[overview]
<p>Upon first glancing at Beautifly, it may appear to be just another pathetic Bug type. However, upon closer examination, it is just another horribly outclassed insect. Not a single of its base stats, save special attack, are greater than seventy. It does have a decent base 90 Special Attack stat with which this butterfly can attempt to do some damage, despite the fact that it suffers from a shallow movepool. What's more, Beautifly is extremely frail, and will be OHKO'd by many attacks. Overall there are usually better options for Beautifly for a team slot. </p>
[set]
name: Stun Spore
move 1: Stun Spore
move 2: Substitute
move 3: Aerial Ace
move 4: Hidden Power Bug
item: Leftovers
ability: Swarm
nature: Jolly
evs: 44 HP / 252 Atk / 212 Spe
[set comments]
<p>While Beautifly may suffer from a shallow movepool and extreme fraility, it can be useful as a Paralysis spreader. Indeed, Stun Spore allows Beautifly to offer team support and cripple members of the opposing team. The strategy behind this set involves paralyzing the Pokemon opposing Beautifly and proceeding to Substitute until they are struck with a full paralysis, leaving you with a Beautifly behind a substitute. From there, Beautifly may attack at will using its two STABs. </p>
[additional comments]
<p>The EV spread on this Beautifly is designed to give Beautifly a magic Leftovers HP number, while doing as much damage as possible. The rest of the EVs are dumped into Speed, as even a full investment Beautifly is OHKOd by many common attacks. While attacking with Beautifly's two STABs off of its lower attacking stat is usually the best it can do, it can also attack with Psychic and Giga Drain for worse coverage off of Beautifly's higher attacking stat. If this is the case, then a 44 HP / 252 SpA / 212 Spe EV spread should be used with a Timid nature. Lastly, Beautifly can also utilize Morning Sun after Paralyzing opponents to restore health lost switching in and Substituting. </p>
[team options]
<p>The Pokemon that will appreciate Beautifly's presence on a team are usually Pokemon which enjoy Paralysis support. For example, Pokemon that only need one free turn to set up, such as Substitute + Liechi/Petaya Berry Pokemon or Belly Drummers. However, in most cases, there are better Pokemon for Beautifly's role.</p>
[other options]
<p>Beautifly has access to a couple of nice support moves in the form of Whirlwind and Toxic, as well as team support in Safeguard, but 60/50/50 bulk means that at most it will get one move off before it dies. In addition, Beautifly can support a Sun team with Sunny Day and Morning sun, but this is also futile as there are much better Sunny Day supporters, and Beautifly is too frail for any repeated setups. </p>
<p>Beautifly's access to Substitute means that it can run a Substitute + Petaya or Liechi Berry set alongside Stun Spore support to attempt a sweep. Even with Paralysis and an attack boost, however, it probably will not be able to OHKO or even 2HKO many common Pokemon, such as Skarmory and Jirachi. Beautifly also gets Shadow Ball, which can be used to surprise a Ghost- or Psychic-type switching in, but has little utility beyond that. </p>
[counters]
<Beautifly, due to it's low base stats and inability to do much besides Stun Spore, is an excellent Pokemon to set up on. Substitute users especially enjoy seeing an opposing Beautifly, as Stun Spore will fail if used on a Substitute and Beautifly will most likely not be able to break the sub. What is more, Beautifly is so frail that almost all neutral hits will OHKO it.</p>
