[OVERVIEW]
Albeit uncommon, Venomoth is among UU's most potent sweepers thanks to its access to Quiver Dance, Sleep Powder, and an amazing ability in Tinted Lens, which severely limits its checks. The advent of Z-Moves allows Venomoth to further bolster its sweeping prowess, as it can use Savage Spin-Out to break past Pokemon capable of tanking a +1 Bug Buzz like Scizor, Nidoqueen, and Terrakion. Venomoth also possesses key resistances to the tier's common Fairy- and Fighting-type attacks, which grants it plentiful opportunities to force switches and set up. Unfortunately, despite its useful resistances, Venomoth's typing also leaves it with a Stealth Rock weakness and with vulnerabilities to common attack types in Fire, Flying, and Psychic. Venomoth is also cursed with horrid bulk, which can complicate setup and leave it vulnerable to common Choice Scarf users in Infernape, Krookodile, and Terrakion. Venomoth can also struggle due to its occasionally underwhelming power after one Quiver Dance boost, which may leave it reliant on setting up a second time or using its Z-Move too early.
[SET]
name: Quiver Dance
move 1: Quiver Dance
move 2: Sleep Powder
move 3: Bug Buzz
move 4: Sludge Bomb
item: Buginium Z
ability: Tinted Lens
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Quiver Dance is essential for allowing Venomoth to boost its Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed stats, thus turning it into a fearsome sweeper. Sleep Powder can be used to immobilize foes, which is useful for giving Venomoth an opportunity to set up. Bug Buzz is a powerful STAB attack that, (AC) after a boost, deals significant amounts of damage to most of the metagame, and with a Buginium Z, it turns into a powerful Savage Spin-Out that is capable of OHKOing Gliscor, Scizor, Terrakion, and Nidoqueen at +1, which can all otherwise tank a boosted Bug Buzz. Sludge Bomb is useful for covering Fairy-types like Primarina and Togekiss, OHKOing both after a boost and Stealth Rock damage.
Set Details
========
Maximum investment in Special Attack is important for giving Venomoth as much power as possible, notably allowing it to almost always OHKO bulky Scizor variants with a +1 Savage Spinout, as well as OHKOing Primarina with Sludge Bomb at +1. Maximum investment in Speed with a Timid nature is also important, as it allows Venomoth to outspeed the likes of Nidoking, Togekiss, and Entei without boosts as well as the entire unboosted metagame after one Quiver Dance. Tinted Lens allows Venomoth to nullify 2x resistances and dent Pokemon like Mega Aerodactyl, Scizor, and Empoleon with its STAB Bug Buzz. Buginium Z is the preferred item, as it provides Venomoth with a powerful Savage Spin-Out that, with a boost, can break past notably bulky threats like Tentacruel, Hippowdon, Gliscor, and Volcanion.
Usage Tips
========
Venomoth's best function is as a sweeper on offensive teams due to its ability to break past multiple archetypes. In order for it to begin sweeping, it is best that Pokemon that 4x resist its STAB attacks, such as Klefki and Cobalion, and specially bulky Pokemon like Blissey are removed or considerably weakened. If the opponent has a Choice Scarf user that can outpace Venomoth at +1 like Infernape or Krookodile, it is crucial for Venomoth to try to get two Quiver Dance boosts by using Sleep Powder. However, trying to wallbreak as much as possible before being revenge killed is a lesser yet plausible option. Due to its frailty, Venomoth is best brought into play via slow pivot support or after a teammate has fainted. It should be brought in against a Pokemon that it forces out like Togekiss or a Choice-locked Fighting-type and set up with Quiver Dance as they switch out. From there, Venomoth should use Sleep Powder to immobilize whatever foe was brought in against it and take another turn to set up afterward. However, between the possibility of the foe waking up immediately after being immobilized and Sleep Powder's shaky accuracy, it should be noted that Quiver Dance can only be set up twice about 50% of the time.
Team Options
========
Suicide leads like Azelf, Froslass, and Terrakion can set up entry hazards to help Venomoth break past foes more easily, and they fit quite well onto the heavily offensive teams Venomoth is often seen on. On bulkier offensive teams, entry hazard setters like Klefki, Nidoqueen, and Gliscor can be used due to the good bulk they retain. Entry hazard removal is nearly as important as entry hazard setters, due to Venomoth's Stealth Rock weakness. This makes Pokemon such as Mega Blastoise, Starmie, and Latias good options for teammates. Infernape, Krookodile, and Terrakion all trouble Venomoth as Choice Scarf users, which makes answers to these Pokemon, such as Buzzwole, Hippowdon, and Gliscor, good partners that can ultimately pave the way for Venomoth to clean up. Spinblockers such as Chandelure and Doublade can all aid Venomoth by making sure that entry hazards aren't removed from the opponent's side of the field, which is useful for securing KOs on Pokemon like Volcanion and Scizor. Steel-type checks like Zygarde-10%, Krookodile, and Conkeldurr can ease Venomoth's matchup against the likes of Cobalion and Klefki, allowing it to use its Z-Move on a target of a different type. Magneton is particularly helpful due to its ability to trap and remove the likes of Klefki, Scizor, and Empoleon from play.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Venomoth can opt to use Roost or Substitute over Sludge Bomb, but it won't be able to hit Togekiss for very good damage and will also have shakier matchups against the likes of Primarina and Sylveon. Black Sludge, Focus Sash, and Life Orb are all options for items that Venomoth can use if a teammate is already using a Z-Crystal. However, one of Venomoth's biggest perks is its ability to hit extremely hard with Savage Spin-Out, which means that taking its Buginium Z away severely hurts its viability. A Poisonium Z is an option for granting Venomoth access to an extremely powerful Acid Downpour, though the tier's lack of Pokemon immune to to Bug-type attacks makes Buginium Z a better option.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Priority**: Venomoth's low bulk leaves it susceptible to most relevant forms of priority. Ice Shard from Weavile and Mamoswine, Brave Bird from Talonflame, Aqua Jet from Crawdaunt, and Bullet Punch from Scizor all cut into Venomoth's HP and easily revenge kill it if it's been weakened.
**Pokemon that 4x Resist Bug**: Various Pokemon possess 4x resistances to Venomoth's Bug-type attacks and resist or are immune to its Poison-type coverage, which allows them to check it fairly adequately. Examples include Klefki, Cobalion, Lucario, Doublade, Crobat, and Chandelure.
**Blissey**: Blissey's high special bulk allows it to reliably tank even a boosted Savage Spinout while in return threatening Venomoth with Thunder Wave or Seismic Toss.
**Physically Offensive Choice Scarf Users**: While Quiver Dance can help circumvent its special frailty, Venomoth is still heavily threatened by physical Choice Scarf users, such as Infernape, Krookodile, and Terrakion, as all can outspeed it at +1 and threaten to OHKO with their STAB attacks.
Albeit uncommon, Venomoth is among UU's most potent sweepers thanks to its access to Quiver Dance, Sleep Powder, and an amazing ability in Tinted Lens, which severely limits its checks. The advent of Z-Moves allows Venomoth to further bolster its sweeping prowess, as it can use Savage Spin-Out to break past Pokemon capable of tanking a +1 Bug Buzz like Scizor, Nidoqueen, and Terrakion. Venomoth also possesses key resistances to the tier's common Fairy- and Fighting-type attacks, which grants it plentiful opportunities to force switches and set up. Unfortunately, despite its useful resistances, Venomoth's typing also leaves it with a Stealth Rock weakness and with vulnerabilities to common attack types in Fire, Flying, and Psychic. Venomoth is also cursed with horrid bulk, which can complicate setup and leave it vulnerable to common Choice Scarf users in Infernape, Krookodile, and Terrakion. Venomoth can also struggle due to its occasionally underwhelming power after one Quiver Dance boost, which may leave it reliant on setting up a second time or using its Z-Move too early.
[SET]
name: Quiver Dance
move 1: Quiver Dance
move 2: Sleep Powder
move 3: Bug Buzz
move 4: Sludge Bomb
item: Buginium Z
ability: Tinted Lens
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Quiver Dance is essential for allowing Venomoth to boost its Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed stats, thus turning it into a fearsome sweeper. Sleep Powder can be used to immobilize foes, which is useful for giving Venomoth an opportunity to set up. Bug Buzz is a powerful STAB attack that, (AC) after a boost, deals significant amounts of damage to most of the metagame, and with a Buginium Z, it turns into a powerful Savage Spin-Out that is capable of OHKOing Gliscor, Scizor, Terrakion, and Nidoqueen at +1, which can all otherwise tank a boosted Bug Buzz. Sludge Bomb is useful for covering Fairy-types like Primarina and Togekiss, OHKOing both after a boost and Stealth Rock damage.
Set Details
========
Maximum investment in Special Attack is important for giving Venomoth as much power as possible, notably allowing it to almost always OHKO bulky Scizor variants with a +1 Savage Spinout, as well as OHKOing Primarina with Sludge Bomb at +1. Maximum investment in Speed with a Timid nature is also important, as it allows Venomoth to outspeed the likes of Nidoking, Togekiss, and Entei without boosts as well as the entire unboosted metagame after one Quiver Dance. Tinted Lens allows Venomoth to nullify 2x resistances and dent Pokemon like Mega Aerodactyl, Scizor, and Empoleon with its STAB Bug Buzz. Buginium Z is the preferred item, as it provides Venomoth with a powerful Savage Spin-Out that, with a boost, can break past notably bulky threats like Tentacruel, Hippowdon, Gliscor, and Volcanion.
Usage Tips
========
Venomoth's best function is as a sweeper on offensive teams due to its ability to break past multiple archetypes. In order for it to begin sweeping, it is best that Pokemon that 4x resist its STAB attacks, such as Klefki and Cobalion, and specially bulky Pokemon like Blissey are removed or considerably weakened. If the opponent has a Choice Scarf user that can outpace Venomoth at +1 like Infernape or Krookodile, it is crucial for Venomoth to try to get two Quiver Dance boosts by using Sleep Powder. However, trying to wallbreak as much as possible before being revenge killed is a lesser yet plausible option. Due to its frailty, Venomoth is best brought into play via slow pivot support or after a teammate has fainted. It should be brought in against a Pokemon that it forces out like Togekiss or a Choice-locked Fighting-type and set up with Quiver Dance as they switch out. From there, Venomoth should use Sleep Powder to immobilize whatever foe was brought in against it and take another turn to set up afterward. However, between the possibility of the foe waking up immediately after being immobilized and Sleep Powder's shaky accuracy, it should be noted that Quiver Dance can only be set up twice about 50% of the time.
Team Options
========
Suicide leads like Azelf, Froslass, and Terrakion can set up entry hazards to help Venomoth break past foes more easily, and they fit quite well onto the heavily offensive teams Venomoth is often seen on. On bulkier offensive teams, entry hazard setters like Klefki, Nidoqueen, and Gliscor can be used due to the good bulk they retain. Entry hazard removal is nearly as important as entry hazard setters, due to Venomoth's Stealth Rock weakness. This makes Pokemon such as Mega Blastoise, Starmie, and Latias good options for teammates. Infernape, Krookodile, and Terrakion all trouble Venomoth as Choice Scarf users, which makes answers to these Pokemon, such as Buzzwole, Hippowdon, and Gliscor, good partners that can ultimately pave the way for Venomoth to clean up. Spinblockers such as Chandelure and Doublade can all aid Venomoth by making sure that entry hazards aren't removed from the opponent's side of the field, which is useful for securing KOs on Pokemon like Volcanion and Scizor. Steel-type checks like Zygarde-10%, Krookodile, and Conkeldurr can ease Venomoth's matchup against the likes of Cobalion and Klefki, allowing it to use its Z-Move on a target of a different type. Magneton is particularly helpful due to its ability to trap and remove the likes of Klefki, Scizor, and Empoleon from play.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Venomoth can opt to use Roost or Substitute over Sludge Bomb, but it won't be able to hit Togekiss for very good damage and will also have shakier matchups against the likes of Primarina and Sylveon. Black Sludge, Focus Sash, and Life Orb are all options for items that Venomoth can use if a teammate is already using a Z-Crystal. However, one of Venomoth's biggest perks is its ability to hit extremely hard with Savage Spin-Out, which means that taking its Buginium Z away severely hurts its viability. A Poisonium Z is an option for granting Venomoth access to an extremely powerful Acid Downpour, though the tier's lack of Pokemon immune to to Bug-type attacks makes Buginium Z a better option.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Priority**: Venomoth's low bulk leaves it susceptible to most relevant forms of priority. Ice Shard from Weavile and Mamoswine, Brave Bird from Talonflame, Aqua Jet from Crawdaunt, and Bullet Punch from Scizor all cut into Venomoth's HP and easily revenge kill it if it's been weakened.
**Pokemon that 4x Resist Bug**: Various Pokemon possess 4x resistances to Venomoth's Bug-type attacks and resist or are immune to its Poison-type coverage, which allows them to check it fairly adequately. Examples include Klefki, Cobalion, Lucario, Doublade, Crobat, and Chandelure.
**Blissey**: Blissey's high special bulk allows it to reliably tank even a boosted Savage Spinout while in return threatening Venomoth with Thunder Wave or Seismic Toss.
**Physically Offensive Choice Scarf Users**: While Quiver Dance can help circumvent its special frailty, Venomoth is still heavily threatened by physical Choice Scarf users, such as Infernape, Krookodile, and Terrakion, as all can outspeed it at +1 and threaten to OHKO with their STAB attacks.
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