The RBY UU QC Team decided that this analysis needed a partial rewrite, as its perception of viability has increased from trashmon to a semi-respectable D tier threat. Due to this, the analysis could use some work, and is being upgraded from a mini to a full.
[OVERVIEW]
Butterfree finds a small niche in RBY UU as a consistent user of the coveted "Double Powder" combination, with favorable odds of landing both moves versus a wide variety of Pokemon, most notably including the various popular leads in Hypno, Kadabra, and Electabuzz. This trait makes it arguably the most consistent lead for quickly inflicting sleep. Its useful Ground-type immunity allows it to switch in on slow users of Earthquake such as paralyzed Kangaskhan and Golem and potentially threaten status.
However, Butterfree is hard to justify using over its primary competition in Venomoth, particularly due to stats. Butterfree's Speed stat allows it to outpace Hypno and put it to sleep with Sleep Powder, but falls short of other Pokemon that Venomoth outspeeds, like Venusaur, Dragonite and Articuno. It also has terrible damage output, which makes it incredibly hard to make offensive progress. The only advantage Butterfree has over Venomoth is its typing, which grants it a Ground immunity and Psychic neutrality. Butterfree's Flying typing does, however, makes it weak to both Blizzard and Rock Slide. Whilst this means it functions much better as a lead than Venomoth, as Butterfree only gets 3HKOed by Hypno's and Kadabra's Psychic, Venomoth is generally the superior choice elsewhere due to its better stats and matchups.
[SET]
name: Double Powder
move 1: Sleep Powder
move 2: Stun Spore
move 3: Psychic
move 4: Psywave
[SET COMMENTS]
Sleep Powder makes a decently consistent sleeper, having favorable odds to land it versus a variety of leads such as Hypno, Kadabra, and Electabuzz. Stun Spore is used to spread status after a Pokemon falls asleep, slowing down the likely switch-in to support slower teammates like Tangela and Poliwrath. Psychic is Butterfree's best option for Pokemon weak to it, such as a paralyzed Tentacruel, and has a 30.1% chance to get a Special drop, which can force switches and improve KO ranges. Psywave is Butterfree's best attack against specially bulky Pokemon and Psychic-types like Hypno, but is inconsistent because of its huge range of damage and 79.03% accuracy, considering the 1/256 uncertainty and Desync Clause Mod.
Butterfree can work as a sleep lead against leads like Hypno and Kadabra, and forces Tentacruel to use Wrap, potentially punishing it on for missing. If Butterfree manages to come back in later, it should be against an unstatused slower Pokemon or Kangaskhan's Earthquake to put some foe to sleep, but it needs to be wary of Kangaskhan's Rock Slide OHKOing it. After inflicting status, Butterfree is typically fodder for the opponent's sleep or paralysis spreaders. This lets Butterfree act as a roadblock towards them. In the event that Butterfree is somehow still healthy and able to pose a threat with status late-game, teammates that can switch into its checks are vastly appreciated. Bulky Water-type Pokemon like Vaporeon, Dewgong, and and Omastar handle the Ice-type and the occasional Fire-type Pokemon that threaten Butterfree, most notably Articuno, Dewgong, Moltres, and Charizard. Omastar is especially notable, as it also stonewalls Dodrio. On the other hand, Vaporeon has a better Dugtrio matchup, something which Butterfree greatly appreciates due to its 4x weakness to Rock Slide. Electabuzz checks both Tentacruel and opposing Electric-types, which outspeed and threaten Butterfree with Blizzard and STAB Thunderbolts respectively, while also serving as an offensive presence versus problematic Flying-types like Dodrio.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Butterfree's small movepool leaves only a few other options to be experimented with. Toxic can be used as the most consistent check to AgiliWrap Dragonite and Dragonair. Mega Drain can theoretically be used over Psywave to give Butterfree some HP back, 4HKO Omastar, and 3HKO Golem, but it is not worthwhile in most matchups. Hyper Beam is a niche option over Psywave, used to KO Kadabra from a minimum of 45.2%.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Faster Sleepers**: Butterfree's mediocre Speed stat leaves it outpaced and beaten by other relevant users of Hypnosis and Sleep Powder, most notably Haunter, Venusaur, and Venomoth. This puts a dent into its good matchup spread.
**Paralyzed Hypno**: While Butterfree does outspeed Hypno with Sleep Powder, if it cannot inflict Hypno with sleep due to other status or Sleep Clause, it generally fails to threaten it in any substantial way. It relies purely on the inconsistent Psywave for meaningful damage. In turn, Hypno threatens paralysis with Thunder Wave and a 3HKO with Psychic.
**Super Effective Coverage**: Butterfree's mediocre bulk means that it struggles to take any super effective hits. While Dugtrio despises status, meaning that it cannot switch in, it outspeeds Butterfree with Rock Slide, which has a 25.6% chance to OHKO. With minor chip damage, this can become guaranteed. Articuno outspeeds and OHKOes Butterfree with Blizzard, likely setting up Agility in the process. Although Dewgong Speed ties with Butterfree, it OHKOes with Blizzard 41% of the time. Tentacruel outspeeds Butterfree and threatens Wrap and Blizzard, KOing it cleanly from a minimum of 70.5%, acting as Butterfree's most problematic common lead matchup. Electabuzz outspeeds Butterfree with STAB Thunderbolt, but it fails to OHKO without a critical hit and usually doesn't enjoy taking status. Dodrio wields a 15.4% chance to OHKO with Drill Peck, whilst also having Agility to remove any potential Speed drops from paralysis. While rare, Moltres's Fire Blast is a guaranteed OHKO, threatening Butterfree out and using this as a free turn to use Agility, similar to Articuno. The niche Charizard's Fire Blast will also KO, but only after a use of Fire Spin. In the event that Charizard misses Fire Spin or Fire Blast, however, it hates taking paralysis.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Yami, 393488]]
- Earlier version by: [[Hipmonlee, 19]]
- Quality checked by: [[May, 236353], [Sevi 7, 505149], [pac, 520967], [phoopes, 96315]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [CyroGyro, 331519]]
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