QC: Colonel M / Gary / Hootie
GP: Kris / Fireflame479
[OVERVIEW]
Tangrowth is one of the best pivots in the OU metagame with its great defensive typing in Grass, which allows it to check a number of threats such as Ash-Greninja, Zygarde, and Tapu Koko. It can perform as a great wall both physically with its Rocky Helmet set to deal with Pokemon like Mega Metagross, as well as specially with an Assault Vest, which is required for surviving hits from Pokemon like Ash-Greninja. Tangrowth is able to fill these roles well due to Regenerator, allowing it to heal off passive damage while switching, retaining momentum for its teammates while still being able to repeatedly switch into the threats that it needs to check. Despite its general lack of power, Tangrowth has great utility moves such as Knock Off and coverage moves such as Earthquake for Heatran, Hidden Power Ice for Zygarde and Landorus-T, and Hidden Power Fire for Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor. However, Tangrowth is relatively passive and relies on its super effective coverage to be a threat, and the Assault Vest set is prone to Knock Off, which means that it has a much harder time switching into the threats that it needs to check if it loses its Assault Vest.
[SET]
name: Assault Vest
move 1: Giga Drain
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Fire
move 4: Earthquake
item: Assault Vest
ability: Regenerator
nature: Sassy
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Giga Drain is a reliable STAB move that allows Tangrowth to combat the Water-types that it is meant to check. Leaf Storm is a more damaging alternative that notably OHKOes Manaphy after Stealth Rock damage, which is useful if Tangrowth's team is weak to it; this comes with the drawback of dropping its Special Attack, which can force Tangrowth out in situations where it might want to stay in. Knock Off is Tangrowth's most useful utility move on this set, removing items and weakening foes for its teammates to take advantage of. Hidden Power Ice allows Tangrowth to weaken Zygarde, Landorus-T, and Garchomp, which can otherwise set up on Tangrowth. Hidden Power Fire is mainly used to hit Ferrothorn, which takes the rest of Tangrowth's moves with ease, and it also hits Mega Scizor; however, be wary, as Mega Scizor can threaten Tangrowth with U-turn. Earthquake hits Heatran and other Steel-types like Magearna and Mega Metagross to weaken them for a partner to take advantage of. Other moves include Sludge Bomb, which can be useful to take care of Tapu Bulu and Tapu Koko and can also come in handy against opposing Tangrowth; the poison chance can weaken it, and Sludge Bomb can do significant damage if their own Assault Vest has already been removed with Knock Off. Rock Slide is an option that takes out Mega Charizard Y and Volcarona on the switch, but it is difficult to fit.
Set Details
========
Maximum HP and Special Defense investment and an Assault Vest allow Tangrowth to take advantage of its great defensive typing to better check the likes of Tapu Koko and Greninja. Regenerator is necessary, as it allows Tangrowth to switch out and recover one-third of its HP, negating a great amount of damage that it might take while in battle. A Sassy nature is used, since Tangrowth's Speed is very low, and it is best to boost Tangrowth's Special Defense without harming any of its damage output. However, a Relaxed nature still gives Tangrowth solid special bulk while allowing it to better take hits from physical attackers such as Zygarde and Garchomp.
Usage Tips
========
It is best to use Tangrowth's great bulk and wide set of resistances by switching it directly into the threats that it checks such as Tapu Koko, Keldeo, Manaphy, and Ash-Greninja; however, be careful when playing around Ash-Greninja, as it can put Tangrowth into a potential 2HKO range with either Ice Beam or Dark Pulse after Stealth Rock damage if Tangrowth is weakened. Due to Regenerator, Tangrowth can pivot into threats that can still hurt it and pivot back out to scout out what type of set the foe has. Knock Off in most cases is the safest move to throw out, as it can scout for items and potential Z-Crystals on the opposing team while weakening foes that rely on their items. Tangrowth can use its super effective coverage to weaken foes like Zygarde if it carries Hidden Power Ice and Ferrothorn if it has Hidden Power Fire. In most other cases, Giga Drain is relatively safe and allows Tangrowth to heal back even more health in conjunction with Regenerator to keep it as healthy as possible. However, be wary of foes that tend to run Knock Off, such as opposing Tangrowth, as they can severely limit Tangrowth's ability to check the threats that it needs to; for example, an itemless Tangrowth can get 2HKOed by non-transformed Greninja with Choice Specs Dark Pulse after Stealth Rock.
Team Options
========
This set is best on bulky offense and balance teams that require a strong pivotal check to Water-, Grass-, and Electric-type threats. Alolan Marowak is threatened by Water-types like Ash-Greninja and partners well with Tangrowth, as Alolan Marowak can perform as a wallbreaker to weaken threats for it, and Alolan Marowak can set up Stealth Rock as well. Toxapex can set up Toxic Spikes, and it also appreciates this set's ability to check Tapu Koko, Zygarde, Garchomp, and Extrasensory Greninja for it; Toxapex can also handle the Fire-type threats that Tangrowth has difficulty taking on itself and forms a Regenerator core with Tangrowth. Heatran is a very good partner for Tangrowth, as it is able to set up Stealth Rock to help Tangrowth wear down the opposing team easily. Heatran can also handle Steel- and Grass-types such as Celesteela and Mega Venusaur, as they take very little from Tangrowth's coverage options, and it appreciates Tangrowth's ability to check Ground-types like Zygarde for it, as Zygarde is forced to use Outrage against Tangrowth if it has the move, which Heatran can then switch into. Mega Scizor is a strong answer to Mega Metagross, which this set has difficulty with. Mega Scizor can even clear entry hazards with Defog, which is useful against threats like Spikes Greninja and Ash-Greninja that appreciate Spikes to take advantage of the constant switching that Tangrowth does. Ground-types like Zygarde, Landorus-T, and Garchomp also pair well with Tangrowth; they appreciate Tangrowth's ability to check Water-types for them and can even weaken Fire-types like Heatran, Mega Charizard X, and Mega Charizard Y. Entry hazard control is a good idea to run with Tangrowth, as it can get easily worn down by Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Toxic Spikes, which, even with Regenerator, can cause trouble for Tangrowth when it switches into the threats that it checks. Zapdos is a good teammate, as it likes Tangrowth's ability to take care of various special attackers for it, and it can check the likes of Mega Pinsir for Tangrowth in return. Tapu Fini is also a good partner due to the great type synergy that it has with Tangrowth, and Tapu Fini can clear entry hazards.
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Giga Drain
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Sleep Powder
move 4: Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Fire
item: Rocky Helmet
ability: Regenerator
nature: Relaxed
evs: 248 HP / 212 Def / 48 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Giga Drain is Tangrowth's STAB move that it can use to recover from the residual damage that it has taken to augment its Regenerator recovery. Knock Off provides great utility in allowing Tangrowth to cripple its checks by removing their items or potentially scouting for Z-Crystals. Sleep Powder allows Tangrowth to incapacitate a threat on the opponent's team, which is valuable to stop them from laying down entry hazards or setting up on it. Hidden Power Ice allows Tangrowth to hit Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Zygarde to prevent them from setting up on it. Hidden Power Fire provides great utility in hitting Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor, which resist Giga Drain and take very little from Knock Off. Earthquake can be used to hit Heatran, Magearna, and Mega Metagross super effectively, although Tangrowth gets better use from the coverage provided by a Hidden Power and its utility moves. Leech Seed is an alternative to Sleep Powder, and it allows Tangrowth to weaken foes by draining away their health.
Set Details
========
The HP and Special Defense EVs allow Tangrowth to survive two Zap Plate-boosted Thunderbolts from Tapu Koko at full HP; more Special Defense can be added to better handle Tapu Koko, although this comes at the cost of Tangrowth's physical bulk, which it needs to combat the likes of Mega Metagross. The Defense investment with a Relaxed nature also allows Tangrowth to avoid the 2HKO from Mega Metagross's Ice Punch after Stealth Rock damage, which is nice, given that this set is mainly meant to check it. Rocky Helmet is the preferred item to allow Tangrowth to better check the variety of physical attackers in the tier. Leftovers is usable over Rocky Helmet, but this makes Tangrowth less able to wear down opposing physical attackers, and the recovery provided by Regenerator is usually enough to sustain Tangrowth. Regenerator is the ability of choice in order to pivot in and out of physical attackers and regain health lost in the process.
Usage Tips
========
This Tangrowth set is primarily used to check numerous physical attackers in the tier such as Zygarde and Mega Metagross and should be used to switch directly into these threats. Due to this set's poor special bulk, switching into special attackers is not advised unless you are sure that Tangrowth can take the hit, such as against Zap Plate Tapu Koko, which does not 2HKO this set from full HP with Thunderbolt. Sleep Powder should be used on a predicted switch into a threat that you wish to incapacitate; this can also be taken advantage of by predicting the threat that the opponent wishes to use as sleep fodder by using Knock Off or switching into a teammate that can take advantage of the designated sleep fodder. Tangrowth can make use of its super effective coverage to damage its foes, but most of the time, Giga Drain and Knock Off are relatively safe moves to throw out, especially since Knock Off can let Tangrowth scout for items and pivot more easily.
Team Options
========
This set appreciates teammates that can deal with the strong special attackers in the tier that it cannot check due to the lack of special bulk. Toxapex is a good example, as it handles non-Extrasensory Greninja and Ash-Greninja; Toxapex also provides Toxic Spikes support and can even deal with Heatran. Celesteela can deal with a number of special attackers like Tapu Lele and Greninja, and it appreciates Tangrowth's ability to check Zygarde for it, which can deal great damage to Celesteela with a Choice Band or Dragon Dance set. Heatran can set up Stealth Rock for Tangrowth and can also check opposing Grass-types like Mega Venusaur and Amoonguss, which can serve as great threats to Tangrowth. Tornadus-T can serve as another great partner, as it can check special attackers with its own Assault Vest set while Tangrowth checks the physical attackers that check Assault Vest Tornadus-T like Mega Metagross, and the two form a Regenerator core, which allows them to pivot between each other with ease. Entry hazard removers are good teammates to make sure that Tangrowth is not put into 2HKO range by the attackers that it checks in addition to damage that is not healed off completely by Regenerator; Zapdos is a great example, as it can also check Mega Pinsir and Supersonic Skystrike Celesteela, two big threats to Tangrowth.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Toxic lets Tangrowth wear down a variety of its checks better on the physically defensive set; this is best paired with Hidden Power Fire to deter Steel-types like Ferrothorn from switching in on Toxic. Focus Blast has good coverage and allows Tangrowth to hit Ferrothorn and Heatran in one slot, but the low accuracy and PP of the move may make this less desirable than its other moves.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Mega Venusaur**: The strongest counter to Tangrowth, Mega Venusaur takes very little damage from all of Tangrowth's coverage options, STAB moves, and Knock Off and in return can take out Tangrowth with a STAB Sludge Bomb.
**Flying-types**: Tornadus-T, Mega Pinsir, and Celesteela all have the ability to break past Tangrowth due to their super effective STAB moves and do not really fear either set; Tornadus-T can use Hurricane, Mega Pinsir threatens both sets with Aerilate-boosted Returns, and Supersonic Skystrike Celesteela can break past both Tangrowth sets with ease.
**Fire-types**: Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, Volcarona, and Heatran resist Tangrowth's Grass-type STAB moves and threaten it with super effective Fire-type STAB moves of their own; Heatran must watch out for Earthquake, and Mega Charizard Y and Volcarona must watch out for Rock Slide, however.
**Steel-types**: Ferrothorn, Mega Scizor, Heatran, and Celesteela must all watch out for the appropriate coverage move such as Hidden Power Fire or Earthquake, but otherwise, they do not fear Tangrowth much and can lay down entry hazards, and in Mega Scizor's case, set up and remove entry hazards, if Tangrowth lacks Hidden Power Fire.
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