[SET]
Spiker (Budew) @ Eviolite
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Spikes
- Synthesis
- Sludge Bomb
- Giga Drain / Stun Spore
[SET COMMENTS]
Despite the lowest base stat total of any Pokemon with a recognized niche in the tier, Budew's workable defensive tools alongside the coveted Spikes earns it a minor role in the metagame. Budew's good defensive typing and decent Eviolite-boosted bulk grants it switch-in opportunities vs the top tier Meganium and Wormadam-S, from where it can use their passivity as a chance to use Spikes. Due to there being only one viable Rapid Spin user in Staryu, who is very poor at handling Budew, most balance and defensive teams have a very hard time switching around with Spikes in play. Synthesis provides Budew reliable recovery, allowing it to wall aforementioned defensive staples Wormadam-S and Meganium, as well as check other special attackers such as Raichu and Staryu. While Sludge Bomb is not particularly powerful coming from Budew, it has solid neutral coverage and is particularly spammable if Budew has already laid its Spikes, and its supereffective coverage on Meganium and Leafeon is appreciated. Giga Drain targets Staryu for significant damage and guarantees that it cannot stall Budew out of attacking PP thanks to its Natural Cure, also accentuating Budew's low Synthesis PP and preventing Whiscash from using Substitute in front of Budew. Stun Spore's paralysis is great for preventing Pokemon such as Muk, Clefairy, and Arbok from freely taking advantage of Budew's poor offenses. However, giving up on Giga Drain can result in Staryu potentially denying Budew of Spikes in a long game, so it should be paired with Pokemon that can take advantage of Staryu directly such as Stealth Rock Clefairy, or paired with Frillish in order to prevent Staryu's attempt at Rapid Spin. Maximum HP, Special Defense, Eviolite, and a Calm nature is necessary in order for Budew to reasonably check Raichu and Choice Specs Meganium.
Budew should be used on balance or defensive teams looking for both a check to Meganium and a punish to opposing balance and defensive teams. Despite their shared weakness to Knock Off and Clefairy's Magic Guard, Frillish has an ideal defensive synergy with Budew. Frillish is notably the best spinblocker in the tier, guaranteeing that multiple layers of Budew's Spikes will stay up even in the face of Staryu, as well as resisting Ice-type attacks from Glaceon in particular and disrupting the opponent with burns. While Budew's defensive utility is more limited, its status as one of the hardest punishes to defensive and Choice Specs Meganium as well as being a solid Raichu check are traits Frillish appreciates. Persian is one of the best revenge killers and cleaners available on balance and bulky offense, and Spikes rapidly wears down checks such as Wormadam-S, Lairon, and Hippopotas. Once Budew has laid Spikes down, if there is no threat of Rapid Spin, it can more readily be sacrificed to wallbreakers it lures such as Emolga and Simisear, both of which regularly result in Persian claiming a KO. Physical attackers such as Muk and Emolga are massive threats to Budew, Solrock can remedy this weakness while providing the all-important Stealth Rock and necessary resistance to Normal.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Budew could opt for a physically defensive spread in order to check Leafeon and Kingler, but Budew fails to check the majority of physical attackers even with maximum Defense investment. Rest allows Budew to heal to full in a single turn before curing the sleep with Natural Cure, which also helps supplement Synthesis's poor PP. However, Budew doesn't provide much utility after laying maximum Spikes, so the additional healing PP is not worth more than Stun Spore's status or dual STAB attacks.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Physical Attackers**: Physical Attackers with good or even decent bulk are mostly unbothered by Budew's pitiful damage output and hit it on its very soft Defense stat. Muk and Arbok are resistant to both of Budew's STABs and hit it for massive damage or threaten to set up on it, with Arbok only mildly bothered by Stun Spore. Lairon, Solrock, and Pawniard often do not want to deal with the paralysis Budew spreads, but can otherwise easily deal huge damage to it. Shelgon gets a notable mention thanks to its use of Rest and Sleep Talk alongside Dragon Dance, allowing it to boost repeatedly in front of Budew with no fear.
**Clefairy**: Clefairy is totally immune to any residual damage including Spikes and poison from Sludge Bomb, while threatening a debilitating Knock Off and continuous Seismic Toss pressure. While it tries to avoid paralysis, Clefairy can often switch into various poisons or burns that are common in the tier in order to take Budew on with ease.
**Staryu**: While Budew has a favorable matchup into Staryu itself, its Rapid Spin completely resets all the pressure Budew exerts with Spikes.
**Supereffective Special Attacks**: While Simisear, Grumpig, and Glaceon are severely crippled by Stun Spore, they threaten Budew with enormous damage and often OHKOs if they manage to get in safely.
**Offensive Pressure**: Budew excels in more drawn out games thanks to Spikes alongside Stealth Rock more than doubling the usual residual damage present in the tier. If Budew doesn't have time to lay its Spikes, then it is contributing next to nothing.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/monai.482455
Quality checked by:
Grammar checked by:
Spiker (Budew) @ Eviolite
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Spikes
- Synthesis
- Sludge Bomb
- Giga Drain / Stun Spore
[SET COMMENTS]
Despite the lowest base stat total of any Pokemon with a recognized niche in the tier, Budew's workable defensive tools alongside the coveted Spikes earns it a minor role in the metagame. Budew's good defensive typing and decent Eviolite-boosted bulk grants it switch-in opportunities vs the top tier Meganium and Wormadam-S, from where it can use their passivity as a chance to use Spikes. Due to there being only one viable Rapid Spin user in Staryu, who is very poor at handling Budew, most balance and defensive teams have a very hard time switching around with Spikes in play. Synthesis provides Budew reliable recovery, allowing it to wall aforementioned defensive staples Wormadam-S and Meganium, as well as check other special attackers such as Raichu and Staryu. While Sludge Bomb is not particularly powerful coming from Budew, it has solid neutral coverage and is particularly spammable if Budew has already laid its Spikes, and its supereffective coverage on Meganium and Leafeon is appreciated. Giga Drain targets Staryu for significant damage and guarantees that it cannot stall Budew out of attacking PP thanks to its Natural Cure, also accentuating Budew's low Synthesis PP and preventing Whiscash from using Substitute in front of Budew. Stun Spore's paralysis is great for preventing Pokemon such as Muk, Clefairy, and Arbok from freely taking advantage of Budew's poor offenses. However, giving up on Giga Drain can result in Staryu potentially denying Budew of Spikes in a long game, so it should be paired with Pokemon that can take advantage of Staryu directly such as Stealth Rock Clefairy, or paired with Frillish in order to prevent Staryu's attempt at Rapid Spin. Maximum HP, Special Defense, Eviolite, and a Calm nature is necessary in order for Budew to reasonably check Raichu and Choice Specs Meganium.
Budew should be used on balance or defensive teams looking for both a check to Meganium and a punish to opposing balance and defensive teams. Despite their shared weakness to Knock Off and Clefairy's Magic Guard, Frillish has an ideal defensive synergy with Budew. Frillish is notably the best spinblocker in the tier, guaranteeing that multiple layers of Budew's Spikes will stay up even in the face of Staryu, as well as resisting Ice-type attacks from Glaceon in particular and disrupting the opponent with burns. While Budew's defensive utility is more limited, its status as one of the hardest punishes to defensive and Choice Specs Meganium as well as being a solid Raichu check are traits Frillish appreciates. Persian is one of the best revenge killers and cleaners available on balance and bulky offense, and Spikes rapidly wears down checks such as Wormadam-S, Lairon, and Hippopotas. Once Budew has laid Spikes down, if there is no threat of Rapid Spin, it can more readily be sacrificed to wallbreakers it lures such as Emolga and Simisear, both of which regularly result in Persian claiming a KO. Physical attackers such as Muk and Emolga are massive threats to Budew, Solrock can remedy this weakness while providing the all-important Stealth Rock and necessary resistance to Normal.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Budew could opt for a physically defensive spread in order to check Leafeon and Kingler, but Budew fails to check the majority of physical attackers even with maximum Defense investment. Rest allows Budew to heal to full in a single turn before curing the sleep with Natural Cure, which also helps supplement Synthesis's poor PP. However, Budew doesn't provide much utility after laying maximum Spikes, so the additional healing PP is not worth more than Stun Spore's status or dual STAB attacks.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Physical Attackers**: Physical Attackers with good or even decent bulk are mostly unbothered by Budew's pitiful damage output and hit it on its very soft Defense stat. Muk and Arbok are resistant to both of Budew's STABs and hit it for massive damage or threaten to set up on it, with Arbok only mildly bothered by Stun Spore. Lairon, Solrock, and Pawniard often do not want to deal with the paralysis Budew spreads, but can otherwise easily deal huge damage to it. Shelgon gets a notable mention thanks to its use of Rest and Sleep Talk alongside Dragon Dance, allowing it to boost repeatedly in front of Budew with no fear.
**Clefairy**: Clefairy is totally immune to any residual damage including Spikes and poison from Sludge Bomb, while threatening a debilitating Knock Off and continuous Seismic Toss pressure. While it tries to avoid paralysis, Clefairy can often switch into various poisons or burns that are common in the tier in order to take Budew on with ease.
**Staryu**: While Budew has a favorable matchup into Staryu itself, its Rapid Spin completely resets all the pressure Budew exerts with Spikes.
**Supereffective Special Attacks**: While Simisear, Grumpig, and Glaceon are severely crippled by Stun Spore, they threaten Budew with enormous damage and often OHKOs if they manage to get in safely.
**Offensive Pressure**: Budew excels in more drawn out games thanks to Spikes alongside Stealth Rock more than doubling the usual residual damage present in the tier. If Budew doesn't have time to lay its Spikes, then it is contributing next to nothing.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/monai.482455
Quality checked by:
Grammar checked by:
Last edited: