[OVERVIEW]
Gastrodon makes for a solid defensive Pokemon in UU, offering a unique set of positive attributes to teams. A great defensive typing in Water / Ground, lets Gastrodon take on popular threats such as Mega Manectric, Mega Aerodactyl, and Nihilego while only leaving it weak to Grass. Storm Drain also provides Gastrodon with an immunity to Water, allowing it to wall the STAB moves of Rotom-W and Volcanion. Unlike many of the top defensive Water-types in the tier such as Swampert, Tentacruel, and Empoleon, Gastrodon has access to reliable recovery. However, Gastrodon's stats are rather mediocre outside of its outstanding HP stat, leaving it less bulky, more passive, and slower than it would prefer. Its lackluster Defense stat in particular allows powerful physical attackers such as Heracross, Mamoswine, and Cobalion to potentially muscle past it. Gastrodon also finds itself extremely vulnerable to Toxic, effectively losing all longevity in a match if inflicted with it. Other Water / Ground types such as Swampert and Seismitoad present themselves as strong competition for slots on teams, offering Stealth Rock and better overall stats in exchange for reliable recovery.
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Scald
move 2: Earth Power
move 3: Recover
move 4: Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Storm Drain
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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STAB Scald possesses a decently high chance to burn and can cripple powerful physical attackers such as Scizor. Earth Power is a solid Ground-type STAB option, letting Gastrodon threaten Poison- and Steel-types like Nihilego and Cobalion more so than Scald. Earthquake can be used, but it is generally inferior to Earth Power due to Gastrodon often being used as a Rotom-W check, meaning it will often end up getting burned by Will-O-Wisp. Recover allows Gastrodon to remain at high amounts of HP throughout a match. Toxic lets Gastrodon pressure common switch-ins such as Hydreigon, Latias, and Mega Sceptile and whittle them down as a match progresses.
Set Details
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Maximum investment in HP and Defense along with a Bold nature makes Gastrodon as physically bulky as possible. Leftovers provides Gastrodon with passive recovery, offsetting the burn damage it commonly deals with. Storm Drain gives an immunity to Water attacks, letting Gastrodon effectively counter Rotom-W and match up well against Water-types as a whole.
Usage Tips
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Gastrodon is best used to spread Toxic early-game to potentially whittle down the Pokemon that threaten it. Recover should be used to remain at high amounts of HP throughout the match and rack up Toxic damage on inflicted foes. Gastrodon should be brought in on Volt Switch users such as Mega Manectric and Rotom-W that it effectively walls in order to halt the offensive momentum they hope to gain. Storm Drain lets Gastrodon pivot into bulky Water-types, but be wary of potential Toxic users such as Tentacruel, Empoleon, and Mantine, and scout around them accordingly.
Team Options
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Pokemon such as Infernape, Scizor, and Hydreigon pair well with Gastrodon, as they threaten the Grass-types that counter it. Mandibuzz makes for a great partner, countering Amoonguss with its Overcoat ability and providing a nice blanket check to special attackers as a whole. Heal Bell users such as Sylveon and Togekiss pair well with Gastrodon, as they can cure it of status conditions, most notably Toxic. The aforementioned Fairy-types also fare well against Dragon-types such as Mega Sceptile and Hydreigon, which heavily threaten Gastrodon. Fighting-types like Cobalion and Terrakion are much appreciated as they can break through special walls like Blissey that shrug off anything Gastrodon hopes to go for. Grounded Poison-types like Nihilego and Amoonguss can absorb Toxic Spikes upon entry, which severely hinder Gastrodon's longevity and defensive effectiveness. Gastrodon also appreciates entry hazard removers such as the aforementioned Mandibuzz and Togekiss, as they can alleviate the pressure placed upon it by Spikes.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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A Curse set with dual STAB moves and Recover is an option, but Gastrodon struggles to pressure any of its checks and counters and finds itself even more vulnerable to Toxic. Ice Beam hits Grass- and Dragon-types super effectively but is often less useful than Toxic. Another option is a more specially bulky set that can improve Gastrodon's matchup against Pokemon like Nidoking and Calm Mind Ghostium Z Raikou, though a physically defensive set is generally more useful.
Checks and Counters
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**Grass-types**: Amoonguss, Mega Abomasnow, and Celebi completely wall Gastrodon's STAB moves and threaten it out.
**Toxic**: Toxic from Pokemon such as Mantine and Empoleon completely neuters Gastrodon's longevity and ultimately prevents it from fulfilling its role on a team.
**Dragon-types**: Strong Dragon-types such as Mega Sceptile, Choice Specs Hydreigon, and Kyurem take little damage from either of Gastrodon's STAB moves and threaten it out, but they must be wary of Toxic.
**Blissey**: Blissey is not threatened by Gastrodon in the slightest and forces it out with Toxic.
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