QC: 49 | Spirit | Atomicllamas
GP: --- | ---
Overview
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Boasting good bulk with an Eviolite, Gurdurr has the ability to take on many of the top threats in RU. With a great boosting option in Bulk Up, it has the power to become a heavy hitting tank, with access to recovery in the form of Drain Punch. Its movepool also gives it access to Mach Punch, a great priority move that means Gurdurr does not have to rely on its low speed. Knock off allows it to hit most of the tier for Netural damage, aside from fairies. It also is less vulnerable to status with Guts, as it raises Gurdurr's attack, allowing it to recover more HP from Drain Punch. However, all is not good for it. Even with Eviolite backing it, it's Special Defense stat is still very low, and most Super Effective, or even Neutral, attacks from the Special side have the power to KO it. It is also very reliant on its Eviolite to set up Bulk Ups, and therefore Knock Off severely cripples it, allowing it to be hit extremely hard from both sides of the Spectrum.
Bulk Up
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name: Bulk Up
move 1: Drain Punch
move 2: Mach Punch
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Bulk Up
ability: Guts
item: Eviolite
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
nature: Adamant
Moves
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Drain Punch is a great STAB move that allows Gurdurr to recover its HP while attacking at the same time. Mach Punch gives it much needed priority to back up its low speed stat, and allows it to hit faster Special Attackers that threaten it. It also allows Gurdurr to act as a Revenge Killer early game, as it can switch in and kill an opposing pokemon with Mach Punch before switching out. Knock Off gives it very good Neutral Coverage, only losing out on Fairies, that gives it great utility early and late game. By removing opposing pokemons items, it can have an easier time setting up. Poison Jab can be used over Knock Off, as it allows Gurdurr to hurt the Fairy types that plague it, but it loses out on coverage against Ghost and Psychic types, and loses a lot of utility over Stall teams. Bulk Up allows it to boost both its attack and defence stats at the same time, allowing it to become almost untouchable on the Physical Side. It also raises the power of Drain Punch, letting it recover more HP from attacking.
Set Details
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252 HP allows Gurdurr to be as bulky as possible, which in turn gives it more chances to set up and tank hits when it has set up. 252 Attack along with the Adamant nature allows it to hit hard before any boosts, which makes it a viable revenge killer along with Mach Punch. It also allows it to recover more HP with Drain Punch before it sets up. Guts allows it to not be as vulnerable to status, as Will-O-Wisp will give it an attack boost, but it still does lose HP every turn, eventually forcing it to Drain Punch or risk being Knocked Out. Eviolite gives it good bulk as it is a Pre-Evolution, and allows it to have an easier time setting up. Max Special Defence with a Careful nature is another option, as it allows it to set up against Special Attackers a lot easier. However, it misses out on its role as a revenge killer, and forces it to set up in order to recover more HP.
Usage Tips
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While most of its Checks are still around early game, it can be used as a Revenge Killer with Mach Punch being able to take out faster threats. However, it should not be just thrown out, as if it is not able to KO the opposing pokemon it will usually be taking quite a bit of damage, which makes it harder for it to set up early game. It should also be careful when it is setting up, as if Poison and Fairy types are still around, it has a very hard time getting through them without one of its Coverage moves. Against bulky and slow teams, early game it can be used to throw out Knock Offs removing the opposing teams items, which is helpful for preventing extra recovery with leftovers, or preventing a revenge kill with a Choice Scarf.
Team Options
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Since it hates going up against bulky poison and fairy types, pokemon that can remove that are helpful. Moltres is notable because it can easily remove pokemon like Golbat or Amoonguss that get in Gurdurr's way. Also pokemon like Doublade or Cobalion that handle fairies like Aromatisse pair up nicely. With its ability guts, it helps other set-up sweepers that do not like taking status themselves, as it can switch in and take the status. Feraligatr gets a mention, as with Sheer Force + Life Orb it can no longer hold a Lum Berry, so status is usually crippling for it. Since it has a hard time getting past bulky psychic types like Cresselia and Reuniclus, pursuit users generally pair up well with it, as they can quickly trap and remove them. Pursuit users like Spiritomb and Skunktank work well here, as they both also have Sucker Punch to punish the Psychic types if they decide to stay in.
Other Options
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Gurdurr's movepool is extremely expansive and it has multiple other choices, but only a few are viable. With Ice Punch it can more reliably get past Amoonguss and Flying Types like Golbat or Togetic. Rock Slide or Stone Edge could also be considered to hit Moltres and Fletchinder, as well as other flying types. An all out attacking set with Sheer Force or Iron fist is possible with a Life Orb, but it really misses out on the bulk provided by Eviolite. It also loses out on the sweeping potential of the Bulk Up set, as it must rely on Mach Punch to hit faster pokemon, and it has no real way to take hits.
Checks & Counters
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**Poison Types**: Examples including Amoonguss, which only fears the Ice Punch, and can switch into most of its moves, and proceed to stall out Drain Punch, as Gurdurr cannot recover enough with it to outlast the damage it takes. Golbat can also come in, as it has a four times resistance to fighting type moves, but has to watch out for Ice Punch and Stone Edge, and does not really like having its Eviolite taken away.
**Fairy Types**: Mainly Aromatisse and Whimsicott, which only has to worry about Poison Jab, but still deals more damage with Moonblast, usually being able to win in a 1v1 situation. The latter can also Encore Gurdurr into Bulk Up, if it tries to set up.
**Bulky Psychic Types**: Examples include Cresselia and Reuniclus, which can take a Knock Off, and then proceed to heal up and deal damage with Moonblast, which will end up out damaging Knock Off, and forcing Gurdurr to Bulk Up if it wants to deal any more damage.
**Flying Types**: Especially pokemon like Fletchling and Moltres which can switch in quite easily, only fearing Rock Slide, and hit it super-effectively. Moltres is usually more effective, as it hits Gurdurr on its less bulky side, dealing much more damage then Fletchling after Gurdurr has gotten up a few Bulk Up boosts.
**Offensive Pressure**: If Gurdurr begins racking up to much damage with entry hazards, it becomes much easier to KO, and even the constant damage it gets through attacks can be hard to heal off with Drain Punch.
Water Drone is taking over
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