[SET]
name: Specially Defensive (Special Defense)
move 1: Scald
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Recover
move 4: Clear Smog / Earthquake
item: Leftovers / Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Storm Drain
nature: Calm / Sassy
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Specially defensive Gastrodon stands out as one of the best special walls with a Special Defense donation thanks to its ability to deal with the most prominent special attackers in Kyogre and Tapu Koko. Scald discourages physical attackers like Rillaboom and Necrozma-DM from switching in by threatening them with a burn. Toxic cripples common defensive switch-ins, in particular Tangrowth and opposing Gastrodon. Clear Smog prevents bulky Pokemon with setup moves from muscling past it, especially Tapu Fini and Clefable, as they aren't afraid of Toxic. Earthquake can instead be used to better deal with Substitute users like Kyogre and Volcanion. Leftovers gives Gastrodon extra recovery and reduces the need to use Recover's PP. If opposing Spikes is a concern, then Heavy-Duty Boots is a viable alternative. Calm is the preferred nature on sets with Clear Smog, while Earthquake variant opts for Sassy to avoid reducing Earthquake's damage.
Specially defensive Gastrodon is seen on balance and stall teams as a reliable special wall. Gods with great Special Defense such as Ho-Oh and Giratina pair well with Gastrodon. Ho-Oh is a common partner thanks to their defensive synergy; Ho-Oh can take on Kyurem-W and Grass-types, particularly Kartana and Ferrothorn, for Gastrodon while Gastrodon deals with Water- and Electric-types like Kyogre and Tapu Koko. Other answers to Grass-types, notably Skarmory and Volcarona, also make great teammates. Strong physically offensive Pokemon such as Rayquaza and Victini can easily break through Gastrodon, which Rotom-W can handle. If Gastrodon forgoes Heavy-Duty Boots, the aforementioned Ho-Oh, Rotom-W, and Skarmory can also provide Defog support. Answers to Psychic-types like Mewtwo and Tapu Lele, which can target Gastrodon's weaker Defense stat with Psystrike and Psyshock, respectively, are necessary, so Steel-types like Necrozma-DM and Heatran or Psychic-types like Slowbro are recommended. On stall teams, Whirlwind from Giratina prevents Substitute foes such as Kyogre and Corviknight from using Gastrodon as setup bait. Cleric support from Clefable is also appreciated to help Gastrodon stay healthy.
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive (Defense)
move 1: Scald
move 2: Recover
move 3: Clear Smog
move 4: Earthquake / Toxic
item: Rocky Helmet / Leftovers
ability: Storm Drain
nature: Relaxed / Bold
evs: 252 HP / 196 Def / 60 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Physically defensive Gastrodon can take on prominent physical threats such as Zeraora, Buzzwole, and Necrozma-DM while still being able to check several special attackers like Kyogre and Heavy-Duty Boots Tapu Koko. Scald discourages Steel-type Pokemon like Necrozma-DM, which don't fear Clear Smog, from trying to set up on Gastrodon and Grass-types like Rillaboom and Kartana from switching in thanks to its high burn chance. Clear Smog prevents non-Steel-types, notably Weavile and Buzzwole, from muscling through Gastrodon with their setup moves. Earthquake hits several Pokemon harder than Scald, among them Galarian Slowking and Heatran. Toxic is an alternative that cripples defensive Pokemon such as Tangrowth and Slowbro; however, frequent Scald burns make it not as effective, in addition to many of its checks having Regenerator remedying its usefulness. Rocky Helmet is preferred to punish contact moves, especially U-turn from the likes of Tapu Koko and Victini and Triple Axel from Weavile. Leftovers can be used instead to offset chip damage from entry hazards. The given EV spread allows Gastrodon to always survive 2 Ice Beam from Timid Choice Specs Kyogre; If Modest Kyogre variant is a concern, then 144 SpD EVs are needed. Relaxed is the go-to nature to preserve Earthquake's damage, but Bold should be used instead if Toxic is chosen over Earthquake.
Physically defensive Gastrodon is typically found on bulky balance teams. Gods with high Defense stats, such as Calyrex-I, Groudon, and Necrozma-DM, are required to maximize Gastrodon's physical bulk. Grass-types, in particular Kartana and Rillaboom, easily OHKO Gastrodon, so teammates that can deal with them like Skarmory and Necrozma-DM make good partners. While Gastrodon can take on some special attackers, strong special wallbreakers like Kyurem-W still can break through it, so special walls such as Reuniclus make great partners. Reuniclus also enjoys Gastrodon's ability to deal with Kyogre and Tapu Koko which it can't properly check. Entry hazards hinder Gastrodon's role, which makes Defog support from Skarmory and Tornadus-T valuable.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Counter and Mirror Coat can surprise foes, but it's hard to justify replacing one of its moves. Similarly, while Curse potentially turns Gastrodon into a late-game wincon, it's not generally useful.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-type Pokemon and Coverage**: Common Grass-types in Rillaboom and Kartana have no problem OHKOing Gastrodon with their STAB attacks, however they have to watch out for a burn if they switch in directly. Grass-type coverage options from Pokemon Gastrodon is supposed to check, like Giga Drain from Volcarona and Grass Knot from Tapu Koko, make Gastrodon unable to deal with them.
**Wallbreakers**: Since Gastrodon can only shore up Defense or Special Defense, it can be broken down by targeting its weaker defense stat. Special wallbreakers like Yveltal can 2HKO physically defensive Gastrodon, while physical wallbreakers such as Rayquaza and Weavile, even though they fear Scald, can deal with the specially defensive variant.
**Mewtwo and Tapu Lele**: Mewtwo and Tapu Lele can handle both variants of Gastrodon courtesy of their ability to target both its Defense and Special Defense.
**Freeze-Dry users**: Freeze-Dry from Kyurem-W dents Gastrodon and Choice Specs variants outright OHKO it. Other Pokemon such as Arctozolt and Ninetales-A also heavily damage Gastrodon with Freeze-Dry, however they might fail to 2HKO the specially defensive variant.
**Substitute Setup Users** Substitute can bypass Clear Smog's ability to deal with stat boosts, allowing Kyogre and Corviknight to setup on it.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[longhiep341, 500884]]
- Quality checked by: [[beauts, 484270], [UT, 523866]]
- Grammar checked by: [[UT, 523866]]
name: Specially Defensive (Special Defense)
move 1: Scald
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Recover
move 4: Clear Smog / Earthquake
item: Leftovers / Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Storm Drain
nature: Calm / Sassy
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Specially defensive Gastrodon stands out as one of the best special walls with a Special Defense donation thanks to its ability to deal with the most prominent special attackers in Kyogre and Tapu Koko. Scald discourages physical attackers like Rillaboom and Necrozma-DM from switching in by threatening them with a burn. Toxic cripples common defensive switch-ins, in particular Tangrowth and opposing Gastrodon. Clear Smog prevents bulky Pokemon with setup moves from muscling past it, especially Tapu Fini and Clefable, as they aren't afraid of Toxic. Earthquake can instead be used to better deal with Substitute users like Kyogre and Volcanion. Leftovers gives Gastrodon extra recovery and reduces the need to use Recover's PP. If opposing Spikes is a concern, then Heavy-Duty Boots is a viable alternative. Calm is the preferred nature on sets with Clear Smog, while Earthquake variant opts for Sassy to avoid reducing Earthquake's damage.
Specially defensive Gastrodon is seen on balance and stall teams as a reliable special wall. Gods with great Special Defense such as Ho-Oh and Giratina pair well with Gastrodon. Ho-Oh is a common partner thanks to their defensive synergy; Ho-Oh can take on Kyurem-W and Grass-types, particularly Kartana and Ferrothorn, for Gastrodon while Gastrodon deals with Water- and Electric-types like Kyogre and Tapu Koko. Other answers to Grass-types, notably Skarmory and Volcarona, also make great teammates. Strong physically offensive Pokemon such as Rayquaza and Victini can easily break through Gastrodon, which Rotom-W can handle. If Gastrodon forgoes Heavy-Duty Boots, the aforementioned Ho-Oh, Rotom-W, and Skarmory can also provide Defog support. Answers to Psychic-types like Mewtwo and Tapu Lele, which can target Gastrodon's weaker Defense stat with Psystrike and Psyshock, respectively, are necessary, so Steel-types like Necrozma-DM and Heatran or Psychic-types like Slowbro are recommended. On stall teams, Whirlwind from Giratina prevents Substitute foes such as Kyogre and Corviknight from using Gastrodon as setup bait. Cleric support from Clefable is also appreciated to help Gastrodon stay healthy.
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive (Defense)
move 1: Scald
move 2: Recover
move 3: Clear Smog
move 4: Earthquake / Toxic
item: Rocky Helmet / Leftovers
ability: Storm Drain
nature: Relaxed / Bold
evs: 252 HP / 196 Def / 60 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Physically defensive Gastrodon can take on prominent physical threats such as Zeraora, Buzzwole, and Necrozma-DM while still being able to check several special attackers like Kyogre and Heavy-Duty Boots Tapu Koko. Scald discourages Steel-type Pokemon like Necrozma-DM, which don't fear Clear Smog, from trying to set up on Gastrodon and Grass-types like Rillaboom and Kartana from switching in thanks to its high burn chance. Clear Smog prevents non-Steel-types, notably Weavile and Buzzwole, from muscling through Gastrodon with their setup moves. Earthquake hits several Pokemon harder than Scald, among them Galarian Slowking and Heatran. Toxic is an alternative that cripples defensive Pokemon such as Tangrowth and Slowbro; however, frequent Scald burns make it not as effective, in addition to many of its checks having Regenerator remedying its usefulness. Rocky Helmet is preferred to punish contact moves, especially U-turn from the likes of Tapu Koko and Victini and Triple Axel from Weavile. Leftovers can be used instead to offset chip damage from entry hazards. The given EV spread allows Gastrodon to always survive 2 Ice Beam from Timid Choice Specs Kyogre; If Modest Kyogre variant is a concern, then 144 SpD EVs are needed. Relaxed is the go-to nature to preserve Earthquake's damage, but Bold should be used instead if Toxic is chosen over Earthquake.
Physically defensive Gastrodon is typically found on bulky balance teams. Gods with high Defense stats, such as Calyrex-I, Groudon, and Necrozma-DM, are required to maximize Gastrodon's physical bulk. Grass-types, in particular Kartana and Rillaboom, easily OHKO Gastrodon, so teammates that can deal with them like Skarmory and Necrozma-DM make good partners. While Gastrodon can take on some special attackers, strong special wallbreakers like Kyurem-W still can break through it, so special walls such as Reuniclus make great partners. Reuniclus also enjoys Gastrodon's ability to deal with Kyogre and Tapu Koko which it can't properly check. Entry hazards hinder Gastrodon's role, which makes Defog support from Skarmory and Tornadus-T valuable.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Counter and Mirror Coat can surprise foes, but it's hard to justify replacing one of its moves. Similarly, while Curse potentially turns Gastrodon into a late-game wincon, it's not generally useful.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-type Pokemon and Coverage**: Common Grass-types in Rillaboom and Kartana have no problem OHKOing Gastrodon with their STAB attacks, however they have to watch out for a burn if they switch in directly. Grass-type coverage options from Pokemon Gastrodon is supposed to check, like Giga Drain from Volcarona and Grass Knot from Tapu Koko, make Gastrodon unable to deal with them.
**Wallbreakers**: Since Gastrodon can only shore up Defense or Special Defense, it can be broken down by targeting its weaker defense stat. Special wallbreakers like Yveltal can 2HKO physically defensive Gastrodon, while physical wallbreakers such as Rayquaza and Weavile, even though they fear Scald, can deal with the specially defensive variant.
**Mewtwo and Tapu Lele**: Mewtwo and Tapu Lele can handle both variants of Gastrodon courtesy of their ability to target both its Defense and Special Defense.
**Freeze-Dry users**: Freeze-Dry from Kyurem-W dents Gastrodon and Choice Specs variants outright OHKO it. Other Pokemon such as Arctozolt and Ninetales-A also heavily damage Gastrodon with Freeze-Dry, however they might fail to 2HKO the specially defensive variant.
**Substitute Setup Users** Substitute can bypass Clear Smog's ability to deal with stat boosts, allowing Kyogre and Corviknight to setup on it.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[longhiep341, 500884]]
- Quality checked by: [[beauts, 484270], [UT, 523866]]
- Grammar checked by: [[UT, 523866]]
Last edited:
