Thievul Movesets & Competitive Sets

Grass Knot hits opposing Rock-types such as Regirock and Gigalith, OHKOing both with a Stakeout boost after minimal chip damage. Psychic hits Fighting-types like Poliwrath looking to take a Dark Pulse, and it is a decent midground option for Fairy-types like Silvally-Fairy and Ribombee, OHKOing the latter. U-turn allows Thievul to pivot out on switch-ins such as Audino. Thievul should be paired with Pokemon that can take advantage of special walls like Aromatisse. Fighting-types such as Gallade and Sawk are great at forcing out many special walls, as well as wearing down shared switch-ins such as Aromatisse. Faster Pokemon like Ribombee and Archeops often force Thievul out, so Pokemon that can switch into them like Aggron and Sandaconda are heavily appreciated. Aggron and Sandaconda further provide Stealth Rock. Other pivots such as Wishiwashi and Ninjask can also bring Thievul in safely, the former due to being slow and the latter because Thievul forces out its switch-ins.

With a Grassy Seed activation, Thievul becomes a powerful sweeper on Grassy Terrain teams. Burning Jealousy hits Grass-types like Ferroseed, Whimsicott, and Eldegoss, OHKOing the former two as well as Ribombee at +2. Grass Knot OHKOes Rock-types like Gigalith and Regirock at +2 after Stealth Rock under Grassy Terrain. The EVs allow Unburden Thievul to outspeed Choice Scarf Basculin and Adamant Sandslash in sand and take a Ribombee's Moonblast from full HP, while the rest is dumped into Defense to help Thievul tank priority moves better. A Timid nature with maximum Speed allows Unburden Thievul to outspeed foes like Choice Scarf Ribombee and +2 Hitmonlee, but these are seldom seen, and it makes Thievul unable to guarantee OHKOs on defensive Whimsicott and Wishiwashi at +2. Thwackey is a mandatory partner, as it is the only viable Grassy Surge user in the tier. Entry hazards setters like Coalossal and Sandslash can both remove and set entry hazards, providing solid role compression. Other sweepers are essential: Swoobat appreciates Thievul threatening Steel- and Rock-types like Ferroseed and Gigalith while it beats other special walls like Toxic Audino for Thievul, whereas Aurorus appreciates Thievul weakening special walls like Gigalith and Wishiwashi that threaten it.