[OVERVIEW]
Alolan Golem's access to the rare Magnet Pull gives it a small niche, as its ability to trap and eliminate prominent Steel-types such as Registeel, Bronzong, Forretress, and Escavalier greatly benefits teammates that struggle to break past them such as Shaymin, Gardevoir, and Linoone. Alolan Golem is also a passable attacker on its own merit, as its decent firepower, coverage options, and physical bulk can be used to threaten slower Pokemon like Slowbro and Alolan Marowak while withstanding moves such as Virizion's unboosted Close Combat and Tyrantrum's Head Smash, where it can then retaliate with the appropriate coverage move. Unfortunately, outside of Magnet Pull, Alolan Golem has little to differentiate itself from other physical wallbreakers and thus receives immense competition from Pokemon such as Zygarde-10% and Metagross. In particular, the former's access to a spammable move in Thousand Arrows, the latter's greater defensive utility, and both of their far superior Speed tiers make them much more reliable choices for most teams. Alolem Golem is also cursed with poor Speed, bad Special Defense, and a typing that leaves it vulnerable to a wide selection of attackers like Roserade, Shaymin, Mega Blastoise, and Zygarde-10%, making it incredibly difficult to use against offensive teams. Finally, Alolan Golem relies on the opposing team utilizing slow Steel-types for it to fulfill its niche, making it depend highly on matchups to function.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Wild Charge
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Fire Punch
move 4: Explosion
item: Choice Band
ability: Magnet Pull
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
The combination of Earthquake and Fire Punch allows Alolem Golem to target every relevant Steel-type, OHKOing or 2HKOing the likes of Registeel, Bronzong, Escavalier, and Forretress. Earthquake and Fire Punch also deal super effective damage to Pokemon that resist Wild Charge such as Mega Ampharos and Virizion. Explosion enables Alolan Golem to sacrifice itself once its role has been fulfilled in order to deal heavy damage to Pokemon like Donphan and Snorlax as well as generate momentum for its team.
Set Details
========
Choice Band alongside full investment in Attack and Speed with an Adamant nature maximizes Alolan Golem's offensive presence while allowing it to outspeed every relevant Steel-type bar Metagross. A Jolly nature can be used instead to outpace Pokemon like Milotic and Mandibuzz as well as outspeed Mega Ampharos without risking a Speed tie, though this cuts into Alolan Golem's power considerably.
Usage Tips
========
Alolan Golem should be brought into play early-game, whether through a pivot or a double switch, into a Steel-type it can beat such as Registeel, Bronzong, or Choice-locked Metagross. However, be cautious with more aggressive play, as this can be telegraphed or even exploited if Alolan Golem is brought in at the wrong time. For instance, Escavalier may use Drill Run to predict an incoming switch into Alolan Golem. Exercise caution of what move Alolan Golem locks itself into, especially Wild Charge, since it allows Ground-types such as Rhyperior and Nidoqueen to come in for free. Alolan Golem can occasionally put its good physical bulk to use by serving as a situational switch-in to Pokemon such as Arcanine, but note that it's susceptible to residual damage, and being worn down too much can prove detrimental to its role. Finally, once Alolan Golem has fulfilled its role or is otherwise no longer needed, Explosion can be used to dent Pokemon such as Donphan and Porygon2 and provide its team with momentum.
Team Options
========
The removal of Steel-types like Registeel, Bronzong, and Forretress is paramount to the success of Pokemon such as Gardevoir, Z-Celebrate Shaymin, Noivern, and Linoone, which can more freely spam their STAB moves with the removal of these Steel-types. The former three can also form an offensive core with Alolan Golem, as they can break down Pokemon that threaten Alolan Golem like Mega Blastoise and Roserade. Pivots such as Ribombee and the previously mentioned Noivern can additionally act as means of luring Steel-types such as Registeel and Bronzong, bringing Alolan Golem into play with much less risk. Various setup sweepers and late-game cleaners such as Virizion, Toxicroak, and Salazzle also appreciate an offensive answer to Pokemon like Alolan Marowak, Slowbro, and Dragalge while thriving off of Alolan Golem's general ability to wallbreak, especially with Explosion. Bulky Pokemon like Florges, Goodra, and Assault Vest Machamp are serviceable switch-ins to the various special attackers that threaten to outspeed and OHKO Alolan Golem, and both Florges and Goodra can liberally use their primary attacks with Steel-types eliminated.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
While Galvanize and Sturdy may seem appealing to give Alolan Golem a powerful Double-Edge or the ability to take any hit from full health, they ultimately take away its main selling point in Magnet Pull, so their use is discouraged.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Zygarde-10%, Flygon, and Nidoqueen can OHKO Alolan Golem with their STAB moves and can switch into Wild Charge. Alolan Golem must also be cautious when switching into Pokemon like Escavalier and Alolan Marowak due to their access to Drill Run and Earthquake. Other Pokemon like Metagross and Lycanroc-D can outright outspeed Alolan Golem and use their respective Ground-type coverage moves.
**Grass-types**: Shaymin, Roserade, and Tsareena threaten to OHKO Alolem with their respective STAB moves, though they can't directly switch into Fire Punch and are outright OHKOed by Explosion.
**Powerful Special Attackers**: While none of these Pokemon can directly switch into any one of Alolan Golem's moves, Pokemon like Mega Blastoise, Necrozma, and Goodra tear right through it due to its pitiful Special Defense.
**Fighting-types**: Machamp, Toxicroak, and Virizion target Alolan Golem super effectively, and the latter two can use their respective setup moves if it's forced out.
**Physical Walls** Alolan Golem can struggle to break past Pokemon like Cresselia and Rhyperior depending on what move it's locked into. Mandibuzz can even stall out Wild Charge recoil via Roost.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[tondas, 442732]]
- Quality checked by: [[roman, 396169], [zizalith, 410251], [Averardo, 409096]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Estronic, 240732], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
Alolan Golem's access to the rare Magnet Pull gives it a small niche, as its ability to trap and eliminate prominent Steel-types such as Registeel, Bronzong, Forretress, and Escavalier greatly benefits teammates that struggle to break past them such as Shaymin, Gardevoir, and Linoone. Alolan Golem is also a passable attacker on its own merit, as its decent firepower, coverage options, and physical bulk can be used to threaten slower Pokemon like Slowbro and Alolan Marowak while withstanding moves such as Virizion's unboosted Close Combat and Tyrantrum's Head Smash, where it can then retaliate with the appropriate coverage move. Unfortunately, outside of Magnet Pull, Alolan Golem has little to differentiate itself from other physical wallbreakers and thus receives immense competition from Pokemon such as Zygarde-10% and Metagross. In particular, the former's access to a spammable move in Thousand Arrows, the latter's greater defensive utility, and both of their far superior Speed tiers make them much more reliable choices for most teams. Alolem Golem is also cursed with poor Speed, bad Special Defense, and a typing that leaves it vulnerable to a wide selection of attackers like Roserade, Shaymin, Mega Blastoise, and Zygarde-10%, making it incredibly difficult to use against offensive teams. Finally, Alolan Golem relies on the opposing team utilizing slow Steel-types for it to fulfill its niche, making it depend highly on matchups to function.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Wild Charge
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Fire Punch
move 4: Explosion
item: Choice Band
ability: Magnet Pull
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
The combination of Earthquake and Fire Punch allows Alolem Golem to target every relevant Steel-type, OHKOing or 2HKOing the likes of Registeel, Bronzong, Escavalier, and Forretress. Earthquake and Fire Punch also deal super effective damage to Pokemon that resist Wild Charge such as Mega Ampharos and Virizion. Explosion enables Alolan Golem to sacrifice itself once its role has been fulfilled in order to deal heavy damage to Pokemon like Donphan and Snorlax as well as generate momentum for its team.
Set Details
========
Choice Band alongside full investment in Attack and Speed with an Adamant nature maximizes Alolan Golem's offensive presence while allowing it to outspeed every relevant Steel-type bar Metagross. A Jolly nature can be used instead to outpace Pokemon like Milotic and Mandibuzz as well as outspeed Mega Ampharos without risking a Speed tie, though this cuts into Alolan Golem's power considerably.
Usage Tips
========
Alolan Golem should be brought into play early-game, whether through a pivot or a double switch, into a Steel-type it can beat such as Registeel, Bronzong, or Choice-locked Metagross. However, be cautious with more aggressive play, as this can be telegraphed or even exploited if Alolan Golem is brought in at the wrong time. For instance, Escavalier may use Drill Run to predict an incoming switch into Alolan Golem. Exercise caution of what move Alolan Golem locks itself into, especially Wild Charge, since it allows Ground-types such as Rhyperior and Nidoqueen to come in for free. Alolan Golem can occasionally put its good physical bulk to use by serving as a situational switch-in to Pokemon such as Arcanine, but note that it's susceptible to residual damage, and being worn down too much can prove detrimental to its role. Finally, once Alolan Golem has fulfilled its role or is otherwise no longer needed, Explosion can be used to dent Pokemon such as Donphan and Porygon2 and provide its team with momentum.
Team Options
========
The removal of Steel-types like Registeel, Bronzong, and Forretress is paramount to the success of Pokemon such as Gardevoir, Z-Celebrate Shaymin, Noivern, and Linoone, which can more freely spam their STAB moves with the removal of these Steel-types. The former three can also form an offensive core with Alolan Golem, as they can break down Pokemon that threaten Alolan Golem like Mega Blastoise and Roserade. Pivots such as Ribombee and the previously mentioned Noivern can additionally act as means of luring Steel-types such as Registeel and Bronzong, bringing Alolan Golem into play with much less risk. Various setup sweepers and late-game cleaners such as Virizion, Toxicroak, and Salazzle also appreciate an offensive answer to Pokemon like Alolan Marowak, Slowbro, and Dragalge while thriving off of Alolan Golem's general ability to wallbreak, especially with Explosion. Bulky Pokemon like Florges, Goodra, and Assault Vest Machamp are serviceable switch-ins to the various special attackers that threaten to outspeed and OHKO Alolan Golem, and both Florges and Goodra can liberally use their primary attacks with Steel-types eliminated.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
While Galvanize and Sturdy may seem appealing to give Alolan Golem a powerful Double-Edge or the ability to take any hit from full health, they ultimately take away its main selling point in Magnet Pull, so their use is discouraged.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Zygarde-10%, Flygon, and Nidoqueen can OHKO Alolan Golem with their STAB moves and can switch into Wild Charge. Alolan Golem must also be cautious when switching into Pokemon like Escavalier and Alolan Marowak due to their access to Drill Run and Earthquake. Other Pokemon like Metagross and Lycanroc-D can outright outspeed Alolan Golem and use their respective Ground-type coverage moves.
**Grass-types**: Shaymin, Roserade, and Tsareena threaten to OHKO Alolem with their respective STAB moves, though they can't directly switch into Fire Punch and are outright OHKOed by Explosion.
**Powerful Special Attackers**: While none of these Pokemon can directly switch into any one of Alolan Golem's moves, Pokemon like Mega Blastoise, Necrozma, and Goodra tear right through it due to its pitiful Special Defense.
**Fighting-types**: Machamp, Toxicroak, and Virizion target Alolan Golem super effectively, and the latter two can use their respective setup moves if it's forced out.
**Physical Walls** Alolan Golem can struggle to break past Pokemon like Cresselia and Rhyperior depending on what move it's locked into. Mandibuzz can even stall out Wild Charge recoil via Roost.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[tondas, 442732]]
- Quality checked by: [[roman, 396169], [zizalith, 410251], [Averardo, 409096]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Estronic, 240732], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
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