ayedan
5 am in Toronto
(imported from boards)
[OVERVIEW]
A good offensive Ground typing allows Donphan to defeat many common Electric-, Steel-, and Fire-type Pokemon, thus letting it check top threats such as Mega Charizard-X, and Mega Metagross. Donphan also has access to a great coverage move in Head Smash, allowing it to hit the Flying-type Pokemon that would otherwise wall Donphan due to its Ground typing. Donphan also sports high Attack and Defense stats, allowing it to both tank physical hits well and hit hard with its physical attacks. It also has access to a useful priority move in Ice Shard, letting it defeat opposing Sturdy Pokemon such as Crustle while also allowing it to defeat Pokemon that can survive its first attack. Donphan also has an amazing ability in Sturdy, allowing it to survive any hit that isn't from Mold Breaker Pokemon like Mega Gyarados, letting it safely fire off either Tectonic Rage or Continental Crush despite being quite slow. However, Donphan lacks utility moves such as Taunt, making it susceptible to bulky Pokemon that can easily recover off any damage or boost their Defense, such as Mega Slowbro and Deoxys-Speed. Donphan's low Speed stat also means that it will almost always take a hit before moving. Donphan also loses to bulky hard hitters such as Tapu Lele, along with common Intimidate users such as Landorus-Therian. Despite Ground being a good type offensively, it also hurts Donphan quite a bit, as it sports common weaknesses to Water and Ice.
name: Groundium/Rockium
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Ice Shard
move 3: Rock Tomb/Head Smash
move 4: Counter/Head Smash
item: Groundium/Rockium
ability: Sturdy
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD/ 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Earthquake is Donphan's STAB attack and is boosted to a respectable 180 Base Power with a Groundium Z. Tectonic Rage deals massive damage to most Pokemon and can even get past some bulky Pokemon such as maximum HP Genesect. It is capable of OHKOing every Pokemon that it hits super effectively, barring Sturdy users such as Magnezone and Golem. Ice Shard can provide Donphan with priority to finish off faster Pokemon or other sturdies like Crustle. Rock Tomb provides Donphan with valuable speed control that can slow down Pokemon such as Mimikyu. Counter helps against strong physical attackers such as opposing Donphan, Garchomp, and Mega Metagross (if running Continental Crush) due to Donphan's Sturdy along with its high Defense stat. In addition, Rockium Z can be used to give Donphan an extremely powerful Continental Crush that does not break Donphan's Sturdy when the foe does not attack while also removing Head Smash's chance to miss.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack investment with an Adamant nature gives Donphan as much physical power as it can get. Maximum Speed investment lets Donphan outspeed Pokemon like slow Magearna, Aegislash, Bulky Tapu Lele, and Heatran. Groundium Z turns Earthquake into an extremely powerful Tectonic Rage, dealing massive damage to most foes. On the other hand, Rockium Z can be used instead with Head Smash and allows Donphan to more reliably check Fire-, Bug-, and Flying-type Pokemon such as Mega Pinsir and both Mega Charizard formes. Groundium Z is generally preferred over Rockium Z, as it has STAB and can deal with more threats than Rockium Z can.
Usage Tips
=========
In most matchups, use Tectonic Rage or Continental Crush to deal huge damage to foes. Use Head Smash or Continental Crush against the Pokemon that it hits super effectively, such as Volcarona. Tectonic Rage also has more power than Continental Crush due to STAB and can let Donphan beat Pokemon such as Aegislash that Rockium Z cannot. However, Continental Crush can be used to beat Pokemon like Mega Charizard which Groundium Z Donphan normally loses to. Generally, the EdgeQuake coverage is enough to beat most foes, so both sets are effective and can be fitted to suit different teams. Use Ice Shard to pick off weakened Pokemon after a Tectonic Rage, Head Smash, or Continental Crush, especially if the foe has survived due to Sturdy. When up against strong physical attackers such as Kartana, use Counter to deal massive damage after tanking a hit. However, be wary, as some players may predict a Counter and set up instead. It is also wise to use Donphan to scare off potential threats such as Charizard and Mega Metagross, making it easier to bring in Pokemon such as Mega Mawile.
