[OVERVIEW]
As a Rock-type with access to Roar, Golem is capable of fulfilling the important role of a Normal-resistant phazer for its team while also offering an excellent utility in Rapid Spin and an offensive presence with Explosion. While other Normal-type answers such as Steelix, Rhydon, and Forretress offer some of these traits, Golem is alone in its ability to do all three at once, giving it a unique niche and making it a solid friend you can count on.
[SET]
name: Rapid Spin
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Explosion
move 4: Roar / Fire Blast
item: Leftovers
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
The main reason to use Golem instead of similar Pokemon such as Rhydon and Steelix is its access to Rapid Spin, which it can use to give your team the all-important advantage of removing Spikes. Golem's resistance to Snorlax's Normal-type attacks allows it to find opportunities to switch in, and its ability to OHKO Gengar with STAB Earthquake makes it very difficult for the opponent to block Rapid Spin, as even Misdreavus, which takes neutral damage from it, is still 2HKOed after Spikes. Sadly, a healthy Cloyster has little to fear from Golem and can just switch in, forcing it out by threatening it with Surf or Ice Beam; Cloyster can then use Spikes again and Golem will need to find another opportunity to remove them later on. Forretress needs to worry about a possible Fire Blast but can otherwise threaten Golem with either Giga Drain or Toxic. Due to this, it can be helpful to hide Golem until Cloyster and Forretress are afflicted with status or weakened to make it more difficult for the opponent to get their Spikes back onto the field once Golem has spun them away.
Explosion is generally a very strong move in GSC and that is no exception for Golem. The threat of spinning Spikes away with no consequences can lead to your opponent deciding to pressure Golem more aggressively. Potentially, if you deem Golem no longer needed for defensive purposes, this can allow you to surprise your opponent with a less expected Explosion and take out huge threats like Zapdos using Hidden Power Ice or Snorlax wanting to use Earthquake. Doing this prematurely, however, can leave you vulnerable to other threats that Golem previously could have checked.
Roar is the most common fourth move, allowing Golem to fulfill the key defensive role of checking Snorlax, although it must watch out for Earthquake and Mean Look trappers. Roar also provides Golem with the ability to pressure the opposing team by racking up Spikes damage, especially against more defensive teams, which tend to have fewer Pokemon that threaten Golem. If you don't need another phazing move for your team, Fire Blast is a good alternative to prevent Forretress from switching in or even KOing it should the opponent play carelessly, as well as offering coverage for Skarmory and Exeggutor.
Team Options
========
Unlike Starmie or Tentacruel, Golem is terrible at checking most Spikes users, so Pokemon that can lure them like Snorlax with Thunder for Cloyster or Fire Blast or Flamethrower for Forretress are good partners. Your own Cloyster can help to weaken the opposing Cloyster or Forretress with Toxic and Surf, respectively, so that it is more difficult for them to use Spikes a second time later in the game. In most cases the opponent's Spikes setter must be removed or severely weakened because otherwise, the opponent is likely to set them up again.
Rapid Spin Golem does not handle Hidden Power Ice Electric-types particularly well, having neither the Steel typing of Steelix nor the powerful Rock Slide that Rhydon has to threaten Zapdos. Due to that, on defensive teams, Golem is often used in combination with Raikou, which can safely switch into any Electric-type, and Skarmory, which covers the Ground-type weakness that the other two have. As a Ground-type with access to Thunder and Lovely Kiss, Nidoking is not handled well by that core, so an additional Pokemon like Sleep Talk Snorlax, Suicune, Vaporeon, or Heracross is recommended.
Golem is less commonly used on very offensive teams, but if it is they usually try to ensure that many team members have a decent matchup versus Electric-types or can take them out with Explosion.
[SET]
name: Curse
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: Explosion
move 4: Curse
item: Leftovers
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
This set is way less common than the previous one and faces tough competition from Rhydon, which has a higher Attack stat and more physical bulk but doesn't learn Explosion. Earthquake and Rock Slide are the strongest STAB moves Golem has in its repertoire. Explosion can take out Pokemon when Golem doesn't have other options to beat them. Curse helps Golem stand its ground against Curse Snorlax and can also give it the needed Attack boost to ensure that Explosion OHKOes some Pokemon.
Due to not using Roar, this set gets utterly walled by Curse Skarmory, and it might also be forced to use Explosion earlier against Curse Snorlax.
Team Options
========
With Explosion, Golem can pave the way for other sweepers like Charizard by removing Water-types. Because it is rather slow itself, Pokemon that offer paralysis support such as Stun Spore Exeggutor or Body Slam Snorlax are good teammates.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Flamethrower functions just like Fire Blast but has 100% accuracy and more PP in exchange for less power. Hidden Power Rock can be used in the fourth slot to hit Zapdos super effectively but still fails to 2HKO it reliably. Note that Rock Slide and Rapid Spin cannot be used on the same set. Counter, which works against all Hidden Power types in this generation, is also incompatible with Rapid Spin but can be a decent surprise option. Toxic is an option to make checking Golem with Cloyster more difficult for the opponent in the long run, but this would make Golem a much worse check for Curse Snorlax due to not having Roar and forcing it to use Explosion sooner rather than later. A four attack set of Earthquake, Explosion, Body Slam, and Fire Blast or Rock Slide is another alternative.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Cloyster**: With its high Defense stat, Cloyster has not much to fear from Golem, forces it out with the threat of Surf, and puts Spikes right back up after Golem removes them.
**Exeggutor**: Exeggutor resists Earthquake, is only 3HKOed by Fire Blast should Golem have it, and can threaten Golem with Giga Drain, Psychic, or Sleep Powder.
**Heracross**: Heracross resists Earthquake and has a chance to avoid the 3HKO from Fire Blast; in return, it can threaten Golem with Megahorn, Seismic Toss, or even the less common Earthquake.
**Zapdos**: Should Golem not have Rock Slide or Hidden Power Rock, the only thing Zapdos has to fear is Explosion, while in return it can pressure Golem with Hidden Power Ice or even Hidden Power Water or Grass.
**Skarmory**: Skarmory can help wear Golem down with Toxic or by stealing its Leftovers with Thief. In the absence of those moves, it can at least prevent it from doing much damage with its Explosion—just be careful of Fire Blast variants.
**Water-type Pokemon**: Suicune, Vaporeon, and Starmie can threaten an OHKO with Surf.
**Miltank and Umbreon**: Miltank and Umbreon can stall or afflict status on Golem, but Explosion might KO them.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[FriendOfMrGolem120, 424525]]
- Quality checked by: [[Lavos, 129513], [Earthworm, 15210]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [deetah, 297659]]
As a Rock-type with access to Roar, Golem is capable of fulfilling the important role of a Normal-resistant phazer for its team while also offering an excellent utility in Rapid Spin and an offensive presence with Explosion. While other Normal-type answers such as Steelix, Rhydon, and Forretress offer some of these traits, Golem is alone in its ability to do all three at once, giving it a unique niche and making it a solid friend you can count on.
[SET]
name: Rapid Spin
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Explosion
move 4: Roar / Fire Blast
item: Leftovers
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
The main reason to use Golem instead of similar Pokemon such as Rhydon and Steelix is its access to Rapid Spin, which it can use to give your team the all-important advantage of removing Spikes. Golem's resistance to Snorlax's Normal-type attacks allows it to find opportunities to switch in, and its ability to OHKO Gengar with STAB Earthquake makes it very difficult for the opponent to block Rapid Spin, as even Misdreavus, which takes neutral damage from it, is still 2HKOed after Spikes. Sadly, a healthy Cloyster has little to fear from Golem and can just switch in, forcing it out by threatening it with Surf or Ice Beam; Cloyster can then use Spikes again and Golem will need to find another opportunity to remove them later on. Forretress needs to worry about a possible Fire Blast but can otherwise threaten Golem with either Giga Drain or Toxic. Due to this, it can be helpful to hide Golem until Cloyster and Forretress are afflicted with status or weakened to make it more difficult for the opponent to get their Spikes back onto the field once Golem has spun them away.
Explosion is generally a very strong move in GSC and that is no exception for Golem. The threat of spinning Spikes away with no consequences can lead to your opponent deciding to pressure Golem more aggressively. Potentially, if you deem Golem no longer needed for defensive purposes, this can allow you to surprise your opponent with a less expected Explosion and take out huge threats like Zapdos using Hidden Power Ice or Snorlax wanting to use Earthquake. Doing this prematurely, however, can leave you vulnerable to other threats that Golem previously could have checked.
Roar is the most common fourth move, allowing Golem to fulfill the key defensive role of checking Snorlax, although it must watch out for Earthquake and Mean Look trappers. Roar also provides Golem with the ability to pressure the opposing team by racking up Spikes damage, especially against more defensive teams, which tend to have fewer Pokemon that threaten Golem. If you don't need another phazing move for your team, Fire Blast is a good alternative to prevent Forretress from switching in or even KOing it should the opponent play carelessly, as well as offering coverage for Skarmory and Exeggutor.
Team Options
========
Unlike Starmie or Tentacruel, Golem is terrible at checking most Spikes users, so Pokemon that can lure them like Snorlax with Thunder for Cloyster or Fire Blast or Flamethrower for Forretress are good partners. Your own Cloyster can help to weaken the opposing Cloyster or Forretress with Toxic and Surf, respectively, so that it is more difficult for them to use Spikes a second time later in the game. In most cases the opponent's Spikes setter must be removed or severely weakened because otherwise, the opponent is likely to set them up again.
Rapid Spin Golem does not handle Hidden Power Ice Electric-types particularly well, having neither the Steel typing of Steelix nor the powerful Rock Slide that Rhydon has to threaten Zapdos. Due to that, on defensive teams, Golem is often used in combination with Raikou, which can safely switch into any Electric-type, and Skarmory, which covers the Ground-type weakness that the other two have. As a Ground-type with access to Thunder and Lovely Kiss, Nidoking is not handled well by that core, so an additional Pokemon like Sleep Talk Snorlax, Suicune, Vaporeon, or Heracross is recommended.
Golem is less commonly used on very offensive teams, but if it is they usually try to ensure that many team members have a decent matchup versus Electric-types or can take them out with Explosion.
[SET]
name: Curse
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: Explosion
move 4: Curse
item: Leftovers
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
This set is way less common than the previous one and faces tough competition from Rhydon, which has a higher Attack stat and more physical bulk but doesn't learn Explosion. Earthquake and Rock Slide are the strongest STAB moves Golem has in its repertoire. Explosion can take out Pokemon when Golem doesn't have other options to beat them. Curse helps Golem stand its ground against Curse Snorlax and can also give it the needed Attack boost to ensure that Explosion OHKOes some Pokemon.
Due to not using Roar, this set gets utterly walled by Curse Skarmory, and it might also be forced to use Explosion earlier against Curse Snorlax.
Team Options
========
With Explosion, Golem can pave the way for other sweepers like Charizard by removing Water-types. Because it is rather slow itself, Pokemon that offer paralysis support such as Stun Spore Exeggutor or Body Slam Snorlax are good teammates.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Flamethrower functions just like Fire Blast but has 100% accuracy and more PP in exchange for less power. Hidden Power Rock can be used in the fourth slot to hit Zapdos super effectively but still fails to 2HKO it reliably. Note that Rock Slide and Rapid Spin cannot be used on the same set. Counter, which works against all Hidden Power types in this generation, is also incompatible with Rapid Spin but can be a decent surprise option. Toxic is an option to make checking Golem with Cloyster more difficult for the opponent in the long run, but this would make Golem a much worse check for Curse Snorlax due to not having Roar and forcing it to use Explosion sooner rather than later. A four attack set of Earthquake, Explosion, Body Slam, and Fire Blast or Rock Slide is another alternative.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Cloyster**: With its high Defense stat, Cloyster has not much to fear from Golem, forces it out with the threat of Surf, and puts Spikes right back up after Golem removes them.
**Exeggutor**: Exeggutor resists Earthquake, is only 3HKOed by Fire Blast should Golem have it, and can threaten Golem with Giga Drain, Psychic, or Sleep Powder.
**Heracross**: Heracross resists Earthquake and has a chance to avoid the 3HKO from Fire Blast; in return, it can threaten Golem with Megahorn, Seismic Toss, or even the less common Earthquake.
**Zapdos**: Should Golem not have Rock Slide or Hidden Power Rock, the only thing Zapdos has to fear is Explosion, while in return it can pressure Golem with Hidden Power Ice or even Hidden Power Water or Grass.
**Skarmory**: Skarmory can help wear Golem down with Toxic or by stealing its Leftovers with Thief. In the absence of those moves, it can at least prevent it from doing much damage with its Explosion—just be careful of Fire Blast variants.
**Water-type Pokemon**: Suicune, Vaporeon, and Starmie can threaten an OHKO with Surf.
**Miltank and Umbreon**: Miltank and Umbreon can stall or afflict status on Golem, but Explosion might KO them.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[FriendOfMrGolem120, 424525]]
- Quality checked by: [[Lavos, 129513], [Earthworm, 15210]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [deetah, 297659]]
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