So Kawaii (ᵔᴥᵔ)
Overview
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When Vivillon was announced, it was shrugged off as the next worthless bug/flying type. Contrary to that, Vivillon is anything but worthless. Vivillon got a fantastic present in the ability Compoundeyes, along with Quiver Dance and Hurricane. These three things were enough to transform this butterfly into a fearsome late-game sweeper. On top of all that, Vivillon gets a buffed sleep powder to incapacitate any checks that try to come in and stop it. Not all is clear skies for our little moth-like friend, as Vivillon's paper defenses combined with a 4x Stealth Rock weakness means a stiff wind could blow this thing over, even after a couple of boosts. Vivillon's base stats are also verry unimpressive, leaving it outsped by a bunch of common scarfers, even at +1. Factor in the common Rock, Steel, and Electric types that infest the metagame, and it is evident that Vivillon needs bit of support before it can mindlessly just set up and sweep everything. If you can get this mothball rolling, though, it isn't very easy to stop it.
Sleep n' Sweep
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name: Sleep n' Sweep
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Quiver Dance
move 3: Hurricane
move 4: Sleep Powder
ability: Compound Eyes
item: Leftovers
evs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
nature: Timid
Moves
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Substitute can be used for many different things: to capitalize on switches caused by Sleep Powder, to ease setup, or to give you a safety net if your opponent gets a one-turn sleep or if you miss a sleep powder/hurricane. Quiver Dance is the other move that makes this set work, Boosting Vivillon's mediocre Special Attack and Speed to frightening levels after just a few boosts. Hurricane is the STAB move of choice, as it's a strong, spammable move whose only downfall was bad accuracy, which is remedied by Compoundeyes. Sleep Powder, another move which previously only struggled with accuracy that is fixed by Compoundeyes allows you at least a free turn to do what you need: whether it be setup with Quiver Dance, use Substitute to scout, or incapacitate a mon that may be standing in the way of Vivillon sweeping.
Set Details
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252 EVs go into Speed to max out vivillon's admittedly underwhelming speed stat, and Special Attack is maxed as well to allow vivillon to hit as hard as possible after boosts.
The remaining 4 EVs go into Special defense instead of HP so that vivillon can switch into stealth rock twice. Leftovers give Vivillon a form of passive recovery that it can capitalize on versus sleeping opponents or while it is behind a sub.
Usage Tips
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Vivillon should be used mid to late game after the opposing team is weakened to setup and sweep. Vivillon should not try to sweep if it's counters are still alive and well, as while you can incapacitate most of them, they will be hard to break through with even a boosted resisted hurricane. Vivillon doesn't need stealth rocks removed to sweep, but it is highly recommended. It's not always best to instantaneously start quiver dancing once you get the chance; it's usually better to sleep powder and sub to scout for different sets.
It needs to be brought in cleanly, by the death of another pokemon, or by a slow volt switch, as vivillon's defenses are paper and it won't even be able to stand up to strong resisted attacks.
Team Options
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Lanturn is a fantastic partner to Vivillon, resisting ice and fire, two of vivillon's weaknesses. It also lures in grass types which vivillon can set upo on a lot of. Dugtrio is another great partner for Vivillon, trapping the steel and rock types that give it trouble. Magneton is another good partner to vivillon, as it can trap or kill most of vivillon's checks and counters. Finally, it provides a slow volt switch which allows vivillon to get in safely. A spinner or defogger like hitmonlee is appreciated because of Vivillon's 4x Weakness to Stealth Rocks. Virizion is a good teammate, as it threatens the rocks and steels vivillon hates.
Other Options
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An offensive Quiver Dance set with a life orb, sleep powder, and 2 attacks is feasible, but is worn down very easily and is very easily revenge killed, and Vivillon prefers substitute. Vivillon gets stun spore along with sleep powder you could use a dual status set. Vivillon has access to energy ball which can surprise and hurt rhyperior, but has really bad coverage. Vivillon has U-turn, which would allow it to pick up momentum and scout a potential switch after it puts something to sleep, but is relatively useless after it puts something to sleep. Vivillon gets Powder to bop any fire types trying to revenge it. Vivillon also has access to the powerful, deadly boosting move calm mind, but was deemed too amazing to include as a main set. Vivillon has a nice support movepool, including options such as Roost, Aromatherapy, and draianing kiss, but once again, Vivillon has the defenses of a paper mache house of cards.
Checks & Counters
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**Rhyperior**- Rhyperior is the main counter to SubQD Vivillon as it can sponge hurricanes and OHKO back with rock blast only being threatened by the rare Energy Ball.
**Steel types**- Steel types like magneton can take Vivillon's hurricanes all day and either cripple or kill it in return. Assault vest Escavalier is also another very solid counter as it's immune to sleep powder with overcoat, can take hurricanes relatively easily, and retaliate with a hard hitting iron head.
**Sub-breakers**- Any pokemon with access to strong sound moves or infiltrator is instantly a problem to vivillon, as it relies heavily on Substitute to sweep. Golbat OHKOs with brave bird, and Specs Exploud can take up to a +1 Hurricane and OHKO back with Boomburst.
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