qc: hilomolo/xayah/berks
[OVERVIEW]
Budew is the only Pokemon in LC with access to both Spikes and Sleep Powder, making it an excellent lead. Furthermore, Budew's decent defensive typing, usable bulk, and good ability in Natural Cure allow it to beat common Rapid Spin users such as Staryu and Kabuto as well as check common threats such as Mienfoo and Chinchou. However, Budew's low offensive stats make it relatively passive against Pokemon it can't hit for super effective damage, which can leave it as setup bait for common threats such as Vullaby. Furthermore, Budew suffers from slight four-moveslot syndrome, meaning it struggles to do everything it wants to do. Finally, Budew is usually outclassed by Ferroseed as a Grass-type Spikes user because of the latter's superior bulk and typing.
[SET]
name: Entry Hazard Setter
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Sleep Powder / Sludge Bomb
move 3: Synthesis / Giga Drain
move 4: Giga Drain / Sludge Bomb / Hidden Power Fire
item: Eviolite
ability: Natural Cure
nature: Bold
evs: 36 HP / 236 Def / 36 SpA / 236 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Spikes does damage to all grounded Pokemon and is a useful entry hazard for offensive teams. Sleep Powder lets Budew incapacitate a single opposing threat. Giga Drain gives Budew a form of recovery and hits common Rapid Spin users such as Staryu as well as common leads such as Onix for super effective damage. Sludge Bomb is a more powerful STAB move with a high poison chance. Synthesis provides more reliable recovery than Giga Drain. Hidden Power Fire hits Steel-types such as Pawniard and Ferroseed, which otherwise wall Budew. Toxic Spikes is usable as a secondary entry hazard that poisons grounded switch-ins.
Set Details
========
The given EV spread along with a Bold nature gives Budew decent 21 / 14 / 16 bulk, allowing it to avoid being 2HKOed by Eviolite Staryu's Ice Beam and Psychic after Stealth Rock damage, with the leftover EVs used to boost Special Attack by a point. Eviolite is the item of choice, further bolstering Budew's bulk. Natural Cure makes Budew a good status absorber, most notably allowing it to switch into Scald with relative impunity.
Usage Tips
========
Budew works best as a lead, as it has a good matchup against common leads such as Mienfoo and Onix. Set Spikes up as early as possible so they can weaken opposing Pokemon right from the get-go. Switch Budew into Rapid Spin users such as Staryu and Kabuto, as it is able to avoid being 2HKOed from the most common users of the move and 2HKO them in return with a super effective STAB Giga Drain and set up Spikes again. Use Natural Cure to absorb status from the likes of Pumpkaboo-XL and Snubbull. Finally, use Sleep Powder to cripple threats that Budew can't otherwise beat such as Timburr.
Team Options
========
Ghost-types such as Gastly and Frillish can block Rapid Spin for Budew and help keep Spikes up. Rock-types such as Onix can take Flying- and Fire-type attacks for Budew as well as set up Stealth Rock. Pokemon that deter the use of Defog, such as Pawniard, also help keep entry hazards up. Spritzee has good type synergy with Budew and allows it to forego recovery in favor of Toxic Spikes or another attack because of Wish. Finally, offensive threats such as Shellder appreciate the chip damage that Spikes provides.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Dazzling Gleam hits Fighting-types such as Mienfoo as well as Vullaby for super effective damage, but Budew usually lacks a moveslot for it. Similarly, Extrasensory OHKOes Croagunk and hits other Poison- and Fighting-types super effectively. Rest can be used with Natural Cure to fully heal Budew, but is easily exploitable because it forces Budew out. Stun Spore can be used to spread paralysis, but Budew lacks the space for it. Leaf Storm is Budew's strongest STAB move, but the Special Attack drop often forces Budew out at the cost of momentum. Finally, other Hidden Power types can be used to hit specific threats, such as Fighting for Pawniard, but otherwise lack utility.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Flying-types**: Flying-types such as Vullaby and Doduo are immune to Spikes, take relatively little damage from Budew's attacks, and can OHKO Budew with their super effective STAB attacks. Vullaby and Doduo can switch into Sleep Powder thanks to Overcoat and Early Bird, respectively, while Rufflet can use Budew as setup bait.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types such as Ponyta and Larvesta can easily switch into Budew and OHKO it with Flare Blitz. They must be wary of switching into Sleep Powder, however.
**Strong Attackers**: Budew's only decent bulk means it is easily 2HKOd by powerful attacks from the likes of Life Orb Gastly and Elekid.
**Steel-types**: If Budew is not running Hidden Power Fire, Steel-types such as Ferroseed and Pawniard can switch into it freely and force it out.
**Setup Sweepers**: Setup sweepers such as Zigzagoon and Timburr can take advantage of Budew's passivity to set up on it, but they must watch out for Sleep Powder.
[OVERVIEW]
Budew is the only Pokemon in LC with access to both Spikes and Sleep Powder, making it an excellent lead. Furthermore, Budew's decent defensive typing, usable bulk, and good ability in Natural Cure allow it to beat common Rapid Spin users such as Staryu and Kabuto as well as check common threats such as Mienfoo and Chinchou. However, Budew's low offensive stats make it relatively passive against Pokemon it can't hit for super effective damage, which can leave it as setup bait for common threats such as Vullaby. Furthermore, Budew suffers from slight four-moveslot syndrome, meaning it struggles to do everything it wants to do. Finally, Budew is usually outclassed by Ferroseed as a Grass-type Spikes user because of the latter's superior bulk and typing.
[SET]
name: Entry Hazard Setter
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Sleep Powder / Sludge Bomb
move 3: Synthesis / Giga Drain
move 4: Giga Drain / Sludge Bomb / Hidden Power Fire
item: Eviolite
ability: Natural Cure
nature: Bold
evs: 36 HP / 236 Def / 36 SpA / 236 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Spikes does damage to all grounded Pokemon and is a useful entry hazard for offensive teams. Sleep Powder lets Budew incapacitate a single opposing threat. Giga Drain gives Budew a form of recovery and hits common Rapid Spin users such as Staryu as well as common leads such as Onix for super effective damage. Sludge Bomb is a more powerful STAB move with a high poison chance. Synthesis provides more reliable recovery than Giga Drain. Hidden Power Fire hits Steel-types such as Pawniard and Ferroseed, which otherwise wall Budew. Toxic Spikes is usable as a secondary entry hazard that poisons grounded switch-ins.
Set Details
========
The given EV spread along with a Bold nature gives Budew decent 21 / 14 / 16 bulk, allowing it to avoid being 2HKOed by Eviolite Staryu's Ice Beam and Psychic after Stealth Rock damage, with the leftover EVs used to boost Special Attack by a point. Eviolite is the item of choice, further bolstering Budew's bulk. Natural Cure makes Budew a good status absorber, most notably allowing it to switch into Scald with relative impunity.
Usage Tips
========
Budew works best as a lead, as it has a good matchup against common leads such as Mienfoo and Onix. Set Spikes up as early as possible so they can weaken opposing Pokemon right from the get-go. Switch Budew into Rapid Spin users such as Staryu and Kabuto, as it is able to avoid being 2HKOed from the most common users of the move and 2HKO them in return with a super effective STAB Giga Drain and set up Spikes again. Use Natural Cure to absorb status from the likes of Pumpkaboo-XL and Snubbull. Finally, use Sleep Powder to cripple threats that Budew can't otherwise beat such as Timburr.
Team Options
========
Ghost-types such as Gastly and Frillish can block Rapid Spin for Budew and help keep Spikes up. Rock-types such as Onix can take Flying- and Fire-type attacks for Budew as well as set up Stealth Rock. Pokemon that deter the use of Defog, such as Pawniard, also help keep entry hazards up. Spritzee has good type synergy with Budew and allows it to forego recovery in favor of Toxic Spikes or another attack because of Wish. Finally, offensive threats such as Shellder appreciate the chip damage that Spikes provides.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Dazzling Gleam hits Fighting-types such as Mienfoo as well as Vullaby for super effective damage, but Budew usually lacks a moveslot for it. Similarly, Extrasensory OHKOes Croagunk and hits other Poison- and Fighting-types super effectively. Rest can be used with Natural Cure to fully heal Budew, but is easily exploitable because it forces Budew out. Stun Spore can be used to spread paralysis, but Budew lacks the space for it. Leaf Storm is Budew's strongest STAB move, but the Special Attack drop often forces Budew out at the cost of momentum. Finally, other Hidden Power types can be used to hit specific threats, such as Fighting for Pawniard, but otherwise lack utility.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Flying-types**: Flying-types such as Vullaby and Doduo are immune to Spikes, take relatively little damage from Budew's attacks, and can OHKO Budew with their super effective STAB attacks. Vullaby and Doduo can switch into Sleep Powder thanks to Overcoat and Early Bird, respectively, while Rufflet can use Budew as setup bait.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types such as Ponyta and Larvesta can easily switch into Budew and OHKO it with Flare Blitz. They must be wary of switching into Sleep Powder, however.
**Strong Attackers**: Budew's only decent bulk means it is easily 2HKOd by powerful attacks from the likes of Life Orb Gastly and Elekid.
**Steel-types**: If Budew is not running Hidden Power Fire, Steel-types such as Ferroseed and Pawniard can switch into it freely and force it out.
**Setup Sweepers**: Setup sweepers such as Zigzagoon and Timburr can take advantage of Budew's passivity to set up on it, but they must watch out for Sleep Powder.
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