[OVERVIEW]
* fast Final Gambit w/ high base HP allows it to trade fairly easily
* unique STAB-attack (V-Create), good coverage w/ bolt strike, and pivots well with u-turn
* underwhelming outside of final gambit / v-create, though
* often outclassed as a fire-type by volcanion/heatran
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Final Gambit
move 2: V-Create
move 3: Bolt Strike
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Victory Star
nature: Jolly
evs: 140 HP / 116 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* final gambit allows victini to usually trade early, without much counterplay.
* v-create is a very powerful STAB-move which also unfortunately lowers victini's stats
* bolt strike is coverage for water- and flying-types, such as tapu fini
* u-turn allows victini to pivot out easily upon difficult matchups while doing chip damage and hitting some threats like hoopa-unbound in the process
Set Details
========
* 116 atk OHKOes gengar-mega with v-create
* maximum EVs and a jolly nature is used to ensure victini outspeeds choice scarf genesect
* the rest of EVs are put into HP so victini has more powerful trading potential
Usage Tips
========
* victini works well as a lead. in many situations it can trade w/ final gambit and in tough matchups it can usually u-turn out
* victini would like to keep its health high, as taking damage will lower final gambits damage.
* make sure you're going for guaranteed KOs with victini because you do not want to risk taking damage
* pay attention to the speed drop from v-create. the choice scarf boost is nullified after a single use of v-create, so you might have to switch out
Team Options
========
* ninetales-alola works well alongside victini as a lead. because of v-create, victini threatens the pokemon that would usually stop ninetales-alola from setting up aurora veil.
* pokemon that would usually struggle with grass-types, such as ferrothorn and amoonguss, will appreciate victini's strong fire STAB
* set-up users such as DD salamence-mega or DD zygarde appreciate victini threatening everything on the field bc of final gambit
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* assault vest can be run for additional bulk, but it's a pretty bad set because victini's main niche is final gambit, which you are taking away
* zen headbutt hits threats such as marshadow or tentacruel
* v-create can be replaced by blue flare to avoid stat drops, however, this is a bad move
* victini can work as a decent trick room setter that can beat amoonguss, which is usually a big threat to trick room
Checks and Counters
===================
**speed control:**
because victini relies on its scarf + final gambit trades and its fast strong v-creates, it struggles against teams that manage to get trick room or tailwind up. also it struggles vs choice scarf landorus-therian and zygardes at +1
**water-types:**
despite having bolt strike, it has issues beating tapu fini and rain teams which often times utilize kingdra and/or mega swampert
**intimidate:**
just like every physical pokemon ever, its physical attacks are drastically weakened by intimidate users such as landorus-therian and salamence. to make matters worse, victini can't really properly damage either of these pokemon without sacrificing itself w/ final gambit
* fast Final Gambit w/ high base HP allows it to trade fairly easily
* unique STAB-attack (V-Create), good coverage w/ bolt strike, and pivots well with u-turn
* underwhelming outside of final gambit / v-create, though
* often outclassed as a fire-type by volcanion/heatran
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Final Gambit
move 2: V-Create
move 3: Bolt Strike
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Victory Star
nature: Jolly
evs: 140 HP / 116 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* final gambit allows victini to usually trade early, without much counterplay.
* v-create is a very powerful STAB-move which also unfortunately lowers victini's stats
* bolt strike is coverage for water- and flying-types, such as tapu fini
* u-turn allows victini to pivot out easily upon difficult matchups while doing chip damage and hitting some threats like hoopa-unbound in the process
Set Details
========
* 116 atk OHKOes gengar-mega with v-create
* maximum EVs and a jolly nature is used to ensure victini outspeeds choice scarf genesect
* the rest of EVs are put into HP so victini has more powerful trading potential
Usage Tips
========
* victini works well as a lead. in many situations it can trade w/ final gambit and in tough matchups it can usually u-turn out
* victini would like to keep its health high, as taking damage will lower final gambits damage.
* make sure you're going for guaranteed KOs with victini because you do not want to risk taking damage
* pay attention to the speed drop from v-create. the choice scarf boost is nullified after a single use of v-create, so you might have to switch out
Team Options
========
* ninetales-alola works well alongside victini as a lead. because of v-create, victini threatens the pokemon that would usually stop ninetales-alola from setting up aurora veil.
* pokemon that would usually struggle with grass-types, such as ferrothorn and amoonguss, will appreciate victini's strong fire STAB
* set-up users such as DD salamence-mega or DD zygarde appreciate victini threatening everything on the field bc of final gambit
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* assault vest can be run for additional bulk, but it's a pretty bad set because victini's main niche is final gambit, which you are taking away
* zen headbutt hits threats such as marshadow or tentacruel
* v-create can be replaced by blue flare to avoid stat drops, however, this is a bad move
* victini can work as a decent trick room setter that can beat amoonguss, which is usually a big threat to trick room
Checks and Counters
===================
**speed control:**
because victini relies on its scarf + final gambit trades and its fast strong v-creates, it struggles against teams that manage to get trick room or tailwind up. also it struggles vs choice scarf landorus-therian and zygardes at +1
**water-types:**
despite having bolt strike, it has issues beating tapu fini and rain teams which often times utilize kingdra and/or mega swampert
**intimidate:**
just like every physical pokemon ever, its physical attacks are drastically weakened by intimidate users such as landorus-therian and salamence. to make matters worse, victini can't really properly damage either of these pokemon without sacrificing itself w/ final gambit
