(VGC) Volcarona - Utility/Attack (Redirection/Quiver Dance/Scarf) 3 Options - Printable Version +- Pokemon Forever (http://pokemonforever.com) +-- Forum: POKéMON (http://pokemonforever.com/Forum-POK%C3%A9MON) +--- Forum: Competitive Pokemon Movesets (http://pokemonforever.com/Forum-Competitive-Pokemon-Movesets) +---- Forum: Pokemon Moveset Archive (http://pokemonforever.com/Forum-Pokemon-Moveset-Archive) +---- Thread: (VGC) Volcarona - Utility/Attack (Redirection/Quiver Dance/Scarf) 3 Options (/Thread-VGC-Volcarona-Utility-Attack-Redirection-Quiver-Dance-Scarf-3-Options) |
(VGC) Volcarona - Utility/Attack (Redirection/Quiver Dance/Scarf) 3 Options - Black117 - Oct 21, 2015 Art by Tomycase "Best Butterfly or Moth in the Game..."
(VGC) Volcarona - Utility/Attack (Redirection/Quiver Dance/Scarf) 3 Options Type: Bug/Fire Base Stats: 85 HP / 60 Attack / 65 Defense / 135 Special Attack / 105 Special Defense / 100 Speed Weaknesses: Rock (x4), Water (x2), Flying (x2) Resistances: Fighting (X0.5), Bug (X0.5), Ice (X0.5), Fairy (x0.5), Steel (x0.5), Grass (x0.25) Immunities: Burns Flame Body Any enemy contact with the wielder has a 30% chance of a burn being inflicted to the foe. Swarm (Hidden Ability) Boost the power of Bug-type attacks by 50% if its HP is around a third or less. Overview
Since its introduction in Generation 5, Volcarona has be seen as one of the most powerful special attackers in the game with access to a strong special offensive stats of 135 SpA / 105 SpD / 100 Spe and a method to raise all three at once with Quiver Dance. Prior to the VGC 2015 format when Volcarona was allowed in 2013, it was among the most dominant Pokemon in the metagame being able to sweep entire teams with a +1 Heat Waves sometimes boosted with Fire Gem (or Bug Gem). The transition between Gen 5 to Gen 6 hasn't been too kind to Volcarona with the lose of the Gems and the power creep with things like Mega Kangaskhan and Mega Charizard Y existing. In fact, its because these two Pokemon, not Volcarona itself who gave rise to Rock Slide users like Terrakion and Landorus-T, who both can beat Volcarona in these situations as well. Despite the small drop in usage, Volcarona is still a dangerous Bug/Fire type Pokemon to contend against with access to other viable moves like Tailwind/Rage Powder, and being one of the few Pokemon who can handle Cresselia, Amoonguss and Aegislash. With its part Bug/Fire coverage, Volcarona inflicts super effective STAB damage against the likes of Mega Metagross, Mega Mawile, Gothitelle, Lati@s, Ferrothorn, Excadrill, Tyranitar (though not it + Sand Rush Excadrill!), Bisharp, and a host of other popular Pokemon. What makes Volcarona a viable Pokemon is due to its flexibility how well it can run either a defensive support set like Rage Powder redirection, Tailwind for speed control, or a setup Quiver Dance set for an offensive role. Volcarona's special offensive stats 135 Special Attack, 105 Special Defense, and 100 Speed Volcarona is no laughing matter as it has the highest Special Attack for a part Bug-type and fast enough to potentially speed tie with Mega Kangaskhan, Mega Gardevoir, Mega Charizard Y, etc. The best part of an offensive Volcarona is it can further boost these three stats with a Quiver Dance boost making it a threatening special sweeper. Flame Body still has its use as it has a 51% chance to burn Mega Kangakhan if it contacts with Volcarona, while a regular 30% chance for other single target contact hits. Once the main threats are gone, Volcarona can setup against the most special attackers like Sylveon and Aegislash for an end game sweep. Not everything is fine for Volcarona as Rock Slide and other Rock-/Water-/Flying- types can dispatch the fire moth quickly. Volcarona has a rather low Base 85 HP and 65 Defense stats making it vulnerable to powerful physical attackers from the likes of Mega Salamence or Charizard Y. Despite these flaws, do not underestimate any Volcarona at all, for one free setup and it will rain its fiery scales against the foe. Rage Powder + Tailwind Support Volcarona @ Sitrus Berry / Rocky Helmet Ability: Flame Body Level: 50 EVs: 252 HP / 236 Def / 12 SpA / 4 SpD / 4 Spe Modest Nature – Heat Wave / Flamethrower / Fiery Dance – Bug Buzz – Rage Powder – Tailwind / Protect Milestones -This Volcarona set was used by Bennett Piercy, or Qertyk in his winning 1st Place US Seniors Nationals team. -Survives max attack Jolly Mega Kangaskhan's Double Edge with Sitrus Berry recovery. -Most Aerilate Hyper Voice from Mega Salamence is a 2HKO. -Takes a Rock Slide from Adamant max attack Landorus-T and Garchomp (non-boosted) -100 SpA Suicune has a 9.4% chance to 2HKO with STAB Scald with Sitrus Berry recovery. This Volcarona set has seen a large spike in usage following Qertyk's 1st Place win in US Senior Nationals mostly because it shows how Volcarona isn't limited to a offensive Quiver Dance role. For coverage options, Heat Wave and Bug Buzz offer Volcarona vital STAB options considering most of its EVs aren't pumped into Special Attack or Speed Stats. Heat Wave gives Volcarona a solid spread damage against the opposing side and super effective on any Grass-, Bug-, Ice-, or Steel types. Bug Buzz is Volcarona's strongest attack in this set as it allows the moth to deal solid damage against the likes of Hydreigon, Tyranitar, Gothitelle, LAti@S and can even 2HKO most Cresselia sets. For this set, Qertyk opted to have both Rage Powder and Tailwind to give Volcarona a supportive role rather than its classic Quiver Dance offense. Rage Powder is essentially a redirection-based status move which all opposing targets (bar Grass-types and Safety Goggles users) attack Volcarona instead of its ally with their respective single target hits. Some might question the use of Volcarona as a redirection user, but paired with Flame Body, Volcarona can be used to redirect attacks away from vital partners while potentially snagging a burn 30% of the time. Fun Fact: Mega Kangaskhan if it attacks twice on a Flame Body Volcarona has a 51% chance to get burn so this is another way to deal with the strongest Mega in the format. Tailwind doubles the speed stats of Volcarona's entire team for 4 turns so essentially a pseudo +2 boost in speed. This can be useful to allow slower but bulkier Pokemon like Suicune, Mega Venusaur, AV Landorus-T, Nidoqueen, Sylveon, Mega Gardevoir, and a host of others to break the opposing teams. As far as other options is concern, Volcarona can use a variety of special Fire type attacks not just Heat Wave which may get blocked by Wide Guard users. Flamethrower is Volcarona's most strongest and consistent Fire-type attack unlike Heat Wave/Overheat/Fire Blast in which it can deal strong STAB damage without fear of missing any hits. Fiery Dance is Volcarona's signature attack that has a 50% chance to boost its Special Attack stat by one stage. Given the high probability of the boost occurring more often, Volcarona can get a a potential setup along with Tailwind to almost mimic its Quiver Dance setup so there's that idea. Lastly, Protect can be used over either Rage Powder or Tailwind in case Volcarona can scout out any rogue super effective attacks or allow itself to use either Rage Powder/Tailwind in the long run of the battle. Rocky Helmet is another potential item to run on Volcarona os it can inflict residual damage against the contact attacks from physical attackers mostly. Ending on an important note, Volcarona's speed investment in this set is one point below Bisharp's speed tier (Base 70 or 122 speed) so try to setup Tailwind with Volcarona against slower targets that either don't threat the fire moth, or fear a potential faster set. Damage Calculations Offensive- All calculations were done with a Modest 12 SpA. Defensive - All Calculations were based on 252 HP / 236 Def / 4 SpD Bulky Quiver Dance Volcarona @ Rocky Helmet / Sitrus Berry / Lum Berry Ability: Flame Body Level: 50 EVs: 164 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA / 4 SpD / 84 Spe Timid Nature – Flamethrower / Fiery Dance / Heat Wave – Bug Buzz / Giga Drain – Quiver Dance – Protect Milestones -This is Alexander Kuhn or Hibiki's Volcarona set used to get 4th in a Arena Cup Würzburg -Outspeeds Adamant Landorus-T by one point. -Jolly Mega Kangaskhan's Double Edge has a 6.6% to OHKO Volcarona. -Adamant 252 Atk Landorus-T has a 18.8% chance to OHKO Volcarona. -Modest 252 SpA Mega Salamence's Aerilate Hyper Voice can only 2HKO. -Specs 252 SpA Modest Sylveon has a 2.5% chance to 3HKO. -After one Quiver Dance Volcarona outspeeds Scarf Landorus-T, standard Suicune in Tailwind, and positive base 130 speed tier. This is some of the many "bulky" Quiver Dance Volcarona sets utilized especially this one in particular used by Hibiki from Nugget Bridge to get 4th place in a Arena Cup Würzburg Regional Championship. What makes Quiver Dance Volcarona extremely threatening is the fact it boost its Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed all in one turn. Not only does Volcarona become a threatening setup user but most special hits won't inflict much damage with the SpD increase. Flamethrower is opted over Fiery Dance/Heat Wave for the higher damage output single targets and bypassing Wide Guard. Bug Buzz is Volcarona's secondary STAB option to handle common Psychic and Dark type Pokemon like Hydreigon and Cresselia. After a Quiver Dance boost, Volcarona is strong enough to KO most Amoonguss, Mega Metagross, Virizion (on a roll), Hydreigon, Tyranitar (without sand), and 2HKO most other targets. Now alternatively Volcarona can run Fiery Dance over Flamethrower to get another SpA boost to compensate for the lack of special attack investment on a bulkier build. Heat Wave is still a relatively strong Fire-type coverage that can damage both targets as well, though Volcarona will likely get walled by Aegislash with Wide Guard. Giga Drain is a coverage option specifically for bulky Water types like Rotom-W, Milotic, Swampert, Gastrodon, or Suicune since Volcarona can setup one Quiver Dance and recover HP while dealing super effective damage. Finally as usual to any setup Pokemon with stat boost, Protect is vital in case Volcarona can draw in double targets. Item choices vary on most Volcarona sets, but this set uses Rocky Helmet in tandem with Flame Body to not only punish any contact moves targets on Volcarona, but get a 30% burn chance. Rocky Helmet + Flame Body is another way to deal with Mega Kangaskhan as the item deals about a third to Kangaskhan's HP while has a 51% chance of burn. Sitrus Berry can be used to regain 25% of Volcarona's HP so it can setup another Quiver Dance or attack in general. Lastly, Lum Berry ensures that Prankster Thunder Wave/Swagger, Spore, Poison, or any other random status ailment doesn't hinder Volcarona's sweeping potential. Damage Calculations Offensive - (All damage calculations were based on a Quiver Dance boost with just 4 SpA) Defensive - Most defensive damage calculations were based on just HP 164 / 252 Def / 4 SpD Choice Scarf "Lure" Volcarona @ Choice Scarf Ability: Flame Body Level: 50 EVs: 4 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpA / 244 Spe Modest Nature IVs: 0 Atk / 30 Def - Fiery Dance - Overheat - Hidden Power [Ice] - Bug Buzz Milestones: -Scarf Volcarona was used by Genaro Vallejo (ReckonerX) to get 9th place at 2015 Worlds. (Though not sure if this is the same set.) -Outspeed Modest Hydreigon with a Choice Scarf by one point. -OHKOs Hydreigon with Bug Buzz 100% of the time. -OHKOs 4 HP Mega Salamence and Landorus-T (up to 164 HP) with Hidden Power Ice 100% of the time. -OHKOs 252 HP / 100 SpD Aegislash with Overheat 100% of the time. -2HKOs 220 HP / 92 SpD Calm Cresselia with Bug Buzz. -Has a 15/16th chance to KO 4 HP Tyranitar without sand. Though it might sound counterproductive to use a Choice Scarf on a Volcarona when it has moves like Quiver Dance, Tailwind, and even String Shot outspeed its opponents, this has a ton of surprise potential value. Paired with 100 Base Speed, probably the only faster Choice Scarf users are the Lati twins (Latios/Latias or Lati@s as I like to call them) in the VGC format, however even they fear a powerful Bug-type like Volcarona. The goal of the Volcarona set is to act as a lure towards targets (maybe with some prior damage from teammates) like Scalrf Landorus-T, Mega Salamence, Aegislash, Cresselia, Hydreigon, etc and KO the with the proper move. Hidden Power Ice is a coverage option specific to lure and KO most non AV Landorus-T and 4 HP Mega Salamence 100% or with prior damage to avoid getting KOed by either a potential Rock Slide or Double Edge. With the Choice Scarf, Volcarona should be able to outspeed these two quad Ice-type weak Pokemon and net an immediate KO. Bug Buzz is Volcarona's main Bug-type STAB option reserved for Pokemon like Cresselia, Lati@s, Gothitelle, Mega Gardevoir, Tyranitar, and can even KO most Hydreigon sets 100% unless they invest heavily into their Special Defense. Regarding its Fire STAB, this Volcarona opts not just one, but two Fire-type attacks in both Fiery Dance and Overheat reserved for specific roles. The idea of using Fiery Dance with a Scarf Volcarona set is to gradually gain as much Special Attack boost as possible give the move has 50% chance to do so. This setup can allows Volcarona to become a dangerous late game sweeper as it can continuously spams Fiery Dance while receiving a +1 boost in Special Attack every so often. Overheat is intended to "overkill" most Aegislash sets as well as attempt to finish off any weaken targets with one of the strongest Fire-type attacks in the game. Damage Calculations Offensive - These Damage Calculations are based on 252 SpA Modest Special Attack investment (won't include Fiery Dance boosts) Defensive - This Volcarona is meant for an offensive Scarf role but there isn't too many notable achievements aside from taking 2 Specs Hyper Voice from Sylveon. Most super effective hits will either OHKO or 2HKO Volcarona at worse. Potential Teammates include, but aren't limited to;
Threats
Other Notable Moves Here are some other options that Volcarona can run not just the other moves mentioned:
Other Notable Items:
For those who read the overview, thanks for getting this far into the analysis. RE: (VGC) Volcarona - Utility/Attack (Redirection/Quiver Dance/Scarf) 3 Options - Shachi - Oct 23, 2015 Question about the bulky quiver dance set. Would it be possible to run giga drain over protect? or is that a death sentence? I'm running the curent one you have there. (Heat wave over flamethrower, no one at my rank uses wide guard :D ) RE: (VGC) Volcarona - Utility/Attack (Redirection/Quiver Dance/Scarf) 3 Options - RebornFX - Oct 23, 2015 (Oct 23, 2015, 07:17 AM)Shachi Wrote: Question about the bulky quiver dance set. I would suggest keeping Protect, especially without Rage Powder. Anything you would be hitting super effectively with Giga Drain Volcarona doesn't like being against anyway. RE: (VGC) Volcarona - Utility/Attack (Redirection/Quiver Dance/Scarf) 3 Options - Zigzagger456 - Oct 26, 2015 awesome build black as expected! RE: (VGC) Volcarona - Utility/Attack (Redirection/Quiver Dance/Scarf) 3 Options - ONESUNBEINGNOW - Nov 9, 2015 Great article. I am going to build a Volcarona up soon. Thanks RE: (VGC) Volcarona - Utility/Attack (Redirection/Quiver Dance/Scarf) 3 Options - jadenzambon - Nov 23, 2016 Great job, very thorough!!! |