[OVERVIEW]
Volcanion is one of the most reliable Fire-types in Doubles OU thanks to its great defensive Fire / Water typing, good bulk, and high Special Attack stat. In stark contrast to most Fire-types, Volcanion is able to wall most opposing Water-types thanks to its Water Absorb ability, although it still struggles to do meaningful damage back to them. Volcanion sits at a middling Speed tier, so it's usually forced to absorb attacks before dealing its own in return. Its good bulk allows it to do this reasonably well, but it thrives best when it's supported by speed control like Tailwind or Trick Room. Offensively, Volcanion's typing offers decent STAB coverage but still leaves it walled by certain foes, including Water-types like Tapu Fini and Dragon-types like Mega Salamence. Volcanion can carry coverage moves to address some of its checks, but it suffers from four-moveslot syndrome in that it doesn't have enough room to pack all of the coverage moves it wants to run. Despite all of this, however, Volcanion can easily become a staple Pokemon for teams that otherwise struggle to break down opposing Steel-types like Mega Metagross, Ferrothorn, and Mega Scizor.
[SET]
name: All-out Attacker
move 1: Steam Eruption
move 2: Heat Wave
move 3: Hidden Power Ice / Earth Power
move 4: Protect
item: Shuca Berry / Waterium Z
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Modest
evs: 208 HP / 212 SpA / 44 SpD / 44 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Steam Eruption serves as Volcanion's strongest and most reliable single-target STAB attack. Heat Wave is Volcanion's preferred secondary STAB attack, offering spread coverage and a reliable way of dealing with Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor. Hidden Power Ice is a coverage option that allows Volcanion to reliably hit Dragon-types like Mega Salamence and Zygarde. Alternatively, Earth Power is mainly used to beat Volcanion mirrors but also serves a few other minor niches like hitting Heatran in the sun or Tapu Koko on a predicted switch. Sludge Bomb is usable to hit several Pokemon that Volcanion generally has a positive matchup against but can't really deal significant damage to, such as Tapu Fini and Ludicolo. Protect keeps Volcanion safe while its partners deal with any possible threats.
Set Details
========
Shuca Berry is Volcanion's preferred item, allowing it to survive strong Ground-type attacks from foes like Landorus-T and Zygarde and retaliable with Steam Eruption or Hidden Power Ice. Alternatively, Waterium Z lets Volcanion blast a target with an absurdly strong STAB attack, notably being able to OHKO Mega Tyranitar in sand. A Modest nature with the given EV spread allows Volcanion to survive a Tectonic Rage from Adamant Landorus-T, factoring in the Shuca Berry; survive one Life Orb Psychic from Timid Tapu Lele; outspeed an uninvested Tapu Bulu; and hit as hard as possible, with the remaining EVs invested into Special Attack.
Alternatively, a faster spread of 120 HP / 4 Def / 112 SpA / 20 SpD / 252 Spe with a Modest nature allows Volcanion to: move as fast as possible (and when applicable outspeed Choice Scarf Tapu Lele under Tailwind); OHKO Mega Tyranitar with Hydro Vortex; survive a +1 Rock Slide from Mega Tyranitar; and take special attacks more easily, with the remaining EVs being placed into Special Defense.
Aside from the given spreads above, Volcanion's EV spread options are pretty flexible overall; the HP, Special Attack, and Speed EVs can be redistributed as you see fit, but Waterium Z sets should retain at least 112 SpA, 120 HP, and 4 Def to win the matchup versus Mega Tyranitar. On Trick Room teams, a Quiet nature is usable over Modest to minimize Speed.
Usage Tips
========
Volcanion is good at applying offensive pressure in the mid- or late-game, after checks and faster attackers like Tapu Koko and Landorus-T have been dealt with, because its Fire / Water STAB coverage and coverage move allow it to clean up against many targets. This isn't to say that Volcanion can't be used as a lead or early-game pivot; its good bulk and defensive typing allow it to do this with relative ease; however, with a middling Speed tier and predictably linear movepool, Volcanion can be easy to play around and force out. Ideally, it wants to pivot in on Water-type attacks, since Water Absorb allows it to recover HP from them. That said, it can end up in a stalemate versus bulky Water-types like Tapu Fini and Volcanion mirrors if it doesn't have the appropriate coverage moves to deal with them. If you do deploy Volcanion early on in the game, try to preserve its HP, since it loses its effectiveness as a late-game cleaner if its HP is too low to withstand opposing attacks. Where possible, make use of speed control tactics like Tailwind, Icy Wind, and Trick Room so Volcanion can get the upper hand on faster Pokemon like Landorus-T and Mega Tyranitar; foes that Volcanion checks when it has the speed advantage but loses to when it doesn't.
Team Options
========
Teams that struggle to beat bulky Steel-types like Ferrothorn, Celesteela, and Aegislash appreciate Volcanion's presence. Speed control users allow Volcanion to overcome its middling Speed to become a threatening attacker: Zapdos and Mega Salamence can reliably set Tailwind and have decent type synergy with Volcanion, notably being able to deal respectable damage to bulky Water-types like Tapu Fini and opposing Volcanion mirrors; Kyurem-B can reliably use Icy Wind and also hit opposing Water-types with Fusion Bolt; and Trick Room setters such as Hoopa-U, Mega Gardevoir, and Bronzong can give Volcanion the speed control it needs if its EV spread minimizes its Speed investment. Volcanion is threatened out by Electric-types like Tapu Koko and Zapdos, Ground-types like Landorus-T and Zygarde, and Rock-types like Tyranitar, so checks to these such as Landorus-T, Zygarde, and Mega Metagross are always appreciated. Bulky Water-types like Tapu Fini, Volcanion, and Milotic essentially wall Volcanion (though coverage moves can mitigate this a bit), so strong Electric- and Grass-types like Tapu Koko, Zapdos, and Tapu Bulu make for great partners. Tapu Bulu is a notably great partner for Volcanion; the duo form a solid Fire / Water / Grass core, and Grassy Terrain mitigates Volcanion's weakness to Earthquake.
[SET]
name: Substitute
move 1: Steam Eruption
move 2: Heat Wave
move 3: Substitute
move 4: Protect
item: Leftovers
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Modest
evs: 220 HP / 76 SpA / 212 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Steam Eruption gives Volcanion a strong single-target STAB attack, and Heat Wave gives it a strong spread STAB option. Substitute is especially viable on Volcanion due to its good defensive typing, ability to force switches, and access to strong STAB moves. When executed successfully, Substitute can give Volcanion a lot of momentum to either pressure the foe into attacking it or stall time with Protect for Leftovers recovery.
Set Details
========
Leftovers provides a consistent recovery option that can be repeatedly taken advantage of by cycling through Protect and Substitute turns. The given EV spread allows Volcanion to ensure its Substitute is never broken by Amoonguss's Sludge Bomb, and the remaining EVs are invested into Special Attack with a Modest nature to make Volcanion hit as hard as possible. That said, the EVs can be shifted around to meet your team's specific requirements for bulk, power, and speed. On Trick Room teams, a Quiet nature is usable over Modest to minimize Speed.
Usage Tips
========
The main goal of this set is to position Volcanion into a situation where it can comfortably get behind a Substitute. To accomplish this, take advantage of predicted switches, passive plays, or matchups where the opposing Pokemon simply don't pose a threat to Volcanion. Similarly to more offensive sets, Substitute Volcanion is most effective mid-game after its checks have been dealt with. However, once behind a Substitute, Volcanion has more freedom to stay in on its would-be checks to fire off strong STAB attacks in retaliation. Use Protect liberally once Substitute is up to take advantage of free Leftovers recovery turns and to play mind games with the opponent, who will likely feel pressured to double target Volcanion. Water Absorb allows Volcanion to effortlessly pivot in on Water-type attacks, although Volcanion ends up in a "stalemate" situation against bulky Water-types like Tapu Fini and Volcanion mirrors, and Substitute Volcanion lacks the coverage moves to hit these Pokemon back. Sometimes you can take advantage of these situations to attack the Water-type's partner, but if Volcanion is feeling like dead weight, you're best off preserving it for later in the match. Volcanion has good bulk and a decent defensive typing, so it can be used as a pivot into neutral and resisted attacks. However, you generally should preserve Volcanion's HP as much as possible so it can clean up late-game or retain enough HP to use Substitute more effectively later on. Where possible, make use of speed control tactics like Tailwind, Icy Wind, and Trick Room so Volcanion can get the upper hand on faster foes like Mega Tyranitar and Landorus-T that it wants to check but can't quite outpace.
Team Options
========
Tapu Bulu is an excellent partner for Substitute Volcanion; Grassy Terrain compounds the turn-by-turn recovery Volcanion already receives from Leftovers and also mitigates Volcanion's weakness to Earthquake. Teams that struggle to beat bulky Steel-types like Ferrothorn, Celesteela, and Aegislash also appreciate Volcanion's presence. Speed control users allow Volcanion to overcome its middling speed to become a threatening attacker: Zapdos and Mega Salamence can reliably set Tailwind and have decent type synergy with Volcanion, notably being able to deal respectable damage to bulky Water-types like Tapu Fini and opposing Volcanion; Kyurem-B can reliably use Icy Wind and also hit Water-types with Fusion Bolt; and Trick Room setters such as Hoopa-U, Mega Gardevoir, and Bronzong can give Volcanion the speed control it needs if its EV spread minimizes its Speed investment. Volcanion is threatened out by Electric-types like Tapu Koko and Zapdos, Ground-types like Landorus-T and Zygarde, and Rock-types like Tyranitar, so checks to these such as Landorus-T, Zygarde, and Mega Metagross are always appreciated. Bulky Water-types like Tapu Fini, Volcanion, and Milotic completely wall Substitute Volcanion, so strong Electric- and Grass-types like Tapu Koko, Zapdos, and Tapu Bulu make for great partners.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Assault Vest is a fantastic option that turns Volcanion into an all-around bulky tank, notably allowing it to survive a Life Orb-boosted Thunderbolt from Tapu Koko when running 244 HP and 96 Special Defense EVs. Mago Berry or Iapapa Berry can be used for a more immediate recovery option; Volcanion's good bulk gives it plenty of opportunity to drop down into activation range. Firium Z is an option to turn Heat Wave into a stronger single-target move to hit hard against targets like Amoonguss, which are likely to survive a Heat Wave, as well as to provide Volcanion with a single-target super effective attack that can hit Wide Guard users like Celesteela and Aegislash. Flamethrower, Fire Blast, and Overheat are also usable as single-target options to hit Wide Guard users, either as a replacement for or as a supplement to Heat Wave. Solar Beam used in tandem with Grassium Z allows Volcanion to hit hard against bulky Water-types like Tapu Fini and Milotic, which otherwise wall it. Mystic Water and Charcoal can be used for greater consistent power as alternatives to Waterium Z. Other damage-reducing Berries, like Wacan Berry and Charti Berry, can be used over Shuca Berry to mitigate specific weaknesses depending on your team's needs. Haze is usable to shut down opposing setup.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Electric-types**: Tapu Koko, Zapdos, and Rotom-W can all outspeed Volcanion and threaten it with super effective Electric-type attacks. Rotom-W also walls Volcanion's STAB attacks, while Misty Seed or Psychic Seed Zapdos just has generally high Special Defense that allows it to comfortably take Volcanion's attacks. Kyurem-B's Fusion Bolt also inflicts severe damage to Volcanion.
**Dragon-types**: Dragon-types like Mega Salamence and Kingdra resist both of Volcanion's STAB attacks and can hit back reasonably hard. Kyurem-B lacks a Fire resistance, but variants carrying Assault Vest still take relatively little damage from Volcanion's Heat Wave. Hidden Power Ice can be used to address Mega Salamence, but Volcanion remains relatively helpless against Kyurem-B and Kingdra.
**Ground-types**: Ground-types like Landorus-T and Zygarde outspeed Volcanion and threaten it with super effective STAB attacks, although Shuca Berry can be used to mitigate this weakness. Zygarde in particular can be a problem for Volcanion, as it only takes neutral damage from Steam Eruption.
**Rock-types**: Rock-type attackers like Tyranitar and Diancie threaten Volcanion with super effective damage, but Volcanion threatens them back if it survives long enough to strike with Steam Eruption.
**Strong Special Attackers**: Volcanion's Special Defense is passable but nothing extraordinary for a bulky attacker. Pokemon with strong special attacks, like Deoxys-A, Tapu Lele, and Mega Gengar, are able to threaten significant damage, if not an outright KO, before Volcanion has a chance to move.
**Faster Pokemon**: Without speed control on its side, Volcanion is outsped by a significant portion of the metagame, including many of the threats mentioned above. Pokemon ranging from super effective attackers like Tapu Koko and Mega Diancie to strong neutral attackers like Tapu Lele and Mega Salamence are able to use their speed advantage to either pressure or revenge kill Volcanion.
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