Gen 1 Golem (UU) [QC 2/2] [GP 2/2]

[phoopes]

Solid Rocks, Brother

taken over from pacattacc

[OVERVIEW]
Though Golem is a less used Pokemon in the RBY UU metagame, it certainly has its merits as a wallbreaker for a few reasons, with the biggest being Explosion. An Explosion coming from Golem is actually the strongest attack in the tier, having the power to put a massive dent in defensive stalwart Vaporeon or even OHKO Hypno. A properly timed Explosion can turn the tide of battle in your favor, but that's not all Golem has to offer. With proper paralysis support and good prediction, it can punch holes in enemy teams using STAB moves Earthquake and Rock Slide. Golem can do all this while also having good defensive utility due to its Rock / Ground typing, which gives it a resistance to Normal-type moves and an immunity to Electric-type moves. Wrap is a defining element of RBY UU, and Golem can be a useful part of an anti-Wrap core due to its resistance to the move. In addition, it can switch in on Dodrio or on another Pokemon's predicted Hyper Beam and punish both with impunity. Finally, its Electric immunity makes it easier to switch in on a predicted Thunder Wave or Thunderbolt, especially when paired with one of UU's many strong Water-types, such as Tentacruel.

Golem's most glaring weakness is its Speed. Golem is outsped by pretty much every Pokemon that sees play in UU, even Pokemon known for being slow like Omastar and Tangela. Not only does Golem have little special bulk, it also has a host of weaknesses. This means that it can be OHKOed by UU's aforementioned Water types, as well as by Pokemon like Articuno with Blizzard and even Raichu with Surf. Therefore, Golem is heavily reliant on support from its teammates and good predictions in order to make an impact.

[SET]
name: Standard
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: Substitute / Body Slam
move 4: Explosion

[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========

Earthquake and Rock Slide are Golem's go-to moves early in the game, weaker than Explosion but packing a big punch coming off its base 110 Attack. Due to its powerful STAB moves and Explosion, Golem can be used effectively as a wallbreaker, especially for punishing Pokemon that have just used Rest. For its final moveslot, Substitute is used to help scout moves and Pokemon as well as providing a layer of defense so Golem can get off an Explosion without being KOed first. However, Body Slam can be used over Substitute to help hinder your opponent's team through paralysis, meaning Golem doesn't need to rely on its teammates for paralysis support as much.

Explosion is used to deal extraordinary damage to every Pokemon in the tier, with a few exceptions such as Omastar and Haunter. Some notable calculations include a guaranteed OHKO on Persian and possible OHKOs on Tentacruel and Hypno. It is against your opponent's bulky Pokemon that Explosion really shines, taking out hard-to-KO team members or at least putting a huge dent in them so they can be revenge killed. A good example target is Kangaskhan, which Golem switches into and easily tanks a Body Slam from—barely minding potential paralysis due to its Speed—before dealing 72.8-85.7% damage with Explosion to set up a revenge kill. Deciding when to use Explosion can be hard, though, since your opponent can predict it and switch in a Pokemon that is already low on health or that resists it. Anticipate this counterplay and use a different move, such as a STAB move for instant damage, Substitute to scout, or Body Slam for a chance to spread paralysis. It is recommended to use Explosion when Golem is around half health or when you think you can catch Hypno on the switch, either OHKOing this top threat or priming it for a revenge killer like Dugtrio to follow up on.

Despite its flaws, Golem still manages to find a few different points of entry into the game. For instance, bringing in Golem is a great way to stop a Dodrio sweep, as Rock Slide deals super effective damage and Golem hard walls Dodrio. It is especially adept at switching into Hyper Beam and punishing Dodrio and Articuno with Rock Slide or Kangaskhan and Persian with Explosion. Golem can also be used as sleep fodder, since its defensive typing means it can freely switch in often on Normal-, Electric-, and Rock-type moves, allowing for easy pivoting. It can even wake up from short sleeps if switched in on Wrap or Hyper Beam enough times.

Golem can form an excellent immunity core with Gyarados, as it covers Gyarados's Electric weakness and Gyarados covers its Ground weakness, so both can be effective mid- or late-game by coming in freely on double switches. Pairing Golem with another effective anti-Wrap Pokemon such as Haunter or Omastar is also a valid strategy, as they can work together to PP stall Wrap without sustaining too much damage. Golem works especially well with either because Haunter's Thunderbolt handles its Water-type counters and Omastar's Blizzard dispatches its Grass-type counters. Especially if Golem doesn't run Body Slam, it appreciates paralysis-spreading teammates. A great example is Kadabra, which shrugs off special attacks surprisingly well for it with Recover, revenge kills threats to Golem, and appreciates it taking Normal-type attacks and the crippling Thunder Wave in return. Finally, Dugtrio takes advantage of Golem weakening or KOing an opponent's Ground-type checks to have a much easier time revenge killing or sweeping.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Golem's most useful alternative move is Toxic, which thwarts Dragonite's attempts to set up Agility and sweep with Wrap because it will take more damage from poison every turn than is worth dealing with Wrap. However, this comes at the cost of dropping Body Slam or Substitute. Since Golem is now unable to spread paralysis on its own or soak up damage with a Substitute, it will need paralysis support more from its teammates in order to get off its attacks, especially Explosion. Toxic isn't needed to deal with Dragonite anyway, as Golem can still help PP stall Wrap.

Rest can also work over Substitute or Body Slam as a way to keep Golem healthy. When Golem gets low on health, it can go for Rest as the opponent switches in a sleeping Pokemon to take the Explosion. As mentioned before, it can also burn off the sleep turns by coming in on Wrap and Hyper Beam, or on another sleeping Pokemon. Finally, Counter can be used after switching into Hyper Beam and or Body Slam, either hitting the recharging foe or punishing an Explosion switch-in.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Water-types**: Due to Golem’s low Special, low Speed, and 4x weakness to Water, any Water-type can OHKO it. Vaporeon can tank anything Golem throws at it, even Explosion from full health. Gyarados can switch in on Earthquake for no damage and OHKO Golem, though it does need to watch out if Golem predicts the switch and uses Rock Slide. Omastar also outspeeds and OHKOes Golem, though Golem does over half of Omastar's health in damage with Earthquake. Tentacruel also takes huge damage from Earthquake and can even be OHKOed by Explosion, but it still maintains the upper hand, as it can OHKO Golem or halt its plans to use Explosion with Wrap. While Golem can be used with another Pokemon like Haunter or Omastar to form an anti-Wrap PP stalling core, it still needs to watch out for Tentacruel's Surf.

