[SET]
name: Specially Defensive (Special Defense)
move 1: Drain Punch / Close Combat
move 2: Bulk Up / Toxic
move 3: Roost
move 4: Ice Punch / Thunder Punch
item: Rocky Helmet / Leftovers
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Careful
evs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
With a Special Defense donation and Bulk Up, Buzzwole possesses immense bulk and wallbreaking power. Drain Punch is the go-to STAB move, giving Buzzwole even more longevity, while Close Combat has much higher damage output but lowers its defensive stats. Bulk Up allows Buzzwole to set up on passive threats like Body Press Corviknight, while Toxic can debilitate switch-ins like Slowking and opposing Buzzwole. Roost gives Buzzwole more staying power. Finally, Ice Punch hits Pokemon that resist Fighting like Landorus-T, Tornadus-T, and Zapdos, as does Thunder Punch, which targets Ho-Oh, Slowking, and Slowbro. Rocky Helmet takes advantage of Buzzwole's bulk to continuously chip foes, especially pivots like Landorus-T, but Leftovers is viable too.
Buzzwole likes receiving a high Special Defense stat from gods like Ho-Oh and Necrozma-DM. Ho-Oh pairs particularly well with it, as it can switch into Fire-types like Heatran and Victini locked into V-create, as well as providing Defog. Pokemon like Tapu Koko and Rillaboom appreciate Buzzwole's ability to take out Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Kartana. Buzzwole is vulnerable to Flying-types like Ho-Oh, Yveltal, and Tornadus-T, so Pokemon that threaten them like Tapu Koko, Zeraora, and Weavile are appreciated. Pokemon like Necrozma-DM and Slowking-G can take out Fairy-types like Clefable that wall Buzzwole. Buzzwole also likes having entry hazard support from Pokemon like Landorus-T and Ferrothorn, as they chip down foes alongside Rocky Helmet and Toxic. Buzzwole is one of the few relevant Pokemon to resist Thousand Arrows and have reliable recovery, making it one of the best Zygarde-10% checks in the metagame. This greatly helps partners like Heatran.
[SET]
name: Choice Item Attacker (Speed)
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Ice Punch
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Leech Life
item: Choice Band / Choice Scarf
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
With a high Speed stat, Buzzwole is an offensive monster, especially with Beast Boost letting it snowball through opposing teams. Choice Band-boosted Close Combat OHKOes Steel-types like Ferrothorn and ravages all neutral targets. Ice Punch hits Flying-types that resist Close Combat like Landorus-T, Tornadus-T, and Rayquaza. Earthquake allows Buzzwole to take out Heatran and hit other Fire-types like Blacephelon and Victini hard. Leech Life is a decent Bug-type STAB move that restores HP and lets Buzzwole stay healthy throughout the match, as well as 2HKOing potential checks in Slowking and Slowbro. Choice Band is preferred, but Choice Scarf can be used to outspeed opposing Speed receivers, or if receiving Speed from a slower god.
Buzzwole demands a high—or at least solid—Speed stat from gods like Zamazenta and Mewtwo; it is important to note that with base 130 Speed or higher, Beast Boost will raise Speed on each KO. For slower gods like Yveltal and Lunala, it will boost Attack, which makes Buzzwole very hard to defend against. When paired with powerful wallbreakers like Tapu Koko, Weavile, and Galarian Moltres, Buzzwole can quickly tear apart defensive cores. Buzzwole can consistently take out Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Heatran, which greatly helps Pokemon like Rillaboom and Tapu Koko. Buzzwole is weak to Flying-types, so Pokemon that can take them out like Tapu Koko and Zeraora, or check them like Heatran and Skarmory, are good to have around. Buzzwole needs to conserve its HP in order to sweep, so pivots like Slowking, Rotom-W, and Landorus-T are good to get it in safely. Buzzwole also appreciates entry hazards from the likes of Skarmory, Landorus-T, and Ferrothorn to put many foes into KO range.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Substitute can be run on the Bulk Up set to set up more easily, but it can be hard to fit onto movesets. Taunt can shut down many defensive Pokemon but is similarly hard to fit. Offensive sets can opt to run a Life Orb to switch moves, but the loss in power compared to Choice Band, as well as the recoil, make it less than ideal. An EV spread of 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Spe on the Special Defense set allows Buzzwole to outspeed base 80 Speed Pokemon, but the loss of special bulk is noticeable.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Flying-types**: Ho-Oh and Tornadus-T can tank Close Combat, force Buzzwole out, and keep coming back for more due to Regenerator. Other Flying-types like Yveltal check it as well. However, they must be wary of a potential Ice Punch or Thunder Punch.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types like Heatran and Victini threaten to heavily damage Buzzwole and force it out. However, they both fear being outsped and KOed by Speed receiver sets.
**Clefable**: Clefable resists both of Buzzwole's STAB types, is not threatened by any of its coverage, and can take advantage of Buzzwole by setting up with Calm Mind.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Wes8888, 584907]]
- Quality checked by: [[Ducky, 525446], [UT, 523866]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Adeleine, 517429]]
name: Specially Defensive (Special Defense)
move 1: Drain Punch / Close Combat
move 2: Bulk Up / Toxic
move 3: Roost
move 4: Ice Punch / Thunder Punch
item: Rocky Helmet / Leftovers
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Careful
evs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
With a Special Defense donation and Bulk Up, Buzzwole possesses immense bulk and wallbreaking power. Drain Punch is the go-to STAB move, giving Buzzwole even more longevity, while Close Combat has much higher damage output but lowers its defensive stats. Bulk Up allows Buzzwole to set up on passive threats like Body Press Corviknight, while Toxic can debilitate switch-ins like Slowking and opposing Buzzwole. Roost gives Buzzwole more staying power. Finally, Ice Punch hits Pokemon that resist Fighting like Landorus-T, Tornadus-T, and Zapdos, as does Thunder Punch, which targets Ho-Oh, Slowking, and Slowbro. Rocky Helmet takes advantage of Buzzwole's bulk to continuously chip foes, especially pivots like Landorus-T, but Leftovers is viable too.
Buzzwole likes receiving a high Special Defense stat from gods like Ho-Oh and Necrozma-DM. Ho-Oh pairs particularly well with it, as it can switch into Fire-types like Heatran and Victini locked into V-create, as well as providing Defog. Pokemon like Tapu Koko and Rillaboom appreciate Buzzwole's ability to take out Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Kartana. Buzzwole is vulnerable to Flying-types like Ho-Oh, Yveltal, and Tornadus-T, so Pokemon that threaten them like Tapu Koko, Zeraora, and Weavile are appreciated. Pokemon like Necrozma-DM and Slowking-G can take out Fairy-types like Clefable that wall Buzzwole. Buzzwole also likes having entry hazard support from Pokemon like Landorus-T and Ferrothorn, as they chip down foes alongside Rocky Helmet and Toxic. Buzzwole is one of the few relevant Pokemon to resist Thousand Arrows and have reliable recovery, making it one of the best Zygarde-10% checks in the metagame. This greatly helps partners like Heatran.
[SET]
name: Choice Item Attacker (Speed)
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Ice Punch
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Leech Life
item: Choice Band / Choice Scarf
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
With a high Speed stat, Buzzwole is an offensive monster, especially with Beast Boost letting it snowball through opposing teams. Choice Band-boosted Close Combat OHKOes Steel-types like Ferrothorn and ravages all neutral targets. Ice Punch hits Flying-types that resist Close Combat like Landorus-T, Tornadus-T, and Rayquaza. Earthquake allows Buzzwole to take out Heatran and hit other Fire-types like Blacephelon and Victini hard. Leech Life is a decent Bug-type STAB move that restores HP and lets Buzzwole stay healthy throughout the match, as well as 2HKOing potential checks in Slowking and Slowbro. Choice Band is preferred, but Choice Scarf can be used to outspeed opposing Speed receivers, or if receiving Speed from a slower god.
Buzzwole demands a high—or at least solid—Speed stat from gods like Zamazenta and Mewtwo; it is important to note that with base 130 Speed or higher, Beast Boost will raise Speed on each KO. For slower gods like Yveltal and Lunala, it will boost Attack, which makes Buzzwole very hard to defend against. When paired with powerful wallbreakers like Tapu Koko, Weavile, and Galarian Moltres, Buzzwole can quickly tear apart defensive cores. Buzzwole can consistently take out Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Heatran, which greatly helps Pokemon like Rillaboom and Tapu Koko. Buzzwole is weak to Flying-types, so Pokemon that can take them out like Tapu Koko and Zeraora, or check them like Heatran and Skarmory, are good to have around. Buzzwole needs to conserve its HP in order to sweep, so pivots like Slowking, Rotom-W, and Landorus-T are good to get it in safely. Buzzwole also appreciates entry hazards from the likes of Skarmory, Landorus-T, and Ferrothorn to put many foes into KO range.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Substitute can be run on the Bulk Up set to set up more easily, but it can be hard to fit onto movesets. Taunt can shut down many defensive Pokemon but is similarly hard to fit. Offensive sets can opt to run a Life Orb to switch moves, but the loss in power compared to Choice Band, as well as the recoil, make it less than ideal. An EV spread of 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Spe on the Special Defense set allows Buzzwole to outspeed base 80 Speed Pokemon, but the loss of special bulk is noticeable.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Flying-types**: Ho-Oh and Tornadus-T can tank Close Combat, force Buzzwole out, and keep coming back for more due to Regenerator. Other Flying-types like Yveltal check it as well. However, they must be wary of a potential Ice Punch or Thunder Punch.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types like Heatran and Victini threaten to heavily damage Buzzwole and force it out. However, they both fear being outsped and KOed by Speed receiver sets.
**Clefable**: Clefable resists both of Buzzwole's STAB types, is not threatened by any of its coverage, and can take advantage of Buzzwole by setting up with Calm Mind.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Wes8888, 584907]]
- Quality checked by: [[Ducky, 525446], [UT, 523866]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Adeleine, 517429]]
Last edited:
