I've been using this Illumise with some success in UU, and I was quite surprised that there was not a Growth or Charge Beam (no BP) set. The analysis I made is pretty long, but it explains everything about the set in a lot of detail, so here it is.
[SET]
name: Tinted Sweeper
move 1: Growth / Charge Beam
move 2: Encore
move 3: Bug Buzz
move 4: Thunderbolt
item: Focus Sash / Salac Berry
ability: Tinted Lens
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>While Illumise may look inferior to Venomoth, who boasts better stats in almost every category and hits harder with Tinted Lens, Illumise has two key qualities that Venomoth lacks. These consist of the ability to boost her Special Attack stat without the use of Choice Specs, and Encore to support both herself and her team while preparing for a sweep. Growth is the recommended choice over Charge Beam, as Illumise is so frail meaning that she can put the guaranteed boosts of Growth to much better use. Although Charge Beam only has a 63% chance to boost Special Attack (factoring in accuracy), it is a viable option to allow Illumise to deal some damage as she boosts her stats.</p>
<p>Encore works very well with Illumise's above average Speed in UU, allowing her to boost her stats while the opponent switches out. It can also help her stop other sweepers from ripping her team apart by catching them on a setup move. This requires lots of prediction, as she must be sent out on the exact turn that they use the move, and she must be faster than them, but with great risk comes great rewards.</p>
<p>The combination of Bug Buzz and Thunderbolt is only resisted by Shedinja thanks to Tinted Lens. STAB Bug Buzz is crucial to this set, because it means that two common special walls - Hypno and Grumpig, are not able to wall Illumise, making her life a lot easier after she has set up. Thunderbolt helps her take down opponents such as Drifblim and Mantine, who could otherwise prove to be big problems for her. It is also there because she does not have many other special attacking options.</p>
<p>In terms of item choice, both Focus Sash and Salac Berry are useful options here. Focus Sash allows Illumise to force a switch with Encore and get one boost, and then take a hit to survive and get another boost on the same turn. Also, it may be Illumise's only chance at taking down your opponent's speedy hard-hitter that would OHKO her and therefore ruin her sweep. Salac Berry is useful as well to take advantage of Illumise's frailty. She often takes a lot from even resisted attacks, and takes ~ 30 - 40% from weak STAB attacks that walls might use. However, since these attacks very rarely OHKO her, she can take advantage of this by taking a couple of these attacks while boosting her stats, and then sweep when Salac Berry activates. Due to 4 HP EVs, Salac Berry can also take advantage of her weakness to Stealth Rock, since she can come in 3 times on Stealth Rock, causing Salac Berry to activate due to 25% damage per switch-in. It is recommended to switch her into a setup move on the third switch-in so that she can Encore the move, and boost her Special Attack while they switch out.</p>
<p>Choosing Modest or Timid depends on how much of a risk-taker one wants to be. Timid is much easier to use, as Illumise can Encore many more Pokemon with the extra Speed, allowing for some easier stat boosting. Timid can also allow her to outspeed many Choice Scarf users in UU after a Salac Berry boost, reaching 442 Speed. The problem is that she's quite underpowered with only 245 Special Attack before any boosts, and Modest is therefore much riskier but carries greater payoffs. It is much harder for her to set up with fewer possible Encore targets, but her attacks hit much harder after a boost compared to Timid. For instance, the difference between Modest and Timid is the difference between OHKOing and 2HKOing Claydol after one boost.</p>
Yeah, I checked over it and proofread it, but there might still be some mistakes in there, or things that could be improved. Thanks for reading, and happy nitpicking. :]
[SET]
name: Tinted Sweeper
move 1: Growth / Charge Beam
move 2: Encore
move 3: Bug Buzz
move 4: Thunderbolt
item: Focus Sash / Salac Berry
ability: Tinted Lens
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>While Illumise may look inferior to Venomoth, who boasts better stats in almost every category and hits harder with Tinted Lens, Illumise has two key qualities that Venomoth lacks. These consist of the ability to boost her Special Attack stat without the use of Choice Specs, and Encore to support both herself and her team while preparing for a sweep. Growth is the recommended choice over Charge Beam, as Illumise is so frail meaning that she can put the guaranteed boosts of Growth to much better use. Although Charge Beam only has a 63% chance to boost Special Attack (factoring in accuracy), it is a viable option to allow Illumise to deal some damage as she boosts her stats.</p>
<p>Encore works very well with Illumise's above average Speed in UU, allowing her to boost her stats while the opponent switches out. It can also help her stop other sweepers from ripping her team apart by catching them on a setup move. This requires lots of prediction, as she must be sent out on the exact turn that they use the move, and she must be faster than them, but with great risk comes great rewards.</p>
<p>The combination of Bug Buzz and Thunderbolt is only resisted by Shedinja thanks to Tinted Lens. STAB Bug Buzz is crucial to this set, because it means that two common special walls - Hypno and Grumpig, are not able to wall Illumise, making her life a lot easier after she has set up. Thunderbolt helps her take down opponents such as Drifblim and Mantine, who could otherwise prove to be big problems for her. It is also there because she does not have many other special attacking options.</p>
<p>In terms of item choice, both Focus Sash and Salac Berry are useful options here. Focus Sash allows Illumise to force a switch with Encore and get one boost, and then take a hit to survive and get another boost on the same turn. Also, it may be Illumise's only chance at taking down your opponent's speedy hard-hitter that would OHKO her and therefore ruin her sweep. Salac Berry is useful as well to take advantage of Illumise's frailty. She often takes a lot from even resisted attacks, and takes ~ 30 - 40% from weak STAB attacks that walls might use. However, since these attacks very rarely OHKO her, she can take advantage of this by taking a couple of these attacks while boosting her stats, and then sweep when Salac Berry activates. Due to 4 HP EVs, Salac Berry can also take advantage of her weakness to Stealth Rock, since she can come in 3 times on Stealth Rock, causing Salac Berry to activate due to 25% damage per switch-in. It is recommended to switch her into a setup move on the third switch-in so that she can Encore the move, and boost her Special Attack while they switch out.</p>
<p>Choosing Modest or Timid depends on how much of a risk-taker one wants to be. Timid is much easier to use, as Illumise can Encore many more Pokemon with the extra Speed, allowing for some easier stat boosting. Timid can also allow her to outspeed many Choice Scarf users in UU after a Salac Berry boost, reaching 442 Speed. The problem is that she's quite underpowered with only 245 Special Attack before any boosts, and Modest is therefore much riskier but carries greater payoffs. It is much harder for her to set up with fewer possible Encore targets, but her attacks hit much harder after a boost compared to Timid. For instance, the difference between Modest and Timid is the difference between OHKOing and 2HKOing Claydol after one boost.</p>
Yeah, I checked over it and proofread it, but there might still be some mistakes in there, or things that could be improved. Thanks for reading, and happy nitpicking. :]
