[SET]
Physically Defensive (Vullaby) @ Eviolite
Ability: Big Pecks
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 3 Atk / 30 Def / 30 SpA / 30 SpD / 30 Spe
- Taunt / Knock Off / Toxic
- Foul Play
- Hidden Power Fighting / Toxic
- Roost
[SET COMMENTS]
Thanks to its substantial Eviolite-boosted bulk and Roost, Vullaby walls physical attackers like Persian, Muk, and Whiscash, and its typing helps it check Grass-types like Meganium and Leafeon; Psychic-types like Grumpig and Choice-locked Mr. Mime; and Ground-types like Whiscash, Wormadam-G, and Hippopotas. Foul Play exerts pressure on the physical attackers Vullaby checks and greatly damages ones that could overwhelm it or set up on it like Kingler, Slaking, Shelgon, and Beartic. Taunt stops opposing walls like Clefairy, Meganium, and Frillish from having a chance to recover or support their teammates, keeping them at low HP for its own partners. Taunt also can safeguard Vullaby from being statused by Toxic and Thunder Wave from slower, passive foes like Wormadam-S and Clefairy. Knock Off is an incredibly powerful option for Vullaby to diminish Clefairy, which otherwise walls Vullaby, as well as other walls reliant on Eviolite like Lairon, Staryu, Frillish, and Hipppopotas. One of the better switch-ins to Knock Off in the tier, Muk, struggles to break Vullaby and takes a lot of damage from Foul Play. Hidden Power Fighting 2HKOes Lairon and Pawniard, both of which could otherwise use Vullaby as setup fodder. Toxic can be used either over Hidden Power Fighting or Taunt, which lets Vullaby wear down opposing walls like Frillish, Hippopotas, and Vibrava on its own, although it is important to support Vullaby against opposing walls or offensive Steel-types if either move is dropped.
Vullaby fits best on bulkier teams in need of a physically defensive wall. Muk is an amazing partner, as it can absorb Toxic and Knock Off for Vullaby, and in return, it appreciates Vullaby checking Psychic- and Ground-types like Grumpig and Whiscash. Clefairy forms a great core with Vullaby, taking on special attackers like Glaceon and Raichu thanks to its special bulk and offering plenty of utility to support it, including Heal Bell. In turn, Vullaby threatens one of Clefairy's few checks, Muk, with Foul Play. Vullaby is weak to Stealth Rock, so Staryu forms a great duo with it by removing entry hazards. Vullaby can check the Grass-types like Meganium and Leafeon that Staryu draws in, and it appreciates Staryu's Scald burns making them, as well as physical attackers like Muk and Arbok, easier to wall. Clerics like Leafeon and Meganium appreciate Vullaby checking threats to them like Arbok and Muk and can support it with Heal Bell and Aromatherapy if it is statused.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
U-turn turns Vullaby into a slow pivot that can support wallbreaking teammates such as Glaceon, Simisear, and Leafeon. However, fitting U-turn means giving up on another utility move, which is usually too detrimental to Vullaby.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Stealth Rock**: Vullaby loses 25% of its HP with Stealth Rock up, making it much worse at its job as a wall. Stealth Rock setters with better Speed such as Solrock, Lairon, Pawniard, and Bibarel don't have to worry about Vullaby outspeeding and using Taunt against them, although all except Bibarel are afraid of Toxic or Hidden Power Fighting. Clefairy frequently carries Stealth Rock, and Vullaby is helpless to stop Clefairy from setting it up without Taunt.
**Status**: Damage from Toxic, poison, or burn forces Vullaby to become more passive and use Roost more often in order to stay healthy. Muk or Arbok can poison Vullaby with their STAB moves, Mienfoo sometimes runs Toxic, and defensive Solrock can use Will-O-Wisp to dampen Vullaby's Foul Play and wear it down. Paralysis from foes like Clefairy allows foes to fish for a full paralysis on an attempted Roost.
**Knock Off and Trick**: Vullaby relies on its Eviolite for much of its bulk, and losing it is terrible for its longevity. Clefairy, one of the best Pokemon in the tier, commonly carries Knock Off. Ivysaur and defensive Pelipper also run Knock Off, though Pelipper is vulnerable to Vullaby's Toxic. Physical attackers like Persian, Mienfoo, and Emolga can carry Knock Off too, luring Vullaby in to neutralize it. Choice Scarf users like Grumpig and Mr. Mime can lure Vullaby in with their Psychic-type moves and give it a Choice Scarf with Trick, turning it into deadweight.
**Opposing Walls**: Vullaby relies on Foul Play and Hidden Power Fighting for its damage output and can struggle to touch bulky Pokemon. Wormadam-S is unbothered by all of Vullaby's common moves besides Knock Off and can threaten to set Stealth Rock or use Toxic. Clefairy is very common and can force Vullaby to use its utility moves, though it is slow enough to be shut down by Vullaby's Taunt. Staryu can use Vullaby as a chance to use Rapid Spin, shrugs off Vullaby's Toxic with Natural Cure, and is fast enough to avoid Taunt. Ivysaur and Gloom are immune to Toxic and wear Vullaby down with Sludge Bomb and Leech Seed, though both of them can be vulnerable to Taunt.
*Special Attackers**: Common special attackers like Simisear, Mr. Mime, and Pelipper exploit Vullaby's lower special bulk and overwhelm it. Walrein threatens to 2HKO Vullaby and can use it to set up Substitute, but it should be wary about switching into Toxic. Raichu and Glaceon notably OHKO Vullaby after Stealth Rock damage. However, Simisear, Mr. Mime, and Raichu take a lot of damage from Vullaby's Foul Play.
**Taunt**: Physical attackers like Persian and Emolga can use Taunt on Vullaby to prevent it from recovering or using Toxic on them or their teammates.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/missangelic.452572/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/monai.482455/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/autumn.384270/
Physically Defensive (Vullaby) @ Eviolite
Ability: Big Pecks
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 3 Atk / 30 Def / 30 SpA / 30 SpD / 30 Spe
- Taunt / Knock Off / Toxic
- Foul Play
- Hidden Power Fighting / Toxic
- Roost
[SET COMMENTS]
Thanks to its substantial Eviolite-boosted bulk and Roost, Vullaby walls physical attackers like Persian, Muk, and Whiscash, and its typing helps it check Grass-types like Meganium and Leafeon; Psychic-types like Grumpig and Choice-locked Mr. Mime; and Ground-types like Whiscash, Wormadam-G, and Hippopotas. Foul Play exerts pressure on the physical attackers Vullaby checks and greatly damages ones that could overwhelm it or set up on it like Kingler, Slaking, Shelgon, and Beartic. Taunt stops opposing walls like Clefairy, Meganium, and Frillish from having a chance to recover or support their teammates, keeping them at low HP for its own partners. Taunt also can safeguard Vullaby from being statused by Toxic and Thunder Wave from slower, passive foes like Wormadam-S and Clefairy. Knock Off is an incredibly powerful option for Vullaby to diminish Clefairy, which otherwise walls Vullaby, as well as other walls reliant on Eviolite like Lairon, Staryu, Frillish, and Hipppopotas. One of the better switch-ins to Knock Off in the tier, Muk, struggles to break Vullaby and takes a lot of damage from Foul Play. Hidden Power Fighting 2HKOes Lairon and Pawniard, both of which could otherwise use Vullaby as setup fodder. Toxic can be used either over Hidden Power Fighting or Taunt, which lets Vullaby wear down opposing walls like Frillish, Hippopotas, and Vibrava on its own, although it is important to support Vullaby against opposing walls or offensive Steel-types if either move is dropped.
Vullaby fits best on bulkier teams in need of a physically defensive wall. Muk is an amazing partner, as it can absorb Toxic and Knock Off for Vullaby, and in return, it appreciates Vullaby checking Psychic- and Ground-types like Grumpig and Whiscash. Clefairy forms a great core with Vullaby, taking on special attackers like Glaceon and Raichu thanks to its special bulk and offering plenty of utility to support it, including Heal Bell. In turn, Vullaby threatens one of Clefairy's few checks, Muk, with Foul Play. Vullaby is weak to Stealth Rock, so Staryu forms a great duo with it by removing entry hazards. Vullaby can check the Grass-types like Meganium and Leafeon that Staryu draws in, and it appreciates Staryu's Scald burns making them, as well as physical attackers like Muk and Arbok, easier to wall. Clerics like Leafeon and Meganium appreciate Vullaby checking threats to them like Arbok and Muk and can support it with Heal Bell and Aromatherapy if it is statused.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
U-turn turns Vullaby into a slow pivot that can support wallbreaking teammates such as Glaceon, Simisear, and Leafeon. However, fitting U-turn means giving up on another utility move, which is usually too detrimental to Vullaby.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Stealth Rock**: Vullaby loses 25% of its HP with Stealth Rock up, making it much worse at its job as a wall. Stealth Rock setters with better Speed such as Solrock, Lairon, Pawniard, and Bibarel don't have to worry about Vullaby outspeeding and using Taunt against them, although all except Bibarel are afraid of Toxic or Hidden Power Fighting. Clefairy frequently carries Stealth Rock, and Vullaby is helpless to stop Clefairy from setting it up without Taunt.
**Status**: Damage from Toxic, poison, or burn forces Vullaby to become more passive and use Roost more often in order to stay healthy. Muk or Arbok can poison Vullaby with their STAB moves, Mienfoo sometimes runs Toxic, and defensive Solrock can use Will-O-Wisp to dampen Vullaby's Foul Play and wear it down. Paralysis from foes like Clefairy allows foes to fish for a full paralysis on an attempted Roost.
**Knock Off and Trick**: Vullaby relies on its Eviolite for much of its bulk, and losing it is terrible for its longevity. Clefairy, one of the best Pokemon in the tier, commonly carries Knock Off. Ivysaur and defensive Pelipper also run Knock Off, though Pelipper is vulnerable to Vullaby's Toxic. Physical attackers like Persian, Mienfoo, and Emolga can carry Knock Off too, luring Vullaby in to neutralize it. Choice Scarf users like Grumpig and Mr. Mime can lure Vullaby in with their Psychic-type moves and give it a Choice Scarf with Trick, turning it into deadweight.
**Opposing Walls**: Vullaby relies on Foul Play and Hidden Power Fighting for its damage output and can struggle to touch bulky Pokemon. Wormadam-S is unbothered by all of Vullaby's common moves besides Knock Off and can threaten to set Stealth Rock or use Toxic. Clefairy is very common and can force Vullaby to use its utility moves, though it is slow enough to be shut down by Vullaby's Taunt. Staryu can use Vullaby as a chance to use Rapid Spin, shrugs off Vullaby's Toxic with Natural Cure, and is fast enough to avoid Taunt. Ivysaur and Gloom are immune to Toxic and wear Vullaby down with Sludge Bomb and Leech Seed, though both of them can be vulnerable to Taunt.
*Special Attackers**: Common special attackers like Simisear, Mr. Mime, and Pelipper exploit Vullaby's lower special bulk and overwhelm it. Walrein threatens to 2HKO Vullaby and can use it to set up Substitute, but it should be wary about switching into Toxic. Raichu and Glaceon notably OHKO Vullaby after Stealth Rock damage. However, Simisear, Mr. Mime, and Raichu take a lot of damage from Vullaby's Foul Play.
**Taunt**: Physical attackers like Persian and Emolga can use Taunt on Vullaby to prevent it from recovering or using Toxic on them or their teammates.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/missangelic.452572/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/monai.482455/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/autumn.384270/
Last edited:
