[OVERVIEW]
Victini is a good Pokemon in 1v1 because of its Fire typing and its access to V-create, allowing it to beat common threats such as Magearna, Mega Charizard Y, and Genesect. Fire is generally a good offensive type and V-create is a supremely powerful STAB move, allowing Victini to beat many of the omnipresent bulky Steel-types, like Celesteela and Mega Mawile. Defensively, Victini's resistance to Fairy-type STAB attacks from popular Pokemon like Tapu Lele and Mega Gardevoir allows it to beat them when it's running a physical set. It can also be quite versatile with its base 100 stats across the board and nice movepool that includes moves such as Blue Flare, Celebrate, Magic Coat, Will-O-Wisp, and Glaciate, allowing it to run a variety of viable sets to beat diverse threats. A Z-Celebrate set can also be used to beat threats to the Choice Band set like Mega Charizard X and Kommo-o. By running a mixed attacker set, Victini is able to beat Zeraora reliably. It is also able to viably run Taunt for some stall Pokemon like Type: Null and Mega Altaria. However, Victini lacks decent spammable boosting moves, only having Z-Celebrate, Power-Up Punch, and Work Up, and, as a result, competes with other Fire-types like Mega Charizard X, Heatran, and Incineroar due to their ability to raise their damage output by using moves like Dragon Dance, Metal Sound, and Bulk Up. Furthermore, Victini's rather lacking offensive stats leave its coverage moves without much force behind them, meaning it loses to Pokemon that can withstand V-create and are too bulky for its coverage moves, like Mega Gyarados, Mega Slowbro, and Mega Tyranitar.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: V-create
move 2: Bolt Strike
move 3: Flame Charge
move 4: Zen Headbutt / Trick
item: Choice Band
ability: Victory Star
nature: Adamant
evs: 240 HP / 244 Atk / 4 SpD / 20 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
V-create is Victini's strongest move by far, and it is used to burst Steel-types like Magearna, Mega Mawile, and Celesteela. It can also be used to beat Pokemon that are unable to effectively hit Victini such as Mega Gardevoir, Tapu Lele, and Mew. Bolt Strike is used against Tapunium Z Tapu Fini and Heatran. It also is a powerful weapon against opposing Victini and can sometimes land an OHKO against Primarina. Flame Charge is used against Pokemon that will avoid fainting to V-create such as Magnezone, Flail Mega Pinsir, and Flail Mega Lopunny. It can also be used to outspeed SubSeed users like Jumpluff and Serperior. Zen Headbutt is used against Poison-types like Mega Venusaur and Naganadel. Trick can shut down stall Pokemon that do not use Z-Crystals or Mega Stones like Type: Null and Pyukumuku, as well as give Victini a chance against Porygon2, albeit an unreliable one. It can also be used to force Deoxys-S into guessing games between using Taunt against Trick or Iron Defense against V-create.
Set Details
=========
240 HP and 4 Special Defense EVs are used to increase Victini's bulk, particularly for Modest Magnezone's Gigavolt Havoc, forcing it to try to paralyze Victini with regular Zap Cannon. Additionally, the 4 Special Defense EVs prevent a Special Attack Download boost for Pokemon like Genesect and Porygon2. The HP investment helps Victini survive physical attacks like Mega Lopunny's Fake Out followed by Giga Impact. 20 Speed EVs are used to outspeed base 60 Speed Pokemon, particularly Timid Magnezone. 244 Attack EVs with an Adamant nature alongside Choice Band are used to deal as much damage as possible.
Usage Tips
========
Victini should be sent in against Pokemon that can easily fall to V-create, such as Mega Gardevoir and Magearna, or against Pokemon like Tapu Lele and Mew that cannot KO Victini even with the drop to its defenses. On the other hand, Victini fails to defeat foes that are too bulky to be beaten by V-create or resist it, forcing Victini to use its much weaker coverage moves and be overrun. Examples include Mega Gyarados, Mega Charizard X, and Dragonite. If V-create does not OHKO the foe and it is able to OHKO Victini after the drop to its defenses or can take advantage of the drop to its Speed, such as against Tapu Fini or Mega Venusaur, use Bolt Strike or Zen Headbutt as appropriate. Use Flame Charge if the Speed boost will let Victini outspeed and KO the foe on the next turn, like against Substitute users such as Mega Pinsir, Serperior, and Mega Lopunny. The matchup against Substitute + Earthquake Mega Metagross is a coinflip, requiring Victini to use Flame Charge if Mega Metagross chooses to use Substitute and V-create if it does not use Substitute. Use Trick against stall Pokemon without a Z-Crystal or Mega Stone that do not want to be locked into a single move like Type: Null and non-Z-Move Pyukumuku.
Team Options
========
Fast Electric- and Grass-type Pokemon like Electrium Z Zeraora and Choice Scarf Tapu Bulu can beat Water-types like Mega Gyarados, Greninja, and Mega Slowbro. In return, Victini can take care of Pokemon like Mega Mawile, Mega Gardevoir, and Mega Venusaur. Mold Breaker Outrage users like Choice Scarf Haxorus and Mega Gyarados can beat Dragon-types like Dragonite, Mega Charizard X, and Kommo-o. Victini can cover Pokemon like Magearna, Celesteela, and most Mega Metagross variants in return. Bulky Water-type Pokemon like Primarina and Tapu Fini can take care of Ground-types like Donphan, Zygarde, and Landorus-T. Synergistically, Victini can defeat Pokemon like Mega Charizard Y, Mega Venusaur, and Kartana.
[SET]
name: Z-Celebrate
move 1: Celebrate
move 2: Stored Power
move 3: V-create
move 4: Taunt / Hidden Power Ground
item: Normalium Z
ability: Victory Star
nature: Rash
evs: 48 HP / 16 Atk / 212 SpA / 232 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Celebrate is required for this set to function, allowing Victini to boost up all of its stats with Z-Celebrate as well as raise Stored Power's Base Power to 120. Stored Power allows Victini to hit foes like Mega Charizard X, Kommo-o, and boosted Bulk Up Zeraora. V-create is also a must-have, sporting a huge 180 Base Power on top of STAB and an Attack boost from Z-Celebrate to beat threats that resist Stored Power like Gardevoir and Magearna, as well as Zeraora that has used Charge. Taunt allows Victini to shut down stall Pokemon and Substitute users that would otherwise wall it, such as Mega Altaria and Mega Audino. Alternatively, Hidden Power Ground can be run to beat Heatran as well as ease the Substitute + Earthquake Mega Metagross matchup.
Set Details
========
212 Special Attack EVs along with a Rash nature allow Victini to OHKO offensive Mega Charizard X after a Z-Celebrate boost, while 232 Speed EVs allow Victini to outspeed Adamant Choice Scarf Haxorus after a boost. 16 Attack and 48 HP EVs give Victini the best chances of simultaneously OHKOing a bulky Charge-boosted Zeraora with V-create, tanking two Outrages from specially defensive Mega Charizard X, and tanking specially defensive Kommo-o's Clangorous Soulblaze followed by Clanging Scales.
Usage Tips
========
Unfortunately, because of this set's lack of bulk investment, hard-hitting hyper offensive Pokemon, even if they're weak to Psychic or Fire, can threaten Victini and should be avoided. Victini is OHKOed by Naganadel, relies on damage rolls for taking out foes like Mega Lopunny, and gives a Special Attack Download boost to Genesect, causing offensive Choice Specs sets to have a favorable damage roll against Victini. The only times where Victini may not want to use Z-Celebrate immediately are during scenarios where it must consider using Taunt first in order to prevent a crucial status move. These two exceptions are against Mega Mawile and non-Occa Berry Taunt Whimsicott; both of them are coinflips. Against Mega Mawile, Victini must either use Taunt if Mega Mawile uses Swords Dance or use Z-Celebrate if Mega Mawile attacks immediately. Against Whimsicott, Victini must either use V-create immediately if Whimsicott uses Taunt or use its own Taunt if Whimsicott does not. Against Mega Charizard X, simply use Z-Celebrate followed by Stored Power, which will OHKO offensive sets and 2HKO Mega Charizard X if it is specially defensive; specially defensive Mega Charizard X will be both unable to outspeed Victini after a Dragon Dance and unable to 2HKO it with unboosted Outrage. Against Zeraora, after using Z-Celebrate turn one, act according to what move Zeraora uses. If Zeraora attacks immediately and does not get the small chance of KOing or uses Charge, use V-create for the OHKO. If it uses Bulk Up, use Stored Power. Even if Stored Power does not OHKO, Zeraora will be unable to KO Victini before another Stored Power KOes it.
Team Options
========
Fast Electric- and Grass-type Pokemon like Electrium Z Zeraora and Choice Scarf Tapu Bulu can beat Water-types like Mega Gyarados, Greninja, and Mega Slowbro. In return, Victini can take care of Pokemon like Ferrothorn, Mega Gardevoir, and Mega Venusaur. Mold Breaker Outrage users, namely Choice Scarf Haxorus and Mega Gyarados, can beat Dragonite, one of the greatest threats in 1v1. Victini can cover Pokemon like Magearna, Celesteela, and most Mega Metagross variants in return. Bulky Water-type Pokemon like Primarina and Tapu Fini can take care of Ground-types like Donphan, Zygarde, and Landorus-T. Synergistically, Victini can defeat Pokemon like Mega Charizard Y, Mega Venusaur, and Kartana.
[SET]
name: Z-Psychic
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Blue Flare
move 3: Glaciate
move 4: Will-O-Wisp
item: Psychium Z
ability: Victory Star
nature: Modest
evs: 80 HP / 248 Def / 180 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Psychium Z powers Psychic up into Shattered Psyche, which is used most specifically for KOing Kommo-o, but also Pokemon like Mega Venusaur and Mega Lopunny. It is the highest Base Power move on the set, so it is used to KO Pokemon like Donphan after Sturdy is broken. Blue Flare takes out Pokemon weak to Fire such as Magearna, Celesteela, Mega Metagross, and Serperior. Glaciate can slow down the opposing Pokemon while also dealing chip damage, which is useful against foes like offensive Mega Charizard X and slow or Choice Band Dragonite sets. It can also beat Zygarde most of the time. Will-O-Wisp can be used to cripple physical attackers as well as do a little bit of chip damage to beat Donphan, Golem, and physical Dragonite.
Set Details
========
80 HP and 248 Defense EVs is are the most efficient way to tank both burned Golem's Tectonic Rage followed by Sucker Punch, as well as special Dragonite's Supersonic Skystrike followed by Extreme Speed. The extra 180 EVs are put into Special Attack with a Modest nature for maximized reliability in matchups reliant on damage rolls.
Usage Tips
========
Use Glaciate if Victini can survive the current turn and will outspeed the foe on the next turn. This is useful if the foe already outspeeds Victini or is using a Speed-boosting move, like in the case of offensive Mega Charizard X or special Dragonite. Victini should use Will-O-Wisp against physical attackers it cannot KO before being KOed itself, especially if there is an ability to be broken like Dragonite's Multiscale or Donphan's Sturdy. Against Kommo-o, go for Shattered Psyche, which should always OHKO it as long as Victini is faster. This variant of Victini can be sent out into Donphan, Golem, and slow Dragonite sets as well as Choice Band Dragonite, which are generally unexpected matchups for a Victini to win. Keep in mind that Victini will not reliably beat a Dragonite that outspeeds it and will lose to Choice Scarf variants. If Donphan is running Bulldoze, Victini will have to anticipate it with Glaciate, although Bulldoze Donphan is not very common. Victini will also have to predict Mega Metagross's use of Substitute by using Blue Flare immediately rather than Will-O-Wisp.
Team Options
========
Fast Electric- and Grass-type Pokemon like Electrium Z Zeraora and Choice Scarf Tapu Bulu can beat Water-types like Mega Gyarados, Greninja, and Mega Slowbro. In return, Victini will take care of Pokemon like Mega Mawile, Mega Venusaur, and Donphan. Fairy-type Pokemon like Mega Altaria and Mega Diancie can beat Dragon-types like Garchomp and Mega Charizard X as well as Dark-types like Mega Gyarados and Mega Tyaranitar. Victini can cover Pokemon like Magearna, Celesteela, and Mega Metagross in return. Bulky Water-type Pokemon like Primarina and Tapu Fini can take care of Ground-types like Mega Tyranitar, Krookodile, and Landorus-T. Synergistically, Victini can defeat Pokemon like Mega Charizard Y, Mega Venusaur, and Kartana.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: V-Create
move 2: Bolt Strike
move 3: Zen Headbutt
move 4: Trick
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Victory Star
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
V-create is Victini’s strongest move by far, and it can be used to burst Steel-types like Magearna, Celesteela, and Genesect or beat Pokemon that are unable to effectively hit Victini such as offensive Mew and generally frail Pokemon such as Mega Gardevoir, Tapu Lele, non-Timid Choice Scarf Porygon-Z, and Volcarona. Bolt Strike can be used against Water-types like Tapunium Z Tapu Fini and Greninja as well as Flying-types like Choice Scarf Togekiss. Zen Headbutt can be used against Poison-types like Mega Venusaur, Nihilego, and Naganadel. Trick can shut down stall Pokemon that do not use Z-Crystals or Mega Stones like Type: Null, Kee Berry Mew, and Pyukumuku. It can also be used to force Deoxys-S into a coinflip between using Taunt against Trick or Iron Defense against V-create.
Set Details
=========
252 Attack EVs alongside an Adamant nature are used to deal as much damage as possible. 252 Speed EVs and Choice Scarf are used to outspeed as many foes as possible. A Jolly nature can also be used to outspeed +1 base 90 Speed Pokemon like Timid Choice Scarf Porygon-Z.
Usage Tips
========
Victini should be sent out against Pokemon that can easily fall to V-create such as Mega Gardevoir, Tapu Lele, Magearna, and Volcarona. Choice Scarf Victini is also able to beat non-Choice Scarf Greninja with Bolt Strike. However, Victini fails to defeat foes that are too bulky to be beaten by V-create or resist it, such as Mega Gyarados, Mega Charizard X, and Dragonite, forcing Victini to use its much weaker coverage moves and be overrun. V-create should be used against Pokemon that can be OHKOed by it, like Mega Gardevoir and Magearna. If V-create does not OHKO and the foe is able to OHKO Victini after the drop to its defenses, such as against Greninja and Nihilego, use Bolt Strike or Zen Headbutt based on the foe's typing. Use Trick against stall Pokemon without a Z-Crystal or Mega Stone like Type: Null and Kee Berry Mew that do not want to be locked into a single move. However, when facing Mewnium Z Mew, Victini will need to use V-create instead. It is worth noting that this variant of Mew will often use Fake Out on the first turn, allowing Victini to use Trick on the first turn against any kind of Mew and reactively decide whether to use V-create or not. However, if the Mew user predicts this and does not use Fake Out, Victini will be locked into Trick and will be helpless. Victini will outspeed and OHKO non-Timid Choice Scarf Porygon-Z and occasionally OHKO bulkier Normalium Z Porygon-Z variants. It will also only sometimes OHKO Bulk Up Outrage Zeraora and 2HKO Kommo-o. In the case of Kommo-o, the significant flinch chance of two Zen Headbutts can sometimes remedy this.
Team Options
========
Electric- and Grass-type Pokemon like Electrium Z Zeraora and Tapu Bulu can beat Water-types like Mega Gyarados, Primarina, and Mega Slowbro, while Victini can take care of Pokemon like Choice Scarf Porygon-Z, Mega Gardevoir, and Mega Venusaur. Mold Breaker Outrage users like Choice Scarf Haxorus and Mega Gyarados can beat Dragon-types like Dragonite, Mega Charizard X, and Garchomp. Victini can cover Pokemon like Magearna, Celesteela, and most Mega Metagross in return. Bulky Water-type Pokemon like Primarina and Tapu Fini can take care of Ground-types like Donphan, Zygarde, and Landorus-T. Synergistically, Victini can defeat Pokemon like Mega Charizard Y, Mega Venusaur, and Kartana.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
========
A physical Psychium Z set with V-create / Bolt Strike / Zen Headbutt / Light Screen or Magic Coat can be run. Physical sets retain the ability to beat Pokemon like Tapu Lele, Mega Gardevoir, and Kommo-o. Magic Coat or Light Screen can also beat either variant of Tapu Fini, given that you predict Tapu Fini's set correctly, by using Z-Magic Coat or Light Screen against Waterium Z variants and directly using Bolt Strike against Tapunium Z variants. This Victini set can also beat Choice Specs Greninja with Z-Magic Coat followed by Bolt Strike or V-create depending on Greninja's move. Z-Light Screen can allow Victini to beat Heatran and Primarina most of the time. Both Z-Magic Coat and Z-Light Screen sets can also force Volcarona into mind games. An Icium Z set with Will-O-Wisp / Blue Flare / Taunt / Glaciate can be run to beat Pokemon that are weak to Ice like Dragonite, Zygarde, Landorus-T, and Donphan. However, because this set will make Victini's STAB moves especially lackluster, it should only be used to lure in and beat Dragonite. Firium Z can be run to beat Aegislash without Victini having to run Substitute. It can also somewhat consistently beat Donphan with Z-Will-O-Wisp. A faster Choice Band set can be used to retain the offensive power of Choice Band while outspeeding Pokemon like Normalium Z Porygon-Z.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Rock- and Ground-types**: Pokemon such as Zygarde, Landorus-T, Mega Tyranitar, and Garchomp can all survive Victini's attacks and KO it with super effective STAB moves.
**Bulky Offense**: Pokemon such as Mega Gyarados, Incineroar, and Choice Scarf Dragonite resist V-create, are too bulky for Victini's much weaker coverage moves, and can defeat Victini with powerful STAB moves.
**Stall Mega Evolutions and Z-Move Users**: Mega Slowbro, Kyurem, and Psychium Z Deoxys-S can set up using boosting moves, then stall Victini out while whittling it down because of its lack of good boosting moves and their immunity to Trick.
**Aegislash**: King's Shield blocks V-create and prevents Victini from OHKOing Aegislash, which OHKOes Victini in return with Never-Ending Nightmare.
[CREDITS]
-Written by: [[Eriey, 470842]]
- Quality checked by: [[Alakazam, 276708], [lost heros, 316445], [Quantum Tesseract, 297239], [pqs, 425798], [Osra, 239997]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [bigtalk, 466663]]
Victini is a good Pokemon in 1v1 because of its Fire typing and its access to V-create, allowing it to beat common threats such as Magearna, Mega Charizard Y, and Genesect. Fire is generally a good offensive type and V-create is a supremely powerful STAB move, allowing Victini to beat many of the omnipresent bulky Steel-types, like Celesteela and Mega Mawile. Defensively, Victini's resistance to Fairy-type STAB attacks from popular Pokemon like Tapu Lele and Mega Gardevoir allows it to beat them when it's running a physical set. It can also be quite versatile with its base 100 stats across the board and nice movepool that includes moves such as Blue Flare, Celebrate, Magic Coat, Will-O-Wisp, and Glaciate, allowing it to run a variety of viable sets to beat diverse threats. A Z-Celebrate set can also be used to beat threats to the Choice Band set like Mega Charizard X and Kommo-o. By running a mixed attacker set, Victini is able to beat Zeraora reliably. It is also able to viably run Taunt for some stall Pokemon like Type: Null and Mega Altaria. However, Victini lacks decent spammable boosting moves, only having Z-Celebrate, Power-Up Punch, and Work Up, and, as a result, competes with other Fire-types like Mega Charizard X, Heatran, and Incineroar due to their ability to raise their damage output by using moves like Dragon Dance, Metal Sound, and Bulk Up. Furthermore, Victini's rather lacking offensive stats leave its coverage moves without much force behind them, meaning it loses to Pokemon that can withstand V-create and are too bulky for its coverage moves, like Mega Gyarados, Mega Slowbro, and Mega Tyranitar.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: V-create
move 2: Bolt Strike
move 3: Flame Charge
move 4: Zen Headbutt / Trick
item: Choice Band
ability: Victory Star
nature: Adamant
evs: 240 HP / 244 Atk / 4 SpD / 20 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
V-create is Victini's strongest move by far, and it is used to burst Steel-types like Magearna, Mega Mawile, and Celesteela. It can also be used to beat Pokemon that are unable to effectively hit Victini such as Mega Gardevoir, Tapu Lele, and Mew. Bolt Strike is used against Tapunium Z Tapu Fini and Heatran. It also is a powerful weapon against opposing Victini and can sometimes land an OHKO against Primarina. Flame Charge is used against Pokemon that will avoid fainting to V-create such as Magnezone, Flail Mega Pinsir, and Flail Mega Lopunny. It can also be used to outspeed SubSeed users like Jumpluff and Serperior. Zen Headbutt is used against Poison-types like Mega Venusaur and Naganadel. Trick can shut down stall Pokemon that do not use Z-Crystals or Mega Stones like Type: Null and Pyukumuku, as well as give Victini a chance against Porygon2, albeit an unreliable one. It can also be used to force Deoxys-S into guessing games between using Taunt against Trick or Iron Defense against V-create.
Set Details
=========
240 HP and 4 Special Defense EVs are used to increase Victini's bulk, particularly for Modest Magnezone's Gigavolt Havoc, forcing it to try to paralyze Victini with regular Zap Cannon. Additionally, the 4 Special Defense EVs prevent a Special Attack Download boost for Pokemon like Genesect and Porygon2. The HP investment helps Victini survive physical attacks like Mega Lopunny's Fake Out followed by Giga Impact. 20 Speed EVs are used to outspeed base 60 Speed Pokemon, particularly Timid Magnezone. 244 Attack EVs with an Adamant nature alongside Choice Band are used to deal as much damage as possible.
Usage Tips
========
Victini should be sent in against Pokemon that can easily fall to V-create, such as Mega Gardevoir and Magearna, or against Pokemon like Tapu Lele and Mew that cannot KO Victini even with the drop to its defenses. On the other hand, Victini fails to defeat foes that are too bulky to be beaten by V-create or resist it, forcing Victini to use its much weaker coverage moves and be overrun. Examples include Mega Gyarados, Mega Charizard X, and Dragonite. If V-create does not OHKO the foe and it is able to OHKO Victini after the drop to its defenses or can take advantage of the drop to its Speed, such as against Tapu Fini or Mega Venusaur, use Bolt Strike or Zen Headbutt as appropriate. Use Flame Charge if the Speed boost will let Victini outspeed and KO the foe on the next turn, like against Substitute users such as Mega Pinsir, Serperior, and Mega Lopunny. The matchup against Substitute + Earthquake Mega Metagross is a coinflip, requiring Victini to use Flame Charge if Mega Metagross chooses to use Substitute and V-create if it does not use Substitute. Use Trick against stall Pokemon without a Z-Crystal or Mega Stone that do not want to be locked into a single move like Type: Null and non-Z-Move Pyukumuku.
