[OVERVIEW]
Amoonguss is a potent defensive pivot due to its good defensive typing, which enables it to check dangerous foes such as Zeraora, Azumarill, and Primarina, combined with its access to Regenerator. Access to Spore allows Amoonguss to shut down an opposing foe completely, making it harder to play around and offensively check due to pressuring opponents to choose sleep fodder. Its Poison typing additionally gives it an edge over other common Grass-types, as it is able to threaten Tangrowth and Tapu Bulu with Sludge Bomb, which also prevents them from switching in to absorb Spore. Amoonguss's access to other utility moves such as Toxic and Stun Spore also allows it to cripple its checks over the course of a game. However, despite Amoonguss's good defensive typing, it struggles against metagame staples like Victini and Latias, with the latter being able to use it as setup fodder provided a teammate has been put to sleep. It can also be overwhelmed by Pokemon it is supposed to check due to their access to coverage, such as Ice Punch from Azumarill, Psychic from Primarina, and Blaze Kick from Zeraora. It is also prone to being pivoted on by Electric-types that it can switch into. After using Spore, Amoonguss is easy to take advantage of by setup sweepers that take little from its other moves such as Reuniclus, Galarian Slowbro, and Scizor. It also struggles against Substitute users such as Suicune and Primarina, as it cannot put them to sleep and their ability to to boost their Special Defense with Calm Mind prevents Amoonguss from being able to break their Substitute. Amoonguss faces competition from Tangrowth as a defensive Grass-type pivot, which can opt to run Assault Vest sets to check specially offensive foes such as Magnezone and Thundurus-T. Physically defensive Tangrowth is also a more reliable check to Lycanroc-D and Terrakion.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Spore
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Sludge Bomb
move 4: Foul Play / Stun Spore
item: Rocky Helmet / Black Sludge
ability: Regenerator
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 220 Def / 36 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Spore forces threatening foes such as Scizor and Galarian Slowbro out, preventing them from using Amoonguss as setup fodder. It also often requires an opposing team to use a Pokemon as sleep fodder, making it easier for Amoonguss's teammates to capitalize on. Giga Drain heavily damages Terrakion and Keldeo, which Amoonguss naturally checks by virtue of its typing and bulk. It also enables Amoonguss to regain some HP, reducing the need for it to continually pivot for Regenerator recovery. Sludge Bomb threatens Primarina and Azumarill, as well as punishing Tangrowth and Tapu Bulu that may switch in to prevent a foe from being put to sleep by Spore. It is also useful for the chance to poison switch-ins such as Latias and Victini. Foul Play dents physical attackers such as Scizor and prevents them from setting up on Amoonguss, and it is also Amoonguss's best way to damage other Steel-types such as Jirachi. Stun Spore can be considered to paralyze threatening switch-ins such as Victini after Spore has been used. Toxic is a more reliable way to punish Latias as well as Kommo-o, most notably Overcoat variants, which would normally switch into Amoonguss risk-free. However, it means Amoonguss cannot damage Steel-types at all aside from putting them to sleep with Spore. Rocky Helmet punishes physical attackers Amoonguss switches into, such as Azumarill and Tapu Bulu, and it can also be used to punish U-turn users such as Jirachi and Scizor that attempt to pivot out of Amoonguss. Black Sludge is an alternative option that reduces Amoonguss's reliance on switching out to regain HP with Regenerator. 36 Special Defense EVs guarantee that Amoonguss can take a Choice Specs-boosted Psychic from Primarina as well as better check Keldeo, but a spread with maximum Defense can also be run to increase its effectiveness against Azumarill and Terrakion.
Amoonguss fits best on bulky offense, balance, and stall teams that appreciate its ability to blanket check dangerous metagame staples such as Azumarill and Terrakion. They also appreciate its ability to threaten an opposing team with Spore, often forcing a Pokemon to be used as sleep fodder. Offensive partners appreciate Amoonguss's role as a check to several offensive foes and its ability to pivot in often and force switches with the threat of Spore. Teammates like Azumarill, Victini, and Zeraora can capitalize on these forced switches, and the latter two can also use U-turn and Volt Switch to bring Amoonguss in on their checks such as Latias and Tangrowth. Latias is especially dangerous for Amoonguss, as it can use it as setup fodder if a teammate has been put to sleep. Checks to Latias, such as Celesteela and Jirachi, are useful partners that can switch into Latias and force it out. Dark-types such as Krookodile can offensively check Latias as well as other Psychic-types like Galarian Slowbro but struggle to switch in. Amoonguss is heavily threatened by Fire-types such as Victini and Rotom-H, so checks to these such as Latias and Terrakion make good partners. While Amoonguss's Grass typing enables it to check Electric-types like Zeraora, it can still be pivoted on and taken advantage of, so Ground-types such as Rhyperior and Palossand can help ease this matchup further. Amoonguss is vulnerable to Stealth Rock and Spikes chip damage, so Defog support from partners such as Salamence, particularly on bulkier teams, enables it to switch in more often and prevents entry hazards from cancelling out its Regenerator recovery. Slowking pairs well with Amoonguss because it can check Latias, Victini, and Kommo-o, and it forms a dual Regenerator core with Amoonguss and can use Teleport to bring it in on Pokemon it checks. On stall teams, special walls like Chansey and specially defensive Celesteela can take on special attackers like Latias, Nidoqueen, and Choice Specs Primarina that may overwhelm Amoonguss.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Amoonguss can run an itemless set to ensure it survives a +6 Knock Off from Belly Drum Azumarill, but this is very situational and worsens its matchup against the Choice Band set as well as other physical attackers by losing the ability to chip them with Rocky Helmet. Heavy-Duty Boots can also be run to help it pivot in against Spikes stacking teams, but the chip damage or passive recovery is too valuable. It is also prone to being hit by Knock Off from Pokemon it attempts to check such as Zeraora and Azumarill, limiting the effectiveness of this set. Synthesis allows Amoonguss to recover HP without needing to switch out, so it is forced out less. However, being able to hit foes with Foul Play or a status condition is more valuable because Amoonguss's pivot role means it will switch in and out frequently. Eject Button can be run so Amoonguss can pivot into a foe, take a hit, and bring in a teammate safely. It can also be used to bring in Magnezone to trap Steel-types. Seed Bomb does more damage to Calm Mind Primarina, particularly Substitute sets that can boost enough to stop Sludge Bomb breaking the Substitute. However, it does less damage to most other Water-types and loses out on the recovery of Giga Drain. Growth gives Amoonguss some offensive presence and to set up alongside Calm Mind Primarina, but since its STAB combination is resisted by Steel-types, it won't often make progress. It is also forced out too much for a setup set to be effective.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Psychic-types**: Latias is the biggest threat to Amoonguss, as it can force it out with strong STAB attacks or use it as setup fodder if a teammate has not been put to sleep. Other Psychic-types, such as Galarian Slowbro and Alakazam, can also take advantage of Amoonguss.
**Fire-types**: Victini offensively pressures Amoonguss with Fire- and Psychic-type STAB moves, and it also has access to U-turn to pivot after forcing Amoonguss out. Rotom-H is also threatening and can gain momentum with Volt Switch or set up with Nasty Plot, and Chandelure can switch in freely and either set up or fire off strong attacks.
**Strong Wallbreakers:** While Amoonguss is bulky, it can be overwhelmed by wallbreakers such as Nidoqueen, Mamoswine, and Diggersby. It can also struggle against a boosted Terrakion despite being a reliable switch-in. These Pokemon all fear Spore, however, so they can only effectively threaten Amoonguss if a teammate has been put to sleep.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[martha, 384270]]
- Quality checked by: [[Hilomilo, 313384], [avarice, 346653], [Twilight, 344575]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
Amoonguss is a potent defensive pivot due to its good defensive typing, which enables it to check dangerous foes such as Zeraora, Azumarill, and Primarina, combined with its access to Regenerator. Access to Spore allows Amoonguss to shut down an opposing foe completely, making it harder to play around and offensively check due to pressuring opponents to choose sleep fodder. Its Poison typing additionally gives it an edge over other common Grass-types, as it is able to threaten Tangrowth and Tapu Bulu with Sludge Bomb, which also prevents them from switching in to absorb Spore. Amoonguss's access to other utility moves such as Toxic and Stun Spore also allows it to cripple its checks over the course of a game. However, despite Amoonguss's good defensive typing, it struggles against metagame staples like Victini and Latias, with the latter being able to use it as setup fodder provided a teammate has been put to sleep. It can also be overwhelmed by Pokemon it is supposed to check due to their access to coverage, such as Ice Punch from Azumarill, Psychic from Primarina, and Blaze Kick from Zeraora. It is also prone to being pivoted on by Electric-types that it can switch into. After using Spore, Amoonguss is easy to take advantage of by setup sweepers that take little from its other moves such as Reuniclus, Galarian Slowbro, and Scizor. It also struggles against Substitute users such as Suicune and Primarina, as it cannot put them to sleep and their ability to to boost their Special Defense with Calm Mind prevents Amoonguss from being able to break their Substitute. Amoonguss faces competition from Tangrowth as a defensive Grass-type pivot, which can opt to run Assault Vest sets to check specially offensive foes such as Magnezone and Thundurus-T. Physically defensive Tangrowth is also a more reliable check to Lycanroc-D and Terrakion.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Spore
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Sludge Bomb
move 4: Foul Play / Stun Spore
item: Rocky Helmet / Black Sludge
ability: Regenerator
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 220 Def / 36 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Spore forces threatening foes such as Scizor and Galarian Slowbro out, preventing them from using Amoonguss as setup fodder. It also often requires an opposing team to use a Pokemon as sleep fodder, making it easier for Amoonguss's teammates to capitalize on. Giga Drain heavily damages Terrakion and Keldeo, which Amoonguss naturally checks by virtue of its typing and bulk. It also enables Amoonguss to regain some HP, reducing the need for it to continually pivot for Regenerator recovery. Sludge Bomb threatens Primarina and Azumarill, as well as punishing Tangrowth and Tapu Bulu that may switch in to prevent a foe from being put to sleep by Spore. It is also useful for the chance to poison switch-ins such as Latias and Victini. Foul Play dents physical attackers such as Scizor and prevents them from setting up on Amoonguss, and it is also Amoonguss's best way to damage other Steel-types such as Jirachi. Stun Spore can be considered to paralyze threatening switch-ins such as Victini after Spore has been used. Toxic is a more reliable way to punish Latias as well as Kommo-o, most notably Overcoat variants, which would normally switch into Amoonguss risk-free. However, it means Amoonguss cannot damage Steel-types at all aside from putting them to sleep with Spore. Rocky Helmet punishes physical attackers Amoonguss switches into, such as Azumarill and Tapu Bulu, and it can also be used to punish U-turn users such as Jirachi and Scizor that attempt to pivot out of Amoonguss. Black Sludge is an alternative option that reduces Amoonguss's reliance on switching out to regain HP with Regenerator. 36 Special Defense EVs guarantee that Amoonguss can take a Choice Specs-boosted Psychic from Primarina as well as better check Keldeo, but a spread with maximum Defense can also be run to increase its effectiveness against Azumarill and Terrakion.
Amoonguss fits best on bulky offense, balance, and stall teams that appreciate its ability to blanket check dangerous metagame staples such as Azumarill and Terrakion. They also appreciate its ability to threaten an opposing team with Spore, often forcing a Pokemon to be used as sleep fodder. Offensive partners appreciate Amoonguss's role as a check to several offensive foes and its ability to pivot in often and force switches with the threat of Spore. Teammates like Azumarill, Victini, and Zeraora can capitalize on these forced switches, and the latter two can also use U-turn and Volt Switch to bring Amoonguss in on their checks such as Latias and Tangrowth. Latias is especially dangerous for Amoonguss, as it can use it as setup fodder if a teammate has been put to sleep. Checks to Latias, such as Celesteela and Jirachi, are useful partners that can switch into Latias and force it out. Dark-types such as Krookodile can offensively check Latias as well as other Psychic-types like Galarian Slowbro but struggle to switch in. Amoonguss is heavily threatened by Fire-types such as Victini and Rotom-H, so checks to these such as Latias and Terrakion make good partners. While Amoonguss's Grass typing enables it to check Electric-types like Zeraora, it can still be pivoted on and taken advantage of, so Ground-types such as Rhyperior and Palossand can help ease this matchup further. Amoonguss is vulnerable to Stealth Rock and Spikes chip damage, so Defog support from partners such as Salamence, particularly on bulkier teams, enables it to switch in more often and prevents entry hazards from cancelling out its Regenerator recovery. Slowking pairs well with Amoonguss because it can check Latias, Victini, and Kommo-o, and it forms a dual Regenerator core with Amoonguss and can use Teleport to bring it in on Pokemon it checks. On stall teams, special walls like Chansey and specially defensive Celesteela can take on special attackers like Latias, Nidoqueen, and Choice Specs Primarina that may overwhelm Amoonguss.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Amoonguss can run an itemless set to ensure it survives a +6 Knock Off from Belly Drum Azumarill, but this is very situational and worsens its matchup against the Choice Band set as well as other physical attackers by losing the ability to chip them with Rocky Helmet. Heavy-Duty Boots can also be run to help it pivot in against Spikes stacking teams, but the chip damage or passive recovery is too valuable. It is also prone to being hit by Knock Off from Pokemon it attempts to check such as Zeraora and Azumarill, limiting the effectiveness of this set. Synthesis allows Amoonguss to recover HP without needing to switch out, so it is forced out less. However, being able to hit foes with Foul Play or a status condition is more valuable because Amoonguss's pivot role means it will switch in and out frequently. Eject Button can be run so Amoonguss can pivot into a foe, take a hit, and bring in a teammate safely. It can also be used to bring in Magnezone to trap Steel-types. Seed Bomb does more damage to Calm Mind Primarina, particularly Substitute sets that can boost enough to stop Sludge Bomb breaking the Substitute. However, it does less damage to most other Water-types and loses out on the recovery of Giga Drain. Growth gives Amoonguss some offensive presence and to set up alongside Calm Mind Primarina, but since its STAB combination is resisted by Steel-types, it won't often make progress. It is also forced out too much for a setup set to be effective.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Psychic-types**: Latias is the biggest threat to Amoonguss, as it can force it out with strong STAB attacks or use it as setup fodder if a teammate has not been put to sleep. Other Psychic-types, such as Galarian Slowbro and Alakazam, can also take advantage of Amoonguss.
**Fire-types**: Victini offensively pressures Amoonguss with Fire- and Psychic-type STAB moves, and it also has access to U-turn to pivot after forcing Amoonguss out. Rotom-H is also threatening and can gain momentum with Volt Switch or set up with Nasty Plot, and Chandelure can switch in freely and either set up or fire off strong attacks.
**Strong Wallbreakers:** While Amoonguss is bulky, it can be overwhelmed by wallbreakers such as Nidoqueen, Mamoswine, and Diggersby. It can also struggle against a boosted Terrakion despite being a reliable switch-in. These Pokemon all fear Spore, however, so they can only effectively threaten Amoonguss if a teammate has been put to sleep.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[martha, 384270]]
- Quality checked by: [[Hilomilo, 313384], [avarice, 346653], [Twilight, 344575]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
Last edited:
