[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Earth Power
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Scald / Recover
move 4: Protect / Recover
item: Sitrus Berry / Leftovers
ability: Storm Drain
nature: Modest / Quiet
evs: 204 HP / 140 Def / 100 SpA / 60 SpD
ivs: 27 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Earth Power is Gastrodon's most powerful STAB move. Ice Beam grants excellent super effective coverage and complements Earth Power well, as together, they hit almost every Pokemon at least neutrally. Scald provides a secondary STAB option and has a good chance to burn foes. Recover can be used either in place of or alongside Protect and increases Gastrodon's longevity. Protect shields Gastrodon, granting its partner a turn to react to the foes.
Set Details
========
Sitrus Berry is used to further increase Gastrodon's longevity and prevent a number of 2HKOs, such as from Terrakion's Close Combat. However, due to Item Clause, Leftovers is a good alternative if Sitrus Berry is held by another teammate, as Gastrodon's bulk grants it sufficient opportunities to rack up recovery. A Modest nature is chosen because it boosts Gastrodon's Special Attack, maximizing its damage output. Using a Quiet nature and 0 Speed IVs is an alternative that can help Gastrodon either function on or counter Trick Room teams, as its Speed is already very low. The given HP and Defense EVs prevent Gastrodon from being OHKOed by Adamant Mega Salamence's Double-Edge, the Special Attack EVs allow Gastrodon to OHKO 4 HP Mega Salamence with Ice Beam, and the remaining EVs are placed into Special Defense for added bulk. 27 Speed IVs are used to underspeed minimum Speed Aegislash and OHKO it after it has changed to Blade forme.
Usage Tips
========
Unlike more offensive variants, this Gastrodon can defend teammates with Storm Drain for extended periods. When not defending a teammate, however, unless aiming for a Scald burn, avoid staying in to use weak neutral attacks, as Gastrodon's damage output is fairly underwhelming. In fact, barring an excessive number of boosts, don't be overly concerned about losing boosts gained from Storm Drain if Gastrodon needs to switch out, as its damage output isn't too impressive regardless. Without Recover, Gastrodon is generally best kept in the back, ready to switch into predicted Water-type moves, and when using Recover, Gastrodon can work as a late-game wincon thanks to its bulk and lack of weaknesses.
Team Options
========
Gastrodon's Storm Drain protects Fire-types such as Heatran, Talonflame, and Blaziken from Water-type moves, and they can threaten the Grass-types that hit Gastrodon super effectively. In return, Gastrodon can KO Rock- and Ground-types that threaten Fire-types with its super effective STAB moves. Rock-types such as Tyranitar, Terrakion, and Aerodactyl are also protected from Water-type moves, and Gastrodon can also deal with Ground-types that threaten them. Ground-types such as Landorus-T, Excadrill, and Mega Camerupt, despite sharing a typing with Gastrodon, equally appreciate the protection from Water-type moves. Mega Camerupt is particularly notable, as it's 4x weak to Water. Physical attackers such as Mega Kangaskhan, Mega Salamence, and Mega Mawile appreciate being defended against Scald burns, and Gastrodon can also use Ice Beam against common Intimidate users such as Landorus-T and Salamence. Psychic-type Trick Room setters such as Cresselia, Gardevoir, and Gothitelle can set up the field condition for Gastrodon on Trick Room teams, and they can often threaten opposing Grass-types, as many of them have a secondary Poison typing.
name: Defensive
move 1: Earth Power
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Scald / Recover
move 4: Protect / Recover
item: Sitrus Berry / Leftovers
ability: Storm Drain
nature: Modest / Quiet
evs: 204 HP / 140 Def / 100 SpA / 60 SpD
ivs: 27 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Earth Power is Gastrodon's most powerful STAB move. Ice Beam grants excellent super effective coverage and complements Earth Power well, as together, they hit almost every Pokemon at least neutrally. Scald provides a secondary STAB option and has a good chance to burn foes. Recover can be used either in place of or alongside Protect and increases Gastrodon's longevity. Protect shields Gastrodon, granting its partner a turn to react to the foes.
Set Details
========
Sitrus Berry is used to further increase Gastrodon's longevity and prevent a number of 2HKOs, such as from Terrakion's Close Combat. However, due to Item Clause, Leftovers is a good alternative if Sitrus Berry is held by another teammate, as Gastrodon's bulk grants it sufficient opportunities to rack up recovery. A Modest nature is chosen because it boosts Gastrodon's Special Attack, maximizing its damage output. Using a Quiet nature and 0 Speed IVs is an alternative that can help Gastrodon either function on or counter Trick Room teams, as its Speed is already very low. The given HP and Defense EVs prevent Gastrodon from being OHKOed by Adamant Mega Salamence's Double-Edge, the Special Attack EVs allow Gastrodon to OHKO 4 HP Mega Salamence with Ice Beam, and the remaining EVs are placed into Special Defense for added bulk. 27 Speed IVs are used to underspeed minimum Speed Aegislash and OHKO it after it has changed to Blade forme.
Usage Tips
========
Unlike more offensive variants, this Gastrodon can defend teammates with Storm Drain for extended periods. When not defending a teammate, however, unless aiming for a Scald burn, avoid staying in to use weak neutral attacks, as Gastrodon's damage output is fairly underwhelming. In fact, barring an excessive number of boosts, don't be overly concerned about losing boosts gained from Storm Drain if Gastrodon needs to switch out, as its damage output isn't too impressive regardless. Without Recover, Gastrodon is generally best kept in the back, ready to switch into predicted Water-type moves, and when using Recover, Gastrodon can work as a late-game wincon thanks to its bulk and lack of weaknesses.
Team Options
========
Gastrodon's Storm Drain protects Fire-types such as Heatran, Talonflame, and Blaziken from Water-type moves, and they can threaten the Grass-types that hit Gastrodon super effectively. In return, Gastrodon can KO Rock- and Ground-types that threaten Fire-types with its super effective STAB moves. Rock-types such as Tyranitar, Terrakion, and Aerodactyl are also protected from Water-type moves, and Gastrodon can also deal with Ground-types that threaten them. Ground-types such as Landorus-T, Excadrill, and Mega Camerupt, despite sharing a typing with Gastrodon, equally appreciate the protection from Water-type moves. Mega Camerupt is particularly notable, as it's 4x weak to Water. Physical attackers such as Mega Kangaskhan, Mega Salamence, and Mega Mawile appreciate being defended against Scald burns, and Gastrodon can also use Ice Beam against common Intimidate users such as Landorus-T and Salamence. Psychic-type Trick Room setters such as Cresselia, Gardevoir, and Gothitelle can set up the field condition for Gastrodon on Trick Room teams, and they can often threaten opposing Grass-types, as many of them have a secondary Poison typing.
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