Illumise & Volbeat

Illumise v Volbeat buffs

Hi all, more overlooked mons that have been buffed!
We’ll be looking at gen 3 fireflies, Illumise and Volbeat, considering their sets and buffs to see which one shines brighter!
2 bug types are male/female counterparts with very similar stats – only difference is inverted attacking stats, Volbeat physical and Illumise special. Both have decent support movepools – Baton Pass, Thunder Wave, Encore, the main difference comes in Illumise getting Wish and Volbeat getting the invaluable Tail Glow, especially potent when combined with Baton Pass (it used to be his signature move before Manaphy stole it!)
Gen 5 saw a big buff to both these bugs with their Hidden Ability Prankster. This cemented both as decent weather inducers, getting access to both rain dance and sunny day, and also ensure Volbeats Baton Pass supremacy. At this stage, Volbeat was the preferred option due to Tail Glow and his slightly stronger U-Turn.
So how have things changed in recent generations? There are 2 big buffs that both of these Pokemon get:
1.	Stats – big defense boost and moderate SpD boost. Helps them both with the support roles they play, and especially means that they are no longer super frail on the defensive side, which is nice for taking fighting and ground type attacks. Both get healing moves too, which means that the potential for these bugs to stick around longer is real. Doesn’t affect the types of sets they run too much though, and affects both equally.
2.	Defog – both fireflies now get access to Defog. With Prankster and increased bulk, these 2 offer a pretty neat hazard removal option, especially considering their ability to heal and keep momentum with U-Turn. Again this affects both equally, but could really change how these Pokemon are used!
So now for the differences:
1.	Illumise gets Aromatherapy – another very useful support move, also benefitting from Prankster. Combined with Wish, Illumise now has all the tools it requires to be a cleric. The issue here is that clerics require more bulk than utility Pokemon, and though Illumise’s stats are buffed, passing wishes will still be tricky, but it could work in certain formats/smogon low tiers.
2.	Volbeat gets Lunge – until now Volbeats most powerful physical bug STAB has been U-Turn, and aside from that it relied on Bug Bite which is by all accounts weak. Lunge is great as a strong bug type move with the ability to weaken the opponent’s attack, especially considering Volbeats new found physical bulk!
So let’s consider the new sets that the fireflies can have:
Illumise @ Leftovers
Prankster
Calm, 252 HP, 252 SpD, 4 SpA
Wish
Protect
Aromatherapy
Bug Buzz/U-Turn
Pros: good cleric set that keeps momentum
Cons: Not especially bulky and wishes are not so big (would really benefit from Healing Wish!)

Illumise @ Buginium Z/Insect Plate
Tinted Lens
Modest, 4 Def, 252 SpA, 252 Spe
Bug Buzz
U-Turn
Encore
Defog
Pros: decent damage output and enhanced durability
Cons: No Trick for a specs set, no set up like QD, Healing Wish again PLS GIVE IT!

Worth noting no BP in smogon
Volbeat @ Fightinium Z
Prankster
Adamant 252 Atk, 4 Def, 252 Spe
Lunge
U-Turn
Focus Punch
Encore
Pros: Enhanced bulk, Z-Focus Punch is good coverage, Encore + U-Turn is good momentum
Cons: Coverage could be better, damage output could be better, no Tinted Lens

Volbeat @ Leftovers
Prankster
Relaxed 252 HP/252 Def/4 SpD 0 Spe IVs
Seismic Toss
U-Turn
Defog
Roost/Toxic
Pros: Reliable Prankster Defog, Seismic Toss is reliable damage output, U-Turn keeps momentum
Cons: invites in rock type hazard setters

Volbeat @ Heat/Damp Rock
Prankster
Relaxed 252 HP/252 Def/4 SpD 0 Spe IVs
U-Turn
Sunny Day/Rain Dance
Thunder Wave
Encore
Pros: reliable weather setter, slow momentum for safely bringing in sweeper, utility deterrent for offensive mons, more powerful U-Turn than Illumise
Cons: Not as reliable as Drought/Drizzle