[Gen 8] LC - Mienfoo + Vullaby Offense

Question

Please note that this team is no longer usable in LC following the Vullaby ban.

Grookey @ Life Orb
Ability: Grassy Surge
Level: 5
EVs: 236 Atk / 36 Def / 236 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Grassy Glide
- Wood Hammer
- U-turn
- Swords Dance

Standard set. (Used Drain Punch and Knock Off instead of U-turn before)

Ponyta-Galar @ Eviolite
Ability: Pastel Veil
Level: 5
EVs: 236 SpA / 76 SpD / 196 Spe
Timid Nature
- Calm Mind
- Morning Sun
- Psychic
- Mystical Fire

To check Fighting types, since I have too many Dark types.

Carvanha @ Life Orb
Ability: Speed Boost
Level: 5
EVs: 36 Def / 156 SpA / 36 SpD / 236 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 HP
- Hydro Pump
- Dark Pulse
- Ice Beam
- Protect

Special Carvanha instead of Physical because... Abundance of Physical 'mons. Would change to physical set if needed.

Mienfoo @ Berry Juice
Ability: Regenerator
Level: 5
EVs: 236 Atk / 36 Def / 236 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- High Jump Kick
- Acrobatics
- Substitute

Pawniard @ Eviolite
Ability: Defiant
Level: 5
EVs: 156 Atk / 36 Def / 116 SpD / 196 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Iron Head
- Sucker Punch
- Stealth Rock

Stealth Rock setter

Vullaby (F) @ Berry Juice
Ability: Weak Armor
Level: 5
EVs: 236 Atk / 76 Def / 196 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Defog

Defogger

Answer 1

Grookey
Good set, nothing you absolutely have to change. You may want to try Knock Off or Drain Punch over Wood Hammer so you aren't completely walled by Ferroseed. While Wood Hammer is a tremendously helpful move, removing Eviolites or gaining HP back (plus hitting Steels) is usually more helpful when you also have Grassy Glide. If you really want Wood Hammer, use it over Swords Dance, as SD + U-turn isn't the best of combinations.

Grookey @ Life Orb
Ability: Grassy Surge
Level: 5
EVs: 236 Atk / 36 Def / 236 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Grassy Glide
- Knock Off / Drain Punch
- U-turn
- Swords Dance / Wood Hammer

Ponyta-Galar
The set works, but I prefer Dazzling Gleam over Calm Mind to take out Scraggy. Your current setup is plenty viable though, so no complaints here either.

Ponyta-Galar @ Eviolite
Ability: Pastel Veil
Level: 5
EVs: 236 SpA / 76 SpD / 196 Spe
Timid Nature
- Calm Mind / Dazzling Gleam
- Morning Sun
- Psychic
- Mystical Fire

Carvanha
Carvanha isn't very good in the current meta, so you should use the undeniably best Water type in the tier: Mareanie. It's incredibly bulky, it offers more utility, and it has a better typing than Carvanha. Here's Smogon's set:

Mareanie @ Eviolite
Level: 5
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 196 HP / 20 Def / 92 SpA / 180 SpD
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Sludge Bomb
- Recover
- Toxic Spikes

Mienfoo
Mienfoo has no use for Substitute. Swap Berry Juice with either Eviolite or Life Orb, and use Fake Out over Substitute, and swap Swords Dance for U-turn. Fake Out can break Abra and Diglett's Sashes, while breaking Magnemite and Onix's Sturdy. U-turn lets you pivot to keep momentum, and abuse Regenerator recovery.

Mienfoo @ Eviolite / Life Orb / Berry Juice
Ability: Regenerator
Level: 5
EVs: 236 Atk / 36 Def / 236 Spe
Jolly Nature
- U-turn
- High Jump Kick
- Acrobatics
- Fake Out

Pawniard
Basic and effective, good set. Nothing I'd change here.

Vullaby
Again, good set. Nothing I'd change here either.

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You've got a pretty good team, it should be able to secure you quite a few wins. Hope I helped, and good luck!

Pokepaste with changes

Comments

Eviolite with Acrobatics?

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I used berry juice + substitute i.e. use substitute till you get below 50% HP and then use acrobatics. I guess there is a flaw here.

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I forgot to change that, lol. My bad. I'd make the case that Acrobatics is insurance against having your item Knocked Off, but that's unreliable. I'll add Berry Juice as an option again.

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I will swap Acro then, for maybe SD? Thanks btw.

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Happy to help! I think U-turn + SD is a bit wasteful - you could also consider Knock Off or Taunt in its place.