Moves
V-create is Victini's main STAB move, bringing extremely high Base Power and having perfect accuracy with Victory Star. Bolt Strike is a powerful coverage move that hits Water-types such as Manaphy, Azumarill, Keldeo, and Starmie as well as Talonflame super effectively. Glaciate enables Victini to hit Dragon-types such as Garchomp, Latios, and Latias, as well as certain Ground-types that are physically bulky enough to comfortably switch into V-create like Landorus-T and Gliscor. It can also slow down faster foes such as Keldeo and Starmie, enabling Victini to outspeed them on the next turn. Energy Ball allows Victini to 2HKO standard Hippowdon, Rotom-W, and Slowbro, which otherwise wall it, as well as hit other physically bulky Water-types such as Suicune, Quagsire, and Gastrodon. Grass Knot can be use over Energy Ball in order to hit Hippowdon, Tyranitar, Mega Slowbro, and Suicune harder; however, it deals less damage to Slowbro and little-to-no damage to Rotom-W. Focus Blast can also be used to 2HKO Heatran and Tyranitar; however, both still take a lot of damage from Life Orb-boosted Bolt Strike and Energy Ball, respectively.
Set Details
Life Orb increases Victini's damage output without locking it into a move, making it much easier for it to wallbreak. An Expert Belt can be chosen in order to bluff a Choiced set more easily, as well as prevent Victini from being worn down via recoil, while still dealing a solid amount of damage to Glaciate and Grass Knot targets, but this makes a neutral V-create significantly weaker and requires more Special Attack investment to 2HKO or OHKO the likes of Latios and Landorus-T. Victory Star makes it so that V-create and Glaciate can never miss and increases the accuracy of Bolt Strike to 92%. This EV spread enables Victini to 2HKO Slowbro and Hippowdon with Energy Ball, OHKO defensive Landorus-T after Stealth Rock, 2HKO Latios after Stealth Rock, and OHKO Naive Garchomp with Glaciate, all the while hitting as hard as possible with physical moves. A Naive nature guarantees that Victini will survive Hippowdon's Earthquake from full health after Life Orb and sand damage, enabling it to beat it one-on-one. It also helps against other physical attackers like Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Talonflame. However, a Hasty nature is preferred if Victini serves as the team's main check to special attackers such as Clefable, Mega Gardevoir, and Mega Charizard Y.
Usage Tips
V-create is a relatively difficult move to switch into, since most Pokemon that resist it either lack recovery and bulk, meaning they can take it only a couple of times, or are slower than Victini even after the Speed drop and can be hit by the appropriate coverage move next turn. This makes it a worthwhile move to use most of the time. If faster Fire-resistant foes such as Latios, Keldeo, and Talonflame or bulkier Pokemon that can easily take V-create such as Heatran, Tyranitar, and Garchomp are still active, try to predict around them. Otherwise, you should only attempt to hit what Victini is facing with the appropriate coverage move. Glaciate is a good move to use on forced switches, since not only does it 2HKO a handful of Victini's switchins, but it also slows down checks like Keldeo, Choice Scarf Tyranitar, and Choice Scarf Heatran, which eases prediction against them, as they can be hit by the appropriate coverage move the following turn. However, if the opponent is using a Glaciate target, you may want to scout their reaction to Victini before revealing it. This works better on bulky teams, which can give Victini multiple opportunities to come in, especially if VoltTurn support is employed. Grass coverage and Bolt Strike should rarely be used on switches, since most of their targets already take massive damage from these moves and can just be hit with them next turn. The only notable exceptions are Slowbro and, if Victini is weakened to the point where Brave Bird KOes it, Talonflame. Mixed Victini is at its most effective against defensive teams, so when facing those, try keeping it healthy until its checks have been weakened. Against offensive teams, Victini should take advantage of Glaciate in order to help teammates that would want certain offensive Pokemon to be slowed down. Try not to send out Victini when Pursuit trappers are still active, since they can remove it from play, especially Choice Scarf Tyranitar, which switches into it quite easily.
Team Options
Victini fits well on more offensive teams that require a wallbreaker with the usual defensive qualities associated with a Fire- or Psychic- type, such as the ability to check certain Fairy-, Steel-, Fighting-, and Fire-types. Victini's weakness to Pursuit users and Dark-types in general requires it to be paired with a Dark-type check that can take advantage of these such as Keldeo, Mega Lopunny, or Azumarill. Victini hugely benefits from VoltTurn support, since it has trouble finding opportunities to switch in due to its typing, Stealth Rock weakness, and relatively low Speed. Teammates that benefit from bulky Ground- and Water-types being eliminated, such as Mega Lopunny, Mega Charizard X, Excadrill, and Mega Metagross, appreciate Victini's support. Due to its weakness to Stealth Rock, Victini requires support from an entry hazard remover such as Excadrill, Latios, or Starmie; however, the latter two stack a crippling Dark weakness with Victini. Electric-types like Raikou, Mega Manectric, and Thundurus are also great partners, since Victini can lure the Ground- and Dragon-types that check them, all the while enjoying Volt Switch support. Landorus-T is a good teammate for Victini, since it provides U-turn support to enable Victini to get on the field safely, checks Excadrill and Tyranitar, and benefits from Garchomp, opposing Landorus-T, Hippowdon, and bulky Water-types being eliminated by Victini. Victini enjoys Spikes support, since it can quickly wear down checks to it such as Heatran, Tyranitar, Keldeo, Azumarill, and Suicune, as well as lure Latios, Latias, and Starmie, all three of which are common hazard removers.