5Dots
Chairs
very vile
[OVERVIEW]
Vileplume's access to Sleep Powder and Stun Spore gives it a unique niche as a bulky status spreader, crippling dangerous threats like Nidoqueen, Pinsir, and Seaking. Its Grass-typing allows it to check Staryu, one of the best Water-types and status spreaders. Its bulk is good enough that it none of Nidoqueen's attacks can 2HKO it. Once it has put something to sleep, however, Vileplume's terrible offenses are exposed, as it relies on Mega Drain and non-STAB Normal-type attacks. Other sleep and paralysis inducers like Drowzee, Gastly, and Staryu give it significant competition, as all of them are stronger, possess better movepools, and have better utility outside of status spreading. Despite its high bulk and lack of safe switch-ins to its status, it is advisable to consider other options before using Vileplume.
[SET]
name: Double Powder
move 1: Sleep Powder
move 2: Stun Spore
move 3: Mega Drain
move 4: Body Slam
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Sleep Powder induces sleep and essentially forces a KO. Once Vileplume has put something to sleep, Stun Spore can be used to spread paralysis, and unlike Thunder Wave, it can paralyze Nidoqueen. Mega Drain 2HKOes Omanyte and has a 23.8% chance to OHKO Graveler, and it also hits Seaking harder than Body Slam. Though Body Slam comes off its lower Attack, it can still spread paralysis and hits Pinsir and Fire-types, though it still does not deal much damage. To shore up its weak offenses, Vileplume enjoys being paired with offensive threats like Machamp, Nidoqueen, and Arcanine. These attackers can take advantage of the status it spreads. Drowzee is a great defensive partner that can tank status from opposing Psychic-types and wear them down with Seismic Toss. Fearow can help with Vileplume's poor damage output with its good offenses supplemented by its high critical hit rate. In return, Vileplume can take advantage of slower Pokemon, like Porygon, Omanyte, and Graveler, all of which can give Fearow trouble. Fire-types like Arcanine and Rapidash can easily 2HKO Vileplume with Fire Blast, so Water-types, like Omanyte, Seaking, and Staryu, are appreciated to preserve its longevity.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Swords Dance set alongside Body Slam, Hyper Beam, and either Double-Edge or Mega Drain can catch foes off guard, though Vileplume's low Speed and mediocre power even at +2 mean it requires much more support than it does with its standard set. In addition, Sandslash tends to be far more consistent than Vileplume at this role.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Gastly**: Although Gastly hates getting statused, it completely walls Vileplume, as it's immune to Body Slam and takes pitiful damage from Mega Drain. Gastly can comfortably 3HKO it with Psychic in return or retaliate with Hypnosis.
**Fire-types**: Rapidash, Arcanine, and Magmar 2HKO Vileplume with Fire Blast. Rapidash can also chip it down with Fire Spin and Arcanine can remove status with Rest. Vileplume also fails to do much damage to them, which can be problematic in endgame scenarios, especially against Rest Arcanine.
**Fearow**: Fearow is immune to Body Slam paralysis, can 2HKO Vileplume with Drill Peck, takes negligible damage from Mega Drain, and can even use Agility to set up on Vileplume or cancel out the Speed drop from paralysis.
**Psychic-types**: Abra and Drowzee both cleanly 2HKO Vileplume with Psychic; the former outspeeds it, and the latter is able to take paralysis decently. However, Abra does not take paralysis well, and Drowzee is vulnerable to being put to sleep because of Vileplume's higher Speed.
**Ice-type coverage**: Pokemon sporting Ice-type coverage, like Dragonair, Nidoqueen, and Blizzard variants of Seaking and Staryu, can 3HKO Vileplume. It fails to 3HKO back, though all of these foes must be wary of status moves.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/5dots.543866/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sabelette.583793/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sabelette.583793/
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