Dragon
[SET]
Garchomp @ Rocky Helmet
Name: Defensive Hazard Setter (Dragon)
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 248 HP / 20 Def / 240 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Dragon Tail / Roar
- Fire Blast / Spikes / Toxic
- Stealth Rock
[SET COMMENTS]
Garchomp offers excellent utility as an entry hazard setter on Dragon teams due to its bulk, access to Spikes and Stealth Rock, and the ability to phaze opponents out via Dragon Tail. Earthquake allows Garchomp to threaten Steel- and Fire-types like Gholdengo, Hisuian Goodra, and Mega Charizard X. Dragon Tail phazes out setup sweepers such as Dragonite, Mega Latias, and Galarian Moltres, dealing a decent amount of chip damage; Roar may be used instead to force Fairy-types out. Fire Blast threatens Steel-types like Mega Scizor and Corviknight. Alternatively, a combination of Spikes and Stealth Rock in conjunction with Dragon Tail or Roar enable Garchomp to cause an incredible buildup of damage. Toxic may be used instead, as it puts opposing walls such as Ting-Lu, Staraptor, and Mandibuzz on a timer. Rocky Helmet in conjunction with Rough Skin provides even more chip damage on top of the entry hazards, heavily damaging foes with multi-hit moves such as Urshifu-R, Meowscarada, and Weavile while also punishing U-turn and Flip Turn from Sneasler and Barraskweda, respectively. The given EV spread permits Garchomp to outpace Pokemon with a base Speed of 100 like Mega Charizard X, Jirachi, and Volcarona while maintaining maximum defensive bulk. Kyurem capatalizes greatly on Garchomp's hazards, appreciating special walls such as Toxapex, Hisuian Goodra, and Alolan Muk being worn down. In return, Kyurem removes Flying-types like Landorus-T, Zapdos, and Mandibuzz and greatly weakens Mega Sableye, preventing it from repeatedly switching in to bounce back hazards being set by Garchomp. Hisuian Goodra provides a Fairy- and Ice-type neutrality, combating foes such as Tapu Koko, Alolan Ninetales, and, notably, Mega Diancie, which also hinders Garchomp's ability to stack hazards. Mega Altaria offers a much-valued immunity to Dragon-type moves, threatening Roaring Moon, Walking Wake, Kommo-o, and Latios while also cherishing Garchomp's hazards and ability to check Poison- and Steel-types like Toxapex, Gholdengo, and Iron Treads. Mega Latias is incredibly threatening in the Flying matchup due to its BoltBeam coverage, though it struggles against Celesteela, while also easily sweeping teams lacking Galarian Moltres via Stored Power and Calm Mind. Roaring Moon is a versatile teammate capable of handling multiple roles; a Choice Scarf set allows it to threaten Fairy-types such as Mega Diancie, Alolan Ninetales, and Tapu Lele via Iron Head, while Dragon Dance sets can overpower physically defensive Pokemon like Rotom-W, Slowbro, and Celesteela. Kommo-o is a great setup sweeper that removes pesky walls such as Porygon2 and Mega Scizor and is a massive threat to opposing Dragon teams. Both Roaring Moon and Kommo-o value Garchomp's entry hazards, with the latter also appreciating the removal of Clodsire. Choice Scarf Latias and Latios are excellent speed control options due to their ability to force switches in the Dragon matchup, luring out Hisuian Goodra for Garchomp. Choice Scarf Archaludon can catch Fairy- and Ice-types like Iron Valiant, Alolan Ninetales, and Kyurem off-guard while also being a secondary speed control option in a pinch in the Dragon mirror matchups.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/giyu.574288/
Quality check by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/boomp.637295/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/neko.542526/
Grammar check by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
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