Intro
Vanilluxe is an appreciated member on virtually any team due to its ability to set Aurora Veil, but there’s a lot more under the surface that makes this sentient ice-cream cone so prevalent. Due to mechanic changes in generation 9, Vanilluxe’s ability Snow Warning grants it and other ice types a 50% defense boost, bolstering its mediocre base 85 defense to an effective base 137. This combination combined with its surprisingly decent base 79 speed means it will almost always manage to get aurora veil up. Because Aurora Veil greatly enables setup sweepers, Vanilluxe teams would ordinarily have difficulty with Quagsire were it not for the move freeze-dry. With base 110 SpAtk and a 4x damage multiplier Vanilluxe can OHKO all but the most specially defensive Quagsires with 0 offensive investment of its own, providing an effective check.
Offense
Thanks to the snow making Blizzard 100% accurate, top special attacking threats such as Serperior and Nidoqueen are loathe to switch into it. If so desired, Vanilluxe can also run flash cannon to hit opposing ice types for super-effective special damage thereby bypassing the defense boost granted by its own ability.
Checks & Counters
Of course, Vanilluxe is not without its counters. Strong choice band attackers such as Tauros-Paldea-Blaze and Ceruledge can out-speed and ohko, denying Aurora Veil and turning the game into an immediate 5v6. Tauros-Blaze is especially dangerous because its signature move, Raging Bull, removes screens before applying damage calculation. Taunt leads can also shut down Vanilluxe by denying Aurora Veil for 3 turns and forcing Vanilluxe to either switch out or risk an unfavorable matchup.
Specs
Due to its bulk and decent speed tier combined with its blinding 110 base SpAtk, Vanilluxe has a niche role as a choice specs sweeper. 100% accurate Blizzard ohkos top threats like Serperior, Zebstrika, and Tyrantrum. Freeze dry renders Quagsire insert, and flash cannon ensures opposing Vanillixes and Rimes can’t switch in.
Scarf
Alternatively, Vanilluxe can opt for a choice scarf to outspeed the whole unboosted metagame. Scarf sets lose out on the guranteed Zebstrika kill but make up for it in the potential to unexpectedly outspeed and ensure it can’t risk switching into anything again. Opposing ice types will not be hit quite as hard, but the potential to outspeed and 2hko is valuable enough to warrant consideration.
Written by Typhon