Volcarona
[Pros]
<ul>
<li>Volcarona has access to Quiver Dance.</li>
<li>It achieves good coverage with its STABs and coverage moves.</li>
<li>It possesses great Speed, Special Attack, and Special Defense.</li>
<li>Defog means Stealth Rock is easier to eliminate for Volcarona.</li>
</ul>
[Cons]
<ul>
<li>It's 4x weak to Stealth Rock.</li>
<li>Key Pokemon resist Volcarona's STABs, leaving it hard walled depending on its coverage move.</li>
<li>It requires support in the form or Rapid Spin or Defog.</li>
<li>Base 100 Speed leaves Volcarona vulnerable to Choice Scarf users such as Garchomp.</li>
</ul>
[Set Recommendations]
<p>Volcarona @ Lum Berry / Life Orb<br />
Ability: Flame Body<br />
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spd <br />
Modest (+SpA, -Atk) / Timid (+Spe, -Atk)<br />
- Quiver Dance<br />
- Bug Buzz<br />
- Fiery Dance / Fire Blast<br />
- Hidden Power Rock / Hidden Power Ice<br />
<p>This set takes advantage of Volcarona's great Speed and Special Attack. The EVs are used to maximize Speed and power, and a Modest nature to maximize power output. Timid allows Volcarona to speed tie with Choice Scarf Salamence after a Quiver Dance, but the power drop is significant. Quiver Dance is a fantastic move, boosting three stats at once. Bug Buzz and Fiery Dance provide strong, reliable STAB, while the latter even has a 50% chance to boost Volcarona's Special Attack. Fire Blast is a viable alternative to Fiery Dance, with much more immediate power. The boost is pretty important, because at +1 Volcarona fails to OHKO Hippowdon, unless it's using Fire Blast, which always OHKOes physically defensive Hippowdon. Hidden Power Rock hits Talonflame, Gyarados, Dragonite, and Salamence, usually OHKOing them after +1. Lum Berry is the item of choice to allow Volcarona to set up on Ferrothorn, Blissey, and other status inducers with little fear.</p>
<p>Volcarona can run a few items pretty effectively. Life Orb is a good option for the power boost. Passho Berry allows Volcarona to easily set up on Water-types such as Starmie without much fear. A bulkier spread of 240 HP / 252 Def / 16 Spe with Leftovers and Roost can be used as it helps Volcarona set up Quiver Dances a lot easier, although the loss in coverage leaves Volcarona easily walled by the likes of Dragonite, Gyarados, and Talonflame. However, if you can deal with these Pokemon, this EV spread is perfectly viable. 16 Speed EVs are used to outspeed Alakazam at +2, while the rest is placed into HP and Defense, allowing Volcarona to easily set up on a lot of physical sweepers.</p>
<p>Good teammates are Pokemon that can support Volcarona in the form of removing entry hazards, such as spinners and Pokemon that use Defog. Keep in mind that Rapid Spin doesn't clear the opponent's side of the field of hazards and cannot be stopped by Taunt, while Defog cannot be spinblocked. Starmie, Excadrill, and Forretress are all viable rapid spinners. Starmie is one of the best spinners for Volcarona, because of the synergy and offensive momentum that Starmie provides. Viable users of Defog include Skarmory and Scizor. Skarmory can provide both Defog and Stealth Rocks. Scizor provides free switch-ins with its slow U-turn, and checks dangerous Pokemon. While you may be tempted to use Defog users such as Dragonite, Crobat, and Togekiss, the added weakness to Stealth Rock for your team makes them questionable options.</p>
<p>Good teammates include Pokemon that can deal with Volcarona's counters. This makes Fighting-types great partners, because of their ability to beat special walls such as Tyranitar and Blissey.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Although not really a Pokemon, Volcarona's biggest enemy is Stealth Rock. As Volcarona switches into Stealth Rock, it loses 50% of its health. Keeping Stealth Rock on the field with spinblockers and fast Taunt users is one of the best ways to keep Volcarona in check.</p>
<p>As for actual Pokemon, the best checks are Pokemon that resist both of Volcarona's STAB attacks. Dragalge, Talonflame, Gyarados, Salamence, Mega Charizard X, and Dragonite all resist the Fire and Bug combination, while in return they can all either phaze Volcarona or hit Volcarona hard with their STAB attacks. Volcarona's main coverage option at the moment is Hidden Power Rock, so be aware of that when using these Pokemon to check Volcarona. While Goodra doesn't resist Bug Buzz, it has a great Special Defense and can phaze Volcarona out with Dragon Tail. Choice Scarf users with a higher base Speed than 100 can revenge kill +1 Volcarona. While Volcarona resists most priority attacks, Aqua Jet users such as Azumarill and Kabutops quickly spell doom for Volcarona, while Extreme Speed users such as Dragonite and Lucario can pick off a weakened Volcarona.</p>
<p>Blissey and Chansey can generally sponge Volcarona's attacks with ease thanks to their gigantic HP and Special Defense stats. They can cripple Volcarona with either Thunder Wave or Toxic, but they must watch out for ChestoRest variants. Finally, the item Assault Vest allows Tyranitar to check Volcarona with its insane special bulk, while Tyranitar can easily OHKO in return.</p>
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