Volbeat Discussion Thread

[Paradoxus]

Volbeat
HP: 65
ATK:73
DEF:55
SpATK:47
SpDEF:75
Spe:85​

Ever since Volbeat was introduced, it had a strange run as a Bug-Type Pokemon. It has arguably horrible stats for UU, but in 3rd-Gen it got its niche by being the only Pokemon to Baton Pass +2 boosts to Special Attack. In 4th Gen, it's uniqueness was diminished because new baton passers of +2 boosts of SpATK like Mr.Mime and Ambipom made it pointless to use. In 5th Gen, it got 2 amazing boosts that far outbalance it's horrible stats. First, Tail Glow gives +3 boosts now, and Prankster, giving it the ability to have priority and to pass +3 boosts to Pokemon like Zapdos and Simple Swoobat. It is kind of like Ninjask in 4th Gen, horrible bulk, almost always goes first.​

Volbeat @ Focus Sash / Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
Tail Glow
Baton Pass
Substitute / Confuse Ray
Moonlight / Thunder Wave
EVs: 252 HP 128 Def 128 SpDef
Calm Nature (+SpDef, - Attk)​

While supports no offensive prowess whatsoever, it gets the ability to pass +3 boosts to fast Pokemon that are in real need of boosts like Electrode and Zapdos, and make them incredibly dangerous. Substitute is used with Leftovers, but with Focus Sash you use Confuse Ray, so you always get a free Tail Glow up. Moonlight keeps your health up with Substitute, but can be used with Thunder Wave to be the most annoying thing ever.​

 

[Forte.EXE]

Volbeat still hasn't been released in Dream World, to my knowledge. So, it's still pretty shit.

 

[Paradoxus]

I thought you could post pokemon with unreleased abilities in Dragonspiral Tower.

 

[Lady Shinki]

You can. He's just being a prick about it.

Also, Tail Glow seems like the greatest thing ever to Baton pass until you realize that every possible recipient is too frail to switch in on all of volbeat's weaknesses. Closest thing to a good receiver is Keldeo, but that's solidly OU. I think sticking to priority subpassing and using Encore over Tail Glow is its best bet, since that guarantees you can Encore, throw up a sub on the switch, then priority pass out of whatever came in.

 

[Paradoxus]

Maybe, but would you rather Baton Pass encore? or a +3 boost? and like Ninjask, it can use Substitute to have the recipitent make sure it will live a hit.

 

[EricaHartmann]

We don't have a DW UU ladder at the moment and it doesn't look like we'll ever get one. The UU subforum is to discuss pokemon in the UU ladder and non-Prankster Volbeat is terrible.

 

[JabbaTheGriffin]

Yeah since we have no idea when DW mons will be released and there's no DW UU ladder out, it's probably best to hold off on this discussion until it's released.