[SET]
name: Lead
move 1: Sleep Powder
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Hidden Power Grass / Giga Drain
move 4: Morning Sun / Stun Spore
item: Lum Berry / Leftovers
ability: Compound Eyes
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Butterfree cements itself as one of the most reliable status users thanks to Compound Eyes-boosted Sleep Powder. Paired with its above-average Speed tier, it a frightening lead, particularly versus slower leads like Snorunt, Cyndaquil, and Spoink. Sleep Powder's nigh-perfect accuracy allows Butterfree to put switch-ins or opposing leads to sleep, which makes them deadweight for most of the game. Psychic is Butterfree's strongest move, and thanks to the rarity of viable Dark- and Steel-types, it is almost drawback-free. Hidden Power Grass allows Butterfree to OHKO offensive Rhyhorn while also threatening Ground-types such as Cubone and Water-types like Seaking and Staryu. Giga Drain is an option to provide Butterfree a form of recovery that helps complement Morning Sun's low PP, though it also has low PP and is weaker. Morning Sun provides Butterfree with reliable recovery and allows it to keep itself healthy throughout the match. Butterfree can opt to use Stun Spore alongside Sleep Powder in order to neuter faster threats such as Aipom, Pidgeotto, Taillow, and Elekid. If Stun Spore is used over Morning Sun, Butterfree appreciates the limited recovery that Leftovers and Giga Drain provide.
Butterfree fits best on offensive and balanced teams that appreciate the free turns that Sleep Powder provides. Pokemon that resist Fire-type moves pair up nicely with Butterfree such as Spoink, Seaking, and Chinchou. Chinchou is worth noting due to its additional resistances to Ice and Electric. Its access to Thunder Wave means Butterfree and Chinchou can also spread status easily. Wallbreakers such as Aipom, Castform, and Elekid all appreciate the opportunity to switch in on sleeping Pokemon. Aipom can act as an offensive pivot for Butterfree, as it threatens Butterfree's checks with Double-Edge and Brick Break. Likewise, Castform is worth mentioning, as it can tank special moves from Butterfree's checks and deal heavy damage in return. Setup sweepers such as Croconaw, Growlithe, Cubone, and Spoink appreciate the setup opportunity that Sleep Powder and Stun Spore provides them. Rock- and Steel-types such as Rhyhorn, Aron, Magnemite, and Nosepass can switch into the STAB moves of faster physical attackers that threaten Butterfree such as Pidgeotto, Taillow, and Aipom.
[SET]
name: Substitute + Petaya Berry
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Sleep Powder
move 3: Psychic
move 4: Giga Drain / Hidden Power Grass
item: Petaya Berry
ability: Compound Eyes
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
ivs: 30 HP
[SET COMMENTS]
Butterfree's excellent Special Attack means it is able to function as a late-game cleaner. Substitute is primarily used to activate Petaya Berry to give Butterfree the boost it needs to clean. Sleep Powder provides Butterfree with more reliable setup opportunities while also providing status support. Psychic is Butterfree's strongest move and is almost always drawback-free thanks to the lack of prominent Pokemon that resist it. Giga Drain provides Butterfree with a form of recovery while also threatening Rhyhorn. Hidden Power Grass can be used over Giga Drain for its greater PP and stronger Base Power.
Butterfree appreciates secondary status support, so Pokemon such as Chinchou, Magnemite, and Nosepass all make great partners. Rock-types like Nosepass and Rhyhorn are worth noting thanks to their ability to wall, cripple, and KO wallbreakers such as Choice Band Aipom if it is locked into its STAB move. Nosepass can also trap and remove opposing Magnemite, another prominent Butterfree check. Pokemon that resist Fire-type moves such as Growlithe, Seaking, and Spoink all make good partners. Growlithe is able to act as a wallbreaker with Overheat making it a great partner. Additionally, wallbreakers such as Aipom, Pidgeotto, and Staryu can help weaken Pokemon that Butterfree may struggle with like Lileep, Delcatty, and Magnemite. Butterfree struggles with faster attackers like Elekid, Aipom, and Staryu, so Pokemon that can wall them such as bulky variants of Castform, Koffing, Dustox, and Lileep make great partners. Koffing is worth mentioning due to its access to Memento, which can give Butterfree an easy setup opportunity.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Butterfree can opt to use Hidden Power Fire on its Petaya Berry set to prevent Magnemite from safely setting up Substitute, but this is not recommended due to giving up valuable coverage against Ground- and Water-types like Rhyhorn and Seaking.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Magnemite**: Magnemite resists Butterfree's damaging moves and can avoid Sleep Powder with its Substitute. Furthermore, Magnemite can cripple Butterfree with Thunder Wave which severely limits its opportunities to spread status.
**Faster Attackers**: Aipom, Elekid, Tailow, and Staryu are all able to outspeed and KO Butterfree. If another foe has been put to sleep, these Pokemon can switch in relatively easily if Butterfree lacks Stun Spore. Elekid in particular poses a threat, as it can absorb status once thanks to it commonly using Lum Berry. Choice Band users, namely, Aipom, Taillow, and Pidgeotto, can all OHKO Butterfree even with maximum HP investment
**Lum Berry Leads**: Lum Berry leads such as Pineco and Growlithe can both OHKO Butterfree if it tries to use Sleep Powder.
**Special Walls**: Both Delcatty and Lileep act as phenomenal Butterfree checks. Both possess threatening STAB moves namely Body Slam and Rock Slide. Furthermore, thanks to its access to Heal Bell, Delcatty is able to limit Butterfree's usefulness. Dustox is able to wall Butterfree and remove it with Whirlwind, nullifying a boost from Petaya Berry. Butterfree can also put special walls to sleep, which leaves them vulnerable to its teammates.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[BP, 272450]]
- Quality checked by: [[BeatsBlack, 479897], [Gangsta Spongebob, 535530]]
- Grammar checked by: [[autumn, 384270]]
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