**art is mine**
[OVERVIEW]
With its unique resistances to Fighting, Grass, and Steel to deal with Pokemon such as Machamp, Virizion, and Metagross, Vikavolt appears as a promising bulky pivot in RU. Vikavolt is one of the slowest Volt Switch users in the tier, allowing it to safely bring in a teammate. It also has access to Levitate, which makes it immune to Spikes as well as Ground-type attacks barring Thousand Arrows, such as Flygon's Earthquake and Nidoqueen's Earth Power. Vikivolt can even keep itself healthy with Roost. Despite those great traits, Noivern, Forretress, and Tsareena give Vikavolt an immense amount of competition for the same role; Noivern is much faster and has better offensive presence, Forretress can also set up Spikes for its team and is much bulkier, and Tsareena resists Thousand Arrows and is immune to priority moves thanks to Queenly Majesty. Additionally, Vikavolt has a Stealth Rock weakness, which limits the amount of times it can pivot. It is also vulnerable to Toxic damage, which detriments its decent bulk and puts it on a timer, and threatened out by faster Rock- and Fire-type Pokemon like Tyrantrum, Salazzle, and Arcanine.
[SET]
name: Bulky Pivot
move 1: Volt Switch
move 2: Bug Buzz
move 3: Roost
move 4: Energy Ball
item: Rocky Helmet
ability: Levitate
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 196 Def / 60 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Volt Switch allows Vikavolt to pivot in and out of battle as well as bring in a teammate safely thanks to its low Speed. Bug Buzz allows Vikavolt to threaten out Grass-types like Shaymin, Virizion, and Tsareena, which resist Volt Switch. Roost heals Vikavolt from prior damage and grants it more time to pivot. Energy Ball hits Ground-type switch-ins such as Rhyperior, Seismitoad, and Gastrodon for super effective damage.
Set Details
========
60 EVs in Speed allow Vikavolt to outpace Registeel and uninvested Donphan. The rest of the EVs should be used to capitalize on Vikavolt's bulk. Rocky Helmet is the preferred item to punish physically offensive Pokemon like Machamp, Virizion, and Metagross for using contact moves, which Vikavolt can take easily.
Usage Tips
========
Vikavolt should use its resistances to Fighting, Grass, and Steel to safely come in against Pokemon like Machamp, Shaymin, and Metagross, which are usually threatened out thanks to its raw power putting a sizable dent into anything that doesn't resist its moves. It can also come in against Pokemon that are generally no threat to it such as Roserade, Passimian, and Virizion lacking Stone Edge. Because Vikavolt usually forces switches, it can be a good idea to use Roost to keep itself healthy. Volt Switch should be the move used the most so Vikavolt can pivot in and out of battle. Should a Ground-type switch-in like Rhyperior be anticipated, it is generally safe to use Energy Ball to heavily dent or OHKO it. While it is generally an offensive support Pokemon, Vikavolt can attempt to wallbreak early- to mid-game through punching holes in defensive Pokemon like Rhyperior, Metagross, and Slowbro for its teammates. Do not let Vikavolt get worn down too much; try to remove Stealth Rock so Vikavolt can pivot much more throughout the match, and avoid Toxic if you can, since being poisoned also chips away Vikavolt's decent bulk.
Team Options
========
Vikavolt can be used alongside other Volt Switch or U-turn users such as Raikou, Ribombee, and Mandibuzz. Teammates that can get rid of entry hazards such as Mega Blastoise, Florges, and Donphan are much appreciated by Vikavolt so it can pivot more often. Fire-resistant Pokemon such as Arcanine, Rhyperior, and Diancie also make good partners for Vikavolt. In return, Vikavolt can threaten out the Water- and Grass-types that plague them. Pokemon that can threaten Rock-types such as Zygarde-10%, Metagross, and Virizion are also good teammates for Vikavolt. Offensive Pokemon like Gardevoir, Shaymin, Swellow, and Goodra appreciate Vikavolt's ability to weaken Steel-types like Metagross so they can spam their powerful STAB moves more often. They also appreciate the slow Volt Switch Vikavolt provides so they can come into battle safely. Wallbreakers like Machamp, Tyrantrum, and Bewear also appreciate Vikavolt's slow Volt Switch. A cleric or Healing Wish user like Florges, Diancie, or Gardevoir can help heal Vikavolt in case it has been badly poisoned or worn down heavily by Stealth Rock and weak attacks. Diancie can also set Stealth Rock and appreciates Vikavolt's ability to switch into Steel-, Water-, and Ground-types.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Vikavolt has no other viable options.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Residual Damage**: Because of its Bug typing, Vikavolt loses a quarter of its health every time it switches into Stealth Rock. Vikavolt also needs to be wary of Toxic, as the status condition puts it on a timer and limits the amount of time it can pivot.
**Faster Threats**: Many Pokemon such as Tyrantrum, Goodra, and Lycanroc-D can threaten Vikavolt out of battle thanks to its low Speed. None of these Pokemon want to come directly into one of its moves, however.
**Fire-types**: Pokemon like Ninetales, Salazzle, and Arcanine can take out Vikavolt with their STAB moves and comfortably stomach Bug Buzz, but they would not want to switch into Volt Switch.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[JustoonSmitts, 239732]]
- Quality checked by: [[zizalith, 410251], [MrAldo, 227521], [Averardo, 409096]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Fireflame479, 231476], [Estronic, 240732]]
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