:vullaby: :vullaby: :vullaby:
The LC Council has decided to suspect test Vullaby.
A long time controversial piece of Little Cup's history and a staple of the tier since Generation 5, Vullaby is once again on the chopping block for a suspect test. Though not being the focus of most players' ire for most of the generation since its release in DLC1 The Teal Mask, public opinion has quickly turned against it.
The main reason behind the shift in public opinion is Vullaby's Nasty Plot set, which is infamous for its ability to steal a game away at the drop of a hat. Nasty Plot + Weak Armor is already a dangerous combination in Little Cup, but when Air Slash's 30% flinch chance is added on top of that, Vullaby has a very good chance of winning games it has no business doing otherwise. The large variety of attacking moves, supporting moves, and Tera types that Nasty Plot Vullaby can opt to use further enable its chance to win games.
Vullaby's offensive movepool is not wide, but it effectively has everything it needs to destroy teams and bypass its usual checks: Heat Wave slams Tinkatink as well as users of Tera Steel looking to resist Air Slash such as Mudbray or Mienfoo. Dark Pulse, while uncommon, can be used as a secondary STAB move that hits most targets for neutral damage while also still having a respectable 20% flinch chance. Tera Blast Ground hits the aforementioned Steel-types, and turns the tables on Glimmet, Elekid and Chinchou who could otherwise take any attack at +2 and threaten massive damage into Vullaby. Vullaby has access to both Roost and Endure to enable its sweep, with Roost allowing Vullaby to get itself out of the KO range of various attacks, while Endure can be used to gain a crucial Weak Armor Speed boost and surviving Mienfoo's Fake Out or Trapinch's First Impression.
Standard Tera Types for Vullaby are Ghost and Ground, but other types such as Steel and Electric have been seen to some extent. Tera Ghost gives Vullaby an immunity to Mienfoo's Fake Out and High Jump Kick, and is a typing many Pokemon cannot hit super effectively. The commonly seen Dark-type move is Knock Off, which provides the Weak Armor boost Vullaby usually needs to win. Tera Ground provides both offensive and defensive value, as Vullaby gains a way to OHKO Glimmet, Elekid and Chinchou at +2 Special Attack, while gaining a resistance and immunity respectively to their common STAB moves.
Vullaby also still has its physical set, which while it doesn't have the same potential to outright steal a game like Nasty Plot, is still incredibly strong in its own right. STAB Knock Off and Brave Bird, utility from U-turn, Roost, Endure, and occasional Heat Wave can be threatening in its own way. It can also create an ugly game of guessing what set Vullaby might be running, which can quickly lead to a loss if the opponent assumes the wrong set to play around.
Vullaby isn't flawless, with its physical set struggling more with its checks in Glimmet, Mudbray and Tinkatink and the Nasty Plot set often being reliant on getting the Speed boost from Weak Armor, but the combined strength of both sets has given LC Council enough reason to put it up for a suspect.
Writeup written by Flou
The instructions to participate in this test are as follows:
- Create a new account on PS. You do not have to follow any specific naming convention, but your suspect account must have never played a game in LC before this suspect test went up or you will not receive valid requirements (resetting W/L does not count for this - the account you use must never have played LC before the test, full stop.)
- At any point on your new account, use the command /linksmogon on Pokemon Showdown! You will receive instructions on what to do once you run this command.
- Double check that you're listed as a voter here! If you aren't listed as a voter despite having valid reqs, please contact me or a staff member.
- If you have any questions about this new process, feel free to PM Envy/Hacker/tazz or post here!
The period to get the suspect requirements will be <t:1791086340:F> with voting for the suspect going up after. Have fun laddering!
