QC: Raiza / Anty / GrimoireGod
GP: P Squared / The Dutch Plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
Phione is a mediocre Pokemon in PU, as it is outclassed as an offensive Water-type by Simipour, Floatzel, and Barbaracle to name a few due to their better offenses. Because of this, Phione is limited to a role as a weather setter, but it is outclassed in this regard as well by Volbeat and Relicanth, the former of which has access to Prankster as well as other supporting moves such as Thunder Wave and Encore, and the latter of which has access to Stealth Rock and higher offensive capabilities. However, Phione's access to Hydration combined with Rest can keep it healthy when it is raining, allowing it to set rain up again if need be.
[SET]
name: Rain Support
move 1: Rain Dance
move 2: Rest
move 3: Scald
move 4: U-turn
item: Damp Rock
ability: Hydration
nature: Relaxed
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Rain Dance is beneficial for Pokemon with Swift Swim such as Armaldo and Golduck, as it doubles their Speed. Rest restores Phione's health, with Hydration, curing the sleep immediately. Scald is Phione's Water-type STAB attack and is very useful for attempting to burn physical attackers such as Barbaracle. U-turn gives Phione a way to pivot to a teammate after it has done its job of setting rain up.
Set Details
========
Maximum investment in HP and Defense combined with a Relaxed nature makes Phione as bulky as possible to take physical hits better. A Relaxed nature is used with 0 Speed IVs to provide teammates with a slow U-turn so they can come in unscathed. Damp Rock is the preferred item, as it increases the duration of rain from five turns to eight.
Usage Tips
========
Phione is best used as a lead to get rain up early to support its teammates. Set up Rain Dance against Pokemon that it can force out such as Golem and Piloswine, as they wouldn't like to take a Scald. Rest should be used while it is raining to keep Phione healthy in case it has to set up rain again later on in the match. After rain has been set up, Phione should try to U-turn to a Swift Swim teammate such as Golduck so it can take advantage of the rain. Phione can also be preserved for the late-game to set up rain if need be.
Team Options
========
This set only fits on rain teams, and therefore Swift Swim Pokemon such as Golduck, Armaldo, and Beartic are good teammates, as they appreciate the rain support Phione provides. Other rain setters such as Volbeat, Electrode, and Relicanth ease the pressure off Phione to set up rain repeatedly. Other Water-types such as Floatzel and Simipour appreciate the boost to their Water-type STAB attacks in the rain as well. Swanna also appreciates firing off its perfect-accuracy Hurricane in the rain, which also heals it of status thanks to Hydration. Electric-types such as Zebstrika and Raichu can use the rain to their advantage by firing off a powerful STAB Thunder that doesn't miss in the rain. Grass-types such as Tangela, Gogoat, and Jumpluff can handle opposing Water-types for Phione. They also appreciate the rain, as it weakens Fire-attacks aimed at them.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Toxic can cripple bulkier Pokemon such as Politoed and Pelipper, which don't mind taking a Scald. A Life Orb set is an option, but it is outclassed by other Water-types in the metagame such as Simipour and Floatzel, so it is best to stick with Rain Dance support. Heal Bell can cure Phione's teammates from status conditions, but it doesn't have the space for it. Knock Off can cripple Pokemon such as Roselia, removing its Eviolite, which can make it easier for Phione's teammates to take out.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Grass-types such as Tangela, Simisage, and Jumpluff can scare out Phione with their Grass-type STAB attacks, but the latter two must be wary about switching into Scald, as it can possibly burn them. Roselia, however, couldn't care less about getting burned by Scald and can proceed to set up Spikes or attack Phione with Giga Drain.
**Electric-types**: Electric-types such as Raichu and Zebstrika can easily overwhelm Phione with their Electric-type attacks and gain momentum with Volt Switch.
**Strong Attacks**: Phione isn't the bulkiest Pokemon even with investment, so Pokemon such as Regice and Floatzel can attack Phione on its uninvested Special Defense stat and possibly 2HKO it. Pokemon that can take advantage of being burned by Scald, such as Stoutland and Machoke, can take out Phione with ease.
**Water-types**: Water-types such as Politoed and Pelipper can take a Scald with relative ease and retaliate with attacks of their own or, in Pelipper's case, heal itself with Roost.
GP: P Squared / The Dutch Plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
Phione is a mediocre Pokemon in PU, as it is outclassed as an offensive Water-type by Simipour, Floatzel, and Barbaracle to name a few due to their better offenses. Because of this, Phione is limited to a role as a weather setter, but it is outclassed in this regard as well by Volbeat and Relicanth, the former of which has access to Prankster as well as other supporting moves such as Thunder Wave and Encore, and the latter of which has access to Stealth Rock and higher offensive capabilities. However, Phione's access to Hydration combined with Rest can keep it healthy when it is raining, allowing it to set rain up again if need be.
[SET]
name: Rain Support
move 1: Rain Dance
move 2: Rest
move 3: Scald
move 4: U-turn
item: Damp Rock
ability: Hydration
nature: Relaxed
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Rain Dance is beneficial for Pokemon with Swift Swim such as Armaldo and Golduck, as it doubles their Speed. Rest restores Phione's health, with Hydration, curing the sleep immediately. Scald is Phione's Water-type STAB attack and is very useful for attempting to burn physical attackers such as Barbaracle. U-turn gives Phione a way to pivot to a teammate after it has done its job of setting rain up.
Set Details
========
Maximum investment in HP and Defense combined with a Relaxed nature makes Phione as bulky as possible to take physical hits better. A Relaxed nature is used with 0 Speed IVs to provide teammates with a slow U-turn so they can come in unscathed. Damp Rock is the preferred item, as it increases the duration of rain from five turns to eight.
Usage Tips
========
Phione is best used as a lead to get rain up early to support its teammates. Set up Rain Dance against Pokemon that it can force out such as Golem and Piloswine, as they wouldn't like to take a Scald. Rest should be used while it is raining to keep Phione healthy in case it has to set up rain again later on in the match. After rain has been set up, Phione should try to U-turn to a Swift Swim teammate such as Golduck so it can take advantage of the rain. Phione can also be preserved for the late-game to set up rain if need be.
Team Options
========
This set only fits on rain teams, and therefore Swift Swim Pokemon such as Golduck, Armaldo, and Beartic are good teammates, as they appreciate the rain support Phione provides. Other rain setters such as Volbeat, Electrode, and Relicanth ease the pressure off Phione to set up rain repeatedly. Other Water-types such as Floatzel and Simipour appreciate the boost to their Water-type STAB attacks in the rain as well. Swanna also appreciates firing off its perfect-accuracy Hurricane in the rain, which also heals it of status thanks to Hydration. Electric-types such as Zebstrika and Raichu can use the rain to their advantage by firing off a powerful STAB Thunder that doesn't miss in the rain. Grass-types such as Tangela, Gogoat, and Jumpluff can handle opposing Water-types for Phione. They also appreciate the rain, as it weakens Fire-attacks aimed at them.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Toxic can cripple bulkier Pokemon such as Politoed and Pelipper, which don't mind taking a Scald. A Life Orb set is an option, but it is outclassed by other Water-types in the metagame such as Simipour and Floatzel, so it is best to stick with Rain Dance support. Heal Bell can cure Phione's teammates from status conditions, but it doesn't have the space for it. Knock Off can cripple Pokemon such as Roselia, removing its Eviolite, which can make it easier for Phione's teammates to take out.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Grass-types such as Tangela, Simisage, and Jumpluff can scare out Phione with their Grass-type STAB attacks, but the latter two must be wary about switching into Scald, as it can possibly burn them. Roselia, however, couldn't care less about getting burned by Scald and can proceed to set up Spikes or attack Phione with Giga Drain.
**Electric-types**: Electric-types such as Raichu and Zebstrika can easily overwhelm Phione with their Electric-type attacks and gain momentum with Volt Switch.
**Strong Attacks**: Phione isn't the bulkiest Pokemon even with investment, so Pokemon such as Regice and Floatzel can attack Phione on its uninvested Special Defense stat and possibly 2HKO it. Pokemon that can take advantage of being burned by Scald, such as Stoutland and Machoke, can take out Phione with ease.
**Water-types**: Water-types such as Politoed and Pelipper can take a Scald with relative ease and retaliate with attacks of their own or, in Pelipper's case, heal itself with Roost.
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