[OVERVIEW]
Throh is a very unique Pokemon with fairly impressive bulk that allows it to pivot into weaker special attackers during a match. While Throh faces heavy competition from other popular Fighting-types such as Hariyama and Gurdurr, which sport higher Attack and Defense, respectively, Throh manages to create a niche for itself as an extremely bulky phazer with STAB Circle Throw. Throh also has a useful ability in Guts, which allows it to boost its Attack stat to decent levels when inflicted with status, making it a good status or Scald absorber for teams. Unfortunately, it is hard for Throh to utilize its potential without Spikes support, and Ghost-types like Rotom, Mismagius, and Gourgeist-XL completely shut down sets lacking Knock Off, which is a suboptimal move. If Throh has acquired no boosts and has no entry hazard support, it essentially has no means of generating any significant pressure. Additionally, boosts can often be challenging to accumulate, which makes Throh passive for a good portion of the battle. While Throh has impressive bulk, mono-Fighting typing doesn't offer many useful resistances, so teams will almost always require a secondary check to special attackers such as Mesprit, Jynx, and Charizard, which will always force it out. Throh's subpar defensive typing allows it to be 3HKOed by many of the tier's stronger special attackers such as Swellow and Magmortar, forcing Throh to rely on good Sleep Talk rolls to win one-on-one.
[SET]
name: Phazer
move 1: Circle Throw
move 2: Rest
move 3: Sleep Talk
move 4: Bulk Up / Knock Off
item: Leftovers
ability: Guts
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
When coupled with entry hazards, Circle Throw works well to phaze opposing Pokemon, forcing them to take more damage every time they enter the field, and potentially stop weaker setup sweepers from boosting. Rest is Throh's only means of recovery, giving it longevity during the match. Sleep Talk allows Throh to not be passive after using Rest with the added benefit that moves selected by Sleep Talk will get an Attack boost from Guts. Bulk Up boosts Throh's Attack and Defense to very high levels and makes it hard to take down after a single boost. Knock Off allows Throh to hit Ghost-types that would otherwise wall it while also hitting Psychic-types such as Mesprit, Xatu, and Musharna and is overall useful for removing opposing Pokemon's items early-game. The inability to boost, however, is very troubling for Throh, and oftentimes it's better to just run a Pursuit trapper to deal with Ghost- and Psychic-type Pokemon.
Set Details
========
Maximum HP and Special Defense investment with a Careful nature allows Throh to make the most of its special bulk and allows it to set up on weaker special sweepers or phaze them. Guts is the preferred ability, as it boosts Throh's Attack when it's inflicted with status and pairs well with Rest as Throh's sole way to restore its health. Leftovers is the item of choice, as it increases Throh's longevity over the course of a battle.
Usage Tips
========
Use Throh to pivot into weaker attackers such as Lanturn, Piloswine, and Steelix early- and mid-game, allowing Throh to phaze them, remove their item with Knock Off, or use them as setup fodder. Throh functions best in the later stages of a game after opposing Psychic-, Poison-, and Ghost-types have been removed or severely weakened, as setting up early-game will almost always result in Throh being revenge killed. Throh's early- and mid-game offensive presence is almost nonexistent, as all it can hope to do is phaze opposing Pokemon with weak Circle Throws or potentially remove their items with Knock Off. Ghost-types completely shut down Throh if it doesn't have Knock Off, so it should not set up before they are eliminated. Use Rest whenever Throh is at low HP, but still beware of mindlessly clicking Rest, as it forces Throh to rely on Sleep Talk, which is rather unreliable. Throh also receives an Attack boost by virtue of Guts when asleep, which is always beneficial.
Team Options
========
Spikes support works incredibly well alongside Throh and is almost mandatory when using it; Pokemon such as Garbodor, Omastar, Ferroseed, and Roselia are quality setters that can assist in Throh's attempt to effectively shuffle an opposing team. In particular, Omastar's resistance to Flying-type moves from Pokemon such as Archeops and Ferroseed's resistance to Psychic-type moves from Pokemon such as Mesprit are very useful for Throh. Pursuit trappers such as Skuntank, Liepard, and Choice Band Scyther are also some of the best partners for Throh, as they not only eliminate the Ghost-types that prevent Throh from sweeping, but can also can deal with Psychic-types that plague Throh. Ghost-types that can block Rapid Spin to keep Spikes up such as Rotom, Gourgeist-XL, and Mismagius are terrific partners as well. Lastly, bulky Ground- and Rock-type Pokemon such as Piloswine, Steelix, and Rhydon can combat Flying-types such as Scyther and Archeops that force Throh out while also providing Stealth Rock to aid Throh's phazing capability.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
===================
Offensive Bulk Up sets with Storm Throw / Knock Off / Zen Headbutt are solid in theory, as Throh's decent coverage allows it to break through traditional Fighting-type checks such as Garbodor and Vileplume; however, an offensive Bulk Up set is almost always outperformed by other Fighting-types such as Hitmonchan and Gurdurr, which are stronger and have access to Drain Punch and priority Mach Punch. A Choice Band set with Guts and a moveset consisting of Storm Throw / Knock Off / Zen Headbutt / Stone Edge transforms Throh from an annoying phazer into a walbreaker with perfect neutral coverage; however, they are outclassed by Hariyama, which is stronger and has access to multiple forms of priority.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types such as Mesprit, Musharna, and Xatu can threaten out Throh with their STAB moves while being able to switch in safely to any attack outside of Knock Off, which still will never OHKO them due to Throh's somewhat low Attack stat, especially when uninvested.
**Flying-types**: Flying-types such as Scyther, Charizard, and Vivillon threaten Throh with their STAB attacks and can switch into anything Throh can dish out outside of the very rare Stone Edge.
**Poison-types**: Poison-types such as Weezing, Garbodor, and Worry Seed Vileplume are very annoying for Throh to deal with, as they resist Circle Throw and take minimal damage from Knock Off. Weezing in particular is a hindrance, as it can use Taunt to prevent Throh from setting up with Bulk Up or healing itself with Rest.
**Offensive Pressure**: Throh is very reliant on Rest + Sleep Talk and is 3HKOed by many of NU's most powerful attackers such as Swellow, Tauros, and Aurorus; as such, Throh is very vulnerable to being overwhelmed by immense offensive pressure from an opposing team.
Throh is a very unique Pokemon with fairly impressive bulk that allows it to pivot into weaker special attackers during a match. While Throh faces heavy competition from other popular Fighting-types such as Hariyama and Gurdurr, which sport higher Attack and Defense, respectively, Throh manages to create a niche for itself as an extremely bulky phazer with STAB Circle Throw. Throh also has a useful ability in Guts, which allows it to boost its Attack stat to decent levels when inflicted with status, making it a good status or Scald absorber for teams. Unfortunately, it is hard for Throh to utilize its potential without Spikes support, and Ghost-types like Rotom, Mismagius, and Gourgeist-XL completely shut down sets lacking Knock Off, which is a suboptimal move. If Throh has acquired no boosts and has no entry hazard support, it essentially has no means of generating any significant pressure. Additionally, boosts can often be challenging to accumulate, which makes Throh passive for a good portion of the battle. While Throh has impressive bulk, mono-Fighting typing doesn't offer many useful resistances, so teams will almost always require a secondary check to special attackers such as Mesprit, Jynx, and Charizard, which will always force it out. Throh's subpar defensive typing allows it to be 3HKOed by many of the tier's stronger special attackers such as Swellow and Magmortar, forcing Throh to rely on good Sleep Talk rolls to win one-on-one.
[SET]
name: Phazer
move 1: Circle Throw
move 2: Rest
move 3: Sleep Talk
move 4: Bulk Up / Knock Off
item: Leftovers
ability: Guts
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
When coupled with entry hazards, Circle Throw works well to phaze opposing Pokemon, forcing them to take more damage every time they enter the field, and potentially stop weaker setup sweepers from boosting. Rest is Throh's only means of recovery, giving it longevity during the match. Sleep Talk allows Throh to not be passive after using Rest with the added benefit that moves selected by Sleep Talk will get an Attack boost from Guts. Bulk Up boosts Throh's Attack and Defense to very high levels and makes it hard to take down after a single boost. Knock Off allows Throh to hit Ghost-types that would otherwise wall it while also hitting Psychic-types such as Mesprit, Xatu, and Musharna and is overall useful for removing opposing Pokemon's items early-game. The inability to boost, however, is very troubling for Throh, and oftentimes it's better to just run a Pursuit trapper to deal with Ghost- and Psychic-type Pokemon.
Set Details
========
Maximum HP and Special Defense investment with a Careful nature allows Throh to make the most of its special bulk and allows it to set up on weaker special sweepers or phaze them. Guts is the preferred ability, as it boosts Throh's Attack when it's inflicted with status and pairs well with Rest as Throh's sole way to restore its health. Leftovers is the item of choice, as it increases Throh's longevity over the course of a battle.
Usage Tips
========
Use Throh to pivot into weaker attackers such as Lanturn, Piloswine, and Steelix early- and mid-game, allowing Throh to phaze them, remove their item with Knock Off, or use them as setup fodder. Throh functions best in the later stages of a game after opposing Psychic-, Poison-, and Ghost-types have been removed or severely weakened, as setting up early-game will almost always result in Throh being revenge killed. Throh's early- and mid-game offensive presence is almost nonexistent, as all it can hope to do is phaze opposing Pokemon with weak Circle Throws or potentially remove their items with Knock Off. Ghost-types completely shut down Throh if it doesn't have Knock Off, so it should not set up before they are eliminated. Use Rest whenever Throh is at low HP, but still beware of mindlessly clicking Rest, as it forces Throh to rely on Sleep Talk, which is rather unreliable. Throh also receives an Attack boost by virtue of Guts when asleep, which is always beneficial.
Team Options
========
Spikes support works incredibly well alongside Throh and is almost mandatory when using it; Pokemon such as Garbodor, Omastar, Ferroseed, and Roselia are quality setters that can assist in Throh's attempt to effectively shuffle an opposing team. In particular, Omastar's resistance to Flying-type moves from Pokemon such as Archeops and Ferroseed's resistance to Psychic-type moves from Pokemon such as Mesprit are very useful for Throh. Pursuit trappers such as Skuntank, Liepard, and Choice Band Scyther are also some of the best partners for Throh, as they not only eliminate the Ghost-types that prevent Throh from sweeping, but can also can deal with Psychic-types that plague Throh. Ghost-types that can block Rapid Spin to keep Spikes up such as Rotom, Gourgeist-XL, and Mismagius are terrific partners as well. Lastly, bulky Ground- and Rock-type Pokemon such as Piloswine, Steelix, and Rhydon can combat Flying-types such as Scyther and Archeops that force Throh out while also providing Stealth Rock to aid Throh's phazing capability.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
===================
Offensive Bulk Up sets with Storm Throw / Knock Off / Zen Headbutt are solid in theory, as Throh's decent coverage allows it to break through traditional Fighting-type checks such as Garbodor and Vileplume; however, an offensive Bulk Up set is almost always outperformed by other Fighting-types such as Hitmonchan and Gurdurr, which are stronger and have access to Drain Punch and priority Mach Punch. A Choice Band set with Guts and a moveset consisting of Storm Throw / Knock Off / Zen Headbutt / Stone Edge transforms Throh from an annoying phazer into a walbreaker with perfect neutral coverage; however, they are outclassed by Hariyama, which is stronger and has access to multiple forms of priority.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types such as Mesprit, Musharna, and Xatu can threaten out Throh with their STAB moves while being able to switch in safely to any attack outside of Knock Off, which still will never OHKO them due to Throh's somewhat low Attack stat, especially when uninvested.
**Flying-types**: Flying-types such as Scyther, Charizard, and Vivillon threaten Throh with their STAB attacks and can switch into anything Throh can dish out outside of the very rare Stone Edge.
**Poison-types**: Poison-types such as Weezing, Garbodor, and Worry Seed Vileplume are very annoying for Throh to deal with, as they resist Circle Throw and take minimal damage from Knock Off. Weezing in particular is a hindrance, as it can use Taunt to prevent Throh from setting up with Bulk Up or healing itself with Rest.
**Offensive Pressure**: Throh is very reliant on Rest + Sleep Talk and is 3HKOed by many of NU's most powerful attackers such as Swellow, Tauros, and Aurorus; as such, Throh is very vulnerable to being overwhelmed by immense offensive pressure from an opposing team.
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