Vanilluxe Movesets & Competitive Sets

Moves Blizzard is a spammable STAB move that never misses under hail. Freeze-Dry is a single-target Ice-type STAB move that also hits Water-types for good damage. The last two slots are mostly filler. Hidden Power Fire can OHKO Assault Vest Kartana two-thirds of the time, but it has little other use than that. Sheer Cold is a last-resort attack that has a 30% chance to remove a threat that is otherwise insurmountable. Be aware that Sheer Cold fails against Ice-types. Icy Wind provides speed control, which is valuable given only a few VGC 2017 Pokemon get access to it. Set Details Choice Scarf is used so that Vanilluxe can outspeed the majority of the metagame and is therefore almost guaranteed to get at least one Blizzard off. Snow Warning is Vanilluxe's only viable ability, given how notable setting hail often is to the state of the game. The given EVs and Timid nature allow Vanilluxe to outpace neutral-natured Pheromosa and survive Life Orb Tapu Koko's Thunderbolt. The remaining EVs are placed in Special Attack so that Vanilluxe can hit as hard as possible. Usage Tips Vanilluxe's use will be relatively one-dimensional. Use it to set hail when appropriate, such as when a Slush Rush teammate requires it, or to break Focus Sash and Sturdy, and proceed to spam Blizzard until Vanilluxe faints. Be careful against opposing weather. Thanks to Choice Scarf making Vanilluxe the fastest weather setter, it's generally advisable to avoid leading with it if there's an opposing weather setter that can cancel Hail. Conversely, if there is no opposing weather, Vanilluxe makes a good lead because it can set up hail early and weaken foes with chip damage from hail and Blizzard. Don't be afraid to switch it out to preserve it for the late-game even in this scenario, however, as Vanilluxe's Choice Scarf means it can function well as a late-game revenge killer. Vanilluxe is not particularly bulky and has only one resistance, so it's not recommended to switch Vanilluxe directly in. It is better to send Vanilluxe out after an ally Pokemon has been KOed. Try to avoid Choice-locking it into Hidden Power, as the pitiful damage it deals to neutral foes makes it easy for the opponent to kill your momentum, such as by switching. Team Options Having Pokemon to deal with Fire- and Steel-types is absolutely necessary, as Vanilluxe is hopeless against them. Ground-types such as Garchomp are great partners, as they can threaten Steel- and Fire-types with their Ground-type STAB moves. Garchomp specifically also appreciates Vanilluxe's ability to threaten opposing Dragon-types. Fire-types such as Arcanine can threaten Steel-type Pokemon with their STAB moves. Vanilluxe, in return, can OHKO Garchomp, which is one of the biggest threats to them. Alolan Sandslash can take advantage of hail with its Slush Rush ability, though caution should be given to its use, as it shares weaknesses to Fire- and Fighting-type moves with Vanilluxe. Anything that has access to Blizzard is optional partner, as Vanilluxe's hail makes Blizzard 100% accurate. Porygon2, Tapu Fini, and Milotic are a few examples of many Pokemon that gain access to Blizzard. Tapu Koko can beat Celesteela, and the combination of Vanilluxe and Tapu Koko makes for a very fast and offensive core that outspeeds the majority of the metagame.

Moves Autotomize doubles Vanilluxe's Speed, turning it into a very potent late-game sweeper. Ice Beam is Vanilluxe's primary STAB attack, hitting Ground- and Grass-types such as Gabite and Jumpluff for super effective damage. Freeze-Dry, though it is weaker than Ice Beam, provides coverage against Water-types such as Politoed and Simipour. Hidden Power Ground allows Vanilluxe to hit Steel- and Fire-types such as Pawniard and Rapidash, which resist both Ice Beam and Freeze-Dry. Alternatively, Flash Cannon allows Vanilluxe to hit other Ice-types, especially Cryogonal, which would otherwise give it problems. Set Details 252 Special Attack EVs with a Modest nature maximize Vanilluxe's Special Attack stat, allowing it do deal the most damage it can. 252 Speed EVs allow Vanilluxe to outspeed the entire unboosted metagame after an Autotomize boost. The rest of the EVs go into Defense rather than HP to lower entry hazard damage. Life Orb is the preferred item to boost the power of Vanilluxe's attacks at the cost of some of its health. Weak Armor boosts Vanilluxe's Speed when it is hit by a physical attack, which can help it outspeed and KO an otherwise faster foe; however, it lowers its Defense. Usage Tips Vanilluxe is best used mid- and late-game when its checks and counters have been KOed or are weak enough for it to take out on its own. Due to its bad defensive typing, Vanilluxe is best brought in after a teammate has fainted or from a slow Volt Switch or U-turn, from Pokemon such as Probopass and Lumineon. Set up Autotomize on Pokemon Vanilluxe can force out, such as Tangela and Pelipper. Vanilluxe should try to avoid switching in when Stealth Rock is on the field, as it is already easily worn down due to Life Orb recoil. Team Options Entry hazard support from Pokemon such as Probopass, Golem, and Roselia helps Vanilluxe by weakening possible checks. Wallbreakers such as Ursaring and mixed Simipour can wear down the opponent's team, making it easier for Vanilluxe to sweep. The latter can lure in special walls such as Lickilicky and Grumpig and KO them with Low Kick and Knock Off, respectively. Water- and Ground-types such as Politoed, Floatzel, and Stunfisk can handle Fire- and Rock-types for Vanilluxe, while Psychic-types such as Grumpig and Kadabra can handle Fighting-types. Fire- and Steel-types such as Rapidash and Probopass can defeat Ice-types for Vanilluxe if it lacks Flash Cannon, making them good partners. Memento support from Pokemon such as Jumpluff lets Vanilluxe come in and set up Autotomize more easily. Healing Wish support from Mr. Mime and Clefairy gives Vanilluxe a second chance at sweeping. Entry hazard removal from Pokemon such as Armaldo, Vibrava, and Pelipper is greatly appreciated by Vanilluxe, as it is worn down by all forms of entry hazards, especially Stealth Rock.

Vanilluxe turns into a frightening late-game cleaner with Autotomize, being able to switch between moves and outspeeding all Choice Scarf users in the metagame after a boost. Freeze-Dry breaks past Water-types that would tank Ice Beam like Politoed and Seaking. Hidden Power Ground threatens Steel- and Fire-types like Lairon and Pignite, OHKOing the former and 2HKOing the latter. Life Orb is the preferred item to boost Hidden Power Ground's power, 2HKOing Pignite after Stealth Rock damage. While Weak Armor does not synergize with Vanilluxe's offensive profile, it does allow it to outspeed the unboosted metagame without an Autotomize boost if it is hit with moves like Knock Off and U-turn. To ensure a successful sweep, Vanilluxe prefers having its Fire- and Steel-type checks like Pignite, Magmar, Klang, and Bronzor severely weakened or removed. Water- and Ground-types like Simipour and Krokorok stand out, with both having Knock Off to cripple Vanilluxe's checks and providing wallbreaking prowess to force out the opposition. Krokorok particularly stands out, being able to Pursuit trap Bronzor and threaten slower Steel- and Fire-types. Physical wallbreakers like Pignite and Furfrou can target special walls like Scraggy, Duosion, and Dustox, with the former also targeting Steel-types and the latter providing U-turn support to bring Vanilluxe in safely. Setup support like Memento from Jumpluff can give Vanilluxe an easier time setting up Autotomize, shoring up its poor defensive profile. Defoggers like Vibrava and Dustox and Taunt users like Quilladin and Servine can enhance Vanilluxe's longevity through preventing entry hazards from going up, ensuring a more reliable sweep.

Vanilluxe turns into a threatening revenge killer, courtesy of its offensive typing and solid Speed. Freeze-Dry targets Water-types that would switch into Ice Beam, such as Politoed, Simipour, and Seaking, and revenge kills boosted sweepers like +1 Dragon Dance Whiscash and +1 Butterfree as well as fast setup Pokemon like Jumpluff and Swoobat in one slot. Hidden Power Ground targets Steel-types, OHKOing most Lairon sets and 3HKOing offensive Klang sets after Stealth Rock damage. Flash Cannon 2HKOes Carbink, Wigglytuff, and Vanilluxe. Weak Armor allows Vanilluxe to outspeed faster Choice Scarf users like Simipour and Electabuzz after being hit by physical contact moves. As this Vanilluxe set is meant to revenge kill, it ideally partners with wallbreakers like Pignite and Simisage. Even with Hidden Power Ground, Vanilluxe has difficulty forcing out Fire- and Steel-types like Pignite and Bronzor, which can freely switch into its STAB moves. Fire- and Ground-types like Magmar and Krokorok can weaken these checks so that Vanilluxe has an easier time revenge killing. Vanilluxe enjoys slow pivots and Defoggers like Dustox and Vibrava to shore up its lacking defensive profile. Late-game cleaners like Simipour and Scraggy value Vanilluxe's power to pick off weakened foes. Due to Vanilluxe's lower power holding a Choice Scarf, it struggles more against walls like Dustox, Duosion, and Scraggy, so answers to these defensive Pokemon like Lairon, Scraggy, and Pignite can ease its vulnerabilities to them.

Vanilluxe solidifies itself as an excellent wallbreaker, courtesy of its power, offensive typing, and solid Speed. Ice Beam devastates popular Grass- and Ground-types like Servine, Ivysaur, Vibrava, and Krokorok. Freeze-Dry targets Water-types that would switch into Ice Beam, such as Politoed, Simipour, and Seaking. Hidden Power Ground hits Steel-types, OHKOing Lairon and 2HKOing offensive Klang. Flash Cannon OHKOes Carbink, Wigglytuff, and opposing Vanilluxe, OHKOing the latter two after Stealth Rock. Frost Breath 2HKOes Duosion and Carbink, bypassing any Calm Mind boosts they may have obtained. Weak Armor provides Vanilluxe with a situational Speed boost after being hit with contact moves like Knock Off and U-turn, which can be useful in endgames against attackers like Persian. Vanilluxe's wallbreaking capabilities best suit it on balanced and offensive teams, taking advantage of cores that rely on Politoed and bulky Grass-types for their defensive cores. Despite having coverage, Vanilluxe has difficulty forcing out Fire- and Steel-types like Pignite and Bronzor, which can freely switch into its STAB moves. Therefore, Fire-types like Pignite and Magmar can force out Steel-types, while Water-types like Simipour and Frogadier can force out Fire-types, making them good partners to Vanilluxe. Owing to its lack of defensive utility, Vanilluxe appreaciates slow pivots and Defoggers like Dustox and Vibrava to enter the field more safely and remove hazards to allow it to continue wallbreaking. Other pivots like Persian and Jumpluff enjoy Vanilluxe weakening Steel-types so that they can have an easier time revenge killing later in the game. Late-game cleaners like Whiscash and Sawsbuck likewise value Vanilluxe's power that lets them pick off weakened foes late-game. Special walls like Duosion, Dusclops, and specially defensive Swalot can be difficult for Vanilluxe to break through, so physical attackers like Scraggy, Sawsbuck, and Krokorok can help force these walls out.

Ice Beam has no drawbacks and will be chosen almost all the time, especially since even Pokemon that resist it like Sneasel have the chance to be 2HKOed with entry hazards. The rest of the moveset is dedicated to niche coverage. Hidden Power Ground is the preferred option in the second moveslot for hitting Steel- and Fire-types like Klang and Monferno, while Hidden Power Fire exchanges the coverage on Fire-types for being able to hit Bronzor. Flash Cannon can be used to hit other Ice-types like Articuno, and Frost Breath can pierce through potential Special Defense boosts from Pokemon like Calm Mind Duosion. Weak Armor is the preferred ability for the potential Speed boost and the fact that hail is unviable, but Ice Body can be chosen if the Defense drop from Weak Armor is unappealing. A Modest nature is chosen for the extra power as the Choice Scarf already makes Vanilluxe faster than the entire unboosted metagame. Entry hazards go an exceptionally long way in letting Vanilluxe sweep, very often being the difference between a 3HKO and a 2HKO, so reliable hazard setters like Dwebble and Stunfisk are key teammates. Vanilluxe also hates hazards itself, so hazard control from Pokemon like Tentacool or Natu can help keep Vanilluxe healthy throughout the match. Vanilluxe is commonly walled by Steel-types like Klang and Bronzor, Water-types like Tentacool, and specially defensive walls like Audino, so partners like Marowak, Zebstrika, and Monferno are excellent choices for dealing with those walls. Vanilluxe also appreciates being switched in safely with Klang's Volt Switch and Jumpluff's U-turn. Vanilluxe doesn't offer much in the way of synergy itself, but wallbreakers like Stoutland and Simisear do appreciate Vanilluxe inviting in and weakening down common Steel- and Water-type switch-ins like Mawile and Frillish. Vanilluxe also tends to threaten out or take out certain threats like Vileplume and Stunfisk, so Pokemon that enjoy having those walls taken care of like Zebstrika and Monferno appreciate having it on their team.

Vanilluxe is a very straightforward Pokemon. With a majority of the metagame weak to Ice-type attacks, you will rarely find a time where Vanilluxe will not be firing off Blizzard or Ice Beam. Ice Beam and Blizzard are on the same set in order to ensure that you are prepared for situations where accuracy is essential, while retaining a strong spread attack. Hidden Power Dark is useful for attacking opposing Ghost-types such as Chandelure, and also does a large amount of damage to Jellicent, which neuters its Water Spout. The last moveslot is open to preference; Taunt can be used on a lead Vanilluxe to stop Trick Room from being set up, and is always useful against annoying support Pokemon, but Flash Cannon and Water Pulse can also prove effective depending on what your team needs. The given EVs allow Vanilluxe to outspeed base 116 Speed enemies along with Timid Choice Scarf Jellicent to fire off the first move. Hidden Power Rock can be substituted for Hidden Power Dark to ensure an OHKO on Volcarona, while also still hitting Chandelure for super effective damage. If you feel like trying your luck, Sheer Cold is also available for the last moveslot. Chandelure is an excellent teammate to have in reserve when using Vanilluxe. It serves as a great switch-in versus opposing Chandelure or Fighting-types that Vanilluxe has problems dealing with to waste your opponent's turn and possibly gain a Flash Fire boost. Another beneficial teammate is Mienshao, as its Wide Guard is very helpful for blocking Rock Slides that can stop Vanilluxe right away. Vanilluxe serves as a potential addition to any team and doesn't require much support.