Appletun, The Apple Nectar Pokémon. Eating a sweet apple caused its evolution. A nectarous scent wafts from its body, luring in the bug Pokémon it preys on. Its body is covered in sweet nectar, and the skin on its back is especially yummy. Children used to have it as a snack.

Overview

The Shield exclusive Applin evolution, Appletun immediately draws attention to both its unique ability in Ripen and its design as an Apple Pie. While Ripen seems to open up a whole new world of Berry abuse, Appletun’s own shortcomings and the limitations of Berries themselves prevent Appletun from excelling against many opponents.
Positives
110/90/90 defenses are great, especially with access to Recover and Leech Seed. Appletun can easily take repeated hits before going down.
Two great defensive abilities in Ripen and Thick Fat
Quadruple resistances to Water, Grass and Electric as well as a normal resistance to Ground ensures that Appletun always has a move it can pivot into.
A fantastic STAB in Apple Acid
Negatives
Numerous weaknesses in Bug, Fairy, Flying, Poison and Ice make Appletun’s job of walling hard
No special coverage outside of STABs, making Appletun easy to wall, especially with its average 100 Special Attack
Poor Base 30 speed means that Appletun will almost always get hit before moving outside a Trick Room

Movesets

Apple Pie, Apple Die

-Recover
-Apple Acid
-Dragon Pulse
-Leech Seed/Body Press
Item Attached: Leftovers
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs and Nature:
252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Bold Nature

Appletun acts as a resilient wall, coming in again and again to soak attacks before firing back with its own. Recover is vital to this set, keeping Appletun healthy over repeated attacks and making it much harder to take down. Apple Acid proves to be just as an important move, enabling Appletun to outmuscle bulkier targets after several Apple Acids and punish switch-ins by dropping the Special Defense of a counter makes it easier for Appletun’s team mates to get rid of. Dragon Pulse is a reliable secondary STAB that isn’t resisted by near as many types as Apple Acid. Leech Seed piles on even more recovery and passive damage, making Appletun even harder to KO, while Body Press provides an answer to Steel types who resist both of Appletun’s STABs. Thick Fat is the ability of choice, giving a Fire resistance and reducing the Ice Weakness to give Appletun more favorable matchups.

DYNAMAX:
Appletun can use Gigantamax or its normal Dynamax equally well. G-Max Sweetness clears any status on Appletun while Max Overgrow provides a needed attack buff to Grass STAB in addition to even more passive recovery. Max Wyrmwind helps Appletun in its walling duties by dropping the attack of opposing targets. Appletun will not be sweeping teams while Dynamaxing, but makes for an excellent wall if forced to Dynamax.

EVs and Items:
Max HP and Defense are to make Appletun as bulky as possible on the physical side, while simultaneously powering up Body Press if running it. Leftovers increases longevity of the many turns Appletun is expected to be out. Investing in Special Defense is an option, though such sets should probably not run Body Press.

Partners:
Rillaboom/Tapu Bulu -Appletun loves Grassy Terrain so teammates that set it up are greatly appreciated.
Heatran/Magnezone -Both easily pivot into Appletun’s weaknesses, can reliably take out any Steel types and enjoy the Special Defense drop from Apple Acid.
Tapu Fini and Toxapex -form a Water-Grass core with Appletun and provide Status protection (Tapu Fini) or more passive damage (Toxapex).

Berry Sweet and Sour

-Recycle
-Recover
-Leech Seed
-Apple Acid
Item Attached: Sitrus Berry/Aguav Berry
Ability: Ripen
EVs and Nature:
252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
Calm Nature

Appletun can double down on its recovery by making the most out of Ripen. Recycle enables Appletun to recur its Berries over and over for more healing. Recover remains useful for when the berry alone is not enough or you haven’t had a chance to Recycle it yet. Leech Seed provides more passive recovery and chip damage, which is necessary when you are only running one attacking move. Apple Acid remains, as the Special Defense drop is just too good to disregard and Grass Immune targets (with Sap Sipper) are far rarer than Dragon Immune targets.

DYNAMAX:
Don’t. This Appletun is far too passive to abuse Dynamax effectively.

EVs and Items:
Max HP and Special Defense to make Appletun as bulky as possible on the special side. Ripen Appletun does not want to be switching into physical attackers who may carry Knock Off, so optimizing for Special Attacks is more logical. Sitrus Berry is essentially Recover when Appletun hits 50%, while Aguav is a whopping 66% when Appletun hits the last fourth of its health.

Partners:
Terrakion -punishes opponents that recklessly spam Knock Off and can pivot into Poison moves and destroy opposing Steel types.
Toxic Spikes -places your opponent on a timer as Ripen Appletun is fantastic at stalling out the clock with its numerous recovery options.

Countering Appletun

It is difficult to directly counter Appletun as it will pivot out if it senses a threat and can easily punish switch ins with Apple Acid and Leech Seed.

Grass types like Amoongus, Venusaur, Ferrothorn, and Tangrowth can all safely come in on a Leech Seed and either threaten with a Poison move or start setting up, though none of them like the Special Defense Drop from Apple Acid.

Steel types like Metagross, Corviknight, and Celesteela all can easily come in on any STAB move of Appletun’s and threaten it out with their own moves. Metagross even dodges the Special Defense drop from Apple Acid, but none of them particularly enjoy being Leech Seeded.

Strong super effective STABs can OHKO Appletun, but sets fully invested in the appropriate defense can survive all but the strongest attacks. Galarian Zapdos and Triple Axle Weavile stand out for one shotting even the bulkiest physical sets, while Specs Draco Meteor users, Specs Magearna, and Specs Tapu Lele do the same for sets invested in max Special Defense.

Aside from these, the tried and true methods of dealing with bulky Pokémon work on Appletun. Toxic ruins Appletun’s bulk, while Taunt prevents it from recovering. Knock Off gets a special note here as Recycle cannot recover items removed by Knock Off, so Ripen sets are invariably hinderd by that move.

Anime Appearences

Appletun has yet to make an appearance in the anime. # -English Episode Name- -Jp. Episode Name- Pics 1158 Errand Endurance! I'd Like To Keep An Eye On Their First Errand! Pics 19 The Bittersweet Truth The Truth About Alcremie Pics 20 Kabu's Battle Training Kabu's Battle Training Pics