stealth Rock from being set up. Rapid Spin Staryu with Rapid Spin is the back-up for Gligar if it is KOed early in the match can spin away Stealth Rock should you be unable to stop it from going up. Carvanha counters this set, so Timburr and its Mach Punch is a good partner for Larvesta. Carvanha dies to any attack but Zen Headbutt, so I don't think this sentence it true.</p>

[SET]
name: Flame Charge
move 1: Flame Charge
move 2: Flare Blitz
move 3: Bug Bite / Acrobatics
move 4: Wild Charge / Zen Headbutt
item: Life Orb / Oran Berry
ability: Flame Body
nature: Jolly
EVs: 76 Def / 236 Atk / 196 Spe

[Set Comments]
<p>Once again, Flare Blitz deals out a ton of damage to anything it hits. Flame Charge deals out damage and raises Speed, making it very useful, as Larvesta is not a very fast Pokemon allowing Larvesta to sweep a weakened team. Bug Bite can steal an Oran Berry, which heals 10 HP, from the opposing Pokemon and deal damage at the same time. Wild Charge is simply here to provide more coverage, as it OHKOs most Water-types, including Frillish.</p>

[Additional Comments]
<p>The given EVs maxes out Larvesta's Attack and Speed stats, while the rest is going putting the rest into its Defense stat. Acrobatics is most useful if using an Oran Berry, as it hits Meditite, Mienfoo, and Scraggy for SE damage. Once again, Taunt Gligar prevents Stealth Rock from being set up, which makes switching Larvesta in a lot less dangerous. Mantyke is resistant to Water-type attacks aimed at Larvesta, which makes it a good partner as well. Ferroseed helps by setting up entry hazards, increasing the chance of Larvesta KOing more Pokemon making it easier for Larvesta to sweep.</p>

[Other Options]
<p>Larvesta's movepool LOL POOP includes Will-O-Wisp, Light Screen, Amnesia, and Morning Sun, but it really can't use any of them very well, as its defensive stats are not that great. Larvesta is given a ton of powerful, special attacks, but its Attack stat is a lot better than its Special Attack stat, meaning it would be pointless to use them. Larvesta could invest in using use Calm Mind, but once again, its Special Attack stat is not great.</p>

[Checks and Counters]
<p>Stealth Rock is one of Larvesta's many fears, dealing 50% of its max HP on the switch in. Munchlax survives Flare Blitz because of Thick Fat, and easily KOs it Larvesta with a STAB Return-. Any Rock-type move will easily get rid of Larvesta. Wooper resists Flare Blitz, is immune to Wild Charge, and can easily KO Larvestsa with a STAB Waterfall or Earthquake. Gligar simply walls Larvesta's attacks and can just use Earthquake on it or decide to set up and sweep its entire team. If Houndour gets a Flash Fire boost, Larvesta if not going to be a happy camper, since it either has to switch out, or try to survive one of Houndour's boosted STAB moves, which are both bad moves for this little creature. Priority users, like such as Dratini, counter the Flame Charge set, as it will always go first the recoil from Life Orb in conjunction with Larvesta's weakness to Stealth Rock makes it very susceptible to even weak attacks.</p>
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GP 1/2
 
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