[OVERVIEW]
Dragon
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Garchomp's typing, good offensive stats, decent overall bulk, solid Speed tier, and rare access to Stealth Rock make it a desirable option for Dragon teams. Its Ground-type STAB is very much appreciated against Steel- and Poison-types such as Jirachi, Stakataka, Toxapex, and Nidoking. It also prevents Volt Switch pivoting, which can be useful against Electric-types such as Zapdos and Magnezone. Above average bulk also means that Garchomp can set up Stealth Rock easily while also avoiding being 2HKOed by Mega Aerodactyl and Celebi. However, Garchomp has very noticeable weaknesses, including a lack of recovery and weakness to Ice- and Fairy-type moves from Mamoswine and Clefable. Because Garchomp is used primarily for Stealth Rock support, its moveset is often very predictable and simple to play around if pressured correctly. Additionally, Garchomp has trouble breaking some Steel- and Grass-types such as Celesteela and Tapu Bulu, as its best coverage move in Fire Blast doesn't have much power behind it.
[SET]
name: Stealth Rock Lead (Dragon)
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Outrage / Toxic
move 4: Fire Blast
item: Focus Sash
ability: Rough Skin
nature: Naive
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Stealth Rock damages foes upon entry and is incredibly useful for weakening threatening Ice-types such as Weavile and Kyurem-B. Earthquake is Garchomp's best Ground-type STAB move and hits problematic Steel- and Poison-types such as Heatran, Jirachi, and Toxapex for super effective damage. Outrage is Garchomp's primary Dragon-type STAB move and most powerful move that really is meant to deal damage to Pokemon that are immune to or resist Ground such as Tornadus-T and Tapu Bulu. Alternatively, Toxic is an option against physically defensive foes or Defoggers such as Slowbro, Mantine, and Zapdos as a pressure tool, putting them on a timer. Fire Blast is used against Steel-types that are not weak to Earthquake, such as Celesteela and Ferrothorn.
Set Details
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Maximum Speed and Attack EVs as well as a Naive nature allow Garchomp to hit as hard and as fast as possible, outspeeding threats such as Mega Charizard X and Landorus. Rough Skin enables Garchomp to slightly damage any foe that makes physical contact with it. Focus Sash allows Garchomp to take any hit from full health and is especially useful to let it threaten to KO Mega Diancie and Latios when completely healthy and guarantee setting Stealth Rock.
Usage Tips
========
This Garchomp set acts as the lead for many Dragon teams, as its main purpose is to set Stealth Rock to allow teammates like Dragonite and Kyurem-B to break down the vast majority of the metagame. Because of this role, Garchomp is quite expendable once Stealth Rock is safely on the field. However, keep Garchomp healthy against Steel teams, as its Ground- and Fire-type coverage can break down many bulky foes such as Heatran, Mega Scizor, and Ferrothorn. Avoid residual damage from entry hazards and status conditions, as they both break Garchomp's Focus Sash and allow foes such as Latios and Keldeo to OHKO it. While Garchomp acts as a lead, it can still effectively damage the foe. To deal more damage to the opponent once Stealth Rock is set, avoid being burned, as it inhibits Garchomp's damage output. Celesteela and Gliscor in particular are the two greatest pivots into anything Garchomp can do despite it having coverage for the former, so it's ideal to switch in Kyurem-B in anticipation of either foe switching in. In turn, this will consistently apply pressure to the opponent, forcing many switches while still keeping offensive momentum.
Team Options
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Choice Scarf Latios acts as both a revenge killer and Defog user for Garchomp and can check certain foes that would otherwise threaten Garchomp, such as Keldeo and Nihilego. Kyurem-B has arguably the best BoltBeam coverage in the metagame, which pairs amazingly with Garchomp's Stealth Rock to blast through Flying teams. In return, Garchomp soft checks Steel-types that threaten Kyurem-B, such as Scizor and Ferrothorn. Mega Latias is a setup sweeper that appreciates Stealth Rock chipping down foes throughout the battle. It utilizes its insane bulk, Calm Mind, and Refresh to break down incredibly strong walls like Porygon2 and Mantine that Garchomp can't do much against without Toxic. Mega Altaria is another setup sweeper that can use Dragon Dance and Refresh to break down bulky pivots in Mega Sableye and Zapdos, as well as checking opposing Dragons in Mega Latias and Dragonite. Choice Band Dragonite is a powerful physical wallbreaker that can break down defensive walls such as Toxapex and Gliscor. Additionally, Dragonite's access to Extreme Speed is important for revenge killing faster threats like Choice Scarf Greninja and Weavile that would threaten Garchomp immensely. Kommo-o is a mixed setup sweeper that utilizes Kommonium Z to fire off a powerful attack against the foe while also boosting all of its stats, helping to break defensive pivots like Mega Venusaur and Mandibuzz. Together, Garchomp and Kommo-o create a Steel-breaking core through the combination of their coverage. Choice Scarf Hydreigon is a lesser-used teams way of keeping faster foes in check, but it has the ability to scare off Psychic-types that can wall Garchomp, such as Mew and Reuniclus. Its access to U-turn also allows Dragon teams to keep up offensive momentum.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Dragon
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A defensive Garchomp with a spread of 252 HP / 164 Def / 92 Spe holding either Rocky Helmet or Leftovers can be used as a physically defensive tank against the likes of Mega Lopunny and Excadrill. However, the lack of Speed and a Focus Sash on this defensive set leaves Garchomp susceptible to being OHKOed by many attacks it's weak to, such as Mega Diancie's Moonblast and Hidden Power Ice from Nihilego. It's also vulnerable to slower attackers such as Kyurem-B and Choice Band Tapu Bulu. Garchompite is a niche item that immensely powers up Garchomp's offensive prowess and allows it to become a threatening presence against Steel teams through its powerful coverage. However, this also drops Mega Garchomp's Speed to a point where it's slower than Mega Charizard X, Kyurem-B, and others, providing better setup opportunities for these foes. Additionally, Mega Garchomp faces competition from other Mega Evolutions in Mega Latias and Mega Altaria, as their setup capabilities and recovery options make them more desirable for Dragon teams.
Checks and Counters
===================
Dragon
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**Super Effective Coverage**: Ice-types such as Alolan Ninetales and Weavile, as well as anything carrying Ice-type coverage such as Greninja, Nihilego, or Keldeo, can threaten to KO Garchomp due to its crippling 4x weakness weakness to Ice-type moves. Fairy-types such as Mega Altaria and Clefable beat Garchomp with their Fairy-type STAB moves while also being immune to Garchomp's Dragon-type STAB moves.
**Physically Defensive Foes**: Physically defensive threats such as Celesteela and Gliscor have the bulk to handle any move Garchomp can use and can recover any damage taken.
**Anti-Leads**: Magic Bounce users like Mega Diancie and Mega Sableye, as well as fast Taunt users such as Deoxys-S and Aerodactyl, can prevent Garchomp's Stealth Rock while also being able to set up their own entry hazards or spread status. However, Mega Diancie is threatened by Earthquake if Garchomp is at full health.
**Faster Threats**: Though Garchomp carries a Focus Sash to prevent being OHKOed at full health, it still comes under fire from faster offensive threats such as Mega Pinsir and Alakazam once it has taken prior chip damage.
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