[OVERVIEW]
Thanks to its great defensive typing, Foongus makes for an excellent answer to many of the metagame's top threats, such as Timburr, Snivy, and Chinchou, being able to nullify them for the entire match thanks to its great longevity with Regenerator and Giga Drain. Once in play, Foongus can turn out to be quite a nuisance with its supportive movepool, which most notably contains Spore, and decent offensive presence. However, its only decent defensive stats leave it somewhat vulnerable to lures.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Spore
move 2: Sludge Bomb
move 3: Giga Drain
move 4: Clear Smog / Hidden Power Fighting / Hidden Power Fire
item: Eviolite
ability: Regenerator
nature: Bold
evs: 124 HP / 160 Def / 160 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Spore is almost guaranteed to temporarily eliminate an enemy Pokemon from the match. Sludge Bomb is a fairly threatening STAB move with a handy chance to poison, notably heavily damaging Fairy-types. Giga Drain further increases Foongus's longevity and hits Water-, Rock-, and Ground-types hard. Clear Smog deters various setup sweepers such as Dragon Dance Scraggy and Bulk Up Timburr from boosting. Various Hidden Powers can prevent Foongus from being walled by certain Steel-types; Hidden Power Fighting hits Pawniard hard, Hidden Power Fire 2HKOes Ferroseed, and Hidden Power Ground OHKOes Magnemite if Sturdy is broken. Hidden Power Psychic can also be used to surprise Croagunk.
Set Details
========
The given EVs grant Foongus solid 25 / 21 / 21 bulk after Eviolite; 14 Defense and Special Defense let Foongus gain an extra point from Eviolite. Regenerator is what gives Foongus its niche, making it extremely difficult to wear down. Eviolite is used over other defensive items like Berry Juice because Foongus has access to recovery already with Regenerator. An EV spread of 44 HP / 160 Def / 80 SpA / 160 SpD can also be used, as it still allows Foongus to heal 8 HP with Regenerator and gives it a decent chance to OHKO Doduo with Sludge Bomb after Stealth Rock damage. If Clear Smog is run and the IVs are not reduced by Hidden Power, you can include an extra Speed point as well with a spread of 44 HP / 156 Def / 76 SpA / 156 SpD / 76 Spe.
Usage Tips
========
Try to use Spore on something important. If Foongus is within KO range of a +1 Knock Off from Dragon Dance Scraggy, it may be worth sacrificing Foongus by continuing to use Clear Smog so that Scraggy does not come out of the bout with a Speed boost, unless you have means to deal with a boosted Scraggy. If the opponent has a Vullaby not yet on the field and you're not sure if it has Overcoat, which blocks Spore, Sludge Bomb is the safest move to use, as Vullaby does not appreciate being poisoned; however, if your team is about to be swept by a +2 Nasty Plot or Z-Mirror Move Vullaby, you can sacrifice Foongus by repeatedly using Clear Smog instead. If the opponent allows Staryu to be put to sleep with Spore, there is a good chance that they plan to immediately switch Staryu out afterwards to activate Natural Cure, so using Spore again is an option. If Doduo or Houndour directly switches into Spore, chances are it has Early Bird as its ability, so Foongus should immediately switch out to your check afterward. If a bulky Pokemon such as Skrelp, Munchlax, or Mudbray switches into Spore, it might be a RestTalk variant.
Team Options
========
Though it can fit into offensive teams as well, Foongus is a staple on bulkier teams for its defensive utility and ability to absorb Toxic Spikes while not being weak to Diglett. Due to its typing, Foongus synergizes well with a huge number of other defensive Pokemon, such as Chinchou, Munchlax, Ponyta, and Staryu; they are bulky Pokemon that appreciate Foongus handling some of their checks, while Foongus also likes them dealing with its checks. Foongus can be paired with Slowpoke and Mienfoo to form a Regenerator core that can be incredibly difficult for unprepared teams to break.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Stun Spore can most notably cripple Fire- and Flying-types looking to switch in after one of their teammates has been put to sleep, but Foongus already hits them hard with Sludge Bomb. Synthesis gives Foongus another mode of recovery, but it is generally redundant on top of Regenerator and Giga Drain. Energy Ball is stronger than Giga Drain, but the extra healing Giga Drain offers is usually more useful. A combination of Venoshock and Toxic or Toxic Spikes support is not usually worth the effort, as Foongus does not have the Speed or Special Attack to sweep. Foongus has a good typing and access to Rain Dance, allowing it to fit onto rain teams easily. A fully physical set is not recommended, as Sludge Bomb is generally too good to pass up.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Specially Defensive RestTalk Users**: Munchlax and Skrelp are two common RestTalk users that do not mind Spore and can completely wall Foongus's relatively weak attacks. If Foongus stays in, they can PP stall Foongus by simply not using Sleep Talk when they are asleep.
**Poison- and Steel-types**: Poison- and Steel-types such as Pawniard, Magnemite, Ferroseed, Alolan Grimer, and Croagunk resist or are immune to Foongus's STAB moves. Ferroseed in particular is also immune to Spore. However, they are heavily damaged by the appropriate Hidden Power.
**Psychic-, Fire-, Ice-, and Flying-types**: Once Spore has been used, Psychic-, Fire-, Ice-, and Flying-types, which hit Foongus super effectively, can attempt to switch in. However, they may not enjoy being poisoned by Sludge Bomb; frailer Pokemon may even be outright KOed by it. In particular, Overcoat Vullaby is bulky enough to withstand Sludge Bomb and is immune to Spore, though it dislikes Sludge Bomb's chance to poison.
**Bulletproof**: Chespin and Jangmo-o are immune to Sludge Bomb thanks to Bulletproof and resist Giga Drain; Chespin is also immune to Spore. However, Clear Smog prevents them from attempting to set up with their free turns, and if Chespin does not run Zen Headbutt, it actually risks losing once Synthesis runs out of PP. In addition, neither is considered to be competitively viable.
Thanks to its great defensive typing, Foongus makes for an excellent answer to many of the metagame's top threats, such as Timburr, Snivy, and Chinchou, being able to nullify them for the entire match thanks to its great longevity with Regenerator and Giga Drain. Once in play, Foongus can turn out to be quite a nuisance with its supportive movepool, which most notably contains Spore, and decent offensive presence. However, its only decent defensive stats leave it somewhat vulnerable to lures.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Spore
move 2: Sludge Bomb
move 3: Giga Drain
move 4: Clear Smog / Hidden Power Fighting / Hidden Power Fire
item: Eviolite
ability: Regenerator
nature: Bold
evs: 124 HP / 160 Def / 160 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Spore is almost guaranteed to temporarily eliminate an enemy Pokemon from the match. Sludge Bomb is a fairly threatening STAB move with a handy chance to poison, notably heavily damaging Fairy-types. Giga Drain further increases Foongus's longevity and hits Water-, Rock-, and Ground-types hard. Clear Smog deters various setup sweepers such as Dragon Dance Scraggy and Bulk Up Timburr from boosting. Various Hidden Powers can prevent Foongus from being walled by certain Steel-types; Hidden Power Fighting hits Pawniard hard, Hidden Power Fire 2HKOes Ferroseed, and Hidden Power Ground OHKOes Magnemite if Sturdy is broken. Hidden Power Psychic can also be used to surprise Croagunk.
Set Details
========
The given EVs grant Foongus solid 25 / 21 / 21 bulk after Eviolite; 14 Defense and Special Defense let Foongus gain an extra point from Eviolite. Regenerator is what gives Foongus its niche, making it extremely difficult to wear down. Eviolite is used over other defensive items like Berry Juice because Foongus has access to recovery already with Regenerator. An EV spread of 44 HP / 160 Def / 80 SpA / 160 SpD can also be used, as it still allows Foongus to heal 8 HP with Regenerator and gives it a decent chance to OHKO Doduo with Sludge Bomb after Stealth Rock damage. If Clear Smog is run and the IVs are not reduced by Hidden Power, you can include an extra Speed point as well with a spread of 44 HP / 156 Def / 76 SpA / 156 SpD / 76 Spe.
Usage Tips
========
Try to use Spore on something important. If Foongus is within KO range of a +1 Knock Off from Dragon Dance Scraggy, it may be worth sacrificing Foongus by continuing to use Clear Smog so that Scraggy does not come out of the bout with a Speed boost, unless you have means to deal with a boosted Scraggy. If the opponent has a Vullaby not yet on the field and you're not sure if it has Overcoat, which blocks Spore, Sludge Bomb is the safest move to use, as Vullaby does not appreciate being poisoned; however, if your team is about to be swept by a +2 Nasty Plot or Z-Mirror Move Vullaby, you can sacrifice Foongus by repeatedly using Clear Smog instead. If the opponent allows Staryu to be put to sleep with Spore, there is a good chance that they plan to immediately switch Staryu out afterwards to activate Natural Cure, so using Spore again is an option. If Doduo or Houndour directly switches into Spore, chances are it has Early Bird as its ability, so Foongus should immediately switch out to your check afterward. If a bulky Pokemon such as Skrelp, Munchlax, or Mudbray switches into Spore, it might be a RestTalk variant.
Team Options
========
Though it can fit into offensive teams as well, Foongus is a staple on bulkier teams for its defensive utility and ability to absorb Toxic Spikes while not being weak to Diglett. Due to its typing, Foongus synergizes well with a huge number of other defensive Pokemon, such as Chinchou, Munchlax, Ponyta, and Staryu; they are bulky Pokemon that appreciate Foongus handling some of their checks, while Foongus also likes them dealing with its checks. Foongus can be paired with Slowpoke and Mienfoo to form a Regenerator core that can be incredibly difficult for unprepared teams to break.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Stun Spore can most notably cripple Fire- and Flying-types looking to switch in after one of their teammates has been put to sleep, but Foongus already hits them hard with Sludge Bomb. Synthesis gives Foongus another mode of recovery, but it is generally redundant on top of Regenerator and Giga Drain. Energy Ball is stronger than Giga Drain, but the extra healing Giga Drain offers is usually more useful. A combination of Venoshock and Toxic or Toxic Spikes support is not usually worth the effort, as Foongus does not have the Speed or Special Attack to sweep. Foongus has a good typing and access to Rain Dance, allowing it to fit onto rain teams easily. A fully physical set is not recommended, as Sludge Bomb is generally too good to pass up.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Specially Defensive RestTalk Users**: Munchlax and Skrelp are two common RestTalk users that do not mind Spore and can completely wall Foongus's relatively weak attacks. If Foongus stays in, they can PP stall Foongus by simply not using Sleep Talk when they are asleep.
**Poison- and Steel-types**: Poison- and Steel-types such as Pawniard, Magnemite, Ferroseed, Alolan Grimer, and Croagunk resist or are immune to Foongus's STAB moves. Ferroseed in particular is also immune to Spore. However, they are heavily damaged by the appropriate Hidden Power.
**Psychic-, Fire-, Ice-, and Flying-types**: Once Spore has been used, Psychic-, Fire-, Ice-, and Flying-types, which hit Foongus super effectively, can attempt to switch in. However, they may not enjoy being poisoned by Sludge Bomb; frailer Pokemon may even be outright KOed by it. In particular, Overcoat Vullaby is bulky enough to withstand Sludge Bomb and is immune to Spore, though it dislikes Sludge Bomb's chance to poison.
**Bulletproof**: Chespin and Jangmo-o are immune to Sludge Bomb thanks to Bulletproof and resist Giga Drain; Chespin is also immune to Spore. However, Clear Smog prevents them from attempting to set up with their free turns, and if Chespin does not run Zen Headbutt, it actually risks losing once Synthesis runs out of PP. In addition, neither is considered to be competitively viable.
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