SS OU Specs Volcanion Bulky Offense-Looking for Advice

[PowerOfMemes]

Volc-Vile Core BO

After Volcanion's rise from RU all the way up to OU, I decided to base a whole team around it. Volcanion's STABs, fire and water, are easy to switch into individually, but, when combined, are a force to deal with. While I know I have no specific check to bulky waters on this team, it has done good in spite of that-whittling them down with their, the bulky Waters', second typing.

TEAMBUILDING PROCESS

Like I explained in the intro, Specs Volcanion is here to clear the bulky Steels that Weavile has a hard time dealing with, and, because I wanted some more firepower, I added Banded Weavile to hit hard. These would be my breakers.

Then, I looked at the SS OU viability rankings and saw that Landorus-Therian is in the S Tier, and, knowing how bulky SpDef Lando-T is with Intimidate, I decided to slap him on my team for some Defog support, which helps my breakers, pivoting, and Toxic to wear stuff down.

Now, I wanted a good Special Attacker that could switch up its moves, unlike Volcanion, has a wide variety of moves, and could be used as a bulky SpDef 'mon to soak up special hits. And Slowking-Galar fits all these categories, and with Regenerator it can survive the whole game.

What Bulky Offense would be complete without a Buzzwole? Besides, Buzzwole's Ice Punch and Earthquake go hand in hand with Volcanion's weaknesses, and with Roost for longevity, and Rocky Helmet to punish multi-hit moves it's an amazing BO physically defensive 'mon.

Even though Lycaroc-Dusk seems like an odd choice for a last 'mon, I have it here for speed control through priority and Tough Claw plus Life Orb makes it hit hard. If there was any 'mon that could be replaced easily, this would be the one as I think that many 'mons could fill the position, but not sure which to fill it with.

THE POKEMON


Volcanion @ Choice Specs
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Steam Eruption
- Flamethrower
- Earth Power
- Sludge Wave
Even though Volcanion doesn't shine as much as I'd want it too in this team, when it comes in, it demands respect OHKOing or 2HKOing many things with Steam Eruption. Because of this, Specs Volcanion will usually want to be used as a wall-breaker to clear the pathway for the rest of the team. You mostly want to be pivoting in because of your relatively low speed stat that might let you get 2HKO upon switch-in. Earth Power is for Toxapex that loves to switch-in, and Sludge Wave is for the Tapus, Clefable, and any Fairy-type.


Weavile @ Choice Band
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Ice Shard
- Icicle Crash
- Knock Off
- Brick Break
Weavile, as I said in the intro, enjoys Volcanion's power which lets it not have keep going for an attack into an incoming Steel-type then do no damage. I though about running Triple Axel over Icicle Crash, but you basically have to land a 77% accurate Thunder each time to land all three times, and first one could miss not giving you guaranteed damage. Ice Shard is obviously for priority, Knock Off to get rid off annoying items, and Brick Break is for Steel-types which Volcanion + Buzzwole should deal with, so I guess I could run Poison Jab here, but it's obvious if you bring out those 'mons, so Weavile is kind of like bait for them with Brick Break. Also its here as another wall-breaker but on the physical side.


Landorus-Therian (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Defog
- Toxic
- U-turn
- Earthquake
Landorus-Therian is here for Defog support for the wall-breakers as they are both weak to Stealth Rocks. U-turn is for safe pivoting into any 'mon. Earthquake is there obviously for some STAB so stuff like Defiant Bisharp can't just use you as set-up fodder. And Toxic is to break down walls on your opponents side. You'll usually lead of with it for its pivoting. It's the basic SpDef Lando-T set.


Slowking-Galar @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 80 HP / 252 SpA / 176 SpD
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Flamethrower
- Future Sight
- Sludge Bomb
- Scald
Now, I know, most people run max HP, a good amount of SpDef and throw the rest into attack, but I wanted a 'mon that could be specially defensive but hit hard for my Bulky Offense, so I gave it max SpA, 176SpD, and 80HP with Assault Vest. There's no real reasoning for the defensive investments other than being SpDef. Future Sight is to put some pressure on your opponent, Sludge Bomb is poison STAB, Flamethrower is for Ferrothorn that love to switch in to your STABs, and Scald is for Physical Attackers that might want come in to burn them and for the Special Fire-types in the tier.


Buzzwole @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 HP / 100 Atk / 140 Def / 16 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Roost
- Ice Punch
- Earthquake
- Drain Punch
Just like with Slowking-Galar, there's no real reasoning to the defensive investments other eating up physical hits. The 16 Speed is to outspeed and OHKO SpDef Heatran-I ran the exact speed I needed to outspeed it then added one more point of speed so SpDef Heatrans with one more speed investment than usual don't get the jump on it. Ice Punch in combination with Earthquake hits every typing for at least neutral and also provides amazing coverage. Drain Punch is because I don't want to run Close Combat which drops my defenses, and it also gets some HP back. And Rocky Helmet is to punish many multi-hit moves like Triple Axel or Surging Strikes.


Lycanroc-Dusk @ Life Orb
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Accelerock
- Crunch
- Close Combat
- Psychic Fangs
Lycanroc is for priority plus the ability to switch up its moves, and, with Life Orb and Tough Claws, it hits thing like stupid. Crunch is for coverage-Ghost and Psychic-types, Close Combat is for opposing Steel or Rock-types, especially Ferrothorn, and Psychic Fangs is mainly for Toxapex. I thought about running some other STAB, but the coverage seemed better overall. In my opinion, if any 'mon were to be replaced, this would be the first one I'd change.

I haven't really noticed to many problems with the team other than me messing up in some battles :/, but if you guys spot any problems, pls let me now!

The Team: https://pokepast.es/4350ef17c6f66f43

 

[Scorcha9]

Hello!

I really like the idea for your team. Your Slowking set is unique and something that I think could really work, especially with Future Sight + Volcanion. I made my own team similar to this with Specs Volcanion + Band Weavile and have a good idea of how the core functions, so I think I have some helpful suggestions to make.

1. Brick Break -> Beat Up and Icicle Crash -> Triple Axel.

With a band weavile set, you're taking damage from potential Rocky Helmet counters such as Toxapex, Corviknight, and Ferrothorn. Beat Up will not give you any contact damage from Iron Barbs, Rough Skin, or Rocky Helmet, and does a great amount of damage, especially to Toxapex switch-ins. You can also run Poison Jab for fairy types prominent in the OU meta like Clefable and Tapu Fini if you like. I would try both!

I also think the damage Triple Axel outputs with a Choice Band is much more valuable than one with Icicle Crash. I often find myself relying on the damage output of Triple Axel to win my games. It can obviously miss, but it hits all 3 times pretty often and is much more consistent in damage. Additionally, with the change from Brick Break to Beat Up, you won't have to worry as much about contact damage (which would be a reason to use Icicle Crash over Triple Axel).

2. Drain Punch -> Close Combat.

I read your reasoning as to why you'd rather run Drain Punch, however, I think since you're running roost AND you get a +1 defense boost with Beast Boost, the damage coming from Close Combat compared to Drain Punch is worth it. This is a small change and definitely not something you have to listen to, but I would personally use Close Combat instead.

3. ->

This looks like a weird change at first, but all things considered, I think adding another Defogger is worth it, especially because you have Weavile and Volcanion as your main breakers without Heavy Duty Boots, both of which are weak to hazards. This also gives you the speed control you originally had in Lycanroc-Dusk, as well as a pivot, Knock Off user, AND chip damage with Hurricane. I would run a more bulky set personally (but the set itself is something you can mess around with).

My changes here: https://pokepast.es/a8f5de23abda647a

I hope you appreciate this and please let me know if it helps!

 

[PowerOfMemes]

Hello!

I really like the idea for your team. Your Slowking set is unique and something that I think could really work, especially with Future Sight + Volcanion. I made my own team similar to this with Specs Volcanion + Band Weavile and have a good idea of how the core functions, so I think I have some helpful suggestions to make.

