Torterra [QC 1/3]

QC 1/3 (EonX)


[OVERVIEW]

  • Carves itself a niche in RU over Other grass types by having a secondary ground typing, giving it resistances to ground and rock and allowing it to check Scarfed Tyrantrum
  • Has Access to stealth rock, as well as good matchups against certain setters, such as Mega Steelix and Diance
  • Can run a solid rock polish or double dance set to sweep teams
  • High powered STAB moves and reliable recovery allow it to be threatening offensively and defensively
  • Has nasty weaknesses, including fire, flying, bug, and a very detrimental 4x weakness to ice. Unlike other grass types, it is neutral to water, weakening its matchup against the likes of blastoise and slowking
  • Has a Low speed stat
  • Has mediocre special bulk
  • Struggles with the potency of Delphox, Durant, Mega Abomasnow, and Fletchinder.

[SET]

Name: Tank
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Wood Hammer
move 4: Synthesis
item: Leftovers
ability: Shell Armor
nature: Adamant
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def

[SET COMMENTS]

Moves
========

  • Stealth Rock is an obligatory entry hazard that Torterra can put onto to field multiple times throughout the match
  • Earthquake is the main STAB move, Nailing most pokemon weak or neutral to it for solid damage. However, be weary about using it while the opponent has a flying type or pokemon with the ability levitate, such as Braviary or Eelektross
  • Wood Hammer is a secondary STAB that nails bulky waters Alomamola and Slowking for massive hit, albeit with a decent amount of recoil. Since it is more powerful that Earthquake, it can be used against neutral targets for a bit more power if the recoil isn't to worrisome
  • Synthesis restores Torterra's health, allowing it to set up stealth rock multiple times and recover off damage from attacks as well as wood hammer recoil
Set Details
========

  • Maximum attack allows Torterra to take full advantage of its good dual STAB combonation
  • Maximum HP allows it to take hits better
  • An adamant nature is used to hit harder, allowing it to be more threatening, securing the 2HKO on Diance without resorting to Wood Hammer
  • The Leftovers are useful for passive recovery, giving torterra notable longevity.
  • Shell Armor is chosen over Overgrow, as this torterra set is too slow to make use of it.
  • An alternate spread of 252 HP / 180 Atk / 76 Def is available to take 2 outrages afrom choice scarf tyrantrum after rocks, which can be crucial if torterra is your teams main answer to it.
Usage Tips
========

  • Bringing Torterra out early to set up rocks is a good idea.
  • Don't attempt to switch Torterra in to extremely powerful neutral attacks, such as choice specs meloetta's psychic or Exploud's boomburst
  • However, torterra is a very solid switchin to the likes of Mega Steelix, Non-Megahorn Rhyperior, an Choice scarf Tyrantrum
  • Due to its 4x weakness to ice, Torterra should not stay in against pokemon that commonly run ice-type coverage, such as Jolteon
Team Options
========

  • Sweepers that can take advantage of torterra's entry hazards as well as its ability to take on tyrantrum, such as Delphox and Fletchinder, make good teammates. Fletchinder can also take on Virizion, who can generally set up on Torterra.
  • On more defensively oriented teams, Bronzong can make a good teammate, taking ice attacks aimed at torterra and removing Mega Abomasnow.
  • Diance is another solid teammate, removing status from torterra and sponging Flying, Fire, and Bug type attacks, while torterra takes ground type ones
  • While this set is meant to tank, it can remove water, rock and steel types for teammates like accelgor, sneasel, and tyrantrum.
[SET]
name: Rock Polish
move 1: Rock Polish
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Wood Hammer
move 4: Stone Edge / Swords Dance
item: Life Orb
ability: Overgrow
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Moves
=======

  • Rock Polish doubles Torterra's speed, allowing it to outpace the entire unboosted metagame barring timid Accelgor as well as a few slower choice scarf users such as medicham.
  • Earthquake is a STAB that hits for solid power and doesn't cause recoil
  • Wood Hammer is a secondary STAB move that can smack bulky water types hard as well as generally hit pokemon with more power than earthquake
  • Stone edge is the primary choice in the last slot, hitting the flying and bug types that resist torterra's dual stab combination. This includes Siglyph, braviary, and Togetic.
  • If Torterra is being used on a team that struggles with stall, however, swords dance can be used to turn torterra into a powerful wallbreaker capable of doing severe damage to common walls.
Set Details
========

  • A jolly nature in necessary to outpace choice scarf users braviary and medicham.
  • Maximum EVs in speed allow it to outspeed as many threats as possible, while maximum investment in attack allows it to hit as hard as possible
  • Overgrow allows Torterra to nuke a foe with an extremely powerful wood hammer at low health, although between this and life orb recoil, Torterra will most likely faint
  • The life orb is chosen to bolster the power of all of torterra's moves and allows it to sweep more effectively
  • Another item, such as soft sand, miracle seed, or leftovers can be used, but torterra is generally going to use both of its STABs over the course of a sweep, making these inferior options for the most part
Usage Tips
=======

  • Bringing Torterra in late in the game after its checks have been weakened or Knocked Out is usually imperative
  • If it is apparent that Torterra has no chance of sweeping the opposing team, it can be used earlier in the game as a wallbreaker
  • Try to find setup opportunities against passive pokemon that have trouble hitting torterra for good damage, such as defensive diance and dugtrio. Pokémon that it can force out, such as qwilfish, can also give torterra ways to set up.
Team Options
========

  • Pokemon that can take on ice type attackers Mega Glalie, Abomasnow, and Sneasel are appreciated. Emboar, Delphox, and Hitmonlee can all perform this role well offensively, but bronzong is a reliable defensive answer that can set up stealth rock for Torterra.
  • Wallbreakers, such as Mega Camerupt, can break certian pokemon Torterra has trouble with like Bronzong and Tangrowth.
  • Spikes and Stealth rock setters can make Torterra's job much easier by softening up the opposing team for a potential torterra sweep. Pokemon like Qwilfish, Diance, and the aforementioned Mega Camerupt can all perform this task. For instance, torterra nets a near guaranteed ko on offensive venusaur with earthquake after stealth rock and a layer of spikes, and offensive spiritomb after rocks and 2 layers of spikes.
  • Torterra can acts as wallbreaker to pave the way for pokemon like tyrantrum, sneasel, and accelgor, removing troublesome rock, steel, and water types that they struggle with.
  • Finally, rock, steel, or electric types are needed to check Fletchling. Rotom, Diance, and Eelectross can do this as well as pressure Torterra's other checks like Sneasel and Tangrowth.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Wood Hammer
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Crunch / Bullet Seed
item: Choice Band
ability: Overgrow
nature: Adamant
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Moves
======

  • Wood Hammer is an extremely powerful STAB that has no immunities, allowing it to be spammed a bit more easily than Earthquake
  • Earthquake is another STAB move that still packs a punch and can nail things that would like to sponge a wood hammer, such as escavalier.
  • Stone edge smacks flying and bug types that resist Torterra's STAB moves, such as siglyph, golbat, and togetic
  • Crunch is the primary choice in the last slot, primarily to hit bronzong for a 2HKO.
  • If this isn't desired, bullet seed can be used to hit past substitutes and break focus sashes and sturdy.
Set Details
========

  • Maximum investment in attack and speed allows Torterra to hit as hard and fast as possible
  • An adamant nature is used over jolly, as the primary focus of this set is to hit things as hard as possible
  • The choice band is used to give a large boost to Torterra's attack without cutting into its bulk
  • Overgrow is used as an ability to smash something with a brutally hard Wood Hammer before fainting. However, shell armor can be used if you feel that torterra isn't getting use out of overgrow.
Usage Tips
========

  • Bring Torterra out early game to break holes in the opposing team to pave the way for late game sweepers, like fletchinder and sharpedo
  • This particular torterra set is quite prediction reliant, as grass and ground are individually commonly resisted types.
  • Although torterra is generally a good answer to bulky water types, make sure to scout them for ice beam and if possible, try not to switch torterra in on scald, as this set is heavily crippled by burns.
Team Options
========

  • This torterra set fits mostly on offense and bulky offense teams that can take advantage of its wallbreaking prowess
  • Late game sweepers Sharpedo, fletchinder, Choice Scarf Tyrantrum, and accelgor appreciate the pressure torterra can put on alomamola and Mega Steelix.
  • Entry hazard setters qwilfish, Mega Camerupt, Uxie, and diance can all assist Torterra in its endeavors to threaten opposing walls. After stealth rock and layer of spikes, torterra can OHKO max HP venusaur with earthquake.
  • Qwilfish and Uxie can also provide paralysis support to help torterra against fast pokemon that would otherwise outspeed it.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]

Other Options
=============

  • A fully defensive spread is possible, but is generally run better by fellow grass types Amoongus and Tangrowth.
  • Crunch can be used on the rock polish set to nail bronzong, but isn't good for much else.
  • Seed bomb is an option to not suffer recoil, but the power drop is very noticeable and generally isn't worth it.
  • Superpower can hit scrafty and other dark types for super effective damage, but the stat drops and the moveslot generally aren't worth it.
  • Torterra has access to dual screens, but pokemon like Uxie can do this better
  • Torterra can use curse to boost, but weaknesses to common attacking types hinder it in this regard.
Checks and Counters
===================

**Physical Walls**: While torterra may be able to break through some of these with swords dance, pokemon with very high amounts of physical bulk can wall it. Tangrowth and Weezing are the worst offenders of this, taking pitiful damage from torterra's STABs and coverage and retaliating by smashing it with a powerful attack or, in weezing's case, burning it. Other pokemon that resist torterra's STAB moves, such as Rotom-C and virizion, can KO torterra with prior damage.

**Ice Type Pokémon and Coverage**:Abomasnow, despite taking a large amount of damage from stone edge, can destroy tank torterra with blizzard and can dish out heavy damage to faster ones with ice shard. Maximum attack Abomasnow has a good chance to OHKO offensive Torterra after stealth rock with ice shard. Mega Glalie is a hard check to torterra as it OHKOs it with return, and if it is needed to revenge kill the rock polish variant at +2, it can deal about 80% to it with ice shard. Sneasel is in a similar boat, being a check that can still deal a large chunk to rock polish torterra with ice shard. Pokémon with ice beam or hidden power ice such as Jolteon or Samurott can usually OHKO Torterra.

**Fire Types**: Most fire types, while not being able to switch in, can OHKO Torterra with their STAB Moves or force it out. Choice scarf Delphox can even revenge kill Torterra at +2, while choice scarf manectric can do the same after stealth rock and LO recoil with overheat.

**Burns**: A burned torterra can do next to nothing to most moderately bulky foes. Burns can be inflicted by the likes of Weezing and Rotom-C

**Bug Types**: While not having the ability to switch in, Escavalier can take any one attack from torterra and OHKO it back with Megahorn, while Durant can OHKO it with X-Scissor. Choice Scarf Durant can even revenge kill a +2 torterra. Accelgor, while not outspeeding a +2 torterra, can still check all torterra sets, forcing it out or dismantling it with bug buzz.
 
Last edited:
Still working on this as I have been extremely busy as of late. Not ready for QC yet but feel free to comment on any glaring flaws you see.
 

EonX

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[Overview]

- Mention its access to reliable recovery and high BP STABs as other pros Torterra has

[Tank]

- Shell Armor should be the ability. Without Speed investment, Torterra will rarely get use out of Overgrow
- Note an alternate spread of 252 HP / 180 Atk / 76 Def for always living 2 Outrages from Scarf Tyrantrum after Rocks. Can be quite useful in a pinch, especially if Torterra is a team's main response to Tyrantrum
- This Torterra just loves switching into stuff like Rhyperior, Mega Steelix, and Scarf Tyrantrum. Note these as prime switch-in chances against top threats
- Mola is a pretty bad choice to take on Ice attacks for Torterra considering the main offender is Mega Abomasnow. Bronzong likes being able to run something like HP Fire or Protect over Rocks and beats most Ice-types more reliably.
- Even though this set is mainly designed to tank, it can remove key Rock-, Steel-, and Water-types without much trouble. Note that stuff like Tyrantrum, Sneasel, and Accelgor can exploit the removal of these kinds of Pokemon

[Rock Polish]

- Bronzong is a sturdier answer to Ice-types and can set Stealth Rock to weaken them quicker
- Any sweeper wants Spikes and Stealth Rock, so if you're going to mention it, show specific KOes Torterra gets that it would otherwise miss and be KOed / heavily damaged as a result. (such as Stealth Rock and a layer of Spikes giving Torterra a near-guaranteed OHKO on offensive Venusaur with EQ)
- You mention this set can be used as a wallbreaker, but give no team options for using the set in such a manner. Tyrantrum, Sneasel, and Accelgor enjoy not having to deal with the Rock-, Steel-, and Water-types this set swiftly eliminates.

[Choice Band]

- Add Shell Armor in Set Details. Overgrow is usually superior, but Torterra won't always get use out of it
- Note specifically that Stealth Rock and a layer of Spikes guarantees EQ always OHKOes max HP Venusaur
- Add Scarf Tyrantrum and LO Accelgor as cleaning options

[Other Options]

- Torterra's problem with Curse isn't really the special bulk. Remove that part. (keep the type weakness bit because that is the issue)

[Checks and Counters]

- Note that Scarf Manectric is nearly guaranteed to OHKO Torterra with Overheat after Rocks and 1 round of Life Orb recoil.

Implement the above changes Thatwackycruton and I'll look it back over to make sure nothing fell through the cracks.
 

EonX

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Two small things:

- Add Accelgor to Bug-types in C&C. (Can't outspeed +2 Torterra, but it hits on Torterra's weaker defensive side)
- The near-guaranteed OHKO on Rock Polish is against offensive Venusaur (which runs 0 HP) instead of Tank Venusaur (which uses max HP)

Looks fine otherwise, so: QC Approved 1/3
 
Might want to remove mentions of Mega-Abomasnow since it's banned now (more or less just replace with regular Abomasnow). Also, Torterra could run Toxic on one of the more defensive sets to catch a Tangrowth switching in.
 

EonX

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QC Rejected 3/3 echoing Spirit and DTC here. Mon has just gotten worse and worse with recent tier shifts. It's unfortunate. i really like Torterra :(

and yes, i know i approved it, but that was before unfort meta changes :(
 

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