[SET]
name: Physical Wall
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Sludge Bomb
move 3: Synthesis
move 4: Giga Drain / Leech Seed
item: Eviolite
ability: Overgrow / Chlorophyll
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Ivysaur's Grass / Poison typing and solid defensive stats with Eviolite make it a capable wall against Grass- and Water-type physical attackers such as Leafeon, Meganium, Kingler, and Whiscash. A passive wall like Ivysaur would ordinarily struggle with Pokemon immune to Toxic, but its access to Knock Off is great for ruining opposing walls like Clefairy, Wormadam-S, and Staryu that depend on their items for their longevity. Pokemon like Arbok, Pawniard, and Shelgon that look to take advantage of Ivysaur don't enjoy losing their items when they switch into it either. Sludge Bomb is Ivysaur's best attack between its power, chance to poison, and super effective damage against Leafeon and Meganium. Synthesis keeps Ivysaur healthy in longer games against foes like Staryu, Mienfoo, and Hippopotas. Giga Drain disposes of Kingler and Whiscash, increases Ivysaur's pressure against Frillish and Solrock, and keeps Ivysaur healthy. Overgrow provides a situational but helpful boost to Giga Drain if Ivysaur is brought to low HP. Leech Seed can be used over Giga Drain to wear down targets Ivysaur does little damage to, such as Muk, Wormadam-S, and Arbok. However, without Giga Drain, Ivysaur is less effective against Water- and Ground-types like Kingler and Whiscash that it wants to check. If Ivysaur runs Leech Seed, it should run Chlorophyll instead of Overgrow to at least have a situational boost.
Ivysaur best supports teammates such as specially defensive Clefairy, Grumpig, and Mr. Mime that struggle with physical attackers. In return, Ivysaur's specially defensive partners patch up its vulnerability to common specially offensive Pokemon such as Mr. Mime, Grumpig, Glaceon, and Simisear. Solrock can set up entry hazards to wear down offensive checks to Ivysaur like Simisear and Glaceon, while Ivysaur checks Grass-types like Meganium and Leafeon for Solrock. Staryu can keep hazards off the field for Ivysaur, while Ivysaur supports Staryu by checking Grass- and Electric-types. Status absorbers such as Clefairy and the aforementioned Staryu are good partners to Ivysaur, as it struggles to wall foes if afflicted with burn or poison. Frillish can keep hazards up to wear down checks to Ivysaur, while Ivysaur takes on Grass-types for it. Unless it's running Leech Seed, Ivysaur cannot meaningfully damage Muk and makes little impact on Arbok besides removing its item. Ground- and Rock-types like Whiscash, Hippopotas, Solrock, and Lairon can cover Ivysaur's vulnerability to Poison-types. In turn, Ivysaur shields them from their Grass weaknesses. Ivysaur's weakness to Flying-types like Emolga and Pelipper can be covered by partners like Solrock, Raichu, and Lairon. Conversely, Ivysaur can check Grass-types like Meganium and Leafeon that its aforementioned partners may struggle with. Eviolite is key for Ivysaur to maintain its longevity, so teammates that can intercept Knock Off and Trick like Emolga, Muk, and Grumpig are appreciated.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Worry Seed can help Ivysaur break down Magic Guard Clefairy with Sludge Bomb poison or Leech Seed, remove Sticky Hold Muk's item, and force Lairon to take recoil from Head Smash, but Ivysaur struggles to fit it over any of its moves. Toxic might seem appealing to punish opposing walls, but Ivysaur's Sludge Bomb and Leech Seed have better coverage, while Toxic does not help against Clefairy and Poison- and Steel-types that wall Ivysaur. Ivysaur has Growth, Chlorophyll, and Weather Ball, enabling it to be a dangerous sun sweeper. Swords Dance, Power Whip, and Nature Power may make Ivysaur appear to be an effective physical wallbreaker, but Meganium and Leafeon generally outclass it in this role thanks to their greater Attack and Speed. Other physical wallbreakers such as Kingler, Muk, and Lairon also generally outclass Ivysaur given their much greater Attack.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Poison-types**: Leech Seed is Ivysaur's best move against Arbok and Muk, which can take Sludge Bomb or Giga Drain and use Ivysaur as an opportunity to set up with Coil and Curse, respectively. Knock Off also has no value versus Sticky Hold Muk.
**Status**: Status makes Ivysaur more passive and prone to being overwhelmed. Paralysis from Thunder Wave Clefairy and Staryu ruins Ivysaur's consistency as a wall. Burn from Solrock's Will-O-Wisp or Frillish and Staryu's Scalds wears down Ivysaur quickly, forcing it to use Synthesis more and attack less.
**Specially Offensive Pokemon**: Most common special attackers have super effective STAB moves or coverage against Ivysaur, allowing them to blow through it. Glaceon, Grumpig, Mr. Mime, Ice Gem Raichu, and Simisear blow through Ivysaur, although none of them like switching into Sludge Bomb, Knock Off, or Leech Seed.
**Emolga**: Emolga does not enjoy losing its Flying Gem to Ivysaur's Knock Off before using it, but its boosted Acrobatics cuts through Ivysaur. Emolga can use Roost to recover any damage it takes from Ivysaur after switching in. Sludge Bomb is obnoxious to Emolga, though, given its damage and poison chance, and Emolga can be brought low by Ivysaur and forced to use Roost if Stealth Rock is up.
**Knock Off**: Ivysaur depends on its Eviolite to take repeated hits, so losing it is problematic. Persian and Mienfoo may lure Ivysaur in as physical attackers to remove its Eviolite. Ivysaur is excellent at removing Eviolite from the best wall in the tier, Clefairy, but it risks losing its own Eviolite in this exchange.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/missangelic.452572/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/monai.482455/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zinnias.569291/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
name: Physical Wall
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Sludge Bomb
move 3: Synthesis
move 4: Giga Drain / Leech Seed
item: Eviolite
ability: Overgrow / Chlorophyll
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Ivysaur's Grass / Poison typing and solid defensive stats with Eviolite make it a capable wall against Grass- and Water-type physical attackers such as Leafeon, Meganium, Kingler, and Whiscash. A passive wall like Ivysaur would ordinarily struggle with Pokemon immune to Toxic, but its access to Knock Off is great for ruining opposing walls like Clefairy, Wormadam-S, and Staryu that depend on their items for their longevity. Pokemon like Arbok, Pawniard, and Shelgon that look to take advantage of Ivysaur don't enjoy losing their items when they switch into it either. Sludge Bomb is Ivysaur's best attack between its power, chance to poison, and super effective damage against Leafeon and Meganium. Synthesis keeps Ivysaur healthy in longer games against foes like Staryu, Mienfoo, and Hippopotas. Giga Drain disposes of Kingler and Whiscash, increases Ivysaur's pressure against Frillish and Solrock, and keeps Ivysaur healthy. Overgrow provides a situational but helpful boost to Giga Drain if Ivysaur is brought to low HP. Leech Seed can be used over Giga Drain to wear down targets Ivysaur does little damage to, such as Muk, Wormadam-S, and Arbok. However, without Giga Drain, Ivysaur is less effective against Water- and Ground-types like Kingler and Whiscash that it wants to check. If Ivysaur runs Leech Seed, it should run Chlorophyll instead of Overgrow to at least have a situational boost.
Ivysaur best supports teammates such as specially defensive Clefairy, Grumpig, and Mr. Mime that struggle with physical attackers. In return, Ivysaur's specially defensive partners patch up its vulnerability to common specially offensive Pokemon such as Mr. Mime, Grumpig, Glaceon, and Simisear. Solrock can set up entry hazards to wear down offensive checks to Ivysaur like Simisear and Glaceon, while Ivysaur checks Grass-types like Meganium and Leafeon for Solrock. Staryu can keep hazards off the field for Ivysaur, while Ivysaur supports Staryu by checking Grass- and Electric-types. Status absorbers such as Clefairy and the aforementioned Staryu are good partners to Ivysaur, as it struggles to wall foes if afflicted with burn or poison. Frillish can keep hazards up to wear down checks to Ivysaur, while Ivysaur takes on Grass-types for it. Unless it's running Leech Seed, Ivysaur cannot meaningfully damage Muk and makes little impact on Arbok besides removing its item. Ground- and Rock-types like Whiscash, Hippopotas, Solrock, and Lairon can cover Ivysaur's vulnerability to Poison-types. In turn, Ivysaur shields them from their Grass weaknesses. Ivysaur's weakness to Flying-types like Emolga and Pelipper can be covered by partners like Solrock, Raichu, and Lairon. Conversely, Ivysaur can check Grass-types like Meganium and Leafeon that its aforementioned partners may struggle with. Eviolite is key for Ivysaur to maintain its longevity, so teammates that can intercept Knock Off and Trick like Emolga, Muk, and Grumpig are appreciated.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Worry Seed can help Ivysaur break down Magic Guard Clefairy with Sludge Bomb poison or Leech Seed, remove Sticky Hold Muk's item, and force Lairon to take recoil from Head Smash, but Ivysaur struggles to fit it over any of its moves. Toxic might seem appealing to punish opposing walls, but Ivysaur's Sludge Bomb and Leech Seed have better coverage, while Toxic does not help against Clefairy and Poison- and Steel-types that wall Ivysaur. Ivysaur has Growth, Chlorophyll, and Weather Ball, enabling it to be a dangerous sun sweeper. Swords Dance, Power Whip, and Nature Power may make Ivysaur appear to be an effective physical wallbreaker, but Meganium and Leafeon generally outclass it in this role thanks to their greater Attack and Speed. Other physical wallbreakers such as Kingler, Muk, and Lairon also generally outclass Ivysaur given their much greater Attack.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Poison-types**: Leech Seed is Ivysaur's best move against Arbok and Muk, which can take Sludge Bomb or Giga Drain and use Ivysaur as an opportunity to set up with Coil and Curse, respectively. Knock Off also has no value versus Sticky Hold Muk.
**Status**: Status makes Ivysaur more passive and prone to being overwhelmed. Paralysis from Thunder Wave Clefairy and Staryu ruins Ivysaur's consistency as a wall. Burn from Solrock's Will-O-Wisp or Frillish and Staryu's Scalds wears down Ivysaur quickly, forcing it to use Synthesis more and attack less.
**Specially Offensive Pokemon**: Most common special attackers have super effective STAB moves or coverage against Ivysaur, allowing them to blow through it. Glaceon, Grumpig, Mr. Mime, Ice Gem Raichu, and Simisear blow through Ivysaur, although none of them like switching into Sludge Bomb, Knock Off, or Leech Seed.
**Emolga**: Emolga does not enjoy losing its Flying Gem to Ivysaur's Knock Off before using it, but its boosted Acrobatics cuts through Ivysaur. Emolga can use Roost to recover any damage it takes from Ivysaur after switching in. Sludge Bomb is obnoxious to Emolga, though, given its damage and poison chance, and Emolga can be brought low by Ivysaur and forced to use Roost if Stealth Rock is up.
**Knock Off**: Ivysaur depends on its Eviolite to take repeated hits, so losing it is problematic. Persian and Mienfoo may lure Ivysaur in as physical attackers to remove its Eviolite. Ivysaur is excellent at removing Eviolite from the best wall in the tier, Clefairy, but it risks losing its own Eviolite in this exchange.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/missangelic.452572/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/monai.482455/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zinnias.569291/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
Last edited:
