[Overview]
<p>The fifth generation introduced yet another moth
pokemon Pokemon, but unlike most of it
's brethren, this one doesn't suck!
Urugamosu Volcarona sports excellent stats for a special sweeper, one of the best and most exclusive boosting moves in Butterfly Dance
as well as , and unique typing in Fire / Bug that offers resistance
s to popular priority attacks including Mach Punch and Bullet Punch. Unfortunately
, his its unique typing also brings a nasty 4x Stealth Rock weakness to the table, greatly limiting the number of times
Urugamosu Volcarona can switch in
aswell asand making Rapid Spin support
pretty much necessary.
But despite that flaw, Despite this flaw, Urugamosu Volcarona is well worth the support it requires, being one of the most dangerous special sweepers in the current OU metagame.</p>
[SET]
name: Offensive Butterfly Dancer
move 1: Butterfly Dance
move 2: Fire Blast / Flame Dance
move 3: Bug Buzz
move 4: Hidden Power Rock / Hidden Power Ground
nature: Timid
item: Life Orb / Lum Berry
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>
Urugamosu Volcarona's stat
s spread calls for a special sweeper
, and this is exactly what this set
aims for accomplishes. Butterfly Dance is obviously
a the boosting move of choice, not only boosting
Urugamosu Volcarona's offensive stats
, but also
his its Special Defense which greatly helps when setting up on special attackers. As said, special attackers should be prime set up bait, but it is also possible to set up on weaker physical attackers whose moves
Urugamosu Volcarona resists
(Nattorei comes to mind) such as Nattorei. After a boost from Butterfly Dance
, Urugamosu Volcarona hits 553 Special Attack
, which makes making STAB Fire Blasts absurdly strong. Flame Dance is an alternative if you prefer accuracy over power and it
can also further also has the chance to boost Special Attack
further. Bug Buzz is your other STAB move
, forming decent coverage with Fire Blast. Despite the potency of
Urugamosu Volcarona's STAB attacks
, there's a number of
pokemon Pokemon in OU that resist the combination.
F The final moveslot is thus filled by a coverage move of choice. Hidden Power Rock offers
the best neutral coverage as well as hitting most fire and flying types
resisting who resist your STABs for
super-effective super effective damage. However it fails to hit Ter
rakion
, this set's number one counter, for even neutral damage. Hidden Power Ground can demolish Heatran, who is otherwise a pain for
Urugamosu Volcarona, while still hitting most other fire types as well as Tentacruel and Ter
rakion for
super-effective super effective damage. Those
pokemon Pokemon often carry Balloon though, making Hidden Power Ground a lesser option.</p>
<p>The EVs are straightforward, maximizing
Urugamosu Volcarona's sweeping potential. Timid is a nature of choice, as without it
, Urugamosu Volcarona misses out on loses out in the highly contested base 100 speed tier
, and can be revenge killed by many
cChoice
sScarf users even after
the a speed boost. Modest gives more power
, but is not recommended. Life Orb is used to get as much power as possible out of
Urugamosu Volcarona's attacks, but Lum Berry is a nice alternative
, preventing status, as it prevents status, in particular paralysis from mischievous heart users, from ruining your sweep.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Psychic is an interesting option for
a coverage move, hitting Ter
rakion and Tentacruel for
Super-effective super effective damage. Other Hidden Power types can be used in the last slot to hit specific threats
your team struggles with.
Hidden Power Electric can be used to combat bulky waters better, especially
Burungeru Jellicent and Tentacruel who resist both your STABs.</p>
<p>Thanks to it's typing
, Urugamosu Volcarona resists most common priority moves (Mach Punch, Bullet Punch,
and Ice Shard) but is weak to Aqua Jet. Choice Band Azumarill is
particulary particularly threatening
, as it can use it's decent bulk to switch into boosted fire attacks and OHKO with Aqua Jet.
Urugamosu Volcarona also has trouble getting through some
pokemon Pokemon depending on it
's choice of coverage move, however most of
them these counters are primarily
using use special attacks and cannot do much to
Urugamosu Volcarona in return.
Also, no matter what coverage move it uses, No matter what coverage move is used Blissey and
pre-evolution stone Pre-Evolution Stone Chansey wall this set
.</p>
<p>
As pretty much every other sweeper, t This set appreciates entry hazard support to aid in killing it
's targets
, m. More importantly however,
Urugamosu Volcarona extremenly appreciates entry hazards
(in particual the crippling Stealth Rock) (in particular, Stealth Rock) being removed from
his its side of the field. Starmie is an excellent choice for a spinner
, as it can take water attacks for
Urugamosu Volcarona,
while it can switch into and setup on grass and bug attacks who in return switches into and sets up on Grass- and Bug-type attacks aimed at Starmie. Tentacruel is also a fine choice
, as it can
not only spin away hazards
, but also and set up Toxic Spikes, greatly hindering Blissey and bulky waters that trouble
Urugamosu Volcarona. Foretress doesn't resist water
, but is otherwise in the same boat as Tentacruel, while also being able to setup every other type of entry hazard. Pokemon that can set up both Reflect and Light Screen―like Deoxys-s, Azelf, and Uxie―are great Pokemon to pair this set with, as the screens can play a positive role
in prolonging
Urugamosu Volcarona's
durability and therefore its sweep. Ninetales's sun support is not mandatory
, but is helpful, as it not only increases the power of fire moves, but
it also remedies
Urugamosu Volcarona's water weakness
, very helpful. This is especially helpful against aforementioned Aqua Jet users.</p>
[SET]
name: Bulky Butterfly Dancer
move 1: Butterfly Dance
move 2: Flame Dance / Fire Blast
move 3: Bug Buzz
move 4: Morning Sun / Hidden Power Rock
nature: Modest / Timid
item: Leftovers
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set exchanges
the raw power of the previous
one set for bulk, aiming to obtain multiple Butterfly Dance boosts
thus making the original power loss irrelevant. , after which power loss will be irrelevant.It will also throw many opponents who expect
ed a frail sweeper off guard. Flame Dance is
the primary option for
the a Fire-type STAB on this set
, as it attempts to boost multiple times. , as it can net boosts while attacking. Urugamosu Volcarona's Flame Body ability does wonders here, as even powerful physical attackers who could break
Urugamosu Volcarona's defenses risk
obtaining a burn. Morning
sSun works very well on this set, allowing
Urugamosu Volcarona to heal off the damage sustained while setting up. It also allows the moth to set up alongside Calm Mind sweepers, even the ones that would force the previous set out
(like Suicine) and prevail in the end. Without sun support
however, Morning
sSun becomes unreliable, so if you are not using this set on a Drought team
, the last moveslot should be filled by a coverage move.</p>
<p>
Contrary to the previous set, all EVs are invested into bulk. Physical Defense is maxed, since
Urugamosu Volcarona will be boos
ting
his its Special Defense with Butterfly Dance anyway. Another option is to use 252 HP / 96 Def / 160 Spe spread with Timid,
which allows allowing for Urugamosu Volcarona to outspeed
Doryuzuu Excadrill in the sand and Kingdra in the rain after
2 Butterfly Dance two boosts from Butterfly Dance, taking . This takes away the option of other weather teams to consecutively switch to change weather and checkmate
Urugamosu Volcarona with speedy sweepers. Due to greater physical bulk, leftovers are an item of choice.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Much like the previous set, a number of different Hidden Power types or Psychic can be used in the last slot. If you're not running this set on a Drought team or simply dislike Morning
sSun, Rest in combination with Chesto Berry in the item slot can be used as a one-time full heal
that can also cure status. Due to the increase in bulk
, priority moves will hardly dent
Urugamosu Volcarona,—even Aqua Jet will be doing pitiful damage. In fact, most neutral physical moves will hardly ever
even net a 2HKO
(and risk a burn from Flame Body). Any decently powerful
rock type move however Rock-type move will still OHKO
, and since this Urugamosu is Volcarona however, and since this set is initally quite slow due to lack of investment in Speed, fast
pokemon Pokemon packing a
rock type attack are your best bet of stopping this set, Rock-type attack are major threats. Te
rrakion in particular
is a major threat, as it can switch into
Urugamosu Volcarona's STAB moves. Blissey and Chansey still wall this set, however without Toxic they won't be able to defeat
Urugamosu Volcaronaas he can just keep dancing., who can dance all the while.</p>
<p>
Even more than the previous set, This set greatly appreciates Ninetales's sun support, powering up
the moth's Fire-type STAB and allow
sing him to
easily take on bulky waters. As always, spinning away Stealth Rock is extremely helpful for
Urugamosu Volcarona, however since both Starmie and Tentacruel aren't very fond of the sunny weather, Donphan might be a better choice. Tentacruel is still useful for removing Toxic Spikes that truly annoy this set, but in the sun Venusaur
can do the same while also being excellent offensive partner for Urugamosu. does the same job while also complimenting the team as an excellent offensive partner for Volcarona.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>As was mentioned several times in the set analysis, there
's are two things
Urugamosu Volcarona greatly appreciates: Rapid Spin support to remove Stealth Rock and
Sun Drought support from Ninetales
(though latter is not mandatory), though the latter is not necessary. If you do not want to use a spinner or if you want additional means of preventing Stealth Rock you can team up Urugamosu with Espeon or Xatu, who can block and reflect entry hazards with their Magic Mirror ability. Additionally, you can team Volcarona with Espeon or Xatu to block and reflect entry hazards with their Magic Mirror ability.</p>
<p>
Urugamosu Volcarona is weak to Rock-, Flying- and
Water type Water-type moves. Empoleon is the only
pokemon Pokemon that resists all of
Urugamosu Volcarona's weaknesses
, although Nattorei works well too, as it resists Rock and Water and is neutral to flying, his great bulk enables him to take these attacks easily.. Ferrothorn works well too, as it resists Rock- and Water-type attacks and is neutral to Flying-type attacks. Furthermore, his its great bulk enables him to take all of these attacks easily. On the other hand, In the same vein, Urugamosu Volcarona resists fighting type moves that those two fear.
Aforementioned pokemon are also best Empoleon and Nattorei are also good counters to Kingdra, who can outspeed and OHKO
Urugamosu Volcarona in the rain. While not
as commonly seen in higher tiers commonly seen in OU, Storm Drain Gastrodon and Water Absorb Quagsire both benefit from switching into Water-type attacks that
Urugamosu Volcarona attracts while also resisting Rock-type attacks. Donphan resists rock and can check
Doryuzuu Excadrill, who outspeeds and OHKOes
Urugamosu Volcarona in the sand. Hippowdon can do the same, but his weather starting ability will often prove harmful for
Urugamosu Volcarona.
Roobushin Conkeldurr is also nice teammate as it resists rock also a nice teammate choice as it resists Rock-type attacks, checks
Doryuzuu Excadrill and other fast threats with priority Mach Punch
, and threatens Blissey and Chansey.</p>
[Optional Changes]
<p>
Urugamosu Volcarona does have several other offensive options
, but most are rather unreliable. Silver Wind could be used in place of Bug Buzz
, with for a chance to raise all of
Urugamosu Volcarona's stats, but is significantly less powerful and has less PP. Hurricane is
a 120 BP Flying-type move
, but it
's 70% accuracy is only improved in rain, which is not
a favourite beneficial weather for
Urugamosu Volcarona. Solarbeam does provide useful coverage by hitting Rock- and Water
- types super-effectively-types for super effective damage and works well in the sun, but if
a weather
-changer switches in
it will tap and possibly KO Urugamosu Volcarona will be trapped mid-move and risk being KOed.
Urugamosu Volcarona also learns a number of support moves
, notably Will-O-Wisp, Toxic and Light Screen along with —notably Will-O-Wisp, Toxic, and Light Screen—along with a recovery move in Morning Sun
, but his criplling weakness to Stealth Rock makes defensive sets not worth it. However, its crippling weakness to Stealth Rock makes defensive sets implausible.
<p>Charti berry might be of use on bulky sets to survive
rock type Rock-type attacks but Offensive Dancer will probably get OHKOed despite it
, but it could use Passho berry. More reasonably, it could use a Passho berry to help it get past Water-type counters. Leftovers are an option even on
an offensive set to help with setting up as well as
to preserve special bulk after the setup
, but Urugamosu will lose . This would come at the cost of losing a few potential OHKOes and
it's still susceptible to status stopping his sweepstill being susceptible to status, which stops Volcarona's sweep. Choice items might seem like a good idea since
Urugamosu Volcarona gains STAB on U-Turn, but it cannot
afford to switch in and out much
at all due to
his its Stealth Rock weakness, making such sets inferior.</p>
[Counters]
<p>By now you've probably noticed how much
Urugamosu Volcarona hates Stealth Rock, so making sure it's always on the opponent's side of the field is your best defense against the moth.
The Bulky Dancer set also hates Toxic Spikes that will effectively put him on a timer. Since
Urugamosu Volcarona will always be boosting Special Defense
alongside Special Attack and Speed, Special Attack, and Speed, it is generally best not to counter it with special attacks. As far as
Urugamosu Volcarona's STABs go, there's
a suprisingly surprisingly large number of pokemon in OU that resist both of them: Heatran, Ter
rakion, Gyarados, Dragonite, Salamence,
Burungeru Jellicent, Tentacruel, and
Shandera Chandelure are just a few examples.
Add Blissey and Chansey to that, as although they don't resist any of Urugamosu's moves, Blissey and Chansey don't resist any of Volcarona's moves but their huge HP and Special Defense allow them to
effectively wall the moth. Note
, however
, that not all of
this pokemon can easily counter Urugamosu, these aforementioned Pokemon can counter Volcarona 100% of the time, as some can be picked off by
its coverage move of choice
, while others, particulary the ones that use special attacks . The ones that use special attacks and resist Volcarona's selected coverage move generally won't be able to do enough damage to prevent
Urugamosu Volcarona from setting up on them
, thus. Thus, they should
rather instead attempt to phaze or
use status move status Volcarona (paralysis for Offensive Dancer,
tToxic for Bulky Dancer). Phazing is generally a great tactic against teams packing
Urugamosu Volcarona as if Stealth Rock is on the field, it will take off half of it's HP should it get dragged out , especially if Stealth Rock is on the field. Aqua Jet users make fine checks to
offensive the Offensive Dancer set
—(Azumarill being the best choice among them
)—but aren't
as effective against bulky sets or in
the sunny weather.
Tyranitar and Politoed are not true counters, but they can both switch on Fire-type moves, change weather and threaten Urugamosu with their STAB moves. Tyranitar is weak to Bug Buzz though and will take massive damage from it while Politoed might struggle to do enough damage against bulky sets Tyranitar and Politoed can both switch into Fire-type moves, change weather, and threaten Volcarona with their STAB moves. However, they should not be considered true counters as Tyranitar takes massive super effective damage from Bug Buzz and Politoed struggles to do substantial damage against bulky sets.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>
Urugamosu Volcarona's Dream World ability is Swarm. While
a boost to Bug Buzz in a pinch is sometimes useful in a KO or be KOed situation, Flame Body is usually better since
Volcarona is primarily targeted by physical attacks.</p>
