[SET]
Standard AV (Goodra) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 128 HP / 232 SpA / 104 SpD / 44 Spe
Calm Nature
- Acid Spray
- Sludge Wave
- Draco Meteor
- Fire Blast / Earthquake
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Goodra's stellar special bulk allows it to survive incredibly powerful moves like Choice Specs Primarina's Moonblast, Regidrago's Dragon Energy, Modest Porygon-Z's Nasty Plot-boosted Hyper Beam, and Choice Specs Naganadel's Draco Meteor. With Acid Spray, it can reduce the foe's Special Defense, allowing it to OHKO with a powerful Draco Meteor. This strategy allows it to beat Pokemon like Spectrier, Galarian Moltres, and Calm Mind Landorus. Sludge Wave gives Goodra a powerful option to use against the Fairy-types immune to Draco Meteor, such as Primarina, Tapu Fini, and Aromatisse. With Fire Blast, it can beat Ferrothorn, Kartana, and non-Mirror Coat Magnezone. Earthquake allows it to beat Nihilego, any Magnezone, and non-Iron Defense Heatran. Note that Goodra's Sap Sipper ability allows it to neuter Leech Seed users like Venusaur and Kebia Berry Whimsicott.
EVs
=============
The HP and Special Defense EVs allow Goodra to always survive two Moonblasts from Choice Specs Tapu Fini. The Speed lets Goodra outspeed slow Cresselia and Tapu Fini sets. All remaining EVs have been dumped in Special Attack for the best chance to beat Aromatisse and Sylveon.
Usage Tips
=============
In general, Goodra should use Acid Spray on the first turn of battle to soften up the foe, then use Sludge Wave or Draco Meteor when that move is sure to KO. Against Cresselia, Goodra's best opening move is likewise Acid Spray. Not only does this give optimal odds to beat stall Cresselia, it also deals with Choice Scarf Psychic Trick sets, which take Goodra's Assault Vest for itself may beat a set using Sludge Wave or Draco Meteor through Special Defense drops.
Against Aromatisse, Sludge Wave is the optimal opening move, as it threatens to 2HKO physically defensive sets. Afterwards, it should alternate Acid Spray and Sludge Wave to play around a potential Disable.
[SET]
Counter AV (Goodra) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 248 HP / 244 Def / 16 Spe
Bold Nature
- Counter
- Acid Spray
- Draco Meteor
- Fire Blast / Earthquake / Sludge Wave / Breaking Swipe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Goodra's access to Counter allows it to act as an unexpected answer to physical threats like Metagross, Choice Band Urshifu, and Aggron. Acid Spray reduces the Special Defense of Pokemon like Spectrier, Life Orb Rillaboom, and Zarude, setting them up for a Draco Meteor KO on the next turn. Fire Blast beats Ferrothorn, improves the Zarude matchup, and gives Goodra good odds to beat any Celesteela set. Earthquake beats Heatran, Mirror Coat Magnezone, and Nihilego. Sludge Wave beats Belly Drum Azumarill, Eerie Impulse Koko, and Choice Scarf Tapu Lele. It also gives Goodra decent odds to beat physically defensive Aromatisse and Leftovers, Sitrus Berry, and Choice Scarf variants of Tapu Fini. Breaking Swipe beats Shell Smash Crustle, Choice Band Rhyperior, and non-Choice Band Sawk. Sap Sipper beats Leech Seed users like Venusaur, Celesteela, and Whimsicott.
EVs
=============
The given EVs allow Goodra to outspeed Aggron while having the best possible chance to survive Choice Band Aggron's Head Smash and Choice Specs Naganadel's Draco Meteor.
Usage Tips
=============
Use Counter against physical powerful Pokemon that Goodra cannot wear down with its special moves quickly enough, like Zeraora, Aggron, Metagross, and Tyranitar. Otherwise, use Acid Spray to lower the Special Defense of non-Steel types until one of Goodra's more powerful moves can KO. Versus Nagandel, simply use Draco Meteor on the first turn of battle.
Against Aggron, use Counter. If Aggron used Head Smash, Avalanche, or another powerful move, it should now be at 1 HP, and Goodra can finish it off with its most accurate move. If Aggron used Rock Blast or Heavy Slam, Goodra will usually avoid a 2HKO and can use Counter again, followed by Draco Meteor.
Optimal use of Breaking Swipe can get rather complicated. Sets with the move should use it on the first turn of battle against Rhyperior, Crustle, and Sawk. If Crustle uses Shell Smash, it can then be KOed with Draco Meteor. If it used Rock Wrecker, use Acid Spray followed by Draco Meteor to KO. Versus a set that used Rock Blast, use Breaking Swipe again, then use Draco Meteor after three Breaking Swipes or the turn after Crustle uses Shell Smash, whichever comes first. Against Rhyperior, follow this up with Acid Spray followed by Draco Meteor if Rhyperior's damage output suggests a Choice Band, another Breaking Swipe if Rhyperior used Swords Dance, and two Acid Sprays followed by a Draco Meteor otherwise. Against Sawk, use Draco Meteor on the second turn if Sawk used Close Combat on the first, and Counter otherwise.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Goodra's signature ability Gooey allows any set to beat Custap Berry Sawk, and allows Counter Goodra to beat Choice Band Sawk as well.
Goodra can run a defensive set with Acid Armor, Body Press and maximum Defense to lure Pokemon like Chansey and Choice Band Outrage Tyranitar that would normally be hard counters.
A Custap Berry set allows Goodra to lure Choice Band Garchomp, Choice Band Dragapult, and Galarian Darmanitan. However, even with maximum Special Attack, Draco Meteor only has a 75% chance to KO the latter Pokemon. Fire Blast is required for a more reliable matchup, but Goodra rarely has the moveslots to fit it.
Mud Shot is a niche option that lets Goodra make up for its lackluster Speed. With 216 HP / 16 SpA / 24 SpD / 252 Spe and a Timid nature, a Mud Shot set can always beat Adamant Shell Smash Crustle by surviving one Rock Wrecker and outspeeding after Shell Smash and Mud Shot. This set also beats stall Entei, Life Orb Porygon-Z and any Heatran set. However, it no longer has the bulk to beat Choice Specs Tapu Fini, with its new special benchmark being Choice Specs Naganadel instead.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/here-comes-team-charm.501918/
Quality checked by:
[insert user link]
Grammar checked by:
[insert user link]
Standard AV (Goodra) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 128 HP / 232 SpA / 104 SpD / 44 Spe
Calm Nature
- Acid Spray
- Sludge Wave
- Draco Meteor
- Fire Blast / Earthquake
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Goodra's stellar special bulk allows it to survive incredibly powerful moves like Choice Specs Primarina's Moonblast, Regidrago's Dragon Energy, Modest Porygon-Z's Nasty Plot-boosted Hyper Beam, and Choice Specs Naganadel's Draco Meteor. With Acid Spray, it can reduce the foe's Special Defense, allowing it to OHKO with a powerful Draco Meteor. This strategy allows it to beat Pokemon like Spectrier, Galarian Moltres, and Calm Mind Landorus. Sludge Wave gives Goodra a powerful option to use against the Fairy-types immune to Draco Meteor, such as Primarina, Tapu Fini, and Aromatisse. With Fire Blast, it can beat Ferrothorn, Kartana, and non-Mirror Coat Magnezone. Earthquake allows it to beat Nihilego, any Magnezone, and non-Iron Defense Heatran. Note that Goodra's Sap Sipper ability allows it to neuter Leech Seed users like Venusaur and Kebia Berry Whimsicott.
EVs
=============
The HP and Special Defense EVs allow Goodra to always survive two Moonblasts from Choice Specs Tapu Fini. The Speed lets Goodra outspeed slow Cresselia and Tapu Fini sets. All remaining EVs have been dumped in Special Attack for the best chance to beat Aromatisse and Sylveon.
Usage Tips
=============
In general, Goodra should use Acid Spray on the first turn of battle to soften up the foe, then use Sludge Wave or Draco Meteor when that move is sure to KO. Against Cresselia, Goodra's best opening move is likewise Acid Spray. Not only does this give optimal odds to beat stall Cresselia, it also deals with Choice Scarf Psychic Trick sets, which take Goodra's Assault Vest for itself may beat a set using Sludge Wave or Draco Meteor through Special Defense drops.
Against Aromatisse, Sludge Wave is the optimal opening move, as it threatens to 2HKO physically defensive sets. Afterwards, it should alternate Acid Spray and Sludge Wave to play around a potential Disable.
[SET]
Counter AV (Goodra) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 248 HP / 244 Def / 16 Spe
Bold Nature
- Counter
- Acid Spray
- Draco Meteor
- Fire Blast / Earthquake / Sludge Wave / Breaking Swipe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Goodra's access to Counter allows it to act as an unexpected answer to physical threats like Metagross, Choice Band Urshifu, and Aggron. Acid Spray reduces the Special Defense of Pokemon like Spectrier, Life Orb Rillaboom, and Zarude, setting them up for a Draco Meteor KO on the next turn. Fire Blast beats Ferrothorn, improves the Zarude matchup, and gives Goodra good odds to beat any Celesteela set. Earthquake beats Heatran, Mirror Coat Magnezone, and Nihilego. Sludge Wave beats Belly Drum Azumarill, Eerie Impulse Koko, and Choice Scarf Tapu Lele. It also gives Goodra decent odds to beat physically defensive Aromatisse and Leftovers, Sitrus Berry, and Choice Scarf variants of Tapu Fini. Breaking Swipe beats Shell Smash Crustle, Choice Band Rhyperior, and non-Choice Band Sawk. Sap Sipper beats Leech Seed users like Venusaur, Celesteela, and Whimsicott.
EVs
=============
The given EVs allow Goodra to outspeed Aggron while having the best possible chance to survive Choice Band Aggron's Head Smash and Choice Specs Naganadel's Draco Meteor.
Usage Tips
=============
Use Counter against physical powerful Pokemon that Goodra cannot wear down with its special moves quickly enough, like Zeraora, Aggron, Metagross, and Tyranitar. Otherwise, use Acid Spray to lower the Special Defense of non-Steel types until one of Goodra's more powerful moves can KO. Versus Nagandel, simply use Draco Meteor on the first turn of battle.
Against Aggron, use Counter. If Aggron used Head Smash, Avalanche, or another powerful move, it should now be at 1 HP, and Goodra can finish it off with its most accurate move. If Aggron used Rock Blast or Heavy Slam, Goodra will usually avoid a 2HKO and can use Counter again, followed by Draco Meteor.
Optimal use of Breaking Swipe can get rather complicated. Sets with the move should use it on the first turn of battle against Rhyperior, Crustle, and Sawk. If Crustle uses Shell Smash, it can then be KOed with Draco Meteor. If it used Rock Wrecker, use Acid Spray followed by Draco Meteor to KO. Versus a set that used Rock Blast, use Breaking Swipe again, then use Draco Meteor after three Breaking Swipes or the turn after Crustle uses Shell Smash, whichever comes first. Against Rhyperior, follow this up with Acid Spray followed by Draco Meteor if Rhyperior's damage output suggests a Choice Band, another Breaking Swipe if Rhyperior used Swords Dance, and two Acid Sprays followed by a Draco Meteor otherwise. Against Sawk, use Draco Meteor on the second turn if Sawk used Close Combat on the first, and Counter otherwise.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Goodra's signature ability Gooey allows any set to beat Custap Berry Sawk, and allows Counter Goodra to beat Choice Band Sawk as well.
Goodra can run a defensive set with Acid Armor, Body Press and maximum Defense to lure Pokemon like Chansey and Choice Band Outrage Tyranitar that would normally be hard counters.
A Custap Berry set allows Goodra to lure Choice Band Garchomp, Choice Band Dragapult, and Galarian Darmanitan. However, even with maximum Special Attack, Draco Meteor only has a 75% chance to KO the latter Pokemon. Fire Blast is required for a more reliable matchup, but Goodra rarely has the moveslots to fit it.
Mud Shot is a niche option that lets Goodra make up for its lackluster Speed. With 216 HP / 16 SpA / 24 SpD / 252 Spe and a Timid nature, a Mud Shot set can always beat Adamant Shell Smash Crustle by surviving one Rock Wrecker and outspeeding after Shell Smash and Mud Shot. This set also beats stall Entei, Life Orb Porygon-Z and any Heatran set. However, it no longer has the bulk to beat Choice Specs Tapu Fini, with its new special benchmark being Choice Specs Naganadel instead.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/here-comes-team-charm.501918/
Quality checked by:
[insert user link]
Grammar checked by:
[insert user link]
Last edited: