[OVERVIEW]
With the combination of Choice Scarf to outrun the entire unboosted metagame and a surprisingly powerful Ice Beam on even Pokemon that resist it, Vanilluxe makes a niche for itself in PU as a revenge killer and potential sweeper. The notable lack of coverage, lack of a truly good Ability, weakness to common priority moves, and the fact that Vanilluxe is walled heavily by common sights like Klang unfortunately keeps Vanilluxe from being a premiere threat in PU.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Hidden Power [Ground] / Hidden Power [Fire]
move 3: Flash Cannon
move 4: Frost Breath
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Weak Armor / Ice Body
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpAtk / 4 SpDef / 252 Speed
[SET COMMENTS]
Ice Beam is the go-to STAB option with no drawbacks and will be chosen almost all the time, due to the fact that even Pokemon that resist it like Sneasel have the chance to be 2HKO'd with entry hazards. The rest of the moveset is dedicated to increasingly niche coverage, starting with the Hidden Power choice. Hidden Power Ground is the preferred option for hitting Steel- and Fire-types like Klang and Monferno slightly harder, while Hidden Power Fire gives up the coverage for Fire-types in exchange for being able to hit Bronzor. Flash Cannon can be used to hit other Ice-types like Articuno and Frost Breath can be used for hitting through potential SpDef boosts from something like Calm Mind Duosion. Weak Armor is the chosen ability for the potential Speed boost and the fact that Ice Body is functionally useless in a Hail-less metagame, but Ice Body can be chosen if the Defense drop from Weak Armor is unappealing. Modest is chosen as the nature as the Choice Scarf already makes Vanilluxe faster than the entire unboosted metagame so the extra power is more useful.
Entry hazards go an exceptionally long way in letting Vanilluxe sweep, very often being the difference between a 3HKO and a 2HKO, so reliable entry hazard setters like Dwebble or Stunfisk are key teammates. Vanilluxe is also commonly walled by Steel-types like Klang or Bronzor, Water-types like Tentacool, and specially defensive walls like Audino, so partners like Marowak, Zebstrika, or Monferno are an excellent choice for dealing with those walls. Vanilluxe also appreciates being switched in safely with Volt Switch from a Klang or a U-turn from a Jumpluff. Vanilluxe doesn't offer much in the way of synergy itself, but wallbreakers like Stoutland or Simisear do appreciate Vanilluxe inviting in and weakening down common Steel- and Water-type switchins like Mawile or Frillish while offering their wallbreaking services in return.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/akir.231726/]]
- Quality checked by: [[name, id], [name, id]]
- Grammar checked by: [[name, id]]
With the combination of Choice Scarf to outrun the entire unboosted metagame and a surprisingly powerful Ice Beam on even Pokemon that resist it, Vanilluxe makes a niche for itself in PU as a revenge killer and potential sweeper. The notable lack of coverage, lack of a truly good Ability, weakness to common priority moves, and the fact that Vanilluxe is walled heavily by common sights like Klang unfortunately keeps Vanilluxe from being a premiere threat in PU.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Hidden Power [Ground] / Hidden Power [Fire]
move 3: Flash Cannon
move 4: Frost Breath
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Weak Armor / Ice Body
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpAtk / 4 SpDef / 252 Speed
[SET COMMENTS]
Ice Beam is the go-to STAB option with no drawbacks and will be chosen almost all the time, due to the fact that even Pokemon that resist it like Sneasel have the chance to be 2HKO'd with entry hazards. The rest of the moveset is dedicated to increasingly niche coverage, starting with the Hidden Power choice. Hidden Power Ground is the preferred option for hitting Steel- and Fire-types like Klang and Monferno slightly harder, while Hidden Power Fire gives up the coverage for Fire-types in exchange for being able to hit Bronzor. Flash Cannon can be used to hit other Ice-types like Articuno and Frost Breath can be used for hitting through potential SpDef boosts from something like Calm Mind Duosion. Weak Armor is the chosen ability for the potential Speed boost and the fact that Ice Body is functionally useless in a Hail-less metagame, but Ice Body can be chosen if the Defense drop from Weak Armor is unappealing. Modest is chosen as the nature as the Choice Scarf already makes Vanilluxe faster than the entire unboosted metagame so the extra power is more useful.
Entry hazards go an exceptionally long way in letting Vanilluxe sweep, very often being the difference between a 3HKO and a 2HKO, so reliable entry hazard setters like Dwebble or Stunfisk are key teammates. Vanilluxe is also commonly walled by Steel-types like Klang or Bronzor, Water-types like Tentacool, and specially defensive walls like Audino, so partners like Marowak, Zebstrika, or Monferno are an excellent choice for dealing with those walls. Vanilluxe also appreciates being switched in safely with Volt Switch from a Klang or a U-turn from a Jumpluff. Vanilluxe doesn't offer much in the way of synergy itself, but wallbreakers like Stoutland or Simisear do appreciate Vanilluxe inviting in and weakening down common Steel- and Water-type switchins like Mawile or Frillish while offering their wallbreaking services in return.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/akir.231726/]]
- Quality checked by: [[name, id], [name, id]]
- Grammar checked by: [[name, id]]