BP
Upper Decky Lip Mints
[SET]
name: Wall
move 1: Hidden Power Grass / Hidden Power Ground
move 2: Leech Seed
move 3: Synthesis
move 4: Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Overgrow
nature: Bold / Impish
evs: 252 HP / 220 Def / 34 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Bayleef's mono-Grass typing coupled with bulk that is comparable to Lileep make it an excellent contender for defensive roles. Hidden Power Grass allows Bayleef to threaten Ground- and Water-types such as Cubone, Rhyhorn, and Chinchou. Alternatively, Hidden Power Ground can be used to threaten Electric-types such as Elekid and Magnemite. However, Hidden Power Ground fails to break Cubone's Substitute and 2HKO Rhyhorn. Leech Seed allows Bayleef to punish Pokemon that may attempt to switch in such as Koffing and Dustox. Synthesis provides Bayleef with reliable recovery, allowing it to maintain its position as an effective wall for longer. Toxic prevents other walls, most notably Lileep, from taking advantage of Bayleef's passiveness. 34 Speed EVs allow Bayleef to outpace offensive Rhyhorn while maintaining its overall bulk.
Bayleef excels on almost exclusively balance teams due to the competition it faces with Lileep. Pokemon that absorb Toxic such as Koffing, Grimer, and Staryu all pair well with Bayleef. Koffing is worth noting, as it can act as a secondary check to Aipom and a primary check to Rhyhorn, which would otherwise overwhelm Bayleef. Specially defensive Pokemon such as Castform and the previously mentioned Grimer pair well with Bayleef due to their ability to check Chinchou and Growlithe. Pokemon that can take Fire-type attacks such as Seaking, Chinchou, and Spoink make good partners. Physical wallbreakers such as Aipom, Cubone, and Delibird can all threaten Dustox, which otherwise takes advantage of Bayleef's passiveness. Bayleef pairs well with special wall breakers such as Elekid, Cyndaquil, and Staryu, as they can threaten Koffing.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Bayleef can opt to become a set-up sweeper thanks to its access to Swords Dance, though is generally outclassed by other set-up sweepers due to its lackluster physical movepool and mediocre Attack. Reflect and Light Screen are options on offensive teams, though Bayleef is generally outclassed in this regard by Ledian. Moreover, dual screens is a fringe role due to the lack of effective Pokemon to take advantage of them. Thanks to its impressive bulk, Bayleef can opt to invest into Special Defense, though it faces stiff competition from both Dustox and Sunflora.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fire-types**: Growlithe can be safely brought in on any of Bayleef's damaging moves thanks to Intimidate and OHKO it with its STAB move. Cyndaquil has an unfavorable range to OHKO, but is in return 2HKOed by Hidden Power Ground. Both can absorb a Toxic upon switch-in due to their tendency to hold a Lum Berry.
**Flying-types**: Delibird can 2HKO Bayleef with Ice Beam, while Pidgeotto and Taillow can 2HKO Bayleef with Aerial Ace with unfavorable ranges. Taillow is worth noting, as it can absorb a Toxic with Guts, allowing it to more easily 2HKO Bayleef.
**Poison-types**: Defensive Poison-types such as Koffing and Dustox can wall and status Bayleef. Offensive Poison-types such as Grimer and Nidorino can 2HKO Bayleef with their STAB moves. Grimer is worth noting, as it can use Bayleef as set-up fodder.
**Toxic Users**: Pokemon that commonly run Toxic such as Elekid and Lileep can severely limit Bayleef's effectiveness as a wall.
**Seaking**: Seaking's access to Megahorn allows it to 2HKO Bayleef. In return, Bayleef can only 3HKO Seaking with Hidden Power Grass.
[CREDITS]
- Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bp.272450/
- Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
- Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tea-guzzler.577920/
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