1v1 Suspect Coverage - Victini

By Mubs. Released: 2021/01/31.
« Previous Article Next Article »
1v1 Suspect Coverage - Victini artwork

Art by Shadowshocker.

Introduction

With the release of the Crown Tundra DLC a few months ago, Victini has quickly asserted itself as the tier's best Pokémon. Its base 100 stats across the board alongside great STAB options such as Blue Flare and V-create allow it to run a multitude of sets. Such power and versatility are bolstered even further with its amazing movepool and range of items it can run, being able to run a plethora of coverage and utility moves such as Bolt Strike, Glaciate, Encore, and Light Screen, making it a menace to deal with at Team Preview. Such versatility pushed it too far in the eyes of many in the 1v1 community, leading to its suspect test.

Sets

Weakness Policy is Victini's premier set, utilizing its great natural bulk in combination with options such as Light Screen and Will-O-Wisp to take super effective hits and strike back with V-create or Bolt Strike. The choice of Encore or Protect depends on whether you'd like to cripple Pokémon that use status moves such as Chansey and Cresselia or Custap Berry users such as Galarian Moltres and Primarina. The EVs on this set are used to outspeed the likes of Choice Specs Porygon-Z while surviving a +3 Fiery Wrath from Galarian Moltres under Light Screen. If running Will-O-Wisp, a spread of 124 HP / 132 Atk / 252 Spe can be run for the likes of Choice Band Landorus-T and Assault Vest Urshifu-S. An alternative spread of 216 HP / 244 Atk / 28 SpD / 20 Spe with Zen Headbutt is an option to beat Pokemon such as Avalugg and Naganadel.

It is also worth mentioning that Victini is able to run mixed and special variants of this set, featuring STAB moves such as Blue Flare and Psychic alongside coverage moves such as Glaciate, Scorching Sands, and Grass Knot to handle otherwise good checks such as Zygarde, Heatran, and Tyranitar.

Life Orb Victini takes a more offensive approach, utilizing V-create and Bolt Strike to OHKO common metagame threats such as Primarina, Rillaboom, Sylveon, and Togekiss. Quick Attack is used for its ability to bypass notable Custap Berry users such as Primarina and Galarian Moltres. Will-O-Wisp shuts down Pokémon such as Choice Band Snorlax and Avalugg.

Choice Band Victini sacrifices move choice to hit as hard as possible with its STAB moves and main coverage move. Trick helps to cripple status users such as Chansey.

Choice Scarf sacrifices power for Speed in order to gain the upper hand versus the likes of Blacephalon, Naganadel, and some variants of Zeraora.

Taking a special approach, Choice Specs Victini uses STAB moves such as Blue Flare and Psychic alongside coverage moves such as Glaciate and Dazzling Gleam. Dazzling Gleam, in conjunction with 56 HP EVs, helps Victini beat most variants of Urshifu-S.

Ban Reasoning

Thanks to its immense movepool and number of items it can run, Victini is able to run a plethora of physical and special sets with strong STAB and coverage moves for both. Its ability to use its great bulk and Speed alongside utility moves such as Encore, Light Screen, and Will-O-Wisp makes it extremely hard to predict at Team Preview. Supposed answers such as Garchomp, Tyranitar, Urshifu-S, and Zygarde often fall prey to it due to its versatility and lure potential, with sets tailored to beat them; for example, Choice Scarf Urshifu-S can lose to niche resist Berry sets. Such unrivaled versatility brings forth the argument that you simply have to accept that you'll either lose to at least one of its sets or have to play extreme mind games at Team Preview.

No Ban Reasoning

Victini is undeniably an extremely versatile Pokémon in the SS 1v1 metagame with its great pool of sets. There is no doubt that it is a centralizing force, but such centralization does not push it to the extent of making it banworthy. The sets that it runs, while diverse, generally aren’t hard to predict at Team Preview depending on what the team may be weak to. More niche sets tailored to beating common answers do come with some opportunity cost as well.

Conclusion

Victini has been banned from 1v1 with 82.8% of voters voting to ban it. With it out of the metagame, Steel-, Grass-, and Fairy-types such as Genesect, Rillaboom, and Sylveon have risen in viability. Genesect is the most notable of the bunch, rising now to become a top-tier threat. Make sure to catch a game on the 1v1 ladder!

HTML by Ryota Mitarai.
« Previous Article Next Article »