Volbeat's Skeleton

[Overview]

• While it has pitiful stats, Volbeat's main niche lies in its access to the Prankster ability
• Has all the right moves to utilize Prankster with and support its team (although lacks Taunt :[)
• Makes for a great rain setter, supporting rain teams with paralysis support with priority Thunder Wave
• Also has a rare boosting move in Tail Glow, which it can effectively pass on to another teammate with priority Baton Pass; priority Encore also makes setting up easier against the likes of hazard leads or opposing boosting Pokemon
• Taunt completely shuts Volbeat down
• It has low bulk, making setting up somewhat difficult
• Bug typing is a double-edged sword; it gives Volbeat resistances to Fighting and Ground, but also burdens it with weaknesses to omnipresent Fire- and Rock-type attacks
• Has a lot of competition from Liepard as a priority rain setter
• Smeargle also gives it stiff competition as a Baton Passer, with its access to the unarguably superior Quiver Dance
• Overall a useful Pokemon for teams that like its specific support

[SET]
name: Rain Dance
move 1: Rain Dance
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Encore
move 4: Thunder Wave
item: Damp Rock
ability: Prankster
nature: Relaxed
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

• At first glance, Liepard seems to outclass this set due to its lack of a Stealth Rock weakness and access to Taunt; however, Volbeat's typing is much better defensively, giving it resistances to Fighting and Ground, while the rain mitigates its Fire-type weakness (giving it another boon as Volbeat utilizes the rain it sets)
• U-turn + minimum Speed allows Volbeat to bring in a rain sweeper unscathed
• Encore gives Volbeat more setup opportunities and allows teammates to find switch-in opportunities
• Thunder Wave lets Volbeat support its team further by crippling dangerous Pokemon such as Sceptile and Kabutops, which would otherwise trouble rain teams

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

• A physically defensive spread is there as Volbeat's Bug typing is more suited towards taking physical hits
• A Relaxed nature + 0 Speed IVs are used to ensure that Volbeat gets outsped by the majority of the metagame so it can U-turn into a rain sweeper unhindered
• Sunny Day + Heat Rock can be used to make Volbeat a supporter for sun teams instead, but Whimsicott gives it a lot of competition in that role
• Roost can be used if you desire reliable healing, although Volbeat typically prefers its other moves as they provide more utility
• Pokemon that utilize the rain are obvious teammates; Ludicolo, Omastar, Kabutops, Moltres, and Jynx fall into that category
• Defensive Pokemon such as Ferroseed and Amoonguss also love the rain, as it mitigates there Fire-type weaknesses (especially for the former); offensive variants of Amoonguss also love the paralysis support Volbeat has to offer
• Having a backup rain setter is highly recommended, just in case Volbeat goes down; Lanturn, Uxie and Accelgor fit that bill nicely

[SET]
name: Baton Pass
move 1: Baton Pass
move 2: Tail Glow
move 3: Encore
move 4: Substitute / Thunder Wave
item: Leftovers
ability: Prankster
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]

• Access to Tail Glow gives Volbeat a niche as a Baton Passer; Prankster elevates that niche to whole new level
• The +3 Special Attack boost, when passed to the right teammate, can be devastating for the opposing team
• Encore aids Volbeat in the daunting task of setting up, as locking a Pokemon into a boosting move or entry hazard can give Volbeat just the right amount of time it needs to set up and pass
• Substitute allows Volbeat to avoid status and, most importantly, Taunt, to aid in its setup; and if the Substitute stays intact when Volbeat Baton Passes, the effects can be game-changing
• Thunder Wave can be used instead to cripple the opposing Pokemon and make it easier to Baton Pass into its recipient safely

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

• The EV spread utilizes Volbeat's typing by giving it a more physically defensive approach
• Salac or Petaya Berry can be used alongside an EV spread of 244 HP / 252 Def / 12 SpD to pass an extra boost to the recipient. Only use it with Substitute though, so it has an easier time getting into activation range without the worry of being knocked out
• Mental Herb can be used alongside Thunder Wave to get surefire protection from Taunt, however, that's only a one-time thing and Substitute is overall more reliable
• Roost can be used, but Volbeat is better off using the options above as they provide more overall utility
• Bug Buzz, while tempting, should not be used as Volbeat's Special Attack is weak even after a Tail Glow boost; furthermore, there won't be many times that Volbeat would want to outright attack its opponent
• Recipients should be Pokemon that are either bulky or fast, as Tail Glow only provides a Special Attack boost, making the recipient prone to revenge killing
• Options for bulky recipients are Tangrowth, Lanturn, Mesprit and Slowking, while options for fast recipients are Sceptile, Manectric, Rotom-C, and Accelgor

[Other Options]

• Tailwind is the most viable alternative to using Volbeat, although the move's duration is very off-putting
• Confuse Ray is another options, although the accuracy and overall unreliability of confusion makes it a lesser option
• An attacking set with Tail Glow / Bug Buzz / Giga Drain / Thunderbolt and a Life Orb can be considered, but Volbeat doesn't have the bulk, Speed, or power (even after Tail Glow) to utilize it effectively
• Volbeat's Attack is higher than its Special Attack and it does have a plethora of Physical moves such as U-Turn, Acrobatics, Ice Punch, and even Focus Punch, but again, its stats really hinder it
• Lagging Tail or status Orb + Trick is feasible, although Volbeat doesn't have the room for it
• Toxic can cripple any wall, but it takes a precious moveslot and is usually not worth it

[Checks and Counters]

• Volbeat's best counter is actually a move and not a Pokemon; Taunt completely shuts Volbeat down. Liepard and Murkrow both outspeed it due to their access to Prankster and naturally higher Speed, so they put a complete stop to Volbeat
• Manectric appreciates a Thunder Wave due to its Lightningrod ability, and can in turn blast Volbeat away with Overheat or Flamethrower
• Rhydon doesn't care for Thunder Wave either, and can KO Volbeat even through Substitute with Rock Blast
• Phazing moves such as Whirlwind and can remove Volbeat's allies boosts if you catch them on the switch
• Dragon Tail also works, but it is less likely to phaze due to its 90% accuracy and Volbeat potentially running Substitute
• Keep up the offensive momentum and make it difficult to pass boosts
• Any decently powerful Pokemon can easily KO Volbeat, but they will almost always be left crippled by priority Thunder Wave