**Grass-types**: The two notable Grass-types in the tier, Tangela and Venusaur, are both solid checks to Golem. Tangela’s high Defense, resistance to Earthquake, and access to STAB Mega Drain make it an excellent check to Golem. Note that Mega Drain does not OHKO until Tangela has a Growth under its belt, meaning Tangela is still susceptible to taking massive damage from Explosion. In addition, if the Golem player predicts a Tangela switch-in, they can opt for Rock Slide, which Tangela has a harder time shrugging off since it hits for neutral damage. Venusaur is a little worse at switching into Golem, as it does not resist Earthquake and is 3HKOed. However, it easily outspeeds Golem and OHKOes it with Razor Leaf, unlike Tangela, meaning the Golem player has fewer options. In either case, both Tangela and Venusaur force Golem to switch out, meaning they can spread status to Golem's teammates.

**Articuno**: As a Flying-type, Articuno is able to switch in on Earthquake and take out Golem easily with STAB Blizzard. However, good prediction on the Golem user’s end can spell disaster for Articuno, as it is OHKOed by Rock Slide. Articuno also will be sent running if Golem uses Substitute or paralyzes it with Body Slam on the switch. While it is a risky play, Golem can even switch into a paralyzed Articuno while it attempts to use Agility. If full paralysis triggers either turn, Golem wins the interaction with Rock Slide. Finally, if Articuno gets unlucky and Blizzard misses while Rock Slide does not, it is KOed.

**Raichu**: Raichu has a hard time switching into Golem's attacks due to Earthquake hitting for super effective damage and Body Slam potentially paralyzing it. However, if it switches in on Rock Slide, Golem is in trouble. Raichu outspeeds it and OHKOes with Surf, forcing Golem out.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[pacattacc, 520967], [phoopes, 96315]]
- Quality checked by: [[Plague von Karma, 236353], [Sevi 7, 505149]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [, ]]

 

[phoopes]

tagging Plague von Karma Volk and EB0LA as they (along with me) had stuff to say in the previous thread

I reworked a lot of stuff but I'm still not thrilled with the set comments or the the checks and counters sections in particular

 

[Plague von Karma]

Hmmm, lots to say here.

Overview

especially when paired with one of UU's many strong Water types.

Needs an example (read: Tentacruel)

Not only this Golem has little special bulk, as well as a host of weaknesses.

This sentence, uh, doesn't make sense.
I think you mean "Not only does Golem have little special bulk, it also has a host of weaknesses."

This would also fix the continuity with this sentence;

This means that it can be OHKO'd UU's aforementioned Water types

--

Set Comments
The first paragraph doesn't really explain the set, and ideally, it should. Simple reasonings are all that is necessary for Golem, so something like "QuakeSlide good, Body Slam spread para so it can deny switch-ins and be more self-sufficient, boom good, substitute kinda nice?"

You should explain boom more, I gave some critique parroting Volk in the previous thread here. It's Golem's whole niche and a lot of thought goes into it throughout a game. Wrap PP stall tactics could also use with some mentions, as well as punishing Resting Pokemon (because good lord can it do that in spades).

Add potential teammates that appreciate Golem's presence, and vice versa. Golem requires heavy support to work, and because of that, a paragraph should be dedicated to it. It is, of course, a large part of Golem's gameplay.

Checks & Counters
As a general rule of thumb, the whole thing needs much more explanation.

**Water-Types**: Due to Golem’s low special, low speed, and 4x weakness to Water, any Water-type is a threat to OHKO Golem. Thus, setting up a Substitute while they switch in to get free damage on the next turn or double switching to a Water-type counter is the recommended play.

Tentacruel should be mentioned for its ability to delay its Explosions with Wrap, outright OHKO it with Surf, but also for it being at a massive risk of being blown out the water by EQ. It's one of the few Water-types that Golem can absolutely win against, and it's the most important one in the tier. Omastar is another outlier. Then you should go on to cite Gyarados's outright immunity to Earthquake and potential for massive damage, and Vaporeon's bulk. This should be much longer than it is.

**Tangela**: Tangela’s high defense, resistance to Earthquake, and access to STAB Mega Drain make it an excellent check to Golem. Note that Mega Drain does not OHKO however, meaning Tangela is still susceptible to taking massive damage from Explosion.

Golem's Rock Slide should be mentioned as it hits for neutral damage and can leave a nasty mark. Tangela cannot repeatedly switch in to Golem at all. Also, Venusaur could be added to this and have Tangela changed to "Grass-types" to be more broad.

**Articuno**: While Articuno has the potential to be OHKOed by Golem’s STAB Rock Slide, it is immune to Earthquake. This allows it to switch in and take out Golem with STAB Blizzard. However, good prediction on the Golem user’s end can help mitigate this.

Prediction should be explained more; this would make more sense if the Rock Slide OHKO was mentioned later. Should be mentioned that a paralyzed Articuno can be switched in on by Golem to fish for full paralysis as it tries to use Agility. While it's high-risk...if it paras, it dies.

**Raichu**: While Raichu has a hard time switching into Golem due to Earthquake or risking paralysis from Body Slam, you can switch into Rock Slide through baiting with something like Dodrio. From there, Raichu outspeeds Golem and OHKOs with Surf, forcing Golem out.

