Ahead of the official release of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, players got a look at many critters that would be available once it becomes possible to trade previous monsters into their games via Pokemon Home. It was thanks to datamining done to the games that trainers figured out different mons that would be coming to the ninth generation, and there are standouts throughout. Many come from Tera Raids, like Charizard and Cinderace, but many also come from Scarlet and Violet's predecessor, Pokemon Legends: Arceus.
The Hisui region gifted trainers with many powerful Pokemon at their disposal, and once these monsters are able to get transferred up to Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, they are sure to make waves in the competitive meta - doubles and singles alike. Whether it be Ursaluna with Guts, great base stats, and sweeping potential, or Hisuian Typhlosion with a scary amount of damage output, the Hisuian Pokedex is full of mons that possess meta-defining potential. Chief among them is the Hisuian regional variant of Lilligant.
Hisuian Lilligant Has Some of the Best Set-Up Potential in Scarlet and Violet
In Pokemon, some of the most potent offensive options are those of set-up sweepers - the critters that have moves to boost their stats and wreak havoc upon any opposition that stands in their way. Moves like Swords Dance, Quiver Dance, Belly Drum, Bulk Up, and Calm Mind are often used by the best competitive Gen 9 Pokemon all the time, and Hisuian Lilligant possesses one of the best set-up moves in the game in Victory Dance. It's a move that raises the user's Attack, Defense, and Speed stats all by one stage (1.5x the base stat). If trainers can find a window to get a couple of turns of set-up in, Hisuian Lilligant can turn into an oppressive sweeper.
It has high base Speed and Attack with 105 in each, giving Hisuian Lilligant ample tools to be one of the best physical sweepers in the competitive scene. Additionally, it receives a great offensive move set featuring moves like Close Combat, Leaf Blade, and Drain Punch allowing it to hit many different types for super effective damage. Its typing of Grass and Fighting can hit Steel, Dark, Rock, Water, Ice, Ground, and Normal for super effective damage. With the boosts Victory Dance provides, and the STAB bonus given from Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Terastilization, Hisuian Lilligant is a threat to one-shot most of the Pokedex.
If paired on a team with sun-setters, Hisuian Lilligant can find itself doubling its speed with its Ability, Chlorophyll. Pokemon like Koraidon and Scarlet's Paradox Pokemon, or even the iconic Torkoal, can set the weather to harsh sunlight or benefit from it as well. Thanks to Chlorophyll, Hisuian Lilligant can have a base Speed total of 210, and that's not taking Victory Dance into account. The Speed tiers it can reach get out of hand rather quickly for any opposing players, and it can hit like a truck on top of that. Hitting before others can hit back is very important, and Hisuian Lilligant is an expert in that field.
Though it is a very threatening critter, Hisuian Lilligant does have some notable weaknesses, being quad-weak to Flying-type Pokemon makes it very frail against one of the more common typings in the game. It has five more weaknesses too - Fire, Fairy, Poison, Ice, and Psychic moves will all deal double the amount of damage to it. Fairy, Fire, and Psychic types are fairly common in competitive, and without setting up Lilligant can be fairly frail. Though its Speed and Attack more than make up for it, players will have to find some creative ways to safely switch in Hisuian Lilligant if they want to fully take advantage of its potential to decimate opposing teams.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available for the Nintendo Switch now.
