Katy
Banned deucer.
[OVERVIEW]
Thanks to its good typing, solid defenses, and great supportive tools, Vaporeon cements itself as one of the best defensive Pokemon in NU. Vaporeon's solid overall bulk allows it to check strong Pokemon such as Salazzle, Talonflame, Blastoise, and Golisopod. Moreover, Vaporeon has great utility options in Wish, Heal Bell, and Toxic to support its partners, and it is able to scout attacks with Protect. Unfortunately, Vaporeon faces lots of competition from Sylveon; despite Vaporeon's ability to pivot with Flip Turn, Sylveon is an overall superior defensive Pokemon that can also pass Wishes and defensively answer offensive Water-types like Starmie and Inteleon. Also, Vaporeon's passivity leaves it easily exploited by threats like Rotom-C, Vileplume, and Decidueye. Furthermore, even with a lot of investment in its bulk, Vaporeon's Defense is still lacking, which leaves it vulnerable to strong physical wallbreakers.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Scald
move 2: Wish
move 3: Protect
move 4: Flip Turn / Heal Bell / Toxic
item: Heavy-Duty Boots / Leftovers
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Flip Turn creates momentum for Vaporeon's teammates, helps Vaporeon pass Wishes more safely, and prevents foes such as Vileplume, Rotom-C, and Dragalge from taking advantage of it. Alternatively, Heal Bell is a great tool to keep Vaporeon and its partners healthy and helps it cure status effects, which otherwise hinder its role as a defensive Pokemon, whereasToxic can be used to wear down Mantine and Gastrodon, two Pokemon Vaporeon otherwise is helpless against. Heavy-Duty Boots grants Vaporeon better durability and helps it to pivot more consistently. Alternatively, Leftovers grants Vaporeon more longevity and synergizes well with Protect.
Vaporeon has great typing and bulk, and it fits well on bulkier builds such as bulky offense and balance due to its passivity. Wish and Flip Turn are excellent tools to safely bring in its partners and keep them healthy; these partners include wallbreakers like Assault Vest Copperajah, Dragalge, and Escavalier. Vaporeon dislikes strong Electric- and Grass-types such as Heliolisk, Rotom-C, Decidueye, and Dhelmise, so partners like Vileplume, Dragalge, and Goodra check them for Vaporeon; in return, Vaporeon can safely bring in these checks with Flip Turn. Ground-types such as Flygon and Mudsdale are good partners, as they check Electric-types like Heliolisk. Vaporeon is reliant on its item, so Knock Off absorbers such as itemless Vileplume make for great partners. In return, Vaporeon helps Vileplume against Pokemon like Salazzle, Talonflame, and boosted Blastoise.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Haze is a great alternative over Flip Turn, as it allows Vaporeon to stop setup sweepers like Shell Smash Blastoise, but using this comes at the cost of Flip Turn's ability to grab momentum. Ice Beam can be used to hit incoming Grass- and Dragon-types like Rotom-C, Vileplume, and Flygon harder. A more specially defensive EV spread lets Vaporeon better fend off Pokemon such as Starmie and Blastoise.
Checks and Counters
====
**Grass-types**: Both Decidueye and Dhelmise threaten Vaporeon with their STAB options, but they have to be careful about switching into Vaporeon and getting burned by Scald. Vileplume is also annoying, as it can hit Vaporeon super effectively with Giga Drain and regain health while having the ability to poison it with Sludge Bomb.
**Electric-types**: Heliolisk is very annoying, as it is immune to Vaporeon's Water-type STAB moves; all Vaporeon can do is hit it with Toxic on the switch. Rotom-C is especially dangerous, as it has two STAB moves that are super effective against Vaporeon.
**Dragon-types**: Dragalge is very potent against Vaporeon, as it doesn't fear being whittled down by Toxic and can fish for poisons with Sludge Bomb. Goodra hits Vaporeon with strong super effective coverage, and Guzzlord weakens Vaporeon severely with Knock Off and Toxic, but it dislikes getting burned by Scald.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Katy, 415305]]
- Quality checked by: [[Rabia, 336073], [Abejas, 241380]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Rabia, 336073], [Milak, 262594]]
Last edited: