[OVERVIEW]
Regigigas carries utility moves such as Thunder Wave and Knock Off and has really high bulk, making it viable on balanced and bulky offense teams that need both utility and backup to deal with strong attackers. Unfortunately, Regigigas's main and most known flaw is its ability, Slow Start, as it halves its Speed and Attack for five turns, holding it back from being able to perform purely offensive sets. Regigigas's Normal typing also doesn't help at all with performing a defensively oriented set, as it doesn't give it any weaknesses or any resistances. The immunity to Ghost-types isn't that useful, as Misdreavus, the most common Ghost-type, usually carries Will-O-Wisp or Taunt, so it is able to reduce Regigigas's utility options and offensive presence. Regigigas's lack of recovery outside from Leftovers is yet another drawback, as it limits its switch-in opportunities and doesn't allow it to constantly check attackers. That also makes Regigigas really susceptible to entry hazards, especially Toxic Spikes, which make Regigigas's job as a wall even harder to accomplish.
[SET]
name: Tank
move 1: Return
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Thunder Wave
move 4: Drain Punch / Substitute
item: Leftovers
ability: Slow Start
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Return is Regigigas's strongest STAB move, providing decent neutral coverage. Knock Off provides both utility and coverage, allowing Regigigas to cripple foes, especially Eviolite users such as Clefairy and Roselia, and hit Psychic- and Ghost-types such as Duosion and Misdreavus for high damage. Thunder Wave enables Regigigas to support slow teammates such as Servine and Stoutland, and it can cripple most fast attackers and setup sweepers, such as Jumpluff and Regice. Drain Punch is used to give Regigigas a source of recovery and more coverage, as it allows Regigigas to hit Steel- and Rock-types, such as Probopass, Aurorus, and Pawniard, which resist Return and take little damage from Knock Off. Substitute can be set up against weak attackers and, along with Thunder Wave, allows Regigigas to stall out its Slow Start.
Set Details
========
252 HP EVs allow Regigigas to survive as long as possible and tank both physical and special attacks. Maximum investment into Attack along with an Adamant nature are used to deal as much damage as possible. Regigigas, depending on what the team needs, can run faster or bulkier spreads; 16 Speed EVs let it outpace neutral-natured base 70 Speed Pokemon, such as Poliwrath and Aurorus, while 72 Speed EVs allow it outspeed to base 45 Speed Pokemon such as Machoke. Leftovers gives Regigigas passive recovery and allows it to set up more than four consecutive Substitutes.
Usage Tips
========
Regigigas should be used as a utility-focused Pokemon rather than an attacker thanks to its high bulk along with its access to utility moves such as Knock Off and Thunder Wave. Regigigas should use Thunder Wave a lot early-game to cripple foes and let teammates find setup opportunities and open spaces for a sweep from the start, letting Regigigas get an early lead. After a foe gets paralyzed, Regigigas could set up Substitute and try to stall out Slow Start, but it still has to be wary about its HP not getting too low. Regigigas should be brought in against weak attackers that aren't able to break its Substitute, such as Stunfisk and Lickilicky, or against others such as Ninetales and Jumpluff to try paralyzing them with Thunder Wave. Regigigas should not be brought onto the field when Toxic Spikes are on its side or when it's against status users, such as Misdreavus, Tangela, and Hypno, as they can cripple Regigigas, limiting its switch-in opportunities and effectiveness as a wall. Clefairy can work as a backup for Poliwrath and Machoke, which are able to KO Regigigas with ease, but it should be wary about Knock Off from Machoke.
Team Options
========
Regigigas fits best on defensively oriented and bulky offense teams, as it can provide both utility to support teammates and a backup for strong attackers. Entry hazard removal provided by Defog and Rapid Spin users such as Pelipper and Armaldo is appreciated, as Regigigas doesn't carry any reliable recovery and struggles against entry hazards, especially Toxic Spikes. Roselia is a good partner for Regigigas, as it can set up Toxic Spikes, which works well along Substitute stalling, and it can put foes to sleep, which also helps with stalling Slow Start turns. Roselia is also able to absorb Toxic Spikes and check Fighting-types such as Poliwrath, which trouble Regigigas. Pokemon that can deal with other Fighting-types, such as Machoke, are good partners along with Regigigas, though most of them don't appreciate getting hit by Knock Off. Examples are Togetic, Clefairy, Tangela, and Gourgeist-XL. Fighting-types such as Poliwrath and Machoke, Ground-types such as Torterra, and bulky Water-types such as Carracosta are able to take on Steel- and Rock-types such as Pawniard and Probopass for Regigigas, which is important because Regigigas won't always run a coverage move to hit them. Regigigas suffers from status ailments such as burn and poison, so clerics such as Grumpig are decent along with it. Wish support from Pokemon such as Hypno and Lickilicky can help Regigigas make up for its lack of recovery and let it survive for longer during a game. Teammates that take advantage of Thunder Wave utility provided by Regigigas are good partners. Examples are slow sweepers and cleaners, such as Stoutland and Mightyena.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Choice Specs set can be used, as Regigigas's Special Attack isn't affected by Slow Start, and it has access to good coverage options such as Focus Blast and Thunderbolt, though other Choice Specs users such as Floatzel and Poliwrath are often preferred. Power-Up Punch can be used to squeeze in Attack boosts against weak attackers and make up a bit for Slow Start. Toxic can be used as an alternative to Thunder Wave, and it comes in handy to cripple bulky Pokemon that Regigigas can't get past, such as Pelipper and Gourgeist-XL. Headbutt can be used over Return to make the foe have a high chance of being immobilized along with Thunder Wave, stalling out Slow Start turns, though it's rather risky and Regigigas will lose some power.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Rock-types**: Rock-types, such as Barbaracle, Carracosta, and Armaldo, can all tank a few hits from Regigigas and can cripple it with Toxic, set up Stealth Rock, or use it as a setup fodder, even though most of them don't like getting hit by Thunder Wave or Knock Off.
**Fighting-types**: Machoke and Poliwrath can easily take down Regigigas with their STAB moves, while they take little damage from Return and can absorb Knock Off and Thunder Wave thanks to Rest, which also allows them to recover damage.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types such as Probopass, Pawniard, and Klang resist and take next to no damage from Regigigas's main STAB attack and can take advantage of it by setting up Stealth Rock or using Regigigas as a setup fodder, though most of them don't appreciate getting paralyzed or hit by Knock Off. Probopass and Pawniard also don't like getting hit by Drain Punch, which is doubly super effective against them.
**Residual Damage**: Entry hazards, especially Toxic Spikes, make Regigigas easy to wear down because of its lack of reliable recovery, while status ailments such as burn and paralysis cripple Regigigas and make it setup fodder for setup sweepers such as Torterra and Simipour.
Last edited:
