Dugtrio (Update [Done])

Pig or Mole?
Status: Written
GP: 2/2 (Calm Pokemaster, NatGeo)





Dugtrio

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[Overview]

<p>With Arena Trap, Dugtrio is arguably the best revenge killer in the game, because grounded Pokemon are prevented from switching out. This means that if played correctly, Dugtrio can guarantee a KO against Pokemon that take super effective damage from its moves. Excellent Speed and average Attack allow Dugtrio to make great use of Arena Trap, as it will usually outspeed the Pokemon which it traps, and KO it without taking any damage. However, Dugtrio usually has trouble switching in if something hasn't been KOed due to its frailty. Switching in correctly can make Dugtrio an extremely effective revenge killer, though.</p>

[SET]
name: Trapper
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: Aerial Ace
move 4: Hidden Power Bug
item: Choice Band
ability: Arena Trap
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
ivs: 30 HP / 30 Atk / 30 Def / 30 SpD

[Set Comments]

<p>This is your bread-and-butter Dugtrio set, in which it makes use of a Choice Band to compensate for its mediocre Attack stat. The drawback of a Choice Band-being locked into one move-usually isn't a hindrance for Dugtrio, because its main goal is to revenge kill one Pokemon at a time, and then switch out. Dugtrio is frail, meaning it is difficult to switch in, except when a Pokemon gets KOed. However, it can easily switch in on predicted Electric-type attacks from the likes of Raikou and Starmie, or non- attacking moves such as Calm Mind or Recover from the aforementioned Pokemon, respectively.</p>

<p>Earthquake is Dugtrio's most powerful attack, and hits Tyranitar, Jirachi, Metagross, Blaziken, and Raikou for super effective damage among others. Rock Slide provides nice coverage alongside Earthquake. However, as Flying-type Pokemon aren't effected by Arena Trap, it isn't useful in terms of trapping. The flinch rate against Pokemon that take neutral damage from it can come in useful, though. Aerial Ace provides additional coverage. Fighting-type Pokemon such as Heracross and Breloom are hit for super effective damage by Aerial Ace. Hidden Power Bug rounds off the set, allowing Dugtrio to KO Starmie and Celebi at around 70% HP. It is also Dugtrio's best attack against Claydol, which is 2HKOed by it factoring in prior damage.</p>

[Additional Comments]

<p>The given EVs are simple: Dugtrio's Attack and Speed stats are maxed to maximize its usefulness as a revenge killer. The remaining 4 EVs are put in HP. The given IVs allow Dugtrio to use Hidden Power Bug while still having maximum Speed. A Jolly nature is advised to give Dugtrio maximum Speed. At max Speed, Dugtrio can outspeed and KO Tyranitar at +1 Speed with Earthquake. Adamant can be used for extra power, but Jolly is the recommended nature. Aerodactyl is a great partner, as it can be sacrificed to allow Dugtrio to switch in safely. Skarmory is also a great partner, as it lures in Magneton attempting to trap it. Dugtrio can in turn trap Magneton and OHKO it, which benefits Skarmory immensely.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Dugtrio is best suited as an attacker. However, it hasn't got many other attacking options besides those listed. Hidden Power Ghost can be used to KO Gengar after one round of sandstorm damage, and maintain coverage against Starmie and Claydol, but Hidden Power Bug is more useful as it allows Dugtrio to 2HKO Celebi. Dugtrio can be used in conjunction with Perish Song users such as Celebi, as it can trap the Pokemon, and force it to be KOed by Perish Song. If this is the case, then Dugtrio should make use of Leftovers, Protect and Substitute to stall out the turns of Perish Song. A different item such as Leftovers can be used on an all-out attacker variant. However, Dugtrio prefers the extra power rather than the freedom to switch attacks.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Dugtrio has no true counter, because its main goal is trapping and revenge killing Pokemon. However, this can be avoided by playing carefully, and not having too many Pokemon on your team that can be easily revenged or picked off by it. Physical walls that aren't affected by Ground-type attacks, such as Skarmory and Weezing can wall Dugtrio, because they can't be trapped by Arena Trap, are immune to Earthquake, and take poor damage from its other attacks. Additionally, Skarmory can freely set up Spikes against Dugtrio, whereas Weezing can burn it with Will-O-Wisp. Bulky Water-types can be problematic for Dugtrio, as they can sponge any of its attacks, and OHKO back with their STAB attacks. Dugtrio should only engage bulky Water-types to trap and pick them off if they are low on health. Porygon2 and Gardevoir can use Trace to copy Arena Trap-preventing Dugtrio from switching-and OHKO it with Ice Beam and Psychic, respectively.</p>

Is there anything specific you were trying to include in an update? Only thing I never really cared for on the current analysis was providing a whole section on Aero+Dugtrio, but I don't see much wrong with it.

use 252 / 252, adamant/jolly both work. no need for those spdef evs at all, its silly to assume you're gonna be switching in 100% with no spikes. also having max attack helps with damage rolls on bulky metagross/tar. make sure to include proper ivs for 31 speed hp bug too.

yeah and these days i'd say make jolly the main option. outspeeding max speed ddtar (which for some reason exists), raikou, starmie, gengar and tying with other max duggys is way more important than a couple extra kills that you can get just by adding some residual damage on top anyway

Fixed that, also Umby, it isnt very well written imo, so I want to fix that.

I would put Sludge Bomb there intead of HPBug as an option

There's no good reason for Sludge Bomb. All it hits are grasses, and the only OU/BL Grass types that you'd be hitting harder that you wouldn't be with your other moves are Jumpluff (Escapes Arena Trap), Sceptile (Speed tie), and Ludicolo (doesn't OHKO while Ludicolo OHKOs back; Ludicolo is not at all common). The main aim for HP Bug is doing big damage to Celebi, who is an ass if you just let it run around unchecked. On a standard Celebi, Sludge Bomb barely hits it for half health.

Yeah^^
Btw, I'll start writing this up once Slaking gets approved and what not.

Sorry i normally run it because i cant get HP Bug
Its a good write up well done

I haven't written anything yet....

Ok, this is written

Mooo said:

[SET]
name: Trapper
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: Aerial Ace
move 4: Hidden Power Bug
item: Choice Band
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
ivs: 30 / 30 / 30 / 31 / 30 / 31

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I think you need to specify ability as arena trap since it gets two.

Rock Slide provides nice coverage alongside Earthquake, but it only useful against Ice-type Pokemon when trapping, as Flying-type Pokemon aren't effected by Arena Trap.

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EQ does the same amount of damage as SE rock slide so I don't think the second part of this sentence is necessary. It is possibly worth mentioning that it has a nice flinch rate, otherwise just stick to mentioning that it is the primary option for hitting Pokemon that are immune to Earthquake.

Dugtro's third move is Aerial Ace, which provides assitional coverage. Fighting-type Pokemon such as Medicham, Heracross and less common Breloom and Machamp are hit for super effective damage by Aerial Ace.

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This should probably say that Aerial Ace is intended nearly exclusively for Heracross and Breloom, since the other Pokemon mentioned here take significantly more from EQ.

Hidden Power Bug rounds off the set, allowing Dugtrio to OHKO certain Psychics, most notably Celebi and Starmie.</p>

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Neither of those are ohko'd from full health assuming standard EV spreads. I would say to cripple / 2hko Celebi instead. If you want to mention another Psychic type, mention Claydol since HP Bug is the most powerful option against it.

Hidden Power Flying can be used instead of Aerial Ace for extra damage against the aforementioned Fighting-type Pokemon, but Hidden Power Bug is more useful as its Hidden Power type for OHKO'ing Celebi.

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HP Flying is pretty much useless, if anything mention HP Ghost for the ability to (sometimes) OHKO Gengar which it can't do with RS/HP bug/AA.

Ok, thanks for the help :)

the other options section should just say "none"

there's literally no reason to ever use any other hidden power on dugtrio

G80, we've been making OO more of a section for gimmicky stuff and stuff that is really just "Other stuff you could do, but isn't good enough to be considered for the analysis or outside of this one specific niche." Mooo could explain a bit more that those options aren't recommended, but the section shouldn't just say "none."

Its other options are pretty shitty, but if you want to be an idiot and use something else, that's what the OO section is for

Pretty much Sub and Protect are the only "viable" Other Options for using in tandem with Perish Song, Leech Seed, and/or Toxic from someone. Most Other Options sections do have legitimate moves that aren't QUITE so gimmicky, but are good picks for non-standards sets. In Dugtrio's case, he's not all that versatile, so if he's not standard, he's a gimmick.

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GP 1 / 2

there's really no such thing as a dugtrio counter. the counters section should mention that building a team that doesn't have more than 1-2 pokemon that get picked off by dugtrio is the best way to deal with it. you can have a full hp skarmory, but that's not gonna save you if the rest of your team is jirachi/celebi/ttar/meta or whatever.

otherwise it's fine if we're gonna bother fluffing it up with totally retarded "other options"

Thanks CP and G80

Made the changes

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CP beat me to it :P

Woot, this is also done