[SET]
Salac Berry (Leavanny) @ Salac Berry
Ability: Swarm
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Endure
- X-Scissor
- Leaf Blade / Seed Bomb
- Swords Dance
[SET COMMENTS]
Leavanny cuts itself a niche in the tier with its capabilities as an Endure sweeper. Leavanny's access to Swords Dance, Swarm, and a base Speed stat higher than common Choice Scarf users such as Mr. Mime sets it apart from other Salac Berry Sweepers like Meganium, Raichu, and Simisear, which all lack at least one of these important traits. However, despite having a toolkit tailor-made to be the ideal Salac Berry sweeper, Leavanny's STAB move combination is extremely flawed and its ideal condition, that being at below 25% HP, leave it at risk of being KOed by priority and Rocky Helmet. Endure allows Leavanny to consistently reach low HP to activate both Salac Berry and Swarm and notably reverses the situation against Choice Scarf users and Fake Out Persian. X-Scissor threatens out common staples such as Meganium and Grumpig and alongside Swarm grants Leavanny a power boost even if it cannot obtain a Swords Dance. If Leavanny manages to attain both Swarm and a Swords Dance, X-Scissor reaches very impressive levels of power, potentially allowing it to OHKO bulky attackers and frail resists such as Emolga and offensive Shelgon after Stealth Rock, which would ordinarily stand in the way of Swords Dance Grass-types like Meganium. Leaf Blade notably targets the Frillish and Ground-types such as Hippopotas, which could survive even a Swords Dance and Swarm boosted X-Scissor. Seed Bomb is a weaker alternative that notably does not make contact, allowing Leavanny to dodge an otherwise lethal Rocky Helmet activation against Solrock after Leavanny has used Endure. A Jolly nature is mandatory, as Adamant Leavanny is slower than Arbok, Mr. Mime, and Grumpig, all of which commonly run Choice Scarf.
Leavanny only works on offensive and hyper offensive teams, which appreciate Leavanny's role as both a wallbreaker and speed control. Arbok is a great partner; Intimidate and Coil allows it to set up on Muk, which walls Leavanny, and they work well together to wear down their shared check in Wormadam-S. Leavanny is not sufficient speed control on its own, so fast and powerful attackers such as Persian, Lopunny, and Emolga can help keep opposing offense in check. If a Poison-type is unable to check Leavanny due to the threat of an Arbok sweep, a Steel-type often must take a massive X-Scissor in order to shut down Leavanny; Shelgon is able to take advantage of a weakened Steel-type better than any setup sweeper, potentially winning on the spot once Lairon or Wormadam-S has been weakened. Staryu can be a good partner on teams with more backbone thanks to its typing and access to Rapid Spin, allowing it to switch into checks such as Simisear and Wormadam-S, as well as clearing Stealth Rock so that Leavanny can Swords Dance more consistently.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
===================
Substitute can allow Leavanny to reach below 25% HP while also blocking status effects, but this sacrifices Leavanny's ability to act as emergency speed control with Endure. Leavanny could make use of a Double Dance set with Agility, Swords Dance, and Life Orb in order to be more immediately threatening and not be reliant on being in the below 25% HP range. However, Leavanny cannot consistently set up both Swords Dance and Agility, and Endure reliably activates Swarm for a much needed power boost. Return could be used over Leavanny's Grass-type STAB move in order to hit Poison-types, but Bug- and Normal-type coverage is very poor, and Leavanny is similarly walled by Steel-types. Heal Bell could provide useful clerical support, but Leafeon and Meganium almost entirely outclass Leavanny in this role. Leavanny has access to Reflect and Light Screen, which makes it the fastest dual screens user in the tier. However, without access to any of Taunt, U-turn, and a self-KO move, Leavanny is outclassed by Mr. Mime in this role.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Poison-types**: Leavanny is entirely walled by both Muk and Arbok, while Gloom and Ivysaur can take even a maximum power X-Scissor and KO Leavanny back with Sludge Bomb.
**Steel-types**: Lairon resists X-Scissor and easily takes a boosted Leaf Blade, while Wormadam-S with its bulk and resistances to both of Leavanny's STAB attacks can freely set Stealth Rock even in the face of a boosted Leavanny. While Pawniard is felled by a fully boosted X-Scissor, Endure will not help Leavanny block a Sucker Punch.
**Status**: All forms of status ruin Leavanny, as it is totally nonthreatening while paralyzed, and it cannot Endure while afflicted by any other status.
**Priority**: While Endure reliably stuffs the most common priority move Fake Out, less restricted options such as Muk's Shadow Sneak, Pikachu's Extreme Speed, and Pawniard's Sucker Punch can bypass Endure.
**Faster Revenge Killers**: While Leavanny can outrun the most notable Choice Scarf users, it is still slower than more niche Choice Scarf users such as Slaking, Persian, and Lopunny. Raichu uses a similar Endure + Salac Berry combination, which is able to outrun Leavanny as well.
**Physically Defensive Walls**: Even without a resistance to both STAB attacks, physically defensive wallls can take on a boosted Leavanny if they're healthy. Physically defensive Mienfoo, Vibrava, Vullaby, and even an offensive Shelgon in perfect condition can stomach one boosted attack from Leavanny.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/monai.482455/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/mirbro.451786/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/danbear02.589016/
Salac Berry (Leavanny) @ Salac Berry
Ability: Swarm
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Endure
- X-Scissor
- Leaf Blade / Seed Bomb
- Swords Dance
[SET COMMENTS]
Leavanny cuts itself a niche in the tier with its capabilities as an Endure sweeper. Leavanny's access to Swords Dance, Swarm, and a base Speed stat higher than common Choice Scarf users such as Mr. Mime sets it apart from other Salac Berry Sweepers like Meganium, Raichu, and Simisear, which all lack at least one of these important traits. However, despite having a toolkit tailor-made to be the ideal Salac Berry sweeper, Leavanny's STAB move combination is extremely flawed and its ideal condition, that being at below 25% HP, leave it at risk of being KOed by priority and Rocky Helmet. Endure allows Leavanny to consistently reach low HP to activate both Salac Berry and Swarm and notably reverses the situation against Choice Scarf users and Fake Out Persian. X-Scissor threatens out common staples such as Meganium and Grumpig and alongside Swarm grants Leavanny a power boost even if it cannot obtain a Swords Dance. If Leavanny manages to attain both Swarm and a Swords Dance, X-Scissor reaches very impressive levels of power, potentially allowing it to OHKO bulky attackers and frail resists such as Emolga and offensive Shelgon after Stealth Rock, which would ordinarily stand in the way of Swords Dance Grass-types like Meganium. Leaf Blade notably targets the Frillish and Ground-types such as Hippopotas, which could survive even a Swords Dance and Swarm boosted X-Scissor. Seed Bomb is a weaker alternative that notably does not make contact, allowing Leavanny to dodge an otherwise lethal Rocky Helmet activation against Solrock after Leavanny has used Endure. A Jolly nature is mandatory, as Adamant Leavanny is slower than Arbok, Mr. Mime, and Grumpig, all of which commonly run Choice Scarf.
Leavanny only works on offensive and hyper offensive teams, which appreciate Leavanny's role as both a wallbreaker and speed control. Arbok is a great partner; Intimidate and Coil allows it to set up on Muk, which walls Leavanny, and they work well together to wear down their shared check in Wormadam-S. Leavanny is not sufficient speed control on its own, so fast and powerful attackers such as Persian, Lopunny, and Emolga can help keep opposing offense in check. If a Poison-type is unable to check Leavanny due to the threat of an Arbok sweep, a Steel-type often must take a massive X-Scissor in order to shut down Leavanny; Shelgon is able to take advantage of a weakened Steel-type better than any setup sweeper, potentially winning on the spot once Lairon or Wormadam-S has been weakened. Staryu can be a good partner on teams with more backbone thanks to its typing and access to Rapid Spin, allowing it to switch into checks such as Simisear and Wormadam-S, as well as clearing Stealth Rock so that Leavanny can Swords Dance more consistently.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
===================
Substitute can allow Leavanny to reach below 25% HP while also blocking status effects, but this sacrifices Leavanny's ability to act as emergency speed control with Endure. Leavanny could make use of a Double Dance set with Agility, Swords Dance, and Life Orb in order to be more immediately threatening and not be reliant on being in the below 25% HP range. However, Leavanny cannot consistently set up both Swords Dance and Agility, and Endure reliably activates Swarm for a much needed power boost. Return could be used over Leavanny's Grass-type STAB move in order to hit Poison-types, but Bug- and Normal-type coverage is very poor, and Leavanny is similarly walled by Steel-types. Heal Bell could provide useful clerical support, but Leafeon and Meganium almost entirely outclass Leavanny in this role. Leavanny has access to Reflect and Light Screen, which makes it the fastest dual screens user in the tier. However, without access to any of Taunt, U-turn, and a self-KO move, Leavanny is outclassed by Mr. Mime in this role.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Poison-types**: Leavanny is entirely walled by both Muk and Arbok, while Gloom and Ivysaur can take even a maximum power X-Scissor and KO Leavanny back with Sludge Bomb.
**Steel-types**: Lairon resists X-Scissor and easily takes a boosted Leaf Blade, while Wormadam-S with its bulk and resistances to both of Leavanny's STAB attacks can freely set Stealth Rock even in the face of a boosted Leavanny. While Pawniard is felled by a fully boosted X-Scissor, Endure will not help Leavanny block a Sucker Punch.
**Status**: All forms of status ruin Leavanny, as it is totally nonthreatening while paralyzed, and it cannot Endure while afflicted by any other status.
**Priority**: While Endure reliably stuffs the most common priority move Fake Out, less restricted options such as Muk's Shadow Sneak, Pikachu's Extreme Speed, and Pawniard's Sucker Punch can bypass Endure.
**Faster Revenge Killers**: While Leavanny can outrun the most notable Choice Scarf users, it is still slower than more niche Choice Scarf users such as Slaking, Persian, and Lopunny. Raichu uses a similar Endure + Salac Berry combination, which is able to outrun Leavanny as well.
**Physically Defensive Walls**: Even without a resistance to both STAB attacks, physically defensive wallls can take on a boosted Leavanny if they're healthy. Physically defensive Mienfoo, Vibrava, Vullaby, and even an offensive Shelgon in perfect condition can stomach one boosted attack from Leavanny.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/monai.482455/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/mirbro.451786/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/danbear02.589016/
Last edited by a moderator:
