What is a good moveset for Dustox?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Dustox, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for any of its pre-evolutions can also be shared on this thread.

Be sure to include full set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some explanation, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Dustox Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Answer 1

Dustox @ Heat Rock / Leftovers
Ability: Shield Dust
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpA
Modest Nature
- Sunny Day
- Solar Beam
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Moonlight

Dustox is bad even in the lower tiers, but this set hopes to give it a modicum of usability as a budget sun setter. Sunny Day + Heat Rock enables teammates that can take advantage of the sun. Dustox itself can use one-turn Solar Beam and boosted Hidden Power [Fire] to exert offensive pressure, while Moonlight is a consistent recovery option that heals more in the sun.

Answer 2

Gen V

Dustox (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Shield Dust
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
- Quiver Dance
- Bug Buzz

Focus Sash can guarantee that Dustox gets at least one Quiver Dance, potentially enabling a sweep. Giga Drain can be used instead of STABs to keep Dustox healthy while dealing damage.

Dustox's best setup opportunities are against Choice-locked Fighting- and Grass-types.

Answer 3

Dustox @ Life Orb
Ability: Shield Dust
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 SpD / 4 Spe
Modest Nature
- Sludge Bomb / Toxic
- Bug Buzz / Silver Wind / Quiver Dance
- Shadow Ball / Energy Ball
- Psychic

Sludge Bomb is Dustox's strongest Poison STAB, but due to its low bulk and offenses, you may get more mileage out of Toxic instead. Bug Buzz is the best Bug move you have, but you can also use Silver Wind to fish for omniboosts. It's gimmicky, but so is using Dustox in the first place. Quiver Dance is a requirement for any offensive Dustox set and can be swapped in for either of the final moveslots if you'd rather keep Bug Buzz.

Shadow Ball, Energy Ball, and Psychic are coverage options that you should pick based on the threats in the metagame you're playing. Quiver Dance is often more useful than any of these and you should try to slot it in if possible.

Answer 4

Dustox @ Black Sludge
Ability: Shield Dust
EVs: 252 HP / 128 Def / 128 SpD
Bold Nature
- Giga Drain / Bug Buzz / Sludge Bomb / Moonlight
- Light Screen / Toxic
- Quiver Dance / Toxic
- Iron Defense

The EVs are the hardest for me, but the one above gives what passes for mixed bulk in PU. Set up a screen or Iron def and alternate between them and Giga drain (to stay healthy while you get momentum), and "sweep" with Quiver Dance or toxic them when they switch to kill you, and with two healing moves you should be set. If you feel gutsy you could forgo Giga drain for moonlight, though pp sucks on it and toxic has to be put to work.

Answer 5

Dustox @ Black Sludge / Leftovers
Ability: Shield Dust
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Bug Buzz / Sludge Bomb / Solar Beam
- Quiver Dance
- Iron Defense / Protect / Sunny Day
- Toxic / Moonlight

Black Sludge / Lefties provides Dustox with some recovery. Its trait prevents it from getting status conditions that may hinder it. Its nature is an obvious option, and lets Dustox take out more opponents due to its stronger and naturally decent SpA. Bug Buzz and Sludge Bomb provide STAB and have high power. Solar Beam is an alternative if used with Sunny Day and Moonlight. Quiver Dance increases SpA and can make it a huge threat provided it uses it at the right time. Iron Defense sharply raises its low Defense stat, but it can only be tutored onto its pre-evolution, Cascoon, so use Protect if it hasn't got Iron Defense already. Plus Sunny Day can be used with Moonlight to help it heal extra, and in turn with Solar Beam. Toxic is pretty obvious and makes sure your opponent is knocked out late-game, but if you want some more options for recovery then Moonlight is an okay choice, especially if paired with the aforementioned Sunny Day.

Answer 6

Dustox @ Focus Sash
Ability: Shield Dust
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Whirlwind
- Venoshock / Sludge Bomb
- Bug Buzz
- Quiver Dance

Venoshock (If Toxic Spikes were setup)

Quiver Dance when you first switch in.
Then either punish them with a Bug Buzz or Venoshock/Sludge Bomb if they stayed in.
Whirlwind if the matchup is unfavorable to Dustox or if you want to make use of that Toxic Spikes.

Answer 7

In honor of the shiny Wurmple (now a Dustox) that I found in Alpha Saphire recently, I'm doing a Dustox set

Gen VII PU/ ZU
Amora's Quiver Dance
Amora (Dustox) (M) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Shield Dust
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 244 HP / 120 Def / 8 SpA / 136 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Quiver Dance
- Substitute
- Bug Buzz
- Roost
This set is similar to the smogon set, but with some diffrences
The Black Sludge allows Dustox to get passive recovery
After setting up a Sub on a Resisted move (usually Fighting and Grass), you can start using Quiver Dance to slowly turn into a sweeper
Bug Buzz is the main (and actually the only) attacking move of this set
Roost instantly recovers damage dealt by opponents and the Substitute(s)

Fun facts

I nicknamed the Wurmple "Amora", which means Blackberry in Portuguese, my native language, because of its purple skin
I put the same gender and nature (wich was convenently a Modest nature) as Amora's