[SET]
name: Status-spreading Defensive Pivot
move 1: Stun Spore / Hidden Power Ground
move 2: Curse / Hidden Power Grass
move 3: Sludge Bomb
move 4: Moonlight / Hidden Power Ground
item: Leftovers
[SET COMMENTS]
Gloom is a fantastic Pokemon in GSC NU due to its ability to play several important roles effectively. Its Grass typing allows it to handle Water-types that commonly run Water- + Electric-type coverage, such as Chinchou and RestTalk Octillery. In doing so, it also provides the user with an excellent opportunity to spread paralysis. The threat of boosting its STAB Sludge Bomb with Curse or Swords Dance can easily force the foe to flee to a counter such as Xatu, a critical target that can be crippled with paralysis from Stun Spore as it switches in. Once paralyzed, if the opponent fails to respect Gloom, it can at times even muster enough power to sweep a crippled team. Sludge Bomb's high chance to inflict poison is also useful for its potential to cripple Pokemon like Magmar and Flareon and can potentially force Xatu to use Rest. On top of this, Gloom also makes for an excellent check to Primeape, one of the tier's most threatening attackers. Even Primeape that run coverage moves for Poison-types usually elect to use Hidden Power Ground to hit Weezing, which Gloom conveniently takes neutral damage from. It is particularly effective at this role with Curse, which can allow it to take on Meditate variants more safely. To allow Gloom to better deal with foes such as Substitute Graveler and Dugtrio, Hidden Power Grass is also a viable option over boosting moves.
However, Gloom has some glaring flaws. It is fairly passive and weak before it boosts its stats, which means that Pineco can easily switch in to lay Spikes against it. For this reason, it is advised to use a Pokemon that can withstand Pineco's Explosion alongside Gloom, such as Sudowoodo. RestTalk users such as Ninetales and Xatu can potentially switch into Gloom to regain their health when weakened without having to fear paralysis too much. If not paired with a bulky Water-type like Dewgong, Octillery, or Azumarill, it can struggle against Water-types that have Ice Beam as a coverage move. Furthermore, while Gloom makes for a fantastic Chinchou check, should it become afflicted by paralysis from Thunder or Thunder Wave, it will become a much shakier check to Primeape. One of Gloom's biggest problems is that it struggles with Magnemite, which can be a huge pain to deal with due to the lack of viable Pokemon that can handle a powerful Electric-type attack that is paired with Hidden Power Ice coverage. However, Gloom can adapt to this by using Hidden Power Ground to surprise Magnemite and take it down unexpectedly. This also doubles as a coverage move for Poison-types such as Weezing, Arbok, and the rare Gastly, and it hits Fire-types slightly harder than Sludge Bomb. As Hidden Power Ground is difficult to fit on a set without dropping Moonlight, an alternative solution to the Magnemite problem is to use a sturdy Fire-type such as Ninetales to take on the cyclopean magnet. Pokemon that can take advantage of Gloom's ability to spread paralysis, such as Swords Dance Kingler, Curse Sudowoodo, Curse Stantler, Substitute Primeape, and Graveler, also make for good teammates.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Earthworm, 15210]]
- Quality checked by: [[ReeceHughes, 508601], [Makkususu, 421511]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Rabia, 336073]]
name: Status-spreading Defensive Pivot
move 1: Stun Spore / Hidden Power Ground
move 2: Curse / Hidden Power Grass
move 3: Sludge Bomb
move 4: Moonlight / Hidden Power Ground
item: Leftovers
[SET COMMENTS]
Gloom is a fantastic Pokemon in GSC NU due to its ability to play several important roles effectively. Its Grass typing allows it to handle Water-types that commonly run Water- + Electric-type coverage, such as Chinchou and RestTalk Octillery. In doing so, it also provides the user with an excellent opportunity to spread paralysis. The threat of boosting its STAB Sludge Bomb with Curse or Swords Dance can easily force the foe to flee to a counter such as Xatu, a critical target that can be crippled with paralysis from Stun Spore as it switches in. Once paralyzed, if the opponent fails to respect Gloom, it can at times even muster enough power to sweep a crippled team. Sludge Bomb's high chance to inflict poison is also useful for its potential to cripple Pokemon like Magmar and Flareon and can potentially force Xatu to use Rest. On top of this, Gloom also makes for an excellent check to Primeape, one of the tier's most threatening attackers. Even Primeape that run coverage moves for Poison-types usually elect to use Hidden Power Ground to hit Weezing, which Gloom conveniently takes neutral damage from. It is particularly effective at this role with Curse, which can allow it to take on Meditate variants more safely. To allow Gloom to better deal with foes such as Substitute Graveler and Dugtrio, Hidden Power Grass is also a viable option over boosting moves.
However, Gloom has some glaring flaws. It is fairly passive and weak before it boosts its stats, which means that Pineco can easily switch in to lay Spikes against it. For this reason, it is advised to use a Pokemon that can withstand Pineco's Explosion alongside Gloom, such as Sudowoodo. RestTalk users such as Ninetales and Xatu can potentially switch into Gloom to regain their health when weakened without having to fear paralysis too much. If not paired with a bulky Water-type like Dewgong, Octillery, or Azumarill, it can struggle against Water-types that have Ice Beam as a coverage move. Furthermore, while Gloom makes for a fantastic Chinchou check, should it become afflicted by paralysis from Thunder or Thunder Wave, it will become a much shakier check to Primeape. One of Gloom's biggest problems is that it struggles with Magnemite, which can be a huge pain to deal with due to the lack of viable Pokemon that can handle a powerful Electric-type attack that is paired with Hidden Power Ice coverage. However, Gloom can adapt to this by using Hidden Power Ground to surprise Magnemite and take it down unexpectedly. This also doubles as a coverage move for Poison-types such as Weezing, Arbok, and the rare Gastly, and it hits Fire-types slightly harder than Sludge Bomb. As Hidden Power Ground is difficult to fit on a set without dropping Moonlight, an alternative solution to the Magnemite problem is to use a sturdy Fire-type such as Ninetales to take on the cyclopean magnet. Pokemon that can take advantage of Gloom's ability to spread paralysis, such as Swords Dance Kingler, Curse Sudowoodo, Curse Stantler, Substitute Primeape, and Graveler, also make for good teammates.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Earthworm, 15210]]
- Quality checked by: [[ReeceHughes, 508601], [Makkususu, 421511]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Rabia, 336073]]
Last edited:
