[OVERVIEW]
Exeggutor is one of the most threatening special attackers in ZU thanks to its outlandish Special Attack, oppressive dual STAB attacks, and diverse movepool. Only a handful of viable Pokemon can take its Psychic- and Grass-type STAB attacks, and Exeggutor can break past walls and frailer resistant Pokemon with the extra power from Choice Specs or Grassium Z. It also has Sleep Powder, which is a valuable supportive move for debilitating switch-ins like Bronzor and Silvally-Dark. Exeggutor's vast movepool grants it multiple possible sets and functions, as it can even support its offensive presence with Leech Seed, Substitute, and Sitrus Berry with Harvest. The downside of Exeggutor comes with its poor Speed and exploitable defensive typing, as Exeggutor can easily be checked by common faster attackers like Swanna, Rapidash, Pinsir, and Choice Band Komala. Another limitation is that Exeggutor lacks the coverage or options for midground plays and can easily lose momentum on a wrong prediction, allowing the opposing Silvally-Dark to trap it or Bronzor to outstall it.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Leaf Storm
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Giga Drain
move 4: Hidden Power Fire / Sleep Powder
item: Choice Specs
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Giga Drain is a Grass-type STAB move that is easier to spam compared to Leaf Storm and provides extra recovery while preserving Exeggutor's Special Attack. Hidden Power Fire is an option to hit Steel- and Grass-types like Metang, Bronzor, and opposing Exeggutor for super effective damage. Sleep Powder alternatively could be used to debilitate switch-ins like Lickilicky. Psyshock can dent special walls like Lickilicky and Kecleon but usually is not preferred over Psychic, as then Exeggutor has a harder time dealing with physical walls that resist Grass like Gourgeist-XL and Altaria.
Set Details
========
Choice Specs and a Modest nature provide the most power for consistent wallbreaking.
Usage Tips
========
Exeggutor is meant to be a special wallbreaker and should threaten OHKOs on slower physical walls like Golem, Poliwrath, Sandslash, and Mareanie. The few key resistances Exeggutor has make switching into these aforementioned walls relatively safe, although it does have to worry about Knock Off coverage to preserve its wallbreaking potential and Toxic to avoid being worn down. Keep Exeggutor healthy, as it can take weak U-turns from defensive Silvally-Fighting and Silvally-Dragon and still nail the switch-in. Giga Drain is a much safer attack over Leaf Storm to threaten Golem and Sandslash when the opponent may have Pursuit trappers and setup sweepers like Silvally-Dark and Leafeon that could take advantage of the lowered Special Attack. Outside of these situations, Leaf Storm should still be the primary choice between the two attacks for how strong it is. Be wary of locking into one if Exeggutor's attacks if the opponent has Dark-types or Sap Sipper Pokemon on their team, as these potential switch-ins can take advantage of or Pursuit trap Exeggutor. Instead of risking being Choice-locked, Exeggutor can double switch to a teammate when predicting a switch-in. In the same vein, Sleep Powder can be used first when predicting switches to walls like Bronzor and Lickilicky, making them easier for teammates to switch into without fearing their Toxic as much.
Team Options
========
U-turn and Volt Switch users like Silvally-Fighting and Electivire are good examples of offensive pivots that help bring Exeggutor in. They enjoy its Psychic- and Ground-type resistances while also luring walls like Mareanie and Gourgeist-XL for Exeggutor to handle. Silvally-Dark and Pawniard are valuable Pursuit users for Exeggutor and can help trap and remove its checks like Bronzor and Metang from play. Defensive pivots such as Mareanie, Mawile, Poliwrath, and Bronzor are helpful for tanking hits from common revenge killers that threaten Exeggutor like Rapidash, Pinsir, and Swanna. Resisting or even punishing U-turn in the case of Rocky Helmet Mawile is a key trait to have for defensively backing up Exeggutor. Physical sweepers like Swords Dance Combusken, Shell Smash Crustle, and Z-Me First Pinsir benefit from Exeggutor's ability to break physical walls like Mareanie, Poliwrath, and Gourgeist-XL to facilitate their sweeps. Entry hazard support from Golem and Crustle can help bring more walls like Gourgeist-XL into OHKO range for Exeggutor. On the other hand, Defog and Rapid Spin support from Silvally-Dark and Komala keeps Exeggutor healthy so that it can wallbreak throughout the game.
[SET]
name: Grassium Z
move 1: Leaf Storm
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Sleep Powder
move 4: Substitute
item: Grassium Z
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Sleep Powder can be used to hinder walls and switch-ins. Substitute takes advantage of the switches Exeggutor causes when in on a vulnerable wall. Hidden Power Fire can be used over Substitute, as it can hit Steel-types like Pawniard and Metang, but it competes with the utility of Substitute. Moreover, it inflicts only similar damage to Bloom Doom as is.
Set Details
========
Grassium Z negates the low accuracy and Special Attack debuff of Leaf Storm while also providing a huge one-time nuke for frailer resistant Pokemon and certain walls like Rapidash and Dusclops.
Usage Tips
========
Use Sleep Powder to cripple initial switch-ins to Leaf Storm and Psychic like Bronzor and Lickilicky and make them more manageable. Be conservative with the Z-Move, as Bloom Doom can be used to either secure a 2HKO on bulkier walls or OHKO possibly anything later in the game and should be used with the certainty that it will be worthwhile. Exeggutor can switch into most passive Pokemon in ZU, as well as into Ground-types like Torterra and Golem. Additionally, Grassium Z makes switching into walls with Knock Off like Mareanie and Sandslash easier. Using Sleep Powder followed by Substitute can give Exeggutor protection against incoming faster threats such as Rapidash and Silvally-Dark. It can be beneficial to bluff Choice Specs, as there is overlap in OHKOs like with Psychic on physically defensive Mareanie. Then, if the opponent has a Pursuit trapper like Silvally-Dark or Pawniard, they may bring in one without expecting the following OHKO from Bloom Doom.
Team Options
========
Fire-types like Combusken and Simisear help break through bulkier Steel-types and special walls like Metang and Lickilicky for Exeggutor with their Fire- and Fighting-type coverage. They also lure in defensive Water- and Ground-types like Mareanie and Golem that Exeggutor can switch into and set up Substitute on or dispose of early-game to help with late-game cleaning. Water-types like Mareanie and Silvally-Water can be good defensive pivots that provide Ice- and Fire-type resistances for Exeggutor, which discourages Electric- and Grass-type attacks for them in return. Entry hazard support from Sandslash and Mareanie provides the chip damage needed to secure OHKOs with Bloom Doom on Leafeon or Rapidash, as well as regular KOs with Leaf Storm on targets that do not require the Z-Move like on Golem and Granbull. In the same vein, keeping entry hazards off Exeggutor's side of the field lets it preserve its bulk, so entry hazard removers like Silvally-Dragon and Sandslash are useful to have.
[SET]
name: SubSeed
move 1: Leech Seed
move 2: Substitute
move 3: Psychic
move 4: Giga Drain
item: Sitrus Berry
ability: Harvest
nature: Modest
evs: 80 HP / 252 SpA / 176 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Leech Seed provides both recovery and chip damage against walls and switch-ins. Substitute helps to stall with Leech Seed and Harvest while also providing protection against status and weak attacks. Protect could be considered over Giga Drain or Substitute, as it stalls out turns to help trigger Harvest, but it makes Exeggutor much more passive.
Set Details
========
176 Speed EVs are run to outspeed Adamant Golem, Crustle, and Marowak. The remaining 80 EVs are invested into HP, as this Exeggutor set does not need full Speed investment and would rather have extra bulk.
Usage Tips
========
Use Substitute to scout for what the opponent may try to switch in once Exeggutor is in on a favorable matchup like against Golem or Mareanie. Leech Seed with Harvest can be used to stall out potential checks like Bronzor and Lickilicky, forcing them to switch out or lose late-game. Switching into slower Ground-types like Golem and Torterra can be less punishing with the passive recovery from Sitrus Berry, but you must watch out for Knock Off users like Sandslash and Mareanie; if Exeggutor loses its Sitrus Berry before consuming it, Harvest will never activate. Keep Exeggutor healthy, as at full health, it will always survive U-turns from offensive Silvally-Fighting and Silvally-Dark and be put in range of triggering Sitrus Berry's recovery.
Team Options
========
Walls that enjoy having Exeggutor's resistances to Ground, Fighting, and Psychic like Mareanie, Mawile, and Poliwrath can be used to form a defensive core that helps check its revenge killers like Silvally-Dark and Komala. Mawile and Poliwrath in particular along with other Fairy- and Dark-types can be used as Knock Off and U-turn switch-ins when you're up against Pawniard or Silvally and Exeggutor is not healthy enough or behind a Substitute. Toxic or Toxic Spikes support from walls like Altaria, Golem, and Mareanie helps Exeggutor outstall opposing walls. Cleaners like Combusken, Z-Me First Pinsir, and Z-Rain Dance Swanna appreciate how Exeggutor can wear down walls over time, putting them in KO range for these three to finish the job. Entry hazard removers and Poison-type teammates like Komala, Altaria, and Mareanie help remove Toxic Spikes, a dangerous entry hazard that would normally debilitate Exeggutor.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Trick Room can be used with minimum Speed investment and a Quiet nature for both more bulk and sweeping potential. However, even with the extra HP, without Trick Room up Exeggutor becomes vulnerable to attackers that it used to outspeed and dent like Granbull and Marowak. Endure with Custap Berry provides pseudo-priority for Exeggutor to sweep when it is in Harvest range. Unfortunately, this is dependent on the opponent not having actual priority users or walls that would check this set, as well as Harvest activating repeatedly. Life Orb with Sunny Day support can function on sun teams as a dangerous special attacker that has the pro of 2HKOing Bronzor with Hidden Power Fire, but it is worn down easily and cannot outspeed most Choice Scarf users even under sun. Swords Dance is an option to make use of Exeggutor's decent physical movepool, but such a set is largely outclassed by the immediate power of its special sets.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-types**: Dark-types like Silvally-Dark and Pawniard discourage Exeggutor from spamming Psychic and can punish it completely with Pursuit or set up with Swords Dance once it's Choice-locked into Psychic. They can still be OHKOed by an incoming Choice Specs-boosted Leaf Storm or Bloom Doom and thus best check Exeggutor when given a free switch.
**Special Walls**: The huge special walls of the metagame like Bronzor, Lickilicky, and Assault Vest Bouffalant can take most of Exeggutor's hits, but they have to be wary of being victim to Sleep Powder and Leech Seed stalling for the former two or Psyshock for the latter two.
**Faster Pokemon**: Exeggutor's mediocre Speed means that faster threats like Komala, Swanna, Rapidash, and Purugly can threaten it with their super effective coverage or STAB moves. They usually cannot switch into Exeggutor, though, and need a sack or special defensive pivot to have a chance at revenge killing it.
**U-turn**: U-turn does tons of damage to Exeggutor, if not outright OHKOing it like in the case of Toucannon or Choice Band Komala. It is also vulnerable to weaker U-turns from Silvally-Dragon and defensive Silvally-Fighting after some chip damage, which gives up momentum when it is in KO range and forced out.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Ho3nConfirm3d, 272450]]
- Quality checked by: [[uhuhuhu7, 407249], [5gen, 296755]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [estronic, 240732]]
Exeggutor is one of the most threatening special attackers in ZU thanks to its outlandish Special Attack, oppressive dual STAB attacks, and diverse movepool. Only a handful of viable Pokemon can take its Psychic- and Grass-type STAB attacks, and Exeggutor can break past walls and frailer resistant Pokemon with the extra power from Choice Specs or Grassium Z. It also has Sleep Powder, which is a valuable supportive move for debilitating switch-ins like Bronzor and Silvally-Dark. Exeggutor's vast movepool grants it multiple possible sets and functions, as it can even support its offensive presence with Leech Seed, Substitute, and Sitrus Berry with Harvest. The downside of Exeggutor comes with its poor Speed and exploitable defensive typing, as Exeggutor can easily be checked by common faster attackers like Swanna, Rapidash, Pinsir, and Choice Band Komala. Another limitation is that Exeggutor lacks the coverage or options for midground plays and can easily lose momentum on a wrong prediction, allowing the opposing Silvally-Dark to trap it or Bronzor to outstall it.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Leaf Storm
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Giga Drain
move 4: Hidden Power Fire / Sleep Powder
item: Choice Specs
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Giga Drain is a Grass-type STAB move that is easier to spam compared to Leaf Storm and provides extra recovery while preserving Exeggutor's Special Attack. Hidden Power Fire is an option to hit Steel- and Grass-types like Metang, Bronzor, and opposing Exeggutor for super effective damage. Sleep Powder alternatively could be used to debilitate switch-ins like Lickilicky. Psyshock can dent special walls like Lickilicky and Kecleon but usually is not preferred over Psychic, as then Exeggutor has a harder time dealing with physical walls that resist Grass like Gourgeist-XL and Altaria.
Set Details
========
Choice Specs and a Modest nature provide the most power for consistent wallbreaking.
