Garganacl
Type: Rock
Stats: 100 / 100 / 130 / 45 / 90 / 35 (500 BST)
Abilities:
Purifying Salt / Sturdy / Clear Body (HA)
Purifying Salt: This pokemon is immune to status conditions. The ability also halves the damage taken from Ghost-type moves.
Full Movepool:
Level-Up:
[00] Hammer Arm [learns it upon evolving]
[00] Block
[00] Tackle
[00] Wide Guard
[00] Harden
[00] Rock Blast
[05] Rock Throw
[07] Mud Shot
[10] Rock Tomb
[13] Rock Polish
[16] Headbutt
[24] Salt Cure
[30] Recover
[34] Rock Slide
[40] Stealth Rock
[44] Heavy Slam
[49] Earthquake
[54] Stone Edge
[60] Explosion
TM Moveset:
[TM001] Take Down
[TM007] Protect
[TM025] Facade
[TM028] Bulldoze
[TM035] Mud Shot
[TM036] Rock Tomb
[TM043] Fling
[TM046] Avalanche
[TM047] Endure
[TM049] Sunny Day
[TM050] Rain Dance
[TM051] Sandstorm
[TM055] Dig
[[TM058] Brick Break
[TM059] Zen Headbutt
[TM066] Body Slam
[TM067] Fire Punch
[TM068] Thunder Punch
[TM069] Ice Punch
[TM070] Sleep Talk
[TM076] Rock Blast
[TM084] Stomping Tantrum
[TM085] Rest
[TM086] Rock Slide
[TM089] Body Press
[TM093] Flash Cannon
[TM099] Iron Head
[TM101] Power Gem
[TM103] Substitute
[TM104] Iron Defense
[TM116] Stealth Rock
[TM121] Heavy Slam
[TM130] Helping Hand
[TM133] Earth Power
[TM149] Earthquake
[TM150] Stone Edge
[TM152] Giga Impact
[TM163] Hyper Beam
[TM171] Tera Blast
Egg Moves:
[00] Hammer Arm [learns it upon evolving]
[00] Block
[00] Tackle
[00] Wide Guard
[00] Harden
[00] Rock Blast
[05] Rock Throw
[07] Mud Shot
[10] Rock Tomb
[13] Rock Polish
[16] Headbutt
[24] Salt Cure
[30] Recover
[34] Rock Slide
[40] Stealth Rock
[44] Heavy Slam
[49] Earthquake
[54] Stone Edge
[60] Explosion
TM Moveset:
[TM001] Take Down
[TM007] Protect
[TM025] Facade
[TM028] Bulldoze
[TM035] Mud Shot
[TM036] Rock Tomb
[TM043] Fling
[TM046] Avalanche
[TM047] Endure
[TM049] Sunny Day
[TM050] Rain Dance
[TM051] Sandstorm
[TM055] Dig
[[TM058] Brick Break
[TM059] Zen Headbutt
[TM066] Body Slam
[TM067] Fire Punch
[TM068] Thunder Punch
[TM069] Ice Punch
[TM070] Sleep Talk
[TM076] Rock Blast
[TM084] Stomping Tantrum
[TM085] Rest
[TM086] Rock Slide
[TM089] Body Press
[TM093] Flash Cannon
[TM099] Iron Head
[TM101] Power Gem
[TM103] Substitute
[TM104] Iron Defense
[TM116] Stealth Rock
[TM121] Heavy Slam
[TM130] Helping Hand
[TM133] Earth Power
[TM149] Earthquake
[TM150] Stone Edge
[TM152] Giga Impact
[TM163] Hyper Beam
[TM171] Tera Blast
Egg Moves:
- Fissure
- Curse
- Ancient Power
- Power Gem
Notable Moves:
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Body Press
- Recover
- Stealth Rock
- Iron Head
- Salt Cure
Salt Cure - Physical [no contact] | 15 PP (max 24) | 40 BP | 100% acc | Damages the opponent for 1/8th of their max HP, or 1/4th if the target is a Steel- or Water-type.
Pros:
- Solid defensive stats at 100/130/90, which let Garganacl live a good variety of hits. Combined with Recover, it can prove a solid defensive threat by itself.
- A good ability in Purifying Salt, which makes it unable to be statused and lets it act as a potential counter to Ghost-types such as Dragapult or Skeledirge [+Flutter Mane and Houndstone prior to their bans].
- Though Mono-Rock is not an amazing defensive type by any means, it lets it check mons like Volcarona [mostly] and Skeledirge. It also means it can take advantage of Sandstorm to get the extra special defense boost
- Salt Cure lets Garganacl beat Steel-types like Corviknight, a trait much appreciated for a Stealth Rocker. This also ensures it is not completely passive as the move can let it spread heavy chip damage. Best of all, the effect persists even if Garganacl switches out.
- 35 base speed means it will move last most of the time. This means it can easily be taken advantage of by faster, more powerful threats.
- Mono-Rock as a defensive typing gives it nasty weaknesses to common attacking types such as Grass, Water, and Fighting.
Terastallize Potential?:
- Probably not worth Terastallizing due to its defensive nature; you’re much better Tera’ing an offensive mon.
- If you absolutely must, however, Tera Steel or Tera Poison can work in a few situations. You could also Tera Flying or Tera Ghost as well.
Sample Sets:
Defensive Stealth Rock
Garganacl @ Leftovers
Ability: Purifying Salt
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
-Stealth Rock
- Recover
- Body Press
- Salt Cure
A simple defensive Stealth Rocker build. Body Press ensures Garganacl is not completely passive, and Salt Cure lets it deal with mons like Corviknight.
Overall Potential?:
Garganacl is a decent mon overall. Prior to the Flutter Mane/Houndstone bans it proved a solid check to them, and even now it's proven itself quite decent. Even though Tyranitar may end up being better overall, Garganacl is quite decent in its own right.
It may not be OU-level in the long term but I think it could end up seeing use in a lower tier. Immunity to status and a free ghost resist courtesy of Purifying Salt, great defenses, a move that lets it threaten Water- and Steel-types - what’s not to love about this guy?
11/21/22: Changed around a few things, namely adding Tera Flying/Tera Ghost as options.
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