[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 8
**Price Range**: 1-2 points
**Overview**: Dewgong is outclassed by most Pokemon with similar roles due to its below-average stats and its secondary Ice typing holding it back defensively. Additionally, its relatively poor coverage and unimpressive offensive stats can make it rather passive. The few positives Dewgong brings to the table include a decent amount of utility moves including Encore and Flip Turn, which can be very useful to provide disruption. Furthermore, thanks to Thick Fat, it's a very cheap addition for teams that struggle with opposing Ice and Fire-types. However, Dewgong is still a very flawed Pokemon that is only useful in certain scenarios.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Special Wall**: Dewgong can act as a wall to certain special attackers due to having just good enough bulk when invested. Thick Fat can make Ice-type moves bounce off effortlessly and helps it absorb the Fire-type attacks that would otherwise annoy it. Furthermore, it can take advantage of its utility options to disrupt the opposing team, using moves like Encore to slow progress and Knock Off to punish switch-ins. Lastly, with Flip Turn, Dewgong can escape a poor matchup to maintain momentum for its partners. Be advised that Dewgong can only heal with Rest to stay healthy, which means it has to be used carefully to avoid taking too much damage.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Ice Beam, Ice Spinner, Icicle Spear, Ice Shard, Triple Axel, Hydro Pump, Surf, Liquidation, Waterfall, Aqua Jet
**Utility Moves**: Rest, Sleep Talk, Encore, Whirlpool, Flip Turn, Haze, Icy Wind, Substitute
**Coverage**: Alluring Voice, Drill Run, Knock Off, Play Rough, Smart Strike
Niche Moves
========
**Curse**: Dewgong's only setup move is Curse, which it can attempt to use to become more offensively potent. This can pair well with Ice Shard and Aqua Jet to ensure that it can pick off targets without having to worry about the loss in Speed.
**Perish Song**: When paired with Whirlpool, Dewgong can use Perish Song to trap and forcibly remove an opposing Pokemon that is unable to pivot or escape.
**Endeavor**: While it is somewhat predictable when paired with Custap Berry and Endure, Dewgong can cripple an opposing Pokemon by dragging them down to 1 HP so it can be picked off by a teammate.
Common Items
========
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots allows Dewgong to bypass its weakness to Stealth Rock, helping it stay healthy throughout the match to wall opposing threats.
**Leftovers**: When its teammates can prevent entry hazards from being stacked on its side, Leftovers can provide Dewgong with passive recovery, providing it better longevity.
Niche Items
========
**Offensive Items**: Dewgong can attempt to surprise foes that expect a defensive set with damage-boosting items like Choice Band and Choice Specs.
**Custap Berry**: Custap Berry can be used alongside Endure to allow for a one-time priority turn to pick off a faster foe or severely weaken it with Endeavor.
**Resistance Berries**: Resistance Berries, such as Chople Berry, can help Dewgong sponge a super effective attack so that it can provide disruption with Haze to deny a sweep.
**Weakness Policy**: Dewgong can take advantage of Weakness Policy thanks to having common weaknesses that could easily trigger it, turning it into a surprise offensive threat with priority to deny revenge killing.
**Assault Vest**: Despite its underwhelming offensive power, Dewgong has the tools to be a makeshift Assault Vest user, offering a mix of defensive utility and more offensive presence.
Tera
========
While Dewgong can certainly capitalize on the benefits of Terastallization, doing so will generally deny you from utilizing higher-cost Tera Captains most of the time, so it is not recommended. If you are able to Terastallize Dewgong, it can shed its poor Ice typing to become a more potent wall with either Tera Grass, Poison, or Fairy among others.
Draft Strategy
========
At best, Dewgong is going to be an extra addition to an already-well-crafted team that appreciates its few positive qualities without having to rely on it for every match.
**Ice Weak Pokemon**: Many of the strongest Pokemon, like Great Tusk, Roaring Moon, Landorus, and Meowscarada, have nasty weaknesses to Ice and can appreciate Dewgong's ability to switch into Ice-type attacks on their behalf. In turn, many of these Pokemon can comfortably take on the moves that Dewgong is weak to itself to improve its capacity to be a wall.
**Bulky Defensive Pokemon**: Dewgong shouldn't be the sole defensive Pokemon on a team, and it works better when it can be paired with more sturdy defensive partners including other bulky Water-types such as Tentacruel and Primarina. Furthermore, it appreciates being paired with Pokemon such as Gliscor, Hydrapple, and Uxie that can switch in on the attacks that prey on its common weaknesses.
Checks and Counters
========
**Strong Physical Wallbreakers*: Dewgong can find itself as dead weight against strong physical wallbreakers that can easily prey on its many weaknesses, including Urshifu-S, Iron Boulder, and Iron Hands.
**Opposing Disruption**: Dewgong is not very offensively threatening and is slow, meaning its passivity can be punished with Pokemon that can shut it down with Taunt or Encore. It also relies on RestTalk for healing, which can be punished by threatening setup sweepers.
**Item Removal**: Dewgong hates Knock Off, as it relies heavily on items in order to stay healthy and avoid chip damage. Furthermore, Trick and Switcheroo can make Dewgong almost useless if it is given a Choice item.
**Chip Damage**: Dewgong's only healing move is Rest, so it is vulnerable to getting worn down with repeated hits. Without Heavy-Duty Boots, it gets ravaged by Stealth Rock, which greatly impedes its walling capabilities.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/patar136.571123/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/theuncultured.629845/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/drizzle.313217/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
**Draft Order**: Round 8
**Price Range**: 1-2 points
**Overview**: Dewgong is outclassed by most Pokemon with similar roles due to its below-average stats and its secondary Ice typing holding it back defensively. Additionally, its relatively poor coverage and unimpressive offensive stats can make it rather passive. The few positives Dewgong brings to the table include a decent amount of utility moves including Encore and Flip Turn, which can be very useful to provide disruption. Furthermore, thanks to Thick Fat, it's a very cheap addition for teams that struggle with opposing Ice and Fire-types. However, Dewgong is still a very flawed Pokemon that is only useful in certain scenarios.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Special Wall**: Dewgong can act as a wall to certain special attackers due to having just good enough bulk when invested. Thick Fat can make Ice-type moves bounce off effortlessly and helps it absorb the Fire-type attacks that would otherwise annoy it. Furthermore, it can take advantage of its utility options to disrupt the opposing team, using moves like Encore to slow progress and Knock Off to punish switch-ins. Lastly, with Flip Turn, Dewgong can escape a poor matchup to maintain momentum for its partners. Be advised that Dewgong can only heal with Rest to stay healthy, which means it has to be used carefully to avoid taking too much damage.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Ice Beam, Ice Spinner, Icicle Spear, Ice Shard, Triple Axel, Hydro Pump, Surf, Liquidation, Waterfall, Aqua Jet
**Utility Moves**: Rest, Sleep Talk, Encore, Whirlpool, Flip Turn, Haze, Icy Wind, Substitute
**Coverage**: Alluring Voice, Drill Run, Knock Off, Play Rough, Smart Strike
Niche Moves
========
**Curse**: Dewgong's only setup move is Curse, which it can attempt to use to become more offensively potent. This can pair well with Ice Shard and Aqua Jet to ensure that it can pick off targets without having to worry about the loss in Speed.
**Perish Song**: When paired with Whirlpool, Dewgong can use Perish Song to trap and forcibly remove an opposing Pokemon that is unable to pivot or escape.
**Endeavor**: While it is somewhat predictable when paired with Custap Berry and Endure, Dewgong can cripple an opposing Pokemon by dragging them down to 1 HP so it can be picked off by a teammate.
Common Items
========
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots allows Dewgong to bypass its weakness to Stealth Rock, helping it stay healthy throughout the match to wall opposing threats.
**Leftovers**: When its teammates can prevent entry hazards from being stacked on its side, Leftovers can provide Dewgong with passive recovery, providing it better longevity.
Niche Items
========
**Offensive Items**: Dewgong can attempt to surprise foes that expect a defensive set with damage-boosting items like Choice Band and Choice Specs.
**Custap Berry**: Custap Berry can be used alongside Endure to allow for a one-time priority turn to pick off a faster foe or severely weaken it with Endeavor.
**Resistance Berries**: Resistance Berries, such as Chople Berry, can help Dewgong sponge a super effective attack so that it can provide disruption with Haze to deny a sweep.
**Weakness Policy**: Dewgong can take advantage of Weakness Policy thanks to having common weaknesses that could easily trigger it, turning it into a surprise offensive threat with priority to deny revenge killing.
**Assault Vest**: Despite its underwhelming offensive power, Dewgong has the tools to be a makeshift Assault Vest user, offering a mix of defensive utility and more offensive presence.
Tera
========
While Dewgong can certainly capitalize on the benefits of Terastallization, doing so will generally deny you from utilizing higher-cost Tera Captains most of the time, so it is not recommended. If you are able to Terastallize Dewgong, it can shed its poor Ice typing to become a more potent wall with either Tera Grass, Poison, or Fairy among others.
Draft Strategy
========
At best, Dewgong is going to be an extra addition to an already-well-crafted team that appreciates its few positive qualities without having to rely on it for every match.
**Ice Weak Pokemon**: Many of the strongest Pokemon, like Great Tusk, Roaring Moon, Landorus, and Meowscarada, have nasty weaknesses to Ice and can appreciate Dewgong's ability to switch into Ice-type attacks on their behalf. In turn, many of these Pokemon can comfortably take on the moves that Dewgong is weak to itself to improve its capacity to be a wall.
**Bulky Defensive Pokemon**: Dewgong shouldn't be the sole defensive Pokemon on a team, and it works better when it can be paired with more sturdy defensive partners including other bulky Water-types such as Tentacruel and Primarina. Furthermore, it appreciates being paired with Pokemon such as Gliscor, Hydrapple, and Uxie that can switch in on the attacks that prey on its common weaknesses.
Checks and Counters
========
**Strong Physical Wallbreakers*: Dewgong can find itself as dead weight against strong physical wallbreakers that can easily prey on its many weaknesses, including Urshifu-S, Iron Boulder, and Iron Hands.
**Opposing Disruption**: Dewgong is not very offensively threatening and is slow, meaning its passivity can be punished with Pokemon that can shut it down with Taunt or Encore. It also relies on RestTalk for healing, which can be punished by threatening setup sweepers.
**Item Removal**: Dewgong hates Knock Off, as it relies heavily on items in order to stay healthy and avoid chip damage. Furthermore, Trick and Switcheroo can make Dewgong almost useless if it is given a Choice item.
**Chip Damage**: Dewgong's only healing move is Rest, so it is vulnerable to getting worn down with repeated hits. Without Heavy-Duty Boots, it gets ravaged by Stealth Rock, which greatly impedes its walling capabilities.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/patar136.571123/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/theuncultured.629845/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/drizzle.313217/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Last edited:
