[OVERVIEW]
Weavile's excellent Dark / Ice typing, high Attack stat, and great Speed tier let it outspeed and threaten common threats in ORAS OU such as Tornadus-T, Gliscor, Serperior, and Garchomp. Additionally, Weavile's STAB moves are able to hit almost every Pokemon in the tier for neutral damage. This, coupled with two powerful moves in Knock Off and Icicle Crash and a high Attack stat, makes it quite difficult to switch into. Weavile is also the fastest Pokemon in the tier aside from Mega Lopunny, Mega Alakazam, Mega Manectric, and the odd maximum Speed invested Talonflame and is able to naturally outpace two of the tiers most common Choice Scarf users in Tyranitar and Magnezone. STAB Knock Off is capable of removing items such as Clefable's and Ferrothorn's Leftovers, helping its teammates break through bulky threats. Weavile is also adept at Pursuit trapping Pokemon such Latios, Tornadus-T, and Starmie. Weavile, however, possesses a very poor defensive typing that is weak to Stealth Rock, and it is incapable of switching into attacks because of its lackluster defenses; thus, it is susceptible to getting worn down throughout the match.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Icicle Crash
move 3: Pursuit
move 4: Ice Shard
item: Choice Band
ability: Pressure
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
Knock Off is Weavile's strongest and most useful STAB move, allowing it to remove items from Pokemon such as Leftovers from Rotom-W, Clefable, and Ferrothorn. Icicle Crash allows Weavile to threaten Pokemon such as Gliscor, Garchomp, and Landorus-T in addition to potentially flinching through threats such as physically defensive Clefable, which would normally stomach two hits upon switching in. Pursuit lets Weavile trap threats such as Latios, Latias, Gengar, and Starmie in addition to other various weakened Pokemon such as Tornadus-T and Slowbro. Ice Shard is able to pick off threats such as Choice Scarf Landorus-T and boosted threats such as Mega Pinsir and Mega Altaria.
Set Description
========
Maximum Attack and Speed investment alongside a Jolly nature and Choice Band allows Weavile to hit as hard and be as fast as possible, outspeeding Pokemon such as Tornadus-T, Latios, and Starmie.
Usage Tips
========
Weavile should be used early- to mid-game, utilizing Knock Off to get rid of opposing Pokemon's items such as Rotom-W's and Ferrothorn's Leftovers. Weavile should also only be brought in via pivoting or double switches and should not be brought in on any attacks, as it lacks reliable bulk to do so. Weavile should function as a revenge killer, as it is able to Pursuit trap Pokemon such as Tornadus-T and Latias and threaten them with Knock Off. Avoid having Stealth Rock up on its side of the field, as this limits Weavile's capabilities. Weavile is also able to revenge kill setup sweepers such as Swords Dance Mega Pinsir and Dragon Dance Mega Altaria in addition to faster weakened foes such as Sand Rush Excadrill, Mega Alakazam, and Mega Lopunny.
Team Options
========
Teammates such as Mega Charizard Y, Keldeo, and Serperior appreciate Weavile trapping and eliminating threats such as Latios, Latias, Starmie, and Tornadus-T. Entry hazard removal in Rapid Spin and Defog from Pokemon such as Excadrill, Starmie, Latios, and Latias allows Weavile to remain as healthy as possible throughout the match. In return, Starmie and Latias can switch into Keldeo, which otherwise threatens Weavile. Fire-types such as Mega Charizard Y, Heatran, and Victini are able to threaten Mega Scizor, which counters Weavile. Clefable appreciates Weavile as a partner, as it is able to threaten Steel-types such as Excadrill and non-Bullet Punch Mega Metagross with Knock Off and potentially Pursuit trap them as well, and Clefable is able to switch into Fighting-types such as Mega Lopunny in return. Tornadus-T is a fine partner, as it is able to U-turn out on a predicted switch, allowing Weavile to get in safely, and counter Keldeo, which otherwise threatens Weavile.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Life Orb gives Weavile the freedom to switch moves, but this results in it getting worn down more easily throughout the match and not maximizing its damage output. Low Kick is able to OHKO threats such as Tyranitar and Bisharp.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Mega Scizor**: Mega Scizor is able to switch into any of Weavile's moves comfortably and threaten it out with Bullet Punch or U-turn or use it as setup fodder.
**Faster Threats**: Faster threats such as Mega Lopunny and Mega Alakazam are able to outspeed and OHKO Weavile. Choice Scarf users such as Landorus-T and Latias can also threaten Weavile.
**Priority Moves**: Priority moves such as Bullet Punch from Mega Scizor, Mega Metagross, and Mega Medicham are all able to threaten Weavile. Mega Lopunny is also able to threaten Weavile with Fake Out + Quick Attack.
**Entry Hazards**: Being a grounded Ice-type, Weavile gets worn down easily by Stealth Rock and Spikes and is affected by Sticky Web, which prevents it from performing its role.
**Steel-types **: Steel-types such as Mega Metagross and Mega Scizor are able to OHKO Weavile with their STAB moves. Skarmory and Ferrothorn are able to switch in and threaten Weavile out. Heatran is able to take one Knock Off and OHKO Weavile back with any of its STAB moves.
**Water-types**: Mega Slowbro avoids the 2HKO from Knock Off and can freely set up on Weavile or threaten it with Scald. Keldeo and Azumarill naturally resist both of Weavile's STAB moves and are able to switch in and threaten it out. Rotom-W is able to tank any one hit and threaten out Weavile with Will-O-Wisp. Rotom-W can also switch into a predicted Ice-type move, although it must be wary of a Choice Band Knock Off, as it can get 2HKOed after Stealth Rock.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Splash, 437289]]
- Quality checked by: [[Savouras, 409438], [Vulpix03,306299]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Estronic, 240732 ], [Rabia, 336073]]
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