Golurk

Golurk
Golurk is notable for its usage of Stealth rocks and its unique typing giving it an immunity against Rapid Spin and Fighting-type moves making its primary usage in the current being that of a quasi-offensive Stealth Rock setter that isn't otherwise left vulnerable to a vicious onslaught from Fighting-type leads and doesn't give Spinners many opportunities to undo its set-up.

This analysis, however, attempts to subvert that very reputation and provide an alternative usage for Golurk as a leading Pokemon.


No Guard
Move 1: Dynamic Punch
Move 2: Focus Punch
Move 3: Stomping Tantrum
Move 4: Shadow Punch
Item: Leftovers
Ability: No Guard
Nature:Adamant
EV's: 252 HP/ 72 ATK/ 184 DEF

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Dynamic Punch is a Physical Fighting-type move with a power of 100 and an accuracy of 50%. Dynamic Punch is guaranteed to inflict Confusion, so long as it strikes the targeted Pokemon.

Focus Punch is a Physical Fighting-type move with a power of 150 and an accuracy of 100%. Focus Punch is a decreased priority move, meaning that its guaranteed to activate prior to any other normal move. Focus Punch will hit so long as the user isn't hit before its turn.

Stomping Tantrum is a Physical Ground-type move with a power of 75 and an accuracy of 100%. Stomping Tantrum does double damage (150) so long as any move of the user fails under any circumstance except the opponent Protecting against it.

Shadow Punch is a Physical Ghost-type move with a power of 60. Shadow Punch does not check accuracy.

Set Details
========

With this set, Golurk will traditionally lead so to negate the opponent's own leader Pokemon, traditionally Spinners, trap-setters or secondary Sweeper leads. The intent is to initially utilize Golurk's ability "No Punch" to surprise the opponent with a guaranteed Dynamic Punch, immediately inflicting Confusion and hindering the opponent's ability to set traps or lead into the match with their secondary sweeper.

Golurk will then lead into Focus Punch, taking advantage of the opponent Pokemon's Confusion to boost the chances of Focus Punch landing successfully.

Stomping Tantrum is intended to take advantage of the off chance of the opponent striking Golurk despite the previously inflicted Confusion. Stomping Tantrum's power doubles in the instance a move used by the user in the prior turn should fail, including Focus Punch, granting Stomping Tantrum a power of 150, not including STAB.

While Shadow Punch is redundant in this set with its secondary effect being to not check accuracy, it is the best option of Golurk's two strongest STAB Ghost-type moves, Shadow Punch and Phantom Force, not giving the opponent an opportunity to switch into another Pokemon who can tank Phantom Force. Shadow Punch is primarily used to whittle away at any remaining HP the opponent has while conserving the PP of the rest of its moveset.

Its EV's allow it to survive attacks from many lead secondary sweepers such as a Sucker Punch Absol, as well as modestly improving upon its attack to give its onslaught much more sheer strength to prevent the possibility of its failure to defeat the opponent within enough turns to minimize the chances of a come-back from the opponent. Leftovers is present merely to take advantage of as many turns of Confusion as Golurk can can get, so to potentially allow it to be able to, at the very least, inflict modest to fatal damage to the second Pokemon in the opponent's team before Golurk's fragile longevity is exhausted.

Usage Tips
========

This moveset allows Golurk to land a surprise 2/3-hit KO and negate the usage of any lead Pokemon on the opponent's team, potentially throwing off any strategy the opponent has in mind or removing a secondary sweeper from their team. The moveset also allows Golurk to get a one-up on Pokemon belonging to one of its primary weaknesses: Dark-types.

However, the moveset falters against Ghost-types, as their immunity to Fighting-type moves prevents the usage of both Dynamic Punch and Focus Punch. However, Stomping Tantrum receives its bonus should a move that doesn't effect the opposing Pokemon's type be used in the turn prior, allowing still for a 150+STAB power use of Stomping Tantrum, or taking the more direct route and merely attacking with a super effective Shadow Punch.

Team Options
========

Any Pokemon belonging to a type capable of covering Golurk's weaknesses of Water, Grass, Dark or Ghost with the move "Helping Hand." While being able to minimize the potential of the opponent doing Golurk in before Golurk gets an opportunity to exercise this set, Helping Hand can be used to further maximize the damage output of any of Golurk's moves when appropriate.

Blissey, in addition to being immune to one of Golurk's weaknesses (Ghost) and having a distinct type advantage over two(Ghost and Dark), coupled with its notably high Sp.Defense giving it an advantage over Golurk's weaknesses, with said types being primarily Special, rather than Physical, Blissey is also capable of restoring Golurk's HP with Heal Pulse, further enhancing his longevity and allowing Golurk to continuously 2-hit KO opponent Pokemon. Additionally, due to Blissey being almost indispensable in a Double Match involving Golurk, Blissey's notably high HP and Sp.Def stats, and its ability to enhance its own longevity with Soft-Boiled as well as it can Golurk's, focus may be directed at Blissey to remove it from the game as fast as possible, giving Golurk the perfect opportunity to initiate the strategy present in this set.


Checks and Counters
===================

Knock Off: In addition to stripping Golurk of its Leftovers, Knock Off also deals high, Super-Effective damage, proving to be a major nuisance to Golurk regardless of his set.

Ghost-types: Their immunity to Fighting-type moves prevents the usage of both Dynamic Punch and Focus Punch. Additionally, Golurk is statistically outclassed by nearly other every Ghost-type, preventing him from being likely to defeat them without the use of his other moves.

Spiritomb: Spiritomb is a modestly tough Special Attacker, but what's worse is that as a Ghost/Dark-type, his type negates the possibility of Golurk facing him with Shadow Punch like he would any other Ghost-type. Additionally, due to his only weakness being Fairy, being prepared to cover Golurk during Double Battles is notably low.​
 

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