[SET]
Quiver Dance Sweeper (Volcarona) @ Covert Cloak / Grassy Seed / Leftovers
Ability: Flame Body
Level: 50
Tera Type: Fairy / Grass
EVs: 252 HP / 140 Def / 4 SpA / 4 SpD / 108 Spe OR 252 HP / 60 Def / 36 SpA / 4 SpD / 156 Spe
Timid / Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Heat Wave
- Tera Blast / Giga Drain
- Quiver Dance
- Protect
[SET COMMENTS]
- Volcarona acts as a dangerous setup sweeper through Quiver Dance, which allows it to accumulate boosts and sweep games. Volcarona has great coverage, such as Giga Drain, to hit Pokemon its STAB attacks would be unable to. Through Terastallization Volcarona can threaten its checks and counters while improving its survivability. Volcarona provides invaluable Fire-type STAB as it threatens popular Grass-, Steel-, and Ice-types in the format such as Gholdengo, Rillaboom, and Alolan Ninetales.
- Heat Wave is Volcarona's primary STAB option which allows it to get around redirection from the likes of Electabuzz, Maushold, and Amoonguss. Tera Fairy Blast allows Volcarona to damage Dragon-types such as Garchomp and Dragonite. Giga Drain on Tera Grass sets improve Volcarona's survivability through higher recovery from Giga Drain, and hits Water- and Ground-types such as Basculegion-M and both Ursaluna formes respectively.
- Covert Cloak allows Volcarona to ignore secondary effects from moves such as Fake Out from Incineroar and Rillaboom, Icy Wind from Alolan Ninetales, and Snarl from Archaludon and Hydreigon which would otherwise hinder its ability to set up and sweep. Grassy Seed helps Volcarona tank physical hits, however this leaves Volcarona vulnerable to the aforementioned moves and is reliant on Grassy Terrain from Pokemon such as Rillaboom to improve Volcarona's poor Physical Defense. Leftovers provides passive healing, which in combination with Grassy Terrain and Giga Drain recovery allows Volcarona to survive for many turns throughout a match to allow Volcarona to set up multiple Quiver Dances.
- Tera Fairy allows Volcarona to gain an immunity to Dragon-type attacks such as Scale Shot from Dragonite, while providing a good defensive typing that importantly maintains its Fighting-Type resistance to Sneasler's and Annihilape's Fighting-type STAB. However, it introduces new weaknesses to Poison- and Steel-type moves such as Sneasler's Dire Claw and Gholdengo's Make It Rain respectively. Tera Grass allows Volcarona to gain a resistance to Water- and Electric-type attacks such as Wave Crash from Basculegion-M, and Electro Shot from Archaludon, allowing Giga Drain to turn from a 2HKO on Basculegion-M to an OHKO at +1, and granting an immunity to powder moves from Pokemon such as Amoonguss and Jumpluff. However, it retains Volcarona's weakness to Flying-type attacks such as from Pelipper's Hurricane and Kilowattrel's Air Slash.
- The first EV spread is used on Covert Cloak and Leftovers sets, with the allocated bulk allowing Volcarona to always survive Adamant Sneasler's Fake Out in combination with 5 hit Scale Shot from Adamant Dragonite. With minimal Special Defense investment Volcarona always survives a Blood Moon from Modest Tera Normal Life Orb Ursaluna Bloodmoon after a Quiver Dance boost. With a Modest Nature Volcarona can outspeed Adamant Dragonite, with Timid Volcarona can outspeed Jolly Swift Swim Basculegion-M in rain at +2. The second EV spread is used on Grassy Seed sets which invest less in Defense due to the Grassy Seed boost. With the HP and Defense EV's, Volcarona can always survive an Adamant Guts boosted Facade from Ursaluna after an Intimidate. With the Speed EV's and a Timid nature, Volcarona can always outspeed Gholdengo and Archaludon, whilst with a Modest nature Volcarona can outspeed Adamant Dragonite and outspeed max Speed Modest Ursaluna-Bloodmoon in Tailwind after a Quiver Dance. 36 Special Attack with a Modest nature almost always ensures an OHKO on Kingambit with Heat Wave at +1.
- Quiver Dance Volcarona can accumulate many boosts leading to it sweeping entire teams, however it requires multiple turns of set up leaving it vulnerable to status moves such as Spore and Encore which can prevent it from sweeping. Volcarona can often be forced to Terastallize or switch out due to its poor Defensive-typing which can be utilized by foes to create pins against it or gain momentum by forcing Volcarona to switch-out. Quiver Dance Volcarona prefers to stay in the field for long times and is often led with supportive Pokemon to set up Quiver Dances or kept in the back to set up and sweep a weakened team. Quiver Dance Volcarona invests less in Speed in favor of bulk leaving it vulnerable to faster foes such as Sneasler and Annihilape. On the contrary support Volcarona aids powerful Pokemon such as Ursaluna-Bloodmoon and Archaludon through redirection and speed control from Rage Powder and Tailwind respectively, while lacking the damage output Quiver Dance Volcarona has. Support Volcarona can either be switched in to take Grass- and Fighting-type attacks or be led to set up speed control immediately and then switched out to provide support later. Support Volcarona invests much more in Speed to ensure it can always set up tailwind first in front of Pokemon such as Annihilape and Hisuian Typhlosion.
Bulky Redirector (Volcarona) @ Sitrus Berry / Safety Goggles
Ability: Flame Body
Level: 50
Tera Type: Water / Grass
EVs: 156 HP / 84 Def / 12 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Overheat / Heat Wave
- Struggle Bug
- Rage Powder
- Tailwind
[SET COMMENTS]
- Volcarona acts as a great support Pokemon thanks to its access to redirection, speed control, damage negation, its ability Flame Body discouraging Pokemon from hitting it with contact moves, and a STAB move that threatens many common Steel-, Grass-, and Ice-type Pokemon in the format such as Gholdengo, Rillaboom and Alolan Ninetales.
- Overheat allows Volcarona to deal a big burst of damage, notably allowing it to always OHKO standard Gholdengo, Kingambit, Miracle Seed Rillaboom, and having a good chance at KOing less specially defensive Amoonguss sets. Heat Wave is a good option to hit both opponents through redirection. Struggle Bug lowers foes special attacks helping Volcarona's teammates survive for longer. Rage Powder allows Volcarona to redirect attacks to protect its partner and can burn physical attackers whose contact moves are redirected to it through its ability Flame Body. Tailwind provides speed control for Volcarona and its partners to ensure they always go first, and allows Volcarona to outspeed Pokemon such as Sneasler and Dragonite at +1.
- Sitrus Berry improves Volcarona's survivability through its healing, while Safety Goggles allows Volcarona to become immune to powder moves from the likes of Amoonguss and Jumpluff but worsens Volcarona's longevity due to a lack of healing item.
- Tera Water allows Volcarona to safely redirect Water-type moves from Basculegion-M and Pelipper such as Wave Crash and Weather Ball respectively, while maintaining its resistance to Gholdengo's Make It Rain. However, Tera Water makes Volcarona weak to Grass- and Electric-type moves such as Rillaboom's Wood Hammer and Archaludon's Electro Shot. Tera Grass allows Volcarona to become immune ignore powder moves from Amoonguss and Jumpluff without the need for Safety Goggles. However, it makes Volcarona weak to common Fire-type attacks such as opposing Volcarona's Heat Waves and Incineroar's Flare Blitz. Additionally, Volcarona retains its weakness to Flying-type to attacks such as Talonflame's Brave Bird, Pelipper's Hurricane or Tera Flying Sneasler Acrobatics.
-The EV spread allows Volcarona to survive a Black Glasses Kowtow Cleave from Adamant Kingambit, and nearly always live a 5 hit Scale Shot from Adamant Dragonite on the physical side, while on the special side Volcarona can always live Kilowattrel's Air Slash, +2 Volcarona's Heat Wave, and -1 Tera Normal Life Orb Blood Moon from Ursaluna-Bloodmoon. Max Speed EV's and a Timid nature allows Volcarona to outrun base 90 and base 95 Speed Pokemon such as Annihilape and Hisuian-Typhlosion.
- Support Volcarona is a good support option able to lower the opponents offensive prowess through burn from Flame Body and Struggle Bug, provide speed control and threaten the formats Grass-, Steel- and Ice-types, however its typing leaves it with many weaknesses compared to other redirectors such as Maushold and Amoonguss meaning it can go down quickly to a super effective attack such as from Rock Slide, Wave Crash and Hurricane from Hisuian Arcanine, Basculegion-M and Pelipper respectively.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Teambuilding
============
- Quiver Dance Volcarona is a staple of balance teams as it can utilize the support given by redirectors such as Electabuzz or Fake Out users such as Rillaboom and Incineroar, to set up safely and launch huge damage into a majority of the format.
