[OVERVIEW]
Boasting decent stats, good abilities, and a shallow-yet-usable movepool, Gigalith is an anti-metagame Pokemon that can beat some common foes in the 1v1 metagame like special and Flyinium Z Dragonite, Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, and Porygon-Z. Its overall bulk lets it tank some hits like an Outrage from Mega Charizard X and special attacks like Solar Beam from Mega Charizard Y and, when further enhanced by Sand Stream, more powerful special attacks like Dragonium Z-boosted Draco Meteor from Dragonite, Draco Meteor from Naganadel, Shattered Psyche from boosted bulky Tapu Lele, and Hyper Beam from Mega Gardevoir. It also has access to setup moves like Curse and, more importantly, Laser Focus, which, in tandem with each other, let Gigalith beat bulkier threats like Mega Altaria and Noble Roar Kyurem. Its mono-Rock typing makes it less vulnerable to attacks from Grass-, Fighting-, and Steel-types that would threaten other prominent Rock-types, giving it a niche over Mega Tyranitar, Golem, and Mega Diancie. In spite of all this, Gigalith is weak offensively to common types in the 1v1 metagame like Steel, Ground, and Fighting. This puts it at a disadvantage against Pokemon like Magearna, Zygarde, and Kommo-o, which can set up against Gigalith and knock it out. Also, its subpar Speed means it can't beat fast Pokemon dependent on status moves to win, like Smeargle, Kee Berry Mew, and Jumpluff. Without setting up, it lacks the offensive punch to KO bulkier Pokemon, so Taunt from Pokemon like Mega Gyarados and Mew effectively prevent Gigalith from setting up. This also leaves it unable to beat physically bulky Pokemon immune to critical hits, like Mega Slowbro and Type: Null. All this severely reduces its usability in favor of other Rock-type Pokemon like Mega Diancie and Terrakion.
[SET]
name: Bulky Laser Focus
move 1: Stone Edge
move 2: Laser Focus
move 3: Curse
move 4: Earthquake
item: Rockium Z
ability: Sand Stream
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
ivs: 18 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stone Edge allows Gigalith to use Continental Crush, which takes out common Pokemon like special or Flyinium Z Dragonite, Mega Charizard X, and Porygon-Z. Laser Focus lets Gigalith beat Defense-boosting Pokemon like Clefable and Kyurem. This also lets it force Taunt + Z-Reflect Tapu Lele into a mind game. Curse lets Gigalith set up against Pokemon that don't always get KOed by Continental Crush, like Flyinium Z Dragonite and Mega Altaria. It also lets it take a second hit from Pokemon like Haxorus. Earthquake lets it take on certain Steel-type Pokemon like Grassium Z Heatran and Laser Focus Aegislash, which don't take much damage from Continental Crush. Protect is also an option that lets Gigalith more reliably beat special or mixed Dragonium Z Dragonite and reduces the mind games against Tapu Lele.
Set Details
========
252 EVs in HP and 252 EVs in Special Defense along with a Careful nature give Gigalith the best chance of taking two Flash Cannons from Heatran. This also improves its odds of tanking hits from hard-hitting specially attacking Pokemon like Porygon-Z, Tapu Lele, and Mega Gardevoir. The Defense IVs are reduced to 18 to avoid giving Genesect a Special Attack boost from Download, thus granting Gigalith a better chance of beating Choice Scarf variants. The remaining EVs are dumped into Attack. An alternative EV spread of 244 HP / 152 Atk / 112 Def with a Relaxed nature and Superpower can also be utilized to reliably beat non-Substitute Mega Lopunny, Registeel, and Choice Scarf Excadrill.
Usage Tips
========
Start off by using Laser Focus turn 1 against bulky Pokemon like Clefable and Kyurem before attacking, as otherwise, they can use Z-Reflect and Noble Roar, respectively, to reduce Gigalith's damage output. Use Curse once against bulkier foes like Mega Altaria, most Porygon2, and Curse Mega Scizor before using Laser Focus, since these Pokemon usually boost their Defense before attacking. Afterwards, use Laser Focus to bypass their setup. A combination of Sand Stream-boosted bulk and Continental Crush allows Gigalith to tank a +1 Hyper Beam from bulkier variants of Mega Gardevoir but only one from offensive variants while being able to KO any variant with Continental Crush + Stone Edge + 2 turns of Sandstorm damage. So, against Mega Gardevoir, always use Continental Crush turn 1, followed by Stone Edge, even if it uses Will-O-Wisp. Against bulky Tapu Lele, use Laser Focus turn 1 and Continental Crush turn 2, but against Taunt + Z-Reflect Tapu Lele, there are two options; you can either use Laser Focus turn 1 if you predict the Tapu Lele to use Z-Reflect, or you can use Continental Crush right away if you predict them to use their offensive moves or Taunt on the first turn. Avoid sending in Gigalith against defensive Pokemon like Toxic + Foul Play Porygon2 and especially against those immune to critical hits like Mega Slowbro and Type: Null.
Team Options
========
Grass-types like specially defensive Tapu Bulu and Ferrothorn are great teammates because they can take on bulky Water-type and Ground-type Pokemon like Mega Gyarados, Tapu Fini, Donphan, Zygarde, and Kommo-o for Gigalith, with Gigalith taking care of Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, and Heatran for these Pokemon. For similar reasons, Steelium Z Celesteela can also be counted upon as a teammate. While it loses to Tapu Fini and Zygarde, it takes care of Mega Metagross, Landorus-T, Mega Slowbro, and Aegislash for Gigalith, with Gigalith taking on Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, Incineroar, and Zeraora in return. Some Pokemon that benefit from Gigalith KOing Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, Porygon-Z, and some Dragonite variants, such as specially defensive Mega Mawile and Genesect, appreciate it as a teammate. In turn, these Pokemon can beat Mega Gyarados, Mega Slowbro, and Mega Lopunny for Gigalith.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rock Blast can be used to beat Substitute users like Jumpluff and Whimsicott. It can also be used in tandem with Curse to reliably beat Counter users like Crustle. Sturdy is another ability Gigalith can use to survive one hit from Pokemon like Mega Blaziken and Pheromosa, but it loses out on the bulk that Sand Stream brings to the table, stopping it from beating bulky Pokemon like Dragonite and Mega Gardevoir.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Super Effective Attackers**: Barring few Pokemon like Mega Lopunny, most attackers that use super effective STAB moves on Gigalith are bulky enough to take any hit Gigalith throws at them or just brute force their way past its defenses. These include Water-type Pokemon like Mega Gyarados, Steel-type Pokemon like Mega Metagross, Fighting-type Pokemon like Kommo-o, and Ground-type Pokemon like Zygarde.
**Physically Bulky Pokemon**: Pokemon like Mega Venusaur and Celesteela and setup Pokemon like Kee Berry Mew and Taunt Deoxys-S can tank any hit Gigalith throws at them and effectively boost their defenses to a level at which Gigalith finds itself unable to defeat them.
**Pokemon Immune to Critical Hits**: Pokemon like Type: Null and Mega Slowbro hinder Gigalith's main ability to use Laser Focus for a 100% critical hit and can therefore stall out Gigalith's attacks with their own boosting moves and win the matchup.
**Sleep Users**: Pokemon like Mega Swampert, Smeargle, and Jumpluff can put Gigalith to sleep and can render it incapable of using its moves before getting put in a losing situation.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Wrath of Alakazam, 292250]]
- Quality checked by: [[Alakazam, 276708], [Macemaster, 302951], [pqs, 425798]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [Estronic, 240732 ]]
Boasting decent stats, good abilities, and a shallow-yet-usable movepool, Gigalith is an anti-metagame Pokemon that can beat some common foes in the 1v1 metagame like special and Flyinium Z Dragonite, Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, and Porygon-Z. Its overall bulk lets it tank some hits like an Outrage from Mega Charizard X and special attacks like Solar Beam from Mega Charizard Y and, when further enhanced by Sand Stream, more powerful special attacks like Dragonium Z-boosted Draco Meteor from Dragonite, Draco Meteor from Naganadel, Shattered Psyche from boosted bulky Tapu Lele, and Hyper Beam from Mega Gardevoir. It also has access to setup moves like Curse and, more importantly, Laser Focus, which, in tandem with each other, let Gigalith beat bulkier threats like Mega Altaria and Noble Roar Kyurem. Its mono-Rock typing makes it less vulnerable to attacks from Grass-, Fighting-, and Steel-types that would threaten other prominent Rock-types, giving it a niche over Mega Tyranitar, Golem, and Mega Diancie. In spite of all this, Gigalith is weak offensively to common types in the 1v1 metagame like Steel, Ground, and Fighting. This puts it at a disadvantage against Pokemon like Magearna, Zygarde, and Kommo-o, which can set up against Gigalith and knock it out. Also, its subpar Speed means it can't beat fast Pokemon dependent on status moves to win, like Smeargle, Kee Berry Mew, and Jumpluff. Without setting up, it lacks the offensive punch to KO bulkier Pokemon, so Taunt from Pokemon like Mega Gyarados and Mew effectively prevent Gigalith from setting up. This also leaves it unable to beat physically bulky Pokemon immune to critical hits, like Mega Slowbro and Type: Null. All this severely reduces its usability in favor of other Rock-type Pokemon like Mega Diancie and Terrakion.
[SET]
name: Bulky Laser Focus
move 1: Stone Edge
move 2: Laser Focus
move 3: Curse
move 4: Earthquake
item: Rockium Z
ability: Sand Stream
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
ivs: 18 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stone Edge allows Gigalith to use Continental Crush, which takes out common Pokemon like special or Flyinium Z Dragonite, Mega Charizard X, and Porygon-Z. Laser Focus lets Gigalith beat Defense-boosting Pokemon like Clefable and Kyurem. This also lets it force Taunt + Z-Reflect Tapu Lele into a mind game. Curse lets Gigalith set up against Pokemon that don't always get KOed by Continental Crush, like Flyinium Z Dragonite and Mega Altaria. It also lets it take a second hit from Pokemon like Haxorus. Earthquake lets it take on certain Steel-type Pokemon like Grassium Z Heatran and Laser Focus Aegislash, which don't take much damage from Continental Crush. Protect is also an option that lets Gigalith more reliably beat special or mixed Dragonium Z Dragonite and reduces the mind games against Tapu Lele.
Set Details
========
252 EVs in HP and 252 EVs in Special Defense along with a Careful nature give Gigalith the best chance of taking two Flash Cannons from Heatran. This also improves its odds of tanking hits from hard-hitting specially attacking Pokemon like Porygon-Z, Tapu Lele, and Mega Gardevoir. The Defense IVs are reduced to 18 to avoid giving Genesect a Special Attack boost from Download, thus granting Gigalith a better chance of beating Choice Scarf variants. The remaining EVs are dumped into Attack. An alternative EV spread of 244 HP / 152 Atk / 112 Def with a Relaxed nature and Superpower can also be utilized to reliably beat non-Substitute Mega Lopunny, Registeel, and Choice Scarf Excadrill.
Usage Tips
========
Start off by using Laser Focus turn 1 against bulky Pokemon like Clefable and Kyurem before attacking, as otherwise, they can use Z-Reflect and Noble Roar, respectively, to reduce Gigalith's damage output. Use Curse once against bulkier foes like Mega Altaria, most Porygon2, and Curse Mega Scizor before using Laser Focus, since these Pokemon usually boost their Defense before attacking. Afterwards, use Laser Focus to bypass their setup. A combination of Sand Stream-boosted bulk and Continental Crush allows Gigalith to tank a +1 Hyper Beam from bulkier variants of Mega Gardevoir but only one from offensive variants while being able to KO any variant with Continental Crush + Stone Edge + 2 turns of Sandstorm damage. So, against Mega Gardevoir, always use Continental Crush turn 1, followed by Stone Edge, even if it uses Will-O-Wisp. Against bulky Tapu Lele, use Laser Focus turn 1 and Continental Crush turn 2, but against Taunt + Z-Reflect Tapu Lele, there are two options; you can either use Laser Focus turn 1 if you predict the Tapu Lele to use Z-Reflect, or you can use Continental Crush right away if you predict them to use their offensive moves or Taunt on the first turn. Avoid sending in Gigalith against defensive Pokemon like Toxic + Foul Play Porygon2 and especially against those immune to critical hits like Mega Slowbro and Type: Null.
Team Options
========
Grass-types like specially defensive Tapu Bulu and Ferrothorn are great teammates because they can take on bulky Water-type and Ground-type Pokemon like Mega Gyarados, Tapu Fini, Donphan, Zygarde, and Kommo-o for Gigalith, with Gigalith taking care of Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, and Heatran for these Pokemon. For similar reasons, Steelium Z Celesteela can also be counted upon as a teammate. While it loses to Tapu Fini and Zygarde, it takes care of Mega Metagross, Landorus-T, Mega Slowbro, and Aegislash for Gigalith, with Gigalith taking on Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, Incineroar, and Zeraora in return. Some Pokemon that benefit from Gigalith KOing Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, Porygon-Z, and some Dragonite variants, such as specially defensive Mega Mawile and Genesect, appreciate it as a teammate. In turn, these Pokemon can beat Mega Gyarados, Mega Slowbro, and Mega Lopunny for Gigalith.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rock Blast can be used to beat Substitute users like Jumpluff and Whimsicott. It can also be used in tandem with Curse to reliably beat Counter users like Crustle. Sturdy is another ability Gigalith can use to survive one hit from Pokemon like Mega Blaziken and Pheromosa, but it loses out on the bulk that Sand Stream brings to the table, stopping it from beating bulky Pokemon like Dragonite and Mega Gardevoir.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Super Effective Attackers**: Barring few Pokemon like Mega Lopunny, most attackers that use super effective STAB moves on Gigalith are bulky enough to take any hit Gigalith throws at them or just brute force their way past its defenses. These include Water-type Pokemon like Mega Gyarados, Steel-type Pokemon like Mega Metagross, Fighting-type Pokemon like Kommo-o, and Ground-type Pokemon like Zygarde.
**Physically Bulky Pokemon**: Pokemon like Mega Venusaur and Celesteela and setup Pokemon like Kee Berry Mew and Taunt Deoxys-S can tank any hit Gigalith throws at them and effectively boost their defenses to a level at which Gigalith finds itself unable to defeat them.
**Pokemon Immune to Critical Hits**: Pokemon like Type: Null and Mega Slowbro hinder Gigalith's main ability to use Laser Focus for a 100% critical hit and can therefore stall out Gigalith's attacks with their own boosting moves and win the matchup.
**Sleep Users**: Pokemon like Mega Swampert, Smeargle, and Jumpluff can put Gigalith to sleep and can render it incapable of using its moves before getting put in a losing situation.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Wrath of Alakazam, 292250]]
- Quality checked by: [[Alakazam, 276708], [Macemaster, 302951], [pqs, 425798]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [Estronic, 240732 ]]
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