Pokémon Forretress

[Cutie Caitlyn]

Forretress #205
Type:

Base Stats:
HP: 75
Attack: 90
Defense: 140
Special Attack: 60
Special Defense: 60
Speed: 40

Ability:
Sturdy: If this Pokemon is at full HP, it lives one hit with at least 1HP. OHKO moves fail on it.
Hidden Ability:
Overcoat: This Pokemon is immune to residual weather damage, and powder moves.

Usable Moves:

• Autotomize
  
  
• Block
  
  
• Body Slam
  
  
• Counter
  
  
• Double-Edge
  
  
• Drill Run
  
  
• Earthquake
  
  
• Facade
  
  
• Flail
  
  
• Flash Cannon
  
  
• Frustration
  
  
• Giga Drain
  
  
• Gravity
  
  
• Gyro Ball
  
  
• Heavy Slam
  
  
• Hidden Power
  
  
• Hidden Power Electric
  
  
• Hidden Power Fighting
  
  
• Hidden Power Fire
  
  
• Hidden Power Grass
  
  
• Hidden Power Ice
  
  
• Iron Defense
  
  
• Light Screen
  
  
• Magnet Rise
  
  
• Pain Split
  
  
• Payback
  
  
• Protect
  
  
• Rapid Spin
  
  
• Reflect
  
  
• Refresh
  
  
• Rest
  
  
• Return
  
  
• Rock Polish
  
  
• Rock Slide
  
  
• Signal Beam
  
  
• Sleep Talk
  
  
• Solar Beam
  
  
• Spikes
  
  
• Stealth Rock
  
  
• Substitute
  
  
• Sunny Day
  
  
• Toxic
  
  
• Toxic Spikes
  
  
• Volt Switch
  
  

Most Used Moves for Forretress:

• Rapid Spin
  
  
  
  Frees user from hazards/partial trap/Leech Seed.
• Stealth Rock
  
  
  
  Hurts foes on switch-in. Factors Rock weakness.

Forretress doesn't get enough spotlight nowadays on Generation XY because move prankster setters have been released like Klefki and Meowstic. Like other Steel types, it has an enormous Defensive stat but low Special Defense which makes most of the fairy types, not scared on Forretress Typing because most of the Fairy type users are Special Attackers. But thanks to its wonderful ability, Sturdy, it can throw off some moves before fainting.
Forretress works as a Physical Wall and a good Setter. So the tactic for using forretress is simple, once the opposing team switches to a Physical Attacker(be careful on some Fire Attacks), you may now set up without any taking too much damage.

Bulky Offensive Setter Forretress:
Forretress @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy / Overcoat
Sassy / Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
140 Atk / 200 Def / 168 SDef
- Stealth Rock
- Rapid Spin
- Volt Switch
- Gyro Ball / Earthquake​

First of all, using a healing item like Leftovers on a bulky wall like forretress is a wise decision. It also replenishes HP for Sturdy to work if Forretress got injured by Entry Hazards. A decent 140 EVs on Attack stats, 200 EVs on Defense stat, and 168 EVs on Special Defense makes it a wall with a good Physical Damage plus not that frail against Special Attackers. 140 Attack EVs is enough to 2HKO a Sylveon.

140- Atk Forretress Gyro Ball (64 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Sylveon: 186-222 (47.2 - 56.3%) -- 80.1% chance to 2HKO

And Because of Forretress' Bug / Steel typing, it is only weak to fire(x4 damage taken) that can be use as an advantage of Forretress' bulk. It can also surely set up Stealth Rocks if it has 100% Health thanks to Sturdy.

Forretress is also a good Rapid Spinner and Setter. Volt Switch helps you scout through teams and also breaks Focus Sash of the Opposing Pokemon. STAB Gyro Ball is a Good Counter for Fairy types. But if you want more coverage, Earthquake can surely 2HKO Chandelure or Magnezone.

140- Atk Forretress Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Chandelure: 150-178 (57.4 - 68.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

140- Atk Forretress Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Magnezone: 248-292 (72 - 84.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Physical Wall Setter Forretress:
Forretress @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy / Overcoat
Sassy / Relaxed Nature
252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
- Stealth Rock
- Rapid Spin
- Spikes / Volt Switch
- Toxic Spikes / Volt Switch
​

This set focuses on Forretress' base 140 Defense stat and access to 3 Entry Hazards; Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Toxic Spikes. Volt Switch can also be use just in case a Shadow Tag or arena Trap user like Dugtrio and Gothitelle appears and makes their free Hone Claws/ Calm Mind.

With This Bulk, it can:

252+ Atk Garchomp-Mega Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Forretress: 126-148 (35.5 - 41.8%) -- 86.3% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

252 SpA Gengar Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Forretress: 196-232 (55.3 - 65.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
A Special Attack is Forretress' Cryptonite. Do not switch in to a Special Attacker.

252 Atk Pure Power Medicham-Mega Fire Punch vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Forretress: 312-368 (88.1 - 103.9%) -- 25% chance to OHKO
Pure Power Medicham-Mega has only 25% chance to OHKO Forretress. You can use this advantage to Rapid Spin.

+2 252+ Atk Cloyster Rock Blast (5 hits) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Forretress: 140-170 (39.5 - 48%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
A Shell Smash Boosted Rock Blast Cloyster can 3OHKO Forretress. Perfect for Setting One Stealth Rock then Volt Switch.

252 SpA Charizard-Mega-Y Flamethrower vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Forretress: 1024-1212 (289.2 - 342.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Beware of Charizard unless Forretress' HP's at 100%.

252 Atk Talonflame Flare Blitz vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Forretress: 328-388 (92.6 - 109.6%) -- 50% chance to OHKO

252 Atk Adaptability Mega Lucario Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Forretress: 162-192 (45.7 - 54.2%) -- 5.9% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

Suicidal Lead / Sweep Stopper Forretress:
Forretress @ Red Card
Ability: Sturdy
Adamant Nature
252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
- Explosion
- Volt Switch
- Stealth Rock / Earthquake / Bug Bite
- Rapid Spin / Earthquake / Bug Bite​

The Main Objective of this Set are:

• To stop a Boosted Sweeper from sweeping your team.
• Messes up Opponent's Team thanks to Red Card and Sturdy.
• To instantly(not every time though) knock out an opponent Pokemon using Explosion after Sturdy and Red Card have been used.

Sturdy Pokemons are the best wielders of Red Card. Red Card will not get activated if the user faints after receiving the upcoming damage.

Red Card - If holder is hit, it forces the attacker to switch to a random ally. Single use.

After the Red Card has been used, your Sturdy will break making Forretress a useless wall against special attackers. But Before Dying, Explosion can be use to severely damage or even make the opposing Pokemon faint.

Tanking Scout Setter:
Forretress @ Red Card / Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy / Overcoat
Careful / Sassy Nature
100 HP / 200 Def / 130 SAtk / 78 SDef
- Volt Switch
- Stealth Rock
- Rapid Spin
- Spikes / Toxic Spikes​

Forretress may be slow, but that doesn't mean that it cannot scout like U-turn Genesect, or Volt Switch Rotom-W. It can tank an attack then Volt Switch so that your Switched Pokemon are at least safe from the attack. It also Breaks the opposing Pokemon's Focus Sash. The Switched Pokemon Then finishes the job. It can also hurt water type Pokemon's a lot.

130 SpA Forretress Volt Switch vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Gyarados: 160-192 (48.1 - 57.8%) -- 94.9% chance to 2HKO

130 SpA Forretress Volt Switch vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Cloyster: 150-178 (61.9 - 73.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO





Playing Against Forretress:
Charizard-Mega-Y's a good counter for Forretress. Because of Forretress' Fire Weakness, it's vulnerable to get burned by Flamethrower or Fire Blast. Breaking its Sturdy using Hazards is a good way to OHKO forretress. Forretress' low 60 base SDef is its weakness. Attack Forretress using Special Damaging moves. You can also use Mold Breaker Ability to nullify Forretress' Sturdy. And Finally, Only use Defog or Rapid Spin if after Forretress faints.


If there were any mistakes, forgot to include, please let me know. :3


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[Tathens]

surprised there are no overcoat sets listed in op

 

[Tava]

I feel like the first 3 calcs are completely useless as you won't find any of those Pokemon in the current OU anyway :/. Also agree that Overcoat should at least be slashed in as an option for almost every set.

 

[Cutie Caitlyn]

surprised there are no overcoat sets listed in op

Because the only thing Overcoat do to Forretress is Hail Immunity and Blocks Sleep Powder, and other powder moves.

 

[Kairyu_Gen1]

If I did some mistakes, forgot to include, please let me know.

If you *made* some mistakes. Mistake is a noun, therefore you cannot "do" it. Other acceptable terms would be "If there were any mistakes" or "If I did something wrong." Sorry, but you asked, and the grammar nazis always oblidge.

Anyway, I feel like you should at least mention that it faces competition now from other pokes as a hazard remover/setter. The one that comes to mind first for me is Skarmory who is arguably better with its physical wall capabilities, and immunity to 3 of the hazards.

 

[Cutie Caitlyn]

If you *made* some mistakes. Mistake is a noun, therefore you cannot "do" it. Other acceptable terms would be "If there were any mistakes" or "If I did something wrong." Sorry, but you asked, and the grammar nazis always oblidge.

Anyway, I feel like you should at least mention that it faces competition now from other pokes as a hazard remover/setter. The one that comes to mind first for me is Skarmory who is arguably better with its physical wall capabilities, and immunity to 3 of the hazards.

Thanks~! I'm not that good at speaking english. :)
I'll change it right away. ^^

 

[alphatron]

I feel like the first 3 calcs are completely useless as you won't find any of those Pokemon in the current OU anyway :/. Also agree that Overcoat should at least be slashed in as an option for almost every set.

Magnezone, no. But sylveon and chandelure are present. Mostly sylveon though.

The times have not been good to forretress at all now. Bad against every spin blocker. It's typing is no longer as good as it once was. It's setup fodder for everything and their grandfather. It's become predictable and not in a good way. And now at skarmory can remove hazards, it's really hard to justify using forry over him.

 

[PenguinKnight]

Couple of things about Forry that earns him a niche, and a spot on my team:
1. Can't beat spin blockers, but can volt-switch to preserve momentum.
2. Attracts fire attacks that you can most likely see coming from a mile away, so he combos very well with Flash Fire users like Chandelure.

That said, I would agree that he is pretty outclassed by the likes of Excadrill and defoggers, so if volt switch doesn't sound like a good enough reason then there are probably better mons for a team slot.

 

[Mitchhhhhh]

Overcoat IMO outclasses sturdy on every set except for (red card) suicide leads, which lost a lot of its value with how prevalent defog is.

Sturdy will be broken when you use Forretress as a spinner (which is the main reason to use him, let's be frank) no unboosted physical hit will ohko it anyway outside of fire moves and special moves but Forry has no business staying in on those hits anyway.

Meanwhile overcoat has some use in absorbing spore/sleep powder and can catch people off guard as last gen sturdy was the standard.

I've used physical defensive forretress quite a lot as spinner and stealth rocker, and with a rocky helmet it can out out some passive damage and then use the free turns to set up rocks, spin or grab momentum with volt switch.

IMO forretress is one of the (if not the) best defensive spinners in OU and it's served me very well.

 

[Dododoggy]

Couple of things about Forry that earns him a niche, and a spot on my team:
1. Can't beat spin blockers, but can volt-switch to preserve momentum.
2. Attracts fire attacks that you can most likely see coming from a mile away, so he combos very well with Flash Fire users like Chandelure.

That said, I would agree that he is pretty outclassed by the likes of Excadrill and defoggers, so if volt switch doesn't sound like a good enough reason then there are probably better mons for a team slot.

If I use forretress on an OU team I always have this weird urge to put heatran on the team too.. o.o lol

 

[PenguinKnight]

If I use forretress on an OU team I always have this weird urge to put heatran on the team too.. o.o lol

I happen to like using Chandelure because he can completely wall Infernape's dual STABS
If Forry happens to drop to UU this generation, he will definitely become a good combination with Flash Fire Arcanine.

 

[Cutie Caitlyn]

I happen to like using Chandelure because he can completely wall Infernape's dual STABS
If Forry happens to drop to UU this generation, he will definitely become a good combination with Flash Fire Arcanine.

Chandelure's much faster and has higher Special Attack than Heatran, too. The only thing that worries me is Chandelure's typing have ghost, dark, water, ground, rock weaknesses compared to Heatran that only have Ground, fighting, and Water. Also, Chandelure's a lot more frail than Heatran.

 

[zomgitscathy]

Hi all, I'm new here, and I have a brief question. What about this moveset?

Item: Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy

Stealth Rock
Explosion
Toxic Spikes
Gyro Ball

I figure Forretress's bulk is a good way to get some entry hazards in, then commit suicide to inflict some damage. This is the custap lead set from the BW OU, but I recognize that the fact that there's no custap berry available in X and Y yet, and the presence of the fairy type may make this moveset useless. Is this a good combo for X and Y? If so, any suggestions on a nature and EV spread?

 

[zachmac]

I just want to get this out there, you do not want to use this guy on hazards stall. It has high defense, but it doesn't do much to support the team in a defensive sense, because it doesn't truly counter almost anything. It's much more effective to give all your hazards moves to different pokemon.

This guy has a nice niche on Volt Turn, though. They love hazard control, with all the swapping out caused, and Forretress can provide all the hazard support you need into one pokemon. This gives you more room for a complex Volt Turn core, since you won't have to worry about hazards anymore.

My point is, just don't use it in hazards stall. It's not good enough at anything else to really help.

 

[Parker.]

Volt Switch should be mandatory on any Forry set. Essentially giving a free switch in to anything on your team without losing a member is invaluable

 

[skies]

252 Atk Pure Power Medicham-Mega Fire Punch vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Forretress: 312-368 (88.1 - 103.9%) -- 25% chance to OHKO
Pure Power Medicham-Mega has only 25% chance to OHKO Forretress. You can use this advantage to Rapid Spin.

Erm, if you switch in with any hazards:

252 Atk Pure Power Mega Medicham Fire Punch vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Forretress: 312-368 (88.1 - 103.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 Atk Pure Power Mega Medicham Fire Punch vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Forretress: 312-368 (88.1 - 103.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO after 1 layer of Spikes

 

[November Blue]

As a defensive spinner, Forretress faces competition from Mega Scizor. Scizor has higher stats all around, Defog, and recovery in Roost. Unless I want Toxic Spikes or have a Mega already, I see little reason to use Forry.

Defog killed it, IMO.

 

[Mitchhhhhh]

As a defensive spinner, Forretress faces competition from Mega Scizor. Scizor has higher stats all around, Defog, and recovery in Roost. Unless I want Toxic Spikes or have a Mega already, I see little reason to use Forry.

Defog killed it, IMO.

Scizor can't set hazards and Defog removes your own hazards though, but yes usually it outclasses Forretress, it's definitely still viable however.

 

[alphatron]

Scizor doesn't outclass forretress because they're running different roles. Defog is infinitely inferior to rapid spin if you intend to use hazards yourself (and you probably are). It's also bad for dual screen users too. And using defog in this instance has the chance of costing you momentum if your defog user can't already lay hazards down on their own.

You know who does outclass forretress as a spinner though? Donphan. And that's saying a lot. There isn't a single spin blocker in the game whom forretress can beat. Donphan has access to earthquake for aegislash and a buffed knock off for the rest. And that earthquake is going to hurt moderately hard coming off of base 120 atk. Donphan is setup fodder for less pokemon too. Lucario, Aegislash again, and both of the megazard forms all make fun of you. But none of these pokemon can switch into donphan. Donphan has the typing to make somewhat good use of the assault vest while still being a decent spinner. Forretress...does not.

And Donphan isn't a great OU pokemon at all. To echo what was said before, volt switch should be mandatory on every forretress set. He shouldn't be doubling up on hazards because it's too hard for him to get that many free turns. He'll usually only ever have the option to use stealth rock or rapid spin hazards away before needing to get the hell out of there. And if you don't need him to spin right away, you can use him as a slow volt switcher that more or less gives you free switches into counters or checks that your opponent intended to use against you.

 

[Richitt]

Forretress' niche, imo, is a hazard setter that preserves momentum with a slow volt-switch and the ability to spin away hazards as well. He works so well on volt-turn teams. Mega-Scizor uses up a mega, which could have been used for Mega-Manectric instead, and he can't use hazards himself.

 

[Cutie Caitlyn]

Hi all, I'm new here, and I have a brief question. What about this moveset?

Item: Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy

Stealth Rock
Explosion
Toxic Spikes
Gyro Ball

I figure Forretress's bulk is a good way to get some entry hazards in, then commit suicide to inflict some damage. This is the custap lead set from the BW OU, but I recognize that the fact that there's no custap berry available in X and Y yet, and the presence of the fairy type may make this moveset useless. Is this a good combo for X and Y? If so, any suggestions on a nature and EV spread?

It's EV spread should be more on defenses to avoid OHKO(lol sturdy). so you may use:
252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def, 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SDef >>>> Use this spread if you want to focus on setting entry hazards.
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def >>>> Use this spread if you want to inflict more damage using explosion. ^^

 

[Cutie Caitlyn]

Erm, if you switch in with any hazards:

252 Atk Pure Power Mega Medicham Fire Punch vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Forretress: 312-368 (88.1 - 103.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 Atk Pure Power Mega Medicham Fire Punch vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Forretress: 312-368 (88.1 - 103.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO after 1 layer of Spikes

Yeah. Medicham-Mega's fire punch is really fatal to Forretress if there are entry hazards. Even Sturdy cannot save Forry from that. :(

 

[Cutie Caitlyn]

Scizor can't set hazards and Defog removes your own hazards though, but yes usually it outclasses Forretress, it's definitely still viable however.

It really outclasses Forretress this gen because of defog it's Bulk and it can be more bulky if it transformed into a mega. But, Remember that Scizor can be OHKO by Fire attacks. Forretress can survive, thanks to Sturdy.

 

[Cutie Caitlyn]

Volt Switch should be mandatory on any Forry set. Essentially giving a free switch in to anything on your team without losing a member is invaluable

It breaks Sturdy / Focus Sash though. then It will now be easy for your Sweeper to KO that pokemon.

 

[Mitchhhhhh]

It really outclasses Forretress this gen because of defog it's Bulk and it can be more bulky if it transformed into a mega. But, Remember that Scizor can be OHKO by Fire attacks. Forretress can survive, thanks to Sturdy.

Neither of them should stay in on fire moves anyway, the lack of custap berry + the buff to defog kinda make this set obsolete in 6th gen.

As for donphan outclassing forty, I disagree, forty has the better typing, and more supportive movepool most importantly a slow volt switch. Donphan of course has a much higher offensive presence and is a better spinner.