[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Scald
move 2: Recover
move 3: Earthquake / Earth Power
move 4: Clear Smog / Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Storm Drain
nature: Sassy
evs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
Scald can cripple potential switch-ins and limits physical attackers with burns. Earthquake is preferred over Earth Power because it deals more damage to Calm Mind Keldeo, Mega Alakazam, and Heatran, but Earth Power can also be nice, as Gastrodon tends to take burns from Rotom-W. Recover is necessary, as it allows Gastrodon to keep itself healthy throughout the match. Clear Smog prevents setup from Pokemon like Calm Mind Clefable, Calm Mind Slowbro, and Nasty Plot Thundurus. Toxic can be used over Clear Smog to help reduce Gastrodon's passivity, punishing switch-ins like Serperior and Manaphy more consistently.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Defense investment allows Gastrodon to take on special threats like Heatran, Thundurus, Mega Alakazam, and Mega Diancie, and a Sassy nature is used in order to not weaken Earthquake. Storm Drain grants it a useful immunity to Scald as well as other Water-type moves. Alternatively, an EV spread of 248 HP / 48 Def / 212 SpD allows Gastrodon to always survive +1 Dragon Claw from Adamant Mega Charizard X and two Secret Swords from non-Choice Specs Keldeo after Stealth Rock damage.
Usage Tips
========
By virtue of its great typing and solid bulk, Gastrodon acts as a great check to special attackers like Heatran, Mega Diancie, and Volcanion. Gastrodon is best used making use of its immunity to Volt Switch, switching into Pokemon like Zapdos and Magnezone with little risk and being able to completely shut down Rotom-W with Storm Drain. Gastrodon relies on its immunities and pivoting in order to use to its full potential due to its good but not amazing bulk. Gastrodon does struggle with a few things, namely Toxic, Grass-types like Serperior and Amoonguss, special moves that hit defense—namely Secret Sword and Psyshock—and physical threats. Make sure to scout Toxic and Grass-type moves from the likes of Heatran, Volcarona, Zapdos, and Volcanion. Another flaw Gastrodon has is its passivity issue, which creates openings for the likes of Gliscor and Clefable to take advantage of it and potentially overwhelm it.
Team Options
========
Good teammates for Gastrodon include Pokemon that can switch into Grass-type attacks comfortably, like Heatran, Tornadus-T, and Talonflame. Pokemon immune to Toxic, like Gliscor, Clefable, Chansey, and Steel-types, are also helpful. Skarmory is a great example of a synergistic teammate to Gastrodon, as it is immune to poison and can take on Grass-type attacks. Its high Defense is also complementary to Gastrodon's specially defensive set.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/noname6293.604378/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/mixnite.663475/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rufflespro.193716/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adorluigi.528364/
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Scald
move 2: Recover
move 3: Earthquake / Earth Power
move 4: Clear Smog / Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Storm Drain
nature: Sassy
evs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
Scald can cripple potential switch-ins and limits physical attackers with burns. Earthquake is preferred over Earth Power because it deals more damage to Calm Mind Keldeo, Mega Alakazam, and Heatran, but Earth Power can also be nice, as Gastrodon tends to take burns from Rotom-W. Recover is necessary, as it allows Gastrodon to keep itself healthy throughout the match. Clear Smog prevents setup from Pokemon like Calm Mind Clefable, Calm Mind Slowbro, and Nasty Plot Thundurus. Toxic can be used over Clear Smog to help reduce Gastrodon's passivity, punishing switch-ins like Serperior and Manaphy more consistently.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Defense investment allows Gastrodon to take on special threats like Heatran, Thundurus, Mega Alakazam, and Mega Diancie, and a Sassy nature is used in order to not weaken Earthquake. Storm Drain grants it a useful immunity to Scald as well as other Water-type moves. Alternatively, an EV spread of 248 HP / 48 Def / 212 SpD allows Gastrodon to always survive +1 Dragon Claw from Adamant Mega Charizard X and two Secret Swords from non-Choice Specs Keldeo after Stealth Rock damage.
Usage Tips
========
By virtue of its great typing and solid bulk, Gastrodon acts as a great check to special attackers like Heatran, Mega Diancie, and Volcanion. Gastrodon is best used making use of its immunity to Volt Switch, switching into Pokemon like Zapdos and Magnezone with little risk and being able to completely shut down Rotom-W with Storm Drain. Gastrodon relies on its immunities and pivoting in order to use to its full potential due to its good but not amazing bulk. Gastrodon does struggle with a few things, namely Toxic, Grass-types like Serperior and Amoonguss, special moves that hit defense—namely Secret Sword and Psyshock—and physical threats. Make sure to scout Toxic and Grass-type moves from the likes of Heatran, Volcarona, Zapdos, and Volcanion. Another flaw Gastrodon has is its passivity issue, which creates openings for the likes of Gliscor and Clefable to take advantage of it and potentially overwhelm it.
Team Options
========
Good teammates for Gastrodon include Pokemon that can switch into Grass-type attacks comfortably, like Heatran, Tornadus-T, and Talonflame. Pokemon immune to Toxic, like Gliscor, Clefable, Chansey, and Steel-types, are also helpful. Skarmory is a great example of a synergistic teammate to Gastrodon, as it is immune to poison and can take on Grass-type attacks. Its high Defense is also complementary to Gastrodon's specially defensive set.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/noname6293.604378/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/mixnite.663475/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rufflespro.193716/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adorluigi.528364/
Last edited:
