Vigoroth (NU) (DONE)

[DurzaOffTopic]

[OVERVIEW]
Vigoroth is an excellent Pokemon in the NU tier due to its decent stats, great movepool, and high number of sets to work with. It faces very little competition from other Normal-types in the tier and performs a variety of roles due to its great movepool. Vigoroth also is part of a very good Speed tier, Speed tying with Pokemon such as Golbat, Abra, Pikachu, and Venomoth while outspeeding Pokemon like Hitmonchan and Glalie. Vigoroth's Normal typing is somewhat of a hindrance, however, as it has trouble hitting Ghost-types, particularly Haunter and Sableye, and is weak to the omnipresent Hitmonchan. While Vigoroth's bulk is good, it has a low base 55 Special Defense stat. However, with the right EV investment, Vigoroth can still be an incredibly bulky and threatening Pokemon in the metagame.

[SET]
name: Bulk Up
move 1: Return / Body Slam
move 2: Earthquake / Shadow Ball / Substitute
move 3: Slack Off
move 4: Bulk Up
item: Leftovers
ability: Vital Spirit
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
The purpose of this set is to provide a bulky setup sweeper that is difficult to break after acquiring boosts. Return is the more powerful STAB option; however, Body Slam can be used to fish for paralysis. Earthquake is used to hit Steel-types such as Mawile and Metang and Rock-types like Relicanth and Sudowoodo. Shadow Ball hits Ghost-types like Haunter super effectively, but it still is not doing very much damage to Sableye. Alternatively, Substitute protects Vigoroth from status but leaves it without useful coverage. Slack Off guarantees recovery for Vigoroth, allowing it to have a good matchup versus bulky teams lacking solid checks. Bulk Up boosts Vigoroth's Attack and Defense, letting it become a bulky and powerful threat.

[ADDITIONAL SET COMMENTS]
Vital Spirit is Vigoroth's only ability and can help against sleep spreaders like Venomoth and Tangela. Its EV spread helps compensate for its poor special bulk and allows it to manually boost its Defense with Bulk Up. Vigoroth best sets up on weaker attackers such as Roselia and Mawile when given free turns, but it needs to make sure it is able to set up multiple boosts before it attempts to take on Hitmonchan. It also should make sure any phazers are eliminated or able to be OHKOed before they can force Vigoroth out if it wants any chance of sweeping. Vigoroth is almost hard countered by Sableye, so make sure it is removed or significantly weakened before attempting to set up with Vigoroth. Ghost-types in general trouble Vigoroth, and as Haunter is immune to Earthquake due to Levitate, it is advised that all Ghost-types be dealt with beforehand. It also struggles with Rock- and Steel-types, so they should also be weakened or removed prior. This set is far less dependent to get to 1 HP than Flail or Reversal sets and can be used more freely as an end-game sweeper without the fear of keeping Spikes off the field. Vigoroth needs to be wary about Toxic, as it can render it almost useless, since it nearly always needs quite a few turns to set up. Vigoroth appreciates Pursuit support from Pokemon like Houndour and Murkrow to help deal with troublesome Ghost-types. Vigoroth also likes having teammates like Golbat and Chimecho that can sponge Fighting-type attacks, the latter of which can also provide some crucial Heal Bell support in the event of Vigoroth getting inflicted by Toxic.

[SET]
name: Flail + Reversal
move 1: Endure / Substitute
move 2: Flail
move 3: Reversal
move 4: Shadow Ball
item: Salac Berry
ability: Vital Spirit
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
As a more offensive approach to Vigoroth, this set aims to take advantage of the fact that it is the only Pokemon capable of running Flail and Reversal, and it uses this to great effect. Endure is used to guarantee to survive a hit that would OHKO it at 1 HP; however, it relies more on prediction than Substitute. Substitute, however, requires Vigoroth to be faster than whatever it is using it against before Salac Berry activates and can get thoroughly messed up by Spikes currently on your side of the field. Flail is a powerful STAB move that will have 200 Base Power in ideal circumstances. Reversal can be a powerful 200-Base Power Fighting-type move that hits Steel- and Rock-types that resist Flail, but it is also reliant at being low on HP. Shadow Ball allows Vigoroth to hit Haunter as well as Sableye, but it fails at doing anything to Sableye if it has any sort of HP left.

[ADDITIONAL SET COMMENTS]
Salac Berry raises Vigoroth's Speed when it is under a quarter of its total HP. If running Substitute, more HP investment might be useful, as Vigoroth might be able to survive some weak hits behind Substitute. However, Vigoroth's HP should always be a multiple of 4 plus 1 to allow it to get down to 1 HP. An Adamant nature can be used for more power, but Jolly can be used if Vigoroth wants to outspeed Huntail in rain after its Salac Berry activates. Vigoroth appreciates Pokemon that can deal with Ghost-types such as Steel-types, Pursuit trappers, and many specially defensive RestTalk users. Ground-types can be used to deal with Pokemon like Metang, which resists Flail and takes Reversal neutrally, though it is 2HKOed by a maximum Base Power Reversal. Rapid Spin users like Hitmonchan and Wartortle are a necessity for sets involving Substitute to work properly, and sets utilizing Endure appreciate them as well.

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Return / Double-Edge
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Shadow Ball
move 4: Focus Punch / Brick Break
item: Choice Band
ability: Vital Spirit
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Band is a good option for Vigoroth if it wants immediate power. Return or Double-Edge can be used, but Return is preferred for its lack of recoil damage even though it doesn't hit as hard. Earthquake hits Rock- and Steel-types, and Shadow Ball nails Ghost-types that every Vigoroth set struggles with. Focus Punch is a more powerful option to hit Normal-resistant Pokemon on the switch but requires far more prediction than Brick Break, which on the other hand is far less destructive.

[ADDITIONAL SET COMMENTS]
An Adamant nature and maximum Attack investment let Vigoroth hit as hard as possible. 252 Speed EVs allow Vigoroth to outspeed Jolly Hitmonchan. Choice Band gives Vigoroth a boost in initial power but prevents the freedom of switching moves. This set relies significantly more on prediction than other Vigoroth sets, but this is to be expected when equipping a Choice Band. As usual, Vigoroth appreciates Pokemon that can remove its normal counters of Ghost-, Rock-, and Steel-types while also enjoying teammates that appreciate its breaking power.

[SET]
name: SubPunch
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Bulk Up
move 3: Focus Punch
move 4: Flail / Shadow Ball / Body Slam
item: Salac Berry / Leftovers
ability: Vital Spirit
nature: Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
The main boon of this set is Focus Punch, which allows Vigoroth to deal with many of its conventional checks that are not Ghost type, such as Mawile, Relicanth, and other Steel- and Rock-types. Substitute eases prediction and helps to safely utilize Focus Punch. Bulk Up is a useful boosting tool to increase Vigoroth's power and bulk. Flail has the potential to be a powerful STAB attack but often requires ideal scenarios to work properly. Shadow Ball lets Vigoroth hit pesky Ghost-types like Haunter and Shedinja. Body Slam is a more consistent option that is useful for fishing for paralysis as well as solid damage output without the needed setup or prediction with using Focus Punch.

[ADDITIONAL SET COMMENTS]
Maximum Attack and Speed investment with an Adamant nature allows Vigoroth to hit as hard as possible while still outspeeding Hitmonchan. Salac Berry is the preferred item due to its ability to boost Vigoroth's Speed in a pinch, but Leftovers can be used for more longevity. Note that Leftovers should never be used in combination with Flail. Vigoroth needs Pokemon that deal with Ghost-types, as they are most likely a hard stop to Vigoroth. If using Flail, Rapid Spin support from Pokemon like Hitmonchan and Wartortle is required to ensure that the move works optimally.

[SET]
name: Taunt Lead
move 1: Taunt
move 2: Return
move 3: Earthquake / Shadow Ball
move 4: Shadow Ball / Encore / Slack Off
item: Leftovers
ability: Vital Spirit
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Taunt is an excellent move for preventing status and entry hazards and allows Vigoroth to shut down Pokemon like Roselia, Venomoth, and Glalie. Return is a solid STAB move with consistent damage, and Earthquake hits Steel- and Rock-types that resist Return. Shadow Ball hits Ghost-types, while Encore is a very useful option that locks setup users into their setup move and generally allows more flexibility at the cost of being completely walled by Ghost-types. Toxic is another viable move for this set to help wear down foes. Slack Off can be run in the last slot in order to give Vigoroth a more useful long-term purpose in a match, enabling it to wear down many Pokemon while having recovery of its own.

[ADDITIONAL SET COMMENTS]
This set is optimal as a lead, having very few bad matchups against most of the common leads seen in the tier. A Jolly nature and maximum Speed investment are required for Vigoroth to outspeed common Glalie leads. The rest of the EVs are put into Attack to allow for Vigoroth to have an offensive presence as well. Vigoroth retains excellent stallbreaking potential with Taunt and Encore with this set, and they can be used to their full effect in stall matchups. Vigoroth should not riskily switch into a potential Toxic, which would completely neuter it. In case of emergency, Vigoroth does appreciate cleric support from teammates like Roselia and Chimecho. Leftovers is the preferred item for its consistent and reliable recovery.

[Other Options]
Rock Slide is a niche option that allows Vigoroth to hit Flying-types like Golbat super effectively while also catching Fire-types like Flareon and Torkoal.

[Checks and Counters]
Ghost-types are the most significant counter to Vigoroth, though Haunter has to watch out for Shadow Ball. Sableye in particular walls every Vigoroth set excluding ones with Taunt. Steel-types like Metang and Mawile are difficult to break without Earthquake, but the latter needs to watch out for Reversal, Brick Break, or Focus Punch as well. Bulky Rock-types like Sudowoodo and Relicanth resist Vigoroth's Normal-type STAB moves and take surprisingly little from all super effective coverage due to their sheer bulk. Toxic renders almost every Vigoroth set useless, as many require certain HP or multiple turns to set up, thus reducing Vigoroth's overall usefulness throughout a match.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[DurzaOffTopic,357488]]
- Quality checked by: [[oglemi,40358], [Hogg,228003]
- Grammar checked by: [[martha,384270], [The Dutch Plumberjack,232216]]

 

[Oglemi]

A Taunt lead is the last set I think that should be added:

[SET]
name: Taunt Lead
move 1: Taunt
move 2: Return
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Shadow Ball / Encore
item: Leftovers
ability: Vital Spirit
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

It completely shuts Venomoth and Rose, stops Spikes from Glalie, easily beats Magby and Flareon, and really just doesn't have any poor matchups from the lead slot except for maybe Sudowoodo and Relicanth. It also retains obvious stallbreaker utility throughout the match as well with Taunt and Encore, with Toxic being another viable move to place somewhere on the set.

Otherwise for the other sets, I'm of the opinion that Slack Off is non-negotiable on the Bulk Up set, especially with the specially defensive spread, so I would deslash Shadow Ball from next to it. By virtue of the set you'll end up walled by something, the hole just gets patched up through teambuilding. If you want to use both Earthquake and Shadow Ball you should be using an offensive EV spread, which you can add as a note in the AC or something. I would also probably deslash Bulk Up from the Flail set, I don't think the boost is significant to warrant it, and you need Shadow Ball to hit Haunter and more importantly Sableye (although it still won't save you from losing to Sableye if it's above ~30%)

 

[DurzaOffTopic]

Oglemi god i wrote the last 3 sets of this and accidentally hit cancel and had to rewrite again, but im ready for QC. i felt less need to go into great detail and repeat teammate options and obvious stuff that i said like 3 times already in AC later down the setlist, hope thats okay

 

[Hogg]

I typically run Slack Off in the last slot for Taunt lead. Still does what it needs to do in the lead slot but increases longevity, and Taunt + Slack with decently strong Normal + Ghost coverage is a pain for bulky teams to deal with. Even strong resists like Mawile or defensive Reli end up getting Taunted and worn down (and a Taunted Mawile in particular is a free switch for a huge chunk of the tier). Probably at least worth a mention if not a slash.

 

[Oglemi]

Make sure to explain what the sets do before diving into the moves, ie. what the goal of the set is and what type of team it should be on, especially for something like the Bulk Up set it might not be readily apparent to newcomers what it does.

Otherwise the sets are good QC-wise

 

[Astra]

bump amcheck
add remove (comments)
It seems that you're missing a credits section. Was this a mistake?

sicko mode

[Overview] [OVERVIEW]
Vigoroth is an excellent Pokemon in the NU tier, (RC) due to its decent stats, great movepool, and plenty of sets to work with. It faces very little competition from other Normal-types in the tier, (RC) and it performs a variety of roles due to its great movepool. Vigoroth also is part of a very good speed Speed tier, speed Speed tying with Pokemon such as Golbat, Abra, Pikachu, Venomoth, and others, (RC) while outspeeding Pokemon like Hitmonchan and Glalie. Vigoroth's Normal-typing (remove hyphen) is somewhat of a hindrance, however, as it has trouble hitting Ghost-types, particularly Haunter and Sableye, and is weak to the omnipresent Hitmonchan. While Vigoroth's bulk is good, it is quite weak on the specially defensive side, boasting with (low special defense is nothing to boast about) a mere base 55 Special Defense base stat. With However, (AC) with the right EV investment, Vigoroth can still be an incredibly bulky and threatening Pokemon in the metagame.

[SET]
name: Bulk Up
move 1: Return / Body Slam
move 2: Earthquake / Shadow Ball / Substitute
move 3: Slack Off
move 4: Bulk Up
item: Leftovers
ability: Vital Spirit
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
The purpose of this set is to provide a bulky setup sweeper that is difficult to break after acquiring boosts. Return is the more powerful option as a STAB move of choice,; (change comma to semicolon) however, (AC) Body Slam can be used to fish for Paralysis paralysis. Earthquake is used to hit Steel-types such as Mawile and Metang, (RC) and Rock-types like Relicanth and Sudowoodo. Shadow Ball gives super-effective versus hits Ghost-types like Haunter super effectively, but it still is not doing very much damage to Sableye. Substitute protects Vigoroth from status, (RC) but leaves Vigoroth it without useful coverage. Slack Off guarantees recovery for Vigoroth, allowing it to have a good matchup versus bulky teams lacking solid checks. Bulk Up boosts both Vigoroth's Attack and Defense, letting it become a bulky and powerful threat.

[ADDITIONAL SET COMMENTS]
Vital Spirit is Vigoroth's only ability, (RC) and can help versus against sleepers spreaders like Venomoth and Tangela. The Its EV spread listed helps compensate for its poor special bulk and allows it to manually boost its physical defense Defense with Bulk Up. Vigoroth best sets up on weaker attackers when given free turns, but it needs to make sure it is able to set up multiple boosts before it attempts to take on Hitmonchan. It also should make sure any Phazers phazers are eliminated or able to be OHKOed before they can force Vigoroth out if it wants any chance of sweeping. Vigoroth is almost hard countered by Sableye, so make sure it is removed or significantly weakened before attempting to set up with Vigoroth. Ghost-types in general trouble Vigoroth, and as Haunter is immune to Earthquake due to Levitiate Levitate, (AC) it is advised that all Ghost-types are dealt with beforehand. It also struggles with Rock- and Steel-types, so they should also be weakened or removed prior. This set is far less dependent than other sets to get to 1 HP (add space) than the Flail and Reversal sets, (RC) (i'm not entirely sure what you mean by that so i suggest making it more clearer) and can be used more freely as an end-game win condition without the fear of keeping Spikes off the field. Vigoroth needs to be wary about Toxic, as it can render it almost useless as since it nearly always needs quite a few turns to set up. Vigoroth appreciates Pursuit support from Pokemon like Houndour and Murkrow to help deal with these troublesome Ghost-types. Vigoroth also likes having teammates like Golbat and Chimecho that can sponge Fighting-type attacks, like Golbat and Chimecho, the latter of which can also provide some crucial Heal Bell support in the event of Vigoroth getting inflicted by Toxic'd.

[SET]
name: Flail + Reversal
move 1: Endure / Substitute
move 2: Flail
move 3: Reversal
move 4: Shadow Ball
item: Salac Berry
ability: Vital Spirit
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
As a more offensive approach to Vigoroth, this set aims to take advantage of the fact that it is the only Pokemon capable of running Flail + and Reversal, and it uses this to great effect. Endure is used to guarantee to survive an OHKO at 1 HP a 1HP survival if brought down to it,; (change comma to semicolon) however, (AC) it is relies more on prediction reliant than Substitute. however, Substitute, however, requires you to be faster than whatever you are subbing up on using it against before Salac Berry activates, (RC) and can get thoroughly messed up by any Spikes currently on your side of the field and by obviously altering HP. Flail is a powerful STAB move that will have 200 BP in ideal circumstances. (like?) Reversal can be a powerful 200 BP (add space) Fighting-type move as well that hits the Steel- and Rock-types that resist Flail, but it is also reliant at being low on HP. Shadow Ball also allows Vigoroth to hit Haunter as well as Sableye, but you're still not it fails at doing anything to Sableye if it has any sort of HP left.

[ADDITIONAL SET COMMENTS]
As a more offensive approach to Vigoroth, Salac Berry is the item of choice because of its property of raising Vigoroth's speed Speed when it is under a quarter of its total HP. If running Substitute, more HP investment might be useful, (AC) as Vigoroth might be able to survive some weak hits behind a sub, however Substitute. (add period) However, (AC) Vigoroth should always have an odd HP number as to allow it to get down to 1 HP. Adamant can be used for more power, but Jolly can be used if Vigoroth wants to outspeed Huntail in rain after its Salac Berry activates. Vigoroth appreciates Pokemon that can deal with Ghost-types, (RC) such as Steel-types, Pursuit trappers, and many specially defensive RestTalk users. Ground-types can be used to deal with Pokemon like Metang, which resists Flail and takes Reversal neutrally, though it but is 2HKO'd 2HKOed by a max-BP Reversal at 200 BP. Rapid Spinners users like Hitmonchan and Wartortle are a necessity for sets involving Substitute to work properly, and it is still appreciated on sets utilizing Endure as well.

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Return / Double Edge
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Shadow Ball
move 4: Focus Punch / Brick Break
item: Choice Band
ability: Vital Spirit
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS] (fixed format, should be a space between this and the set)
Choice Band is a good option if for Vigoroth if it wants immediate power. (optional changes) Return or Double Edge can be used, but Return is preferred for its lack of recoil damage even though it doesn't hit as hard as Double Edge. Earthquake hits the aforementioned Rock- and Steel-types, and Shadow ball Ball nails Ghost-types that every Vigoroth set struggles with. Focus Punch is a more powerful option to hit normal-resists Normal-resistant Pokemon on the switch, (RC) but requires far more prediction than Brick Break, which also happens to be far less destructive.

[ADDITIONAL SET COMMENTS]
An Adamant nature and maximum Attack investment lets Vigoroth hit as hard as possible. 252 Speed EVs allows Vigoroth to outspeed Jolly Hitmonchan. A Choice Band gives Vigoroth a boost in initial power, (RC) but prevents the freedom of switching moves. This set is relies significantly more on prediction reliant than other Vigoroth sets, but this is to be expected when equipping a Choice Band. As usual, Vigoroth appreciates Pokemon that can remove its normal counters of Ghost-, Rock-, and Steel-types while also enjoying teammates that appreciate its breaking power.

[SET]
name: SubPunch
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Bulk Up
move 3: Focus Punch
move 4: Flail / Shadow Ball / Body Slam
item: Salac Berry / Leftovers
ability: Vital Spirit
nature: Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
The main boon of this set is Focus Punch, which allows Vigoroth to deal with many of its conventional checks that are not Ghost-type. Substitute eases prediction and helps to sets up Focus Punch. Bulk Up is a useful boosting tool to increase both Vigoroth's power and bulk. Flail has the potential to be a powerful STAB attack but often requires ideal scenarios to work properly. Shadow Ball lets Vigoroth hit the pesky Ghost-types like Haunter and Shedinja. Body Slam is a more consistent option that is useful for fishing for Paralysis paralysis as well as a solid damage output without the needed setup or prediction with using Focus Punch.

[ADDITIONAL SET COMMENTS]
Vital Spirit is Vigoroth's only ability. (you didn't mention this in the other additional set comments so you may as well remove it) Maximum Attack and Speed investment with an Adamant nature allows Vigoroth to hit as hard as possible while still outspeeding Hitmonchan. Salac Berry is the preferred item due to its ability to boost Vigoroth's speed Speed in a pinch, but Leftovers can be used for more longevity. Note that Leftovers should never be used in combination with Flail. Vigoroth needs Pokemon that deal with Ghost-types, (AC) as they are most likely a to hard stop to Vigoroth. If using Flail, Rapid Spin support from Pokemon like Hitmonchan and Wartortle is required to ensure that Flail works optimally.

[SET]
name: Taunt Lead
move 1: Taunt
move 2: Return
move 3: Earthquake / Shadow Ball
move 4: Shadow Ball / Encore / Slack Off
item: Leftovers
ability: Vital Spirit
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Taunt is an optimal move for preventing status and hazards, (RC) and allows Vigoroth to shut down Pokemon like Roselia, Venomoth, and Glalie. Return is a solid STAB move with consistent damage, and Earthquake hits Steel- and Rock-types that resist Return. Shadow Ball hits Ghosts Ghost-types, and while Encore is a very useful option that locks setup-users (remove hyphen but keep space) into their setup move and generally allowing allows more flexibility in general at the cost of being completely walled by Ghost-types. Toxic is another viable move for this set to help wear down opponents. Slack Off can be run in the last slot in order to give Vigoroth a more useful long-term purpose in a match, being able to wear down many Pokemon while having recovery of its own.

[ADDITIONAL SET COMMENTS]
This set is optimal in the a lead spot, having very few bad matchups against most of the common leads seen in the tier. A Jolly nature and maximum Speed investment is are required for Vigoroth to outspeed common Glalie leads. The rest of the EVs are put into Attack to allow for Vigoroth to have an offensive presence as well. Vigoroth retains excellent stallbreaking potential with Taunt and Encore with this set, and they should be used optimally in stall matchups. (add period) and not Vigoroth should not riskily switch into a potential Toxics, which would completely neuter Vigoroth it. In case of emergency, Vigoroth does appreciate clerical support from teammates like Roselia and Chimecho. Leftovers is the preferred item for its consistent and reliable recovery.

[Other Options]
Rock Slide is a niche option that allows Vigoroth to hit Flying-types like Golbat super effectively while also catching Fire-types like Flareon and Torkoal.

[Checks and Counters]
Ghost-types are the most significant counter to Vigoroth, though Haunter has to watch out for Shadow Ball. Sableye in particular walls every Vigoroth set excluding ones with Taunt. Steel-types like Metang and Mawile are difficult to break without Earthquake, but the latter needs to watch out for Reversal, Brick Break, or Focus Punch as well. Bulky Rock-types like Sudowoodo and Relicanth resist Vigoroth's Normal-type STAB moves and take surprisingly little from all super-effective (remove hyphen) coverage due to their sheer bulk. Toxic renders almost every Vigoroth set useless, as many require certain HP or multiple turns to set up, thus reducing Vigoroth's overall usefulness throughout a match.

 

[autumn]

stamping the above
add remove comments
GP 1/2

sicko mode

[Overview] [OVERVIEW] (overview is fine for adv afaik @ writer change if not though)
Vigoroth is an excellent Pokemon in the NU tier, (RC) due to its decent stats, great movepool, and plenty of sets to work with. It faces very little competition from other Normal-types in the tier, (RC) and it (not needed but works) performs a variety of roles due to its great movepool. Vigoroth also is part of a very good speed Speed tier, speed Speed tying with Pokemon such as Golbat, Abra, Pikachu, and Venomoth, and others, (RC) while outspeeding Pokemon like Hitmonchan and Glalie. Vigoroth's Normal-typing (remove hyphen) is somewhat of a hindrance, however, as it has trouble hitting Ghost-types, particularly Haunter and Sableye, and is weak to the omnipresent Hitmonchan. While Vigoroth's bulk is good, it is quite weak on the specially defensive side has a low base 55 Special Defense stat (there are no "sides" and combined two sentences because with this change they're essentially the same), a mere base 55 Special Defense base stat. With However, (AC) with the right EV investment, Vigoroth can still be an incredibly bulky and threatening Pokemon in the metagame.

[SET]
name: Bulk Up
move 1: Return / Body Slam
move 2: Earthquake / Shadow Ball / Substitute
move 3: Slack Off
move 4: Bulk Up
item: Leftovers
ability: Vital Spirit
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
The purpose of this set is to provide a bulky setup sweeper that is difficult to break after acquiring boosts. Return is the more powerful STAB option as a STAB move of choice,; (change comma to semicolon) however, (AC) Body Slam can be used to fish for Paralysis paralysis. Earthquake is used to hit Steel-types such as Mawile and Metang, (RC) and Rock-types like Relicanth and Sudowoodo. Shadow Ball gives super-effective versus hits Ghost-types like Haunter super effectively, but it still is not doing very much damage to Sableye. Substitute protects Vigoroth from status, (RC) but leaves Vigoroth it without useful coverage. Slack Off guarantees recovery for Vigoroth, allowing it to have a good matchup versus bulky teams lacking solid checks. Bulk Up boosts both (not really needed and both is fine) Vigoroth's Attack and Defense, letting it become a bulky and powerful threat.

[ADDITIONAL SET COMMENTS]
Vital Spirit is Vigoroth's only ability, (RC) and can help versus against sleepers spreaders like Venomoth and Tangela. The Its EV spread listed helps compensate for its poor special bulk and allows it to manually boost its physical defense Defense with Bulk Up. (the ev spread doesn't allow it tok boost so reword it to say how phys def is boosted anyway so investment isn't as required if that's what you mean) Vigoroth best sets up on weaker attackers (such as?) when given free turns, but it needs to make sure it is able to set up multiple boosts before it attempts to take on Hitmonchan. It also should make sure any Phazers phazers are eliminated or able to be OHKOed before they can force Vigoroth out if it wants any chance of sweeping. Vigoroth is almost hard countered by Sableye, so make sure it is removed or significantly weakened before attempting to set up with Vigoroth. Ghost-types in general trouble Vigoroth, and as Haunter is immune to Earthquake due to Levitiate Levitate, (AC) it is advised that all Ghost-types are dealt with beforehand. It also struggles with Rock- and Steel-types, so they should also be weakened or removed prior. This set is far less dependent than other sets to get to 1 HP (add space) than the Flail and Reversal sets, (RC) (i'm not entirely sure what you mean by that so i suggest making it more clearer) and can be used more freely as an end-game win condition without the fear of keeping Spikes off the field. Vigoroth needs to be wary about Toxic, as it can render it almost useless, (AC comma before as/since if meaning because) as since it nearly always needs quite a few turns to set up. Vigoroth appreciates Pursuit support from Pokemon like Houndour and Murkrow to help deal with these troublesome Ghost-types. Vigoroth also likes having teammates like Golbat and Chimecho that can sponge Fighting-type attacks, like Golbat and Chimecho, the latter of which can also provide some crucial Heal Bell support in the event of Vigoroth getting inflicted by Toxic'd.

[SET]
name: Flail + Reversal
move 1: Endure / Substitute
move 2: Flail
move 3: Reversal
move 4: Shadow Ball
item: Salac Berry
ability: Vital Spirit
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
As a more offensive approach to Vigoroth, this set aims to take advantage of the fact that it is the only Pokemon capable of running Flail + and Reversal, and it uses this to great effect. Endure is used to guarantee to survive a hit that would OHKO it at 1 HP a 1HP survival if brought down to it,; (change comma to semicolon) however, (AC) it is relies more on prediction reliant (it is more prediction-reliant is correct just add a hyphen) than Substitute. however, Substitute, however, requires you Vigoroth (don't refer to pokemon as you) to be faster than whatever you are it is subbing up on using it against before Salac Berry activates, (RC) and can get thoroughly messed up by any Spikes currently on your side of the field and by obviously altering HP. Flail is a powerful STAB move that will have 200 BP Base Power (spell it out) in ideal circumstances. (like?) Reversal can be a powerful 200 BP Base Power (add space) Fighting-type move as well that hits the Steel- and Rock-types that resist Flail, but it is also reliant at being low on HP. Shadow Ball also allows Vigoroth to hit Haunter as well as Sableye, but you're still not it fails at doing anything to Sableye if it has any sort of HP left.

[ADDITIONAL SET COMMENTS]
As a more offensive approach to Vigoroth, Salac Berry is the item of choice because of its property of raising raises Vigoroth's speed Speed when it is under a quarter of its total HP. If running Substitute, more HP investment might be useful, (AC) as Vigoroth might be able to survive some weak hits behind a sub, however Substitute. (add period) However, (AC) Vigoroth should always have an odd HP number as to allow it to get down to 1 HP. (is there a specific spread? mention it here if there is) An Adamant nature can be used for more power, but Jolly can be used if Vigoroth wants to outspeed Huntail in rain after its Salac Berry activates. Vigoroth appreciates Pokemon that can deal with Ghost-types, (RC) such as Steel-types, Pursuit trappers, and many specially defensive RestTalk users. Ground-types can be used to deal with Pokemon like Metang, which resists Flail and takes Reversal neutrally, though it but is 2HKO'd 2HKOed by a max-BP Reversal at 200 BP. (don't make this change. it removes content where you say it takes it neutrally. just change 2HKOed and change max BP to maximum Base Power) Rapid Spinners users like Hitmonchan and Wartortle are a necessity for sets involving Substitute to work properly, and it is still appreciated on sets utilizing Endure as well.

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Return / Double Edge
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Shadow Ball
move 4: Focus Punch / Brick Break
item: Choice Band
ability: Vital Spirit
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS] (fixed format, should be a space between this and the set)
Choice Band is a good option if for Vigoroth if it wants immediate power. (optional changes) (really not needed) Return or Double Edge can be used, but Return is preferred for its lack of recoil damage even though it doesn't hit as hard as Double Edge. Earthquake hits the aforementioned Rock- and Steel-types, and Shadow ball Ball nails Ghost-types that every Vigoroth set struggles with. Focus Punch is a more powerful option to hit normal-resists Normal-resistant Pokemon on the switch, (RC) but requires far more prediction than Brick Break, which also happens to be far less destructive.

[ADDITIONAL SET COMMENTS]
An Adamant nature and maximum Attack investment lets Vigoroth hit as hard as possible. 252 Speed EVs allows Vigoroth to outspeed Jolly Hitmonchan. A (this is fine to keep) Choice Band gives Vigoroth a boost in initial power, (RC) but prevents the freedom of switching moves. This set is relies significantly more on prediction reliant (again you can do prediction-reliant) than other Vigoroth sets, but this is to be expected when equipping a (keep a) Choice Band. As usual, Vigoroth appreciates Pokemon that can remove its normal counters of Ghost-, Rock-, and Steel-types while also enjoying teammates that appreciate its breaking power.

[SET]
name: SubPunch
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Bulk Up
move 3: Focus Punch
move 4: Flail / Shadow Ball / Body Slam
item: Salac Berry / Leftovers
ability: Vital Spirit
nature: Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
The main boon of this set is Focus Punch, which allows Vigoroth to deal with many of its conventional checks that are not Ghost-type. (such as?) Substitute eases prediction and helps to sets up Focus Punch. Bulk Up is a useful boosting tool to increase both Vigoroth's power and bulk. Flail has the potential to be a powerful STAB attack but often requires ideal scenarios to work properly. Shadow Ball lets Vigoroth hit the pesky Ghost-types like Haunter and Shedinja. Body Slam is a more consistent option that is useful for fishing for Paralysis paralysis as well as a solid damage output without the needed setup or prediction with using Focus Punch.

[ADDITIONAL SET COMMENTS]
Vital Spirit is Vigoroth's only ability. (you didn't mention this in the other additional set comments so you may as well remove it) Maximum Attack and Speed investment with an Adamant nature allows (maximum investment allows / maximum EVs allow) Vigoroth to hit as hard as possible while still outspeeding Hitmonchan. Salac Berry is the preferred item due to its ability to boost Vigoroth's speed Speed in a pinch, but Leftovers can be used for more longevity. Note that Leftovers should never be used in combination with Flail. Vigoroth needs Pokemon that deal with Ghost-types, (AC) as they are most likely a to (keep "a" because "to hard stop to vigoroth" doesn't make sense) hard stop to Vigoroth. If using Flail, Rapid Spin support from Pokemon like Hitmonchan and Wartortle is required to ensure that Flail works optimally.

[SET]
name: Taunt Lead
move 1: Taunt
move 2: Return
move 3: Earthquake / Shadow Ball
move 4: Shadow Ball / Encore / Slack Off
item: Leftovers
ability: Vital Spirit
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Taunt is an optimal move for preventing status and hazards, (RC) and allows Vigoroth to shut down Pokemon like Roselia, Venomoth, and Glalie. Return is a solid STAB move with consistent damage, and Earthquake hits Steel- and Rock-types that resist Return. Shadow Ball hits Ghosts Ghost-types, and while Encore is a very useful option that locks setup- users (remove hyphen but keep space) into their setup move and generally allowing allows more flexibility in general at the cost of being completely walled by Ghost-types. Toxic is another viable move for this set to help wear down opponents foes. Slack Off can be run in the last slot in order to give Vigoroth a more useful long-term purpose in a match, being able to wear down many Pokemon while having recovery of its own.

[ADDITIONAL SET COMMENTS]
This set is optimal as in the a lead spot, (original also works) having very few bad matchups against most of the common leads seen in the tier. A Jolly nature and maximum Speed investment is are required for Vigoroth to outspeed common Glalie leads. The rest of the EVs are put into Attack to allow for Vigoroth to have an offensive presence as well. Vigoroth retains excellent stallbreaking potential with Taunt and Encore with this set, and they should be used optimally in stall matchups. (add period) and not Vigoroth should not riskily switch into a potential Toxics, which would completely neuter Vigoroth it. In case of emergency, Vigoroth does appreciate clerical support from teammates like Roselia and Chimecho. Leftovers is the preferred item for its consistent and reliable recovery.

[Other Options]
Rock Slide is a niche option that allows Vigoroth to hit Flying-types like Golbat super effectively while also catching Fire-types like Flareon and Torkoal.

[Checks and Counters]
Ghost-types are the most significant counter to Vigoroth, though Haunter has to watch out for Shadow Ball. Sableye in particular walls every Vigoroth set excluding ones with Taunt. Steel-types like Metang and Mawile are difficult to break without Earthquake, but the latter needs to watch out for Reversal, Brick Break, or Focus Punch as well. Bulky Rock-types like Sudowoodo and Relicanth resist Vigoroth's Normal-type STAB moves and take surprisingly little from all super-effective (remove hyphen) coverage due to their sheer bulk. Toxic renders almost every Vigoroth set useless, as many require certain HP or multiple turns to set up, thus reducing Vigoroth's overall usefulness throughout a match.

 

[Lumari]

remove add / fix (comments); (AC=add comma; RC=remove comma; SC=semicolon)
GP 2/2

check

[OVERVIEW]
Vigoroth is an excellent Pokemon in the NU tier due to its decent stats, great movepool, and plenty high number of sets to work with. It faces very little competition from other Normal-types in the tier and performs a variety of roles due to its great movepool. Vigoroth also is part of a very good Speed tier, Speed tying with Pokemon such as Golbat, Abra, Pikachu, and Venomoth while outspeeding Pokemon like Hitmonchan and Glalie. Vigoroth's Normal typing is somewhat of a hindrance, however, as it has trouble hitting Ghost-types, particularly Haunter and Sableye, and is weak to the omnipresent Hitmonchan. While Vigoroth's bulk is good, it has a low base 55 Special Defense stat. However, with the right EV investment, Vigoroth can still be an incredibly bulky and threatening Pokemon in the metagame.

[SET]
name: Bulk Up
move 1: Return / Body Slam
move 2: Earthquake / Shadow Ball / Substitute
move 3: Slack Off
move 4: Bulk Up
item: Leftovers
ability: Vital Spirit
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
The purpose of this set is to provide a bulky setup sweeper that is difficult to break after acquiring boosts. Return is the more powerful STAB option; however, Body Slam can be used to fish for paralysis. Earthquake is used to hit Steel-types such as Mawile and Metang and Rock-types like Relicanth and Sudowoodo. Shadow Ball hits Ghost-types like Haunter super effectively, but it still is not doing very much damage to Sableye. Alternatively, Substitute protects Vigoroth from status but leaves it without useful coverage. Slack Off guarantees recovery for Vigoroth, allowing it to have a good matchup versus bulky teams lacking solid checks. Bulk Up boosts Vigoroth's Attack and Defense, letting it become a bulky and powerful threat.

[ADDITIONAL SET COMMENTS]
Vital Spirit is Vigoroth's only ability and can help against sleep spreaders like Venomoth and Tangela. Its EV spread helps compensate for its poor special bulk and allows it to manually boost its Defense with Bulk Up. Vigoroth best sets up on weaker attackers such as Roselia and Mawile when given free turns, but it needs to make sure it is able to set up multiple boosts before it attempts to take on Hitmonchan. It also should make sure any phazers are eliminated or able to be OHKOed before they can force Vigoroth out if it wants any chance of sweeping. Vigoroth is almost hard countered by Sableye, so make sure it is removed or significantly weakened before attempting to set up with Vigoroth. Ghost-types in general trouble Vigoroth, and as Haunter is immune to Earthquake due to Levitate, it is advised that all Ghost-types are be dealt with beforehand. It also struggles with Rock- and Steel-types, so they should also be weakened or removed prior. This set is far less dependent to get to 1 HP than the Flail and or Reversal sets (or just remove outright bc borderline cross-set reference still) and can be used more freely as an end-game win condition sweeper without the fear of keeping Spikes off the field. Vigoroth needs to be wary about Toxic, as it can render it almost useless, since it nearly always needs quite a few turns to set up. Vigoroth appreciates Pursuit support from Pokemon like Houndour and Murkrow to help deal with troublesome Ghost-types. Vigoroth also likes having teammates like Golbat and Chimecho that can sponge Fighting-type attacks, the latter of which can also provide some crucial Heal Bell support in the event of Vigoroth getting inflicted by Toxic.

[SET]
name: Flail + Reversal
move 1: Endure / Substitute
move 2: Flail
move 3: Reversal
move 4: Shadow Ball
item: Salac Berry
ability: Vital Spirit
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
As a more offensive approach to Vigoroth, this set aims to take advantage of the fact that it is the only Pokemon capable of running Flail and Reversal, and it uses this to great effect. Endure is used to guarantee to survive a hit that would OHKO it at 1 HP; however, it relies more on prediction than Substitute. Substitute, however, requires Vigoroth to be faster than whatever it is using it against before Salac Berry activates and can get thoroughly messed up by Spikes currently on your side of the field by obviously altering HP. Flail is a powerful STAB move that will have 200 Base Power in ideal circumstances. Reversal can be a powerful 200-Base (AH) Power Fighting-type move that hits Steel- and Rock-types that resist Flail, but it is also reliant at being low on HP. Shadow Ball allows Vigoroth to hit Haunter as well as Sableye, but it fails at doing anything to Sableye if it has any sort of HP left.

[ADDITIONAL SET COMMENTS]
As a more offensive approach to Vigoroth, Salac Berry raises Vigoroth's Speed when it is under a quarter of its total HP. If running Substitute, more HP investment might be useful, as Vigoroth might be able to survive some weak hits behind Substitute. However, Vigoroth's HP should always have an odd HP number be a multiple of 4 plus 1 to allow it to get down to 1 HP. An Adamant nature can be used for more power, but Jolly can be used if Vigoroth wants to outspeed Huntail in rain after its Salac Berry activates. Vigoroth appreciates Pokemon that can deal with Ghost-types such as Steel-types, Pursuit trappers, and many specially defensive RestTalk users. Ground-types can be used to deal with Pokemon like Metang, which resists Flail and takes Reversal neutrally, though it is 2HKOed by a maximum Base Power Reversal. Rapid Spin users like Hitmonchan and Wartortle are a necessity for sets involving Substitute to work properly, and it is still appreciated on sets utilizing Endure appreciate them as well.

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Return / Double-Edge (AH)
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Shadow Ball
move 4: Focus Punch / Brick Break
item: Choice Band
ability: Vital Spirit
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Band is a good option for Vigoroth if it wants immediate power. Return or Double-Edge (AH) can be used, but Return is preferred for its lack of recoil damage even though it doesn't hit as hard as Double Edge. Earthquake hits Rock- and Steel-types, and Shadow Ball nails Ghost-types that every Vigoroth set struggles with. Focus Punch is a more powerful option to hit Normal-resistant Pokemon on the switch but requires far more prediction than Brick Break, which also happens to be on the other hand is far less destructive.

[ADDITIONAL SET COMMENTS]
An Adamant nature and maximum Attack investment let Vigoroth hit as hard as possible. 252 Speed EVs allow Vigoroth to outspeed Jolly Hitmonchan. Choice Band gives Vigoroth a boost in initial power but prevents the freedom of switching moves. This set relies significantly more on prediction than other Vigoroth sets, but this is to be expected when equipping a Choice Band. As usual, Vigoroth appreciates Pokemon that can remove its normal counters of Ghost-, Rock-, and Steel-types while also enjoying teammates that appreciate its breaking power. (such as?)

[SET]
name: SubPunch
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Bulk Up
move 3: Focus Punch
move 4: Flail / Shadow Ball / Body Slam
item: Salac Berry / Leftovers
ability: Vital Spirit
nature: Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
The main boon of this set is Focus Punch, which allows Vigoroth to deal with many of its conventional checks that are not Ghost type, (RH) such as Mawile, Relicanth, or and other Steel- and Rock-types. Substitute eases prediction and helps to set up safely utilize Focus Punch. Bulk Up is a useful boosting tool to increase Vigoroth's power and bulk. Flail has the potential to be a powerful STAB attack but often requires ideal scenarios to work properly. Shadow Ball lets Vigoroth hit pesky Ghost-types like Haunter and Shedinja. Body Slam is a more consistent option that is useful for fishing for paralysis as well as solid damage output without the needed setup or prediction with using Focus Punch.

[ADDITIONAL SET COMMENTS]
Maximum Attack and Speed investment with an Adamant nature allow allows Vigoroth to hit as hard as possible while still outspeeding Hitmonchan. Salac Berry is the preferred item due to its ability to boost Vigoroth's Speed in a pinch, but Leftovers can be used for more longevity. Note that Leftovers should never be used in combination with Flail. Vigoroth needs Pokemon that deal with Ghost-types, as they are most likely a hard stop to Vigoroth. If using Flail, Rapid Spin support from Pokemon like Hitmonchan and Wartortle is required to ensure that Flail the move works optimally.

[SET]
name: Taunt Lead
move 1: Taunt
move 2: Return
move 3: Earthquake / Shadow Ball
move 4: Shadow Ball / Encore / Slack Off
item: Leftovers
ability: Vital Spirit
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Taunt is an optimal excellent move for preventing status and entry hazards and allows Vigoroth to shut down Pokemon like Roselia, Venomoth, and Glalie. Return is a solid STAB move with consistent damage, and Earthquake hits Steel- and Rock-types that resist Return. Shadow Ball hits Ghost-types, while Encore is a very useful option that locks setup users into their setup move and generally allows more flexibility at the cost of being completely walled by Ghost-types. Toxic is another viable move for this set to help wear down foes. Slack Off can be run in the last slot in order to give Vigoroth a more useful long-term purpose in a match, being able enabling it to wear down many Pokemon while having recovery of its own.

[ADDITIONAL SET COMMENTS]
This set is optimal as a lead, having very few bad matchups against most of the common leads seen in the tier. A Jolly nature and maximum Speed investment are required for Vigoroth to outspeed common Glalie leads. The rest of the EVs are put into Attack to allow for Vigoroth to have an offensive presence as well. Vigoroth retains excellent stallbreaking potential with Taunt and Encore with this set, and they should can be used optimally to their full effect (weird phrasing) in stall matchups. Vigoroth should not riskily switch into a potential Toxic, which would completely neuter it. In case of emergency, Vigoroth does appreciate cleric support from teammates like Roselia and Chimecho. Leftovers is the preferred item for its consistent and reliable recovery.

[Other Options]
Rock Slide is a niche option that allows Vigoroth to hit Flying-types like Golbat super effectively while also catching Fire-types like Flareon and Torkoal.

[Checks and Counters]
Ghost-types are the most significant counter to Vigoroth, though Haunter has to watch out for Shadow Ball. Sableye in particular walls every Vigoroth set excluding ones with Taunt. Steel-types like Metang and Mawile are difficult to break without Earthquake, but the latter needs to watch out for Reversal, Brick Break, or Focus Punch as well. Bulky Rock-types like Sudowoodo and Relicanth resist Vigoroth's Normal-type STAB moves and take surprisingly little from all super effective (RH) coverage due to their sheer bulk. Toxic renders almost every Vigoroth set useless, as many require certain HP or multiple turns to set up, thus reducing Vigoroth's overall usefulness throughout a match.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[DurzaOffTopic,357488]]
- Quality checked by: [[oglemi,40358], [Hogg,228003]
- Grammar checked by: [[martha,384270], [,]]

 

[DurzaOffTopic]

done, thanks to everybody that helped.


hit it Oglemi

 

[Oglemi]

Added quite a bit to OO as that is really Vigoroth's thing, and uploaded