Threw
cohiba
[OVERVIEW]
Gastrodon has access to many unique tools that combine to make it a viable defensive threat in the UnderUsed metagame. Its Water / Ground typing combined with an excellent ability in Storm Drain gives it a number of useful resistances and immunities, particularly making it an optimal Scald switch-in as well as a threat to VoltTurn cores. Because of its access to Recover, Gastrodon further distinguishes itself from other Curse users like Swampert and Snorlax, as the instantaneous recovery allows Gastrodon to heal damage without putting itself to sleep. This lets it function as a more utility-oriented Curse user whose purpose in setting up with Curse is less to sweep than to improve its ability to check physical attackers. However, while Gastrodon has impressive special bulk, it is extremely weak to status, and its mediocre physical bulk prevents it from countering numerous offensive threats without a couple of boosts. Unlike Swampert, it does not possess Stealth Rock or Roar and has little utility outside of its helpful immunities. These cons, along with the sheer number of effective defensive Water-types in the tier, make Gastrodon a very niche Pokemon in UnderUsed.
[SET]
name: Curse
move 1: Curse
move 2: Recover
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Scald
item: Leftovers
ability: Storm Drain
nature: Sassy
evs: 252 HP / 148 Def / 108 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Curse increases Gastrodon's offensive and defensive capabilities while only decreasing its already awful Speed. Recover boosts Gastrodon's longevity, allowing it to switch into powerful threats throughout a match and still survive for a potential late-game sweep. Earthquake is its most powerful STAB attack and deals massive damage once boosted; however, Gastrodon only has a mediocre base 83 Attack stat, so its damage output before boosting will be far from threatening. Scald prevents Gastrodon from being utterly useless before setting up and lends it some potential anti-offense utility by spreading burns. Ice Beam can be used in the last slot to hit Ground-immune Dragon-types, although Scald is largely the more reliable and useful move.
Set Details
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The given EVs and a Sassy nature provide Gastrodon with enough bulk to sponge hits from the tier's most threatening special attackers while maintaining sufficient physical bulk to avoid 2HKOs from the likes of Cobalion. The primary benchmark this spread meets is avoiding a 2HKO from Nidoqueen's Earth Power after Stealth Rock damage. 252 HP / 96 Def / 160 SpD is another viable spread that makes Gastrodon an even better answer to Alakazam, Nidoqueen, Mega Blastoise, and other powerful special attackers, although it leaves Gastrodon susceptible to 2HKOs from even relatively weak physical attackers such as Crobat and the aforementioned Cobalion. Leftovers gives Gastrodon passive recovery, which lets it heal even more HP in conjunction with Recover. Storm Drain is a large part of Gastrodon's niche, as it grants an extremely useful immunity to Water-type moves while boosting its Special Attack when hit by one.
Usage Tips
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Gastrodon sets up Curse on quite a few of the tier's special attackers and Water-types, especially Suicune and Gyarados, the latter of which it can stall out of Bounce PP barring any critical hits. However, Gastrodon is extremely weak before setting up and therefore cannot reliably be expected to check even physically frail threats that it hits super effectively with Earthquake, such as Lucario, which it has a low chance to OHKO. While its special bulk is nothing to scoff at, Gastrodon's pales in comparison to Snorlax's, so it is more vulnerable to being worn down by extremely powerful special attackers, especially if it's been Taunted. While Gastrodon's typing and ability allow it to switch into many attackers freely, be sure to keep it healthy, or it will struggle to check strong threats. Be especially wary of Toxic and Will-O-Wisp users, as they seriously cripple Gastrodon and make it much less threatening defensively. Should you intend to sweep with Gastrodon, it must be put off until it is late in the game and all the opposing team's Grass-types and especially powerful special attackers have been removed, as the former will always force it out and the latter are extremely effective revenge killers regardless of how many Curse boosts Gastrodon has managed to get off.
Team Options
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Gastrodon's greatest weakness is to Grass-types, so Pokemon that can repeatedly counter them, such as Zapdos and Mandibuzz, make for marvelous teammates. Entei is another option capable of pressuring Grass-types offensively and punishing switch-ins. Cleric support is vital, as Gastrodon is crippled by burns from Sacred Fire and Will-O-Wisp and devastated by Toxic; this makes Florges, which is also capable of switching into one of Gastrodon's greatest threats in Taunt Hydreigon as well as many of the tier's Grass-types, perhaps the single best partner for it. Toxic Spikes can wear down Gastrodon's checks without Gastrodon having to directly damage them, leaving it more free to set up and recover HP as needed; Roserade in particular has the best defensive synergy with Gastrodon. It is extremely important to pair Gastrodon with some form of entry hazard removal, since Toxic Spikes can and will wear it down, preventing it from checking the threats it should. Forretress is capable of countering most of the tier's Grass-types and removing only the opponent's hazards with Rapid Spin, but Crobat in particular has phenomenal defensive synergy with Gastrodon as well as access to Defog and Roost, which increases its longevity so that it can switch into Grass-types throughout a match.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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A physically defensive set with Clear Smog or Toxic is not unviable but is largely outclassed by more reliable defensive threats such as Milotic. This set should only be considered if Gastrodon's immunities are essential to a team's success. A maximum Special Attack Life Orb set with Scald, Earth Power, Ice Beam or Sludge Bomb, and Recover can be very threatening after a Storm Drain boost. Yawn can force Grass-types switching into Gastrodon back out before they can attack it, limiting a team's options of countering it. Mirror Coat can help Gastrodon deal with powerful special attackers that take little damage from both of its STAB attacks. Memento is an interesting option to potentially clear the way for a surprise sweep from the likes of Slurpuff and Cloyster, but it is unreliable and forces Gastrodon to forfeit a more consistently useful move.
Checks and Counters
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**Grass-types**: Every Grass-type in the tier except Whimsicott OHKOes Gastrodon with their 4x super effective STAB attacks, and only Roserade fears switching directly into either of Gastrodon's attacking moves.
**Status**: Paralysis is simply annoying rather than devastating, but no amount of recovery can prevent Gastrodon from being worn down if it is afflicted with Toxic poison, and burn is nearly as debilitating.
**Powerful Special Attackers**: Powerful special attackers that don't mind switching into Scald, such as Kyurem, can deal massive damage to Gastrodon, effectively revenge killing it or preventing it from setting up. Taunt Hydreigon in particular is a massive threat, as it can prevent Gastrodon from recovering and render it useless thanks to its typing and Levitate.
**Flying-types and Levitate Users**: Most Flying-types and Levitate users aren't terribly hindered by a Scald burn, so they often shut down the Curse set and must be removed before Gastrodon can attempt a sweep. That said, not all Flying-types are capable of simply stalling Gastrodon out, especially if they contract a Scald burn. Crobat and Zapdos lacking Hidden Power Grass are two prominent examples of Flying-types that Gastrodon can wear down and force to Roost, taking the opportunity to do massive damage with Earthquake.
**Grass-type Coverage and Lures**: Hidden Power Grass from Zapdos and Grass Knot from Empoleon are examples of coverage moves that seriously threaten Gastrodon. Something Gastrodon needs to be aware of but not necessarily afraid of is the occasional Freeze-Dry from Mamoswine, as it's a comfortable 2HKO.
Attachments
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