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D/P Analysis: Weavile

[Set Name] Revenge Killer
[Pokemon] Weavile
[Item] Expert Belt/Life Orb
[Ability] Pressure
[Nature] Jolly
[Move 1] Pursuit
[Move 2] Ice Shard
[Move 3] Brick Break
[Move 4] Aerial Ace
[EVs] 42 HP, 252 Atk, 216 Spd OR 6 HP, 252 Atk, 252 Spd
[Standard Tier] OU

[About This Set] In my opinion, this is the ultimate Weavile, and I say this for several reasons. While Swords Dance Weavile holds its own appeal, you are almost guaranteed to have your strategy ruined by Stealth Rock (or on Shoddy, Toxic Spikes is the popular thing) deactivating your Focus Sash. I also think the moves are superior, and I shall explain why below...

Pursuit may seem lacking in power but it means you can switch into psychic- and ghost-types and be guaranteed to deal damage, even if they do the smart thing and switch out. Gengar and Azelf will likely switch, just in case it's a Swords Dancer, bumping Pursuit's power up to 80, plus STAB'd, super-effective goodness. Obviously, fragile threats such as those along with Alakazam and non-bulky Starmie will be OHKO'd should they switch out, and will take around at least 70% of their HP if they don't switch (this math is all done without an Expert Belt/Life Orb; see two paragraphs down for more mention on that). Ice Shard is perfect for Dragon-Dancers who have already boosted their stat once or twice.

Brick Break is for good coverage because few things resist both Dark and Fighting, and it will also frighten Tyranitar. Aerial Ace can handle fighting-types, particularly one that normally leaves Weavile trembling in fear: Heracross. 4x damage is nothing for the beetle to laugh at, but beware of Heracross bearing a Choice Scarf, or Weavile is obviously toast.

Item choice is out of preference. Expert Belt is a bit subpar to Life Orb as far as damage, but if the HP loss isn't worth it to you, Expert Belt is a reasonable option, since Ice, Dark, Fighting and Flying moves give you good coverage (11 common types). Regardless, any Heracross (even the variant with HP EVs and Choice Band) will be OHKO'd by Aerial Ace as long as you use one of these items, and Gengar, Azelf, and friends can't hope to survive a Life Orb'd Pursuit; Salamence is so fragile that it stands no chance against Life Orb'd Ice Shard and Dragonite with no HP EVs doesn't really stand a chance either. Expert Belt, again, will curb your damage a bit, but won't take away from your HP.

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[Set Name] Swords Dance
[Pokemon] Weavile
[Item] Focus Sash
[Ability] Pressure
[Nature] Jolly
[Move 1] Swords Dance
[Move 2] Night Slash/Pursuit
[Move 3] Ice Punch/Ice Shard
[Move 4] Brick Break
[EVs] 42 HP, 252 Atk, 216 Spd OR 6 HP, 252 Atk, 252 Spd
[Standard Tier] OU

[About This Set] This used to be, from my personal experience, the most common Weavile in the metagame (I now see Revenge Killers more often). This is probably best off as a starter, because the rampant Stealth Rock and Toxic Spikes running around makes switching in an unreliable option. Just Swords Dance, then sweep. To see calculations on damage to Azelf, Gengar, and Dragonite and Salamence from Pursuit and Ice Shard respectively, see the above set.

Ice Punch is more reliable for dealing large amounts of damage, whereas Ice Shard gives you at least one chance to deal some damage if your opponent's too fast. Similarly, Night Slash is more reliable damage-wise but you won't be guaranteed to deal any damage if the foe switches out, unlike when using Pursuit. Brick Break, again, is for good coverage and Tyranitar. You will do AT LEAST 85% of TTar's HP with Brick Break and no Swords Dances (assuming this TTar has no HP EVs).

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[Set Name] Wiley Weavile
[Pokemon] Weavile
[Item] Focus Sash
[Ability] Pressure
[Nature] Timid / Hasty
[Move 1] Nasty Plot
[Move 2] Dark Pulse
[Move 3] Ice Beam/Taunt/Focus Punch
[Move 4] Focus Blast/Focus Punch
[EVs] 42 HP, 252 Sp Atk, 216 Spd OR 6 HP, 252 Sp Atk, 252 Spd
[Standard Tier] OU

[About This Set] You must think I'm insane to suggest such a set like this. Laugh all you want, but this set offers a couple of key advantages. One: element of surprise. Two: every attack has higher base powers than its physical counterparts. Clearly this set will fail without at least one Nasty Plot boost (189 max special attack without boosts). Thus, it would work best as a starter, so it doesn't have to worry about switching onto Spikes or Stealth Rock. If your opponent has hopped on the Blissey Bandwagon, this Weavile might be stopped dead in its tracks...

But wait! What's that? Even with a hindered nature and no EVs, a correctly executed Focus Punch on Blissey will take half of its HP at minimum; even after Leftovers recovery. Hasty is there if you'd like to give Focus Punch a little more sting against Blissey (57% minimum after Leftovers recovery). Taunt is there as an option to stop status and Blissey, if you're not using F-Punch. In comparison, Focus Blast always 2HKO Blissey after 3 Nasty Plot boosts, so if you're feeling daring, you can go all-special. If you're going to drop a special move for F-Punch, you're probably best off with Dark Pulse, Focus Punch and Focus Blast as your attacking moves.

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[EVs] The first spread for each set is the standard on Smogon; it allows you to outrun everything in the speed tier below it (Sceptile and Dugtrio) and the extra EVs allow it to survive a non-Life Orb'd Flamethrower from Azelf and Choice Spec'd Surf from Timid Starmie. If your metagame sees more sweepers running max speed and you need to be able to keep up, you could do a standard maxing out of the offense stat and speed (the second spread).

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[Other Move Options] Punishment could prove to be an unexpected counter to Calm Minders like Slowbro and Jirachi; not much else to say here.

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[Opinion] Weavile is a force to be reckoned with and probably one of the most feared threats in the metagame. Weavile's diverse STAB, including a useful, STAB'd priority move, a STAB'd move that guarantees damage even if your opponent switches out, Taunt, good stat-boosting moves, etc. make it a common choice on OU teams. (And I must say, its smexiness makes it one of my favorite pokes <3) Just watch out when it comes to switching in, as it can't take a hit, especially if your opponent has already laid down Stealth Rock; you will lose 25% health each time you switch into rox.

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[Counters] OU/BL steel-types (Heatran, Scizor, Forretress, Skarmory, Metagross, Bronzong, etc.) do just fine against Weavi and, in the case of Forry and Bronzy, will DESTROY it with Gyro Ball; Heatran has obvious resistance to both of its STAB moves and two different type options for super-effective damage; Scizor is in the same boat with X-Scissor and Iron Head; Metagross with Bullet Punch will mean Weavile hardly even sees the light of day. Bulky Gyarados laughs at Weavile, especially if he gets a chance to Intimidate.

by Taser