1. Brick Break -> Beat Up and Icicle Crash -> Triple Axel.

With a band weavile set, you're taking damage from potential Rocky Helmet counters such as Toxapex, Corviknight, and Ferrothorn. Beat Up will not give you any contact damage from Iron Barbs, Rough Skin, or Rocky Helmet, and does a great amount of damage, especially to Toxapex switch-ins. You can also run Poison Jab for fairy types prominent in the OU meta like Clefable and Tapu Fini if you like. I would try both!

I also think the damage Triple Axel outputs with a Choice Band is much more valuable than one with Icicle Crash. I often find myself relying on the damage output of Triple Axel to win my games. It can obviously miss, but it hits all 3 times pretty often and is much more consistent in damage. Additionally, with the change from Brick Break to Beat Up, you won't have to worry as much about contact damage (which would be a reason to use Icicle Crash over Triple Axel).

2. Drain Punch -> Close Combat.

I read your reasoning as to why you'd rather run Drain Punch, however, I think since you're running roost AND you get a +1 defense boost with Beast Boost, the damage coming from Close Combat compared to Drain Punch is worth it. This is a small change and definitely not something you have to listen to, but I would personally use Close Combat instead.

3. ->

This looks like a weird change at first, but all things considered, I think adding another Defogger is worth it, especially because you have Weavile and Volcanion as your main breakers without Heavy Duty Boots, both of which are weak to hazards. This also gives you the speed control you originally had in Lycanroc-Dusk, as well as a pivot, Knock Off user, AND chip damage with Hurricane. I would run a more bulky set personally (but the set itself is something you can mess around with).

My changes here: https://pokepast.es/a8f5de23abda647a

I hope you appreciate this and please let me know if it helps!

Thank you for your additions, I'm not sure if I specified, but the Buzzwole boosts its attack with the Adamant nature I gave it, but I'll change the EVs to have as much attack as possible while still boosting defense in an edit.

Edit: So technically there are two sets that do the same thing and have the same stats: https://pokepast.es/7a65111b3bfbbf52
New Team with your improvements: https://pokepast.es/12ec237a5c37e294

 

[odt]

Thank you for your additions, I'm not sure if I specified, but the Buzzwole boosts its attack with the Adamant nature I gave it, but I'll change the EVs to have as much attack as possible while still boosting defense in an edit.

Edit: So technically there are two sets that do the same thing and have the same stats: https://pokepast.es/7a65111b3bfbbf52
New Team with your improvements: https://pokepast.es/12ec237a5c37e294

Looks good, I like the team a lot.
I think you're better off going 248HP/8SDef on Glowking. The current spread gives up ~12% physical bulk for less than 2% special bulk. He's not supposed to take physical hits but it can be nice in a pinch (like that Lando who U-Turned out 3 times, only to stay in this time and do 101.4 - 120.2% vs 80HP or 90.5 - 107.3% vs 248HP).
I like Tornadus a lot but maybe something like Dragonite could help carry some of the defensive burden. Volcanion is your only water/fire resist and I don't think that is enough vs rain/sun considering the rest of your team. DD/Dual Wingbeat/Heal Bell/Roost could help you break stall and soak up a big hit when necessary.

 

[PowerOfMemes]

Looks good, I like the team a lot.
I think you're better off going 248HP/8SDef on Glowking. The current spread gives up ~12% physical bulk for less than 2% special bulk. He's not supposed to take physical hits but it can be nice in a pinch (like that Lando who U-Turned out 3 times, only to stay in this time and do 101.4 - 120.2% vs 80HP or 90.5 - 107.3% vs 248HP).
I like Tornadus a lot but maybe something like Dragonite could help carry some of the defensive burden. Volcanion is your only water/fire resist and I don't think that is enough vs rain/sun considering the rest of your team. DD/Dual Wingbeat/Heal Bell/Roost could help you break stall and soak up a big hit when necessary.

Let me see if that works, imo, idk if it's just me, but the torn has been underperforming as a bulky defog, so I hope this Dragonite works.

New Team: https://pokepast.es/f527396788669de9