[SET]
name: Heavy-Duty Boots Pivot
move 1: Blue Flare / V-create
move 2: Psychic / Future Sight / Bolt Strike
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Toxic / Encore
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Victory Star
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Victini uses its good defensive typing and all-around solid bulk to function as a solid defensive pivot, checking the likes of Tapu Lele, Mega Latias, and Mega Latios, while also boasting a decent offensive profile with its high Base Power moves. However, its mediocre offensive stats, reliance on Heavy-Duty Boots to be a consistent pivot, and lack of recovery mean it struggles to check threats in the long term. Victini is also extremely weak to Pursuit, so oftentimes it struggles to check Pokemon more than once. Blue Flare boasts a nifty burn chance to punish switch-ins such as Garchomp and Mega Swampert, and it can 2HKO defensive Landorus-T, which V-create can't. V-create is still viable, however, to break through specially bulky Pokemon such as Blissey and Galarian Slowking and check threats like Volcarona, although the Defense and Speed drops make Victini more vulnerable to Pursuit and revenge killers. Psychic pressures common Fire-resistant Pokemon such as Toxapex, Kommo-o, Garchomp, and Tapu Fini, as well as being a strong spammable STAB move. Future Sight is a support option that, in conjunction with U-turn, boosts teammates' wallbreaking capabilities but lowers Victini's immediate offensive presence. Bolt Strike hits bulky Water-types like Slowking and Tapu Fini much harder while still pressuring specially defensive Toxapex, although it means Victini can't pressure the likes of Garchomp and Kommo-o consistently. Toxic allows it to check the likes of Mega Latias, prevents Pokemon such as Volcarona from setting up on Blue Flare variants, and punishes switch-ins like Slowbro and Slowking. Encore discourages Clefable, Tapu Fini, and Mega Latias from trying to set up on it. This can make Pursuit trapping Mega Latias much easier due to Weavile and Tyranitar not needing to fear Aura Sphere. If running V-create or Bolt Strike, a Jolly or Hasty nature with Attack investment should be used instead of Timid to bolster its damage output. A bulkier spread of 120 HP / 252 SpA / 136 Spe with a Modest nature can be used to outspeed Rillaboom and maximize bulk to check Pokemon like Tapu Lele and Mega Latias better, although it loses out on outspeeding crucial threats like Kyurem, Tapu Lele, and Hydreigon.
Victini works best on offense teams that appreciate its compressed defensive capabilities in checking the likes of Mega Latias and Tapu Lele, as well as the offensive pressure it brings to the table. Partners like Toxapex and Kommo-o work well with it as they appreciate Victini checking these threats. Strong wallbreakers that struggle to get onto the field such as Kyurem, Tapu Lele, Kartana, and Mega Medicham appreciate it wearing down checks like Slowking, Slowbro, and Mega Latias with Toxic, as well as giving them more entry opportunities with U-turn and Encore. Teammates like Tapu Lele, Clefable, and Tapu Koko can deal with Dark-type Pokemon that pressure Victini such as Weavile, Tyranitar, and Hydreigon. Water-resistant partners such as Tapu Fini, Ferrothorn, and Tangrowth work extremely well because Victini is often pressured by Water-types like Greninja, Manaphy, and Mega Swampert. In return, Victini deals with the Fire- and Grass-types that pressure these Pokemon, such as Amoonguss, Rillaboom, and Volcarona. Similarly, Ground-types like Gastrodon, Gliscor, and Garchomp threaten Victini as well, so the likes of Kartana, Ash-Greninja, and Kyurem form a strong offensive core with it.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A more offensive Victini set utilizing Expanding Force can be used alongside Tapu Lele, giving amazing offensive synergy by threatening a majority of Tapu Lele's common switch-ins. However, this set is extremely reliant on Tapu Lele‘s Psychic Terrain to function properly. Will-O-Wisp is a neat option to immediately threaten physical attackers such as Garchomp and Tyranitar that switch in, as well as forcing dangerous mindgames with opposing Mega Mawile and Bisharp’s Sucker Punch. However, forgoing Toxic means Victini can't punish the likes of Mega Latias and Gastrodon, and Will-O-Wisp has much more niche uses compared to Toxic. Glaciate quickly disposes of the likes of Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Gliscor, although it is fairly terrible coverage otherwise, and Victini can beat the former two in the long term regardless due to their lack of recovery. Energy Ball and Scorching Sands are niche options to instantly punish would-be counters in Gastrodon and Heatran, although they're only useful for those two Pokemon and are not good choices compared to other coverage options.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Heatran**: Heatran completely walls Victini and can recover any damage over time with its Leftovers. It is also immune to Toxic and can use Victini's Fire-type moves to boost its own damage with Flash Fire. However, Victini can lock Heatran into a status move with Encore and pivot out. Z-Move sets can bypass Encore, but Bolt Strike can quickly wear them down.
**Water-type Pokemon**: Defensive Water-types such as Gastrodon, Slowking, Slowbro, and Tapu Fini can consistently switch into Victini and force it out with their STAB moves, and the best standard Victini can do is pressure the former three with Toxic and wear the latter down with Psychic. However, both Tapu Fini and Slowking do not appreciate a Bolt Strike. Offensive Water-types such as Mega Swampert, Greninja, and Manaphy can easily force Victini out, although the latter two can't consistently switch in for fear of a Bolt Strike, and Mega Swampert hates being burnt.
**Dark-types**: Dark-types like Greninja, Weavile, and Tyranitar scare Victini with their attacks, with the latter two being able to Pursuit trap it. However, the former two are unable to consistently switch in, and Tyranitar hates being burnt. Hydreigon is a notable check, as it can consistently switch in, recover any damage with Roost, and force Victini out, although it is prone to getting worn down by Toxic and constant U-turns.
**Chip Damage**: Victini easily gets worn down by repeated hits from Pokemon it's supposed to check like Tapu Lele and Mega Latias due to its lack of recovery, so it will lose to them in the long term.
**Ground-types**: Gliscor can consistently switch into Victini without fearing a burn if Poison Heal is activated. Other Ground-types like Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Excadrill can force it out, but they fear a burn or Toxic and struggle to switch into it.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[adem, 529732]]
- Quality checked by: [[Sputnik, 475916], [The Dragon Master, 521275]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
name: Heavy-Duty Boots Pivot
move 1: Blue Flare / V-create
move 2: Psychic / Future Sight / Bolt Strike
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Toxic / Encore
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Victory Star
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Victini uses its good defensive typing and all-around solid bulk to function as a solid defensive pivot, checking the likes of Tapu Lele, Mega Latias, and Mega Latios, while also boasting a decent offensive profile with its high Base Power moves. However, its mediocre offensive stats, reliance on Heavy-Duty Boots to be a consistent pivot, and lack of recovery mean it struggles to check threats in the long term. Victini is also extremely weak to Pursuit, so oftentimes it struggles to check Pokemon more than once. Blue Flare boasts a nifty burn chance to punish switch-ins such as Garchomp and Mega Swampert, and it can 2HKO defensive Landorus-T, which V-create can't. V-create is still viable, however, to break through specially bulky Pokemon such as Blissey and Galarian Slowking and check threats like Volcarona, although the Defense and Speed drops make Victini more vulnerable to Pursuit and revenge killers. Psychic pressures common Fire-resistant Pokemon such as Toxapex, Kommo-o, Garchomp, and Tapu Fini, as well as being a strong spammable STAB move. Future Sight is a support option that, in conjunction with U-turn, boosts teammates' wallbreaking capabilities but lowers Victini's immediate offensive presence. Bolt Strike hits bulky Water-types like Slowking and Tapu Fini much harder while still pressuring specially defensive Toxapex, although it means Victini can't pressure the likes of Garchomp and Kommo-o consistently. Toxic allows it to check the likes of Mega Latias, prevents Pokemon such as Volcarona from setting up on Blue Flare variants, and punishes switch-ins like Slowbro and Slowking. Encore discourages Clefable, Tapu Fini, and Mega Latias from trying to set up on it. This can make Pursuit trapping Mega Latias much easier due to Weavile and Tyranitar not needing to fear Aura Sphere. If running V-create or Bolt Strike, a Jolly or Hasty nature with Attack investment should be used instead of Timid to bolster its damage output. A bulkier spread of 120 HP / 252 SpA / 136 Spe with a Modest nature can be used to outspeed Rillaboom and maximize bulk to check Pokemon like Tapu Lele and Mega Latias better, although it loses out on outspeeding crucial threats like Kyurem, Tapu Lele, and Hydreigon.
Victini works best on offense teams that appreciate its compressed defensive capabilities in checking the likes of Mega Latias and Tapu Lele, as well as the offensive pressure it brings to the table. Partners like Toxapex and Kommo-o work well with it as they appreciate Victini checking these threats. Strong wallbreakers that struggle to get onto the field such as Kyurem, Tapu Lele, Kartana, and Mega Medicham appreciate it wearing down checks like Slowking, Slowbro, and Mega Latias with Toxic, as well as giving them more entry opportunities with U-turn and Encore. Teammates like Tapu Lele, Clefable, and Tapu Koko can deal with Dark-type Pokemon that pressure Victini such as Weavile, Tyranitar, and Hydreigon. Water-resistant partners such as Tapu Fini, Ferrothorn, and Tangrowth work extremely well because Victini is often pressured by Water-types like Greninja, Manaphy, and Mega Swampert. In return, Victini deals with the Fire- and Grass-types that pressure these Pokemon, such as Amoonguss, Rillaboom, and Volcarona. Similarly, Ground-types like Gastrodon, Gliscor, and Garchomp threaten Victini as well, so the likes of Kartana, Ash-Greninja, and Kyurem form a strong offensive core with it.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A more offensive Victini set utilizing Expanding Force can be used alongside Tapu Lele, giving amazing offensive synergy by threatening a majority of Tapu Lele's common switch-ins. However, this set is extremely reliant on Tapu Lele‘s Psychic Terrain to function properly. Will-O-Wisp is a neat option to immediately threaten physical attackers such as Garchomp and Tyranitar that switch in, as well as forcing dangerous mindgames with opposing Mega Mawile and Bisharp’s Sucker Punch. However, forgoing Toxic means Victini can't punish the likes of Mega Latias and Gastrodon, and Will-O-Wisp has much more niche uses compared to Toxic. Glaciate quickly disposes of the likes of Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Gliscor, although it is fairly terrible coverage otherwise, and Victini can beat the former two in the long term regardless due to their lack of recovery. Energy Ball and Scorching Sands are niche options to instantly punish would-be counters in Gastrodon and Heatran, although they're only useful for those two Pokemon and are not good choices compared to other coverage options.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Heatran**: Heatran completely walls Victini and can recover any damage over time with its Leftovers. It is also immune to Toxic and can use Victini's Fire-type moves to boost its own damage with Flash Fire. However, Victini can lock Heatran into a status move with Encore and pivot out. Z-Move sets can bypass Encore, but Bolt Strike can quickly wear them down.
**Water-type Pokemon**: Defensive Water-types such as Gastrodon, Slowking, Slowbro, and Tapu Fini can consistently switch into Victini and force it out with their STAB moves, and the best standard Victini can do is pressure the former three with Toxic and wear the latter down with Psychic. However, both Tapu Fini and Slowking do not appreciate a Bolt Strike. Offensive Water-types such as Mega Swampert, Greninja, and Manaphy can easily force Victini out, although the latter two can't consistently switch in for fear of a Bolt Strike, and Mega Swampert hates being burnt.
**Dark-types**: Dark-types like Greninja, Weavile, and Tyranitar scare Victini with their attacks, with the latter two being able to Pursuit trap it. However, the former two are unable to consistently switch in, and Tyranitar hates being burnt. Hydreigon is a notable check, as it can consistently switch in, recover any damage with Roost, and force Victini out, although it is prone to getting worn down by Toxic and constant U-turns.
**Chip Damage**: Victini easily gets worn down by repeated hits from Pokemon it's supposed to check like Tapu Lele and Mega Latias due to its lack of recovery, so it will lose to them in the long term.
**Ground-types**: Gliscor can consistently switch into Victini without fearing a burn if Poison Heal is activated. Other Ground-types like Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Excadrill can force it out, but they fear a burn or Toxic and struggle to switch into it.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[adem, 529732]]
- Quality checked by: [[Sputnik, 475916], [The Dragon Master, 521275]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
Last edited:
