Onix @ Heat Rock
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Taunt
- Sunny Day
- Explosion
With access to Rocks, Taunt, Explosion, a solid speed tier, and Sturdy Onix is bar none the best lead on dedicated sun teams. unless there’s faster taunt users and mons that begin to run with bullet seed happens, onix is guaranteed to get sun up and taunt something in the process, providing momentum for the team. While it is preferable to allow Onix to be in the lead slot, if you predict a faster taunt user like Emolga or Persian will come in, then another pokemon, like Leafeon can come in instead.
Weepinbell @ Life Orb / Eviolite
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Growth
- Sludge Bomb
- Solar Beam
- Weather Ball
Weepinbell is the premier special attacker with a good special attack, two terrific dual STABs, and Weather ball. In contrast to Leafeon who has difficulty justifying running HP Fire for Wormadam-S, Weepinbell just destroys it. Eviolite can be run to give it more defenses, but it misses out on the power when running life orb. Weepinbell is able to destroy Meganium and Frillish, two titans of the ZU meta, but will struggle against Munchlax.
Leafeon @ Life Orb / Lum Berry
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant / Naughty Nature
- Swords Dance
- Leaf Blade
- Double-Edge
- Synthesis / Hidden Power Fire
Leafeon is the best physical sun sweeper, possessing an excellent speed tier, good physical bulk and good attack. When combined with synthesis, leafeon tends to last longer than other sun sweepers. Again, Life orb makes the most out of leafeon’s power, though i actually like Lum berry too to prevent unexpected paralysis from munchlax’s body slams or frillish’s will-o-wisp. Hidden power fire can be run to deal with wormadam better, though I find it very hard to justify otherwise.
Illumise (F) @ Heat Rock
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Thunder Wave
- Encore
- U-turn
- Sunny Day
Illumise isn’t limited to the Specs + Tinted Lens set - it is the go-to weather setter with Volbeat in PU. With Encore to prevent setup and Thunder Wave for Speed Control, illumise is extremely reliable at setting sun and can be annoying to deal with.
Simisear @ Life Orb / Expert Belt
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Solar Beam
- Fire Blast
- Superpower
- Hidden Power [Rock]
Simisear has excellent coverage choices and a terrific speed tier under sun, which makes it quite scary with its mixed coverage. The coverage choices allows it to target the big three (munchlax, frillish, meganium) while using HP Rock against itself and flareon.
Flareon @ Expert Belt
Ability: Guts
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Flame Charge
- Shadow Ball
- Superpower
- Fire Blast
Flareon is underrated as a breaker, and is insanely difficult to switch into after 1 flame charge boost. I tended not to go for life orb since its low speed leaves it vulnerable to taking a hit, so i slotted Expert belt to still give it high offensive presence while not chipping away at its longevity. Like Simisear, it hits the big 3, but tends to be more of a setup sweeper late-game that cleans with access to flame charge.
Leavanny @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 2 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe
- Bug Buzz
- Solar Beam
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Air Slash
Leavanny @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Leaf Blade
- X-Scissor
- Poison Jab
While far from the first choice to use as a sun sweeper due to its stealth rock weakness and shallow movepool, Leavanny still has the tools to be a perfectly fine choice with an extra bug STAB to destroy Meganium and frillish. Leavanny has good mixed attacking stats and can afford to go on either side of the spectrum. I considered running Toxic or Grass Whistle, but this often costs momentum and most sun sweepers prefer to attack rather than status when sun is up.