Pokedex page
QC Approvals: Iconic and Bloo
GP Approvals: jc104 and Komodo
[Overview]
<p>The Fifth generation has given birth to many new Ghost-types, and has given previously outclassed ones, like Dusclops, a new way to shine: the Eviolite. However, unlike its Ghost-type brethren, Golurk possesses some very unique attributes, such as its very useful Ghost / Ground typing, great Attack stat, decent defenses, and good offensive movepool. Golurk also has access to the ability Iron Fist, making it one of the few SubPunchers that can beat Skarmory one-on-one. It's also one of the best counters to Terrakion, being immune to Fighting and resisting Rock; it only fears the rare +2 Earthquake. Ironically though, Golurk is held back because of its aforementioned traits; Golurk's typing combined with its abysmal Speed make it incredibly vulnerable to some common offensive types such as Water and Grass, preventing it from fulfilling any notable defensive roles, especially spinblocking since it can't stay in against two of the most common spinners: Starmie and Tentacruel. On top of that, Golurk gets no stat-boosting moves outside of Rock Polish, severely limiting its offensive capability. One has to be sure to take this into account when thinking about using Golurk on a team.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Hammer Arm
move 4: Shadow Punch / Toxic
item: Choice Band
nature: Adamant
ability: Iron Fist
EV: 208 HP / 252 Atk / 48 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>The Choice Band set is the robot's best set. Its Attack skyrockets to 571, allowing it to KO many of its most common switch-ins with correct prediction. Examples include Ferrothorn and Skarmory, which are 2HKOed and 3HKOed, respectively, by Hammer Arm. Since Skarmory can't heal with Roost (or it loses its Flying-type and is 2HKOed), the best the metal bird can do is Brave Bird. Earthquake is seen on every single set because it's one of the best moves in the game, it's Golurk's main STAB and has the power to destroy anything that doesn't resist it. Stone Edge combined with Earthquake forms the fearsome EdgeQuake combo, giving it great coverage from only two moves. Hammer Arm, taking into account the boost it gets from Iron Fist, is the move one should use early in the game for its ability to hit the aforementioned that are not weak to Ground.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Shadow Punch is the superior option in the last slot as it allows Golurk to beat Gengar, Latios, and Latias without relying on Stone Edge's shaky accuracy; Toxic can be used if one wants to cripple walls that Golurk can't touch, such as Hippowdon. The 48 Speed EVs place Golurk one point above 4 Speed Jellicent, allowing it to 2HKO the jellyfish with Earthquake. Since Golurk will be switching in repeatedly, Spikes are this set's biggest obstacle, making Rapid Spin support a must. Having a Pokemon on the team to spread paralysis is great because it allows the robot to outspeed faster foes, opening up opportunity for a late game sweep. Thundurus is therefore a great partner for Choice Band Golurk, Taunting the Spikers and paralyzing opponents with Thunder Wave (using Michievous Heart to make both jobs easier). It also OHKOes Golurk's biggest counter: Poison Heal Gliscor.</p>
[SET]
name: SubPunch
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Focus Punch
move 4: Toxic / Stone Edge / Shadow Punch
item: Leftovers
nature: Adamant
ability: Iron Fist
EV: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This isn't Golurk's best set, but it does make a good weapon against slow and bulky Pokemon, as Substitute allows it to evade status and attack with Iron Fist-boosted Focus Punch. Earthquake is the mandatory STAB move that Golurk needs to use when it isn't behind a Substitute. Because this set doesn't pack as much power as the Choice Bander, there are walls it won't be able to break like Vaporeon and Jellicent. However, for all of them Golurk has a gift: Toxic. It cripples all of these Pokemon and hinders their potential, possibly opening the way for one of its partners to sweep.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Stone Edge can be used in the fourth slot to hit Flying-types like Thundurus and Tornadus much harder, but Shadow Punch is boosted by Iron Fist and has perfect accuracy, hitting Gengar, Latios, Latias, and Starmie for super effective damage. If one chooses not to use Toxic, bulky Water-types like Swampert, Suicune, and Vaporeon have no problem switching in, breaking Golurk's Substitutes and setting up in front of the robot. Ferrothorn works as a good partner, easily setting up numerous entry hazards while providing the paralysis support Golurk loves with Thunder Wave. This set also enjoys spin support but for a different reason to the Choice Band one: Substitute already cuts 25% of Golurk's health each time it's used, so Golurk wants to avoid taking any additional damage.</p>
[SET]
name: Rock Polish
move 1: Rock Polish
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Shadow Punch / Substitute
item: Life Orb
nature: Adamant
ability: Iron Fist
EV: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This is Golurk's best attempt at sweeping, the robot should come in on something it scares, use Rock Polish, and let the destruction begin. After a boost, Golurk stands at a respectable 418 Speed, allowing it to outspeed Choice Scarf Heatran and tie with Omastar under the rain. Unlike other common Rock Polish / Agility sweepers like Lucario and Terrakion, Golurk is immune to some of the most common priority moves like Mach Punch and Vacuum Wave, making it harder to revenge kill, while its typing grants it more resistances than Landorus, a common late-game sweeper. Stone Edge and Earthquake are the two obvious moves for coverage. Shadow Punch makes an appearance as the secondary STAB, while it helps Golurk get rid of the Psychic- and Ghost-types present in the current metagame.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Substitute gives Golurk an immunity to status and can be used instead of Shadow Punch, just take into account Latias and Latios can stop your sweep as Stone Edge does not hit them as hard as Shadow Punch. Brick Break hits Hydreigon much harder, but fails to OHKO most variants and therefore it's not especially useful. This set lacks a Fighting-type attack, so having Magnezone to eliminate the non-grounded Steel-types is something to consider. Golurk can break through some walls, so pairing it with another powerful sweeper like Swords Dance Lucario, Dragon Dance Salamence or Rock Polish / Swords Dance Terrakion can create a good duo, opening a sweep for the second Pokemon. This set's goal is to rack up as much damage as it can, so it wants to stay around for some turns; therefore a spinner / Toxic Spikes absorber is effective. A Jolly nature can be used with an EV spread of 40 HP / 252 Atk / 216 Spe, this allows Golurk to outspeed +1 Adamant Haxorus and max Speed Deoxys and Deoxys-A after a Rock Polish, but the power Adamant provides is sorely missed.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Outside of DynamicPunch (which is innacurate), Brick Break (which is generally outclassed by Hammer Arm), and Fly (which is easily avoided thanks to the turn taken setting up), Golurk's physical movepool doesn't have much to offer. Bulldoze isn't really an option when Earthquake is around, even though it may make Golurk faster than the opponent; two Bulldoze only have 180 Base Power, while one Earthquake has 150 Base Power (STAB accounted for both).</p>
<p>Finally, Golurk has an amazing special movepool (with Shadow Ball, Focus Blast, Grass Knot, and Charge Beam) but it just doesn't have the Special Attack (base 55) to use it. The only exception is Ice Beam, which can be used on the first two sets with a Brave Nature to catch Gliscor off guard. However, take into account that Ice Beam only does 87-100% to standard Poison Heal Gliscor, even with 252 Special Attack EVs.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Poison Heal Gliscor walls every single set and can even set up on the robot. Bulky Ghost-types such as Cofagrigus and Eviolite Dusclops can wall Golurk using their considerable bulk and access to Will-O-Wisp, but they need to scout for Toxic and avoid switching in on a Choice Banded STAB Iron Fist-boosted Shadow Punch. Hippowdon also needs to avoid Toxic, but can tank any attack Golurk aims at it, even Choice Banded Earthquake is only a 3HKO. Skarmory can take on every move Golurk has except Iron Fist-boosted Focus Punch and Choice Banded Hammer Arm. Lastly, it's important to know that countering Golurk is easy when it's not behind a Substitute, Golurk can easily be crippled by powerful, neutral attacks.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Golurk gets No Guard as its Dream World ability. Although it can be effective on the Choice Band and SubPunch sets, it is not recommended as Iron Fist makes Hammer Arm 20% stronger than DynamicPunch, and boosts Shadow Punch to an appreciable strength. However, on the Rock Polish set, Hammer Arm isn't an option because of its secondary effect; No Guard provides you with 100% accurate Stone Edge and DynamicPunch.</p>