Team Options
========
Donphan can be used on a myriad of teams due to its ability to check a large majority of the metagame and can be a safe option for teams that are weak to many Pokemon. Due to Sturdy and its solid Ground typing, Donphan checks a lot of top picks like Mega Metagross, and Mega Charizard X, which can often defeat many Pokemon on their own. Pokemon such as Mega Gyarados also appreciate Donphan scaring off Steel-type Pokemon such as Magearna and Mega Metagross. Donphan mostly relies on its Sturdy to win, so it generally struggles against Mold Breaker and Fake Out Pokemon, namely Mega Gyarados. As such, checks such as Mega Metagross, and Magearna are heavily appreciated by Donphan, as they can scare them off or defeat them. Mega Gyarados in particular easily defeats Donphan due to Intimidate, its Water typing, and its setup move in Dragon Dance, allowing it to bypass Counter. Donphan also cannot hit many bulky Pokemon such as Mega Slowbro for super effective damage, leaving it unable to deal enough damage before they heal. Due to this, Pokemon such as Greninja that can deal with bulky walls are valuable towards Donphan's success. Special hard hitters such as Porygon-Z can also deal with physically bulky Pokemon that Donphan would usually lose to such as defensive Mega Charizard X.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Gunk Shot can replace Counter to beat Grass- and Fairy-type Pokemon such as Whimsicott and Tapu Bulu, but Counter is generally more useful in defeating more common Pokemon. Another option Donphan can run is Fire Fang, which allows it to beat Ferrothorn, but is generally a waste of a moveslot otherwise, as it forces Donphan to forgo one of its other moves.
Checks and Counters
===================
Mold Breaker: Mega Gyarados can utilize their abilities to nullify Donphan's Sturdy, OHKOing it with powerful super effective attacks.
Physically Defensive Pokemon: Physically bulky Pokemon such as Mega Slowbro and Deoxys-D take very little from Donphan's attacks and can easily heal the damage off. Mega Slowbro can also hit Donphan with super effective Water-type moves, and Deoxys-D can PP stall it.
Ground- and Rock-resistant Pokemon: Pokemon such as Celesteela resist Donphan's high-damaging attacks and can beat Donphan consistently. Some Pokemon such as Magearna and Magnezone, while being weak to Ground, can utilize an Air Balloon, making them immune to Ground while already resisting Donphan's other attacks.
Bulky Special Attackers: Bulky special hard hitters such as Tapu Fini can sponge a few hits from Donphan and KO it with their special attacks. Tapu Lele in particular blocks Ice Shard with Psychic Terrain and can easily 2HKO Donphan due to its low Special Defense.
[OVERVIEW]
A good offensive Ground typing allows Donphan to defeat many common Electric-, Steel-, and Fire-type Pokemon, thus letting it check top threats such as Mega Charizard-X, and Mega Metagross. Donphan also has access to a great coverage move in Head Smash, allowing it to hit the Flying-type Pokemon that would otherwise wall Donphan due to its Ground typing. Donphan also sports high Attack and Defense stats, allowing it to both tank physical hits well and hit hard with its physical attacks. It also has access to a useful priority move in Ice Shard, letting it defeat opposing Sturdy Pokemon such as Crustle while also allowing it to defeat Pokemon that can survive its first attack. Donphan also has an amazing ability in Sturdy, allowing it to survive any hit that isn't from Mold Breaker Pokemon like Mega Gyarados, letting it safely fire off either Tectonic Rage or Continental Crush despite being quite slow. However, Donphan lacks utility moves such as Taunt, making it susceptible to bulky Pokemon that can easily recover off any damage or boost their Defense, such as Mega Slowbro and Deoxys-Speed. Donphan's low Speed stat also means that it will almost always take a hit before moving. Donphan also loses to bulky hard hitters such as Tapu Lele, along with common Intimidate users such as Landorus-Therian. Despite Ground being a good type offensively, it also hurts Donphan quite a bit, as it sports common weaknesses to Water and Ice.
name: Groundium/Rockium
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Ice Shard
move 3: Rock Tomb/Head Smash
move 4: Counter/Head Smash
item: Groundium/Rockium
ability: Sturdy
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD/ 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Earthquake is Donphan's STAB attack and is boosted to a respectable 180 Base Power with a Groundium Z. Tectonic Rage deals massive damage to most Pokemon and can even get past some bulky Pokemon such as maximum HP Genesect. It is capable of OHKOing every Pokemon that it hits super effectively, barring Sturdy users such as Magnezone and Golem. Ice Shard can provide Donphan with priority to finish off faster Pokemon or other sturdies like Crustle. Rock Tomb provides Donphan with valuable speed control that can slow down Pokemon such as Mimikyu. Counter helps against strong physical attackers such as opposing Donphan, Garchomp, and Mega Metagross (if running Continental Crush) due to Donphan's Sturdy along with its high Defense stat. In addition, Rockium Z can be used to give Donphan an extremely powerful Continental Crush that does not break Donphan's Sturdy when the foe does not attack while also removing Head Smash's chance to miss.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack investment with an Adamant nature gives Donphan as much physical power as it can get. Maximum Speed investment lets Donphan outspeed Pokemon like slow Magearna, Aegislash, Bulky Tapu Lele, and Heatran. Groundium Z turns Earthquake into an extremely powerful Tectonic Rage, dealing massive damage to most foes. On the other hand, Rockium Z can be used instead with Head Smash and allows Donphan to more reliably check Fire-, Bug-, and Flying-type Pokemon such as Mega Pinsir and both Mega Charizard formes. Groundium Z is generally preferred over Rockium Z, as it has STAB and can deal with more threats than Rockium Z can.
Usage Tips
=========
In most matchups, use Tectonic Rage or Continental Crush to deal huge damage to foes. Use Head Smash or Continental Crush against the Pokemon that it hits super effectively, such as Volcarona. Tectonic Rage also has more power than Continental Crush due to STAB and can let Donphan beat Pokemon such as Aegislash that Rockium Z cannot. However, Continental Crush can be used to beat Pokemon like Mega Charizard which Groundium Z Donphan normally loses to. Generally, the EdgeQuake coverage is enough to beat most foes, so both sets are effective and can be fitted to suit different teams. Use Ice Shard to pick off weakened Pokemon after a Tectonic Rage, Head Smash, or Continental Crush, especially if the foe has survived due to Sturdy. When up against strong physical attackers such as Kartana, use Counter to deal massive damage after tanking a hit. However, be wary, as some players may predict a Counter and set up instead. It is also wise to use Donphan to scare off potential threats such as Charizard and Mega Metagross, making it easier to bring in Pokemon such as Mega Mawile.
Team Options
========
Donphan can be used on a myriad of teams due to its ability to check a large majority of the metagame and can be a safe option for teams that are weak to many Pokemon. Due to Sturdy and its solid Ground typing, Donphan checks a lot of top picks like Mega Metagross, and Mega Charizard X, which can often defeat many Pokemon on their own. Pokemon such as Mega Gyarados also appreciate Donphan scaring off Steel-type Pokemon such as Magearna and Mega Metagross. Donphan mostly relies on its Sturdy to win, so it generally struggles against Mold Breaker and Fake Out Pokemon, namely Mega Gyarados. As such, checks such as Mega Metagross, and Magearna are heavily appreciated by Donphan, as they can scare them off or defeat them. Mega Gyarados in particular easily defeats Donphan due to Intimidate, its Water typing, and its setup move in Dragon Dance, allowing it to bypass Counter. Donphan also cannot hit many bulky Pokemon such as Mega Slowbro for super effective damage, leaving it unable to deal enough damage before they heal. Due to this, Pokemon such as Greninja that can deal with bulky walls are valuable towards Donphan's success. Special hard hitters such as Porygon-Z can also deal with physically bulky Pokemon that Donphan would usually lose to such as defensive Mega Charizard X.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Gunk Shot can replace Counter to beat Grass- and Fairy-type Pokemon such as Whimsicott and Tapu Bulu, but Counter is generally more useful in defeating more common Pokemon. Another option Donphan can run is Fire Fang, which allows it to beat Ferrothorn, but is generally a waste of a moveslot otherwise, as it forces Donphan to forgo one of its other moves.
Checks and Counters
===================
Mold Breaker: Mega Gyarados can utilize their abilities to nullify Donphan's Sturdy, OHKOing it with powerful super effective attacks.
Physically Defensive Pokemon: Physically bulky Pokemon such as Mega Slowbro and Deoxys-D take very little from Donphan's attacks and can easily heal the damage off. Mega Slowbro can also hit Donphan with super effective Water-type moves, and Deoxys-D can PP stall it.
Ground- and Rock-resistant Pokemon: Pokemon such as Celesteela resist Donphan's high-damaging attacks and can beat Donphan consistently. Some Pokemon such as Magearna and Magnezone, while being weak to Ground, can utilize an Air Balloon, making them immune to Ground while already resisting Donphan's other attacks.
Bulky Special Attackers: Bulky special hard hitters such as Tapu Fini can sponge a few hits from Donphan and KO it with their special attacks. Tapu Lele in particular blocks Ice Shard with Psychic Terrain and can easily 2HKO Donphan due to its low Special Defense.
