Butterfree

[CT Chia]

#012 Butterfree
Typing: Bug/Flying
Ability: Compoundeyes- Increases this Pokémon's Accuracy by 30% and increases the chance of finding items on wild Pokémon.
60/45/50/80/80/70



Chibofree

Butterfree @ Focus Sash
Modest/Compoundeyes
252Spe/252SAtk/4SpDef
-Sleep Powder
-Dream Eater
-Tailwind
-Bug Buzz

I can't think of a better name for this pokemon -_- so I'll stick with Chibofree. It's a set I made up for it that I use whenever I have it on my team. I particularly like using it on Gengar. A lot of things OHKO Butterfree, so that's why there's a focus sash. Because of this though, don't switch your Butterfree onto an opponent (unless your out of your sash or can predict your opponent not attacking). Use Tailwind so you're faster next turn. Sleep Powder will then hit cause of Compound Eyes, and then Dream Eat your way back to full health, which is also if I'm not mistaken a 2HKO (maybe 3) on Gengar. Bug Buzz is there for an extra attack in case you need it.

Note: You can swap out your Speed EVs for something else. Speed isn't needed in the Dream Eater setup because of Tailwind, but is nice to have if you instead want to come in and attack (semi) fast with Bug Buzz. I use Modest nature to increase it's SAtk even higher (as that also helps you recover HP faster w/Dream Eater), in trade for lowering it's unneeded attack.



Chibofree Modified

Butterfree @ Focus Sash
Calm/Compoundeyes
252Hp/252SpDef/4Def
-Tailwind
-Sleep Powder
-Supersonic
-Roost

Based off the Chibofree set with the Tailwind Sleep Powder setup, I instead use other moves for setups and stalling. I set up the EVs in this one to survive longer, especially against special attackers.


Wallfree

Butterfree @ Leftovers
Calm/Compoundeyes
252Hp/252SpDef/4Def
-Iron Defense
-Roost
-Bug Buzz
-Sleep Powder

I tried to turn Butterfree into a mixed wall with this set. Butterfree already has almost decent SDef, so I work into boosting Def similar to a strong Def Slowbro boosting it's SDef with Calm Mind. Butterfree can learn Iron Defense because of Metapod.

The set is mainly based around Iron Defense and Roost. You can then either use Bug Buzz and Sleep Powder for extra walling with Sleep status and Butterfree's strongest STAB attack, or perhaps switch it to Protect and Toxic, however in that case if you're up against a Steel or Poison pokemon, you can't do anything.

Extra Options

You can try out U-turn on Butterfree after setting up with a Tailwind, which won't do much because of Butterfree's low attack, but it still does some damage while switching out to someone who can take advantage of Tailwind's speed increase. This can be good to finish off a near dead opponent or destroy someone's use of Focus Sash. A lot of people will try to make Butterfree into a lead special attacker, but I feel it really isn't that effective with sub-par HP and Def, and Speed that isn't that impressive. I think it benefits more from it's status and helping moves.

EVs

EVs aren't that important on such weak pokemon. Especially since the first two sets rely heavily on focus sash, it's important to just focus on raising your special attack and speed. The only difference is the Wallfree, which puts EVs into special defense as your defense will be fine with Iron Defense.

Troublesome Pokemon

Watch out for weather effects like Hail or Sandstorm as they ruin my common Focus Sash setup. Also be careful of any pokemon with a quick strike move like Quick Atk or Extremespeed as they will finish you off before you can use Sleep Powder. Butterfree can barely compete in an OU environment as a lot of pokemon will have resistances or go be average against the Bug or Psychic move it may have. Additionally, Butterfree has low HP and Def, so watch out for any physical attacks (that are effective) and any Rock moves.

Written by ChiboSempai.

 

[outofdashdwz]

Tailwind is often a poor choice as it only lasts 3 turns, and realistically, Butterfree really can't do any substantial damage with or without the speed boost. Dream Eater is a very bad move in general too, because there are almost no cases in which a player would leave something asleep in play (except resttalkers), especially something as frail as Gengar, and you essentially waste a turn Dream Eating something awake that switches in. Supersonic is also gimmick at best with its 71 accuracy.

The only way Butterfree is probably ever going to see any usage, and its main strengths over the rest of the butterflies/moths, lies in its unique ability, Compoundeyes, which boosts Sleep Powder's accuracy to almost rival Spore's. Essentially, you'd Sleep something (surviving with Sash if necessary), then U-Turn to the appropriate counter for the incoming Pokemon, or Stun Spore to paralyze the incoming Pokemon and then U-Turn to a counter the turn after because you'll be faster. Your attacking move should probably be Bug Buzz just for STAB, but due to the abundance of poison types in NU, Psychic wouldn't be a bad option. Basically to summarize everything above, Butterfree's best bet is probably

Butterfree @ Focus Sash
Timid/Compoundeyes
252SpAtk/252Spe/4SpDef
- Sleep Powder
- U-Turn
- Bug Buzz
- Psychic/Stun Spore/Tailwind

Any other set up moves you need (read: pretty much only Sunny Day/Rain Dance because poor Butterfree doesn't even get screens) can also go in the last slot.

Also, if this is being played in an NU environment, as it should be, Choice Scarf makes for a decent option as well. It can be a very fast, very accurate sleep lead, come in mid-game to scout with U-Turn, and "sweep" late game with its "decent" special attack. Or as close to "sweep" as one can achieve in NU. The problem with this is, of course, this poor butterfly's susceptibility to Stealth Rocks. SR, and Butterfree's general frailness (60/50/80 defenses) are major hindrances for using Butterfree to fulfill any defensive role. Even with Iron Defense, I wouldn't consider using it to wall anything, but if I recall correctly, Metapod can't even learn Iron Defense. All it has is Harden, so the last set isn't possible.

The only set I'd consider other than the one mentioned above would probably be:

Butterfree @ Choice Scarf
Modest/Compoundeyes
252SpAtk/180Spe/76SpDef
- Sleep Powder
- U-Turn
- Bug Buzz
- Psychic/Hidden Power [Fire]/Hidden Power [Ice]

Given EVs hit 330 speed, beating +speed base 100s which is incredibly important, as you don't want Dodrio, Fearow, Entei, Raichu, Slaking and friends to rain on your parade before you sleep them. Technically, you only need 329 speed to beat them, but might as well use 330 to beat non+natured Persian/Floatzels .Having said that, however, I believe that's 330 is enough. Beating Lopunny and Rapidash isn't a bad idea though, as it only involves hitting 340 speed (204 EVs). Outspeeding Tauros is just overkill, and you're not going to catch up to Persian and Floatzel even with max speed (you do outspeed non +natures, however), so don't bother with that. You can pour the leftover EVs into a defense, I just chose the higher one, since Butterfree isn't going to live through any significant physical attack anyway, but if you choose to pump HP, make sure the HP is odd, which allows Butterfree to switch twice into SR instead of being killed on the second switch in.