Weavile, The Sharp Claw Pokémon. Evolution made it even more devious. It communicates by clawing signs in boulders.They communicate by clawing signs into boulders and work together to surround enemies.It lives in snowy regions. It carves patterns in trees with its claws as a signal to others. They live in cold regions, forming groups of four or five that hunt prey with impressive coordination.

Overview

Weavile has been hanging out in the Underused tier since the beginning of 5th generation and it has been a staple of teams in both UU and OU as a glass cannon sweeper, meaning it hits hard but is extremely frail. With a base 120 attack and 125 speed, Weavile is set up perfectly for what it does, either Pursuit trapping or just going in and KOing everything in sight. Its movepool is an excellent and supports Weavile very well. But all good things must come to an end, and such is the case with Weavile. It is unfortunately weak to Stealth Rock, making it very hard for Weavile to come in more than once, and it doesn't do much to bulkier Fighting types, which means it either has to switch out or risk getting KO'd. Weavile is also weak to the most common priority moves in Bullet Punch and Mach Punch and is generally unable to do much to its users. As Scizor is the most commonly used Pokemon in OU, it may be attributed as one of the reasons Weavile became UU in the first place. But being where it is, Weavile is definitely usable and should be in no way discounted, as it is one of the best Pokemon to revenge kill Dragon types and is versatile in many other respects.

Abilities

Pressure: Makes every move an opponent uses cost double the PP, not exactly the best offensive ability but is usable compared to Weavile's other ability.
Pickpocket: Steals the opponent's held item if contact is made, a terrible ability for Weavile because it would mean starting out with no item and it could end up with basically anything, some of which would not benfit Weavile in the slightest, so generally a bad choice unless a gimmick set.

Movesets

Pop Goes The Better Weasel

-Ice Shard
-Pursuit
-Low Kick
-Night Slash / Ice Punch
Item Attached: Life Orb / Choice Band
Ability: Pressure
EVs and Nature:
EVs:4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe Jolly Nature (+Spe, -SAtk)

This set is one of Weavile's staple sets, and it it very effective. Ice Shard is a decent STAB move that is solely used for priority, allowing Weavile to revenge Dragon stuck in Outrage and the like with impunity. Pursuit is another STAB move that is used entirely for the purpose of hitting switching out Pokemon, and works in perfect tandem with Ice Shard. Low Kick is Weavile's best coverage for Steel and Rock types, as the majority of these are heavier (Ferrothorn, Tyranitar, etc). The last slot is dependent on which STAB you need to have a stronger version of, Night Slash taking care of things like Jellicent (in OU), Cofagrigus and Duskclops (in UU) and Ice Punch getting Venusaur or Virizion and Dragons with more HP. Life Orb or Choice Band is the choice presented for item, and which you choose once again depends on what role you need Weavile to fill. Life Orb has the advantage of not getting locked into a single move, while Choice Band adds a ton more power. The 4 EVs in HP can really be placed anywhere, if you think that you need more in one stat or the other.

A Ceremonial Headdress for a Ceremonial Dance

-Swords Dance
-Night Slash
-Ice Punch / Ice Shard
-Low Kick / Brick Break
Item Attached: Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
EVs and Nature:
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature (+Spe, -Atk)

This is the alternative to the full attacking sets and works very well in both UU and in OU. Swords Dance boosts Weavile's attack by 2 stages, making it very dangerous if the opponent has no way to wall it or get rid of it. Night Slash is strong STAB that hits every type but Dark and Steel for neutral or super effective damage, while Ice punch or Ice Shard do the same (other than Ice instead of Dark). The choice between the two is dependent on whether you need to take out faster threats or just need to hit hard. Low Kick or Brick Break round off the coverage, Low Kick hitting heavier Pokemon harder while Brick Break has the set level and deals with the occasional Reflect or Light Screen. EVs are there for the same reasons as the other set.

Other Options

Aerial Ace, Beat Up, Crush Claw, Facade, Fake Out, Low Sweep, Poison Jab, Quick Attack, Shadow Claw, Taunt, Toxic
Aerial Ace can be used to hit Fighting types harder, though why you're staying in on a Fighting type with Weavile I don't know.
Beat Up is viable in a Doubles or Triples battle and can be used for massive Justified boosts for a Pokemon on your team, otherwise Night Slash is a better option.
Crush Claw can be used for neutral coverage, though the coverage moves you have are generally good enough.
Facade can be used if you're expecting to get status on Weavile and want some base 140 power neutral coverage.
Fake Out is viable both in Single battle and in Double or Triples as it helps Weavile to scout and not have to rely on prediction as much.
Low Sweep is an alternative to either Low Kick or Brick Break, and can be useful as it lowers the opponent's speed.
Poison Jab is strong neutral coverage with a chance to Poison.
Quick Attack can be used to hit things Ice Shard doesn't hit as well, but the loss of STAB makes it relatively inferior.
Shadow Claw can be used if you want to, but it really does nothing better than Night Slash.
Taunt can be usable as Weavile is very fast and would be able to shut down most walls that come in to try and stall out Weavile.
Toxic can be used for the same reason as Taunt, just on different threats.

Double & Triple Battle Options

In metagames such as VGC, Weavile is one of the faster threats and is also the fastest Fake Out user, which is very beneficial in this metagame. Weavile is a potent physical attacker with the ability to break through many teams.

Partners

Something, correction, ANYTHING that can stop Fighting types or get rid of them. Mew is probably the best option in UU to take care of bulkier threats like Hitmontop, or Gligar or bulky Ghost types for delaing with faster powerful threats like Heracross.

Countering Weavile

Weavile isn't all that hard to counter in all honesty. Hitmontop is probably the best option in UU as it has Intimidate and gets Mach Punch, both of which all extremely detrimental to Weavile (Mach Punch killing it). Intimidate Arcanine with Extremespeed is also good in this way. Scarf users like Heracross and Chandelure also can deal with Weavile, and bulky Pokemon like Bronzong and Escavalier can resist most of it's moves, though the latter two have to be wary of +2 attacks.

Pre-Evolution Corner - Sneasel

Overview

Sneasel is an interesting case, a good Pokemon in many respects but also cursed. I say cursed because it was banned from Little Cup and is outclassed in Neverused. Though with the departure of Cincinno and Absol from NU, Sneasel may have a better shot at fulfilling its role as a mini-Weavile. Sneasel is only slightly worse than Weavile, with base 95 attack and base 115 speed, giving it one of the highest speed stats in NU. It still has the same shortcomings as Weavile, but it also has the same advantages. Sneasel has quite a few less Steel types or Pokemon with priority moves to worry about, but an abundance of bulky Fighting types that will make it difficult to use. This does not mean that Sneasel is bad, and it does have a niche in NU that it can utilize.

Dem Sneezing Weasels

-Ice Shard
-Pursuit
-Ice Punch
-Low Kick / Brick Break
Item Attached: Choice Band
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs and Nature:
EVs:4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature (+Spe, -SAtk)

Since this set is almost identical to Weavile's Choice Band set, I will explain the differences. Ice Punch is used over Night Slash due to the abundance of Grass and Ground types in NU compared to Ghost types that need to be hit harder than Ice Shard can do, and also because of the simple fact that Sneasel doesn't get Night Slash. The choice between Low Kick and Brick Break is the same as it was in Weavile's SD set (BB for Miltank, LK for Regirock and Lapras). Inner Focus is used as it prevents the occasional flinch that may come from moves like Air Slash and Rock Slide (though Sneasel surviving a Rock Slide is laughable.)

Why Is Its Other Ear a Feather?

-Swords Dance
-Ice Punch
-Low Kick
-Bite / Taunt
Item Attached: Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs and Nature:
EVs:4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature (+Spe, -SAtk)

This set has a few more differences to Weavile's than the other one. First off, Low Kick is used because Low Kick OHKOs Regirock after hazards even not at +2, which is extremely useful for Sneasel to be able to do, while at +2 it can KO Lapras. The option between Bite and Taunt is situational, Bite rounding off Sneasel's coverage so it can hit everything in NU for at least neutral damage, while Taunt helps Sneasel to stop walls from either giving it status or setting up on it. Ice Punch is Sneasel's most reliable STAB, and since not much outspeeds Sneasel in this tier anyhow Ice Shard isn't needed as badly.

Countering Sneasel

Sawk is the best option for countering Sneasel as it is not only relatively bulky, but is also generally Scarfed meaning it'll survive whatever Sneasel throws at it and KO it in return, or revenge kill Sneasel by outrunning. Other bulky Fighting types like Throh and Gurdurr also can take out Sneasel with ease. Armaldo, Regirock, and Carracosta can fare well against Sneasel, though Armaldo is the only one who doesn't have to be wary about Low Kick. Torkoal is extremely defensive and can retaliate with either Lava Plume or Will-O-Wisp. Bulky Water types like Whiscash can also deal with Sneasel.

Locations in Games

Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Not in game.

FireRed/LeafGreen:
Not in game

Colosseum/XD:
Not in game

Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Evolve Sneasel

HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Evolve Sneasel

Black/White:
Evolve Sneasel

Black 2/White 2:
Evolve Sneasel

Animé Appearences

Weavile has made a few appearances. Mostly notably, it was used by Paul during many of his battles in Sinnoh, such as against Cynthia and Ash. # -English Episode Name- -Jp. Episode Name- Pics M8 Lucario & The Mystery of Mew Mew & The Wave-Guiding Hero - Lucario Pics 461 Duels of the Jungle Attack! The Stray Weavile! Pics 508 Top-Down Training! Champion Cynthia Appears! Pics S22 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time & Darkness Pokémon Mystery Dungeon - Time & Darkness Expedition Pics 532 Riding the Winds of Change! Gliscor and Gligar! Getting Through the Wind Maze! Pics 568 Aiding the Enemy Turtwig, Grotle...& Torterra! Pics 582 Another One Gabites the Dust Pokémon Contest! Akebi Convention!! Pics S23 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky - Beyond Time & Darkness Pokémon Mystery Dungeon - Sky Expedition Pics 599 Pedal to the Mettle Full Battle! Paul VS Ash! (Part One) Pics 600 Evolving Strategies Full Battle! Paul VS Ash! (Part Two) Pics 601 Uncrushing Defeat Uxie's Shadow! Pics 628 A Marathon Rivalry! Get Fired Up Snorlax! Prince of Pokéthlon! Pics 630 Playing the Performance Encore Double Battle! VS Plusle & Minun! Pics 633 Flint Sparks the Fire! Elite Four Flint and Gym Leader Volkner! Pics 656 Battling a Thaw in Relations Rival Battle Conclusion! Ash VS Paul! Pics P14 Eevee Friends Pikachu & Eevee Friends Pics 902 The Legend of the Ninja Hero! Welcome to the Ninja Village! The Legend of the Hero Greninja!! Pics 903 A Festival of Decisions! Decisive Battle in the Ninja Village! Frogadier VS Bisharp!! Pics 910 An Explosive Operation The Explosive Land's Wrath! Operation: Capture Zygarde!! Pics 933 Finals Not for the Faint-Hearted! The Finals! Ash VS Alain!! Pics 934 Down to the Fiery Finish Kalos League Victory! Ash's Ultimate Match!! Pics 937 The Right Hero for the Right Job! Attack on Lumiose Gym! The Clembot Forever!! Pics 938 Rocking Kalos Defenses! The Megalith Advances! A Fight to Protect Kalos!! Pics 1160 Leaping Towards the Dream! Let's Go! Project Mew!! Pics 1169 Trial on a Golden Scale! Trial Mission! Volcarona's Golden Scales!! Pics 1177 Looking Out for Number Two! Trial Mission! The Deep Sea Diver Research Team!! Pics 1215 TBC Go for Dream! Goh's Road to Mew!! Pics 1218 A Flood of Torrential Gains The Finals I: Torrent Pics 1222 The Mew from Here! Project Mew Pics 1223 In the Palms of our Hands! The Future I Seize Pics 40 Farewell, Sprigatito? Farewell, Sprigatito Pics