**art is by me**
Virizion is one of the most dangerous offensive threats in RU with its amazing Speed tier that allows it to outpace threats such as Shaymin, Arcanine, and Fightinium Z Raikou, a stellar STAB combination, and the ability to boost its power with Swords Dance and Z-Moves. Virizion can offensively threaten to break through some of the top Pokemon in the metagame such as Mega Blastoise, Slowbro, Registeel, Milotic, and Rhyperior, turning these Pokemon into potential setup fodder. It is also very hard for most Pokemon to switch into Virizion, as most of its checks are worn down quickly or taken out by Stone Edge, though it requires good prediction to avoid losing momentum. Furthermore, a high Special Defense and access to recovery with Synthesis allow it to be a decent defensive check to Pokemon like Raikou, Milotic, and Mega Sceptile. Despite these amazing attributes, Virizion's attacking power is rather lackluster without a boost from Swords Dance or a Z-Move, making it checked rather easily by Pokemon like Toxicroak, Dragalge, and, if it lacks Stone Edge, Noivern. In spite of its great Special Defense, its low Defense prevents it from switching into Pokemon like Zygarde-10%, Golisopod, and Tyrantrum as well as it could. Virizion can also be quickly worn down by entry hazards, weak attacks, and status conditions. This is especially true with Life Orb sets, since they are forced to use Synthesis more than they would like to, and not running Synthesis makes this even worse.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Leaf Blade
move 4: Synthesis / Stone Edge
item: Life Orb / Fightinium Z
ability: Justified
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance turns Virizion into a threatening wallbreaker. Leaf Blade and Close Combat combined threaten many Pokemon in RU such as Mega Blastoise, Slowbro, and Registeel. Synthesis keeps Virizion healthy, allowing it to stay in battle and sweep much longer as well as check Zygarde-10% and Blastoise much better. Stone Edge can also be used to dissuade Pokemon like Noivern and Salazzle from directly switching in, which is especially great if Virizion's team has issues against these Pokemon.
Set Details
========
Life Orb gives Virizion an immediate offensive presence and can help threaten to KO Salazzle, Ribombee, and Noivern after Stealth Rock damage if they switch into it, as well as potentially threatening an OHKO on Mandibuzz and Arcanine at +2 after Stealth Rock. Fightinium Z gives Virizion a one-use nuke to KO Pokemon like Arcanine and Ninetales without boosting as well as Metagross, Shaymin, and Mandibuzz at +2. It also bypasses the defense drops that come with using Close Combat. Justified's Attack boost combined with a Z-Crystal makes Virizion a good switch-in to Knock Off from users such as Machamp and Tangela and Mega Blastoise's Dark Pulse.
Usage Tips
========
Virzion can function throughout the game by keeping itself healthy with Synthesis. It can wallbreak early in the game and potentially clean up late-game if its checks and counters have been dealt with prior. Virizion's raw damage output is lackluster, so set up with Swords Dance as soon as possible. It can use its high Special Defense, Synthesis, and typing to come in against and check Pokemon like Raikou, Rhyperior, Slowbro, and Milotic. It can even threaten these foes out and begin setting up or heal itself with Synthesis. Just be cautious against Scald or Toxic from some of these Pokemon and be wary of Synthesis's low PP. Virizion can also come in against Knock Off from Pokemon like Machamp, although this play is risky and not always worth the extra boost. All-Out Pummeling should be saved for a Pokemon like Arcanine, Metagross, Mandibuzz, or Bewear or to bypass the defense drops from Close Combat, allowing Virizion to have a better defensive presence against revenge killers such as Choice Scarf Tyrantrum or even priority users at low HP. Afterwards, be mindful of spamming Close Combat, as the defense drops make it lose out of its decent bulk. If running Stone Edge, Virizion can lure Pokemon that normally check Synthesis sets such as Noivern and Salazzle and KO them after Stealth Rock damage. Do not let Virizion be afflicted with status conditions, as they can cut its sweep short.
Team Options
========
Pokemon like Metagross, Registeel, and Raikou make good teammates, since they can check the Flying-types that can cut Virizion's sweep short. Registeel and Metagross can also switch into Poison-, Psychic-, and Fairy-type attacks for Virizion as well as force these Pokemon out and take Toxic for it. In return, all of these Pokemon appreciate Virizion's ability to threaten out Ground-types. Similarly, partners such as Arcanine, Milotic, Rhyperior, and Tyrantrum can check the Fire-types that threaten Virizion out of battle. Status conditions threaten to stop Virizion from sweeping. Thus, Healing Wish users like Gardevoir and Shaymin can help keep it healthy if it wallbreaks early-game. Defensive teammates such as Cresselia, Snorlax, Slowbro, Porygon2, and Tangela also appreciate Virizion's ability to take Knock Off or Trick so they don't lose their items. Teammates like Machamp, Toxicroak, and Roserade appreciate Stone Edge Virizion's ability to lure and take out Noivern and Salazzle, while partners like Goodra, Ninetales, and Donphan appreciate Synthesis Virizion checking threats to them like Zygarde-10% and Mega Blastoise.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Calm Mind set with Giga Drain, Focus Blast, and Hidden Power Fire can give Virizion a greater defensive presence and allow it to act as a lure to more physically defensive Pokemon like Cresselia and Tangela. However, Calm Mind boosts Virizion's power only one stage, when it needs to be as powerful as possible and boost as fast as possible to be threatening. Lum Berry is an appealing option to relieve Virizion of status conditions and allow it to act as a switch-in to Scald users like Milotic and Slowbro, but it forces Virizion to lose its offensive presence by forgoing its Z-Move. Zen Headbutt can be used to hit Pokemon that resist Virizion's STAB combination such as Toxicroak and Dragalge for super effective damage. However, this move doesn't really hit much else outside of these targets. Grassium Z can also be considered to threaten Pokemon like Cresselia, Necrozma, and Nidoqueen much more, but this option is rather niche compared to the wide coverage that Fightinium Z provides.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Poison-types**: Pokemon like Toxicroak, Salazzle, and Dragalge resist Virizion's STAB combination and can OHKO it with their powerful moves. Keep in mind that Salazzle and Toxicroak do get worn down quickly with Stealth Rock damage and Life Orb recoil and can fall to a boosted All-Out Pummeling. All of these Pokemon need to be wary of the rare Zen Headbutt.
**Flying-types**: Due to Virizion's nasty 4x weakness to Flying-type attacks, Pokemon like Noivern, Yanmega, and Swellow can easily OHKO it. However, some of these Pokemon like Mandibuzz, Swellow, and Honchrow do not want to directly switch into an All-Out Pummeling or even Close Combat, since they don't resist this move, and the others do not want to directly switch into Stone Edge variants.
**Psychic-types**: Gardevoir, Necrozma, Espeon, and Slowbro can all stomach an unboosted Close Combat from Virizion and can threaten it out of battle with their powerful STAB attacks. They do need to be careful about switching into Leaf Blade, especially if Virizion has boosted with Swords Dance.
**Revenge Killers**: Virizion is very vulnerable to common revenge killers like Golisopod, Noivern, and Choice Scarf Gardevoir. Its low Defense stat on top of Close Combat's Defense drops can leave it revenge killed by Pokemon like Choice Scarf Tyrantrum, Machamp, and Zygarde-10%.
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Since it uses physical attacks, defensive Pokemon like Cresselia and Tangela can take a hit from Virizion and usually force it out of the battle with super effective attacks or Toxic.
**Fire-types**: Pokemon like Arcanine and Ninetales can take a Close Combat and threaten Virizion out of the battle, but they cannot switch into All-Out Pummeling or the rare Stone Edge or Continental Crush.
**Status Conditions**: All forms of status conditions threaten to shorten Virizion's time sweeping. Poison from Toxic puts it on a timer, burns make it lose offensive pressure, and paralysis cuts its great Speed.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[JustoonSmitts, 239732]]
- Quality checked by: [[phantom, 180300], [zizalith, 410251], [CryoGyro, 331519]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [Fireflame479, 231476]]
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