[OVERVIEW]
Gastrodon is an indispensable Ground-type for a large amount of teams in the metagame thanks to its typing, bulk, and ability letting it fit onto more defensive playstyles that need it to reliably answer many important threats such as Dragapult, Heatran, Tapu Koko, Zapdos, and many more. Storm Drain allows it to wall foes that other Ground-types would dare not approach such as Volcanion and Tapu Fini as well as letting it absorb Scald from defensive Pokemon like Toxapex and Galarian Slowking. Sticky Hold also has use in letting Gastrodon retain its item against Trick and Knock Off users like Blacephalon, Clefable, and Toxapex. Despite its middling attacking stats, Gastrodon's combination of Scald, Toxic, and Ground-type STAB moves make it very difficult to switch into for many teams that lack a Pokemon such as Blissey or Clefable, though it still faces issues with its passivity at times. Unfortunately, Gastrodon faces stiff competition from the other Ground-types in the metagame such as Landorus-T and Garchomp, but mainly Hippowdon, which is another Ground-type option on the more defensively-oriented teams Gastrodon often finds itself on that provides extra utility such as Stealth Rock and sandstorm as well as higher physical bulk to take one foes like Tyranitar and Blaziken. Gastrodon can also find itself stretched thin when taking on the defensive duties of both a Ground- and Water-type, causing it to struggle because it can't check foes such as Urshifu-S and Weavile that most bulky Water-types are tasked with answering. But with the right support, the Sinnohian sea slug can be a defensive cornerstone like it was for many children in the late aughts with its valuable combination of traits for a Ground-type in the tier.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Scald
move 2: Earth Power / Earthquake
move 3: Toxic / Clear Smog / Protect
move 4: Recover
item: Leftovers / Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Storm Drain / Sticky Hold
nature: Calm / Sassy
evs: 252 HP / 48 Def / 208 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Scald's burn chance makes Gastrodon particularly difficult to switch into barring foes like Clefable, as physical attackers such as Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Weavile do not want to contend with the reduced damage output, whereas special attackers and bulky foes would rather avoid the extra chip damage. Earth Power is the preferred Ground-type move, letting Gastrodon threaten Bulk Up Zeroara reliably as well as Melmetal. It is also unaffected by Grassy Terrain and benefits from potential Special Attack boosts from Storm Drain. However, Earthquake can be run with a Sassy nature in order to threaten more damage against the likes of Galarian Slowking, Calm Mind Tapu Koko, and specially defensive Heatran. Toxic puts foes such as Zapdos, Slowbro, and opposing Gastrodon on a timer, while Clear Smog instantly eliminates stat boosts from the likes of Calm Mind Clefable, non-Substitute Calm Mind Tapu Fini, and Calm Mind Reuniclus. Protect can instead be chosen to scout Choice-locks from the likes of Dragapult and Tapu Lele while also letting Gastrodon receive more Leftovers recovery. Leftovers gives Gastrodon passive recovery, letting it shrug off attacks more easily, whereas Heavy-Duty Boots lets it ignore entry hazards, namely Spikes, that would cut into its longevity. Storm Drain is the preferred ability, as the Water immunity it provides allows Gastrodon to answer foes that other Ground-types would rather avoid such as Volcanion, Tapu Fini, and Rotom-Wash. However, Sticky Hold can be run in order to block foes such as Blacephalon, Tapu Fini, Clefable, and Galarian Slowking from crippling Gastrodon with Trick, either with a Choice item, Sticky Barb, or Black Sludge. It also prevents Knock Off from removing Gastrodon's item, though the additional damage from the move still remains. 48 Defense EVs allow Gastrodon to survive a Choice Specs-boosted Psyshock from Modest Tapu Lele from full HP while in Psychic Terrain.
Team Options
========
Checks to Grass-types such as Rillaboom and Kartana are absolutely essential alongside Gastrodon; Flying-types like Tornadus-T, Corviknight, and Zapdos are prime examples of such partners. They can also provide entry hazard removal with Defog so that Gastrodon can run Leftovers more freely. Skarmory and Buzzwole are also worth mentioning, as they provide a sturdy physical counterpart to Gastrodon as well as hazard support for the former and wallbreaking potential with the latter. In return, Gastrodon can answer Electric-types and special attackers that would threaten them like Tapu Koko, Zapdos, and Heatran. Some special and mixed attackers like Tapu Lele and Arctozolt can still threaten Gastrodon; Steel-types like Heatran, Ferrothorn, and Melmetal can handle these foes for it, with the former two also setting up hazards for Gastrodon's team to make progress. Rillaboom provides Grassy Terrain support for Gastrodon, which can bolster the recovery of Leftovers variants even further or give Heavy-Duty Boots sets the passive healing they would otherwise miss out on. Cleric support from the likes of Clefable and Blissey can help Gastrodon more easily withstand foes that may attempt to cripple it with Toxic such as Heatran and Zapdos. Additional Water-type teammates such as Slowbro, Slowking, and Toxapex can check physically-oriented Water-type threats such as Urshifu-R and Barraskewda as well as provide extra insurance against Nature Power Heatran. Dragonite can also check the aforementioned threats for Gastrodon, and it can provide support with Defog and Heal Bell.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Substitute can be used on fatter team structures to protect Gastrodon from Future Sight + wallbreaker combinations by setting it up against Future Sight users such as Slowbro and Galarian Slowking. It also allows Gastrodon to avoid status such as Toxic and Will-O-Wisp. Counter and Mirror Coat let Gastrodon punish direct attacks with a surprise burst of damage, letting it snag unexpected KOs. Yawn can force uncomfortable situations, forcing the opposing Pokemon to either swap out or be put to sleep. However, these options come at the cost of valuable utility such as Toxic or Clear Smog.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Offensive Grass-types such as Rillaboom and Kartana can cleanly OHKO Gastrodon with their STAB moves, use it as setup fodder, or use Knock Off against one of Gastrodon's teammates as it switches out. Ferrothorn also poses an issue for Gastrodon, as it can use Gastrodon as an opportunity to set up entry hazards, either Stealth Rock or Spikes, and wear it down with Leech Seed; it cannot immediately threaten Gastrodon if it is not running Power Whip, however.
**Status Conditions**: Many Pokemon that Gastrodon is tasked with checking, such as Heatran, Zapdos, and Tapu Koko, can opt to run Toxic in order to cripple it and dig into its longevity, making it more difficult for Gastrodon to stay on the field for long periods of time. Will-O-Wisp from Rotom-Wash and Heatran can also be troublesome; although it isn't as crippling as Toxic, it can annoy Earthquake variants of Gastrodon by reducing the move's damage.
**Physical Attackers**: Gastrodon's subpar physical bulk means it is vulnerable to strong attackers such as Urshifu-R, Tyranitar, Garchomp, Weavile, and more. The aforementioned Urshifu-R, Barraskewda, and Crawdaunt are particularly noteworthy, as they are Water-types that Gastrodon cannot reliably answer.
**Tapu Lele**: Tapu Lele's access to Psyshock and sheer strength give it the ability to muscle past Gastrodon, especially when wielding Choice Specs as its item. It can also set up Future Sight for a partner to take advantage of to truly threaten Gastrodon.
**Freeze-Dry**: Freeze-Dry users such as Arctozolt and Alolan Ninetales threaten to cleanly 2HKO Gastrodon despite its solid special bulk and defensive profile against the rest of their moves.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/igiveuponaname.593115/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/slowpoke-fan.617219/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tysonslayer.349443/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/
Gastrodon is an indispensable Ground-type for a large amount of teams in the metagame thanks to its typing, bulk, and ability letting it fit onto more defensive playstyles that need it to reliably answer many important threats such as Dragapult, Heatran, Tapu Koko, Zapdos, and many more. Storm Drain allows it to wall foes that other Ground-types would dare not approach such as Volcanion and Tapu Fini as well as letting it absorb Scald from defensive Pokemon like Toxapex and Galarian Slowking. Sticky Hold also has use in letting Gastrodon retain its item against Trick and Knock Off users like Blacephalon, Clefable, and Toxapex. Despite its middling attacking stats, Gastrodon's combination of Scald, Toxic, and Ground-type STAB moves make it very difficult to switch into for many teams that lack a Pokemon such as Blissey or Clefable, though it still faces issues with its passivity at times. Unfortunately, Gastrodon faces stiff competition from the other Ground-types in the metagame such as Landorus-T and Garchomp, but mainly Hippowdon, which is another Ground-type option on the more defensively-oriented teams Gastrodon often finds itself on that provides extra utility such as Stealth Rock and sandstorm as well as higher physical bulk to take one foes like Tyranitar and Blaziken. Gastrodon can also find itself stretched thin when taking on the defensive duties of both a Ground- and Water-type, causing it to struggle because it can't check foes such as Urshifu-S and Weavile that most bulky Water-types are tasked with answering. But with the right support, the Sinnohian sea slug can be a defensive cornerstone like it was for many children in the late aughts with its valuable combination of traits for a Ground-type in the tier.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Scald
move 2: Earth Power / Earthquake
move 3: Toxic / Clear Smog / Protect
move 4: Recover
item: Leftovers / Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Storm Drain / Sticky Hold
nature: Calm / Sassy
evs: 252 HP / 48 Def / 208 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Scald's burn chance makes Gastrodon particularly difficult to switch into barring foes like Clefable, as physical attackers such as Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Weavile do not want to contend with the reduced damage output, whereas special attackers and bulky foes would rather avoid the extra chip damage. Earth Power is the preferred Ground-type move, letting Gastrodon threaten Bulk Up Zeroara reliably as well as Melmetal. It is also unaffected by Grassy Terrain and benefits from potential Special Attack boosts from Storm Drain. However, Earthquake can be run with a Sassy nature in order to threaten more damage against the likes of Galarian Slowking, Calm Mind Tapu Koko, and specially defensive Heatran. Toxic puts foes such as Zapdos, Slowbro, and opposing Gastrodon on a timer, while Clear Smog instantly eliminates stat boosts from the likes of Calm Mind Clefable, non-Substitute Calm Mind Tapu Fini, and Calm Mind Reuniclus. Protect can instead be chosen to scout Choice-locks from the likes of Dragapult and Tapu Lele while also letting Gastrodon receive more Leftovers recovery. Leftovers gives Gastrodon passive recovery, letting it shrug off attacks more easily, whereas Heavy-Duty Boots lets it ignore entry hazards, namely Spikes, that would cut into its longevity. Storm Drain is the preferred ability, as the Water immunity it provides allows Gastrodon to answer foes that other Ground-types would rather avoid such as Volcanion, Tapu Fini, and Rotom-Wash. However, Sticky Hold can be run in order to block foes such as Blacephalon, Tapu Fini, Clefable, and Galarian Slowking from crippling Gastrodon with Trick, either with a Choice item, Sticky Barb, or Black Sludge. It also prevents Knock Off from removing Gastrodon's item, though the additional damage from the move still remains. 48 Defense EVs allow Gastrodon to survive a Choice Specs-boosted Psyshock from Modest Tapu Lele from full HP while in Psychic Terrain.
Team Options
========
Checks to Grass-types such as Rillaboom and Kartana are absolutely essential alongside Gastrodon; Flying-types like Tornadus-T, Corviknight, and Zapdos are prime examples of such partners. They can also provide entry hazard removal with Defog so that Gastrodon can run Leftovers more freely. Skarmory and Buzzwole are also worth mentioning, as they provide a sturdy physical counterpart to Gastrodon as well as hazard support for the former and wallbreaking potential with the latter. In return, Gastrodon can answer Electric-types and special attackers that would threaten them like Tapu Koko, Zapdos, and Heatran. Some special and mixed attackers like Tapu Lele and Arctozolt can still threaten Gastrodon; Steel-types like Heatran, Ferrothorn, and Melmetal can handle these foes for it, with the former two also setting up hazards for Gastrodon's team to make progress. Rillaboom provides Grassy Terrain support for Gastrodon, which can bolster the recovery of Leftovers variants even further or give Heavy-Duty Boots sets the passive healing they would otherwise miss out on. Cleric support from the likes of Clefable and Blissey can help Gastrodon more easily withstand foes that may attempt to cripple it with Toxic such as Heatran and Zapdos. Additional Water-type teammates such as Slowbro, Slowking, and Toxapex can check physically-oriented Water-type threats such as Urshifu-R and Barraskewda as well as provide extra insurance against Nature Power Heatran. Dragonite can also check the aforementioned threats for Gastrodon, and it can provide support with Defog and Heal Bell.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Substitute can be used on fatter team structures to protect Gastrodon from Future Sight + wallbreaker combinations by setting it up against Future Sight users such as Slowbro and Galarian Slowking. It also allows Gastrodon to avoid status such as Toxic and Will-O-Wisp. Counter and Mirror Coat let Gastrodon punish direct attacks with a surprise burst of damage, letting it snag unexpected KOs. Yawn can force uncomfortable situations, forcing the opposing Pokemon to either swap out or be put to sleep. However, these options come at the cost of valuable utility such as Toxic or Clear Smog.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Offensive Grass-types such as Rillaboom and Kartana can cleanly OHKO Gastrodon with their STAB moves, use it as setup fodder, or use Knock Off against one of Gastrodon's teammates as it switches out. Ferrothorn also poses an issue for Gastrodon, as it can use Gastrodon as an opportunity to set up entry hazards, either Stealth Rock or Spikes, and wear it down with Leech Seed; it cannot immediately threaten Gastrodon if it is not running Power Whip, however.
**Status Conditions**: Many Pokemon that Gastrodon is tasked with checking, such as Heatran, Zapdos, and Tapu Koko, can opt to run Toxic in order to cripple it and dig into its longevity, making it more difficult for Gastrodon to stay on the field for long periods of time. Will-O-Wisp from Rotom-Wash and Heatran can also be troublesome; although it isn't as crippling as Toxic, it can annoy Earthquake variants of Gastrodon by reducing the move's damage.
**Physical Attackers**: Gastrodon's subpar physical bulk means it is vulnerable to strong attackers such as Urshifu-R, Tyranitar, Garchomp, Weavile, and more. The aforementioned Urshifu-R, Barraskewda, and Crawdaunt are particularly noteworthy, as they are Water-types that Gastrodon cannot reliably answer.
**Tapu Lele**: Tapu Lele's access to Psyshock and sheer strength give it the ability to muscle past Gastrodon, especially when wielding Choice Specs as its item. It can also set up Future Sight for a partner to take advantage of to truly threaten Gastrodon.
**Freeze-Dry**: Freeze-Dry users such as Arctozolt and Alolan Ninetales threaten to cleanly 2HKO Gastrodon despite its solid special bulk and defensive profile against the rest of their moves.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/igiveuponaname.593115/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/slowpoke-fan.617219/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tysonslayer.349443/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/
Last edited:
