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Volcarona [WIP]

Trinitrotoluene

Trinitrotoluene

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STATUS: Writing up Offensive QD set.

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  • Overview [ ]
  • Offensive Quiver Dance [ ]
  • Bulky Quiver Dance [ ]
  • Rain Volcarona [ ]
  • Other Options [ ]
  • Checks and Counters [ ]
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[Overview]
<p>BEST BUG UNDER THE SUN AND THE RAIN</p>

[SET]
name: Offensive Quiver Dance
move 1: Quiver Dance
move 2: Fire Blast / Fiery Dance
move 3: Bug Buzz
move 4: Hidden Power Ground / Substitute
item: Life Orb / Leftovers
nature: Modest / Timid
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
  • Beats Chandelure if Hidden Power is used
  • Powerful Pokemon in the sun
  • Modest LO Fire Blast OHKOs many Pokemon
  • Best as a late-game sweeper, when counters are out of the way
  • Quiver Dance an obligatory boosting move
  • Fire Blast is RIDICULOUSLY strong under sun
  • Bug Buzz is good STAB
  • Hidden Power Ground deals with Heatran; Substitute can be used to stave off Ditto attempts at revenge killing; makes it harder to beat Chandy though...
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
  • Sun support, because Volcarona + sun = =D
  • Stealth Rock forces MANY OHKOs
  • Damage calcs (note that all calcs are assuming LO, Modest, +1 in SpA, and sunny weather up unless stated otherwise):
    • Fire Blast vs. 0/0 Dragonite (Multiscale activated): 49.85% - 58.82%
    • Fire Blast vs. 0/0 Dragonite (Multiscale down): 99.69% - 117.65%
    • Fire Blast vs. 252/252+ Dragonite (Multiscale activated): 30.05% - 35.23%
    • Fire Blast vs. 252/252+ Dragonite (Multiscale down): 60.1% - 70.73%
    • Fire Blast vs. 4/0 Terrakion: 108.64% - 127.78%
    • Fire Blast vs. 72/0 Gyarados: 92.26% - 108.88%
    • Fire Blast vs. 248/0 Gyarados: 81.93% - 96.69%
    • Fire Blast vs. 252/4 Chansey (Eviolite): 58.52% - 68.75%
    • Fire Blast vs. 252/4 Chansey (Eviolite, no sun): 39.2% - 46.16%
    • Bug Buzz vs. 0/4 Manaphy: 94.43% - 111.14%
  • Modest primary slash because
    shrang said:
    nothing in the 85-100 range wielding a Scarf that can beat you
    Click to expand...
  • Note that Timid Volcarona that somehow get to +2 in Speed can beat Excadrill in sand (not so sure about Garchomp though...)
  • Life Orb grants MOAR POWA, Lefties gives healing
  • Pocket told me to put Charcoal here, so I am.
  • Morning Sun can go here for whatever reasons; doubt it has use...
  • Trappers (e.g. ST Chandy, Dugtribro) work well with Volc
  • Infernape works well with Sub variants, being able to take out Heatran

[SET]
name: Bulky Quiver Dance
move 1: Quiver Dance
move 2: Fiery Dance
move 3: Bug Buzz
move 4: Substitute / Morning Sun
item: Leftovers
ability: Flame Body
nature: Bold
EVs: 240 HP / 216 Def / 52 Spe (Some help with this would be appreciated.)

[SET COMMENTS]
  • Capitalizes on bulk and focuses on accumulating boosts (more easily done thanks to bulk) to break the opponent's team
  • Might be questioned at first due to fast nature of Dream World OU, but serves well as a late-game sun sweeper
  • Sets up on weaker special attacks in the sun; bulk turns some counters (Blissey, Tentacruel, Jellicent) into set-up fodder
  • Best used as a late-game sweeper once counters are out of the way
  • Quiver Dance again the obligatory boosting move
  • Fiery Dance the preferred STAB due to combination of bulk and perfect accuracy
  • Bug Buzz the other STAB move; hits bulky waters and Tyranitar more efficiently
  • Morning Sun helps Volc recover its health to continue boosting
  • Substitute can be used to shield against status
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
  • Toxic Spikes laying helps Volc beat some counters; removal of TSpikes, usually by absorption, helps Volc set itself up
  • Sun was a good boost for the previous set; this set depends on sun if Morning Sun is used
  • Rapid Spinners an excellent defensive complement to Volcarona; Forretress, Donphan, Excadrill (?) excellent options worth considering
  • Chlorophyll sweepers, such as Venusaur and Sawsbuck, excellent partners for breaking down opponent's team
  • Infernape can be used to weaken walls in Volcarona's way; can give the blobs and Tyranitar massive headaches
[SET]
name: Rain Volcarona
move 1: Quiver Dance
move 2: Hurricane
move 3: Bug Buzz
move 4: Fire Blast / Substitute
item: Leftovers / Life Orb
nature: Modest / Timid
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
  • Not meant to sweep, but support rain teams
  • Stops threats such as NP Celebi and Virizion
  • Is a powerful weapon rain can hold against sun
  • Lefties gives recovery; LO boosts power levels
  • Modest for even more power; Timid if outspeeding stuff is that important to you
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
  • Hidden Power Water hits Chandy and Heatran hard; can be used for a pseudo-STAB attack in rain; listed options are better choices because STAB and status protection
  • Rapid Spinners to keep the hazards away; Starmie works well, as does Hitmontop and Forretress
  • Manaphy a large threat to this Volcarona; Azumarill, Tornadus, and Dragonite are as well; checks / counters to those needed
  • Physical Pokemon work well with Volcarona; Toxicroak and Azumarill work extremely well; Gyarados is good, but shares SR weak
  • Other special rain sweepers, such as Thundie, Tornadus, Keldeo, and Manaphy excellent offensive complements
[Other Options]
  • ChestoRest Volc can be used, but offensive Volc carries more power and Bulky Volc typically can accrue more boosts
  • Flamethrower a compromise between Fire Blast and Fiery Dance, but really just an inferior option seeing that it misses out on KOs the former gets and the boosts that the latter can accumulate
  • Swarm can be slashed on the rain and offensive Volc sets
  • Not much else besides obligatory status moves and Whirlwind
[Checks and Counters]
  • STEALTH ROCK
  • Scarf Terrakion and Landorus can check, but can't switch in
  • Ditto can revenge if Substitute isn't used
  • Heatran if the set lacks HP Ground
  • Garchomp, Dragonite [if Multiscale isn't broken]
  • Status; by extension, the pink blobs
  • In the rain, Manaphy and Keldeo (assuming Volcarona's not using the rain set and is unboosted) can check; Thundurus can neuter Volcarona with priority paralysis

Still being worked on; thanks Birkal!
 
Rain Volcarona (is this still viable with all the Thundurus?)
Click to expand...

Definitely! What can Thundurus do apart from the priority Thunder Wave to a +1 Volcarona?
 
The sets you have listed look just fine. Even though Volcarona doesn't gain anything incredibly notable through the Dream World (i.e. Swarm), it still does very well in the tier. Make sure you list Chandelure as a threat to any set that isn't running HP Rock / HP Ground. Ditto also has a good shot at beating Volcarona one on one with pretty much every set. I'm sure you're aware of most of this stuff; you got it B)

I have never been a fan of Rain Volcarona. I find non-stab Hurricane to be pretty weak, while having its Fire-type STAB lowered in value is another downside. However, it's good that you're creating a set for it. Keep it in the position it's at though, at the bottom of the list. I'm looking forward to seeing the write up!
 
Definitely put in rain Volcarona, people need to know what the thing does and it needs to be used. While it does lose its powerful fire STAB, Bug Buzz and Hurricane are more than enough for it to work.

Slash in Life Orb for offensive Quiver Dance, it can be a helpful item for more power in general, as well as scoring easier KOs.

Cheers, and good luck!
 
Ok, like I said in the standard OU analysis for the offensive set, Fire Blast should be the main move on the offensive set. The purpose of that set is to boost and kill things as soon as possible. Fiery Dance is pretty damn weak initially. You lose heaps of OHKOs by not running Fire Blast, trust me (4 HP Dragonite after SR in the sun is the main one). I also agree with LO slash. I'd also recommend Modest to be the primary nature. There is nothing in the 85-100 range wielding a Scarf that can beat you except maybe Haxorus (Genesect, Hydreigon), and anything higher you can't touch or speed-tie at best anyway (Terrakion, Landorus, Garchomp).

Common misconceptions of why Fiery Dance > Fire Blast:
- Fiery Dance is more reliable, Fire Blast misses - I'd much rather have an 85% chance to OHKO an intended target (again, Dragonite is the main one) than a 0% one. The purpose of offensive Volcarona is to sweep as soon as possible, and Fiery Dance completely goes against that purpose.
- Fiery Dance hits as hard as Fire Blast at +2 - This depends on you getting to +2 in the first place. Which means you need to survive an attack from their check before getting the second boost, and also means you win need to win the coin toss since Fiery Dance is a 50% chance to give you +1 SpA. Another key point is that +2 Fiery Dance is still weaker than +1 Fire Blast. There's a reason why we still run Intimidate and Outrage on offensive DD Salamence instead of Moxie and Dragon Claw, because there's no point. A +2 80 BP move is still weaker than a +1 120 BP move. Over the course of two turns, it is still not doing anywhere near as much as Fire Blast.

tl;dr - Get rid of Fiery Dance on the offensive set, please (or at least make it the 2nd slash), and use Fire Blast.
 
I see that you're not planning to include the Substitute set on-site for standard so perhaps you could merge it with your current set? (simply slash Sub with the hidden powers :p). If you don't want to slash it then give a big mention to substitutes bennifits in the offensive set's AC (not being revenge killed etc)

p.s. remove the brackets around any hidden power types ;)
 
Some things to note:

Offensive Volc doesn't need HP Rock. Most Gyarados are OHKOed by sun-boosted +1 LO Modest Volc Fire Blast after SR (!), so replace it with HP Ice since it is better for dealing with Dragonite, Garchomp, etc. HP Rock also isn't necessary against Chandelure, who is easily OHKOed by +1 LO Fire Blast in sun. (Remember, Flash Fire Chandy just doesn't exist in DW unless your opponent makes a teambuilding oversight, and let's be honest, most of us have done that at least once or twice 9.9). Stress in AC that if you're using LO Volc you absolutely need sun and SR support. Also recommend Chandelure, Dugtrio, etc. support. Morning Sun is also worth an AC mention here.

On the bulkier set, slash Substitute before Morning Sun. In AC mention that it loves Toxic Spikes support, and needs sun support if running Morning Sun.

For Rain Volc swap the positions of LO and Lefties, since Volcarona plays more of a supporting role on rain teams, and doesn't really need the extra firepower (lol) considering that Ferrothorn, etc, usually don't run Lefties for fear of Chandelure.

In Checks and Counters, amend Terrakion to Choice Scarf Terrakion. If Terrakion's not running Scarf it gets OHKOed by Fire Blast from +1 Modest LO Volc in sun after SR (have I mentioned Volcarona is fucking ridiculously strong yet?)
 
Yep, HP Rock is useful on Volcarona in non-weather teams, but it's totally unnecessary with Sun & SR support. Charcoal deserves an AC mention imo, since it still nab essential KOs on the likes of Dragonite, Gyarados, and Terrakion, etc while keeping its bulk intact, although missing a +1 Bug Buzz OHKO on bulky Politoed is unfortunate.
 
Pocket said:
Yep, HP Rock is useful on Volcarona in non-weather teams, but it's totally unnecessary with Sun & SR support. Charcoal deserves an AC mention imo, since it still nab essential KOs on the likes of Dragonite, Gyarados, and Terrakion, etc while keeping its bulk intact, although missing a +1 Bug Buzz OHKO on bulky Politoed is unfortunate.
Click to expand...
I think OO, Charcoal is not the most amazing thing, TBH I and I think anyone would rather use Life Orb + Morning Sun or an HP or Leftovers. Keeping bulk intact while sweeping is irrelevant on something resistant to near all priority and is OHKOing everything it hits. Just keep it in mind.
 
I think Keldeo deserves a mention as a counter, since it resists both Fire- and Bug-type attacks. It can also take out Volcarona with Hydro Pump.
 
I could probably get that in. However, Keldeo won't like switching into the rain variant, and offensive versions at +1 can deal major damage to Keldeo as they switch in. I'll call it a check and leave it at that.
 
Keldeo won't beat Volcarona if it's sunny, either. +1 SpD plus sun reducing Water attacks = Keldeo isn't doing much. You can only beat it in neutral weather, I suppose.

Also, just one thing about Timid in the offensive set. While Modest is generally the best nature to run, one thing you should mention is that if you can get to +2 (very possible), you outspeed Jolly Excadrill in sandstorm, which can't be done if you're running Modest.
 
Definitely mention Sitrus Berry, which is nice in case of a Rocks switch in, and Chesto Berry, for the dreaded ChestoRest, which is very useful.
 
I'm almost thinking there should be an offensive set dedicated to SubQD since it's pretty amazing: throw burns around with your Sunny Day Ninetales and QD up on Scalds and stuff so that few things break your Sub. I'll get back to you on how much emphasis should be put on SubQD later.

In any case, Balloon Blaziken is a great offensive complement. For one, Blaziken pretty much gets a free SD off Heatran and becomes that much more dangerous. It alsO destroys Tyranitar and is overall a good pal for Volcarona to co-sweep with.
 
Ctrl + F Psychic. 0 results.

Psychic makes a nice tertiary move alongside Volcarona's STABS for its ability to OHKO Keldeo and Terrakion after a boost. It also has a chance of OHKOing offensive Dragonite after SR (assuming Modest and LO here it does 66.36% - 78.40%) and does up to 106% on 4/0 Chandelure. Obviously Fire Blast has the same effective base power on those two but Psychic becomes especially handy if you opt to use Fiery Dance.
 
The op has informed me that he no longer has the time to finish this.

I will be taking this over shortly.

Omg ikr I'm doing an analysis for the first time in a long time! Such a travesty!
 
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