Usage Tips
========
Exeggutor is meant to be a special wallbreaker and should threaten OHKOs on slower physical walls like Golem, Poliwrath, Sandslash, and Mareanie. The few key resistances Exeggutor has make switching into these aforementioned walls relatively safe, although it does have to worry about Knock Off coverage to preserve its wallbreaking potential and Toxic to avoid being worn down. Keep Exeggutor healthy, as it can take weak U-turns from defensive Silvally-Fighting and Silvally-Dragon and still nail the switch-in. Giga Drain is a much safer attack over Leaf Storm to threaten Golem and Sandslash when the opponent may have Pursuit trappers and setup sweepers like Silvally-Dark and Leafeon that could take advantage of the lowered Special Attack. Outside of these situations, Leaf Storm should still be the primary choice between the two attacks for how strong it is. Be wary of locking into one if Exeggutor's attacks if the opponent has Dark-types or Sap Sipper Pokemon on their team, as these potential switch-ins can take advantage of or Pursuit trap Exeggutor. Instead of risking being Choice-locked, Exeggutor can double switch to a teammate when predicting a switch-in. In the same vein, Sleep Powder can be used first when predicting switches to walls like Bronzor and Lickilicky, making them easier for teammates to switch into without fearing their Toxic as much.
Team Options
========
U-turn and Volt Switch users like Silvally-Fighting and Electivire are good examples of offensive pivots that help bring Exeggutor in. They enjoy its Psychic- and Ground-type resistances while also luring walls like Mareanie and Gourgeist-XL for Exeggutor to handle. Silvally-Dark and Pawniard are valuable Pursuit users for Exeggutor and can help trap and remove its checks like Bronzor and Metang from play. Defensive pivots such as Mareanie, Mawile, Poliwrath, and Bronzor are helpful for tanking hits from common revenge killers that threaten Exeggutor like Rapidash, Pinsir, and Swanna. Resisting or even punishing U-turn in the case of Rocky Helmet Mawile is a key trait to have for defensively backing up Exeggutor. Physical sweepers like Swords Dance Combusken, Shell Smash Crustle, and Z-Me First Pinsir benefit from Exeggutor's ability to break physical walls like Mareanie, Poliwrath, and Gourgeist-XL to facilitate their sweeps. Entry hazard support from Golem and Crustle can help bring more walls like Gourgeist-XL into OHKO range for Exeggutor. On the other hand, Defog and Rapid Spin support from Silvally-Dark and Komala keeps Exeggutor healthy so that it can wallbreak throughout the game.
[SET]
name: Grassium Z
move 1: Leaf Storm
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Sleep Powder
move 4: Substitute
item: Grassium Z
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Sleep Powder can be used to hinder walls and switch-ins. Substitute takes advantage of the switches Exeggutor causes when in on a vulnerable wall. Hidden Power Fire can be used over Substitute, as it can hit Steel-types like Pawniard and Metang, but it competes with the utility of Substitute. Moreover, it inflicts only similar damage to Bloom Doom as is.
Set Details
========
Grassium Z negates the low accuracy and Special Attack debuff of Leaf Storm while also providing a huge one-time nuke for frailer resistant Pokemon and certain walls like Rapidash and Dusclops.
Usage Tips
========
Use Sleep Powder to cripple initial switch-ins to Leaf Storm and Psychic like Bronzor and Lickilicky and make them more manageable. Be conservative with the Z-Move, as Bloom Doom can be used to either secure a 2HKO on bulkier walls or OHKO possibly anything later in the game and should be used with the certainty that it will be worthwhile. Exeggutor can switch into most passive Pokemon in ZU, as well as into Ground-types like Torterra and Golem. Additionally, Grassium Z makes switching into walls with Knock Off like Mareanie and Sandslash easier. Using Sleep Powder followed by Substitute can give Exeggutor protection against incoming faster threats such as Rapidash and Silvally-Dark. It can be beneficial to bluff Choice Specs, as there is overlap in OHKOs like with Psychic on physically defensive Mareanie. Then, if the opponent has a Pursuit trapper like Silvally-Dark or Pawniard, they may bring in one without expecting the following OHKO from Bloom Doom.
Team Options
========
Fire-types like Combusken and Simisear help break through bulkier Steel-types and special walls like Metang and Lickilicky for Exeggutor with their Fire- and Fighting-type coverage. They also lure in defensive Water- and Ground-types like Mareanie and Golem that Exeggutor can switch into and set up Substitute on or dispose of early-game to help with late-game cleaning. Water-types like Mareanie and Silvally-Water can be good defensive pivots that provide Ice- and Fire-type resistances for Exeggutor, which discourages Electric- and Grass-type attacks for them in return. Entry hazard support from Sandslash and Mareanie provides the chip damage needed to secure OHKOs with Bloom Doom on Leafeon or Rapidash, as well as regular KOs with Leaf Storm on targets that do not require the Z-Move like on Golem and Granbull. In the same vein, keeping entry hazards off Exeggutor's side of the field lets it preserve its bulk, so entry hazard removers like Silvally-Dragon and Sandslash are useful to have.
[SET]
name: SubSeed
move 1: Leech Seed
move 2: Substitute
move 3: Psychic
move 4: Giga Drain
item: Sitrus Berry
ability: Harvest
nature: Modest
evs: 80 HP / 252 SpA / 176 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Leech Seed provides both recovery and chip damage against walls and switch-ins. Substitute helps to stall with Leech Seed and Harvest while also providing protection against status and weak attacks. Protect could be considered over Giga Drain or Substitute, as it stalls out turns to help trigger Harvest, but it makes Exeggutor much more passive.
Set Details
========
176 Speed EVs are run to outspeed Adamant Golem, Crustle, and Marowak. The remaining 80 EVs are invested into HP, as this Exeggutor set does not need full Speed investment and would rather have extra bulk.
Usage Tips
========
Use Substitute to scout for what the opponent may try to switch in once Exeggutor is in on a favorable matchup like against Golem or Mareanie. Leech Seed with Harvest can be used to stall out potential checks like Bronzor and Lickilicky, forcing them to switch out or lose late-game. Switching into slower Ground-types like Golem and Torterra can be less punishing with the passive recovery from Sitrus Berry, but you must watch out for Knock Off users like Sandslash and Mareanie; if Exeggutor loses its Sitrus Berry before consuming it, Harvest will never activate. Keep Exeggutor healthy, as at full health, it will always survive U-turns from offensive Silvally-Fighting and Silvally-Dark and be put in range of triggering Sitrus Berry's recovery.
Team Options
========
Walls that enjoy having Exeggutor's resistances to Ground, Fighting, and Psychic like Mareanie, Mawile, and Poliwrath can be used to form a defensive core that helps check its revenge killers like Silvally-Dark and Komala. Mawile and Poliwrath in particular along with other Fairy- and Dark-types can be used as Knock Off and U-turn switch-ins when you're up against Pawniard or Silvally and Exeggutor is not healthy enough or behind a Substitute. Toxic or Toxic Spikes support from walls like Altaria, Golem, and Mareanie helps Exeggutor outstall opposing walls. Cleaners like Combusken, Z-Me First Pinsir, and Z-Rain Dance Swanna appreciate how Exeggutor can wear down walls over time, putting them in KO range for these three to finish the job. Entry hazard removers and Poison-type teammates like Komala, Altaria, and Mareanie help remove Toxic Spikes, a dangerous entry hazard that would normally debilitate Exeggutor.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Trick Room can be used with minimum Speed investment and a Quiet nature for both more bulk and sweeping potential. However, even with the extra HP, without Trick Room up Exeggutor becomes vulnerable to attackers that it used to outspeed and dent like Granbull and Marowak. Endure with Custap Berry provides pseudo-priority for Exeggutor to sweep when it is in Harvest range. Unfortunately, this is dependent on the opponent not having actual priority users or walls that would check this set, as well as Harvest activating repeatedly. Life Orb with Sunny Day support can function on sun teams as a dangerous special attacker that has the pro of 2HKOing Bronzor with Hidden Power Fire, but it is worn down easily and cannot outspeed most Choice Scarf users even under sun. Swords Dance is an option to make use of Exeggutor's decent physical movepool, but such a set is largely outclassed by the immediate power of its special sets.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-types**: Dark-types like Silvally-Dark and Pawniard discourage Exeggutor from spamming Psychic and can punish it completely with Pursuit or set up with Swords Dance once it's Choice-locked into Psychic. They can still be OHKOed by an incoming Choice Specs-boosted Leaf Storm or Bloom Doom and thus best check Exeggutor when given a free switch.
**Special Walls**: The huge special walls of the metagame like Bronzor, Lickilicky, and Assault Vest Bouffalant can take most of Exeggutor's hits, but they have to be wary of being victim to Sleep Powder and Leech Seed stalling for the former two or Psyshock for the latter two.
**Faster Pokemon**: Exeggutor's mediocre Speed means that faster threats like Komala, Swanna, Rapidash, and Purugly can threaten it with their super effective coverage or STAB moves. They usually cannot switch into Exeggutor, though, and need a sack or special defensive pivot to have a chance at revenge killing it.
**U-turn**: U-turn does tons of damage to Exeggutor, if not outright OHKOing it like in the case of Toucannon or Choice Band Komala. It is also vulnerable to weaker U-turns from Silvally-Dragon and defensive Silvally-Fighting after some chip damage, which gives up momentum when it is in KO range and forced out.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Ho3nConfirm3d, 272450]]
- Quality checked by: [[uhuhuhu7, 407249], [5gen, 296755]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [estronic, 240732]]
Last edited:
