Dragon
[SET]
Gouging Fire @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Name: Bulky Dragon Dance (Dragon)
EVs: 252 HP / 132 SpD / 124 Spe or 248 HP / 196 Def / 64 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Earthquake
- Dragon Dance
- Morning Sun
[SET COMMENTS]
Gouging Fire is a staple on Dragon teams due to its excellent bulk, neutrality to Fairy and Ice, and snowball potential, performing great in threatening matchups like Fairy, Ice, and Steel. Flare Blitz targets menacing Pokemon like Flutter Mane, Chien-Pao, and Skarmory. Earthquake hits Pokemon resistant to Flare Blitz such as Toxapex, Heatran, and Glimmora. Morning Sun increases Gouging Fire's longevity and improves its setup ability. The specially defensive EV spread ensures that Gouging Fire outpaces Chien-Pao and Flutter Mane after a Dragon Dance, as well as makes Ice Beam from Choice Specs Greninja a 2HKO. Alternatively, the physically defensive EV spread ensures Choice Band Chien-Pao's Icicle Crash doesn't 2HKO Gouging Fire, and it also outspeeds Choice Specs Latios after a Dragon Dance.
Baxcalibur is a great teammate due to its ability to threaten Ground-types, such as Landorus-T, Hippowdon, and Ursaluna-B, while also being crucial in the Dragon matchup—if Gouging Fire opts for Morning Sun. In exchange, Gouging Fire offers a Fairy neutrality and an answer to Skarmory and Air Balloon Gholdengo. Archaludon offers utility options like Stealth Rock and Thunder Wave to ease Gouging Fire's sweeping, as well as acting as a resistance to Dragon and Rock, taking on Roaring Moon and Iron Boulder. Choice Scarf Roaring Moon threatens fast Dragon-types such as Latias and Dragonite at +1 Speed, when Multiscale is broken, and appreciates Gouging Fire removing Steel-types. Dragapult can spread status ailments like Thunder Wave and Will-O-Wisp, breaks physical walls like Slowbro, Mandibuzz, and Rotom-W using Choice Specs, and removes Pokemon like Choice Scarf Latias and Roaring Moon with a Choice Scarf set. In return, Dragapult appreciates Gouging Fire's ability to remove Hisuian Goodra, Clodsire, and Alolan Muk, while Dragon Dance sets value the Will-O-Wisp immunity. Garchomp sets up entry hazards to wear down Pokemon like Primarina and Ting-Lu and heavily dents teams with its Swords Dance set to allow Gouging Fire to clean late-game. Choice Scarf Latias provides a Ground immunity and removes threats like Great Tusk and Kommo-o, as well as offers cleric support via Healing Wish to give Gouging Fire new life when weakened or inflicted by status. Raging Bolt breaks Water-types, such as Primarina and Toxapex, and heavily damages Ground-types like Hippowdon, Gastrodon, and Gliscor after a Calm Mind. Hisuian Goodra is an excellent teammate for physically defensive Gouging Fire, as it stomachs hits from Latias, Choice Specs Dragapult, and Flutter Mane. Wallbreakers like Hydreigon and Choice Specs Latios remove Archaludon, Toxapex, and Slowbro. In return, Gouging Fire can combat threats such as Iron Valiant, Mimikyu, and Enamorus. Dragalge provides Toxic Spikes to put switch-ins like Ting-Lu and Great Tusk on a timer, as well as offers a secondary check to Fairy-types.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Dragon
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Dragon Claw may be used instead of Earthquake to threaten Dragon-types like Roaring Moon, Garchomp, and Latias; however, Gouging Fire will be walled by the aforementioned targets of Earthquake—especially Heatran.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/giyu.574288/
Dragon analysis by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/giyu.574288/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/neko.542526/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/roxie.481576/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ken.594478/
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