[OVERVIEW]
Weavile is the best Pursuit trapper in the CAP metagame thanks to its great Speed, allowing it to reliably check and trap Pokemon like Tornadus-T, Pajantom, and Mega Latios. Furthermore, it's one of the best offensive Shell Smash Necturna checks thanks to its access to Ice Shard. Additionally, its great STAB combination alongside decently high-Base Power moves like Knock Off and Icicle Crash makes it pretty threatening to switch into for most Pokemon. However, Weavile is forced to use either Choice Band or Choice Scarf to reliably OHKO -1 Necturna, which will leave it vulnerable once it locks itself into one move. While its typing is good offensively, Weavile is also worn down easily due to its susceptibility to entry hazards in general. Furthermore, its awful defensive typing makes it very hard to reliably get Weavile into play, which often has to be done through VoltTurn support or on predicted switches.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Icicle Crash
move 2: Pursuit
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Ice Shard
item: Choice Band
ability: Pickpocket
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Pursuit allows Weavile to take out Pokemon like Mega Latios, Pajantom, and Choice-locked Tapu Lele while also ensuring that it gets off damage on Tornadus-T if it is expected to switch out. Knock Off is a spammable move that can remove important items from Pokemon like Arghonaut, Chansey, and Assault Vest Magearna. Ice Shard is notably used to KO Necturna before it moves after it has used Shell Smash. It can also potentially pick off weakened faster threats like Mega Alakazam and Tapu Koko.
Set Details
========
Choice Band is preferred over Life Orb because Weavile can't OHKO -1 Necturna with Ice Shard otherwise. Additionally, Weavile tends to get chipped down very fast with its susceptibility to Life Orb recoil and entry hazards. Pickpocket is preferred over Pressure to not reveal anything about Weavile's Speed against Pokemon like Landorus-T.
Usage Tips
========
Weavile should look to spam Knock Off early-game to cripple checks like Arghonaut and Assault Vest Magearna as well as check for Z-Moves, which can make playing around Pokemon like Magearna significantly easier. Due to Weavile's inability to directly switch into play on Pokemon it wants to Pursuit trap like Mega Latios and Pajantom, you should look to switch it into play on predicted switches on these Pokemon. Be wary of Stealth Rock, however, as it severely cuts into Weavile's health. It should be noted that Weavile can switch into most Pajantom lacking Outrage. While Weavile is threatened by Pokemon like Tapu Lele and Kitsunoh, they often run Choice items, meaning that if they lock themselves into a Psychic-type or Ghost-type move, they can be Pursuit trapped if you directly switch in Weavile. In a similar vein, Weavile should be switched into Necturna if it's predicted to set up.
Team Options
========
Weavile's ability to remove Pokemon such as Mega Latios and Pajantom from the match makes Pokemon like Mega Medicham, Smokomodo, and Volkraken good teammates, as they generally tend to struggle against them. Because Weavile is worn down so easily by entry hazards, Defoggers that can easily remove them like Tornadus-T and Zapdos are good teammates. Ash-Greninja is a great Pokemon to pair with Weavile, since it appreciates Weavile's ability to remove the items from checks like Toxapex, Arghonaut, and Magearna. While Weavile can punish Arghonaut with Knock Off, Pokemon that can further punish it like Mega Mawile, Tornadus-T, and Magearna are notable teammates, as Arghonaut will still be able to take on Weavile. Pokemon that can check Magearna and Mega Mawile like Heatran and your own Assault Vest Magearna are valuable teammates because these Pokemon will often attempt to use Weavile as bait to switch in. Necturna is an option that benefits from Weavile because it forces Choice Scarf users like Greninja and Kitsunoh to lock into Ice Beam and Shadow Strike, respectively, which Weavile can take advantage of and Pursuit trap them for Necturna.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Pressure is an option that can be run to scout whether Landorus-T is using a Choice Scarf or not, but more often than not, Weavile will not want to reveal its own Speed. A Choice Scarf set can reliably revenge kill Necturna because bulkier Shift Gear variants are not OHKOed by Choice Band-boosted Ice Shard, which Choice Scarf Weavile can do with Foul Play; furthermore, it can also Pursuit trap Mega Alakazam. Because this set is very fast, it doesn't need Ice Shard and thus has room to run Foul Play instead, which does significant damage to Kartana. However, it should be noted that this set doesn't have as much offensive pressure as Choice Band sets because it's pretty weak, despite being able to run an Adamant nature.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Water-types**: Bulky Water-types like Arghonaut and Toxapex can completely wall Weavile and use it as bait to set Spikes and Toxic Spikes, respectively. However, neither likes getting its item removed by Knock Off.
**Residual Damage**: Due to Weavile's terrible defensive typing and bulk, it will quickly be worn down by entry hazards and weaker attacks like Giga Drain from Tangrowth.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types like Magearna, Mega Mawile, and Mega Scizor are usually not bothered by Knock Off and can use Weavile to set up with Shift Gear, Calm Mind, or Swords Dance. Although it can't switch in safely, Choice Scarf Kartana can outspeed and KO Weavile. However, it must be wary of Choice Scarf Weavile.
**Faster Pokemon**: Pokemon that are faster than Weavile like Mega Alakazam, Ash-Greninja, and Choice Scarf Volkraken can easily pressure and force out Weavile, but they can't consistently switch into it.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Jordy, 395754]]
- Quality checked by: [[xavgb, 231402], [snake_rattler, 227784], [Mx, 298148]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Fireflame479, 231476], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
Weavile is the best Pursuit trapper in the CAP metagame thanks to its great Speed, allowing it to reliably check and trap Pokemon like Tornadus-T, Pajantom, and Mega Latios. Furthermore, it's one of the best offensive Shell Smash Necturna checks thanks to its access to Ice Shard. Additionally, its great STAB combination alongside decently high-Base Power moves like Knock Off and Icicle Crash makes it pretty threatening to switch into for most Pokemon. However, Weavile is forced to use either Choice Band or Choice Scarf to reliably OHKO -1 Necturna, which will leave it vulnerable once it locks itself into one move. While its typing is good offensively, Weavile is also worn down easily due to its susceptibility to entry hazards in general. Furthermore, its awful defensive typing makes it very hard to reliably get Weavile into play, which often has to be done through VoltTurn support or on predicted switches.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Icicle Crash
move 2: Pursuit
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Ice Shard
item: Choice Band
ability: Pickpocket
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Pursuit allows Weavile to take out Pokemon like Mega Latios, Pajantom, and Choice-locked Tapu Lele while also ensuring that it gets off damage on Tornadus-T if it is expected to switch out. Knock Off is a spammable move that can remove important items from Pokemon like Arghonaut, Chansey, and Assault Vest Magearna. Ice Shard is notably used to KO Necturna before it moves after it has used Shell Smash. It can also potentially pick off weakened faster threats like Mega Alakazam and Tapu Koko.
Set Details
========
Choice Band is preferred over Life Orb because Weavile can't OHKO -1 Necturna with Ice Shard otherwise. Additionally, Weavile tends to get chipped down very fast with its susceptibility to Life Orb recoil and entry hazards. Pickpocket is preferred over Pressure to not reveal anything about Weavile's Speed against Pokemon like Landorus-T.
Usage Tips
========
Weavile should look to spam Knock Off early-game to cripple checks like Arghonaut and Assault Vest Magearna as well as check for Z-Moves, which can make playing around Pokemon like Magearna significantly easier. Due to Weavile's inability to directly switch into play on Pokemon it wants to Pursuit trap like Mega Latios and Pajantom, you should look to switch it into play on predicted switches on these Pokemon. Be wary of Stealth Rock, however, as it severely cuts into Weavile's health. It should be noted that Weavile can switch into most Pajantom lacking Outrage. While Weavile is threatened by Pokemon like Tapu Lele and Kitsunoh, they often run Choice items, meaning that if they lock themselves into a Psychic-type or Ghost-type move, they can be Pursuit trapped if you directly switch in Weavile. In a similar vein, Weavile should be switched into Necturna if it's predicted to set up.
Team Options
========
Weavile's ability to remove Pokemon such as Mega Latios and Pajantom from the match makes Pokemon like Mega Medicham, Smokomodo, and Volkraken good teammates, as they generally tend to struggle against them. Because Weavile is worn down so easily by entry hazards, Defoggers that can easily remove them like Tornadus-T and Zapdos are good teammates. Ash-Greninja is a great Pokemon to pair with Weavile, since it appreciates Weavile's ability to remove the items from checks like Toxapex, Arghonaut, and Magearna. While Weavile can punish Arghonaut with Knock Off, Pokemon that can further punish it like Mega Mawile, Tornadus-T, and Magearna are notable teammates, as Arghonaut will still be able to take on Weavile. Pokemon that can check Magearna and Mega Mawile like Heatran and your own Assault Vest Magearna are valuable teammates because these Pokemon will often attempt to use Weavile as bait to switch in. Necturna is an option that benefits from Weavile because it forces Choice Scarf users like Greninja and Kitsunoh to lock into Ice Beam and Shadow Strike, respectively, which Weavile can take advantage of and Pursuit trap them for Necturna.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Pressure is an option that can be run to scout whether Landorus-T is using a Choice Scarf or not, but more often than not, Weavile will not want to reveal its own Speed. A Choice Scarf set can reliably revenge kill Necturna because bulkier Shift Gear variants are not OHKOed by Choice Band-boosted Ice Shard, which Choice Scarf Weavile can do with Foul Play; furthermore, it can also Pursuit trap Mega Alakazam. Because this set is very fast, it doesn't need Ice Shard and thus has room to run Foul Play instead, which does significant damage to Kartana. However, it should be noted that this set doesn't have as much offensive pressure as Choice Band sets because it's pretty weak, despite being able to run an Adamant nature.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Water-types**: Bulky Water-types like Arghonaut and Toxapex can completely wall Weavile and use it as bait to set Spikes and Toxic Spikes, respectively. However, neither likes getting its item removed by Knock Off.
**Residual Damage**: Due to Weavile's terrible defensive typing and bulk, it will quickly be worn down by entry hazards and weaker attacks like Giga Drain from Tangrowth.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types like Magearna, Mega Mawile, and Mega Scizor are usually not bothered by Knock Off and can use Weavile to set up with Shift Gear, Calm Mind, or Swords Dance. Although it can't switch in safely, Choice Scarf Kartana can outspeed and KO Weavile. However, it must be wary of Choice Scarf Weavile.
**Faster Pokemon**: Pokemon that are faster than Weavile like Mega Alakazam, Ash-Greninja, and Choice Scarf Volkraken can easily pressure and force out Weavile, but they can't consistently switch into it.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Jordy, 395754]]
- Quality checked by: [[xavgb, 231402], [snake_rattler, 227784], [Mx, 298148]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Fireflame479, 231476], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
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