Is Buzzwole viable in Gen 8 OU?

Buzzwole is ranked #22 in Gen 8 OU with 10.12% usage according to Smogon Feb 2026 - Apr 2026 data.

What beats Buzzwole in Gen 8 OU?

The best counter for Buzzwole in Gen 8 OU is Clefable with a 66.9% win rate when they meet. Based on Smogon's Feb 2026 - Apr 2026 usage data, the top Pokémon that beat Buzzwole include Clefable, Tornadus-Therian, Heatran, Slowbro, Urshifu-Rapid-Strike.

What is the best counter for Buzzwole in Gen 8 OU?

Clefable is the best counter for Buzzwole in Gen 8 OU, KOing or forcing it out in 66.9% of their encounters.

Buzzwole counters

Gen 8 OU · Sorted by reliability score · Smogon · Feb 2026 - Apr 2026

#0794 Buzzwole

BugFighting

USAGE 10.1% #22

BASE STATS

HP 107

ATK 139

DEF 139

SPA 53

SPD 53

SPE 79

BST570

TYPE MATCHUPS

4×

Flying

2×

FirePsychicFairy

½×

GrassFightingGroundBugDark

Moves

Close Combat 96.6% Ice Punch 94.6% Roost 63.1% Leech Life 54.9% Earthquake 53.0% Toxic 16.5% Poison Jab 7.4% Thunder Punch 7.1%

Items

Rocky Helmet 36.0% Choice Band 31.2% Heavy-Duty Boots 20.7% Muscle Band 5.3% Choice Scarf 2.6% Expert Belt 2.3% Leftovers 1.1% Life Orb 0.7%

Common Teammates

Landorus-Therian51.5%

Tornadus-Therian23.7%

Tyranitar21.7%

Checks & Counters

Ranked by reliability — blends KO rate with how often each Pokémon is matched up.

# Checker Encounters Reliability KO Rate

Clefable

Fairy DEFENSIVE COUNTER

42.522

66.9% dies 7.22%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Buzzwole Poison Jab vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Clefable: 178-210 (45.1 - 53.2%) -- 0.4% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Clefable counters → Teams with Clefable →

Tornadus-Therian

Flying SOFT CHECK

28.527

51.3% dies 9.36%

DAMAGE CALC

0- SpA Tornadus-Therian Hurricane vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Buzzwole: 484-576 (115.7 - 137.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Tornadus-Therian counters → Teams with Tornadus-Therian →

Heatran

FireSteel SOFT CHECK

22.021

39.8% dies 10.43%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Heatran Magma Storm vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Buzzwole: 378-446 (90.4 - 106.6%) -- 43.8% chance to OHKO (guaranteed OHKO after trapping damage)

View Heatran counters → Teams with Heatran →

Slowbro

WaterPsychic SOFT CHECK

37.957

35.8% dies 7.78%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Slowbro Future Sight vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Buzzwole: 374-444 (89.4 - 106.2%) -- 37.5% chance to OHKO

View Slowbro counters → Teams with Slowbro →

Urshifu-Rapid-Strike

FightingWater SOFT CHECK

22.256

23.6% dies 8.99%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Choice Band Urshifu-Rapid-Strike Surging Strikes (3 hits) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Buzzwole on a critical hit: 228-273 (54.5 - 65.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Urshifu-Rapid-Strike counters → Teams with Urshifu-Rapid-Strike →

Garchomp

DragonGround SOFT CHECK

22.101

21.8% dies 8.79%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Garchomp Fire Fang vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Buzzwole: 118-140 (28.2 - 33.4%) -- 0.1% chance to 3HKO

View Garchomp counters → Teams with Garchomp →

Melmetal

Steel SOFT CHECK

22.277

21.8% dies 8.75%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Iron Fist Melmetal Double Iron Bash (2 hits) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Buzzwole: 210-248 (50.2 - 59.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Melmetal counters → Teams with Melmetal →

Weavile

DarkIce SOFT CHECK

59.136

20.1% dies 7.30%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Weavile Triple Axel (120 BP) (3 hits) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Buzzwole: 152-183 (36.3 - 43.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

View Weavile counters → Teams with Weavile →

Landorus-Therian

GroundFlying SOFT CHECK

43.133

12.7% dies 5.07%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Landorus-Therian Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Buzzwole: 98-116 (23.4 - 27.7%) -- 80.9% chance to 4HKO

View Landorus-Therian counters → Teams with Landorus-Therian →

Ferrothorn

GrassSteel SOFT CHECK

26.188

8.1% dies 5.34%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Ferrothorn Power Whip vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Buzzwole: 65-77 (15.5 - 18.4%) -- possible 6HKO

View Ferrothorn counters → Teams with Ferrothorn →

Kartana

GrassSteel SOFT CHECK

24.333

3.0% dies 3.45%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Kartana Aerial Ace vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Buzzwole: 280-332 (66.9 - 79.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Kartana counters → Teams with Kartana →

Ranked #22 with 10.12% usage. Sorted by reliability score.