Community POTW #15

[Serebii]

Reno's busy writing the last one so here's the next one



This week we'll be doing Whimsicott, the loveable cotton Pokémon

http://www.serebii.net/pokedex-bw/547.shtml

Whimsicott is useful in oh so many ways. Especially as it's the only Pokemon available in the US with Prankster who isn't a legendary.

[insanityhand]

Toxic stall
Trait: Prankster

-Toxic
-Tailwind
-Energy Ball
-Protect

With increased priority Toxic can destroy everything and hopefully force a few switch outs. Priority Tailwind on a base 116 speed pokemon is nice and guaranteeing that the rest of your team will be faster too. Energy Ball to avoid taunts and cause some damage outside of toxic and Protect to stall for Toxic damage.

[Haxorusfan]

Whimsicott@ Leftover
Ability: Prankster
evs: 252 HP, 252 S Def, Def
Nature: Bold or Impish
Taunt
Leech Seed
Substitute
Encore
Best anti-lead EVER!!!! Prankster and a lot of awesome moves make this thing beats. Can stop other leads from setting up, seeds the opponent, can use encore after stealth rock or other moves. All in all this guy is the bet anti-lead

[Sablera]

Whimsicott@Leftovers
~Prankster
Leech Seed
Giga Drain/Mega Drain
Toxic
Hurricane

Toxic is for poisoning, Leech Seed is sapping health and restoring its own, Giga/Mega Drain is for the same purpose, and Hurricane is for coverage.

[Meowmeow]

This time, I am not complaining Eelektross didn't get chosen. This guy is AWESOME. The generic Grass type movepool becomes terrifying. Even without Prankster, Whisicott has a unique base 116 speed stat, which is fantastic.
Let's get started.

Meowmeow's personal Whisicott
Nature: Jolly
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 Speed/84 Defense, sp defense, and HP
@: Lum Berry/Leftovers/Focus Sash

-Stun Spore
-Taunt
-Leech Seed
-U-Turn

This is the exact Whimsicott that I use and it works great as a lead. Taunt prevents Stealth Rock, Spikes, and other Taunt. Leech Seed is Leech Seed. Stun Spore delivers status, which comes to the fact that my first disappointment is that Whimsicott didn't get Sleep Powder, which would have made this guy ten times better. Even so, Stun Spore is not affected by any clause. U-Turn lets you scout and flee when necessary, and lets you do something if you get hit by taunt. I prefer Stun Spore over Toxic because Paralysis can target anything without Limber and Toxic can be handled be switching in a steel type. Not only that, I have found paralysis to be a better disruption tactic because it supports my slower attackers or attackers that stat boost like Eelektross and Terrakion. I do use both.

Whimstatusicott
Nature: Jolly
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 170 Defense, sp defense, and HP
@: Lum Berry/Leftovers/Focus Sash/Light Clay

-Toxic/Stun Spore/Tailwind/Light Screen/Encore/Memento/Protect/Substitute
-Protect/Tailwind/Light Screen/Encore/Memento/Substitute
-Leech Seed
-Taunt/Tailwind/Light Screen/Encore/Memento/Protect/Substitute

You don't need to worry about speed EVs here. You have permanent priority thanks to Prankster. It's basically a case of mix and match some status moves to be partnered with Leech Seed. Let's break it down.

Stun Spore paralyzes stuff.
Toxic badly poisons stuff.
Tailwind is nice for some extra speed.
Light Screen is obvious.
Same goes for Encore
Memento wrecks attackers.
The others block status.

Other options

Whimsicott has the option to use Growth for an offensive set. But looking at how Prankster can be used testifies that any offensive set is a way to demonstrate that Prankster is wasted.
If you wanted a little more offense, you have Energy Ball, Psychic, Grass Knot, Hurricane, Shadow Ball, and Giga Drain.
Sunny Day is useless. Use Ninetails instead for sun.
Charm is no good for Whimsicott, although it can make Conkeldurr manageable.
Cotton Guard is the same.
Endeavor is something that I have personal dislike for because I don't like dropping my HP for one attack.

Counters

This is a very tough Pokemon to counter. The best bet is to have Wonder Skin Sigilyph because it can evade what Whimsicott will throw with Prankster and strike back with Air Slash. Pokemon with Guts will love getting paralyzed or poisoned.
The power of Whimsicott comes from Prankster, so neutralizing that ability will completely shut Whimsicott's amazingness down. Ability changing moves like Gastro Acid, Simple Beam, Entertainment, Worry Seed etc. will completely ruin Whimsicott.

Partners

Literally almost anyone.

Critique me for once. Please.

[Haxorusfan]

Whimsicott probably has the most options right next to mew

[TimmahX]

Traits

Prankster: Whimsicott's main niche in competitive battling, this ability gives all non-offensive attacks +1 Priority. This essentially turns all status moves into Quick Attack, making them go first unless your opponent uses a move with +2~5 priority. If you do not understand how priority works, see this page.

Infiltrator: As good as this ability may be, it is completely wasted on Whimsicott. Infiltrator lets the bearer ignore Reflect and Light Screen, but Whimsicott only has 77 Base Special Attack, which isn't strong in any regards. Whimsicott should carry at least one offensive moves for situations where it gets hit by a Taunt it didn't predict, but that isn't enough of a reason to use Infiltrator.

Chlorophyll: Doubles Speed in sun. Whimsicott could technically get by with this, but Prankster borderline guarentees the first turn, and this requires the weather also.

So in short, do not run Chlorophyll or Infiltrator. Prankster is the way to go.

Whimsical Seeder
Prankster, Leftovers / Big Root, Bold / Calm / Timid, 252 HP / 252 SpDef / 4 Def
- Energy Ball / Grass Knot / Giga Drain / Toxic
- Taunt
- Leech Seed
- Substitute

This is a pretty standard affair for Grass types, but Whimsicott does it so well because Substitutes go up first unless your opponent outmatches your priority. Leech Seed drains your opponent's HP each turn. Taunt stops anyone from Taunting you, and it always goes first. The last slot is a toss up between three offensive moves and Toxic. Toxic would mean that if you miss a Taunt, you have to switch, but can put on huge tick damage. As for the other three, Energy Ball is standard issue, Grass Knot wrecks heavy pokemon in the OU tier, and Giga Drain restores even more HP. All three moves pick up STAB boosts.

Now for items, EVs and natures. Big Root boosts the recovery factor of Giga Drain and Leech Seed by 30%, but Leftovers gives constant healing. Bold and Calm natures make Whimsicott more durable, Timid makes Whimsicott faster than other Whimsicotts. You really don't need the extra speed otherwise, so EVs and Natures are better off bolstering Defenses. Extra power is a waste of time with Whimsicott usually, it isn't a killing machine by any means. HP EVs make more durable Substitutes, Whimsicott's SpDefense is lower than its Defense, so it needs more help in the EV department. You're welcome to put it all in Defense to have more hope against Sub Smashers.

Whimsical Screener
Prankster, Light Clay, Bold / Calm / Timid, 252 HP / 252 SpDef / 4 Def
- Energy Ball / Grass Knot / Giga Drain
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Taunt

This is a great way to use Whimsicott, especially since with prediction, you can set up the right wall before you are hit. Light Screen and Reflect give your team x2 SpDef and Def respectively, and last for a long time with Light Clay as the hold item. Taunt stops Taunt. Offensive moves are required should you mess up a Taunt.

Whimsupport
Prankster, Light Clay / Leftovers / Big Root, Bold / Calm / Timid, 252 HP / 252 SpDef / 4 Def
- Energy Ball / Grass Knot / Giga Drain
- Leech Seed / Substitute / Protect / Taunt / Toxic / Stun Spore / Grasswhistle / Trick Room / Tailwind / Light Screen / Reflect / Sunny Day / Worry Seed / Charm / Cotton Guard / Switcheroo / Fake Tears / Encore
- See Bullet 2
- See Bullet 2

Offensive moves are required, so that's out of the way. Now the rest is a toss up of all of the support options the ol' cotton ball has.

- Leech Seed drains HP each turn.
- Substitute protects Whimsicott, as does actual Protect.
- Taunt stops other Taunts and opponents from setting up.
- Toxic, Stun Spore, and Grasswhistle are status options.
- Trick Room is interesting with Prankster, to say the least. Prankster still lets Whimsicott got first, so it is useless for benefiting Whimsicott, but on a Trick Room team in double/triple battles, it can set it up with priority so its teammates can go right after it.
- Tailwind is helpful in double/triple battles, doubling your team's speed for three turns. Unfortunately, Whimsicott hardly stands to gain anything from this move.
- Light Screen and Reflect work with Light Clay as the hold item, giving numerous turns of x2 Defense / Special Defense.
- Sunny Day is pretty easy to set up with Whimsicott, but Ninetails has Drought now, which is the preferred route to set up sun.
- Worry Seed changes the opponent's ability to Insomnia, which is pretty handy when Grasswhistle is out of the equation.
- Charm and Cotton Guard are methods to further protect Whimsicott from Physical Attacks, but really aren't necessary if you have Reflect.
- Switcheroo can screw up your opponents by swapped hold items.
- Fake Tears can encourage a switch out by lowering SpDef.
- Encore locks your opponent into one move for 2-5 turns, which is absolutely incredible. Most Whimsicotts carry this move for a reason.

Double/Triple Battle Partners

You really shouldn't use Whimsicott for Double or Triple Battles, it will be demolished in record breaking time. If you really want to though, something that can cover its weaknesses, ideally something that carries Stone Edge for the Fire, Flying and Bug parts, and maybe Earthquake for Fire and Poison. Do keep in mind that Whimsicott isn't immune to EQ though. As far as supporting in 2v2 or 3v3 goes, Whimsicott can offer its standard services, and finds more use for Tailwind.

Counters

Substitute smashers usually do the trick. Ambipom, Vanilluxe, Mamoswine and Cinccino are pretty good for that. Brick Break is handy for dispatching screens, and bulky grass types can get past Leech Seed. Ferrothorn, Venasaur, Tangrowth, Leafeon, Amoonguss, Breloom, Shaymin, Abomasnow, Cradily Roserade, and other Whimsicotts with higher speed are all very good choices.

What is not a Counter

Cloyster. Everyone is going to suggest him because of Icicle Spear, so let me explain why he's a bad choice. Whimsicott at face values is faster, and can kill Cloyster one hit with any of its moves. Cloyster cannot set up Shell Break because it is either dead or Taunted, pretty much every time.

Pre-Evolution Corner

Cottonee's move pool isn't as large as Whisicott's, and has lower HP, but it has much higher Defense and Special Defense with Evolite. It still has Taunt, Encore, and Subseeding up its sleeve, so it can function just fine.

[Del Mundo]

as I was told, You don't want to put too many evs in hp, so that you can recover for as many substitutes as possible. Also, with prankster, there shouldn't be any reason to put any speed evs. The only thing youve got to watch out for is weavile's ice shard.

Nature: Bold
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 4HP 252Def 252SDef
@: Leftovers

-Substitute
-Taunt
-Leech Seed
-Encore

Standard Subseedcott

[Haxorusfan]

as I was told, You don't want to put too many evs in hp, so that you can recover for as many substitutes as possible. Also, with prankster, there shouldn't be any reason to put any speed evs. The only thing youve got to watch out for is weavile's ice shard.

Nature: Bold
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 4HP 252Def 252SDef
@: Leftovers

-Substitute
-Taunt
-Leech Seed
-Encore

Standard Subseedcott

Ya that is the best Whimsicott move set around.

[TheAwesomeOne]

Non-attacking moves have a higher Speed priority.

For all the noobs out there, that is the wonder of Prankster.

[Pseudo-Unlegendary]

as I was told, You don't want to put too many evs in hp, so that you can recover for as many substitutes as possible. Also, with prankster, there shouldn't be any reason to put any speed evs. The only thing youve got to watch out for is weavile's ice shard.

Nature: Bold
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 4HP 252Def 252SDef
@: Leftovers

-Substitute
-Taunt
-Leech Seed
-Encore

Standard Subseedcott

I like this set, especially since you're not trying to attack, which Whimsicott can't do, and it doesn't run a Jolly nature which is a waste with Prankster on it.

[Diaglio]

I like offensive Whimsicotts.

Life Sapping Whimsi
Whimsicott @ Wise Glasses
Modest
252 Sp Atk, 252 Hp, 4 Speed
-Toxic
-Leech Seed
-Hurricane
-Energy Ball

Toxic and Leech Seed both get priority up, making it a quite deadly combination. Hurricane to take out Fighting types, Bug types, and it's fellow Grass types. Energy Ball for reliable STAB. Killer.

Double and Triple Battle Partners
Scrafty - Fighting type STAB murders any Ice types sent out to counter the Whimsi. It can also learn Facade at level 45, making Toxic even more useful to power up Facade.
Braviary - Flying type STAB to destroy Bug and fellow Grass types. Braviary also gets Facade (which is another really good STAB on the eagle) through TM.

[FRmaster]

Here's a set which would work in doubles/triples alongside a pokemon with justified:

Nature:Timid
Ability:Prankster
EV's: 252 Hp, 4 SpD, 252 Spe
IV's: 0 Atk
@: Focus Sash

Can bullying be justified?
- Beat up
- Stun Spore
- Tail Wind
- Taunt/Leech Seed/Giga Drain/Sunny Day

This set allows justified to be set up alongside stopping some common leads.
- Stun Spore stops anything faster than your pokemon from being able to stop your strategy before you've started.
- Once you have set up using beat up to get 4 to 6 attack boosts, Tail Wind stops anything without any speed boosts from getting into play and, well... attacking before you do.
- Taunt is there to stop leads like Aerodactyl from setting up Stealth Rock/Spikes etc.
- Leech Seed is an option to stop any opponents from using Focus Sash.
- Giga Drain for regaining health.
- And Sunny Day to take control of the weather, mainly to stop things like the swift swim/drizzle combo

- Focus Sash is to stop the opponent from making Whimsicott faint before the beat up/justified combo is set up.
- Timid nature is to make absolutely sure that it is faster than the Pokemon you're using beat up on.
- The 0 IV in Attack is so that Beat Up does the least damage possible to your Justified user.

[multi-scale]

Prankster is an amazing ability for Whimsicott. Priority Taunt, Leech Seed, Tailwind, Protect, Stun Spore, Encore, Toxic, Light Screen, and Trick Room makes it an amazing teammate. It can even use Fake Tears, Charm, or Cotton Spore to cause a switch, or cripple a sweeper by holding an Iron Ball and using Switcheroo. It can also use Cotton Guard to boost its own defense to increase its survivability. The only thing I'm sad about is that it doesn't get a phazing move, because it could spread status over an entire team.

[Mr. Marowak]

When you thought Whimsicott couldn't get sunnier...

Whimsicott @ Heat Rock / Leftovers / Big Root
Timid Nature / Any Ability
-Sunny Day
-SolarBeam
-Substitute / Hurricane / Toxic
-Giga Drain / Leech Seed
EV's: 252 HP, 128 Def, 128 Sp. Def

...it uses Sunny Day. Sunny Day for Speed (if using Chlorophyll) and to ready SolarBeam, which is used to obliterate Pokés who dare defy. The other two moves? Fillers, no. Substitute protects you, Hurricane for coverage, or Toxic to force a switch. The fourth move is all about HP recovery. Giga Drain works best with the Big Root, Leech Seed for long-term coverage; great alongside Substitute. The only problem with this set may be fast Fire-Types. They just looove to infiltrate on your sun.

[TheAwesomeOne]

Whimsicott@Leftovers
~Prankster
Leech Seed
Giga Drain/Mega Drain
Toxic
Hurricane

Toxic is for poisoning, Leech Seed is sapping health and restoring its own, Giga/Mega Drain is for the same purpose, and Hurricane is for coverage.

Why is Mega Drain slashed?
We all know that Mega Drain should never be used in Competitive battling. Giga Drain outclasses it every single time.

[Missingno. Master]

Whimsicott@Leftovers
Calm
Prankster
252 HP/252 Sp.Def/4 Def
~Cotton Guard
~Protect
~Leech Seed
~Taunt/Substitute

The idea behind this set is to focus on Whimsicott's Special Defense, make that as high as possible with the nature and EVs. With that in mind, build up its Defense with a priority Cotton Guard. Now that Whimiscott is nearly untouchable, Leech Seed can start ravaging your opponent. Protect allows for more seed stalling, and as for the last slot, priority Taunt stops opposing Taunts from wrecking your strategy, and Substitute is for added stalling. Leftovers and Prankster are givens.

Whimsicott@Choice Specs
Modest
Infiltrator
252 Sp.Atk/252 Speed/4 HP
~Hidden Power (fighting)
~Shadow Ball
~Hurricane
~Energy Ball

With Whimsicott, what springs to mind first is "priority status moves", followed by "support". True as that may be, Whimsicott does sport a workable Special Attack stat of 278, which becomes 417 with Choice Specs, not to mention a somewhat viable special movepool. Energy Ball is for STAB, Shadow Ball and Hidden Power Fighting give perfect coverage, and Hurricane is for handling Whimsicott's fellow Grass-types, as well as the Bug-types that are advantageous against it. And Conkeldurr. Also helps Whimsicott squeeze its way into a rain team. And speaking of squeezing in, you'll notice that I did NOT recommend Prankster for this set. And the reason, I think, is obvious- This Whimsicott has no moves with which to take advantage of Prankster. They're all offensive moves. Infiltrator will let Whimsicott's attacks ignore opposing Light Screens.

Whimsicott@Leftovers/Focus Sash
Modest
Prankster
252 Sp.Atk/252 Speed/4 HP
~Hidden Power (fighting)
~Shadow Ball
~Hurricane
~Growth

A single usage of Growth gives Whimsicott the same boost as would Choice Specs. At the cost of STAB, Whimsicott now sports the power of the previous set, coupled with the freedom to change moves whenever. Now, you'll notice that this time, I opted to go with Prankster, and I will tell you why; Whimsicott has earned itself a lot of fame (or infamy, for those who face it) for its priority status attacks. Naturally, Taunt poses something of a threat to it. So it's only natural that an opponent would try to Taunt down Whimsicott ASAP. And you don't want that to happen BEFORE you get off a Growth. The best solution, IMO, is to make Growth into a priority move. The item is up to how you feel about Whimiscott's un-EV'd defenses. If you feel they're sufficient to hold up Whimsicott while it uses Growth, by all means go with Leftovers. If you feel that it's too frail, on the other hand, give the Focus Sash a shot.

[TheAwesomeOne]

Whimiscott@Big Root
Prankster
Timid/Modest
252 HP, 128 SpA, 128 Spe
-Leech Seed
-Giga Drain
-Taunt
-Hidden Power[Fire/Ground]/Hurricane
This takes advantage of the Big Root. Leech Seed and Giga Drain make Leftovers worthless. Taunt is always nice. HP Ground is for Fire and Poison types. HP Fire is for Grass and Bug types, but Hurricane hits much, much harder.

[WizardTrubbish]

Fun in the Sun!
Whimsicott@ Heat Rock
Trait: Clorophyll
EVs: 4 Atk/ 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Mild (+SAtk, -Def)
- Sunny Day
- Giga Drain
- Solar Beam
- Hidden Power Rock
Since everyone wants to do a prankster set, I decided to add variety. Lead with sunny day. Combined with clorophyll and heat rock (which boosts the amount of turns with sunny weather) turns Whimsicott ino a sweeping machine. Solar Beam is pretty self explanitary, and Giga Drain gves it a chance to heal itself. Hidden power Rock gets you past all of grasses weaknesses except poison.
Double and Triple Battling
A Ninetales with drought is a good parter, so you can put something else (like psychic to deal with poison types) in Sunny Day's slot.

[Zachmac]

FEAR the prankster
Cottonee
Hasty,Naive/Make sure there are no EVs in Def,Sp.def, and HP.
FocusSash/Prankster
-Endeavor
-LeachSeed
-Toxic
-Memento

Bring it down to 1 health, then LeachSeed or Toxic to get rid of the last of the enemies' health. Memento is a filler.

Fun in the Sun!
Whimsicott@ Heat Rock
Trait: Clorophyll
EVs: 4 Atk/ 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Mild (+SAtk, -Def)
- Sunny Day
- Mega Drain
- Solar Beam
- Hidden Power Rock
Since everyone wants to do a prankster set, I decided to add variety. Lead with sunny day. Combined with clorophyll and heat rock (which boosts the amount of turns with sunny weather) turns Whimsicott ino a sweeping machine. Solar Beam is pretty self explanitary, and mega Drain gves it a chance to heal itself. Hidden power Rock gets you past all of grasses weaknesses except poison.

Well, focus sash should also be an Option because it's hard to get up sunlight.