UU Victini

[Estarossa]

[OVERVIEW]

Amazing set versatility, powerful Fire-type STAB moves, and great coverage options make Victini a dangerous offensive threat that is fairly customizable. U-turn makes it a great offensive pivot as well, one that can easily gain momentum against most of its checks and form deadly VoltTurn cores with Pokemon like Zeraora. Victini's great all-rounded stats make it surprisingly hard to KO without super effective moves and let it comfortably pivot into Pokemon like Celesteela, Jirachi, and Tapu Bulu for wallbreaking opportunities. Victini's ability to be specially or phsycially offensive makes it an unpredictable presence, especially at Team Preview and during the early-game. Special sets in particular greatly punish common switch-ins to physical sets such as Kommo-o, Rhyperior, and Salamence with coverage options while being very hard to wear down thanks to Heavy-Duty Boots. These sets also have an extremely spammable STAB move in Blue Flare, which has a solid chance to burn checks like Slowking and lacks the stat drops of V-create that make Victini easier to revenge kill. Victini can also serve as a great Choice Scarf user, taking advantage of the incredible power of V-create and solid coverage as well as Final Gambit to remove walls or offensive threats for its teammates. Choice Band Victini, meanwhile, is an incredibly deadly physical wallbreaker that can easily demolish bulky Fire-resistant Pokemon like Kommo-o. Despite Victini's incredible set versatility, each set comes with specific downsides; special sets are unable to touch special walls like Chansey and Slowking besides pressuring them through U-turn, while Choice item sets are easily worn down through entry hazards and are more easily revenge killed due to V-create's secondary effects. Because of these flaws, Victini can often end up a lot less threatening if its set is revealed prematurely through damage calculations or taking entry hazard damage. Despite having a decent Speed tier, Victini is easily revenge killed by offensive threats like Terrakion and Keldeo and is weak to common priority moves from Pokemon like Azumarill and Bisharp.

[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Blue Flare
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Energy Ball / Glaciate
move 4: U-turn
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Victory Star
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Blue Flare is Victini's most spammable attack, having high Base Power and a solid chance to burn checks like Slowking, further chipping them down over time. Psychic lets Victini threaten switch-ins to physical Victini like Kommo-o and Rotom-H. Energy Ball hits Rotom-W, Primarina, Rhyperior, and Seismitoad. Glaciate can be used instead of Energy Ball on a team that is particularly weak to offensive Salamence, but Psychic can easily 2HKO it with some slight chip damage. Heavy-Duty Boots lets Victini switch in multiple times throughout a match and pivot more freely.

Special Victini fits on a wide range of bulky offense and balance teams that appreciate a great wallbreaker and offensive pivot that can threaten Grass-types like Amoonguss and lure in checks to physical Victini like Kommo-o. Zeraora is Victini's best offensive teammate and forms a deadly VoltTurn core with it, bringing Victini in on Grass-types like Amoonguss, Tangrowth, and Tapu Bulu, and threatening its checks like Slowking and Chansey. Other teammates that can break through special walls like Slowking and Chansey are essential, especially after Victini has revealed its set. Tapu Bulu, Kommo-o, and Krookodile make excellent choices for this and appreciate U-turn; the latter two can also provide Stealth Rock, and Kommo-o appreciates shared checks like Primarina being worn down. Tapu Bulu can also provide Grassy Terrain so that Victini can more consistently switch into Pokemon like Celesteela and threaten to KO Rotom-W and Rhyperior with Energy Ball after they switch into Psychic. Skarmory can check revenge killers like Azumarill and Choice Scarf Krookodile while providing Spikes support to wear down Vicitini's switch-ins like Chansey and Primarina, helping to make up for Victini's lack of immediate power. Chansey and Slowking can give Victini more wallbreaking opportunities with Teleport and switch into Victini's offensive checks like Kyurem and Keldeo.


[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: V-create
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Bolt Strike
move 4: Final Gambit
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Victory Star
nature: Jolly
evs: 96 HP / 160 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Bolt Strike lets Victini check Dragon Dance Gyarados and threaten switch-ins like Primarina. Final Gambit allows Victini to either sacrifice itself to remove a Pokemon like Rotom-W, Rotom-H, or Salamence for its teammates, or take out an offensive threat that its team can't handle like Clangorous Soul Kommo-o. Zen Headbutt is an option over Final Gambit to threaten Terrakion and check setup Kommo-o without fainting. Trick is also an option that lets Victini cripple switch-ins like Rotom-W and defensive Kommo-o, but it can be quite hard to fit. 96 HP EVs give Victini's Final Gambit the ability to OHKO fully invested base 80 HP Pokemon such as Tentacruel and Primarina, as well as anything with less HP such as Kommo-o. If not running Final Gambit, Victini should run maximum Attack investment instead.

Choice Scarf Victini fits nicely on teams looking for a revenge killer to Pokemon like Scizor and Dragon Dance Gyarados that can also provide U-turn support and pressure Grass-types like Amoonguss. Wallbreaking teammates that can take advantage of Pokemon like Kommo-o, Rotom-H, and Rhyperior appreciate Victini bringing them in safely with U-turn. Examples include offensive Salamence, Choice Band Azumarill, and Primarina, which appreciate Victini checking Grass-types for them. Teammates like Swords Dance Tapu Bulu and Scizor appreciate Final Gambit Victini being able to lure and remove checks like Rotom-H and Salamence, letting them more easily wallbreak or clean. Both of these Pokemon can also help check Belly Drum Azumarill, which Victini can provide setup opportunities to, while Tapu Bulu can help pressure Water-types like Slowking and Primarina. On its own, Victini fails to reliably deal with some faster threats like Terrakion, Dragon Dance Salamence, and Clangorous Soul Kommo-o without using Final Gambit, which can be undesirable if it is still needed to check Pokemon such as Swords Dance Scizor. Other fast or priority-wielding teammates that can patch up these weaknesses such as Zeraora, Mamoswine, and the previously mentioned Scizor are greatly appreciated. Zeraora can in particular form a deadly VoltTurn core with Victini and help pressure Slowking and Kommo-o. Victini locked into V-create or Bolt Strike is setup bait for Pokemon like Kommo-o; teammates that can pivot into and check these sorts of setup sweepers are essential, such as Psyshock Slowking. Further, Victini can also be vulnerable to strong priority users like Sucker Punch Bisharp, Accelerock Lycanroc-D, and Aqua Jet Azumarill. Teammates like defensive Kommo-o, Tangrowth, and Amoonguss can patch up this weakness and help against Pokemon like Rotom-W and Zeraora too. Victini greatly appreciates Defog or Rapid Spin support from Pokemon like Rotom-W and Tentacruel helping it pivot more safely and stay at higher HP to get more use out of Final Gambit. Rotom-W in particular can use Volt Switch to bring Victini in on Grass-types and can check threats to Victini like Rhyperior and Krookodile.


[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: V-create
move 2: Bolt Strike
move 3: Zen Headbutt
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Band
ability: Victory Star
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Choice Band V-create is an incredibly powerful attack that lets Victini OHKO Pokemon like Nidoqueen and 2HKO Pokemon like offensive Kommo-o. Bolt Strike lets Victini OHKO Keldeo and all Primarina variants, cripple Slowking, 2HKO offensive Salamence after some chip damage, and greatly threaten Pokemon like Suicune. Zen Headbutt catches Fire switch-ins like Kommo-o and Keldeo, notably putting defensive Kommo-o into KO range of V-create after Stealth Rock and having a solid chance to OHKO offensive variants after Stealth Rock.

Choice Band Victini is a deadly wallbreaker for bulky offense teams in need of one that can pressure Steel- and Grass-types like Celesteela and Tapu Bulu, and it takes advantage of its relative rarity to overwhelm standard Victini switch-ins like Rotom-H and Kommo-o. Pivoting support from Pokemon like Zeraora, Keldeo, and Jirachi gets Victini in safely for wallbreaking opportunities against targets like Amoonguss, Tangrowth, and Celesteela. Jirachi can provide Healing Wish support to let Victini play more freely around entry hazards and chip damage from the likes of Celesteela, while Zeraora and Choice Scarf variants of Jirachi and Keldeo can pressure Terrakion. Swords Dance Scizor and Tapu Bulu appreciate Victini putting pressure on shared checks like Rotom-H, Kommo-o, and Salamence, allowing them to wallbreak more easily. Victini appreciates entry hazard removers like Salamence, Rotom-W, and Tentacruel letting it come into play more regularly and bluff a Heavy-Duty Boots set before damage rolls or V-create reveal its item. Tentacruel can help to check Pokemon like Azumarill and Primarina, Rotom-W can check Krookodile, and Salamence can check Keldeo and pressure shared checks like Primarina. Victini should aim to use V-create as much as possible when forcing out targets like Tapu Bulu and Celesteela due to its incredible damage output, but Victini can be very vulnerable to being revenge killed by even slower threats like Rotom-W and Nidoqueen afterward. Teammates like Amoonguss and Slowking can help to switch into these revenge killers while providing Victini wallbreaking opportunities via Spore and Teleport. Slowking can also check other common revenge killers like Salamence and Kommo-o. Stealth Rock setters like Rhyperior and Nidoqueen can further chip Victini's switch-ins like defensive Kommo-o and check Zeraora. Rhyperior can also help to check Rotom-H, while Nidoqueen can pressure shared checks like Rotom-W and Slowking, making Victini more free to use V-create.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Victini has an expansive movepool with options like Thunder and Future Sight for special sets. Thunder offers a stronger hit than Energy Ball that's capable of 2HKOing targets like Slowking, with Victory Star patching up its accuracy somewhat, while Future Sight can set up combined pressure with teammates like Zeraora, preventing targets like Amoonguss from switching into Zeraora. These moves can be quite hard to fit over its standard moveset, however. Trick is an option on Choice Band sets to cripple Pokemon like Salamence and Rhyperior but gives up the ability to hit Kommo-o with Zen Headbutt. Victini can run physical or mixed Heavy-Duty Boots sets with V-create, Bolt Strike, U-turn, and a choice between Psychic, Toxic, or Glaciate for the last move, allowing it to serve as an offensive pivot that can threaten Chansey and spam a more powerful Fire-type STAB move. These sets, however, struggle with V-create's stat drops leaving them revenge killed by checks like Kommo-o, which defeats the purpose of physical sets that can switch moves. Victini can opt to run more offensive items like Expert Belt and Choice Specs on special sets, but they require solid entry hazard removal support to justify, and Choice Specs sets require a lot more prediction.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Water-types**: Rotom-W's decent bulk and semi-reliable recovery in Pain Split can make it difficult for Victini to break through, and it can generate momentum when Victini is forced to switch. Special Victini sets can 2HKO it with Energy Ball, however. Slowking and Primarina can likewise force Victini out when at high HP or if Victini has used V-create and become slower, but they should be wary of Bolt Strike and coverage like Psychic and Energy Ball from special variants.

**Dragon-types**: Salamence is one of Victini's strongest answers due to its typing and Intimidate, although it must be wary of Glaciate on Heavy-Duty Boots sets, and offensive variants can be 2HKOed by Psychic from the special set. Defensive Kommo-o is a very consistent answer to physical sets, while offensive Kommo-o can pressure Victini and comfortably take V-create twice. While Kyurem cannot switch directly into Victini, it can revenge kill Choice Band sets after V-create and PP stall special sets with Substitute + Roost.

**Rock-types**: Offensive Rock-types like Nihilego, Terrakion, and Lycanroc-D outspeed and OHKO Victini. Defensive Rock-types like Rhyperior, Diancie, and Stakataka can switch into physical Victini sets with ease, although Rhyperior and Stakataka can struggle to reliably check special sets if they get sufficiently chipped.

**Faster Revenge Killers**: Victini is easily revenge killed by the likes of Lycanroc-D, Zeraora, Keldeo, and Choice Scarf Krookodile. V-create sets are especially vulnerable after the move's stat drops, with Pokemon like Nidoqueen, offensive Primarina, and Kommo-o able to outspeed Victini and take it out.

**Entry Hazards**: Choice item Victini can struggle to switch in regularly without Defog or Rapid Spin support due to its crippling weakness to Stealth Rock, especially against setters that check it like Kommo-o and Rhyperior.


[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[estarossa, 461329]]
- Quality checked by: [[Lilburr, 481709], [Twilight, 344575], [martha, 384270]]
- Grammar checked by: [[CryoGyro, 331519], [Finland, 517429]]

 

[Hilomilo]

Estarossa 24 hours

 

[Lily]

[OVERVIEW]

• Set versatility and high powered Fire-STAB moves + great coverage makes Victini a dangerous offensive threat that is fairly customisable for a teams needs. Access to U-turn also makes it a great offensive pivot that can easily gain momentum against most of its checks.
• Great all rounded stats that make victini surprisingly hard to kill without supereffective moves, lets it easily switch into Pokemon like Celesteela, Jirachi, and Tapu Bulu throughout the game for wallbreaking opportunities. wouldn't say it easily switches into bulu, shit like wood hammer and esp megahorn stlil really hurt
• Access to U-turn means that it can easily pivot out of all of its would be checks as they come in, and form deadly VoltTurn cores.
• Ability to run both special and physical or mixed sets makes Victini an unpredictable presence, especially at team preview and during the early game before its item or moveset has been revealed. Special sets in particular greatly punish traditional switch ins like Kommo-o, Rhyperior, and Salamence to Physical sets through their strong coverage, while being extremely hard to wear down thanks to Heavy-Duty Boots, and having an extremely spammable move in Blue Flare thanks to its Victory Star boosted accuracy, solid burn chance and lack of drawbacks compared to V-create.
• Victini can also serve as a great Choice Scarf user, taking advantage of the incredible power of V-Create and its strong coverage, and its access to Final Gambit alongside solid HP stat lets it easily take out offensive threats that its team can't handle.
• Can also run Choice Band sets to become one of the most deadly wallbreakers that can demolish even Fire-resists with ease, and Mixed sets that can pivot reliably with Heavy-Duty Boots and better chip down Water-types like Primarina compared to Special sets while having a more powerful Fire-STAB, at the cost of less reliability versus its checks due to V-Create dropping both its Speed and Defenses so that it's forced out after by Pokemon like Choice Specs Primarina and Offensive Kommo-o.
• Despite incredible set versatility, all Victini sets come with downsides either through being unable to touch Special walls like Chansey and Slowking besids U-turn, being easily worn down by entry hazards, or having to rely on V-create, Victini therefore ends up being a lot less threatening if its set is revealed too prematurely through damage calculations or taking entry hazards.
• Also, despite having a decent speed tier, Victini is easily revenge killed by a lot of common Pokemon like Terrakion, Azumarill, and Latias, this is further exasperated think you mean exacerbated when running V-Create.

[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Blue Flare
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Energy Ball / Glaciate
move 4: U-turn
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Victory Star
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Paragraph 1

• Blue Flare is Victini's most spammable move, with a high base power and having 0 drawbacks compared to V-Create's stat drop. don't think you're really supposed to compare that here, it's a special attacker set after all It's solid burn chance also helps to put extra chip on checks like Latias and Slowking that attempt to switch in.
• Psychic lets Victini threaten traditional switch-ins to Victini like Kommo-o and Keldeo. ok lets be real keldeos not a switch in LOL just say it's your strongest hit vs rotom-h or whatever
• Energy Ball lets Victini hit Rotom-W, Primarina, and Rhyperior, also covers more niche answers like Gastrodon.
• Glaciate can be used instead if a team is particularly weak to offensive Salamence, although Psychic can easily 2HKO it with slight chip damage. Also has added bonus of dropping Speed versus Latias, letting it get a fast U-turn off.
• Heavy-Duty Boots let Victini easily switch in many times during a game and pivot freely.

Paragraph 2

• Special Victini provides a great wallbreaker and offensive pivot that can threaten Grass-types like Amoonguss and lure in traditional Victini checks like Kommo-o for a wide range of teams.
• Zeraora is Victini's best offensive teammate and forms a deadly VoltTurn pairing, brings it in on Grass-types like Amoonguss, Tangrowth, Tapu Bulu, and threatens Victini's checks like Latias, Slowking, and Chansey.
• Other Pokemon that can break through special walls like Slowking and Chansey are essential especially after Victini has revealed its set. Tapu Bulu, Kommo-o, and Krookodile make excellent choices for this and appreciate being given free opportunities to come in through U-turn; the latter 2 in particular can potentially provide Stealth Rock, while Kommo-o appreciates having shared checks like Primarina worn down, and Choice Scarf Krookodile can provide another check to Latias. would mention bulu's grassy terrain making it easier for tini to pivot into stuff like amoonguss and celesteela, also jacks up energy ball which helps with guaranteeing ohkos
• Skarmory can check revenge killers like Azumarill and Choice Scarf Krookodile for Victini, while providing Spikes to wear down switch-ins like Chansey and Primarina.
• Chansey and Slowking can switch into other checks like Kyurem, Latias, and Keldeo, while providing Victini with Teleport support to give it more opportunities to come into play.

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: V-Create
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Bolt Strike
move 4: Final Gambit
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Victory Star
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 96 HP / 160 Atk / 252 Spe

ohkos max hp base 80 hp mons and anything lower with gambit (lati, prim, kommo, tenta)

[SET COMMENTS]

Paragraph 1

• Bolt Strike lets Victini threaten Dragon Dance Gyarados and switch-ins like Primarina.
• Final Gambit lets Victini sacrifice itself to remove Pokemon like Rotom-W, Salamence, and Rotom-H for its teammates, or take out an offensive threat like Dragon Dance Salamence.
• Zen Headbutt is an option to threaten Keldeo and Kommo-o. In particular lets you offensively check boosting versions of the latter.
• Victini can also use Healing Wish to offer more support to its teammates by bringing back a win condition. are u sure
  
• Trick is also an option that lets Victini cripple a switch-in like Rotom-W or defensive Kommo-o.

Paragraph 2

• Choice Scarf Victini fits nicely on teams looking for a Choice Scarf user that can threaten out Pokemon like Scizor and Latias, while providing U-turn support and checking Grass-types.
• Wallbreaking teammates that can take advantage of Pokemon like Kommo-o, Rotom-H, and Rhyperior appreciate Victini bringing them in freely. Examples include Choice Band Azumarill, Primarina, and Offensive Salamence. The former two in particular appreciate Victini pressuring Grass-types for them. the order here feels weird since it implies that mence takes advantage of rhyp. unless we're running hydro pump on it now i don't think that's the case
• Teammates like Swords Dance Tapu Bulu and Scizor appreciate Victini being able to lure and remove their checks like Rotom-H and Salamence with Final Gambit, letting them much more easily wallbreak or clean late game. Both can help check Pokemon like Belly Drum Azumarill that Victini can give opportunities to, while Tapu Bulu can also help pressure Water-types like Priamrina.
• On it's own, Victini fails to reliably deal with some faster threats like Terrakion, Dragon Dance Salamence and Clangorous Soul or Dragon Dance Kommo-o well that's not true rlly, it just has to gambit them. Other fast or priority wielding teammates that can patch up these weaknesses such as Zeraora, the previously mentioned Scizor, and Mamoswine are greatly appreciated. Zeraora in particular can form a deadly VoltTurn core with Victini and help pressure Latias and Keldeo.
• Victini can easily give set-up opportunities to Pokemon like Kommo-o and Latias when using V-Create or Bolt Strike, especially due to the former's speed and defense drop. Teammates that can pivot into and check these sort of Pokemon are essential, such as Slowking, and the previously mentiioned Azumarill and Tapu Bulu. with future sight king being standard it's not rlly a great kommo check so i'd reword to imply that it's more for lati
• Likewise Victini can be very vulnerable to wallbreakers like Azumarill, Keldeo and Primarina. Teammates like Amoonguss and Tangrowth can help patch these weaknesses, while checking other Pokemon like Rotom-W and Zeraora for Victini as well.

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: V-Create
move 2: Bolt Strike
move 3: Zen Headbutt
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Band
ability: Victory Star
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Paragraph 1

• Bolt Strike backed by a Choice Band lets Victini OHKO all Primarina variants, cripple Slowking, 2HKO offensive Salamence after some chip damage, and greatly threaten threats like Suicune.
• Zen Headbutt lets Victini cripple Fire-resists like Kommo-o and Keldeo, putting defensive Kommo-o variants into V-Create range after Stealth Rock and having a solid chance to OHKO offensive variants immediately after Stealth Rock.

Paragraph 2

• Choice Band Victini is a deadly wallbreaker for teams in need one who can pressure Steel- and Grass-types like Celesteela and Tapu Bulu, that can take advantage of its relative uncommonness to overwhelm switch-ins like Rotom-H and Kommo-o.
• Pivoting support from the likes of Zeraora, Keldeo, and Jirachi is greatly appreciated to safely get Victini into play safely versus targets like Amoonguss, Tangrowth, and Celesteela. Jirachi can provide Healing Wish support to allow Victini to play more freely around entry hazards and chip damage form the llikes of Celesteela, while Zeraora and Choice Scarf variants of the latter two can pressure the likes of Terrakion and Latias for Victini.
• Teammates like Swords Dance Scizor and Tapu Bulu appreciate Victini being able to greatly pressure Rotom-H, Kommo-o, and Salamence for them.
• Victini appreciates entry hazard removers like Salamence, Rotom-W, and Tentacruel on its team, letting it come into play more regularly also helps with bluffing boots. Tentacruel can help to check Pokemon like Azumarill and Primarina for Victini, Rotom-W can check Krookodile and Mamoswine, and Salamence can check Keldeo and help pressure shared checks with Victini like Primarina.
• Victini is extremely vulnerable to being revenge killed by even slower threats like Rotom-W and Nidoqueen after clicking V-Create. Teammates like Amoonguss and Slowking can help to cover for this, while providing Victini with opportunities via Spore and Teleport. Slowking can also check other typical revenge killers like Latias and Kommo-o for Victini.
• Stealth Rockers like Rhyperior and Nidoqueen can help wear down Victini's switch-ins even further, while checking Zeraora for Victini. Rhyperior can also help to check Rotom-H for it, while Nidoqueen can help weaken shared checks like Rotom-W and Slowking, making it easier for Victini to click V-Create.

[SET]
name: Heavy-Duty Boots
move 1: V-Create
move 2: Bolt Strike
move 3: Psychic / Toxic / Glaciate
move 4: U-turn
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Victory Star
nature: Naive / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Paragraph 1

• The choice of Victini's 3rd move heavily depends on its teammates.
• Psychic is a great option if Victini appreciates the ability to 2HKO Kommo-o on switch-in.
• Toxic can be used if its teammates appreciate Pokemon like Latias, Salamence, and Slowking being crippled.
• Glaciate is also a solid option if Victini's team struggles to switch into offensive Salamence.
• A Naive nature should be used if running Psychic or Glaciate to prevent them from being weakened, while ensuring Victini can check Scizor and switch into Pokemon like Tapu Bulu as best as possible.
• A Jolly nature should be used otherwise to minimise the damage from attacks like Amoongus's Sludge Bomb.

Paragraph 2

• Heavy-Duty Boots Victini is a solid pick on teams that want an offensive pivot that can threaten Pokemon like Scizor and Tapu Bulu, it tends to fit on teams that would prefer their Victini to be less weak to Pokemon like Primarina than a special Victini.
• Pivots such as Zeraora, Rotom-W, and Scizor can bring Victini in on Pokemon like Amoonguss and Skarmory. The latter two and Zeraora variants lacking Play Rough also appreciate Victini being able to weaken Kommo-o for them. In return they can check Pokemon like Terrakion and Krookodile for Victini.
• Wallbreakers such as offensive Salamence, Mamoswine, and Primarina can take advantage of the checks Victini invites in such as Kommo-o and Salamence. Primarina particularly appreciates Victini threatening Grass-types for it, while Victini can help weaken checks like Primarina and Slowking for the former two.
• Defensive pivots such as Amoonguss, Tangrowth, and Slowking can check revenge killers like Azumarill, Keldeo, and Latias for Victini, Sleep shared checks like Salamence, and bring Victini in with Teleport.
• Teammates such as Calm Mind Slowbro-Galar and Cosmic Power Mew greatly appreciate their respective checks such as Calm Mind Latias and Slowking being Toxic'd by Victini, enabling them to break through them and clean up late game once Victini has weakened some of their checks like Darkest Lariat Krookodile.

No

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

• Future Sight can be used on Mixed Heavy-Duty Boots sets in the 3rd moveslot, to help set up combos for teammates like Zeraora by preventing Pokemon like Amoonguss from switching in. This doesn't hit particularly hard without investment however, and can be hard to reliably set up many opportunities for it.
• dunno what you wanna do about this section since fsight got nuked, i guess you can reword it to mention that it's ok on special boots

Checks and Counters
===================

**Water-types**: Despite its solid all rounded bulk, Victini can struggle with a lot of the Water-types in the tier. Keldeo can easily not cb v create pivot into Victini's Fire-STABs and force it out, although it needs to be careful of coverage like Psychic and Bolt Strike. Rotom-W's decent bulk and semi reliably recovery in Pain Split can make it difficult for Victini to break through, while it can also generate momentum against Victini when forced to switch still gets owned by eball. Tentacruel and Primarina can likewise force Victini out when at high HP or if Victini has used V-Create and become slower, but should likewise be wary of Bolt Strike and coverage like Psychic and Energy Ball from special variants. Rarer Water-types like Suicune and Gastrodon can also pose big problems to Victini, non Energy Ball variants of Victini can struggle to break Gastrodon, while Suicune can easily check nearly all variants of Victini when at decent health.

**Dragon-types**: Salamence is one of Victini's strongest answers due to its typing + Intimidate, although it be wary of Glaciate on Heavy-Duty Boots sets, and offensive variants can be 2HKO'd by Psychic from the special set. Latias completely walls special Victini variants, and can offensively pressure other sets while resisting V-create, but struggles to safely switch in too much due to U-turn. Defensive Kommo-o is a very consistent answer to non-Special sets, while Offensive Kommo-o can offensively pressure Victini and can still comfortably take 2 V-Create's. Kyurem cannot switch into Victini, but can PP stall it's low PP Fire-STABS with SubRoost sets if given a free switch-in, although only after a V-create against Choice Band sets which can otherwise OHKO it.

**Faster Revenge Killers**: Victini is vulnerable to being easily revenge killed by the likes of Lycanroc-Dusk, Zeraora, Terrakion, and Choice Scarf Krookodile. Latias can also easily KO Victini after it has been chipped a little and can wall special variants. V-Create sets are especially vulnerable to being revenge killed by faster Pokemon after the speed and defense drop, with Pokemon like Nidoqueen, offensive Primarina, and Kommo-o able to outspeed it and take it out.

**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Special variants of Victini are unable to break through Pokemon like Slowking, Latias, and Chansey at all. These Pokemon can still be taken advantage of on switch-in through U-turn though, and can be slowly chipped through this in combination with entry hazards. must also be wary of potential cb sets

**Entry Hazards**: Choiced variants of Victini can struggle to reliably pivot in and out of play regularly without Defog or Rapid Spin support due to a crippling weakness to Stealth Rock, making them much easier to wear down, especially with certain setters like Kommo-o and Rhyperior that can also check Victini reliably.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[estarossa, 461329]]
- Quality checked by: [[username1, userid1], [username2, userid2], [username3, userid3]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1], [username2, userid2]]

this shits so long lmao qc 1/3

 

[Twilight]

Estarossa, post: 8702910, member: 461329

[OVERVIEW]

• Set versatility and high powered Fire-STAB moves + great coverage makes Victini a dangerous offensive threat that is fairly customisable for a teams needs. Access to U-turn also makes it a great offensive pivot that can easily gain momentum against most of its checks.
• Great all rounded stats that make victini surprisingly hard to kill without supereffective moves, lets it comfortably pivot into Pokemon like Celesteela, Jirachi, and Tapu Bulu throughout the game for wallbreaking opportunities.
• Access to U-turn means that it can easily pivot out of all of its would be checks as they come in, and form deadly VoltTurn cores. You already talked about U-turn above, just go into more detail there if you want
• Ability to run both special and physical or mixed sets makes Victini an unpredictable presence, especially at team preview and during the early game before its item or moveset has been revealed. Special sets in particular greatly punish traditional switch ins like Kommo-o, Rhyperior, and Salamence to Physical sets through their strong coverage, while being extremely hard to wear down thanks to Heavy-Duty Boots, and having an extremely spammable move in Blue Flare thanks to its Victory Star boosted accuracy, solid burn chance and lack of drawbacks compared to V-create. Consider splitting this into two sentences during the write up
• Victini can also serve as a great Choice Scarf user, taking advantage of the incredible power of V-Create and its strong coverage, and its access to Final Gambit alongside solid HP stat lets it easily take out offensive threats that its team can't handle.
• Can also run Choice Band sets to become one of the most deadly wallbreakers that can demolish even Fire-resists like defensive Kommo-o with ease.
• Despite incredible set versatility, all Victini sets come with downsides either through being unable to touch Special walls like Chansey and Slowking besides U-turn, being easily worn down by entry hazards, or having to rely on V-create, Victini therefore ends up being a lot less threatening if its set is revealed too prematurely through damage calculations or taking entry hazards.
• Also, despite having a decent speed tier, Victini is easily revenge killed by a lot of common Pokemon like Terrakion, Azumarill, and Latias, this is further exacerbated when running V-Create.

[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Blue Flare
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Energy Ball / Glaciate
move 4: U-turn
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Victory Star
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Paragraph 1

• Blue Flare is Victini's most spammable move, with a high base power and a solid burn chance that can help to put extra chip on checks like Latias and Slowking that attempt to switch in.
• Psychic lets Victini threaten traditional switch-ins to Victini like Kommo-o and Rotom-H.
• Energy Ball lets Victini hit Rotom-W, Primarina, and Rhyperior, also covers more niche answers like Gastrodon.
• Glaciate can be used instead if a team is particularly weak to offensive Salamence, although Psychic can easily 2HKO it with slight chip damage. Also has added bonus of dropping Speed versus Latias, letting it get a fast U-turn off.
• Heavy-Duty Boots let Victini easily switch in many times during a game and pivot freely.

Paragraph 2

• Special Victini provides a great wallbreaker and offensive pivot that can threaten Grass-types like Amoonguss and lure in traditional Victini checks like Kommo-o for a wide range of teams.
• Zeraora is Victini's best offensive teammate and forms a deadly VoltTurn pairing, brings it in on Grass-types like Amoonguss, Tangrowth, Tapu Bulu, and threatens Victini's checks like Latias, Slowking, and Chansey.
• Other Pokemon that can break through special walls like Slowking and Chansey are essential especially after Victini has revealed its set. Tapu Bulu, Kommo-o, and Krookodile make excellent choices for this and appreciate being given free opportunities to come in through U-turn; the latter 2 in particular can potentially provide Stealth Rock, while Kommo-o appreciates having shared checks like Primarina worn down, and Choice Scarf Krookodile can provide another check to Latias. Tapu Bulu in particular can also provide Grassy Terrain support so that Victini can more consistently switch into Pokemon like Celesteela, and powers up its Energy Ball so that it can better pressure Foes like Rotom-W, noticeably letting it OHKO Rhyperior after it switches into a Psychic. I'd limit to going into detail about only 2 of these than all of them.
• Skarmory can check revenge killers like Azumarill and Choice Scarf Krookodile for Victini, while providing Spikes to wear down switch-ins like Chansey and Primarina. mention this makes up for Victini's lack of immediate power.
• Chansey and Slowking can switch into other checks like Kyurem, Latias, and Keldeo, while providing Victini with Teleport support to give it more opportunities to come into play.

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: V-Create
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Bolt Strike
move 4: Final Gambit
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Victory Star
nature: Jolly
evs: 96 HP / 160 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Paragraph 1

• Bolt Strike lets Victini threaten Dragon Dance Gyarados and switch-ins like Primarina.
• Final Gambit lets Victini sacrifice itself to remove Pokemon like Rotom-W, Salamence, and Rotom-H for its teammates, or take out an offensive threat like Dragon Dance Salamence. Maybe use Kommo-o instead of two Mence mentions
• Zen Headbutt is an option to threaten Keldeo and Kommo-o. In particular lets you offensively check boosting versions of the latter. I'd rather Terrakion was used as the example than Keldeo
• Trick is also an option that lets Victini cripple a switch-in like Rotom-W or defensive Kommo-o. Maybe a line saying it can be difficult to fit.
• 96 HP EVs let Victini OHKO base 80 HP Pokemon with maximum HP investment such as Tentacruel and Primarina , and anything lower like Latias, and Kommo-o. If running Trick, Victini should however run maximum Attack investment instead.

Paragraph 2

• Choice Scarf Victini fits nicely on teams looking for a Choice Scarf user that can threaten out Pokemon like Scizor and Latias, while providing U-turn support and checking Grass-types. Include the actual phrasing that Victini should primarily be used as a revenge killer. Also, I wouldn't really call Latias the best example unless you specify sets lacking Roost, because it can just stay in and click Roost otherwise.
• Wallbreaking teammates that can take advantage of Pokemon like Kommo-o, Rotom-H, and Rhyperior appreciate Victini bringing them in freely. Examples include Offensive Salamence, Choice Band Azumarill, and Primarina. The former two in particular appreciate Victini pressuring Grass-types for them.
• Teammates like Swords Dance Tapu Bulu and Scizor appreciate Victini being able to lure and remove their checks like Rotom-H and Salamence with Final Gambit, letting them much more easily wallbreak or clean late game. Both can help check Pokemon like Belly Drum Azumarill that Victini can give opportunities to, while Tapu Bulu can also help pressure Water-types like Priamrina.
• On it's own, Victini fails to reliably deal with some faster threats like Terrakion, Dragon Dance Salamence and Clangorous Soul or Dragon Dance Kommo-o without using Final Gambit, which can be undesirable if Victini is still needed. Other fast or priority wielding teammates that can patch up these weaknesses such as Zeraora, the previously mentioned Scizor, and Mamoswine are greatly appreciated. Zeraora in particular can form a deadly VoltTurn core with Victini and help pressure Latias and Keldeo.
• Victini can easily give set-up opportunities to Pokemon like Kommo-o and Latias when using V-Create or Bolt Strike, especially due to the former's speed and defense drop. Teammates that can pivot into and check these sort of Pokemon are essential, such as Slowking (with Psyshock if it needs to check Kommo-o), and the previously mentiioned Azumarill and Tapu Bulu.
• Likewise Victini can be very vulnerable to wallbreakers like Azumarill, Keldeo and Primarina. Teammates like Amoonguss and Tangrowth can help patch these weaknesses, while checking other Pokemon like Rotom-W and Zeraora for Victini as well. I would prefer if this point was about priority users like Sucker Punch Bisharp, Accelerock Lycanroc-D, Aqua Jet Crawdaunt/Azumarill because they prevent Victini from being able to revenge kill them or risk staying in to U-turn out.

You need something on hazard control support.

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: V-Create
move 2: Bolt Strike
move 3: Zen Headbutt
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Band
ability: Victory Star
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Paragraph 1

• Bolt Strike backed by a Choice Band lets Victini OHKO all Primarina variants, cripple Slowking, 2HKO offensive Salamence after some chip damage, and greatly threaten threats like Suicune.
• Zen Headbutt lets Victini cripple Fire-resists like Kommo-o and Keldeo, putting defensive Kommo-o variants into V-Create range after Stealth Rock and having a solid chance to OHKO offensive variants immediately after Stealth Rock.

I'd still have a line on V-Create and maybe some notable OHKOs or 2HKOs it picks up.

Paragraph 2

• Choice Band Victini is a deadly wallbreaker for teams in need one who can pressure Steel- and Grass-types like Celesteela and Tapu Bulu, that can take advantage of its relative uncommonness to overwhelm switch-ins like Rotom-H and Kommo-o.
• Pivoting support from the likes of Zeraora, Keldeo, and Jirachi is greatly appreciated to safely get Victini into play safely versus targets like Amoonguss, Tangrowth, and Celesteela. Jirachi can provide Healing Wish support to allow Victini to play more freely around entry hazards and chip damage form the likes of Celesteela, while Zeraora and Choice Scarf variants of the latter two can pressure the likes of Terrakion and Latias for Victini.
• Teammates like Swords Dance Scizor and Tapu Bulu appreciate Victini being able to greatly pressure Rotom-H, Kommo-o, and Salamence for them.
• Victini appreciates entry hazard removers like Salamence, Rotom-W, and Tentacruel on its team, letting it come into play more regularly and bluff a Heavy-Duty Boots set. Tentacruel can help to check Pokemon like Azumarill and Primarina for Victini, Rotom-W can check Krookodile, and Salamence can check Keldeo and help pressure shared checks with Victini like Primarina.
• Victini is extremely vulnerable to being revenge killed by even slower threats like Rotom-W and Nidoqueen after clicking V-Create. Teammates like Amoonguss and Slowking can help to cover for this, while providing Victini with opportunities via Spore and Teleport. Slowking can also check other typical revenge killers like Latias and Kommo-o for Victini.
• Stealth Rockers like Rhyperior and Nidoqueen can help wear down Victini's switch-ins even further, while checking Zeraora for Victini. Rhyperior can also help to check Rotom-H for it, while Nidoqueen can help weaken shared checks like Rotom-W and Slowking, making it easier for Victini to click V-Create.

A line on what Victini should aim to come in on to wallbreak would be nice. I'd then follow up on how it ideally wants to use V-Create as often as possible due to how strong it is. You could then immediately follow up on this with your 'vulnerable to slower threats' point.


[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

• Victini can run physical or mixed Heavy-Duty Boots sets, with V-Create, Bolt Strike, and U-turn, alongside a choice of either Psychic, Toxic, or Glaciate to serve as an offensive pivot that can threaten Chansey unlike Special sets and spam a more powerful Fire-STAB move. Psychic allows this set to threaten Kommo-o, while Toxic can cripple switch-ins like Kommo-o and Slowking, and Glaciate can be used to threaten Salamence and make Latias slower on switch-in. These sets tend to struggle compared to Special sets in practice however as V-Create has significant downsides when clicked, with its Speed and Defense drops being impractical for a Victini set designed to be able to switch moves against its checks, letting Pokemon like Kommo-o that it could otherwise threaten with Psychic force it out. This doesn't need to be this long, just list the moves you would run on it and don't go into detail about what each one hits.
• Future Sight can be used on Heavy-Duty Boots sets over Psychic, letting Victini set up combinations with other teammates like Zeraora by preventing targets like Amoonguss from switching in. This is pretty hard to justify, however, as Psychic being able to immediately threaten targets like Kommo-o and Rotom-H is very valuable. I am very skeptical about whether this is even worth a specific mention over it just being a general point about having an expansive movepool with options like Thunder, Future Sight, etc. to opt for.

I'd give a mention to Trick on CB here.

More offensive items on the special set like Ebelt or Choice Specs are worth a mention imo but the downside of it needing more support because of entry hazards.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Water-types**: Despite its solid all rounded bulk, Victini can struggle with a lot of the Water-types in the tier. Keldeo can easily pivot into non Choice Band Victini's Fire-STABs and force it out, although it needs to be careful of coverage like Psychic and Bolt Strike. Rotom-W's decent bulk and semi reliably recovery in Pain Split can make it difficult for Victini to break through, while it can also generate momentum against Victini when forced to switch. It can struggle to reliably switch into Special sets however, which can 2HKO it with Energy Ball. Tentacruel Slowking I'd consider Slowking a safer pivot than Tenta and Primarina can likewise force Victini out when at high HP or if Victini has used V-Create and become slower, but should likewise be wary of Bolt Strike and coverage like Psychic and Energy Ball from special variants. Rarer Water-types like Suicune and Gastrodon can also pose big problems to Victini, non Energy Ball variants of Victini can struggle to break Gastrodon, while Suicune can easily check nearly all variants of Victini when at decent health. Seems unnecessarily long. I cut the number of examples down here as an indicator. I'm sure the reader will get the point after one or two.

**Dragon-types**: Salamence is one of Victini's strongest answers due to its typing + Intimidate, although it be wary of Glaciate on Heavy-Duty Boots sets, and offensive variants can be 2HKO'd by Psychic from the special set. Latias completely walls special Victini variants, and can offensively pressure other sets while resisting V-create, but struggles to safely switch in too much due to U-turn. Defensive Kommo-o is a very consistent answer to non-Special sets, while Offensive Kommo-o can offensively pressure Victini and can still comfortably take 2 V-Create's. Kyurem cannot switch into Victini, but can PP stall it's low PP Fire-STABS with SubRoost sets if given a free switch-in, although only after a V-create against Choice Band sets which can otherwise OHKO it. Again just cutting down the examples

**Faster Revenge Killers**: Victini is vulnerable to being easily revenge killed by the likes of Lycanroc-D, Zeraora, Terrakion, and Choice Scarf Krookodile. Latias can also easily KO Victini after it has been chipped a little and can wall special variants. V-Create sets are especially vulnerable to being revenge killed by faster Pokemon after the speed and defense drop, with Pokemon like Nidoqueen, offensive Primarina, and Kommo-o able to outspeed it and take it out.

**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Special variants of Victini are unable to break through Pokemon like Slowking, Latias, and Chansey at all. These Pokemon can still be taken advantage of on switch-in through U-turn though, and can be slowly chipped through this in combination with entry hazards. They also need to be very careful of properly scouting Victini's set first; they can be extremely vulnerable to Choice Band sets if they haven't had the chance to run a Damage Calc on U-turn or seen its other moves yet and will not typically want to switch in until this has happened. I don't think a whole section for this is warranted simply because of the nature of Victini running both special and physical sets. We can discuss this more internally though.

**Entry Hazards**: Choiced variants of Victini can struggle to reliably pivot in and out of play regularly without Defog or Rapid Spin support due to a crippling weakness to Stealth Rock, making them much easier to wear down, especially with certain setters like Kommo-o and Rhyperior that can also check Victini reliably.

A point on Rock-types should be added. Rhyperior, Diancie, Stakataka, Terrakion, and Lycanroc-D are all good checks to all of Victini's sets. You may want to change the mentions in the faster revenge killers point as a result to some diff examples like Keldeo.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[estarossa, 461329]]
- Quality checked by: [[username1, userid1], [username2, userid2], [username3, userid3]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1], [username2, userid2]]

2/3 when implemented

Make sure to check for grammar stuff when you write it up as I noticed quite a fair amount.

 

[autumn]

QC 3/3

Hide

[OVERVIEW]

Amazing set versatility, access to high powered Fire-type STAB moves, and great coverage options makes Victini a dangerous offensive threat that is fairly customizable to a teams needs. Access to U-turn also makes it a great offensive pivot that can easily gain momentum against most of its checks and form deadly VoltTurn cores. (can mention zeraora here) Victini's great all rounded stats makes it surprisingly hard to KO without supereffective moves, and lets it comfortably pivot into Pokemon like Celesteela, Jirachi, and Tapu Bulu throughout a match for wallbreaking opportunities. Victini has the ability to run both special and physical sets that help make it an unpredictable presence, especially at team preview and during the early-game before it has revealed its item or movesets. Special sets in particular greatly punish traditional switch-ins to physical sets such as Kommo-o, Rhyperior, and Salamence with its coverage options, while being very hard to wear down thanks to Heavy-Duty Boots. These sets also have access to an extremely spammable STAB move in Blue Flare, which has a solid chance to Burn checks like Latias and Slowking, and lacks drawbacks compared to V-Create, which can make Victini easier to revenge kill due to the Speed and Defense drops. Victini can also serve as a great Choice Scarf user, taking advantage of the incredible power of V-Create and its solid coverage, while having access to Final Gambit to take advantage of its solid HP stat and remove offensive threats or defensive walls for its teammates. Choice Band sets are also nice options that turn Victini into an incredibly deadly physical wallbreaker that can easily demolish bulky Fire-resistant Pokemon like Kommo-o. Despite Victini's incredible set versatility, all of its sets come with specific downsides; special sets are unable to touch special walls like Chansey and Slowking besides through U-turn, while Choiced sets are easily worn down through entry hazards and are more easily revenge killed by a range of Pokemon due to V-Create's secondary effects. Because of this, Victini can often end up being a lot less thraetening if its set is revealed prematurely through damage calculations, or taking entry hazards. Furthermore, despite having a decent speed tier, Victini is easily revenge killed by a lot of offensive threats like Terrakion, Azumarill, and Latias, this is further exacerbated when running V-Create. (reword this to say its rk by lati and rak and is also weak to prio like azu and add bish too bevause rn you're listing azu with mons that outspeed)

[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Blue Flare
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Energy Ball / Glaciate
move 4: U-turn
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Victory Star
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Blue Flare is Victini's most spammable attack, with a high base power and a solid chance to Burn checks like Slowking and Latias, helping to further chip them down over time. Psychic lets Victini threaten traditional switch-ins to Victini like Kommo-o and Rotom-H. Energy Ball allows Victini to hit Rotom-W, Primarina, and Rhyperior supereffectively, while also covering more niche answers like Gastrodon. Glaciate can be used instead of Energy Ball on a team that is particularly weak to offensive Salamence, however, Psychic can easily 2HKO it with some slight chip damage. Glaciate also has the added bonus of lowering Latias's Speed if it tries to switch in, letting Victini use U-turn against it without being hit first. Heavy-Duty Boots are key to allowing Victini to switch in multiple times throughout a match and pivot more freely.

Special Victini fits on a wide range of bulky offense and balance teams that appreciate a great wallbreaker and offensive pivot that can threaten Grass-types like Amoonguss and lure in traditional Victini checks like Kommo-o. Zeraora is Victini's best offensive teammate and forms a deadly VoltTurn core with it, bringing Victini in on Grass-types like Amoonguss, Tangrowth, and Tapu Bulu, and threatining its checks like Latias, Slowking, and Chansey. Other teammates that can break through speecial walls like Slowking and Chansey are essential, especially after Victini has revealed its set. Tapu Bulu, Kommo-o, and Krookodile make excellent choices for this and appreciate being given free opportunities with U-turn; the latter two can also provide Stealth Rock, while Kommo-o appreciates shared checks like Primarina being worn down. Tapu Bulu can also provide Grassy Terrain support so that Victini can more consistently switch into Pokemon like Celesteela, and powers its Energy Ball up versus foes like Rotom-W and Rhyperior, noteably letting it OHKO the latter after switching into a Psychic. (not rly an ohko) Skarmory can check revenge killers like Azumarill and Choice Scarf Krookodile for Victini, while providing Spikes support to wear down Vicitini's switch-ins like Chansey and Primarina, helping to make up for Victini's lack of immediate power. Chansey and Slowking can switch into Victini's offensive checks like Kyurem, Latias, and Keldeo, while providing it with Teleport support to provide more opportunities to come into play.


[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: V-Create
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Bolt Strike
move 4: Final Gambit
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Victory Star
nature: Jolly
evs: 96 HP / 160 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Paragraph 1

Bolt Strike lets Victini check Dragon Dance Gyarados, and threaten switch-ins like Primarina. Final Gambit allows Victini to either sacrficie itself to remove Pokemon like Rotom-W, Rotom-H, or Salamence for its teammates, or take out an offensive threat that its team can't handle like Clangorous Soul Kommo-o. Zen Headbutt is an option over Final Gambit to threaten Terrakion and Kommo-o. This in particular allows Victini to check boosting versions of the latter. Trick is also an option that lets Victini cripple switch-ins like Rotom-W or defensive Kommo-o, but can be quite hard to fit over the previously mentioned options. 96 HP EVs give Victini the ability to OHKO maximally invested base 80 HP Pokemon with Final Gambit (some people might not make the connection between hp and ohkoing things) such as Tentacruel and Primarina, as well as anything with less HP such as Latias and Kommo-o. If running Trick, Victini should however run maximum Attack investment.

Choice Scarf Victini fits nicely on teams looking for a revenge killer to Pokemon like Scizor and non-Roost Latias that can also provide U-turn support and pressure Grass-types like Amoonguss. Wallbreaking teammates that can take advantage of Pokemon like Kommo-o, Rotom-H, and Rhyperior appreciate Victini bringing them in safely with Volt Switch U-turn. Examples include offensive Salamence, Choice Band Azumarill, and Primarina. These Pokemon all appreciate Victini in return checking Grass-types for them. Teammates like Swords Dance Tapu Bulu and Scizor appreciate Victini being able to lure and remove checks like Rotom-H and Salamence with Final Gambit, letting them more easily wallbreak or clean late game. Both of these Pokemon can also help check Pokemon like Belly Drum Azumarill that Victini can provide set-up opportunities to, while Tapu Bulu can help pressure Water-types like Slowking and Primarina. On its own, Victini fails to reliably deal with some faster threats like Terrakion, Dragon Dance Salamence, and Clangorous Soul Kommo-o without using Final Gambit (unless running zen), which can be undesirable if Victini is still needed in a match. Other fast or priority wielding teammates that can patch up these weaknesses such as Zeraora, Mamoswine, and the previously mentioned Scizor are greatly appreciated. Zeraora can in particular form a deadly VoltTurn core with Victini and help pressure Latias and Kommo-o. Victini can easily provide set-up opportunities to Pokemon like Kommo-o and Latias when locking into V-Create or Bolt Strike, especially due to the former's speed and defense drops. Teammates that can pivot into and check these sort of Pokemon are essential, such as Slowking (with Psyshock if it is needed to check Kommo-o) and the previously mentioned Azumarill and Tapu Bulu. Likewise Victini can also be vulnerable to strong priority users like Sucker Punch Bisharp, Accelerock Lycanroc-D, and Aqua Jet Azumarill. Teammates like defensive Kommo-o, Tangrowth, and Amoonguss can help patch up these weaknesses and help versus Pokemon like Rotom-W and Zeraora too. Victini greatly appreciates Defog or Rapid Spin support from Pokemon like Rotom-W and Tentacruel, helping it pivot more safely and stay at higher HP to get more use out of Final Gambit. (can add to this point how its weak to every hazard so cannot effectively be a uturn bot either) Rotom-W in particular can help to check threats to Victini like Rhyperior and Krookodile, while bringing it in on Grass-types with Volt Switch.


[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: V-Create
move 2: Bolt Strike
move 3: Zen Headbutt
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Band
ability: Victory Star
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

V-Create backed by a Choice Band is an incredibly powerful nuke that lets Victini pick up OHKOs on Pokemon like Nidoqueen, and 2HKO Pokemon like offensive Kommo-o. Bolt Strike lets Victini OHKO all Primarina variants, cripple Slowking, 2HKO offensive Salamence on switch in after some chip damage, and greatly threaten Pokemon like Suicune. Zen Headbutt lets Victini cripple Fire-resists like Kommo-o and Keldeo (keld also dies to bolt strike), noteably putting defensive Kommo-o into V-create range after Stealth Rock, and having a solid chance to OHKO offensive variants immediately after Stealth Rock.

Choice Band Victini is a deadly wallbreaker for teams (what type of teams?) in need of one who can pressure Steel- and Grass-types like Celesteela and Tapu Bulu, that can take advantage of its relative uncommonness to overwhelm switch-ins like Rotom-H and Kommo-o. Pivoting support from Pokemon like Zeraora, Keldeo, and Jirachi is greatly appreciated to get Victini in safely for wallbreaking opportunities against targets like Amoonguss, Tangrowth, and Celesteela. Jirachi can provide Healing Wish support to allow Victini to play more freely around entry hazards and chip damage from the likes of Celesteela, while Zeraora and Choice Scarf variants of Jirachi and Keldeo can pressure Terrakion and Latias for Victini. Swords Dance Scizor and Tapu Bulu appreciate Victini putting pressure on shared checks like Rotom-H, Kommo-o, and Salamence for them, allowing them to break more easily. Victini appreciates entry hazard removers like Salamence, Rotom-W, and Tentacruel on its team, letting it come into play more regularly and bluff a Heavy-Duty Boots set more easily before it has revealed its item. Tentacruel can help to check Pokemon like Azumarill and Primarina for Victini, Rotom-W can check Krookodile, and Salamence can check Keldeo and pressure shared checks like Primarina. Victini should aim to use V-Create as much as possible when coming in on and forcing out targets like Tapu Bulu and Celesteela due to its incredible damage output, however Victini can be very vulnerable to being revenged by even slower threats like Rotom-W and Nidoqueen after this. Teammates like Amoonguss and Slowking can help to switch into these revenge killers, while providing Victini opportunities via Spore and Teleport. Slowking can also check other common revenge killers like Salamence, Latias, and Kommo-o for Victini. Stealth Rock setters like Rhyperior and Nidoqueen can help further chip Victini's switch-ins like defensive Kommo-o, while providing checks to Zeraora. Rhyperior can also help to check Rotom-H, while Nidoqueen can help pressure shared checks like Rotom-W and Slowking, making Victini more free to click V-Create.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Victini has an expansive movepool with options like Thunder and Future Sight that special sets can use. Thunder offers a stronger hit capable of 2HKO'ing targets like Slowking, with Victory Star patching up its accuracy somewhat, while Future Sight can set up combinations with teammates like Zeraora, preventing targets like Amoonguss from switching in. These moves can be quite hard to fit over its standard moveset however. Trick is an option on Choice Band sets to cripple Pokemon like Salamence and Rhyperior to more effectively break through them, it has to give up the ability to hit Kommo-o supereffectively with Zen Headbutt to do this however. Victini can run physical or mixed Heavy-Duty Boots sets, with V-Create, Bolt Strike, U-turn, and a choice between Psychic, Toxic, or Glaciate for the last move, allowing it to serve as an offensive pivot that can threaten Chansey unlike special sets and spam a more powerful Fire-type STAB move. These sets, however, tend to struggle compared to special sets in practice as V-Create has significant downsides to being clicked, with its Speed and Defense drops being impractical for a Victini set that wants to switch moves against its checks like Kommo-o, which will outspeed and kill it after using V-Create. Victini can opt to run more offensive items like Expert Belt or Choice Specs on special sets, these require solid entry hazard removal support however to justify, and Choice Specs sets require a lot more prediction.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Water-types**: Despite its solid all rounded bulk, Victini can struggle with a lot of the Water-types in the tier. Rotom-W's decent bulk and semi reliably recovery in Pain Split can make it difficult for Victini to break through, while it can also generate momentum against Victini when forced to switch. It can struggle to reliably switch into Special sets however, which can 2HKO it with Energy Ball. Slowking and Primarina can likewise force Victini out when at high HP or if Victini has used V-Create and become slower, but should likewise be wary of Bolt Strike and coverage like Psychic and Energy Ball from special variants.

**Dragon-types**: Salamence is one of Victini's strongest answers due to its typing + Intimidate, although it be wary of Glaciate on Heavy-Duty Boots sets, and offensive variants can be 2HKO'd by Psychic from the special set. Latias completely walls special Victini variants, and can offensively pressure other sets while resisting V-create, but struggles to safely switch in too much due to U-turn. Defensive Kommo-o is a very consistent answer to non-Special sets, while Offensive Kommo-o can offensively pressure Victini and can still comfortably take 2 V-Create's.

**Rock-types**: Offensive Rock-types like Nihilego, Terrakion, and Lycanroc-D can all outspede and OHKO Victini. Defensive Rock-types like Rhyperior, Diancie, and Stakataka can switch into physical Victini sets with ease, although Rhyperior and Stakataka can struggle to reliably check special sets if they get sufficiently chipped.

**Faster Revenge Killers**: Victini is vulnerable to being easily revenge killed by the likes of Lycanroc-D, Zeraora, Keldeo, and Choice Scarf Krookodile. Latias can also easily KO Victini after it has been chipped a little and can wall special variants. V-Create sets are especially vulnerable to being revenge killed by faster Pokemon after the speed and defense drop, with Pokemon like Nidoqueen, offensive Primarina, and Kommo-o able to outspeed it and take it out.

**Entry Hazards**: Choiced variants of Victini can struggle to reliably pivot in and out of play regularly without Defog or Rapid Spin support due to a crippling weakness to Stealth Rock, making them much easier to wear down, especially with certain setters like Kommo-o and Rhyperior that can also check Victini reliably.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[estarossa, 461329]]
- Quality checked by: [[Lilburr, numbers], [Twilight, numbers], [username3, userid3]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1], [username2, userid2]]

 

[Lunaflare]

amcheck add remove comment AA = add apostrophe AS = add space RC = remove comma

Spoiler

[OVERVIEW]

Amazing set versatility, access to high powered Fire-type STAB moves, and great coverage options makes make There are multiple factors involved, so make should be used over makes. Victini a dangerous offensive threat that is fairly customizable to a team's needs. (AA) Access to U-turn also makes it a great offensive pivot that can easily gain momentum against most of its checks and form deadly VoltTurn cores with Pokemon like Zeraora. Victini's great all rounded all-around stats makes make it surprisingly hard to KO without super effective (AS) moves, and lets letting it comfortably pivot into Pokemon like Celesteela, Jirachi, and Tapu Bulu throughout a match for wallbreaking opportunities. Victini has the ability to run both special and physical sets that help make it an unpredictable presence, especially at during the team preview and during the early-game before it has revealed its item or movesets. Special sets in particular greatly punish traditional switch-ins to physical sets such as Kommo-o, Rhyperior, and Salamence with its coverage options, while being very hard to wear down thanks to Heavy-Duty Boots. These sets also have access to an extremely spammable STAB move in Blue Flare, which has a solid chance to Burn burn Status conditions are never capitalized. checks like Slowking, and lacks drawbacks compared to V-Create, which can make Victini easier to revenge kill due to the Speed and Defense drops. Victini can also serve as a great Choice Scarf user, taking advantage of the incredible power of V-Create and its solid coverage, while having access to Final Gambit to take advantage of its solid HP stat and remove offensive threats or defensive walls for its teammates. Choice Band sets are also nice options that turn Victini into an incredibly deadly physical wallbreaker that can easily demolish bulky Fire-resistant Pokemon like Kommo-o. Despite Victini's incredible set versatility, all of its sets come with specific downsides; special sets are unable to touch special walls like Chansey and Slowking besides through U-turn, while Choiced Choice item sets are easily worn down through entry hazards and are more easily revenge killed by a range of Pokemon due to V-Create's secondary effects. Because of this, Victini can often end up being a lot less thraetening threatening if its set is revealed prematurely through damage calculations, (RC) or taking entry hazards. Furthermore, despite having a decent speed tier, Victini is easily revenge killed by a lot of offensive threats like Terrakion and Keldeo, which is further exacerbated when running V-Create, alongside being weak to common Priority priority moves Priority isn't capitalized either IIRC from Pokemon like Azumarill and Bisharp.

[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Blue Flare
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Energy Ball / Glaciate
move 4: U-turn
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Victory Star
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Blue Flare is Victini's most spammable attack, with a high base power and a solid chance to Burn burn checks like Slowking, helping to further chip them down over time. Psychic lets Victini threaten traditional switch-ins to Victini itself like Kommo-o and Rotom-H. Energy Ball allows Victini to hit Rotom-W, Primarina, and Rhyperior super effectively, (AS) while also covering more niche answers like Gastrodon. Glaciate can be used instead of Energy Ball on a team that is particularly weak to offensive Salamence, however, Psychic can easily 2HKO it with some slight chip damage. Heavy-Duty Boots are key to allowing Victini to switch in multiple times throughout a match and pivot more freely.

Special Victini fits on a wide range of bulky offense and balance teams that appreciate a great wallbreaker and offensive pivot that can threaten Grass-types like Amoonguss and lure in traditional Victini checks like Kommo-o. Zeraora is Victini's best offensive teammate and forms a deadly VoltTurn core with it, bringing Victini in on Grass-types like Amoonguss, Tangrowth, and Tapu Bulu, and threatining threatening its checks like Slowking and Chansey. Other teammates that can break through speecial special walls like Slowking and Chansey are essential, especially after Victini has revealed its set. Tapu Bulu, Kommo-o, and Krookodile make excellent choices for this and appreciate being given free opportunities with U-turn; the latter two can also provide Stealth Rock, while Kommo-o appreciates shared checks like Primarina being worn down. Tapu Bulu can also provide Grassy Terrain support so that Victini can more consistently switch into Pokemon like Celesteela, and powers powering up its Energy Ball up versus against foes like Rotom-W and Rhyperior, noteably notably letting it KO the latter after switching into a Psychic. Skarmory can check revenge killers like Azumarill and Choice Scarf Krookodile for Victini, while providing Spikes support to wear down Vicitini's switch-ins like Chansey and Primarina, helping to make up for Victini's lack of immediate power. Chansey and Slowking can switch into Victini's offensive checks like Kyurem and Keldeo, (RC) while providing it with Teleport support to provide more opportunities to come into play.


[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: V-Create
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Bolt Strike
move 4: Final Gambit
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Victory Star
nature: Jolly
evs: 96 HP / 160 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Bolt Strike lets Victini check Dragon Dance Gyarados, (RC) and threaten switch-ins like Primarina. Final Gambit allows Victini to either sacrficie sacrifice itself to remove Pokemon like Rotom-W, Rotom-H, or Salamence for its teammates, (RC) or take out an offensive threat that its team can't handle like Clangorous Soul Kommo-o. Zen Headbutt is an option over Final Gambit to threaten Terrakion and Kommo-o. This in particular allows Victini to check boosting versions of the latter. Trick is also an option that lets Victini cripple switch-ins like Rotom-W or defensive Kommo-o, but can be quite hard to fit over the previously mentioned options. 96 HP EVs give Victini the ability to OHKO maximally invested base 80 HP Pokemon with Final Gambit such as Tentacruel and Primarina, as well as anything with less HP such as Kommo-o. If running Trick, Victini should however run maximum Attack investment.

Choice Scarf Victini fits nicely on teams looking for a revenge killer to Pokemon like Scizor and Dragon Dance Gyarados that can also provide U-turn support and pressure Grass-types like Amoonguss. Wallbreaking teammates that can take advantage of Pokemon like Kommo-o, Rotom-H, and Rhyperior appreciate Victini bringing them in safely with U-turn. Examples include offensive Salamence, Choice Band Azumarill, and Primarina. These Pokemon all appreciate Victini in return checking Grass-types for them. Teammates like Swords Dance Tapu Bulu and Scizor appreciate Victini being able to lure and remove checks like Rotom-H and Salamence with Final Gambit, letting them more easily wallbreak or clean late game. Both of these Pokemon can also help check Pokemon like Belly Drum Azumarill that Victini can provide set-up opportunities to, while Tapu Bulu can help pressure Water-types like Slowking and Primarina. On its own, Victini fails to reliably deal with some faster threats like Terrakion, Dragon Dance Salamence, and Clangorous Soul Kommo-o without using Final Gambit, which can be undesirable if Victini is still needed in a match. Other fast or priority wielding teammates that can patch up these weaknesses such as Zeraora, Mamoswine, and the previously mentioned Scizor are greatly appreciated. Zeraora can in particular form a deadly VoltTurn core with Victini and help pressure Slowking and Kommo-o. Victini can easily provide setup opportunities to Pokemon like Kommo-o when locking into V-Create or Bolt Strike, especially due to the former's speed and defense drops. Teammates that can pivot into and check these sort of Pokemon are essential, such as Psyshock Slowking. Likewise Victini can also be vulnerable to strong priority users like Sucker Punch Bisharp, Accelerock Lycanroc-D, and Aqua Jet Azumarill. Teammates like defensive Kommo-o, Tangrowth, and Amoonguss can help patch up these weaknesses and help versus Pokemon like Rotom-W and Zeraora too. Victini greatly appreciates Defog or Rapid Spin support from Pokemon like Rotom-W and Tentacruel, helping it pivot more safely, as Victini is weak to every entry hazard and can get worn down very quickly, and stay at higher HP to get more use out of Final Gambit. Rotom-W in particular can help to check threats to Victini like Rhyperior and Krookodile, while bringing it in on Grass-types with Volt Switch.


[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: V-Create
move 2: Bolt Strike
move 3: Zen Headbutt
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Band
ability: Victory Star
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

V-Create backed by a Choice Band is an incredibly powerful nuke that lets Victini pick up OHKOs on Pokemon like Nidoqueen (RC) and 2HKO Pokemon like offensive Kommo-o. Bolt Strike lets Victini OHKO Keldeo and all Primarina variants, cripple Slowking, 2HKO offensive Salamence on switch in after some chip damage, and greatly threaten Pokemon like Suicune. Zen Headbutt lets Victini cripple Fire-resists Fire-resistant Foes like Kommo-o and Keldeo, noteably notably putting defensive Kommo-o into V-create range after Stealth Rock, and having a solid chance to OHKO offensive variants immediately after Stealth Rock.

Choice Band Victini is a deadly wallbreaker for bulky offense teams in need of one who can pressure Steel- and Grass-types like Celesteela and Tapu Bulu, that can take advantage of its relative uncommonness to overwhelm switch-ins like Rotom-H and Kommo-o. Pivoting support from Pokemon like Zeraora, Keldeo, and Jirachi is greatly appreciated to get Victini in safely for wallbreaking opportunities against targets like Amoonguss, Tangrowth, and Celesteela. Jirachi can provide Healing Wish support to allow Victini to play more freely around entry hazards and chip damage from the likes of Celesteela, while Zeraora and Choice Scarf variants of Jirachi and Keldeo can pressure Terrakion for Victini. Swords Dance Scizor and Tapu Bulu appreciate Victini putting pressure on shared checks like Rotom-H, Kommo-o, and Salamence for them, allowing them to break past them more easily. Victini appreciates entry hazard removers like Salamence, Rotom-W, and Tentacruel on its team, letting it come into play more regularly and bluff a Heavy-Duty Boots set more easily before it has revealed its item. Tentacruel can help to check Pokemon like Azumarill and Primarina for Victini, Rotom-W can check Krookodile, and Salamence can check Keldeo and pressure shared checks like Primarina. Victini should aim to use V-Create as much as possible when coming in on and forcing out targets like Tapu Bulu and Celesteela due to its incredible damage output, however Victini it can be very vulnerable to being revenged revenge killed by even slower threats like Rotom-W and Nidoqueen after this. Teammates like Amoonguss and Slowking can help to switch into these revenge killers, (RC) while providing Victini opportunities via Spore and Teleport. Slowking can also check other common revenge killers like Salamence and Kommo-o for Victini. Stealth Rock setters like Rhyperior and Nidoqueen can help further chip Victini's switch-ins like defensive Kommo-o, while providing checks to Zeraora. Rhyperior can also help to check Rotom-H, while Nidoqueen can help pressure shared checks like Rotom-W and Slowking, making Victini more free to click V-Create.

Other Options
=============

Victini has an expansive movepool with options like Thunder and Future Sight that special sets can use. Thunder offers a stronger hit capable of 2HKO'ing targets like Slowking, with Victory Star patching up its accuracy somewhat, while Future Sight can set up combinations with teammates like Zeraora, preventing targets like Amoonguss from switching in. These moves can be quite hard to fit over its standard moveset however. Trick is an option on Choice Band sets to cripple Pokemon like Salamence and Rhyperior to more effectively break through them, but it has to give up the ability to hit Kommo-o super effectively (AS) with Zen Headbutt to do this however. Victini can run physical or mixed Heavy-Duty Boots sets, with V-Create, Bolt Strike, U-turn, and a choice between Psychic, Toxic, or Glaciate for the last move, allowing it to serve as an offensive pivot that can threaten Chansey unlike special sets and spam a more powerful Fire-type STAB move. These sets, however, tend to struggle compared to special sets in practice as V-Create has significant downsides to being clicked, with its Speed and Defense drops being impractical for a Victini set that wants to switch moves against its checks like Kommo-o, which will outspeed and kill KO it after using V-Create. Victini can opt to run more offensive items like Expert Belt or Choice Specs on special sets, but these require solid entry hazard removal support however to justify, and Choice Specs sets require a lot more prediction.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Water-types**: Despite its solid all rounded all-around bulk, Victini can struggle with a lot of the Water-types in the tier. Rotom-W's decent bulk and semi reliably semi-reliable recovery in Pain Split can make it difficult for Victini to break through, while it can also generate momentum against Victini when forced to switch. It can struggle to reliably switch into Special sets however, which can 2HKO it with Energy Ball. Slowking and Primarina can likewise force Victini out when at high HP or if Victini has used V-Create and become slower, but should likewise be wary of Bolt Strike and coverage like Psychic and Energy Ball from special variants.

**Dragon-types**: Salamence is one of Victini's strongest answers due to its typing + and Intimidate, although it should be wary of Glaciate on Heavy-Duty Boots sets, and offensive variants can be 2HKO'd by Psychic from the special set. Defensive Kommo-o is a very consistent answer to non-Special sets, while Offensive Kommo-o can offensively pressure Victini and can still comfortably take 2 V-Create's. While Kyurem cannot switch directly into Victini, it can revenge kill Choice Band sets after a V-Create, and PP stall special sets with Substitute + Roost Kyurem variants.

**Rock-types**: Offensive Rock-types like Nihilego, Terrakion, and Lycanroc-D can all outspede outspeed and OHKO Victini. Defensive Rock-types like Rhyperior, Diancie, and Stakataka can switch into physical Victini sets with ease, although Rhyperior and Stakataka can struggle to reliably check special sets if they get sufficiently chipped.

**Faster Revenge Killers**: Victini is vulnerable to being easily revenge killed by the likes of Lycanroc-D, Zeraora, Keldeo, and Choice Scarf Krookodile. V-Create sets are especially vulnerable to being revenge killed by faster Pokemon after the speed and defense drop, with Pokemon like Nidoqueen, offensive Primarina, and Kommo-o able to outspeed it and take it out.

**Entry Hazards**: Choiced Choice item variants of Victini can struggle to reliably pivot in and out of play regularly without Defog or Rapid Spin support due to a crippling weakness to Stealth Rock, making them much easier to wear down, especially with certain setters like Kommo-o and Rhyperior that can also check Victini reliably.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[estarossa, 461329]]
- Quality checked by: [[Lilburr, 481709], [Twilight, 344575], [martha, 384270] ]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1], [username2, userid2]]

 

[CryoGyro]

GP 1/2
I realized halfway through that you're capitalizing V-create incorrectly. I trust you can fix that yourself

Hide

[OVERVIEW]

Amazing set versatility, access to high powered powerful Fire-type STAB moves, and great coverage options make Victini a dangerous offensive threat that is fairly customizable to a teams needs. Access to U-turn also makes it a great offensive pivot as well, one that can easily gain momentum against most of its checks and form deadly VoltTurn cores with Pokemon like Zeraora. Victini's great all-rounded stats make it surprisingly hard to KO without super effective moves, (comma) and let it comfortably pivot into Pokemon like Celesteela, Jirachi, and Tapu Bulu throughout a match for wallbreaking opportunities. Victini's ability to be specially or phsycially offensive makes has the ability to run both special and physical sets that help make it an unpredictable presence, especially at Team Preview and during the early-game before it has revealed its item or movesets. Special sets in particular greatly punish traditional common (with special as the first set, we can't really call them 'traditional') switch-ins to physical sets such as Kommo-o, Rhyperior, and Salamence with its coverage options, while being very hard to wear down thanks to Heavy-Duty Boots. These sets also have access to an extremely spammable STAB move in Blue Flare, which has a solid chance to burn checks like Slowking, and lacks drawbacks compared to V-Create, which whose stat drops can make Victini easier to revenge kill due to the Speed and Defense drops. Victini can also serve as a great Choice Scarf user, taking advantage of the incredible power of V-Create and its solid coverage, while also having access to Final Gambit to take advantage of its solid HP stat and remove walls or offensive threats or defensive walls for its teammates. Choice Band sets are also nice options that turn Victini, (comma) meanwhile, is into an incredibly deadly physical wallbreaker that can easily demolish bulky Fire-resistant Pokemon like Kommo-o. Despite Victini's incredible set versatility, all of its sets come each set comes with specific downsides; special sets are unable to touch special walls like Chansey and Slowking besides pressuring them through U-turn, while Choiced Choice item sets are easily worn down through entry hazards and are more easily revenge killed by a range of Pokemon due to V-Create's secondary effects. Because of this, Victini can often end up being a lot less threatening if its set is revealed prematurely through damage calculations, (comma) or taking entry hazards hazard damage. Furthermore, Despite having a decent Speed tier, Victini is easily revenge killed by a lot of offensive threats like Terrakion and Keldeo, which is further exacerbated when running V-Create, alongside being and is weak to common priority moves from Pokemon like Azumarill and Bisharp.

[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Blue Flare
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Energy Ball / Glaciate
move 4: U-turn
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Victory Star
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Blue Flare is Victini's most spammable attack, with a high base power having high Base Power and a solid chance to burn checks like Slowking, helping to further chipping them down over time. Psychic lets Victini threaten traditional switch-ins to physical Victini like Kommo-o and Rotom-H. Energy Ball allows Victini to hits Rotom-W, Primarina, and Rhyperior, (comma) and Gastrodon supereffectively, while also covering more niche answers like Gastrodon. Glaciate can be used instead of Energy Ball on a team that is particularly weak to offensive Salamence, however, but Psychic can easily 2HKO it with some slight chip damage. Heavy-Duty Boots are key to allowing lets Victini to switch in multiple times throughout a match and pivot more freely.

Special Victini fits on a wide range of bulky offense and balance teams that appreciate a great wallbreaker and offensive pivot that can threaten Grass-types like Amoonguss and lure in traditional Victini checks to physical Victini like Kommo-o. Zeraora is Victini's best offensive teammate and forms a deadly VoltTurn core with it, bringing Victini in on Grass-types like Amoonguss, Tangrowth, and Tapu Bulu, and threatening its checks like Slowking and Chansey. Other teammates that can break through special walls like Slowking and Chansey are essential, especially after Victini has revealed its set. Tapu Bulu, Kommo-o, and Krookodile make excellent choices for this and appreciate being given free opportunities with U-turn; the latter two can also provide Stealth Rock, while Kommo-o appreciates shared checks like Primarina being worn down. Tapu Bulu can also provide Grassy Terrain support so that Victini can more consistently switch into Pokemon like Celesteela, (comma) and powers its Energy Ball up versus foes like Rotom-W and Rhyperior, noteably letting it KO the latter after switching into a Psychic threaten to KO Rotom-W and Rhyperior with Energy Ball after they switch into Psychic. Skarmory can check revenge killers like Azumarill and Choice Scarf Krookodile for Victini, while providing Spikes support to wear down Vicitini's switch-ins like Chansey and Primarina, helping to make up for Victini's lack of immediate power. Chansey and Slowking can give Victini more wallbreaking opportunities with Teleport and switch into Victini's offensive checks like Kyurem and Keldeo, while providing it with Teleport support to provide more opportunities to come into play.


[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: V-Create
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Bolt Strike
move 4: Final Gambit
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Victory Star
nature: Jolly
evs: 96 HP / 160 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Paragraph 1

Bolt Strike lets Victini check Dragon Dance Gyarados, (comma) and threaten switch-ins like Primarina. Final Gambit allows Victini to either sacrficie itself to remove a Pokemon like Rotom-W, Rotom-H, or Salamence for its teammates, or take out an offensive threat that its team can't handle like Clangorous Soul Kommo-o. Zen Headbutt is an option over Final Gambit to threaten Terrakion and check setup Kommo-o. This in particular allows Victini to check boosting versions of the latter. Trick is also an option that lets Victini cripple switch-ins like Rotom-W or and defensive Kommo-o, but can be quite hard to fit over the previously mentioned options. 96 HP EVs give Victini's Final Gambit the ability to OHKO maximally fully invested base 80 HP Pokemon with Final Gambit such as Tentacruel and Primarina, as well as anything with less HP such as Kommo-o. If running Trick, Victini should however run maximum Attack investment instead.

Choice Scarf Victini fits nicely on teams looking for a revenge killer to Pokemon like Scizor and Dragon Dance Gyarados that can also provide U-turn support and pressure Grass-types like Amoonguss. Wallbreaking teammates that can take advantage of Pokemon like Kommo-o, Rotom-H, and Rhyperior appreciate Victini bringing them in safely with U-turn. Examples include offensive Salamence, Choice Band Azumarill, and Primarina., (comma) which These Pokemon all appreciate Victini in return checking Grass-types for them. Teammates like Swords Dance Tapu Bulu and Scizor appreciate Victini being able to lure and remove checks like Rotom-H and Salamence with Final Gambit, letting them more easily wallbreak or clean late game. Both of these Pokemon can also help check Pokemon like Belly Drum Azumarill, (comma) which that Victini can provide setup opportunities to, while Tapu Bulu can help pressure Water-types like Slowking and Primarina. On its own, Victini fails to reliably deal with some faster threats like Terrakion, Dragon Dance Salamence, and Clangorous Soul Kommo-o without using Final Gambit, which can be undesirable if Victini is still needed in a match. Other fast or priority-wielding teammates that can patch up these weaknesses such as Zeraora, Mamoswine, and the previously mentioned Scizor are greatly appreciated. Zeraora can in particular form a deadly VoltTurn core with Victini and help pressure Slowking and Kommo-o. Victini locked into V-create or Bolt Strike can easily provide setup opportunities to Pokemon like Kommo-o when locking into V-Create or Bolt Strike, especially due to the former's speed and defense drops. Teammates that can pivot into and check these sort of Pokemon are essential, such as Psyshock Slowking. Likewise Victini can also be vulnerable to strong priority users like Sucker Punch Bisharp, Accelerock Lycanroc-D, and Aqua Jet Azumarill. Teammates like defensive Kommo-o, Tangrowth, and Amoonguss can help patch up these weaknesses and help versus against Pokemon like Rotom-W and Zeraora too. Victini greatly appreciates Defog or Rapid Spin support from Pokemon like Rotom-W and Tentacruel, helping it pivot more safely, (comma) as Victini is weak to every entry hazard and can get worn down very quickly, and stay at higher HP to get more use out of Final Gambit. Rotom-W in particular can use Volt Switch on Grass-types and help to check threats to Victini like Rhyperior and Krookodile, while bringing it in on Grass-types with Volt Switch.


[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: V-Create
move 2: Bolt Strike
move 3: Zen Headbutt
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Band
ability: Victory Star
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

V-Create backed by a Choice Band V-create is an incredibly powerful nuke attack that lets Victini pick up OHKOs on OHKO Pokemon like Nidoqueen, (comma) and 2HKO Pokemon like offensive Kommo-o. Bolt Strike lets Victini OHKO Keldeo and all Primarina variants, cripple Slowking, 2HKO offensive Salamence on switch in after some chip damage, and greatly threaten Pokemon like Suicune. Zen Headbutt lets Victini cripple Fire-resists catches Fire switch-ins like Kommo-o and Keldeo, noteably putting defensive Kommo-o into KO range of V-create range after Stealth Rock, and having a solid chance to OHKO offensive variants immediately after Stealth Rock.

Choice Band Victini is a deadly wallbreaker for bulky offense teams in need of one who that can pressure Steel- and Grass-types like Celesteela and Tapu Bulu, (comma) that can as well as take advantage of its relative uncommonness rarity to overwhelm switch-ins like Rotom-H and Kommo-o. Pivoting support from Pokemon like Zeraora, Keldeo, and Jirachi is greatly appreciated to gets Victini in safely for wallbreaking opportunities against targets like Amoonguss, Tangrowth, and Celesteela. Jirachi can provide Healing Wish support to allow let Victini to play more freely around entry hazards and chip damage from the likes of Celesteela, while Zeraora and Choice Scarf variants of Jirachi and Keldeo can pressure Terrakion for Victini. Swords Dance Scizor and Tapu Bulu appreciate Victini putting pressure on shared checks like Rotom-H, Kommo-o, and Salamence for them, allowing them to wallbreak more easily. Victini appreciates entry hazard removers like Salamence, Rotom-W, and Tentacruel on its team, letting it come into play more regularly and bluff a Heavy-Duty Boots set more easily before it has revealed its item. Tentacruel can help to check Pokemon like Azumarill and Primarina for Victini, Rotom-W can check Krookodile, and Salamence can check Keldeo and pressure shared checks like Primarina. Victini should aim to use V-Create as much as possible when coming in on and forcing out targets like Tapu Bulu and Celesteela due to its incredible damage output, however but Victini can be very vulnerable to being revenged revenge killed by even slower threats like Rotom-W and Nidoqueen afterward this. Teammates like Amoonguss and Slowking can help to switch into these revenge killers, while providing Victini wallbreaking opportunities via Spore and Teleport. Slowking can also check other common revenge killers like Salamence and Kommo-o for Victini. Stealth Rock setters like Rhyperior and Nidoqueen can help further chip Victini's switch-ins like defensive Kommo-o, (comma) while providing checks to and check Zeraora. Rhyperior can also help to check Rotom-H, while Nidoqueen can help pressure shared checks like Rotom-W and Slowking, making Victini more free to click use V-Create.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Victini has an expansive movepool with options like Thunder and Future Sight that for special sets can use. Thunder offers a stronger hit capable of 2HKOing targets like Slowking, with Victory Star patching up its accuracy somewhat, while Future Sight can set up combinations with teammates like Zeraora, preventing targets like Amoonguss from switching in. These moves can be quite hard to fit over its standard moveset, (comma) however. Trick is an option on Choice Band sets to cripple Pokemon like Salamence and Rhyperior to more effectively break through them, it has to but gives up the ability to hit Kommo-o supereffectively with Zen Headbutt to do this however. Victini can run physical or mixed Heavy-Duty Boots sets, with V-Create, Bolt Strike, U-turn, and a choice between Psychic, Toxic, or Glaciate for the last move, allowing it to serve as an offensive pivot that can threaten Chansey unlike special sets and spam a more powerful Fire-type STAB move. These sets, however, tend to struggle compared to special sets in practice as V-Create has significant downsides to being clicked, with its Speed and Defense drops being impractical for a Victini set that wants to switch moves against its checks like Kommo-o, which will outspeed and kill it after using V-Create. struggle with V-create's stat drops leaving them revenge killed by checks like Kommo-o, which defeats the purpose of physical sets that can switch moves. Victini can opt to run more offensive items like Expert Belt or and Choice Specs on special sets, these but they require solid entry hazard removal support however to justify, and Choice Specs sets require a lot more prediction.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Water-types**: Despite its solid all rounded bulk, Victini can struggle with a lot of the Water-types in the tier. Rotom-W's decent bulk and semi reliably recovery in Pain Split can make it difficult for Victini to break through, while and it can also generate momentum against Victini when forced to switch. It can struggle to reliably switch into Special sets however, which Special sets can 2HKO it with Energy Ball, however. Slowking and Primarina can likewise force Victini out when at high HP or if Victini has used V-Create and become slower, but should likewise be wary of Bolt Strike and coverage like Psychic and Energy Ball from special variants.

**Dragon-types**: Salamence is one of Victini's strongest answers due to its typing + and Intimidate, although it must be wary of Glaciate on Heavy-Duty Boots sets, and offensive variants can be 2HKOed by Psychic from the special set. Defensive Kommo-o is a very consistent answer to non-Special physical sets, while offensive Kommo-o can offensively pressure Victini and can still comfortably take 2 V-Create's V-create twice. While Kyurem cannot switch directly into Victini, it can revenge kill Choice Band sets after a V-Create, and PP stall special sets with Substitute + Roost Kyurem variants.

**Rock-types**: Offensive Rock-types like Nihilego, Terrakion, and Lycanroc-D can all outspede outspeed and OHKO Victini. Defensive Rock-types like Rhyperior, Diancie, and Stakataka can switch into physical Victini sets with ease, although Rhyperior and Stakataka can struggle to reliably check special sets if they get sufficiently chipped.

**Faster Revenge Killers**: Victini is vulnerable to being easily revenge killed by the likes of Lycanroc-D, Zeraora, Keldeo, and Choice Scarf Krookodile. V-Create sets are especially vulnerable to being revenge killed by faster Pokemon after the speed and defense stat drops, with Pokemon like Nidoqueen, offensive Primarina, and Kommo-o able to outspeed it and take it out.

**Entry Hazards**: Choiced variants of Choice item Victini can struggle to reliably pivot in and out of play switch regularly without Defog or Rapid Spin support due to a its crippling weakness to Stealth Rock, making them much easier to wear down, especially with certain against setters that check it like Kommo-o and Rhyperior that can also check Victini reliably.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[estarossa, 461329]]
- Quality checked by: [[Lilburr, 481709], [Twilight, 344575], [martha, 384270] ]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1], [username2, userid2]]

 

[Adeleine]

I'll check this one the above check is implemented

 

[Adeleine]

Add/Fix Remove Comment
(AC)/(RC): Remove Comma

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[OVERVIEW]

Amazing set versatility, powerful Fire-type STAB moves, and great coverage options make Victini a dangerous offensive threat that is fairly customizable. U-turn makes it a great offensive pivot as well, one that can easily gain momentum against most of its checks and form deadly VoltTurn cores with Pokemon like Zeraora. Victini's great all-rounded stats make it surprisingly hard to KO without super effective moves and let it comfortably pivot into Pokemon like Celesteela, Jirachi, and Tapu Bulu for wallbreaking opportunities. Victini's ability to be specially or phsycially offensive makes it an unpredictable presence, especially at Team Preview and during the early-game. Special sets in particular greatly punish common switch-ins to physical sets such as Kommo-o, Rhyperior, and Salamence with coverage options (RC) while being very hard to wear down thanks to Heavy-Duty Boots. These sets also have an extremely spammable STAB move in Blue Flare, which has a solid chance to burn checks like Slowking (RC) and lacks drawbacks compared to V-create, whose stat drops can the stat drops of V-create that make Victini easier to revenge kill. Victini can also serve as a great Choice Scarf user, taking advantage of the incredible power of V-create and solid coverage (RC) while also having access to as well as Final Gambit to remove walls or offensive threats for its teammates. Choice Band Victini, (removed checking artifact) meanwhile, is an incredibly deadly physical wallbreaker that can easily demolish bulky Fire-resistant Pokemon like Kommo-o. Despite Victini's incredible set versatility, each set comes with specific downsides; special sets are unable to touch special walls like Chansey and Slowking besides pressuring them through U-turn, while Choice item sets are easily worn down through entry hazards and are more easily revenge killed due to V-create's secondary effects. Because of this these flaws, Victini can often end up a lot less threatening if its set is revealed prematurely through damage calculations or taking entry hazard damage. Despite having a decent Speed tier, Victini is easily revenge killed by offensive threats like Terrakion and Keldeo and is weak to common priority moves from Pokemon like Azumarill and Bisharp.

[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Blue Flare
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Energy Ball / Glaciate
move 4: U-turn
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Victory Star
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Blue Flare is Victini's most spammable attack, having high Base Power and a solid chance to burn checks like Slowking, further chipping them down over time. Psychic lets Victini threaten switch-ins to physical Victini like Kommo-o and Rotom-H. Energy Ball hits Rotom-W, Primarina, Rhyperior, and Seismitoad. Glaciate can be used instead of Energy Ball on a team that is particularly weak to offensive Salamence, but Psychic can easily 2HKO it with some slight chip damage. Heavy-Duty Boots lets Victini switch in multiple times throughout a match and pivot more freely.

Special Victini fits on a wide range of bulky offense and balance teams that appreciate a great wallbreaker and offensive pivot that can threaten Grass-types like Amoonguss and lure in checks to physical Victini like Kommo-o. Zeraora is Victini's best offensive teammate and forms a deadly VoltTurn core with it, bringing Victini in on Grass-types like Amoonguss, Tangrowth, and Tapu Bulu, and threatening its checks like Slowking and Chansey. Other teammates that can break through special walls like Slowking and Chansey are essential, especially after Victini has revealed its set. Tapu Bulu, Kommo-o, and Krookodile make excellent choices for this and appreciate U-turn; the latter two can also provide Stealth Rock, while and Kommo-o appreciates shared checks like Primarina being worn down. Tapu Bulu can also provide Grassy Terrain so that Victini can more consistently switch into Pokemon like Celesteela and threaten to KO Rotom-W and Rhyperior with Energy Ball after they switch into Psychic. Skarmory can check revenge killers like Azumarill and Choice Scarf Krookodile while providing Spikes support to wear down Vicitini's switch-ins like Chansey and Primarina, helping to make up for Victini's lack of immediate power. Chansey and Slowking can give Victini more wallbreaking opportunities with Teleport and switch into Victini's offensive checks like Kyurem and Keldeo.


[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: V-create
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Bolt Strike
move 4: Final Gambit
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Victory Star
nature: Jolly
evs: 96 HP / 160 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Bolt Strike lets Victini check Dragon Dance Gyarados and threaten switch-ins like Primarina. Final Gambit allows Victini to either sacrficie sacrifice itself to remove a Pokemon like Rotom-W, Rotom-H, or Salamence for its teammates, or take out an offensive threat that its team can't handle like Clangorous Soul Kommo-o. Zen Headbutt is an option over Final Gambit to threaten Terrakion and check setup Kommo-o without fainting. (or should it say some other way it's different from ZH like "check Kommo-o that has already set up"?) Trick is also an option that lets Victini cripple switch-ins like Rotom-W and defensive Kommo-o, but it can be quite hard to fit. 96 HP EVs give Victini's Final Gambit the ability to OHKO fully invested base 80 HP Pokemon such as Tentacruel and Primarina, as well as anything with less HP such as Kommo-o. If running Trick not running Final Gambit, Victini should run maximum Attack investment instead.

Choice Scarf Victini fits nicely on teams looking for a revenge killer to Pokemon like Scizor and Dragon Dance Gyarados that can also provide U-turn support and pressure Grass-types like Amoonguss. Wallbreaking teammates that can take advantage of Pokemon like Kommo-o, Rotom-H, and Rhyperior appreciate Victini bringing them in safely with U-turn. Examples include offensive Salamence, Choice Band Azumarill, and Primarina, which appreciate Victini checking Grass-types for them. Teammates like Swords Dance Tapu Bulu and Scizor appreciate Final Gambit Victini being able to lure and remove checks like Rotom-H and Salamence with Final Gambit, letting them more easily wallbreak or clean. Both of these Pokemon can also help check Belly Drum Azumarill, which Victini can provide setup opportunities to, while Tapu Bulu can help pressure Water-types like Slowking and Primarina. On its own, Victini fails to reliably deal with some faster threats like Terrakion, Dragon Dance Salamence, and Clangorous Soul Kommo-o without using Final Gambit, which can be undesirable if it is still needed to check Pokemon such as Swords Dance Scizor. Other fast or priority-wielding teammates that can patch up these weaknesses such as Zeraora, Mamoswine, and the previously mentioned Scizor are greatly appreciated. Zeraora can in particular form a deadly VoltTurn core with Victini and help pressure Slowking and Kommo-o. Victini locked into V-create or Bolt Strike can easily provide setup opportunities to is setup bait for Pokemon like Kommo-o; (period -> semicolon) teammates that can pivot into and check these sort of Pokemon sorts of setup sweepers are essential, such as Psyshock Slowking. Likewise Further, (AC) Victini can also be vulnerable to strong priority users like Sucker Punch Bisharp, Accelerock Lycanroc-D, and Aqua Jet Azumarill. Teammates like defensive Kommo-o, Tangrowth, and Amoonguss can help patch up these weaknesses this weakness and help against Pokemon like Rotom-W and Zeraora too. Victini greatly appreciates Defog or Rapid Spin support from Pokemon like Rotom-W and Tentacruel (RC) helping it pivot more safely and stay at higher HP to get more use out of Final Gambit. Rotom-W in particular can use Volt Switch to bring Victini in on Grass-types and help to can check threats to Victini like Rhyperior and Krookodile.


[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: V-create
move 2: Bolt Strike
move 3: Zen Headbutt
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Band
ability: Victory Star
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Choice Band V-create is an incredibly powerful attack that lets Victini OHKO Pokemon like Nidoqueen and 2HKO Pokemon like offensive Kommo-o. Bolt Strike lets Victini OHKO Keldeo and all Primarina variants, cripple Slowking, 2HKO offensive Salamence after some chip damage, and greatly threaten Pokemon like Suicune. Zen Headbutt catches Fire switch-ins like Kommo-o and Keldeo, noteably notably putting defensive Kommo-o into KO range of V-create after Stealth Rock (RC) and having a solid chance to OHKO offensive variants immediately (unless there's a reason that "immediately" is specifically important, which you should explain if so) after Stealth Rock.

Choice Band Victini is a deadly wallbreaker for bulky offense teams in need of one that can pressure Steel- and Grass-types like Celesteela and Tapu Bulu, (AC) as well as take and it takes advantage of its relative rarity to overwhelm standard Victini switch-ins like Rotom-H and Kommo-o. Pivoting support from Pokemon like Zeraora, Keldeo, and Jirachi gets Victini in safely for wallbreaking opportunities against targets like Amoonguss, Tangrowth, and Celesteela. Jirachi can provide Healing Wish support to let Victini play more freely around entry hazards and chip damage from the likes of Celesteela, while Zeraora and Choice Scarf variants of Jirachi and Keldeo can pressure Terrakion. Swords Dance Scizor and Tapu Bulu appreciate Victini putting pressure on shared checks like Rotom-H, Kommo-o, and Salamence, allowing them to wallbreak more easily. Victini appreciates entry hazard removers like Salamence, Rotom-W, and Tentacruel on its team (RC) letting it come into play more regularly and bluff a Heavy-Duty Boots set before it has revealed its item through either damage rolls or revealing V-create. before damage rolls or V-create reveal its item. Tentacruel can help to check Pokemon like Azumarill and Primarina, Rotom-W can check Krookodile, and Salamence can check Keldeo and pressure shared checks like Primarina. Victini should aim to use V-create as much as possible when forcing out targets like Tapu Bulu and Celesteela due to its incredible damage output, but Victini can be very vulnerable to being revenge killed by even slower threats like Rotom-W and Nidoqueen afterward. Teammates like Amoonguss and Slowking can help to switch into these revenge killers (RC) while providing Victini wallbreaking opportunities via Spore and Teleport. Slowking can also check other common revenge killers like Salamence and Kommo-o. Stealth Rock setters like Rhyperior and Nidoqueen can help further chip Victini's switch-ins like defensive Kommo-o and check Zeraora. Rhyperior can also help to check Rotom-H, while Nidoqueen can pressure shared checks like Rotom-W and Slowking, making Victini more free to use V-create.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Victini has an expansive movepool with options like Thunder and Future Sight for special sets. Thunder offers a stronger hit than Energy Ball that's (I assume this is the move to compare?) capable of 2HKOing targets like Slowking, with Victory Star patching up its accuracy somewhat, while Future Sight can set up combinations combined pressure with teammates like Zeraora, preventing targets like Amoonguss from switching into Zeraora. (I assume?) These moves can be quite hard to fit over its standard moveset, however. Trick is an option on Choice Band sets to cripple Pokemon like Salamence and Rhyperior but gives up the ability to hit Kommo-o with Zen Headbutt. Victini can run physical or mixed Heavy-Duty Boots sets (RC) with V-create, Bolt Strike, U-turn, and a choice between Psychic, Toxic, or Glaciate for the last move, allowing it to serve as an offensive pivot that can threaten Chansey and spam a more powerful Fire-type STAB move. These sets, however, struggle with V-create's stat drops leaving them revenge killed by checks like Kommo-o, which defeats the purpose of physical sets that can switch moves. Victini can opt to run more offensive items like Expert Belt and Choice Specs on special sets, but they require solid entry hazard removal support to justify, and Choice Specs sets require a lot more prediction.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Water-types**: Rotom-W's decent bulk and semi-reliable recovery in Pain Split can make it difficult for Victini to break through, and it can generate momentum against Victini when Victini is forced to switch. Special Victini sets can 2HKO it with Energy Ball, however. Slowking and Primarina can likewise force Victini out when at high HP or if Victini has used V-create and become slower, but they should likewise be wary of Bolt Strike and coverage like Psychic and Energy Ball from special variants.

**Dragon-types**: Salamence is one of Victini's strongest answers due to its typing and Intimidate, although it must be wary of Glaciate on Heavy-Duty Boots sets, and offensive variants can be 2HKOed by Psychic from the special set. Defensive Kommo-o is a very consistent answer to physical sets, while offensive Kommo-o can offensively pressure Victini and comfortably take V-create twice. While Kyurem cannot switch directly into Victini, it can revenge kill Choice Band sets after V-create (RC) and PP stall special sets with Substitute + Roost.

**Rock-types**: Offensive Rock-types like Nihilego, Terrakion, and Lycanroc-D outspeed and OHKO Victini. Defensive Rock-types like Rhyperior, Diancie, and Stakataka can switch into physical Victini sets with ease, although Rhyperior and Stakataka can struggle to reliably check special sets if they get sufficiently chipped.

**Faster Revenge Killers**: Victini is easily revenge killed by the likes of Lycanroc-D, Zeraora, Keldeo, and Choice Scarf Krookodile. V-create sets are especially vulnerable after the move's stat drops, with Pokemon like Nidoqueen, offensive Primarina, and Kommo-o able to outspeed it Victini and take it out.

**Entry Hazards**: Choice item Victini can struggle to switch in regularly without Defog or Rapid Spin support due to its crippling weakness to Stealth Rock, especially against setters that check it like Kommo-o and Rhyperior.


[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[estarossa, 461329]]
- Quality checked by: [[Lilburr, 481709], [Twilight, 344575], [martha, 384270]] (end brackets were ] ] and not ]])
- Grammar checked by: [[CryoGyro, 331519], [Finland, 517429]]

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