[OVERVIEW]
Vikavolt's amazing Bug / Electric typing lets it check prominent Fighting-, Grass-, Dark-, and Ground-types such as Hitmonlee, Rotom-C, Malamar, and Steelix. With such type combination, a monstrous base 145 Special Attack, and a strong coverage move in Energy Ball, Vikavolt is a very threatening wallbreaker in the tier. Its access to slow Volt Switch together with good natural bulk and Roost make it a good pivot that lasts through matches. However, even if it can take advantage of slow Volt Switches, its low Speed means it must always take a hit before attacking, making it less potent against a huge number of offensive threats, mainly wallbreakers like Emboar and Vanilluxe. In addition, Stealth Rock weakness heavily reduces Vikavolt's defensive potential, limits its use of Volt Switch, and lets more threats net a 2HKO if not an OHKO on Vikavolt.
[SET]
name: Tank
move 1: Bug Buzz
move 2: Volt Switch
move 3: Energy Ball
move 4: Roost
item: Leftovers
ability: Levitate
nature: Modest
evs: 252 HP / 136 SpA / 44 SpD / 76 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Bug Buzz is Vikavolt's main STAB move for dishing out good damage even on neutral targets. Volt Switch is used so Vikavolt can pivot out and safely bring it's teammates in, and it also serves as Vikavolt's main Electric-type STAB move. Energy Ball rounds out Vikavolt's coverage well, hitting the likes of Steelix for better damage and punishingother Ground-types like Seismitoad and Rhydon very hard, if not netting a KO. Roost gives Vikavolt a reliable form of recovery, letting it replenish HP from Stealth Rock damage and repeatedly tanked hits. Using Hidden Power Ground over Energy Ball lets Vikavolt hit Togedemaru, Steelix, and Fire-types like Emboar hard while not giving up much coverage.
Set Details
========
252 HP and 44 Special Defense EVs let Vikavolt always tank two Leaf Storms from Sceptile after Stealth Rock damage, factoring in Vikavolt's Leftovers recovery. 76 Speed EVs are used to outrun Brave Incineroar and neutral base 50s such as Vileplume, Regirock, and Piloswine. The remaining EVs are put into Special Attack to let Vikavolt hit harder.
Usage Tips
========
Take advantage of Vikavolt's resistances and immunity to grab momentum and safely bring in teammates. Even when it's acting as a tank, Vikavolt's raw power still means that it fires off powerful hits. Utilizing Vikavolt early-game to threaten bulkier cores, such as the Golbat and Slowbro ones, gives its teammates better opportunities to clean up later. Being slow makes Vikavolt vulnerable to all sorts of hits; only stay in on weak or resisted hits such as Seismitoad's Scald and Steelix's Heavy Slam to prevent it from being easily circumvented by Pokemon it's supposed to check after it has been crippled badly.
Team Options
========
Fire resistant Pokemon are needed to patch up Vikavolt's Fire-type weakness, most notably bulky Rock-, Dragon-, and Water-types. Pokemon such as Seismitoad, Rhydon, Lanturn, and Guzzlord work well for this role, as they also appreciate a Grass- and Fighting-type switchin. U-turn users and other Volt Switch users that synergize well with Vikavolt such as Incineroar, Xatu, and Lanturn are also good picks. Faster, frailer Pokemon that function better when brought in by slow Volt Switch to maximize their wallbreaking potential, like Medicham and Sneasel, also make good teammates. Pokemon that can cover Vikavolt's weaknesses or break through Pokemon that give it issues also make for good teammates; Houndoom can switch into Fire-type moves aimed at Vikavolt, whereas Virizion threatens Rock-types and Steelix.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Bug Buzz
move 3: Volt Switch
move 4: Energy Ball
item: Choice Specs
ability: Levitate
nature: Modest
evs: 176 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA / 76 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Thunderbolt is Vikavolt's main Electric-type STAB move, at worst 2HKOing nearly everything that doesn't resist it. Bug Buzz complements Thunderbolt well, hitting Grass-, Dragon-, and Electric-types for good damage, such as Vileplume, Drampa, and opposing Vikavolt. Volt Switch is used to capitalize on Vikavolt's ability to force switches, letting it pivot around walls, preserve momentum, and provide safer switch-ins for teammates. Energy Ball rounds off Vikavolt's coverage well, warding off bulky Ground- and Rock-types, OHKOing Rhydon and Seismitoad, OHKOing Piloswine after Stealth Rock damage, and 2HKOing Steelix.
Set Details
========
252 Special Attack EVs with a Modest nature and Choice Specs are used to hit as hard as possible. 76 Speed EVS are used to outrun Brave Incineroar and neutral-natured base 50s such as Vileplume, Regirock, and Piloswine. The 176 remaining EVs are put into HP to increase Vikavolt's bulk.
Usage Tips
========
Vikavolt's typing lets it threaten the more common Grass- and Water-type cores, such as Slowbro + Virizion, making Vikavolt ideal to tear cores apart early-game and allowing the late-game cleaners finish off the game in Vikavolt's aftermath. Switch in on predicted weak or resisted hits such as Steelix's Heavy Slam and Jellicent's Scald, or Ground-type moves and Choice-locked moves that do little to no harm to Vikavolt to start dishing out powerful hits. Albeit dealing high damage on even resisted hits, this set is still prediction reliant, as Vikavolt can lose momentum to Pokemon such as Emboar, which can take advantage of Choice-locked Bug Buzz and Ground-types which can take advantage of Electric-type STAB moves. Use your best prediction to weigh the situation so you can choose the best possible move, such as using Energy Ball and Bug Buzz early-game to wear down checks or beat Electric-immune Pokemon, or playing mind games with Volt Switch for gaining momentum.
Team Options
============
Switch-ins to faster Fire-type Pokemon that threaten Vikavolt out include the majority of Water- and Rock-types. Rhydon and Seismitoad fit particularly well, as they can also set Stealth Rocks to wear down checks more easily and break possible Sturdy or Focus Sashes for Vikavolt. A Fire-type would work great as well, appreciating Vikavolt's ability to eliminate bulky Water-types in return, although most of them share a Stealth Rock weakness with Vikavolt. Examples of these are Delphox, Houndoom, and Emboar. VoltTurn partners that pair well with Vikavolt such as Lanturn, Xatu, and Incineroar are good options for teammates. Faster Pokemon work well to cover Vikavolt's low Speed. Pokemon such as Sceptile and Sneasel appreciate the wallbreaking capabilities of Vikavolt and the slow Volt Switch. Pokemon that appreciate Grass- and Water-type cores punished, such as Double Dance Rhydon, work well with Vikavolt.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Discharge can be used on the tank set to spread paralysis and offers a decently powerful Electric-type STAB move, and it lets Vikavolt combat Flying-types like Bulk Up Braviary and Vivillon. Toxic can also be used on the tank set to cripple some switch-ins like Aromatisse and Cryogonal, although it's hard to fit into Vikavolt's set. Flash Cannon can be used on the offensive set to deal more damage to Fairy- and Ice-types like Mega Audino and Cryogonal, although Energy Ball or Hidden Power Ground usually offers better coverage. A spread of 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpA using Choice Specs or Life Orb with a Quiet nature and 0 Speed IVs can be used if Vikavolt is to be used as a Trick Room attacker. A set with Agility with a spread of 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe with a Timid nature paired with Life Orb or Buginium Z can be used to turn Vikavolt into a fast late-game cleaner, although it is still outsped by every Choice Scarf user bar Emboar at +2.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Stealth Rock**: Stealth Rock is very detrimental to Vikavolt, heavily impeding its capability to check what it needs to, leaving it 2HKOed or OHKOed by offensive threats.
**Fire-types**: Most relevant Fire-types like Houndoom, Delphox, and especially Emboar, which can take Bug Buzz well, easily outspeed and OHKO Vikavolt with their respective Fire-type STAB moves.
**Faster Attackers**: Due to Vikavolt's low speed, faster attackers can take advantage of it. However, some Pokemon such as Vanilluxe need it to have taken prior damage to beat it reliably, as only a few of them such as Emboar can OHKO Vikavolt right off the bat.
**Steel-types**: The few relevant Steel-types in the tier such as Togedemaru and Steelix give Vikavolt a hard time, with the former being a hard counter to non-Hidden Power Ground variants and the latter crippling it with Toxic, though it dislikes taking Bug Buzz or Energy Ball in return.
Vikavolt's amazing Bug / Electric typing lets it check prominent Fighting-, Grass-, Dark-, and Ground-types such as Hitmonlee, Rotom-C, Malamar, and Steelix. With such type combination, a monstrous base 145 Special Attack, and a strong coverage move in Energy Ball, Vikavolt is a very threatening wallbreaker in the tier. Its access to slow Volt Switch together with good natural bulk and Roost make it a good pivot that lasts through matches. However, even if it can take advantage of slow Volt Switches, its low Speed means it must always take a hit before attacking, making it less potent against a huge number of offensive threats, mainly wallbreakers like Emboar and Vanilluxe. In addition, Stealth Rock weakness heavily reduces Vikavolt's defensive potential, limits its use of Volt Switch, and lets more threats net a 2HKO if not an OHKO on Vikavolt.
[SET]
name: Tank
move 1: Bug Buzz
move 2: Volt Switch
move 3: Energy Ball
move 4: Roost
item: Leftovers
ability: Levitate
nature: Modest
evs: 252 HP / 136 SpA / 44 SpD / 76 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Bug Buzz is Vikavolt's main STAB move for dishing out good damage even on neutral targets. Volt Switch is used so Vikavolt can pivot out and safely bring it's teammates in, and it also serves as Vikavolt's main Electric-type STAB move. Energy Ball rounds out Vikavolt's coverage well, hitting the likes of Steelix for better damage and punishingother Ground-types like Seismitoad and Rhydon very hard, if not netting a KO. Roost gives Vikavolt a reliable form of recovery, letting it replenish HP from Stealth Rock damage and repeatedly tanked hits. Using Hidden Power Ground over Energy Ball lets Vikavolt hit Togedemaru, Steelix, and Fire-types like Emboar hard while not giving up much coverage.
Set Details
========
252 HP and 44 Special Defense EVs let Vikavolt always tank two Leaf Storms from Sceptile after Stealth Rock damage, factoring in Vikavolt's Leftovers recovery. 76 Speed EVs are used to outrun Brave Incineroar and neutral base 50s such as Vileplume, Regirock, and Piloswine. The remaining EVs are put into Special Attack to let Vikavolt hit harder.
Usage Tips
========
Take advantage of Vikavolt's resistances and immunity to grab momentum and safely bring in teammates. Even when it's acting as a tank, Vikavolt's raw power still means that it fires off powerful hits. Utilizing Vikavolt early-game to threaten bulkier cores, such as the Golbat and Slowbro ones, gives its teammates better opportunities to clean up later. Being slow makes Vikavolt vulnerable to all sorts of hits; only stay in on weak or resisted hits such as Seismitoad's Scald and Steelix's Heavy Slam to prevent it from being easily circumvented by Pokemon it's supposed to check after it has been crippled badly.
Team Options
========
Fire resistant Pokemon are needed to patch up Vikavolt's Fire-type weakness, most notably bulky Rock-, Dragon-, and Water-types. Pokemon such as Seismitoad, Rhydon, Lanturn, and Guzzlord work well for this role, as they also appreciate a Grass- and Fighting-type switchin. U-turn users and other Volt Switch users that synergize well with Vikavolt such as Incineroar, Xatu, and Lanturn are also good picks. Faster, frailer Pokemon that function better when brought in by slow Volt Switch to maximize their wallbreaking potential, like Medicham and Sneasel, also make good teammates. Pokemon that can cover Vikavolt's weaknesses or break through Pokemon that give it issues also make for good teammates; Houndoom can switch into Fire-type moves aimed at Vikavolt, whereas Virizion threatens Rock-types and Steelix.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Bug Buzz
move 3: Volt Switch
move 4: Energy Ball
item: Choice Specs
ability: Levitate
nature: Modest
evs: 176 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA / 76 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Thunderbolt is Vikavolt's main Electric-type STAB move, at worst 2HKOing nearly everything that doesn't resist it. Bug Buzz complements Thunderbolt well, hitting Grass-, Dragon-, and Electric-types for good damage, such as Vileplume, Drampa, and opposing Vikavolt. Volt Switch is used to capitalize on Vikavolt's ability to force switches, letting it pivot around walls, preserve momentum, and provide safer switch-ins for teammates. Energy Ball rounds off Vikavolt's coverage well, warding off bulky Ground- and Rock-types, OHKOing Rhydon and Seismitoad, OHKOing Piloswine after Stealth Rock damage, and 2HKOing Steelix.
Set Details
========
252 Special Attack EVs with a Modest nature and Choice Specs are used to hit as hard as possible. 76 Speed EVS are used to outrun Brave Incineroar and neutral-natured base 50s such as Vileplume, Regirock, and Piloswine. The 176 remaining EVs are put into HP to increase Vikavolt's bulk.
Usage Tips
========
Vikavolt's typing lets it threaten the more common Grass- and Water-type cores, such as Slowbro + Virizion, making Vikavolt ideal to tear cores apart early-game and allowing the late-game cleaners finish off the game in Vikavolt's aftermath. Switch in on predicted weak or resisted hits such as Steelix's Heavy Slam and Jellicent's Scald, or Ground-type moves and Choice-locked moves that do little to no harm to Vikavolt to start dishing out powerful hits. Albeit dealing high damage on even resisted hits, this set is still prediction reliant, as Vikavolt can lose momentum to Pokemon such as Emboar, which can take advantage of Choice-locked Bug Buzz and Ground-types which can take advantage of Electric-type STAB moves. Use your best prediction to weigh the situation so you can choose the best possible move, such as using Energy Ball and Bug Buzz early-game to wear down checks or beat Electric-immune Pokemon, or playing mind games with Volt Switch for gaining momentum.
Team Options
============
Switch-ins to faster Fire-type Pokemon that threaten Vikavolt out include the majority of Water- and Rock-types. Rhydon and Seismitoad fit particularly well, as they can also set Stealth Rocks to wear down checks more easily and break possible Sturdy or Focus Sashes for Vikavolt. A Fire-type would work great as well, appreciating Vikavolt's ability to eliminate bulky Water-types in return, although most of them share a Stealth Rock weakness with Vikavolt. Examples of these are Delphox, Houndoom, and Emboar. VoltTurn partners that pair well with Vikavolt such as Lanturn, Xatu, and Incineroar are good options for teammates. Faster Pokemon work well to cover Vikavolt's low Speed. Pokemon such as Sceptile and Sneasel appreciate the wallbreaking capabilities of Vikavolt and the slow Volt Switch. Pokemon that appreciate Grass- and Water-type cores punished, such as Double Dance Rhydon, work well with Vikavolt.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Discharge can be used on the tank set to spread paralysis and offers a decently powerful Electric-type STAB move, and it lets Vikavolt combat Flying-types like Bulk Up Braviary and Vivillon. Toxic can also be used on the tank set to cripple some switch-ins like Aromatisse and Cryogonal, although it's hard to fit into Vikavolt's set. Flash Cannon can be used on the offensive set to deal more damage to Fairy- and Ice-types like Mega Audino and Cryogonal, although Energy Ball or Hidden Power Ground usually offers better coverage. A spread of 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpA using Choice Specs or Life Orb with a Quiet nature and 0 Speed IVs can be used if Vikavolt is to be used as a Trick Room attacker. A set with Agility with a spread of 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe with a Timid nature paired with Life Orb or Buginium Z can be used to turn Vikavolt into a fast late-game cleaner, although it is still outsped by every Choice Scarf user bar Emboar at +2.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Stealth Rock**: Stealth Rock is very detrimental to Vikavolt, heavily impeding its capability to check what it needs to, leaving it 2HKOed or OHKOed by offensive threats.
**Fire-types**: Most relevant Fire-types like Houndoom, Delphox, and especially Emboar, which can take Bug Buzz well, easily outspeed and OHKO Vikavolt with their respective Fire-type STAB moves.
**Faster Attackers**: Due to Vikavolt's low speed, faster attackers can take advantage of it. However, some Pokemon such as Vanilluxe need it to have taken prior damage to beat it reliably, as only a few of them such as Emboar can OHKO Vikavolt right off the bat.
**Steel-types**: The few relevant Steel-types in the tier such as Togedemaru and Steelix give Vikavolt a hard time, with the former being a hard counter to non-Hidden Power Ground variants and the latter crippling it with Toxic, though it dislikes taking Bug Buzz or Energy Ball in return.
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