Taken over from swagilyph
QC: boltsandbombers / Punchshroom / Can-Eh-Dian
GP: Rhythms / P Squared
[OVERVIEW]
Leafeon's good Speed tier allows it to outspeed key threats such as Klinklang, Lilligant, Magmortar, Mesprit, Zangoose, Rotom, and Sawk. Leafeon also has access to a great boosting move in Swords Dance, which complements its excellent Attack stat. Moreover, Leafeon is one of the few physical sweepers in the tier that can beat the ever-so-popular defensive threat Quagsire. Leafeon also has great natural physical bulk, which is not very common for an offensive Pokemon, allowing it to set up with relative ease. Leafeon also learns Natural Gift, which gives it a strong physical move of any type when it is holding a particular Berry. Leafeon is a versatile Pokemon, as it is able to play as an offensive or defensive role. What sets Leafeon apart from common bulky Grass-types such as Vileplume is that it resists Ground-type attacks and thus can handle pertinent threats such as Double Dance Rhydon better. Sadly, Leafeon's typing leaves it weak to predominant Fire-, Ice-, Poison-, and Flying-types in the tier such as Pyroar, Sneasel, Garbodor, and Fletchinder. Furthermore, Leafeon's poor special bulk prevents it from making good use of its resistances to Water- and Electric-type moves, which are commonly special attacks. Due to Leafeon's limited coverage, it is left walled by many threats in NU.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Leaf Blade
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Natural Gift / Synthesis
item: Watmel Berry / Apicot Berry / Life Orb
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance is used to increase Leafeon's Attack by two stages. Leaf Blade is a powerful STAB move and has an added benefit of having a high critical hit ratio. Knock Off provides good neutral coverage with Leaf Blade as well as having the ability to remove the foe's item, and it allows Leafeon to hit Psychic- and Ghost-types such as Musharna, Xatu, Gourgeist, and Haunter harder. Natural Gift allows Leafeon to essentially add any type move to its moveset and lure out its usual checks and counters and heavily damage them. For example, Watmel Berry gives a Fire-type Natural Gift, which allows Leafeon to hit Grass-, Steel-, and Bug-types such as Ferroseed, Klinklang, and Scyther for super effective damage. Apicot Berry can be used for a 100 Base Power Ground-type attack, which allows Leafeon to hit Poison-, Fire-, and Steel-types such as Garbodor, Ninetales, and Mawile all in one moveslot, though it loses coverage on Grass- and Flying-types and can be consumed unintentionally. Synthesis can be used over Natural Gift to give Leafeon increased longevity as well as heal off Life Orb's recoil, and it can also stall out recoil from Kangaskhan's Double-Edge. It can also make better use of Leafeon's physical bulk and check physical attackers.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment and a Jolly nature are used to outspeed any Pokemon below the base 95 Speed benchmark such as Lilligant and Sawk and also Speedtie with opposing base 95 Speed Pokemon such as Jynx and Uxie. Maximum Attack investment is used for as much damage output as possible. Chlorophyll is used in case Leafeon faces sun teams, and it is Leafeon's most useful ability. Watmel Berry will give Leafeon a Fire-type Natural Gift. Apicot Berry can be used for a 100 Base Power Ground-type attack, which allows Leafeon to hit Poison-, Fire-, and Steel-types such as Garbodor, Ninetales, and Mawile all in one moveslot, though it loses coverage on Grass- and Flying-types. Life Orb is another option over Watmel Berry for more damage output and should only be used with Synthesis. Starf Berry can also be used for a 100 Base Power Psychic-type attack but can be consumed unintentionally. Overall, Watmel Berry is the best Berry for Natural Gift, as it provides a consistent 100 Base Power move and is inactive, unlike the other 100 Base Power Berries Starf Berry and Apicot Berry. Lastly, Lum Berry is a viable option over the other items as a means of protection against status ailments.
Usage Tips
========
It is encouraged for players to only attempt to sweep with Leafeon once its checks and counters such as Vileplume and Fletchinder are weakened or KOed. If Leafeon does not use Watmel Berry, Poison-types such as Weezing would stop it. If Leafeon does not use a Starf Berry, Steel-types such as Magneton and Klinklang would wall it. If Leafeon does not use Apicot Berry, Fire-types such as Ninetales would stop it. Try to set up on the predicted switch or on passive Pokemon such as Quagsire and Prinplup, which cannot deal much damage to Leafeon, though a burn from Scald from those two is detrimental for Leafeon. Also, watch out for powerful Fire- and Flying-types; Ninetales and Archeops can come in and revenge kill Leafeon at any point. Your team should have checks to Fire- and Flying-types, such as Regirock. Leafeon should watch out when switching into special Water-types, as most of them carry coverage moves that can heavily damage Leafeon, such as Ice Beam from Samurott. Natural Gift can throw your opponent off-guard, as they do not know what Berry Leafeon is holding, and it can pick up a surprise KO for you, so take full advantage of that. Watmel Berry will give Leafeon a 100 Base Power physical Fire-type move that will allow Leafeon to hit Pokemon such as opposing Leafeon, Ferroseed, Vileplume, Lilligant, and Cacturne for super effective damage. After a Swords Dance, Watmel Berry Natural Gift will OHKO Vileplume after Stealth Rock damage, OHKO Ferroseed, and straight up KO Lilligant and Cacturne, even with no boost at all. Starf Berry is also viable with Natural Gift, as it gives Leafeon a Psychic-type attack, allowing Leafeon to hit Pokemon such as Vileplume, Garbador, and Weezing for super effective damage. Starf Berry is unreliable, however, because, if Leafeon takes enough damage, its Berry will be used up and it will lose its ability to hit Poison-types. Apicot Berry will give Leafeon a consistent Ground-type attack that allows it to hit Poison-, Fire-, and Steel-types such as Garbodor, Ninetales, and Mawile all in one moveslot. Unfortunately, Natural Gift can only be used one time, so it has to be used with caution and therefore needs to count.
Team Options
========
Leafeon works great with entry hazard support from Garbodor and Regirock. Any added damage from Spikes and Stealth Rock to Leafeon's switch-ins can help it take things down quicker. Common switch-ins such as Ferroseed and Vileplume won't appreciate a Knock Off or entry hazard damage. Rhydon makes for a good partner, as it can handle Flying- and Fire-types such as Scyther and Fletchinder for Leafeon, and Leafeon can handle Water-types such as Quagsire for Rhydon. Carracosta is also a great partner because, in addition to handling Flying- and Fire-types, it can also handle Ice-types such as Sneasel while Leafeon resists Electric-, Grass-, and Ground-type attacks for Carracosta in return. Defensive variants can easily handle threats to Leafeon, while Shell Smash variants provide another win condition and appreciate Leafeon's ability to beat Quagsire. Pokemon that can greatly benefit from Leafeon's ability to lure in their checks and KO them with a Natural Gift are also good partners. If Watmel Berry is being used, Swords Dance Mawile appreciates Leafeon's ability to eliminate Ferroseed. If Starf Berry is being used, Fighting-types such as Gurdurr and Sawk appreciate Leafeon's ability to weaken or KO Poison-types such as Garbodor and Weezing. If Apicot Berry is being used, Pokemon that can handle Grass- and Flying-types, such as Rotom-S and Kabutops, make for good partners.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Wish
move 2: Synthesis / Protect
move 3: Leaf Blade
move 4: Heal Bell / Roar / Baton Pass
item: Leftovers
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 200 Def / 56 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Wish is a great way to remain healthy and keep your team up on its feet. It will give Leafeon back 50% of its health the turn after it's used. Synthesis allows Leafeon to heal itself more efficiently if it does not want the opponent to take advantage of free turns. The access to immediate recovery can also be helpful if Leafeon is low on health and needs to survive that turn. Protect is used to safely get a Wish off for Leafeon as well as to scout for what move Choice item users lock themselves into, and it is also used to stall for extra recovery. Leaf Blade is Leafeon's best STAB move, as it has no drawbacks and has a high Base Power. Leafeon's naturally good Attack stat will allow it to dish out good damage with no investment. Heal Bell is a fantastic utility move for not only Leafeon but the entire team. If another wall tries to wear Leafeon down with burn or Toxic damage, Leafeon can easily heal itself with Heal Bell. This will also keep Pokemon on your team free from status. Roar can be used to phaze setup sweepers that try to set up on Leafeon, such as Klinklang, Vivillon, and Scyther. Baton Pass is an option that will help spread Wishes safely to the rest of your team. Should your opponent switch in to something that would threaten the intended Wish receiver, you could simply Baton Pass into something else without having to predict whether the foe will stay in or get switched out.
Set Details
========
Maximum HP investment is used for as much bulk as possible as well as passing a lot of health to teammates with Wish. 56 Speed EVs ensure that Leafeon outspeeds neutral-natured base 70 Speed Pokemon such as Samurott and Ludicolo. The rest of the EVs are put into Defense to maximize Leafeon's physical bulk. A spread of 252 HP / 120 Def / 136 Spe is another option, which allows Leafeon to outspeed maximum Speed neutral-natured Kabutops. Finally, a spread of 252 HP / 80 Def / 176 Spe allows Leafeon to outspeed Adamant maximum Speed Sawk, though it loses out on a lot of physical bulk. Leftovers provides a form of passive recovery and, coupled with the health that Leafeon will be receiving from Wish + Protect, will keep Leafeon alive and well.
Usage Tips
========
This set works well on stall and balanced teams that appreciate having cleric support and a bulky pivot. Pokemon that do not take being burned or paralyzed kindly can be used more effectively on a team with defensive Leafeon, as you always have the option of using Heal Bell, and giving health back to Leafeon's teammates with Wish and Baton Pass. When Leafeon is not using Wish or Heal Bell, it can be a good pivot. Baton Pass will allow Leafeon to keep some momentum. Leafeon is able to switch in to many walls safely. Sandslash and Rhydon are all common Pokemon that Leafeon can switch into, set up on with Wish, and threaten out with its powerful Grass-type STAB move.
Team Options
========
Archeops is a good Pokemon to pair with defensive Leafeon because it handles Fire- and Flying-types such as Pyroar and Swellow well. Wish passing into Archeops to keep it healthy is also great. If Leafeon runs Roar, entry hazard support from Carracosta, Rhydon, and Garbodor can benefit it greatly, as it can rack up entry hazard damage on opposing teams. These Pokemon are also great partners in general, as they appreciate the Wish and Heal Bell support that Leafeon provides for them, as they have no forms of reliable recovery. Fire-type foes are something to consider when building a team with Leafeon. Pyroar and Ninetales usually switch in to revenge kill Leafeon, so it's good to have partners such as Assault Vest Hariyama and Assault Vest Magmortar to deal with them. Hariyama is a great teammate in particular, as Leafeon can provide Heal Bell support for it if it gets burned by the Fire-types. Stunfisk is another good teammate that can handle threats such as Fletchinder and provide Stealth Rock support. Mantine is also a good partner, as it can deal with special attackers that Leafeon has trouble with such as Ninetales and Pyroar, and Leafeon can provide Wish support for it. It can also provide Defog support to clear the field of entry hazards, which can interfere Leafeon's clerical duties.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Knock Off is an option on the defensive set for utility, especially getting rid of Pokemon that carry Eviolite such as Prinplup, Ferroseed, and Scyther. Yawn is also an option for a good utility move that can force switches. Lastly, a dedicated Baton Pass set with Substitute, Swords Dance, and Leaf Blade is another option to allow Leafeon to support its teammates. A set with Substitute and Swords Dance with two attacks is also a viable option.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Poison-types**: Poison-types such as Vileplume, Garbodor, and Weezing resist Leafeon's STAB move, can take a Knock Off, and can retaliate with their respective Poison-type STAB moves, though they have to be careful of a potential Starf Berry Natural Gift. Defensive variants of Leafeon are hopeless against these Poison-types.
**Flying-types**: Flying-types such as Fletchinder, Archeops, Swellow, Scyther, and Choice Scarf Rotom-S can outspeed Leafeon and threaten to KO it with their Flying-type STAB moves, though the latter two do not appreciate taking a Knock Off and losing their item. Fletchinder, in particular, deserves a special mention for being one of the hardest checks to Leafeon, as it can switch into any of Leafeon's attacks and retaliate with an Acrobatics.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types such as Magmortar, Pyroar, and Ninetales can switch into to a Leaf Blade from Leafeon and KO it with their Fire-type STAB moves, though they have to be careful of an Apicot Berry Natural Gift. Magmortar is a shaky check because Leafeon outspeeds it. The latter two can outspeed it and OHKO it.
**Ice-types**: Ice-types such as Sneasel do not appreciate taking a Leaf Blade but can outspeed and damage Leafeon easily with their Ice-type STAB moves. Cryogonal can also outspeed Leafeon and easily OHKO it with Freeze-Dry. Jynx can also easily OHKO Leafeon but has to risk a Speed tie. Choice Scarf Aurorus can also easily revenge kill Leafeon.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types such as Mawile, Klinklang, and Pawniard can set up on defensive Leafeon and beat offensive Leafeon 1v1 unless it carries a Watmel Berry or Apicot Berry Natural Gift.
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