[OVERVIEW]
Vileplume's great Grass / Poison defensive typing and solid bulk allow it to check several notable threats such as Sceptile, Hitmonlee, Rotom-C, and Rhydon. Its access to reliable recovery in Moonlight and Giga Drain also means that it can consistently pivot into the attackers it checks throughout a match. For a defensive Pokemon, Vileplume has a fantastic Special Attack stat that allows it to effectively utilize Acid Downpour, which is capable of feats such as OHKOing Virizion and Absol and dealing significant damage to other typical offensive checks such as Delphox and Emboar. Vileplume's ability Effect Spore punishes contact move users such as Virizion and Barbaracle by statusing them, and this combined with its access to Sleep Powder and Stun Spore allows it to easily spread status throughout a game and makes it extremely hard to turn Vileplume into setup fodder. Despite these positive traits, Vileplume has some nasty weaknesses to Fire, Ice, Psychic, and Flying, which is amplified by the presence of Pokemon such as Emboar, Sneasel, Meloetta, and Sigilyph in the metagame. Vileplume's bulk only goes so far, as Pokemon such as Barbaracle and Lilligant are capable of blowing right past it with strong Z-Moves, as are both Choice Specs Sceptile and Rotom-C with Hidden Power Flying.
[SET]
name: Defensive Pivot
move 1: Giga Drain
move 2: Sludge Bomb
move 3: Moonlight
move 4: Sleep Powder / Stun Spore
item: Black Sludge / Poisonium Z
ability: Effect Spore
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Giga Drain is a consistent Grass-type STAB move that scores the OHKO on Pokemon such as Barbaracle and Seismitoad while also giving Vileplume some health back. Sludge Bomb is Vileplume's strongest STAB attack that hits decently hard even without investment, has a decent poison chance, and scores the OHKO on Pokemon such as Whimsicott, as well as Sceptile after Stealth Rock almost every time. Moonlight is a reliable recovery option that allows Vileplume to consistently check foes, such as Sceptile and Whimsicott, over the course of the game. Sleep Powder puts anything that isn't a Grass-type to sleep, working especially well in tandem with Vileplume's Poison typing and threatening Pokemon that can switch into Vileplume, such as Meloetta and Emboar. Stun Spore is an alternative to continuously paralyze Vileplume's switch-ins throughout the course of a match, whereas Sleep Powder can only put one Pokemon to sleep at a time. Aromatherapy is a good utility option to heal status from Vileplume's teammates, but be aware that it makes Vileplume much more susceptible to being turned into setup fodder by the likes of Meloetta and Toxicroak.
Set Details
========
Maximum HP and Defense investment, in conjunction with a Bold nature, allows Vileplume to best check physical attackers such as Hitmonlee and Rhydon. Black Sludge is used for passive recovery and is preferred over Leftovers in the case that it gets Tricked by a Pokemon such as Rotom-C. A very viable alternative is Poisonium Z, which makes Vileplume a better Knock Off switch-in from the likes of Hitmonlee, Scrafty, Absol, and Machamp while also giving Vileplume a strong one-off Poison-type nuke . One of the biggest reasons it's used is to OHKO Virizon, which Vileplume cannot do normally, as well as 2HKOing Scrafty in conjunction with Sludge Bomb the next turn, and it also blocks Rotom-C's Trick on the switch. Effect Spore is used to punish contact users such as Hitmonlee and Virizion with a status effect, namely sleep, paralysis, and poison.
Usage Tips
========
Vileplume should be switched directly into the attackers that it walls, such as Virizion and Hitmonlee, and start firing off attacks. Vileplume is extremely proficient at spreading status with Effect Spore, a powder move of choice, and Sludge Bomb, so it is very threatening towards offensive teams that hate status, and you should try to annoy the opposing team with a status effect as much as possible. Poisonium Z Vileplume can respond to setup sweepers such as Virizion, Lilligant, Absol, and Dragon Dance Scrafty in a pinch, as it has the power to OHKO the former two and 2HKO Scrafty and the bulk to avoid the 2HKO from Scrafty's +1 Knock Off. The damage is also important against Pokemon such as Absol, as Vileplume can avoid the OHKO from +2 Knock Off with Poisonium Z and OHKO in return with Acid Downpour. While Sleep Powder is a great move to cripple a Pokemon usually for the rest of the match, it should be spared until the late-game when the opponent is forced to put to sleep a more useful Pokemon with a better matchup against your team. Spamming Stun Spore as much as possible is recommended to cripple Vileplume's checks and counters, such as Sigilyph and Emboar, and cripple them for the rest of the match as well. Finally, Vileplume's typing allows it to heavily pressure Water + Grass cores such as Slowbro + Rotom-C, so getting lots of free turns against these team archetypes should be done to deal as much damage as possible.
Team Options
========
Slowbro is one of Vileplume's best partners, as it's able to check Pokemon such as Toxicroak and Emboar, which are threatening to Vileplume, while Vileplume in return checks Sceptile, Rotom-C, and Whimsicott. Emboar checks Pokemon such as Houndoom and Sneasel that are threatening to Vileplume, while Vileplume can check faster attackers such as Hitmonlee and Whimsicott. Assault Vest Incineroar also checks Houndoom, and the two form a very solid defensive core overall; Incineroar is able to handle Psychic-types such as Sigilyph and Uxie, while Vileplume can handle Water- and Ground-types such as non-Continential Crush Barbaracle and Rhydon. Steelix and Rhydon are able to set up Stealth Rock to pressure Pokemon such as Charizard and Archeops from switching in; Steelix also provides a check to Sneasel, which Vileplume struggles against, but Rhydon is able to pressure Xatu from switching in on its Stealth Rock with a potential Rock Blast. Quagsire is another good teammate to Vileplume, checking Fire-types such as Emboar and walling Toxicroak, which uses Vileplume as setup fodder. Offensive Dark-types such as Absol, Scrafty, and Houndoom work well with Vileplume, as they appreciate Vileplume's ability to check Fairy- and Fighting-types, while Vileplume appreciates their ability to check Psychic-types. In particular, Houndoom resists Fire-type moves for Vileplume, while Vuleplume can deal with Rhydon, Regirock, Vaporeon, and Seismitoad.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
152 Special Defense EVs are an option to always avoid the 2HKO from Choice Specs-boosted Hidden Power Ice or Flying from both Rotom-C and Sceptile, but it cuts significantly into Vileplume's physical bulk. Rocky Helmet is an option because it meshes well with Effect Spore on contact users, but it's only recommended if you have Wish support from the likes of Aromatisse and Vaporeon. An offensive set can be used with maximum HP and Special Attack investment to hit pretty hard, but it faces a large amount of competition from the defensive set, which already hits hard enough, and it can't reliably check Hitmonlee, Virizion, and Rhydon. Energy Ball is an option, as it can OHKO mixed Samurott while Giga Drain can't, but the recovery that Giga Drain provides is usually better. Worry Seed is an option to shut down RestTalk setup sweepers such as Malamar and Calm Mind Spiritomb and can also remove abilities such as Tauros's Sheer Force and Machamp's Guts. Moonblast can be used because of its high chance to OHKO Scrafty and Sneasel after Stealth Rock, but it's usually not worth it over other, better options such as Sleep Powder. Hidden Power Fire is an option to heavily damage Ferroseed and Alolan Sandslash, but it hits very little outside of this. Hidden Power Ground chips away at Garbodor and does a lot of damage to Drapion and Toxicroak, but this would mean losing Sleep Powder or Stun Spore. Leech Seed seems like a solid option to wear down the opposing team and also gain health back, but it's incompatible with Effect Spore.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fire-types**: Fire-types such as Emboar, Houndoom, and Delphox resist Vileplume's Grass-type STAB moves and hit it super effectively, therefore making them big threats to Vileplume. Emboar easily OHKOes Vileplume with Flare Blitz, while Houndoom and Delphox use Vileplume as setup fodder with Nasty Plot and Calm Mind, respectively, or they can just OHKO Vileplume with Fire Blast. All of these Pokemon detest Sleep Powder and Stun Spore, however, and none can come in particularly well on an Acid Downpour.
**Poison-types**: Poison-types such as Garbodor, Toxicroak, Drapion, and Golbat are some of Vileplume's hardest counters, as they resist both of Vileplume's STAB moves, can't be poisoned, and use it as setup fodder. Garbodor doesn't fear anything that Vileplume could go for with the exception of Sleep Powder and Hidden Power Ground and uses it as Spikes fodder so that Garbodor's teammates have an easier time wearing Vileplume down later in the match. Toxicroak is a similar case, taking virtually nothing from any of Vileplume's moves and OHKOes with Gunk Shot at +2 as well as avoiding status from Effect Spore, but it takes around half from Hidden Power Ground. Drapion fears nothing but Hidden Power Ground and can 2HKO with Poison Jab after a Swords Dance. Golbat takes very little from any move Vileplume can go for, removes entry hazards with Defog, and slowly beats Vileplume with the combination of Roost and Brave Bird. All of these Pokemon dislike Sleep Powder and Stun Spore, however.
**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types such as Meloetta, Sigilyph, and Xatu are able to check Vileplume. Meloetta and Sigilyph use Vileplume as setup fodder with Calm Mind or can just hit OHKO it with Psychic, but both must watch out for Stun Spore and Sleep Powder, and Sigilyph is OHKOed by Acid Downpour after a small amount of prior damage. Xatu, on the other hand, doesn't come in too easily on Sludge Bomb but threatens Vileplume with Psychic, can bounce back Sleep Powder and Stun Spore with Magic Bounce, and can even Roost off Acid Downpour damage.
**Flying-types**: Flying-types such as Charizard, Archeops, and Dodrio are able to break through Vileplume with super effective STAB moves. Charizard decimates Vileplume with Flare Blitz, while Archeops sets up Stealth Rock on Vileplume's switch or can Taunt it to block Sleep Powder or Stun Spore. Dodrio can't really set up on Vileplume or switch in in fear of the Acid Downpour OHKO, but it can severely damage it with Brave Bird. All three Pokemon hate Stun Spore, Sleep Powder, or a Sludge Bomb poison on the switch, so they aren't the best switch-ins.
**Ice-types**: Sneasel hates coming in on Sludge Bomb and Giga Drain but can hit Vileplume very hard with Icicle Crash; it is, however, OHKOed by Acid Downpour. Cryogonal comes in quite easily on any move Vileplume can go for, with the exception of Sleep Powder, easily uses Rapid Spin, or can just heavily damage Vileplume with Ice Beam or Freeze-Dry. Piloswine can't come in on a Giga Drain but can heavily damage Vileplume with Icicle Crash or set up Stealth Rock as Vileplume switches out. Vanilluxe is also very threatening to Vileplume, as while it can't switch directly in in fear of Sleep Powder or Stun Spore, it's able to easily OHKO Vileplume with Blizzard; Snow Warning's hail makes Blizzard 100% accurate and also cuts Moonlight's recovery. Alolan Sandslash in particular easily takes any attack that Vileplume can go for, with the exception of Hidden Power Fire, and threatens to 2HKO with Icicle Crash.
**Setup Sweepers**: Setup sweepers such as Mismagius, Bulk Up Braviary, and Scyther are big threats to Vileplume. Mismagius's high Special Defense and resistance to Poison means it can pretty easily set up Nasty Plot and OHKO at +2 with Never Ending Nightmare. On top of this, it can even block its powder moves with Taunt. Bulk Up Braviary can use Substitute on Vileplume's Stun Spore or Sleep Powder, set up with Bulk Up relatively freely, and OHKO with a +1 Brave Bird. Eviolite Swords Dance Scyther also takes relatively little from even Acid Downpour and slowly boosts on Vileplume with the combination of Swords Dance and Roost, but it must watch out for Stun Spore and especially Sleep Powder.
Vileplume's great Grass / Poison defensive typing and solid bulk allow it to check several notable threats such as Sceptile, Hitmonlee, Rotom-C, and Rhydon. Its access to reliable recovery in Moonlight and Giga Drain also means that it can consistently pivot into the attackers it checks throughout a match. For a defensive Pokemon, Vileplume has a fantastic Special Attack stat that allows it to effectively utilize Acid Downpour, which is capable of feats such as OHKOing Virizion and Absol and dealing significant damage to other typical offensive checks such as Delphox and Emboar. Vileplume's ability Effect Spore punishes contact move users such as Virizion and Barbaracle by statusing them, and this combined with its access to Sleep Powder and Stun Spore allows it to easily spread status throughout a game and makes it extremely hard to turn Vileplume into setup fodder. Despite these positive traits, Vileplume has some nasty weaknesses to Fire, Ice, Psychic, and Flying, which is amplified by the presence of Pokemon such as Emboar, Sneasel, Meloetta, and Sigilyph in the metagame. Vileplume's bulk only goes so far, as Pokemon such as Barbaracle and Lilligant are capable of blowing right past it with strong Z-Moves, as are both Choice Specs Sceptile and Rotom-C with Hidden Power Flying.
[SET]
name: Defensive Pivot
move 1: Giga Drain
move 2: Sludge Bomb
move 3: Moonlight
move 4: Sleep Powder / Stun Spore
item: Black Sludge / Poisonium Z
ability: Effect Spore
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Giga Drain is a consistent Grass-type STAB move that scores the OHKO on Pokemon such as Barbaracle and Seismitoad while also giving Vileplume some health back. Sludge Bomb is Vileplume's strongest STAB attack that hits decently hard even without investment, has a decent poison chance, and scores the OHKO on Pokemon such as Whimsicott, as well as Sceptile after Stealth Rock almost every time. Moonlight is a reliable recovery option that allows Vileplume to consistently check foes, such as Sceptile and Whimsicott, over the course of the game. Sleep Powder puts anything that isn't a Grass-type to sleep, working especially well in tandem with Vileplume's Poison typing and threatening Pokemon that can switch into Vileplume, such as Meloetta and Emboar. Stun Spore is an alternative to continuously paralyze Vileplume's switch-ins throughout the course of a match, whereas Sleep Powder can only put one Pokemon to sleep at a time. Aromatherapy is a good utility option to heal status from Vileplume's teammates, but be aware that it makes Vileplume much more susceptible to being turned into setup fodder by the likes of Meloetta and Toxicroak.
Set Details
========
Maximum HP and Defense investment, in conjunction with a Bold nature, allows Vileplume to best check physical attackers such as Hitmonlee and Rhydon. Black Sludge is used for passive recovery and is preferred over Leftovers in the case that it gets Tricked by a Pokemon such as Rotom-C. A very viable alternative is Poisonium Z, which makes Vileplume a better Knock Off switch-in from the likes of Hitmonlee, Scrafty, Absol, and Machamp while also giving Vileplume a strong one-off Poison-type nuke . One of the biggest reasons it's used is to OHKO Virizon, which Vileplume cannot do normally, as well as 2HKOing Scrafty in conjunction with Sludge Bomb the next turn, and it also blocks Rotom-C's Trick on the switch. Effect Spore is used to punish contact users such as Hitmonlee and Virizion with a status effect, namely sleep, paralysis, and poison.
Usage Tips
========
Vileplume should be switched directly into the attackers that it walls, such as Virizion and Hitmonlee, and start firing off attacks. Vileplume is extremely proficient at spreading status with Effect Spore, a powder move of choice, and Sludge Bomb, so it is very threatening towards offensive teams that hate status, and you should try to annoy the opposing team with a status effect as much as possible. Poisonium Z Vileplume can respond to setup sweepers such as Virizion, Lilligant, Absol, and Dragon Dance Scrafty in a pinch, as it has the power to OHKO the former two and 2HKO Scrafty and the bulk to avoid the 2HKO from Scrafty's +1 Knock Off. The damage is also important against Pokemon such as Absol, as Vileplume can avoid the OHKO from +2 Knock Off with Poisonium Z and OHKO in return with Acid Downpour. While Sleep Powder is a great move to cripple a Pokemon usually for the rest of the match, it should be spared until the late-game when the opponent is forced to put to sleep a more useful Pokemon with a better matchup against your team. Spamming Stun Spore as much as possible is recommended to cripple Vileplume's checks and counters, such as Sigilyph and Emboar, and cripple them for the rest of the match as well. Finally, Vileplume's typing allows it to heavily pressure Water + Grass cores such as Slowbro + Rotom-C, so getting lots of free turns against these team archetypes should be done to deal as much damage as possible.
Team Options
========
Slowbro is one of Vileplume's best partners, as it's able to check Pokemon such as Toxicroak and Emboar, which are threatening to Vileplume, while Vileplume in return checks Sceptile, Rotom-C, and Whimsicott. Emboar checks Pokemon such as Houndoom and Sneasel that are threatening to Vileplume, while Vileplume can check faster attackers such as Hitmonlee and Whimsicott. Assault Vest Incineroar also checks Houndoom, and the two form a very solid defensive core overall; Incineroar is able to handle Psychic-types such as Sigilyph and Uxie, while Vileplume can handle Water- and Ground-types such as non-Continential Crush Barbaracle and Rhydon. Steelix and Rhydon are able to set up Stealth Rock to pressure Pokemon such as Charizard and Archeops from switching in; Steelix also provides a check to Sneasel, which Vileplume struggles against, but Rhydon is able to pressure Xatu from switching in on its Stealth Rock with a potential Rock Blast. Quagsire is another good teammate to Vileplume, checking Fire-types such as Emboar and walling Toxicroak, which uses Vileplume as setup fodder. Offensive Dark-types such as Absol, Scrafty, and Houndoom work well with Vileplume, as they appreciate Vileplume's ability to check Fairy- and Fighting-types, while Vileplume appreciates their ability to check Psychic-types. In particular, Houndoom resists Fire-type moves for Vileplume, while Vuleplume can deal with Rhydon, Regirock, Vaporeon, and Seismitoad.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
152 Special Defense EVs are an option to always avoid the 2HKO from Choice Specs-boosted Hidden Power Ice or Flying from both Rotom-C and Sceptile, but it cuts significantly into Vileplume's physical bulk. Rocky Helmet is an option because it meshes well with Effect Spore on contact users, but it's only recommended if you have Wish support from the likes of Aromatisse and Vaporeon. An offensive set can be used with maximum HP and Special Attack investment to hit pretty hard, but it faces a large amount of competition from the defensive set, which already hits hard enough, and it can't reliably check Hitmonlee, Virizion, and Rhydon. Energy Ball is an option, as it can OHKO mixed Samurott while Giga Drain can't, but the recovery that Giga Drain provides is usually better. Worry Seed is an option to shut down RestTalk setup sweepers such as Malamar and Calm Mind Spiritomb and can also remove abilities such as Tauros's Sheer Force and Machamp's Guts. Moonblast can be used because of its high chance to OHKO Scrafty and Sneasel after Stealth Rock, but it's usually not worth it over other, better options such as Sleep Powder. Hidden Power Fire is an option to heavily damage Ferroseed and Alolan Sandslash, but it hits very little outside of this. Hidden Power Ground chips away at Garbodor and does a lot of damage to Drapion and Toxicroak, but this would mean losing Sleep Powder or Stun Spore. Leech Seed seems like a solid option to wear down the opposing team and also gain health back, but it's incompatible with Effect Spore.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fire-types**: Fire-types such as Emboar, Houndoom, and Delphox resist Vileplume's Grass-type STAB moves and hit it super effectively, therefore making them big threats to Vileplume. Emboar easily OHKOes Vileplume with Flare Blitz, while Houndoom and Delphox use Vileplume as setup fodder with Nasty Plot and Calm Mind, respectively, or they can just OHKO Vileplume with Fire Blast. All of these Pokemon detest Sleep Powder and Stun Spore, however, and none can come in particularly well on an Acid Downpour.
**Poison-types**: Poison-types such as Garbodor, Toxicroak, Drapion, and Golbat are some of Vileplume's hardest counters, as they resist both of Vileplume's STAB moves, can't be poisoned, and use it as setup fodder. Garbodor doesn't fear anything that Vileplume could go for with the exception of Sleep Powder and Hidden Power Ground and uses it as Spikes fodder so that Garbodor's teammates have an easier time wearing Vileplume down later in the match. Toxicroak is a similar case, taking virtually nothing from any of Vileplume's moves and OHKOes with Gunk Shot at +2 as well as avoiding status from Effect Spore, but it takes around half from Hidden Power Ground. Drapion fears nothing but Hidden Power Ground and can 2HKO with Poison Jab after a Swords Dance. Golbat takes very little from any move Vileplume can go for, removes entry hazards with Defog, and slowly beats Vileplume with the combination of Roost and Brave Bird. All of these Pokemon dislike Sleep Powder and Stun Spore, however.
**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types such as Meloetta, Sigilyph, and Xatu are able to check Vileplume. Meloetta and Sigilyph use Vileplume as setup fodder with Calm Mind or can just hit OHKO it with Psychic, but both must watch out for Stun Spore and Sleep Powder, and Sigilyph is OHKOed by Acid Downpour after a small amount of prior damage. Xatu, on the other hand, doesn't come in too easily on Sludge Bomb but threatens Vileplume with Psychic, can bounce back Sleep Powder and Stun Spore with Magic Bounce, and can even Roost off Acid Downpour damage.
**Flying-types**: Flying-types such as Charizard, Archeops, and Dodrio are able to break through Vileplume with super effective STAB moves. Charizard decimates Vileplume with Flare Blitz, while Archeops sets up Stealth Rock on Vileplume's switch or can Taunt it to block Sleep Powder or Stun Spore. Dodrio can't really set up on Vileplume or switch in in fear of the Acid Downpour OHKO, but it can severely damage it with Brave Bird. All three Pokemon hate Stun Spore, Sleep Powder, or a Sludge Bomb poison on the switch, so they aren't the best switch-ins.
**Ice-types**: Sneasel hates coming in on Sludge Bomb and Giga Drain but can hit Vileplume very hard with Icicle Crash; it is, however, OHKOed by Acid Downpour. Cryogonal comes in quite easily on any move Vileplume can go for, with the exception of Sleep Powder, easily uses Rapid Spin, or can just heavily damage Vileplume with Ice Beam or Freeze-Dry. Piloswine can't come in on a Giga Drain but can heavily damage Vileplume with Icicle Crash or set up Stealth Rock as Vileplume switches out. Vanilluxe is also very threatening to Vileplume, as while it can't switch directly in in fear of Sleep Powder or Stun Spore, it's able to easily OHKO Vileplume with Blizzard; Snow Warning's hail makes Blizzard 100% accurate and also cuts Moonlight's recovery. Alolan Sandslash in particular easily takes any attack that Vileplume can go for, with the exception of Hidden Power Fire, and threatens to 2HKO with Icicle Crash.
**Setup Sweepers**: Setup sweepers such as Mismagius, Bulk Up Braviary, and Scyther are big threats to Vileplume. Mismagius's high Special Defense and resistance to Poison means it can pretty easily set up Nasty Plot and OHKO at +2 with Never Ending Nightmare. On top of this, it can even block its powder moves with Taunt. Bulk Up Braviary can use Substitute on Vileplume's Stun Spore or Sleep Powder, set up with Bulk Up relatively freely, and OHKO with a +1 Brave Bird. Eviolite Swords Dance Scyther also takes relatively little from even Acid Downpour and slowly boosts on Vileplume with the combination of Swords Dance and Roost, but it must watch out for Stun Spore and especially Sleep Powder.
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