[OVERVIEW]
Thanks to the addition of Shell Smash, Torterra is a powerful sweeper capable of devastating many Pokemon in the tier. Torterra's high power STAB moves can cleanly deal with physical walls like Slowbro, Hippowdon, and Registeel, and its bulk allows it plenty of opportunities to set up against Pokemon such as Bisharp, Cyclizar, and Krookodile. However, Torterra's flaws keep it from being an incredible Pokemon, such as its poor typing and low speed. Flying- and Grass-types like Salamence, Talonflame, and Wo-Chien resist Torterra's STAB moves, and the coverage moves to hit them can be unreliable. Defensively, Torterra's weakness to Fire and Flying prevent it from setting up against Pokemon like Galarian Zapdos and Armarouge, and it is vulnerable to priority moves like Mamoswine's Ice Shard and Entei's Extreme Speed. Additionally, Torterra's Speed after a Shell Smash falls short of important thresholds in Choice Scarf Galarian Zapdos and Gengar, allowing these Pokemon to easily revenge kill.
[SET]
name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Headlong Rush / Earthquake
move 3: Bullet Seed / Wood Hammer
move 4: Rock Blast / Stone Edge
item: Loaded Dice / White Herb
ability: Overgrow
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
tera type: Fire / Steel
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Headlong Rush is the stronger of Torterra's Ground-type moves, allowing it guaranteed OHKOs on Registeel and Mew, but has the drawbacks of making contact and dropping Torterra's stats further which Earthquake lacks. Bullet Seed is an effective move when paired with the reliability of Loaded Dice, while Wood Hammer retains its power with any item. Rock Blast and Stone Edge are ways for Torterra to hit Flying-types like Noivern and Talonflame, with the former used alongside Loaded Dice. Loaded Dice is used to turn Bullet Seed and Rock Blast into reliable moves. White Herb gives Torterra more resilience into the moves that can hit it after Shell Smash, like priority moves and Choice Scarf users, and can also let it utilise its bulk to use Shell Smash twice in the right situation. Overgrow allows a damaged Torterra to OHKO Pokemon like Umbreon and Mew with its Grass-type attacks. A Jolly nature is required to outspeed Choice Scarf Gardevoir. Tera Fire flips Torterra's weaknesses to Ice and Bug, allowing it to survive Mamoswine's Ice Shard and Flygon's First Impression, while also preventing burns from Talonflame and Mew's Will-O-Wisp. Tera Steel is used to survive Galarian Zapdos's Brave Bird and Entei's Extreme Speed.
Shell Smash Torterra fits best on offense and hyper offense teams where it can sweep after all of its checks have been defeated or weakened. Torterra appreciates allies that can threaten its Grass- and Flying-type checks like Raikou, Lycanroc-Dusk, and Armarouge. Spikes from Mew and Froslass are effective at weakening the Grass-types that Torterra struggles with, while Stealth Rock from Mew, Lycanroc-Dusk, or Kleavor can cripple Flying-types. Knock Off support from Fighting- or Ground-types like Galarian Zapdos, Mienshao, and Krookodile is useful to remove Heavy-Duty Boots from Pokemon like Noivern and Talonflame. VoltTurn support from Galarian Zapdos, Raikou, and Magnezone can help Torterra in against Pokemon it can freely set up against. Sticky Webs from Ribombee can alleviate Torterra's Speed issues, allowing it to outspeed Choice Scarf Gengar and Mienshao and even letting Torterra safely run an Adamant nature.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Tera Blast Fire is a move that allows Torterra to hit opposing Grass-types like Chesnaught and Wo-Chien, although this means that it has no moves to effectively hit Pokemon like Talonflame and Noivern. Heavy Slam can be used alongside Tera Steel to guarantee an OHKO against Galarian Zapdos. Seed Bomb is a weaker Grass-type move that lacks the drawbacks of Wood Hammer for White Herb sets. Defensive Torterra can surprise opponents, and has a niche as the only Grass-type that can learn Stealth Rock, although the role of hazard setting Grass-type is often better fulfilled by Spikes Chesnaught.
Checks and Counters
====
**Faster Pokemon**: Choice Scarf users like Gengar and Galarian Zapdos outspeed even a +2 Jolly Torterra and threaten to revenge kill.
**Grass-types**: Fellow Grass-types like Chesnaught and Wo-Chien resist Torterra's STAB moves and can easily survive its coverage attacks, and can KO it with Body Press or Foul Play.
**Flying-types**: Torterra's only good options to hit Flying-types like Talonflame, Galarian Zapdos, Salamence, and Noivern are inaccurate Rock-type moves such as Rock Blast and Stone Edge, and their Brave Birds and Hurricanes all threaten to OHKO.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/machjacob.555741/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/heatranator.647728/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/
Thanks to the addition of Shell Smash, Torterra is a powerful sweeper capable of devastating many Pokemon in the tier. Torterra's high power STAB moves can cleanly deal with physical walls like Slowbro, Hippowdon, and Registeel, and its bulk allows it plenty of opportunities to set up against Pokemon such as Bisharp, Cyclizar, and Krookodile. However, Torterra's flaws keep it from being an incredible Pokemon, such as its poor typing and low speed. Flying- and Grass-types like Salamence, Talonflame, and Wo-Chien resist Torterra's STAB moves, and the coverage moves to hit them can be unreliable. Defensively, Torterra's weakness to Fire and Flying prevent it from setting up against Pokemon like Galarian Zapdos and Armarouge, and it is vulnerable to priority moves like Mamoswine's Ice Shard and Entei's Extreme Speed. Additionally, Torterra's Speed after a Shell Smash falls short of important thresholds in Choice Scarf Galarian Zapdos and Gengar, allowing these Pokemon to easily revenge kill.
[SET]
name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Headlong Rush / Earthquake
move 3: Bullet Seed / Wood Hammer
move 4: Rock Blast / Stone Edge
item: Loaded Dice / White Herb
ability: Overgrow
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
tera type: Fire / Steel
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Headlong Rush is the stronger of Torterra's Ground-type moves, allowing it guaranteed OHKOs on Registeel and Mew, but has the drawbacks of making contact and dropping Torterra's stats further which Earthquake lacks. Bullet Seed is an effective move when paired with the reliability of Loaded Dice, while Wood Hammer retains its power with any item. Rock Blast and Stone Edge are ways for Torterra to hit Flying-types like Noivern and Talonflame, with the former used alongside Loaded Dice. Loaded Dice is used to turn Bullet Seed and Rock Blast into reliable moves. White Herb gives Torterra more resilience into the moves that can hit it after Shell Smash, like priority moves and Choice Scarf users, and can also let it utilise its bulk to use Shell Smash twice in the right situation. Overgrow allows a damaged Torterra to OHKO Pokemon like Umbreon and Mew with its Grass-type attacks. A Jolly nature is required to outspeed Choice Scarf Gardevoir. Tera Fire flips Torterra's weaknesses to Ice and Bug, allowing it to survive Mamoswine's Ice Shard and Flygon's First Impression, while also preventing burns from Talonflame and Mew's Will-O-Wisp. Tera Steel is used to survive Galarian Zapdos's Brave Bird and Entei's Extreme Speed.
Shell Smash Torterra fits best on offense and hyper offense teams where it can sweep after all of its checks have been defeated or weakened. Torterra appreciates allies that can threaten its Grass- and Flying-type checks like Raikou, Lycanroc-Dusk, and Armarouge. Spikes from Mew and Froslass are effective at weakening the Grass-types that Torterra struggles with, while Stealth Rock from Mew, Lycanroc-Dusk, or Kleavor can cripple Flying-types. Knock Off support from Fighting- or Ground-types like Galarian Zapdos, Mienshao, and Krookodile is useful to remove Heavy-Duty Boots from Pokemon like Noivern and Talonflame. VoltTurn support from Galarian Zapdos, Raikou, and Magnezone can help Torterra in against Pokemon it can freely set up against. Sticky Webs from Ribombee can alleviate Torterra's Speed issues, allowing it to outspeed Choice Scarf Gengar and Mienshao and even letting Torterra safely run an Adamant nature.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Tera Blast Fire is a move that allows Torterra to hit opposing Grass-types like Chesnaught and Wo-Chien, although this means that it has no moves to effectively hit Pokemon like Talonflame and Noivern. Heavy Slam can be used alongside Tera Steel to guarantee an OHKO against Galarian Zapdos. Seed Bomb is a weaker Grass-type move that lacks the drawbacks of Wood Hammer for White Herb sets. Defensive Torterra can surprise opponents, and has a niche as the only Grass-type that can learn Stealth Rock, although the role of hazard setting Grass-type is often better fulfilled by Spikes Chesnaught.
Checks and Counters
====
**Faster Pokemon**: Choice Scarf users like Gengar and Galarian Zapdos outspeed even a +2 Jolly Torterra and threaten to revenge kill.
**Grass-types**: Fellow Grass-types like Chesnaught and Wo-Chien resist Torterra's STAB moves and can easily survive its coverage attacks, and can KO it with Body Press or Foul Play.
**Flying-types**: Torterra's only good options to hit Flying-types like Talonflame, Galarian Zapdos, Salamence, and Noivern are inaccurate Rock-type moves such as Rock Blast and Stone Edge, and their Brave Birds and Hurricanes all threaten to OHKO.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/machjacob.555741/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/heatranator.647728/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/
Last edited:
