In-battle formes
| Type | |
|---|---|
| Abilities | |
| Tier |
| HP: | 60 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attack: | 67 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Defense: | 85 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Atk: | 77 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Def: | 75 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Speed: | 116 |
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Evolutions
- Cottonee
- Whimsicott
Overview
Grass
Whimsicott performs the role of a fast utility attacker for Grass-type teams. Its Fairy typing and high base Speed let it take on Dark-, Dragon-, and Fighting-type threats to Grass such as Mandibuzz, Kyurem-B, and Mega Gallade. It has Prankster and a diverse support movepool with utility moves such as Encore, Stun Spore, and Tailwind, letting it stop or cripple threatening setup sweepers such as Autotomize Celesteela and Mega Scizor as well as hinder wallbreakers like Victini with Stun Spore. However, Whimsicott suffers from four-moveslot syndrome, as it will always miss out on important utility moves to support its teammates. Therefore, Whimsicott struggles to do anything meaningful against types like Steel and Poison, which are already tough matchups for Grass. Its low Special Attack results in mediocre damage output, needing some prior chip damage to score a KO on threats like Mega Gallade and Kyurem-B. It can be hard to fit Whimsicott on Grass-type teams due to the issue of tight team slots; almost mandatory defensive and offensive cores leave little room to fit it in. It competes for a slot with Pokemon such as Decidueye and Celebi, which help Grass-type teams circumvent hard matchups like Psychic and Poison, respectively.
Offensive Utility (Grass)
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Moves
Encore lets Whimsicott stop walls such as Toxapex and setup sweepers such as Volcarona by locking them into a move, allowing teammates to take advantage of them. Moonblast is Whimsicott's STAB move and used to check threats to Grass-type teams such as Hydreigon and Kyurem-B. U-turn lets Whimsicott gain momentum on forced switches and bring in a teammate safely. With Prankster, Stun Spore allows Whimsicott to cripple threats such as Victini and Volcarona, which makes it easier for the team to deal with. Whimsicott can use Tailwind over Stun Spore to support offensive teammates before fainting by doubling their Speed for a few turns.
Set Details
Maximum Special Attack investment allows Whimsicott to maximize its damage output. Maximum Speed investment along with a Timid nature lets Whimsicott outrun every Pokemon below base 115 Speed like Latios. Leftovers is used to give Whimsicott a form of passive recovery and let it pivot more freely. Pixie Plate can be used over Leftovers to more easily KO Dark-, Dragon-, and Fighting-type Pokemon. Prankster turns status moves such as Encore and Stun Spore into priority moves, letting Whimsicott fulfill its utility role.
Usage Tips
Whimsicott should be switched in against setup sweepers such as Mimikyu and Mega Gallade as they attempt to set up so that Whimsicott can stop them with Encore. However, one should be cautious about switching into them, as it is predictable, and the foe may go directly for an attack and render it weak or even KOed due to its low bulk. Whimsicott can also cripple common walls such as Chansey and Toxapex with Encore, creating setup opportunities for its teammates. Whimsicott should be preserved and used to deal with threats against types such as Dark, Dragon, and Fighting where it can utilize STAB Moonblast. A fast U-turn lets Whimsicott switch to checks against whatever Pokemon is switched in, maintaining momentum. Whimsicott should use Stun Spore to cripple threats such as Volcarona and Victini, though Whimsicott usually ends up sacrificing itself. It can also use Stun Spore after it locks a foe into a move with Encore to paralyze the switch-in.
Team Options
Ferrothorn covers Whimsicott's common weaknesses and supports it by setting up Stealth Rock or Spikes, which helps Whimsicott score KOs with Moonblast. Ferrothorn also helps in taking care of Ice-type threats such as Alolan Ninetales and Mamoswine with Gyro Ball. Cradily is a general special wall with access to Stealth Rock that can check Fire-type and Flying-type threats such as Mega Charizard Y, Volcarona, and Tornadus-T with Rock Slide. In return, Whimsicott checks Fighting-type Pokemon such as Mega Gallade and Kommo-o. Mega Venusaur's Thick Fat makes it a crucial switch-in to Ice- and Fire-type attacks for Whimsicott, while Whimsicott helps beat Dragon-types that threaten Mega Venusaur such as Latios and Kyurem-B. Celebi can utilize a Nasty Plot set with Groundium Z to break through Poison- and Steel-type Pokemon that wall Whimsicott such as Alolan Muk, Toxapex, Heatran, and Jirachi. Breloom can utilize a Swords Dance set to threaten offensive threats such as Heatran and Hydreigon with Mach Punch and take care of Bug- and Flying-types such as Volcarona and Mega Charizard with Rock Tomb and Focus Sash. Breloom can also use a Poison Heal set with Focus Punch and Substitute to heavily pressure types such as Normal and Steel. Tapu Bulu provides Whimsicott with Grassy Terrain recovery, which is especially helpful if Whimsicott is using Pixie Plate. Tapu Bulu is able to find opportunities to set up with Swords Dance and wallbreak due to Encore, Stun Spore, and U-turn support from Whimsicott. Rotom-C can hold a Choice Scarf and check threats like Mega Pinsir, Crobat, and Celesteela for Whimsicott. Rotom-C and Whimsicott can also form a VoltTurn core that aids in pivoting and keeping constant pressure. Decidueye's Swords Dance set and priority in Shadow Sneak improve the Psychic matchup greatly and check threats to Whimsicott such as Victini and Jirachi.
Other Options
Grass
A Choice Scarf set can be used to turn Whimsicott into a fast revenge killer, outspeeding common Choice Scarf users like Latios and Heracross, but Choice Scarf Whimsicott has low damage output and cannot utilize its colorful support movepool. Knock Off can be used over Encore or Stun Spore that allows Whimsicott to cripple threats to Grass teams, such as removing Curse Alolan Muk's pinch berry.
Checks and Counters
Grass
Steel-types: Steel-type Pokemon like Mega Scizor, Celesteela, and Excadrill have little to fear from Whimsicott and can easily KO it with their STAB moves. However, Whimsicott can lock Mega Scizor and Celesteela into Swords Dance or Autotomize with Encore.
Poison-types: Poison-types such as Mega Venusaur, Nihilego, and Nidoking can easily KO Whimsicott. Alolan Muk gets a special mention here because it is not affected by Prankster moves and can use Whimsicott as a free chance to set up with Curse.
Fire-types: Fire-types such as Blacephalon, Victini, and Mega Charizard X can easily KO Whimsicott with their STAB Fire-type attacks but should be cautious about Stun Spore crippling them.
Special Walls: Pokemon such as Chansey and Jirachi can comfortably switch into Whimsicott and set up Stealth Rock or cripple it with Toxic and Thunder Wave; however, special walls need to be wary of Encore.
Revenge Killers and Priority Users: Faster revenge killers like Greninja can easily KO Whimsicott with coverage moves, with Greninja also being immune to Whimsicott's Prankster moves thanks to its Dark-typing. Priority users such as Mega Scizor, Dragonite, and Lucario can also beat Whimsicott.
