Okay, I think I finished the Garchomp Update. I made some changes to the oppion, because the previous one claimed that Garchomp is out classed by the other Uber Dragons, which is simply not true. I also added the fact that Lugia has to be timid to be a sure fire counter to Garchomp, as Swords Dance Garchomp can OHKO Lugia with 2+ Stone Edge after Stealth Rock. Please, feel free to criticize this, I want to make this as good as possible.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Outrage
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Dragon Claw
move 4: Toxic / Stone Edge
item: Choice Scarf
nature: Jolly
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Choice Scarf Garchomp is an excellent revenge killer and cleaner in the Uber environment. Thanks to Garchomp's 102 base Speed and Choice Scarf, Garchomp can easily outrun and revenge kill almost every Dragon-type Pokémon used in Ubers (the exceptions being the incredibly rare Choice Scarf Latias or Latios, and Kingdra in the rain). Garchomp is also one of the few Pokémon who can revenge kill both Dragon Dance Rayquaza and Swords Dance Rayquaza, with its good defenses and higher Speed. Note that if Garchomp is a team's main way to deal with Swords Dance Rayquaza, it is advisable to try keeping Garchomp at near full health until it has KOed Rayquaza. A once Swords Danced Life Orb Adamant Rayquaza deals 80%-94% to Garchomp with Extremespeed and may down it if it's previously taken any residual damage.
<p>Outrage is important for this set, because Garchomp does not have the power of Choice Band to boost his attacks; Outrage's STAB and 120 base power help make up for the lack of a boost. STAB Earthquake is important for coverage, taking out Dialga, Metagross, and other Steel-types in Ubers. Dragon Claw is weaker than Outrage; however, it gives Garchomp the ability to attack with a reliable Dragon-type move and retain the freedom to switch. Toxic is normally the best choice for the last slot, because Toxic can cripple Lugia and let Garchomp survive an encounter with Wobbuffet. Stone Edge is another option - capable of OHKOing Ho-oh and, with Stealth Rock damage, 2HKOing some Lugia. Faster variants designed to outrun Jolly Rayquaza will usually be 2HKOed but bulkier sets are much more likely to survive. A Fire move can also be used in the last slot (either Fire Blast or Fire Fang) to do a severe amount of damage to Forretress.</p>
<p>Stealth Rock support is very important for this set. This is because without it, Garchomp cannot OHKO Palkia or Rayquaza with Dragon Claw. Steel-types like Forretress and Scizor can easily switch into Garchomp's Dragon-type attacks and set up entry hazards or attack, while Lugia and Deoxys-D can also switch into any attack bar Toxic and wall Garchomp. Because of these checks, support Dialga can be a fantastic teammate for Choice Scarf Garchomp. Dialga resists most of the Steel Pokémon's attacks, and can either OHKO them with Fire Blast or set up Stealth Rock. Dialga can also cripple Lugia and Deoxys-D with Toxic. Choice Specs Kyogre can be a very useful teammate as well. Not only does Choice Specs Kyogre easily OHKO most of Garchomp's checks with STAB Water attacks, but Choice Scarf Garchomp can also revenge kill Palkia and Latias or switch into their Thunders aimed at Kyogre. Unfortunately, Wobbuffet can easily switch into any of Garchomp's attacks bar Outrage (which only has a 22% chance of 2HKOing 28 HP/228 Def neutral-natured Wobbuffet with Leftovers, even after switching into Stealth Rock) and either KO with Counter or use Safeguard to set up after being hit by Toxic. There isn't much that can be done to solve this beyond predicting a Wobbuffet switch-in, because Garchomp will be trapped due to Wobbuffet's Shadow Tag ability.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Outrage
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Dragon Claw
item: Choice Band
nature: Jolly
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Garchomp makes a fantastic user of Choice Band in the Uber environment. With 333 Speed and 538 Attack, not a whole lot can switch into this set safely. Opponents may be expecting the Choice Scarf set, and Earthquake 2HKOs many of that set's common switch-ins such as Scizor and Wobbuffet. Earthquake will also OHKO most Dialga (unless it has used Bulk Up once) and any other grounded Steel-type in Ubers. Outrage is an excellent clean-up attack once the main threats to Garchomp have been eliminated. For example, Outrage can even 2HKO most support Groudons after they take damage from Stealth Rock. Outrage should always be used with extreme caution because once it is used, Garchomp cannot switch out and stays locked into using it repeatedly.</p>
<p>Stone Edge is Garchomp's best move against Lugia. Lugia is the dominant wall in Ubers, but does not always invest enough Speed to outpace Garchomp. This gives Garchomp a fighting chance against some slower Lugia as long as Stealth Rock is present on the field, though Garchomp should always avoid facing off with a faster Lugia. As with the Choice Scarf set, Dragon Claw is useful to finish off weakened Pokémon without becoming locked into.</p>
<p>This set has issues with faster Pokémon that can revenge kill it with super effective moves. The main Pokémon to watch out for are Mewtwo, Darkrai, Latias, Latios, and any Dragon-type Pokémon with a Choice Scarf. A Scizor with 176 EVs in both Special Defense and HP can be a good way to deal with these threats. Scizor can switch into any of the Choiced Dragon moves and then Roost away the damage, predict a switch and use Pursuit, or use U-turn to scout the next switch-in. Scizor can also beat Darkrai if Sleep Clause is in effect, in addition to checking offensive Mewtwo without a Fire move and Latias that lack Thunder or Hidden Power Fire. Heracross is another viable teammate for Choice Band Garchomp, because Heracross can absorb Darkrai's Dark Voids and can switch into a defensive Mewtwo's Will-o-Wisp thanks to Guts. Finally, Choice Band Tyranitar can easily defeat both Latias and Latios, thanks to the Special Defense boost granted by Sand Stream. The sandstorm also makes Choice Band Garchomp harder to beat, thanks to the evasion boost that Sand Veil gives it.</p>
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Outrage / Dragon Claw
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Stone Edge / Fire Fang
item: Life Orb / Haban Berry / Yache Berry
nature: Jolly
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With Life Orb and Swords Dance, Garchomp is nearly unstoppable offensively. After a Swords Dance, even Lugia is OHKOed by Stone Edge (Stealth Rock is required if Garchomp lacks Life Orb). Garchomp outspeeds and can OHKO a Groudon that has 252 HP evs and 32 Defense EVs with Outrage over 50% of the time. STAB Earthquake wrecks Steel-types that can take a boosted Outrage, like Dialga and Metagross.</p>
<p>Garchomp's main advantage over Rayquaza as a Swords Dancer is its Speed. Seven points may not seem like much, but outspeeding Hasty Palkia is invaluable. It also gives Garchomp a chance of decimating most Latias that don't invest heavily in Speed. The lack of ExtremeSpeed is rather unfortunate for Garchomp, but with its bulk, typing, and ability, it's still very viable. Immunity to Thunder also allows Garchomp to potentially switch into Specs Kyogre and obtain a free Swords Dance during the switch.</p>
<p>Two other item options work well when using Swords Dance Garchomp. Haban Berry can let Garchomp survive any Dragon-type move from a faster Dragon Pokémon bar Draco Meteors from Latias and Latios, and KO the Pokémon. Yache Berry can work in a similar manner, though Garchomp is still OHKOed by a Choice Specs Kyogre's Ice Beam. Note that the OHKOs on Groudon are lost if you use any other item besides Life Orb, and Lugia will require Stealth Rock support to KO. Dragon Claw is a useful move choice over Outrage if you're unwary of being locked in. The base power is an issue, however. For example, Giratina is only 2HKOed by Dragon Claw after a Swords Dance, but is OHKOed by Outrage with the same boosts. If using Life Orb, Dragon Claw becomes a more viable option, because Garchomp will often OHKO Giratina with a 2+ Dragn Claw after it takes Stealth Rock damage. Fire Fang is an option over Stone Edge if your team has additional ways to deal with Lugia, as Fire Fang can OHKO Forretress and Scizor if it is not raining.</p>
<p>Wobbuffet is an excellent teammate for Swords Dance Garchomp for a number of reasons. Thanks to Shadow Tag, Wobbuffet can trap and KO Choice Scarfed Dragon-types with either Mirror Coat or Counter, eliminating some of the main barriers to Garchomp's sweep. Wobbuffet can also help Garchomp set up a Swords Dance thanks to Encore. Additionally, Wobbuffet can use Tickle to lower Lugia's defense. After two Tickles, Choice Band Tyranitar can OHKO Lugia with Pursuit as it switches. With Lugia gone, Garchomp has a much easier time sweeping. Much like with Choice Band Garchomp, Scizor is a helpful partner that can beat offensive Mewtwo that lack a Fire move. Choice Scarf Heracross and Sleep Talk Kyogre can switch into Darkrai's Dark Void. Even with Garchomp's 102 base speed, paralysis support can be helpful for stopping faster foes from disrupting Garchomp's sweep. Lugia is a good choice for a Thunder Waver. Lugia is a good choice for providing paralysis support, as it often lures Mewtwo and Darkrai in and so can then promptly cripple them with Thunder Wave. Thunder Wave Kyogre is another good choice, because it can lure in Choice Scarf Palkia and Latias.</p>
[SET]
name: SubSalac
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Substitute
move 3: Dragon Claw / Outrage
move 4: Earthquake
item: Salac Berry
nature: Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
IVs: 30 HP
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set allows Garchomp to safely Swords Dance without as much prediction, thanks to Substitute. ehind the Substitute, feel free to use Swords Dance until the Substitute breaks. Once the Substitute is broken, repeat the process until the Salac Berry activates, then you are ready to sweep. Dragon Claw allows Garchomp to switch attacks, ensuring that Garchomp is not stopped cold by most Steels. Outrage is still a worthwhile secondary choice however. because Garchomp will be at low HP after Salac activates, Outrage is worth considering due to its higher base power over Dragon Claw. Even with a Swords Dance, there are a number of pokemon Garchomp will still be unable to KO with either of his attacking moves. Outrage offers the strongest alternative possible, at the risk of being walled after using it. Whichever Dragon-type attack you choose, Earthquake is the best move to pair with it, offering the most additional coverage and STAB. Stone Edge isn't worth considering; you lose the guaranteed OHKO on Lugia, but Dragon and Ground offer far superior coverage than any other combination, and you still maintain a slim chance of OHKOing Lugia with Outrage after Stealth Rock damage.</p>
<p>Much like the Swords Dance set. Sub Salac Garchomp has a much easier time sweeping with Wobbuffet as a teammate. Because this Garchomp lacks Stone Edge, Bold Lugia can survive its assaults. Choice Band Tyranitar will easily KO a fleeing Lugia after Wobbuffet tickles it twice, providing Garchomp with a much easier opportunity at sweeping. Wobbuffet can also use encore to help Garchomp set up, while Tyranitar’s Sand Stream will boost Garchomp’s evasion, making it even more difficult to take down.</p>
<p>Due to Garchomp using Substitute to lower his HP for a speed boost, users of priorty moves can be a problem after Garchomp’s substitute is broken. The main users of Priority moves in Ubers are Rayquaza, the Deoxys formes, Scizor and Lucario. It is best that these threats are KOed before you try and set up Sub Salac Garchomp. Choice Scarf Magnezone can be a useful teammate because of this, as it can revenge kill Rayquaza that lack a speed boost and trap Lucario and Scizor. However, Magnezone can be easily set up on by Groudon, and on many teams may want its own Groudon or Kyogre for support (for Hidden Power Fire or Thunder, respectively), and so may not be a viable teammate on all teams.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Garchomp’s movepool isn’t massive compared to other OU Dragon-types, nor is it as versatile as other Uber Pokémon. The moves listed are best choices for Garchomp in most scenarios.</p>
<p>On the Choice Band or Choice Scarf sets, Crunch is a reasonable option over Stone Edge. Crunch can still 2HKO Lugia on the Choice Band set, while giving Garchomp a safer alternative against the omnipresent Psychic-types in Ubers. Fire Fang and Fire Blast are decent options, especially when paired with sunlight.</p>
<p>Given that Garchomp has better overall defenses than Swampert, running a defensive set that utilizes Rest and Sleep Talk may seem like a viable option, but Dialga is generally the better choice for this, as Dialga as no 4x weaknesses and has better defenses than Garchomp. </p>
[EVs]
<p>For all Garchomp sets, max Speed and Attack are recommended. The remaining EVs can go into HP, with the exception of sets with Substitute. The extra 4 EVs should be allocated into Defense and use a 30 HP IV as well.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>Stealth Rock should always be used on a team with Garchomp, because it turns 2HKOs on powerful threats like Palkia and Rayquaza into OHKOs with an unboosted Dragon Claw. Additionally, Swords Dance Garchomp without Life Orb has a 79% chance of KOing the standard 252 HP / 52 Defense Bold Lugia with Stone Edge if Stealth Rock is present. In general, all Garchomp sets enjoy the sandstorm, because the evasion boost from Sand Veil allows Garchomp to avoid a move that would ordinarily KO it and net it an extra kill. The only Sand Stream Pokémon that is viable in Ubers is Tyranitar, which is an excellent teammate with Garchomp. Tyranitar can beat Latios and Latias with a Pursuit boosted from Choice Band. With 252 HP EVs, 200 Special Defense EVs, and a Careful Nature, Tyranitar can survive any special attack from Mewtwo (including an Aura Sphere that has been boosted by one Calm Mind) and OHKO it with a Choice Banded Crunch.</p>
<p>Garchomp will have problems with sweeping when Timid Lugia or faster Pokémon with either Ice or Dragon moves are around. Kyogre can take Lugia’s Ice Beam quite easily, and strike back hard with Thunder. If Kyogre carries Sleep Talk, it can switch into Darkrai’s Dark Void and force it out. Kyogre can also devastate any Steel-type Pokémon that switch into Garchomp’s Choiced Dragon attacks with its powerful STAB Surfs. Choice Scarf Garchomp can also revenge kill the most common switch ins to Choice Specs Kyogre, Latias and Palkia. A Specially Defensive Scizor can switch into any of Mewtwo’s attacks bar Fire Blast and threaten it with a STAB U-turn. Deoxys-A is also easily dealt with by Scizor, as Scizor can switch in and either Pursuit Deoxys-A as it switches out or OHKO it with Bullet Punch. Wobbuffet can switch in on Choice Scarfed moves from Pokémon like Dialga and Palkia, and use either Mirror Coat or Counter to KO them. Support Groudon can easily lure Lugia and cripple it with Toxic, thus Garchomp will have an easier time sweeping.</p>
<p>Generally, the best defensive teammates for Garchomp resist his only two weaknesses, Ice and Dragon. Kyogre is an excellent teammate defensively, because Kyogre not only resits Ice attacks, Garchomp is also immune to Kyogre’s most exploited weakness, Thudner. Once again, Scizor is an excellent teammate defensively, as Scizor resists both Dragon and Ice attacks, while Garchomp resists Scizor’s Fire weakness. In a similar manner, Metagross resists Garchomp’s weaknesses, but Metagross’s main advantage over Scizor is the ability to effectively use a Choice Scarf to revenge kill problem Pokémon with Explosion.</p>
<p>Lugia’s only common partners that give Garchomp any trouble are Darkrai and Palkia (both of which have trouble with Choice Scarf Garchomp). Choice Band Scizor can switch into Palkia’s Dragon attacks, and do massive damage with U-turn. Additionally, Scizor can switch into Darkrai once the sleep clause is triggered and 2HKO with Bullet Punch. Thankfully, the most common teammates for problem Pokémon and Darkrai are all Pokémon that Garchomp can handle with at least one of its sets (mainly Kyogre, Palkia, Groudon, Dialga and Rayquaza) For example, Choice Scarf Garchomp easily OHKOs Palkia and Rayquaza with Dragon Claw after they take damage from Stealth Rock. Dialga is easily OHKOed by Choice Band Garchomp’s Earthquake, while Groudon is 2HKOed by a Choice Banded Outrage. Aditonally, a common tactic against Choiced Garchomp is to send in a Steel Type to take an Outrage. The most common Pokémon seen doing this are Siczor and Forretress. Common partners for Forretress that have not been mentioned yet are Giratina and Blissey. Garchomp easily 2HKOes Giratina with Outrage, and Blissey is never going to stay in on Garchomp. Scizor’s most common partners are actually nearly identical to Lugia’s, thus the same tatics can be applied here.</p>
[Opinion]
<p>Do not be fooled by Garchomp’s previous status as an OU Pokémon, because Garchomp is still a force to be reckoned with in the Uber tier. With Choice Scarf, Garchomp is an excellent revenge killer that can stop sweeps from Rayquaza. With Choice Band, Garchomp is a powerful physical threat that needs not set up time. With Swords Dance, Garchomp is a physical sweeper that even Bold Lugia can fall to. Garchomp can single handedly crumple the Uber metagame with STAB Outrage, as there are very few Pokémon that resist Dragon in the tier. Give Garchomp the chance to sweep, and it will respond quickly with devastation, leaving only dust in its wake.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Garchomp is very hard to counter, because Garchomp can easliy have ways to get past its checks. For example, Groudon must invest heavily in HP and Defense in order to be a buffer against Garchomp. Unfortunately, Groudon is still at risk of a 2HKO from Swords Danced Outrage. What’s worse is Thunder Wave will not paralyze Garchomp thanks to its Ground-typing. Lugia is often the best check against Garchomp as long as it is Timid. While Bold Lugia doesn’t have much problems with Choice Scarf Garchomp, Choice Band Garchomp can outspeed and 2HKO Bold Lugia with Stone Edge. The standard Bold Lugia with 252 HP EVs and 52 Defense EVs has a 79% chance of getting KOed by Garchomp’s Swords Danced Stone Edge after taking Stealth Rock damage (this is without Life Orb). Timid Lugia can live by using Reflect, Roosting off the damage, and scaring Garchomp off with Ice Beam (Ice Beam only 2HKOs though). Cresselia can easily switch into Garchomp that lack Swords Dance and retaliate with Ice Beam. Moonlight's recovery is boosted by Groudon's Drought, allowing Cresselia to more efficiently take hits from Garchomp. Skarmory and Bronzong can switch into Garchomp, especially because the vast majority of Garchomp lack Fire Fang or Fire Blast. Metagross can switch into a locked Outrage and KO Garchomp with Ice Punch.</p>
<p>Many Pokémon can rely on their high Speed in order to revenge kill Garchomp. Keep in mind that the Choice Scarf set is an exception. Mewtwo, Darkrai, and Deoxys-A carry moves that threaten to OHKO Garchomp. Mewtwo commonly has Ice Beam to dispense Garchomp quickly and even has access to Will-O-Wisp and Reflect. A combination of Darkrai's STAB Dark Pulse, Dark Void, and Bad Dreams will usually force Garchomp to switch out. Deoxys-A can easily scare Garchomp off with Ice Beam, but is one of the few Pokémon listed above that cannot switch into Garchomp at all. Deoxys-S can always outpace Garchomp, with enough Speed investment, and bring it down with Ice Beam. For the non Choice Scarf sets, Latios, Latias, and Choice Scarf Dragon Pokémon can revenge kill Garchomp. This can be risky though, because Haban Berry Garchomp will survive any of the faster Dragon attacks bar a Draco Meteor from Latios or Latias. For any user of Ice Beam, 269 Special Attack minimum is required in order to OHKO Garchomp.</p>
<p>Sand Veil makes countering difficult. Because Sand Veil reduces Ice Beam's accuracy to 80%, it may sometimes miss, resulting in Garchomp gaining a KO. Dark Void suffers an accuracy cut from 80% to 64%. Thankfully, Rayquaza's Air Lock prevents Sand Veil from screwing up ExtremeSpeed’s accuracy.</p>
