Gastrodon
Water/Ground
Stats: 111 / 83 / 68 / 92 / 82 / 39
Abilities:
Sticky Hold – This Pokemon’s item cannot be taken.
Storm Drain – This Pokemon draws in all water-type moves, renders the move powerless, and raises this Pokémon’s special attack.
Sand Strength (Dream World) – Raises the power of Rock-, Ground-, and Steel-type moves during a sandstorm.
Gastrodon has always been a lesser used Pokemon overshadowed by its competition. Water/Ground was a useful but common type in Gen IV, with Swampert seizing the OU niche with its great stats and Stealth Rock, Quagsire taking NU, UU and Ubers thanks to Water Absorb, and Whiscash even setting itself apart with Dragon Dance in NU. And if you thought we had enough Water/Grounds already, Gamageroge has arrived with Swift Swim, Poison Hand, and decent bulk.
Our favorite Sea Slug needed something to set it apart from the competition. And in Gen V, it received just what it needs. An updated Storm Drain, the addition of Sand Strength, and the move Boiling Water give it a new chance at success. It may have trouble with the new stat monsters that have emerged, but Gastrodon should find some new love this generation!
Notable moves bolded, iffy ones underlined.
Some sets below. Changes or additions are welcome!
1) Bulky Water
Gastrodon @ Leftovers
Storm Drain
Bold, 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Sp.D
- Boiling Water
- Earth Power / Ice Beam
- Toxic
- Recover
Your standard bulky set. The given EVs provide allow Gatrodon to check common rain sweepers that lack a grass move. Neither a +2 LO Kabutops nor a Specs Omastar can 2HKO you through leftovers, and Earth Power will always KO back after SR and one LO recoil (and sometimes without). Boiling water at +1 in rain does about the same, and even when unboosted keeps physical attackers at bay. More Sp.D EVs can be invested to capitalize on Gastrodon's better special bulk.
2) Offensive
Gastrodon @ Life Orb
Storm Drain
Modest, 152 HP / 252 Sp.A / 104 Def
- Surf / Boiling Water
- Ice Beam
- Earth Power / HP Grass
- Recover
Switch in on a water attack, boosting your Special attack, further compounded by Life Orb. With some prediction, you can seriously debilitate your counters. For example,
+1 LO Ice Beam vs. 0/0 Venusaur: 95% - 112.3%
In doubles feel free to run Bulb as your item and Protect, and absorb your allies' surfs for a +2 Sp.A boost (presumably).
3) Ubers (not that we know them yet)
Gastrodon @ Leftovers
Storm Drain
Calm, 252 HP / 4 Sp.A / 252 Sp.D
- Ice Beam
- Earth Power
- Toxic / Substitute
- Recover
Timid Choice Specs Kyogre Ice Beam: 32.9% - 39%. Discounting entry hazard damage (you resist SR too), Timid Kyogre can never defeat you without HP grass, Toxic, a critical hit, a freeze, or Calm Mind + Ice Beam. That's better than Palkia or Latias. If Kyogre is locked into the wrong move, you come in for free or get a boost, forcing it out and letting you poison or hit the switch-in hard.
Why substitute? Here are some calcs using the given spread at +1 Sp.A. All defensive natures are neutral.
(NOTE: The Pokemon listed are not necessarily gen V ubers)
4) Curse
Gastrodon @ Leftovers
Sticky Hold / Storm Drain / Sand Strength
Bold, 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 Sp.D
- Curse
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Recover
Use curse to patch up your exposed defense stat and hit hard with a semi-STAB edgequake. Gastrodon's decent special bulk and lack of weaknesses supports it in this endeavor. Shandera, or even one if its prevos (one has 95 base Sp.A!), can trap and eliminate grass types that would otherwise hinder your set up. As for abilities, Sticky Hold makes you Trick-proof, Storm Drain eases setting up and walling, and Sand Strength boosts your attacks if you whip up a storm beforehand.
Other options: A Stockpile set with Boiling Water or Surf / Stockpile / Toxic / Recover could work, but you are vulnerable to Taunt, Pseudo-hazing, and Toxic. I've used it to success in Gen IV NU, however. CounterCoat is also available, and Clear Smog is a useful variant of Haze. Memento is a useful support move, and you can predictably draw in grass types to be set up on. Mixed attacking sets with Storm Drain or Sand Strength could also be promising, but lack power. Yawn is always useful for status infliction and forcing switches and can pin down a Grass type that could harm Gastrodon later.
- - - - - - - - - -
And there we have it. Has Gen V been kind to Gastrodon, or given it enemies that it just cannot handle? Let's see what this slug can do, and if you have any ideas for it.
Water/Ground
Stats: 111 / 83 / 68 / 92 / 82 / 39
Abilities:
Sticky Hold – This Pokemon’s item cannot be taken.
Storm Drain – This Pokemon draws in all water-type moves, renders the move powerless, and raises this Pokémon’s special attack.
Sand Strength (Dream World) – Raises the power of Rock-, Ground-, and Steel-type moves during a sandstorm.
Gastrodon has always been a lesser used Pokemon overshadowed by its competition. Water/Ground was a useful but common type in Gen IV, with Swampert seizing the OU niche with its great stats and Stealth Rock, Quagsire taking NU, UU and Ubers thanks to Water Absorb, and Whiscash even setting itself apart with Dragon Dance in NU. And if you thought we had enough Water/Grounds already, Gamageroge has arrived with Swift Swim, Poison Hand, and decent bulk.
Our favorite Sea Slug needed something to set it apart from the competition. And in Gen V, it received just what it needs. An updated Storm Drain, the addition of Sand Strength, and the move Boiling Water give it a new chance at success. It may have trouble with the new stat monsters that have emerged, but Gastrodon should find some new love this generation!
Notable moves bolded, iffy ones underlined.
Mud-Slap
Mud Sport
Harden
Water Pulse
Mud Bomb
Hidden Power
Rain Dance
Body Slam
Muddy Water
Recover
Mud Sport
Harden
Water Pulse
Mud Bomb
Hidden Power
Rain Dance
Body Slam
Muddy Water
Recover
Counter
Mirror Coat
Stockpile
Swallow
Spit Up
Yawn
Memento
Curse
Amnesia
Fissure
Trump Card
Sludge
Clear Smog - Special Poison, 50 BP, -- Acc. : Returns stat changes to their normal level
Brine
Mist
Mirror Coat
Stockpile
Swallow
Spit Up
Yawn
Memento
Curse
Amnesia
Fissure
Trump Card
Sludge
Clear Smog - Special Poison, 50 BP, -- Acc. : Returns stat changes to their normal level
Brine
Mist
TM06 - Toxic
TM07 - Hail
TM10 - Hidden Power
TM13 - Ice Beam
TM14 - Blizzard
TM15 - Hyper Beam
TM17 - Protect
TM18 - Rain Dance
TM21 - Frustration
TM26 - Earthquake
TM27 - Return
TM28 - Dig
TM32 - Double Team
TM34 - Sludge Wave - Special Poison, 95 BP, 100 Acc. : 10% chance to poison
TM36 - Sludge Bomb
TM37 - Sandstorm
TM39 - Rock Tomb
TM42 - Facade
TM44 - Rest
TM45 - Attract
TM48 - Sing A Round - Special Normal, 60 BP, 100 Acc. : Powers up when used with allies in succession
TM55 - Boiling Water - Special Water, 80 BP, 100 Acc. : 30% chance to burn
TM68 - Giga Impact
TM70 - Flash
TM71 - Stone Edge
TM78 - Level Ground - Physical Ground, 60 BP, 100 Acc. : Lowers the speed of those nearby
TM80 - Rock Slide
TM87 - Swagger
TM90 - Substitute
TM94 - Rock Smash
HM03 - Surf
HM04 - Strength
HM05 - Waterfall
HM06 - Dive
TM07 - Hail
TM10 - Hidden Power
TM13 - Ice Beam
TM14 - Blizzard
TM15 - Hyper Beam
TM17 - Protect
TM18 - Rain Dance
TM21 - Frustration
TM26 - Earthquake
TM27 - Return
TM28 - Dig
TM32 - Double Team
TM34 - Sludge Wave - Special Poison, 95 BP, 100 Acc. : 10% chance to poison
TM36 - Sludge Bomb
TM37 - Sandstorm
TM39 - Rock Tomb
TM42 - Facade
TM44 - Rest
TM45 - Attract
TM48 - Sing A Round - Special Normal, 60 BP, 100 Acc. : Powers up when used with allies in succession
TM55 - Boiling Water - Special Water, 80 BP, 100 Acc. : 30% chance to burn
TM68 - Giga Impact
TM70 - Flash
TM71 - Stone Edge
TM78 - Level Ground - Physical Ground, 60 BP, 100 Acc. : Lowers the speed of those nearby
TM80 - Rock Slide
TM87 - Swagger
TM90 - Substitute
TM94 - Rock Smash
HM03 - Surf
HM04 - Strength
HM05 - Waterfall
HM06 - Dive
Some sets below. Changes or additions are welcome!
1) Bulky Water
Gastrodon @ Leftovers
Storm Drain
Bold, 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Sp.D
- Boiling Water
- Earth Power / Ice Beam
- Toxic
- Recover
Your standard bulky set. The given EVs provide allow Gatrodon to check common rain sweepers that lack a grass move. Neither a +2 LO Kabutops nor a Specs Omastar can 2HKO you through leftovers, and Earth Power will always KO back after SR and one LO recoil (and sometimes without). Boiling water at +1 in rain does about the same, and even when unboosted keeps physical attackers at bay. More Sp.D EVs can be invested to capitalize on Gastrodon's better special bulk.
2) Offensive
Gastrodon @ Life Orb
Storm Drain
Modest, 152 HP / 252 Sp.A / 104 Def
- Surf / Boiling Water
- Ice Beam
- Earth Power / HP Grass
- Recover
Switch in on a water attack, boosting your Special attack, further compounded by Life Orb. With some prediction, you can seriously debilitate your counters. For example,
+1 LO Ice Beam vs. 0/0 Venusaur: 95% - 112.3%
In doubles feel free to run Bulb as your item and Protect, and absorb your allies' surfs for a +2 Sp.A boost (presumably).
3) Ubers (not that we know them yet)
Gastrodon @ Leftovers
Storm Drain
Calm, 252 HP / 4 Sp.A / 252 Sp.D
- Ice Beam
- Earth Power
- Toxic / Substitute
- Recover
Timid Choice Specs Kyogre Ice Beam: 32.9% - 39%. Discounting entry hazard damage (you resist SR too), Timid Kyogre can never defeat you without HP grass, Toxic, a critical hit, a freeze, or Calm Mind + Ice Beam. That's better than Palkia or Latias. If Kyogre is locked into the wrong move, you come in for free or get a boost, forcing it out and letting you poison or hit the switch-in hard.
Why substitute? Here are some calcs using the given spread at +1 Sp.A. All defensive natures are neutral.
(NOTE: The Pokemon listed are not necessarily gen V ubers)
Earth Power vs. 120/0 Dialga: 73.3% - 87.3%
Earth Power vs. 0/0 Zekrom: 79.8% - 95%
Earth Power vs. 0/0 Reshiram: 68.6% - 80.9%
Ice Beam vs. 32/0 Rayquaza: 115.9% - 137%
Ice Beam vs. 0/0 Shaymin-S: 141.9% - 167.7%
Ice Beam vs. 4/0 Groudon (with Kyogre, strange): 61.4% - 72.5%
Ice beam vs. 4/0 Latios: 39.1% - 46.4%
Ice beam vs. 0/0 Giratina-O: 43.5% - 51.2%
Ice Beam vs. 4/0 Garchomp: 122.9% - 145.3%
Ice Beam vs. 0/0 Salamence: 139% - 164.4%
Earth Power vs. 0/0 Zekrom: 79.8% - 95%
Earth Power vs. 0/0 Reshiram: 68.6% - 80.9%
Ice Beam vs. 32/0 Rayquaza: 115.9% - 137%
Ice Beam vs. 0/0 Shaymin-S: 141.9% - 167.7%
Ice Beam vs. 4/0 Groudon (with Kyogre, strange): 61.4% - 72.5%
Ice beam vs. 4/0 Latios: 39.1% - 46.4%
Ice beam vs. 0/0 Giratina-O: 43.5% - 51.2%
Ice Beam vs. 4/0 Garchomp: 122.9% - 145.3%
Ice Beam vs. 0/0 Salamence: 139% - 164.4%
4) Curse
Gastrodon @ Leftovers
Sticky Hold / Storm Drain / Sand Strength
Bold, 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 Sp.D
- Curse
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Recover
Use curse to patch up your exposed defense stat and hit hard with a semi-STAB edgequake. Gastrodon's decent special bulk and lack of weaknesses supports it in this endeavor. Shandera, or even one if its prevos (one has 95 base Sp.A!), can trap and eliminate grass types that would otherwise hinder your set up. As for abilities, Sticky Hold makes you Trick-proof, Storm Drain eases setting up and walling, and Sand Strength boosts your attacks if you whip up a storm beforehand.
Other options: A Stockpile set with Boiling Water or Surf / Stockpile / Toxic / Recover could work, but you are vulnerable to Taunt, Pseudo-hazing, and Toxic. I've used it to success in Gen IV NU, however. CounterCoat is also available, and Clear Smog is a useful variant of Haze. Memento is a useful support move, and you can predictably draw in grass types to be set up on. Mixed attacking sets with Storm Drain or Sand Strength could also be promising, but lack power. Yawn is always useful for status infliction and forcing switches and can pin down a Grass type that could harm Gastrodon later.
- - - - - - - - - -
And there we have it. Has Gen V been kind to Gastrodon, or given it enemies that it just cannot handle? Let's see what this slug can do, and if you have any ideas for it.