- Support Volcarona is a staple of hyper offense teams as it can protect the frail offensive teammates its paired with such as Sneasler, Archaludon, Kingambit and Ursaluna Bloodmoon with redirection, provide damage reduction through Flame Body burns and Struggle Bug, and provide speed control through Tailwind. In return Volcarona's teammates can deal high damage to make up for its low offensive output.
- Quiver Dance Volcarona pairs excellently with Rillaboom as it provides Fake Out to help Volcarona set up, Grass-type STAB to threaten the Water- and Rock-types that threaten Volcarona such as Basculegion-M. Rillaboom also can threaten both Ursaluna formes whose high powered moves can threaten to hit Volcarona very hard with Facade and Blood Moon respectively. Another great partner is Incineroar who can provide damage reduction in the form of Intimidate, Parting Shot, and has Fake Out to allow Volcarona to set up.
- Alolan Ninetales provides coverage to hit Dragon-types such as Dragonite and Garchomp through Blizzard, speed control in the form of Icy Wind, and damage reduction in Aurora Veil. It also helps Volcarona against rain team by shutting down rain and can threaten Basculegion-M and Pelipper with Freeze Dry.
-Electabuzz provides redirection to help Volcarona set up, a resistance to Flying-type attacks, and an immunity to sleep to redirect Spores from Amoonguss and Jumpluff, to prevent them from interfering with Volcarona.
-Basculegion-M is a great partner Pokemon for Quiver Dance Volcarona as Basculegion-M can hit the Fire-types who resist Volcarona's STAB and coverage, in particular Incineroar who could otherwise disrupt Volcarona. Basculegion-M also hits the Ursaluna formes who could otherwise threaten Volcarona with their high-powered Facade and Blood Moon. In return Volcarona can hit Grass-types such as Rillaboom who threaten Basculegion-M. Dragonite is a useful ally for Volcarona as it can hit opposing Dragon-types like Garchomp hard with Scale Shot, and can also switch-in on powerful Water-type attacks from Dondozo and Basculegion-M such as Wave Crash thanks to Multiscale and its Dragon-type.
- Quiver Dance Volcarona can be outsped and KOed by faster Pokemon before it can set up such as Charizard in sun, and its frailness on the physical side can be exploited by strong physical attacker such as Sneasler and Dragonite. Volcarona often needs to Terastallize to avoid being KOed which can be exploited through pinning it or forcing it to switch out. Volcarona is vulnerable to encore from Alolan Ninetales and Whimsicott forcing it to Quiver Dance and being easily KOed.
- Support Volcarona pairs well with Pokemon such as Kingambit, Archaludon and Ursaluna Bloodmoon who appreciate Volcarona's ability to redirect Fighting-type moves which can threaten them. Additionally, Volcarona both resists and can threaten the Grass- and Ice-types who Ursaluna Bloodmoon is weak to through its Fire-type STAB. Archaludon and Ursaluna Bloodmoon's poor Special Defense stat can be improved through Volcarona's Struggle Bug weakening the Special Attack of foes. In return the aforementioned allies can provide powerful attacks such as Kowtow Cleave, Electro Shot, and Blood Moon to make up for Support Volcarona's low offensive output. Archaludon and Ursaluna Bloodmoon can threaten the Rock-, Water- and Flying-types for Volcarona through Earth Power and Electro Shot respectively.
- Sneasler is another great partner for Support Volcarona as its immense frailness means it likes to have a supporting partner who can provide damage reduction and redirection through the aforementioned moves. Sneasler in return can threaten the Rock-types such as Hisuian Arcanine who threaten Volcarona.
- Support Volcarona suffers from a typing which leaves it weak to many team styles such as rain, and moves such as Wave Crash from Basculegion-M, which means it can be forced to Terastallize or switch out for it to survive, otherwise it can end being KOed quickly. Ursaluna poses a problem for Volcarona as it's a physical attacker which doesn't care about being burned thanks to its Guts ability and can OHKO with Facade. Sneasler helps with this thanks to its Fighting STAB threatening Ursaluna. Volcarona can struggle against Taunt Pokemon such as Incineroar and Electabuzz who can taunt it to prevent redirection and Tailwind whilst not taking much from Volcarona in return. Sneasler threatens Incineroar with Fighting-type STAB and Ursaluna Bloodmoon threatens both the aforementioned Pokemon with Ground-type STAB, and Kingambit discourages Incineroar from switching in and Taunting Volcarona through Defiant.
Strategy Comments
============
- Quiver Dance Volcarona's role is to be a sweeper by setting up multiple Quiver Dance's to take KOs on opposing Pokemon and win the entire game or punch holes in the opposing team for the late-game. Volcarona shines when paired with Fake Out, Intimidate and redirection support such as from the aforementioned Pokemon which can be led alongside Volcarona to ensure it can set up multiple Quiver Dance's and sweep.
-Support Volcarona's role is to provide redirection, speed control and damage reduction through Rage Powder, Tailwind, Flame Body and Struggle Bug respectively to allow its high power offensive threats such as Ursaluna Bloodmoon, Sneasler and Kingambit to hit foes hard, move first, and survive for longer.
- Quiver Dance Volcarona is either led alongside a support Pokemon to set up Quiver Dances in the early-game and then sweep the mid- to late-game or is kept in the back where in comes out in the late-game to set up and sweep through a weakened team. Trick Room is a problematic match up for Quiver Dance Volcarona as Ursaluna and Torkoal both outspeed Volcarona in Trick Room and threaten to OHKO Volcarona before it can move. Balance teams are a favorable match up for Quiver Dance Volcarona as they often can't threaten to KO Volcarona immediately. which allows Volcarona to set up and then break through them with boosted attacks.
- Without Terastallization Quiver Dance Volcarona is countered by Dragon-types such as Garchomp and Dragonite who resist its Fire-type STAB, with the latter being able to Haze away its boosts. This can be mitigated through Terastallization utilizing Tera Fairy Blast or an Ice-type such as Alolan Ninetales who can threaten Dragon-types with super effective damage with Blizzard. Volcarona, without Giga Drain, is checked by Primarina who resists Volcarona's Heat Wave, threatens it with Hyper Voice, and is specially bulky enough to take a Tera Fairy Blast and Haze to remove Volcarona boosts. This can be mitigated with Rillaboom who threatens Primarina for super effective Grass-type damage on its much weaker physical side. Rock-types such as Tyranitar and Hisuian Arcanine counter Volcarona as they resist Volcarona's Fire-type STAB and threaten Volcarona with quadruple super effective Rock-type STAB, forcing a Terastallization from Volcarona or switch-out. This can be mitigated with Fighting- and Ground-types such as Sneasler and Ursaluna Bloodmoon threatening super effective damage.
- Support Volcarona shines when its supporting frail strong attackers who require redirection and damage reduction to stay alive while can provide high offensive output for Volcarona such as Archaludon, Sneasler, and Ursaluna Bloodmoon. Support Volcarona also shines at being able to discourage contact moves from the likes of Sneasler and Kingambit by threatening to burn them with Flame Body permanently weakening them, with the former threatening Archaludon and Ursaluna Bloodmoon with its Fighting-type STAB.
-Support Volcarona can be lead in order to set up tailwind for its teammates to utilize throughout the battle, it can also be kept in the back and switched on many of the common attacks it resists such as Wood Hammer from Rillaboom, Make It Rain from Gholdengo, and Blizzard from Alolan Ninetales to help support its team through the battle. Support Volcarona playstyle is to helps its team through damage reduction with Flame Body being able to cripple physical attackers with a burn, and Struggle Bug lowering the Special Attack of foes.
