Ferrothorn
[OVERVIEW]
- Ferrothorn has good bulk and access to the ability Iron Barbs which damages the opponent if they hit you with a physical attack.
- Ferrothorn wants to take physical attacks and can't take special fire attacks.
- Ferrothorn doesn't have to worry about physical fighting type moves thanks to it's bulk.
name: Bulky
move 1: Leech Seed
move 2: Protect
move 3: Power Whip / Knock Off
move 4: Gyro Ball
item: Leftovers
ability: Iron Barbs
nature: Brave
evs: 80 Def / 252 HP / 176 Atk
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Leech Seed is for recovery when worst comes to worst and also for healing so Ferrothorn can place the second Stealth Rock.
- Protect gives a free recovery turn.
- Power Whip is for bulky and slow Pokémon who refuse to die to Gyro Ball.
- Gyro Ball is going to be your main attacking move unless your fighting Trick Room teams or slow foes.
- Knock Off is too slow down sweepers or bulky foes.
Set Details
========
- 252 Defence EVs allows good resistance to hard hitting physical moves and maximizes Iron Barbs usefulness.
- 240 HP EVs is just for even more bulk.
- 12 Attack is quite obviously just for extra damage.
- Relaxed nature gives Ferrothorn more physical bulk while lowering speed to maximize Gyro Ball.
- Leftovers is for more sustain in case you come across grass types.
- Note that you should run 0 speed IVs to help Gyro Ball.
Usage Tips
========
- Use Ferrothorn either as a lead or switch into it after a U-Turn scout checks for fire types.
- Ferrothorn has such good physical you shouldn't worry about physical fighting types unless they have already set up.
- If a Will-O-Wisp user comes your way then you will have to switch out.
Team Options
========
- If you want to have some fun then you could bring a trick room user with Ferrothorn for always moving first Gyro Ball madness.
- Landorus-T is a prime example of a U-Turn user into Ferrothorn, lead with it then Earthquake the fire threats.
- Ferrothorn thrives against physical attackers but if the opponent runs into something like Mega Charizard Y then you will want a rock type backup (Tyranitar is best).
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
- Running a Relaxed natured physical attacking Ferrothorn is plausible. However, it will sacrifice some of Ferrothorn's attack.
- Thunder Wave can be used instead of Gyro Ball to slow down the enemy then strike but that means no Trick Room partner.
- Ferrothorn can be run with Stealth Rock and Spikes but unless you want to spend 4 turns setting up entry hazards don't use it.
- Toxic can be used for putting a timer on sweepers in emergency situations.
- It is plausible to play a Choice Band but it isn't very realistic because Ferrothorn has a stat spread made for being bulky.
- Ferrothorn has access to Swords Dance but it doesn't have the speed to back it up.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Special Attacking Fire Types**: With a 4x weakness to Fire this one is a no-brainer. It might be able to take 1 physical hit but never special. Prime examples are Mega Charizard Y and Heatran.
**Grass Types**: All grass types wall Leech Seed and Power Whip while slower ones block Gyro Ball.
**Tangrowth**: Physically bulky, access to synthesis, slow and a grass type. Basically, Ferrothorn can't scratch it.
Last edited: