[OVERVIEW]
With fantastic coverage, the ability to cripple would-be switch-ins with Sleep Powder, and the ability to boost its already good Special Attack with Growth, Venusaur is an effective sun sweeper that isn't to be taken lightly. Venusaur's typing allows it to set up on many Water-types, like Alomomola and Rotom-W, as well as threaten out Grass-types that are weak to Poison like Mega Sceptile and Celebi, which it can OHKO. However, without sun, Venusaur is rather slow and vulnerable to being revenge killed by faster Pokemon like Infernape and Mega Aerodactyl. Outside of sun teams, it's outclassed as an attacker by Mega Sceptile and Celebi and as a defensive Pokemon by Amoonguss. In addition, Venusaur is mostly forced to run a Timid nature in order to outspeed Choice Scarf users like Infernape during sun, undermining its offensive capabilities. Although Venusaur's bulk is decent and its defensive typing is good, it's vulnerable to priority moves it doesn't resist like Ice Shard and Bullet Punch. Sun as a whole is a shaky archetype too, with only Venusaur, Leafeon, and various Fire-types as viable sun attackers in UU.
[SET]
name: Sun Sweeper
move 1: Giga Drain / Solar Beam
move 2: Hidden Power Fire
move 3: Sludge Bomb
move 4: Growth
item: Life Orb / Poisonium Z
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Giga Drain is Venusaur's main Grass-type attack, allowing it to recover lost HP from Life Orb recoil while also damaging its foe, thus letting it take on bulky Water-type Pokemon like Alomomola better. Solar Beam is another option, allowing unboosted Life Orb Venusaur to OHKO Mega Aerodactyl after Stealth Rock, 2HKO Gliscor, and avoid Liquid Ooze from Tentacruel at the cost of making its Grass-type STAB move almost completely useless outside of sun, preventing Venusaur from hitting Pokemon like Sand Stream Hippowdon, and causing Venusaur to be worn down much faster from Life Orb recoil and entry hazards. Hidden Power Fire gives Venusaur coverage for Steel-types such as Scizor and Klefki and does more damage during sun. Sludge Bomb is useful for beating Pokemon that resist Grass and Fire like Hydreigon and Latias as well as allowing unboosted Venusaur to 2HKO Sylveon. Sludge Bomb also enables the use of Acid Downpour, which is a one-time nuke that allows unboosted Venusaur to OHKO Infernape and +2 Venusaur to OHKO Mega Latias after Stealth Rock. Growth boosts Venusaur's Special Attack by 2 stages when used during sun, giving it the power to OHKO Pokemon like Tentacruel and Amoonguss. Sleep Powder can be an option to set up Growth easier, but it causes Venusaur to be walled by either Steel-types like Cobalion if used over Hidden Power Fire or Dragon- and Fire-types like Mega Altaria and Infernape if used over Sludge Bomb.
Set Details
========
252 Special Attack EVs with a Life Orb allow Venusaur to hit as hard as possible. 252 Speed EVs, a Timid nature, and Chlorophyll are used to outspeed all common Choice Scarf users during sun. Poisonium Z allows Venusaur to use Acid Downpour, which OHKOes Hydreigon after Stealth Rock, OHKOes Mega Latias after Stealth Rock when boosted, and might OHKO Mantine when boosted. A Modest nature with Life Orb guarantees an OHKO on Mega Aerodactyl after Stealth Rock and gives a greater chance to OHKO Mega Aggron with +2 Hidden Power Fire after Spikes. However, using a Modest nature means Venusaur gets outsped by Choice Scarf Infernape, Choice Scarf Terrakion, and Choice Scarf Latias during sun.
Usage Tips
========
Venusaur can either be an early-game wallbreaker against bulkier teams or a late-game cleaner against offensive teams. If you have Poisonium Z, refrain from using Acid Downpour until the opponent sends out a Pokemon that would normally expect to take a hit, like Mega Latias, in order to OHKO it. Send out Venusaur on a resisted hit or with a free switch from using U-turn, Volt Switch, or a sacrifice while sun is up. Bulkier Water-types like Alomomola and Rotom-W usually can't do much to Venusaur, so they're good Pokemon to switch Venusaur in on. Giga Drain is incredibly spammable, especially in conjunction with Growth, as Venusaur can take a hit, set up with Growth, and recover a lot of its lost HP with +2 Giga Drain. Use Growth on predicted switches against Pokemon that Venusaur OHKOes, like Mega Sceptile and Crawdaunt. Growth can also be used against passive Pokemon like Alomomola and Sylveon, as they can't threaten Venusaur with much. If Venusaur does not need Growth to sweep through your opponent's team, just attacking is fine. When sun turns are over, you can still keep Venusaur on the field if the opponent doesn't have any Pokemon faster than it. If they do have faster Pokemon and your sun setter hasn't fainted yet, it's better to switch out so you can terrorize them again later.
Team Options
========
Sun setters such as Ninetales and Torkoal are mandatory for Venusaur to do its job of sweeping in the sun. Torkoal has much better staying power and utility, with moves like Stealth Rock and Rapid Spin, but it doesn't have much in the way of offensive presence, while Ninetales has a much better offensive presence with Nasty Plot and Inferno Overdrive but is lacking in utility and is easily KOed. Wallbreakers like Mamoswine, Nidoking, and Ninetales are great partners, as they can break through walls and weaken checks to make Venusaur's job easier. Entry hazard setters like Klefki, Swampert, and Cobalion are important for Venusaur, as it really appreciates its usual checks being worn down before it comes in. Venusaur struggles more against bulkier teams, so stallbreakers like Gliscor and Togekiss go well with it. Other cleaners like Mega Sharpedo appreciate Venusaur poking holes in the opponent's team. Fire-types like Infernape take advantage of sun and help Venusaur by breaking through Steel-types easier than Venusaur can and by wearing down Dragon-types that Venusaur struggles with.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
An alternative spread of 112 Atk / 220 SpA / 176 Spe with a Naive nature can be used in conjunction with Power Whip and Grassium Z in order to OHKO Blissey after one Growth. A more defensive set with Leech Seed and Synthesis can be used; however, it is outclassed by Amoonguss due to Amoonguss's higher bulk, access to moves like Clear Smog, and better defensive ability in Regenerator.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Venusaur has a difficult time dealing with Pokemon with high Special Defense like Alolan Muk and Latias, since Venusaur cannot KO them outright and they hit Venusaur back for massive damage.
**Mega Aggron**: Venusaur cannot defeat a healthy Mega Aggron, as it can take even +2 Hidden Power Fire and KO back with Fire Punch and Life Orb recoil. However, Mega Aggron cannot switch into a Hidden Power Fire without risking a 2HKO if Venusaur is Modest.
**Hippowdon**: While Hippowdon doesn't directly threaten Venusaur, its Sand Stream removes sun, preventing Venusaur from benefiting from Chlorophyll and sun-boosted Hidden Power Fire.
**Flying-types**: Venusaur has trouble breaking through common Flying-types like Mega Aerodactyl and Crobat without Stealth Rock or a Growth boost.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types like Entei and Infernape resist Venusaur's Grass-type attacks and can take an unboosted Sludge Bomb when at full HP, allowing them to KO Venusaur back with a sun-boosted STAB move.
**Priority Attacks**: Between Life Orb recoil and entry hazard damage, it's not hard for Venusaur to be worn down enough to be put in KO range of priority like Mamoswine's Ice Shard, Entei's Extreme Speed, and Scizor's Bullet Punch, especially if Venusaur lacks Giga Drain.
With fantastic coverage, the ability to cripple would-be switch-ins with Sleep Powder, and the ability to boost its already good Special Attack with Growth, Venusaur is an effective sun sweeper that isn't to be taken lightly. Venusaur's typing allows it to set up on many Water-types, like Alomomola and Rotom-W, as well as threaten out Grass-types that are weak to Poison like Mega Sceptile and Celebi, which it can OHKO. However, without sun, Venusaur is rather slow and vulnerable to being revenge killed by faster Pokemon like Infernape and Mega Aerodactyl. Outside of sun teams, it's outclassed as an attacker by Mega Sceptile and Celebi and as a defensive Pokemon by Amoonguss. In addition, Venusaur is mostly forced to run a Timid nature in order to outspeed Choice Scarf users like Infernape during sun, undermining its offensive capabilities. Although Venusaur's bulk is decent and its defensive typing is good, it's vulnerable to priority moves it doesn't resist like Ice Shard and Bullet Punch. Sun as a whole is a shaky archetype too, with only Venusaur, Leafeon, and various Fire-types as viable sun attackers in UU.
[SET]
name: Sun Sweeper
move 1: Giga Drain / Solar Beam
move 2: Hidden Power Fire
move 3: Sludge Bomb
move 4: Growth
item: Life Orb / Poisonium Z
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Giga Drain is Venusaur's main Grass-type attack, allowing it to recover lost HP from Life Orb recoil while also damaging its foe, thus letting it take on bulky Water-type Pokemon like Alomomola better. Solar Beam is another option, allowing unboosted Life Orb Venusaur to OHKO Mega Aerodactyl after Stealth Rock, 2HKO Gliscor, and avoid Liquid Ooze from Tentacruel at the cost of making its Grass-type STAB move almost completely useless outside of sun, preventing Venusaur from hitting Pokemon like Sand Stream Hippowdon, and causing Venusaur to be worn down much faster from Life Orb recoil and entry hazards. Hidden Power Fire gives Venusaur coverage for Steel-types such as Scizor and Klefki and does more damage during sun. Sludge Bomb is useful for beating Pokemon that resist Grass and Fire like Hydreigon and Latias as well as allowing unboosted Venusaur to 2HKO Sylveon. Sludge Bomb also enables the use of Acid Downpour, which is a one-time nuke that allows unboosted Venusaur to OHKO Infernape and +2 Venusaur to OHKO Mega Latias after Stealth Rock. Growth boosts Venusaur's Special Attack by 2 stages when used during sun, giving it the power to OHKO Pokemon like Tentacruel and Amoonguss. Sleep Powder can be an option to set up Growth easier, but it causes Venusaur to be walled by either Steel-types like Cobalion if used over Hidden Power Fire or Dragon- and Fire-types like Mega Altaria and Infernape if used over Sludge Bomb.
Set Details
========
252 Special Attack EVs with a Life Orb allow Venusaur to hit as hard as possible. 252 Speed EVs, a Timid nature, and Chlorophyll are used to outspeed all common Choice Scarf users during sun. Poisonium Z allows Venusaur to use Acid Downpour, which OHKOes Hydreigon after Stealth Rock, OHKOes Mega Latias after Stealth Rock when boosted, and might OHKO Mantine when boosted. A Modest nature with Life Orb guarantees an OHKO on Mega Aerodactyl after Stealth Rock and gives a greater chance to OHKO Mega Aggron with +2 Hidden Power Fire after Spikes. However, using a Modest nature means Venusaur gets outsped by Choice Scarf Infernape, Choice Scarf Terrakion, and Choice Scarf Latias during sun.
Usage Tips
========
Venusaur can either be an early-game wallbreaker against bulkier teams or a late-game cleaner against offensive teams. If you have Poisonium Z, refrain from using Acid Downpour until the opponent sends out a Pokemon that would normally expect to take a hit, like Mega Latias, in order to OHKO it. Send out Venusaur on a resisted hit or with a free switch from using U-turn, Volt Switch, or a sacrifice while sun is up. Bulkier Water-types like Alomomola and Rotom-W usually can't do much to Venusaur, so they're good Pokemon to switch Venusaur in on. Giga Drain is incredibly spammable, especially in conjunction with Growth, as Venusaur can take a hit, set up with Growth, and recover a lot of its lost HP with +2 Giga Drain. Use Growth on predicted switches against Pokemon that Venusaur OHKOes, like Mega Sceptile and Crawdaunt. Growth can also be used against passive Pokemon like Alomomola and Sylveon, as they can't threaten Venusaur with much. If Venusaur does not need Growth to sweep through your opponent's team, just attacking is fine. When sun turns are over, you can still keep Venusaur on the field if the opponent doesn't have any Pokemon faster than it. If they do have faster Pokemon and your sun setter hasn't fainted yet, it's better to switch out so you can terrorize them again later.
Team Options
========
Sun setters such as Ninetales and Torkoal are mandatory for Venusaur to do its job of sweeping in the sun. Torkoal has much better staying power and utility, with moves like Stealth Rock and Rapid Spin, but it doesn't have much in the way of offensive presence, while Ninetales has a much better offensive presence with Nasty Plot and Inferno Overdrive but is lacking in utility and is easily KOed. Wallbreakers like Mamoswine, Nidoking, and Ninetales are great partners, as they can break through walls and weaken checks to make Venusaur's job easier. Entry hazard setters like Klefki, Swampert, and Cobalion are important for Venusaur, as it really appreciates its usual checks being worn down before it comes in. Venusaur struggles more against bulkier teams, so stallbreakers like Gliscor and Togekiss go well with it. Other cleaners like Mega Sharpedo appreciate Venusaur poking holes in the opponent's team. Fire-types like Infernape take advantage of sun and help Venusaur by breaking through Steel-types easier than Venusaur can and by wearing down Dragon-types that Venusaur struggles with.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
An alternative spread of 112 Atk / 220 SpA / 176 Spe with a Naive nature can be used in conjunction with Power Whip and Grassium Z in order to OHKO Blissey after one Growth. A more defensive set with Leech Seed and Synthesis can be used; however, it is outclassed by Amoonguss due to Amoonguss's higher bulk, access to moves like Clear Smog, and better defensive ability in Regenerator.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Venusaur has a difficult time dealing with Pokemon with high Special Defense like Alolan Muk and Latias, since Venusaur cannot KO them outright and they hit Venusaur back for massive damage.
**Mega Aggron**: Venusaur cannot defeat a healthy Mega Aggron, as it can take even +2 Hidden Power Fire and KO back with Fire Punch and Life Orb recoil. However, Mega Aggron cannot switch into a Hidden Power Fire without risking a 2HKO if Venusaur is Modest.
**Hippowdon**: While Hippowdon doesn't directly threaten Venusaur, its Sand Stream removes sun, preventing Venusaur from benefiting from Chlorophyll and sun-boosted Hidden Power Fire.
**Flying-types**: Venusaur has trouble breaking through common Flying-types like Mega Aerodactyl and Crobat without Stealth Rock or a Growth boost.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types like Entei and Infernape resist Venusaur's Grass-type attacks and can take an unboosted Sludge Bomb when at full HP, allowing them to KO Venusaur back with a sun-boosted STAB move.
**Priority Attacks**: Between Life Orb recoil and entry hazard damage, it's not hard for Venusaur to be worn down enough to be put in KO range of priority like Mamoswine's Ice Shard, Entei's Extreme Speed, and Scizor's Bullet Punch, especially if Venusaur lacks Giga Drain.
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