[SET]
Name: Offensive Utility
Move 1: Return / Body Slam
Move 2: Focus Punch / Earthquake
Move 3: Shadow Ball
Move 4: Heal Bell / Rest
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 252 HP / 40 Atk / 212 Def / 4 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
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Granbull has an excellent advantage over offensive Kangaskhan in its wallbreaking capabilities despite its lower Speed with its ability to check opposing physical attackers with Intimidate and Heal Bell to support its teammates against status. This allows a teams own Kangaskhan to focus more on team support with Granbull to make up for offensive shortcomings. Return chunks any target that doesn't resist it and is generally a safe move to use, but if the additional damage isn't needed, Granbull can also run Body Slam to spread paralysis for itself and its team, pressuring Kangaskhan into using Rest early and even pressuring switch-ins such as Omastar and Hitmontop. Focus Punch deals massive damage to Kangaskhan to prevent any attempts at Rest stalling it, and it can hit Granbull checks such as Omastar, Cradily, and opposing Granbull trying to switch in or playing passive for a chunk of their health. Earthquake requires less prediction while hitting some of the same targets, additionally dealing more damage to Poison- and Electric-types such as Tentacruel, Nidoqueen, and Ampharos. Shadow Ball is used to give Granbull a reliable way to hit Solrock while also hitting Ghost-types such as Misdreavus and Haunter. Heal Bell allows Granbull to absorb status from Kangaskhan and Solrock and cure its teammates of status, helping its longevity and enabling other offensive and defensive threats. Rest, however, gives Granbull long-term recovery and a reliable way to counteract Spikes damage that would otherwise hinder Granbull's ability to consistently switch in.
40+ Attack EVs are used to 3HKO 252 HP / 112 Def Kangaskhan with Return, and the rest is put into HP and Defense to help Granbull switch into physical attackers reliably. If Granbull is running Body Slam, 96+ Attack EVs allow it to 3HKO maximum HP Kangaskhan and deal more damage with its coverage options. While 4 Speed EVs are used to gain an advantage over opposing Granbull, more can be used if Granbull can sacrifice its defensive EVs. 44 Speed EVs allow Granbull to outspeed minimum Speed Vileplume, and 96 Speed EVs allow it to outspeed slower defensive Omastar variants.
Team Options
=========
While Granbull is good at switching into physical attackers, it still appreciates help preserving its health to check them over the longer course of a game. Kangaskhan provides an excellent defensive synergy by checking special threats that Granbull doesn't comfortably take hits well from, such as Arcanine, Lapras, Walrein, and Ampharos, while also providing valuable Wish support to keep Granbull healthy. Spikes impede Granbull's ability to switch in, so it appreciates Rapid Spin support from Tentacruel, Blastoise, and Hitmontop, proving especially helpful against teams with Spikes as Granbull tends to draw in Omastar. If Granbull is using Rest, it doesn't like the downtime it has while it is burning sleep turns, as it can let in setup sweepers such as Swords Dance Scyther and Gligar, and it has trouble switching into physical threats with Spikes up. Ampharos, Vileplume, Lapras, and Altaria all provide cleric support to wake up Granbull in these instances, keeping Granbull healthy long-term. Granbull also appreciates its own Spikes support, as it likes the extra push of damage on bulky targets, and most of its common switch-ins take Spikes damage. Omastar is a good Spikes setter with Granbull, taking some of the defensive edge off by switching into Kangaskhan, Scyther, and Solrock to set Spikes. Qwilfish and Glalie are also Spikes setters that can threaten physical walls like Omastar with Hidden Power Grass and opposing Granbull, Hitmontop, Walrein, Vileplume, and Blastoise with Explosion, weakening the opposing teams ability to take on Granbull significantly. Since Granbull is slow and can't seal a late-game win by itself, it appreciates fast late-game cleaners that appreciate bulky Pokemon being weakened, such as Scyther, Gligar, and Electabuzz.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ellingtonreborn.619555/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/heysup.21929/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/
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