BP
Upper Decky Lip Mints
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Growth / Leech Seed
move 2: Razor Leaf / Giga Drain
move 3: Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Synthesis
item: Leftovers / Lum Berry
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Calm
evs: 244 HP / 220 SpD / 44 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Growth boosts Sunflora's already astounding Special Attack, which allows it to take advantage of Pokemon that cannot 2HKO it such as Elekid, Chinchou, and Staryu. Alternatively, Leech Seed is used to chip switch-ins and as a form of recovery against bulkier Poison-type Pokemon such as Koffing, Grimer, and Dustox. Razor Leaf lets Sunflora avoid becoming setup fodder against Pokemon like Spoink thanks to its raised critical hit chance. Giga Drain can be run as another bonus recovery option, although Razor Leaf has significantly higher PP. Hidden Power Ice allows Sunflora to threaten other Grass-types such as Lileep, Bayleef, and Exeggcute while also threatening Pidgeotto and Taillow. Synthesis provides Sunflora with a reliable form of recovery. The HP EVs maximize Sunflora's HP while gaining optimal Leftovers recovery, and the Speed EVs allow Sunflora to outspeed uninvested base 35 Speed Pokemon like Koffing, with the rest put into its special bulk.
Specially defensive Sunflora fits best on balance and offense teams that can benefit from the role compression it offers as an emergency check to Elekid. Physical walls such as Koffing, Lileep, and Nosepass can help shut down physical attackers like Aipom, Rhyhorn, and Pidgeotto for Sunflora. These same physical attackers pair well with Sunflora, as they are able to threaten specially defensive walls such as Delcatty and Dustox. They also greatly appreciate Sunflora acting as a check to Elekid. Due to Sunflora's susceptibility to Poison-types like Dustox, Koffing, and Grimer, Steel-types such as Aron and Magnemite pair well with it. Rhyhorn makes an excellent partner with Sunflora, as it's able to prevent Grimer from using Sunflora as setup fodder. Pokemon that resist Fire such as Nosepass, Seaking, and Chinchou pair well with Sunflora, although the latter two must be wary of Hidden Power Grass. Nosepass and Chinchou are worth mentioning, as their access to Thunder Wave can help remedy Sunflora's pitiful Speed.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bp.272450/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tea-guzzler.577920/
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Grass Whistle can be used to put opposing Pokemon to sleep, but its poor accuracy makes it hard to justify over Synthesis. In the same vein, Substitute can be run to take advantage of Pokemon that might choose to switch out, but Synthesis is generally the better option to maintain Sunflora's longevity. Sunflora can opt to run maximum Speed with a Timid nature to outspeed Elekid with Chlorophyll active but this greatly weakens it offensively and is seldom worth the investment.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Castform**: Any Castform set that carries a physical move can make quick work of Sunflora. Addtionally, Castform's access to Forecast means that it can easily take a Solar Beam when sun is active and strike back with a boosted Fire Blast.
**Physical Wallbreakers**: Physical wallbreakers such as Aipom, Pidgeotto, and Nidorino can all OHKO Sunflora with their STAB attacks.
**Fire-types**: Cyndaquil and Growlithe are able to wall Sunflora naturally as Fire-types and can 2HKO it with their STAB attacks. Growlithe is worth noting due to it being able to use Sunflora as setup fodder with Agility.
**Delcatty**: Delcatty can waste Sunflora's sun turns thanks to its access to Wish and Protect. Addtionally, Sunflora's poor Defense means that Body Slam can heavily threaten it.
**Status users**: Status spreaders such as Butterfree, Magnemite, Lileep, and Dustox can hinder Sunflora's ability to act as a proper wall or cleaner. All must be wary of Sunflora when sun is active, however.
**Megahorn users**: Without Chlorophyll activation, Seaking and Rhyhorn outspeed and can OHKO Sunflora with Megahorn.
**Poison-types**: Poison-types such as Dustox and Grimer all resist Solar Beam. Dustox must be wary of Hidden Power Fire and cannot safely check it if weakened. Grimer is worth noting, as it can use Sunflora as setup fodder or OHKO it with Sludge Bomb.
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