Team Options
========
Fast Electric- and Grass-type Pokemon like Electrium Z Zeraora and Choice Scarf Tapu Bulu can beat Water-types like Mega Gyarados, Greninja, and Mega Slowbro. In return, Victini can take care of Pokemon like Mega Mawile, Mega Gardevoir, and Mega Venusaur. Mold Breaker Outrage users like Choice Scarf Haxorus and Mega Gyarados can beat Dragon-types like Dragonite, Mega Charizard X, and Kommo-o. Victini can cover Pokemon like Magearna, Celesteela, and most Mega Metagross variants in return. Bulky Water-type Pokemon like Primarina and Tapu Fini can take care of Ground-types like Donphan, Zygarde, and Landorus-T. Synergistically, Victini can defeat Pokemon like Mega Charizard Y, Mega Venusaur, and Kartana.
[SET]
name: Z-Celebrate
move 1: Celebrate
move 2: Stored Power
move 3: V-create
move 4: Taunt / Hidden Power Ground
item: Normalium Z
ability: Victory Star
nature: Rash
evs: 48 HP / 16 Atk / 212 SpA / 232 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Celebrate is required for this set to function, allowing Victini to boost up all of its stats with Z-Celebrate as well as raise Stored Power's Base Power to 120. Stored Power allows Victini to hit foes like Mega Charizard X, Kommo-o, and boosted Bulk Up Zeraora. V-create is also a must-have, sporting a huge 180 Base Power on top of STAB and an Attack boost from Z-Celebrate to beat threats that resist Stored Power like Gardevoir and Magearna, as well as Zeraora that has used Charge. Taunt allows Victini to shut down stall Pokemon and Substitute users that would otherwise wall it, such as Mega Altaria and Mega Audino. Alternatively, Hidden Power Ground can be run to beat Heatran as well as ease the Substitute + Earthquake Mega Metagross matchup.
Set Details
========
212 Special Attack EVs along with a Rash nature allow Victini to OHKO offensive Mega Charizard X after a Z-Celebrate boost, while 232 Speed EVs allow Victini to outspeed Adamant Choice Scarf Haxorus after a boost. 16 Attack and 48 HP EVs give Victini the best chances of simultaneously OHKOing a bulky Charge-boosted Zeraora with V-create, tanking two Outrages from specially defensive Mega Charizard X, and tanking specially defensive Kommo-o's Clangorous Soulblaze followed by Clanging Scales.
Usage Tips
========
Unfortunately, because of this set's lack of bulk investment, hard-hitting hyper offensive Pokemon, even if they're weak to Psychic or Fire, can threaten Victini and should be avoided. Victini is OHKOed by Naganadel, relies on damage rolls for taking out foes like Mega Lopunny, and gives a Special Attack Download boost to Genesect, causing offensive Choice Specs sets to have a favorable damage roll against Victini. The only times where Victini may not want to use Z-Celebrate immediately are during scenarios where it must consider using Taunt first in order to prevent a crucial status move. These two exceptions are against Mega Mawile and non-Occa Berry Taunt Whimsicott; both of them are coinflips. Against Mega Mawile, Victini must either use Taunt if Mega Mawile uses Swords Dance or use Z-Celebrate if Mega Mawile attacks immediately. Against Whimsicott, Victini must either use V-create immediately if Whimsicott uses Taunt or use its own Taunt if Whimsicott does not. Against Mega Charizard X, simply use Z-Celebrate followed by Stored Power, which will OHKO offensive sets and 2HKO Mega Charizard X if it is specially defensive; specially defensive Mega Charizard X will be both unable to outspeed Victini after a Dragon Dance and unable to 2HKO it with unboosted Outrage. Against Zeraora, after using Z-Celebrate turn one, act according to what move Zeraora uses. If Zeraora attacks immediately and does not get the small chance of KOing or uses Charge, use V-create for the OHKO. If it uses Bulk Up, use Stored Power. Even if Stored Power does not OHKO, Zeraora will be unable to KO Victini before another Stored Power KOes it.
Team Options
========
Fast Electric- and Grass-type Pokemon like Electrium Z Zeraora and Choice Scarf Tapu Bulu can beat Water-types like Mega Gyarados, Greninja, and Mega Slowbro. In return, Victini can take care of Pokemon like Ferrothorn, Mega Gardevoir, and Mega Venusaur. Mold Breaker Outrage users, namely Choice Scarf Haxorus and Mega Gyarados, can beat Dragonite, one of the greatest threats in 1v1. Victini can cover Pokemon like Magearna, Celesteela, and most Mega Metagross variants in return. Bulky Water-type Pokemon like Primarina and Tapu Fini can take care of Ground-types like Donphan, Zygarde, and Landorus-T. Synergistically, Victini can defeat Pokemon like Mega Charizard Y, Mega Venusaur, and Kartana.
[SET]
name: Z-Psychic
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Blue Flare
move 3: Glaciate
move 4: Will-O-Wisp
item: Psychium Z
ability: Victory Star
nature: Modest
evs: 80 HP / 248 Def / 180 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Psychium Z powers Psychic up into Shattered Psyche, which is used most specifically for KOing Kommo-o, but also Pokemon like Mega Venusaur and Mega Lopunny. It is the highest Base Power move on the set, so it is used to KO Pokemon like Donphan after Sturdy is broken. Blue Flare takes out Pokemon weak to Fire such as Magearna, Celesteela, Mega Metagross, and Serperior. Glaciate can slow down the opposing Pokemon while also dealing chip damage, which is useful against foes like offensive Mega Charizard X and slow or Choice Band Dragonite sets. It can also beat Zygarde most of the time. Will-O-Wisp can be used to cripple physical attackers as well as do a little bit of chip damage to beat Donphan, Golem, and physical Dragonite.
Set Details
========
80 HP and 248 Defense EVs is are the most efficient way to tank both burned Golem's Tectonic Rage followed by Sucker Punch, as well as special Dragonite's Supersonic Skystrike followed by Extreme Speed. The extra 180 EVs are put into Special Attack with a Modest nature for maximized reliability in matchups reliant on damage rolls.
Usage Tips
========
Use Glaciate if Victini can survive the current turn and will outspeed the foe on the next turn. This is useful if the foe already outspeeds Victini or is using a Speed-boosting move, like in the case of offensive Mega Charizard X or special Dragonite. Victini should use Will-O-Wisp against physical attackers it cannot KO before being KOed itself, especially if there is an ability to be broken like Dragonite's Multiscale or Donphan's Sturdy. Against Kommo-o, go for Shattered Psyche, which should always OHKO it as long as Victini is faster. This variant of Victini can be sent out into Donphan, Golem, and slow Dragonite sets as well as Choice Band Dragonite, which are generally unexpected matchups for a Victini to win. Keep in mind that Victini will not reliably beat a Dragonite that outspeeds it and will lose to Choice Scarf variants. If Donphan is running Bulldoze, Victini will have to anticipate it with Glaciate, although Bulldoze Donphan is not very common. Victini will also have to predict Mega Metagross's use of Substitute by using Blue Flare immediately rather than Will-O-Wisp.
Team Options
========
Fast Electric- and Grass-type Pokemon like Electrium Z Zeraora and Choice Scarf Tapu Bulu can beat Water-types like Mega Gyarados, Greninja, and Mega Slowbro. In return, Victini will take care of Pokemon like Mega Mawile, Mega Venusaur, and Donphan. Fairy-type Pokemon like Mega Altaria and Mega Diancie can beat Dragon-types like Garchomp and Mega Charizard X as well as Dark-types like Mega Gyarados and Mega Tyaranitar. Victini can cover Pokemon like Magearna, Celesteela, and Mega Metagross in return. Bulky Water-type Pokemon like Primarina and Tapu Fini can take care of Ground-types like Mega Tyranitar, Krookodile, and Landorus-T. Synergistically, Victini can defeat Pokemon like Mega Charizard Y, Mega Venusaur, and Kartana.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: V-Create
move 2: Bolt Strike
move 3: Zen Headbutt
move 4: Trick
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Victory Star
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
V-create is Victini’s strongest move by far, and it can be used to burst Steel-types like Magearna, Celesteela, and Genesect or beat Pokemon that are unable to effectively hit Victini such as offensive Mew and generally frail Pokemon such as Mega Gardevoir, Tapu Lele, non-Timid Choice Scarf Porygon-Z, and Volcarona. Bolt Strike can be used against Water-types like Tapunium Z Tapu Fini and Greninja as well as Flying-types like Choice Scarf Togekiss. Zen Headbutt can be used against Poison-types like Mega Venusaur, Nihilego, and Naganadel. Trick can shut down stall Pokemon that do not use Z-Crystals or Mega Stones like Type: Null, Kee Berry Mew, and Pyukumuku. It can also be used to force Deoxys-S into a coinflip between using Taunt against Trick or Iron Defense against V-create.
Set Details
=========
252 Attack EVs alongside an Adamant nature are used to deal as much damage as possible. 252 Speed EVs and Choice Scarf are used to outspeed as many foes as possible. A Jolly nature can also be used to outspeed +1 base 90 Speed Pokemon like Timid Choice Scarf Porygon-Z.
Usage Tips
========
Victini should be sent out against Pokemon that can easily fall to V-create such as Mega Gardevoir, Tapu Lele, Magearna, and Volcarona. Choice Scarf Victini is also able to beat non-Choice Scarf Greninja with Bolt Strike. However, Victini fails to defeat foes that are too bulky to be beaten by V-create or resist it, such as Mega Gyarados, Mega Charizard X, and Dragonite, forcing Victini to use its much weaker coverage moves and be overrun. V-create should be used against Pokemon that can be OHKOed by it, like Mega Gardevoir and Magearna. If V-create does not OHKO and the foe is able to OHKO Victini after the drop to its defenses, such as against Greninja and Nihilego, use Bolt Strike or Zen Headbutt based on the foe's typing. Use Trick against stall Pokemon without a Z-Crystal or Mega Stone like Type: Null and Kee Berry Mew that do not want to be locked into a single move. However, when facing Mewnium Z Mew, Victini will need to use V-create instead. It is worth noting that this variant of Mew will often use Fake Out on the first turn, allowing Victini to use Trick on the first turn against any kind of Mew and reactively decide whether to use V-create or not. However, if the Mew user predicts this and does not use Fake Out, Victini will be locked into Trick and will be helpless. Victini will outspeed and OHKO non-Timid Choice Scarf Porygon-Z and occasionally OHKO bulkier Normalium Z Porygon-Z variants. It will also only sometimes OHKO Bulk Up Outrage Zeraora and 2HKO Kommo-o. In the case of Kommo-o, the significant flinch chance of two Zen Headbutts can sometimes remedy this.
Team Options
========
Electric- and Grass-type Pokemon like Electrium Z Zeraora and Tapu Bulu can beat Water-types like Mega Gyarados, Primarina, and Mega Slowbro, while Victini can take care of Pokemon like Choice Scarf Porygon-Z, Mega Gardevoir, and Mega Venusaur. Mold Breaker Outrage users like Choice Scarf Haxorus and Mega Gyarados can beat Dragon-types like Dragonite, Mega Charizard X, and Garchomp. Victini can cover Pokemon like Magearna, Celesteela, and most Mega Metagross in return. Bulky Water-type Pokemon like Primarina and Tapu Fini can take care of Ground-types like Donphan, Zygarde, and Landorus-T. Synergistically, Victini can defeat Pokemon like Mega Charizard Y, Mega Venusaur, and Kartana.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
========
A physical Psychium Z set with V-create / Bolt Strike / Zen Headbutt / Light Screen or Magic Coat can be run. Physical sets retain the ability to beat Pokemon like Tapu Lele, Mega Gardevoir, and Kommo-o. Magic Coat or Light Screen can also beat either variant of Tapu Fini, given that you predict Tapu Fini's set correctly, by using Z-Magic Coat or Light Screen against Waterium Z variants and directly using Bolt Strike against Tapunium Z variants. This Victini set can also beat Choice Specs Greninja with Z-Magic Coat followed by Bolt Strike or V-create depending on Greninja's move. Z-Light Screen can allow Victini to beat Heatran and Primarina most of the time. Both Z-Magic Coat and Z-Light Screen sets can also force Volcarona into mind games. An Icium Z set with Will-O-Wisp / Blue Flare / Taunt / Glaciate can be run to beat Pokemon that are weak to Ice like Dragonite, Zygarde, Landorus-T, and Donphan. However, because this set will make Victini's STAB moves especially lackluster, it should only be used to lure in and beat Dragonite. Firium Z can be run to beat Aegislash without Victini having to run Substitute. It can also somewhat consistently beat Donphan with Z-Will-O-Wisp. A faster Choice Band set can be used to retain the offensive power of Choice Band while outspeeding Pokemon like Normalium Z Porygon-Z.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Rock- and Ground-types**: Pokemon such as Zygarde, Landorus-T, Mega Tyranitar, and Garchomp can all survive Victini's attacks and KO it with super effective STAB moves.
**Bulky Offense**: Pokemon such as Mega Gyarados, Incineroar, and Choice Scarf Dragonite resist V-create, are too bulky for Victini's much weaker coverage moves, and can defeat Victini with powerful STAB moves.
**Stall Mega Evolutions and Z-Move Users**: Mega Slowbro, Kyurem, and Psychium Z Deoxys-S can set up using boosting moves, then stall Victini out while whittling it down because of its lack of good boosting moves and their immunity to Trick.
**Aegislash**: King's Shield blocks V-create and prevents Victini from OHKOing Aegislash, which OHKOes Victini in return with Never-Ending Nightmare.
[CREDITS]
-Written by: [[Eriey, 470842]]
- Quality checked by: [[Alakazam, 276708], [lost heros, 316445], [Quantum Tesseract, 297239], [pqs, 425798], [Osra, 239997]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [bigtalk, 466663]]
Last edited:
This needs another name but it's w/e
