uploaded -mz
[OVERVIEW]
Victreebel solidifies itself as one of PU's top wallbreakers thanks to its excellent offensive prowess as well as its unique defensive properties. Strength Sap not only provides Victreebel with a form of reliable recovery but also allows it to beat Pokemon it otherwise wouldn't be able to beat in a one-on-one scenario, like Adamant Stoutland, physically offensive Skuntank, and Hitmonchan, by lowering their Attack stat. Additionally, a good defensive typing lets it easily switch into and check threats such as Gurdurr, Mudsdale, Regirock, and Lurantis, as well as absorb Toxic Spikes. Victreebel's nearly unresisted STAB coverage, good Attack and Special Attack stats, and access to high-Base Power moves like Leaf Storm and Power Whip allow it to threaten the majority of the metagame, including prevalent bulky Pokemon such as Mudsdale, Regirock, and Jellicent as well as top-tier threats like Gurdurr and Eelektross. Its ability to run both physically and specially offensive sets viably makes it unpredictable and very difficult to switch into, with counters to specially offensive Victreebel like Cryogonal and Drampa being unable to switch into physical moves like Power Whip and Poison Jab and Pokemon that can wall Swords Dance Victreebel like Alolan Sandslash and Metang being threatened by Hidden Power Fire. However, Victreebel struggles against Flying-types such as Oricorio-G, Articuno, and Altaria that can reliably switch in multiple times on the majority of Victreebel's sets and take it out easily. Moreover, Victreebel's mediocre bulk and middling Speed tier leave it easily revenge killed by a wide array of faster threats including Oricorio-E, Kangaskhan, Dodrio, Simisear, and Choice Scarf Aurorus.
[SET]
name: Specially Offensive
move 1: Strength Sap
move 2: Leaf Storm
move 3: Sludge Bomb
move 4: Hidden Power Fire
item: Grassium Z / Rocky Helmet
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Leaf Storm is Victreebel's strongest STAB move, allowing it to take out slower targets like Mudsdale, Regirock, Jellicent, Carracosta, and Aggron easily; pressure others like Eelektross, Stoutland, and Gurdurr; and prevent faster threats like Kangaskhan and Choice Scarf Aurorus from switching in safely. Sludge Bomb does not drop Victreebel's Special Attack and lets it target opposing Grass-types like Ludicolo, Abomasnow, Tangela, and Lurantis, as well as Fairy-types like Silvally-Fairy and Pokemon that resist or are immune to Leaf Storm like Simisear, Dodrio, and Drampa. Hidden Power Fire threatens Steel-types like Alolan Sandslash and Ferroseed that can otherwise wall Victreebel.
Set Details
========
A Timid nature, along with maximum investment in Speed, enables Victreebel to outspeed neutral-natured Stoutland and Ludicolo as well as positive-natured Alolan Sandslash. Alternatively, a Modest nature can be used to increase Victreebel's power, notably raising its chance of OHKOing targets like Jellicent, Qwilfish, and Claydol with Leaf Storm. Grassium Z enables Victreebel to KO targets such as Lanturn and to avoid the drop in Special Attack from Leaf Storm when targeting bulky Pokemon like Eelektross or using its Grass-type move on consecutive turns. If your team's Z-Move slot is already occupied, Victreebel can use Rocky Helmet to further pressure Pokemon that use contact moves like Gurdurr, Stoutland, and Skuntank, allowing it to deal residual damage while simultaneously using Strength Sap to replenish its HP.
Usage Tips
========
Victreebel can be brought in on targets that don't threaten it like Mudsdale, Regirock, Gurdurr, and Lurantis, as well as on Choice item users like Stoutland and Absol locked into unfavorable moves so it can proceed to either attempt to wallbreak or recover health with Strength Sap. However, it should be wary of using Strength Sap against Primeape, as it is able to 2HKO Victreebel with any of its moves after an Attack boost from Defiant. Otherwise, it should be brought in by pivots on targets that it can't switch in on easily or that threaten it with their potential coverage options like Hitmonchan and Golurk. Early-game, when counters to Victreebel like Oricorio-G and Cryogonal are on the field, it should prioritize using Strength Sap to secure additional opportunities to switch in or perform aggressive double switches out of its counters. Additionally, Victreebel should be preserved or kept healthy via Strength Sap if it needs to stick around to counter Pokemon like Gurdurr late-game. Bloom Doom should be reserved for mid- or late-game, ideally until counters like Cryogonal are KOed or in the move's KO range. It should also be used as a means of avoiding the Special Attack drop from Leaf Storm to guarantee a 2HKO on bulky Pokemon like Eelektross. Victreebel should use its Poison typing to sponge Toxic for its teammates, as well as remove Toxic Spikes from the field upon switching in.
Team Options
========
Victreebel highly benefits from pivots such as Lanturn, Primeape, Rotom-F, and Silvally-Fairy that can bring it in safely with Volt Switch, U-turn, or Parting Shot on targets that it can't switch into freely such as Stoutland, Jellicent, and Claydol. Lanturn is a particularly good teammate for Victreebel, as its typing and bulk allow it to switch comfortably into threats like Oricorio-E, Rotom-F, non-Grassium Z Simisear, Swanna, and Floatzel, while it appreciates Victreebel taking care of Grass- and Ground-types such as Lurantis and Mudsdale as well as opposing Lanturn. Rotom-F and Silvally-Fairy can also provide Defog support in addition to Volt Switch and Parting Shot; the former can also pressure Oricorio-G and Oricorio-E and appreciates Victreebel's ability to check Gurdurr and Lanturn, and the latter can act as a secondary Fighting-type check and ease pressure off Victreebel by checking Gurdurr and Hitmonchan. Jellicent can support Victreebel defensively by alleviating the pressure of checking Fighting-types like Primeape and Hitmonchan while also taking on various checks to Victreebel such as Alolan Sandslash, Combusken, and Scyther.
Victreebel appreciates entry hazard support from Stealth Rock setters such as Regirock, Torterra, and Mudsdale, as they help it pressure Flying- and Ice-types such as Oricorio-E and Cryogonal as well as ease its task of taking out Pokemon such as Torterra and Silvally-Fairy. Regirock can also switch in reliably on Pokemon like Oricorio-G, Cryogonal, and Articuno, and Torterra helps Victreebel pressure mutual targets like Eelektross. Cryogonal and Alolan Sandslash provide Victreebel with reliable entry hazard removal, as well as a solid specially defensive backbone by switching in on threats like Oricorio-E and Oricorio-G. In return, Victreebel can check Fighting-types like Gurdurr and Hitmonchan for them. Stoutland, as well as offensive variants of Alolan Sandslash, stand out as excellent offensive partners to Victreebel, as they can reliably take out some of Victreebel's counters such as Cryogonal, Articuno, Audino, and Altaria, while Victreebel is capable of reliably switching into and taking out threats that Stoutland and Alolan Sandslash struggle with such as Gurdurr, Regirock, Mudsdale, and Tangela. Additionally, they assist each other by pressuring shared targets such as Eelektross for Stoutland and Torterra for Alolan Sandslash.
Rock-types like Carracosta and Lycanroc appreciate Victreebel taking out Pokemon that can wall them, stop them from setting up, or cripple them with Will-O-Wisp, like Tangela, Jellicent, and Sableye. In return, they can force out threats to Victreebel like Oricorio-G and Cryogonal and can threaten Fire-types like Combusken and Simisear with unboosted priority moves after slight chip damage. Choice Scarf Aurorus can notably outspeed and threaten a wide array of Pokemon that can check Victreebel, such as Oricorio-G, Silvally-Dragon, and Drampa, as well as lure in Cryogonal and Rotom-F and weaken them with Stone Edge. In exchange, Victreebel can check Stealth Rock setters that wear Aurorus down like Regirock and Carbink, as well as Fighting-types like Gurdurr and Primeape. Skuntank appreciates Victreebel checking physical walls like Mudsdale and Regirock, and in return, it is able to check and Pursuit trap Psychic-types that Victreebel struggles with such as Musharna, Alolan Raichu, Jynx, and Bronzor. Simisear highly appreciates Victreebel pressuring Pokemon like Lanturn with super effective coverage as well as chipping Dragon-types like Drampa, Altaria, and Silvally-Dragon with Sludge Bomb, making it easier for Simisear to break past them late-game.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Strength Sap
move 3: Power Whip
move 4: Poison Jab
item: Grassium Z / Lum Berry
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance allows Victreebel to set up and threaten physically defensive Pokemon that would otherwise wall it, such as Tangela, as well as to pressure bulky attackers like Eelektross, Gurdurr, Musharna, and Drampa more easily. Power Whip is Victreebel's strongest physical Grass-type STAB move, allowing it to break through bulky Water- and Ground-types like Jellicent, Lanturn, and Mudsdale, as well as slower targets such as Eelektross and unsuspecting switch-ins such as Cryogonal. Poison Jab targets Drampa, which is immune to Power Whip, as well as Grass-types like Lurantis and Tangela and Fairy-types like Silvally-Fairy and Clefairy.
Set Details
========
A Jolly nature is preferred to outspeed neutral-natured Stoutland, Ludicolo, and Absol, while an Adamant nature can be used to pressure threats like Eelektross and Gurdurr more heavily, notably giving Victreebel a higher chance to OHKO the former with Grassium Z-boosted Power Whip. Grassium Z allows Victreebel to take out Mudsdale from full health and Eelektross and Regirock after slight chip damage even without a Swords Dance boost, as well as Torterra after a Swords Dance boost. Alternatively, Lum Berry prevents Victreebel from getting crippled by Will-O-Wisp users like Jellicent and Sableye, as well as Scald users that it otherwise switches into easily like bulky Lanturn and Gastrodon.
Usage Tips
========
Early-game, Victreebel should take advantage of opposing Pokemon like Cryogonal and Audino that expect to switch into specially offensive sets and heavily damage them with Power Whip. Rather than throwing out attacks with Victreebel early-game, conceal the fact that Victreebel is physically offensive rather than specially offensive and gauge the opponent's response to Victreebel before unleashing Bloom Doom. Victreebel should preferably be brought in by VoltTurn partners or to revenge kill foes whenever possible to make it less reliant on Strength Sap to preserve its longevity and ability to counter Pokemon like Mudsdale repeatedly. Against more offensive teams or in the presence of a counter to Victreebel like Oricorio-G or Alolan Sandslash, Victreebel should prioritize recovering health lost from countering Pokemon like Gurdurr and Regirock with Strength Sap or performing double switches out of its counters. When it can force a switch, Victreebel should attempt to boost its Attack with Swords Dance so it can wallbreak more efficiently.
Team Options
========
Victreebel fits well on VoltTurn teams than can provide it with opportunities to come in safely on targets such as Eelektross, Jellicent, Golurk, and Audino and proceed to wallbreak or set up on forced switches, with ideal partners including Eelektross, Lanturn, Primeape, and Alolan Persian. Eelektross and Lanturn can assist Victreebel by pressuring Flying-types like Oricorio-G, Dodrio, and Swanna with super effective coverage. In addition, Eelektross can take out Steel-types that Victreebel struggles with such as Ferroseed, Metang, and Alolan Sandslash with Flamethrower, and Lanturn can check Fire-types like Simisear and Combusken and heal Victreebel of burns with Heal Bell. Primeape highly appreciates Victreebel's ability to check Pokemon that it struggles to break through, like Mudsdale, Regirock, Jellicent, and Tangela, and in return, Primeape can check faster targets that threaten Victreebel like Kangaskhan, Simisear, and Choice Scarf Aurorus, as well as Steel-types like Alolan Sandslash. Alolan Persian can assist Victreebel by pressuring Psychic-types such as Musharna, Alolan Raichu, and Metang and by giving it opportunities to set up thanks to Parting Shot, and in return, it appreciates Victreebel checking Fighting-types like Gurdurr and Hitmonchan.
Victreebel appreciates Stealth Rock support from setters like Regirock, Mudsdale, and Torterra, as the chip damage from entry hazards helps it check targets like Articuno, Drampa, Gurdurr, and Torterra more easily. Regirock in particular has great synergy with Victreebel, as it is able to check Ice-types like Alolan Sandslash and Cryogonal, Flying-types like Oricorio-E and Dodrio, and faster Normal-types like Kangaskhan, while Victreebel can threaten Water-types like Lanturn as well as opposing Grass-types like Tangela and Lurantis. Cryogonal also has excellent synergy with Victreebel, as it is able to switch in reliably on threats to Victreebel like Oricorio-E, Oricorio-G, and Swanna, and it also assists it by pressuring shared targets such as Torterra, Drampa, and Jellicent. In return, Victreebel can reliably switch into and threaten Pokemon that Cryogonal is incapable of handling, such as Gurdurr and Regirock, as well as pressure other physical attackers such as Stoutland, Skuntank, and Hitmonchan.
Fire-types like Combusken and Simisear highly appreciate Victreebel taking out bulky Water- and Rock-types such as Jellicent, Lanturn, and Regirock, allowing them to function as late-game cleaners more easily. They can also pressure Steel-types like Alolan Sandslash and Metang as well as Ice-types like Cryogonal and Abomasnow that threaten Victreebel. Jellicent benefits from Victreebel's ability to lure and take out specially defensive walls such as Cryogonal and Audino and threaten opposing Water-types such as Lanturn and Gastrodon. In return, it assists Victreebel by reliably switching into Alolan Sandslash and checking Fire-types like Simisear and Combusken. Musharna can use Future Sight to enhance Victreebel's wallbreaking potential further, as there are very few Pokemon that can comfortably take both Future Sight and a boosted Power Whip, as well as support it with Healing Wish, creating more opportunities for it to wallbreak or set up and alleviating the pressure of having to use Strength Sap for recovery.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Victreebel can be used as a sweeper on Sunny Day teams with a moveset consisting of Growth, Solar Beam, Sludge Bomb, and Weather Ball. However, it is extremely reliant on sun to function and can be easily shut down by Snow Warning users like Aurorus and Abomasnow. Sleep Powder can be used on both sets to shut down some of Victreebel's common switch-ins such as Oricorio-G and Cryogonal; however, Victreebel struggles to fit it over extra coverage. Knock Off can be used on mixed or physical sets, allowing Victreebel to deal significant damage to switch-ins like Oricorio-G and Cryogonal as well as weaken checks like Metang and Bronzor, and Sucker Punch allows Swords Dance Victreebel to also threaten revenge killers such as Alolan Raichu and Jynx. However, it struggles to fit either move over generally more useful coverage options; furthermore, Sucker Punch is incompatible with Power Whip and leaves Victreebel reliant on a much weaker Grass-type STAB move in Leaf Blade, making it harder to pressure foes like Eelektross and Torterra. Poisonium Z can be used over Grassium Z to pressure Dragon- and Flying-types, and it lends physically offensive sets a notably better matchup against stall, with primary targets being Articuno and Altaria; however, it misses out on Grassium Z's superior coverage. Air Balloon can be used to ease Victreebel's task of switching into Mudsdale and Torterra, as switching into a correctly predicted Earthquake can allow Victreebel to use one of its coverage moves and lower the pressure of having to heal damage from Earthquake with Strength Sap. However, the benefits of using it are very situational compared to items like Grassium Z and Rocky Helmet, which improve Victreebel's matchup against a broader range of threats.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Flying-types**: While they don't like getting poisoned by Poison-type coverage moves, Oricorio-G, Oricorio-E, and Articuno can all switch in safely on most Victreebel sets with Stealth Rock off the field and force it out with super effective coverage, and the former two can even take advantage of forced switches to set up with Calm Mind. Dodrio and Swanna can easily check Victreebel, although they can't switch in directly on it.
**Fire-types**: Combusken, Simisear, and Turtonator can all check Victreebel from full health and either take it out or set up on it. None of them can switch in safely, however, as they take substantial damage from Poison-type moves.
**Revenge Killers**: Although none of them can switch in safely on any of Victreebel's moves, faster threats like Alolan Raichu, Choice Scarf Aurorus, Choice Scarf Abomasnow, Rotom-F, and Jynx can all KO Victreebel with super effective STAB moves from full health, while Kangaskhan and Floatzel can take it out after slight chip damage, with the latter also being able to Pursuit trap it.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Cryogonal and Audino can come in safely on any of specially offensive Victreebel's moves and proceed to either take it out or pass Wish. Drampa is also notable for its ability to switch in on predicted Grass moves like Strength Sap due to its access to Sap Sipper, and it can even take one Sludge Bomb comfortably. They are all incapable of switching in on Swords Dance variants, however, and Drampa also doesn't like getting poisoned from Sludge Bomb.
**Steel-types**: While they all fear Hidden Power Fire, Steel-types like Alolan Sandslash and Metang can effectively wall Swords Dance variants of Victreebel and can set up as it's forced out. Alolan Sandslash can even outspeed Victreebel under hail and revenge kill it.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[royesk, 474994]]
- Earlier versions by: [[Aaronboyer, 239454], [gum, 434150]]
- Quality checked by: [[TONE, 213583], [2xTheTap, 11407], [gum, 434150]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [Empress, 175616]]
[OVERVIEW]
Victreebel solidifies itself as one of PU's top wallbreakers thanks to its excellent offensive prowess as well as its unique defensive properties. Strength Sap not only provides Victreebel with a form of reliable recovery but also allows it to beat Pokemon it otherwise wouldn't be able to beat in a one-on-one scenario, like Adamant Stoutland, physically offensive Skuntank, and Hitmonchan, by lowering their Attack stat. Additionally, a good defensive typing lets it easily switch into and check threats such as Gurdurr, Mudsdale, Regirock, and Lurantis, as well as absorb Toxic Spikes. Victreebel's nearly unresisted STAB coverage, good Attack and Special Attack stats, and access to high-Base Power moves like Leaf Storm and Power Whip allow it to threaten the majority of the metagame, including prevalent bulky Pokemon such as Mudsdale, Regirock, and Jellicent as well as top-tier threats like Gurdurr and Eelektross. Its ability to run both physically and specially offensive sets viably makes it unpredictable and very difficult to switch into, with counters to specially offensive Victreebel like Cryogonal and Drampa being unable to switch into physical moves like Power Whip and Poison Jab and Pokemon that can wall Swords Dance Victreebel like Alolan Sandslash and Metang being threatened by Hidden Power Fire. However, Victreebel struggles against Flying-types such as Oricorio-G, Articuno, and Altaria that can reliably switch in multiple times on the majority of Victreebel's sets and take it out easily. Moreover, Victreebel's mediocre bulk and middling Speed tier leave it easily revenge killed by a wide array of faster threats including Oricorio-E, Kangaskhan, Dodrio, Simisear, and Choice Scarf Aurorus.
[SET]
name: Specially Offensive
move 1: Strength Sap
move 2: Leaf Storm
move 3: Sludge Bomb
move 4: Hidden Power Fire
item: Grassium Z / Rocky Helmet
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Leaf Storm is Victreebel's strongest STAB move, allowing it to take out slower targets like Mudsdale, Regirock, Jellicent, Carracosta, and Aggron easily; pressure others like Eelektross, Stoutland, and Gurdurr; and prevent faster threats like Kangaskhan and Choice Scarf Aurorus from switching in safely. Sludge Bomb does not drop Victreebel's Special Attack and lets it target opposing Grass-types like Ludicolo, Abomasnow, Tangela, and Lurantis, as well as Fairy-types like Silvally-Fairy and Pokemon that resist or are immune to Leaf Storm like Simisear, Dodrio, and Drampa. Hidden Power Fire threatens Steel-types like Alolan Sandslash and Ferroseed that can otherwise wall Victreebel.
Set Details
========
A Timid nature, along with maximum investment in Speed, enables Victreebel to outspeed neutral-natured Stoutland and Ludicolo as well as positive-natured Alolan Sandslash. Alternatively, a Modest nature can be used to increase Victreebel's power, notably raising its chance of OHKOing targets like Jellicent, Qwilfish, and Claydol with Leaf Storm. Grassium Z enables Victreebel to KO targets such as Lanturn and to avoid the drop in Special Attack from Leaf Storm when targeting bulky Pokemon like Eelektross or using its Grass-type move on consecutive turns. If your team's Z-Move slot is already occupied, Victreebel can use Rocky Helmet to further pressure Pokemon that use contact moves like Gurdurr, Stoutland, and Skuntank, allowing it to deal residual damage while simultaneously using Strength Sap to replenish its HP.
Usage Tips
========
Victreebel can be brought in on targets that don't threaten it like Mudsdale, Regirock, Gurdurr, and Lurantis, as well as on Choice item users like Stoutland and Absol locked into unfavorable moves so it can proceed to either attempt to wallbreak or recover health with Strength Sap. However, it should be wary of using Strength Sap against Primeape, as it is able to 2HKO Victreebel with any of its moves after an Attack boost from Defiant. Otherwise, it should be brought in by pivots on targets that it can't switch in on easily or that threaten it with their potential coverage options like Hitmonchan and Golurk. Early-game, when counters to Victreebel like Oricorio-G and Cryogonal are on the field, it should prioritize using Strength Sap to secure additional opportunities to switch in or perform aggressive double switches out of its counters. Additionally, Victreebel should be preserved or kept healthy via Strength Sap if it needs to stick around to counter Pokemon like Gurdurr late-game. Bloom Doom should be reserved for mid- or late-game, ideally until counters like Cryogonal are KOed or in the move's KO range. It should also be used as a means of avoiding the Special Attack drop from Leaf Storm to guarantee a 2HKO on bulky Pokemon like Eelektross. Victreebel should use its Poison typing to sponge Toxic for its teammates, as well as remove Toxic Spikes from the field upon switching in.
Team Options
========
Victreebel highly benefits from pivots such as Lanturn, Primeape, Rotom-F, and Silvally-Fairy that can bring it in safely with Volt Switch, U-turn, or Parting Shot on targets that it can't switch into freely such as Stoutland, Jellicent, and Claydol. Lanturn is a particularly good teammate for Victreebel, as its typing and bulk allow it to switch comfortably into threats like Oricorio-E, Rotom-F, non-Grassium Z Simisear, Swanna, and Floatzel, while it appreciates Victreebel taking care of Grass- and Ground-types such as Lurantis and Mudsdale as well as opposing Lanturn. Rotom-F and Silvally-Fairy can also provide Defog support in addition to Volt Switch and Parting Shot; the former can also pressure Oricorio-G and Oricorio-E and appreciates Victreebel's ability to check Gurdurr and Lanturn, and the latter can act as a secondary Fighting-type check and ease pressure off Victreebel by checking Gurdurr and Hitmonchan. Jellicent can support Victreebel defensively by alleviating the pressure of checking Fighting-types like Primeape and Hitmonchan while also taking on various checks to Victreebel such as Alolan Sandslash, Combusken, and Scyther.
Victreebel appreciates entry hazard support from Stealth Rock setters such as Regirock, Torterra, and Mudsdale, as they help it pressure Flying- and Ice-types such as Oricorio-E and Cryogonal as well as ease its task of taking out Pokemon such as Torterra and Silvally-Fairy. Regirock can also switch in reliably on Pokemon like Oricorio-G, Cryogonal, and Articuno, and Torterra helps Victreebel pressure mutual targets like Eelektross. Cryogonal and Alolan Sandslash provide Victreebel with reliable entry hazard removal, as well as a solid specially defensive backbone by switching in on threats like Oricorio-E and Oricorio-G. In return, Victreebel can check Fighting-types like Gurdurr and Hitmonchan for them. Stoutland, as well as offensive variants of Alolan Sandslash, stand out as excellent offensive partners to Victreebel, as they can reliably take out some of Victreebel's counters such as Cryogonal, Articuno, Audino, and Altaria, while Victreebel is capable of reliably switching into and taking out threats that Stoutland and Alolan Sandslash struggle with such as Gurdurr, Regirock, Mudsdale, and Tangela. Additionally, they assist each other by pressuring shared targets such as Eelektross for Stoutland and Torterra for Alolan Sandslash.
Rock-types like Carracosta and Lycanroc appreciate Victreebel taking out Pokemon that can wall them, stop them from setting up, or cripple them with Will-O-Wisp, like Tangela, Jellicent, and Sableye. In return, they can force out threats to Victreebel like Oricorio-G and Cryogonal and can threaten Fire-types like Combusken and Simisear with unboosted priority moves after slight chip damage. Choice Scarf Aurorus can notably outspeed and threaten a wide array of Pokemon that can check Victreebel, such as Oricorio-G, Silvally-Dragon, and Drampa, as well as lure in Cryogonal and Rotom-F and weaken them with Stone Edge. In exchange, Victreebel can check Stealth Rock setters that wear Aurorus down like Regirock and Carbink, as well as Fighting-types like Gurdurr and Primeape. Skuntank appreciates Victreebel checking physical walls like Mudsdale and Regirock, and in return, it is able to check and Pursuit trap Psychic-types that Victreebel struggles with such as Musharna, Alolan Raichu, Jynx, and Bronzor. Simisear highly appreciates Victreebel pressuring Pokemon like Lanturn with super effective coverage as well as chipping Dragon-types like Drampa, Altaria, and Silvally-Dragon with Sludge Bomb, making it easier for Simisear to break past them late-game.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Strength Sap
move 3: Power Whip
move 4: Poison Jab
item: Grassium Z / Lum Berry
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance allows Victreebel to set up and threaten physically defensive Pokemon that would otherwise wall it, such as Tangela, as well as to pressure bulky attackers like Eelektross, Gurdurr, Musharna, and Drampa more easily. Power Whip is Victreebel's strongest physical Grass-type STAB move, allowing it to break through bulky Water- and Ground-types like Jellicent, Lanturn, and Mudsdale, as well as slower targets such as Eelektross and unsuspecting switch-ins such as Cryogonal. Poison Jab targets Drampa, which is immune to Power Whip, as well as Grass-types like Lurantis and Tangela and Fairy-types like Silvally-Fairy and Clefairy.
Set Details
========
A Jolly nature is preferred to outspeed neutral-natured Stoutland, Ludicolo, and Absol, while an Adamant nature can be used to pressure threats like Eelektross and Gurdurr more heavily, notably giving Victreebel a higher chance to OHKO the former with Grassium Z-boosted Power Whip. Grassium Z allows Victreebel to take out Mudsdale from full health and Eelektross and Regirock after slight chip damage even without a Swords Dance boost, as well as Torterra after a Swords Dance boost. Alternatively, Lum Berry prevents Victreebel from getting crippled by Will-O-Wisp users like Jellicent and Sableye, as well as Scald users that it otherwise switches into easily like bulky Lanturn and Gastrodon.
Usage Tips
========
Early-game, Victreebel should take advantage of opposing Pokemon like Cryogonal and Audino that expect to switch into specially offensive sets and heavily damage them with Power Whip. Rather than throwing out attacks with Victreebel early-game, conceal the fact that Victreebel is physically offensive rather than specially offensive and gauge the opponent's response to Victreebel before unleashing Bloom Doom. Victreebel should preferably be brought in by VoltTurn partners or to revenge kill foes whenever possible to make it less reliant on Strength Sap to preserve its longevity and ability to counter Pokemon like Mudsdale repeatedly. Against more offensive teams or in the presence of a counter to Victreebel like Oricorio-G or Alolan Sandslash, Victreebel should prioritize recovering health lost from countering Pokemon like Gurdurr and Regirock with Strength Sap or performing double switches out of its counters. When it can force a switch, Victreebel should attempt to boost its Attack with Swords Dance so it can wallbreak more efficiently.
Team Options
========
Victreebel fits well on VoltTurn teams than can provide it with opportunities to come in safely on targets such as Eelektross, Jellicent, Golurk, and Audino and proceed to wallbreak or set up on forced switches, with ideal partners including Eelektross, Lanturn, Primeape, and Alolan Persian. Eelektross and Lanturn can assist Victreebel by pressuring Flying-types like Oricorio-G, Dodrio, and Swanna with super effective coverage. In addition, Eelektross can take out Steel-types that Victreebel struggles with such as Ferroseed, Metang, and Alolan Sandslash with Flamethrower, and Lanturn can check Fire-types like Simisear and Combusken and heal Victreebel of burns with Heal Bell. Primeape highly appreciates Victreebel's ability to check Pokemon that it struggles to break through, like Mudsdale, Regirock, Jellicent, and Tangela, and in return, Primeape can check faster targets that threaten Victreebel like Kangaskhan, Simisear, and Choice Scarf Aurorus, as well as Steel-types like Alolan Sandslash. Alolan Persian can assist Victreebel by pressuring Psychic-types such as Musharna, Alolan Raichu, and Metang and by giving it opportunities to set up thanks to Parting Shot, and in return, it appreciates Victreebel checking Fighting-types like Gurdurr and Hitmonchan.
Victreebel appreciates Stealth Rock support from setters like Regirock, Mudsdale, and Torterra, as the chip damage from entry hazards helps it check targets like Articuno, Drampa, Gurdurr, and Torterra more easily. Regirock in particular has great synergy with Victreebel, as it is able to check Ice-types like Alolan Sandslash and Cryogonal, Flying-types like Oricorio-E and Dodrio, and faster Normal-types like Kangaskhan, while Victreebel can threaten Water-types like Lanturn as well as opposing Grass-types like Tangela and Lurantis. Cryogonal also has excellent synergy with Victreebel, as it is able to switch in reliably on threats to Victreebel like Oricorio-E, Oricorio-G, and Swanna, and it also assists it by pressuring shared targets such as Torterra, Drampa, and Jellicent. In return, Victreebel can reliably switch into and threaten Pokemon that Cryogonal is incapable of handling, such as Gurdurr and Regirock, as well as pressure other physical attackers such as Stoutland, Skuntank, and Hitmonchan.
Fire-types like Combusken and Simisear highly appreciate Victreebel taking out bulky Water- and Rock-types such as Jellicent, Lanturn, and Regirock, allowing them to function as late-game cleaners more easily. They can also pressure Steel-types like Alolan Sandslash and Metang as well as Ice-types like Cryogonal and Abomasnow that threaten Victreebel. Jellicent benefits from Victreebel's ability to lure and take out specially defensive walls such as Cryogonal and Audino and threaten opposing Water-types such as Lanturn and Gastrodon. In return, it assists Victreebel by reliably switching into Alolan Sandslash and checking Fire-types like Simisear and Combusken. Musharna can use Future Sight to enhance Victreebel's wallbreaking potential further, as there are very few Pokemon that can comfortably take both Future Sight and a boosted Power Whip, as well as support it with Healing Wish, creating more opportunities for it to wallbreak or set up and alleviating the pressure of having to use Strength Sap for recovery.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Victreebel can be used as a sweeper on Sunny Day teams with a moveset consisting of Growth, Solar Beam, Sludge Bomb, and Weather Ball. However, it is extremely reliant on sun to function and can be easily shut down by Snow Warning users like Aurorus and Abomasnow. Sleep Powder can be used on both sets to shut down some of Victreebel's common switch-ins such as Oricorio-G and Cryogonal; however, Victreebel struggles to fit it over extra coverage. Knock Off can be used on mixed or physical sets, allowing Victreebel to deal significant damage to switch-ins like Oricorio-G and Cryogonal as well as weaken checks like Metang and Bronzor, and Sucker Punch allows Swords Dance Victreebel to also threaten revenge killers such as Alolan Raichu and Jynx. However, it struggles to fit either move over generally more useful coverage options; furthermore, Sucker Punch is incompatible with Power Whip and leaves Victreebel reliant on a much weaker Grass-type STAB move in Leaf Blade, making it harder to pressure foes like Eelektross and Torterra. Poisonium Z can be used over Grassium Z to pressure Dragon- and Flying-types, and it lends physically offensive sets a notably better matchup against stall, with primary targets being Articuno and Altaria; however, it misses out on Grassium Z's superior coverage. Air Balloon can be used to ease Victreebel's task of switching into Mudsdale and Torterra, as switching into a correctly predicted Earthquake can allow Victreebel to use one of its coverage moves and lower the pressure of having to heal damage from Earthquake with Strength Sap. However, the benefits of using it are very situational compared to items like Grassium Z and Rocky Helmet, which improve Victreebel's matchup against a broader range of threats.
Checks and Counters
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**Flying-types**: While they don't like getting poisoned by Poison-type coverage moves, Oricorio-G, Oricorio-E, and Articuno can all switch in safely on most Victreebel sets with Stealth Rock off the field and force it out with super effective coverage, and the former two can even take advantage of forced switches to set up with Calm Mind. Dodrio and Swanna can easily check Victreebel, although they can't switch in directly on it.
**Fire-types**: Combusken, Simisear, and Turtonator can all check Victreebel from full health and either take it out or set up on it. None of them can switch in safely, however, as they take substantial damage from Poison-type moves.
**Revenge Killers**: Although none of them can switch in safely on any of Victreebel's moves, faster threats like Alolan Raichu, Choice Scarf Aurorus, Choice Scarf Abomasnow, Rotom-F, and Jynx can all KO Victreebel with super effective STAB moves from full health, while Kangaskhan and Floatzel can take it out after slight chip damage, with the latter also being able to Pursuit trap it.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Cryogonal and Audino can come in safely on any of specially offensive Victreebel's moves and proceed to either take it out or pass Wish. Drampa is also notable for its ability to switch in on predicted Grass moves like Strength Sap due to its access to Sap Sipper, and it can even take one Sludge Bomb comfortably. They are all incapable of switching in on Swords Dance variants, however, and Drampa also doesn't like getting poisoned from Sludge Bomb.
**Steel-types**: While they all fear Hidden Power Fire, Steel-types like Alolan Sandslash and Metang can effectively wall Swords Dance variants of Victreebel and can set up as it's forced out. Alolan Sandslash can even outspeed Victreebel under hail and revenge kill it.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[royesk, 474994]]
- Earlier versions by: [[Aaronboyer, 239454], [gum, 434150]]
- Quality checked by: [[TONE, 213583], [2xTheTap, 11407], [gum, 434150]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [Empress, 175616]]
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