[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Roost
move 2: Defog
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Brave Bird / U-turn
item: Eviolite
ability: Overcoat
nature: Careful
evs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
With access to reliable recovery and a great defensive typing, Vullaby is one of the best special walls in the metagame, able to check common special attackers like Roselia, Lampent, Duosion, and Hattrem. Brave Bird lets Vullaby wear down Dark-resistant foes such as Gurdurr and specially defensive Clefairy, which could otherwise switch into Knock Off repeatedly. Alternatively, U-turn allows Vullaby to pivot out of bad matchups and safely bring in frailer teammates.
Vullaby's two main roles are to check special attackers and clear entry hazards, but it should also look for opportunities to remove Eviolite with Knock Off during the early-game. If running U-turn, Vullaby should look to pivot away from incoming setup sweepers like Morgrem, as its passivity can be exploited by these Pokemon. Tangela, Koffing, and Gurdurr are good partners for Vullaby, as they check physical attackers such as Piloswine, Raboot, and Thwackey. Pokemon with a weakness to Stealth Rock such as Lampent, Raboot, and Rufflet enjoy the entry hazard removal and pivot support that Vullaby provides. Grass- and Ground-types like Ferroseed, Thwackey, Marshtomp, and Gabite can sponge attacks from Electric-types, while Water- and Fire-types such as Slowpoke, Wartortle, and Combusken can keep Ice-types at bay. Vullaby is one of the most reliable Tangela and Roselia switch-ins thanks to the immunity to Stun Spore and Sleep Powder provided by Overcoat and the resistance to Leaf Storm provided by its Flying typing; for this reason, it pairs well with Wartortle and Piloswine.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Toxic wears down entry hazard setters and common switch-ins like Piloswine, Gabite, and Electabuzz. Taunt shuts down bulky foes such as Duosion and Ferroseed. Running either of these moves requires Vullaby to give up important coverage or lose out on Defog. An EV spread of 248 HP / 212 SpD / 48 Spe can be used to outpace uninvested base 65 Speed Pokemon like Roselia and Hakamo-o. Whirlwind is another option that can be run in conjunction with Future Sight setters such as Duosion and Slowpoke to phaze Dark-types that switch into the activation of Future Sight. Physically defensive Impish variants with 248 HP / 84 Def / 176 Spe EVs can outpace Piloswine and stall it out with Toxic and Defog, while checking other physical attackers such as Raboot.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ice-types**: Piloswine takes negligible damage from Vullaby's attacks and threatens it with a powerful STAB attack.
**Physical Wallbreakers**: Raboot, Rufflet, Fraxure, and Klang can break past Vullaby with their sheer strength or by setting up on it.
**Electric-types**: Electabuzz can threaten Vullaby with strong STAB attacks, but Vullaby can use Eviolite to negate the damage of a predicted Volt Switch with Roost and mitigate some of the lost momentum.
**Residual Damage**: Residual damage from Stealth Rock and poison limit Vullaby's ability to check special attackers like Roselia, Lampent, Duosion, and Tangela and force it to use Roost more often. Tangela and Roselia can even break Vullaby on their own with the help of Stealth Rock, poison from Sludge Bomb or Poison Point, and some prior chip damage. However, Roselia cannot switch in freely if Vullaby runs Brave Bird.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Jett, 226429], [Mirbro, 451786]]
- Quality checked by: [[S1nn0hC0nfirm3d, 231074], [Marjane, 355753], [Greybaum.407249]]
- Grammar checked by: [[DC, 449990], [Isaiah, 375662]]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Roost
move 2: Defog
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Brave Bird / U-turn
item: Eviolite
ability: Overcoat
nature: Careful
evs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
With access to reliable recovery and a great defensive typing, Vullaby is one of the best special walls in the metagame, able to check common special attackers like Roselia, Lampent, Duosion, and Hattrem. Brave Bird lets Vullaby wear down Dark-resistant foes such as Gurdurr and specially defensive Clefairy, which could otherwise switch into Knock Off repeatedly. Alternatively, U-turn allows Vullaby to pivot out of bad matchups and safely bring in frailer teammates.
Vullaby's two main roles are to check special attackers and clear entry hazards, but it should also look for opportunities to remove Eviolite with Knock Off during the early-game. If running U-turn, Vullaby should look to pivot away from incoming setup sweepers like Morgrem, as its passivity can be exploited by these Pokemon. Tangela, Koffing, and Gurdurr are good partners for Vullaby, as they check physical attackers such as Piloswine, Raboot, and Thwackey. Pokemon with a weakness to Stealth Rock such as Lampent, Raboot, and Rufflet enjoy the entry hazard removal and pivot support that Vullaby provides. Grass- and Ground-types like Ferroseed, Thwackey, Marshtomp, and Gabite can sponge attacks from Electric-types, while Water- and Fire-types such as Slowpoke, Wartortle, and Combusken can keep Ice-types at bay. Vullaby is one of the most reliable Tangela and Roselia switch-ins thanks to the immunity to Stun Spore and Sleep Powder provided by Overcoat and the resistance to Leaf Storm provided by its Flying typing; for this reason, it pairs well with Wartortle and Piloswine.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Toxic wears down entry hazard setters and common switch-ins like Piloswine, Gabite, and Electabuzz. Taunt shuts down bulky foes such as Duosion and Ferroseed. Running either of these moves requires Vullaby to give up important coverage or lose out on Defog. An EV spread of 248 HP / 212 SpD / 48 Spe can be used to outpace uninvested base 65 Speed Pokemon like Roselia and Hakamo-o. Whirlwind is another option that can be run in conjunction with Future Sight setters such as Duosion and Slowpoke to phaze Dark-types that switch into the activation of Future Sight. Physically defensive Impish variants with 248 HP / 84 Def / 176 Spe EVs can outpace Piloswine and stall it out with Toxic and Defog, while checking other physical attackers such as Raboot.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ice-types**: Piloswine takes negligible damage from Vullaby's attacks and threatens it with a powerful STAB attack.
**Physical Wallbreakers**: Raboot, Rufflet, Fraxure, and Klang can break past Vullaby with their sheer strength or by setting up on it.
**Electric-types**: Electabuzz can threaten Vullaby with strong STAB attacks, but Vullaby can use Eviolite to negate the damage of a predicted Volt Switch with Roost and mitigate some of the lost momentum.
**Residual Damage**: Residual damage from Stealth Rock and poison limit Vullaby's ability to check special attackers like Roselia, Lampent, Duosion, and Tangela and force it to use Roost more often. Tangela and Roselia can even break Vullaby on their own with the help of Stealth Rock, poison from Sludge Bomb or Poison Point, and some prior chip damage. However, Roselia cannot switch in freely if Vullaby runs Brave Bird.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Jett, 226429], [Mirbro, 451786]]
- Quality checked by: [[S1nn0hC0nfirm3d, 231074], [Marjane, 355753], [Greybaum.407249]]
- Grammar checked by: [[DC, 449990], [Isaiah, 375662]]
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