Vullaby Movesets & Competitive Sets

Moves Brave Bird's high Base Power makes Supersonic Skystrike extremely strong, letting Vullaby deal huge damage to most Flying-neutral targets and potentially putting its checks into range of coverage moves. Knock Off complements this by weakening checks such as Spritzee, Onix, and Pawniard. Hidden Power Grass and Heat Wave provide coverage for switch-ins such as Onix and Pawniard. Hidden Power Fighting is a more reliable way of covering Pawniard, OHKOing it after Knock Off, but Vullaby loses the ability to KO Onix. Protect is usually run with Hidden Power Fighting, allowing Vullaby to scout for opposing attacks and block Fake Out and High Jump Kick. Set Details The EV spread and Naughty nature maximize Vullaby's Attack stat and gives it the best chance of OHKOing opposing Vullaby. A Naughty nature with 80 EVs in Special Attack allows Hidden Power Grass to KO Onix after Supersonic Skystrike and Heat Wave to 2HKO Pawniard. With 116 Speed EVs, Vullaby can outspeed the vast majority of the metagame, including most Choice Scarf users after a Speed boost. If using Hidden Power Fighting, a spread of 36 HP / 236 Atk / 200 Spe with either a Naive or Naughty nature should be used. A Naive nature is preferred, granting Vullaby 16 Speed and allowing it to outspeed most opposing Vullaby variants and Speed tie with Pawniard. A Naughty nature can still be used to maximize Vullaby's offensive output. Usage Tips Without Berry Juice, Vullaby lacks longevity, so it's important to be proactive in wallbreaking. Vullaby has a good matchup in physical attackers due to Weak Armor, and it should avoid special attackers in most scenarios. Flyinium Z Vullaby makes a great switch-in to Knock Off because it activates Vullaby's Weak Armor while dealing minimal damage. As a lead, Vullaby is able to surprise other lead Vullaby and 15 Defense Fighting-types, which survive Brave Bird, with Supersonic Skystrike. Watch out for Onix because it's the Pokemon that best tanks a Supersonic Skystrike. Try to avoid activating Onix's Weak Armor if Vullaby has a Weak Armor boost itself by using Hidden Power Grass on a predicted switch. If your team has Diglett or Ponyta, you can first aim to trap or burn Onix before sending in Vullaby. Team Options Ponyta burns physical attackers for Vullaby so it can take advantage of them via Weak Armor while staying healthy. Vullaby can support Ponyta in return by weakening Onix with Hidden Power Grass. Staryu is a great teammate for Vullaby because it can clear Stealth Rock, which Ponyta happens to appreciate too. Diglett can trap Flying-resistant Pokemon like Onix and Pawniard. Because Vullaby lacks its usual utility against special attackers, it's important to include checks to Abra and Gastly on the team, like the aforementioned Diglett and Pawniard. Diglett and Ferroseed are also useful to cover Staryu, which forces Vullaby out. Doduo is a decent teammate for Vullaby because they can overwhelm their shared checks and counters together.

Moves Nasty Plot allows Vullaby to function as a potent special sweeper in conjunction with Weak Armor. Air Slash hits common Fighting-types for super effective damage, and its flinch chance makes Vullaby especially deadly. Heat Wave hits most Steel-types, including Magnemite and Pawniard, for solid damage. Hidden Power Grass provides useful coverage against Rock-types like Onix and Tirtouga, though Dark Pulse is an alternative that allows Vullaby to OHKO Gastly without Nasty Plot. Protect allows Vullaby to scout for opposing moves and avoid being revenge killed by Fake Out. Substitute is another option that lets Vullaby avoid Pawniard's Sucker Punch and set up on Foongus and Ferroseed. Set Details With 116 Speed EVs, Vullaby hits 14 Speed or 28 after a Weak Armor boost, allowing it to outspeed practically every Choice Scarf user in the metagame and avoid being easily revenge killed. 116 HP EVs improve Vullaby's mixed bulk significantly, allowing it to usually survive attacks like Spritzee's Moonblast from full HP and defensive Mienfoo's High Jump Kick after Stealth Rock damage. Berry Juice improves Vullaby's ability to sweep significantly and leaves it less vulnerable to priority attacks. Options such as Eviolite and Flyinium Z help Vullaby set up on even more attacks or nuke potential checks such as Spritzee, but they leave Vullaby much more vulnerable to priority attacks. Weak Armor is mandatory on this set, as Vullaby is unable to effectively sweep most teams without the Speed boost. Usage Tips Vullaby can relatively easily find an opportunity to set up due to its solid Defense stat and plethora of resistances. Setting up against a physical sweeper is nearly always essential, as they are necessary to trigger Weak Armor. Checks such as Spritzee and Mareanie should be weakened before Vullaby attempts to sweep. Keep in mind that if the opponent knows that Vullaby is a Nasty Plot set, they may avoid attacking it to prevent the Speed boost, which leaves Vullaby open to revenge killing. However, due to the plethora of sets Vullaby can run, it won't be immediately obvious. As such, it is advisable to refrain from using Air Slash or Nasty Plot too early in the game. Team Options Nasty Plot Vullaby appreciates Pokemon that can weaken special walls like Spritzee and Mareanie. Mienfoo does so particularly well with Knock Off and also provides U-turn support for Vullaby to safely come in and set up. Entry hazard control is important as well; Pokemon such as Ferroseed and Onix can set Stealth Rock and Spikes to weaken switch-ins and help Vullaby get KOs on checks. These Pokemon also tend to bring in Fighting-types for Vullaby to set up on. Rapid Spin Staryu helps neutralize Vullaby's Stealth Rock weakness.

Moves Brave Bird and Knock Off form a strong STAB combination, allowing Vullaby to deal heavy damage to foes or soften them up by removing their items. U-turn lets Vullaby maintain offensive momentum. While being Choice-locked into Defog causes Vullaby and its team to lose momentum, Defog provides valuable entry hazard removal support in emergency situations. Hidden Power Grass is an offensive alternative that nails common Rock-type switch-ins such as Onix and Tirtouga. Set Details A 236 Attack EVs and an Adamant nature give Vullaby good odds of OHKOing Timburr and Foongus after Stealth Rock damage and Mienfoo from full. 15 Speed allows Vullaby to outpace the entire unboosted metagame, as well as slower boosted Pokemon like Modest Choice Scarf Magnemite and +1 Torchic. A Jolly nature sacrifices raw power in exchange for outspeeding Timid Choice Scarf Magnemite and other 15 Speed Choice Scarf users. A Naive or Naughty nature can be run alongside Hidden Power Grass in order to guarantee the OHKO on SturdyJuice Onix after Stealth Rock damage, but it compromises Vullaby's good bulk. Overcoat allows Vullaby to switch into Spore from Foongus, though Weak Armor can be run to let Vullaby maintain its Speed advantage after being hit by Knock Off. Usage Tips With the existence of better late-game sweepers like Doduo and the opportunity cost of not running another Vullaby set, Choice Scarf Vullaby's niche relies on its surprise factor to net unsuspected KOs and put its team at an early advantage. Ideally, it should be put into positions where it can lure Mienfoo, Abra, and Staryu and KO them. A lack of Berry Juice or Eviolite means that this Vullaby set lacks longevity if played without caution, so Vullaby should attempt to avoid switching into even moderately strong neutral attacks. Careless use of Brave Bird, as well as switching into Stealth Rock, will also quickly reduce Vullaby's HP and put it into range of priority attacks. Vullaby is best served using Knock Off and U-turn early-game in order to chip away at its checks and build momentum for its team before attempting to clean a weakened team late-game with Brave Bird. Both Defog and Hidden Power Grass should be used sparingly, as they often give the opposing team at least one free turn. Team Options Diglett is an excellent partner for Vullaby due to its ability to trap and remove Steel-, Rock-, and Electric-types that check Vullaby, while Vullaby provides a safe opportunity for Diglett to enter the field with U-turn. Entry hazard setters allow Vullaby to achieve KOs and punishes switches that Choice Scarf Vullaby often causes. Due to Choice Scarf Vullaby's relative frailty compared to other sets, bulky teammates such as Ferroseed and Mudbray provide the team with ways to counter dangerous Pokemon, along with entry hazard support. Mienfoo makes a good partner, as it forms a pivoting core with Vullaby and deals with Pawniard. Strong but frail attackers such as Gastly greatly appreciate Vullaby's Knock Off and U-turn, while other Flying-types like Doduo can wear down shared Flying-resistant checks. Stealth Rock removal from Pokemon such as Staryu or Snivy is also appreciated to significantly increase Vullaby's longevity.

Moves Brave Bird is Vullaby's primary STAB move. Knock Off complements Brave Bird and has the added utility of removing foes' defensive items. Heat Wave gives Vullaby an option to hit Steel-types, 2HKOing Pawniard with the given EV spread. Hidden Power Grass substantially damages Onix, OHKOing non-Eviolite variants unless Sturdy is active, and also deals good damage to Mudbray after a Stamina boost. Set Details The given EV spread sacrifices the raw power of investing solely in either Attack or Special Attack for mixed investment. 14 Attack still allows Vullaby's STAB attacks to hit quite hard, while 12 Special Attack allows it to KO Pawniard with Knock Off + Heat Wave after Stealth Rock or two Heat Waves from full, as well as OHKO SturdyJuice Onix after Stealth Rock and Groundium Z Onix from full. Alternatively, an EV spread of 236 Atk / 76 Def / 80 SpA / 116 Spe with an Adamant nature grants Vullaby 16 Attack, allowing it to OHKO many variants of Timburr and Mienfoo. The smaller Special Attack investment still allows Vullaby to OHKO non-Eviolite Onix and 2HKO Pawniard after Stealth Rock. Berry Juice works well on this set, allowing Vullaby to take a foe's attack, get a Speed boost, and return to full health. Usage Tips This Vullaby set can effectively lure in and surprise its common checks, such as Rock- and Steel-types. Generally, Vullaby should use Knock Off early in a match to weaken its checks by removing their defensive items. When appropriate, Vullaby can use Heat Wave or Hidden Power Grass to surprise a check and remove it, allowing Vullaby to use Brave Bird more safely. After its checks have been weakened or eliminated, Vullaby should attempt to come in on a weak physical attack to boost its Speed with Weak Armor and cause havoc with Brave Bird. This Vullaby set lacks longevity or significant Defense investment, so avoid allowing it to be worn down by super effective attacks or Stealth Rock damage until Vullaby can take advantage of its full offensive arsenal. Team Options This Vullaby set is effective at taking out common Flying-type checks, including Rock- and Steel-types, so other Flying-types, including Doduo and Rufflet, have terrific offensive synergy with it. Other Pokemon that appreciate the removal of Rock-types, such as Ponyta, also pair well with this set. As Vullaby gets worn down quickly by Stealth Rock, especially since it may be switching in frequently to aim for a Weak Armor boost, entry hazard control from Staryu and Snivy is helpful. When Vullaby's Weak Armor is not activated, it is susceptible to being revenge killed, especially by Rock- and Electric-type attacks. Thus, Pokemon that can switch into these attacks, and especially Pokemon that can check Onix, such as Mienfoo synergize well with it. Hazard setters such as Onix and Ferroseed help Vullaby accumulate chip damage onto its foes, bringing them into KO range.

Moves Brave Bird and Knock Off provide terrific neutral coverage, since Vullaby can cripple Flying-resistant foes with Knock Off. U-turn allows Vullaby to chip down and gain momentum against Pokemon such as Spritzee, Onix, and Pawniard. Vullaby is a safe and reliable Defogger thanks to the many switches it forces, its fantastic natural bulk, and potential Speed boosts from Weak Armor. Hidden Power Fighting OHKOes Pawniard, which it often lures in, after Knock Off with minimal Special Attack investment. If the team doesn't require Defog, Hidden Power Grass and Heat Wave are potentially useful coverage options for Rock-types like Onix and Steel-types like Ferroseed, respectively. It should be noted, however, that the mixed attacker set is usually a better choice to fulfill these roles. Protect is an option that allows Vullaby to dodge Mienfoo's High Jump Kick, shield itself against Z-moves, and scout for opposing moves. Set Details This Vullaby set can run an enormous variety of EV spreads depending on the needs of its team. This analysis will go over the important EV benchmarks in each stat, and then it will list some common EV spreads that combine these benchmarks. Vullaby runs an Adamant nature and maximum Attack investment to reach 16 Attack, granting it a 75% chance to OHKO many Mienfoo and Timburr variants, as well as Foongus after Stealth Rock, with Brave Bird. 16 Attack Vullaby also 2HKOes Eviolite-less Spritzee with Brave Bird consistently, and it can OHKO frailer variants of opposing Vullaby after a Weak Armor Defense drop. However, some spreads sacrifice this offensive presence in favor of greater bulk to more reliably check key threats. While 76 Defense EVs with no HP investment are sufficient to survive defensive Mienfoo's High Jump Kick and three hits of Onix's Rock Blast after Stealth Rock, Vullaby avoids the OHKO from Reckless Mienfoo's High Jump Kick from full and opposing Vullaby's Brave Bird from full after a Weak Armor drop with an additional 116 HP EVs. 116 HP and 156 Special Defense EVs allow Vullaby to avoid the KO from Focus Sash Abra's Dazzling Gleam after Stealth Rock and Life Orb Abra's Dazzling Gleam from full while also taking Special Attacks much better in general. 196 Speed EVs allow Vullaby to hit 15 Speed, outspeeding +1 Ponyta and +2 Jolly Shellder after a Weak Armor boost and giving it a better chance of outspeeding opposing Vullaby. Lower Speed investments are viable to run more bulk or a combination of bulk and power. 14 Speed is still good to outspeed slow Mienfoo naturally and 18 Speed Choice Scarf users like Doduo after a Weak Armor boost, but it will cause Vullaby to be less capable in mirror matchups and force it to tie against +1 Ponyta and +2 Jolly Shellder after a Weak Armor boost. 13 initial Speed isn't usually ideal, as it will leave Vullaby to Speed tie with slow Mienfoo and outsped by most opposing Vullaby. The given EV spread maximizes Vullaby's Speed and offensive power while granting it enough physical bulk to withstand some common attacks. Other commonly used EV spread include: 116 HP / 156 Atk / 156 SpD / 36 Spe with a Jolly nature, which gives Vullaby many of the Special Defense benefits listed above while retaining some offensive presence. This spread can be used as a very flexible pivot as well as a soft check to many special attackers, such as Abra and Staryu. 116 HP / 76 Def / 156 SpD / 116 Spe with a Jolly nature, which gives Vullaby more general bulk and good Speed at the expense of substantial offensive presence. This spread, compared to the previous spread, retains the Special Defense benefits while also offering the aforementioned benefits of 15 Speed. 116 HP / 76 Def / 236 SpD / 36 Spe with a Jolly nature, which maximizes Vullaby's special bulk. This spread is the best check to Snivy and Gastly, but it loses out on both Attack and Speed, making it relatively passive. If any of these sets were to run Hidden Power Fighting, then a neutral nature should be used to hit 11 Special Attack at the cost of 1 point of Speed, and 4 additional EVs must be added accordingly in Defense, Special Defense, or Speed to compensate for the dropped IVs required for Hidden Power. Weak Armor is usually the preferred ability, especially with more offensive EV spreads, to deter the opponent from using certain physical moves with Vullaby's presence alone. Vullaby is able to come in on common attacks such as Mienfoo's Knock Off and, if healthy, High Jump Kick to immediately threaten the opposition with powerful STAB moves or U-turn. Overcoat is also an option, mostly on more defensive spreads, for teams that need a switch-in to Foongus's Spore. Berry Juice allows Vullaby to remain healthy without giving up valuable turns to use Roost; it synergizes well with Brave Bird because it ensures that the recoil isn't overly detrimental. Usage Tips Between Knock Off and U-turn, Vullaby is excellent at forcing in and weakening its checks early- and mid-game. Knock Off is often Vullaby's safest attack due to its high damage, extremely useful side effect, and lack of recoil; however, it may be punished by opposing Weak Armor users such as Onix and enemy Vullaby. If you predict the opponent to switch to a Pokemon that Vullaby can't immediately break, such as Onix, U-turn can be used to gain momentum; however, be careful of using the move too frequently if Stealth Rock is up, as this can quickly wear Vullaby down. Brave Bird recoil and Stealth Rock chip damage are often helpful for activating Berry Juice after some prior damage, putting Vullaby out of range of certain KOs. Defog should be used when Vullaby forces out its foe; however, be wary of using it against a Pawniard switch-in if it can't be revenge killed at +2 Attack. Weak Armor lets Vullaby come in on physical attacks that don't OHKO it from enemies that it can force out, as Vullaby will almost always outspeed them the turn after and gain offensive momentum Later in the game, when its checks have been worn down, Vullaby can use a Weak Armor boost to clean using Brave Bird. The ability does have its drawbacks; if Vullaby is unable to OHKO the enemy, it becomes vulnerable to attacks that hit its weakened Defense or are boosted by Analytic. Team Options Weak Armor Pivot Vullaby ranks among the easiest sets in LC to include on a team; there are many teams that appreciate its ability to act as a wallbreaker, pivot, and soft check to a variety of threats. While this set lacks the longevity to reliably check Snivy, Abra, Fighting-types, and Foongus, it is able to soft check all of them while providing offensive presence. Vullaby is incredibly adept at gaining momentum when paired with other VoltTurn users such as Mienfoo and Magnemite. For example, Mienfoo handles Pawniard and Rock-types for Vullaby, while Magnemite forces out Fairy-types and Shellder; in exchange, Vullaby soft checks Foongus, Abra, and Fighting-types for them. Checks to Vullaby, including Onix, Spritzee and Magnemite, should be handled by the rest of the team. Examples of good teammates for this include Foongus, Ferroseed, and Ponyta. Eviolite Diglett is fantastic at supporting Vullaby by reliably trapping Onix, Pawniard, and Magnemite. Frailer variants of Diglett are more generally useful and can still support Vullaby quite well, but they struggle to trap Weak Armor Onix, Choice Scarf Pawniard, and Choice Scarf Magnemite.