What is a good moveset for Venusaur?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Venusaur, 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 detail, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Venusaur Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Answer 1

Gen 5 OU (pre Chlorophyll-Drought ban)

Role: Mixed Sunny Sweeper

Venusaur (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 176 Atk / 128 SpA / 204 Spe
Naughty Nature
- Solar Beam
- Earthquake
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Growth

Growth beefs up both attack stats, now he can throw off an STAB Solar Beam, a great powered Earthquake, and a Sun powered Hidden Power Fire!

Comments

nobody would of thought of that

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Wow I'm WAY behind on Growth I didn't know it raised both attack stats! Nice thinking, Josh!

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I upvote, because that was exactly the moveset I thought of!

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and now it boost becomes doubled in the sun :)

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Growth boost both stats by 2 in sun

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Nah go with Quiet or Brave cuz he's so slow. I run a Special Tank Venusaur w/ Calm Nature but 'shrug'

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slow? did you look at the ability?

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i would like change the hidden power to ice or rock to beat the opp pkm that can take you in one turn if you slower than them but with abilty you jusst knock them out !

Answer 2

Role: Tank

Venusaur (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 64 HP / 96 Atk / 96 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Curse
- Seed Bomb
- Synthesis
- Earthquake

Ah Venusaur, An old classic, That I honestly don't mind as a sub seeder, but with Quite nice Special Defense, and workable Physical Defense, I prefer this set for him.

Being a physical Attacking tank, Earthquake hitting most everything Seed bomb doesn't hit for neutral damage with Neutral or super effective, with a few exeptions.

This set is also usable without his Dream World Ability if you don't have Access to the Dream World

Comments

Sends in Skarmory uh oh....

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Every moveset has its flaw. Most people will expect him on sun teams anyway, so they'll be a bit wary of using skarmory since they'll have fire power-Even if he doesn't have chlorophyll.

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Lol, And thats when you switch out to Typhlosion!

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The moveset is ok, but wouldn't it have trouble with flying type opponents, especially if someone dares enough to put skarmory against it

Answer 3

Gen III

Venusaur (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 96 HP / 252 Atk / 32 Def / 128 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Curse
- Earthquake
- Sludge Bomb
- Leech Seed

• Earthquake - Physical
• Sludge Bomb - Physical

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An interesting developement of the Gen III meta game.

This guy is normally showing up with 2 or 3 STAB Grass moves, or he's mixed, which isn't THAT bad.
Curse lets him become a total tank, it's hard to do anything without being super effective, And now you can Leech Seed for Seedover combo.
Earthquake gets sweet type coverage, go figure, And Sludge bomb is his Physical STAB Option.
Decent Tank.

Comments

Sludge bomb is a special move playa

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I know but this is GEN III dude

Answer 4

A weird, yet successful Ubers set

Role: Physical Sweeper

Venusaur @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Sleep Powder / Seed Bomb
- Growth / Swords Dance
- Outrage
- Earthquake

This thing loves the sun. Sleep powder is just amazing, as it lets Venasaur set up a Growth/Swords Dance and then decide to risk another or proceed to sweep.Seed Bomb is just there if you think that Venasaur can take a hit, or is on the field against a Hazard setter, or something.Then, use it on Kyogre, Groudon, Tyranitar, and Hippodown. Outrage is just the perfect move to hit all those Dragon types the lurk in Ubers. Earthquake it to finish off the steel types that resist Outrage. This dude is just amazing. Sadly, there are flaws.

Air Balloon Heatran and Skarmory can easily resist both attacking moves and kill Venasaur off with a STAB move.

In the end, who uses Skarmory in Ubers? Lol, beware and have fun using this set.

Comments

I practically invented the Outrage Venusaur :p
and I think you mean "who resist Outrage".

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Its a risky set. You will need too many turns to set this babe up. Then a single Whirlwind is all you need to trash all those turns. Even a switch to the oh so common Heatran/Infernape will demolish this set.

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risky, but worth it, as it can pick of Scarfed dragons such as Palkia, hit them with a sleep powder, and set up and kill. risky DOES define this set, but i am LeBoss, and my middle name is risky

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I thought it was Dude as you said in chat the other day...

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This is cool, but why not Petal Blizzard instead of Seed Bomb? Its power is higher. Also, no need to have Growth up there because there are no SAtk moves.

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At the time this was made, Petal Blizzard didn't exist. Also, growth in Sun (perma-weather in gen 5) boosts by +2, and maintains the illusion of a special set.

Answer 5

Used on a sun team as a sweeper

Venusaur @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Solar Beam
- Weather Ball
- Sludge Bomb
- Growth

Comments

I’d say Weather Ball > Earth Power. It hits things like Ferrothorn’s, who would otherwise wall it.

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It does 150 damage in sun, meaning it hits steel-types harder than Earth Power (90 BP VS 150).

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Ok I can change that. thank you!

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Again, this isnt a smogon set, but it is close. Smogon has either solar beam or sludge bomb, not both

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Smogon recommends Giga Drain over Solar Beam too.

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I came up with this myself. I can't confirm this, but you really can't just accuse everybody for choosing good moves.

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Every set that I've ever posted has been made up by me and me only. I took some advice from Primalkyogre when finalizing the sets. You can ask him.

Answer 6

Double/Triple Battle Venusaur

Venusaur (F) @ Black Sludge

Ability: Overgrow / Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 Atk / 196 Def / 60 SpD or 40 HP / 252 Atk / 216 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Curse / Swords Dance / Growth
- Razor Leaf / Power Whip
- Earthquake
- Frustration

If you do not have Sunny Day support, use Overgrow. Also, use the first set of EVs. If you do have Sunny Day support, use Chlorophyll and the second set of EVs. Curse should only be used on the Overgrow set. However, even on the Overgrow set Swords Dance is probably a better option. On the Chlorophyll set, you can use either Swords Dance or Growth. Swords Dance will make Psych Up less effective if used by a Special Attacker on Venusaur. However, Growth can help your own Psych Up user and more importantly it makes the foe unsure as to whether you are using a physical, special, or mixed sweeper. You need a stat boosting attack, otherwise Venusaur will not be doing anything. Razor Leaf can hit multiple foes in a multi-battle. However, its low base power might make you want to use Power Whip. Earthquake is an incredible move in multi-battles, and should be used on any Physical attacker that can learn it. Frustration is neutral type coverage.

Answer 7

Pretty surprised that a Mega Venusaur set is not posted yet.

Special Attacker

Venusaur @ Venusaurite
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA
Modest Nature
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
- Hidden Power [Fire] / Sleep Powder
- Synthesis

With GenVI, Permanent weather is gone, and now Grass types are immune to Sleep Powder. In other words, Chlorophyll Sweeper Venusaur had gotten the nerf stick quite hard this time. But his new Mega Evolution is great, losing his Fire and Ice weakness is cool.

Despite no Leftovers, Synthesis and Giga Drain should provide enough healing for Mega Venusaur to remain healthy, while with the emergence of Fairies, Sludge Bomb is a great move to hit them with. The last slot is for Hidden Power Fire to hit Steel types that otherwise wall this entire moveset. Sleep powder is an option, but running that will leave you helpless against Ferrothorn.

Answer 8

I have a what I like to call "Venusaur Fly Trap" set.

Broccoli (Venusaur) (M) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Gentle Nature
- Giga Drain
- Leech Seed
- Bind
- Protect

You either start off with Bind to ensnare your opponent, or Protect to make them waste a move. Once they're in your trap, just lay a Leech Seed on them and Giga Drain them dry. Plus, Black Sludge is a little insurance to add to the healing. ;)

Answer 9

For any doubles format

Venusaur @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Solar Beam
- Protect
- Sleep Powder
- Sludge Bomb

This is to be used on a sun team. In the sunlight provided by Ninetales (in Doubles UU), Torkoal (in Doubles OU), or Groudon (in Doubles Ubers), Venusaur outspeeds every Pokémon that isn't Regieleki (which is in DOU) or under Tailwind. Solar Beam is STAB and doesn't need to charge up in sunlight. Protect is amazing in doubles, keeping Venusaur safe from all attacks for a turn while its ally can take out a potential threat to Venusaur. Sleep Powder puts an opponent to sleep, rendering them useless for a few turns. Also, unlike singles, there's no sleep clause in doubles. Sludge Bomb is also STAB.

I was going to put Weather Ball in as an option over Sludge Bomb but your sun setter should be able to deal with steel types.

Also, in a format where Regieleki is allowed, you could use an EV spread of 40 Hp / 252 SpA / 216 Spe with a Timid nature to outspeed it in sunlight.

Answer 10

Gen V

Venusaur (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 108 SpD / 144 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Sleep Powder
- Sludge Bomb
- Solar Beam

Okay, this guy should be used along with Sunny Day, which is why you have Chlorophyll, HP Fire, and Solarbeam. Sleep Powder is helpful for facing down Fire types, which you can then 2HKO usually with your STAB Sludge Bomb. Sludge Bomb also deals with any Grass types better than HP Fire (which is more for Steel types) such as Serperior, or any Grass types on another Sun team. The EVs give it enough Speed with Chlorophyll, power, and some bulk. Leftovers helps reduce the impact of priority and residual damage.

Answer 11

Mega Venusaur

Venusaur-Mega (M) @ Venusaurite
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 Def / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Bold Nature
- Toxic
- Amnesia / Protect
- Leech Seed / Synthesis
- Petal Dance / Venoshock

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A tank/staller Mega Venusuar set. I would start off with Toxic, then use Amnesia to increase my special defense or stall using Protect. After that, you could heal yourself using Leech Seed / Synthesis or hit them real hard with Petal Dance / Venoshock.

Answer 12

Pokémon Showdown National Dex AG

Venusuar @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Energy Ball
- Sludge Bomb
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Growth

Energy Ball and Sludge Bomb are strong STAB moves. Sludge bomb can be used for max ooze. HP Fire can be used for max flare (if sun isn’t already up) and activate chlorophyll. It is also a way to counter steel types. Modest because chlorophyll already boosts speed and growth will double in stat boosts in sun. Life orb for extra damage.

Answer 13

Ivysaur (M) @ Eviolite
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 52 HP / 252 Def / 204 SpD
Bold Nature
- Synthesis
- Growth
- Solar Beam
- Hidden Power [Fire]

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Sun tank.
Out classed as a sweeper, considering the lowest tier he can be used in is BL.
So tanking is the way to go.
All defensive EVs and evoilite means that he can set up to +6 Sp Atk in peace.
While having Synthesis to heal off anything taken, just to start Solar + HP Fire killing.
He still gets like 300+ speed, so he's good there too, bulky sweeper, kinda.
But mostly used as a tank ( Speed used for setting up and fast recovery ).

Answer 14

Doubles / Triples

Venusaur (M) @ Miracle Seed
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 60 HP / 196 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Razor Leaf
- Power Whip

Similar to Trachy's.

Swords Dance gives a big boost to your attack, so you can actually start doing some damage.
Razor Leaf and Earthquake hit both opponents, while Power Whip is for focusing in on just one opponent. Miracle Seed due to double Grass STAB.

Answer 15

Role: Self healer, Wall, and Staller

Venusaur @ Big Root
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 240 Def / 140 SpA / 130 SpD
Bold Nature
- Leech Seed
- Substitute
- Protect
- Sludge Bomb

Leech Seed brings back the needed HP plus with the Big root it bring back even more than what leech seed was supposed to guaranty. * If using this Venusaur I always recommend using leech seed first before any other move. Substitute and Protect both have the same job which can seem a bit of a waist, But first once leech seed is up you can go at this either way. You can go protect if the enemy is trying to dish out damage and block it further extending the process of leech seed. Or if the enemy is trying to raise stats, use a substitute so that you can avoid a STAB move. By that time the enemy should have lost a quarter of its health. Then once the sub is down repeat the process (without using leech seed) and remember to watch the enemy health. Use a protect to block moves and a sub to avoid 1 hit KO moves, and with the health being gained from leech seed their is no need to worry about sub health lost. Now comes Sludgebomb. Which can be used in different ways. You can use Sludgebomb to decrease the enemies health which is what I do when it comes to a rapid spinner (I stop the whole process and start Sludgebombing because another Leech Seed would be useless at this point)or if your just trying to do some damage. OR! You can increase the process of Sub and Protect by trying to go for a Poison and increasing the enemies health depletion. You could just use Toxic, but when it comes to an enemy with status removing move or ability then Toxic is basically rendered useless and plus you really can't dish out damage. The whole point of this process is to stall the enemy into letting their health deplete gradually while also recovering your own. Hope this was helpful!

Answer 16

Venusaur (M) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 6 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
• Swords Dance
• Petal Blizzard
• Earthquake
• Synthesis

Many players won't see a physical sweeper Venusaur coming. Swords Dance shoots his Atk higher than his SAtk could hope to go in one turn so you can get to the point of inflicting mass casualties. :) Petal Blizzard has more power than Seed Bomb and does not dangerously lock you in, then confuse you like Petal Dance. Chlorophyll and Swords Dance make sure you can kill those pesky Fire-types with a super quake before they hit you (except Charizard-- retreat!!) Synthesis and Black Sludge will help make sure you stay in for a little while since we didn't exploit its good defenses.

Answer 17

Venusaur, my all time favourite Pokemon. This Pokemon was the first Pokemon I ever saur (no pun intened) when I was a little she-elf.
Meet Lord Alfirinor, the king of grass types:
Role: Sunny sweeper

Venusaur (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD
Modest Nature
- Toxic
- Venoshock
- Solar Beam
- Leech Seed / Synthesis

Toxic-nice move to whittle down foes's hp
Venoshock-combo move with toxic that I like to call Toxicshock. STAB
Solarbeam-what chlorophyll Venusaur doesn't have this move? STAB
Leech seed/synthesis-leech seed for switching out to heal others or synthesis for max healing power in the sun.

Chlorophyll Venusaur works well with a Drought Ninetales or a mega Charizard y with drought.

Answer 18

Mega Venusaur

Venusaur-Mega @ Venusaurite
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 HP / 128 Def / 128 SpD
Bold or Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Giga Drain
- Ingrain
- Leech Seed
- Sleep Powder

As you can see, he is focused on stalling and getting that HP back, since he can't carry that Black Sludge onto Mega Venusaur.

You can also run a similar set with regular Venusaur with Black Sludge, although it won't be as bulky as Mega.

Answer 19

VENUSAUR SET:
Venusaur @ Black Sludge / Venusaurite
Ability: Chlorophyll / Thick Fat
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpD
Bold / Calm Nature
- Sleep Powder
- Sludge Bomb / Solar Beam
- Synthesis
- Growth

This is where bulk beats brawn. The EVs are for keeping Venusaur as bulky as humanely possible. Choose the Nature depending on what Pokemon are on your team (What their weaknesses are). The item depends if you are mega evolving or not. Black Sludge is cool because it's like Leftovers, but if some idiot Tricks or Switcheroo's you, they will suffer. Venusaur benefits from the sun big time. In the Sun, Venusaur is faster because of Chlorophyll ( if you're not mega Evolving) Synthesis heals him more, and Growth raises your attacking stats by 2 instead of 1. In case you thought we did, we don't really need EVs in Special Attack because of our good pal Growth.

Answer 20

Sun team Venusaur-Mega
Venusaur-Mega @ Venusaurite
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 180 HP / 48 Atk / 88 Def / 72 SpA / 120 SpD
Brave or Quiet Nature
- Growth / Synthesis
- Power Whip / Solar Beam
- Toxic / Leech Seed
- Venoshock / Grass Pledge

So, this set has 2 Status moves it can make use of as well as 2 great STAB options. If using Growth, Power Whip is one of the best physical STAB moves Venusaur can get. If you don't wish to use Growth, Synthesis is great recovery. The Toxic/ Leech Seed combination has been good to Venusaur since Gen1, but Venoshock can take advantage of the Toxic status. Either way, Venusaur has always appreciated Recovery moves. If you want to use your Venusaur in Doubles, then Grass Pledge is a good support option. Use it with one of the other pledges!

Comments

Thats some... serious editing :O

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Power whip and solar beam are  unreliable grass moves and venoshock should be swapped for sludge bomb since venasaur can't learn sludge wave.