[Overview]
* Dugtrio's back with a small gift of an additional 20 base Attack added to it - totaling out to 100.
* Dugtrio is known best for its combination of Arena Trap and high Speed with a passable Attack stat.
* Flexible on a variety of teams ranging from hyper offense to the slow crawling stall teams.
* Access to other interesting moves such as Screech, Memento, and Stealth Rock help increase Dugtrio's role of a Support Pokemon.
* Dugtrio is extremely frail, so it will only be useful in situations of revenge killing.
* Though only seen on Tapu Bulu Grassy Terrain can hamper Dugtrio's revenge killing capability as it halves Earthquake's damage.
* Dugtrio's Speed is not as great as it used to be as it is slower than Greninja, Pheromosa, Tapu Koko, Tornadus-T, Weavile, and Mega Alakazam.
i feel another downside of dugtrio is it's very limited to a focus sash due to its bulk.
[SET]
name: Focus Sash Trapper
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Reversal
move 3: Screech / Stone Edge
move 4: Memento / Stealth Rock / Toxic
item: Focus Sash
ability: Arena Trap
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
ivs: 20 HP
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Earthquake is mandatory on Dugtrio as it is Dugtrio's best attack offensively.
* Reversal with the combination of Focus Sash allows Dugtrio to obtain maximum power with Reversal - this allows Dugtrio to overcome Chansey and Ferrothorn easier.
* Screech cripples Chansey and other bulkier Pokemon such as Hippowdon.
* Stone Edge gives Dugtrio an option to severely hurt Volcarona and other Flying-types such as Mega Charizard Y.
* Memento lets Dugtrio be used as momentum for its team by severely hampering the opponent's Attack and Special Attack stats.
* Stealth Rock is a viable option as Dugtrio can sometimes find times to lay out Stealth Rock. This is great in situations against Choice Specs or Choice Scarf Magnezone locked onto its STAB Electric-type moves.
* Toxic is an option to cripple Water-, Grass-, and Ground-types.
* Aerial Ace is an option if Buzzwole is a major problem. mention it hits bulu too.
Set Details
========
* Max Speed with a Jolly nature allows Dugtrio to take full advantage of its Speed stat.
* Maximize Attack for optimal damage output.
* 20 HP IVs with 4 HP EVs invested guarantees maximum damage from Reversal after Chansey uses Seismic Toss on Dugtrio twice.
* Hasty with 0 Def and 0 SpD IVs guarantees Dugtrio taking maximum damage to ensure a high base power on Reversal Earthquake and have just enough health for a full powered Reversal afterwards. The defensive optimization also helps Dugtrio kill Scarf Ditto one-on-one if Focus Sash is still intact.
* Focus Sash is critical for using Reversal while also helping Dugtrio survive more than one Attack.
Usage Tips
========
* Dugtrio should be used to trap grounded Pokemon such as Chansey, Heatran, Xurkitree, Nihilego, and Excadrill outside of sand.
* Defensive teams will appreciate that Dugtrio can capitalize on a lot of offensive Pokemon that are much slower than Dugtrio and are vulnerable to being trapped with Arena Trap. Trapping critical threats such as Hoopa-Unbound, Magnezone, and Heatran make stall's job much easier to continue slowly wearing down the opponent.
* Eliminating entry hazards is crucial with this set as Dugtrio needs to be at maximum health to use Focus Sash. Defog and / or Rapid Spin support is a must.
* Dugtrio's most optimal time to be brought in is either during double switches, when Dugtrio's teammates are using a slower U-turn / Volt Switch, or as a revenge killer.
* Memento is a move that is more suited for offensive teams, though it can also be used on defensive teams to help lower a threat's Attack and Special Attack. Even though the move sacrifices Dugtrio it helps keep momentum for Dugtrio's teammates.
Team Options
========
* Dugtrio's biggest teammates are those that can help Dugtrio remove entry hazards, weaken opposing Pokemon, or those that appreciate trapping and KOing or crippling key Pokemon.
* Defog users such as Latios, Latias, and Tapu Fini can utilize Defog to eliminate entry hazards while obtaining assistance in removing problematic Pokemon such as Heatran and Xurkitree.
* Offensive Pokemon such as Tornadus-T and Serperior appreciate the removal of Heatran, Tyranitar, and Mega Metagross lacking Bullet Punch.
* Specially offensive Pokemon such as Mega Alakazam, Volcarona, Manaphy, and Tapu Koko appreciate the removal of defensive Pokemon such as Chansey.
* Defensive teams appreciate the removal of key offensive threats such as Hoopa-Unbound, Magnezone, and Xurkitree. Skarmory is a great teammate that can remove entry hazards or provide extra hazards with Spikes. Mega Sableye appreciates Dugtrio applying pressure to non-Choice Scarf Tapu Lele while being able to deflect entry hazards to keep Focus Sash intact.
* Pherosoma loves having Dugtrio as a partner as the removal of Toxapex helps create more opportunities for Pherosoma to sweep. dugtrio had a low chance of 2hkoing toxapex, while toxa can scald burn it, so mention that toxapex need to be weaken a bit. Its very shaky relying on dugt to kill toxa.
* Volt Switch and U-turn users make great partners for Dugtrio as they can assist Dugtrio switching in. Magnezone, Rotom-W, and Scizor are great examples for this. Magnezone has the added benefit of trapping levitating Steel-types such as Celesteela and Skarmory.
* If Dugtrio is lacking Stealth Rock it is highly recommended to have it somewhere on the team. Landorus-T, Alolan Marowak, and Azelf are good options for this.
* Don't forget that Dugtrio's support can be utilized in more than offensive teams. Even Stall teams appreciate Dugtrio's support.
* Tapu Lele gets a mention for being able to clear Grassy Terrain as well as preventing Dugtrio from being threatened by priority attacks.
[SET]
name: Offensive Trapper
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Sucker Punch
move 4: Aerial Ace / Memento / Stealth Rock
item: Groundium Z / Life Orb i really think CB is a superior option here, just because is able to 2hko or ko more stuff, like 2hko chansey and toxapex after sr(even if u get scald burn), guarantee HKO on magearna, hits harder buzz and bulu, etc.
ability: Arena Trap
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Earthquake is Dugtrio's main attack. Though it has many resistances and immunities it can be used on Pokemon Dugtrio is safely trapping.
* Stone Edge helps cover Dugtrio's incapability of hitting Flying-types with STAB Earthquake. It is also your best attack versus
* Sucker Punch helps Dugtrio hit faster Pokemon such as Mega Alakazam and Pheromosa whom otherwise outspeed and OHKO Dugtrio.
* Aerial Ace is Dugtrio's best option to hit Pokemon such as Buzzwole and Tapu Bulu.
* Due to Aerial Ace's underwhelming power Memento is a solid option that gives Dugtrio's team momentum.
* Stealth Rock is an option as well if your team desperately needs a Stealth Rock user and no one else is available to set it. CB sr is not cool
Set Details
========
* Dugtrio needs all the Speed and Attack it can get. Thus, a Jolly nature is highly recommended with maximum Attack and Speed EVs.
* Groundium Z gives Dugtrio access to Tectonic Rage. This ensures the majority of Toxpaex are OHKOed after Stealth Rock damage and can also help close the gaps on KOes. The freedom of choosing moves also cannot be underestimated.
* In situations where Dugtrio needs more power with its other moves or another Pokemon has a Z Move Life Orb is an alternative item.
* Darkinium Z is an option as it provides Z-Memento for Dugtrio - allowing it to give Dugtrio's replacement full health while still severely crippling the opponent's offenses.
mention z crystals in oo.
Usage Tips
========
* Use Tectonic Rage only if Dugtrio needs to KO a certain Pokemon and can do it safely. Note that moves such as Protect still allow Tectonic Rage to go through; however, it suffers a severe power cut.
* Life Orb is primarily used as an alternative to the problem of being locked onto a move while sacrificing a little bit of power and draining some of Dugtrio's health.mention cb insted
* This set follows roughly the same rules as the previous set in that Dugtrio should only switch in under circumstances such as a double switch, a slower Volt Switch / U-turn, or revenge killing.
Team Options
========
* Stealth Rock is a must to help Dugtrio secure as many kills as possible when it comes in. Landorus-T, Garchomp, and Heatran can all help supply that.
* Bulky Ground-, Grass-, and Water-types are still a major issue for this set. Consider Pokemon that can beat a majority of these Pokemon with coverage moves such as Greninja can help with eliminating some of these problematic Pokemon.
* Defensive teams can provide extra support in helping Dugtrio snag critical KOes. Skarmory can help with Spikes while Mega Sableye can bounce entry hazards back at the opponent.
* Much like the previous set depending on what Pokemon Dugtrio is removing for its team many Pokemon can benefit from it. Removing Toxapex makes it easier for Keldeo, Manaphy, and Pheromosa to overwhelm the opponent. Furthermore removing Heatran can make life easier for Volcarona.
* Life Orb has an issue of being worn down if Stealth Rock is on Dugtrio's side of the field. Consider Defog Pokemon such as Latios, Latias, and Mantine to help with this issue.
* Volt Switch and U-turn support help Dugtrio switch-in easier. Magnezone, Scizor, and Rotom-W are good for this utility.
* Tapu Lele gets a mention for being able to clear Grassy Terrain as well as preventing Dugtrio from being threatened by priority attacks.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Pursuit can trap Gengar - this has a little bit more viability this generation since Gengar is now prone to STAB Earthquake.
* Expert Belt is good for keeping Dugtrio a little healthier, though it requires the moves to hit for super effective. As an added bonus it can bluff Choice Band.
* Choice Scarf gets a mention as it can revenge kill some Pokemon such as Pheromosa without a Beast Boost and Tapu Koko. In most cases it isn't recommended, though.
* Choice Band buffers Dugtrio's power, but leaves it vulnerable to being taken advantage of since STAB Earthquake is resisted or immune by a lot of Pokemon.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Non-Grounded and Ghost-type Pokemon Pokemon**: Flying-types, Levitate users, and Ghost-types are all immune to Arena Trap. This prevents Dugtrio from effectively trapping Pokemon such as Gengar, Alola Marowak, Tornadus-T, and Latios. Flying-types and Levitate users are exceptional since they are immune to STAB Earthquake.
**Physically Bulky Pokemon**: Skarmory, Celesteela, Gliscor, Landorus-T, Tapu Bulu, and Garchomp can survive an Earthquake. If Focus Sash is broken they easily can KO Dugtrio. Garchomp needs to be weary of Tectonic Rage.
**Bulky Water-types**: Mantine, Pelipper, Manaphy, Suicune, and Rotom-W fear very little from Dugtrio outside of Toxic and, in Manaphy and Suicune's case, Memento. Scald gets an honorable mention for being able to possibly burn Dugtrio and bypass Scald.
**Grass-types**: Mega Venusaur, Amoongus, Tapu Bulu, and Tangrowth will be able to resist STAB Earthquake from Dugtrio while being able to threaten Dugtrio to switch out. Mega Venusaur and Amoongus are both immune to Toxic while Tapu Bulu halves Earthquake's base power thanks to Grassy Terrain. As an added insult to injury Leech Seed can be used to bypass Focus Sash.
**Priority Users**: Scizor, Bisharp, Mega Metagross, Lucario, Mamoswine, and Azumarill can threaten to bypass Dugtrio's Speed stat with their access to priority attacks.