Welcome to Pokemon of the Week! This week we'll be focusing on a Pokemon that has been an underdog since the beginning of Pokemon. It's part of a special group of Pokemon that most refer too as "Eeveelutions". This week, we focus on Flareon.

Being the absolute worst of the Eeveelutions is not a title it wears proudly, but unfortunately, the good folks over at Game Freak apparently have something against poor Flareon. Despite the Flare in it's name, Flareon infamously lacks Flare Blitz. In the past couple generations, it has gotten a few tools to make it slightly better, such as Superpower, Flame Charge and Guts, but these are not nearly enough to keep it out of NU. Pure Fire typing makes it susceptable to all forms of entry hazards, and while Guts can help mitigate the damage of Toxic Spikes, Flareon is forced into a defensive role in NU, since the bulkiest walls in NU don't care about anything Flareon can do offensively, especially Eviolite Frillish.

With all that being said, Flareon can perform a defensive role in NU somewhat well, if you can keep entry hazards off the field. It's got great natural special bulk, and Lava Plume can help weaken opposing physical attackers. Heal Bell is also nice to keep the team nice and healthy.

Flareon@ Leftovers Flash Fire Calm nature (+Sp. Defense, -Attack) EVs: 252 HP / 252 Sp. Defense / 4 Sp. Attack Wish Protect Lava Plume Heal Bell / Toxic / Roar

Flareon can be an excellent team player, if used correctly. It can wall many of the strongest special attackers in NU, such as Charizard, Exeggutor and Gardevoir. Be warned, however, that Flareon is setup bait for arguably the most dangerous special attacker in the tier: Gorebyss. With that out of the way, let's talk about the set. Wish and Protect allow Flareon to keep itself and it's teammates healthy. Lava Plume is the STAB attack of choice, providing a nice 30% chance of Burning the opponent, which is nice for Burning physical attackers.

The last slot provides different types of support. Heal Bell clears your team of status, which can be great for removing Sleep, Paralysis and an untimely Freeze, or even Poison from your bulky Pokemon. Toxic allows Flareon to greatly annoy bulky waters such as Alomomola, Frillish and Wartortle. Finally, Roar can allow Flareon to phaze Pokemon out that attempt to setup on it. The aforementioned Gorebyss may try to setup a Shell Smash as it expects Flareon to switch out, only to find itself forced out. The best thing about this, is that it will use it's White Herb before you send it packing, making it's next attempt to setup a bit harder, since attacks will do much more damage to it. Roar requires spot-on prediction, though, as staying in against a setup sweeper could end up with them just hitting you before you can Roar them out.

Obtaining an Eevee in Black2 and White2 requires some patience, but it can be done by accessing Castelia City Park through Castelia Sewers, though your real best bet for Flareon is to get one from the Dream World. In-Game, Flareon's lack of offensive capabilities really shows just how awful it is. Honestly, it is not worth raising one unless it is your absolute favorite Pokemon, and if it is... I'm so sorry. :(

Flareon Flame Charge Superpower Fire Blast / Fire Fang Return / Facade

Flareon's offensive movepool is... offensive. He's got very little to work with, and it shows. Flame Charge is nice to set Flareon above the opponent's Speed. Superpower is usually Flareon's most powerful attack, but it lowers Attack and Defense, so use it only if and when necessary. The third slot offers a stronger Fire attack. Fire Fang runs off of Flareon's higher Attack stat, but has such low base power that Fire Blast is usually more powerful against most opponents. In the last slot, Flareon has... nothing of importance, really. Return has a nice base 102 power and lets you hit Water types neutrally (most of them, anyway). Facade should be used with Flareon's Dream World ability, Guts, as well as a Toxic Orb as the held item, to activate both Guts and Facade's higher power.

I'll say it again, though, Flareon is an awful Pokemon, due to his horrible movepool and better options available, so unless this is one of your absolute favorites, raise something else. Like Blaziken.

Flareon is an underdog, and I can usually get behind an underdog character. I want Flareon to get Flare Blitz, it deserves it. But the reality is that this will only help it be better in NU, as there is nothing Flareon can realistically do to rise out of the NU in the foreseeable future. Still, it's very cute, so I kinda like it.

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