[OVERVIEW]
Bellossom thrives in the ZU metagame for its unique characteristics as a Quiver Dance sweeper; namely, it is a Grass-type that has a great support movepool, including Safeguard and Strength Sap, and solid bulk that allows it to be a reliable late-game sweeper. This is not to say Bellossom does not have its weaknesses; it suffers from crippling four-moveslot syndrome, often having to pick between utility and coverage. Furthermore, Bellossom is pressured by Steel-type Pokemon such as Bronzor and Metang and specially defensive walls carrying Toxic such as Lickilicky and Komala if it does not have Safeguard, and it generally loses to most Pokemon that have a type advantage against it, such as Oricorio-E, Oricorio-F, and Muk. Lastly, Bellossom loses to common wallbreakers such as Pinsir, Rapidash, and Bouffalant.
[SET]
name: Bulky Quiver Dance
move 1: Quiver Dance
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Strength Sap
move 4: Safeguard / Moonblast / Sleep Powder
item: Grassium Z
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Giga Drain is the preferred STAB attack for Bellossom; it provides reliable damage and recovery, giving Bellossom staying power. Strength Sap allows Bellossom to pressure common physical attackers such as Electivire and provides unmatched recovery. Safeguard is used to beat out specially defensive walls Bellossom might otherwise have trouble with, such as Lickilicky and Komala with Toxic. It also gives your Pokemon an immunity to status for five turns, which is a nice perk for setup sweepers such as Shell Smash Crustle. Moonblast is an option to deal with Altaria, which Bellossom typically cannot beat without it, 2HKOing it after a Quiver Dance boost. Additionally, Moonblast allows Bellossom to bypass Sap Sipper on Pokemon such as Sawsbuck and Zebstrika to hit them for neutral damage. Sleep Powder is a way for Bellossom to cripple Pokemon that would otherwise give it trouble, such as Choice Scarf Rapidash and Silvally-Poison.
Set Details
========
This EV spread is designed to take advantage of Bellossom's natural bulk and sweeping potential. After one Quiver Dance, Bellossom reaches 327 Speed, outspeeding positive-natured base 99 Speed Pokemon, including maximum Speed Swanna, maximum Speed Silvally formes, and maximum Speed Electivire. After two Quiver Dances, Bellossom outspeeds Pokemon such as Adamant +2 Huntail, Choice Scarf Shiftry, and Zebstrika. Grassium Z allows Bellossom to muscle past potential threats one time with a 140-Base Power Bloom Doom. This is specifically useful for dealing with Swanna, as Bloom Doom has a 50% chance to OHKO Swanna after Stealth Rock. Alternatively, when boosted by Grassium Z, Strength Sap becomes Z-Strength Sap and boosts Defense by one stage. This can be particularly nifty in matchups against Pokemon such as mixed Electivire, and it complements Bellossom's Quiver Dance boosts.
Usage Tips
========
Bellossom is played as a tanky late-game sweeper that can come in on passive walls like Lickilicky or on resisted hits and set up. Naturally, this means Bellossom performs at its best when it has enough HP to tank as many hits as possible, so it is paramount to Bellossom's success to be as healthy as possible for as long as possible. Similarly, this makes Bellossom terrified of Toxic and Toxic Spikes, as it cannot continue to sponge hits and set up if it is on a timer. While Toxic can be dealt with by using Safeguard, it is essential to Bellossom's success that Toxic Spikes be removed before it comes in. Early- and mid-game, Bellossom should generally switch in on resisted hits from Pokemon such as Silvally-Water and threaten with super effective Giga Drains. Additionally, Sleep Powder sets can spread status early- and mid-game. While Strength Sap is primarily a recovery move, the Attack reduction it provides can give Bellossom opportunities to safely switch out to a strong wallbreaker or another setup sweeper, providing them support as well. Bellossom benefits from Z-Strength Sap greatly if looking to stay in longer and sweep, being able reduce moves such as Choice Band Komala's STAB Return to 3HKOs.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that can trap Bronzor are arguably Bellossom's best partners. Choice Band Alolan Golem traps Bronzor using Magnet Pull and reliably disposes of it using Fire Punch. It also resists all of Bellossom's weaknesses, bar Ice and Bug. Bellossom complements Alolan Golem by eliminating Ground-types that might otherwise trouble it. Silvally-Dark can also significantly pressure and weaken Bronzor with its STAB Dark-type coverage, 2HKOIng specially defensive Bronzor with Multi-Attack. Pursuit also 2HKOes and acts as a pseudo-trapping method against Bronzor, especially when it is weakened. Silvally-Dark is also vulnerable to status due to a lack of reliable recovery, which Bellossom's Safeguard can mitigate. Bulky Water-types can form a solid defensive core in tandem with Bellossom, as Bellossom resists Electric and Grass, which are common Water-type weaknesses. Mareanie is arguably the best Water-type to partner Bellossom with; not only is it one of the best Monferno and Combusken checks in ZU, it also absorbs Toxic Spikes for Bellossom. Other solid Water-types that Bellossom pairs well with are Silvally-Water and Corsola, which form great defensive cores with Bellossom. Silvally-Water can run Parting Shot to give Bellossom an opportunity to sweep while simultaneously checking Bellossom checks such as Monferno, Combusken, andChoice Scarf Swanna with its wide movepool. Corsola is one of the few defensive Water-types able to handle Oricorio-F and Chatot due its resistance to their STAB moves, being able to 2HKO both of them after Stealth Rock with Scald. Additionally, Corsola provides Stealth Rock for Bellossom and generally deals with chip damage well due to Regenerator and the option of Rocky Helmet threatening U-turn users. Bellossom is a great foil to sweepers and wallbreakers; Pokemon like Huntail and Combusken appreciate its utility. Strength Sap gives both Huntail and Combusken setup opportunities. Huntail can take advantage of Safeguard’s status immunity or Sleep Powder and setup on Pokemon that might poison it, such as Bronzor, which happens to be one of Bellossom’s best counters. At +2, Darkinium Z Huntail OHKOes a Bronzor with a 140-Base Power Black Hole Eclipse. Combusken is arguably the best sweeper and wallbreaker to pair with Bellossom; Life Orb Combusken deals with Bronzor, specially defensive Komala, and Abomasnow. Bellossom can help Combusken by eliminating pesky Water-types such as Silvally-Water and Politoed. Sleep Powder aids wallbreakers and sweepers such as Shell Smash Crustle and Combusken by incapacitating possible checks to them such as Rapidash.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Substitute can be used in conjunction with Leftovers to prevent status and to threaten stall. However, Bellossom's Substitute breaks to most fixed damage, such as Seismic Toss from Lickilicky, and it has enough trouble dealing damage with Grass-type STAB moves, so it generally is not worth it.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Specially Defensive Walls**: Forgoing Safeguard leaves Bellossom incredibly threatened by Toxic, since it limits Bellossom's tanking and sweeping potential, and common Toxic users such as Lickilicky, Komala, and Tangela can tank boosted Giga Drains, recover, and win against Bellossom. Bronzor hard walls Bellossom's main set, even at +6, and forces it to switch through Psywave and Toxic pressure. Curse Muk can PP stall Bellossom and fish for poison if it is carrying Poison Jab while sponging any hits, boosted or not, that Bellossom throws its way.
**Sap Sipper Pokemon**: A mono-attacking Bellossom set that only carries a Grass-type STAB move cannot touch Sap Sipper Sawsbuck and Zebstrika. If Bellossom is not running Moonblast, these matchups are an automatic loss. One should note Sap Sipper Bouffalant will generally beat Bellossom regardless of it carrying Moonblast or not.
**Poison-types**: Silvally-Poison can force a switch from Bellossom with Multi-Attack, which can 2HKO a Z-Strength Sap-boosted Bellossom while tanking Giga Drain and Moonblast at +6. As previously mentioned, Curse Muk is barely touched by a +6 Giga Drain or Moonblast and can threaten to 2HKO Bellossom with STAB Poison Jab. Additionally, Muk learns Sleep Talk, which can make Muk good sleep fodder for the enemy team, should Bellossom be packing Sleep Powder. While status is generally a problem for any Bellossom not running Safeguard, Toxic Spikes is specifically problematic, as it activates before Bellossom can use Safeguard or Substitute, stunting its sweeping potential.
**Flying-types** Toucannon’s STAB Brave Bird devastates Bellossom, even through Strength Sap, making it a decent offensive Bellossom check. Calm Mind Oricorio-F and Oricorio-E can both come in on Bellossom and impel it to switch, as they both resist Bellossom's Giga Drain and will inevitably win in a Calm Mind war. Choice Specs Oricorio-F also does not fear Bellossom's typical attacking moves, resisting all of them, and can OHKO an unboosted Bellossom with a STAB Hurricane. Furthermore, the Oricorio formes' Dancer ability means that, as long as they alive in the game, Bellossom cannot set up with Quiver Dance, or it might risk whichever Oricorio switching in and copying the boost.
**Steel-types** As previously mentioned, Bellossom generally cannot win against Bronzor, as Bronzor can tank and PP stall Bellossom to its demise. Metang also puts heavy pressure on Bellossom, between Toxic and STAB Meteor Mash being a 3HKO. Additionally, Metang's Clear Body ability means it does not lose Attack whenever Bellossom uses Strength Sap on it.
**Stallbreakers**: Stallbreakers that have Taunt or can Encore Bellossom into a utility move can force Bellossom to switch out. For example, Vigoroth can use Taunt and Bulk Up on Bellossom, provided Bellossom is not at +3, as Giga Drain from Bellossom can 2HKO the typical Vigoroth set. Simisear pressures Bellossom, as it outspeeds Bellossom at +1, can OHKO it with Flare Blitz, and can tank its attacks until Bellossom has boosted three times. A Taunt + Nasty Plot set shuts Bellossom down especially hard, as it cannot recover or set up, while Simisear can use Nasty Plot and OHKO Bellossom with the same number of Special Defense boosts as Nasty Plot boosts with Fire Blast. Chatot and Mr. Mime can lock Bellossom into a utility move using Encore and force it to use its Z-Move or risk dangerous moves such as Chatter and Psyshock, respectively, putting Bellossom in a lose-lose scenario should it opt to stay in.
**Fire-types**: Rapidash can OHKO Bellossom with STAB Flare Blitz, outspeeds +1 Bellossom, and is able to take a couple of boosted Giga Drains and Moonblasts. Physical Monferno and Combusken both threaten to OHKO Bellossom with Flare Blitz, and special Monferno and Combusken 2HKO Bellossom with Fire Blast. However, both get 2HKOed by Bellossom's Moonblast after two Quiver Dances. Simisear is one of Bellossom's biggest checks, being able to outspeed Bellossom and OHKO it with Flare Blitz on a physical set and Fire Blast on a special set. It also can Taunt Bellossom, rendering all of its utility options useless. Flyinium Oricorio-F threatens to OHKO +1 Bellossom with a 185-Base Power Supersonic Skystrike. Bulky Oricorio-F can Taunt and Toxic stall Bellossom, provided it has not yet boosted. Finally, Choice Specs Oricorio-F can OHKO Bellossom with a STAB Hurricane while resisting Bellossom’s Giga Drain and Moonblast.
**Abomasnow** Abomasnow resists Bellossom's Giga Drain, and Bellossom's Moonblast does not threaten to 2HKO Abomasnow until it reaches +3 on the main set, while Life Orb Abomasnow threatens to 2HKO Bellossom with hail's passive damage and STAB Blizzard at +3. Hidden Power Fire is the only way for Bellossom to win against Abomasnow, assuming it has enough boosts to outspeed it.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Aleccat, 226950]]
- Quality checked by: [[Diagnostic, 447557], [Froasty, 446575], [5gen, 296755]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Fireflame479, 231476], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
Bellossom thrives in the ZU metagame for its unique characteristics as a Quiver Dance sweeper; namely, it is a Grass-type that has a great support movepool, including Safeguard and Strength Sap, and solid bulk that allows it to be a reliable late-game sweeper. This is not to say Bellossom does not have its weaknesses; it suffers from crippling four-moveslot syndrome, often having to pick between utility and coverage. Furthermore, Bellossom is pressured by Steel-type Pokemon such as Bronzor and Metang and specially defensive walls carrying Toxic such as Lickilicky and Komala if it does not have Safeguard, and it generally loses to most Pokemon that have a type advantage against it, such as Oricorio-E, Oricorio-F, and Muk. Lastly, Bellossom loses to common wallbreakers such as Pinsir, Rapidash, and Bouffalant.
[SET]
name: Bulky Quiver Dance
move 1: Quiver Dance
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Strength Sap
move 4: Safeguard / Moonblast / Sleep Powder
item: Grassium Z
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Giga Drain is the preferred STAB attack for Bellossom; it provides reliable damage and recovery, giving Bellossom staying power. Strength Sap allows Bellossom to pressure common physical attackers such as Electivire and provides unmatched recovery. Safeguard is used to beat out specially defensive walls Bellossom might otherwise have trouble with, such as Lickilicky and Komala with Toxic. It also gives your Pokemon an immunity to status for five turns, which is a nice perk for setup sweepers such as Shell Smash Crustle. Moonblast is an option to deal with Altaria, which Bellossom typically cannot beat without it, 2HKOing it after a Quiver Dance boost. Additionally, Moonblast allows Bellossom to bypass Sap Sipper on Pokemon such as Sawsbuck and Zebstrika to hit them for neutral damage. Sleep Powder is a way for Bellossom to cripple Pokemon that would otherwise give it trouble, such as Choice Scarf Rapidash and Silvally-Poison.
Set Details
========
This EV spread is designed to take advantage of Bellossom's natural bulk and sweeping potential. After one Quiver Dance, Bellossom reaches 327 Speed, outspeeding positive-natured base 99 Speed Pokemon, including maximum Speed Swanna, maximum Speed Silvally formes, and maximum Speed Electivire. After two Quiver Dances, Bellossom outspeeds Pokemon such as Adamant +2 Huntail, Choice Scarf Shiftry, and Zebstrika. Grassium Z allows Bellossom to muscle past potential threats one time with a 140-Base Power Bloom Doom. This is specifically useful for dealing with Swanna, as Bloom Doom has a 50% chance to OHKO Swanna after Stealth Rock. Alternatively, when boosted by Grassium Z, Strength Sap becomes Z-Strength Sap and boosts Defense by one stage. This can be particularly nifty in matchups against Pokemon such as mixed Electivire, and it complements Bellossom's Quiver Dance boosts.
Usage Tips
========
Bellossom is played as a tanky late-game sweeper that can come in on passive walls like Lickilicky or on resisted hits and set up. Naturally, this means Bellossom performs at its best when it has enough HP to tank as many hits as possible, so it is paramount to Bellossom's success to be as healthy as possible for as long as possible. Similarly, this makes Bellossom terrified of Toxic and Toxic Spikes, as it cannot continue to sponge hits and set up if it is on a timer. While Toxic can be dealt with by using Safeguard, it is essential to Bellossom's success that Toxic Spikes be removed before it comes in. Early- and mid-game, Bellossom should generally switch in on resisted hits from Pokemon such as Silvally-Water and threaten with super effective Giga Drains. Additionally, Sleep Powder sets can spread status early- and mid-game. While Strength Sap is primarily a recovery move, the Attack reduction it provides can give Bellossom opportunities to safely switch out to a strong wallbreaker or another setup sweeper, providing them support as well. Bellossom benefits from Z-Strength Sap greatly if looking to stay in longer and sweep, being able reduce moves such as Choice Band Komala's STAB Return to 3HKOs.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that can trap Bronzor are arguably Bellossom's best partners. Choice Band Alolan Golem traps Bronzor using Magnet Pull and reliably disposes of it using Fire Punch. It also resists all of Bellossom's weaknesses, bar Ice and Bug. Bellossom complements Alolan Golem by eliminating Ground-types that might otherwise trouble it. Silvally-Dark can also significantly pressure and weaken Bronzor with its STAB Dark-type coverage, 2HKOIng specially defensive Bronzor with Multi-Attack. Pursuit also 2HKOes and acts as a pseudo-trapping method against Bronzor, especially when it is weakened. Silvally-Dark is also vulnerable to status due to a lack of reliable recovery, which Bellossom's Safeguard can mitigate. Bulky Water-types can form a solid defensive core in tandem with Bellossom, as Bellossom resists Electric and Grass, which are common Water-type weaknesses. Mareanie is arguably the best Water-type to partner Bellossom with; not only is it one of the best Monferno and Combusken checks in ZU, it also absorbs Toxic Spikes for Bellossom. Other solid Water-types that Bellossom pairs well with are Silvally-Water and Corsola, which form great defensive cores with Bellossom. Silvally-Water can run Parting Shot to give Bellossom an opportunity to sweep while simultaneously checking Bellossom checks such as Monferno, Combusken, andChoice Scarf Swanna with its wide movepool. Corsola is one of the few defensive Water-types able to handle Oricorio-F and Chatot due its resistance to their STAB moves, being able to 2HKO both of them after Stealth Rock with Scald. Additionally, Corsola provides Stealth Rock for Bellossom and generally deals with chip damage well due to Regenerator and the option of Rocky Helmet threatening U-turn users. Bellossom is a great foil to sweepers and wallbreakers; Pokemon like Huntail and Combusken appreciate its utility. Strength Sap gives both Huntail and Combusken setup opportunities. Huntail can take advantage of Safeguard’s status immunity or Sleep Powder and setup on Pokemon that might poison it, such as Bronzor, which happens to be one of Bellossom’s best counters. At +2, Darkinium Z Huntail OHKOes a Bronzor with a 140-Base Power Black Hole Eclipse. Combusken is arguably the best sweeper and wallbreaker to pair with Bellossom; Life Orb Combusken deals with Bronzor, specially defensive Komala, and Abomasnow. Bellossom can help Combusken by eliminating pesky Water-types such as Silvally-Water and Politoed. Sleep Powder aids wallbreakers and sweepers such as Shell Smash Crustle and Combusken by incapacitating possible checks to them such as Rapidash.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Substitute can be used in conjunction with Leftovers to prevent status and to threaten stall. However, Bellossom's Substitute breaks to most fixed damage, such as Seismic Toss from Lickilicky, and it has enough trouble dealing damage with Grass-type STAB moves, so it generally is not worth it.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Specially Defensive Walls**: Forgoing Safeguard leaves Bellossom incredibly threatened by Toxic, since it limits Bellossom's tanking and sweeping potential, and common Toxic users such as Lickilicky, Komala, and Tangela can tank boosted Giga Drains, recover, and win against Bellossom. Bronzor hard walls Bellossom's main set, even at +6, and forces it to switch through Psywave and Toxic pressure. Curse Muk can PP stall Bellossom and fish for poison if it is carrying Poison Jab while sponging any hits, boosted or not, that Bellossom throws its way.
**Sap Sipper Pokemon**: A mono-attacking Bellossom set that only carries a Grass-type STAB move cannot touch Sap Sipper Sawsbuck and Zebstrika. If Bellossom is not running Moonblast, these matchups are an automatic loss. One should note Sap Sipper Bouffalant will generally beat Bellossom regardless of it carrying Moonblast or not.
**Poison-types**: Silvally-Poison can force a switch from Bellossom with Multi-Attack, which can 2HKO a Z-Strength Sap-boosted Bellossom while tanking Giga Drain and Moonblast at +6. As previously mentioned, Curse Muk is barely touched by a +6 Giga Drain or Moonblast and can threaten to 2HKO Bellossom with STAB Poison Jab. Additionally, Muk learns Sleep Talk, which can make Muk good sleep fodder for the enemy team, should Bellossom be packing Sleep Powder. While status is generally a problem for any Bellossom not running Safeguard, Toxic Spikes is specifically problematic, as it activates before Bellossom can use Safeguard or Substitute, stunting its sweeping potential.
**Flying-types** Toucannon’s STAB Brave Bird devastates Bellossom, even through Strength Sap, making it a decent offensive Bellossom check. Calm Mind Oricorio-F and Oricorio-E can both come in on Bellossom and impel it to switch, as they both resist Bellossom's Giga Drain and will inevitably win in a Calm Mind war. Choice Specs Oricorio-F also does not fear Bellossom's typical attacking moves, resisting all of them, and can OHKO an unboosted Bellossom with a STAB Hurricane. Furthermore, the Oricorio formes' Dancer ability means that, as long as they alive in the game, Bellossom cannot set up with Quiver Dance, or it might risk whichever Oricorio switching in and copying the boost.
**Steel-types** As previously mentioned, Bellossom generally cannot win against Bronzor, as Bronzor can tank and PP stall Bellossom to its demise. Metang also puts heavy pressure on Bellossom, between Toxic and STAB Meteor Mash being a 3HKO. Additionally, Metang's Clear Body ability means it does not lose Attack whenever Bellossom uses Strength Sap on it.
**Stallbreakers**: Stallbreakers that have Taunt or can Encore Bellossom into a utility move can force Bellossom to switch out. For example, Vigoroth can use Taunt and Bulk Up on Bellossom, provided Bellossom is not at +3, as Giga Drain from Bellossom can 2HKO the typical Vigoroth set. Simisear pressures Bellossom, as it outspeeds Bellossom at +1, can OHKO it with Flare Blitz, and can tank its attacks until Bellossom has boosted three times. A Taunt + Nasty Plot set shuts Bellossom down especially hard, as it cannot recover or set up, while Simisear can use Nasty Plot and OHKO Bellossom with the same number of Special Defense boosts as Nasty Plot boosts with Fire Blast. Chatot and Mr. Mime can lock Bellossom into a utility move using Encore and force it to use its Z-Move or risk dangerous moves such as Chatter and Psyshock, respectively, putting Bellossom in a lose-lose scenario should it opt to stay in.
**Fire-types**: Rapidash can OHKO Bellossom with STAB Flare Blitz, outspeeds +1 Bellossom, and is able to take a couple of boosted Giga Drains and Moonblasts. Physical Monferno and Combusken both threaten to OHKO Bellossom with Flare Blitz, and special Monferno and Combusken 2HKO Bellossom with Fire Blast. However, both get 2HKOed by Bellossom's Moonblast after two Quiver Dances. Simisear is one of Bellossom's biggest checks, being able to outspeed Bellossom and OHKO it with Flare Blitz on a physical set and Fire Blast on a special set. It also can Taunt Bellossom, rendering all of its utility options useless. Flyinium Oricorio-F threatens to OHKO +1 Bellossom with a 185-Base Power Supersonic Skystrike. Bulky Oricorio-F can Taunt and Toxic stall Bellossom, provided it has not yet boosted. Finally, Choice Specs Oricorio-F can OHKO Bellossom with a STAB Hurricane while resisting Bellossom’s Giga Drain and Moonblast.
**Abomasnow** Abomasnow resists Bellossom's Giga Drain, and Bellossom's Moonblast does not threaten to 2HKO Abomasnow until it reaches +3 on the main set, while Life Orb Abomasnow threatens to 2HKO Bellossom with hail's passive damage and STAB Blizzard at +3. Hidden Power Fire is the only way for Bellossom to win against Abomasnow, assuming it has enough boosts to outspeed it.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Aleccat, 226950]]
- Quality checked by: [[Diagnostic, 447557], [Froasty, 446575], [5gen, 296755]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Fireflame479, 231476], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
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