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QC: Anty / Megazard / TONE114
GP: Snobalt / P Squared
[OVERVIEW]
Volbeat finds itself as an excellent weather setter in the PU metagame thanks to Prankster, which almost always guarantees the setup of weather. In addition to this, Volbeat can utilize a slow but powerful U-turn to get in weather sweepers such as Golduck and Sawsbuck safely. It also has the ability to provide invaluable support with Thunder Wave and Encore, with the former helping it stop fast and powerful threats such as Dodrio and Sawsbuck and the latter giving Volbeat's teammates a free turn. However, a weakness to Stealth Rock and a lack of reliable recovery mean that it is worn down easily. Volbeat also has middling bulk, which makes it hard for it to set up weather later in the game.
[SET]
name: Weather Supporter
move 1: Rain Dance / Sunny Day
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Encore
move 4: Thunder Wave
item: Damp Rock / Heat Rock
ability: Prankster
nature: Relaxed
evs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
ivs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Rain Dance gives rain sweepers such as Golduck and Floatzel the chance to sweep, while Sunny Day allows sun sweepers such as Sawsbuck and Leafeon to sweep. U-turn gets in teammates safely and allows Volbeat to pivot out from an unfavorable matchup. Encore provides free turns for Volbeat's teammates and allows Volbeat to lock passive Pokemon such as Lickilicky and Roselia into an unfavorable move. Encore also prevents setup sweepers such as Clefairy and Klang from attacking. Thunder Wave cripples fast and powerful threats such as Dodrio, Simipour, and Stoutland, which pose a threat to Volbeat. Thunder Wave also cripples Chlorophyll Jumpluff and Sawsbuck, which are big threats to sun teams.
Set Details
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The given EV spread maximizes Volbeat's bulk and allows it to tank as many physical hits as possible. 0 Speed IVs in Speed and a Relaxed nature allow Volbeat to provide a slow but strong U-turn, letting sun sweepers such as Sawsbuck and rain sweepers such as Golduck get in safely. Prankster gives priority to Rain Dance and Sunny Day, which almost always guarantees the setup of weather, as well as Thunder Wave and Encore. Damp Rock and Heat Rock increase the number of turns of rain and sun, respectively, giving weather sweepers a longer time to sweep.
Usage Tips
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Preserving Volbeat is crucial, as it provides great utility, so it should be sent in whenever weather is needed or after the turns of weather have ended. However, don't be afraid to sacrifice Volbeat just to set up weather, as doing so also allows a rain or sun sweeper to switch in safely. Volbeat should focus on setting up Sunny Day or Rain Dance before it does anything else, and it should use U-turn directly after it sets up weather, allowing its teammates to make the most use of it. The combination of Encore and Thunder Wave can cripple opposing leads as well, but bear in mind that it is quite predictable.
Team Options
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Volbeat only fits on weather teams, as they are able to take advantage of rain or sun. Weather sweepers are absolutely compulsory so that they can take advantage of Volbeat's weather. Some examples are Golduck and Floatzel for rain teams and Sawsbuck and Leafeon for sun teams. Other weather setters such as Relicanth for rain and Golem and Onix for sun are able to set up weather in case Volbeat faints. Electric-types such as Raichu and Zebstrika can use a perfectly accurate Thunder in rain and take on Water-types such as Politoed; the former can also absorb Electric-type attacks. Swanna can utilize a perfectly accurate Hurricane in the rain and heal its status ailments thanks to Hydration. In sun, Fire-types such as Rapidash and Ninetales are able to switch in on predicted Fire-type attacks and also get a boost to their own Fire-type attacks. Zebstrika works well on sun teams because of its ability to counter Jumpluff, which is a huge threat to such teams.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Volbeat can run Roost for reliable recovery, but it lacks the moveslot for it. The combination of Tail Glow and Baton Pass can be used to support special attackers, although it is unreliable. Tailwind provides a Speed boost to Volbeat's teammates, but Volbeat doesn't have the space for it. Substitute allows Volbeat to avoid status moves, but it wears Volbeat down even more quickly. Toxic cripples bulky walls such as Pelipper and Gourgeist-XL, but Thunder Wave is preferred due to its ability to stop fast threats such as Chlorophyll Jumpluff.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Residual Damage**: As Volbeat is worn down easily due to its lack of reliable recovery and weakness to Stealth Rock, residual damage can add up quickly and KO it. Burns and Toxic poison are also a problem for Volbeat, as the former weakens its U-turn while the latter puts a timer on it.
**Strong Attackers**: Because of Volbeat's average bulk, strong attackers such as Stoutland and Simipour have no trouble dealing with it. However, they must watch out for Thunder Wave.
**Weather Checks**: Chlorophyll Choice Scarf Sawsbuck and Chlorophyll Jumpluff are huge threats to sun teams, but they must watch out for Volbeat's Thunder Wave. Sun setters such as Golem and rain setters such as Relicanth prevent Volbeat from setting up rain and sun, respectively. Although rare, Hippopotas's Sand Stream forces Volbeat to switch in and manually change the weather. In addition to this, Hippopotas is immune to Thunder Wave, but it must watch out for Encore.
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