Competitive Sun Team Guide: VGC Meta Breakdown

Summary

Pokémon Champions | VGC Battles & Tournaments presents a new competitive Sun team guide featuring a unique Sitrus Berry Venusaur build. This breakdown covers essential EV benchmarks, defensive calculations, and strategic tips for handling common meta threats like Garchomp and Kingambit. It is a must-read for players looking to optimize their team composition and climb the ladder with a fresh, high-performance strategy.

silvercactus-53 OP

Version 1: https://pokepast.es/f602f6fdf8b36fe8

Alright guys, new season new team.
Here I come with, as the title suggests, a meta slave team featuring sun (yard ofc) and venu, which seems to not be the go to in the current meta, with whim having wayyyy too much usage over it or it holding the mega stone, which obviously I'm not so it's a completely different Mon.

As for EVs, I'm about to go in a basic breakdown for all the benchmarks hit just if any nerd like me cares (probably the best part of the team)

Venu, always takes a dwb from mega aero after sitrus pop, takes two +1 moonblasts from floette and outspeeds every relevant Mon under sun, rest spatk

Yard, takes Ada slide from chomp, creeps rotom creep, rest spatk (probably changing to creep fucking vivillon creep because f that mf)

Chomp, insanely bulky set, takes heat wave into claw from most yard chomp leads being able to punish em insanely hard

Sylveon, generic sylveon EV popularized by the ariados guy, takes heat wave into eq from most chomp yard leads iirc

Adamant sash basc, pretty straightforward, the go to for basc in high ladder sadly

Gambit takes Sneas cc with chople pop and two hyper voices from gard iirc

Sitrus on Venu for all the calcs I said, here to stick around and be the only "speed control" of the team with sleep powder WHICH IS GOING TO HIT OK

Yard, nuke button overheat comprehends for defendive EVs, no one expects air slash to say goodbye to sneasler, don't need solar beam since leaf storm venu CLEARS

Bulky scarf chomp here to stick and not be the destroy them button, just annoying damage dealer to chip everyone down/clean endgames/kill glimmoras. You do not need to OHKO stuff if you outspeed them and survive the double up mindset

Sash Basc boringggggggggg. Will not bother explaining since you probably already know

silvercactus-53 OP

No cap thinking about changing gambit to supreme overlord because intim never comes in it. It's gambit so it's here to save the day Vs the fishes giving you nightmares.

Yes I do not have speed control. This is on purpose, I have 3 priority Mons with two of them being reliable, and don't really need the speed control when Venu puts everything to sleep imo, ik seems weird af and scuffed but if played well can really work.

No fake out but I have protect on 5 so not thatttt big of a deal (it kinda is but again, if he fakes out the one slot the other one is killing him.

Any criticism appreciated as long as it's constructive and backed up by evidence.

As for where it was tested, made 1700 on showdown ladder just now, will start counting winrate, expect update in a week. Only like 10 loses or so for now lol, old account and no relays saved so you have to trust me on that, no need to tho.

For leads Vs stuff just ask

silvercactus-53 OP

I ran out of space

silvercactus-53 OP

https://pokepast.es/1800174073859387

silvercactus-53 OP

Updated version

silvercactus-53 OP

Supreme overlord gambit helps in quite a few mus including mega gard

silvercactus-53 OP

Iirc it ohkos it with three allies fainted

silvercactus-53 OP

With sucker

silvercactus-53 OP

Which I find funny af

silvercactus-53 OP

Garchomp spdef fixed to take fairy feather modest max hyper voice from sylveon

silvercactus-53 OP

Gambit spdef changed to take two hyper voices from garde mega

silvercactus-53 OP

Also changed yard creep to creep vivillon because fuck that mon

silvercactus-53 OP

I high-key might change the Basc slot even if it helps a lot in a few mus

silvercactus-53 OP

Maybe farigiraf for a TR mode can help with this

silvercactus-53 OP

if anyone wants to bother reading or something, need some help and advice

@silvercactus-53 if anyone wants to bother reading or something, need some help and advice
merrykitten-85

I’ll read over it all soon

cleverinbox-49

I read it

cleverinbox-49

Cool ig

silvercactus-53 OP

So uh what should I do with the Basc slot

cleverinbox-49

Idk

merrykitten-85

Yeah I see what you mean you got no speed control out side of venu sleep powder chlorofyl

Farig makes sense adds some bulk to the team too

Farig kinda seems like your only option because whims talon dragonite don’t work on this team for speed control

silvercactus-53 OP

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9championsvgc2026regma-2623973378-5say56a9mpedms09rs6f69hc52yittupw

silvercactus-53 OP

On main so lower elo

silvercactus-53 OP

But just an example of where Basc helps

silvercactus-53 OP

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9championsvgc2026regma-2623974873-4f2cdlbner7ollhsrxl3t4wegpn8q78pw

silvercactus-53 OP

Imma just post replays from now on and team changes if anyone wants to get a better idea of how team is being played

silvercactus-53 OP

I find it hard to fit tr when Basc saves my ass so much

@silvercactus-53 https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9championsvgc2026regma-2623973378-5say56a9mpedms09rs6f69hc52y…
merrykitten-85

Yeah that is cool . This would be why his useage is so high lol

Maybe something else is the weak spot no basc

If you take off venu you could have whimsi and keep basc

silvercactus-53 OP

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9championsvgc2026regma-2623977427-d16dcvkf1rjaos2pmerj7hcqdb41rf0pw

@merrykitten-85 Yeah that is cool . This would be why his useage is so high lol Maybe something else is the weak sp…
silvercactus-53 OP

Well in the next replay you can see Venu carry

@silvercactus-53 https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9championsvgc2026regma-2623977427-d16dcvkf1rjaos2pmerj7hcqdb4…
silvercactus-53 OP

Clean ass game

@silvercactus-53 https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9championsvgc2026regma-2623973378-5say56a9mpedms09rs6f69hc52y…
cleverinbox-49

Idk why they forfitted, when there is a fissure there is a way

@silvercactus-53 https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9championsvgc2026regma-2623977427-d16dcvkf1rjaos2pmerj7hcqdb4…
merrykitten-85

If it’s a bulk team that doesn’t need speed the thing would be sceeens or quash maybe

@cleverinbox-49 Idk why they forfitted, when there is a fissure there is a way
silvercactus-53 OP

Basc claims a Mon on the Sneas slot and low kick plus liquid always kills snorlax I think

merrykitten-85

I wish I had such a snorlax answer

I just pretend it doesn’t exist

@silvercactus-53 https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9championsvgc2026regma-2623977427-d16dcvkf1rjaos2pmerj7hcqdb4…
silvercactus-53 OP

I mean, I feel like if I'm able to outplay and end twind like this I don't need twind

silvercactus-53 OP

But ofc it's not reliable

merrykitten-85

Some bulk would fix that

@merrykitten-85 I wish I had such a snorlax answer I just pretend it doesn’t exist
cleverinbox-49

I just use roar and deal with it later on

@silvercactus-53 https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9championsvgc2026regma-2623974873-4f2cdlbner7ollhsrxl3t4wegpn…
cleverinbox-49

Why are we having a sleep war in a format without amoongus where sleep has been nerfed 💀

@cleverinbox-49 Why are we having a sleep war in a format without amoongus where sleep has been nerfed 💀
silvercactus-53 OP

But it works

silvercactus-53 OP

Also it's not necessarily a nerf

silvercactus-53 OP

You can play consistently with it now

silvercactus-53 OP

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9championsvgc2026regma-2623980707-fx1oxx714nelplpc07vuw8cbqmo96p2pw

cleverinbox-49

Not saying sleep aint useful now I am just saying that its funny to see a sleep battle in this format

merrykitten-85

Mmmm very high rank with it. Didn’t realise it’s going this well haha

merrykitten-85

Would be moveset changes at this point not Mon changes I assume

merrykitten-85

And ev tweaks

merrykitten-85

To make it live longer and still threaten everything

silvercactus-53 OP

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9championsvgc2026regma-2623982092-p7stveljpjjylv14sn0twwtt02s753bpw

@merrykitten-85 Mmmm very high rank with it. Didn’t realise it’s going this well haha
silvercactus-53 OP

It's not that high lol

@silvercactus-53 It's not that high lol
cleverinbox-49

Bro I keep fluctuating between like 1300 and 1500, consistantly being at over 1600 is rly good

@cleverinbox-49 Bro I keep fluctuating between like 1300 and 1500, consistantly being at over 1600 is rly good
merrykitten-85

And same ^

merrykitten-85

No one sends replays of this high rank ever besides you lol

merrykitten-85

The battles are interesting

merrykitten-85

Not really what I’d expect

silvercactus-53 OP

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9championsvgc2026regma-2623983619-1prngelcx8pnpr8k0aythc8cbfuioclpw

silvercactus-53 OP

First throw

silvercactus-53 OP

Auto pivoted and locked wrong slots

@cleverinbox-49 Bro I keep fluctuating between like 1300 and 1500, consistantly being at over 1600 is rly good
silvercactus-53 OP

I mean I guess, it's not even top 500 nowadays so it's whatever imo

silvercactus-53 OP

Safe play and preserving pieces as well as understanding mus gets you high enough

silvercactus-53 OP

Unfortunate t2 miss so had to play around that

silvercactus-53 OP

If I hit I straight up win

merrykitten-85

That’s was a pretty cool team you battle I wonder when they actually bring abomasnow

silvercactus-53 OP

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9championsvgc2026regma-2623987845-t1rbihmqgqw7wwfd8ldnammf7iyy4axpw

silvercactus-53 OP

Vs rain

silvercactus-53 OP

I actually battled that team before it got popular

silvercactus-53 OP

Vs like a top 3 SD player at the time

silvercactus-53 OP

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9championsvgc2026regma-2623990161-v6aqe09imp5bocxq9j14sosmsr5e4dkpw

silvercactus-53 OP

Outplayed in endgame

silvercactus-53 OP

Another supreme overlord gambit player tho

silvercactus-53 OP

Which is intriguing

silvercactus-53 OP

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9championsvgc2026regma-2623991974-xoib14ef0suqgmsrrifvygqg6joyq3ppw

silvercactus-53 OP

Vs someone who thought could play perish

silvercactus-53 OP

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9championsvgc2026regma-2623993524-psppsujcnkv0sffpvy8m7fa5k114aphpw

silvercactus-53 OP

K that was bad

silvercactus-53 OP

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9championsvgc2026regma-2623994702-iqk6pq1qgf52cera4s20adr4dkttgy4pw

silvercactus-53 OP

Ok he is just better

silvercactus-53 OP

Holy basc

silvercactus-53 OP

Protect EQ EQ sucker won ig

silvercactus-53 OP

But damn

merrykitten-85

That was very bo1 of them haha

cleverinbox-49

Substitute basc is actually kinda interesting

cleverinbox-49

Not exactly good

cleverinbox-49

But interesting

@cleverinbox-49 Substitute basc is actually kinda interesting
silvercactus-53 OP

And it was really bulky I think

silvercactus-53 OP

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9championsvgc2026regma-2624048569-3idoe70s9apfqinr7862cbx2lwyedtlpw

silvercactus-53 OP

Man I love my evs

silvercactus-53 OP

Yard countercreep been working

@silvercactus-53 Yard countercreep been working
cleverinbox-49

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9championsvgc2026regma-2624017315

cleverinbox-49

Part of me misses scarf rotom, part of me knows that gardevoir feels borderline unusable without dragonite if I kept it

silvercactus-53 OP

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9championsvgc2026regma-2624062472-4h6gjinluj265t7de48i4qcc1enke9apw

silvercactus-53 OP

Absolutely no understanding of the mu whatsoever

@cleverinbox-49 https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9championsvgc2026regma-2624017315
silvercactus-53 OP

What

cleverinbox-49

Fast air slash char y

cleverinbox-49

Boom me

@cleverinbox-49 Boom me
silvercactus-53 OP

What's your dnite speed

cleverinbox-49

150 in mega

@cleverinbox-49 150 in mega
silvercactus-53 OP

That's just a bad creep though

cleverinbox-49

?

silvercactus-53 OP

You need to be 151 to creep 85s

silvercactus-53 OP

You are currently creeping gourgeist btw

cleverinbox-49

What exactly does creeping mean?

cleverinbox-49

Like outspeeding?

@cleverinbox-49 Like outspeeding?
silvercactus-53 OP

Yeah hitting a benchmark

silvercactus-53 OP

Always outspeeding a mon

cleverinbox-49

Ok so what pokemon do you recommend I outspeed?

silvercactus-53 OP

My yard creep is currently vivillon creep +1

silvercactus-53 OP

Aka 157

silvercactus-53 OP

To creep ppl creeping for vivillon

silvercactus-53 OP

I find myself outspeeding most garchomps and Floettes running around lol

cleverinbox-49

Max dragonite can do without speed boosting nature is 152

silvercactus-53 OP

I mean these all are teambuilding choices

silvercactus-53 OP

You can choose to invest more to be faster

silvercactus-53 OP

And give up power

silvercactus-53 OP

To attack before all these guys

cleverinbox-49

Dragonite doesn't rly hit that hsrd to begin with tho

silvercactus-53 OP

Or you can run 151 to creep base 85s

silvercactus-53 OP

Or Mons creeping base 85s by going just full on 152

silvercactus-53 OP

If you do not want to do that

silvercactus-53 OP

I would personally suggest 147 to get the base 80s countercreep

silvercactus-53 OP

You can afford even lower

silvercactus-53 OP

Since most 80s are running adamant/modest

silvercactus-53 OP

Aka mega mega or

silvercactus-53 OP

Venu

cleverinbox-49

I think 151 is good

silvercactus-53 OP

So you can go for an 78 countercreep

silvercactus-53 OP

To get the blastoise mega and basc

silvercactus-53 OP

But again these are running adamant

silvercactus-53 OP

So the lowest you can go if you want bulk is modest 80 creep

silvercactus-53 OP

133/134 if you want countercreep

silvercactus-53 OP

Because no one's running jolly there imo

cleverinbox-49

Dragonite rly bulky so I can afford to be as fast as possible without reducing spa

silvercactus-53 OP

I mean yeah I guess that is true

silvercactus-53 OP

At the same time there can be an argument

silvercactus-53 OP

In which you hit only the lowest possible benchmark so you can be bulky af

silvercactus-53 OP

And hitting modest

silvercactus-53 OP

You are going for the more middling approach, not going full on fast aka jolly/timid you are going modest/Ada and max which

silvercactus-53 OP

Idk how I feel bout but is a choice

silvercactus-53 OP

These all are teambuilding choices you can probably get away with most of it

cleverinbox-49

Ok thanks ig

cleverinbox-49

Although I think I am just more confused now

silvercactus-53 OP

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9championsvgc2026regma-2625541377-9vc3hn2lrwymw1tb5gqj8th3p9v8op5pw

silvercactus-53 OP

Funny prediction

@silvercactus-53 https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9championsvgc2026regma-2625541377-9vc3hn2lrwymw1tb5gqj8th3p9v…
merrykitten-85

lol

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