What Pokemon(s) can abuse the assault vest effectively?
I’m open to any and all suggestions!
Pleaselog inorregisterto add a comment.
I know of an extensive list. Note that all users are best off as tanks/ bulky offensive.
T-TarAssault Vest + Sand sp. def boost is unbelievable, at 738 with max sp. def EVs. It’s pretty much the ultimate Gengar stopper if you needed one, and I think most people do in Ubers. Pursuit trapping is going to be Assault Vest T-Tar’s main attraction. T-Tar can survive non-STAB Focus Blasts and then deal out what damage it needs to with its wide movepool. The forfeit of Leftovers recovery will decrease T-Tar’s time on the field, and that’s the major drawback.
HeatranThe main things that Heatran checks are Sylveon, (Mega)Gardevoir, Alakazam, Lati@s and Talonflame, and with Assault Vest, Heatran will be able to survive a Focus Blast from Alakazam. It’ll be a really great Fairy counter if your team needs one.
With the EV spread 252 Sp. Atk/ 252 HP, Focus Blast from Life Orb Alakazam is 2HKO.With the EV spread 252. Sp. Atk/ 252 Sp. Def, Focus Blast from Life Orb Alakazam is 99.6% 2HKO.With the EV spread 252 HP/ 252 Sp. Def, Focus Blast from Life Orb Alakazam is 3HKO.
Again, Heatran misses Lefties just like T-Tar, so it’s not for every team.
MetagrossMetagross usually runs a fully offensive set anyway, since it has Meteor Mash and therefore no need of a stat boosting move, making it a perfect Assault Vest user. It’s got a wide movepool, and also a great STAB priority in Bullet Punch, which has seen much more use since Fairy was introduced. Metagross is still susceptible to burn though, but Assault Vest is well worth considering, especially since it packs Earthquake and is liable to be trapped by Magenezone’s Magnet Pull.
TangrowthKinda weird to have Tangrowth on the list, since it’s a common user of Sleep Powder, but with Regenerator, Tangrowth can manage to be a mixed tank. It also has some pretty good offensive stats already, base 100 atk and 110 sp. atk, good movepool: Rock Slide, Knock Off, Brick Break, Earthquake, Giga Drain etc.Tangrowth also checks a lot of stuff, like Azumarill, Starmie, Thundurus, Aegislash, Celebi, Rotom-W et. al, so it’s a viable user of Assault Vest, especially with Regenerator.
Rotom-WConsidering Rotom-Wash only has 1 weakness, and Grass is a mostly special based move, Rotom-W is a good candidate for Assault Vest. It has a sparse movepool but at least its 2 STABs can cover most things except Grass, for which it can Volt Switch escape from, or carry HP Ice.
However, Rotom-W forfeits Lefties, Pain Split, Trick and Will-O-Wisp, so Assault Vest Rotom-W is probably not as useful as its support or Trick counterparts.
ConkeldurrAccess to Power-Up Punch, Drain Punch, Mach Punch and Guts makes Conkeldurr a really good Assault Vest user, since it doesn’t need any boosting moves, and Guts means that it won’t fear poison spikes or burn hax. The Sp. def boost will allow it to survive a STAB Psychic move from Alakazam:
252 SpA Alakazam Psychic vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Conkeldurr: 288-338 (69.5 - 81.6%) – guaranteed 2HKO
and deal back the damage
252+ Atk Conkeldurr Knock Off vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Alakazam: 308-364 (122.2 - 144.4%) – guaranteed OHKO
GoodraGreat movepool plus an already monster sp. def makes Goodra a great Assault Vest tank. This just means that it has a a chance of standing against threats like Sylveon and Gardevoir. Mega-Gardevoir’s more of a problem though.
4 SpA Pixilate Sylveon Hyper Voice vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Goodra: 132-156 (34.3 - 40.6%) – guaranteed 3HKO
252 SpA Pixilate Mega Gardevoir Hyper Voice vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Goodra: 216-254 (56.2 - 66.1%) – guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Goodra Sludge Wave vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Mega Gardevoir: 158-186 (56.8 - 66.9%) – guaranteed 2HKO
RhyperiorRhyperior’s max sp. def in Sand with the Vest is 515, meaning, along with Solid Rock, it can take water and grass hits, which makes it a great tank. It’s also got a wide movepool and a STAB Edge-Quake combo.
Some calculations…
4 SpA Rotom-W Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Solid Rock Rhyperior in Sand: 270-318 (62.2 - 73.2%) – guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Rotom-W Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Solid Rock Rhyperior in Sand: 333-396 (76.7 - 91.2%) – guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Alakazam Focus Blast vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Solid Rock Rhyperior in Sand: 145-172 (33.4 - 39.6%) – guaranteed 3HKO
252 SpA Alakazam Energy Ball vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Solid Rock Rhyperior in Sand: 219-261 (50.4 - 60.1%) – guaranteed 2HKO
SnorlaxConsidering that Snorlax has monster sp. def anyway, giving it an Assault Vest would just make it unstoppable without a physical move. It’s also a great Fairy counter to stuff like Gardevoir and Sylveon, considering that it can use Iron Head (tutored in Gen V).
252+ Atk Snorlax Iron Head vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Sylveon: 242-286 (61.4 - 72.5%) – guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
Suck eggs Sylveon!
MagnezoneMagnezone’s max sp. def with the Vest is 459, though realistically it’ll be around 324 because all of its EVs and Nature will be geared towards its HP & sp. atk. Magnezone also has very few status moves to make use of, and would probably do well with: Charge Beam or Volt Switch/ HP Fire/ Thunderbolt/ Flash Cannon and Magnet Pull to trap stuff like Scizor. Watch out for Heatran though…
252 SpA Alakazam Focus Blast vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Magnezone: 196-232 (56.9 - 67.4%) – guaranteed 2HKO
Lopunny & SwoobatStrange users of the vest, but Klutz + Switcheroo/ Trick will be able to cripple your opponent’s support/ cleric. Mostly NU users, but they’re still good in crippling any Stealth Rock/ hazard setters, of which there are an abundance of in NU and a lack of spinners. Having said that, they serve pretty niche roles when holding Assault Vest, so maybe Flame Orb is better in order to ruin physical Pokemon.
Smogon Damage Calculator usedSmogon thread - Assault Vest
Conkeldurr @ Assault vestAbility: GutsEVs: 252 Atk / 12 Def / 244 SDefAdamant NatureIVs: 0 SAtk- Drain Punch- Mach Punch- Knock Off- Ice Punch
This thing can rock an assault vest. All gen 5 it was plagued by special attacks, but no longer! now, it can take the attacks that once plagued it.
Excadrill @ Assault VestAbility: Mold BreakerEVs: 180 Atk / 92 HP / 44 Spd / 192 SDefAdamant Nature- Earthquake- Iron Head- Rapid Spin- Rock Slide
Because rapid spin is technically an attacking move, this actually turns out to be pretty good. itLives an aura sphere from mluke and KOs backit can also live focus blasts and things like that. Mold breaker allows it to hit rotom, which is huge right now.
Rotom-Wash @ Assault VestAbility: LevitateEVs: 232 HP / 56 SpA / 220 SpeModest Nature (+SpA, -Atk)- Volt Switch- Discharge- Hydro Pump- Hidden Power Ice
With assault vest, it can tank a suprising amount of hits, with its already good SpD
Goodra’s already got a heck of a special defense. Dish in an Assault Vest and you obtain a potent tank. With very little, even nonexistent Sp.Def investment, Goodra can be the end of the game on its own. It takes very little from Mega-Mewtwo Y’s attacks (bar Psystrike) and do not forget: Mega-Mewtwo Y’s special attack is the highest ever. Mega-Mewtwo Y will 4HKO Goodra with Ice Beam while Goodra’s wearing the Assault Vest. Da heck.
Goodra @ Assault Vest:Trait: Hydration / GooeyEVs: 252 Sp.Atk / 252 HP / 4 Sp.DefModest Nature
Heatran loves his new gift: Assault Vest. This new item is the new, trend on: fire, hot clothing for Pokémons. But Heatran adores it because with investment in Sp.Def, Heatran becomes a nice offensive pivot, Heatran becomes a reliable switching if needed.
Heatran @ Assault Vest:Trait: Flash FireEVs: 252 HP / 252 Sp.Def / 4 Sp.AtkModest Nature
Dragonite wearing this vest works much like Goodra, but it has what Goodra lacks: Multiscale.Unluckily, Assault Vest prevents Roost, but this is arranged with Wish Support in Vaporeon or Jirachi. Dragonite doesn’t work as well as Goodra but it can use the Vest effectively when supported.
Dragonite @ Assault Vest:Trait: MultiscaleEVs: 252 Sp.Def / 232 Atk / 16 SpeedJolly Nature
Tyranitar’s new toys are numerous this gen: Assault Vest, Tyranitarite and Weakness Policy. Like if Tyranitar was not diverse enough, now, Tyranitar can be a hassle against any team. When you see a Tyranitar, you are like: Assault Vest, Mega or Weakness Policy ?Tyranitar, using this set, will show you how do you play with the Vest like it has to be done:
Tyranitar @ Assault Vest:Trait: Sand StreamEVs: 252 HP / 252 Sp.Def / 4 AtkAdamant Nature
