[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Spore
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Sludge Bomb
move 4: Hidden Power Fire
item: Black Sludge
ability: Regenerator
nature: Calm
evs: 248 HP / 56 Def / 204 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Amoonguss is a bulky special wall that is hard to wear down thanks to Regenerator. It is capable of checking dangerous threats such as Ash-Greninja, Clefable, and Tapu Koko. Spore is capable of almost guaranteeing putting a non-Grass-type foe out of commission via sleep. This is especially effective considering most Grass-types, as well as the sleep blocking Tapu Fini, cannot safely switch into Amoonguss. This also makes Pokemon that would otherwise be able to absorb Sludge Bomb easily, such as Corviknight and Toxapex, hesitant to switch in due to the threat of Spore. Hidden Power Fire hits Kartana and Ferrothorn while also applying some chip to other Steel-types, such as Mega Scizor, Magnezone, and Mega Mawile. Clear Smog can be used over Sludge Bomb to shut down setup attempts from Calm Mind Clefable, Calm Mind Tapu Fini, Swords Dance Gliscor, and a reckless Manaphy, but Sludge Bomb's poison chance and ability to apply more damage to Rillaboom, Tangrowth, and Serperior makes it the preferred option. 56 Defense EVs allow Amoonguss to tank a +2 Smart Strike from Kartana and a +2 Life Orb Knock Off from Rillaboom. 204 Special Defense EVs and a Calm nature allow Amoonguss to tank two Dark Pulses from a transformed Ash-Greninja if at full health. Regenerator is the preferred ability, as it allows Amoonguss to regain health every time it switches out, therefore letting it pivot into threats such as Ash-Greninja, Tapu Koko, and Zeraora consistently.
Amoonguss is bait for most of the metagame's Fire-types, especially if Spore has already been used. Water-types such as Slowking and Tapu Fini are capable of checking the very threatening Heatran, while a bulky Dragon-type such as Garchomp or Kommo-o can help out against Mega Charizard Y and Volcarona. The aforementioned Water-types appreciate Amoonguss checking Electric-types such as Tapu Koko, Magnezone, and Zeraora, while the Dragon-types appreciate Amoonguss dealing with Fairy-types such as Clefable and Tapu Fini. Slowking also appreciates Amoonguss checking Ash-Greninja, while the two of them can work together to form a Regenerator core that is tough to break. A Ground-type, such as Landorus-T, Garchomp, or Gliscor, can also prevent Amoonguss from being pivoted on by Volt Switch by the aforementioned Electric-types. A Dark-resistant Pokemon, such as Clefable or Mega Tyranitar, can also help Amoonguss pivot around Ash-Greninja effectively. Amoonguss is a Grass-type that is incapable of properly checking Ground-types, such as Landorus-T, Garchomp, and Gliscor, as well as Rillaboom. A bulky Flying-type, most notably Corviknight, can help out with this, as can a powerful offensive Ice-type, such as Weavile or Kyurem. Corviknight can also help out Amoonguss against Psychic-types such as Tapu Lele and Mega Latias.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A more physically defensive spread with a Rocky Helmet can be run to check Mega Lopunny and do a bit better against Rillaboom and Kartana, but it isn't even that great against the latter two and leaves Amoonguss vulnerable to Ash-Greninja. Stun Spore can be used to spread paralysis, but Amoonguss tends to miss out on important targets if it drops any of its moves. Toxic can also be run to spread the status onto threats that are generally crippled by it, such as Mega Latias, Hydreigon, Slowbro, Slowking, and Zapdos, but this runs into the same moveslot issues as Stun Spore. An Assault Vest set makes Amoonguss an even bulkier check to threats such as Ash-Greninja and Tapu Koko while also allowing it to lure Heatran via Stomping Tantrum; however, losing out on Spore is annoying, and the Heatran luring strategy can fall apart if your opponent sees that your Amoonguss isn't running Black Sludge. Hidden Power Ice can be used to hit Landorus-T, Garchomp, and Gliscor, but losing Hidden Power Fire prevents Amoonguss from checking Kartana or pushing any sort of meaningful damage onto Ferrothorn or Mega Mawile
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fire-types**: Fire-types such as Heatran, Victini, Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, and Volcarona all threaten Amoonguss with their STAB moves, although none of them want to get put to sleep.
**Flying-types**: Flying-types threaten Amoonguss with their STAB moves, and many of them take very little damage from its standard moves. Corviknight, Landorus-T, and Hawlucha all fit with this. Gliscor, while not running any Flying-type STAB moves, can't be put to sleep after its Toxic Orb activates and easily sets up on variants not running Clear Smog or Hidden Power Ice.
**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types, such as Mega Medicham, Tapu Lele, Reuniclus, and Mega Latias can all threaten Amoonguss greatly. Slowbro and Slowking can also use Future Sight to apply extra pressure and prevent Amoonguss from switching into what it's normally tasked with. They all have to beware of Spore, however.
**Ice-types**: Weavile and Kyurem force out Amoonguss with their powerful STAB moves. Weavile struggles to switch in more than once even if Amoonguss has already used Spore, but SubRoost Kyurem doesn't always have its Substitutes broken by Amoonguss, making it an especially dangerous foe.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Sputnik, 475916]]
- Quality checked by: [[Solaros & Lunaris, 471780], [Zneon, 487629]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Estronic, 240732]]
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