That first sentence has iffy coherency and should be looked at. I think you're trying to say that Raichu can switch in on a predicted Rock Slide (which is a valid point of entry), but it's a bit difficult to wrap your head around due to the usage of "you", as if referring to the Golem player? I think it could be explained better, and in more detail.

Also, Dugtrio should be mentioned somewhere since it revenge-kills Golem super well if it's in range.

 

[phoopes]

implemented everything Plague von Karma

I fear this analysis is becoming a little lengthy for something that's not that great in UU, but let me know what you think

 

[phoopes]

I lied last night, now everything is implemented/adjusted and I cleaned up some grammar/spelling as well

 

[Plague von Karma]

There still isn't enough information about Explosion that has been presented, write these points into the 2nd paragraph. Golem's niche is possessing the strongest physical attack in the tier, so you should be going over how to make use of it in more detail.

• Golem should ideally be exploding when it's at ~50% HP as that's where a feather will likely kill it.
• Explosion ensures Golem doesn't lose option value if it is paralyzed, so absorbing Stun Spore or something in really bad spots isn't inherently bad, and Body Slam paralysis isn't the end of the world when it's trying to check Normals and the like.
• Golem should ideally be targeting something like Tentacruel or Hypno with Explosion as getting rid of those Pokemon is extremely important. The BoomDex page for Golem should be a good area to look for calcs to cite. Mention potential big dents as well, since you can still revenge-kill; the positioning provided by Explosion is huge.
• Teams that appreciate the free switch-in provided by Explosion should be using Golem, so go over this as well. Counter Kangaskhan could also be mentioned to get the most mileage out of the free switch, and Dugtrio works as the Pokemon to profit from denting mons not OHKOed outright.

Implement this and I'll give a QC 1/2 so someone else can check it.

 

[phoopes]

implemented and ready for QC #2

 

[Sevi 7]

Overview

• It's nitpicky, but I think you should change Explosion is the reasons it's a good wallbreak to its one of the reasons. STAB QuakeSlide hits super and it can be a little tricky switching a wall or tank into Golem because of that.
• Mention that it's rock-typing stops Dodrio entirely and let's it punish Hyper Beam

Set

• I think you should list the attacks in the same order you talk about them in the description

Set Description

• Say that Earhquake is weaker than Explosion rather than move that doesn't OHKO itself. It's also the same power as H Beam and Dig so trying to talk about it like that is a little moot anyways
• Take out the part about covering mons that would obliterate, because it still struggles to damage mons that hit it for 4x damage like Vap and Tang.
• You should mention Kadabra's speed and quick recovery, since that's why you would think about it for coverage over Hypno
• I think you need to talk about your opponent will predict explosion and try to line up a more favorable target for fodder, but you can take advantage of that by using Sub or B Slam or just go for damage with QuakeSlide. So you need to read your opponent and try to predict when you can get the most out of explosion and try not to be obvious when you'll use it. Or at the very least say something about how it can be hard to use Explosion because of your opponent's prediction skills.
• Tent doesn't really like switching into Golem, so I wouldn't mention it as an example of a switch-in
• I don't think you should mention countering your own explosion. It's something that can happen, but i don't think it's common enough or something you can plan for enough to be mentioned in an analysis. It's more like seizing a rare opportunity kind of thing.
• When talking about potential partners, mention that Golem like Thunderbolt, Thunder Wave and Blizzard users. Haunter also gets Thunderbolt and Omastar gets Blizzard. Those might be a good reminder
• Dugtrio appreciates Golem weakening or killing the opponent's ground-type checks so Dug has an easier time revenge killing and sweeping.
• Mention that you can punish Hyper Beam. This can be a way for Golem to beat Articuno or get off an explosion against Kang or Persian, even from low health
• I don't know where it should go, but saying something about golem being able to work as a sleep fodder, because it can still use its typing to take normal, electric and rock hits to allow easy pivoting. Wrap and H Beam also let it burn of sleep turns and it can wake up if it's a short sleep.

Other Options

• Rest can work to heal Golem and keep it damaging things with QuakeSlide. One way to use rest is when Golem gets low on health, it can go for Rest, as the opponent switches in their sleeping mon to take the explosion. You can also burn off the sleep turns by coming in on wrap or another resting Pokemon. Or H beam, as I keep mentioning. I've seen it work before, and it's something I've wanted to play with more.
• Counter can work. The usual way to get it off is to switch into Hyper Beam and click counter as they recharge; however, coming in on B Slam or something and then using counter as your opponent switches into something to predict the explosion can also be useful. It's mainly for the H Beam thing though

Checks and Counters

• Mention as a solid Golem check, especially if it has Bubblebeam or Surf
• Say that Tangela does OHKO after 1 Growth
• Say that Articuno can only safely switch into an EQ. Body Slam para or Sub also mean that Art dies.
• Also say that Art's can die to bad luck when Blizz misses, but RS doesn't
• I don't really think of Dug as a check. It can revenge kill from half, but so does most of the roster. I'd drop it entirely.

 

[phoopes]

Sevi 7 implemented! Let me know what you think

 

[Sevi 7]

In the overview, change Golem switching into Dodrio's Hyper Beam into it can switch into Hyper Beam and anything Dodrio can do.

In the Set Descritption, also add that Kadabra's speed helps it KO whatever its switching into.

I forgot to say this last time, but in the OO, you should add that Toxic isn't needed, because Golem can help PP Stall Nite's Wrap, if it gets off an Agility.

Really good! Do those changes and its QCed!

 

[phoopes]

In the overview, change Golem switching into Dodrio's Hyper Beam into it can switch into Hyper Beam and anything Dodrio can do.

In the Set Descritption, also add that Kadabra's speed helps it KO whatever its switching into.

I forgot to say this last time, but in the OO, you should add that Toxic isn't needed, because Golem can help PP Stall Nite's Wrap, if it gets off an Agility.

Really good! Do those changes and its QCed!

All implemented. Golem is now ready for GP!

 

[Adeleine]

Add/Fix Remove Comment
(AC)/(RC): Add/Remove Comma
Removed "Pokémon" accents in the beginning

Hide

[OVERVIEW]
Though Golem is a lesser-played less used Pokemon in the RBY UU metagame, it certainly has its merits as a wallbreaker for a few reasons, but the biggest being Explosion. An Explosion coming from Golem is actually the strongest attack in the tier, having the power to put a massive dent in defensive stalwart Vaporeon or even OHKO Hypno. A properly-timed Explosion can turn the tide of battle in your favor, but that's not all Golem has to offer. With proper paralysis support and good prediction, Golem it can punch holes in enemy teams using STAB moves Earthquake and Rock Slide. Golem can do all this while also having good defensive utility due to its Rock / Ground (spacing around slash) typing, which gives it a resistance to Normal-type moves as well as and an immunity to Electric-type moves. Wrap is a defining characteristic element of RBY UU, and Golem can be a useful part of an anti-Wrap core due to its resistance to the move. In addition, Golem it can switch in on Dodrio or on a predicted Hyper Beam from another Pokemon and punish it both with impunity. Finally, its Electric immunity makes it easier to switch in on a predicted Thunder Wave or Thunderbolt, especially when paired with one of UU's many strong Water types, (AC) such as Tentacruel. However, despite its strengths, there are a few factors that hold Golem back from being used more often.

Golem's most glaring weakness is its Speed. Golem is outsped by pretty much every Pokemon that sees play in UU, meaning that even Pokémon known for being slower like Omastar and Tangela can take advantage of Golem's sluggish speed. Not only does Golem have little special bulk, it also has a host of weaknesses. This means that it can be OHKOed by UU's aforementioned Water types. as well as by Pokemon like Articuno with Blizzard or and even Raichu with Surf. Therefore, Golem is heavily reliant on support from its teammates and good predictions by the player in order to make an impact on the game.

[SET]
name: Standard
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: Substitute / Body Slam (spacing around slash)
move 4: Explosion

[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========

Earthquake and Rock Slide are Golem's go-to moves early in the game, weaker than Explosion but packing a big punch coming off its 110 base Attack. Due to these powerful options in its powerful STAB moves and Explosion, Golem can be used effectively as a wallbreaker, especially for punishing Pokemon that have just used Rest. For its final move slot, Substitute is used to help scout moves and Pokemon as well as providing a layer of defense so Golem can get off an Explosion without being KOed first. However, Body Slam can be used over Substitute to help hinder your opponent's team through paralysis, meaning Golem doesn't need to rely on its teammates for paralysis support as much. One of these paralysis-spreading teammates that Golem pairs well with is Kadabra, as Kadabra shrugs off the special attacks that Golem fears surprisingly well by speedily using Recover to heal off the damage, or by using its Speed to revenge kill. Golem in return provides resistance to powerful Normal-type attacks that Kadabra fears as well as immunity to Thunder Wave, which cripples Kadabra. (moved)

(a lot of removals in this paragraph, some later as well. Let me know if there's any info/phrasing/etc. you saw removed and would rather keep, and feel free to tinker w things) Explosion is used to deal extraordinary damage to every Pokemon in the tier, with a few exceptions such as Omastar and Haunter. Some notable calculations include a guaranteed OHKO on Persian (RC) and a possible OHKOs on Tentacruel and Hypno. It is against your opponent's bulky Pokemon that Explosion really shines, either being able to take taking out hard-to-KO team members, (AC) or at least putting a huge dent in them so they can be revenge killed. A good example of this is Kangaskhan: Golem switches in and tanks a Body Slam easily. From there, it doesn't even matter if Golem gets paralyzed; it's slower than everything anyway and still has the option of Explosion, in this case dealing between target is Kangaskhan, which Golem switches into and easily tanks a Body Slam from—barely minding potential paralysis due to its Speed—before dealing 72.8-85.7% damage and setting up Kangaskhan to be revenge killed. But when should you use Explosion? It can be had to figure out, due to your opponent potentially predicting your Explosion use by switching in a target with Explosion to set up a revenge kill. Deciding when to use Explosion can be hard, though, since your opponent can predict it and switch in a Pokemon that is already low on health or a Pokemon that resists Explosion. In these cases, read your opponent's prediction and use a different move, either one of Golem's STAB moves for instant damage, Substitute to scout, or Body Slam to hopefully spread paralysis. Ideally though, Golem will be able to take a hit or two before popping off its greatest weapon. it. Anticipate this counterplay and use a different move. It is recommended to use Explosion when Golem is around half health, (AC) and/or if you think your opponent will switch in Hypno, one of the two biggest threats of RBY UU which as previously mentioned, can be OHKOed by Explosion. And even if it is not KOed outright, bringing in a revenge killer like Dugtrio make it a very effective teammate and follow-up to Golem's Explosion. or when you think you can catch Hypno on the switch, either OHKOing this top threat or priming it for a revenge killer like Dugtrio to follow up on.

Despite its flaws, Golem still manages to find a few different points of entry into the game. For instance, bringing in Golem is a great way to stop a Dodrio sweep, as STAB Rock Slide deals super effective damage and Golem hard walls Dodrio's Normal-type and Flying-type moves. Golem It is especially adept at switching into a Hyper Beam and punishing Dodrio and Articuno with Rock Slide, or Kangaskhan and Persian with Explosion, a good way to use your Explosion when at low health. Golem can also be used as sleep fodder, since its defensive typing means it can get a lot of free switch-ins on Normal-, Electric, or and Rock-type moves, allowing for easy pivoting. Golem It can even wake up from short sleeps if switched in on Wrap or Hyper Beam enough times. In addition, Golem's previously mentioned defensive utility with its Rock/Ground typing allows it to be effective in the mid to late game as part of a defensive core as well. For example, its Ground typing lets it

Golem can form an excellent immunity core with Gyarados, as Gyarados is weak to Electric-Type attacks and Golem is weak to Ground-Type attacks, so each is immune to the other's weakness. This allows for some very useful double switches so Golem or Gyarados can come in freely. it covers Gyarados's Electric weakness and Gyarados covers its Ground weakness, so both can be effective mid- or late-game by coming in freely on double switches. Pairing Golem with another effective anti-Wrap Pokemon such as Haunter or Omastar is also a valid strategy, as between Golem and its partner you will be able they can work together to PP stall the Wrap user without sustaining too much damage. This is especially great as Golem loves pairing with Thunderbolt users such as Haunter for its Water-type counters, or Blizzard users such as Omastar for Golem works especially well with either because Haunter's Thunderbolt handles its Water-type counters, and Omastar's Blizzard dispatches its Grass-type counters. Especially if Golem doesn't run Body Slam, it appreciates paralysis-spreading teammates. A great example is Kadabra, which shrugs off special attacks surprisingly well for it with Recover, revenge kills threats to it, and appreciates it taking Normal-type attacks and the crippling Thunder Wave in return. (feel free move these sentences within this paragraph) Finally, Dugtrio is a good partner for Golem as once Golem weakens or KOes an opponent's Ground-type checks, Dugtrio has takes advantage of Golem weakening or KOing an opponent's Ground-type checks to have a much easier time revenge killing or sweeping.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Golem's most useful alternative move is Toxic, (period -> comma) Toxic is used for opposing Dragonite, who will find their which thwarts Dragonite's attempts to set up Agility and sweep with Wrap thwarted. This is because Dragonite it will take more damage from poison every turn than is worth dealing with Wrap. However, this comes at the cost of dropping Body Slam or Substitute on Golem. Since Golem is now unable to spread paralysis on its own or soak up damage with a Substitute, it will need further paralysis support more from its teammates through paralysis in order to get off its attacks, especially Explosion. Toxic isn't necessarily needed anyway, as Golem can help PP stall Dragonite's Wrap should it get off an Agility due to Golem's Rock typing. needed for Golem to help PP stall Dragonite's Wrap, anyway.

Rest can also work over Explosion (I imagine, bc only EQ/RS mentioned after? If not, though, ofc change this) as a way to keep Golem healthy and damaging foes with Earthquake or Rock Slide. When Golem gets low on health, it can go for Rest as the opponent switches in a sleeping Pokemon to take the Explosion. As mentioned before, it can also burn off the sleep turns by coming in on Wrap and Hyper Beam, or on another sleeping Pokemon. Finally, Counter can be used by after switching into a Hyper Beam and Countering the user as they recharge. Coming in on Body Slam and user Counter while an opponent switches in a Pokemon to predict the Explosion can also be useful. or Body Slam, either hitting the recharging foe or punishing an Explosion switch-in.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Water-types**: Due to Golem’s low Special, low Speed, and 4x weakness to Water, any Water-type is a threat to OHKO Golem. can OHKO it. Vaporeon can tank anything Golem throws at it, even Explosion from full health. Gyarados can switch in on Earthquake for no damage and OHKO, though it does need to watch out if Golem predicts the switch and uses Rock Slide. Similar to Gyarados, Omastar also outspeeds and OHKOes Golem, though Golem does over half of Omastar's health in damage with Earthquake. Tentacruel also takes huge damage from Earthquake and can even be OHKOed by Explosion, but it still maintains the upper hand, (AC) as it can OHKO Golem or halt its plans to use Explosion with Wrap. While Golem can be used with another Pokemon like Haunter or Omastar to form an anti-Wrap PP stalling core, it still needs to watch out for Tentacruel's Surf.

**Grass-types**: The two notable Grass-types in the tier, Tangela and Venusaur, are both solid checks to Golem. Tangela’s high Defense, resistance to Earthquake, and access to STAB Mega Drain make it an excellent check to Golem. Note that Mega Drain does not OHKO until Tangela has one a Growth under its belt, meaning Tangela is still susceptible to taking massive damage from Explosion. In addition, if the Golem player predicts a Tangela switch-in, they can opt for Rock Slide, which Tangela has a harder time shrugging off since it hits for neutral damage. Venusaur is a little worse at switching in to Golem, as it does not resist Earthquake and is 3HKOed. However, it easily outspeeds Golem and OHKOes with Razor Leaf, (AC) where Tangela cannot OHKO with Mega Drain unlike Tangela, meaning the Golem player has fewer options. In either case, both Tangela and Venusaur force Golem to switch out, meaning they can spread status to Golem's teammates.

**Articuno**: As a Flying-type, Articuno is immune to Earthquake. This allows it is able to switch in on Earthquake and take out Golem easily with STAB Blizzard. However, good prediction on the Golem user’s end can spell disaster for Articuno, as it is OHKOed by Rock Slide. Articuno also will be sent running if the Golem player uses Substitute (RC) or if Golem gets lucky with Body Slam paralyzing the switched-in Articuno. paralyzes it with Body Slam on the switch. While it is a risky play, you can even switch Golem can even switch into a paralyzed Articuno while it attempts to use Agility. If fully paralysis triggers either turn, Golem wins the interaction with Rock Slide. Finally, if Articuno gets unlucky and Blizzard misses while Rock Slide does not, Articuno it is KOed.

**Raichu**: Raichu has a hard time switching into Golem's attacks due to Earthquake hitting for super effective damage or and Body Slam potentially paralyzing it. However, if it switches in on Rock Slide, Golem is in trouble. Raichu outspeeds it and OHKOes with Surf, forcing Golem out.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[pacattacc, 520967], [phoopes, 96315]]
- Quality checked by: [[Plague von Karma, 236353], [Sevi 7, 505149]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [, ]]

i'll stamp after implementation in case i missed something or want to consolidate paragraphs or whatnot[/hide]

 

[phoopes]

Finland how's this looking now?

 

[Adeleine]

a few evil Pokémon accents must be removed

specifically these

Though Golem is a less used Pokémon in the RBY UU metagame,

Golem is outsped by pretty much every Pokémon that sees play in UU, even Pokémon

especially for punishing Pokémon that have just used Rest.

For its final move slot, Substitute is used to help scout moves and Pokémon

Explosion is used to deal extraordinary damage to every Pokémon in the tier,

It is against your opponent's bulky Pokémon

In addition, it can switch in on Dodrio or on a predicted Hyper Beam from another Pokemon and punish both with impunity.

i forgot this should be "another Pokemon's predicted Hyper Beam"

Toxic isn't needed for Golem to help PP stall Dragonite's wrap, anyway.

changed my mind a bit on this. i prefer this instead, assuming you're fine with it:

Toxic isn't needed to deal with Dragonite anyway, as Golem can still help PP stall Wrap.

typing means it can get a lot of free switch-ins on Normal-, Electric, and Rock-type moves

didn't notice this should be Electric- with the hyphen

i can use this now!

 

[phoopes]

Finland thanks for the check, implemented!

 

[Lumari]

remove add / fix (comments); (AC=add comma; RC=remove comma; SC=semicolon)
GP 2/2

check

[OVERVIEW]
Though Golem is a less used Pokemon in the RBY UU metagame, it certainly has its merits as a wallbreaker for a few reasons, with the biggest being Explosion. An Explosion coming from Golem is actually the strongest attack in the tier, having the power to put a massive dent in defensive stalwart Vaporeon or even OHKO Hypno. A properly timed (RH) Explosion can turn the tide of battle in your favor, but that's not all Golem has to offer. With proper paralysis support and good prediction, it can punch holes in enemy teams using STAB moves Earthquake and Rock Slide. Golem can do all this while also having good defensive utility due to its Rock / Ground typing, which gives it a resistance to Normal-type moves and an immunity to Electric-type moves. Wrap is a defining element of RBY UU, and Golem can be a useful part of an anti-Wrap core due to its resistance to the move. In addition, it can switch in on Dodrio or on another Pokemon's predicted Hyper Beam and punish both with impunity. Finally, its Electric immunity makes it easier to switch in on a predicted Thunder Wave or Thunderbolt, especially when paired with one of UU's many strong Water-types, (AH) such as Tentacruel.

Golem's most glaring weakness is its Speed. Golem is outsped by pretty much every Pokemon that sees play in UU, even Pokemon known for being slow like Omastar and Tangela. Not only does Golem have little special bulk, it also has a host of weaknesses. This means that it can be OHKOed by UU's aforementioned Water types, as well as by Pokemon like Articuno with Blizzard and even Raichu with Surf. Therefore, Golem is heavily reliant on support from its teammates and good predictions in order to make an impact.

[SET]
name: Standard
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: Substitute / Body Slam
move 4: Explosion

[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========

Earthquake and Rock Slide are Golem's go-to moves early in the game, weaker than Explosion but packing a big punch coming off its base 110 base Attack. Due to its powerful STAB moves and Explosion, Golem can be used effectively as a wallbreaker, especially for punishing Pokemon that have just used Rest. For its final move slot moveslot, Substitute is used to help scout moves and Pokemon as well as providing a layer of defense so Golem can get off an Explosion without being KOed first. However, Body Slam can be used over Substitute to help hinder your opponent's team through paralysis, meaning Golem doesn't need to rely on its teammates for paralysis support as much.

Explosion is used to deal extraordinary damage to every Pokemon in the tier, with a few exceptions such as Omastar and Haunter. Some notable calculations include a guaranteed OHKO on Persian and possible OHKOs on Tentacruel and Hypno. It is against your opponent's bulky Pokemon that Explosion really shines, taking out hard-to-KO team members (RC) or at least putting a huge dent in them so they can be revenge killed. A good example target is Kangaskhan, which Golem switches into and easily tanks a Body Slam from—barely minding potential paralysis due to its Speed—before dealing 72.8-85.7% damage with Explosion to set up a revenge kill. Deciding when to use Explosion can be hard, though, since your opponent can predict it and switch in a Pokemon that is already low on health or that resists it. Anticipate this counterplay and use a different move, such as a STAB move for instant damage, Substitute to scout, or Body Slam for a chance to spread paralysis. It is recommended to use Explosion when Golem is around half health (RC) or when you think you can catch Hypno on the switch, either OHKOing this top threat or priming it for a revenge killer like Dugtrio to follow up on.

Despite its flaws, Golem still manages to find a few different points of entry into the game. For instance, bringing in Golem is a great way to stop a Dodrio sweep, as Rock Slide deals super effective damage and Golem hard walls Dodrio. It is especially adept at switching into Hyper Beam and punishing Dodrio and Articuno with Rock Slide (RC) or Kangaskhan and Persian with Explosion. Golem can also be used as sleep fodder, since its defensive typing means it can get a lot of free switch-ins freely switch in often on Normal-, Electric-, and Rock-type moves, allowing for easy pivoting. It can even wake up from short sleeps if switched in on Wrap or Hyper Beam enough times.

Golem can form an excellent immunity core with Gyarados, as it covers Gyarados's Electric weakness and Gyarados covers its Ground weakness, so both can be effective mid- or late-game by coming in freely on double switches. Pairing Golem with another effective anti-Wrap Pokemon such as Haunter or Omastar is also a valid strategy, as they can work together to PP stall Wrap without sustaining too much damage. Golem works especially well with either because Haunter's Thunderbolt handles its Water-type counters (RC) and Omastar's Blizzard dispatches its Grass-type counters. Especially if Golem doesn't run Body Slam, it appreciates paralysis-spreading teammates. A great example is Kadabra, which shrugs off special attacks surprisingly well for it with Recover, revenge kills threats to it Golem, and appreciates it taking Normal-type attacks and the crippling Thunder Wave in return. Finally, Dugtrio takes advantage of Golem weakening or KOing an opponent's Ground-type checks to have a much easier time revenge killing or sweeping.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Golem's most useful alternative move is Toxic, which thwarts Dragonite's attempts to set up Agility and sweep with Wrap because it will take more damage from poison every turn than is worth dealing with Wrap. However, this comes at the cost of dropping Body Slam or Substitute. Since Golem is now unable to spread paralysis on its own or soak up damage with a Substitute, it will need paralysis support more from its teammates in order to get off its attacks, especially Explosion. Toxic isn't needed to deal with Dragonite anyway, as Golem can still help PP stall Wrap.

Rest can also work over Substitute or Body Slam as a way to keep Golem healthy. When Golem gets low on health, it can go for Rest as the opponent switches in a sleeping Pokemon to take the Explosion. As mentioned before, it can also burn off the sleep turns by coming in on Wrap and Hyper Beam, or on another sleeping Pokemon. Finally, Counter can be used after switching into Hyper Beam and or Body Slam, either hitting the recharging foe or punishing an Explosion switch-in.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Water-types**: Due to Golem’s low Special, low Speed, and 4x weakness to Water, any Water-type can OHKO it. Vaporeon can tank anything Golem throws at it, even Explosion from full health. Gyarados can switch in on Earthquake for no damage and OHKO Golem, though it does need to watch out if Golem predicts the switch and uses Rock Slide. Omastar also outspeeds and OHKOes Golem, though Golem does over half of Omastar's health in damage with Earthquake. Tentacruel also takes huge damage from Earthquake and can even be OHKOed by Explosion, but it still maintains the upper hand, as it can OHKO Golem or halt its plans to use Explosion with Wrap. While Golem can be used with another Pokemon like Haunter or Omastar to form an anti-Wrap PP stalling core, it still needs to watch out for Tentacruel's Surf.

**Grass-types**: The two notable Grass-types in the tier, Tangela and Venusaur, are both solid checks to Golem. Tangela’s high Defense, resistance to Earthquake, and access to STAB Mega Drain make it an excellent check to Golem. Note that Mega Drain does not OHKO until Tangela has a Growth under its belt, meaning Tangela is still susceptible to taking massive damage from Explosion. In addition, if the Golem player predicts a Tangela switch-in, they can opt for Rock Slide, which Tangela has a harder time shrugging off since it hits for neutral damage. Venusaur is a little worse at switching in to into Golem, as it does not resist Earthquake and is 3HKOed. However, it easily outspeeds Golem and OHKOes it with Razor Leaf, unlike Tangela, meaning the Golem player has fewer options. In either case, both Tangela and Venusaur force Golem to switch out, meaning they can spread status to Golem's teammates.

**Articuno**: As a Flying-type, Articuno is able to switch in on Earthquake and take out Golem easily with STAB Blizzard. However, good prediction on the Golem user’s end can spell disaster for Articuno, as it is OHKOed by Rock Slide. Articuno also will be sent running if Golem uses Substitute or paralyzes it with Body Slam on the switch. While it is a risky play, Golem can even switch into a paralyzed Articuno while it attempts to use Agility. If full paralysis triggers either turn, Golem wins the interaction with Rock Slide. Finally, if Articuno gets unlucky and Blizzard misses while Rock Slide does not, it is KOed.

**Raichu**: Raichu has a hard time switching into Golem's attacks due to Earthquake hitting for super effective damage and Body Slam potentially paralyzing it. However, if it switches in on Rock Slide, Golem is in trouble. Raichu outspeeds it and OHKOes with Surf, forcing Golem out.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[pacattacc, 520967], [phoopes, 96315]]
- Quality checked by: [[Plague von Karma, 236353], [Sevi 7, 505149]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [, ]]

 

[phoopes]

remove add / fix (comments); (AC=add comma; RC=remove comma; SC=semicolon)
GP 2/2

check

[OVERVIEW]
Though Golem is a less used Pokemon in the RBY UU metagame, it certainly has its merits as a wallbreaker for a few reasons, with the biggest being Explosion. An Explosion coming from Golem is actually the strongest attack in the tier, having the power to put a massive dent in defensive stalwart Vaporeon or even OHKO Hypno. A properly timed (RH) Explosion can turn the tide of battle in your favor, but that's not all Golem has to offer. With proper paralysis support and good prediction, it can punch holes in enemy teams using STAB moves Earthquake and Rock Slide. Golem can do all this while also having good defensive utility due to its Rock / Ground typing, which gives it a resistance to Normal-type moves and an immunity to Electric-type moves. Wrap is a defining element of RBY UU, and Golem can be a useful part of an anti-Wrap core due to its resistance to the move. In addition, it can switch in on Dodrio or on another Pokemon's predicted Hyper Beam and punish both with impunity. Finally, its Electric immunity makes it easier to switch in on a predicted Thunder Wave or Thunderbolt, especially when paired with one of UU's many strong Water-types, (AH) such as Tentacruel.

Golem's most glaring weakness is its Speed. Golem is outsped by pretty much every Pokemon that sees play in UU, even Pokemon known for being slow like Omastar and Tangela. Not only does Golem have little special bulk, it also has a host of weaknesses. This means that it can be OHKOed by UU's aforementioned Water types, as well as by Pokemon like Articuno with Blizzard and even Raichu with Surf. Therefore, Golem is heavily reliant on support from its teammates and good predictions in order to make an impact.

[SET]
name: Standard
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: Substitute / Body Slam
move 4: Explosion

[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========

Earthquake and Rock Slide are Golem's go-to moves early in the game, weaker than Explosion but packing a big punch coming off its base 110 base Attack. Due to its powerful STAB moves and Explosion, Golem can be used effectively as a wallbreaker, especially for punishing Pokemon that have just used Rest. For its final move slot moveslot, Substitute is used to help scout moves and Pokemon as well as providing a layer of defense so Golem can get off an Explosion without being KOed first. However, Body Slam can be used over Substitute to help hinder your opponent's team through paralysis, meaning Golem doesn't need to rely on its teammates for paralysis support as much.

Explosion is used to deal extraordinary damage to every Pokemon in the tier, with a few exceptions such as Omastar and Haunter. Some notable calculations include a guaranteed OHKO on Persian and possible OHKOs on Tentacruel and Hypno. It is against your opponent's bulky Pokemon that Explosion really shines, taking out hard-to-KO team members (RC) or at least putting a huge dent in them so they can be revenge killed. A good example target is Kangaskhan, which Golem switches into and easily tanks a Body Slam from—barely minding potential paralysis due to its Speed—before dealing 72.8-85.7% damage with Explosion to set up a revenge kill. Deciding when to use Explosion can be hard, though, since your opponent can predict it and switch in a Pokemon that is already low on health or that resists it. Anticipate this counterplay and use a different move, such as a STAB move for instant damage, Substitute to scout, or Body Slam for a chance to spread paralysis. It is recommended to use Explosion when Golem is around half health (RC) or when you think you can catch Hypno on the switch, either OHKOing this top threat or priming it for a revenge killer like Dugtrio to follow up on.

Despite its flaws, Golem still manages to find a few different points of entry into the game. For instance, bringing in Golem is a great way to stop a Dodrio sweep, as Rock Slide deals super effective damage and Golem hard walls Dodrio. It is especially adept at switching into Hyper Beam and punishing Dodrio and Articuno with Rock Slide (RC) or Kangaskhan and Persian with Explosion. Golem can also be used as sleep fodder, since its defensive typing means it can get a lot of free switch-ins freely switch in often on Normal-, Electric-, and Rock-type moves, allowing for easy pivoting. It can even wake up from short sleeps if switched in on Wrap or Hyper Beam enough times.

Golem can form an excellent immunity core with Gyarados, as it covers Gyarados's Electric weakness and Gyarados covers its Ground weakness, so both can be effective mid- or late-game by coming in freely on double switches. Pairing Golem with another effective anti-Wrap Pokemon such as Haunter or Omastar is also a valid strategy, as they can work together to PP stall Wrap without sustaining too much damage. Golem works especially well with either because Haunter's Thunderbolt handles its Water-type counters (RC) and Omastar's Blizzard dispatches its Grass-type counters. Especially if Golem doesn't run Body Slam, it appreciates paralysis-spreading teammates. A great example is Kadabra, which shrugs off special attacks surprisingly well for it with Recover, revenge kills threats to it Golem, and appreciates it taking Normal-type attacks and the crippling Thunder Wave in return. Finally, Dugtrio takes advantage of Golem weakening or KOing an opponent's Ground-type checks to have a much easier time revenge killing or sweeping.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Golem's most useful alternative move is Toxic, which thwarts Dragonite's attempts to set up Agility and sweep with Wrap because it will take more damage from poison every turn than is worth dealing with Wrap. However, this comes at the cost of dropping Body Slam or Substitute. Since Golem is now unable to spread paralysis on its own or soak up damage with a Substitute, it will need paralysis support more from its teammates in order to get off its attacks, especially Explosion. Toxic isn't needed to deal with Dragonite anyway, as Golem can still help PP stall Wrap.

Rest can also work over Substitute or Body Slam as a way to keep Golem healthy. When Golem gets low on health, it can go for Rest as the opponent switches in a sleeping Pokemon to take the Explosion. As mentioned before, it can also burn off the sleep turns by coming in on Wrap and Hyper Beam, or on another sleeping Pokemon. Finally, Counter can be used after switching into Hyper Beam and or Body Slam, either hitting the recharging foe or punishing an Explosion switch-in.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Water-types**: Due to Golem’s low Special, low Speed, and 4x weakness to Water, any Water-type can OHKO it. Vaporeon can tank anything Golem throws at it, even Explosion from full health. Gyarados can switch in on Earthquake for no damage and OHKO Golem, though it does need to watch out if Golem predicts the switch and uses Rock Slide. Omastar also outspeeds and OHKOes Golem, though Golem does over half of Omastar's health in damage with Earthquake. Tentacruel also takes huge damage from Earthquake and can even be OHKOed by Explosion, but it still maintains the upper hand, as it can OHKO Golem or halt its plans to use Explosion with Wrap. While Golem can be used with another Pokemon like Haunter or Omastar to form an anti-Wrap PP stalling core, it still needs to watch out for Tentacruel's Surf.

**Grass-types**: The two notable Grass-types in the tier, Tangela and Venusaur, are both solid checks to Golem. Tangela’s high Defense, resistance to Earthquake, and access to STAB Mega Drain make it an excellent check to Golem. Note that Mega Drain does not OHKO until Tangela has a Growth under its belt, meaning Tangela is still susceptible to taking massive damage from Explosion. In addition, if the Golem player predicts a Tangela switch-in, they can opt for Rock Slide, which Tangela has a harder time shrugging off since it hits for neutral damage. Venusaur is a little worse at switching in to into Golem, as it does not resist Earthquake and is 3HKOed. However, it easily outspeeds Golem and OHKOes it with Razor Leaf, unlike Tangela, meaning the Golem player has fewer options. In either case, both Tangela and Venusaur force Golem to switch out, meaning they can spread status to Golem's teammates.

**Articuno**: As a Flying-type, Articuno is able to switch in on Earthquake and take out Golem easily with STAB Blizzard. However, good prediction on the Golem user’s end can spell disaster for Articuno, as it is OHKOed by Rock Slide. Articuno also will be sent running if Golem uses Substitute or paralyzes it with Body Slam on the switch. While it is a risky play, Golem can even switch into a paralyzed Articuno while it attempts to use Agility. If full paralysis triggers either turn, Golem wins the interaction with Rock Slide. Finally, if Articuno gets unlucky and Blizzard misses while Rock Slide does not, it is KOed.

**Raichu**: Raichu has a hard time switching into Golem's attacks due to Earthquake hitting for super effective damage and Body Slam potentially paralyzing it. However, if it switches in on Rock Slide, Golem is in trouble. Raichu outspeeds it and OHKOes with Surf, forcing Golem out.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[pacattacc, 520967], [phoopes, 96315]]
- Quality checked by: [[Plague von Karma, 236353], [Sevi 7, 505149]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [, ]]

Thanks for the check! Golem is now complete

 

[Plague von Karma]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO