Vullaby

Using Vullaby in a Playthrough

Vullaby evolves into Mandibuzz at level 54, so like Rufflet it remains unevolved unusually late. Mandibuzz is a Dark/Flying defensive Pokemon with base 110 HP, 105 Defense, 95 Special Defense, and 80 Speed, making it much better at absorbing attacks than dealing direct damage. Foul Play is especially useful because it uses the opponent's Attack stat in its damage calculation, while Knock Off, Roost, Taunt, Toxic in older games, U-turn, and Defog from later generations support a durable utility role. Big Pecks prevents Defense drops, Overcoat blocks weather damage and from Generation VI onward also grants immunity to powder and spore moves, while Weak Armor lowers Defense and raises Speed after physical hits. Dark/Flying gives complete Psychic and Ground immunities but is weak to Electric, Ice, and Rock, with Fairy added from Generation VI onward. Impish or Careful are natural natures, and Mandibuzz is most valuable when used as a wall and support Pokemon rather than being forced into conventional offense.

Vullaby in Competitive Pokémon

Mandibuzz was officially NU in BW but already possessed a serious UU niche because 110/105/95 bulk, Dark/Flying typing, Roost, Taunt, Toxic, and Whirlwind allowed it to function as a durable mixed wall. Smogon specifically notes that its typing and defenses let it check a broad collection of threats despite low offensive stats. Later generations improved Mandibuzz considerably: stronger Knock Off, widespread Defog access, Foul Play, and Overcoat's new powder immunity gave it much more reliable role compression, and it became a recurring upper-tier defensive Pokemon in several formats. Foul Play is central to this identity because Mandibuzz can punish powerful physical attackers without investing in its own mediocre base 65 Attack. Its Stealth Rock weakness, Electric/Ice/Rock coverage, and reliance on Roost remain exploitable, but very few Flying-types combine comparable mixed bulk, item disruption, hazard removal, and two immunities.

Vullaby in Nuzlockes

Mandibuzz is one of the safer defensive Flying-types for a Nuzlocke once it finally evolves at level 54. Its large HP and strong mixed defenses give it a substantial margin against neutral attacks, while Ground and Psychic immunities create completely safe switches when the opponent's move is known. Roost provides reliable healing and Foul Play allows Mandibuzz to punish high-Attack opponents without taking offensive risks of its own. Electric, Ice, Rock, and later Fairy attacks are the main danger, and Stealth Rock can repeatedly erode its health before it has a chance to act. Overcoat is particularly useful in later generations because powder moves such as Spore no longer work against it, adding another predictable defensive advantage.

Vullaby is a female-only young vulture that wears a cracked skull around its lower body as protective armor. As it grows, it repeatedly outgrows these bones and replaces them, often passing older pieces down to smaller Vullaby. Individuals even quarrel over which bones are the most comfortable. Vullaby has a large appetite and tends to chase weaker creatures despite being unable to fly well.