Anty
let's drop
[OVERVIEW]
When you think about Pokemon with different formes, Deoxys and Rotom often come to mind, but Wormadam usually does not. For the most part, Deoxys's and Rotom's formes all serve different roles in their respective, mostly higher, tiers; however, Game Freak decided to give the Wormadam formes a Bug typing, which works terribly with their defensively oriented stats, and gave them all the same role: to be death fodder. Wormadam does not even get a half-good typing like its Steel-type sister, Wormadam-S, nor access to decent utility moves like Stealth Rock. Well, at least it does not look like food, unlike its sisters Wormadam-G and Wormadam-S, which resemble a slice of pizza and cotton candy, repsectively.
[SET]
name: Drag Worm
move 1: Signal Beam
move 2: Leaf Storm
move 3: Giga Drain
move 4: Hidden Power Rock
item: Choice Specs
ability: Anticipation
nature: Modest
evs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Although other Grass-types get a similar movepool, Wormadam distinguishes itself with a Bug-type STAB move, which is mostly worse than Victreebel's stronger Poison-type STAB but means Wormadam can beat Grumpig. Choice Specs-boosted Leaf Storm can hit fairly hard despite Wormadam's mediocre Special Attack, and Giga Drain does not cause Wormadam's Special Attack stat to drop by two stages. Lastly, Hidden Power Rock hits Fire- and Flying-types, meaning Ninetales and Jumpluff can set up on Wormadam only once with Nasty Plot and Swords Dance, respectively.
Set Details
========
Choice Specs not only gives the bagworm a snazzy look but also lets it do some decent damage when combined with maximum Special Attack investment and a Modest nature. The remaining EVs go into HP, as Wormadam cannot hope to outspeed most Pokemon, and at least it lets Wormadam take a hit from several Water-types such as Floatzel and Poliwrath.
Usage Tips
========
Click Leaf Storm 90% of the time, as that does decent damage. If you fear a Grass-type switching in, just go for a coverage move to hit the incoming Pokemon; otherwise, Giga Drain can be used to regain health. Wormadam might be able to switch into certain Water- and Grass-types, such as Poliwrath and Tangela, but it might get blown back by a coverage move, so it should be careful. Wormadam might also be useful as death fodder late-game if one of its teammates needs a safe switch in. Also be careful as to which move Wormadam gets locked into, as it can be used as setup fodder.
Team Options
========
If you have gotten this far and still want to use Wormadam— please do not; use Victreebel, or Tangela, or Roselia instead. If you really have to use Wormadam, use it on teams that provide heavy paralysis support or on a Trick Room team. Wormadam also needs teammates to cover its weaknesses, though covering every one of them would be almost impossible, so just try to cover some. Wormadam should be supported by checks to Fire-types, such as Grumpig and Pelipper; checks to Flying-types, such as Probopass and Stunfisk; Pokemon that resist Ice, such as Piloswine and Grumpig; and Pokemon that resist Rock, such as Poliwrath and Torterra. Entry hazard removers such as Pelipper and Armaldo are also important, as Wormadam cannot afford to lose a quarter of its health. Yeah, it would be simpler just to not use this unloved worm.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A specially defensive set with moves such as Toxic and Synthesis allows Wormadam to take on Water-types better, but its multitude of weaknesses hinders this. Although it is 2HKOed by Psychic, Roselia still forces Wormadam out. Skill Swap can be used to annoy incoming Ninetales and Rapidash by taking their Flash Fire ability, but opponents can easily play around such a strategy.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Special Walls**: Although Wormadam can threaten some special walls, such as Pelipper and Grumpig, others, such as Lickilicky and Probopass, do not really care about anything Wormadam does. Roselia can just begin Spikes-stacking in front of Wormadam's face. Although it is immune to Sleep Powder, Wormadam will be made to cry itself off to sleep after being hit with Roselia's Sludge Bomb.
**Faster Pokemon**: Due to Wormadam's plethora of weaknesses, it would be easier just to tl;dr this. Ninetales, Rapidash, Dodrio, Golem, Auroras, Arbok, Barbaracle, Carracosta, Chatot, and Jumpluff are only a small percentage of top-tier Pokemon that can OHKO Wormadam with little or no prior damage.
When you think about Pokemon with different formes, Deoxys and Rotom often come to mind, but Wormadam usually does not. For the most part, Deoxys's and Rotom's formes all serve different roles in their respective, mostly higher, tiers; however, Game Freak decided to give the Wormadam formes a Bug typing, which works terribly with their defensively oriented stats, and gave them all the same role: to be death fodder. Wormadam does not even get a half-good typing like its Steel-type sister, Wormadam-S, nor access to decent utility moves like Stealth Rock. Well, at least it does not look like food, unlike its sisters Wormadam-G and Wormadam-S, which resemble a slice of pizza and cotton candy, repsectively.
[SET]
name: Drag Worm
move 1: Signal Beam
move 2: Leaf Storm
move 3: Giga Drain
move 4: Hidden Power Rock
item: Choice Specs
ability: Anticipation
nature: Modest
evs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Although other Grass-types get a similar movepool, Wormadam distinguishes itself with a Bug-type STAB move, which is mostly worse than Victreebel's stronger Poison-type STAB but means Wormadam can beat Grumpig. Choice Specs-boosted Leaf Storm can hit fairly hard despite Wormadam's mediocre Special Attack, and Giga Drain does not cause Wormadam's Special Attack stat to drop by two stages. Lastly, Hidden Power Rock hits Fire- and Flying-types, meaning Ninetales and Jumpluff can set up on Wormadam only once with Nasty Plot and Swords Dance, respectively.
Set Details
========
Choice Specs not only gives the bagworm a snazzy look but also lets it do some decent damage when combined with maximum Special Attack investment and a Modest nature. The remaining EVs go into HP, as Wormadam cannot hope to outspeed most Pokemon, and at least it lets Wormadam take a hit from several Water-types such as Floatzel and Poliwrath.
Usage Tips
========
Click Leaf Storm 90% of the time, as that does decent damage. If you fear a Grass-type switching in, just go for a coverage move to hit the incoming Pokemon; otherwise, Giga Drain can be used to regain health. Wormadam might be able to switch into certain Water- and Grass-types, such as Poliwrath and Tangela, but it might get blown back by a coverage move, so it should be careful. Wormadam might also be useful as death fodder late-game if one of its teammates needs a safe switch in. Also be careful as to which move Wormadam gets locked into, as it can be used as setup fodder.
Team Options
========
If you have gotten this far and still want to use Wormadam— please do not; use Victreebel, or Tangela, or Roselia instead. If you really have to use Wormadam, use it on teams that provide heavy paralysis support or on a Trick Room team. Wormadam also needs teammates to cover its weaknesses, though covering every one of them would be almost impossible, so just try to cover some. Wormadam should be supported by checks to Fire-types, such as Grumpig and Pelipper; checks to Flying-types, such as Probopass and Stunfisk; Pokemon that resist Ice, such as Piloswine and Grumpig; and Pokemon that resist Rock, such as Poliwrath and Torterra. Entry hazard removers such as Pelipper and Armaldo are also important, as Wormadam cannot afford to lose a quarter of its health. Yeah, it would be simpler just to not use this unloved worm.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A specially defensive set with moves such as Toxic and Synthesis allows Wormadam to take on Water-types better, but its multitude of weaknesses hinders this. Although it is 2HKOed by Psychic, Roselia still forces Wormadam out. Skill Swap can be used to annoy incoming Ninetales and Rapidash by taking their Flash Fire ability, but opponents can easily play around such a strategy.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Special Walls**: Although Wormadam can threaten some special walls, such as Pelipper and Grumpig, others, such as Lickilicky and Probopass, do not really care about anything Wormadam does. Roselia can just begin Spikes-stacking in front of Wormadam's face. Although it is immune to Sleep Powder, Wormadam will be made to cry itself off to sleep after being hit with Roselia's Sludge Bomb.
**Faster Pokemon**: Due to Wormadam's plethora of weaknesses, it would be easier just to tl;dr this. Ninetales, Rapidash, Dodrio, Golem, Auroras, Arbok, Barbaracle, Carracosta, Chatot, and Jumpluff are only a small percentage of top-tier Pokemon that can OHKO Wormadam with little or no prior damage.
Last edited: