[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Overheat
move 2: Steam Eruption
move 3: Sludge Bomb
move 4: Earth Power / Hyper Beam / Fling / Water Pulse
item: Choice Specs
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Modest
evs: 248 HP / 108 Def / 120 SpA / 16 SpD / 16 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Volcanion carries a niche in 1v1 with its unique typing and good bulk, which gives it very good matchups versus two common type cores in 1v1: Fairy + Fire + Steel and Fire + Water + Grass. Sludge Bomb is used over Sludge Wave for the greater poison chance, which helps in the Sylveon matchup. Earth Power can be used for opposing Volcanion, and Hyper Beam for most Haxorus, while Fling and Water Pulse can be used for Avalugg and Pressure stall Entei, respectively.
EVs
=============
248 HP EVs and 108 Defense EVs let Volcanion survive Fake Out + Wood Hammer from Adamant Life Orb Rillaboom, as well as Earthquake from Adamant Choice Band Haxorus. The Special Defense allows it to take a Hyper Beam at -2 Special Defense from Modest Sylveon. The Speed investment outspeeds Adamant Rhyperior and some Metagross. The remaining EVs are dumped into Special Attack.
Usage Tips
=============
Choice Specs Volcanion is fairly straightforward—Overheat is almost always advised if both of Volcanion's STAB moves are neutral against the foe. If running Fling, use it versus Avalugg turn 1, then Overheat turn 2.
[SET]
name: Sitrus Berry
move 1: Overheat
move 2: Steam Eruption
move 3: Sludge Wave / Haze
move 4: Will-O-Wisp / Haze
item: Sitrus Berry
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Modest
evs: 148 HP / 184 Def / 80 SpA / 96 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Sitrus Berry Volcanion trades the raw power of Choice Specs for better matchups against a few physical attackers, most notably Aggron, Sawk, Avalugg, and some Dracovish. Sitrus Berry secures the positive matchup against Choice Band Sawk and Assault Vest Urshifu-S, and it helps against Registeel. Will-O-Wisp beats various physical attackers, and Haze helps versus Registeel and Spectrier.
EVs
=============
The HP and Defense EVs allow Volcanion to survive Fake Out + Wood Hammer from Adamant Life Orb Rillaboom. The Speed investment outspeeds Adamant Aggron, and the rest of the EVs are dumped into Special Attack.
Usage Tips
=============
Against opposing Aggron, Avalugg, and Sawk, Volcanion should use Will-O-Wisp turn 1 to break Sturdy and survive a hit, then Overheat on turn 2 to KO— or Steam Eruption against Aggron to minimise misses. To beat Urshifu-S, first use Will-O-Wisp to make sure it won't 2HKO Volcanion, then use Steam Eruption, and then Overheat to maximize damage output and minimize miss chances. However, if the damage Volcanion takes reveals Urshifu-S to have Choice Band, Overheat should be used immediately after Will-O-Wisp to KO it.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Overheat
move 2: Steam Eruption
move 3: Sludge Wave
move 4: Earthquake / Heavy Slam / Fling
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Modest
evs: 72 HP / 104 Def / 140 SpA / 192 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Choice Scarf Volcanion outspeeds and surprises some of its checks like Landorus, Nihilego, Pressure Entei, and Galarian Darmanitan. Earthquake OHKOes Nihilego, while Heavy Slam beats most Tapu Lele. Fling can also be used for Avalugg.
EVs
=============
The HP and Defense allow Volcanion to survive Jolly Choice Scarf Galarian Darmanitan’s Earthquake, with the HP giving some special bulk too. The Speed investment is for opposing Nihilego. The rest of the EVs are dumped into Special Attack.
An alternate EV spread of 144 HP / 152 Def / 20 SpA / 192 Spe with a Modest nature can be used to tank an Earthquake from Adamant Choice Scarf Galarian Darmanitan. 72 HP / 64 Def / 180 SpA / 192 Spe and a Modest nature can be used to more reliably beat Assault Vest Glastrier, maximising Special Attack while still surviving Earthquake from Choice Band Avalugg.
Usage Tips
=============
Choice Scarf Volcanion is very straightforward to use—if both of Volcanion's STAB moves are neutral against the foe, Overheat is almost always recommended. If Volcanion has Fling, it should be used turn 1 against an opposing Avalugg, then Overheat turn 2 to KO.
[SET]
name: Custap Berry
move 1: Steam Eruption
move 2: Overheat
move 3: Flame Charge / Heavy Slam / Earthquake
move 4: Endure
item: Custap Berry
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Modest
evs: 112 HP / 28 Def / 252 SpA / 116 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Custap Berry Volcanion gains positive matchups against Pokemon like Porygon-Z and Custap Berry Tapu Lele. Flame Charge helps beat Celesteela, SubSeed Venusaur, and opposing Custap Berry Pokemon, while Heavy Slam beats most Tapu Lele. Earthquake is mainly used for Nihilego.
EVs
=============
The HP and Defense investment allows Volcanion to survive an Earthquake from Choice Band Avalugg, while the Speed investment allows it to outspeed base 90 Speed Pokemon such as Porygon-Z, Moltres and Galarian Moltres. An alternate EV spread of 248 HP / 132 Def / 128 SpA with Earthquake can provide a somewhat reasonable Zeraora matchup.
Usage Tips
=============
Endure is almost always the best move turn 1 versus threats that can OHKO Volcanion, like Galarian Darmanitan and Porygon-Z. Then, after activating Custap Berry, it can OHKO back with the appropriate move. Against Avalugg, Volcanion should use a physical move turn 1, breaking Avalugg's Sturdy without letting it land Mirror Coat. Against Venusaur, Volcanion should use Flame Charge turn 1 to reliably beat all of its sets. If the alternate EV spread is used, Volcanion can freely use Earthquake turn 1 against opposing Zeraora. If Zeraora uses Knock Off, then use Earthquake turn 2. If Zeraora uses Plasma Fists turn 1, some prediction is required. Volcanion must use Endure on Plasma Fists or Earthquake on Knock Off. However, if Zeraora's Plasma Fists brings Volcanion below 25%, you can simply use Earthquake turn 2 because Custap Berry will activate.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Volcanion can run Life Orb to help improve the Celesteela and Sylveon matchups even further, using a moveset of Overheat, Steam Eruption, Sludge Wave, and Flame Charge. Sludge Wave is used over Sludge Bomb because Volcanion doesn't need the extra poison chance, since Sylveon would do enough damage to KO -2 Volcanion with the additional Life Orb recoil. Choice Band Volcanion can lure in pokemon that would normally beat it, such as Tapu Lele, Spectrier, and Togekiss with a moveset of Liquidation, Overheat, Flare Blitz, and Heavy Slam, although some of its matchups are a bit unreliable.
[CREDITS]
-Written by: [[bored_glitch, 579035], [adam3560, 541106]]
- Quality checked by: [[doc1203, 526135], [Itchy, 518399]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Adeleine, 517429]]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Overheat
move 2: Steam Eruption
move 3: Sludge Bomb
move 4: Earth Power / Hyper Beam / Fling / Water Pulse
item: Choice Specs
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Modest
evs: 248 HP / 108 Def / 120 SpA / 16 SpD / 16 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Volcanion carries a niche in 1v1 with its unique typing and good bulk, which gives it very good matchups versus two common type cores in 1v1: Fairy + Fire + Steel and Fire + Water + Grass. Sludge Bomb is used over Sludge Wave for the greater poison chance, which helps in the Sylveon matchup. Earth Power can be used for opposing Volcanion, and Hyper Beam for most Haxorus, while Fling and Water Pulse can be used for Avalugg and Pressure stall Entei, respectively.
EVs
=============
248 HP EVs and 108 Defense EVs let Volcanion survive Fake Out + Wood Hammer from Adamant Life Orb Rillaboom, as well as Earthquake from Adamant Choice Band Haxorus. The Special Defense allows it to take a Hyper Beam at -2 Special Defense from Modest Sylveon. The Speed investment outspeeds Adamant Rhyperior and some Metagross. The remaining EVs are dumped into Special Attack.
Usage Tips
=============
Choice Specs Volcanion is fairly straightforward—Overheat is almost always advised if both of Volcanion's STAB moves are neutral against the foe. If running Fling, use it versus Avalugg turn 1, then Overheat turn 2.
[SET]
name: Sitrus Berry
move 1: Overheat
move 2: Steam Eruption
move 3: Sludge Wave / Haze
move 4: Will-O-Wisp / Haze
item: Sitrus Berry
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Modest
evs: 148 HP / 184 Def / 80 SpA / 96 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Sitrus Berry Volcanion trades the raw power of Choice Specs for better matchups against a few physical attackers, most notably Aggron, Sawk, Avalugg, and some Dracovish. Sitrus Berry secures the positive matchup against Choice Band Sawk and Assault Vest Urshifu-S, and it helps against Registeel. Will-O-Wisp beats various physical attackers, and Haze helps versus Registeel and Spectrier.
EVs
=============
The HP and Defense EVs allow Volcanion to survive Fake Out + Wood Hammer from Adamant Life Orb Rillaboom. The Speed investment outspeeds Adamant Aggron, and the rest of the EVs are dumped into Special Attack.
Usage Tips
=============
Against opposing Aggron, Avalugg, and Sawk, Volcanion should use Will-O-Wisp turn 1 to break Sturdy and survive a hit, then Overheat on turn 2 to KO— or Steam Eruption against Aggron to minimise misses. To beat Urshifu-S, first use Will-O-Wisp to make sure it won't 2HKO Volcanion, then use Steam Eruption, and then Overheat to maximize damage output and minimize miss chances. However, if the damage Volcanion takes reveals Urshifu-S to have Choice Band, Overheat should be used immediately after Will-O-Wisp to KO it.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Overheat
move 2: Steam Eruption
move 3: Sludge Wave
move 4: Earthquake / Heavy Slam / Fling
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Modest
evs: 72 HP / 104 Def / 140 SpA / 192 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Choice Scarf Volcanion outspeeds and surprises some of its checks like Landorus, Nihilego, Pressure Entei, and Galarian Darmanitan. Earthquake OHKOes Nihilego, while Heavy Slam beats most Tapu Lele. Fling can also be used for Avalugg.
EVs
=============
The HP and Defense allow Volcanion to survive Jolly Choice Scarf Galarian Darmanitan’s Earthquake, with the HP giving some special bulk too. The Speed investment is for opposing Nihilego. The rest of the EVs are dumped into Special Attack.
An alternate EV spread of 144 HP / 152 Def / 20 SpA / 192 Spe with a Modest nature can be used to tank an Earthquake from Adamant Choice Scarf Galarian Darmanitan. 72 HP / 64 Def / 180 SpA / 192 Spe and a Modest nature can be used to more reliably beat Assault Vest Glastrier, maximising Special Attack while still surviving Earthquake from Choice Band Avalugg.
Usage Tips
=============
Choice Scarf Volcanion is very straightforward to use—if both of Volcanion's STAB moves are neutral against the foe, Overheat is almost always recommended. If Volcanion has Fling, it should be used turn 1 against an opposing Avalugg, then Overheat turn 2 to KO.
[SET]
name: Custap Berry
move 1: Steam Eruption
move 2: Overheat
move 3: Flame Charge / Heavy Slam / Earthquake
move 4: Endure
item: Custap Berry
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Modest
evs: 112 HP / 28 Def / 252 SpA / 116 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Custap Berry Volcanion gains positive matchups against Pokemon like Porygon-Z and Custap Berry Tapu Lele. Flame Charge helps beat Celesteela, SubSeed Venusaur, and opposing Custap Berry Pokemon, while Heavy Slam beats most Tapu Lele. Earthquake is mainly used for Nihilego.
EVs
=============
The HP and Defense investment allows Volcanion to survive an Earthquake from Choice Band Avalugg, while the Speed investment allows it to outspeed base 90 Speed Pokemon such as Porygon-Z, Moltres and Galarian Moltres. An alternate EV spread of 248 HP / 132 Def / 128 SpA with Earthquake can provide a somewhat reasonable Zeraora matchup.
Usage Tips
=============
Endure is almost always the best move turn 1 versus threats that can OHKO Volcanion, like Galarian Darmanitan and Porygon-Z. Then, after activating Custap Berry, it can OHKO back with the appropriate move. Against Avalugg, Volcanion should use a physical move turn 1, breaking Avalugg's Sturdy without letting it land Mirror Coat. Against Venusaur, Volcanion should use Flame Charge turn 1 to reliably beat all of its sets. If the alternate EV spread is used, Volcanion can freely use Earthquake turn 1 against opposing Zeraora. If Zeraora uses Knock Off, then use Earthquake turn 2. If Zeraora uses Plasma Fists turn 1, some prediction is required. Volcanion must use Endure on Plasma Fists or Earthquake on Knock Off. However, if Zeraora's Plasma Fists brings Volcanion below 25%, you can simply use Earthquake turn 2 because Custap Berry will activate.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Volcanion can run Life Orb to help improve the Celesteela and Sylveon matchups even further, using a moveset of Overheat, Steam Eruption, Sludge Wave, and Flame Charge. Sludge Wave is used over Sludge Bomb because Volcanion doesn't need the extra poison chance, since Sylveon would do enough damage to KO -2 Volcanion with the additional Life Orb recoil. Choice Band Volcanion can lure in pokemon that would normally beat it, such as Tapu Lele, Spectrier, and Togekiss with a moveset of Liquidation, Overheat, Flare Blitz, and Heavy Slam, although some of its matchups are a bit unreliable.
[CREDITS]
-Written by: [[bored_glitch, 579035], [adam3560, 541106]]
- Quality checked by: [[doc1203, 526135], [Itchy, 518399]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Adeleine, 517429]]
Last edited by a moderator: