[OVERVIEW]
<p>While at first glance Jolteon would seem to be completely inferior to the other strong special attackers in the Uber tier, Jolteon actually has several significant advantages. With Kyogre providing permanent rain, Jolteon's STAB Thunder becomes 100% accurate, and with a Life Orb attached, Jolteon can actually score many significant OHKOs and 2HKOs on common Uber Pokémon. In addition, due to Thunder being very common in the Uber environment, Jolteon is provided many opportunities to switch in with immunity and immediately threaten back, thanks to Volt Absorb. While Jolteon may struggle to compete with other Uber powerhouses such as Latios, Darkrai and Mewtwo, its powerful STAB and unique ability allow it perform well on teams that require its unique support.</p>
[SET]
name: Sub LO (Ubers)
move 1: Thunder
move 2: Hidden Power [Ice]
move 3: Substitute
move 4: Baton Pass / Fake Tears
item: Life Orb
ability: Volt Absorb
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpAtk / 252 Spe / 4 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Jolteon can be a magnificently underestimated force in the Uber tier; it's STAB Thunder in conjunction with Volt Absorb allow it many opportunities to switch in and wreak havoc against many common Pokémon in Ubers. Combine this with its base 130 speed, and you have a dangerous eeveelution on your hands. Hidden Power [Ice] is Jolteon's best method of dealing with Rayquaza and Garchomp, along with dealing damage to Giritina-O, Latios and Groudon.</p>
<p>Substitute works great on this set for two reasons. For one, with the many choiced Electric attackers in Ubers, many Pokémon will be forced to switch out, giving Jolteon an opportunity to use Substitute. Jolteon can also force out several non-choiced Pokémon, such as Kyogre or Lugia, should Jolteon see the opportunity for a safe switch in. Secondly, if confronted with something that Jolteon can not deal with, such as Latias or Dialga, Jolteon may use Baton Pass to pass its substitute to a teammate. While it may seem that Jolteon will run out of HP quickly due to Life Orb, Substitute, and Entry Hazards damage piling up, Volt Absorb helps remedy this, granting 25% recovery should Jolteon switch in on an electric move.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Surprisingly, Jolteon scores many significant OHKOs in the Uber tier, thanks to the abundance of Flying types and the prominence of Kyogre. Ho-Oh, Manaphy, Kyogre, Lugia, Darkrai, Shaymin-S, and the Deoxys formes (aside from Deoxys-D) are all OHKO'd by Thunder with the aid of Stealth Rock. Take a look at these damage calculations to see what Jolteon is capable of.</p>
<p>Timid 252 SpAtk LO Thunder vs:</p>
<ul class="damage_calculation">
<li>4 HP/0 SpDef Timid Darkrai = 87.6% - 103.5%</li>
<li>0 HP/0 SpDef Hasty Palkia = 60.7% - 71.3%</li>
<li>4 HP/0 SpDef Timid Mewtwo = 69.8% - 82.5%</li>
<li>28 HP/252 SpDef Calm Wobbuffet = 43.2% - 50.8%</li>
<li>252 HP/252 SpDef Careful Forretress = 62.7% - 74%</li>
</ul>
<p>Timid 252 SpAtk LO Hidden power [Ice] vs:</p>
<ul class="damage_calculation">
<li>112 HP/0 SpDef Adamant Groudon = 52% - 61.8%</li>
<li>0 HP/0 SpDef Naive Giratina-O = 44.9% - 53.1%</li>
</ul>
<p>While Baton Pass is Jolteon’s best method of supporting its team with Substitutes, Fake Tears is a worthwhile option on Jolteon as well, as it allows Jolteon to essentially cripple its common switch-ins, many of which are nearly OHKO’d after the special defense drop. Both Latias and offensive Dialga, Jolteon’s two best counters, are 2HKO’d by Hidden Power [Ice] and Thunder, respectively. Even Blissey is 2HKO’d after a Fake tears if it has taken almost any prior damage (in addition to Stealth Rock) beforehand.</p>
<p>Choice Scarf users in general also pose a threat to Jolteon, since they bypass Jolteon’s massive speed stat to prey on its weak defenses. As such, it is incredibly helpful to have Pokémon that can take common attacks directed at Jolteon. Bronzong is immune to Earthquake, and is capable of sponging the common dragon type attacks in Ubers, such as that of Choice Scarf Palkia. Lugia is also capable of switching in on common attacks directed at Jolteon, and can also whirlwind away threats such as Bulk Up Dialga.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>Needless to say, Kyogre is a crucial partner for any Ubers Jolteon. Kyogre provides permanent rain to give Thunder 100% accuracy, and also lures in electric attacks that Jolteon loves to switch in on. In addition, Jolteon can pass its substitute to Kyogre, allowing Kyogre a free turn to either Calm Mind or let out a powerful Water Spout without the risk of being attacked. However, Kyogre isn't the only Pokémon that helps this Pokémon’s success; Jolteon appreciates anything that can deal with Dialga, who completely shuts down this set. Latias and Giritina give Jolteon trouble as well, due to their massive defenses. Because of this, Wobbuffet is a great partner, since it can KO the often choice-locked Dialga, or Encore the setup moves of Giritina and Latias. While Groudon would seem to be a decent partner to Jolteon, thanks to its ability to check Dialga and threaten Blissey and Dialga, Groudon’s Drought ability turns Thunder into a 50% accurate move, so if planning on using Groudon with Jolteon, make sure the sun is away before Jolteon is sent out.</p>
<p>Stealth Rock is practically a necessity when using Jolteon, as it ensures OHKOs on Kyogre, Ho-Oh, Lugia, Shaymin-S, and Darkrai. Deoxys-S is a great partner because of this, as it can lay down Stealth Rock against almost every single lead in the game with certainty, and often lay down a layer of spikes or two as well. Deoxys-A works similarly to Deoxys-S, and although it does not have Deoxys-S’s speed or defenses, it can dispose of opposing Groudon and Dialga, two of Jolteon’s most common switch-ins, with Grass Knot or Superpower respectively. Bronzong is also a great Stealth Rock user in the Ubers tier, and is good at taking attacks often directed at Jolteon. Skarmory works in a similar fashion to Bronzong, except it lays down spikes rather than Stealth Rock. It should also be advised that if planning on using Spikes as well as Stealth Rock that you have a ghost type on your team. Giritina-O is probably the best candidate for this task, as it can maintain the offensive momentum that Jolteon often brings to the field, appreciates the substitutes that Jolteon can Baton pass, and boasts an immunity to Jolteon’s only weakness.</p>
[Optional Changes]
<p>Shadow Ball can be used over Hidden Power [Ice] or Substitute to hit Latias, Latios, and the Giritina formes harder, but the increase in power from Hidden Power [Ice] is very small. Keep in mind that a neutral Thunder from Jolteon will hit harder than a 2x Super Effective Hidden Power or Shadow Ball.</p>
<p>A Choice Specs set is viable, but one must wonder if it would really be worth it, since unlike the LO set, the user must predict perfectly in order for the set to pay off. Jolteon would also be unable to support its team with Substitutes if it chooses to use a Choice set. Choice Scarf falls into a similar boat, and while it can be useful for revenge killing threats such as DD Rayquaza, the loss of power is very noticeable and Jolteon doesn’t outspeed much that superior Choice Scarf users, such as Palkia, don’t. Charge Beam may sound appealing, but Jolteon will rarely find an opportunity to use the move, and an even rarer time sweeping with it.</p>
<p>As far as EVs go, maximum special attack and speed are essential, with the last point going into defense to take priority moves such as Scizor’s Bullet Punch and Rayquaza’s Extremespeed better.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Countering Jolteon is actually more difficult than it would first seem, since it can always set up a substitute and Baton Pass away from a potential counter. Dialga is Jolteon’s best counter, as it can OHKO Jolteon with a STAB Draco Meteor or Outrage, or set up on it with Bulk Up. Defensive variants of Dialga are only 5-6HKO’d by Thunder, while it can OHKO back after 1 Bulk Up. Both Latias and Latios give Jolteon trouble as well, due to their already massive special defense being boosted by Soul Dew, and having a resistance to Thunder. Meanwhile, both can OHKO back. Giritina is capable of taking Jolteon’s Hidden Power [Ice] all day, and only fears Fake Tears followed by a super effective Hidden Power or Shadow Ball (it still will not OHKO, however). Giritina-O can Calm Mind on Jolteon, although some variants risk being 2HKO’d after Stealth Rock. Lastly, Blissey with her massive Special Defense is capable of switching in on Jolteon with relative impunity, threatening back with Seismic Toss. Watch out for Fake Tears, however, as a -2 Blissey is nearly 2HKO’d by Thunder after Stealth Rock.</p>
