LC Budew

qc: hilomolo/xayah/berks
[OVERVIEW]

Budew is the only Pokemon in LC with access to both Spikes and Sleep Powder, making it an excellent lead. Furthermore, Budew's decent defensive typing, usable bulk, and good ability in Natural Cure allow it to beat common Rapid Spin users such as Staryu and Kabuto as well as check common threats such as Mienfoo and Chinchou. However, Budew's low offensive stats make it relatively passive against Pokemon it can't hit for super effective damage, which can leave it as setup bait for common threats such as Vullaby. Furthermore, Budew suffers from slight four-moveslot syndrome, meaning it struggles to do everything it wants to do. Finally, Budew is usually outclassed by Ferroseed as a Grass-type Spikes user because of the latter's superior bulk and typing.


[SET]
name: Entry Hazard Setter
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Sleep Powder / Sludge Bomb
move 3: Synthesis / Giga Drain
move 4: Giga Drain / Sludge Bomb / Hidden Power Fire
item: Eviolite
ability: Natural Cure
nature: Bold
evs: 36 HP / 236 Def / 36 SpA / 236 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Spikes does damage to all grounded Pokemon and is a useful entry hazard for offensive teams. Sleep Powder lets Budew incapacitate a single opposing threat. Giga Drain gives Budew a form of recovery and hits common Rapid Spin users such as Staryu as well as common leads such as Onix for super effective damage. Sludge Bomb is a more powerful STAB move with a high poison chance. Synthesis provides more reliable recovery than Giga Drain. Hidden Power Fire hits Steel-types such as Pawniard and Ferroseed, which otherwise wall Budew. Toxic Spikes is usable as a secondary entry hazard that poisons grounded switch-ins.

Set Details
========

The given EV spread along with a Bold nature gives Budew decent 21 / 14 / 16 bulk, allowing it to avoid being 2HKOed by Eviolite Staryu's Ice Beam and Psychic after Stealth Rock damage, with the leftover EVs used to boost Special Attack by a point. Eviolite is the item of choice, further bolstering Budew's bulk. Natural Cure makes Budew a good status absorber, most notably allowing it to switch into Scald with relative impunity.

Usage Tips
========

Budew works best as a lead, as it has a good matchup against common leads such as Mienfoo and Onix. Set Spikes up as early as possible so they can weaken opposing Pokemon right from the get-go. Switch Budew into Rapid Spin users such as Staryu and Kabuto, as it is able to avoid being 2HKOed from the most common users of the move and 2HKO them in return with a super effective STAB Giga Drain and set up Spikes again. Use Natural Cure to absorb status from the likes of Pumpkaboo-XL and Snubbull. Finally, use Sleep Powder to cripple threats that Budew can't otherwise beat such as Timburr.

Team Options
========

Ghost-types such as Gastly and Frillish can block Rapid Spin for Budew and help keep Spikes up. Rock-types such as Onix can take Flying- and Fire-type attacks for Budew as well as set up Stealth Rock. Pokemon that deter the use of Defog, such as Pawniard, also help keep entry hazards up. Spritzee has good type synergy with Budew and allows it to forego recovery in favor of Toxic Spikes or another attack because of Wish. Finally, offensive threats such as Shellder appreciate the chip damage that Spikes provides.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Dazzling Gleam hits Fighting-types such as Mienfoo as well as Vullaby for super effective damage, but Budew usually lacks a moveslot for it. Similarly, Extrasensory OHKOes Croagunk and hits other Poison- and Fighting-types super effectively. Rest can be used with Natural Cure to fully heal Budew, but is easily exploitable because it forces Budew out. Stun Spore can be used to spread paralysis, but Budew lacks the space for it. Leaf Storm is Budew's strongest STAB move, but the Special Attack drop often forces Budew out at the cost of momentum. Finally, other Hidden Power types can be used to hit specific threats, such as Fighting for Pawniard, but otherwise lack utility.

Checks and Counters
===================
**Flying-types**: Flying-types such as Vullaby and Doduo are immune to Spikes, take relatively little damage from Budew's attacks, and can OHKO Budew with their super effective STAB attacks. Vullaby and Doduo can switch into Sleep Powder thanks to Overcoat and Early Bird, respectively, while Rufflet can use Budew as setup bait.

**Fire-types**: Fire-types such as Ponyta and Larvesta can easily switch into Budew and OHKO it with Flare Blitz. They must be wary of switching into Sleep Powder, however.

**Strong Attackers**: Budew's only decent bulk means it is easily 2HKOd by powerful attacks from the likes of Life Orb Gastly and Elekid.

**Steel-types**: If Budew is not running Hidden Power Fire, Steel-types such as Ferroseed and Pawniard can switch into it freely and force it out.

**Setup Sweepers**: Setup sweepers such as Zigzagoon and Timburr can take advantage of Budew's passivity to set up on it, but they must watch out for Sleep Powder.
 
Last edited:

Hilomilo

High-low My-low
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Overview
* Elaborate a little in your first line. What exactly does its access to Spikes and Sleep Powder allow it do to? And on what kinds of teams can it do this? (offensive and balanced)
* Again, your second line needs some more elaboration. What do Natural Cure and Budew's typing allow it to do? (give some examples of hits it can tank maybe, and definitely say that it makes for a decent status absorber)
* In your fourth line, clarify that its passive against threats it can't hit super effectively due to its poor offenses.
* Why exactly is Budew outclassed by Ferroseed? Explain.
* I'd also add something about how it struggles from four-moveslot syndrome, since it can never fit STABs, recovery, and utility onto one set without missing something important.

Set
I've used Budew quite a bit, and this set honestly seems a little off. I suggest you modify it to something like this:
name: Spikes
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Sludge Bomb / Sleep Powder
move 3: Synthesis / Rest
move 4: Giga Drain / Sleep Powder / Hidden Power Fire
item: Eviolite
ability: Natural Cure
nature: Bold
evs: 36 HP / 236 Def / 36 SpA / 36 SpD / 156 Spe

Recovery is more or less required if you want to consistently set up hazards throughout the match, and Giga Drain is piss weak and therefore a really unreliable option, which means it should only be used if you'd like Grass-type STAB for Staryu and opposing leads. I feel like more often than not it's okay to forego Sleep Powder since dual stabs or hp fire is really useful, but Sleep Powder is definitely good enough to mention on this set as well.

Moves
* Modify your wording on the lines regarding moves that I'm having you shuffle around, so that after you reword them, they accurately reflect the current set.
* Add a line about Rest here, say that it recovers Budew to full health at the expense of having to switch out the next turn for Natural Cure healing.
* Clarify in your Hidden Power Fire line that Steel-types otherwise wall Budew if it isn't using the move.
* Add Toxic Spikes here, since I honestly think it's good enough to warrant a mention in this section. Say that it's useful for poisoning foes as they switch in, but that it's often to hard to find space for and isn't as useful as Spikes or Sleep Powder.

Set Details
* Give some examples of hits that Budew can tank with the given defensive investment.

Usage Tips
* Give examples of Rapid Spin users that Budew is able to 2HKO. Also say that Budew should be careful when switching into Staryu, as it fears both Ice Beam and Psychic.
* I'd add here that Budew can take advantage of some of the switches it forces to either set up Spikes, recover, or use Sleep Powder.
* Add in your line about switching into Scald that Budew can also switch in on predicted status attacks, such as Pump's Will-o-Wisp, Snubbull's T-Wave, etc.

Team Options
* I'd add Wish passers here. Use Spritzee and Lickitung as examples and say that they can allow Budew to forego using Synthesis or Rest to make room for Sleep Powder or coverage.
* Also say that Budew fits on teams that appreciate a status absorber thanks to Natural Cure.

Other Options
* Remove Rest from this section, as I'm having you move it to the main set.
* Add drawbacks to everything that doesn't have a drawback mentioned. There's a reason these moves are mentioned in Other Options and not the main set, and that isn't being made clear if drawbacks to using said moves aren't there.

Checks and Counters
* Add in your Flying-type section that Vullaby is immune to Sleep Powder.

Make sure all of this is implemented then give yourself 1/3
 
Last edited:

churine

lunatic+
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not qc check

overview, focus more on mentioning how budew can secure a niche by beating most spinners, whereas most other hazard setters dont.
mention that it can force out fighters with its typing and access to sleep powder.
merge the decent bulk with its typing and ability, then continue with how it checks the following threats.

moves, mention sludge bomb's rather high poison chance.
i'm not a fan of toxic spikes here since it contradicts with sleep powder but its fine ig.

set details, why is hitting 14 speed good? what does it outspeed/tie with?
say something about eviolite numbers.

usage tips, i feel like something pertaining to sleep clause should be here, something like "since you can only put one mon to sleep due to sleep clause, make sure you didn't put a fodder pokemon to sleep" would be good.

team options, mention pokemon that can beat steel types, like timburr or ponyta, since it allows budew to forgo hp fire for a utility move.
the pawniard point is very unfinished, you dont explain how it deters and punishes defog.
set up sweepers also appreciate opposing threats being put to sleep, allowing them to set up and sweep easier.

checks and counters, i know its not used much if at all anymore, but i think you should mention that vullaby can use defog to remove budew's spikes.
i think you forgot to add fire after hidden power in the steels point.

good shit, hopefully the points will be elaborated on during writeup.
 
Last edited:

Xayah

San Bwanna
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Implement Elec.'s check, pay attention to:
overview, focus more on mentioning how budew can secure a niche by beating most spinners, whereas most other hazard setters dont.
add examples here (non-IB Staryu, Kabuto, Drilbur)

[OVERVIEW]
  • Clarify that it only checks Tbolt Staryu (IB and Psychic hurt)
[SET]
name: Entry hazard setter
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Sleep Powder / Sludge Bomb
move 3: Synthesis / Giga Drain
move 4: Giga Drain / Sludge Bomb / Hidden Power Fire

item: Eviolite
ability: Natural Cure
nature: Bold
evs: 36 HP / 236 Def / 36 SpA / 36 SpD / 156 Spe
  • You and Hilo discussed this
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
  • Change order here to reflect new slashes
Set Details
========
  • Any notable attacks it lives with this spread? if yes, mention them
Usage Tips
========
  • Make sure that Budew isn't switching into Ice Beam or Psychic Staryu
QC 2/3, let's flesh this out some in write up
 
i changed the spread to 21/14/16, this lets it avoid the 2hko from ice beam/psychic from staryu after rocks
this is ready for 3/3
 

Berks

has a Calm Mind
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Team Options
Instead of saying "Wish passers such as Spritzee ..." just say "Spritzee has good synergy with ..." because it's the only Wish passer that's good enough for us to be suggesting as a teammate. That'll mean rewording the sentence but I trust you'll understand that.

Good stuff, move into GP!

Make sure you change the title though

QC 3/3
 

Fireflame

Silksong when
is a Top Contributoris a Smogon Media Contributoris a Social Media Contributor Alumnus
Remove Add Comments (AC)= add comma (RC)= remove comma (AH)= add hyphen (RH)= remove hyphen
[OVERVIEW]

Budew is the only Pokemon in LC with access to the combination of Spikes and Sleep Powder, making it an excellent lead. Furthermore, Budew's decent defensive typing, usable bulk, and good ability in Natural Cure allow it to beat common Rapid Spin users such as Staryu and Kabuto as well as check common threats such as Mienfoo and Chinchou. However, Budew's low offensive stats make it relatively passive against Pokemon it can't hit for super-(RH)effective damage, which can leave it as setup bait for common threats such as Vullaby. Furthermore, Budew suffers from slight four-moveslot syndrome, meaning it struggles to do everything it wants to do. Finally, Budew is usually outclassed by Ferroseed as a Grass-type Spikes user because of the latter's superior bulk and typing.


[SET]
name: Entry Hazard Setter
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Sleep Powder / Sludge Bomb
move 3: Synthesis / Giga Drain
move 4: Giga Drain / Sludge Bomb / Hidden Power Fire
item: Eviolite
ability: Natural Cure
nature: Bold
evs: 36 HP / 236 Def / 36 SpA / 236 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Spikes does damage to all grounded Pokemon and is a useful entry hazard for offensive teams. Sleep Powder lets Budew incapacitate a single opposing threat. Giga Drain gives Budew a form of recovery and hits common Rapid Spin users such as Staryu,(RC) as well as common leads such as Onix,(RC) for super-(RH)effective damage. Sludge Bomb is a more powerful secondary STAB move with a high poison chance. Synthesis provides more reliable recovery than Giga Drain. Hidden Power Fire hits opposing Steel-types such as Pawniard and Ferroseed,(AC) which otherwise wall Budew,(AC) super-(RH)effectively. Toxic Spikes is usable as a secondary entry hazard that poisons grounded switch-ins.

