[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 7 onwards
**Price Range**: 3-5 points
**Overview**: Vikavolt is a Sticky Web setter that distinguishes itself with its extremely high Special Attack and decent bulk. Its strong Electric-type attacks alongside Levitate and workable coverage also give it positive matchups against many common entry hazard removers. However, it is held back by its very low base Speed and lack of reliable recovery, which severely limit how much it can achieve before being KOd. Additionally, it suffers from its main attacking type having an immunity as well as limited coverage options, which prevent Vikavolt from threatening as many Pokémon as it would like. While Vikavolt is not a Pokémon that will be brought to many games, it can be a good fit on offensive drafts that appreciate the counter-prep it forces and have powerful mid-Speed attackers that can sweep through opposing teams with the support of Sticky Web.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Sticky Web Lead**: Vikavolt's main selling point is its ability to set Sticky Web for its teammates, and it is often used as a sacrificial lead to guarantee Sticky Web is set and that momentum is in its teammates' favor. Vikavolt's high base Special Attack makes these sets more effective, as it is able to find turns to set Sticky Web by forcing foes out and can also punish attempts to use Taunt or entry hazard removal moves much harder than other Sticky Web setters.
**Offensive Pivot**: Vikavolt's extremely high Special Attack paired with Volt Switch and coverage like Bug Buzz and Energy Ball make it an effective offensive pivot. Its resistances, low Speed, and decent bulk can also allow it to bring frail teammates into the field safely. These sets often also run Sticky Web and can take advantage of forced switches to set it. Vikavolt is held back by its weakness to Stealth Rock and lack of reliable recovery, which severely limit its longevity.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Volt Switch, Thunderbolt, Bug Buzz, Discharge
**Setup Moves**: None
**Utility Moves**: Sticky Web, Thunder Wave, Light Screen
**Coverage**: Energy Ball, Air Slash, Flash Cannon, Tera Blast
Niche Moves
========
**Mud Shot / Electro Web**: While Vikavolt is unlikely to outspeed most foes even after lowering their Speed, Mud Shot and Electro Web can be used as an extra form of speed control to shift momentum in its teammates' favor.
**Endure**: Endure can be paired with Custap Berry to guarantee an extra chance to set Sticky Web or throw off a powerful attack.
**Agility**: Vikavolt can use Agility to outspeed and clean up weakened teams. However, its low base Speed leaves it outsped by common Choice Scarf and Booster Energy users, even at +2.
Common Items
========
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots removes Vikavolt's weakness to Stealth Rock, allowing it much more longevity as a pivot.
**Focus Sash**: While Vikavolt is bulkier than most Sticky Web setters, it is still vulnerable to KOs from strong attackers. Lead sets can use Focus Sash to guarantee surviving an attack and setting Sticky Web.
Niche Items
========
**Choice Specs**: When an opposing team has poor answers to Volt Switch, Choice Specs lets Vikavolt deal huge damage while pivoting or pick up surprise OHKOs on foes expecting it to use Sticky Web.
**Resistance Berries**: Vikavolt has better bulk than most Sticky Web setters, so it can sometimes use Resistance Berries instead of Focus Sash to survive a hit. They can also be used on Agility sets to avoid revenge killing attempts.
**Mental Herb**: Mental Herb can be used on Sticky Web sets when expecting Taunt from a foe.
**Custap Berry**: When paired with Endure, Custap Berry lets Vikavolt overcome its low Speed to get an extra chance to set Sticky Web or attack.
Tera
========
Vikavolt should generally not be Terastallized often, but it can make a decent choice for a secondary Tera Captain. Offensive sets can use options such as Tera Blast Water and Fairy to hit Pokémon that would otherwise check it or Tera Electric to make its Volt Switch even more lethal while removing all its weaknesses, including its weakness to Stealth Rock. Sticky Web sets may also choose to use Tera Ghost to block Rapid Spin, while defensive types such as Tera Steel can check specific threats.
Draft Strategy
========
Vikavolt should be drafted on offensive teams that are otherwise complete but appreciate the option of Sticky Web and the teambuilding pressure it exerts even when not brought. Strong mid-Speed attackers and a spinblocker are essential to make Vikavolt worth a team slot.
**Sticky Web Beneficiaries**: Powerful wallbreakers with middling Speed tiers such as the Urshifu formes, Kyurem, and Landorus benefit greatly from Sticky Web, as it allows them to outspeed most Pokemon and often sweep on their own.
**Ghost-type Pokémon**: Vikavolt's low Speed and lack of recovery mean it is often unable to set Sticky Web multiple times in a battle. Ghost-type teammates like Gholdengo, Sinistcha, and Annihilape can block Rapid Spin and keep Sticky Web up, with Gholdengo also being able to block Defog.
**Rapid Spin**: Pivot sets appreciate teammates that can remove Stealth Rock for Vikavolt, freeing up its item slot. Rapid Spin is greatly preferred over Defog to avoid removing Vikavolt's Sticky Web.
**Physical Attackers**: Strong physical attackers like Landorus-T, Gouging Fire, and Weavile appreciate Vikavolt's Volt Switch being able to bring them in safely against specially defensive foes.
Checks and Counters
========
**Entry Hazard Removal**: Vikavolt struggles to set Sticky Web multiple times in a match, meaning Pokémon like Great Tusk and Iron Treads can easily erase its main contribution to the team. This issue is exacerbated by several of the best Rapid Spin users blocking Volt Switch with their Ground typing.
**Stealth Rock and Chip Damage**: Vikavolt's lack of reliable recovery and weakness to Stealth Rock make it very easily chipped down, and its low base Speed means almost any Pokémon can outspeed and pick it off.
**Strong Wallbreakers**: While Vikavolt is bulkier than most Sticky Web setters, there are still many Pokemon that threaten to OHKO it, and Vikavolt's low Speed means it is almost always outsped by the foe.
**Heavy-Duty Boots / Non-grounded Pokémon**: Many fast Pokémon such as Tornadus-T and Latios are naturally unaffected by Sticky Web, while others such as Weavile and Meowscarada frequently use Heavy-Duty Boots, making the impact of Sticky Web much less relevant than it might appear.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/wughead.622647
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scionicle.599989
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adorluigi.528364
**Draft Order**: Round 7 onwards
**Price Range**: 3-5 points
**Overview**: Vikavolt is a Sticky Web setter that distinguishes itself with its extremely high Special Attack and decent bulk. Its strong Electric-type attacks alongside Levitate and workable coverage also give it positive matchups against many common entry hazard removers. However, it is held back by its very low base Speed and lack of reliable recovery, which severely limit how much it can achieve before being KOd. Additionally, it suffers from its main attacking type having an immunity as well as limited coverage options, which prevent Vikavolt from threatening as many Pokémon as it would like. While Vikavolt is not a Pokémon that will be brought to many games, it can be a good fit on offensive drafts that appreciate the counter-prep it forces and have powerful mid-Speed attackers that can sweep through opposing teams with the support of Sticky Web.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Sticky Web Lead**: Vikavolt's main selling point is its ability to set Sticky Web for its teammates, and it is often used as a sacrificial lead to guarantee Sticky Web is set and that momentum is in its teammates' favor. Vikavolt's high base Special Attack makes these sets more effective, as it is able to find turns to set Sticky Web by forcing foes out and can also punish attempts to use Taunt or entry hazard removal moves much harder than other Sticky Web setters.
**Offensive Pivot**: Vikavolt's extremely high Special Attack paired with Volt Switch and coverage like Bug Buzz and Energy Ball make it an effective offensive pivot. Its resistances, low Speed, and decent bulk can also allow it to bring frail teammates into the field safely. These sets often also run Sticky Web and can take advantage of forced switches to set it. Vikavolt is held back by its weakness to Stealth Rock and lack of reliable recovery, which severely limit its longevity.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Volt Switch, Thunderbolt, Bug Buzz, Discharge
**Setup Moves**: None
**Utility Moves**: Sticky Web, Thunder Wave, Light Screen
**Coverage**: Energy Ball, Air Slash, Flash Cannon, Tera Blast
Niche Moves
========
**Mud Shot / Electro Web**: While Vikavolt is unlikely to outspeed most foes even after lowering their Speed, Mud Shot and Electro Web can be used as an extra form of speed control to shift momentum in its teammates' favor.
**Endure**: Endure can be paired with Custap Berry to guarantee an extra chance to set Sticky Web or throw off a powerful attack.
**Agility**: Vikavolt can use Agility to outspeed and clean up weakened teams. However, its low base Speed leaves it outsped by common Choice Scarf and Booster Energy users, even at +2.
Common Items
========
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots removes Vikavolt's weakness to Stealth Rock, allowing it much more longevity as a pivot.
**Focus Sash**: While Vikavolt is bulkier than most Sticky Web setters, it is still vulnerable to KOs from strong attackers. Lead sets can use Focus Sash to guarantee surviving an attack and setting Sticky Web.
Niche Items
========
**Choice Specs**: When an opposing team has poor answers to Volt Switch, Choice Specs lets Vikavolt deal huge damage while pivoting or pick up surprise OHKOs on foes expecting it to use Sticky Web.
**Resistance Berries**: Vikavolt has better bulk than most Sticky Web setters, so it can sometimes use Resistance Berries instead of Focus Sash to survive a hit. They can also be used on Agility sets to avoid revenge killing attempts.
**Mental Herb**: Mental Herb can be used on Sticky Web sets when expecting Taunt from a foe.
**Custap Berry**: When paired with Endure, Custap Berry lets Vikavolt overcome its low Speed to get an extra chance to set Sticky Web or attack.
Tera
========
Vikavolt should generally not be Terastallized often, but it can make a decent choice for a secondary Tera Captain. Offensive sets can use options such as Tera Blast Water and Fairy to hit Pokémon that would otherwise check it or Tera Electric to make its Volt Switch even more lethal while removing all its weaknesses, including its weakness to Stealth Rock. Sticky Web sets may also choose to use Tera Ghost to block Rapid Spin, while defensive types such as Tera Steel can check specific threats.
Draft Strategy
========
Vikavolt should be drafted on offensive teams that are otherwise complete but appreciate the option of Sticky Web and the teambuilding pressure it exerts even when not brought. Strong mid-Speed attackers and a spinblocker are essential to make Vikavolt worth a team slot.
**Sticky Web Beneficiaries**: Powerful wallbreakers with middling Speed tiers such as the Urshifu formes, Kyurem, and Landorus benefit greatly from Sticky Web, as it allows them to outspeed most Pokemon and often sweep on their own.
**Ghost-type Pokémon**: Vikavolt's low Speed and lack of recovery mean it is often unable to set Sticky Web multiple times in a battle. Ghost-type teammates like Gholdengo, Sinistcha, and Annihilape can block Rapid Spin and keep Sticky Web up, with Gholdengo also being able to block Defog.
**Rapid Spin**: Pivot sets appreciate teammates that can remove Stealth Rock for Vikavolt, freeing up its item slot. Rapid Spin is greatly preferred over Defog to avoid removing Vikavolt's Sticky Web.
**Physical Attackers**: Strong physical attackers like Landorus-T, Gouging Fire, and Weavile appreciate Vikavolt's Volt Switch being able to bring them in safely against specially defensive foes.
Checks and Counters
========
**Entry Hazard Removal**: Vikavolt struggles to set Sticky Web multiple times in a match, meaning Pokémon like Great Tusk and Iron Treads can easily erase its main contribution to the team. This issue is exacerbated by several of the best Rapid Spin users blocking Volt Switch with their Ground typing.
**Stealth Rock and Chip Damage**: Vikavolt's lack of reliable recovery and weakness to Stealth Rock make it very easily chipped down, and its low base Speed means almost any Pokémon can outspeed and pick it off.
**Strong Wallbreakers**: While Vikavolt is bulkier than most Sticky Web setters, there are still many Pokemon that threaten to OHKO it, and Vikavolt's low Speed means it is almost always outsped by the foe.
**Heavy-Duty Boots / Non-grounded Pokémon**: Many fast Pokémon such as Tornadus-T and Latios are naturally unaffected by Sticky Web, while others such as Weavile and Meowscarada frequently use Heavy-Duty Boots, making the impact of Sticky Web much less relevant than it might appear.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/wughead.622647
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scionicle.599989
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adorluigi.528364
Last edited:
