OVERVIEW
Grass
========
* Ferrothorn is one of the best avaliable Pokemon for Grass teams going towards balance and defensive playstyles, thanks to its defensive coverage it provides.
* Its secondary Steel typing gives it many resistances and useful neutralities, notably Bug, Ice, Flying, and a Poison immunity, all of which are very useful for the type.
* The most viable Spikes setter for the type, further extending Grass teams' ability to punish opposing switchins without having to rely on hazard removal to be effective.
* Really solid bulk makes it a good answer vs common Ice and Fairy threats, and access to Gyro Ball with decent attack can let it hit those targets hard.
* Access to Leech Seed provides itself and its teammates longevity and recovery, especially against staller targets and Pokemon that fail to do significant damage.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive (Grass)
move 1: Leech Seed
move 2: Spikes
move 3: Gyro Ball
move 4: Protect / Thunder Wave
item: Leftovers
ability: Iron Barbs
nature: Sassy
evs: 252 hp / 4 def / 252 spdef
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Leech Seed allows Ferrothorn to effectively wear down tankier threats as well as providing a good way to recover its health and that of its teammates. It also allows Ferrothorn to force switches more often, which when coupled with hazards, can be really useful.
* Spikes compliments Stealth Rock's damage output on opposing switchins, making a good combo with Leech Seed.
* Gyro Ball is its main damaging STAB move, and thanks to Ferrothorn's 20 base speed, it is the move of choice for maximum damage output. It allows Ferro to effectively take down squishy neutral targets and bulkier Ice and Fairy Pokemon with ease.
* Protect is the primary choice for the last slot and it shields Ferrothorn from dangerous attacks and can also be useful for scouting, as well as allowing it to recover health with Leech Seed and Leftovers.
* Thunder Wave is also an option for the last slot and is best designed for speed control. It makes Ferrothorn less passive and it cripples threatening switchins.
Set Details
========
* Maximum health and special defense along with a special defensive nature increases Ferrothorn's overall bulk and ability to switch onto special threats it is meant to check or counter. Landorus-I, Kyurem-Black, Gengar and Togekiss are all notable mentions, as this spread makes it way easier to handle these threats that Grass teams usually worry about.
* Sassy nature drops its speed, maximizing Gyro Ball's damage output against as much Pokemon as possible while still increasing its special bulk.
Usage Tips
========
* Ferrothorn is meant to switch onto troublesome moves that its Grass teammates have trouble handling, incluiding but not limited to: Ice Beams, Air Slashes, Psychic-based moves, as well as other threats like Gengar and Landorus-I.
* Leech Seed is a good way to restore your health and should be used often to ensure your Ferrothorn is never weakened so it can switch onto moves as much as possible
* Leech Seed is also good for forcing switches, as most opponents wouldn't like to take residual damage while still healing Ferrothorn.
* Make sure you don't waste turns when using Protect. While its useful for scouting choice-locked Pokemon and getting additional recovery from Leech Seed and Leftovers, it can result in a loss of momentum if your opponent switches, or if it uses a boosting move which is even worse.
Team Options
========
* Cradily and Mega-Venusaur are excellent teammates, as they can take many strong Fire moves for Ferrothorn. Cradily also offers hazard support in Stealth Rock which couple really well with Spikes, and Ferrothorn can cover Flying and Psychic weakness from Venusaur.
* Ferrothorn also pairs well with Whimsicott, since Ferrothorn offers good defensive coverage for Whimsicott and in exchange, it stops setup sweepers with Encore and takes down Fighting threats.
* Many offensive Grass pokemon also appreciates the support that Ferrothorn provides, incluiding but not limited to: Rotom-Mow, Celebi, Breloom, Serperior. The spike-stacking is really useful as it punishes your opponent when switching, allowing its offensive partners to take down opposing Pokemon easier.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Grass
--------
*A physical oriented spread can be used to handle threats like Excadrill and Mamoswine more comfortably, but keep in mind this will make it harder to check the forementioned special threats.
*Rocky Helmet can be an option over Leftovers, sacrificing recovery for the ability to punish Rapid Spinners as well as other contact move users on switchin (U-turn users like Jirachi, Victini, and Landorus-Therian, for example).
Checks and Counters
===================
Grass
--------
* Fire types are a threat for both Ferrothorn and its teammates. It is OHKOed by nearly every STAB Fire move, thanks to its quadruple weakness to the type. That being said, its mostly a fodder in Fire matchups.
* Setup Sweepers are also a problem for Ferrothorn, since it is a somewhat passive Pokemon, especially against Pokemon resisting its main STAB, Gyro Ball. Mega-Scizor, Volcarona, Cloyster and Charizard-X are the most notable mentions, as they are easily able to sweep after a single boost while Ferrothorn struggles to deal considerable damage back.
*Ground wallbreakers: Strong wallbreakers like Excadrill and Diggersby possess the raw power to 2HKO specially defensive spreads with Earthquake. The latter even has access to Fire punch, further increasing its potential as a Ferrothorn check.
*Bulky Grass types like Mega-Venusaur don't mind taking Gyro Ball, are immune to Leech Seed and can threaten Ferrothorn back with an appropriate coverage move (Hidden Power Fire applies in most cases).
*Mega Sableye: Access to Magic Bounce and great bulk makes Mega-Sableye immune to Leech Seed while Ferrothorn cannot do anything back. It also cripples Ferrothorn with Will-o-Wisp and slowly wears it down, should Ferro stay in.
Grass
========
* Ferrothorn is one of the best avaliable Pokemon for Grass teams going towards balance and defensive playstyles, thanks to its defensive coverage it provides.
* Its secondary Steel typing gives it many resistances and useful neutralities, notably Bug, Ice, Flying, and a Poison immunity, all of which are very useful for the type.
* The most viable Spikes setter for the type, further extending Grass teams' ability to punish opposing switchins without having to rely on hazard removal to be effective.
* Really solid bulk makes it a good answer vs common Ice and Fairy threats, and access to Gyro Ball with decent attack can let it hit those targets hard.
* Access to Leech Seed provides itself and its teammates longevity and recovery, especially against staller targets and Pokemon that fail to do significant damage.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive (Grass)
move 1: Leech Seed
move 2: Spikes
move 3: Gyro Ball
move 4: Protect / Thunder Wave
item: Leftovers
ability: Iron Barbs
nature: Sassy
evs: 252 hp / 4 def / 252 spdef
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Leech Seed allows Ferrothorn to effectively wear down tankier threats as well as providing a good way to recover its health and that of its teammates. It also allows Ferrothorn to force switches more often, which when coupled with hazards, can be really useful.
* Spikes compliments Stealth Rock's damage output on opposing switchins, making a good combo with Leech Seed.
* Gyro Ball is its main damaging STAB move, and thanks to Ferrothorn's 20 base speed, it is the move of choice for maximum damage output. It allows Ferro to effectively take down squishy neutral targets and bulkier Ice and Fairy Pokemon with ease.
* Protect is the primary choice for the last slot and it shields Ferrothorn from dangerous attacks and can also be useful for scouting, as well as allowing it to recover health with Leech Seed and Leftovers.
* Thunder Wave is also an option for the last slot and is best designed for speed control. It makes Ferrothorn less passive and it cripples threatening switchins.
Set Details
========
* Maximum health and special defense along with a special defensive nature increases Ferrothorn's overall bulk and ability to switch onto special threats it is meant to check or counter. Landorus-I, Kyurem-Black, Gengar and Togekiss are all notable mentions, as this spread makes it way easier to handle these threats that Grass teams usually worry about.
* Sassy nature drops its speed, maximizing Gyro Ball's damage output against as much Pokemon as possible while still increasing its special bulk.
Usage Tips
========
* Ferrothorn is meant to switch onto troublesome moves that its Grass teammates have trouble handling, incluiding but not limited to: Ice Beams, Air Slashes, Psychic-based moves, as well as other threats like Gengar and Landorus-I.
* Leech Seed is a good way to restore your health and should be used often to ensure your Ferrothorn is never weakened so it can switch onto moves as much as possible
* Leech Seed is also good for forcing switches, as most opponents wouldn't like to take residual damage while still healing Ferrothorn.
* Make sure you don't waste turns when using Protect. While its useful for scouting choice-locked Pokemon and getting additional recovery from Leech Seed and Leftovers, it can result in a loss of momentum if your opponent switches, or if it uses a boosting move which is even worse.
Team Options
========
* Cradily and Mega-Venusaur are excellent teammates, as they can take many strong Fire moves for Ferrothorn. Cradily also offers hazard support in Stealth Rock which couple really well with Spikes, and Ferrothorn can cover Flying and Psychic weakness from Venusaur.
* Ferrothorn also pairs well with Whimsicott, since Ferrothorn offers good defensive coverage for Whimsicott and in exchange, it stops setup sweepers with Encore and takes down Fighting threats.
* Many offensive Grass pokemon also appreciates the support that Ferrothorn provides, incluiding but not limited to: Rotom-Mow, Celebi, Breloom, Serperior. The spike-stacking is really useful as it punishes your opponent when switching, allowing its offensive partners to take down opposing Pokemon easier.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Grass
--------
*A physical oriented spread can be used to handle threats like Excadrill and Mamoswine more comfortably, but keep in mind this will make it harder to check the forementioned special threats.
*Rocky Helmet can be an option over Leftovers, sacrificing recovery for the ability to punish Rapid Spinners as well as other contact move users on switchin (U-turn users like Jirachi, Victini, and Landorus-Therian, for example).
Checks and Counters
===================
Grass
--------
* Fire types are a threat for both Ferrothorn and its teammates. It is OHKOed by nearly every STAB Fire move, thanks to its quadruple weakness to the type. That being said, its mostly a fodder in Fire matchups.
* Setup Sweepers are also a problem for Ferrothorn, since it is a somewhat passive Pokemon, especially against Pokemon resisting its main STAB, Gyro Ball. Mega-Scizor, Volcarona, Cloyster and Charizard-X are the most notable mentions, as they are easily able to sweep after a single boost while Ferrothorn struggles to deal considerable damage back.
*Ground wallbreakers: Strong wallbreakers like Excadrill and Diggersby possess the raw power to 2HKO specially defensive spreads with Earthquake. The latter even has access to Fire punch, further increasing its potential as a Ferrothorn check.
*Bulky Grass types like Mega-Venusaur don't mind taking Gyro Ball, are immune to Leech Seed and can threaten Ferrothorn back with an appropriate coverage move (Hidden Power Fire applies in most cases).
*Mega Sableye: Access to Magic Bounce and great bulk makes Mega-Sableye immune to Leech Seed while Ferrothorn cannot do anything back. It also cripples Ferrothorn with Will-o-Wisp and slowly wears it down, should Ferro stay in.
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