Set Details
========

The given EV spread along with a Bold nature gives Budew decent 21 / 14 / 16 bulk, allowing to avoid the 2HKO from Eviolite Staryu's Ice Beam or and Psychic after Stealth Rock damage, with the leftover EVs used to boost Special Attack by a point. Eviolite is the item of choice, further bolstering Budew's bulk. Natural Cure makes Budew a good status absorber, most notably allowing it to switch into Scald with relative impunity.

Usage Tips
========

Budew works best as a lead, as it has a good matchup against common leads such as Mienfoo and Onix. Set Spikes as early as possible so they can weaken opposing Pokemon right from the get-go. Switch Budew into Rapid Spin users such as Staryu and Kabuto, as it is able to avoid the 2HKO from the most common users of the move, 2HKO them in return with a STAB super-(RH)effective STAB Giga Drain, and set up Spikes again. Use Natural Cure to absorb status from the likes of Pumpkaboo (specify the specific Pumpkaboo) and Snubbull. Finally, use Sleep Powder to cripple threats such as Timburr that Budew can't otherwise beat.

Team Options
========

Ghost-types such as Gastly and Frillish can block Rapid Spin for Budew and help keep Spikes up. Rock-types such as Onix can take super-(RH)effective Flying- and Fire-type attacks for Budew as well as set Stealth Rock. Pokemon that deter the use of Defog, such as Pawniard, also help keep entry hazards up. Spritzee has good type synergy with Budew and allows it to forego recovery in favor of Toxic Spikes or another attack because of Wish. Finally, offensive threats such as Shellder appreciate the chip damage that Spikes provides.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Dazzling Gleam hits opposing Fighting-types such as Mienfoo as well as Vullaby for super effective damage, but Budew usually lacks a moveslot for it. Similarly, Extrasensory OHKOes Croagunk and hits other Poison- and Fighting-types super effectively. Rest can be used with Natural Cure to fully heal Budew, but it is easily exploitable,(AC) as it forces Budew out. Stun Spore can be used to spread paralysis, but again Budew lacks the space for it. Leaf Storm is Budew's strongest STAB move, but the Special Attack drop often forces Budew out at the cost of momentum. Finally, other Hidden Powers Power types can be used to hit specific threats, such as Fighting for Pawniard, but otherwise lack utility.

Checks and Counters
===================
**Flying-types**: Flying-types such as Vullaby and Doduo are immune to Spikes, take relatively little damage from Budew's attacks, and can OHKO Budew with their super effective STAB attacks. Vullaby and Doduo can switch into Sleep Powder thanks to Overcoat and Early Bird, respectively, while Rufflet,(RC) can use Budew as setup bait.

**Fire-types**: Fire-types such as Ponyta and Larvesta can easily switch into Budew and OHKO it with Flare Blitz. They must be wary of switching into Sleep Powder, however.

**Strong Attackers**: Budew's OK but not great mediocre bulk means it is easily 2HKOd 2HKOed by powerful attacks from the likes of Life Orb Gastly and Elekid.

**Steel-types**: If Budew is not running Hidden Power Fire, Steel-types such as Ferroseed and Pawniard can switch into Budew freely and force it out.

**Setup Sweepers**: Setup sweepers such as Zigzagoon and Timburr can take advantage of Budew's passivity to set up on it, but they must watch out for Sleep Powder.(period)
GP 1/2
 

GP 2/2
remove add

[OVERVIEW]

Budew is the only Pokemon in LC with access to the combination of both Spikes and Sleep Powder, making it an excellent lead. Furthermore, Budew's decent defensive typing, usable bulk, and good ability in Natural Cure allow it to beat common Rapid Spin users such as Staryu and Kabuto as well as check common threats such as Mienfoo and Chinchou. However, Budew's low offensive stats make it relatively passive against Pokemon it can't hit for super effective damage, which can leave it as setup bait for common threats such as Vullaby. Furthermore, Budew suffers from slight four-moveslot syndrome, meaning it struggles to do everything it wants to do. Finally, Budew is usually outclassed by Ferroseed as a Grass-type Spikes user because of the latter's superior bulk and typing.


[SET]
name: Entry Hazard Setter
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Sleep Powder / Sludge Bomb
move 3: Synthesis / Giga Drain
move 4: Giga Drain / Sludge Bomb / Hidden Power Fire
item: Eviolite
ability: Natural Cure
nature: Bold
evs: 36 HP / 236 Def / 36 SpA / 236 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Spikes does damage to all grounded Pokemon and is a useful entry hazard for offensive teams. Sleep Powder lets Budew incapacitate a single opposing threat. Giga Drain gives Budew a form of recovery and hits common Rapid Spin users such as Staryu as well as common leads such as Onix for super effective damage. Sludge Bomb is a more powerful secondary STAB move with a high poison chance. Synthesis provides more reliable recovery than Giga Drain. Hidden Power Fire hits opposing Steel-types such as Pawniard and Ferroseed, which otherwise wall Budew, super effectively. Toxic Spikes is usable as a secondary entry hazard that poisons grounded switch-ins.

Set Details
========

The given EV spread along with a Bold nature gives Budew decent 21 / 14 / 16 bulk, allowing to avoid the a 2HKO from Eviolite Staryu's Ice Beam and Psychic after Stealth Rock damage, with the leftover EVs used to boost Special Attack by a point. Eviolite is the item of choice, further bolstering Budew's bulk. Natural Cure makes Budew a good status absorber, most notably allowing it to switch into Scald with relative impunity.

Usage Tips
========

Budew works best as a lead, as it has a good matchup against common leads such as Mienfoo and Onix. Set Spikes up as early as possible so they can weaken opposing Pokemon right from the get-go. Switch Budew into Rapid Spin users such as Staryu and Kabuto, as it is able to avoid the 2HKO from the most common users of the move being 2HKOed by most of them, then 2HKO them in return with a super effective STAB Giga Drain, (comma) and set up Spikes again. Use Natural Cure to absorb status from the likes of Pumpkaboo-SuperXL and Snubbull. Finally, use Sleep Powder to cripple threats such as Timburr that Budew can't otherwise beat such as Timburr.

Team Options
========

Ghost-types such as Gastly and Frillish can block Rapid Spin for Budew and to help keep Spikes up. Rock-types such as Onix can take super effective Flying- and Fire-type attacks for Budew as well as set up Stealth Rock. Pokemon that deter the use of Defog, such as Pawniard, also help keep entry hazards up. Spritzee has good type synergy with Budew and allows it to forego recovery in favor of Toxic Spikes or another attack because of Wish. Finally, offensive threats such as Shellder appreciate the chip damage that Spikes provides.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Dazzling Gleam hits opposing Fighting-types such as Mienfoo as well as Vullaby for super effective damage, but Budew usually lacks a moveslot for it. Similarly, Extrasensory OHKOes Croagunk and hits other Poison- and Fighting-types super effectively. Rest can be used with Natural Cure to fully heal Budew, but is easily exploitable, (comma) as because it forces Budew out. Stun Spore can be used to spread paralysis, but Budew lacks the space for it. Leaf Storm is Budew's strongest STAB move, but the Special Attack drop often forces Budew out at the cost of momentum. Finally, other Hidden Power types can be used to hit specific threats, such as Fighting for Pawniard, but otherwise lack utility.

Checks and Counters
===================
**Flying-types**: Flying-types such as Vullaby and Doduo are immune to Spikes, take relatively little damage from Budew's attacks, and can OHKO Budew with their super effective STAB attacks. Vullaby and Doduo can switch into Sleep Powder thanks to Overcoat and Early Bird, respectively, while Rufflet can use Budew as setup bait.

**Fire-types**: Fire-types such as Ponyta and Larvesta can easily switch into Budew and OHKO it with Flare Blitz. They must be wary of switching into Sleep Powder, however.

**Strong Attackers**: Budew's only decent bulk means it is easily 2HKOed by powerful attacks from the likes of Life Orb Gastly and Elekid.

**Steel-types**: If Budew is not running Hidden Power Fire, Steel-types such as Ferroseed and Pawniard can switch into Budew it freely and force it out.

**Setup Sweepers**: Setup sweepers such as Zigzagoon and Timburr can take advantage of Budew's passivity to set up on it, but they must watch out for Sleep Powder.
 
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