Groudon is commonly used to hit and run, setting up the sunlight while it’s at it. With Choice Band boosting its already massive Attack score, it can easily exploit the generally lower physical Defense found on Uber Pokémon. With this set, Groudon is capable of striking many Ubers very hard; Earthquake is a general STAB attack which leaves a huge dent in anything not immune or resistant to it. The other three attacks cover everything that Earthquake does not. Stone Edge damages Lugia badly and easily KOs Ho-oh; Dragon Claw destroys Latias and Latios, and also provides some extra power against Giratina and Palkia. The Fire move to wreck Skarmory, Forretress and Bronzong is a choice between Fire Punch and Overheat, both of which receive what is tantamount to a STAB boost thanks to Drought. Fire Punch works off Groudon’s enormous Attack, doesn’t carry an annoying side effect such as a Special Attack drop, and helps in situations where prediction is required, such as between Skarmory and Blissey; Overheat should only be used if one is paranoid about knocking out Skarmory in one hit, as it does equal or less damage to everything else. Be careful as to not become overly predictable when using this set by spamming Earthquake multiple times, though, as Ground is a type many Ubers enjoy taking advantage of, and a free turn in Ubers often results in fatal consequences. In fact, it is often advisable to begin one’s assault with Stone Edge or Dragon Claw in order to catch many Pokémon for decent damage, possibly crippling or completely annihilating a brave Lugia, Latias or Latios that attempts to switch in directly. The EVs given for this set allow for a combination of durability and power. The combination of HP and Defense EVs allows this Groudon to survive a Rayquaza Outrage that is boosted by both a Life Orb and a Dragon Dance. Meanwhile, the small amount in Speed helps it outrun fellow Ubers that rarely invest in Speed, such as Giratina and Dialga.
Swords Dance Groudon has become far less powerful than in the previous generation with the advent of a more Water-based metagame, but can still be a formidable opponent to contend with. The strategy to using this set is rather simple: Swords Dance when the chance is available and proceed in an attempt to sweep. As usual, Earthquake is a reliable STABed attack. The last two moves should be selected in complementary pairs, namely Dragon Claw/Stone Edge and Shadow Claw/Fire move. Usually, the former combination is superior due to its higher and more reliable power, but the latter pair also occasionally comes in handy. For example, while Dragon Claw often fails to OHKO Latias that have defensive investment, Shadow Claw critical hits invariably succeed in doing so. The dilemma as to which Fire-type move to choose (to rend apart Steel-types that are immune to Earthquake) has been discussed in the previous section. A Jolly nature helps this Groudon outspeed most Rayquaza and some slower Palkia and is an excellent supplement to the setup nature of this set, while Adamant affords Groudon a significant amount of power. However, if one elects to use an Adamant nature, one may find the EV spread given for the Choice Band Groudon to be preferable, as well as Leftovers over Life Orb for more survivability, because, truth be told, there are almost no Ubers that lie with the domain of 218-279 Speed other than some abnormally fast Giratina and other Groudon. In the end, though, it is Groudon’s Speed, or lack of it by Uber standards, that make the Swords Dance set moribund in this metagame. No matter where Groudon is, it will almost undeniably find itself face to face with something faster that is able to knock it out immediately.
This is a variant of the previous set that sacrifices versatility for the usage of Substitute and Salac Berry to boost Groudon's middling Speed and, more importantly, a much more favorable confrontation with Giratina. The 30 HP IV is there so that Salac Berry activates after using three Substitutes. Groudon can come into a Blissey's Softboiled or so and Swords Dance as they move to Giratina, and then Substitute as Giratina fails miserably trying to Will-o-Wisp the Substitute. Even more to its downfall, Dragon Claw isn't powerful enough to break the Substitutes, allowing Groudon to score even more Swords Dances. Due to the prevalence of terrorizing special attackers in ubers, it is advised that one puts up a Substitute as often as possible, until Salac Berry activates, for if Groudon's Substitute broke, and Latias or Mewtwo decides to barge in before Groudon sets up another Substitute, it will end its sweep. The choice of the second attacking move is either that of possibly OHKOing Latios after one Swords Dance (Dragon Claw) or to do more against the likes of Lugia and Rayquaza (Stone Edge). Shadow Claw would not be a good choice here as its only redeeming aspect, that of scoring a critical hit against the likes of Latias, is rather moot for this set. Groudon can use Substitute as Latios or Latias switch in and then use it again repeatedly until Salac Berry activates, leaving the final Substitute intact. It outruns its foe and uses Swords Dance in the next turn while the opponent breaks its Substitute, after which Groudon delivers the finishing blow with its secondary attack. In spite of the fact that this set utilizes Salac Berry to boost Groudon's Speed, a Jolly nature is still recommended as it will allow it to outspeed Modest Choice Scarf Kyogre after the Salac boost.
Aside from possessing a monstrously high Attack, Groudon also has an almost equally high Defense along with an above average HP. The only problem preventing Groudon’s physical walling talents from flowering is its lack of a reliable recovery move, an issue this set attempts to patch with Rest and Sleep Talk to reduce subsequent vulnerability. This Groudon is capable of sustaining a few of Metagross’s Choice Banded Meteor Mashes and still survive to deal a powerful blow with Earthquake. Additionally, it can survive a Life Orbed, Dragon Danced Rayquaza’s Outrage and one of Latios’s Ice Beams (it is still not advisable to leave Groudon in due to the threat of Grass Knot, though). As if that wasn’t enough, it is one of the very few reliable counters to Tyranitar this side of Fighting Arceus. The choice between Shadow Claw and Dragon Claw is based on the team in which this Groudon is situated; Dragon Claw deals more damage to Rayquaza, while Shadow Claw hits a broader range of Pokémon for less damage.
Groudon, while commonly seen as a dominating physical sweeper can also play the part of support, hindering the walls that usually stop it. With access to fantastic utility moves such as Stealth Rock and Toxic, sturdy defenses and massive Hit Points, Groudon can survive a wide variety of hits while setting up. The premise of this set is to lure in walls like Lugia and Cresselia and then proceed to break them with Toxic. The pair, arguably Groudon's greatest counters are almost immediately shut down by Toxic. Lugia and Cresselia can only recover off the staving effects of Toxic so many times before falling. Any walls that are immune to Toxic, and Steel-types such as Dialga, Forretress and Skarmory all take a hefty beating out of Fire Punch or Earthquake. Roar is an option to phaze and scout an opponent's team, again, constantly whittling down the opposition if Stealth Rock is up. Stealth Rock is an all-purpose utility move, that also greatly damages Lugia. In tandem with Toxic, this residual damage can add up very quickly, on almost any pokemon. The pair will leave your opponent, trapped between a rock and a very hard place. If they stay in, they will be whittled slowly down by Toxic and if they switch out, Stealth Rock will batter them next as they come in. Thunder Wave is an option, if you dislike Stealth Rock or have another pokemon to set up such hazards. Together with Toxic, Groudon can utilize the age old strategy of double-status. First poisoning a defensive wall like Lugia, then paralyzing an incoming sweeping threat such as Mewtwo or Kyogre. When paralyzed, such threats are of little danger, disabling their ability to switch in again as Groudon can shoot off two Earthquakes before either make a move. Dragon/Ground gives phenomenal type coverage in Ubers hitting almost everything for at least neutral. Fire Punch may be used over Dragon Claw if your team is threatened by Spikes coming from the likes of Forretress or Skarmory. However, this will leave Groudon very vulnerable to Rayquaza who is immune to Earthquake, nullifies the sun's boost on fire attacks and resists the weakened the Fire Punch. The EVs invested in Special Defense, in conjunction with maximum Hit Points are tailored to the current Metagame. They ensure that Lugia's Ice Beam is a mere 4HKO giving you ample time to set up Stealth Rock and Toxic. Groudon is also, only dealt a 3HKO by Latias' Dragon Pulse after factoring Soul Dew and Leftovers. In the mean time, you will be able to wear away at it's durability by poisoning it or just by using Dragon Claw. The EVs placed in Defense will guarantee your survival against an Outrage from a Jolly Rayquaza with one Dragon Dance under its belt. This set still has trouble dealing with Giratina, as it can simply remove it's Toxic status by resting, simultaneously threatening with Will-o-Wisp. Supporting Groudon, as the name implies is not meant to sweep, even after the opponent's walls the have been brought down. It is best used alongside Physical sweepers like Bulk Up Dialga or Dragon Dancing Rayquaza, as the pair can beat Giratina one on one. Other OptionsThunder Wave is great for crippling the likes of Latios and Lugia. Groudon learns Stealth Rock, which is a helpful support move that may find a place on sturdier sets; however, the offensive versions can’t afford to eschew an offensive move. Rock Polish is always useful to boost Groudon’s Speed similarly to a Metagross’ Agility and can surprise some incoming Latias, Latios, and Kyogre, among others. Safeguard will stop Giratina that don’t carry Roar from burning Groudon, but unfortunately many Giratina indeed do carry Roar. Fling while Groudon is holding an Iron Ball will OHKO Lugia after a Swords Dance, provided Lugia doesn’t set up the precautionary Reflect before it attempts to Whirlwind Groudon and its boosts away. Don’t even consider any special moves aside from Overheat, because Groudon’s noticeably inferior Special Attack and the general surplus of Pokémon with high Special Defense in Ubers will prevent them from doing much damage. EVsAll Groudon should focus on boosting Attack to increase the damage of their attacks. With an Adamant nature, it is better to dump the remaining EVs in HP and Defense to aid switching in, while on a Groudon with a Jolly nature it is acceptable to maximize Speed to outrun some Pokémon in the 95-100 base Speed area. In the SubSalac set, some Attack EVs can be sacrificed for a bit of HP to have a sturdier Substitute and a chance of boosting Attack with Swords Dance more than once. OpinionThe new metagame is a mixed bag for Groudon. On one hand, it receives several new physical attacks to toy with including Dragon Claw and Shadow Claw, as well as the Life Orb item to boost its gargantuan Attack score even further. On the other hand, Kyogre has received many benefits as well and is almost certainly one of the most significant threats in D/P, bringing along with it Palkia, which benefits enormously from the rain Kyogre stirs up, and Latias, which is one of the few reliable counters to both Pokémon. All three are capable of outrunning and destroying Groudon. Being one of the slowest Ubers doesn't aid its cause much, and neither does being weak to the incredibly widespread Ice Beam and having one of the lowest Special Defense scores in its environment. Also destructive to Groudon's reign is the advent of several Pokémon in D/P including Arceus, which is capable of easily crippling Groudon without much self-risk, and Giratina, whose Will-o-Wisp forces Groudon to second-guess itself. While it may appear as if Groudon received more negative than positive influences in D/P, that is not necessarily the case. Conversely, Groudon and its Drought ability have become the very foundation upon which the Uber stall metagame is built, as the sunshine it summons effectively neuters the incredibly powerful Water-based teams that are omnipresent. Overall, Groudon is still a malevolent force to contend with when building and playing Ubers. CountersCresselia is probably the best counter for Groudon that exists; it has high HP and Defense that can quite easily take the best that Groudon can throw at it, along with a Moonlight that is boosted in sunlight to roughly 67% of healing. It can even set up a Reflect to stay alive longer. While Groudon struggles to destroy it, Cresselia can use Grass Knot or Ice Beam for good amounts of direct damage or Toxic to whittle Groudon down slowly. However, Cresselia isn't particularly useful in Ubers aside from a few very specific tasks and is often substituted for by others. Lugia works similarly to Cresselia in countering Groudon. It can also use Reflect to reduce damage from Groudon's attacks. While the weakness to Stone Edge may sound disheartening, Lugia's Pressure ability will cut the Rock move's already meager 8 PP in half, and its Roost will allow it to dump the Rock weakness for a turn assuming it is EVed to outspeed Groudon. Additionally, if Groudon decides to use Swords Dance, Whirlwind will blow away its plans easily. In any situation, Ice Beam is always helpful to land a solid hit. Tangrowth can take Earthquakes and Stone Edges with its fantastic 100 base HP and 125 base Defense, outspeed Groudon with the help of Chlorophyll, and dispose of it with a Grass Knot. Be careful to not switch into a Fire attack, and Overheat in particular, however. Exeggutor works almost identically, except it is limited to fewer switchin opportunities due to its 5 fewer HP base points and 40 fewer Defense base points. Continuing the Grass-type trend, a Grass-typed Arceus can switch in with its Earthquake resistance and high special defense to absorb Overheat. However, a Choice Banded Fire Punch is a very denting blow, usually leaving Arceus at extremely low health, lower than a Lugia that Groudon Stone Edged. Some types of Arceus, such as defensive Fighting Arceus, can serve as decent counters, since they can all use Ice Beam to ruin Groudon and Recover off damage if needed. Giratina isn't particularly reliable in countering Groudon due to the facts that it has no reliable recovery outside of Rest and it must rely on Will-O-Wisp's sketchy 75% accuracy to stop it, but is an excellent last resort. Like Lugia, it can remove Groudon from the battlefield with Roar in case it gets greedy with Swords Dances. Latias and Latios should never be counted on to counter Groudon, but generally fare decently as long as they avoid a Dragon Claw, Shadow Claw, or critical hit Stone Edge. Once in, they have a far easier time; all that is required is a simple Grass Knot or Ice Beam to obliterate most Groudon. In the end, most Uber Pokémon are capable of dealing with Groudon by exploiting its low Special Defense and abusing the aforementioned plethora of Ice attacks, but not every Pokémon has a particularly easy time switching in. |
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