[OVERVIEW]
Incredible mixed bulk alongside its Rock typing means Regirock can serve as a premier Normal-, Flying-, and Fire-type check. Regirock also has access to an expansive support movepool with status options such as Thunder Wave and Toxic, which make it very difficult for offensive Pokemon to set up on it; entry hazards in Stealth Rock; and even weather moves in Sunny Day. From a defensive standpoint, mono-Rock typing allows Regirock to serve as a more reliable check to Fire-and Normal-types such as Pyroar and Tauros than Pokemon such as Rhydon, as common Water and Grass coverage moves are only 2x super effective rather than 4x. Unfortunately, Regirock relies solely on Leftovers for recovery, making it very vulnerable to getting worn down throughout a battle. Regirock also faces competition from Rhydon and Steelix, as both are similarly capable Stealth Rock setters, also provide solid Normal and Flying resistances, and have other niches, such as Steelix checking Psychic-types and Rhydon having a potent dual STAB combination and higher Attack.
[SET]
name: Mixed Defensive Tank
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Stone Edge / Rock Slide
move 3: Thunder Wave
move 4: Earthquake
item: Leftovers
ability: Clear Body / Sturdy
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 184 Atk / 16 Def / 56 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock is a terrific entry hazard, and due to Regirock's excellent bulk, it is one of the more consistent setters of it in the tier. Stone Edge is Regirock's most powerful STAB attack, allowing it to do the most damage possible to the Flying-, Fire-, and Normal-types it is meant to check. Alternatively, Rock Slide has higher accuracy and terrific synergy with Thunder Wave, as the two in conjunction create a paraflinch combination to wear opposing Pokemon down. Thunder Wave prevents offensive Pokemon such as Lilligant, Shiftry, and Klinklang from setting up on Regirock and has generally great utility in slowing down threats throughout a battle. Earthquake allows Regirock to hit opposing Poison-, Steel-, and Rock-types such as Garbodor, Klinklang, and Rhydon super effectively. Toxic can be used over Earthquake, as Pokemon that don't necessarily mind getting paralyzed, such as Mega Audino, Musharna, and Gourgeist, despise being inflicted with Toxic.
Set Details
========
Maximum HP and 56 Special Defense EVs allow Regirock to avoid the 2HKO from Life Orb Pyroar's Hidden Power Grass after Stealth Rock. Similarly, 16 Defense EVs with an Impish nature let Regirock avoid a 3HKO from Life Orb Tauros's Earthquake while also hitting a jump point. The rest of the available EVs are poured into Attack to allow Regirock to hit as hard as possible. Leftovers maximizes Regirock's survivability by granting it passive recovery. Chople Berry can also be used on teams that need extra insurance versus Fighting-types such as Primeape and Hitmonchan, as the item allows Regirock to survive even a Choice Band-boosted Close Combat from the two with ease and retaliate with a status move. Another option for Regirock is Custap Berry, which can net it some surprise KOs with Stone Edge or even let it get off a surprise Thunder Wave when under 25% HP. The item has excellent synergy with Sturdy and is fairly reliable, as Regirock gets worn down easily throughout a battle. Clear Body is the optimal ability for Regirock, as it allows it to block Memento from Skuntank and Mismagius, bypass Intimidates from Mawile, and avoid Special Defense drops from common attacks such as Shadow Ball and Psychic. Sturdy is also an option over Clear Body, as it allows Regirock to survive any attack from full HP. This can be especially useful when leading with Regirock, as it allows it to take attacks such as Samurott's Hydro Pump and Shiftry's Leaf Storm and proceed to either set up Stealth Rock or cripple the foe with status.
Usage Tips
========
Regirock should be used as a defensive tank that can switch into common Pokemon such as Kangaskhan, Tauros, Pyroar, Magmortar, Archeops, and Swellow and force them to switch out in fear of status or being KOed by STAB Stone Edge. Although Regirock does check all of these Pokemon individually, it will struggle to check several of them in the same battle due to its lack of reliable recovery, so only switch Regirock into these Pokemon when necessary. Beware of status coming from Pokemon Regirock can usually switch into, such as Will-O-Wisp from Pyroar and Charizard. If using Custap Berry, Regirock can trigger it by switching into entry hazards to get a surprise revenge kill. Once its HP is below 25%, saving Regirock for the late-game to get off a priority Thunder Wave is usually optimal. Do not blindly spam status moves; if the opponent has Pokemon such as Claydol or Steelix that is unaffected by Thunder Wave or Toxic, it is better to double switch into a teammate that can take advantage of these Pokemon and gain momentum.
Team Options
========
Grass-types such as Vileplume, Lilligant, and Ferroseed have excellent synergy with Regirock, as they resist the common Water- and Grass-type attacks often aimed at Regirock, while in turn, Regirock resists the Fire- and Flying-type attacks that threaten them. Regirock relies solely on Leftovers to stay healthy throughout a battle, so Wish passers such as Mega Audino make for great partners. Regirock can also easily switch in on Poison-types that threaten Mega Audino such as Garbodor and Skuntank. Psychic- and Ghost-types such as Mesprit, Xatu, and Rotom can help deal with the Fighting-types that threaten Regirock. Regirock is a very reliable status spreader, so slower Pokemon that appreciate Thunder Wave support such as Abomasnow, Kabutops, and Samurott work well with Regirock. These Pokemon in particular can all break through Steelix and Rhydon with ease, which otherwise give Regirock trouble.
[SET]
name: Sunny Day Setter
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Sunny Day
move 3: Explosion
move 4: Stone Edge
item: Heat Rock
ability: Sturdy
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock is a great entry hazard, and Regirock is a solid setter, as Sturdy combined with impressive mixed bulk makes it very reliable. Sunny Day in conjunction with Heat Rock provides the team with eight turns of sun to utilize. Explosion is an incredibly powerful attack that hits everything but Ghost-types hard and can help get in sun sweepers safely after Regirock has set up Sunny Day. Stone Edge is a hard-hitting STAB move that allows Regirock to do damage without having to KO itself with Explosion.
Set Details
========
Maximum HP and Attack investment allows Regirock to hit as hard and be as bulky as possible. Heat Rock is necessary for this set to maximize the number of sun turns for the rest of the team. Sturdy essentially guarantees Regirock the ability to either set up Stealth Rock or Sunny Day at the start of a battle.
Usage Tips
========
This Regirock set is best used as a lead, as the ability to reliably set up Stealth Rock and Sunny Day at the beginning of a battle is hugely important for sun teams. If the opponent leads with a Pokemon that outspeeds and can 2HKO Regirock such as Samurott, Lilligant, or Primeape, it is likely you will have to choose between setting up Sunny Day and setting up Stealth Rock. In this situation, evaluate the opposing team, and if they are particularly weak to your sun sweepers, immediately set up Sunny Day. Conversely, if the opposing team is very weak to Stealth Rock or has too many checks and counters to your sun sweepers, it is to your benefit to set up Stealth Rock early and get your sun going in the following turns. Explosion can be used to provide a sun sweeper such as Victreebel or Exeggutor with a free switch in to start wreaking havoc or as a powerful last-ditch effort to remove an opposing Pokemon.
Team Options
========
Sun sweepers such as Victreebel, Exeggutor, Shiftry, Lilligant, and Vileplume all make for excellent partners alongside Regirock, as they can take full advantage of the sun that Regirock sets up and often just run through teams. Fire-types such as Magmortar, Pyroar, Combusken, and Charizard also greatly appreciate the sun that Regirock sets up, as it not only powers up their main STAB move by 1.5x but also cuts the damage of super effective Water-type attacks in half. Liepard is almost always seen with this Regirock set, as once the sun set by Regirock has faded, Liepard can reliably set up eight more turns with Prankster Sunny Day. Lastly, a grounded Poison-type such as Victreebel or Vileplume is almost required, as it can absorb the Toxic Spikes that plague not only Regirock but also its other sun sweeping teammates such as Lilligant and Exeggutor.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Although it's illegal with Sturdy, if one opts to use Clear Body instead, Regirock can make solid use of Counter. With the highest Defense stat in the NU tier, Regirock can survive any unboosted physical attack with ease such as Shiftry's Leaf Blade, Primeape's Close Combat, or Samurott's Waterfall and strike back to KO the foe. Drain Punch can be used to hit Steel- and Rock-types super effectively and give Regirock another form of recovery, but it is usually outclassed by Earthquake, which is stronger and nails Poison-types such as Garbodor super effectively. Protect can be used to help keep Regirock healthy throughout a battle with Leftovers recovery, but the ability to hit Poison-, Steel-, and Rock-types super effectively is usually more useful.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Status Absorbers**: Pokemon such as Malamar and Mega Audino that don't mind status due to Rest and take little damage from Stone Edge are very threatening, as they have no problem using Regirock as setup fodder.
**Taunt Users**: Pokemon that commonly run Taunt such as Weezing and Misdreavus prevent Regirock from spreading status and setting up Stealth Rock and Sunny Day, and they can burn Regirock with Will-O-Wisp.
**Water-types**: Bulky Water-type Pokemon such as Poliwrath, Prinplup, and Quagsire only fear Toxic from Regirock and can all threaten it out with their STAB attacks, set up on it, or even remove its Stealth Rock with Defog in Prinplup's case. Offensive Water-types such as Floatzel, Barbaracle, and Samurott also check Regirock, but these Pokemon are crippled by Thunder Wave and thus are not safe switch-ins.
**Grass-types**: Bulky Grass-type Pokemon such as Vileplume, Ferroseed, and Torterra almost completely wall Regirock and can do big damage to it with their STAB attacks or even set up entry hazards on it. Offensive Grass-types such as Lilligant and Shiftry also check Regirock well, but they are not safe switch-ins, as they are crippled by Thunder Wave.
**Bulky Ground-types**: Bulky Ground-type Pokemon such as Rhydon, Steelix, Piloswine, Golurk, and Claydol all give Regirock issues, as they can either set up on it or smack it for massive damage with a super effective STAB Earthquakes while only fearing Toxic in return. Claydol in particular can also spin away Regirock's Stealth Rock.
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