[OVERVIEW]
<p>Vaporeon is among the few who can claim to be
a true bulky Water-type Pokemon of DPP OU. In a metagame rife with residual damage from sandstorm, entry hazards, and more, having a bulky Water-type Pokemon with the ability to pass Wish is invaluable to the success of a team. Within a tier of heavyweights, Vaporeon shines as one of the few
bulky Water-types that take minuscule damage from Grass Knot, making it a terrific Infernape counter. Vaporeon is also the best Water-type to switch into other Water-type Pokemon due to its
immunity to Water-type attacks Water Absorb.</p>
<p>Despite its unique attributes as a Water-type, Vaporeon has serious issues with specific and common moves and threats. Vaporeon is deathly afraid of Toxic, as unlike Suicune, it will typically be unable to Rest away the status. Additionally, Vaporeon has issues with its inability to instantly heal itself like Milotic, which can be exploited by opponents. Given Vaporeon's essential support role on teams that use it, Vaporeon is often the primary target to KO immediately; teams tend to collapse after Vaporeon has been felled. If you choose Vaporeon for your team, it's important to do so with its specialties in mind, but either way it will perform the chosen job admirably.</p>
[SET]
name: Wish Passer
move 1: Wish
move 2: Protect
move 3: Surf
move 4: Hidden Power Electric / Ice Beam / Toxic
item: Leftovers
Nature: Bold
EVs: 188 HP / 252 Def / 68 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With a great base 130 HP stat, decent defenses, and access to a useful move in Wish, Vaporeon becomes an incredible support member in the OU metagame. Vaporeon can heal those who lack a self-recovery move and generally keeps the team at a good level of health. Pokemon like Dragonite and Gyarados
, who are constant victims of Stealth Rock
, appreciate Wish in any case.</p>
<p>Protect is the second most important move of the set, because
without it, Vaporeon wouldn't be able to reliably heal itself and keep passing Wishes it allows Vaporeon to reliably heal itself and keep passing Wishes. Also, Protect is a handy move for scouting purposes
, and restores HP thanks to Leftovers. Surf is the obligatory STAB move to use, and keeps Gliscor, physically defensive Skarmory, Infernape, and Heatran at bay. The last moveslot has several notable options. With Hidden Power Electric, Vaporeon becomes one of the best counters to Gyarados, even those who carry Taunt, and helps it deal with opposing Water-types. On the other hand, Ice Beam keeps Dragonite, and Grass-type Pokemon in general
, in check. One can also use Toxic, which when coupled with Wish and Protect makes Vaporeon able to
Toxic stall numerous Pokemon that it can't harm greatly, such as specially bulky Pokemon and Pokemon resistant to Surf.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Vaporeon has two other great moves it can use to help aid its team: Roar and Heal Bell. Vaporeon makes a great user of Roar, stopping several Pokemon from setting up and sweeping. As for Heal Bell, it makes Vaporeon a very effective cleric, curing its team and itself of status effects.</p>
<p>The reason why the EV spread makes special emphasis on Vaporeon's HP and Defense stats is to
upgrade enhance its overall bulk and turn it into a more reliable Wish Passer. Making the HP stat divisible by 16 will maximize Leftovers recovery, and the 188 EVs achieve this. The 252 Defense EVs and Bold nature are used in order to improve Vaporeon's physical defense and provide it with the necesary bulk to take hits from the likes of Gyarados and Infernape better. It is worth mentioning that even using 252 HP / 252 Def EVs Vaporeon only has a 3%
of chance
s of not being 2HKOed by physically-based Infernape's Close Combat
, factoring in SR + Leftovers; therefore, investing the rest of EVs in Special Defense is the advisable thing to do as this will allow Vaporeon to take special attacks slightly better.</p>
<p>Since Vaporeon is a
n excellent Pokemon in terms of durability very durable, it is a good idea to couple it with offensive Pokemon who appreciate Wish, such as Dragonite and Gyarados. That way, both will have an easier time switching in and more opportunities to set up Dragon Dances
??? Vaporeon doesn't DD. Confusing wording. Others who concentrate
their strength in their defensive capabilities on defense, such as Celebi and Gliscor, are great partners for Vaporeon too, because they can cover each other's weaknesses very well.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Surf
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Hidden Power Electric
move 4: Wish / Signal Beam
item: Choice Specs
Nature: Modest
EVs: 208 Def / 252 SpA / 48 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Vaporeon is usually seen as a bulky Wish passer, but many people forget to consider its fantastic 110 base Special Attack. With Choice Specs, Vaporeon becomes an admirable offensive Pokemon that fits very well on offensive teams that could use Wish support.</p>
<p>Surf is Vaporeon's primary attack option, a reliable STAB move that, when boosted by Choice Specs, becomes enormously powerful. Ice Beam and Hidden Power Electric provide additional type coverage, dispatching most Grass- and Water-types who resist Surf, such as Celebi and Gyarados
, respectively. Wish is
probably the
most recommended option for the last slot,
giving as it gives Vaporeon the opportunity to set up Wish against a threatened opponent
who will switch out and heal one of its teammates that better handles the
opponent's switch-in. Wish can also be used to heal Vaporeon's own health, though use it at your own risk as Vaporeon may be set up on by the opponent. Signal Beam is also another move to consider, mainly designed to annihilate Celebi, although Ice Beam already does a lot of damage to it.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs and nature are pretty straightforward. Maximizing Vaporeon's Special Attack is the first detail to consider for the set, so 252 Special Attack EVs and a Modest nature put this stat to the highest possible level, reaching 525 Special Attack. The 48 Speed EVs allow Vaporeon to outspeed minimum Speed Skarmory. The rest of the EVs are placed into Vaporeon's Defense, thus making it able to retain some bulk to take a few hits.</p>
<p>Most of the time, offensive teams appreciate Wish support, and Choice Specs Vaporeon is a great candidate for these type of teams, because it doesn't slow down any offensive momentum. Pokemon such as Dragonite and Gliscor are great partners for Vaporeon, since they cover each other's weaknesses very well while maintaining a strong line of offensive power. Offensive partners who defeat Blissey are also good Pokemon to couple Vaporeon with, since she walls Vaporeon with no problems at all. Breloom and Machamp make two fine partners for Vaporeon, since they can easily get rid of Blissey with their respective STAB moves. Entry hazard support is also welcome, as it helps Vaporeon to score more OHKOes
as well as while helping its whole team in general. Skarmory and Forretress can both set up Spikes and
propitiate Vaporeon an important resistance against Grass-type moves cover Vaporeon's Grass weakness.Forretress also has access to Rapid Spin, which is useful as it prevents Vaporeon, as well as your team in general, from getting in contact with entry hazards. On top of this, Forretress has Explosion available to it, allowing it to potentially bring down a dangerous foe.</p>
[SET]
name: Baton Pass
move 1: Baton Pass
move 2: Substitute
move 3: Acid Armor / Wish / Aqua Ring
move 4: Surf / Roar
item: Leftovers
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 128 Def / 128 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Baton Pass Vaporeon is a staple of OU Baton Pass teams for its defensive aptitude, 101+ HP Substitutes, and access to numerous support options that Baton Pass teams crave. Vaporeon's capacity to heal its teammates with either Wish or Aqua Ring is fundamental to the team's ability to outlast your opponent's onslaught long enough to finish the chain.</p>
<p>Baton Pass is necessary to pass on both what is sent to Vaporeon and what it sets up. One of the biggest lures of Vaporeon on Baton Pass chains is its base 130 HP stat, which enables the passing of immensely bulky Substitutes. In the third slot, Vaporeon has many options that it can run effectively. Acid Armor buffers your team's Substitutes and your entire chain with added Defense, which will enable Pokemon like Ninjask and Smeargle to accomplish their goals even against physically powerful Pokemon like Metagross and Scizor. Wish provides
immense healing the turn after use, which enables it to be Baton Passed to teammates that need the HP. Aqua Ring, unlike Wish, provides a more gradual healing effect that can be included in the Baton Pass chain and passed around to the rest of your team. For the final move, it is recommended that Vaporeon use Surf. Surf has excellent neutral coverage in one move and prevents Vaporeon from being Taunt bait. Roar is usable over Surf for the ability to phaze opposing Skarmory and Vaporeon
, who typically carry phazing moves of their own, although at the cost of being very vulnerable to Taunt.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>252 HP EVs are used to maximize Substitute HP while also buffering both Vaporeon's physical and special bulkiness. 128 Defense EVs bolster Vaporeon's relatively low Defense stat, especially after an Acid Armor boost. Presumably, before Vaporeon makes a showing in the battle, some Speed has been included in the chain. With Speed, you can afford to set up a Substitute against Pokemon that can do nothing to Vaporeon and either Acid Armor or Baton Pass before the opponent's switch-in to Vaporeon can attack. This is why 128 Speed EVs are important, as they allow Vaporeon to use Baton Pass before Timid Jolteon can do it serious harm or break its Substitute with Thunderbolt
at +2 Speed. These Speed EVs also
help Vaporeon with Roar to phaze Skarmory and opposing Vaporeon before they can phaze you first, if you chose it over Surf ensure Roar beats opposing Skarmory and Vaporeon Roars, if applicable. A Bold nature increases Vaporeon's physical bulkiness, while Leftovers adds to its durability over time.</p>
<p>Perhaps the best partner to this Vaporeon is Baton Pass Gliscor for his ability to switch into Electric-type attacks with impunity and continue the chain. Gliscor can not only set up the Speed and Attack boosts that a chain needs, but has access to Taunt and will lure Pokemon and attacks that Vaporeon can take with ease. Baton Pass Zapdos makes an excellent partner for similar reasons with
excellent impressive bulk, Agility, and a resistance to Grass-type attacks. Typical recipients for Vaporeon's Substitutes and Defense boosts are physically frail Pokemon that are critical to the success of a Baton Pass chain, such as Smeargle or Ninjask. Vaporeon despises the presence of Toxic Spikes, as they reduce its effectiveness tremendously. This can be most easily ameliorated by Baton Passing Vaporeon a Substitute from the likes of Zapdos or Ninjask, although other options include Rapid Spin or using a grounded Poison-type. Tragically, there are no effective Rapid Spin users or grounded Poison-type Pokemon that can keep a Baton Pass chain alive, so you would be making a sacrifice to remove Toxic Spikes from play entirely.</p>
[TEAM OPTIONS]
<p>Vaporeon is most commonly seen on stall
and balance teams in conjunction with defensive Pokemon such as Gliscor and Celebi. Both provide Vaporeon with a very welcome resistance to Electric- and Grass-type moves, respectively. In addition to this, Gliscor can set up Stealth Rock, which Vaporeon greatly benefits from due to
its ability to utilize Roar and function as an effective phazer its ability to phaze effectively and rack up residual damage. Celebi and Shaymin, on the other hand, can deal with opposing bulky Water-type Pokemon thanks to their bulk and STAB Grass-type moves. They can also check enemy Grass-type Pokemon if they run Hidden Power Fire. Vaporeon makes a great partner to Heatran for absorbing the Water-type attacks aimed at it, while Heatran gladly intercepts any Grass-type move intended for Vaporeon. In the offensive department, Pokemon such as Dragonite and Scizor benefit greatly from Vaporeon's Wish and its overall defensive prowess. Dragonite can act as a potent wallbreaker with Wish support, which Vaporeon can easily pass thanks to the good synergy that it maintains with this Dragon-type Pokemon. Scizor's typing pairs well with Vaporeon, as it can switch in on Grass-type moves coming from the likes of Shaymin, Celebi, or Roserade, and threaten them with STAB U-turns or Bullet Punch, while Vaporeon sponges Fire attacks.</p>
<p>Entry hazard support isn't necessary, but it is very useful since Vaporeon can force many switches with Roar and its defensive presence. With Protect, Vaporeon also stalls well, so Toxic Spikes are worth considering. Forretress and Roserade synergize well with Vaporeon and have access to Toxic Spikes, which will help Vaporeon against Grass-types, Water-types, and Blissey. Skarmory is another solid option to consider, as it can switch in on Pokemon such as Celebi and Shaymin that threaten Vaporeon and proceed to lay down Spikes.</p>
[OPTIONAL CHANGES]
<p>Vaporeon has some interesting options that it can use in its sets, but generally what you see is what you get in the above sets. Muddy Water can be used over Surf just about anywhere for its secondary effect, but the reduced accuracy is an enormous turnoff. Haze can be useful as a means of removing stat boosts from last-Pokemon Suicune, but generally Roar is the better choice for racking up entry hazard damage in the earlier game. Heal Bell is cute usable for supporting the team and keeping Vaporeon safe from status, Toxic in particular, but most sets simply do not have room for it and other Pokemon function better as dedicated clerics. Fake Tears can be useful for forcing additional switches, but Vaporeon almost always has more useful things to be doing with its moveslots. A set based around Curse could work in some instances, but Umbreon does it better, and that says something because Umbreon barely does it well at all in the first place.</p>
[COUNTERS]
<p>Various Pokemon can be a menace to Vaporeon. Grass-types, such as Shaymin, Celebi, Breloom, and Roserade, who can switch in with very little care if Vaporeon lacks Ice Beam. Similarly, Electric-types like Rotom-A, Jolteon, and Zapdos can get in on neutral Surf with their respectable bulk and use their STAB moves to hit Vaporeon for super effective damage, and in some cases, score the OHKO. Opposing Vaporeon make great switch-ins, since Vaporeon lacks ways to significantly damage itself without the help of Toxic. Without Hidden Power Electric, Taunt Gyarados has free reign to set up Dragon Dances, and the likes of Empoleon and Tentacruel will have no problems switching in and setting up as well. Roar helps a lot against Kingdra, who can otherwise use Dragon Dance on Roar without anything to worry about; Roar is also a good option to deal with bulky Water-types such as Calm Mind Suicune and the aforementioned Empoleon. Blissey, of course, is a nightmare for Vaporeon since she can sponge all of its attacks thanks to her massive HP and Special Defense stats; however, Toxic can seriously threaten Blissey and eventually force her to switch out.</p>
