[OVERVIEW]
Virizion sports a great typing, an incredible movepool, and good Speed, which makes it one of the tier's best and most versatile wallbreakers. Its great special bulk and aforementioned typing also allow it to take advantage of common defensive staples like Vaporeon, Gigalith, and Palossand. On the other hand, it's quite weak without boosting or using moves with drawbacks, and it's often reliant on having the right coverage and predicting correctly to break past common switch-ins like Talonflame and Weezing. Its typing and average bulk on the physical side also leave it easily checked by Pokemon such as Ribombee and Archeops.
[SET]
name: Mixed Attacker
move 1: Leaf Storm / Giga Drain
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Air Slash
item: Life Orb
ability: Justified
nature: Hasty
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
This set takes advantage of Virizion's extensive movepool and good offensive stats to turn it into a fearsome wallbreaker. Leaf Storm serves as a nuke, allowing Virizion to heavily dent Weezing and other defensive behemoths like Aromatisse, but Giga Drain is a weaker an alternative to mitigate Life Orb recoil. Stone Edge hits Flying-types like Talonflame, Air Slash hits Grass-types like Roserade as well as Toxicroak, and both hit Bug-types. Virizion greatly appreciates partners capable of bringing it in against Pokemon like Gigalith, Silvally-Steel, and Vaporeon with pivoting moves. Ribombee and Archeops are great examples, with the former also setting Sticky Web, making Virizion harder to revenge kill. Lanturn is another good partner for pivoting, as it can also check threats like Talonflame that threaten Virizion. Cleaners such as Scyther and the aforementioned Ribombee appreciate Virizion softening up the opposing team's walls, like Weezing and Talonflame, for them.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Leaf Blade
move 4: Zen Headbutt / Stone Edge
item: Life Orb / Lum Berry
ability: Justified
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Virizion's bulk and typing grant it multiple setup opportunities, making it much harder to switch into. Zen Headbutt targets Poison-types like Weezing and Toxicroak, but it leaves Virizion unable to hit Flying-types like Xatu and Charizard. This makes partners able to pressure them, like Heliolisk and Archeops, much appreciated; they can also both get Virizion safely on the field via their respective pivoting moves. Alternatively, Stone Edge hits Flying-types but gives Virizion a harder time against Poison-types, meaning Virizion values teammates that can defeat them, like Mesprit. Ribombee can pressure the answers it shares with Virizion, and it can help Virizion get past Talonflame if running Stun Spore. Virizion often finds itself forced out by faster threats like Whimsicott and Choice Scarf Passimian; having answers to these, like Talonflame, Weezing, and Palossand, is thus vital. The latter two can also set Toxic Spikes and Stealth Rock, respectively, giving Virizion an easier time wallbreaking and cleaning.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Focus Blast
move 3: Giga Drain
move 4: Air Slash / Stone Edge
item: Life Orb
ability: Justified
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
This set aims to make Virizion a potent late-game cleaner capable of getting past and even using some of its answers, like Aromatisse and Weezing, as setup fodder. Air Slash hits Grass-types like Whimsicott and is Virizion's best option against Poison-types. Stone Edge is also an option, as it hits Flying-types like Talonflame and Charizard. Virizion enjoys wallbreakers such as Braviary and Guzzlord weakening the walls it has a harder time against. The former can also provide Virizion with setup opportunities thanks to U-turn, while the latter can check Fire-types. In a similar vein, setup sweepers like Sneasel and Swords Dance Silvally-Fairy work well with Virizion, as they can revenge kill and force out Pokemon Virizion finds itself revenge killed by, like Archeops and Choice Scarf Passimian. Lastly, pivots such as Silvally-Steel can bring in Virizion against walls like Vaporeon and Palossand it can use as setup fodder.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[gum, 434150]]
- Quality checked by: [[UberSkitty, 355061], [MZ, 202117]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
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