[OVERVIEW]
Voltorb reaches 20 Speed, tying with Elekid and Diglett for the title of fastest Pokemon in the metagame. Thanks to Thunder Wave and Explosion, Voltorb can reliably revenge kill and trade with a large portion of the tier. In addition to its Speed, Voltorb’s strong offensive typing allows it to check powerful threats such as Abra, Doduo, Wailmer, and Gastly. However, Voltorb is held back by the prominence of Diglett and Trapinch and is often forced into using Explosion against them, which in itself is risky: Trapinch sometimes runs Protect, while Diglett can win the Speed tie and KO Voltorb with Earthquake, preventing it from checking the aforementioned Pokemon long term. Voltorb’s damage output can sometimes let it down, with it struggling to break through bulkier Pokemon such as Chinchou, Pineco, and Porygon, especially since Explosion misses the KO against the latter two at full HP.
[SET]
Offensive Pivot (Voltorb) @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Static
Level: 5
EVs: 36 HP / 40 Atk / 116 Def / 80 SpA / 196 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Thunder Wave / Thief / Substitute
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Explosion
[SET COMMENTS]
The Defense investment allows Voltorb to always survive Earthquake from mixed bulky attacker Wailmer. 40 Attack EVs with a Timid nature are used to guarantee that Explosion OHKOes Trapinch and Wailmer. Thunder Wave is Voltorb’s best form of speed control, effectively neutering frail Pokemon that rely on their Speed such as Abra, Anorith, and Gastly. Thief gives Voltorb another option to cripple opposing Pokemon by removing their recovery in Sitrus Berry and using it itself or denying a sweep by removing their pinch Berries. Substitute is used to punish status attempts from slower Pokemon such as Porygon and Chinchou, giving Voltorb a free turn to attack or cripple the opposing Pokemon with Thunder Wave. Hidden Power Grass OHKOes Rock / Ground types such as Larvitar and Onix and lets Voltorb fight Electric-immune Pokemon without committing to Explosion. It is also worth mentioning that Hidden Power Grass into Thunderbolt KOes mixed bulky attacker Wailmer. Finally, Explosion OHKOes most of the tier, preventing troublesome Pokemon like Abra and Bagon from snowballing out of control and allowing it to beat otherwise strong checks in Chinchou and opposing Voltorb. Caution should be taken to avoid using Explosion into a Ghost-type, however.
Voltorb pairs well with Pokemon that have trouble with Diglett and Trapinch, such as Houndour, Abra, and Elekid. Voltorb is an appealing target for Diglett and Trapinch, allowing it to force them out early, as well as having the potential to trade with them, albeit unreliably. Elekid in particular forms a potent offensive core with Voltorb, overloading their shared checks and smothering offense with their Speed and support options, like Light Screen and Thunder Wave. Wailmer is a good teammate, as it can struggle into Doduo, Staryu, and Gastly, and is a great switch-in to the Ground-types that will inevitably trap and remove Voltorb. Voltorb has strong synergy with Cacnea, as it can use Spikes against Diglett, Cubone, Trapinch, and Chinchou lacking Ice Beam. Voltorb in turn switches into Doduo locked into Drill Peck. Lastly, (add comma) Porygon and Trapinch can reliably remove Diglett in the event that Voltorb loses the Speed tie and remain healthy enough to check Abra or Elekid later in the match.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Mirror Coat can be used to land surprise KOs against special attackers but is difficult to make use of in practice, as there are not many special attackers that like to stay in against Voltorb. Taunt can deny utility moves like Cacnea and Pineco’s Spikes and Sunny Day from Exeggcute. Rain Dance and Light Screen are viable options to support setup sweepers such as Horsea, Larvitar, and Bagon.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Offensive Ground-types**: Unless they have already taken chip damage, Voltorb is forced to use Explosion against Diglett, Trapinch, and Cubone. Voltorb has to win a Speed tie versus Diglett, while Trapinch and Cubone commonly run Protect, meaning Voltorb will have to gamble if it wants to get anything out of these interactions.
**Electric-resistant Pokemon**: Voltorb’s attacks do very little to Pokemon that resist Electric-type attacks, with its only coverage option being the weak Hidden Power Grass. Cacnea is able to take advantage of this to set up Spikes against Voltorb. Magnemite and Lileep care even less about Voltorb, as they resist Explosion on top of Thunderbolt.
**Paralysis**: Most of Voltorb’s utility comes from the fact that it is one of only three Pokemon that reach 20 Speed. Once Voltorb is paralyzed, it becomes dead weight and easy setup fodder. Voltorb can use Substitute to block Thunder Wave from opposing Pokemon, however.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/cawil-maxamad.652526/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/grape-tylenol.593128/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/aurora.109385/
Voltorb reaches 20 Speed, tying with Elekid and Diglett for the title of fastest Pokemon in the metagame. Thanks to Thunder Wave and Explosion, Voltorb can reliably revenge kill and trade with a large portion of the tier. In addition to its Speed, Voltorb’s strong offensive typing allows it to check powerful threats such as Abra, Doduo, Wailmer, and Gastly. However, Voltorb is held back by the prominence of Diglett and Trapinch and is often forced into using Explosion against them, which in itself is risky: Trapinch sometimes runs Protect, while Diglett can win the Speed tie and KO Voltorb with Earthquake, preventing it from checking the aforementioned Pokemon long term. Voltorb’s damage output can sometimes let it down, with it struggling to break through bulkier Pokemon such as Chinchou, Pineco, and Porygon, especially since Explosion misses the KO against the latter two at full HP.
[SET]
Offensive Pivot (Voltorb) @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Static
Level: 5
EVs: 36 HP / 40 Atk / 116 Def / 80 SpA / 196 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Thunder Wave / Thief / Substitute
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Explosion
[SET COMMENTS]
The Defense investment allows Voltorb to always survive Earthquake from mixed bulky attacker Wailmer. 40 Attack EVs with a Timid nature are used to guarantee that Explosion OHKOes Trapinch and Wailmer. Thunder Wave is Voltorb’s best form of speed control, effectively neutering frail Pokemon that rely on their Speed such as Abra, Anorith, and Gastly. Thief gives Voltorb another option to cripple opposing Pokemon by removing their recovery in Sitrus Berry and using it itself or denying a sweep by removing their pinch Berries. Substitute is used to punish status attempts from slower Pokemon such as Porygon and Chinchou, giving Voltorb a free turn to attack or cripple the opposing Pokemon with Thunder Wave. Hidden Power Grass OHKOes Rock / Ground types such as Larvitar and Onix and lets Voltorb fight Electric-immune Pokemon without committing to Explosion. It is also worth mentioning that Hidden Power Grass into Thunderbolt KOes mixed bulky attacker Wailmer. Finally, Explosion OHKOes most of the tier, preventing troublesome Pokemon like Abra and Bagon from snowballing out of control and allowing it to beat otherwise strong checks in Chinchou and opposing Voltorb. Caution should be taken to avoid using Explosion into a Ghost-type, however.
Voltorb pairs well with Pokemon that have trouble with Diglett and Trapinch, such as Houndour, Abra, and Elekid. Voltorb is an appealing target for Diglett and Trapinch, allowing it to force them out early, as well as having the potential to trade with them, albeit unreliably. Elekid in particular forms a potent offensive core with Voltorb, overloading their shared checks and smothering offense with their Speed and support options, like Light Screen and Thunder Wave. Wailmer is a good teammate, as it can struggle into Doduo, Staryu, and Gastly, and is a great switch-in to the Ground-types that will inevitably trap and remove Voltorb. Voltorb has strong synergy with Cacnea, as it can use Spikes against Diglett, Cubone, Trapinch, and Chinchou lacking Ice Beam. Voltorb in turn switches into Doduo locked into Drill Peck. Lastly, (add comma) Porygon and Trapinch can reliably remove Diglett in the event that Voltorb loses the Speed tie and remain healthy enough to check Abra or Elekid later in the match.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Mirror Coat can be used to land surprise KOs against special attackers but is difficult to make use of in practice, as there are not many special attackers that like to stay in against Voltorb. Taunt can deny utility moves like Cacnea and Pineco’s Spikes and Sunny Day from Exeggcute. Rain Dance and Light Screen are viable options to support setup sweepers such as Horsea, Larvitar, and Bagon.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Offensive Ground-types**: Unless they have already taken chip damage, Voltorb is forced to use Explosion against Diglett, Trapinch, and Cubone. Voltorb has to win a Speed tie versus Diglett, while Trapinch and Cubone commonly run Protect, meaning Voltorb will have to gamble if it wants to get anything out of these interactions.
**Electric-resistant Pokemon**: Voltorb’s attacks do very little to Pokemon that resist Electric-type attacks, with its only coverage option being the weak Hidden Power Grass. Cacnea is able to take advantage of this to set up Spikes against Voltorb. Magnemite and Lileep care even less about Voltorb, as they resist Explosion on top of Thunderbolt.
**Paralysis**: Most of Voltorb’s utility comes from the fact that it is one of only three Pokemon that reach 20 Speed. Once Voltorb is paralyzed, it becomes dead weight and easy setup fodder. Voltorb can use Substitute to block Thunder Wave from opposing Pokemon, however.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/cawil-maxamad.652526/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/grape-tylenol.593128/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/aurora.109385/
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