[QC Checks: kay / Hootie / poh]
[GP Checks: TDP / My Mixtape479]
[OVERVIEW]
Guzzlord is a threatening wallbreaker in NU that is capable of easily exploiting common defensive cores revolving around Pokemon such as Slowbro, Slowking, Steelix, and Golbat due good defensive presence courtesy of its and massive HP. As a result of its defensive capabilities, Guzzlord can also take on certain offensive Pokemon such as Incineroar, Houndoom, and Rotom, giving it multiple opportunities to switch in and heavily pressure opposing teams. Stellar offensive typing, high Special Attack, Beast Boost, and vast coverage options also give Guzzlord great offensive presence, allowing it to hit everything in the tier neutrally and powerfully. However, Guzzlord's horribly low Speed leaves it outpaced by almost every offensive Pokemon in the tier. While Guzzlord's typing does provide it with key resistances to Electric, Water, Fire, and Grass as well as an immunity to Psychic, it also leaves Guzzlord vulnerable to Fairy-, Fighting-, Ice-, and Bug-type Pokemon like Whimsicott, Passimian, Vanilluxe, and Vikavolt. Guzzlord's typing also leaves it susceptible to coverage options from Pokemon it could otherwise switch into with ease, such as U-turn on Incineroar, Low Sweep on Decidueye, Focus Blast on Heliolisk, and Dazzling Gleam on Delphox.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Fire Blast
move 4: Hidden Power Steel / Sludge Bomb
item: Choice Specs
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Modest
evs: 196 Def / 252 SpA / 60 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Draco Meteor is an absurdly powerful STAB move that is guaranteed to hit non-Dragon-resistant and -immune Pokemon relatively hard, though the move's reliability is hindered by the fact that it drops Guzzlord's Special Attack by two stages. Dark Pulse is Guzzlord's secondary STAB move and is more reliable and spammable than Draco Meteor due to its lack of drawbacks and immunities. Fire Blast nails bulky Steel-types like Steelix, Ferroseed, and Silvally-Steel, as well as Whimsicott, which resists both of Guzzlord's STAB types. Hidden Power Steel threatens to hit Diancie, one of the best switch-ins to Guzzlord in the tier, for 4x super effective damage. Sludge Bomb can be used instead to hit other Fairy-types like Aromatisse and Mega Audino harder while also giving Guzzlord a more reliable means of OHKOing Whimsicott.
Set Details
========
Maximum investment in Special Attack coupled with a Modest nature makes Guzzlord a very devastating wallbreaker. 60 Speed EVs allow Guzzlord to outspeed neutral base 50s, notably Diancie and Vileplume. The remainder of the EVs are placed into Guzzlord's Defense to enable it to more reliably check Incineroar. Choice Specs further increases Guzzlord's damage output at the cost of locking it into one move. Beast Boost increases its Special Attack every time it KOes a Pokemon, progressively turning it into a more and more dangerous wallbreaker.
Usage Tips
========
Guzzlord should mainly switch into Pokemon that cannot immediately threaten it such as Palossand, non-Low Sweep Decidueye, and non-Assault Vest Slowbro. Because Guzzlord is locked into one move and isn't very fast, it is reliant on prediction in order to wallbreak to the best of its ability. For example, if Guzzlord predicts a Fairy-type to switch in, it should use Hidden Power Steel or Sludge Bomb. Dark Pulse is the move that Guzzlord should be using most of the time, as the move's lack of drawbacks and Pokemon immune to it prevent it from being completely exploitable. Exercise caution regarding which move Guzzlord locks itself into, especially in the case of Draco Meteor, as the fact that it's slow and can't switch moves can turn it into setup fodder for dangerous Pokemon like Klinklang and Diancie.
Team Options
========
Guzzlord fits best on bulky offensive teams that are in need of a wallbreaker that can directly switch into and pressure common defensive staples, most notably Slowbro. Pairing Guzzlord with entry hazard setters such as Diancie, Steelix, Garbodor, and Weezing is ideal, as Guzzlord forces a lot of switches, a number of its switch-ins lack reliable recovery, and Guzzlord is capable of pressuring hazard control and removers like Xatu, Blastoise, and Silvally-Steel. In return, the latter three can check Fairy-types, with Garbodor and Weezing also being Fighting checks. Guzzlord also appreciates having teammates that can remove or prevent entry hazards like Blastoise, Xatu, Rotom, Silvally-Steel, and Golbat, since Guzzlord is forced out by many Pokemon, lacks recovery, and cannot reliably switch into defensive Pokemon like Steelix if it takes too much residual damage. Teammates that can switch into the types that Guzzlord is threatened by are appreciated, with Fighting checks like Slowbro and Golbat, Ice checks like Delphox and Alolan Sandslash, and Fairy checks like Steelix and Garbodor being notable examples. Pivots such as Passimian, Heliolisk, Rotom, and Silvally-Steel make for useful partners, since they guarantee that Guzzlord can safely switch in against opposing teams. Passimian appreciates having Fighting checks heavily damaged and can provide Knock Off support, while Rotom and Silvally-Steel can weaken opposing Pokemon with Will-O-Wisp and Parting Shot, respectively. Pokemon such as Sceptile, Aromatisse, Klinklang, and Omastar have a much easier time sweeping weakened teams late-game as a result of Guzzlord breaking through them.
[SET]
name: Dragonium Z
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Fire Blast
move 4: Heavy Slam
item: Dragonium Z
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Modest
evs: 196 Def / 252 SpA / 60 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Draco Meteor is a powerful STAB move that threatens to hit most non-Dragon-resistant and -immune Pokemon fairly hard, though the move drops Guzzlord's Special Attack by two stages, which prevents it from being spammable and can potentially turn Guzzlord into setup fodder for Pokemon like Klinklang. Dark Pulse is a secondary, more reliable and spammable STAB move that lacks drawbacks. Fire Blast gives Guzzlord super effective coverage for Steel-types such as Steelix, Ferroseed, and Silvally-Steel, as well as Whimsicott. Heavy Slam reliably 2HKOes Diancie, which would otherwise completely wall Guzzlord, while also giving it coverage for other Fairy-types that don't mind taking a Fire Blast such as Aromatisse and Mega Audino. Heavy Slam also 2HKOes Cryogonal, meaning that Guzzlord doesn't have to waste its Z-Move attempting to KO it.
Set Details
========
Maximum investment in Special Attack coupled with a Modest nature allows Guzzlord to hit as hard as possible. 60 Speed EVs guarantee that Guzzlord outpaces Diancie and other neutral base 50s like Piloswine and Vileplume, with the remainder of the EVs being poured into Guzzlord's Defense to give it an easier time switching into Incineroar. Dragonium Z turns Draco Meteor into Devastating Drake, a reliable and very powerful nuke that doesn't lower Guzzlord's Special Attack or have a chance to miss like Draco Meteor does. Beast Boost is Guzzlord's only ability and increases its Special Attack every time it KOes a foe, turning it into an increasingly threatening wallbreaker.
Usage Tips
========
Guzzlord should primarily be used to punch holes into opposing teams early- to mid-game. Switch Guzzlord in on relatively passive Pokemon that are incapable of offensively pressuring it, such as Palossand and non-Assault Vest Slowbro. Be wary of Toxic, however. Dark Pulse is typically the main move Guzzlord should be using, as the move is powerful, lacks drawbacks, and doesn't have any Pokemon immune to it. Be careful about using Draco Meteor, especially against more offensive teams, since the move drops Guzzlord's Special Attack by two stages and turns it into setup fodder for Pokemon like Klinklang, Malamar, and Incineroar. Against more defensive teams, Guzzlord should preserve its Z-Move so it can break through bulkier Pokemon like Golbat and Miltank. Guzzlord's ability to bluff a Choice Specs set makes its Z-Move an even deadlier asset.
Team Options
========
Guzzlord fits best on bulky offensive teams that are in need of a wallbreaker that can directly switch into and heavily pressure common defensive staples, most notably Slowbro. Guzzlord appreciates being paired with entry hazard setters such as Palossand, Garbodor, Diancie, and Steelix due to the chip damage provided by entry hazards giving it an easier time breaking through teams. This is especially useful because Dragonium Z Guzzlord lacks initial firepower. Palossand and Garbodor also check Fighting-types for Guzzlord, while specially defensive Steelix is capable of taking on other special attackers that threaten Garbodor like Whimsicott and Diancie. Due to how easy it is to offensively pressure Guzzlord, it appreciates teammates that can check some of the types it is threatened by, including Fighting-type checks like Slowbro and Golbat, Fairy-type checks like Klinklang and Garbodor, and Ice-type checks like Hariyama and Silvally-Steel. Guzzlord appreciates being paired with Volt Switch and U-turn users such as Passimian, Heliolisk, Rotom, and Scyther, since it can experience difficulty directly switching into unresisted attacks. The latter three also appreciate having Diancie lured and heavily damaged by Heavy Slam, since it allows them to spam their respective STAB moves more easily. Late-game sweepers and cleaners like Comfey, Aromatisse, Klinklang, and Choice Scarf Passimian have an easier time finishing off weakened teams as a result of Guzzlord breaking through teams early- to mid-game.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Assault Vest could be used to give Guzzlord an even easier time taking on special attackers like Sigilyph and Heliolisk, but such a set is easy to wear down and isn't very powerful. A defensive RestTalk set is an option that allows Guzzlord to mitigate its lack of recovery and more consistently deal with threats like Incineroar, Slowbro, and non-Low Sweep Decidueye. Sludge Wave hits harder than Sludge Bomb, but the higher chance to poison foes means that Sludge Bomb tends to be more useful for wearing Pokemon down.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types like Diancie, Aromatisse, Whimsicott, and Mega Audino resist both of Guzzlord's STAB types and threaten to either set up on it in the case of the former two or OHKO it with their respective STAB moves. Though they need to be wary of Guzzlord's coverage, it's worth noting that Choice Specs variants can struggle with breaking through certain Fairy-types depending on the coverage.
**Fighting-types**: Defensive and Assault Vest variants of Hariyama are capable of switching into even Draco Meteor from Guzzlord and retaliating with a super effective Close Combat. Other Fighting-types like Passimian, Scrafty, and Medicham also threaten Guzzlord, though they struggle to switch into it. Pokemon like Decidueye can also potentially carry Fighting-type coverage to heavily damage Guzzlord.
**Revenge Killers**: Guzzlord's low Speed leaves it vulnerable to being revenge killed by a number of common offensive Pokemon such as Vanilluxe, Sneasel, and Braviary.
**Specially Bulky Pokemon**: Type: Null is Guzzlord's hardest check available, capable of taking even Choice Specs-boosted hits before restoring any lost HP with Rest. Other specially bulky Pokemon like Cryogonal are capable of serving as an annoyance to Guzzlord.
[GP Checks: TDP / My Mixtape479]
[OVERVIEW]
Guzzlord is a threatening wallbreaker in NU that is capable of easily exploiting common defensive cores revolving around Pokemon such as Slowbro, Slowking, Steelix, and Golbat due good defensive presence courtesy of its and massive HP. As a result of its defensive capabilities, Guzzlord can also take on certain offensive Pokemon such as Incineroar, Houndoom, and Rotom, giving it multiple opportunities to switch in and heavily pressure opposing teams. Stellar offensive typing, high Special Attack, Beast Boost, and vast coverage options also give Guzzlord great offensive presence, allowing it to hit everything in the tier neutrally and powerfully. However, Guzzlord's horribly low Speed leaves it outpaced by almost every offensive Pokemon in the tier. While Guzzlord's typing does provide it with key resistances to Electric, Water, Fire, and Grass as well as an immunity to Psychic, it also leaves Guzzlord vulnerable to Fairy-, Fighting-, Ice-, and Bug-type Pokemon like Whimsicott, Passimian, Vanilluxe, and Vikavolt. Guzzlord's typing also leaves it susceptible to coverage options from Pokemon it could otherwise switch into with ease, such as U-turn on Incineroar, Low Sweep on Decidueye, Focus Blast on Heliolisk, and Dazzling Gleam on Delphox.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Fire Blast
move 4: Hidden Power Steel / Sludge Bomb
item: Choice Specs
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Modest
evs: 196 Def / 252 SpA / 60 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Draco Meteor is an absurdly powerful STAB move that is guaranteed to hit non-Dragon-resistant and -immune Pokemon relatively hard, though the move's reliability is hindered by the fact that it drops Guzzlord's Special Attack by two stages. Dark Pulse is Guzzlord's secondary STAB move and is more reliable and spammable than Draco Meteor due to its lack of drawbacks and immunities. Fire Blast nails bulky Steel-types like Steelix, Ferroseed, and Silvally-Steel, as well as Whimsicott, which resists both of Guzzlord's STAB types. Hidden Power Steel threatens to hit Diancie, one of the best switch-ins to Guzzlord in the tier, for 4x super effective damage. Sludge Bomb can be used instead to hit other Fairy-types like Aromatisse and Mega Audino harder while also giving Guzzlord a more reliable means of OHKOing Whimsicott.
Set Details
========
Maximum investment in Special Attack coupled with a Modest nature makes Guzzlord a very devastating wallbreaker. 60 Speed EVs allow Guzzlord to outspeed neutral base 50s, notably Diancie and Vileplume. The remainder of the EVs are placed into Guzzlord's Defense to enable it to more reliably check Incineroar. Choice Specs further increases Guzzlord's damage output at the cost of locking it into one move. Beast Boost increases its Special Attack every time it KOes a Pokemon, progressively turning it into a more and more dangerous wallbreaker.
Usage Tips
========
Guzzlord should mainly switch into Pokemon that cannot immediately threaten it such as Palossand, non-Low Sweep Decidueye, and non-Assault Vest Slowbro. Because Guzzlord is locked into one move and isn't very fast, it is reliant on prediction in order to wallbreak to the best of its ability. For example, if Guzzlord predicts a Fairy-type to switch in, it should use Hidden Power Steel or Sludge Bomb. Dark Pulse is the move that Guzzlord should be using most of the time, as the move's lack of drawbacks and Pokemon immune to it prevent it from being completely exploitable. Exercise caution regarding which move Guzzlord locks itself into, especially in the case of Draco Meteor, as the fact that it's slow and can't switch moves can turn it into setup fodder for dangerous Pokemon like Klinklang and Diancie.
Team Options
========
Guzzlord fits best on bulky offensive teams that are in need of a wallbreaker that can directly switch into and pressure common defensive staples, most notably Slowbro. Pairing Guzzlord with entry hazard setters such as Diancie, Steelix, Garbodor, and Weezing is ideal, as Guzzlord forces a lot of switches, a number of its switch-ins lack reliable recovery, and Guzzlord is capable of pressuring hazard control and removers like Xatu, Blastoise, and Silvally-Steel. In return, the latter three can check Fairy-types, with Garbodor and Weezing also being Fighting checks. Guzzlord also appreciates having teammates that can remove or prevent entry hazards like Blastoise, Xatu, Rotom, Silvally-Steel, and Golbat, since Guzzlord is forced out by many Pokemon, lacks recovery, and cannot reliably switch into defensive Pokemon like Steelix if it takes too much residual damage. Teammates that can switch into the types that Guzzlord is threatened by are appreciated, with Fighting checks like Slowbro and Golbat, Ice checks like Delphox and Alolan Sandslash, and Fairy checks like Steelix and Garbodor being notable examples. Pivots such as Passimian, Heliolisk, Rotom, and Silvally-Steel make for useful partners, since they guarantee that Guzzlord can safely switch in against opposing teams. Passimian appreciates having Fighting checks heavily damaged and can provide Knock Off support, while Rotom and Silvally-Steel can weaken opposing Pokemon with Will-O-Wisp and Parting Shot, respectively. Pokemon such as Sceptile, Aromatisse, Klinklang, and Omastar have a much easier time sweeping weakened teams late-game as a result of Guzzlord breaking through them.
[SET]
name: Dragonium Z
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Fire Blast
move 4: Heavy Slam
item: Dragonium Z
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Modest
evs: 196 Def / 252 SpA / 60 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Draco Meteor is a powerful STAB move that threatens to hit most non-Dragon-resistant and -immune Pokemon fairly hard, though the move drops Guzzlord's Special Attack by two stages, which prevents it from being spammable and can potentially turn Guzzlord into setup fodder for Pokemon like Klinklang. Dark Pulse is a secondary, more reliable and spammable STAB move that lacks drawbacks. Fire Blast gives Guzzlord super effective coverage for Steel-types such as Steelix, Ferroseed, and Silvally-Steel, as well as Whimsicott. Heavy Slam reliably 2HKOes Diancie, which would otherwise completely wall Guzzlord, while also giving it coverage for other Fairy-types that don't mind taking a Fire Blast such as Aromatisse and Mega Audino. Heavy Slam also 2HKOes Cryogonal, meaning that Guzzlord doesn't have to waste its Z-Move attempting to KO it.
Set Details
========
Maximum investment in Special Attack coupled with a Modest nature allows Guzzlord to hit as hard as possible. 60 Speed EVs guarantee that Guzzlord outpaces Diancie and other neutral base 50s like Piloswine and Vileplume, with the remainder of the EVs being poured into Guzzlord's Defense to give it an easier time switching into Incineroar. Dragonium Z turns Draco Meteor into Devastating Drake, a reliable and very powerful nuke that doesn't lower Guzzlord's Special Attack or have a chance to miss like Draco Meteor does. Beast Boost is Guzzlord's only ability and increases its Special Attack every time it KOes a foe, turning it into an increasingly threatening wallbreaker.
Usage Tips
========
Guzzlord should primarily be used to punch holes into opposing teams early- to mid-game. Switch Guzzlord in on relatively passive Pokemon that are incapable of offensively pressuring it, such as Palossand and non-Assault Vest Slowbro. Be wary of Toxic, however. Dark Pulse is typically the main move Guzzlord should be using, as the move is powerful, lacks drawbacks, and doesn't have any Pokemon immune to it. Be careful about using Draco Meteor, especially against more offensive teams, since the move drops Guzzlord's Special Attack by two stages and turns it into setup fodder for Pokemon like Klinklang, Malamar, and Incineroar. Against more defensive teams, Guzzlord should preserve its Z-Move so it can break through bulkier Pokemon like Golbat and Miltank. Guzzlord's ability to bluff a Choice Specs set makes its Z-Move an even deadlier asset.
Team Options
========
Guzzlord fits best on bulky offensive teams that are in need of a wallbreaker that can directly switch into and heavily pressure common defensive staples, most notably Slowbro. Guzzlord appreciates being paired with entry hazard setters such as Palossand, Garbodor, Diancie, and Steelix due to the chip damage provided by entry hazards giving it an easier time breaking through teams. This is especially useful because Dragonium Z Guzzlord lacks initial firepower. Palossand and Garbodor also check Fighting-types for Guzzlord, while specially defensive Steelix is capable of taking on other special attackers that threaten Garbodor like Whimsicott and Diancie. Due to how easy it is to offensively pressure Guzzlord, it appreciates teammates that can check some of the types it is threatened by, including Fighting-type checks like Slowbro and Golbat, Fairy-type checks like Klinklang and Garbodor, and Ice-type checks like Hariyama and Silvally-Steel. Guzzlord appreciates being paired with Volt Switch and U-turn users such as Passimian, Heliolisk, Rotom, and Scyther, since it can experience difficulty directly switching into unresisted attacks. The latter three also appreciate having Diancie lured and heavily damaged by Heavy Slam, since it allows them to spam their respective STAB moves more easily. Late-game sweepers and cleaners like Comfey, Aromatisse, Klinklang, and Choice Scarf Passimian have an easier time finishing off weakened teams as a result of Guzzlord breaking through teams early- to mid-game.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Assault Vest could be used to give Guzzlord an even easier time taking on special attackers like Sigilyph and Heliolisk, but such a set is easy to wear down and isn't very powerful. A defensive RestTalk set is an option that allows Guzzlord to mitigate its lack of recovery and more consistently deal with threats like Incineroar, Slowbro, and non-Low Sweep Decidueye. Sludge Wave hits harder than Sludge Bomb, but the higher chance to poison foes means that Sludge Bomb tends to be more useful for wearing Pokemon down.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types like Diancie, Aromatisse, Whimsicott, and Mega Audino resist both of Guzzlord's STAB types and threaten to either set up on it in the case of the former two or OHKO it with their respective STAB moves. Though they need to be wary of Guzzlord's coverage, it's worth noting that Choice Specs variants can struggle with breaking through certain Fairy-types depending on the coverage.
**Fighting-types**: Defensive and Assault Vest variants of Hariyama are capable of switching into even Draco Meteor from Guzzlord and retaliating with a super effective Close Combat. Other Fighting-types like Passimian, Scrafty, and Medicham also threaten Guzzlord, though they struggle to switch into it. Pokemon like Decidueye can also potentially carry Fighting-type coverage to heavily damage Guzzlord.
**Revenge Killers**: Guzzlord's low Speed leaves it vulnerable to being revenge killed by a number of common offensive Pokemon such as Vanilluxe, Sneasel, and Braviary.
**Specially Bulky Pokemon**: Type: Null is Guzzlord's hardest check available, capable of taking even Choice Specs-boosted hits before restoring any lost HP with Rest. Other specially bulky Pokemon like Cryogonal are capable of serving as an annoyance to Guzzlord.
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