Nineage
Pugnacious.
[SET]
name: Mixed Attacker
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Heat Wave
move 4: Hidden Power Grass
item: Berry Juice / Eviolite
ability: Weak Armor
nature: Serious
evs: 36 HP / 160 Atk / 80 SpA / 76 SpD / 116 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Brave Bird is Vullaby's primary damage-dealing move. Knock Off is an alternate STAB attack with terrific neutral coverage alongside Brave Bird and the added utility of removing foes' defensive items. Heat Wave gives Vullaby an option to hit Steel-types, and, with the given Special Attack investment, it 2HKOes Pawniard, the only Pokemon in the metagame that resists both of Vullaby's STAB attacks. Finally, Hidden Power Grass hits many of Vullaby's most common switch-ins super effectively, 2HKOing Kabuto and Onix.
Set Details
========
The given EV spread sacrifices the raw power of investing solely in either Attack or Special Attack for some investment in each, which allows Vullaby to use its wide coverage to 2HKO all but the sturdiest walls. The given Speed investment allows Vullaby to hit 28 Speed after a Weak Armor boost, outspeeding the entire unboosted metagame and many common Choice Scarf users such as Mienfoo and Doduo. The Speed boosts provided by Weak Armor allow Vullaby to outspeed many potential revenge killers and threaten offensive teams. Vullaby's Special Defense and HP are also boosted by one point each, in order to give it the bulk to usually survive attacks from common checks at full health, such as Kabuto's Rock Slide and three hits from Onix's Rock Blast. This investment also allows Vullaby to survive common coverage moves such as Abra's Dazzling Gleam. A Serious nature is optimal in this case because the advantages of boosting any one of Vullaby's stats are not worth the costs of lowering another. An alternate EV spread of 160 Atk / 76 Def / 80 SpA / 76 SpD / 116 Spe can be used to allow Vullaby to better take physical attacks after a Weak Armor Defense drop but comes at the expense of Vullaby's ability to take various special attacks, such as Choice Scarf Chinchou's Volt Switch after Stealth Rock damage. Berry Juice works well on this set, allowing Vullaby to take a foe's attack, get a Speed boost, and return to full health. An Eviolite can be used instead to allow Vullaby to survive attacks such as Kabuto's Rock Slide after Stealth Rock damage but leaves Vullaby with no source of recovery and does not allow it to switch into Stealth Rock as many times.
Usage Tips
========
This Vullaby set can effectively lure in and surprise its common checks, such as Rock- and Steel-types. The physical Vullaby set can generally be bluffed early in a match, so take care not to activate Weak Armor until necessary to take advantage of this. Generally, Vullaby should use Knock Off early in a match to weaken its checks by removing their defensive items. When appropriate, Vullaby can use Heat Wave or Hidden Power Grass to surprise a check and remove it, allowing Vullaby to spam Brave Bird more safely. However, care should be taken to avoid revealing these moves too early, as they will lose their potential to surprise foes. After its checks have been weakened or lured in and eliminated, Vullaby should attempt to come in on a weak physical attack to boost its Speed with Weak Armor and then spam Brave Bird as appropriate. Keep in mind that without Eviolite or Roost, Vullaby lacks longevity, so while it can take most neutral hits, care should be taken to avoid letting it take powerful neutral or super effective attacks while it is still useful, especially if Stealth Rock is on the field.
Team Options
========
This Vullaby set is extremely effective at taking out common Flying-type checks, including Rock- and Steel-types, so other Flying-types, including Doduo and Rufflet, have terrific offensive synergy with it. Other Pokemon that appreciate the removal of Rock-types offensively, such as Bunnelby and Ponyta, also pair well with this set. As Vullaby gets worn down quickly by Stealth Rock, especially since it may be switching in frequently to aim for a Weak Armor boost, hazard control from the likes of Staryu and Drilbur is helpful. When Vullaby's Weak Armor is not activated, it is susceptible to being revenge killed, especially by Electric- and Ice-type attacks. Thus, Pokemon that can switch into these attacks, such as Chinchou, synergize well with it. Finally, the immense pressure that mixed Vullaby's coverage puts on teams means that it frequently forces switches. Hazard setters, such as Onix and Dwebble, work well as partners because they can help Vullaby's team take advantage of the switches it forces.
name: Mixed Attacker
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Heat Wave
move 4: Hidden Power Grass
item: Berry Juice / Eviolite
ability: Weak Armor
nature: Serious
evs: 36 HP / 160 Atk / 80 SpA / 76 SpD / 116 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Brave Bird is Vullaby's primary damage-dealing move. Knock Off is an alternate STAB attack with terrific neutral coverage alongside Brave Bird and the added utility of removing foes' defensive items. Heat Wave gives Vullaby an option to hit Steel-types, and, with the given Special Attack investment, it 2HKOes Pawniard, the only Pokemon in the metagame that resists both of Vullaby's STAB attacks. Finally, Hidden Power Grass hits many of Vullaby's most common switch-ins super effectively, 2HKOing Kabuto and Onix.
Set Details
========
The given EV spread sacrifices the raw power of investing solely in either Attack or Special Attack for some investment in each, which allows Vullaby to use its wide coverage to 2HKO all but the sturdiest walls. The given Speed investment allows Vullaby to hit 28 Speed after a Weak Armor boost, outspeeding the entire unboosted metagame and many common Choice Scarf users such as Mienfoo and Doduo. The Speed boosts provided by Weak Armor allow Vullaby to outspeed many potential revenge killers and threaten offensive teams. Vullaby's Special Defense and HP are also boosted by one point each, in order to give it the bulk to usually survive attacks from common checks at full health, such as Kabuto's Rock Slide and three hits from Onix's Rock Blast. This investment also allows Vullaby to survive common coverage moves such as Abra's Dazzling Gleam. A Serious nature is optimal in this case because the advantages of boosting any one of Vullaby's stats are not worth the costs of lowering another. An alternate EV spread of 160 Atk / 76 Def / 80 SpA / 76 SpD / 116 Spe can be used to allow Vullaby to better take physical attacks after a Weak Armor Defense drop but comes at the expense of Vullaby's ability to take various special attacks, such as Choice Scarf Chinchou's Volt Switch after Stealth Rock damage. Berry Juice works well on this set, allowing Vullaby to take a foe's attack, get a Speed boost, and return to full health. An Eviolite can be used instead to allow Vullaby to survive attacks such as Kabuto's Rock Slide after Stealth Rock damage but leaves Vullaby with no source of recovery and does not allow it to switch into Stealth Rock as many times.
Usage Tips
========
This Vullaby set can effectively lure in and surprise its common checks, such as Rock- and Steel-types. The physical Vullaby set can generally be bluffed early in a match, so take care not to activate Weak Armor until necessary to take advantage of this. Generally, Vullaby should use Knock Off early in a match to weaken its checks by removing their defensive items. When appropriate, Vullaby can use Heat Wave or Hidden Power Grass to surprise a check and remove it, allowing Vullaby to spam Brave Bird more safely. However, care should be taken to avoid revealing these moves too early, as they will lose their potential to surprise foes. After its checks have been weakened or lured in and eliminated, Vullaby should attempt to come in on a weak physical attack to boost its Speed with Weak Armor and then spam Brave Bird as appropriate. Keep in mind that without Eviolite or Roost, Vullaby lacks longevity, so while it can take most neutral hits, care should be taken to avoid letting it take powerful neutral or super effective attacks while it is still useful, especially if Stealth Rock is on the field.
Team Options
========
This Vullaby set is extremely effective at taking out common Flying-type checks, including Rock- and Steel-types, so other Flying-types, including Doduo and Rufflet, have terrific offensive synergy with it. Other Pokemon that appreciate the removal of Rock-types offensively, such as Bunnelby and Ponyta, also pair well with this set. As Vullaby gets worn down quickly by Stealth Rock, especially since it may be switching in frequently to aim for a Weak Armor boost, hazard control from the likes of Staryu and Drilbur is helpful. When Vullaby's Weak Armor is not activated, it is susceptible to being revenge killed, especially by Electric- and Ice-type attacks. Thus, Pokemon that can switch into these attacks, such as Chinchou, synergize well with it. Finally, the immense pressure that mixed Vullaby's coverage puts on teams means that it frequently forces switches. Hazard setters, such as Onix and Dwebble, work well as partners because they can help Vullaby's team take advantage of the switches it forces.
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