Vikavolt
Type: Bug/Electric
Stats: 77 HP / 70 Atk / 90 Def / 145 SpA / 75 SpD / 43 Spe (500 BST)
Ability: Levitate
Noteworthy Moves:
Agility
Air Slash
Bug Buzz
Discharge
Energy Ball
Flash Cannon
Mud Shot
Sticky Web
Thunderbolt
Thunder Wave
Volt Switch
Pros:
- Vikavolt has an extremely high Special Attack stat, STAB Volt Switch, and wide coverage, letting it do serious damage to almost anything.
- Its typing, in combination with Levitate and okay bulk, lets it switch in against Great Tusk somewhat safely. Levitate can also be used with various Tera Types to wall Pokemon dependent on Earthquake, giving Vikavolt plenty of opportunities to fire off attacks.
- While it isn't the best setter, Vikavolt does have access to Sticky Web, a rare and valuable option. The opponent has to keep this in mind when facing Vikavolt, complicating counterplay.
- Vikavolt can potentially opt to boost its own Speed with Agility, letting it outspeed all relevant unboosted Pokemon other than Dragapult and Zamazenta, and fire off its strong attacks for a lategame clean-up.
- Vikavolt lost access to Roost in SV, meaning its switchin opportunities are far more limited in number than they were in previous generations.
- Vikavolt's low Speed is an obvious flaw, and is strongly worsened by its loss of recovery which would previously compensate for usually attacking second. Unfortunately, Vikavolt can't even outspeed 0 Speed Great Tusk without a boost.
- Vikavolt's typing makes it strongly desire Heavy Duty Boots, cutting into its damage potential.
- While Vikavolt has wide coverage, it can struggle to fit everything it wants in a single set. Thunderbolt, Volt Switch, Bug Buzz, Air Slash, Energy Ball, Flash Cannon, and Mud Shot are all serious options for most sets, and some will want Tera Blast as well.
- There are other, better, Pokemon who can fulfil defensive Tera + Levitate roles, even if they don't match the raw damage of Vikavolt.
- Steel allows Vikavolt to resist or be immune to all of Baxcalibur and Garchomp's common attacking moves, helping it serve a tank role in the current OU meta. It also entirely walls Clodsire, resulting in somewhat of a stalemate, and can be used for a boosted Flash Cannon.
- Fairy is a generally great type, allows Vikavolt to resist Great Tusk's Knock Off as well as dual STAB, and maintains a fantastic Garchomp matchup. Providing an immunity to Baxcalibur's Scale Shot can also be game-winning on occasion.
- Ice grants Vikavolt fantastic coverage alongside its Electric STAB, at the cost of most of its defensive capabilities.
- Electric is pretty gimmicky but I suppose it's usable. A Pokemon this slow really needs relevant resistances, though...
- Ghost can prevent Rapid Spin, which is useful for Sticky Web sets.
Sets that might be ok:
Steel Tank
Vikavolt @ Heavy-Duty Boots / Leftovers / Choice Specs
Ability: Levitate
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 236 HP / 252 SpA / 20 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Flash Cannon
- Bug Buzz / Air Slash
- Volt Switch
A set that aims to take advantage of its Steel typing, Levitate, and high Special Attack to 1v1 various threats. 20 Speed lets Vikavolt outspeed Ting-Lu. Electric/Steel provides good general coverage into the current metagame, with Bug Buzz threatening Ting-Lu more, and Air Slash threatening Great Tusk and Ogerpon more. The item is rather flexible- Heavy-Duty Boots makes Vikavolt less reliant on Tera, Leftovers improves its longevity after Tera, and Choice Specs sacrifices longevity in return for getting more damage out of every switchin opportunity.
Sticky Web
Vikavolt @ Heavy-Duty Boots / Focus Sash / Mental Herb
Ability: Levitate
Tera Type: Ghost / Fairy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Thunderbolt / Tera Blast
- Air Slash / Energy Ball
- Sticky Web
- Volt Switch
Set up Sticky Webs, threaten removers, get a slow Volt Switch into an abuser or faint. That's basically all. Air Slash is here to break Great Tusk and smack cheeky Ogerpons, but you can use Energy Ball if you expect to face offensive Tusk more often as it has a good chance to OHKO. There could also be some merit to a surprise Fairy Tera Blast.
Agility
Vikavolt @ Heavy-Duty Boots / Expert Belt
Ability: Levitate
Tera Type: Ice / Fairy
EVs: 36 HP / 252 SpA / 220 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Agility
- Thunderbolt
- Tera Blast
- Bug Buzz / Air Slash / Flash Cannon / Mud Shot
Get boosted, outspeed everything Talonflame and below, go for game. Tera Ice provides better coverage while Tera Fairy can aid against revenge killing attempts from Zamazenta, Dragapult, and Sucker Punch. After Thunderbolt and Tera Blast, the last slot is very flexible.
Overall Thoughts?
The loss of Roost is a really unfortunate one for Vikavolt, heavily limiting its ability to repeatedly check and threaten certain Pokemon over the course of a game, and it may be rather damning if it doesn't manage to break a lower tier with some Tera Agility set or become a premier Webs setter somewhere. I feel bad for it...
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