Foongus
Taken over from Raseri's original thread here.
[Overview]
<p>Foongus is the bulkiest out of the three Spore users in LC. However, its lack of Leech Seed and rather barren movepool means it struggles to not be outclassed by other Grass-types. On the other hand, its resistance to Fighting-type attacks and usable bulk makes it an excellent check to Scraggy and other Fighting-types, giving it a spot on many teams as a defensive pivot.</p>
[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Spore
move 2: Clear Smog / Stun Spore
move 3: Giga Drain
move 4: Hidden Power Fire
item: Eviolite
ability: Effect Spore
nature: Bold
evs: 204 HP / 236 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Spore puts an opponent to sleep, giving Foongus an opening to drain away the opponent's health with Giga Drain or allowing a teammate to set up freely. Clear Smog wipes away any boosts an opponent may have accrued, and makes Foongus a hard-and-fast check to Scraggy, reducing Zen Headbutt to a 2HKO at best. Hidden Power Fire 2HKOes Ferroseed and does huge damage to Snover, both Pokemon which would otherwise switch in on Foongus with impunity.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Stun Spore cripples opposing sweepers after Sleep Clause has been activated, and is a useful move in general, forming the "double powder" strategy in tandem with Spore. A more specially defensive spread can retain Foongus's ability to beat Scraggy (although it will lose to versions with Zen Headbutt) and allows it to take more special hits, but the added special bulk is largely unnecessary. Foongus's ability to take on Scraggy allows Pokemon such as Slowpoke or Frillish, which Scraggy can set up on quite easily, to be used with less risk. In addition, since Foongus is a solid switch-in to the many Fighting-types in LC, Pokemon such as Houndour that are weak to Fighting-type attacks can be used much more freely. Spore can be used to allow a sweeper to set up on an unresponsive opponent. Powerful setup sweepers which can take advantage of that single turn include Scraggy, Dwebble, and Clamperl.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Synthesis is very useful for restoring lost health and reduces Foongus's reliance upon Giga Drain. Ingrain's low HP recovery makes it difficult to use, but it's an option if you want Foongus to try to stall for a while. Toxic has excellent general utility and helps to take out Fire-types and Pokemon such as Munchlax that take little damage from Foongus's attacks. Rain Dance or Sunny Day can set up weather for teams based around it, and Sludge Bomb can provide a useful alternate STAB attack.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Psychic- and Ice-types such as Snover or Abra can easily take out Foongus, but must beware a Spore on the switch in. Fire- and Flying-types such as Houndour or Taillow can threaten it out, but can't switch in easily due to the threat of Spore or Stun Spore.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Regenerator is amazingly useful, allowing Foongus to take full advantage of its bulk and reducing its reliance upon Giga Drain to restore health, without risking the interference with Spore that Effect Spore entails.</p>
