Landorus-Incarnate for
S Rank
Landorus @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Earth Power
- Focus Blast
- Sludge Wave / Psychic
- Gravity / Psychic / Knock Off / Rock Slide
Set Details: Standard special attacking set, taking full advantage of Sheer Force. Earth Power hits neutral targets hard when backed by STAB, Sheer Force and Life Orb. Focus Blast hits several important targets hard, and has generally decent coverage alongside Earth Power. Sludge Wave is vital on this set on Ground monotypes, as it will be the main weapon of choice used against Grass monotypes which Ground struggle with. However Psychic is also a good option here to help break through Mega Venusaur. The last slot is a matter of choice, with Gravity being the primary slash for how useful it is against Flying monotypes and predicted switchins such as Rotom formes. Knock Off and Rock Slide, while uncommon, both have their uses. Knock Off is great for hitting Lati@s and Eviolite users such as Chansey and Porygon2, who would otherwise be decent switchins. Be aware it doesn't get the Sheer Force boost though and will therefore incur LO recoil. Rock Slide is an option to hit Mega Charizard Y and Volcarona and also takes advantage of the Sheer Force boost. If using either of these moves, run a Naive nature and most the last 4 EVs to Attack. Always run max Speed and Special Attack.
Explanation: A great ability in tandem with good Special Attack and a fantastic movepool for it's role on Ground pushes Landorus into S Rank, as it gives Ground a lot of insurance against things that would otherwise trouble it. Access to a bone-shattering Earth Power breaks so many of the physical walls that tend to give Ground problems, and it's coverage and utility help in other difficult matchups, whether it be Sludge Wave and Psychic for tearing through Grass monotypes or Gravity for removing Flying types and Levitate users natural immunity to Ground and allowing Landorus and others to tear them apart with their powerful STAB moves mean that there is rarely a matchup in which Landorus doesn't make a telling contribution. Landorus' only drawback is the 4x weakness to Ice, a natural weakness for Ground, however it's powerful Focus Blast helps to remedy this.
Why S Rank? Unparalleled Special attacking prowess on Ground monotypes along with great coverage and a trolly Speed tier means Landorus is vital to Ground Monotype teams.
Excadrill for
S Rank
Excadrill (M) @ Life Orb / Air Balloon
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
IVs: 29 HP
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Rock Slide
- X-Scissor / Swords Dance / Rapid Spin
Set Details: Pure sweeper set, aiming to hit as many opponents as hard as possible. Excadrill hits hard with it's two powerful STAB moves, and Rock Slide rounds out the coverage. The last slot is a choice between slightly more coverage, a chance to set up and increase it's power or a more supportive option. X-Scissor hits certain Pokemon, largely levitating Psychic types such as Lati@s and is very useful against Psychic monotypes in general. Should you get a chance to set it up, Swords Dance can turn Excadrill into a true powerhouse, nothing will want to take a hit from it at +2. If running Swords Dance, Air Balloon is probably the better option for more set up opportunities. Finally Rapid Spin can be used if Hazard Removal is desired as nothing on Ground can remove them other than the outclassed Flygon. The EV spread is max Speed and Attack, standard for a Physical sweeper. Adamant as you outspeed pretty much everything anyway, the only reason to run Jolly would be to outrun Scarfed Greninja and other Excadrill, which isn't really worth it.
Explanation: One of the deadliest late-game sweepers available in Monotype, Excadrill can be simply impossible to handle thanks to it's great power coming off base 135 Attack and STAB Earthquake, and it's incredible speed under Sand. Even Choice Scarf users are powerless to stop it's rampage unless they have base 115+ Speed, an uncommon sight outside of Greninja.
Why S Rank? Arguably the greatest lategame sweeper in Monotype under sand and something every team has to prepare for, otherwise they will get 6-0'd by it. A top-tier threat.
Hippowdon for
S Rank
Hippowdon (M) @ Smooth Rock
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 25 Spe
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Slack Off
- Whirlwind / Toxic / Rock Slide
Set Details: Earthquake provides powerful STAB for Hippowdon and helps to wear down the Pokemon it walls. Stealth Rock is very useful on Hippowdon, as it has the bulk to set it up several times a game and it wears down opposing Pokemon and breaks sashes that could prevent your Pokemon sweeping. Slack Off provides the recovery that makes Hippowdon such a good physical wall. Whirlwind is useful to rack up hazards damage and phaze set-up sweepers before they become too threatening. Toxic can be useful to wear down opposing walls, and also dissuades opposing set-up sweepers. Rock Slide hits a few useful targets such as Volcarona and Charizard Y, and means Hippowdon isn't totally useless against Flying type and Levitating Pokemon.
Explanation: One of the Sturdiest Physical walls in the game with a great ability to boot, Hippowdon is a common sight on Ground Monotype teams, walling lots of deadly physical sweepers and providing Stealth Rock for the deadly sweepers of Ground. It does well in most matchups, but really struggles in Grass, Water and Ice matchups due to their natural type advantage and the fact these attacking types tend to be Special Attacking. The sand it brings is incredible support to the team, as while it only lasts for 8 turns, it provides great residual damage which can be ever so useful to cancel out leftovers recovery, add that little extra needed to guarantee a KO or break sashes or kill off sash leads without wasting a turn.
Why S Rank? Defines Physical walling almost as well as Skarmory does, it can take incredible punishment yet last through it all, providing support for it's team(notably Excadrill) in the form of sand and Stealth Rock.
Anttyaz done the first three, will do the others tonight or later this week
