Community POTW #73

[Soperman]

What do you mean flame body isn't great? 30% to burn when touched is great. It screws scizor to.

Well, it could be better... Plus, it has really low Defense >__O
But yeah, I did understate it.

[Dragrath]

Volcarona, the breeders best friend and a Pokemon that from the beginning has been determined to change the image of the bug type by being given stats and a move pool built to sweep with options letting it fight in sun or even rain(was already mentioned but I think that that is important).

About it's ability, It certainly isn't as useless as some of the people here seem to think. It helps by giving the potential of crippling the attack of any Pokemon that makes contact with it (unless they are fire type) which given that most physical moves are contact as well means the opponent needs to risk having one their physical attackers effectively removed from the game as a threat, or try and hit it from the special side which will be far more difficult given Volcarona's high special base stats and the likely hood of boosts. All in all it means it is riskyer to take out even so slightly so if you want to beat it you NEED stealth rocks up...

[StreetFlare]

Ah, Volcarona. My first ever EV-trained Pokemon, and when run in the same team as an EV-trained Hydregon providing extra coverage, the crap goes down!

Volcamothra
Volcarona@Life Orb
Modest nature
Flame Body
252 Sp. Atk/252 Spd/4 HP
~Fiery Dance/Flamethrower/Fire Blast
~Bug Buzz/Hurricane/Psychic
~Quiver Dance
~Hidden Power (Dragon)/(Ground)/Solarbeam

This set is THE Volcarona set, in my experience. Fiery Dance makes this thing a true monster, and when coupled with Quiver Dance, it's Special Attack goes through the roof. If you prefer to rely on Quiver Dance (understandable, considering Volcarona's stats), then it goes to the traditional debate of power vs. accuracy - Fire Blast is lethal combined with Quiver Dance, but Flamethrower has the accuracy.

After that point, it goes down to greater personal choice, although unlike other Fire-types, Volcarona's movepool is limited. Bug Buzz combos well against Psychic & Dark types, while Hurricane is for those who fear Politoad and it's Drizzle. Psychic helps out with any Fighting-types, specifically Terrakion, one of the many counters for Volcarona that may leap from the woodwork in OU.

Likewise, the final slot is essentially filler. Hidden Power Dragon leaves only one thing resistant to a combination of it, the fire move of your choice, and the final special move - Heatran. Hidden Power Ground hits Heatran, but opens up a gap in coverage for a rather large array of Pokemon. Solarbeam, I added as an afterthought - the Volcarona I've been running lacked both Hidden Power and this, because it had a Bug-type Hidden Power, so I simply used Hurricane to great effect as a surprise switch-in against a Rain Dish Ludicolo who thought he was safe in the rain. Solarbeam takes advantage of something all Volcarona should never be without - Ninetails support. Or Groudon, if you're insane enough to run it in Ubers. Good counter for Rock-types aiming to grab a quick KO with Stone Edge, but considering most Rock-type switch-ins would have Sturdy (or not be Rock-type), then it's rather pointless.

Ability is non-negotiable, even when Swarm is released. (Swarm? WHY GAME FREAK WHY?) EVs are kinda obvious, and are the same thing everyone else agrees that it needs. Item should be obvious, especially if you run Hidden Power/Fiery Dance.

Other Options
Morning Sun is a viable recovery move with Ninetails support, but useless away.
Magnet Rise....forget it. Volcarona, aside for Morning Sun, HAS NOTHING ELSE.
If you were totally insane, you could try running one of Larvesta's physical moves.... who am I kidding?

Partners
Sun support. Something that likes Rain/Sandstorm/Hail. Basically, those are the main areas Volcarona needs - Sun for the extra boost to the fire move of choice, and something else to take advantage of weather. Heatran is possible, but if you have Heatran, why are you running Volcarona, aside for it's beauty?

Counters
Stealth Rocks. Half-health gone on switching in? Good if you're planning a Swarm-boosted Substitute sweep, absolutely disastrous any other time. On top of that, any relatively fast/strong Rock-type capable of taking a special hit is a counter. Tyranitar counts here, but watch for Bug Buzz. Even a spec. defense boost from Sand Stream won't save you from that.

Prediction
Well, this and Stunfisk were two of the three shinies a guy gave me for trading cards.... I'm going to have to guess Hydregon.

[spuds4ever]

One of the most effective larvesta sets in the current LC metagame.

Bulky Bug
Larvesta @eviolite
EVs: 156 HP, 76 Atk, 236 def, 40 spe, Impish
Flame Body
-Flare Blitz
-Morning Sun
-U-turn/Will-o-wisp/Sunny day
-Wild Charge/U-turn/Sunny day

Makes a really solid counter to the huge ammount of fighting types running around LC as well as common threats like snover. Flame body threatens burns, discouraging things like mienfoo from spamming HJK, Flare blitz is a solid STAB that hurts a lot even without a lot of investment. Morning Sun is larvesta's only form of recovery. Will-o-wisp provides reliable burns, permanently crippling physical attackers. U-turn preserves momentum while still dealing good damage as it gets STAB. Wild charge gives good coverage against things like staryu while sunny day ensures that morning sun will restore good health and flare blitz will hurt even more. EVs grant it solid 24/24/18 defenses with eviolite while still preserving offensive pressure.

[dragon zero]

volcarona. one of the top bug types since scizors debut. whilst scizor remains OU for it technician bullet punch and pursuit Volcarona is a frightening power house especially after one Quiver Dance, a move no volcarona shouldn't have for no explainable reason. It makes volcarona.

standard

QUIVER DANCE
Bug Buzz
Fire Blast/Fiery Dance
Hidden Power Rock/Ground
Nature: Modest/Timid
Ev's: 252 HP, 252 Sp.Atk, 4 def
Item: Life Orb

Quiver dance is a must, or it boosts it's Sp.Atk, Sp.Def and speed (it's 3 bests stats) by one stage. Bug Buzz is an Attack crux as, like quiver dance no volcarona shouldn't have (plus that luck Sp.def drop will force switches or risk KO). for its fire move either will do; fire blast for power and fiery dance if the accuracy isn't to your liking plus it's 50% Sp.Atk boost will make volcarona slaughter teams with ease(of which ive suffered a few times on PO) hidden power is a filler move to provide coverage(mines has rock but im sure ground is also helpful). Nature: either will do


strangly effective rain moth

QUIVER DANCE
Bug Buzz
Hurricane
Hidden Power(water)/Fire Blast/Fiery Dance
Nature: modest/timid
EV's: 252 Sp.Atk, 252 Speed, 4 Def
Item: Life Orb

much like the standard set but can take advantage of the rain with its Hurricane(now 100% acc and still 30% confusion) Quiver dance and Bug Buzz are still a MUST. the last move can be HP Water exploit the rain a little more. Fire Blast and Fiery Dance are still an option in case of Ninetales.

bulky moth

QUIVER DANCE
Bug Buzz
Fiery Dance
Morning Sun
Nature: Bold
EV's:240 HP, 216 Def, 52 Speed
Item: Leftovers
Ability: 'Flame Body' for this set

taking a more defensive approach to setting up with the HP investment it can sitch in to stealth rocks 2x, the def invest is just enough as flame body will, if it activates, does the rest. like all sets Quiver Dance and Bug Buzz are still a must. Fiery Dance is preffered for its decent power and 50% Sp.Atk boost but im sure Fire Blast is still fine Morning Sun is the best form of recovery with 50% Hp restore(66% in SUN, thus making Ninetales a grest partner). one can opt for Rest with chesto berry but morning sun is better.

partners:
Ninetales: to set up sun to boost volcarona's already frightening fire moves
Politoed: only for the hurricane set
RAPID SPIN: with its 4x weakness to rock you need to clear away those stealth rocks and the one setting up whilst your at it.
Heal Bell: any supporter wilth this move will be nice as thunder wave cripples the sweeping sets and toxic hinders the bulky one.

[chap196]

The Quiver Sweeper
Item Life Orb
Nature Timid/Modest
Ability Flame Body
EVs 252 Special Attack/252 Speed/4 HP
Move Set
Fiery Dance
Bug Buzz
Psychic
Quiver Dance
Fiery Dance have 50% chance to gain Special Attack which really help Volcarona to sweep your opponent Pokemon. Bug Buzz for a powerful STAB move, also it has average power and high accuracy. Psychic just for more coverage. Quiver Dance to sweep your opponent Pokemon by gaining Special Attack, Special Defense and Speed, the main thing to use Quiver Dance on this Volcarona is to gain Special Attack and Speed. Life Orb for more Special Attack.

Defensive Volcarona?
Item Leftover
Nature Modest/Timid/Calm
Ability Flame Body
EVs 124 Special Attack/124 Special Defense/252 Speed/8 HP
Move Set
Fiery Dance
Bug Buzz
Morning Sun
Quiver Dance
Fiery Dance for a good STAB move and it has 50% chance to gain Special Attack. Bug Buzz for a powerful STAB move. Morning Sun to make Volcarona more defensive by recovering HP by half. Quiver Dance to gain Special Attack, Special Defense and Speed, the main thing to use Quiver Dance for this set is to gain Special Defense. Leftover to gain Volcarona HP by 1/16 every turn which make Volcarone more Defensive

Other Options
Hidden Power Ground or Hidden Power Water or Hidden Power Grass :Hidden Power Ground or Hidden Power Water help to kill Heatran, but it only help Volcarona when it try to kill Fire or Rock Type Pokemon. Hidden Power Grass to kill Water type Pokemon.
Fire Blast: Fire Blast is as powerful as Fiery Dance when it has 1 Special Attack boost, but most people still think that Fiery Dance is better because it has high chance to gain Special Attack 2 stages
Hurricane: It give some more coverage, also it has high power, however Psychic give more coverage. Hurricane work best with Rain Team because it will always hit, but who use Volcarona in Rain Team?
Solar Beam: Only use this move in the sun, it has pretty high power and give some coverage, but if you don't have a Pokemon to setup Sunny Day or Drought Ability Pokemon, then use Hidden Power Grass instead to kill Water type Pokemon.
Substitute: For Defensive Volcarona only, Substitue make Volcarona harder to defeat by making a Sub, but it is not as useful as Morning Sun because your opponent may have chance to break the Sub all the time when Volcarona use Substitue and Morning Sun recover Volcarona HP by half which is pretty much (or even more if you have sunlight)

Abilities
Flame Body
When Volcarona get inflict damage by a Physical Attack move, it has 30% to burn your opponent Pokemon. Pretty good ability to burn your opponent Pokemon
Swarm
When Volcarona HP is bellow 1/3 HP, it will gain all Bug type move by 1.5. Not really useful because you will not always use Bug type move when your HP is low, but sometime it is useful when your HP is low and you use Bug Type move

Partners
A good partner for Volcarona is Ninetales because of Drought ability which will sent Sunshine weather out. It is better for the Defensive Volcarona because Morning Sun will gain Volcarona HP to maximum instead of gaining half. Also in Sunshine all Fire Attack move will have more base power by 50%. A Rapid Spinner help Volcarona to get Stealth Rock out, so it will not loss half of its HP when it is switch in. A Dual Screen partner might help Volcarona to stay longer in a battle by doubling its Defense and Special Defense.

Double and Triple Battle Options
Not many good move to use in Double or Triple Battle, the only good move is Heat Wave because it hit all of your opponent Pokemon. Volcarona is not a very good Pokemon in Double or Triple Battle, though.

Counters
The main counters for Volcarona is Stealth Rock which will inflict half of Volcarona HP when it was switch in. The another counter for Volcarona is Rain Weather which will lower Fiery Dance base power and it make Morning Sun only gain 25% of its HP instead of 50%. Sandstorm and Hail also make Morning Sun recover only 25% of its HP. Heatran can resist nearly every move that Volcarona can use except for Hidden Power Water and Hidden Power Ground. Nearly every Rock Type Pokemon can OHKO Volcarona with Stone Edge or Rock Slide.

[Ilan]

Sure flame body is a decent ability, but volcarona is so frail in the defensive side (physically at least) that it cannot abuse it's effect. A volcarona targeted by a decently strong enough physical attack is as good as dead!
This ability, alongside other luck based abilities like static, poison point and effect spore are best used with bulkier pokemon that can take hits well... That was all i was trying to say!

1. flame body activates even when something faints.
2.it is better than unnerve.
3.When you inverst in bulk volcarona can take some neutral physical hits and it just might switch into a fighting move or scizor and burn them.

It is not something you want to abuse too much but a nice edition to your arsenal abilities sometimes are just a side effect and not a main niche it don't make flame body bad at all..

[chap196]

Volcarona don't have Unnerve Ability, the other ability is Swarm, but I agree with you, Flame Body is a better ability than Swarm because it has 30% chance to burn your opponent Pokemon when your opponent Attack a Physical Attack move on Volcarona (30% is pretty much) and Swarm is not that useful because you won't use Bug type move all the time when your HP is low, so yeah Flame Body is better.

[Ilan]

Volcarona don't have Unnerve Ability, the other ability is Swarm, but I agree with you, Flame Body is a better ability than Swarm because it has 30% chance to burn your opponent Pokemon when your opponent Attack a Physical Attack move on Volcarona (30% is pretty much) and Swarm is not that useful because you won't use Bug type move all the time when your HP is low, so yeah Flame Body is better.

Better than unnerve= better than nothing I meant it is a useful ability not like unnerve.

Swarm is good if volcarona have subtitute it can get to swarm area very easily especially after SR damage.
and with swarm sub quiver dance would be more viable.

The problem with sub volcarona is that you need to give up on coverage/healing or quiver dance and it needs rapid spin to work too.

[tomjames1966]

Volcarona

Special Wall

Item: Leftovers
EVs : 252 HP/ 252 Sp.Def/ 4 Def
Ability: Flame Body
Nature: Calm
-Amnesia/Quiver Dance
-Substitute/Toxic/Morning Sun
-Substitute/Protect/Morning Sun
-Bug Buzz/Fire Blast/Overheat/Fiery Dance
Whew, that as a lot of slashes. Most of the above sets are for Offensive Volcarona, this one isn't as Volcarona has quite good bulk if SR isn't up. The main move on this set is Amnesia, what you do is you amnesia a couple of times on a Special attacker or another Volcarona then either use Toxic or set up or heal, you can also use Quiver Dance but it doesn't boost your Sp. Def as much. Only keep Protect if you are using Toxic. You can put another support move in the last slot but this makes you Taunt bait.

Wall

Item: Leftovers
EVs : 252 HP/136 Def/ 120 Sp.Def
Ability: Flame Body
Nature: Calm/Bold
-Will-o-Wisp
-Protect/Substitute/Amnesia/Quiver Dance
-Morning Sun/Amnesia/Quiver Dance
-Bug Buzz/Fire Blast/Overheat/Fiery Dance
This set is a lot like the set above but there are many key differences. For starters this set has Def EVs and Will-o-Wisp allowing Volcarona to take a few more Physical hits. You also don't have Toxic as I prefer Will-o-Wisp but you can have Toxic if you wish. Morning Sun is a recovery move while Amnesia boosts your Sp. Def, Quiver Dance is another option but it doesn't boost your Sp. Def as much. Choose wisely as if you don't have Morning Sun (Which is a tad unreliable thanks to popularity of SS teams or rain teams) you are without recovery except Leftovers while if you don't have Amnesia you are open to powerful Sp. Atks Quiver Dance is if you want speed, Sp. Atk but less Sp. Def than Amnesia.

Larvesta


LC Offensive/Tank

Item: Leftovers/Life Orb/Evolite/Choice Band
EVs : 236 Atk/196 Spd/ 76HP
Nature: Adamant
-Wild Charge
-Flare Blitz
-U-Turn
-Zen Headbutt
The reason for the different EVs is because if you put 252 EVs into Attack you would get 19 attack however if you put 236 you will still get 19 attack. It is the same for speed. Choose leftovers to heal recoil, life orb/Choice Band for power or Evolite for Defense. Basically you attack and attack and attack. Zen Headbutt is there to deal with fighting types and the odd poison type. U-turn is there for scouting. Pretty self-explanatory.

[Zachmac]

^While it's stats and movepool could allow it to make a decent wall, it's typing refuses. It's got a terrible type combination in the defensive area. Fire and Bug? And least it isn't weak to ground or fighting, but I'd much rather use Blissy or Jellicent, or....something. And while fighting is actually a great resist, most fighting types carry Stone Edge as well...

So, countering Volc is a little difficult....but getting a good check in safely isn't! When you see a Volcarona and predict it to try and set up, swap in a fast, choice scarf pokemon with a rock more(or perhaps ScarfMoxieDos, but it risk burn). Any will do. I usually use ScarfMoxieMence or Terrakion, though Terrakion is a counter if it lacks HP ground. Ferorthorn can also make a nice lure and use T-Wave when it expects the Volcarona to set up, which they almost always will.

If you want to go on the defensive, Heatran resist both it's STABs, and only fears HP ground from the rare, purely offensive sets. It's best used with Stealth Rock and Roar. Blissy can handle even the offensive ones and cripple them with Thunderwave or Toxic. Vappy can phaze it as or poison as well, but won't do it with as much ease. Jellicent, if you decide to run toxic, is like Vaporeon, but with a bug resist. They are usually better off running WoW, though, unless your team needs to find a Volc counter and can't wiggle anything else in. There is also the odd defensive Gyarados, who can hit it with a powerful Waterfall or phaze it for some stealth rock damage, while healing off any damage taken through rest.

[Rayofquazar]

1. flame body activates even when something faints.
2.it is better than unnerve.
3.When you inverst in bulk volcarona can take some neutral physical hits and it just might switch into a fighting move or scizor and burn them.

It is not something you want to abuse too much but a nice edition to your arsenal abilities sometimes are just a side effect and not a main niche it don't make flame body bad at all..

Ok! I'll give you credit here... you are totally right in these 3 points you made. And coming to think of it, a pokemon such as volcarona whose stats are pretty high, doesn't really need a super ability to work well... Flame body is just right for her!!

[philzone]

Ok! I'll give you credit here... you are totally right in these 3 points you made. And coming to think of it, a pokemon such as volcarona whose stats are pretty high, doesn't really need a super ability to work well... Flame body is just right for her!!

Quite useful, as most pokemon target its awful defence stat, but swarm does have some use. In walling sets, its helth could get very low, then, hit back with a STAB boosted, swarm boosted bug buzz, typically KOing it. Though it is useless. It falls in the same way as charizard and moltres, ROCK.
Partners are ninetails and politoed, for weather, fighting types for the rock moves. And fighting types normally have a rock move, so counter fkying types. Best is breloom

[ASB]

DEAR EVERYONE (yes, this means you): "Its" ≠ "It's"

Pic related. TWELVE TIMES so far on this one page has the word "it's" been misused.

Would anyone be open to having a GP team for PotW features like the one at Smogon? I, for one, most certainly would.

[Vandslaux]

DEAR EVERYONE (yes, this means you): "Its" ≠ "It's"

Pic related. TWELVE TIMES so far on this one page has the word "it's" been misused.

Would anyone be open to having a GP team for PotW features like the one at Smogon? I, for one, most certainly would.

This is a fun way to inform people about a pokemon, not a Smogon analysis.

[Man_of_Girth]

First time as first and Fisrt ever POTW post, so lets go!!!!!

xzibit.jpg
I heard you like being first

[John Wallrein]

The standard Bulky Quiver dance is my favorite. As long as Hazards are away and you don't get poisoned it has such a great chance to sweep.

Volcarona @ Leftovers
Bold
240 HP / 216 Def / 52 Spe
- Quiver Dance
- Morning Sun
- Bug Buzz
- Fiery Dance

Get it in the sun and.... scary.

[Cosmic Fury]

Hmm... This set is very much like your typical Lefties sweeping set, but slightly different in terms of item. This is my favorite Volcarona Set:

Rain Team Volcarona

Volcarona @ Shell Bell

Nature: Modest/Timid

EV's: 252 S-Att, 252 Spd, 4 S-Def

Moveset:

Fiery Dance

Bug Buzz

Hurricane

Quiver Dance

Summary

Why is this used in the rain!?!?! Well, it's not because I'm out of my mind. It's because it's not only unexpected, it's also because of Hurricane. It NEVER misses in the rain, and counters a whole lot of stuff in the Over-Used metagame.

Fiery Dance, even though it only has a net power of 60 thanks to both rain + STAB helping the damage, gets in a good chance for a Special Attack Boost, shaving off the last of the damage rain does to this move, in the event a Pokemon weak to fire comes to be smitten by the massive bug.

Bug Buzz is there for STAB and some good coverage against Darks and Psychic sweepers. Even for neutral damage, it hits hard, and that's why it is there.

Quiver Dance is Volcarona's epic version of Calm Mind, only with Speed added to make this thing look like it's on steroids. One Q-Dance makes it outrun most Pokemon, and most scarfers to boot. It adds special bulk to counter many special sweepers that look down on the bug (especially in rain).

Shell Bell recovers 1/8th HP it delivers to the enemy, so in many cases as a set-up sweeper it is FAR more effective than leftovers in terms of keeping Volcarona alive, because either it's at full health or it's as good as gone in most cases.

Defensively, it has many resistances, most notably against Fighting-types, and many sun-abusers. One only has to use it in a battle to know that this thing's not to be trifled with.


HOWEVER, Volcarona's got many counters, namely in the form of Stealth Rock, and any other rock-related attacks. Flying moves also counter it, if it doesn't burn anything with Flame Body first.

The majority of priority moves also hurt it a lot, but Flame Body activates on most of them, so there's a chance of the bug getting away scot-free here...


But that's it for me. I love this thing, and it's in most of my teams along with Haxorus... But that's enough about me -- maybe.

[MetalCrow]

My counter of choice against volcarona is, and always will be, scarf aerodactly...not only does it outspeed a +2 volcarona(if my math is correct) but it easily OHKOs with rock slide AND on top of that it resists almost every attack in most volcarona's arsenal(except for hurricane, psychic, and the very rare hidden powers rock and water)...oh yea, its base 75 special defense gets a nice little boost in the sand too(which is where most aerodactly should belong imo)...so yea, that there is one solid counter for volcarona

[sbktdreed]

Personal Moveset
Flame Body
Item: Charti Berry
Heat Wave/Flamethrower
Bug Buzz/Silver Wind/Bug Bite
Wild Charge
Aerial Ace/Psychic/Solarbeam/Acrobatics/Poison Jab

Wise Specs (All Special)
Modest/Calm/Timid Nature
168 HP, 168 Sp Attack, 168 Defense/Speed, 6 Sp Defense
Item: Wise Specs
Heat Wave/Flamethrower
Bug Buzz/Silver Wind
Solarbeam
Psychic

Other Move Ideas
Overheat with White Herb or Fire Gem if you want to go for broke.

Partners
Sunny Day-users espically if Solarbeam is added.
Reflect-users to make up its low defense.

Countering
Despite its low defense, Flame Body can make up for it. Because of its speed, you need Trick Room and a physical Rock-type move (Head Smash/Rock Slide/Rock Wrecker/Stone Edge) like Rampardos, Scrafty, or Crustle.
Fire-types like Emboar, Charizard, Blaziken, Camurupt, Infernape, or Magmortar can be useful.
Tentacruel, Aerodactyl, Probopass, Drifblim's Flare Boost, Flareon, Machamp/Throh's Guts, Arcanine's Aeral Ace, and Mantine/Seaking/Huntail's Water Veil are also recommended.