NFE Z-Celebrate (Ivysaur) @ Normalium Z
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 1 Atk
- Celebrate
- Sludge Bomb
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power [Fire]
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Optional Move(s):
- Energy Ball
- Knock Off
- Leech Seed
- Sleep Powder
- Synthesis
Optional Item(s):
- Grassium Z
- Life Orb
- Poisonium Z
Optional Ability:
- N/A
Optional EV/IV(s):
- 200 HP / 252 SpD / 56 Spe (Calm)
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Overview: Ivysaur's main niche is as an offensive sweeper, either in sun or as a Z-Celebrate sweeper because it has access to Chlorophyll and good offensive stats. However, it faces huge competition from other Grass-types for a teamslot on non-niche playstyles, which limits its viability.
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Bulky Sun Sweeper: This bulky sun sweeper outspeeds notable Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Krokorok, Staravia, Monferno, and Gabite in sun. Growth boosts both Ivysaur's Attack and Special Attack by two stages under sun and one stage when not under sun. When running Eviolite, Ivysaur has enough natural bulk to tank a hit from and set up on the likes of Clefairy, Roselia, Krokorok, Togetic, and Gabite. Sludge Bomb is a good STAB attack which hits Fairy- and Grass-types such as Servine, Clefairy, Togetic, and Tangela for super effective damage and hits neutral targets hard too after boosts. Solar Beam is a very strong STAB attack which does not need a charge up turn in sun. It hits Ground- and Water-types like Marshtomp, Krokorok, Prinplup, and Wartortle very hard. Hidden Power Fire is a good coverage move, boosted by sun, which primarily hits Steel-types such as Pawniard, Metang, Klang, and Ferroseed who resist both of its STAB attacks.
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Z-Celebrate: This set serves as a late-game wincon. Z-Celebrate boosts all of Ivysaur's stats, except accuracy, evasion, and HP, by one stage each. Giga Drain serves as both a good STAB attack and a means of recovery for Ivysaur, allowing it to potentially avoid being revenge killed by Pokemon it needs more than one hit to KO. A Timid nature lets Ivysaur outspeed the entire unboosted metagame at +1 Speed including threats such as Kadabra, Electabuzz, and Frogadier.
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Checks and Counters: Alolan Grimer can tank hits from any Ivysaur set and either hit it hard with its STAB attacks or Clear Smog any boosts away. Bulky special walls like Sliggoo, Dusclops, and Munchlax can also eat a boosted hit from Ivysaur and either hit it hard or Haze away boosts. Common offensive threats such as Focus Sash Kadabra and faster Choice Scarf users like Frogadier and Torracat can revenge kill it.
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Optional EV/IV(s): An alternative spread of 200 HP / 252 SpD / 56 Spe with a Calm nature is viable for the Knock Off, Giga Drain, Sludge Bomb, and Synthesis set. This set acts as a specially defensive wall and is mostly outclassed by Roselia, who has access to Spikes. However, this Ivysaur set has a niche on some hyper offensive archetypes for teams who appreciate Knock Off support over Spikes support.
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