Sunflora Movesets & Competitive Sets

Moves Leaf Storm is Sunflora's strongest STAB move, but it lowers Sunflora's Special Attack after being used, leaving it susceptible to becoming setup fodder. Giga Drain is an option over Leaf Storm, as it lets Sunflora regain a bit of health, is fully accurate, and doesn't drop Sunflora's Special Attack, although it loses out on a lot of power. Earth Power allows Sunflora to take on Fire- and Steel-types a bit better, such as Rapidash and Probopass. Hidden Power Ice allows Sunflora to take on opposing Grass-types, as well as Flying-types. Hidden Power Fire allows Sunflora to hit Ice- and Grass-types for super effective damage. Sludge Bomb can be used to deal more damage to Grass-types such as Tangela, as well as Fairy-types such as Mr. Mime. Synthesis is used to restore Sunflora's HP. Set Details The given Speed EVs allow Sunflora to outpace the likes of Audino, Prinplup, and unboosted Klang, while maximum Special Attack EVs paired with a Modest nature allow Sunflora to hit as hard as it can. Sunflora's HP investment grants it a little more bulk. Life Orb allows Sunflora to deal more damage with each attack, albeit while losing a bit of its health. Solar Power is only useful under sun, allowing Sunflora to hit even harder, although it wears it down fairly quickly in combination with Life Orb. Usage Tips Most of the time, Sunflora should use Leaf Storm if it wants to severely damage a foe, although it has to be wary of being made setup fodder after the Special Attack drop. When possible, use Synthesis to recover Sunflora's health, as Sunflora can easily be weakened by a combination of Life Orb damage, residual damage, and opposing attackers. Sunflora should be brought onto the field by a slow pivoting move such as Probopass's Volt Switch or Pelipper's U-turn. If you predict a Fire-type to switch into Sunflora's Grass-type STAB attack, Earth Power can be a good option to take the incoming foe on, although if you predict wrong, Sunflora can be taken out or severely weakened. On the same note, if you predict a Grass-type to switch into Earth Power or Leaf Storm, Hidden Power Ice or Sludge Bomb can be a good option to take them on, although this comes with the same risk. Team Options Volbeat, Golem, and other sun setters can use Sunny Day, activating Sunflora's Solar Power and making it a more effective wallbreaker. Sawsbuck, Leafeon, Weepinbell, and other Chlorophyll users pair well with Sunflora in weakening an opposing team while sun is up. Entry hazard setters such as Roselia, Crustle, and Clefairy can break foes' Sturdy and Focus Sash with their entry hazards and can weaken incoming foes in general. Pokemon such as Regice, Sawsbuck, and Ninjask appreciate Sunflora's wallbreaking under sun to clean late-game. Rock-type Pokemon such as Golem and Probopass can take on Flying-, Fire-, and Ice-type Pokemon, which can deal severe damage to Sunflora. Electric-type Pokemon, such as Raichu, Rotom-F, and Zebstrika, can take on Flying-types for Sunflora and offer momentum to it by using Volt Switch. Zebstrika is an especially good partner, as it counters Jumpluff by virtue of Sap Sipper. Entry hazard removal from Vibrava, Pelipper, Vullaby, and Armaldo can keep pressure away from Sunflora. Grumpig also has the ability to take on Fire- and Ice-types by virtue of Thick Fat.

With this set, Sunflora can quickly set up weather for sun teams and slightly weaken opponents before getting KOed, possibly allowing a teammate to sweep. Generally, though, Volbeat and Liepard are better options thanks to Prankster, a plethora of utility moves, and the ability to hold a Heat Rock. Sunny Day is a non-negotiable move, as without it, Sunflora has no other niche worth mentioning. SolarBeam is Sunflora's strongest STAB attack in sun. Hidden Power Rock allows Sunflora to dent opposing Charizard and Braviary, while Earth Power allows Sunflora to take down Probopass. Endeavor allows Sunflora to bring down an opponent to 1 HP thanks to Focus Sash. Finally, Encore is an option to lock opponents into harmless moves such as Stealth Rock, Toxic, or Will-O-Wisp, possibly allowing a teammate to switch in for free. Chlorophyll is the chosen ability because Sunflora is too slow and frail to utilize Solar Power effectively. In addition, Chlorophyll allows Sunflora to outspeed up to base 106 Speed Pokemon, including Electabuzz and Kadabra, thus weakening potentially dangerous opponents. Heat Rock is a possible item, but it is inferior because Sunflora will hardly be surviving attacks to set up sun. Because this set fits sun teams well, teammates that benefit from sun are good. Chlorophyll users such as Shiftry, Exeggutor, Sawsbuck, and Victreebel, as well as Fire-types such as Rapidash and Charizard, are good Pokemon on sun teams. Other Pokemon that can set up sun would be beneficial, as the sun set up by Sunflora will not last long and it eases the pressure off of it to stay alive. Pokemon such as Liepard, Volbeat, Regirock, and Probopass can set up sun and provide other decent support options as well. Because sun teams dislike Stealth Rock, Pokemon that can prevent or remove it are useful teammates. Mold Breaker Sawk and Shell Smash Torkoal are decent options to prevent Stealth Rock; this also allows Sunflora to preserve its Focus Sash.

This set takes advantage of Sunflora's alternative ability Solar Power, boosting her Special Attack to insane levels. This does come with its drawbacks however. Using a Life Orb when the sun is active causes Sunflora to lose 22.5% of her health per turn, making her extremely frail, and giving her little time to sweep. Leaf Storm is an immensely powerful attack coming from 105 base Special Attack, boosted by Life Orb and Solar Power, and gaining STAB as well. Earth Power is used to hit Fire-types such as Houndoom, Blaziken, and Magmortar on the switch, while Hidden Power is used to hit opposing Grass-types. Synthesis is used to recover Life Orb and Solar Power recoil, and also benefits from the sun by restoring 2/3 of Sunflora's health. A Modest nature along with 244 Speed EVs allow Sunflora to outrun the likes of Weezing and Clefable not investing in Speed, while maximum Special Attack is used for extra power. Alternatively, a Quiet nature can be used with 2 Speed IVs and Trick Room support. Choice Specs is also viable to boost Sunflora's attacking power, though this makes Synthesis pretty useless and doesn't help her much in the long run. If Trick Room is used, Pokemon who can set it up are important. Slowking is a great example as he is slow, has a resistance to Fire- and Ice-type attacks, and access to Slack Off. Porygon2 is another defensive partner with reliable recovery. Slow sweepers such as Camerupt, Rhyperior, and Omastar can be used to plow through the opponent's team. Sunny Day is required to activate Solar Power, making defensive Pokemon like Uxie prime examples of good teammates to set the sunny weather up. More offensive Pokemon such as Shiftry and Exeggutor can be used as well. Again, Chansey and Clefable will be difficult to break through, making powerful physical attackers great teammates. Outside of physical attackers, Taunt Mismagius is immune to Seismic Toss, blocks status and stat boosting moves with Taunt, and has access to Nasty Plot to boost her Special Attack. A +6 Hidden Power Fighting can 2HKO Chansey with ease. Neither Chansey nor Clefable like being Tricked a Choice item, so Pokemon such as Choice Band Spiritomb or Choice Scarf Uxie can catch the opponent off-guard and make a sweep much easier.

Although Sunflora looks like "just another Chlorophyll user," she has higher Special Attack and a better offensive movepool than most of them. When the weather is sunny, Sunflora has enough Speed to outrun base 95 Pokemon and base 105s with a Timid nature. Solar Beam is used for STAB, as the sun removes its charging turn, Hidden Power Fire is used to hit other Grass-types and gains a boost from the sun, and Earth Power provides coverage against Fire-types. Grass Knot can be used for STAB outside the sun and deals a lot of damage to heavy opponents. Sunflora needs partners who can switch into Fire-type attacks as she is unable to stay in against them. Bulky Water-types such as Slowbro and Milotic are great examples because of their great defenses and access to reliable recovery moves. Flash Fire Pokemon such as Houndoom and Arcanine are good choices as well. Finally, bulky Rock-types such as Rhyperior and Omastar are good partners as they take little damage from Fire-type attacks and can hit back super effectively--watch out for Hidden Power Grass, though. As Sunflora is so frail, she usually requires a teammate to set up Sunny Day for her. Uxie is a great defensive option and has access to other support moves such as Yawn and Stealth Rock--great assets to offensive teams. Ambipom is another good option because of his blistering Speed, access to Taunt, and the ability to scout the opponent's team with U-turn and Fake Out. Finally, Exeggutor can set up Sunny Day, cripple an opponent with Sleep Powder, then Explode in their face allowing you to bring in Sunflora unscathed. Sunflora also appreciates teammates who take advantage of the sun along with her. Fire-types such as Moltres and Blaziken get a boost to their STAB moves, Chlorophyll users such as Shiftry and Vileplume have their Speed doubled, and Leaf Guard Pokemon such as Leafeon and Tangrowth gain an immunity to status; all are excellent teammates. Sunflora has trouble breaking through special walls such as Chansey and Clefable, making a teammate who can dispose of them a necessity. A powerful Fighting-type such as Hariyama is a good option as it can thrash special walls with its STAB Fighting-type attacks and Guts will turn status into an asset rather than a liability. Dugtrio is another option as Arena Trap will stop them from fleeing the field and a STAB Earthquake OHKOes them with ease.

Here we have the NU tier's version of a SunnyBeamer. Sunflora lacks the Speed and the reliable sleep move to make it comparable to an Exeggutor in OU or Vileplume in UU. In the NU environment though, it can clean up decently late-game. This is pretty much an all or nothing sweeper, so the Petaya boost is more valuable than Leftovers would be. That is also why Grass Whistle is in the last slot. Its accuracy is hard to take, but it is the only option available to get rid of your opponent's counter and keep sweeping. The EVs given are for if you are Timid, as they will make you faster than Jolly Raticate and Adamant Sneasel after a Sunny Day. If you are Modest, just max Special Attack and Speed.

Sunflora has the HP and Special Defense to wall pretty well in NU. This would probably be the preferred role for Sunflora as it does a better job at this than at sweeping with its large Special Attack. It makes a nice SunnyBeam counter, especially if your opponent tries to Sunny Day in front of you, as it will always survive at least one Hidden Power Fire. If you have to switch in on the Sunny Day, Sunflora can just Synthesis stall until the sunlight fades.