[Overview]
<p>Tangrowth was praised as an excellent pokemon in the DPP era, with physical bulk that rivaled that of defensive behemoths such as Skarmory and Forretress. With a useful support movepool and solid offensive stats, Tangrowth developed into a well-respected choice for many players in UU and even OU. In Generation V, Tangrowth now finds himself playing the same role he did previously, save one key difference; his Hidden Ability, Regenerator, allows him to extend his longevity almost indefinitely. Backed by the new mechanics of the move Growth, which now grants the user a boost in both Attack and Special Attack, Tangrowth has the ability to use both offensive and defensive sets to great effect. However, it isn't all butterflies and rainbows for our favorite little tumbleweed monster. In a tier dominated by special attackers, Tangrowth will often find his middling base 50 Special Defense stat being exploited. Additionally, with his unimpressive base Speed, Tangrowth will find himself being outpaced by fairly common threats. This isn't even mitigated by the Chlorophyll boost, making sweeping somewhat of a challenge for Tangrowth. Despite all of this, Tangrowth's other advantageous elements allow him to retain his status as one of RU's premier physical walls.</p>
[SET]
name: Physical Tank
move 1: Power Whip / Giga Drain
move 2: Hidden Power Fire
move 3: Leech Seed / Earthquake
move 4: Sleep Powder / Substitute
item: Leftovers
ability: Regenerator
nature: Relaxed / Bold
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This is Tangrowth's bread-and-butter defensive set. Power Whip provides a solid offensive option, even when unboosted. Giga Drain can be used for slightly enhanced longevity, though it isn't incredibly effective, as low power can mean low healing. In addition, Giga Drain fails to 2HKO the standard physically defensive Claydol, let alone a specially defensive variant. Hidden Power Fire allows Tangrowth to beat down opposing Steel-types, as well as hitting fellow Grass types not named Lilligant fairly hard. Leech Seed allows Tangrowth to slowly whittle away at the opponent's health whilst recovering his own. However, Earthquake is a useful tool that can be used to hit opposing Fire-types on the switch, as well as checking threats such as Swords Dance Drapion. Sleep Powder is an indispensable tool on any team, and allows Tangrowth to cripple a single opposing Pokemon with a relatively high success rate, save for misses. Finally, Substitute can turn Tangrowth into a very annoying SubSeeder thanks to his ability to create 101 HP Substitutes.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The given EVs provide maximum physical bulk, while letting Tangrowth create 101 HP Substitutes. Relaxed is the ideal nature for Tangrowth, as the reduction to his already dismal speed means nothing, whilst his offensive stats can remain solid. Bold can be used if you choose not to run Power Whip or Earthquake. If you want Tangrowth to attempt to check threats such as Sharpedo, more EVs can be put into Special Defense, though Tangrowth may find himself outclassed by his Grass-type brethren if you choose to do so.</p>
<p>Hidden Power Ice is always an option over Hidden Power Fire, as it allows Tangrowth to check both Gligar and Altaria rather effectively. However, keep in mind that such a choice would inevitably leave Tangrowth susceptible to other threats, most notably Durant. Rock Slide allows Tangrowth to hit Moltres and Charizard quite hard, but its worth doesn't go much farther than that. Tangrowth has a handful of other support-based moves in his arsenal, including Knock Off, Stun Spore, and Reflect. Unfortunately Tangrowth is often hindered by the common 4 Moveslot Syndrome, which forces him to abstain from using such interesting options.</p>
<p>Despite his enormous physical bulk, Tangrowth's middling Special Defense leaves him with a weakness to almost all special attackers. Therefore, the best partners for Tangrowth are those who can take special attacks fairly well. Mantine, Slowking, and specially defensive Quagsire all provide excellent support for Tangrowth, shaking off most Fire- and Ice-type attacks with ease and scaring off most of Tangrowth's common switch-ins.</p>
[SET]
name: Mixed Sweeper
move 1: Power Whip
move 2: Earthquake / Rock Slide
move 3: Hidden Power Fire
move 4: Growth / Sleep Powder / Sunny Day
item: Life Orb / Heat Rock
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Naughty / Naive
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Despite his low initial Speed, Tangrowth becomes quite the threatening sweeper in sun. With a Chlorophyll boost, Tangrowth's Speed climbs to an impressive 398, or 436 if you decide to use a Naive nature. Power Whip provides Tangrowth with a powerful STAB move to abuse. Earthquake prevents Tangrowth from being walled by Fire-types in the tier, though Rock Slide can also be used to hit Charizard, Moltres, and Altaria. However, the drop is power is rather noticeable, and is as such not recommended. Hidden Power Fire, in addition to receiving a useful pseudo-STAB boost from the sunlight, provides Tangrowth with an effective method of hitting opposing Grass-types hard. Lastly, Growth allows Tangrowth to boost his offensive stats to monstrous levels, escalating his Attack and Special Attack to 654 and 612, respectively. Sleep Powder allows Tangrowth to cripple a counter that tries to switch into his attacks, which can allow a free switch, used to send in a counter to the threat, or a more appropriate sweeper. Also, considering his already impressive physical bulk, Tangrowth is more than capable of setting up Sunny Day on his own and simply attacking straight away.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The given EV spread is largely focused towards Attack in order to maximize Tangrowth's potency as a sweeper. For instance, the standard Substitute + Calm Mind Entei is almost always OHKOed by Tangrowth's Life Orb boosted Earthquake after Stealth Rock damage, whereas the standard physical attacker variant will consistently get beaten with only a little initial damage. It is recommended to invest maximum Speed in order to be able to speed-tie with other Tangrowth, and outspeed the likes of non-Jolly Aggron and uninvested Base 80's. Naive can be run over Naughty in order to outspeed Accelgor and positive natured Base 80's with Choice Scarf, though the damage output will be sharply reduced.</p>
<p>When using Tangrowth in an offensive role, it is always important to take advantage of his attributes, lest he be outclassed by his fellow sun abusers. Tangrowth's true power lies in his ability to attack with both offensive stats while still possessing the bulk necessary to be able to switch in safely and shake off an attack or two with relative ease, unlike Victreebel. Provided you keep this in mind, Tangrowth can prove to be quite a versatile tool on your team</p>
<p>However, Tangrowth is no one-man army. His lack of special bulk continues to be an issue for him, being exploited by a few common foes. Accelgor is more than capable of outspeeding Naughty Tangrowth even in sun and threatening him with a STAB Bug Buzz. Scarfed Fire-types, most notably Charizard and Moltres, act as almost complete counters to Tangrowth, taking near all his common attacks and threatening him with their own powerful STAB attacks (though neither appreciate getting hit by a Rock Slide). As such, the likes of Mantine, Munchlax, and other special walls can prove to be quite useful when trying to execute a successful sweep.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Generally, Tangrowth is rather confined to the aforementioned roles. It is possible for him to run a supportive Sunny Day set in order to attempt to abuse Leaf Guard, though it is often outclassed by Uxie. Moreover, an offensive Swords Dance set can be used in conjunction with sun support, abusing his superior bulk to distinguish himself from Sawsbuck and Victreebel. However, this Tangrowth will have problems with many common defensive threats (Ferroseed Weezing for example).</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>The largest flaw in Tangrowth's seemingly impenetrable vines is his dismal Special Defenses. As such, most foes with a solid Special Attack stat can find their way around Tangrowth with a powerful STAB move. Moltres and Charizard safely switch on most every option in Tangrowth's arsenal bar Rock Slide, and Rotom-C can brush off Tangrowth's attacks and scare him off with the threat of burn or Hidden Power Fire/Ice. Accelgor can outspeed most variations of Tangrowth and threaten him with a STAB Bug Buzz. On a defensive front, both Ferroseed and opposing Tangrowth wall him indefinitely if you lack the appropriate Hidden Power. However, likely the most solid counter to Tangrowth would have to be Weezing. With the greatest threat from Tangrowth being a sun-boosted Hidden Power Fire or the possible Sleep Powder, Weezing can easily muscle through a hit and retaliate with his choice of Sludge Bomb, Fire Blast, or Haze.<p>
<p>Tangrowth was praised as an excellent pokemon in the DPP era, with physical bulk that rivaled that of defensive behemoths such as Skarmory and Forretress. With a useful support movepool and solid offensive stats, Tangrowth developed into a well-respected choice for many players in UU and even OU. In Generation V, Tangrowth now finds himself playing the same role he did previously, save one key difference; his Hidden Ability, Regenerator, allows him to extend his longevity almost indefinitely. Backed by the new mechanics of the move Growth, which now grants the user a boost in both Attack and Special Attack, Tangrowth has the ability to use both offensive and defensive sets to great effect. However, it isn't all butterflies and rainbows for our favorite little tumbleweed monster. In a tier dominated by special attackers, Tangrowth will often find his middling base 50 Special Defense stat being exploited. Additionally, with his unimpressive base Speed, Tangrowth will find himself being outpaced by fairly common threats. This isn't even mitigated by the Chlorophyll boost, making sweeping somewhat of a challenge for Tangrowth. Despite all of this, Tangrowth's other advantageous elements allow him to retain his status as one of RU's premier physical walls.</p>
[SET]
name: Physical Tank
move 1: Power Whip / Giga Drain
move 2: Hidden Power Fire
move 3: Leech Seed / Earthquake
move 4: Sleep Powder / Substitute
item: Leftovers
ability: Regenerator
nature: Relaxed / Bold
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This is Tangrowth's bread-and-butter defensive set. Power Whip provides a solid offensive option, even when unboosted. Giga Drain can be used for slightly enhanced longevity, though it isn't incredibly effective, as low power can mean low healing. In addition, Giga Drain fails to 2HKO the standard physically defensive Claydol, let alone a specially defensive variant. Hidden Power Fire allows Tangrowth to beat down opposing Steel-types, as well as hitting fellow Grass types not named Lilligant fairly hard. Leech Seed allows Tangrowth to slowly whittle away at the opponent's health whilst recovering his own. However, Earthquake is a useful tool that can be used to hit opposing Fire-types on the switch, as well as checking threats such as Swords Dance Drapion. Sleep Powder is an indispensable tool on any team, and allows Tangrowth to cripple a single opposing Pokemon with a relatively high success rate, save for misses. Finally, Substitute can turn Tangrowth into a very annoying SubSeeder thanks to his ability to create 101 HP Substitutes.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The given EVs provide maximum physical bulk, while letting Tangrowth create 101 HP Substitutes. Relaxed is the ideal nature for Tangrowth, as the reduction to his already dismal speed means nothing, whilst his offensive stats can remain solid. Bold can be used if you choose not to run Power Whip or Earthquake. If you want Tangrowth to attempt to check threats such as Sharpedo, more EVs can be put into Special Defense, though Tangrowth may find himself outclassed by his Grass-type brethren if you choose to do so.</p>
<p>Hidden Power Ice is always an option over Hidden Power Fire, as it allows Tangrowth to check both Gligar and Altaria rather effectively. However, keep in mind that such a choice would inevitably leave Tangrowth susceptible to other threats, most notably Durant. Rock Slide allows Tangrowth to hit Moltres and Charizard quite hard, but its worth doesn't go much farther than that. Tangrowth has a handful of other support-based moves in his arsenal, including Knock Off, Stun Spore, and Reflect. Unfortunately Tangrowth is often hindered by the common 4 Moveslot Syndrome, which forces him to abstain from using such interesting options.</p>
<p>Despite his enormous physical bulk, Tangrowth's middling Special Defense leaves him with a weakness to almost all special attackers. Therefore, the best partners for Tangrowth are those who can take special attacks fairly well. Mantine, Slowking, and specially defensive Quagsire all provide excellent support for Tangrowth, shaking off most Fire- and Ice-type attacks with ease and scaring off most of Tangrowth's common switch-ins.</p>
[SET]
name: Mixed Sweeper
move 1: Power Whip
move 2: Earthquake / Rock Slide
move 3: Hidden Power Fire
move 4: Growth / Sleep Powder / Sunny Day
item: Life Orb / Heat Rock
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Naughty / Naive
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Despite his low initial Speed, Tangrowth becomes quite the threatening sweeper in sun. With a Chlorophyll boost, Tangrowth's Speed climbs to an impressive 398, or 436 if you decide to use a Naive nature. Power Whip provides Tangrowth with a powerful STAB move to abuse. Earthquake prevents Tangrowth from being walled by Fire-types in the tier, though Rock Slide can also be used to hit Charizard, Moltres, and Altaria. However, the drop is power is rather noticeable, and is as such not recommended. Hidden Power Fire, in addition to receiving a useful pseudo-STAB boost from the sunlight, provides Tangrowth with an effective method of hitting opposing Grass-types hard. Lastly, Growth allows Tangrowth to boost his offensive stats to monstrous levels, escalating his Attack and Special Attack to 654 and 612, respectively. Sleep Powder allows Tangrowth to cripple a counter that tries to switch into his attacks, which can allow a free switch, used to send in a counter to the threat, or a more appropriate sweeper. Also, considering his already impressive physical bulk, Tangrowth is more than capable of setting up Sunny Day on his own and simply attacking straight away.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The given EV spread is largely focused towards Attack in order to maximize Tangrowth's potency as a sweeper. For instance, the standard Substitute + Calm Mind Entei is almost always OHKOed by Tangrowth's Life Orb boosted Earthquake after Stealth Rock damage, whereas the standard physical attacker variant will consistently get beaten with only a little initial damage. It is recommended to invest maximum Speed in order to be able to speed-tie with other Tangrowth, and outspeed the likes of non-Jolly Aggron and uninvested Base 80's. Naive can be run over Naughty in order to outspeed Accelgor and positive natured Base 80's with Choice Scarf, though the damage output will be sharply reduced.</p>
<p>When using Tangrowth in an offensive role, it is always important to take advantage of his attributes, lest he be outclassed by his fellow sun abusers. Tangrowth's true power lies in his ability to attack with both offensive stats while still possessing the bulk necessary to be able to switch in safely and shake off an attack or two with relative ease, unlike Victreebel. Provided you keep this in mind, Tangrowth can prove to be quite a versatile tool on your team</p>
<p>However, Tangrowth is no one-man army. His lack of special bulk continues to be an issue for him, being exploited by a few common foes. Accelgor is more than capable of outspeeding Naughty Tangrowth even in sun and threatening him with a STAB Bug Buzz. Scarfed Fire-types, most notably Charizard and Moltres, act as almost complete counters to Tangrowth, taking near all his common attacks and threatening him with their own powerful STAB attacks (though neither appreciate getting hit by a Rock Slide). As such, the likes of Mantine, Munchlax, and other special walls can prove to be quite useful when trying to execute a successful sweep.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Generally, Tangrowth is rather confined to the aforementioned roles. It is possible for him to run a supportive Sunny Day set in order to attempt to abuse Leaf Guard, though it is often outclassed by Uxie. Moreover, an offensive Swords Dance set can be used in conjunction with sun support, abusing his superior bulk to distinguish himself from Sawsbuck and Victreebel. However, this Tangrowth will have problems with many common defensive threats (Ferroseed Weezing for example).</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>The largest flaw in Tangrowth's seemingly impenetrable vines is his dismal Special Defenses. As such, most foes with a solid Special Attack stat can find their way around Tangrowth with a powerful STAB move. Moltres and Charizard safely switch on most every option in Tangrowth's arsenal bar Rock Slide, and Rotom-C can brush off Tangrowth's attacks and scare him off with the threat of burn or Hidden Power Fire/Ice. Accelgor can outspeed most variations of Tangrowth and threaten him with a STAB Bug Buzz. On a defensive front, both Ferroseed and opposing Tangrowth wall him indefinitely if you lack the appropriate Hidden Power. However, likely the most solid counter to Tangrowth would have to be Weezing. With the greatest threat from Tangrowth being a sun-boosted Hidden Power Fire or the possible Sleep Powder, Weezing can easily muscle through a hit and retaliate with his choice of Sludge Bomb, Fire Blast, or Haze.<p>
