[SET]
Name: Choice Band
Move 1: Body Slam / Return / Focus Punch
Move 2: Double-Edge / Return
Move 3: Earthquake
Move 4: Shadow Ball
Item: Choice Band
Ability: Intimidate
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 156 HP / 252 Atk / 100 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
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Choice Band Granbull provides more immediate firepower and hits extremely hard, being very threatening to weakened or paralyzed teams. Since Body Slam's damage is buffed by Choice Band, it's the preferred STAB move over Return for its chance to paralyze Granbull's switch-ins and enable its wallbreaking potential, though Return can still be used if the extra damage is preferable for better OHKO potential against Scyther, Gligar, Arcanine, and Lanturn, as well as a consistent 2HKO on Blastoise. Double-Edge from Granbull is one of the hardest-hitting physical attacks in the tier outside of Explosion, doing the impressive feat of being able to OHKO a few bulky Kangaskhan variants while also being generally hard to switch into. Double-Edge should not be used as a move to lead with, though, as the recoil is a huge tax to Granbull's health and should be used once the opposing team is weakened and Granbull finds an opening such as Kangaskhan using Rest. Return acts similarly to Double-Edge as a very powerful hit without the recoil damage, making it safer yet less rewarding as a powerful STAB option. Granbull can also run Focus Punch over its weaker STAB moves as a way to punish Kangaskhan's Rest and potentially OHKO defensive Omastar, Cradily, and Golem switching in. Earthquake hits common Normal- resistant Pokemon such as Omastar and Golem while also avoiding contact abilities such as Static and Poison Point. Granbull can muscle past Cradily and Sableye with Earthquake thanks to the increased damage of Choice Band. Shadow Ball is used to hit Solrock and Ghost-types such as Misdreavus and Haunter while also 2HKOing Slowking.
Maximum Attack with an Adamant nature allows Granbull to hit as hard as possible in conjunction with Choice Band, and 100 Speed EVs are used to outspeed defensive Omastar and Ampharos. Granbull can also run maximum Speed to be less reliant on paralysis support to outspeed Pokemon like Solrock, Hitmontop, Lapras, and Blastoise.
Team Options
=========
Because this Granbull set doesn't have good staying power with the lack of defensive EVs and no Leftovers, it shouldn't be used as a primary check to physical attackers. To remedy this, Granbull should be paired with a reliable physical wall such as Omastar, Golem, or Hitmontop, as they find safer opportunties for entry against Pokemon like Kangaskhan, Scyther, and Solrock. Because Granbull has lacking Speed as a Choice Band user, it appreciates heavy paralysis support to gain the first hit against faster foes, making good pairings with Body Slam Kangaskhan, Thunder Wave Ampharos, and Stun Spore Vileplume to land paralysis on fast Pokemon like Scyther, Gligar, and Arcanine. Spikes makes Choice Band Granbull much more difficult to switch into, so reliable Spikes setters such as Omastar, Qwilfish, Glalie, and Roselia are good partners to enable its dangerous power further. Qwilfish and Roselia in particular help spread paralysis for Granbull, and when paired with Thunder Wave Misdreavus to block opposing Rapid Spin and continue the paralysis support, Granbull makes for a great wallbreaker on Spikes paralysis teams. Since Choice Band Granbull lacks any recovery and can get worn down quickly by Spikes and Double-Edge recoil, Wish support from Kangaskhan and Hypno gives Granbull a means to regain its lost health and offset passive damage. Cleric support from Ampharos, Vileplume, Lapras, and Altaria is also appreciated, as this Granbull set is more weak to status due to the lack of recovery options. If Granbull locks itself into a Normal-type move for Omastar to find entry on, things can get problematic, as Spikes damage is permanent without Wish support and is further compounded when Granbull takes Double-Edge recoil. Therefore, it appreciates being paired with a Rapid Spin user such as Tentacruel, Blastoise, or Hitmontop to minimize the passive damage it takes.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ellingtonreborn.619555/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/heysup.21929/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lpz.476616/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
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