Druddigon
[Overview]
<p>Druddigon is one of the two pure fully evolved Dragon-types in the game. With Haxorus kicking around in OU, this leaves Druddigon to rule UU as the Dragon-type with the highest Attack stat. Combine this with Druddigon's STAB moves and great bulk and you have a fearsome attacker. While Druddigon may possess all of these qualities, it is still rather underwhelming. Its abysmal base 48 Speed forces it to rely on Sucker Punch to hit faster opponents which can be its downfall. Despite these flaws, Druddigon is still a great Pokemon, and can fit on most teams needing a powerful physical attacker.</p>
[SET]
name: Physical Attacker
move 1: Outrage / Dragon Claw
move 2: Superpower / Earthquake
move 3: Fire Fang
move 4: Crunch / Sucker Punch
item: Choice Band / Life Orb
ability: Rough Skin
nature: Adamant
evs: 236 HP / 252 Atk / 20 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Choice Band Outrage coming off of a base 120 Attack stat deals massive amounts of damage to any Pokemon that doesn't resist it or isn't physically bulky. However, Dragon Claw can be used if being locked into Outrage is undesirable. Superpower allows Druddigon to deal with Steel-types such as Registeel, Steelix, and Aggron who can take its STAB attacks all day; it also does massive damage to Chansey. Earthquake is another option for dealing with Steel-types, which lacks the negative side effects of Superpower. However, Escavalier can stomach both Superpower and Earthquake and hit back very hard with a powerful STAB Megahorn, and Ferroseed too can take Earthquake comfortably. Fire Fang thus gives Druddigon a way to keep these threats in check, OHKOing both. Crunch is advisable with a Choice Band, as set-up sweepers will take advantage of Druddigon being Choice-locked into Sucker Punch. When using Life Orb, however, Sucker Punch is the preferred move because it allows Druddigon to bypass its abysmal Speed and hit faster threats first.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The given EV spread allows Druddigon to outspeed minimum Speed Chansey while providing maximum power and bulk. When using this set, prediction is key, as removing the opponent's Steel-types allow Druddigon to mow through the rest of the opponent's team with Outrage. Strong Fire- and Fighting-type teammates thus help Druddigon immensely in this regard. As with any attacker, entry hazard support is greatly appreciated. Druddigon also appreciates either paralysis or Trick Room support to get around its poor speed. If Druddigon is being used in Trick Room, a Brave nature with no investment and 0 speed IVs should be used. When facing opponents such as Mismagius, Pursuit is an option to hit them as they flee or use Substitute fearing Sucker Punch. With its great STAB, Druddigon can tear holes in the opponent's team for other sweepers such as Weavile to clean up. Another excellent offensive partner for Druddigon is Zweilous, because most teams can't handle repeated Outrages.</p>
[SET]
name: Hone Claws
move 1: Hone Claws
move 2: Dragon Claw / Outrage
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Sucker Punch
item: Leftovers / Life Orb
ability: Rough Skin
nature: Adamant
evs: 236 HP / 252 Atk / 20 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set focuses on boosting Druddigon's already high Attack stat to astronomical levels with Hone Claws, giving it all the power of the Choice Band set, the ability to change moves, and recovery from Leftovers. Unlike the Choice Band set, Dragon Claw is the preferred STAB move because Druddigon retains the ability to change moves. However, Outrage can be used for much greater power. Earthquake deals with the Steel-types which resist the rest of the moveset. Sucker Punch allows Druddigon to pick off faster Pokemon after a few boosts, bypassing its terrible Speed stat.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Once again, the given EV spread allows Druddigon to outspeed Chansey while allowing it to both take hits and deal out heavy damage. You can opt to use Life Orb instead of Leftovers for added power, but the gradual recovery is appreciated. Just as with the last set, paralysis support is very welcome so that Druddigon doesn't have to rely on Sucker Punch to beat faster opponents. Entry hazard support is always appreciated by any sweeper, and Druddigon is no exception. Registeel and Qwilfish earn a special mention for having excellent synergy with Druddigon while also being able to support it with entry hazards and Thunder Wave. Superpower is an option over Earthquake to maintain coverage against Steel-types, while hitting Chansey harder. Similarly, Fire Fang can be used to burn Ferroseed and Escavalier to cinders; the latter is all the more dangerous, as it can take a boosted Earthquake while severely hurting if not OHKOing Druddigon with its STAB Megahorn.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Druddigon has a myriad of other options that it can use, but these are mostly ineffective on its main sets. Thunder Fang can be used for a strong hit against Water-types such as Slowbro and Suicune, but Crunch will hit the former harder. Druddigon can even pull off a phazing set with Dragon Tail, but without reliable recovery, it's very difficult to use effectively. It can also paralyze and slow down opponents itself with Glare, but is better off just attacking. Druddigon has access to Taunt, but it is far too slow to utilize it. Rock Slide gets a Sheer Force boost, but it doesn't offer much in terms of coverage, making it a poor choice. As mentioned before, Pursuit can be used to trap Ghost-types such as Mismagius. Sets utilizing Sheer Force and Life Orb can also use Bulldoze in place of Earthquake. Revenge can be used over Superpower, but Druddigon must take damage for it to double in power, so Superpower is generally superior. Finally, Druddigon has a fairly large special movepool, but its poor base 60 Special Attack stat renders any special sets useless.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Druddigon is very hard to switch into due to its powerful STAB and high Attack stat. One of its best counters is Eviolite Gligar, which fails to be 2HKOed by even a +1 Outrage. Eviolite Dusclops can also take all of Druddigon's hits comfortably and cripple it with Will-O-Wisp. Steel-types such as Registeel and Aggron can withstand Druddigon's Dragon-type attacks, but must be wary of Earthquake and Superpower. Mismagius can cripple Druddigon with Will-O-Wisp and take one Outrage after the burn. Revenge killing Druddigon is often the best way of removing it from the game, as its very low Speed leaves it outsped by the majority of the tier. Weavile's priority Ice Shard will outspeed Druddigon's Sucker Punch and will cause it to fail, dealing massive amounts of damage. Faster Pokemon that resist Sucker Punch also do a great job, such as Houndoom and Heracross.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Druddigon receives the ability Mold Breaker from the Dream World, which allows it to hit Levitating pokemon, such as Azelf, Mismagius, Weezing, and Flygon with Earthquake, preventing them from getting a free switch-in. And though the passive damage from Rough Skin is nice, Mold Breaker will usually be the better choice.</p>
