Stumbled upon this thread and thought I might share my sets which have brought me success in ladder and tourneys over time, and I'd love to get validation for them and/or tips on how to improve them.
Lycanroc @ Focus Sash edit: nah this is terrible
Leafeon @ Normalium Z
Ability: Leaf Guard
EVs: 152 Atk / 120 SpD / 236 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Leaf Blade
- X-Scissor
- Knock Off
- Celebrate
IMO the best user of Z-Celebrate in the tier due to its good stats and versatile moveset, this Leafeon set goes for a bulky-ish spread that at +1 reliably handles special moves in addition to already being a great physical wall.
Due to its excellent base Def stat, it can easily counter many physical attackers and set up. Leaf Blade is Leafeon's best STAB and its increased critical hit ratio is very useful when dealing with walls; Knock Off, aside from being a very splashable coverage move, can help it and its team deal with threats such as Eviolite Scyther, Eviolite Gurdurr and Band Stoutland; X-Scissor gives it extra coverage and specifically hits Persian-A, Colbur Berry Mesprit and all Lilligant variants especially hard.
236 Spe EVs puts it in a comfortable speed tier and at +1 it outspeeds positive-natured base 80 Spe Scarf users. It does get outsped by Scarf Primeape/Dodrio but it doesn't mind much since it reliably tanks their hits only to knock them off right away and create an advantage for slower team mates in case it faints. 152 Atk paired with Adamant nature is reliably strong at +1 and doesn't need any further investment to hit hard. 120 SpD allows it to withstand, especially at +1, supereffective special moves that it would otherwise get OHKOed by, most notably in my experience Sludge Bomb Roselia.
In my experience it is best used as a mid-game booster due to its ability to OHKO/2HKO many opponents and soften others, making late-game cleanup an easier task.
Masquerain @ Focus Sash
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Quiver Dance
- Bug Buzz
- Air Slash
- Scald
Lastly, my personal favorite set to use in any team, offensive Masquerain isn't a new or creative set by any means but it is now more viable than ever thanks to its Gen 7 stat boosts (+20 SpA, +20 Spe) which finally gives it realistic usage of its incredible moveset that allows it not only to pressure some of the meta's current threats, but also drop-ins such as Guzzlord and short-lived Fire types.
Masquerain has access to the best boosting move in the game in the form of Quiver Dance, and unlike other notable Dancers in the tier, most notably Lilligant and Bellossom, it has an extremely broad offensive moveset that allows it to hit the entire tier for at least neutral damage. Bug Buzz is Masquerain's strongest STAB that at +1 deals massive damage to Lilligant, Mesprit, Claydol, Persian-A and Guzzlord just to name a few and can KO through the occasional Substitute. Air Slash is a secondary STAB that hits Fighting and Bug types especially hard and enjoys a realistic 30% flinch chance for dealing with special walls such as Clefairy and Jellicent. Scald is especially useful as a surprise moves that many players do not expect, reliably OHKOing Aggron, Flareon and Simisear and dealing serious damage to Mudsdale and Regirock. The 30% burn chance often allows it to KO Sturdy/Sash users such as Golem and Lycanroc, and shut down other physical attackers which otherwise don't mind taking hits from Masq, such as Sandslash-A. Hydro Pump is an alternative Water move that is notably stronger but the trade-offs in accuracy and lack of secondary effects make it less viable for general use.
EV spread is very straightforward; Max SpA and Spe maximize Masq's offensive presence while the remainder of the EVs go to SpD which gets boosted too. Modest nature maximizes Masquerain's attack and is preferred over Timid not only because Masquerain can't make realistic use of Life Orb/Z-Moves to boost its power but also because at +1 Modest outspeeds the majority of the unboosted metagame, while Timid does not outspeed common scarfers such as Primeape and Dodrio anyway. Focus Sash is the only item Masquerain can make usage of due to its physical frailty.
Masquerain is in my experience best used as a lead, taking advantage of the first turn to boost while opponents usually set up rocks. While against unprepared teams it can wreak utter havoc, Masquerain is generally less reliable than Lilligant which is slightly bulkier and has realistic usage of support moves and recovery. While it can take on any opponent at full health, Masq is susceptible to priority users when at 1HP. Masquerain doesn't like being Taunted and should not lead against Froslass (Do note that it doesn't mind getting taunted by Persian-A since unboosted Bug Buzz straight up OHKOes it). It also has trouble getting through especially bulky AV users for which it doesn't have supereffective coverage, most notably Drampa and Eelektross, and doesn't like Hail setters such as Aurorus which can KO it through its sash. Ideal team partners would be a hazard remover like Skuntank who can clear the way for Masq should it be used later in the game (losing 50% of its HP to rocks greatly hurts its abilities), and Electric-immune mon such as Manectric and Lanturn.
Overall, Masquerain does have severe limitations, mostly caused by its unfortunate defensive typing, but when used right it can become an invaluable team member. I'd really love to see more experienced players try using it.
Leafeon @ Normalium Z
Ability: Leaf Guard
EVs: 152 Atk / 120 SpD / 236 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Leaf Blade
- X-Scissor
- Knock Off
- Celebrate
IMO the best user of Z-Celebrate in the tier due to its good stats and versatile moveset, this Leafeon set goes for a bulky-ish spread that at +1 reliably handles special moves in addition to already being a great physical wall.
Due to its excellent base Def stat, it can easily counter many physical attackers and set up. Leaf Blade is Leafeon's best STAB and its increased critical hit ratio is very useful when dealing with walls; Knock Off, aside from being a very splashable coverage move, can help it and its team deal with threats such as Eviolite Scyther, Eviolite Gurdurr and Band Stoutland; X-Scissor gives it extra coverage and specifically hits Persian-A, Colbur Berry Mesprit and all Lilligant variants especially hard.
236 Spe EVs puts it in a comfortable speed tier and at +1 it outspeeds positive-natured base 80 Spe Scarf users. It does get outsped by Scarf Primeape/Dodrio but it doesn't mind much since it reliably tanks their hits only to knock them off right away and create an advantage for slower team mates in case it faints. 152 Atk paired with Adamant nature is reliably strong at +1 and doesn't need any further investment to hit hard. 120 SpD allows it to withstand, especially at +1, supereffective special moves that it would otherwise get OHKOed by, most notably in my experience Sludge Bomb Roselia.
In my experience it is best used as a mid-game booster due to its ability to OHKO/2HKO many opponents and soften others, making late-game cleanup an easier task.
Masquerain @ Focus Sash
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Quiver Dance
- Bug Buzz
- Air Slash
- Scald
Lastly, my personal favorite set to use in any team, offensive Masquerain isn't a new or creative set by any means but it is now more viable than ever thanks to its Gen 7 stat boosts (+20 SpA, +20 Spe) which finally gives it realistic usage of its incredible moveset that allows it not only to pressure some of the meta's current threats, but also drop-ins such as Guzzlord and short-lived Fire types.
Masquerain has access to the best boosting move in the game in the form of Quiver Dance, and unlike other notable Dancers in the tier, most notably Lilligant and Bellossom, it has an extremely broad offensive moveset that allows it to hit the entire tier for at least neutral damage. Bug Buzz is Masquerain's strongest STAB that at +1 deals massive damage to Lilligant, Mesprit, Claydol, Persian-A and Guzzlord just to name a few and can KO through the occasional Substitute. Air Slash is a secondary STAB that hits Fighting and Bug types especially hard and enjoys a realistic 30% flinch chance for dealing with special walls such as Clefairy and Jellicent. Scald is especially useful as a surprise moves that many players do not expect, reliably OHKOing Aggron, Flareon and Simisear and dealing serious damage to Mudsdale and Regirock. The 30% burn chance often allows it to KO Sturdy/Sash users such as Golem and Lycanroc, and shut down other physical attackers which otherwise don't mind taking hits from Masq, such as Sandslash-A. Hydro Pump is an alternative Water move that is notably stronger but the trade-offs in accuracy and lack of secondary effects make it less viable for general use.
EV spread is very straightforward; Max SpA and Spe maximize Masq's offensive presence while the remainder of the EVs go to SpD which gets boosted too. Modest nature maximizes Masquerain's attack and is preferred over Timid not only because Masquerain can't make realistic use of Life Orb/Z-Moves to boost its power but also because at +1 Modest outspeeds the majority of the unboosted metagame, while Timid does not outspeed common scarfers such as Primeape and Dodrio anyway. Focus Sash is the only item Masquerain can make usage of due to its physical frailty.
Masquerain is in my experience best used as a lead, taking advantage of the first turn to boost while opponents usually set up rocks. While against unprepared teams it can wreak utter havoc, Masquerain is generally less reliable than Lilligant which is slightly bulkier and has realistic usage of support moves and recovery. While it can take on any opponent at full health, Masq is susceptible to priority users when at 1HP. Masquerain doesn't like being Taunted and should not lead against Froslass (Do note that it doesn't mind getting taunted by Persian-A since unboosted Bug Buzz straight up OHKOes it). It also has trouble getting through especially bulky AV users for which it doesn't have supereffective coverage, most notably Drampa and Eelektross, and doesn't like Hail setters such as Aurorus which can KO it through its sash. Ideal team partners would be a hazard remover like Skuntank who can clear the way for Masq should it be used later in the game (losing 50% of its HP to rocks greatly hurts its abilities), and Electric-immune mon such as Manectric and Lanturn.
Overall, Masquerain does have severe limitations, mostly caused by its unfortunate defensive typing, but when used right it can become an invaluable team member. I'd really love to see more experienced players try using it.
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