[OVERVIEW]
Garchomp comes with a great stat spread. Most importantly, its base 102 Speed allows it to run multiple sets and outspeed and defeat top-tier threats such as Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, and Mega Tyranitar. Its high Attack stat that can be further upgrade with Choice Band and Z-Crystals and solid offensive typing let it KO a lot of threatening Pokemon such as Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, Aegislash, Magearna, and Mega Venusaur. Garchomp has a great movepool with reliable STAB moves in Outrage and Earthquake, Poison Jab to strike Fairy-types like Mega Gardevoir, and Fire Fang and Fire Blast to KO Pokemon, mostly Steel-types, that are weak to Fire and aren't hit super effectively by Earthquake and Outrage such as Kartana and Ferrothorn. Rough Skin offers chip damage that helps it in defeating F.E.A.R. Aron. Garchomp's great offensive typing lets it defeat the ever-so-common Fire-, Steel-, and Dragon-type Pokemon such as Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, Magearna, Zygarde-C, Aegislash, and Kommo-o. With an immunity to Electric, key resistances to Fire- and Rock-type moves, which are used by powerful attackers such as Mega Charizard Y and Crustle, and above-average bulk, Garchomp is capable of surviving some powerful non-super effective attacks like Pin Missile from Mega Heracross. Garchomp also has a Mega Evolution, which turns it into a bulky powerhouse that can defeat a lot of Pokemon that threaten its regular forme such as Electrium Z Magnezone and Donphan. Garchomp's ability to run multiple sets with success makes it hard to predict. However, its 4x weakness to Ice makes it vulnerable to coverage moves carried by common threats such as Porygon-Z, Genesect, Mega Gyarados, and Greninja. Its typing also leaves it weak to Fairy-type Pokemon like Tapu Lele, Tapu Fini, and Mega Altaria, which can take advantage of Garchomp. It is left outsped by some hard hitters like Mega Pinsir and Mega Lucario, which can OHKO regular Garchomp. Although it can defeat some Dragon-type Pokemon such as non-Choice Scarf Haxorus and Zygarde with Choice Band and Dragonium Z, it loses to bulky Dragonite and Naganadel, as the former can survive a hit and OHKO back and the latter outspeeds and OHKOes Garchomp.
[SET]
name: Substitute + Tectonic Rage
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Rock Tomb
move 4: Substitute
item: Groundium Z
ability: Rough Skin
nature: Jolly
evs: 220 Atk / 36 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance makes Tectonic Rage even more powerful against Pokemon like Mega Venusaur and Chansey. Earthquake lets Garchomp defeat Aegislash, non-Reversal Mega Blaziken, and Excadrill. With Tectonic Rage, Garchomp can also defeat defensive Mega Metagross as well as the faster variant without Ice Punch, Mega Mawile, Magearna, and Curse Mega Aggron. Rock Tomb's speed control lets Garchomp defeat Mega Charizard X if it doesn't Mega Evolve in order to avoid super effective damage, as well as beating Pokemon 4x weak to Rock-type moves, such as Mega Charizard Y and Volcarona. Substitute helps in scouting for moves, blocking status moves like Sleep Powder from Mega Venusaur and Charm from Chansey, taking Z-Moves like Tectonic Rage from Golem and rechargeable moves from Mega Blastoise and Meloetta, and blocking Counter from Sawk, Crustle, and Chansey.
Set Details
========
36 Defense EVs ensure that Garchomp survives Ice Punch from Adamant Choice Scarf Jirachi. 220 Attack EVs and maximum Speed investment with a Jolly nature allow Garchomp to hit as hard as possible while outspeeding as many Pokemon as possible, including Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, and Mega Gardevoir. Groundium Z upgrades Earthquake into a devastating 180-Base Power Tectonic Rage. Rough Skin provides chip damage against contact move users.
Usage Tips
========
With Groundium Z, Garchomp can be sent against Pokemon like Mega Charizard X, Mega Venusaur, Magearna, Mega Gardevoir, non-Choice Specs Tapu Fini, and Curse Mega Aggron. Garchomp is vulnerable to Sturdy Pokemon like Donphan, Pokemon with Ice-type attacks such as Porygon-Z and Greninja, and some of the faster Pokemon like Ice Punch Mega Lopunny, so avoid sending it against them. Against Charizard, start with Substitute to block Counter and scout for the Mega Evolution, avoiding potentially losing against Mega Charizard X if you mispredict whether it'll Mega Evolve and use the wrong attack. Mega Charizard Y can be KOed with Rock Tomb. If it turns out to be offensive Mega Charizard X and it Mega Evolves, KO it with Tectonic Rage. If Charizard does not Mega Evolve and uses Dragon Dance, use Rock Tomb until it breaks Garchomp's Substitute and then finish it off with Tectonic Rage.
Team Options
========
Powerful special attackers can help Garchomp with physically bulky Pokemon such as Mega Slowbro and Mega Gyarados. Mega Charizard Y with Flame Charge checks these Pokemon in addition to non-specially defensive Tapu Lele, Tapu Fini, and Greninja, which all threaten Garchomp. In return, Garchomp checks Meloetta, Chansey, Normalium Z Porygon-Z, offensive Tapu Lele, and Crustle. Curse Mega Aggron is a great team option for Garchomp, as it can defeat Tapu Lele, offensive Mega Metagross with Ice Punch, Mega Altaria, Greninja, Mega Lopunny, Mega Mawile, and some Sturdy Pokemon like Golem and Donphan while appreciating the positive matchup Garchomp has against bulky special attackers such as bulky Magearna and Aegislash. Sturdy Pokemon and Fairy-types also trouble Garchomp; Fairium Z Magearna defeats Sturdy Pokemon like Donphan and Golem and Fairy-types like Tapu Lele and Mega Altaria, and it can also beat Mega Gyarados and Porygon-Z. At the same time, Garchomp checks Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, Aegislash, Mega Venusaur, and Chansey, which can be troublesome for Magearna.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Outrage
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Poison Jab
move 4: Fire Fang / Stone Edge
item: Choice Band
ability: Rough Skin
nature: Jolly
evs: 220 Atk / 36 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Outrage is Garchomp's most powerful STAB move, hitting Dragon-types such as offensive Mega Charizard X, Zygarde-C, and Kommo-o super effectively and dealing massive damage to Pokemon that do not resist it. It also has a minimal opportunity cost, as in most favorable matchups, Garchomp's raw power means the foe will be KOed before Garchomp gets confused. Earthquake's super effective coverage allows it to KO Pokemon like non-Ice Punch Mega Metagross, Excadrill, and non-Reversal Mega Blaziken. Poison Jab hits Fairy- and Grass-types super effectively, letting Garchomp OHKO Whimsicott, Tapu Bulu, and offensive Mega Gardevoir. Fire Fang lets it KO other Steel-types that are not hit super effectively by Earthquake such as Ferrothorn, Celesteela, Mega Scizor, and Choice Band Kartana. Alternatively, Stone Edge gives Garchomp EdgeQuake coverage, which few Pokemon resist. Stone Edge can also be used against predicted bulky Mega Charizard X that may not decide to Mega Evolve, and it also OHKOes offensive Mega Charizard X regardless if it Mega Evolves or not.
Set Details
========
252 Speed EVs with a Jolly nature let Garchomp outspeed as many Pokemon as possible, including non-Choice Scarf base 100 Speed Pokemon and below such as Charizard, Landorus, Mega Gardevoir, and non-Choice Scarf Genesect. 220 Attack EVs with Choice Band allow Garchomp to hit as hard as possible, letting it KO Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, standard Magearna, Aegislash, and Choice Band Kartana. 36 Defense EVs allow Garchomp to survive an Ice Punch from Adamant Choice Scarf Jirachi. Rough Skin is the ability of choice to hurt physical attackers that use contact moves, which makes Earthquake a guaranteed OHKO against non-Ice Punch Mega Metagross.
Usage Tips
========
It's best to send Garchomp in if the opponent has Pokemon that it outspeeds and are not bulky enough to wall its attacks. This includes a huge portion of the metagame, as its base 102 Speed and high Attack combined with Choice Band let it OHKO common threats like Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, Landorus, and Magearna. Garchomp should use Outrage against most foes barring those that resist it or its coverage moves can deal super effective damage to. Avoid sending it against Donphan, Magnezone, Mega Slowbro, and Mega Aggron, as they are able to take its attacks and either wear it down or retaliate with their own attacks in return. Use Fire Fang over Outrage when facing Crustle, as the opponent may predict Garchomp to use Outrage and OHKO Garchomp with Counter. Fire Fang along with Rough Skin damage from Counter is a reliable 3HKO.
Team Options
========
Powerful special wallbreakers like Normalium Z Porygon-Z and Choice Specs Greninja are great teammates for Garchomp, as they can defeat physically defensive Pokemon like Mega Slowbro and Mega Blastoise, which Garchomp struggles against. Choice Scarf Porygon-Z can also check Mega Lopunny and Jumpluff for Garchomp. Pokemon that are able to defeat the prominent Mega Gyarados such as bulky Mega Charizard Y and Mega Venusaur are necessary and pair up well with Garchomp, as Mega Gyarados is able to KO it with Outrage after boosting its Attack. Mega Gyarados itself emerges as another great teammate for Garchomp, as it is capable of defeating Sturdy Pokemon and other Pokemon that Garchomp is not able to defeat like Mega Aggron, Dragonite, and Donphan. Garchomp has great synergy with Mega Venusaur, since Mega Venusaur beats Mega Gyarados, Donphan, Magnezone, Mega Altaria, and Mega Slowbro, which defeat Garchomp, while Garchomp can check the Pokemon that defeat Mega Venusaur such as Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, Mega Pinsir, and non-Ice Punch Mega Metagross. Aegislash and Genesect can be paired with Garchomp to scare off the abundant Fairy-types such as bulky Mega Mawile, Mega Altaria, and Choice Scarf Tapu Lele, which can be problematic for Garchomp. Arm Thrust Mega Heracross can defeat Mega Gyarados, Mega Slowbro, and all Sturdy Pokemon, which Garchomp appreciates.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Dragonium Z can be run in order get the power of Choice Band Garchomp while still maintaining freedom of choice against certain Pokemon such as Landorus-T, which neither Groundium Z nor Choice Band sets can hit effectively. However, given that Garchomp cannot defeat most Dragon-type Pokemon, the ones that it can are beaten by Choice Band as is, and the loss of coverage against Fairy-type Pokemon like Magearna and Tapu Lele is troublesome, Dragonium Z is mostly outclassed by its main sets. Choice Scarf boosts Garchomp's Speed, letting it defeat fast offensive threats such as Greninja and Naganadel and granting it a guaranteed win against Mega Blaziken, but without Choice Band's Attack boost or Tectonic Rage from Groundium Z, it's unable to defeat bulky Pokemon like Mega Mawile, Magearna, and Aegislash. Garchompite can be run with an EV spread of 248 HP / 176 Def / 80 SpD / 4 Spe to grant Garchomp titanic Attack and bulk, enabling it to take hits from the likes of Flail Mega Lopunny, Mega Pinsir, and Reversal Mega Lucario at the cost of 10 base Speed. It can even survive a Moonblast from Mega Diancie. However, while the loss in Speed may seem trivial at first, this drops Mega Garchomp under the base 100 Speed tier, which significantly affects its placement in the metagame, causing it to struggle against threats such as Tapu Lele and Mega Charizard X. A Haban Berry set with an EV spread of 248 HP / 48 Atk / 112 Def / 96 SpD / 4 Spe with a Jolly nature and Rock Tomb / Outrage / Earthquake / Substitute can be used to defeat Dragon-types including Dragonite, Naganadel, Latios, and Haxorus but comes at the cost of Garchomp's offensive power and leaves it unable to defeat bulky Pokemon like Mega Venusaur and Chansey. Fling can be used with the Choice item sets to defeat Air Balloon Heatran and Magnezone. Mega Garchomp can also run a specially defensive set with an EV spread of 200 HP / 52 Atk / 252 SpD / 4 Spe and an Adamant nature to defeat Porygon-Z, Choice Specs Necrozma, Psychium Z Tapu Lele, Primarina, and Choice Scarf Latios at the cost of losing to powerful physical attackers like Mega Charizard X and Mega Lucario. Corkscrew Crash with Iron Tail lets Garchomp lure in and defeat some Fairy-types that usually defeat it, namely bulky Tapu Lele and Mega Altaria.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ice-type Attacks**: Ice-type moves generally OHKO Garchomp, as it is 4x weak to them. Pokemon like Porygon-Z, Mega Gyarados, Greninja, Alolan Ninetales, Avalugg, and Genesect carry Ice-type moves and are able to defeat Garchomp if they outspeed it or survive its attacks.
**Faster Offensive Pokemon**: Garchomp gets outsped by some hard hitters like Greninja, Naganadel, and Choice Scarf users like Porygon-Z and Latios, which can OHKO it before it gets a chance to retaliate.
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Physically defensive Pokemon like Mega Slowbro, Mega Sableye, and Deoxys-S can tank Mega Garchomp's hits and either wear it down by boosting their defenses and healing or KO it with their attacks.
**Bulky Fairy-types**: Mega Altaria and bulky Tapu Lele can take a Choice Band-boosted Poison Jab as well as Tectonic Rage from Garchomp and OHKO back with their super effective Fairy-type STAB moves.
**Water-types**: Water-types like Greninja outspeed and OHKO Garchomp with Ice Beam, while Mega Gyarados and Primarina can take a hit from Garchomp and KO back with Ice Fang in the former's case and Moonblast or a Waterium Z-boosted STAB move for the latter.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[charizard8888, 333554], [Alakazam, 276708]]
- Quality checked by: [[MaceMaster, 302951], [dom, 280380], [Alakazam, 276708]]
- Grammar checked by: [[FireFlame479, 231476], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
Garchomp comes with a great stat spread. Most importantly, its base 102 Speed allows it to run multiple sets and outspeed and defeat top-tier threats such as Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, and Mega Tyranitar. Its high Attack stat that can be further upgrade with Choice Band and Z-Crystals and solid offensive typing let it KO a lot of threatening Pokemon such as Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, Aegislash, Magearna, and Mega Venusaur. Garchomp has a great movepool with reliable STAB moves in Outrage and Earthquake, Poison Jab to strike Fairy-types like Mega Gardevoir, and Fire Fang and Fire Blast to KO Pokemon, mostly Steel-types, that are weak to Fire and aren't hit super effectively by Earthquake and Outrage such as Kartana and Ferrothorn. Rough Skin offers chip damage that helps it in defeating F.E.A.R. Aron. Garchomp's great offensive typing lets it defeat the ever-so-common Fire-, Steel-, and Dragon-type Pokemon such as Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, Magearna, Zygarde-C, Aegislash, and Kommo-o. With an immunity to Electric, key resistances to Fire- and Rock-type moves, which are used by powerful attackers such as Mega Charizard Y and Crustle, and above-average bulk, Garchomp is capable of surviving some powerful non-super effective attacks like Pin Missile from Mega Heracross. Garchomp also has a Mega Evolution, which turns it into a bulky powerhouse that can defeat a lot of Pokemon that threaten its regular forme such as Electrium Z Magnezone and Donphan. Garchomp's ability to run multiple sets with success makes it hard to predict. However, its 4x weakness to Ice makes it vulnerable to coverage moves carried by common threats such as Porygon-Z, Genesect, Mega Gyarados, and Greninja. Its typing also leaves it weak to Fairy-type Pokemon like Tapu Lele, Tapu Fini, and Mega Altaria, which can take advantage of Garchomp. It is left outsped by some hard hitters like Mega Pinsir and Mega Lucario, which can OHKO regular Garchomp. Although it can defeat some Dragon-type Pokemon such as non-Choice Scarf Haxorus and Zygarde with Choice Band and Dragonium Z, it loses to bulky Dragonite and Naganadel, as the former can survive a hit and OHKO back and the latter outspeeds and OHKOes Garchomp.
[SET]
name: Substitute + Tectonic Rage
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Rock Tomb
move 4: Substitute
item: Groundium Z
ability: Rough Skin
nature: Jolly
evs: 220 Atk / 36 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance makes Tectonic Rage even more powerful against Pokemon like Mega Venusaur and Chansey. Earthquake lets Garchomp defeat Aegislash, non-Reversal Mega Blaziken, and Excadrill. With Tectonic Rage, Garchomp can also defeat defensive Mega Metagross as well as the faster variant without Ice Punch, Mega Mawile, Magearna, and Curse Mega Aggron. Rock Tomb's speed control lets Garchomp defeat Mega Charizard X if it doesn't Mega Evolve in order to avoid super effective damage, as well as beating Pokemon 4x weak to Rock-type moves, such as Mega Charizard Y and Volcarona. Substitute helps in scouting for moves, blocking status moves like Sleep Powder from Mega Venusaur and Charm from Chansey, taking Z-Moves like Tectonic Rage from Golem and rechargeable moves from Mega Blastoise and Meloetta, and blocking Counter from Sawk, Crustle, and Chansey.
Set Details
========
36 Defense EVs ensure that Garchomp survives Ice Punch from Adamant Choice Scarf Jirachi. 220 Attack EVs and maximum Speed investment with a Jolly nature allow Garchomp to hit as hard as possible while outspeeding as many Pokemon as possible, including Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, and Mega Gardevoir. Groundium Z upgrades Earthquake into a devastating 180-Base Power Tectonic Rage. Rough Skin provides chip damage against contact move users.
Usage Tips
========
With Groundium Z, Garchomp can be sent against Pokemon like Mega Charizard X, Mega Venusaur, Magearna, Mega Gardevoir, non-Choice Specs Tapu Fini, and Curse Mega Aggron. Garchomp is vulnerable to Sturdy Pokemon like Donphan, Pokemon with Ice-type attacks such as Porygon-Z and Greninja, and some of the faster Pokemon like Ice Punch Mega Lopunny, so avoid sending it against them. Against Charizard, start with Substitute to block Counter and scout for the Mega Evolution, avoiding potentially losing against Mega Charizard X if you mispredict whether it'll Mega Evolve and use the wrong attack. Mega Charizard Y can be KOed with Rock Tomb. If it turns out to be offensive Mega Charizard X and it Mega Evolves, KO it with Tectonic Rage. If Charizard does not Mega Evolve and uses Dragon Dance, use Rock Tomb until it breaks Garchomp's Substitute and then finish it off with Tectonic Rage.
Team Options
========
Powerful special attackers can help Garchomp with physically bulky Pokemon such as Mega Slowbro and Mega Gyarados. Mega Charizard Y with Flame Charge checks these Pokemon in addition to non-specially defensive Tapu Lele, Tapu Fini, and Greninja, which all threaten Garchomp. In return, Garchomp checks Meloetta, Chansey, Normalium Z Porygon-Z, offensive Tapu Lele, and Crustle. Curse Mega Aggron is a great team option for Garchomp, as it can defeat Tapu Lele, offensive Mega Metagross with Ice Punch, Mega Altaria, Greninja, Mega Lopunny, Mega Mawile, and some Sturdy Pokemon like Golem and Donphan while appreciating the positive matchup Garchomp has against bulky special attackers such as bulky Magearna and Aegislash. Sturdy Pokemon and Fairy-types also trouble Garchomp; Fairium Z Magearna defeats Sturdy Pokemon like Donphan and Golem and Fairy-types like Tapu Lele and Mega Altaria, and it can also beat Mega Gyarados and Porygon-Z. At the same time, Garchomp checks Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, Aegislash, Mega Venusaur, and Chansey, which can be troublesome for Magearna.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Outrage
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Poison Jab
move 4: Fire Fang / Stone Edge
item: Choice Band
ability: Rough Skin
nature: Jolly
evs: 220 Atk / 36 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Outrage is Garchomp's most powerful STAB move, hitting Dragon-types such as offensive Mega Charizard X, Zygarde-C, and Kommo-o super effectively and dealing massive damage to Pokemon that do not resist it. It also has a minimal opportunity cost, as in most favorable matchups, Garchomp's raw power means the foe will be KOed before Garchomp gets confused. Earthquake's super effective coverage allows it to KO Pokemon like non-Ice Punch Mega Metagross, Excadrill, and non-Reversal Mega Blaziken. Poison Jab hits Fairy- and Grass-types super effectively, letting Garchomp OHKO Whimsicott, Tapu Bulu, and offensive Mega Gardevoir. Fire Fang lets it KO other Steel-types that are not hit super effectively by Earthquake such as Ferrothorn, Celesteela, Mega Scizor, and Choice Band Kartana. Alternatively, Stone Edge gives Garchomp EdgeQuake coverage, which few Pokemon resist. Stone Edge can also be used against predicted bulky Mega Charizard X that may not decide to Mega Evolve, and it also OHKOes offensive Mega Charizard X regardless if it Mega Evolves or not.
Set Details
========
252 Speed EVs with a Jolly nature let Garchomp outspeed as many Pokemon as possible, including non-Choice Scarf base 100 Speed Pokemon and below such as Charizard, Landorus, Mega Gardevoir, and non-Choice Scarf Genesect. 220 Attack EVs with Choice Band allow Garchomp to hit as hard as possible, letting it KO Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, standard Magearna, Aegislash, and Choice Band Kartana. 36 Defense EVs allow Garchomp to survive an Ice Punch from Adamant Choice Scarf Jirachi. Rough Skin is the ability of choice to hurt physical attackers that use contact moves, which makes Earthquake a guaranteed OHKO against non-Ice Punch Mega Metagross.
Usage Tips
========
It's best to send Garchomp in if the opponent has Pokemon that it outspeeds and are not bulky enough to wall its attacks. This includes a huge portion of the metagame, as its base 102 Speed and high Attack combined with Choice Band let it OHKO common threats like Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, Landorus, and Magearna. Garchomp should use Outrage against most foes barring those that resist it or its coverage moves can deal super effective damage to. Avoid sending it against Donphan, Magnezone, Mega Slowbro, and Mega Aggron, as they are able to take its attacks and either wear it down or retaliate with their own attacks in return. Use Fire Fang over Outrage when facing Crustle, as the opponent may predict Garchomp to use Outrage and OHKO Garchomp with Counter. Fire Fang along with Rough Skin damage from Counter is a reliable 3HKO.
Team Options
========
Powerful special wallbreakers like Normalium Z Porygon-Z and Choice Specs Greninja are great teammates for Garchomp, as they can defeat physically defensive Pokemon like Mega Slowbro and Mega Blastoise, which Garchomp struggles against. Choice Scarf Porygon-Z can also check Mega Lopunny and Jumpluff for Garchomp. Pokemon that are able to defeat the prominent Mega Gyarados such as bulky Mega Charizard Y and Mega Venusaur are necessary and pair up well with Garchomp, as Mega Gyarados is able to KO it with Outrage after boosting its Attack. Mega Gyarados itself emerges as another great teammate for Garchomp, as it is capable of defeating Sturdy Pokemon and other Pokemon that Garchomp is not able to defeat like Mega Aggron, Dragonite, and Donphan. Garchomp has great synergy with Mega Venusaur, since Mega Venusaur beats Mega Gyarados, Donphan, Magnezone, Mega Altaria, and Mega Slowbro, which defeat Garchomp, while Garchomp can check the Pokemon that defeat Mega Venusaur such as Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, Mega Pinsir, and non-Ice Punch Mega Metagross. Aegislash and Genesect can be paired with Garchomp to scare off the abundant Fairy-types such as bulky Mega Mawile, Mega Altaria, and Choice Scarf Tapu Lele, which can be problematic for Garchomp. Arm Thrust Mega Heracross can defeat Mega Gyarados, Mega Slowbro, and all Sturdy Pokemon, which Garchomp appreciates.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Dragonium Z can be run in order get the power of Choice Band Garchomp while still maintaining freedom of choice against certain Pokemon such as Landorus-T, which neither Groundium Z nor Choice Band sets can hit effectively. However, given that Garchomp cannot defeat most Dragon-type Pokemon, the ones that it can are beaten by Choice Band as is, and the loss of coverage against Fairy-type Pokemon like Magearna and Tapu Lele is troublesome, Dragonium Z is mostly outclassed by its main sets. Choice Scarf boosts Garchomp's Speed, letting it defeat fast offensive threats such as Greninja and Naganadel and granting it a guaranteed win against Mega Blaziken, but without Choice Band's Attack boost or Tectonic Rage from Groundium Z, it's unable to defeat bulky Pokemon like Mega Mawile, Magearna, and Aegislash. Garchompite can be run with an EV spread of 248 HP / 176 Def / 80 SpD / 4 Spe to grant Garchomp titanic Attack and bulk, enabling it to take hits from the likes of Flail Mega Lopunny, Mega Pinsir, and Reversal Mega Lucario at the cost of 10 base Speed. It can even survive a Moonblast from Mega Diancie. However, while the loss in Speed may seem trivial at first, this drops Mega Garchomp under the base 100 Speed tier, which significantly affects its placement in the metagame, causing it to struggle against threats such as Tapu Lele and Mega Charizard X. A Haban Berry set with an EV spread of 248 HP / 48 Atk / 112 Def / 96 SpD / 4 Spe with a Jolly nature and Rock Tomb / Outrage / Earthquake / Substitute can be used to defeat Dragon-types including Dragonite, Naganadel, Latios, and Haxorus but comes at the cost of Garchomp's offensive power and leaves it unable to defeat bulky Pokemon like Mega Venusaur and Chansey. Fling can be used with the Choice item sets to defeat Air Balloon Heatran and Magnezone. Mega Garchomp can also run a specially defensive set with an EV spread of 200 HP / 52 Atk / 252 SpD / 4 Spe and an Adamant nature to defeat Porygon-Z, Choice Specs Necrozma, Psychium Z Tapu Lele, Primarina, and Choice Scarf Latios at the cost of losing to powerful physical attackers like Mega Charizard X and Mega Lucario. Corkscrew Crash with Iron Tail lets Garchomp lure in and defeat some Fairy-types that usually defeat it, namely bulky Tapu Lele and Mega Altaria.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ice-type Attacks**: Ice-type moves generally OHKO Garchomp, as it is 4x weak to them. Pokemon like Porygon-Z, Mega Gyarados, Greninja, Alolan Ninetales, Avalugg, and Genesect carry Ice-type moves and are able to defeat Garchomp if they outspeed it or survive its attacks.
**Faster Offensive Pokemon**: Garchomp gets outsped by some hard hitters like Greninja, Naganadel, and Choice Scarf users like Porygon-Z and Latios, which can OHKO it before it gets a chance to retaliate.
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Physically defensive Pokemon like Mega Slowbro, Mega Sableye, and Deoxys-S can tank Mega Garchomp's hits and either wear it down by boosting their defenses and healing or KO it with their attacks.
**Bulky Fairy-types**: Mega Altaria and bulky Tapu Lele can take a Choice Band-boosted Poison Jab as well as Tectonic Rage from Garchomp and OHKO back with their super effective Fairy-type STAB moves.
**Water-types**: Water-types like Greninja outspeed and OHKO Garchomp with Ice Beam, while Mega Gyarados and Primarina can take a hit from Garchomp and KO back with Ice Fang in the former's case and Moonblast or a Waterium Z-boosted STAB move for the latter.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[charizard8888, 333554], [Alakazam, 276708]]
- Quality checked by: [[MaceMaster, 302951], [dom, 280380], [Alakazam, 276708]]
- Grammar checked by: [[FireFlame479, 231476], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
Last edited:
