[OVERVIEW]
Ice
========
Avalugg is the best Rapid Spin user on Ice-type teams because of its physical bulk and reliable recovery in Recover, which enable it to take most physical attacks with ease. On top of this, it has an above average Attack stat, meaning it typically isn't setup bait. It also has a great ability in Sturdy along with access to Roar, which allows it to almost always phaze setup sweepers such as Mega Scizor and Volcarona if at full HP. However, Avalugg has a terrible Special Defense stat, which leaves it susceptible to special attackers such as Mega Charizard Y and Tapu Koko. It is also weak to common Fire-, Rock-, and Fighting-type attacks, which hinders its longevity in battle and makes it much harder to remove entry hazards. Avalugg is also extremely slow, even for a defensive Pokemon, and is outsped by the entire metagame, meaning it often needs to take a hit before attacking and is susceptible to Taunt users such as Smeargle and Gyarados. Avalugg is also weak to Stealth Rock, which makes its job of removing hazards extremely difficult.
[SET]
name: Defensive Rapid Spin
move 1: Rapid Spin
move 2: Recover
move 3: Roar
move 4: Avalanche
item: Leftovers / Rocky Helmet
ability: Sturdy
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Rapid Spin allows Avalugg to remove entry hazards for its teammates. Recover allows Avalugg to recover its HP, giving it sustainability. Roar enables Avalugg to force out setup sweepers such as Volcarona and Mega Scizor, which would otherwise utilize it as setup bait. Avalanche is used to ensure that Avalugg has an offensive presence by taking advantage of Avalugg's poor Speed, but it is extremely weak if Avalugg isn't attacked.
Set Details
========
Full HP investment allows Avalugg to be as bulky as possible, while maximum Defense investment along with an Impish nature bolsters Avalugg's Defense stat. Sturdy is the preferred ability because it allows Avalugg to take any hit when at full health, allowing it to consistently phaze setup sweepers such as Mega Scizor and Volcarona. Leftovers allows Avalugg to recover a bit of its HP each turn, increasing its longevity. Alternatively, Rocky Helmet can be used to punish Pokemon the utilize contact moves such as U-turn Landorus-T.
Usage Tips
========
Try to switch Avalugg in on a predicted use of Stealth Rock because it prevents Avalugg from taking unnecessary Stealth Rock damage. Preserve Avalugg's HP because it needs to be at full health to take powerful physical attacks. If Avalugg is running Rocky Helmet, it should switch into U-turn users such as Landorus-T and Jirachi. It should not stay in against special attackers, as its Special Defense stat is extremely poor. Use Roar to phaze setup sweepers that threaten Ice-type teams such as Mega Scizor and Mega Gyarados. Avoid status, specifically burn and poison, because a burn halves Avalugg's otherwise decent Attack stat, while poison slowly wears it down, hindering its ability to wall certain threats. If there is a Ghost-type on the opponent's team, it is usually best to avoid using Rapid Spin until it is eliminated so that Avalugg doesn't lose momentum. Pivot Avalugg into physical attackers such as Heracross and Landorus-T so that it can either use Recover or threaten them with Avalanche.
Team Options
========
Avalugg fits on all Ice-type teams because of its ability to reliably remove entry hazards with Rapid Spin. Alolan Ninetales can set up Aurora Veil, making up for Avalugg's terrible Special Defense stat. It also can check Fighting-types such as Keldeo and Terrakion for Avalugg with its Fairy-type attacks. Mamoswine can check Fire-types that threaten Avalugg and has access to Stealth Rock, forming a hazard control core. This allows Ice-type teams to force Flying- and Fire-type teams to use Defog, making Avalugg's job much easier. Choice Scarf Kyurem-B can check Fire-types such as Mega Charizard Y and Heatran for Avalugg. Piloswine switches into physical and special attacks, making it much easier for Avalugg to remove hazards. It also can set up Stealth Rock, forming a hazard control core and giving Avalugg's Roar extra utility. Weavile can trap Psychic-types that threaten Avalugg such as Victini and Latios with Pursuit, while Avalugg can check physical attackers that threaten Weavile. Walrein and Lapras can take Steel- and Fire-type attacks from Pokemon such as Mega Scizor and Heatran for Avalugg. Rapid Spin support from Avalugg allows Cloyster to preserve its Focus Sash, allowing it to safely set up with Shell Smash. Rotom-F can cripple Mega Scizor with Will-O-Wisp. It also has Volt Switch, which allows Avalugg to be brought in safely. Avalugg allows Alolan Sandslash to run Earthquake instead of Rapid Spin so that it can KO Heatran.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Earthquake can be used to give Avalugg coverage against Steel-types, namely Heatran and Excadrill, but without Roar, Avalugg is setup bait for Mega Scizor. Toxic can be used to punish walls such as Zapdos and Chansey, but it also forces Avalugg to give up Roar.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fire-types**: Fire-types such as Mega Charizard Y and Torkoal can easily take any hit from Avalugg and KO it with their Fire-type attacks.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types such as Magnezone and Heatran can take multiple hits from Avalugg and either set up hazards or KO it. However, they need to be wary of Earthquake.
**Bulky Water-types**: Bulky Water-types such as Slowbro, Lanturn, and Swampert can take multiple hits from Avalugg while fishing for a burn with Scald. However, Avalugg can cripple bulky Water-types with Toxic.
**Special Attackers**: Powerful special attackers such as Landorus and Tapu Koko can KO Avalugg easily.
**Fighting-types**: Avalugg may have high physical bulk, but Fighting-types such as Terrakion and Mega Heracross can KO it regardless with their Fighting-type attacks.
**Ghost-types**: Ghost-types such as Chandelure and Gengar block Rapid Spin and can KO Avalugg with their powerful special attacks.
**Rock-types**: Rock-types such as Terrakion, Tyranitar, and Nihilego can KO Avalugg with their Rock-type attacks.
**Residual Damage**: Stealth Rock, burn, and poison all slowly wear Avalugg down, making it difficult for Avalugg to effectively remove hazards with Rapid Spin.
Ice
========
Avalugg is the best Rapid Spin user on Ice-type teams because of its physical bulk and reliable recovery in Recover, which enable it to take most physical attacks with ease. On top of this, it has an above average Attack stat, meaning it typically isn't setup bait. It also has a great ability in Sturdy along with access to Roar, which allows it to almost always phaze setup sweepers such as Mega Scizor and Volcarona if at full HP. However, Avalugg has a terrible Special Defense stat, which leaves it susceptible to special attackers such as Mega Charizard Y and Tapu Koko. It is also weak to common Fire-, Rock-, and Fighting-type attacks, which hinders its longevity in battle and makes it much harder to remove entry hazards. Avalugg is also extremely slow, even for a defensive Pokemon, and is outsped by the entire metagame, meaning it often needs to take a hit before attacking and is susceptible to Taunt users such as Smeargle and Gyarados. Avalugg is also weak to Stealth Rock, which makes its job of removing hazards extremely difficult.
[SET]
name: Defensive Rapid Spin
move 1: Rapid Spin
move 2: Recover
move 3: Roar
move 4: Avalanche
item: Leftovers / Rocky Helmet
ability: Sturdy
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Rapid Spin allows Avalugg to remove entry hazards for its teammates. Recover allows Avalugg to recover its HP, giving it sustainability. Roar enables Avalugg to force out setup sweepers such as Volcarona and Mega Scizor, which would otherwise utilize it as setup bait. Avalanche is used to ensure that Avalugg has an offensive presence by taking advantage of Avalugg's poor Speed, but it is extremely weak if Avalugg isn't attacked.
Set Details
========
Full HP investment allows Avalugg to be as bulky as possible, while maximum Defense investment along with an Impish nature bolsters Avalugg's Defense stat. Sturdy is the preferred ability because it allows Avalugg to take any hit when at full health, allowing it to consistently phaze setup sweepers such as Mega Scizor and Volcarona. Leftovers allows Avalugg to recover a bit of its HP each turn, increasing its longevity. Alternatively, Rocky Helmet can be used to punish Pokemon the utilize contact moves such as U-turn Landorus-T.
Usage Tips
========
Try to switch Avalugg in on a predicted use of Stealth Rock because it prevents Avalugg from taking unnecessary Stealth Rock damage. Preserve Avalugg's HP because it needs to be at full health to take powerful physical attacks. If Avalugg is running Rocky Helmet, it should switch into U-turn users such as Landorus-T and Jirachi. It should not stay in against special attackers, as its Special Defense stat is extremely poor. Use Roar to phaze setup sweepers that threaten Ice-type teams such as Mega Scizor and Mega Gyarados. Avoid status, specifically burn and poison, because a burn halves Avalugg's otherwise decent Attack stat, while poison slowly wears it down, hindering its ability to wall certain threats. If there is a Ghost-type on the opponent's team, it is usually best to avoid using Rapid Spin until it is eliminated so that Avalugg doesn't lose momentum. Pivot Avalugg into physical attackers such as Heracross and Landorus-T so that it can either use Recover or threaten them with Avalanche.
Team Options
========
Avalugg fits on all Ice-type teams because of its ability to reliably remove entry hazards with Rapid Spin. Alolan Ninetales can set up Aurora Veil, making up for Avalugg's terrible Special Defense stat. It also can check Fighting-types such as Keldeo and Terrakion for Avalugg with its Fairy-type attacks. Mamoswine can check Fire-types that threaten Avalugg and has access to Stealth Rock, forming a hazard control core. This allows Ice-type teams to force Flying- and Fire-type teams to use Defog, making Avalugg's job much easier. Choice Scarf Kyurem-B can check Fire-types such as Mega Charizard Y and Heatran for Avalugg. Piloswine switches into physical and special attacks, making it much easier for Avalugg to remove hazards. It also can set up Stealth Rock, forming a hazard control core and giving Avalugg's Roar extra utility. Weavile can trap Psychic-types that threaten Avalugg such as Victini and Latios with Pursuit, while Avalugg can check physical attackers that threaten Weavile. Walrein and Lapras can take Steel- and Fire-type attacks from Pokemon such as Mega Scizor and Heatran for Avalugg. Rapid Spin support from Avalugg allows Cloyster to preserve its Focus Sash, allowing it to safely set up with Shell Smash. Rotom-F can cripple Mega Scizor with Will-O-Wisp. It also has Volt Switch, which allows Avalugg to be brought in safely. Avalugg allows Alolan Sandslash to run Earthquake instead of Rapid Spin so that it can KO Heatran.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Earthquake can be used to give Avalugg coverage against Steel-types, namely Heatran and Excadrill, but without Roar, Avalugg is setup bait for Mega Scizor. Toxic can be used to punish walls such as Zapdos and Chansey, but it also forces Avalugg to give up Roar.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fire-types**: Fire-types such as Mega Charizard Y and Torkoal can easily take any hit from Avalugg and KO it with their Fire-type attacks.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types such as Magnezone and Heatran can take multiple hits from Avalugg and either set up hazards or KO it. However, they need to be wary of Earthquake.
**Bulky Water-types**: Bulky Water-types such as Slowbro, Lanturn, and Swampert can take multiple hits from Avalugg while fishing for a burn with Scald. However, Avalugg can cripple bulky Water-types with Toxic.
**Special Attackers**: Powerful special attackers such as Landorus and Tapu Koko can KO Avalugg easily.
**Fighting-types**: Avalugg may have high physical bulk, but Fighting-types such as Terrakion and Mega Heracross can KO it regardless with their Fighting-type attacks.
**Ghost-types**: Ghost-types such as Chandelure and Gengar block Rapid Spin and can KO Avalugg with their powerful special attacks.
**Rock-types**: Rock-types such as Terrakion, Tyranitar, and Nihilego can KO Avalugg with their Rock-type attacks.
**Residual Damage**: Stealth Rock, burn, and poison all slowly wear Avalugg down, making it difficult for Avalugg to effectively remove hazards with Rapid Spin.
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