[OVERVIEW]
Ground
========
Due to Storm Drain and its solid mixed bulk, Gastrodon provides a vital Water immunity for Ground teams, allowing it to wall troublesome Pokemon like Barraskewda, Rotom-W, Keldeo, and Dracovish. This is very beneficial for its teammates, as Gastrodon can prevent Water-type moves from being spammed and force the opponent to play around it. Its access to Recover also gives it a huge edge over Seismitoad, since it can consistently wall the aforementioned walls without being too affected by chip damage. A neutrality to Ice allows Gastrodon to repeatedly take hits from threats to Ground teams such as Weavile, Galarian Darmanitan, and Mamoswine as well. Storm Drain's Special Attack boost can also help make Gastrodon less passive, allowing it to fire off powerful Scalds. However, replacing Seismitoad means that Gastrodon can be taken advantage of by a huge threat in Azumarill, which is able to OHKO it with Knock Off after a Belly Drum boost, proceeding to possibly sweep the rest of the entire team. Gastrodon is typically passive and can be almost completely useless against foes like Substitute Hydreigon, Substitute Kyurem, Tapu Bulu, and Zarude. Despite having solid mixed bulk, Gastrodon can be exploited by many powerful wallbreakers such as Tapu Lele, Rillaboom, and Crawdaunt due to Knock Off.
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive (Ground)
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Scald
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Recover
item: Leftovers
ability: Storm Drain
nature: Relaxed
evs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
While Earth Power is useful because of Gastrodon's higher Special Attack, Earthquake is preferred over it to break Keldeo and Dragapult's Substitute. Scald can cripple many physical attackers such as Weavile, Bisharp, Galarian Darmanitan, and Dragonite due to its decent burn chance. Toxic is able to cripple many switch-ins and foes that Gastrodon wouldn't be able to deal with otherwise such as Latios, Latias, Rotom-W, and Mantine. Recover is mandatory to heal off damage from threats like Barraskewda, Keldeo, and Dracovish, letting it consistently check them. Leftovers gives Gastrodon extra recovery in order to preserve its health better. A physically defensive spread allows Gastrodon to take hits from foes like Secret Sword Keldeo, Barraskewda, Dracovish, and Weavile better. Avoid getting Gastrodon too weakened by moves or status conditions like Toxic, since it will be unable to consistently wall Pokemon and may get KOed by Water-type Pokemon with other STAB moves like Urshifu-R and Kingdra.
Hippowdon forms a decent defensive core with Gastrodon, as its Sand Stream and access to Stealth Rock make it capable of wearing down foes easily. Excadrill is an excellent offensive partner that can pressure foes that give Gastrodon trouble like Latias, Zarude, Tapu Lele, Kyurem, and Tapu Bulu and function even more effectively under Hippowdon's sand. It can also remove troublesome entry hazards for Gastrodon with Rapid Spin. Mamoswine is able to revenge kill fast Dragon-, Grass-, and Flying-types that give Gastrodon trouble such as Dragapult, Hydreigon, Zarude, and Thundurus-T with Ice Shard, making it a useful wallbreaker. Nidoking is particularly useful for its ability to absorb Toxic Spikes for Gastrodon and KO problematic foes like Ferrothorn, Amoonguss, and Skarmory due to its excellent coverage and good power with Life Orb and Sheer Force. Choice Scarf Landorus-T can outspeed and revenge kill wallbreakers that Gastrodon struggles against such as Spectrier, Tapu Lele, and Gengar while removing entry hazards for it with Defog. Swords Dance Garchomp is a great wallbreaker that breaks past bulky foes such as Slowking, Ferrothorn, and Celesteela with Fire Fang while providing a useful Grass neutrality for Gastrodon. Choice Scarf Krookodile is an option to deal with Psychic- and Ghost-types that Gastrodon dislikes dealing with such as Tapu Lele, Celebi, Dragapult, and Spectrier.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Ground
--------
Clear Smog is an option on Gastrodon's moveset to get rid of stat boosts from Pokemon like Volcarona and Calm Mind Tapu Fini. However, replacing a move like Toxic can make it more difficult to wear down foes, forcing Gastrodon to rely on mediocre damage output. Float Stone is also an alternative item to weaken Grass Knot from foes like Alolan Raichu, Tapu Koko, and Thundurus-T. Heavy-Duty Boots can be used to prevent Gastrodon from being overwhelmed by entry hazard damage.
Checks and Counters
===================
Ground
--------
**Grass-types**: Grass-types such as Rillaboom, Tapu Bulu, Ferrothorn, and Zarude are all able to force out or OHKO Gastrodon with their STAB moves. Zarude in particular is also able to remove any status condition that Gastrodon can inflict on it with Jungle Healing.
**Powerful Wallbreakers**: Gastrodon is pressured by many powerful wallbreakers such as Tapu Lele, Choice Specs Dragapult, Gengar, and Crawdaunt, as they are able to force massive damage on it.
**Setup Sweepers**: Setup sweepers such as Nasty Plot Hydreigon, Bulk Up Zarude, Bulk Up Urshifu-S, and Swords Dance Tapu Bulu are able to completely overwhelm Gastrodon and the rest of the team once they have set up.
**Substitute Users**: Substitute users such as Kyurem, Hydreigon, Spectrier, and Tapu Bulu are able to set up in front of Gastrodon, forcing it to switch out into another teammate before they get multiple boosts.
**Toxic**: Foes that carry Toxic such as Celesteela, Toxapex, Rotom-W, and Zapdos are able to wear down Gastrodon each turn, forcing it to use Recover more during a match and leaving it chipped so it can be KOed more easily.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Rotten, 491896]]
- Ground analysis by: [[Rotten, 491896]]
- Quality checked by: [[Decem, 362454], [maroon, 305839], [Havens, 391540]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Milak, 262594], [P Squared, 168392]]
Last edited:
