[OVERVIEW]
Thanks to a powerful STAB Blizzard, Freeze-Dry, and the extra chip from hail, Vanilluxe has separated itself as a potent special wallbreaker capable of muscling past many of the tier's Water- and Steel-types, such as Mantine, Gastrodon, and Stakataka. Despite these traits, Vanilluxe can find it difficult to break past special walls like Snorlax and Sylveon, and because of a terrible defensive typing and Stealth Rock weakness, Vanilluxe struggles to come in safely against many of the tier's defensive staples. On top of that, Vanilluxe faces harsh competition from other special wallbreakers such as Exploud and Starmie that bait in bulky Steel- and Water-types, respectively.
[SET]
name: Wallbreaker
move 1: Blizzard
move 2: Freeze-Dry
move 3: Water Pulse
move 4: Aurora Veil / Ice Shard
item: Choice Specs / Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Snow Warning
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Water Pulse is the coverage move of choice on Vanilluxe in order to hit Stakataka, but it also comes with the added benefit of targeting Fire-types like Salazzle and Arcanine, which are capable of eating an Ice-type attack if needed. In the last slot, Aurora Veil can be used in order to help powerful sweepers like Salazzle and Silvally-Ground set up, but Ice Shard can be used to help pick off weakened threats like Rotom-C and Aerodactyl. Although Choice Specs is usually the preferred item, Heavy-Duty Boots can be run to alleviate entry hazard pressure and ease the need for prediction. Despite the drop in strength, Timid is the preferred nature on Vanilluxe, allowing it to outspeed Pokemon such as Adamant Toxicroak, Tsareena, and Jolly Tyrantrum.
Because of its terrible defensive typing and Stealth Rock weakness, Vanilluxe appreciates pivot support from Pokemon like Rotom-C and Xatu, both of which are capable of clearing away entry hazards for Vanilluxe. Other pivots such as Silvally-Ground, Passimian, and Talonflame help deal with the Steel-types that like to switch into Vanilluxe. Vanilluxe also pairs fantastically with late-game cleaners that want Steel-types chipped such as Ninjask and Tauros. Because Vanilluxe gets scared out by the plethora of faster offensive threats in the tier, having Fighting-, Fire-, and Rock-type answers such as Mantine, Talonflame, and Mudsdale is key to using Vanilluxe on more balanced builds. Escavalier is another phenomenal partner for Vanilluxe because its ability Overcoat stops damage from hail, while Knock Off punishes common checks in Fire- and Steel-types that try to switch in on it.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Choice Scarf Vanilluxe can make for a fast and dangerous cleaner with an added benefit of surprise factor, but it is slower than common Choice Scarf users like Passimian and Rotom-C and loses a lot of the immediate wallbreaking power of Choice Specs.
Checks and Counters
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**Steel-types**: Thanks to Overcoat adding a Hail immunity, Escavalier is the biggest answer to Vanilluxe, but other Steel-types such as Stakataka, Copperajah, and Silvally-Steel are all capable of consistently switching into Vanilluxe and threatening it out.
**Fire-types**: Although Vanilluxe can scare Salazzle and Arcanine from hitting the field with Water Pulse, both can come in on a Blizzard and reliably force Vanilluxe out. Talonflame can't switch into Vanilluxe, but Flare Blitz variants can consistently KO Vanilluxe after Stealth Rock.
**Faster Wallbreakers**: Because of Vanilluxe's poor defensive typing and middling Speed tier, many of the tier's offensive wallbreakers such as Jolly Toxicroak, Tauros, Silvally-Ground, and Starmie are powerful offensive answers to Vanilluxe.
**Special Walls**: Special sponges such as Thick Fat Snorlax and Sylveon are extremely difficult for Vanilluxe to break past without a ton of prior chip damage and entry hazard support.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Pokeslice, 509790]]
- Quality checked by: [[Togkey, 400664]]
- Grammar checked by: [[deetah, 297659]]
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