
Very sturdy indeed
[OVERVIEW]
Gigalith is the sole viable sand setter, enabling Sand Rush users like Sandslash and Lycanroc and racking up chip damage against defensive staples like Xatu, Sylveon, and Talonflame, as well as the opponent's team in general. Gigalith's great all-around defensive stats allow it multiple opportunities to set up sand. Furthermore, it can check Salazzle, Dragalge, and Talonflame while having utility with moves like Stealth Rock and Toxic. However, its abysmal Speed usually means it must take a hit before moving. When combined with damage on the switch, status, and no reliable recovery, Gigalith can be worn down deceptively quickly, especially since it's weak to STAB or coverage moves from Pokemon such as Machamp, Blastoise, and Diancie. Gigalith is also difficult to teambuild around due to almost exclusively fitting on dedicated sand teams, and these teams demand extensive support to execute a successful sweep.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Rock Blast
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Earthquake
item: Leftovers / Smooth Rock
ability: Sand Stream
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
========
Toxic wears down foes like Vaporeon, Exploud, and Rotom-C and prevents them from taking advantage of Gigalith. Earthquake provides super effective coverage against foes like Dragalge, Heliolisk, and Copperajah. A specially defensive EV spread alongside Leftovers is recommended to more effectively check Salazzle, Sylveon, and Dragalge over the course of a game. Leftovers helps Gigalith get worn down less quickly, but Smooth Rock gives more setup chances for Sand Rush sweepers like Lycanroc and Sandslash.
Gigalith synergizes well with Lycanroc and Sandslash, letting both use Sand Rush to wallbreak or sweep. Pokemon like Rotom-C and Dragalge help cover Gigalith's weaknesses to Water, Grass, and Fighting and can pivot. In turn, Gigalith can address Rotom-C's struggles against Poison- and Fire-types and sponge weak neutral or resisted special hits, like Xatu's Psychic and all of Salazzle's moves. Starmie provides Rapid Spin support and an additional switch-in to Water- and Fighting-type attacks.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Heavy Slam can punish defensive Sylveon for trying to stall out sand turns and heavily damage other Fairy-types like Diancie and Comfey. Explosion deals huge damage to most neutral targets and can keep up momentum for sand builds at the cost of sacrificing Gigalith.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types like Sirfetch'd, Passimian, Machamp, and Toxicroak can massively damage Gigalith with their STAB moves and force it out. However, Toxicroak can be OHKOed by Earthquake after taking damage from Stealth Rock and sand.
**Water-types**: Vaporeon does not take much damage from any of Gigalith's attacks and can use it to pass Wish to its teammates, fish for burns with Scald, or remove status with Heal Bell. More offensive Water-types, like Blastoise and Kingdra, can avoid the 2HKO from any of its attacks and use it to set up; however, the combination of Toxic poison and sand damage severely limits their sweeping potential.
**Grass-types**: Vileplume's immunity to Toxic and great defensive stats mean it can easily recover from any of Gigalith's attacks via Strength Sap, whittle it down with Giga Drain, or even use it as setup fodder. Tsareena and Dhelmise can easily use Rapid Spin against it, while Decidueye can set up Swords Dance on it, but all of them dislike taking Toxic upon switching in.
**Ground-types**: Mudsdale and Palossand can cripple Gigalith with Toxic and set up Stealth Rock freely, while offensive Ground-types, like Golurk, Silvally-Ground, and Rhydon, can switch in on any of Gigalith's moves and fire off a powerful attack. None of them appreciate taking Toxic, however.
**Residual Damage**: Although Gigalith does not mind paralysis due to its already terrible Speed, its longevity is severely hampered by poison and burn, with the latter also hurting its ability to damage Xatu as it switches in. Stealth Rock and Spikes wear it down even more quickly.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[5Dots, 543866]]
- Quality checked by: [[poh, 298730], [Rabia, 336073]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [Rabia, 336073]]
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