QC: Raiza / Anty / Magnemite
GP: P Squared / The Dutch Plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
Vanilluxe has a solid offensive Ice typing backed by well-rounded stats, but it suffers from four-moveslot syndrome. It faces competition as an Ice-type late-game sweeper from Regice due to its superior bulk and movepool, but it has a stronger Ice-type STAB attack, has access to Freeze-Dry, and is faster, notably being able to outspeed most Choice Scarf users after an Autotomize boost, and with a Weak Armor boost it can allow it to outspeed the entire boosted metagame. Its poor defensive typing, however, makes it hard for Vanilluxe to find time to set up. It also gets worn down easily due to a lack of recovery, a weakness to Stealth Rock, and Life Orb recoil.
[SET]
name: Autotomize
move 1: Autotomize
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Freeze-Dry
move 4: Hidden Power Ground
item: Life Orb
ability: Weak Armor
nature: Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Autotomize doubles Vanilluxe's Speed, turning it into a very potent late-game sweeper. Ice Beam is Vanilluxe's primary STAB attack, hitting Ground- and Grass-types such as Torterra and Jumpluff for super effective damage. Freeze-Dry, though it is weaker than Ice Beam, provides coverage against Water-types such as Poliwrath and Simipour. Hidden Power Ground allows Vanilluxe to hit Steel- and Fire-types such as Pawniard and Rapidash, which resist both Ice Beam and Freeze-Dry. Alternatively, Flash Cannon allows Vanilluxe to hit other Ice-types, especially Piloswine, which would otherwise give it problems.
Set Details
========
252 Special Attack EVs with a Modest nature maximize Vanilluxe's Special Attack stat, allowing it do deal the most damage it can. 252 Speed EVs allow Vanilluxe to outspeed the entire unboosted metagame after an Autotomize boost. The rest of the EVs go into Defense rather than HP to lower entry hazard damage. Life Orb is the preferred item to boost the power of Vanilluxe's attacks at the cost of some of its health. Weak Armor boosts Vanilluxe's Speed when it is hit by a physical attack, which can help it outspeed and KO an otherwise faster foe; however, it lowers its Defense.
Usage Tips
========
Vanilluxe is best used mid- and late-game when its checks and counters have been KOed or are weak enough for it to take out on its own. Due to its bad defensive typing, Vanilluxe is best brought in after a teammate has fainted or from a slow Volt Switch, U-turn, or Baton Pass from Pokemon such as Probopass. Set up Autotomize on Pokemon Vanilluxe can force out, such as Tangela and Pelipper. Vanilluxe should try to avoid switching in with Stealth Rock on the field, as it is already easily worn down due to Life Orb recoil.
Team Options
========
Entry hazard support from Pokemon such as Probopass, Golem, and Roselia helps Vanilluxe by weakening possible checks. Wallbreakers such as Ursaring and mixed Simipour can wear down the opponent's team, making it easier for Vanilluxe to sweep. The latter can lure in special walls such as Lickilicky and Grumpig and KO them with Low Kick and Knock Off, respectively. Water- and Ground-types such as Poliwrath, Floatzel, and Stunfisk can handle Fire- and Rock-types for Vanilluxe, while Psychic-types such as Grumpig and Kadabra can handle Fighting-types. Fire- and Steel-types such as Rapidash and Probopass can defeat Ice-types for Vanilluxe if it lacks Flash Cannon, making them good partners. Memento support from Pokemon such as Jumpluff lets Vanilluxe come in and set up Autotomize more easily. Healing Wish support from Mr. Mime and Clefairy gives Vanilluxe a second chance at sweeping. Entry hazard removal from Pokemon such as Armaldo, Vibrava, and Pelipper is greatly appreciated by Vanilluxe, as it is worn down by all forms of entry hazards, especially Stealth Rock.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Toxic can wear down common switch-ins to Vanilluxe such as Lickilicky and Regice. Frost Breath can deal with Calm Mind users, as it always results in a critical hit, but it comes with lower accuracy. Choice Scarf can turn Vanilluxe into a solid revenge killer thanks to its coverage. Signal Beam can be used to nail Grumpig for super effective damage, which can switch in on Ice Beam or Freeze-Dry with relative ease due to Thick Fat. An all-out attacking set with Ice Beam / Freeze-Dry / Hidden Power Ground / Flash Cannon can be used, as Vanilluxe is a solid special attacker.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Special Walls**: Dedicated special walls such as Lickilicky and Grumpig can take any of Vanilluxe's attacks with relative ease and can either heal off the damage or cripple it with status.
**Super Effective Coverage**: Due to Vanilluxe's terrible defensive typing, it can easily be hit for super effective damage by Pokemon such as Ninetales and Machoke and by coverage moves from Pokemon such as Zebstrika.
**Piloswine**: Piloswine can shrug off any of Vanilluxe's attacks and can either set up Stealth Rock as Vanilluxe switches out or 2HKO it with Earthquake, but Piloswine must be cautious if Vanilluxe runs Flash Cannon.
**Choice Scarf Raichu**: While it can't directly switch in on Vanilluxe in fear of being hit by any of its attacks, Choice Scarf Raichu can outspeed a +2 Vanilluxe and OHKO it with Focus Blast after some prior damage.
**Residual Damage**: Stealth Rock takes 25% of Vanilluxe's health every time it switches in, and this combined with Life Orb recoil leavess Vanilluxe easily picked off by priority attacks such as Pawniard's and Mightyena's Sucker Punch, Poliwrath's Vacuum Wave, and Carracosta's and Basculin's Aqua Jet. On top of that, being poisoned or burned will wear down Vanilluxe over time to the point where Vanilluxe can't efficiently sweep.
GP: P Squared / The Dutch Plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
Vanilluxe has a solid offensive Ice typing backed by well-rounded stats, but it suffers from four-moveslot syndrome. It faces competition as an Ice-type late-game sweeper from Regice due to its superior bulk and movepool, but it has a stronger Ice-type STAB attack, has access to Freeze-Dry, and is faster, notably being able to outspeed most Choice Scarf users after an Autotomize boost, and with a Weak Armor boost it can allow it to outspeed the entire boosted metagame. Its poor defensive typing, however, makes it hard for Vanilluxe to find time to set up. It also gets worn down easily due to a lack of recovery, a weakness to Stealth Rock, and Life Orb recoil.
[SET]
name: Autotomize
move 1: Autotomize
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Freeze-Dry
move 4: Hidden Power Ground
item: Life Orb
ability: Weak Armor
nature: Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Autotomize doubles Vanilluxe's Speed, turning it into a very potent late-game sweeper. Ice Beam is Vanilluxe's primary STAB attack, hitting Ground- and Grass-types such as Torterra and Jumpluff for super effective damage. Freeze-Dry, though it is weaker than Ice Beam, provides coverage against Water-types such as Poliwrath and Simipour. Hidden Power Ground allows Vanilluxe to hit Steel- and Fire-types such as Pawniard and Rapidash, which resist both Ice Beam and Freeze-Dry. Alternatively, Flash Cannon allows Vanilluxe to hit other Ice-types, especially Piloswine, which would otherwise give it problems.
Set Details
========
252 Special Attack EVs with a Modest nature maximize Vanilluxe's Special Attack stat, allowing it do deal the most damage it can. 252 Speed EVs allow Vanilluxe to outspeed the entire unboosted metagame after an Autotomize boost. The rest of the EVs go into Defense rather than HP to lower entry hazard damage. Life Orb is the preferred item to boost the power of Vanilluxe's attacks at the cost of some of its health. Weak Armor boosts Vanilluxe's Speed when it is hit by a physical attack, which can help it outspeed and KO an otherwise faster foe; however, it lowers its Defense.
Usage Tips
========
Vanilluxe is best used mid- and late-game when its checks and counters have been KOed or are weak enough for it to take out on its own. Due to its bad defensive typing, Vanilluxe is best brought in after a teammate has fainted or from a slow Volt Switch, U-turn, or Baton Pass from Pokemon such as Probopass. Set up Autotomize on Pokemon Vanilluxe can force out, such as Tangela and Pelipper. Vanilluxe should try to avoid switching in with Stealth Rock on the field, as it is already easily worn down due to Life Orb recoil.
Team Options
========
Entry hazard support from Pokemon such as Probopass, Golem, and Roselia helps Vanilluxe by weakening possible checks. Wallbreakers such as Ursaring and mixed Simipour can wear down the opponent's team, making it easier for Vanilluxe to sweep. The latter can lure in special walls such as Lickilicky and Grumpig and KO them with Low Kick and Knock Off, respectively. Water- and Ground-types such as Poliwrath, Floatzel, and Stunfisk can handle Fire- and Rock-types for Vanilluxe, while Psychic-types such as Grumpig and Kadabra can handle Fighting-types. Fire- and Steel-types such as Rapidash and Probopass can defeat Ice-types for Vanilluxe if it lacks Flash Cannon, making them good partners. Memento support from Pokemon such as Jumpluff lets Vanilluxe come in and set up Autotomize more easily. Healing Wish support from Mr. Mime and Clefairy gives Vanilluxe a second chance at sweeping. Entry hazard removal from Pokemon such as Armaldo, Vibrava, and Pelipper is greatly appreciated by Vanilluxe, as it is worn down by all forms of entry hazards, especially Stealth Rock.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Toxic can wear down common switch-ins to Vanilluxe such as Lickilicky and Regice. Frost Breath can deal with Calm Mind users, as it always results in a critical hit, but it comes with lower accuracy. Choice Scarf can turn Vanilluxe into a solid revenge killer thanks to its coverage. Signal Beam can be used to nail Grumpig for super effective damage, which can switch in on Ice Beam or Freeze-Dry with relative ease due to Thick Fat. An all-out attacking set with Ice Beam / Freeze-Dry / Hidden Power Ground / Flash Cannon can be used, as Vanilluxe is a solid special attacker.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Special Walls**: Dedicated special walls such as Lickilicky and Grumpig can take any of Vanilluxe's attacks with relative ease and can either heal off the damage or cripple it with status.
**Super Effective Coverage**: Due to Vanilluxe's terrible defensive typing, it can easily be hit for super effective damage by Pokemon such as Ninetales and Machoke and by coverage moves from Pokemon such as Zebstrika.
**Piloswine**: Piloswine can shrug off any of Vanilluxe's attacks and can either set up Stealth Rock as Vanilluxe switches out or 2HKO it with Earthquake, but Piloswine must be cautious if Vanilluxe runs Flash Cannon.
**Choice Scarf Raichu**: While it can't directly switch in on Vanilluxe in fear of being hit by any of its attacks, Choice Scarf Raichu can outspeed a +2 Vanilluxe and OHKO it with Focus Blast after some prior damage.
**Residual Damage**: Stealth Rock takes 25% of Vanilluxe's health every time it switches in, and this combined with Life Orb recoil leavess Vanilluxe easily picked off by priority attacks such as Pawniard's and Mightyena's Sucker Punch, Poliwrath's Vacuum Wave, and Carracosta's and Basculin's Aqua Jet. On top of that, being poisoned or burned will wear down Vanilluxe over time to the point where Vanilluxe can't efficiently sweep.
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