Gen 3 Grovyle (NU Analysis)

Rabia

Rabia

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GP & NU Leader
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https://www.smogon.com/dex/rs/pokemon/grovyle/

[Overview]

With a fantastic Speed stat, usable Special Attack stat, a decent signature STAB move in Leaf Blade, and a movepool out the wazoo, Grovyle can be a very effective offensive Pokemon in NU. Base 95 Speed puts Grovyle at the very top of the speed chart, tying with Haunter and Plusle and only being outsped by Raticate. The major thing to consider when using Grovyle is if it's worth bringing over a Sunny Day sweeper like Bellossom and Tangela, which under the sun feature far more power and Speed. On high offense teams, Grovyle's ability to be fast and strong without needing to set up can be crucial to success, and Grovyle's superior coverage can make end-game sweeping a little bit easier.

[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Leaf Blade
move 2: Thunder Punch
move 3: Hidden Power Fire / Endeavor
move 4: Substitute
item: Petaya Berry / Leftovers
ability: Overgrow
nature: Timid
evs: 8 HP / 248 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
- Leaf Blade, TPunch, and HP Fire together have amazing coverage, hitting everything in NU for neutral damage at worst
- TPunch is a major selling point to Grovyle, as it lets it rip through Pidgeot and Murkrow
- HP Fire is needed for Steel- and Grass-types
- Endeavor is usable with Substitute and can be a workaround way of dealing with Grass-types
- Substitute protects Grovyle from status, pushes it into Overgrow range to boost Leaf Blade, and activates Petaya Berry to make Grovyle pretty threateningly strong
- At +1 and Overgrow, Grovyle can OHKO a lot of things like Sableye, Wailord, Vigoroth. Deal upwards of 75% to Hitmonchan, Chimecho, and Pidgeot (with TPunch)

[ADDITIONAL SET COMMENTS]
- Max Speed and Timid are required to make the most of Grovyle's Speed tier
- 8 HP EVs to bring Grovyle safely down to 1 HP for Endeavor with Substitute
- Leech Seed to form a SubSeed set, Grovyle is a bit frail to get the most out of it though
- Pursuit can be used on here to catch Relicanth and Whiscash running away
- Fits best on high offense teams with Spikes support, making Glalie and teammates like Hitmonchan, Pupitar, and Flareon good choices

[Other Options]
- SubSeed
- Hidden Power Water for Fire-types
- Crunch for Chimecho
- Salac Berry

[Checks and Counters]
- Roselia with Sludge Bomb
- Flareon and Torkoal
- Swalot and Arbok
- Kecleon
- Raticate
 
I think Endeavor warrants its own set with either Swagger (to have a shot at multiple kills), Crunch (to kill off Haunter) or Toxic as the 4th move and Bright Powder as another item option other than Petaya Berry.

252 SpA Grovyle Crunch vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Haunter: 210-248 (90.9 - 107.3%) -- 43.8% chance to OHKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ SpA Grovyle Crunch vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Haunter: 231-272 (100 - 117.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO
 
I've used this before

Grovyle @ Leftovers
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 144 Atk / 112 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Substitute
- Leech Seed
- Hidden Power [Flying]
- Leaf Blade

I think the special attacking set is pretty underwhelming just because of how common rose and flareon and poison types are. The attack investment and hp flying ensures you 2 hit rose so you pressure the most common leech seed immunity. Pressuring mons like pika, wailord, whiscash, etc to set up a sub is cool enough. Usually, though, I just bring it in and people ask "what the fuck does this thing do" and switch lol
 
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