(Gen 9) National Dex Monotype Sub Bulk Up (Bug)
Buzzwole @ Leftovers
Ability: Beast Boost
Tera Type: Bug
EVs: 200 HP / 100 Def / 180 SpD / 28 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Substitute
- Bulk Up
- Drain Punch
- Thunder Punch / Earthquake
A Substitute + Bulk Up set Buzzwole uses on Bug teams in Gen 9 Monotype. This set is really nice to setup against passive and physical attackers such as Mega Sableye, Blissey/Chansey, Roaring Moon, Ferrothorn, Ogerpon-Wellspring, Alolan-Muk, etc. This makes Bug have an easier time against matchups such as Ground, Steel, Normal, and Dark. Buzzwole can afford to use a Sub BU set on Bug teams since Kleavor took over its role as the Choice Scarf Pokemon that can deal with the pesky Fire-types.
Substitute lets Buzzwole avoid being statused and helps it use Bulk Up so it can break through or clean through teams. You should use Substitute against passive Pokemon and physical wallbreakers who don't threaten Buzzwole. With Bulk Up, Buzzwole increases its offensive presence while making it harder for physical wallbreakers to beat Buzzwole down. Drain Punch is the Fighting STAB since it provides Buzzwole with HP recovery to give it longevity, and it synergizes well with Substitute and Bulk Up. Thunder Punch allows Buzzwole to hit Water-types such as Pelipper, Mantine, Slowking, Slowbro, and Azumarill super effectively. Earthquake can be used instead to hit Poison-types such as Clodsire, Galarian Slowking, and Sneasler. Earthquake also lets Buzzwole hit Gholdengo super effectively (Air Balloon isn't really common on Gholdengo) while still having a way to hit Toxapex super effectively. Leftovers is used to give Buzzwole some HP recovery.
And now for the EV spread. The 200 HP EVs put Buzzwole's HP at 405, allowing Buzzwole to have 101 HP Substitutes, allowing you to setup on Blissey/Chansey. :D Smogon has 24 Speed EVs to let Buzzwole outspeed Base 50 Pokemon and Base 100 Pokemon if Sticky Web is up, but I decided to take 4 EVs from Special Defense to move to speed so Buzzwole can outspeed Mandibuzz using 16 Speed EVs, allowing Buzzwole to use Mandibuzz as setup fodder. The EVs in Defense and Special Defense are optimized to make sure Buzzwole's Substitue doesn't immediately break from attacks like a Scald from Toxapex. This set uses an Adamant Nature to allow Buzzwole to get attack boosts from Beast Boost.