Vanillite Movesets & Competitive Sets

Moves Autotomize allows Vanillite to double its Speed, making it a good late-game sweeper. Ice Beam is Vanillite's go-to move and deals a good amount of damage to neutral targets. Hidden Power Ground helps deal with Fire-types, Steel-types, Skrelp, and Chinchou, which Vanillite wouldn't be able to hit in a relevant way otherwise. Ice Shard helps deal some damage to priority users and play around Sucker Punches. Taunt can prevent status moves such as Thunder Wave, Will-O-Wisp, and Recover from being used. Set Details 240 EVs are used to maximize Vanillite's Special Attack, and 244 Speed EVs are useful to outspeed almost all other Pokemon after Autotomize, including 17 Speed Pokemon with Choice Scarf. Eviolite gives Vanillite decent bulk that helps it set up Autotomize without being KOed by almost every attack. Use a Modest nature if you aren't running Ice Shard. Vanillite's ability doesn't give it any particular advantages, but Weak Armor makes it more susceptible to priority moves, so Ice Body is the best choice. Usage Tips Because of its subpar bulk, Vanillite can't switch into any attacks, so it needs to switch in when something on your team is KOed or only when you are sure it is able to tank the opposing attack with ease and that the foe doesn't have any coverage move that can hit Vanillite super effectively. In addition to Vanillite's subpar bulk, its lack of useful resistances heavily limits its opportunities to switch in and set up. Even against Pokemon Vanillite can theoretically "force out" and try to set up on, such as some Grass- or Flying-types, it still must be wary of the foe staying in and attacking due to its low defensive stats, potentially putting it into easy KO range for a revenge killer later. Use Autotomize when there are no strong counters or revenge killers on the opponent's team. Be aware that Vanillite can fail to set up and can be OHKOed because of its mediocre bulk, even if it holds Eviolite. Team Options Vanillite appreciates entry hazard support from the likes of Ferroseed, Drilbur, Dwebble, and Trubbish to weaken bulkier Pokemon that it wouldn't be able to deal with otherwise. Memento users such as Cottonee and Stunky can help Vanillite set up by forcing a switch or simply weakening the foe. Gothita pairs well with Vanillite because it is able to deal with bulky Water-types, Fighting-types, and bulky Pokemon such as Porygon and Spritzee. Bulky Pokemon such as Spritzee, Trubbish, Croagunk, and Vullaby can be switched into priority moves and Knock Off, especially from Fighting-types, which threaten Vanillite. Fighting-types can handle bulky Normal-types and provide Knock Off support, making it easier for Vanillite to sweep. Wallbreakers, such as Snivy and Mienfoo, along with Knock Off support, are very good to weaken the opposing team, including Vanillite's checks.

Vanillite can also run a boosting set to decent success. Autotomize doubles Vanillite's Speed, allowing it to sweep after just a single turn of setup. Ice Beam and Blizzard are both options for a STAB move. While the former is much more reliable and makes for the better choice overall, Blizzard has a much higher Base Power and is accurate in hail, though support from Snover is mandatory for it to be usable. The choice of Hidden Power depends on what threats bother Vanillite more. Hidden Power Grass decimates any Water-types switching in to sponge Ice Beam, and also smacks most Rock-types hard, while Hidden Power Fighting deals with the pesky Steel-types who laugh at Vanillite's other moves. There are two options for the final moveslot. Substitute prevents Vanillite's sweep from being cut short by status conditions and also grants it an easier setup, making it the better option most of the time. However, Taunt renders attempts to phaze Vanillite useless, and also stops entry hazards from being set up. The EV spread is very simple, maximizing Vanillite's Special Attack and Speed. 27 HP IVs give Vanillite 19 HP, minimizing Life Orb recoil. If Hidden Power Grass is used, however, an IV spread of 27 HP / 30 Atk / 30 SpA should be used. Snover once again makes a fine teammate for Vanillite, eliminating Grass-types and setting up hail. Baltoy is also a fine partner, removing entry hazards with Rapid Spin and dealing with Fighting-type priority users such as Timburr and Croagunk.

Vanillite's decent Speed, high Special Attack, and large special movepool makes it a fine Choice Scarf user. Ice Beam is Vanillite's most reliable STAB attack, hitting anything that doesn't resist it pretty hard. Blizzard can be used on hail teams and is very powerful, but its low accuracy makes it a poor choice. Flash Cannon smashes Rock-types to bits, and also hurts opposing Ice-types significantly. Water Pulse deals with Fire-types such as Houndour who pose a massive threat to Vanillite, making it harder for the mentioned threats to switch in safely. There are two options for the last moveslot. While Hidden Power Grass hits Water-types who sponge Vanillite's other moves easily, Hidden Power Fighting allows it to deal with Steel-types such as Ferroseed. The EV spread maximizes Vanillite's Special Attack while also buffing up its defenses and allowing it to outspeed most unboosted Pokemon. This set also needs some team support to make any impact. Wooper, Staryu, and Chinchou pose problems if Vanillite lacks Hidden Power Grass, meaning a Grass-type such as Snover makes a great teammate. Snover also sets up hail, allowing Vanillite to fire off accurate Blizzards and activating Ice Body. Chinchou can also deal with Water-types easily, making it a fine partner as well. A Rapid Spin user such as Baltoy also aids Vanillite immensely, removing Stealth Rock while also dealing with Fighting-types such as Timburr.