[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, 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.
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, 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.
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