QC: Eien / Misaka Mikoto / terrors
GP: P Squared
* Sylveon is a decent pick on Fairy teams thanks to its amazing wallbreaking capabilities.
* Sylveon possesses an amazing ability in Pixilate, which turns its Normal-type moves into Fairy-type STAB moves and makes them more powerful, allowing it to be an effective wallbreaker with Choice Specs equipped.
* Sylveon also has good special bulk, allowing it to fire off Choice Specs-boosted Hyper Voices with ease against special attackers.
* It has good coverage options such as Psyshock, allowing it to deal massive damage to types that would usually annoy Fairy, such as Poison. However, while it has good coverage options, it lacks a way to heavily damage most Steel-types outside of Hidden Power, a crippling trait for a Fairy-type.
* Sylveon has a good base 110 Special Attack stat that allows it to hit incredibly hard with its STAB Pixilate-boosted Hyper Voice, especially while holding Choice Specs.
* However, Sylveon's low Defense and Speed stats make it vulnerable to physical attackers and revenge killers and make it unable to outspeed key threats.
* Sylveon's mono-Fairy typing also adds nothing defensively to Fairy teams, and it cannot switch into common threats to Fairy.
* Sylveon is also very prone to residual damage and is worn down very fast, making it susceptible to revenge killers.
* All these traits make Sylveon generally hard to fit on a team.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Hyper Voice
move 2: Hidden Power Fire / Hidden Power Ground
move 3: Psyshock
move 4: Shadow Ball
item: Choice Specs
ability: Pixilate
nature: Modest
evs: 240 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA / 12 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Hyper Voice turns into a Fairy-type 108-Base Power STAB move when boosted by Pixilate, and it is Sylveon's primary and most spammable attack. As it is a sound-based move, it also hits through Substitute, which can be useful for hitting Pokemon like Buzzwole and Keldeo.
* Hidden Power Fire deals solid damage to most Steel-type Pokemon such as Mega Scizor and Ferrothorn, but it leaves Sylveon completely blocked by Heatran.
* Hidden Power Ground is an alternative that can be used to KO Heatran while still hitting most Steel-types for super effective damage. However, it leaves Sylveon as setup fodder for Pokemon such as Mega Scizor.
* Psyshock is a great coverage option that hits Poison-type Pokemon, which threaten Fairy teams, super effectively. Notably, it nails the 2HKO on Toxapex and Mega Venusaur after Stealth Rock or Spikes, something appreciated by Fairy teams.
* Shadow Ball hits opposing Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon such as Jirachi and Alolan Marowak super effectively, but it should only be used if the foe resists Hyper Voice, as neutral Hyper Voice does more damage than even super effective Shadow Ball.
Set Details
========
* 252 Special Attack EVs with a Modest nature and Choice Specs maximize Sylveon's offensive power, making its attacks hit as hard as possible.
* 12 Speed EVs lets Sylveon outspeed uninvested base 61 Speed Pokemon like Tyranitar while also outspeeding base 60 Speed Pokemon such as Porygon2 and Clefable.
* The rest of the EVs are put into HP and Defense, giving Sylveon more bulk.
* Pixilate turns Sylveon's Normal-type moves into Fairy-type moves while giving them a 20% boost.
Usage Tips
========
* It is helpful to bring Sylveon in via a pivoting move such as Volt Switch, as Sylveon is generally prone to residual damage. It is also useful to bring in Sylveon after a teammate has been KOed.
* Usually, locking Sylveon into Hyper Voice is the best option, as it has the most power and can be used repeatedly to wallbreak. Sylveon should be utilized early-game to deal massive damage to many Pokemon, making it easier for teammates like Azumarill to sweep late-game.
* Avoid locking Sylveon into a move that a foe would then be able to exploit, such as Hyper Voice against a resistant foe, allowing them to either KO Sylveon or set up freely.
* Switch Sylveon into weaker special attackers like Pelipper and proceed to fire off free Hyper Voices.
* Use Sylveon's coverage moves on a predicted switch, for example using Psyshock or Shadow Ball on a predicted Gengar switch-in.
* Avoid letting Sylveon get inflicted by status, as burns and poison limit its longevity and make it prone to revenge killing, while paralysis halves its Speed and makes it easy to take out.
* Play Sylveon carefully around physical attackers, as its low Defense means it has a harder time taking physical attacks.
Team Options
========
* Magic Guard Clefable can absorb status for Sylveon, set up Stealth Rock, and paralyze foes with Thunder Wave, making Sylveon's job much easier.
* Similarly, Defog support from Tapu Fini or Togekiss is appreciated, as taking Stealth Rock or Spikes damage makes Sylveon much easier to revenge kill.
* Setup sweepers like Z-Belly Drum Azumarill appreciate Sylveon breaking down physical walls in the early-game, allowing for a late-game sweep.
* Choice Band or Choice Scarf Tapu Bulu also appreciates this, as it can clean up later after its checks have been worn down. Tapu Bulu can also break special walls like Chansey that Sylveon has trouble against.
* Magearna's access to a slow Volt Switch allows Sylveon to be brought in easily without suffering much damage. Magearna can also switch into Poison- and Steel-type attacks relatively well.
* Assault Vest Magearna is able to wear down its shared checks with Sylveon, slowly breaking down the opponent's Pokemon. Shift Gear Magearna also appreciates Sylveon's ability to weaken foes in the early-game, making it easier to sweep.
* Klefki can set up dual screens, reducing the damage done to Sylveon and allowing it to fire off its attacks more safely. Klefki also sports an immunity to Toxic and Poison-type attacks, making it a good switch-in when Sylveon is threatened.
* Entry hazard setters like Clefable and Klefki make it easier for Sylveon to secure KOs, while Sylveon can also force switches.
* Tapu Koko is another hard-hitting special attacker that can pivot into Sylveon while also wearing down their shared checks.
* Babiri Berry Togekiss and Clefable can also help check Steel-types like Mega Scizor and Ferrothorn, allowing Sylveon to fire off Hyper Voice more easily without fear.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Sylveon has nearly no other viable options.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Chansey**: Chansey is Sylveon's best counter and is able to take all of Sylveon's attacks easily and recover it off. Sylveon cannot do much damage to Chansey before it is worn down with a combination of Toxic and Seismic Toss.
**Special Walls**: Very specially bulky Pokemon like Magearna fear nearly nothing from Sylveon's attacks and can easily switch into it. They can then status it, pivot out, Defog for free, set up entry hazards, or hit Sylveon super effectively, depending on the Pokemon.
**Steel-types**: While Hidden Power Fire or Hidden Power Ground can deal considerable damage to some Steel-types, Sylveon cannot run both at the same time. As such, without one or the other, Sylveon becomes walled by Heatran (without Hidden Power Ground) or Mega Scizor and Ferrothorn (without Hidden Power Fire). Also, if a Steel-type switches in on a predicted Hyper Voice, they can easily OHKO Sylveon with their super effective STAB moves.
**Physical Attackers**: Strong physical attackers like Gyarados and even Mega Medicham can do considerable damage to Sylveon due to its low Defense stat.
**Poison-types**: Fast, offensive Poison-types like Gengar and Nidoking can take a Choice-Specs-boosted Hyper Voice and retaliate with their super effective STAB attacks. However, they have to be wary of switching into Psyshock. Bulkier Poison-type Pokemon such as Mega Venusaur and Toxapex cannot switch into Psyshock, but they still check Sylveon due to their high defenses and Poison typing. In particular, Assault Vest Alolan Muk can switch into both Psyshock and Hyper Voice easily and threaten Sylveon with Poison Jab or Knock Off.
**Revenge Killers**: Fast revenge killers, especially physical ones like Garchomp, can be brought in after Sylveon achieves a KO and scare it out. Due to Sylveon's low Speed and Defense stats, it is easy to revenge kill.
**Fire-types**: Fire-type Pokemon like Mega Charizard Y resist Hyper Voice and can take several of them. Fairy teams also often lack Fire-resistant Pokemon outside of Azumarill and Tapu Fini, and even then Solar Beam present on every Mega Charizard Y.
**Residual Damage**: Residual damage in the forms of status or entry hazards wears down Sylveon and makes it much more prone to a revenge kill. Sylveon also has no method of recovery outside of Wish support from teammates, so it is very susceptible.
Last edited:
