Community POTW #73

[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.

[chap196]

For Sbktreed
Don't use Physical Attack on Volcarona because it has only has 60 base Physical Attack and it has 130 base Special Attack, so every move on Volcarona must be Special Attack. Don't use Solar Beam, it waste turn and it didn't give much coverage as other move, if you still want a Grass type move, then Hidden Power Grass is a lot better. Don't use Flamethrower on Volcarona because Fiery Dance is a lot better than Flamethrower. Fiery Dance only have about 20 base power less than Flamethrower (if count STAB) and it has 50% to gain Special Attack which means after one Special Attack boost from Fiery Dance it will have more power then Flamethrower. The only other Fire type move to use on Volcarona if you don't use Fiery Dance is Fire Blast because it has high base power (or Heat Wave if you are playing Double or Triple Battle).

[philzone]

For Sbktreed
Don't use Physical Attack on Volcarona because it has only has 60 base Physical Attack and it has 130 base Special Attack, so every move on Volcarona must be Special Attack. Don't use Solar Beam, it waste turn and it didn't give much coverage as other move, if you still want a Grass type move, then Hidden Power Grass is a lot better. Don't use Flamethrower on Volcarona because Fiery Dance is a lot better than Flamethrower. Fiery Dance only have about 20 base power less than Flamethrower (if count STAB) and it has 50% to gain Special Attack which means after one Special Attack boost from Fiery Dance it will have more power then Flamethrower. The only other Fire type move to use on Volcarona if you don't use Fiery Dance is Fire Blast because it has high base power (or Heat Wave if you are playing Double or Triple Battle).

Also flamethrower will be stronger than fiery dance because of the boost. You could use overheat as a filler, as it decimates most as it has base 225 power with STAB. So good luck there if you use it. But then team it up with flamethrower. In double or triple battles, it falls quickly to the ever common stone edge and rock slide.
Counters. Rotom wash or fan is the best, as it can annoy it by using trick and locking volcarona on quiver dance. It then can use hydro pump/air slash and really destroy it. Also paralysis ruins it, so thunder wave is useful here. It is ruined against rain teams without hurricane. It survives special hits well, so counter with physical hits. People say quiver dace is the greatest move for it, but like all great status moves,there is only one weakness: taunt. So there goes the boosts and health regain. Also, the carefully aimed trick shuts down 90% of volcarona, so watch out

[YourPermanentRecord631]

Here's is a set that I been working on:

Whirlwisp
Nature: Bold
Item attached: Leftovers
EV's: 252 Hp 128 def 128 speed
Moves
Will-o-wisp
Whirlwind
Fiery dance/Bug Buzz
Protect/Morning Sun/Substitute

With it's great speed, Volcarona can send in a burn to anything not Guts or Heatran. Whirlwind to spread more burns and phaze as well. Fiery dance or Bug Buzz to not be taunt bait. Protect to save yourself from an attack, Morning Sun for recovery (use in sun) Subsitute can help if opponent switches.

[Zachmac]

Here's is a set that I been working on:

Whirlwisp
Nature: Bold
Item attached: Leftovers
EV's: 252 Hp 128 def 128 speed
Moves
Will-o-wisp
Whirlwind
Fiery dance/Bug Buzz
Protect/Morning Sun/Substitute

With it's great speed, Volcarona can send in a burn to anything not Guts or Heatran. Whirlwind to spread more burns and phaze as well. Fiery dance or Bug Buzz to not be taunt bait. Protect to save yourself from an attack, Morning Sun for recovery (use in sun) Subsitute can help if opponent switches.

Too gimmicky. Volcarona just isn't cut out for a defensive role. All it's got going for it is it's special defense and a decent movepool. It's typing and defense stat both suck too much, especially with that SR weakness. You don't want to lose half your health every time you swap in if you're on the defensive. Well, you don't when you're on the offensive either, but defense is more about swapping in and taking as many hits as possible.

Also, bug and fire are both terrible defensive typings.

If you wanna use Volc, go on the offensive.

WoW does seem to have potential, though. You could use that to help cover it's defense when you try and set up, but that'll mean you either have to drop a STAB move or morning sun...I guess it should be in the other options section, but it usually won't be worth it.

[Dragrath]

Also flamethrower will be stronger than fiery dance because of the boost. You could use overheat as a filler, as it decimates most as it has base 225 power with STAB. So good luck there if you use it. But then team it up with flamethrower. In double or triple battles, it falls quickly to the ever common stone edge and rock slide.
Counters. Rotom wash or fan is the best, as it can annoy it by using trick and locking volcarona on quiver dance. It then can use hydro pump/air slash and really destroy it. Also paralysis ruins it, so thunder wave is useful here. It is ruined against rain teams without hurricane. It survives special hits well, so counter with physical hits. People say quiver dace is the greatest move for it, but like all great status moves,there is only one weakness: taunt. So there goes the boosts and health regain. Also, the carefully aimed trick shuts down 90% of volcarona, so watch out

Why would you run 2 fire moves on Volcarona? With limited moves that means you must give up valuable coverage to run two fire moves also over heat sounds like a desperation move as it will remove the boosts of quiver dance. As for the taunt users you forget that even unboosted many of them will fear volcarona's powerful attacks which can destroy them sometimes before they can even use taunt (especially if the are weak to its moves)or with Volcarona's speed they will be out speed or speed tie meaning volcarona as for prankster users only Tornadus will not succumb to the power(note fiery dance can also give boosts) Clearly the taunt strategy's more risky without a sturdy taunter able to take a hit from a STABed fire or bug move coming off a starting 405 special attack... (basically I'm saying keeping stealth rock up is a more effective counter as Volcarona can hurt even when not maxed out)

[sbktdreed]

For Sbktreed
Don't use Physical Attack on Volcarona because it has only has 60 base Physical Attack and it has 130 base Special Attack, so every move on Volcarona must be Special Attack. Don't use Solar Beam, it waste turn and it didn't give much coverage as other move, if you still want a Grass type move, then Hidden Power Grass is a lot better. Don't use Flamethrower on Volcarona because Fiery Dance is a lot better than Flamethrower. Fiery Dance only have about 20 base power less than Flamethrower (if count STAB) and it has 50% to gain Special Attack which means after one Special Attack boost from Fiery Dance it will have more power then Flamethrower. The only other Fire type move to use on Volcarona if you don't use Fiery Dance is Fire Blast because it has high base power (or Heat Wave if you are playing Double or Triple Battle).

I added an all-special moveset in case the the Attack stat is too low. Even though it's a good move, the reason I didn't put Fiery Dance in the moveset, it involves having at least one of them going ALL the way to 100 to get. Fire Blast is like Overheat, is to be used as a last resort, only not at damaging to the Sp Attack, but still a problem against someone with Pressure; espically if the equiped item is not Leppa Berry. Also, HP Grass is too confusing and Power Herb can help with Solarbeam.

[philzone]

Why would you run 2 fire moves on Volcarona? With limited moves that means you must give up valuable coverage to run two fire moves also over heat sounds like a desperation move as it will remove the boosts of quiver dance. As for the taunt users you forget that even unboosted many of them will fear volcarona's powerful attacks which can destroy them sometimes before they can even use taunt (especially if the are weak to its moves)or with Volcarona's speed they will be out speed or speed tie meaning volcarona as for prankster users only Tornadus will not succumb to the power(note fiery dance can also give boosts) Clearly the taunt strategy's more risky without a sturdy taunter able to take a hit from a STABed fire or bug move coming off a starting 405 special attack... (basically I'm saying keeping stealth rock up is a more effective counter as Volcarona can hurt even when not maxed out)

First, overheat was only a suggestion, as it is a very powerfull move. Second, you have prankster thunderus and tornadus which can taunt it (as they have priority), then destroy it with STAB flying moves, where there can be some physical ones, completely destroying it, since most volcarona so far carry at least 1 status move, will o wisp, quiver dance, morning sun, becaust there, it loses a turn to prankster taunt, and, also, thunderus can paralyse it with prankster thunder wave, where then it is completely shutdown. And yes stealth rock murders it. Heatran counters it very well, and as there is no flash fire on volcarona, it can destroy it with STAB fire blast, although, volcarona walls it with its high sp def.

[MetalCrow]

It just hit me...phazing + stealth rocks is basically a death sentence for volcarona, especially if there's residual damage like poison or spikes or weather added in from miscellaneous sources

[philzone]

Here's is a set that I been working on:

Whirlwisp
Nature: Bold
Item attached: Leftovers
EV's: 252 Hp 128 def 128 speed
Moves
Will-o-wisp
Whirlwind
Fiery dance/Bug Buzz
Protect/Morning Sun/Substitute

With it's great speed, Volcarona can send in a burn to anything not Guts or Heatran. Whirlwind to spread more burns and phaze as well. Fiery dance or Bug Buzz to not be taunt bait. Protect to save yourself from an attack, Morning Sun for recovery (use in sun) Subsitute can help if opponent switches.

Love the set. Not one that has been repeated over 1000 times, and also you cover the physical weakness somewhat. Switch whirlwind for quiver dance, then you have something that has walling capabilities. Use fiery dance, as then most steels can't wall you. Use sub and morning sun together, as then you heal the sub damage

[chap196]

For sbktdreed
This is Pokemon of the Week rate, not ingame rate, so you can use any move that Volcarona can, even you need to train it until it is level 100. Again this is competitive forum, so you still can use Hidden Power Grass to rate in POTW. Overheat is a lot badder than Fire Blast because it only has 30 base power less than Overheat and Overheat will lower your Special Attack by 2 stage. Even you have White Herb, but White Herb will only be use once in one battle, so if you use Overheat 2 times, it will still lower your Special Attack. It also waste item slot. Power Herb will help your Solar Beam for only once in a battle, so if you want to use Solar Beam again, then you need to waste one turn to use it. Again it waste item slot.

For Duranteater
Even you have phillzone suggestion, which is good. I still think that we should take Substitute or Morning Sun and replace it with Psychic otherwise it will loss to all Flash Fire Pokemon because this Volcarona only have Fire Type move.

[philzone]

@ chap196
With psychic, heatran still walls you, as you mainly see the moth in ou or uber. You really need hp water or ground to really help, as hp ground causes 4x damage to heatran, or hp water if they hold an air balloon

[Kraleck]

Out of respect, I've waited to post about Volcarona until now. I can't really give it much that isn't already a commonly used set. That said, there is potential for a Still-Have-A-Choice set:

"I Still Have A Choice"
Stats: Modest/Timid/Bold, Max Speed & Sp.Atk, rest to HP
Item: Metronome
Moves: Bug Buzz, Fiery Dance, Hurricane, Hidden Power (Water)
Strategy: Spam one Move to make the opponent believe you're a Choice Item user (preferably Fiery Dance to hopefully boost your Sp.Atk, unless you run into a Flash Fire Pokemon) and to increase your Metronome's power boost for that repeated-Move. When they switch to resist, punish their mistake appropriately. Hurricane and Hidden Power are there to take advantage of Drizzle-toed support (even if it's your opponent doing the "supporting") and cover Water Types and Rock Types, though not Water-and-Rock Dual-Types. Bug Buzz and Fiery Dance for STAB. Fiery Dance also allows you to keep boosting Sp.Atk (if you're lucky), so it's the preferred Fire Type Move here.

[Dragrath]

First, overheat was only a suggestion, as it is a very powerfull move. Second, you have prankster thunderus and tornadus which can taunt it (as they have priority), then destroy it with STAB flying moves, where there can be some physical ones, completely destroying it, since most volcarona so far carry at least 1 status move, will o wisp, quiver dance, morning sun, becaust there, it loses a turn to prankster taunt, and, also, thunderus can paralyse it with prankster thunder wave, where then it is completely shutdown. And yes stealth rock murders it. Heatran counters it very well, and as there is no flash fire on volcarona, it can destroy it with STAB fire blast, although, volcarona walls it with its high sp def.

Well you are right about Tornadus is a big threat but isn't Thunderus an Uber? Will admit I forgot about Heatran. And can't we basically say only a taunter who resists Volcarona and is faster than it works? I think that makes everyone happy(except Volcarona)

[DizzyCobraMew]

Timid / modest
EVs 252HP, 252Defense, 4Spd / 4Sp.Att
Item: sitris berry / petaya berry
Fiery dance / fire blast / heat wave
Bug buzz / hurricane
Quiver dance
HP rock / water
Not sure how the petaya berry is available in black and white

[Victini is cool]

I am the sun pokemon...
Nature: timid/modest
Trait: flame body
EVs: 252 Sp.Att 252 Speed 4 Hp
Item: heat rock/leftovers
Moves
Sunny day/hidden power ice
Morning sun
Solar beam
Fiery dance/flamethrower/heatwave/fire blast
Sunny day to make sun,but if it is on a drougt team run hidden power ice for flying and dragon types.Morning sun to restore a LOT of Hp in
the sun.Solar beam to take out water and rock types.Then chose your fire attack.
Heat rock if running sunny day leftovers if not.