QC: p2, Hootie, TDK
GP: Snobalt, The Dutch Plumberjack
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Sleep Powder
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Hidden Power Fire / Leech Seed
item: Leftovers / Rocky Helmet
ability: Regenerator
nature: Relaxed
evs: 244 HP / 216 Def / 48 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Sleep Powder puts opposing Pokemon to sleep and cripples potential switch-ins that don't care about Tangrowth's other attacks. Giga Drain is Tangrowth's main STAB move and helps it stay healthy. Knock Off weakens opposing Pokemon by removing their item, which is useful in hindering them from doing their jobs. Hidden Power Fire helps Tangrowth reliably beat Ferrothorn and check Mega Scizor, while Leech Seed can be used to annoy switch-ins and gradually recover more HP, which is especially helpful if you're running Rocky Helmet. Hidden Power Ice helps beat Garchomp and Landorus-T but is best used if your team is weak to Gliscor. Earthquake hits Heatran on the switch, whittles down Mega Metagross, and hits Excadrill harder than Giga Drain. Stun Spore can be used as a secondary status option to cripple Pokemon that think they are safe after Sleep Powder has been used. Toxic is also an option if your team is weak to Calm Mind Slowbro or Fire-types like Talonflame.
Set Details
========
The HP EVs increase Tangrowth's overall bulk and maximize Regenerator recovery, while the Special Defense EVs allow Tangrowth to survive Life Orb Starmie's Ice Beam. The rest of the EVs are poured into Defense to maximize physical bulk so that Tangrowth can better check Excadrill, Mega Lopunny, and Mega Gyarados, among other Pokemon. A Relaxed nature boosts Defense and allows Tangrowth to use both physical and special moves without either being weakened, and Tangrowth doesn't need its subpar Speed for much anyway.
Usage Tips
========
Switch Tangrowth into Pokemon like Excadrill, Mega Metagross, Mega Lopunny, and Mega Gyarados, since it is a great check to them. Early-game, Knock Off is one of the better moves to use, as very few Pokemon appreciate switching into it. It is particularly helpful for wearing down Heatran and forcing Clefable to use Soft-Boiled more often. After items have been removed early-game with Knock Off, utilize Tangrowth as a pivot by switching into threats it walls and subsequently double out on a predicted switch to maximize the use of Regenerator and keep up momentum. Sleep Powder should be utilized to cripple threats that could potentially get out of hand and catch switch-ins like Talonflame and Tornadus-T off guard. Leech Seed should be used when you predict a switch to Pokemon like Heatran, which has no reliable recovery. It's also helpful for staying healthier against really strong attackers like Mega Metagross. Coverage moves should be used sparingly, since they are not particularly powerful. In a pinch, Tangrowth can be used to stomach almost any physical attack and retaliate with Sleep Powder or Stun Spore. As an example, Tangrowth can actually tank Jolly Mega Charizard X's Flare Blitz from full HP, although this is not generally advised.
Team Options
========
Other pivots like Rotom-W, Slowbro, Slowking, and Tornadus-T work great with Tangrowth by covering each other's type weaknesses and providing momentum, as well as being difficult to wear down thanks to the latter three's access to Regenerator. Rock-types such as Tyranitar and Mega Diancie make for excellent partners, since they check Flying- and Fire-types for Tangrowth, which in turn checks Ground- and Water-types for them very well. Latios removes entry hazards, which inhibit Tangrowth's Regenerator recovery, and it checks Mega Charizard Y and Keldeo. Heatran checks Fire- and Flying-types while Tangrowth can check Ground- and Water-types. Tangrowth is a nice switch-in to physical priority users that might threaten Mega Alakazam, which handily defeats Mega Venusaur for Tangrowth. Mega Charizard X can check opposing Grass- and Steel-types for Tangrowth, as well as absorb Will-O-Wisp from Rotom-W, while Tangrowth can switch into the majority of Mega Charizard X's checks.
GP: Snobalt, The Dutch Plumberjack
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Sleep Powder
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Hidden Power Fire / Leech Seed
item: Leftovers / Rocky Helmet
ability: Regenerator
nature: Relaxed
evs: 244 HP / 216 Def / 48 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Sleep Powder puts opposing Pokemon to sleep and cripples potential switch-ins that don't care about Tangrowth's other attacks. Giga Drain is Tangrowth's main STAB move and helps it stay healthy. Knock Off weakens opposing Pokemon by removing their item, which is useful in hindering them from doing their jobs. Hidden Power Fire helps Tangrowth reliably beat Ferrothorn and check Mega Scizor, while Leech Seed can be used to annoy switch-ins and gradually recover more HP, which is especially helpful if you're running Rocky Helmet. Hidden Power Ice helps beat Garchomp and Landorus-T but is best used if your team is weak to Gliscor. Earthquake hits Heatran on the switch, whittles down Mega Metagross, and hits Excadrill harder than Giga Drain. Stun Spore can be used as a secondary status option to cripple Pokemon that think they are safe after Sleep Powder has been used. Toxic is also an option if your team is weak to Calm Mind Slowbro or Fire-types like Talonflame.
Set Details
========
The HP EVs increase Tangrowth's overall bulk and maximize Regenerator recovery, while the Special Defense EVs allow Tangrowth to survive Life Orb Starmie's Ice Beam. The rest of the EVs are poured into Defense to maximize physical bulk so that Tangrowth can better check Excadrill, Mega Lopunny, and Mega Gyarados, among other Pokemon. A Relaxed nature boosts Defense and allows Tangrowth to use both physical and special moves without either being weakened, and Tangrowth doesn't need its subpar Speed for much anyway.
Usage Tips
========
Switch Tangrowth into Pokemon like Excadrill, Mega Metagross, Mega Lopunny, and Mega Gyarados, since it is a great check to them. Early-game, Knock Off is one of the better moves to use, as very few Pokemon appreciate switching into it. It is particularly helpful for wearing down Heatran and forcing Clefable to use Soft-Boiled more often. After items have been removed early-game with Knock Off, utilize Tangrowth as a pivot by switching into threats it walls and subsequently double out on a predicted switch to maximize the use of Regenerator and keep up momentum. Sleep Powder should be utilized to cripple threats that could potentially get out of hand and catch switch-ins like Talonflame and Tornadus-T off guard. Leech Seed should be used when you predict a switch to Pokemon like Heatran, which has no reliable recovery. It's also helpful for staying healthier against really strong attackers like Mega Metagross. Coverage moves should be used sparingly, since they are not particularly powerful. In a pinch, Tangrowth can be used to stomach almost any physical attack and retaliate with Sleep Powder or Stun Spore. As an example, Tangrowth can actually tank Jolly Mega Charizard X's Flare Blitz from full HP, although this is not generally advised.
Team Options
========
Other pivots like Rotom-W, Slowbro, Slowking, and Tornadus-T work great with Tangrowth by covering each other's type weaknesses and providing momentum, as well as being difficult to wear down thanks to the latter three's access to Regenerator. Rock-types such as Tyranitar and Mega Diancie make for excellent partners, since they check Flying- and Fire-types for Tangrowth, which in turn checks Ground- and Water-types for them very well. Latios removes entry hazards, which inhibit Tangrowth's Regenerator recovery, and it checks Mega Charizard Y and Keldeo. Heatran checks Fire- and Flying-types while Tangrowth can check Ground- and Water-types. Tangrowth is a nice switch-in to physical priority users that might threaten Mega Alakazam, which handily defeats Mega Venusaur for Tangrowth. Mega Charizard X can check opposing Grass- and Steel-types for Tangrowth, as well as absorb Will-O-Wisp from Rotom-W, while Tangrowth can switch into the majority of Mega Charizard X's checks.
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