Virizion

Using Virizion in a Playthrough

Virizion is a single-stage Grass/Fighting Legendary with base 108 Speed, enormous base 129 Special Defense, and balanced base 90 Attack and Special Attack. That mixed profile allows both Swords Dance sets with Leaf Blade and Close Combat or Sacred Sword and Calm Mind sets with Giga Drain, Focus Blast, or special coverage. Stone Edge, Zen Headbutt, Synthesis in relevant generations, Reflect, Light Screen, Taunt, and other utility give it more flexibility than the equal attacking stats initially suggest. Justified raises Attack when hit by a Dark-type move, which combines with Virizion's Dark resistance. Grass/Fighting resists Water, Electric, Grass, Ground, Rock, and Dark but is weak to Fire, Ice, Poison, Psychic, and later Fairy, with Flying dealing quadruple damage in every generation. Jolly or Timid take advantage of base 108 Speed, while Calm can emphasize its exceptional special bulk.

Virizion in Competitive Pokémon

Virizion was a dangerous BW UU setup Pokemon. Grass/Fighting STAB gives it an excellent matchup against many bulky Water- and Rock-types, while base 108 Speed and base 129 Special Defense provide setup opportunities that most offensive Pokemon do not receive. Swords Dance and Calm Mind allow it to choose either physical or special sweeping, forcing opponents to identify the set before selecting the correct answer. Its physical Attack and Special Attack are only base 90, so boosting is often necessary, and the quadruple Flying weakness leaves several hard checks. Virizion was also highly effective in VGC 2011, where its special bulk, Speed, support options, and resistance to many common spread attacks made it a valuable team piece. Later generations kept the same basic identity in lower tiers: versatile setup, strong special resilience, and useful resistances balanced by middling unboosted power and dangerous Flying coverage.

Virizion in Nuzlockes

Virizion is particularly safe against special Water-, Electric-, Grass-, Rock-, Ground-, and Dark-type attackers because base 129 Special Defense is enormous and the typing resists all of those types. Giga Drain can provide recovery while attacking, while Synthesis where available gives more direct healing. Its base 72 Defense is much less impressive, however, and Flying attacks deal quadruple damage, making even weak physical Flying coverage extremely dangerous. Close Combat also lowers both defenses and can undermine Virizion's best trait, so Sacred Sword is often the safer Fighting move if the extra power is unnecessary. Jolly or Timid help Virizion act first, while Calm can create a very large safety margin against special attackers.

Virizion is the fastest and most graceful member of the Swords of Justice. During the ancient forest fire associated with the group's conflict with humans, Virizion used its speed to shield fleeing Pokemon from sparks and burning debris while Cobalion guided them and Terrakion opened an escape route. In battle, it darts around opponents at whirlwind-like speed before cutting them with the sharp, blade-like horns on its head. Some portrayals characterize Virizion as the most intelligent and composed member of the group.