Gen 5 Vanilluxe [QC 1/1] [GP 1/1] [DONE]

[Akir]

[OVERVIEW]

With the combination of Choice Scarf to outrun the entire unboosted metagame and a surprisingly powerful Ice Beam that even notably damages Pokemon that resist it, Vanilluxe makes a niche for itself in PU as a revenge killer and potential sweeper. Unfortunately, the notable lack of good coverage moves, lack of a truly good ability, weaknesses to common priority moves and Stealth Rock, and the fact that Vanilluxe is walled heavily by common Pokemon like Klang keep it from being a premier threat in PU.

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Hidden Power Ground / Hidden Power Fire
move 3: Flash Cannon
move 4: Frost Breath
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Weak Armor / Ice Body
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Ice Beam has no drawbacks and will be chosen almost all the time, especially since even Pokemon that resist it like Sneasel have the chance to be 2HKOed with entry hazards. The rest of the moveset is dedicated to niche coverage. Hidden Power Ground is the preferred option in the second moveslot for hitting Steel- and Fire-types like Klang and Monferno, while Hidden Power Fire exchanges the coverage on Fire-types for being able to hit Bronzor. Flash Cannon can be used to hit other Ice-types like Articuno, and Frost Breath can pierce through potential Special Defense boosts from Pokemon like Calm Mind Duosion. Weak Armor is the preferred ability for the potential Speed boost and the fact that hail is unviable, but Ice Body can be chosen if the Defense drop from Weak Armor is unappealing. A Modest nature is chosen for the extra power as the Choice Scarf already makes Vanilluxe faster than the entire unboosted metagame.

Entry hazards go an exceptionally long way in letting Vanilluxe sweep, very often being the difference between a 3HKO and a 2HKO, so reliable hazard setters like Dwebble and Stunfisk are key teammates. Vanilluxe also hates hazards itself, so hazard control from Pokemon like Tentacool or Natu can help keep Vanilluxe healthy throughout the match. Vanilluxe is commonly walled by Steel-types like Klang and Bronzor, Water-types like Tentacool, and specially defensive walls like Audino, so partners like Marowak, Zebstrika, and Monferno are excellent choices for dealing with those walls. Vanilluxe also appreciates being switched in safely with Klang's Volt Switch and Jumpluff's U-turn. Vanilluxe doesn't offer much in the way of synergy itself, but wallbreakers like Stoutland and Simisear do appreciate Vanilluxe inviting in and weakening down common Steel- and Water-type switch-ins like Mawile and Frillish. Vanilluxe also tends to threaten out or take out certain threats like Vileplume and Stunfisk, so Pokemon that enjoy having those walls taken care of like Zebstrika and Monferno appreciate having it on their team.

[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/akir.231726/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bella.567483/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/

 

[Bella]

[OVERVIEW]

With the combination of Choice Scarf to outrun the entire unboosted metagame and a surprisingly powerful Ice Beam on even Pokemon that resist it, Vanilluxe makes a niche for itself in PU as a revenge killer and potential sweeper. (Mention how high its SpA is: 110 Special Attack is nothing to scoff at here.) The notable lack of coverage, lack of a truly good Ability, weakness to common priority moves, and the fact that Vanilluxe is walled heavily by common sights like Klang unfortunately keeps Vanilluxe from being a premiere threat in PU. (Mention that the Rocks weakness keeps it from fulling breaking alot of the time imo.)

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Hidden Power [Ground] / Hidden Power [Fire]
move 3: Flash Cannon
move 4: Frost Breath
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Weak Armor / Ice Body
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpAtk SpA / 4 SpDef SpD / 252 Speed Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Ice Beam is the go-to STAB option with no drawbacks and will be chosen almost all the time, due to the fact that even Pokemon that resist it like Sneasel have the chance to be 2HKO'd with entry hazards. The rest of the moveset is dedicated to increasingly niche coverage, starting with the Hidden Power choice. Hidden Power Ground is the preferred option for hitting Steel- and Fire-types like Klang and Monferno slightly harder, while Hidden Power Fire gives up the coverage for Fire-types in exchange for being able to hit Bronzor. Flash Cannon can be used to hit other Ice-types like Articuno and Frost Breath can be used for hitting through potential SpDef boosts from something like Calm Mind Duosion. Weak Armor is the chosen ability for the potential Speed boost and the fact that Ice Body is functionally useless in a Hail-less metagame, but Ice Body can be chosen if the Defense drop from Weak Armor is unappealing. (imo, both abilities dont really come into play alot so maybe mention its a matter of personal choice?) Modest is chosen as the nature as the Choice Scarf already makes Vanilluxe faster than the entire unboosted metagame so the extra power is more useful.

Entry hazards go an exceptionally long way in letting Vanilluxe sweep, very often being the difference between a 3HKO and a 2HKO, so reliable entry hazard setters like Dwebble or Stunfisk are key teammates. Vanilluxe is also commonly walled by Steel-types like Klang or Bronzor, Water-types like Tentacool, and specially defensive walls like Audino, so partners like Marowak, Zebstrika, or Monferno are an excellent choice for dealing with those walls. Vanilluxe also appreciates being switched in safely with Volt Switch from a Klang or a U-turn from a Jumpluff. Vanilluxe doesn't offer much in the way of synergy itself, but wallbreakers like Stoutland or Simisear do appreciate Vanilluxe inviting in and weakening down common Steel- and Water-type switchins like Mawile or Frillish while offering their wallbreaking services in return.
(Mention hazard control from Tenta / Natu to prevent one of Luxes biggest weaknesses to rocks. Also maybe mention how it threatening stuff like Plume / Tort / Fisk / etc can be to the benefit of Pokemon walled out by these mons like Zeb or something?)
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/akir.231726/]]
- Quality checked by: [[name, id], [name, id]]
- Grammar checked by: [[name, id]]

1/2, solid job as always :)
GP Team

 

[a blue banana]

GP Team done
GP Check 1/1

add remove highlight comment

Can't spam Blizzard yet, not for another 4 years

[OVERVIEW]

With the combination of Choice Scarf to outrun the entire unboosted metagame and a surprisingly powerful Ice Beam from a high base 110 SpA on that even notably damages Pokemon that resist it, Vanilluxe makes a niche for itself in PU as a revenge killer and potential sweeper. The Unfortunately, the (Moving "unfortunately" here helps indicate the drawbacks of using Vanilluxe to the reader more clearly) notable lack of good coverage moves, lack of a truly good Ability ability, weaknesses to common priority moves, weakness to and Stealth Rock, and the fact that Vanilluxe is walled heavily by common sights Pokemon like Klang unfortunately keeps Vanilluxe it from being a premiere ("premiere" and "premier" have different definitions) threat in PU.

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Hidden Power [Ground] Ground / Hidden Power [Fire] Fire (brackets aren't needed)
move 3: Flash Cannon
move 4: Frost Breath
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Weak Armor / Ice Body
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Ice Beam is the go-to STAB option with has no drawbacks and will be chosen almost all the time, due to the fact that especially since even Pokemon that resist it like Sneasel have the chance to be 2HKO'd 2HKOed with entry hazards. The rest of the moveset is dedicated to increasingly niche coverage, starting with the Hidden Power choice. Hidden Power Ground is the preferred option in the second moveslot for hitting Steel- and Fire-types like Klang and Monferno slightly harder (than what move?), while Hidden Power Fire gives up exchanges the coverage for on Fire-types in exchange for being able to hit Bronzor. Flash Cannon can be used to hit other Ice-types like Articuno, (AC) and Frost Breath can be used for hitting pierce (avoids repetition of "can be used to hit") through potential SpDef Special Defense boosts from something Pokemon like Calm Mind Duosion. Ability comes down entirely to personal preference but (You're explaining to the reader the pros and cons of both abilities; this already implies that the ability choice is up to the personal preferences of the reader.) Weak Armor is the chosen preferred ability for the potential Speed boost and the fact that Ice Body is functionally useless in a Hail-less metagame hail is unviable (although the ability Snow Warning is banned, the move Hail isn't), but Ice Body can be chosen if the Defense drop from Weak Armor is unappealing. A Modest nature is chosen as the nature for the extra power, (AC) as the Choice Scarf already makes Vanilluxe faster than the entire unboosted metagame so the extra power is more useful.

Entry hazards go an exceptionally long way in letting Vanilluxe sweep, very often being the difference between a 3HKO and a 2HKO, so reliable entry (after saying "entry hazard" in a paragraph, you can abbreviate it to "hazard" for every other mention of it) hazard setters like Dwebble or and Stunfisk are key teammates. Vanilluxe also hates entry hazards itself, so hazard control from Pokemon like Tentacool or and Natu can help keep Vanilluxe healthy throughout the match. Vanilluxe is also commonly walled by Steel-types like Klang or and Bronzor, Water-types like Tentacool, and specially defensive walls like Audino, so partners like Marowak, Zebstrika, or and Monferno are an excellent choices for dealing with those walls. Vanilluxe also appreciates being switched in safely with Volt Switch from a Klang's Volt Switch or and a U-turn from a Jumpluff's U-turn. Vanilluxe doesn't offer much in the way of synergy itself, but wallbreakers like Stoutland or and Simisear do appreciate Vanilluxe inviting in and weakening down common Steel- and Water-type switch-ins (AH) like Mawile or and Frillish while offering their wallbreaking services in return. (This seems a bit redundant; you're just reiterating the fact that they're wallbreakers. It might be worth having QC input on rephrasing this portion.) Vanilluxe also tends to threaten out or take out certain threats like Vileplume and Stunfisk, (AC) so Pokemon that enjoy having those walls taken care of like Zebstrika or and Monferno also appreciate having Vanilluxe it on their team.

[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/akir.231726/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bella.567483/
Grammar checked by: