Move aside Pangoro, you're irrelevant (let's just be honest with ourselves). Instead, introducing Vikavolt, who I'd nominate for B-
Vikavolt @ Choice Specs / Heavy Duty Boots
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 56 HP / 252 SpA / 200 Spe
Serious Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Bug Buzz
- Volt Switch
- Thunderbolt / Roost
- Sticky Web / Roost
Why does this have a niche in OU? Think of it as a bug-rotom form that has 145 spatk, sticky webs, but unfortunately really slow
No pun intended, but it's an absolute pest for common balance cores - none in the top tier are able to resist both STABs bar Kommo-o who is free webs. Top tier offensive switch ins also hate this thing, and it allows you to get a lot of chip. Here is a list of all A+ and S tier ranks:
Balance Core:
Clefable: need specs to 2HKO, but applies plenty of pressure without specs. apply webs on protect. 252+ SpA Vikavolt Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Clefable: 135-160 (34.2 - 40.6%)
Corviknight: toast
Ferrothorn: free switch. 252+ SpA Vikavolt Bug Buzz vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Ferrothorn: 154-183 (43.7 - 51.9%)
Hippowdon: toast. free switch. 252+ SpA Vikavolt Bug Buzz vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Hippowdon: 229-270 (54.5 - 64.2%)
Kommo-o: free webs, volt switch out
Seismitoed: free switch. 252+ SpA Vikavolt Bug Buzz vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Seismitoad: 220-261 (53.1 - 63%)
Toxapex: toast
Mandibuzz: toast
Offensive:
Zeraora: zera is forced to switch out, gets OHKO'd by specs. 252+ SpA Vikavolt Bug Buzz vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Zeraora: 211-249 (66.5 - 78.5%)
Hydreigon: can't switch in
Conkeldurr: can't switch in. OHKO'd by specs tbolt. 252+ SpA Vikavolt Thunderbolt vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Conkeldurr: 247-292 (70.3 - 83.1%)
Dragapult: lovely chip. 252+ SpA Choice Specs Vikavolt Volt Switch vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Dragapult: 129-152 (40.6 - 47.9%)
Aegislash: KO'd if blade form, specs aegi cannot OHKO back
Rotom-Heat: lovely chip. 252+ SpA Choice Specs Vikavolt Bug Buzz vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Rotom-Heat: 123-146 (40.5 - 48.1%)
Excadrill: lovely chip. 252+ SpA Choice Specs Vikavolt Bug Buzz vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Excadrill: 186-219 (51.5 - 60.6%)
What this thing will accomplish for you:
Vikavolt @ Choice Specs / Heavy Duty Boots
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 56 HP / 252 SpA / 200 Spe
Serious Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Bug Buzz
- Volt Switch
- Thunderbolt / Roost
- Sticky Web / Roost
Why does this have a niche in OU? Think of it as a bug-rotom form that has 145 spatk, sticky webs, but unfortunately really slow
No pun intended, but it's an absolute pest for common balance cores - none in the top tier are able to resist both STABs bar Kommo-o who is free webs. Top tier offensive switch ins also hate this thing, and it allows you to get a lot of chip. Here is a list of all A+ and S tier ranks:
Balance Core:
Clefable: need specs to 2HKO, but applies plenty of pressure without specs. apply webs on protect. 252+ SpA Vikavolt Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Clefable: 135-160 (34.2 - 40.6%)
Corviknight: toast
Ferrothorn: free switch. 252+ SpA Vikavolt Bug Buzz vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Ferrothorn: 154-183 (43.7 - 51.9%)
Hippowdon: toast. free switch. 252+ SpA Vikavolt Bug Buzz vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Hippowdon: 229-270 (54.5 - 64.2%)
Kommo-o: free webs, volt switch out
Seismitoed: free switch. 252+ SpA Vikavolt Bug Buzz vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Seismitoad: 220-261 (53.1 - 63%)
Toxapex: toast
Mandibuzz: toast
Offensive:
Zeraora: zera is forced to switch out, gets OHKO'd by specs. 252+ SpA Vikavolt Bug Buzz vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Zeraora: 211-249 (66.5 - 78.5%)
Hydreigon: can't switch in
Conkeldurr: can't switch in. OHKO'd by specs tbolt. 252+ SpA Vikavolt Thunderbolt vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Conkeldurr: 247-292 (70.3 - 83.1%)
Dragapult: lovely chip. 252+ SpA Choice Specs Vikavolt Volt Switch vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Dragapult: 129-152 (40.6 - 47.9%)
Aegislash: KO'd if blade form, specs aegi cannot OHKO back
Rotom-Heat: lovely chip. 252+ SpA Choice Specs Vikavolt Bug Buzz vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Rotom-Heat: 123-146 (40.5 - 48.1%)
Excadrill: lovely chip. 252+ SpA Choice Specs Vikavolt Bug Buzz vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Excadrill: 186-219 (51.5 - 60.6%)
What this thing will accomplish for you:
- Applies pressure and weakens common defensive AND offensive cores early/mid game. An absolute pest for the first 10-20 turns
- Punishes every ferrothorn, hippowdon, seismitoed, toxapex switch. Chips Dragapult to put it in shadow sneak range. Weakens Rotom-H so it can't pressure you back.
- People are too focused on webs that they forget the power. I've had Mews and Mandibuzz use taunt on me before getting KO'd
- The bug is surprisingly hard to KO. Everything that can KO the bug doesn't like switching into it. Unique typing + ability means not a ton of super effective moves
- Gets amazing chip or straight up trades. If your opponent keeps Zeraora in on this thing, by all means
- Amazing web user since it creates so many switches and destroys all common defoggers. But honestly, from my experience, the sheer damage output outweighs the utility of webs that you're better off spamming STABs unless your team is built for webs
- Maintain momentum with (specs boosted) volt switch. No ground type likes to switch in except excadrill, who I love getting chip on. Drill can't OHKO back
- Specs tbolt / bug buzz are stronger than Kyurem's modest specs ice beam and specs shadow ball aegislash
- Meta-wise, people are less familiar with this and will misplay you
- NOT a suicide lead. Don't do that. It's bad. Suicide lead alone deserves to be unranked
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