[OVERVIEW]
Torterra is an absolute monster of a threat in the BW PU metagame, carrying one of the most deadly offensive presences that works hand-in-hand with one of the most customizable toolkits in the tier. With massive stats in comparison to the tier, its natural bulk and strength mean it can fit into many teams. Its typing is incredible both offensively and defensively, granting it incredible coverage between its STAB moves and access to EdgeQuake while possessing monstrous defensive utility. Torterra thrives off its ability to fit into many teams seamlessly, being a great glue to prevent Electric-types such as Zebstrika from pivoting with Volt Switch while resisting Ground-type attacks from threats such as opposing Torterra and Gabite. With its offensive sets, it can quickly threaten to sweep opposing teams while using its incredible natural bulk to set up on more passive Pokemon such as Klang and Scraggy or go directly for breaking through with a Choice Band. Torterra's versatility can only carry it so far, however, as it has a mediocre Speed tier, leaving it reliant on setup to become a game-ending threat. Its quadruple weakness to Ice-type attacks such as STAB Ice Punch from Sneasel, Hidden Power Ice from Zebstrika, and Ice Beam from faster Water-types such as Golduck forces it to play carefully. Flying-type Pokemon such as Jumpluff and Swanna are additionally able to outspeed it and thwart it with their STAB moves, but they must be watchful of Stone Edge. Torterra also must be wary of Bronzor, which walls it in most cases.
[SET]
name: Offensive Tank
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Stone Edge / Wood Hammer
move 3: Synthesis
move 4: Stealth Rock / Rock Polish / Swords Dance / Toxic
item: Yache Berry / Occa Berry
ability: Shell Armor
nature: Careful
evs: 248 HP / 168 Atk / 92 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Earthquake is chosen primary STAB move, and Stone Edge is chosen as the primary coverage in order to hit Flying-types such as Natu and Jumpluff; however, Wood Hammer is stronger against neutral targets and cannot miss. The last moveslot is extremely versatile and can be whatever the team needs. Stealth Rock is always appreciated and Torterra is a particularly reliable hazard setter thanks to its bulk and typing. Rock Polish and Swords Dance are both good options for setting up and sweeping or wallbreaking, respectively. Toxic is useful for hitting and getting chip damage on common switch-ins like Jumpluff. Roar can be useful for phazing threats like Duosion that might set up otherwise but is generally more situational than the other strong choices for the last moveslot. The EVs in HP and Special Defense are to survive two Hidden Power[Ice] Ices or one Hidden Power [Ice] and one Overheat from Magnet Zebstrika after Stealth Rock, with the rest being put into Attack to always get an OHKO on Zebstrika and Tentacool with Earthquake. Yache Berry is critical for making the previous calculation work, but Occa Berry can also work for absorbing Fire-type moves like a Flare Blitz from Monferno and Overheat from Zebstrika and KOing with Earthquake.
This Torterra set is focused around bringing out as many of Torterra's strengths in a single role as possible and can find a home on offensive teams that need a solid tank that can fill in multiple roles such as setting Stealth Rock while tanking hits from both physical and special threats such as Arbok or Vileplume. Torterra's resistances to Rock and Ground and immunity to Electric allow it to find a home on teams that need checks to Rampardos, Gabite, and Zebstrika. Pokemon such as Monferno and Purugly also appreciate the defensive synergy that Torterra provides, properly answering their common walls such as Stunfisk. Torterra is also weak to Fire, Flying, and Ice, so partners like Tentacool and Klang can be excellent choices for rounding out a defensive core.
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Synthesis
move 3: Wood Hammer
move 4: Swords Dance / Roar / Earthquake / Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Shell Armor
nature: Impish
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Maximum HP and Defense EVs allow Torterra to take considerably less damage and even avoid a 2HKO from Choice Band Stoutland. This investment in bulk makes Torterra one of the most reliable Stealth Rock setters in the tier. The last moveslot is very flexible; Swords Dance is the default option, as it allows Torterra to set up and beat many slow setup threats such as Scraggy, making Torterra into a potent wallbreaker in addition to a wall. Roar allows Torterra to phaze and rack up more chip damage from entry hazards it sets up. Earthquake is a secondary STAB option without recoil, and Toxic is always good for slowly chipping down targets and hitting threats on the switch.
Torterra has notable weaknesses to Ice- and Fire-type attacks, so partners like Tentacool and Frillish that can absorb those attacks make for excellent partners. Tentacool also has the added benefit of Rapid Spin and Toxic Spikes while Torterra covers the Ground-type attacks pointed at Tentacool, so the synergy between these two is of particular note. Torterra is also excellent at shutting down setup sweepers like Scraggy and Duosion by either setting up itself with Swords Dance or phazing with Roar, so offensive pivots such as Zebstrika and Monferno appreciate having an easy option to pivot into to solve those matchups. Torterra also invites in many Flying-types such as Jumpluff, so a partner that can resist Flying-type attacks such as Zebstrika or Klang can also make for great partners.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Wood Hammer
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Superpower / Seed Bomb
item: Choice Band
ability: Overgrow
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Maximum Attack investment with a Choice Band allows Torterra's Wood Hammer to OHKO or 2HKO a large swath of offensive threats like Swanna and Stoutland, and Overgrow allows Wood Hammer to even have a chance to OHKO Monferno. Stone Edge rounds out the coverage by hitting Flying-types such as Jumpluff or Natu that would wall Torterra's STAB moves otherwise. The last moveslot goes mostly unused, as the other three slots are near-perfect coverage, but Superpower works for hitting certain threats like Scraggy harder, while Seed Bomb also works as a Grass-type STAB option without recoil while still 2HKOing threats like Ursaring and Beheeyem.
Even with all of this Attack investment, Torterra is still heavily walled by Bronzor. As such, partners that can beat Bronzor such as Simisear and Monferno are heavily appreciated. Choice Band Torterra also excels in baiting Bronzor in, so teammates like Scraggy that can set up on Bronzor also make for good options. Torterra also excels in breaking down walls like Stunfisk to make way for a teammate like Monferno and Zebstrika to sweep later. Stealth Rock goes a long way in helping Torterra break down walls, since it tends to draw in Flying-types, so partners that set them consistently like Dwebble and Bronzor are very appreciated. It also heavily appreciates a free switch-in from a pivot like Klang or Monferno to keep itself healthy and positioned well.
[SET]
name: Double Dance
move 1: Rock Polish
move 2: Swords Dance
move 3: Wood Hammer / Stone Edge
move 4: Earthquake / Stone Edge
item: Life Orb / Yache Berry
ability: Overgrow / Shell Armor
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
This set runs both Swords Dance and Rock Polish not with the expectation of getting both boosts off but so Torterra has the correct setup option for whatever situation it finds itself in. Rock Polish is for the potential late-game sweep, and Swords Dance is for when Torterra needs to be a wallbreaker. Wood Hammer is Torterra's most powerful STAB option but comes with heavy recoil, and Earthquake is the secondary STAB move with no recoil. Either STAB option or Swords Dance can be replaced with Stone Edge for better coverage against common Flying-type switch-ins like Jumpluff and Natu. Life Orb is the chosen item for an extra power boost to ease sweeps after Rock Polish, comfortably 2HKOing threats like Beheeyem and OHKOing Stunfisk, but Yache Berry can also be used to absorb a stray Ice-type attack like Hidden Power Ice from Zebstrika to earn a turn to set up. Overgrow is the preferred ability for its ability to power up Torterra's Wood Hammer to dizzying heights when activated, but if Stone Edge is chosen over Wood Hammer, then Shell Armor should be the chosen ability.
Even with Swords Dance and a Life Orb, Torterra is still walled by Bronzor. Common answers for beating Bronzor include Monferno, Simisear, Marowak, and Scraggy. Torterra can also be threatened out by some Choice Scarf Pokemon even after a Rock Polish such as Swanna and Monferno, so partners like Klang and Frillish can be excellent choices for protecting Torterra from the revenge killers. Torterra is also excellent at breaking through physical walls like Machoke and Stunfisk, so Pokemon like Monferno and Zebstrika appreciate its wallbreaking potential.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/akir.231726/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sbpc.468904/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bella.567483/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Torterra is an absolute monster of a threat in the BW PU metagame, carrying one of the most deadly offensive presences that works hand-in-hand with one of the most customizable toolkits in the tier. With massive stats in comparison to the tier, its natural bulk and strength mean it can fit into many teams. Its typing is incredible both offensively and defensively, granting it incredible coverage between its STAB moves and access to EdgeQuake while possessing monstrous defensive utility. Torterra thrives off its ability to fit into many teams seamlessly, being a great glue to prevent Electric-types such as Zebstrika from pivoting with Volt Switch while resisting Ground-type attacks from threats such as opposing Torterra and Gabite. With its offensive sets, it can quickly threaten to sweep opposing teams while using its incredible natural bulk to set up on more passive Pokemon such as Klang and Scraggy or go directly for breaking through with a Choice Band. Torterra's versatility can only carry it so far, however, as it has a mediocre Speed tier, leaving it reliant on setup to become a game-ending threat. Its quadruple weakness to Ice-type attacks such as STAB Ice Punch from Sneasel, Hidden Power Ice from Zebstrika, and Ice Beam from faster Water-types such as Golduck forces it to play carefully. Flying-type Pokemon such as Jumpluff and Swanna are additionally able to outspeed it and thwart it with their STAB moves, but they must be watchful of Stone Edge. Torterra also must be wary of Bronzor, which walls it in most cases.
[SET]
name: Offensive Tank
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Stone Edge / Wood Hammer
move 3: Synthesis
move 4: Stealth Rock / Rock Polish / Swords Dance / Toxic
item: Yache Berry / Occa Berry
ability: Shell Armor
nature: Careful
evs: 248 HP / 168 Atk / 92 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Earthquake is chosen primary STAB move, and Stone Edge is chosen as the primary coverage in order to hit Flying-types such as Natu and Jumpluff; however, Wood Hammer is stronger against neutral targets and cannot miss. The last moveslot is extremely versatile and can be whatever the team needs. Stealth Rock is always appreciated and Torterra is a particularly reliable hazard setter thanks to its bulk and typing. Rock Polish and Swords Dance are both good options for setting up and sweeping or wallbreaking, respectively. Toxic is useful for hitting and getting chip damage on common switch-ins like Jumpluff. Roar can be useful for phazing threats like Duosion that might set up otherwise but is generally more situational than the other strong choices for the last moveslot. The EVs in HP and Special Defense are to survive two Hidden Power
This Torterra set is focused around bringing out as many of Torterra's strengths in a single role as possible and can find a home on offensive teams that need a solid tank that can fill in multiple roles such as setting Stealth Rock while tanking hits from both physical and special threats such as Arbok or Vileplume. Torterra's resistances to Rock and Ground and immunity to Electric allow it to find a home on teams that need checks to Rampardos, Gabite, and Zebstrika. Pokemon such as Monferno and Purugly also appreciate the defensive synergy that Torterra provides, properly answering their common walls such as Stunfisk. Torterra is also weak to Fire, Flying, and Ice, so partners like Tentacool and Klang can be excellent choices for rounding out a defensive core.
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Synthesis
move 3: Wood Hammer
move 4: Swords Dance / Roar / Earthquake / Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Shell Armor
nature: Impish
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Maximum HP and Defense EVs allow Torterra to take considerably less damage and even avoid a 2HKO from Choice Band Stoutland. This investment in bulk makes Torterra one of the most reliable Stealth Rock setters in the tier. The last moveslot is very flexible; Swords Dance is the default option, as it allows Torterra to set up and beat many slow setup threats such as Scraggy, making Torterra into a potent wallbreaker in addition to a wall. Roar allows Torterra to phaze and rack up more chip damage from entry hazards it sets up. Earthquake is a secondary STAB option without recoil, and Toxic is always good for slowly chipping down targets and hitting threats on the switch.
Torterra has notable weaknesses to Ice- and Fire-type attacks, so partners like Tentacool and Frillish that can absorb those attacks make for excellent partners. Tentacool also has the added benefit of Rapid Spin and Toxic Spikes while Torterra covers the Ground-type attacks pointed at Tentacool, so the synergy between these two is of particular note. Torterra is also excellent at shutting down setup sweepers like Scraggy and Duosion by either setting up itself with Swords Dance or phazing with Roar, so offensive pivots such as Zebstrika and Monferno appreciate having an easy option to pivot into to solve those matchups. Torterra also invites in many Flying-types such as Jumpluff, so a partner that can resist Flying-type attacks such as Zebstrika or Klang can also make for great partners.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Wood Hammer
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Superpower / Seed Bomb
item: Choice Band
ability: Overgrow
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Maximum Attack investment with a Choice Band allows Torterra's Wood Hammer to OHKO or 2HKO a large swath of offensive threats like Swanna and Stoutland, and Overgrow allows Wood Hammer to even have a chance to OHKO Monferno. Stone Edge rounds out the coverage by hitting Flying-types such as Jumpluff or Natu that would wall Torterra's STAB moves otherwise. The last moveslot goes mostly unused, as the other three slots are near-perfect coverage, but Superpower works for hitting certain threats like Scraggy harder, while Seed Bomb also works as a Grass-type STAB option without recoil while still 2HKOing threats like Ursaring and Beheeyem.
Even with all of this Attack investment, Torterra is still heavily walled by Bronzor. As such, partners that can beat Bronzor such as Simisear and Monferno are heavily appreciated. Choice Band Torterra also excels in baiting Bronzor in, so teammates like Scraggy that can set up on Bronzor also make for good options. Torterra also excels in breaking down walls like Stunfisk to make way for a teammate like Monferno and Zebstrika to sweep later. Stealth Rock goes a long way in helping Torterra break down walls, since it tends to draw in Flying-types, so partners that set them consistently like Dwebble and Bronzor are very appreciated. It also heavily appreciates a free switch-in from a pivot like Klang or Monferno to keep itself healthy and positioned well.
[SET]
name: Double Dance
move 1: Rock Polish
move 2: Swords Dance
move 3: Wood Hammer / Stone Edge
move 4: Earthquake / Stone Edge
item: Life Orb / Yache Berry
ability: Overgrow / Shell Armor
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
This set runs both Swords Dance and Rock Polish not with the expectation of getting both boosts off but so Torterra has the correct setup option for whatever situation it finds itself in. Rock Polish is for the potential late-game sweep, and Swords Dance is for when Torterra needs to be a wallbreaker. Wood Hammer is Torterra's most powerful STAB option but comes with heavy recoil, and Earthquake is the secondary STAB move with no recoil. Either STAB option or Swords Dance can be replaced with Stone Edge for better coverage against common Flying-type switch-ins like Jumpluff and Natu. Life Orb is the chosen item for an extra power boost to ease sweeps after Rock Polish, comfortably 2HKOing threats like Beheeyem and OHKOing Stunfisk, but Yache Berry can also be used to absorb a stray Ice-type attack like Hidden Power Ice from Zebstrika to earn a turn to set up. Overgrow is the preferred ability for its ability to power up Torterra's Wood Hammer to dizzying heights when activated, but if Stone Edge is chosen over Wood Hammer, then Shell Armor should be the chosen ability.
Even with Swords Dance and a Life Orb, Torterra is still walled by Bronzor. Common answers for beating Bronzor include Monferno, Simisear, Marowak, and Scraggy. Torterra can also be threatened out by some Choice Scarf Pokemon even after a Rock Polish such as Swanna and Monferno, so partners like Klang and Frillish can be excellent choices for protecting Torterra from the revenge killers. Torterra is also excellent at breaking through physical walls like Machoke and Stunfisk, so Pokemon like Monferno and Zebstrika appreciate its wallbreaking potential.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/akir.231726/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sbpc.468904/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bella.567483/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Last edited:
