[OVERVIEW]
Weavile's amazing offensive typing, powerful STAB moves in Triple Axel and Knock Off, and Speed tier cement it as one of the most versatile offensive Pokemon in the metagame, capable of performing several useful roles in wallbreaker, revenge killer, and late-game cleaner. Weavile also has some defensive use, as its resistance to Ghost and immunity to Psychic makes it a usable stopgap against Dragapult, as well as a pivot into Tapu Lele and Future Sight in a pinch for many offensive teams. Its priority Ice Shard also revenge kills even faster threats like Speed-boosted Garchomp, Hawlucha, and Dragonite. Both its Swords Dance and Choice Band sets let it sweep effortlessly even through opposing physical walls, including Corviknight, Buzzwole, and Clefable, with Swords Dance setting up on forced switches gained from its unique typing. One of Weavile's biggest drawbacks is its unreliability when using Triple Axel—although the move is extremely powerful when it hits fully, there is a sizable chance to do negligible damage or miss altogether. Weavile's multi-hit Triple Axel can also be heavily punished with contact-based effects like Corviknight's and Toxapex's Rocky Helmet, Ferrothorn's Iron Barbs, and Heatran's Flame Body. Non-Heavy-Duty Boots sets also suffer major chip damage from Stealth Rock, requiring extensive Defog support from teammates to ensure safe entry.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Triple Axel / Icicle Crash
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Ice Shard
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Pressure
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Swords Dance allows Weavile to be one of the best late-game cleaners in OU. After some prior chip damage, Weavile is able to break past its usual checks such as Clefable, Toxapex, and Corviknight and sweep through the opposing team. It can set up on forced switches from Pokemon like Galarian Slowking and Landorus-T, as well as more offensive threats like Garchomp, Hydreigon, and Choice-locked Dragapult. While Triple Axel is incredibly strong, Icicle Crash has higher cumulative accuracy and avoids contact, and its flinch chance often saves Weavile in late-game scenarios. However, Icicle Crash is significantly weaker, which is especially noticeable against Clefable, Buzzwole, and Skarmory. Weavile uses Knock Off on defensive Pokemon like Corviknight, Buzzwole, and Clefable early-game to better chip these targets down via entry hazards or pivoting teammates in preparation for an endgame with Triple Axel. It often prefers to keep Ice-resistant foes with recovery, like Toxapex, holding their item so it can do more damage when it comes time to sweep. Ice Shard revenge kills faster threats like Dragapult, Scale Shot Garchomp, and Hawlucha, and it can facilitate a late-game sweep by picking off weakened revenge killers like Tapu Koko and Zeraora. Low Kick can also serve as a way to surprise Ferrothorn, Melmetal, and other Weavile, especially useful alongside Tapu Lele, which appreciates Weavile luring these Steel-types and would otherwise block its Ice Shard with Psychic Surge. While a Jolly nature is often used on teams to outspeed and OHKO Tornadus-T, an Adamant nature can alternatively be used to make Weavile much harder to check, most notably increasing the chance to OHKO Clefable after a boost while dealing noticeably increased damage to Corviknight and Toxapex.
Swords Dance Weavile shines on offensive teams, where it has several pivots to minimize risk when switching in and teammates to help it overwhelm common walls. Some examples of these teammates are Dragapult, Tapu Lele, and Melmetal, which are all able to target and overwhelm common Steel-type shared checks like Ferrothorn, Melmetal, and Heatran. Weavile removing these Steel-types' Leftovers lets this combination of offensive threats overwhelm them much more easily. Garchomp and Urshifu-R can help break through Clefable, Tapu Fini, and Corviknight for Weavile to easily clean up, and Heatran is an exceptional partner because it keeps Stealth Rock up while exerting pressure on all of Weavile's Fairy- and Steel-type checks. It also notably forces damage onto Tapu Fini, one of Weavile's best answers. Weavile also finds a cozy niche on typical Magnezone offense teams, where it benefits from Magnezone removing Ferrothorn, Skarmory, and Corviknight, and it helps overload other Steel-types alongside other common partners like Tapu Fini and Kartana. Whirlpool Tapu Fini can function similarly to Magnezone in that it removes Toxapex and Ferrothorn while checking Urshifu-R, one of Weavile's common switch-ins.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Triple Axel / Icicle Crash
move 3: Ice Shard
move 4: Low Kick / Icicle Crash
item: Choice Band
ability: Pressure
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Band Weavile uses immediate wallbreaking power with extremely strong STAB moves and instant pressure to break through teams. While Triple Axel is the Ice-type STAB move of choice, Icicle Crash can be run for more reliable, but weaker, damage. Some Weavile opt to run both Triple Axel and Icicle Crash, keeping the former's power while minimizing the risk of missing and avoiding adverse contact effects when needed. Ice Shard is exceptionally good at revenge killing faster Dragon- and Flying-type threats, and it can even sweep through more offensive teams effectively in endgame scenarios. Choice Band Weavile's last moveslot depends on the team support surrounding it. Low Kick is most often used to hit Steel-types like Heatran, Ferrothorn, and Melmetal for super effective damage. Beat Up, especially when paired with teammates with high Attack, is great as an immensely strong, non-contact STAB move with great neutral coverage to easily bust through targets early-game like Rocky Helmet Corviknight and Toxapex. However, its restriction in keeping teammates alive and without status makes it less reliable than other options. Aerial Ace can occasionally snipe Buzzwole and pave the way for other physically attacking teammates. While an Adamant nature is most often used to maximize damage output, a Jolly nature can be utilized instead if a team lacks speed control.
Choice Band Weavile's susceptibility to entry hazards makes Defoggers prime teammates. It's not uncommon to see multiple Defoggers, like Corviknight, Landorus-T, and Tornadus-T, providing constant Defog support and using U-turn to minimize the risk of Weavile switching in. One example is pivoting Weavile in on predicted switches into other Flying-types like Landorus-T and Zapdos. Slowking, Galarian Slowking, and Slowbro are also amazing partners. In addition to their safe switch-ins with Teleport, their Future Sight support can help it break through erstwhile checks like Toxapex and Buzzwole and help it overwhelm other physical walls such as Skarmory much more easily. They are also both able to switch into Heatran, Tapu Fini, and Urshifu-R, three of Weavile's notable checks. Physical attackers like Melmetal, Kartana, and Garchomp can help overwhelm common shared checks like Toxapex, Clefable, and Corviknight while boosting the power of Beat Up and appreciating Weavile revenge killing faster threats like Dragapult and Tornadus-T.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Weavile can run Wide Lens on Swords Dance sets to make Triple Axel almost always full power. However, the tradeoff of taking damage from entry hazards, notably losing its ability to pivot in and out freely, almost always makes Heavy-Duty Boots the superior option. Life Orb can also be used for a huge power boost, notably allowing an OHKO on Corviknight with Triple Axel after a Swords Dance boost, at the cost of most of its longevity and long-term offensive potential through Life Orb recoil and its vulnerability to entry hazards. Life Orb Weavile is most often used on hyper offense teams, aiming to wallbreak early-game while hazards are off the field.
Checks and Counters
====
**Physical Walls**: Physically defensive walls like Toxapex and Buzzwole can often switch into and force out Weavile, but they can be overwhelmed easily long-term via Knock Off, entry hazards, or Future Sight support. Physically defensive Toxapex with Haze can outlast Swords Dance Weavile while threatening a Scald burn or Toxic.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types like Skarmory, Ferrothorn, Melmetal, and Heatran can situationally switch into Weavile over the course of a game, though they dislike having their items removed. Rocky Helmet Skarmory and Corviknight and Iron Barbs Ferrothorn can also harshly punish Weavile's Triple Axel. Physically defensive Magnezone can also eat one hit and OHKO back with Body Press, making it a popular option for offense teams lacking room for a more dedicated check.
**Fairy-types**: Tapu Fini is one of Weavile's only real counters in the tier through its defensive typing. However, it fails to act as an adequate long-term answer, especially when switching into Weavile with entry hazards up. Physically defensive Clefable, especially when utilizing Unaware, can also switch into and take on most Weavile variants when it is healthy. Tapu Koko can switch into Knock Off or revenge kill it, although it needs a bit of prior chip damage to OHKO with Dazzling Gleam.
**Adverse Contact Effects**: Rocky Helmet and Iron Barbs damage from defensive Pokemon like Ferrothorn, Skarmory, and Corviknight inflict permanent damage on Weavile and dissuade it from using its spammable contact STAB moves. Zapdos's Static and Volcarona's and Heatran's Flame Body can also be used tactically to cripple Weavile with status.
**Revenge Killers**: Faster revenge killers like Zeraora, Tapu Koko, and Choice Scarf Tapu Lele can survive or negate Weavile's Ice Shard and force it out with the threat of a KO. Urshifu-R and—often Choice Scarf—Tapu Fini can easily switch into Weavile's STAB moves to eat a hit and OHKO it back.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[airfare, 513717]]
- Quality checked by: [[ausma, 360720], [Clone, 218318], [Abhi, 526927]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [Estronic, 240732]]
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