[OVERVIEW]
Aggron is one of the strongest Pokemon in the RU tier. With a great Attack stat, Rock Head, and access to STAB Head Smash, it can be one of the single hardest Pokemon to switch into. This is amplified by the fact that Aggron has options for most of the Pokemon in the tier that can handle its powerful Head Smash. Secondary options, such as Heavy Slam, Low Kick, and Fire Punch, allow Aggron to push through potent Rock-resistant Pokemon, like Flygon, Rhyperior, and Bronzong, with the greatest of ease. Aggron's typing also provides it with key 4x resistances to Normal- and Flying-type moves to grant it some opportunities to switch in. However, with that typing come some severe drawbacks. 4x weaknesses to Fighting- and Ground-type moves combined with a subpar base 50 Speed stat mean Aggron will almost always be forced out after it gets a KO. While it has a fantastic Defense stat, its somewhat low HP and lackluster Special Defense are certainly not doing it any favors, which lets many significant special attackers force it out. While its Head Smash is incredibly powerful and it does have coverage for many of the Rock-resistant Pokemon in RU, the likes of Seismitoad, Poliwrath, and Torterra can stand up to it most of the time. Perhaps the most crippling issue for Aggron is of no fault of its own. The fact that Tyrantrum exists in RU with higher Attack and Speed stats makes it very hard to justify the use of Aggron.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Head Smash
move 2: Heavy Slam
move 3: Low Kick
move 4: Fire Punch / Ice Punch
item: Choice Band
ability: Rock Head
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Aggron's potency as an offensive Pokemon in RU is shown here with a powerful Choice Band set. With a Choice Band equipped and an Adamant nature, Aggron will 2HKO even the bulkiest of Pokemon without a Rock-type resistance with Head Smash. The rest of Aggron's moveset is basically there for covering what can survive Head Smash. Heavy Slam is a good secondary STAB option thanks to Aggron's high weight and is able to take care of Fairy-types more reliably as well as Flygon. Its perfect accuracy may also make it optimal in scenarios where Aggron can't afford to miss with a move. Low Kick is a very important move for Aggron and is arguably the second biggest reason to fear it. It 2HKOes Mega Steelix and Rhyperior, the primary Rock-resistant Pokemon in RU, without the need for entry hazard support. Aggron's last move targets specific Pokemon that can stand in the way of Head Smash. Fire Punch is preferred, as Bronzong is quite common and it also OHKOes Escavalier without having to risk a miss with Head Smash. Ice Punch is an option if Torterra is a problem for your team, but Fire Punch already 2HKOes it.
Set Details
========
The EV spread maximizes Aggron's offensive potential with maximum Attack and Speed investment. Adamant is the preferred nature for the power boost, as Jolly does not give Aggron any notable Speed advantages. Choice Band is the best item for Aggron, as it will be using Head Smash most of the time anyway. Rock Head is the only ability that should even be considered for this set, as the recoil from Head Smash would be absolutely ridiculous otherwise. As Aggron does have some nice resistances to Normal-, Flying-, and Fairy-type moves, it could utilize a bulkier EV spread. However, Aggron's low Special Defense and various weaknesses will usually make this investment very inconsistent.
Usage Tips
========
Using Aggron is relatively simple. It has notable resistances to Normal-, Flying-, and Fairy-type moves, so try to switch it into those attacks. Unless the situation calls for something else, you'll generally want to let Aggron unleash its powerful Head Smash once it's in battle. If the opponent has a healthy Mega Steelix or Rhyperior, Low Kick is a good choice to go for, as that is their likely switch-in. If you can't afford a miss but still want to use a powerful STAB move, Heavy Slam should be used. Fire Punch is great for catching Bronzong wanting to switch in if Aggron is using it. If Aggron has Ice Punch, make sure to catch Torterras on the switch in. Finally, make sure Aggron has good pivots to fall back on, as its low Speed will often mean Aggron is forced out once it scores a KO.
Team Options
========
Aggron is a powerful wallbreaker, so fast sweepers and late-game cleaners, such as Aerodactyl, Hone Claws Durant, and Choice Scarf Tyrantrum, are go-to options to take advantage of this. With weaknesses to common Fighting-, Ground-, and Water-type moves, Aggron appreciates teammates it can fall back on when these types of Pokemon come in. Slowking has Regenerator to allow it to keep switching into Water- and Fighting-type moves for Aggron and can run Thunder Wave to slow down the opposing team, run a Choice Specs set to maintain offensive pressure, or give Aggron Trick Room support to help fix its low Speed. If utilizing Trick Room support, make sure Aggron's nature and EVs are adjusted accordingly. Specifically, use a Brave nature, move all the Speed EVs to HP, and reduce the Speed IVs to 0. Tangrowth and Virizion resist Water- and Ground-type moves and can maintain offensive pressure. Tangrowth has Regenerator to be more durable, while Virizion can exploit Aggron's offensive abilities with Swords Dance or Calm Mind sets. While Aggron appreciates entry hazard support like any offensive Pokemon does, Stealth Rock and a layer of Spikes guarantees that Torterra is 2HKOed by Head Smash. Seismitoad and Torterra are good Stealth Rock users to use with Aggron, as Seismitoad is immune to Water-type moves, while Torterra resists Ground-type moves. Both can reliably check Rhyperior and Mega Steelix if Aggron doesn't predict their switch in with Low Kick during a match.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
While Aggron has a colorful movepool, it generally doesn't need it, and it doesn't have the stats to use a lot of it effectively anyway. Easily the most notable is a set with Sturdy and Stealth Rock that utilizes a Custap Berry. Such a set should consist of Stealth Rock, Metal Burst, Head Smash, and Endeavor or Thunder Wave in an attempt to get Stealth Rock up early, and keep it up through the use of Head Smash to block Rapid Spin and Defog attempts. While Aggron has access to Toxic to spread poison throughout the opposing team, it would much rather ram into defensive Pokemon with Head Smash. Hone Claws can boost Aggron's Attack stat and make Head Smash perfectly accurate, but Aggron is too slow to actually sweep with the boost. Double-Edge is the only other move Aggron has to take advantage of Rock Head, but it doesn't provide any notable coverage and is barely stronger than a resisted Head Smash. A set with Substitute + Focus Punch can catch some Rock-resistant Pokemon off guard, and Aggron is no joke behind a Substitute, but Aggron usually just wants to launch a Choice Band-boosted Low Kick at predicted Rhyperior and Mega Steelix switch-ins. Aggron does have access to Rock Polish to fix its Speed, but it has to use a Jolly nature to outspeed Choice Scarf Medicham, and Tyrantrum is stronger and fast enough to use an Adamant nature to exploit the power difference even further. Aqua Tail is an alternate option for coverage, but it can't 2HKO Mega Steelix and only OHKOes offensive variants of Rhyperior.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Poliwrath**: Poliwrath doesn't care about anything Aggron has to offer and threatens it with both STAB moves. Notably, Scald can burn Aggron, crippling it for the rest of the match.
**Seismitoad**: Defensively invested variants of Seismitoad stand up nicely to Aggron and threatens it with both STAB moves; Earth Power OHKOes Aggron, and Scald might burn it.
**Rock-resistant Pokemon**: Aggron generally wants to use Head Smash, so Hitmontop, Mega Steelix, Torterra, Rhyperior, and Bronzong make for nice initial switch-ins. They should be wary of coverage moves, though.
**Offensive Pressure**: Aggron is slow and is forced out by most faster special attackers and any Pokemon with strong Ground-, Fighting-, or Water-type moves, including Medicham, Flygon, and Samurott.
**Cofagrigus**: While it doesn't take Head Smash that well, Cofagrigus forces Mummy onto Aggron to make it suffer the ridiculous recoil of Head Smash and can burn Aggron with Will-O-Wisp.
Aggron is one of the strongest Pokemon in the RU tier. With a great Attack stat, Rock Head, and access to STAB Head Smash, it can be one of the single hardest Pokemon to switch into. This is amplified by the fact that Aggron has options for most of the Pokemon in the tier that can handle its powerful Head Smash. Secondary options, such as Heavy Slam, Low Kick, and Fire Punch, allow Aggron to push through potent Rock-resistant Pokemon, like Flygon, Rhyperior, and Bronzong, with the greatest of ease. Aggron's typing also provides it with key 4x resistances to Normal- and Flying-type moves to grant it some opportunities to switch in. However, with that typing come some severe drawbacks. 4x weaknesses to Fighting- and Ground-type moves combined with a subpar base 50 Speed stat mean Aggron will almost always be forced out after it gets a KO. While it has a fantastic Defense stat, its somewhat low HP and lackluster Special Defense are certainly not doing it any favors, which lets many significant special attackers force it out. While its Head Smash is incredibly powerful and it does have coverage for many of the Rock-resistant Pokemon in RU, the likes of Seismitoad, Poliwrath, and Torterra can stand up to it most of the time. Perhaps the most crippling issue for Aggron is of no fault of its own. The fact that Tyrantrum exists in RU with higher Attack and Speed stats makes it very hard to justify the use of Aggron.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Head Smash
move 2: Heavy Slam
move 3: Low Kick
move 4: Fire Punch / Ice Punch
item: Choice Band
ability: Rock Head
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Aggron's potency as an offensive Pokemon in RU is shown here with a powerful Choice Band set. With a Choice Band equipped and an Adamant nature, Aggron will 2HKO even the bulkiest of Pokemon without a Rock-type resistance with Head Smash. The rest of Aggron's moveset is basically there for covering what can survive Head Smash. Heavy Slam is a good secondary STAB option thanks to Aggron's high weight and is able to take care of Fairy-types more reliably as well as Flygon. Its perfect accuracy may also make it optimal in scenarios where Aggron can't afford to miss with a move. Low Kick is a very important move for Aggron and is arguably the second biggest reason to fear it. It 2HKOes Mega Steelix and Rhyperior, the primary Rock-resistant Pokemon in RU, without the need for entry hazard support. Aggron's last move targets specific Pokemon that can stand in the way of Head Smash. Fire Punch is preferred, as Bronzong is quite common and it also OHKOes Escavalier without having to risk a miss with Head Smash. Ice Punch is an option if Torterra is a problem for your team, but Fire Punch already 2HKOes it.
Set Details
========
The EV spread maximizes Aggron's offensive potential with maximum Attack and Speed investment. Adamant is the preferred nature for the power boost, as Jolly does not give Aggron any notable Speed advantages. Choice Band is the best item for Aggron, as it will be using Head Smash most of the time anyway. Rock Head is the only ability that should even be considered for this set, as the recoil from Head Smash would be absolutely ridiculous otherwise. As Aggron does have some nice resistances to Normal-, Flying-, and Fairy-type moves, it could utilize a bulkier EV spread. However, Aggron's low Special Defense and various weaknesses will usually make this investment very inconsistent.
Usage Tips
========
Using Aggron is relatively simple. It has notable resistances to Normal-, Flying-, and Fairy-type moves, so try to switch it into those attacks. Unless the situation calls for something else, you'll generally want to let Aggron unleash its powerful Head Smash once it's in battle. If the opponent has a healthy Mega Steelix or Rhyperior, Low Kick is a good choice to go for, as that is their likely switch-in. If you can't afford a miss but still want to use a powerful STAB move, Heavy Slam should be used. Fire Punch is great for catching Bronzong wanting to switch in if Aggron is using it. If Aggron has Ice Punch, make sure to catch Torterras on the switch in. Finally, make sure Aggron has good pivots to fall back on, as its low Speed will often mean Aggron is forced out once it scores a KO.
Team Options
========
Aggron is a powerful wallbreaker, so fast sweepers and late-game cleaners, such as Aerodactyl, Hone Claws Durant, and Choice Scarf Tyrantrum, are go-to options to take advantage of this. With weaknesses to common Fighting-, Ground-, and Water-type moves, Aggron appreciates teammates it can fall back on when these types of Pokemon come in. Slowking has Regenerator to allow it to keep switching into Water- and Fighting-type moves for Aggron and can run Thunder Wave to slow down the opposing team, run a Choice Specs set to maintain offensive pressure, or give Aggron Trick Room support to help fix its low Speed. If utilizing Trick Room support, make sure Aggron's nature and EVs are adjusted accordingly. Specifically, use a Brave nature, move all the Speed EVs to HP, and reduce the Speed IVs to 0. Tangrowth and Virizion resist Water- and Ground-type moves and can maintain offensive pressure. Tangrowth has Regenerator to be more durable, while Virizion can exploit Aggron's offensive abilities with Swords Dance or Calm Mind sets. While Aggron appreciates entry hazard support like any offensive Pokemon does, Stealth Rock and a layer of Spikes guarantees that Torterra is 2HKOed by Head Smash. Seismitoad and Torterra are good Stealth Rock users to use with Aggron, as Seismitoad is immune to Water-type moves, while Torterra resists Ground-type moves. Both can reliably check Rhyperior and Mega Steelix if Aggron doesn't predict their switch in with Low Kick during a match.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
While Aggron has a colorful movepool, it generally doesn't need it, and it doesn't have the stats to use a lot of it effectively anyway. Easily the most notable is a set with Sturdy and Stealth Rock that utilizes a Custap Berry. Such a set should consist of Stealth Rock, Metal Burst, Head Smash, and Endeavor or Thunder Wave in an attempt to get Stealth Rock up early, and keep it up through the use of Head Smash to block Rapid Spin and Defog attempts. While Aggron has access to Toxic to spread poison throughout the opposing team, it would much rather ram into defensive Pokemon with Head Smash. Hone Claws can boost Aggron's Attack stat and make Head Smash perfectly accurate, but Aggron is too slow to actually sweep with the boost. Double-Edge is the only other move Aggron has to take advantage of Rock Head, but it doesn't provide any notable coverage and is barely stronger than a resisted Head Smash. A set with Substitute + Focus Punch can catch some Rock-resistant Pokemon off guard, and Aggron is no joke behind a Substitute, but Aggron usually just wants to launch a Choice Band-boosted Low Kick at predicted Rhyperior and Mega Steelix switch-ins. Aggron does have access to Rock Polish to fix its Speed, but it has to use a Jolly nature to outspeed Choice Scarf Medicham, and Tyrantrum is stronger and fast enough to use an Adamant nature to exploit the power difference even further. Aqua Tail is an alternate option for coverage, but it can't 2HKO Mega Steelix and only OHKOes offensive variants of Rhyperior.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Poliwrath**: Poliwrath doesn't care about anything Aggron has to offer and threatens it with both STAB moves. Notably, Scald can burn Aggron, crippling it for the rest of the match.
**Seismitoad**: Defensively invested variants of Seismitoad stand up nicely to Aggron and threatens it with both STAB moves; Earth Power OHKOes Aggron, and Scald might burn it.
**Rock-resistant Pokemon**: Aggron generally wants to use Head Smash, so Hitmontop, Mega Steelix, Torterra, Rhyperior, and Bronzong make for nice initial switch-ins. They should be wary of coverage moves, though.
**Offensive Pressure**: Aggron is slow and is forced out by most faster special attackers and any Pokemon with strong Ground-, Fighting-, or Water-type moves, including Medicham, Flygon, and Samurott.
**Cofagrigus**: While it doesn't take Head Smash that well, Cofagrigus forces Mummy onto Aggron to make it suffer the ridiculous recoil of Head Smash and can burn Aggron with Will-O-Wisp.
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