Since Yanmega is probably going to leave UU soon, Venomoth will be the resident Tinted Lens Pokemon, and the current analysis is in desperate need of revamping. I've tried to keep it as short as possible while retaining all the necessary information. This is definitely not my best analysis, but I think that it gets the job done. These sets were/are being tested by Rolfkip, someone who has a good deal of experience in UU. This is my first revamp by the way, so please tell me if I'm doing something wrong.
Changes:
-Removed 'Non-Boosting Attacker' [Set was not fast or powerful enough to sweep]
-Removed 'Baton Passer' [Outclassed entirely by Scyther, Ambipom, Mr. Mime, etc]
-Removed 'Screecher' [Set does not work well and there are far better options for a team slot]
-Changed 'Choice Specs' to 'Moth of Choice and updated it
-Added Agility Sweeper set
-Revamped and rewrote Toxic Spikes set
-Added Double Powder set
-Added Team Options category and team support for each set
-TEAM SUPPORT PARAGRAPH IS THE LAST IN EACH SET!
Testing Status:
Bug of Choice [Good to go]
Agility Sweeper [In progress]
Venomous Moth [Good to go]
Double Powder [Next in line]
_________________________________
http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/venomoth
[SET]
name: Moth of Choice
move 1: Bug Buzz
move 2: Psychic
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Sleep Powder
item: Choice Specs / Choice Scarf
ability: Tinted Lens
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>The ability Tinted Lens sets Venomoth apart from other Bug-type Pokemon and is used to its maximum potential in this set. While Venomoth's movepool isn't enormous, it provides enough tools to get the job done. Bug Buzz is only resisted by Charizard, Moltres, Blaziken, and Toxicroak in UU after Tinted Lens is taken into effect, making it Venomoth's best sweeping move. Psychic hits the latter two for super effective damage and provides unresisted type coverage alongside Bug Buzz. U-turn allows Venomoth to scout its counter, enabling the player to dispatch it with the appropriate switch-in. Sleep Powder rounds out the moveset by being an all-around useful move, either by putting to sleep a counter, or just completely incapacitating an opposing Pokemon.</p>
<p>Maxing Speed and Special Attack EVs allows Venomoth to outpace many Pokemon, such as Nidoking and Blaziken, while hitting as hard as possible. The four remaining EVs are dumped into Defense so that Venomoth can switch into Stealth Rock four times without fainting. Tinted Lens gives Bug Buzz and Psychic's combination excellent coverage in UU. If a Choice Scarf is being used, the nature can be changed to Modest, since Venomoth will still outrun every unboosted Pokemon in UU, including Timid Electrode. It also helps that Venomoth has a 4x resist to the common Mach Punch.</p>
<p>Venomoth greatly appreciates Rapid Spin support. Hitmontop is a prime candidate because he can do severe damage to both Registeel and Blissey, Venomoth's best counters, while also spinning away Stealth Rock. Donphan is an excellent option as he can also defeat Chansey and Registeel. Houndoom can switch into Psychic- and Fire-type attacks aimed at Venomoth and can also hurt Registeel, but is helpless against Blissey.</p>
[SET]
name: Agility Sweeper
move 1: Agility
move 2: Bug Buzz
move 3: Psychic
move 4: Sleep Powder
item: Life Orb
ability: Tinted Lens
nature: Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Agility salvages Venomoth's mediocre Speed, turning it into a fast and versatile sweeper. Bug Buzz and Psychic give Venomoth unresisted type coverage in UU when combined with Tinted Lens. Sleep Powder is essential, as it allows Venomoth to put a Pokemon to sleep, and then set up on the switch. If Stealth Rock and Life Orb damage are taking their toll, Roost is an entirely viable option over Sleep Powder to provide greater survivability, although Agility will prove harder to set up.</p>
<p>Modest lets Venomoth hit as hard as possible, while still tying with Jolly Choice Scarf Dugtrio after an Agility. The final EVs are dumped into Defense so that Venomoth retains an odd HP, allowing it to switch in on Stealth Rock four times.</p>
<p>Once again, Rapid Spin support is a huge boon. Venomoth does not like taking Stealth Rock damage in addition to Life Orb recoil. Hitmontop is still Venomoth's best partner, getting rid of Stealth Rock, Chansey, and Registeel all by itself. Donphan is a viable alternative to Hitmontop, possessing essentially the same attributes. This set also appreciates Wish support, since it will be steadily loosing health with each attack. Clefable and Blissey are both excellent choices, especially since their lone Fighting-type weakness is covered by Venomoth's 4x resist.</p>
[SET]
name: Venomous Moth
move 1: Toxic Spikes
move 2: Sleep Powder
move 3: Bug Buzz
move 4: Psychic
item: Leftovers / Focus Sash
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Venomoth is one of the few Pokemon who can viably set up Toxic Spikes, either as a lead or during the course of the game. After putting an opponent to sleep, Venomoth can proceed to set up Toxic Spikes. Bug Buzz is Venomoth's best STAB attack, while Psychic hits any Poison-types trying to absorb Toxic Spikes.</p>
<p>There are two possible item/ability combinations for this set, and they both depend on how Venomoth is being used. Leftovers goes well with Tinted Lens, especially if Venomoth is being brought out during the course of the game when residual damage renders Focus Sash useless. However, if Venomoth is functioning as a lead, Shield Dust in conjunction with Focus Sash is the best option. Shield Dust prevents things such as Ambipom's Fake Out flinch, allowing Venomoth to put them to sleep before they can get off another attack. Focus Sash will ensure that a Pokemon is put to sleep and at least one layer of Toxic Spikes are set up.</p>
<p>Because of the abundance of Poison-type Pokemon in UU, Dugtrio is an excellent teammate for Venomoth. Grounded Poison-types can be trapped and defeated by its STAB Earthquake, allowing Venomoth to set up Toxic Spikes without fear of them being absorbed. Donphan can beat most Poison-types with STAB Earthquake as well as spinning away any entry hazards. Finally, Pokemon who can take advantage of badly poisoned Pokemon, such as Blaziken and Nidoking, are excellent teammates. Once bulkier Pokemon are sufficiently weakened, these heavy hitters will have no problem sweeping a damaged team.</p>
[SET]
name: Double Powder
move 1: Sleep Powder
move 2: Stun Spore
move 3: Bug Buzz
move 4: Psychic
item: Leftovers
ability: Tinted Lens
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Venomoth can use two types of status moves to cripple several members of an opposing team. Generally, Venomoth will hit a Pokemon with Sleep Powder, effectively removing it from the match, then hit the switch-in with Stun Spore, and proceed to damage the now-slower Pokemon, or any other switch-ins with the unresisted combination of Bug Buzz + Psychic.</p>
<p>Timid makes Venomoth reasonably fast, even if its base Speed is only average, and max Special Attack allows it to hit as hard as possible when combined with Tinted Lens. Leftovers allows Venomoth to survive longer so that it can cripple more members of the opposing team. If more power is desired, Life Orb can be used, although Venomoth's other sets are able to make more use of it.</p>
<p>This sets effectiveness lies in its surprise factor. No one expects Venomoth to have any other status moves besides Sleep Powder, so a counter switching in will find itself crippled and easy picking for the faster Venomoth, or another Pokemon.</p>
<p>This Venomoth should be paired with a Pokemon that can utilize the debilitation inflicted upon the opposing team. Blaziken and Houndoom can both switch into Fire-type attacks relatively easily, and set up while the opponent switches. Houndoom has the added bonus of being immune to Psychic attacks that could easily KO Venomoth. Spinners such as Hitmontop and Donphan can keep Venomoth alive longer by ridding the field of Stealth Rock. Finally, Wish support from Clefable or Chansey, both of whom also take special Fire- and Psychic-type attacks with ease, will allow Venomoth to keep switching in and hurting or crippling opponents.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>Venomoth has many options when it comes to team support. Choice variants will almost always need to be paired with a reliable spinner such as Hitmontop or Claydol. Hitmontop can easily switch in on Rock-type attacks, softening them with Intimidate, and is able to remove Chansey and Registeel, the two most reliable checks to Venomoth, with STAB Close Combat. Claydol can switch into Rock- and Psychic-type attacks, threatens Chansey with Explosion, and hurts Registeel with STAB Earth Power. Finally, Donphan is an excellent teammate; it beats both Registeel and Chansey, is immune to the common Thunder Wave, and resists Venomoth's Rock-type weakness.</p>
<p>Life Orb versions will appreciate Wish support in order to compensate for repeated residual damage and Life Orb recoil. Chansey and Clefable are the two best options for this role. Both have enough bulk to tank a good number of hits, and their Fighting-type weakness allows for an easy switch to Venomoth after Wish is set up. Both learn Thunder Wave, which is used to compensate for Venomoth's average Speed, allowing it to more easily sweep.</p>
<p>Offensively, Houndoom is an excellent partner for Venomoth, since it is immune to both Fire- and Psychic-type attacks, although it has to watch out for Stone Edge and Rock Slide. Hariyama takes Fire- and Rock-type attacks with ease, and can even shrug off unboosted Psychics with its massive HP. It can then retaliate with Payback and STAB Force Palm, another efficient way to spread paralysis.</p>
<p>Dugtrio deserves as special mention because it can easily trap and kill Venomoth's two greatest counters: Chansey and Registeel. Adamant Choice Band Dugtrio can 2HKO even the most defensive Chansey, and takes 76-89% off Registeel's health.</p>
<p>Ludicolo and Lanturn are also decent teammates for Venomoth, because they can both defeat another Pokemon that stops it: Milotic. Ludicolo can stall out Milotic with Leech Seed and Toxic or just wear it down with Grass Knot. Lanturn is resistant or immune to any of Milotic's attacks and can defeat it with STAB Thunderbolt.</p>
[OTHER OPTIONS]
<p>Venomoth's movepool isn't exactly huge, so is secondary options list is limited. Sludge Bomb gets STAB, but has redundant coverage alongside Bug Buzz while also having less power. Hidden Power Ground can be used to hit Registeel along with grounded Poison-types, but the difference in power between it and Bug Buzz is negligible and Psychic will do more damage to most Poison-types anyway. Baton Pass can be used on the Agility sets to pass your boosts, but there are many other Pokemon who fulfill that role to a greater degree, such as Ambipom and Scyther.</p>
[EVs]
<p>Venomoth should always max Special Attack and Speed, throwing the leftover EVs in Defense. This ensures that it hits as hard as possible while still outspeeding many notable UU Pokemon such as Nidoking and Blaziken. Leaving HP as it is keeps Venomoth at an odd HP number, allowing one more switch into Stealth Rock. If Venomoth doesn't boost its Speed, a Timid nature should be used, although Agility and Choice Scarf sets will outspeed every notable threat with Modest.</p>
[OPINION]
<p>Venomoth is a very interesting Pokemon. While its movepool is nothing to write home about, Tinted Lens gives it an edge over many other UU Bug-types, allowing Bug Buzz alone to hit almost all of UU for neutral damage or better. Even though its sweeping potential is limited by its average Speed and Special Attack, it is still one of the best Bug-types available in UU.</p>
[COUNTERS]
<p>Registeel and Chansey are the two most reliable counters to any version of Venomoth. With excellent Special Defense, they both take paltry damage from Venomoth's attacks and threaten it with Thunder Wave. Mantine is able to shrug off even Specs-boosted Bug Buzz, and can retaliate with Hidden Power Flying. Milotic also poses a problem for Venomoth, being able to survive Specs Bug Buzz, put it to sleep with Hypnosis, and then Haze away Agility boosts.</p>
<p>Venomoth isn't exactly a tank, so anything faster than it will be able to revenge kill it. Swellow and Scyther can both OHKO it with STAB Flying-type attacks. Moltres resists Tinted Lens Bug Buzz and can OHKO back with either STAB attack. Finally, Houndoom can come in on a Choiced Psychic and set up Nasty Plot while Venomoth flees.</p>
Changes:
-Removed 'Non-Boosting Attacker' [Set was not fast or powerful enough to sweep]
-Removed 'Baton Passer' [Outclassed entirely by Scyther, Ambipom, Mr. Mime, etc]
-Removed 'Screecher' [Set does not work well and there are far better options for a team slot]
-Changed 'Choice Specs' to 'Moth of Choice and updated it
-Added Agility Sweeper set
-Revamped and rewrote Toxic Spikes set
-Added Double Powder set
-Added Team Options category and team support for each set
-TEAM SUPPORT PARAGRAPH IS THE LAST IN EACH SET!
Testing Status:
Bug of Choice [Good to go]
Agility Sweeper [In progress]
Venomous Moth [Good to go]
Double Powder [Next in line]
_________________________________
http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/venomoth
[SET]
name: Moth of Choice
move 1: Bug Buzz
move 2: Psychic
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Sleep Powder
item: Choice Specs / Choice Scarf
ability: Tinted Lens
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>The ability Tinted Lens sets Venomoth apart from other Bug-type Pokemon and is used to its maximum potential in this set. While Venomoth's movepool isn't enormous, it provides enough tools to get the job done. Bug Buzz is only resisted by Charizard, Moltres, Blaziken, and Toxicroak in UU after Tinted Lens is taken into effect, making it Venomoth's best sweeping move. Psychic hits the latter two for super effective damage and provides unresisted type coverage alongside Bug Buzz. U-turn allows Venomoth to scout its counter, enabling the player to dispatch it with the appropriate switch-in. Sleep Powder rounds out the moveset by being an all-around useful move, either by putting to sleep a counter, or just completely incapacitating an opposing Pokemon.</p>
<p>Maxing Speed and Special Attack EVs allows Venomoth to outpace many Pokemon, such as Nidoking and Blaziken, while hitting as hard as possible. The four remaining EVs are dumped into Defense so that Venomoth can switch into Stealth Rock four times without fainting. Tinted Lens gives Bug Buzz and Psychic's combination excellent coverage in UU. If a Choice Scarf is being used, the nature can be changed to Modest, since Venomoth will still outrun every unboosted Pokemon in UU, including Timid Electrode. It also helps that Venomoth has a 4x resist to the common Mach Punch.</p>
<p>Venomoth greatly appreciates Rapid Spin support. Hitmontop is a prime candidate because he can do severe damage to both Registeel and Blissey, Venomoth's best counters, while also spinning away Stealth Rock. Donphan is an excellent option as he can also defeat Chansey and Registeel. Houndoom can switch into Psychic- and Fire-type attacks aimed at Venomoth and can also hurt Registeel, but is helpless against Blissey.</p>
[SET]
name: Agility Sweeper
move 1: Agility
move 2: Bug Buzz
move 3: Psychic
move 4: Sleep Powder
item: Life Orb
ability: Tinted Lens
nature: Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Agility salvages Venomoth's mediocre Speed, turning it into a fast and versatile sweeper. Bug Buzz and Psychic give Venomoth unresisted type coverage in UU when combined with Tinted Lens. Sleep Powder is essential, as it allows Venomoth to put a Pokemon to sleep, and then set up on the switch. If Stealth Rock and Life Orb damage are taking their toll, Roost is an entirely viable option over Sleep Powder to provide greater survivability, although Agility will prove harder to set up.</p>
<p>Modest lets Venomoth hit as hard as possible, while still tying with Jolly Choice Scarf Dugtrio after an Agility. The final EVs are dumped into Defense so that Venomoth retains an odd HP, allowing it to switch in on Stealth Rock four times.</p>
<p>Once again, Rapid Spin support is a huge boon. Venomoth does not like taking Stealth Rock damage in addition to Life Orb recoil. Hitmontop is still Venomoth's best partner, getting rid of Stealth Rock, Chansey, and Registeel all by itself. Donphan is a viable alternative to Hitmontop, possessing essentially the same attributes. This set also appreciates Wish support, since it will be steadily loosing health with each attack. Clefable and Blissey are both excellent choices, especially since their lone Fighting-type weakness is covered by Venomoth's 4x resist.</p>
[SET]
name: Venomous Moth
move 1: Toxic Spikes
move 2: Sleep Powder
move 3: Bug Buzz
move 4: Psychic
item: Leftovers / Focus Sash
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Venomoth is one of the few Pokemon who can viably set up Toxic Spikes, either as a lead or during the course of the game. After putting an opponent to sleep, Venomoth can proceed to set up Toxic Spikes. Bug Buzz is Venomoth's best STAB attack, while Psychic hits any Poison-types trying to absorb Toxic Spikes.</p>
<p>There are two possible item/ability combinations for this set, and they both depend on how Venomoth is being used. Leftovers goes well with Tinted Lens, especially if Venomoth is being brought out during the course of the game when residual damage renders Focus Sash useless. However, if Venomoth is functioning as a lead, Shield Dust in conjunction with Focus Sash is the best option. Shield Dust prevents things such as Ambipom's Fake Out flinch, allowing Venomoth to put them to sleep before they can get off another attack. Focus Sash will ensure that a Pokemon is put to sleep and at least one layer of Toxic Spikes are set up.</p>
<p>Because of the abundance of Poison-type Pokemon in UU, Dugtrio is an excellent teammate for Venomoth. Grounded Poison-types can be trapped and defeated by its STAB Earthquake, allowing Venomoth to set up Toxic Spikes without fear of them being absorbed. Donphan can beat most Poison-types with STAB Earthquake as well as spinning away any entry hazards. Finally, Pokemon who can take advantage of badly poisoned Pokemon, such as Blaziken and Nidoking, are excellent teammates. Once bulkier Pokemon are sufficiently weakened, these heavy hitters will have no problem sweeping a damaged team.</p>
[SET]
name: Double Powder
move 1: Sleep Powder
move 2: Stun Spore
move 3: Bug Buzz
move 4: Psychic
item: Leftovers
ability: Tinted Lens
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Venomoth can use two types of status moves to cripple several members of an opposing team. Generally, Venomoth will hit a Pokemon with Sleep Powder, effectively removing it from the match, then hit the switch-in with Stun Spore, and proceed to damage the now-slower Pokemon, or any other switch-ins with the unresisted combination of Bug Buzz + Psychic.</p>
<p>Timid makes Venomoth reasonably fast, even if its base Speed is only average, and max Special Attack allows it to hit as hard as possible when combined with Tinted Lens. Leftovers allows Venomoth to survive longer so that it can cripple more members of the opposing team. If more power is desired, Life Orb can be used, although Venomoth's other sets are able to make more use of it.</p>
<p>This sets effectiveness lies in its surprise factor. No one expects Venomoth to have any other status moves besides Sleep Powder, so a counter switching in will find itself crippled and easy picking for the faster Venomoth, or another Pokemon.</p>
<p>This Venomoth should be paired with a Pokemon that can utilize the debilitation inflicted upon the opposing team. Blaziken and Houndoom can both switch into Fire-type attacks relatively easily, and set up while the opponent switches. Houndoom has the added bonus of being immune to Psychic attacks that could easily KO Venomoth. Spinners such as Hitmontop and Donphan can keep Venomoth alive longer by ridding the field of Stealth Rock. Finally, Wish support from Clefable or Chansey, both of whom also take special Fire- and Psychic-type attacks with ease, will allow Venomoth to keep switching in and hurting or crippling opponents.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>Venomoth has many options when it comes to team support. Choice variants will almost always need to be paired with a reliable spinner such as Hitmontop or Claydol. Hitmontop can easily switch in on Rock-type attacks, softening them with Intimidate, and is able to remove Chansey and Registeel, the two most reliable checks to Venomoth, with STAB Close Combat. Claydol can switch into Rock- and Psychic-type attacks, threatens Chansey with Explosion, and hurts Registeel with STAB Earth Power. Finally, Donphan is an excellent teammate; it beats both Registeel and Chansey, is immune to the common Thunder Wave, and resists Venomoth's Rock-type weakness.</p>
<p>Life Orb versions will appreciate Wish support in order to compensate for repeated residual damage and Life Orb recoil. Chansey and Clefable are the two best options for this role. Both have enough bulk to tank a good number of hits, and their Fighting-type weakness allows for an easy switch to Venomoth after Wish is set up. Both learn Thunder Wave, which is used to compensate for Venomoth's average Speed, allowing it to more easily sweep.</p>
<p>Offensively, Houndoom is an excellent partner for Venomoth, since it is immune to both Fire- and Psychic-type attacks, although it has to watch out for Stone Edge and Rock Slide. Hariyama takes Fire- and Rock-type attacks with ease, and can even shrug off unboosted Psychics with its massive HP. It can then retaliate with Payback and STAB Force Palm, another efficient way to spread paralysis.</p>
<p>Dugtrio deserves as special mention because it can easily trap and kill Venomoth's two greatest counters: Chansey and Registeel. Adamant Choice Band Dugtrio can 2HKO even the most defensive Chansey, and takes 76-89% off Registeel's health.</p>
<p>Ludicolo and Lanturn are also decent teammates for Venomoth, because they can both defeat another Pokemon that stops it: Milotic. Ludicolo can stall out Milotic with Leech Seed and Toxic or just wear it down with Grass Knot. Lanturn is resistant or immune to any of Milotic's attacks and can defeat it with STAB Thunderbolt.</p>
[OTHER OPTIONS]
<p>Venomoth's movepool isn't exactly huge, so is secondary options list is limited. Sludge Bomb gets STAB, but has redundant coverage alongside Bug Buzz while also having less power. Hidden Power Ground can be used to hit Registeel along with grounded Poison-types, but the difference in power between it and Bug Buzz is negligible and Psychic will do more damage to most Poison-types anyway. Baton Pass can be used on the Agility sets to pass your boosts, but there are many other Pokemon who fulfill that role to a greater degree, such as Ambipom and Scyther.</p>
[EVs]
<p>Venomoth should always max Special Attack and Speed, throwing the leftover EVs in Defense. This ensures that it hits as hard as possible while still outspeeding many notable UU Pokemon such as Nidoking and Blaziken. Leaving HP as it is keeps Venomoth at an odd HP number, allowing one more switch into Stealth Rock. If Venomoth doesn't boost its Speed, a Timid nature should be used, although Agility and Choice Scarf sets will outspeed every notable threat with Modest.</p>
[OPINION]
<p>Venomoth is a very interesting Pokemon. While its movepool is nothing to write home about, Tinted Lens gives it an edge over many other UU Bug-types, allowing Bug Buzz alone to hit almost all of UU for neutral damage or better. Even though its sweeping potential is limited by its average Speed and Special Attack, it is still one of the best Bug-types available in UU.</p>
[COUNTERS]
<p>Registeel and Chansey are the two most reliable counters to any version of Venomoth. With excellent Special Defense, they both take paltry damage from Venomoth's attacks and threaten it with Thunder Wave. Mantine is able to shrug off even Specs-boosted Bug Buzz, and can retaliate with Hidden Power Flying. Milotic also poses a problem for Venomoth, being able to survive Specs Bug Buzz, put it to sleep with Hypnosis, and then Haze away Agility boosts.</p>
<p>Venomoth isn't exactly a tank, so anything faster than it will be able to revenge kill it. Swellow and Scyther can both OHKO it with STAB Flying-type attacks. Moltres resists Tinted Lens Bug Buzz and can OHKO back with either STAB attack. Finally, Houndoom can come in on a Choiced Psychic and set up Nasty Plot while Venomoth flees.</p>
