I'd like start a conversation about Volcanion, this new legendary Pokemon has been released few days ago.
• Volcanion types analysis:
Fire/Water type is certainly a very good type for both type.
- 3 weaknesses: Electric, Ground, Rock
- 5 resistances: Bug, Fairy,
Fire,
Ice,
Steel
- 1 immunity: Water (because of Water Absorb) (Only Gyarados-M is able to break its ability)
• Volcanion Moveset:
I listed by category good moves Volcanion learns:
- Special: Earth Power, Fire Blast, Flamethrower, Flash Canon, Focus Blast, Heat Wave,
Scald , Sludge Bomb, Sludge Wave, Steam Eruption, Solar Beam
- Physical: Earthquake, Flame Charge, Flare Blitz, Rock Slide, Stone Edge, Superpower
- Others: Haze, Roar, Will-O-Wisp, Sunny Day
First, we notice is its good special moveset: Fire, Water, Fighting, Poison, Grass, Ground and Steel. It's able to cover a lot of types.
Fighting, Dragon, Psychic, Ghost, Dark and Flying are types Volcanion can't hit super effective. Instead hit effective, just spam this powerful move called Steam Eruption (110 Power, 95% accuracy and 30% to burn).
This move is just incredible when you know Hydro-Pump has same power but a lower accuracy (80%) without secondary effect.
Next, the physical moveset has a
huge issue, It can't learn any Water Physical move. That's one of the worst thing for it. Instead that, it can learn the good coverage Rock/Ground type in addition of Fire and Fighting.
That's why, in my opinion, people will use it as Special user most of time.
Haze, Roar and Will-O-Wisp are good moves to use it in a Stall Water team.
• Volcanion impact in Water type:
Volcanion is a big advantage for water type, indeed, it gives to water a new way to answer to Grass type. As Volcanion receives neutral damage from Grass type, it can answers with powerful Fire move.
If Volcanion is used as Specs, it can 2HKO M-Venu: 252+ SpA Choice Specs Volcanion Fire Blast vs. 248 HP / 252 SpD Thick Fat Mega Venusaur: 206-246 (56.7 - 67.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
In Water type, Volcanion is a nightmare for Steel type: Volcanion is able to destroy this type, Ferrothorn isn't an issue anymore.
I listed 2 things to be able to defeat it:
Jirachi AV: This set has already been shown to be good for Steel type in this threat but now, we can add to it Jirachi is able to beat 1vs1 Volcanion:
252+ SpA Volcanion Fire Blast vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Jirachi: 264-312 (65.5 - 77.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Volcanion Fire Blast vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Jirachi: 264-312 (65.5 - 77.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
The other alternative is Excadrill Scarf
only if Volcanion has been hurt by SR (If Volcanion is used with max HP)
252 Atk Mold Breaker Excadrill Earthquake vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Volcanion: 288-342 (79.3 - 94.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Mold Breaker Excadrill Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Volcanion: 288-342 (95.6 - 113.6%) -- 75% chance to OHKO
Volcanion has another big impact used in water type: Against Fairy
Another good weapon for water with Tentacruel and Empoleon(?) in a different style, offense style.
With Sludge Wave, Steam Eruption, Fire Blast it hits super effective all Fairy Pokemon.
Volcanion is able to deal with M-Zard Y, it accentuate the difference between Fire and Water and perhaps will influence the most used mega in Flying type (M-Zard Y → M-Gyarados (This one is certainly a good check to Volcanion)).
A lot of people are saying Volcanion destroys Bug type, but I'm not agree with this opinion: Galvantula (mostly used with Electric Grass coverage) is able to deal with it.
252 SpA Galvantula Thunder vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Volcanion: 320-380 (88.1 - 104.6%) -- 25% chance to OHKO
If not Galvantula, the core Shuckle SR, Sticky web and M-Heracross is able to do this job too.
252+ Atk Mega Heracross Rock Blast (5 hits) vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Volcanion: 340-410 (93.6 - 112.9%) -- approx. 81.3% chance to OHKO
Dark type is said weak to Volcanion, why?
Volcanion absorbs Will-O-Wisp from Sableye and deal with it, deal with Bisharp, Tyranitar, Mandibuzz, Crawdaunt, ... By its potentiel to burn and hit a lot.
• Counter/Check?
Cradily is certainly the best counter for Volcanion like Water/Ground move if Volcanion isn't played with HP-Grass.
• Bonus replays
Vs Steel:
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/monotype-361231501
Vs Fighting
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/monotype-360296197
Vs Normal
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/monotype-360270978
Vs Grass
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/monotype-360226375
Vs Grass²
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/monotype-361268821
Ps: new replays are coming
• To resume about Volcanion in Water type
→ Steel is totally beaten by Volcanion most of time.
→ Fairy, Dark will have some troubles with it.
→ No Water Physical Move who makes it predictable
→ Steam Eruption is ver powerful/broken?