TL;DR
Even though the CD move Volt Switch is irrelevant in raids, Vikavolt is actually a legitimate raid attacker in both its types, especially as a bug.
[Bug] The best “realistically affordable” bug attacker – everything above it is too expensive to be worth it. This is your best chance – by far – to build a cheap bug-type team for its future uses, even for most veteran players!
- Right now, you generally don’t need bug attackers, because they’re severely outclassed by Ghost and Dark attackers in their main role (anti-Psychic). New players can still use it as a budget anti-psychic counter.
- However, several future bosses (and past boss Hoopa Unbound) essentially require bug attackers. Getting a team of (up to 6) level 30 Vikavolts this CD, evolved from wild catches without spending dust, is a great way to prepare for these niche cases.
[Electric] Budget attacker, but of interest to new players without a full electric team.
My analyses of other types are in this spreadsheet. You can also follow me on Twitter (X) and Threads!
Event Info
Grubbin Community Day happens on Saturday, September 23, from 2pm to 5pm local time. Any Charjabug (mid-evo) and Vikavolt evolved between 2pm and 10pm will know the exclusive CD fast move Volt Switch.
Vikavolt as a Bug attacker
Chart with ASE Dodge can be found here.
From the perspective of raiding only, the main contribution of this CD is: Giving everyone free access to a great bug attacker.
Vikavolt (Bug Bite/X-Scissor) is the #3 non-shadow non-mega bug attacker, only behind Volcarona and Pheromosa. This means everything above it is expensive or quantity-limited: Shadows, Megas, and the two aforementioned ones.
As we’ll see below, while bug types won’t be useless, they’re not useful enough to be spending a crazy amount of stardust and (rare) candies on. So the most realistic bug-type team will comprise of mostly Vikavolts.
You can catch up to 6 high-level (high-CP) Grubbins during CD, evolve them (and get rid of Volt Switch) regardless of IVs, and get 6 Vikavolts at Level 30-35 without spending any stardust. Realistically, that’s the best bug team you’ll really need – and a darn good one at that.
- Of course, nothing stops you from powering up high-IV Vikavolts instead, if you can spare the dust. It’s still way more accessible than shadows, Volcarona and Pheromosa.
Utility of Bug attackers
Generally, bug attackers are not very useful, primarily due to their low power.
- Their main role in PoGo raids is as anti-Psychic attackers, but this means they’ll have to compete with Ghost and Dark attackers, which are both much stronger and more commonly built among veteran players.
- Vikavolt in particular is worse than non-shadow Weavile, Gengar and the old Crunch Tyranitar, and miles behind the likes of Brutal Swing Tyranitar.
- I made this chart to compare Bug, Ghost and Dark attackers during the Volcarona analysis. The chart is now outdated and missing Brutal Swing Tyranitar.
- A caveat: If it’s raining or a fellow raider is running (background) Primal Kyogre, bug types improve significantly. (Chart) In this case, Vikavolt ties SF Giratina-O and Darkrai, but still slightly below Hydreigon and non-shadow BS Tyranitar.
However, there were – and will be – T5 raids where bug attackers are the only option. These are raid bosses with a double weakness to bug, which include:
- Hoopa (Unbound), which was in Elite Raids last year.
- (It was the first time bug types really shined, and many unprepared players got destroyed.)
- Future legendaries: Calyrex (Gen 8), Wo-Chien, Iron Leaves (Gen 9)
- Speculative: Zarude, Brute Bonnet
- Zarude is a mythical, but a popular Elite Raid candidate.
- Brute Bonnet is a Paradox Pokemon, but some people speculate that Paradoxes may be released in raids.
That’s not a very long list, but for reference: Ice types, which are generally considered as useful, have an even shorter list of mandatory cases among legendaries only.
I think these bosses are enough to have some bug team prepared, not a crazily expensive one. And CD Vikavolt is the perfect candidate for that.
Vikavolt as an Electric attacker
Chart with ASE Dodge can be found here.
A lot less exciting here, since Vikavolt (Spark/Discharge) falls behind even traditional non-legendary attackers like Electivire and Magnezone. However, for new players without a full electric team yet, a few Vikavolts will probably see use in rounding out their teams. Everything above it is either expensive or not very accessible right now.
Community Day move, Volt Switch?
TL;DR: Don’t keep it. TM it off, or evolve it the day after CD if you have a spare Magnetic Lure.
Volt Switch performs worse than non-legacy Spark in raids, if you want to use Vikavolt as an electric attacker.
The bigger problem is that having an exclusive fast move prevents you from running a bug moveset, or switching between electric and bug.
- Without Volt Switch, you can use regular TMs to turn Vikavolt to Bug Bite/X-Scissor if you want a bug attacker, or Spark/Discharge if you want an electric attacker. (Many veteran players will stick to bug, anyway.)
- With Volt Switch, you need to remove the exclusive move if you ever want to use that Vikavolt as a bug type (where it shines a lot more), or be locked as electric forever.
Note that in PvP, Volt Switch is much better than Spark, so any PvP Vikavolt should be evolved during CD. However, Vikavolt isn’t useful in Master League, so high IV Vikavolts can be dedicated to raids.
If you do want to keep Volt Switch for the sake of having an exclusive move, be assured that it’s only slightly behind Spark, thus still a viable electric attacker.
Minor note: Due to Pokebattler bugs, all electric-type simulations in this analysis are without friendship boost (as opposed to best friends that I’ve used in the past).
What’s next?
An analysis on Shadow Moltres before October.
A consolidated chart with every type will probably be out afterwards, as well as a note on some long-term changes.
Past analyses on other types
A complete list of all my past analyses – on every single type other than normal – can now be found in this spreadsheet!
You can also follow me on Twitter (X) and Threads! I often post sneak peeks of WIP articles before they go live.
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