[SET]
name: Swords Dunce
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Sludge Bomb
move 3: Hidden Power Ground
move 4: Sleep Powder
item: Leftovers
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Victreebel is usually not worth using in UU due to it being outclassed by Vileplume, which is far bulkier and thus leverages its typing better defensively. However, Victreebel is more functional as a Swords Dance user due to its higher Attack and Speed, making it potentially threatening if faster checks can be removed; it even has a small edge over Tentacruel in this role thanks to Sleep Powder, although its middling Speed and poor coverage make it relatively easy to stop regardless. Sludge Bomb's damage output is quite good even against neutral targets, especially after a boost; at +2 it notably OHKOes common threats like Ampharos, Lanturn, specially defensive Vileplume, and offensive Kangaskhan after Spikes damage. Sludge Bomb's poison chance also lets it exert pressure even on reliable switch-ins like Scyther and Arcanine. Hidden Power Ground provides crucial coverage for Rock-, Steel-, and opposing Poison-types such as Omastar, Aggron, and Tentacruel, although it leaves Victreebel walled by Gligar as well as common Levitate users such as Misdreavus and Solrock. Sleep Powder is the preferred fourth move, being an extremely valuable tool for creating setup opportunities and disrupting the opponent's defensive core, and it has little opportunity cost since Victreebel has no useful coverage options beyond Hidden Power. However, if you don't enjoy the risk of missing Sleep Powder, Encore is similarly helpful for locking slower foes into unfavorable moves such as Toxic. Synthesis is another usable option to enhance Victreebel's longevity, but its frailty limits the move's effectivenenss.
Good teammates for Victreebel generally fall into two categories: supportive Pokemon that can help it sweep or handle its checks, and other offensive Pokemon that can take advantage of Sleep Powder. Omastar is a great example of the former, switching into threatening Normal- and Flying-type attacks for it from the likes of Kangaskhan, Granbull, and Scyther, and setting up the Spikes that are necessary to make lasting progress against common checks like Arcanine and bulky Water-types. Solrock has a similarly useful defensive profile while also checking Gligar and pivoting around Psychic-type attacks for Victreebel. Having a plan for faster checks like Scyther, Arcanine, and Haunter is also important, with this usually being done via paralysis support from a lure like Body Slam Kangaskhan or, on hyper offense teams, with an even faster threat like Electrode, one's own Scyther, or Rain Dance Gorebyss. On the topic of Gorebyss, any frail sweeper that appreciates a free turn of setup will enjoy Victreebel's Sleep Powder; this can also include Rain Dance Omastar as well as Swords Dance Scyther, Calm Mind Grumpig, and Dragon Dance Pupitar among others.
[CREDITS]
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/stupidflandrs48.633500/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ellingtonreborn.619555/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/autumn.384270/
name: Swords Dunce
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Sludge Bomb
move 3: Hidden Power Ground
move 4: Sleep Powder
item: Leftovers
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Victreebel is usually not worth using in UU due to it being outclassed by Vileplume, which is far bulkier and thus leverages its typing better defensively. However, Victreebel is more functional as a Swords Dance user due to its higher Attack and Speed, making it potentially threatening if faster checks can be removed; it even has a small edge over Tentacruel in this role thanks to Sleep Powder, although its middling Speed and poor coverage make it relatively easy to stop regardless. Sludge Bomb's damage output is quite good even against neutral targets, especially after a boost; at +2 it notably OHKOes common threats like Ampharos, Lanturn, specially defensive Vileplume, and offensive Kangaskhan after Spikes damage. Sludge Bomb's poison chance also lets it exert pressure even on reliable switch-ins like Scyther and Arcanine. Hidden Power Ground provides crucial coverage for Rock-, Steel-, and opposing Poison-types such as Omastar, Aggron, and Tentacruel, although it leaves Victreebel walled by Gligar as well as common Levitate users such as Misdreavus and Solrock. Sleep Powder is the preferred fourth move, being an extremely valuable tool for creating setup opportunities and disrupting the opponent's defensive core, and it has little opportunity cost since Victreebel has no useful coverage options beyond Hidden Power. However, if you don't enjoy the risk of missing Sleep Powder, Encore is similarly helpful for locking slower foes into unfavorable moves such as Toxic. Synthesis is another usable option to enhance Victreebel's longevity, but its frailty limits the move's effectivenenss.
Good teammates for Victreebel generally fall into two categories: supportive Pokemon that can help it sweep or handle its checks, and other offensive Pokemon that can take advantage of Sleep Powder. Omastar is a great example of the former, switching into threatening Normal- and Flying-type attacks for it from the likes of Kangaskhan, Granbull, and Scyther, and setting up the Spikes that are necessary to make lasting progress against common checks like Arcanine and bulky Water-types. Solrock has a similarly useful defensive profile while also checking Gligar and pivoting around Psychic-type attacks for Victreebel. Having a plan for faster checks like Scyther, Arcanine, and Haunter is also important, with this usually being done via paralysis support from a lure like Body Slam Kangaskhan or, on hyper offense teams, with an even faster threat like Electrode, one's own Scyther, or Rain Dance Gorebyss. On the topic of Gorebyss, any frail sweeper that appreciates a free turn of setup will enjoy Victreebel's Sleep Powder; this can also include Rain Dance Omastar as well as Swords Dance Scyther, Calm Mind Grumpig, and Dragon Dance Pupitar among others.
[CREDITS]
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/stupidflandrs48.633500/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ellingtonreborn.619555/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/autumn.384270/
Last edited:
