uploaded -zard
[OVERVIEW]
Gastrodon offers a solid defensive presence in the PU metagame, with a typing that lets it take on a plethora of Pokemon. Thanks to this and its access to reliable recovery, it can function effectively as a physical wall that can check many solid physical attackers like Piloswine, Archeops, Aggron, and Skuntank. In addition, Gastrodon's Storm Drain ability, combined with its immunity to Electric-type moves, allows it to function as an excellent check to Pokemon like Lanturn, Carracosta and Kabutops. While all of these traits grant Gastrodon great defensive utility, its potential is held back by its susceptibility to status. This, along with its poor Speed makes it very prone to being worn down, and it is often being forced to use Recover a lot more than it'd like to avoid getting picked off. Gastrodon's major weakness to Grass-type attacks also makes it quite mediocre at checking most Fire- and Electric-types, as Pokemon like Magmortar and Eelektross frequently run Grass-type coverage. Grass-type Pokemon in general such as Lilligant and Alolan Exeggutor also exploit Gastrodon easily, as they resist its attacks and can easily OHKO with their own.
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Scald
move 2: Recover
move 3: Earth Power / Earthquake
move 4: Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Storm Drain
nature: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
evs: Bold / Relaxed
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Scald threatens Pokemon such as Piloswine and Archeops, and it can potentially cripple switch-ins with a burn. Recover helps Gastrodon stay healthy throughout the match. Earth Power offers good coverage with Scald, hitting Pokemon like Qwilfish, Carracosta, and Kabutops extremely hard while always OHKOing Aggron. Earthquake can be used instead to always OHKO Alolan Raichu as well as Pokemon such as Magmortar and Jynx after Stealth Rock. Toxic allows Gastrodon to rack up damage against many common switch-ins, such as Lilligant and Abomasnow, as well as many defensive Pokemon, like Miltank and opposing Gastrodon.
Set Details
========
Maximum HP and Defense investment lets Gastrodon acquire the most physical bulk possible. Leftovers gives it passive recovery alongside its own recovery move to keep it healthy. Use a Bold nature if using Earth Power, and use a Relaxed nature instead if using Earthquake. Storm Drain lets Gastrodon absorb Water-type attacks while gaining a Special Attack boost, which lets it check the likes of Kabutops and Floatzel.
Usage Tips
========
Gastrodon should switch into Pokemon that it can use its typing and physical bulk to take advantage of, such as Lanturn, Lycanroc, Regirock, Skuntank, and Choice Scarf Primeape. From there, it can threaten them with its STAB attacks or catch a possible switch-in with Toxic. It's important to keep Gastrodon healthy with Recover, as it relies on being at a high amount of HP to prevent Pokemon like Archeops from breaking through it. Although it helps to land a timely Toxic on defensive Pokemon like Miltank, Gastrodon should avoid staying in on the ones that carry Toxic as well, as status is detrimental to its longevity. Lastly, be prepared to make double switches against Pokemon you're expecting to come in like Alolan Exeggutor and Eelektross, and try to take advantage of them with teammates that can threaten them.
Team Options
========
Grass-types generally come in on Gastrodon very easily, so solid Grass-types answers first and foremost, like Magmortar, Skuntank, and Oricorio-G, are essential. Many of these Pokemon have weaknesses or checks in the form of Water-, Rock-, and Ground-types, and so in return appreciate Gastrodon's ability to take them on. Entry hazard removal is also appreciated, because Toxic Spikes and other entry hazards hinder Gastrodon's ability to check Pokemon that it already barely does check, like Archeops. The aforementioned Skuntank, as well as Pokemon such as Togetic, are great partners for that, and they also respectively check Grass-type Pokemon such as Lurantis and Alolan Exeggutor. Specially bulky Pokemon such as Type: Null and Throh can also help compensate for Gastrodon's lack of Special Defense investment, with the added benefit of functioning as status absorbers for Toxic users. Gurdurr can also function as a status absorber with Guts, and it can threaten the likes of Miltank and Ferroseed.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Offensive sets like Choice Specs and Life Orb have nice surprise factor, luring the common bulky switch-ins like Drampa, Alolan Exeggutor, and Ferroseed and breaking through them with Ice Beam and Hidden Power Fire, respectively. The loss in bulk it requires, however, means it loses the ability to check a lot of the threats that defensive Gastrodon is capable of doing, such as Archeops. It also faces competition from other offensive Water-types, as many are faster and stronger. Yawn is an option to force out Pokemon that would otherwise switch into Gastrodon and can rack up damage with hazard support, but it can clash with Gastrodon's Scald should it spread burns. Mirror Coat, combined with Rindo Berry, can surprise some Grass-types like Lilligant and Lurantis that Gastrodon lures in. Clear Smog helps Gastrodon take on Pokemon like Gurdurr more reliably, but it has little use outside of that and running it over Toxic gives you no good way of crippling common switch-ins. Curse Gastrodon can serve as a decent sweeper by boosting its offensive and defensive capabilities upon each use but is generally too vulnerable to status for it to consistently sweep. Finally, Gastrodon can use a specially defensive EV spread to sponge hits like Skuntank's Hidden Power Grass more effectively, but in doing so, it loses the bulk it needs to switch into many of the tier's physical attackers, like Lycanroc, Kabutops, and Aggron.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-type Pokemon**: All of Lilligant, Alolan Exeggutor, Lurantis, Ferroseed, and Shiftry have very low-risk opportunities to switch in and either set up or threaten to OHKO Gastrodon with their respective STAB moves. Support Pokemon such as Roselia and Ferroseed can set up hazards, while Lurantis is able to remove them. With the sole exception of Roselia, the most Gastrodon can do in return is cripple them with status, with Shiftry and Ferroseed hating burns and the others fearing Toxic.
**Status**: Toxic in particular severely hinders Gastrodon's defensive capabilities and longevity, and many Pokemon that carry it such as Miltank, Audino, and opposing Gastrodon can also take its attacks easily. Pokemon that Gastrodon even commonly switches into, such as Regirock, frequently carry Toxic. Toxic Spikes, in particular, is also very hindering.
**Super Effective Coverage**: Although specially offensive Pokemon such as Magmortar, offensive Lanturn, and specially offensive Floatzel generally struggle to beat it 1v1, they commonly carry coverage options that serve to severely dent Gastrodon after it has been lured in, and due to its low Speed, it can be forced to take another hit upon the initial switch in to secure a 2HKO.
**Status Absorbers**: Pokemon like Type: Null, Gurdurr, Clefairy, and Komala are able to freely switch in on Gastrodon, not worry about status, and either set up or status it, respectively, with Gastrodon unable to do anything in return.
**Strong Special Attackers**: Powerful special attackers that don't mind switching into Gastrodon, such as Drampa, Jynx, and Choice Specs or Calm Mind Mesprit, are solid options for breaking through Gastrodon.
[OVERVIEW]
Gastrodon offers a solid defensive presence in the PU metagame, with a typing that lets it take on a plethora of Pokemon. Thanks to this and its access to reliable recovery, it can function effectively as a physical wall that can check many solid physical attackers like Piloswine, Archeops, Aggron, and Skuntank. In addition, Gastrodon's Storm Drain ability, combined with its immunity to Electric-type moves, allows it to function as an excellent check to Pokemon like Lanturn, Carracosta and Kabutops. While all of these traits grant Gastrodon great defensive utility, its potential is held back by its susceptibility to status. This, along with its poor Speed makes it very prone to being worn down, and it is often being forced to use Recover a lot more than it'd like to avoid getting picked off. Gastrodon's major weakness to Grass-type attacks also makes it quite mediocre at checking most Fire- and Electric-types, as Pokemon like Magmortar and Eelektross frequently run Grass-type coverage. Grass-type Pokemon in general such as Lilligant and Alolan Exeggutor also exploit Gastrodon easily, as they resist its attacks and can easily OHKO with their own.
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Scald
move 2: Recover
move 3: Earth Power / Earthquake
move 4: Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Storm Drain
nature: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
evs: Bold / Relaxed
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Scald threatens Pokemon such as Piloswine and Archeops, and it can potentially cripple switch-ins with a burn. Recover helps Gastrodon stay healthy throughout the match. Earth Power offers good coverage with Scald, hitting Pokemon like Qwilfish, Carracosta, and Kabutops extremely hard while always OHKOing Aggron. Earthquake can be used instead to always OHKO Alolan Raichu as well as Pokemon such as Magmortar and Jynx after Stealth Rock. Toxic allows Gastrodon to rack up damage against many common switch-ins, such as Lilligant and Abomasnow, as well as many defensive Pokemon, like Miltank and opposing Gastrodon.
Set Details
========
Maximum HP and Defense investment lets Gastrodon acquire the most physical bulk possible. Leftovers gives it passive recovery alongside its own recovery move to keep it healthy. Use a Bold nature if using Earth Power, and use a Relaxed nature instead if using Earthquake. Storm Drain lets Gastrodon absorb Water-type attacks while gaining a Special Attack boost, which lets it check the likes of Kabutops and Floatzel.
Usage Tips
========
Gastrodon should switch into Pokemon that it can use its typing and physical bulk to take advantage of, such as Lanturn, Lycanroc, Regirock, Skuntank, and Choice Scarf Primeape. From there, it can threaten them with its STAB attacks or catch a possible switch-in with Toxic. It's important to keep Gastrodon healthy with Recover, as it relies on being at a high amount of HP to prevent Pokemon like Archeops from breaking through it. Although it helps to land a timely Toxic on defensive Pokemon like Miltank, Gastrodon should avoid staying in on the ones that carry Toxic as well, as status is detrimental to its longevity. Lastly, be prepared to make double switches against Pokemon you're expecting to come in like Alolan Exeggutor and Eelektross, and try to take advantage of them with teammates that can threaten them.
Team Options
========
Grass-types generally come in on Gastrodon very easily, so solid Grass-types answers first and foremost, like Magmortar, Skuntank, and Oricorio-G, are essential. Many of these Pokemon have weaknesses or checks in the form of Water-, Rock-, and Ground-types, and so in return appreciate Gastrodon's ability to take them on. Entry hazard removal is also appreciated, because Toxic Spikes and other entry hazards hinder Gastrodon's ability to check Pokemon that it already barely does check, like Archeops. The aforementioned Skuntank, as well as Pokemon such as Togetic, are great partners for that, and they also respectively check Grass-type Pokemon such as Lurantis and Alolan Exeggutor. Specially bulky Pokemon such as Type: Null and Throh can also help compensate for Gastrodon's lack of Special Defense investment, with the added benefit of functioning as status absorbers for Toxic users. Gurdurr can also function as a status absorber with Guts, and it can threaten the likes of Miltank and Ferroseed.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Offensive sets like Choice Specs and Life Orb have nice surprise factor, luring the common bulky switch-ins like Drampa, Alolan Exeggutor, and Ferroseed and breaking through them with Ice Beam and Hidden Power Fire, respectively. The loss in bulk it requires, however, means it loses the ability to check a lot of the threats that defensive Gastrodon is capable of doing, such as Archeops. It also faces competition from other offensive Water-types, as many are faster and stronger. Yawn is an option to force out Pokemon that would otherwise switch into Gastrodon and can rack up damage with hazard support, but it can clash with Gastrodon's Scald should it spread burns. Mirror Coat, combined with Rindo Berry, can surprise some Grass-types like Lilligant and Lurantis that Gastrodon lures in. Clear Smog helps Gastrodon take on Pokemon like Gurdurr more reliably, but it has little use outside of that and running it over Toxic gives you no good way of crippling common switch-ins. Curse Gastrodon can serve as a decent sweeper by boosting its offensive and defensive capabilities upon each use but is generally too vulnerable to status for it to consistently sweep. Finally, Gastrodon can use a specially defensive EV spread to sponge hits like Skuntank's Hidden Power Grass more effectively, but in doing so, it loses the bulk it needs to switch into many of the tier's physical attackers, like Lycanroc, Kabutops, and Aggron.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-type Pokemon**: All of Lilligant, Alolan Exeggutor, Lurantis, Ferroseed, and Shiftry have very low-risk opportunities to switch in and either set up or threaten to OHKO Gastrodon with their respective STAB moves. Support Pokemon such as Roselia and Ferroseed can set up hazards, while Lurantis is able to remove them. With the sole exception of Roselia, the most Gastrodon can do in return is cripple them with status, with Shiftry and Ferroseed hating burns and the others fearing Toxic.
**Status**: Toxic in particular severely hinders Gastrodon's defensive capabilities and longevity, and many Pokemon that carry it such as Miltank, Audino, and opposing Gastrodon can also take its attacks easily. Pokemon that Gastrodon even commonly switches into, such as Regirock, frequently carry Toxic. Toxic Spikes, in particular, is also very hindering.
**Super Effective Coverage**: Although specially offensive Pokemon such as Magmortar, offensive Lanturn, and specially offensive Floatzel generally struggle to beat it 1v1, they commonly carry coverage options that serve to severely dent Gastrodon after it has been lured in, and due to its low Speed, it can be forced to take another hit upon the initial switch in to secure a 2HKO.
**Status Absorbers**: Pokemon like Type: Null, Gurdurr, Clefairy, and Komala are able to freely switch in on Gastrodon, not worry about status, and either set up or status it, respectively, with Gastrodon unable to do anything in return.
**Strong Special Attackers**: Powerful special attackers that don't mind switching into Gastrodon, such as Drampa, Jynx, and Choice Specs or Calm Mind Mesprit, are solid options for breaking through Gastrodon.
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