What it does
Solar Blade is a Grass-type physical move — 125 base power. In normal weather, it charges for one turn and attacks the next, effectively occupying two turns per use. In harsh sunlight — from Sunny Day or Drought — the charge is skipped and the full 125 power lands immediately.
In hail, rain, or sandstorm, power is halved to roughly 62 effective power. That is weaker than most standard Grass-type moves. Solar Blade also cannot be called by Sleep Talk.
Grass typing gives 2× damage against Water and Ground. It deals halved or blocked damage against Fire, Flying, Bug, Poison, and Steel.
Who runs it
Leafeon (45%) is the carrier. Chlorophyll doubles its speed in harsh sun, and Solar Blade fires without a charge turn in the same conditions — so the two effects activate together. Under sun, Leafeon becomes faster than almost anything and immediately lands a 125-power STAB Grass move. That combination is the point of running it.
How to use it
Sun setup comes first. In doubles, a partner brings sun via Sunny Day or Drought before Leafeon attacks. Once sun is up, Leafeon's Chlorophyll kicks in and Solar Blade skips the charge — you get a fast, powerful Grass hit in the same turn.
Without sun, the charge turn leaves Leafeon fully exposed with nothing to do. In doubles, both opposing Pokémon can attack it freely during the charge. That is why this move almost never appears outside of dedicated sun teams.
If the opponent runs weather that overrides your sun — rain, sandstorm, or hail — Solar Blade gets halved to roughly 62 power. Keeping sun stable, or having a plan for when weather gets overridden, is a prerequisite for this move to function.
Tips & strategy
In a pinch without sun, you can use Protect on the charge turn if Leafeon knows it — effectively burning two turns for one attack, which is still poor value. The 45% usage rate on Leafeon exists because sun teams are genuinely common in Champions; Solar Blade is the payoff for the setup, not a standalone pick.
Anti-weather is the main risk. An opponent who can flip weather immediately turns your 125-power move into a 62-power move. That is the primary reason sun teams need either a reliable way to re-establish sun or a backup plan.