- Super effective attacks such as Rock Slide and Weather Ball from Hisuian Arcanine and Pelipper can threaten to OHKO Support Volcarona and limit its supporting ability. Ursaluna doesn't care about burns thanks to its Guts ability and will OHKO Volcarona with Facade. To counteract this, Pokemon such as Sneasler and Rillaboom can threaten the Rock-, Water-types, and Ursaluna that threaten Volcarona. Taunt Pokemon such as Incineroar and Electabuzz can limit Support Volcarona's ability to support its team, and not taking much from its Fire-type STAB in return. The aforementioned Taunt Pokemon can be threatened through Sneasler and Ursaluna Bloodmoon who threaten them with super effective damage.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user1.100/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.102/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
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Quiver Dance Sweeper (Volcarona) @ Covert Cloak / Grassy Seed / Leftovers
Ability: Flame Body
Level: 50
Tera Type: Fairy / Grass
EVs: 252 HP / 140 Def / 4 SpA / 4 SpD / 108 Spe OR 252 HP / 60 Def / 36 SpA / 4 SpD / 156 Spe
Timid / Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Heat Wave
- Tera Blast / Giga Drain
- Quiver Dance
- Protect
[SET COMMENTS]
- Volcarona acts as a dangerous setup sweeper through Quiver Dance, which allows it to accumulate boosts and sweep games. Volcarona has great coverage, such as Giga Drain, to hit Pokemon its STAB attacks would be unable to. Through Terastallization Volcarona can threaten its checks and counters while improving its survivability. Volcarona provides invaluable Fire-type STAB as it threatens popular Grass-, Steel-, and Ice-types in the format such as Gholdengo, Rillaboom, and Alolan Ninetales.
- Heat Wave is Volcarona's primary STAB option which allows it to get around redirection from the likes of Electabuzz, Maushold, and Amoonguss. Tera Fairy Blast allows Volcarona to damage Dragon-types such as Garchomp and Dragonite. Giga Drain on Tera Grass sets improve Volcarona's survivability through higher recovery from Giga Drain, and hits Water- and Ground-types such as Basculegion-M and both Ursaluna formes respectively.
- Covert Cloak allows Volcarona to ignore secondary effects from moves such as Fake Out from Incineroar and Rillaboom, Icy Wind from Alolan Ninetales, and Snarl from Archaludon and Hydreigon which would otherwise hinder its ability to set up and sweep. Grassy Seed helps Volcarona tank physical hits, however this leaves Volcarona vulnerable to the aforementioned moves and is reliant on Grassy Terrain from Pokemon such as Rillaboom to improve Volcarona's poor Physical Defense. Leftovers provides passive healing, which in combination with Grassy Terrain and Giga Drain recovery allows Volcarona to survive for many turns throughout a match to allow Volcarona to set up multiple Quiver Dances.
- Tera Fairy allows Volcarona to gain an immunity to Dragon-type attacks such as Scale Shot from Dragonite, while providing a good defensive typing that importantly maintains its Fighting-Type resistance to Sneasler's and Annihilape's Fighting-type STAB. However, it introduces new weaknesses to Poison- and Steel-type moves such as Sneasler's Dire Claw and Gholdengo's Make It Rain respectively. Tera Grass allows Volcarona to gain a resistance to Water- and Electric-type attacks such as Wave Crash from Basculegion-M, and Electro Shot from Archaludon, allowing Giga Drain to turn from a 2HKO on Basculegion-M to an OHKO at +1, and granting an immunity to powder moves from Pokemon such as Amoonguss and Jumpluff. However, it retains Volcarona's weakness to Flying-type attacks such as from Pelipper's Hurricane and Kilowattrel's Air Slash.
- The first EV spread is used on Covert Cloak and Leftovers sets, with the allocated bulk allowing Volcarona to always survive Adamant Sneasler's Fake Out in combination with 5 hit Scale Shot from Adamant Dragonite. With minimal Special Defense investment Volcarona always survives a Blood Moon from Modest Tera Normal Life Orb Ursaluna Bloodmoon after a Quiver Dance boost. With a Modest Nature Volcarona can outspeed Adamant Dragonite, with Timid Volcarona can outspeed Jolly Swift Swim Basculegion-M in rain at +2. The second EV spread is used on Grassy Seed sets which invest less in Defense due to the Grassy Seed boost. With the HP and Defense EV's, Volcarona can always survive an Adamant Guts boosted Facade from Ursaluna after an Intimidate. With the Speed EV's and a Timid nature, Volcarona can always outspeed Gholdengo and Archaludon, whilst with a Modest nature Volcarona can outspeed Adamant Dragonite and outspeed max Speed Modest Ursaluna-Bloodmoon in Tailwind after a Quiver Dance. 36 Special Attack with a Modest nature almost always ensures an OHKO on Kingambit with Heat Wave at +1.
- Quiver Dance Volcarona can accumulate many boosts leading to it sweeping entire teams, however it requires multiple turns of set up leaving it vulnerable to status moves such as Spore and Encore which can prevent it from sweeping. Volcarona can often be forced to Terastallize or switch out due to its poor Defensive-typing which can be utilized by foes to create pins against it or gain momentum by forcing Volcarona to switch-out. Quiver Dance Volcarona prefers to stay in the field for long times and is often led with supportive Pokemon to set up Quiver Dances or kept in the back to set up and sweep a weakened team. Quiver Dance Volcarona invests less in Speed in favor of bulk leaving it vulnerable to faster foes such as Sneasler and Annihilape. On the contrary support Volcarona aids powerful Pokemon such as Ursaluna-Bloodmoon and Archaludon through redirection and speed control from Rage Powder and Tailwind respectively, while lacking the damage output Quiver Dance Volcarona has. Support Volcarona can either be switched in to take Grass- and Fighting-type attacks or be led to set up speed control immediately and then switched out to provide support later. Support Volcarona invests much more in Speed to ensure it can always set up tailwind first in front of Pokemon such as Annihilape and Hisuian Typhlosion.
Bulky Redirector (Volcarona) @ Sitrus Berry / Safety Goggles
Ability: Flame Body
Level: 50
Tera Type: Water / Grass
EVs: 156 HP / 84 Def / 12 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Overheat / Heat Wave
- Struggle Bug
- Rage Powder
- Tailwind
[SET COMMENTS]
- Volcarona acts as a great support Pokemon thanks to its access to redirection, speed control, damage negation, its ability Flame Body discouraging Pokemon from hitting it with contact moves, and a STAB move that threatens many common Steel-, Grass-, and Ice-type Pokemon in the format such as Gholdengo, Rillaboom and Alolan Ninetales.
- Overheat allows Volcarona to deal a big burst of damage, notably allowing it to always OHKO standard Gholdengo, Kingambit, Miracle Seed Rillaboom, and having a good chance at KOing less specially defensive Amoonguss sets. Heat Wave is a good option to hit both opponents through redirection. Struggle Bug lowers foes special attacks helping Volcarona's teammates survive for longer. Rage Powder allows Volcarona to redirect attacks to protect its partner and can burn physical attackers whose contact moves are redirected to it through its ability Flame Body. Tailwind provides speed control for Volcarona and its partners to ensure they always go first, and allows Volcarona to outspeed Pokemon such as Sneasler and Dragonite at +1.
- Sitrus Berry improves Volcarona's survivability through its healing, while Safety Goggles allows Volcarona to become immune to powder moves from the likes of Amoonguss and Jumpluff but worsens Volcarona's longevity due to a lack of healing item.
- Tera Water allows Volcarona to safely redirect Water-type moves from Basculegion-M and Pelipper such as Wave Crash and Weather Ball respectively, while maintaining its resistance to Gholdengo's Make It Rain. However, Tera Water makes Volcarona weak to Grass- and Electric-type moves such as Rillaboom's Wood Hammer and Archaludon's Electro Shot. Tera Grass allows Volcarona to become immune ignore powder moves from Amoonguss and Jumpluff without the need for Safety Goggles. However, it makes Volcarona weak to common Fire-type attacks such as opposing Volcarona's Heat Waves and Incineroar's Flare Blitz. Additionally, Volcarona retains its weakness to Flying-type to attacks such as Talonflame's Brave Bird, Pelipper's Hurricane or Tera Flying Sneasler Acrobatics.
-The EV spread allows Volcarona to survive a Black Glasses Kowtow Cleave from Adamant Kingambit, and nearly always live a 5 hit Scale Shot from Adamant Dragonite on the physical side, while on the special side Volcarona can always live Kilowattrel's Air Slash, +2 Volcarona's Heat Wave, and -1 Tera Normal Life Orb Blood Moon from Ursaluna-Bloodmoon. Max Speed EV's and a Timid nature allows Volcarona to outrun base 90 and base 95 Speed Pokemon such as Annihilape and Hisuian-Typhlosion.
- Support Volcarona is a good support option able to lower the opponents offensive prowess through burn from Flame Body and Struggle Bug, provide speed control and threaten the formats Grass-, Steel- and Ice-types, however its typing leaves it with many weaknesses compared to other redirectors such as Maushold and Amoonguss meaning it can go down quickly to a super effective attack such as from Rock Slide, Wave Crash and Hurricane from Hisuian Arcanine, Basculegion-M and Pelipper respectively.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Teambuilding
============
- Quiver Dance Volcarona is a staple of balance teams as it can utilize the support given by redirectors such as Electabuzz or Fake Out users such as Rillaboom and Incineroar, to set up safely and launch huge damage into a majority of the format.
- Support Volcarona is a staple of hyper offense teams as it can protect the frail offensive teammates its paired with such as Sneasler, Archaludon, Kingambit and Ursaluna Bloodmoon with redirection, provide damage reduction through Flame Body burns and Struggle Bug, and provide speed control through Tailwind. In return Volcarona's teammates can deal high damage to make up for its low offensive output.
- Quiver Dance Volcarona pairs excellently with Rillaboom as it provides Fake Out to help Volcarona set up, Grass-type STAB to threaten the Water- and Rock-types that threaten Volcarona such as Basculegion-M. Rillaboom also can threaten both Ursaluna formes whose high powered moves can threaten to hit Volcarona very hard with Facade and Blood Moon respectively. Another great partner is Incineroar who can provide damage reduction in the form of Intimidate, Parting Shot, and has Fake Out to allow Volcarona to set up.
- Alolan Ninetales provides coverage to hit Dragon-types such as Dragonite and Garchomp through Blizzard, speed control in the form of Icy Wind, and damage reduction in Aurora Veil. It also helps Volcarona against rain team by shutting down rain and can threaten Basculegion-M and Pelipper with Freeze Dry.
-Electabuzz provides redirection to help Volcarona set up, a resistance to Flying-type attacks, and an immunity to sleep to redirect Spores from Amoonguss and Jumpluff, to prevent them from interfering with Volcarona.
-Basculegion-M is a great partner Pokemon for Quiver Dance Volcarona as Basculegion-M can hit the Fire-types who resist Volcarona's STAB and coverage, in particular Incineroar who could otherwise disrupt Volcarona. Basculegion-M also hits the Ursaluna formes who could otherwise threaten Volcarona with their high-powered Facade and Blood Moon. In return Volcarona can hit Grass-types such as Rillaboom who threaten Basculegion-M. Dragonite is a useful ally for Volcarona as it can hit opposing Dragon-types like Garchomp hard with Scale Shot, and can also switch-in on powerful Water-type attacks from Dondozo and Basculegion-M such as Wave Crash thanks to Multiscale and its Dragon-type.
- Quiver Dance Volcarona can be outsped and KOed by faster Pokemon before it can set up such as Charizard in sun, and its frailness on the physical side can be exploited by strong physical attacker such as Sneasler and Dragonite. Volcarona often needs to Terastallize to avoid being KOed which can be exploited through pinning it or forcing it to switch out. Volcarona is vulnerable to encore from Alolan Ninetales and Whimsicott forcing it to Quiver Dance and being easily KOed.
- Support Volcarona pairs well with Pokemon such as Kingambit, Archaludon and Ursaluna Bloodmoon who appreciate Volcarona's ability to redirect Fighting-type moves which can threaten them. Additionally, Volcarona both resists and can threaten the Grass- and Ice-types who Ursaluna Bloodmoon is weak to through its Fire-type STAB. Archaludon and Ursaluna Bloodmoon's poor Special Defense stat can be improved through Volcarona's Struggle Bug weakening the Special Attack of foes. In return the aforementioned allies can provide powerful attacks such as Kowtow Cleave, Electro Shot, and Blood Moon to make up for Support Volcarona's low offensive output. Archaludon and Ursaluna Bloodmoon can threaten the Rock-, Water- and Flying-types for Volcarona through Earth Power and Electro Shot respectively.
- Sneasler is another great partner for Support Volcarona as its immense frailness means it likes to have a supporting partner who can provide damage reduction and redirection through the aforementioned moves. Sneasler in return can threaten the Rock-types such as Hisuian Arcanine who threaten Volcarona.
- Support Volcarona suffers from a typing which leaves it weak to many team styles such as rain, and moves such as Wave Crash from Basculegion-M, which means it can be forced to Terastallize or switch out for it to survive, otherwise it can end being KOed quickly. Ursaluna poses a problem for Volcarona as it's a physical attacker which doesn't care about being burned thanks to its Guts ability and can OHKO with Facade. Sneasler helps with this thanks to its Fighting STAB threatening Ursaluna. Volcarona can struggle against Taunt Pokemon such as Incineroar and Electabuzz who can taunt it to prevent redirection and Tailwind whilst not taking much from Volcarona in return. Sneasler threatens Incineroar with Fighting-type STAB and Ursaluna Bloodmoon threatens both the aforementioned Pokemon with Ground-type STAB, and Kingambit discourages Incineroar from switching in and Taunting Volcarona through Defiant.
Strategy Comments
============
- Quiver Dance Volcarona's role is to be a sweeper by setting up multiple Quiver Dance's to take KOs on opposing Pokemon and win the entire game or punch holes in the opposing team for the late-game. Volcarona shines when paired with Fake Out, Intimidate and redirection support such as from the aforementioned Pokemon which can be led alongside Volcarona to ensure it can set up multiple Quiver Dance's and sweep.
-Support Volcarona's role is to provide redirection, speed control and damage reduction through Rage Powder, Tailwind, Flame Body and Struggle Bug respectively to allow its high power offensive threats such as Ursaluna Bloodmoon, Sneasler and Kingambit to hit foes hard, move first, and survive for longer.
- Quiver Dance Volcarona is either led alongside a support Pokemon to set up Quiver Dances in the early-game and then sweep the mid- to late-game or is kept in the back where in comes out in the late-game to set up and sweep through a weakened team. Trick Room is a problematic match up for Quiver Dance Volcarona as Ursaluna and Torkoal both outspeed Volcarona in Trick Room and threaten to OHKO Volcarona before it can move. Balance teams are a favorable match up for Quiver Dance Volcarona as they often can't threaten to KO Volcarona immediately. which allows Volcarona to set up and then break through them with boosted attacks.
- Without Terastallization Quiver Dance Volcarona is countered by Dragon-types such as Garchomp and Dragonite who resist its Fire-type STAB, with the latter being able to Haze away its boosts. This can be mitigated through Terastallization utilizing Tera Fairy Blast or an Ice-type such as Alolan Ninetales who can threaten Dragon-types with super effective damage with Blizzard. Volcarona, without Giga Drain, is checked by Primarina who resists Volcarona's Heat Wave, threatens it with Hyper Voice, and is specially bulky enough to take a Tera Fairy Blast and Haze to remove Volcarona boosts. This can be mitigated with Rillaboom who threatens Primarina for super effective Grass-type damage on its much weaker physical side. Rock-types such as Tyranitar and Hisuian Arcanine counter Volcarona as they resist Volcarona's Fire-type STAB and threaten Volcarona with quadruple super effective Rock-type STAB, forcing a Terastallization from Volcarona or switch-out. This can be mitigated with Fighting- and Ground-types such as Sneasler and Ursaluna Bloodmoon threatening super effective damage.
- Support Volcarona shines when its supporting frail strong attackers who require redirection and damage reduction to stay alive while can provide high offensive output for Volcarona such as Archaludon, Sneasler, and Ursaluna Bloodmoon. Support Volcarona also shines at being able to discourage contact moves from the likes of Sneasler and Kingambit by threatening to burn them with Flame Body permanently weakening them, with the former threatening Archaludon and Ursaluna Bloodmoon with its Fighting-type STAB.
-Support Volcarona can be lead in order to set up tailwind for its teammates to utilize throughout the battle, it can also be kept in the back and switched on many of the common attacks it resists such as Wood Hammer from Rillaboom, Make It Rain from Gholdengo, and Blizzard from Alolan Ninetales to help support its team through the battle. Support Volcarona playstyle is to helps its team through damage reduction with Flame Body being able to cripple physical attackers with a burn, and Struggle Bug lowering the Special Attack of foes.
- Super effective attacks such as Rock Slide and Weather Ball from Hisuian Arcanine and Pelipper can threaten to OHKO Support Volcarona and limit its supporting ability. Ursaluna doesn't care about burns thanks to its Guts ability and will OHKO Volcarona with Facade. To counteract this, Pokemon such as Sneasler and Rillaboom can threaten the Rock-, Water-types, and Ursaluna that threaten Volcarona. Taunt Pokemon such as Incineroar and Electabuzz can limit Support Volcarona's ability to support its team, and not taking much from its Fire-type STAB in return. The aforementioned Taunt Pokemon can be threatened through Sneasler and Ursaluna Bloodmoon who threaten them with super effective damage.
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