[SET]
Name: Defensive Utility (Grass)
Move 1: Spikes
Move 2: Leech Seed
Move 3: Iron Head
Move 4: Body Press / Knock Off
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
Nature: Impish
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Ferrothorn is a staple on Grass teams due to its phenomenal defensive typing, access to Spikes, Steel STAB options to handle Hatterene not carrying Mystical Fire and Ice types, notably Kyurem, and a plethora of other utility moves. Spikes is valuable for Grass in order to help its wallbreakers like Rillaboom and Celebi to sweep late game, while also breaking opposing Focus Sash and chipping away at common defensive pivots like Galarian Slowking and Blissey. Leech Seed provides Ferrothorn with further recovery in tandem with Leftovers, as well as a means to stall out opposing walls such as Toxapex, Chansey, and Mantine. Iron Head hits Fairy- and Ice- types, and can notably OHKO Alolan Ninetales through Aurora Veil. It's also particularly useful to prevent the previously mentioned Kyurem from being able to stall it out. Body Press gives Ferrothorn a way to fight back against opposing Steel types, and what makes Ferrothorn the best counter for most Substitute Melmetal sets for Grass teams, and can make it trickier for opponents to switch Hydreigon in on it. Knock Off gives Ferrothorn a way to dissuade common Defog users like Corviknight, Mandibuzz and Braviary from switching in with the threat of removing the former's Leftovers, and Heavy Duty Boots from the latter two, but can also be valued in general for its item removal, particularly against Toxapex and Amoongus in the Water or Poison stall matchup. Maximum Defense EVs and an Impish nature lets Ferrothorn wall and check common physical attackers like Weavile, and Golisopod. Leftovers is the preferred item, as without it Ferrothorn would have to rely almost solely on Leech Seed for more longevity.
Cradily is perhaps the best teammate for Ferrothorn defensively, using its great special bulk and Rock typing to tank special Fire type attacks with ease, as well as common Fire type coverage from Nidoking and Zapdos, while Ferrothorn shrugs off most physical Steel, Ice and Bug type attacks from threats such as Bisharp, Arctozolt, and Golisopod respectively. Cradily also gets access to Stealth Rock, and forms a viable hazard stacking core with Ferrothorn. Amoonguss’s Poison typing, good bulk and having an excellent ability in Regenerator completes this trio and gives Ferrothorn a solid Fighting-resistant teammate to fall back on, while Ferrothorn gives Amoonguss a Psychic resistant teammate and a Flying neutrality. Amoonguss can also Spore a Pokemon that would threaten Ferrothorn like Zeraora, Urshifu-R, and Mimikyu carrying Drain Punch, and can use its Foul Play to check Dragapult and Aegislash. Whimsicott’s Prankster ability and access to Encore allow it to switch in on an opponent that's trying to setup in front of Ferrothorn like Volcarona, Dragonite and Spectrier and force it out, while also racking up damage from entry hazards from the switches that Encore forces. Whimsicott's Fairy typing coupled with Moonblast can additionally make it a check to Fighting- and Dragon-types that may force Ferrothorn to switch out, like Buzzwole, Galarian Zapdos, Hydreigon, and Kyurem. Or, at worst, provide additional Knock Off support against threats like Zapdos or Stun Spore against Tornadus and other Flying types. Its U-Turn can help Ferrothorn to come in easier as well. Rillaboom appreciates the hazards that Ferrothorn sets up, which makes it easier to sweep late game, especially against potential cleaners like Darmanitan-G and Alolan Raichu. It can also take advantage of an opponent with Leech Seed to set up easier. Access to High Horsepower and Superpower is also valuable coverage for Ferrothorn, as Rillaboom can notably check specially defensive Heatran, makes for a great teammate against Ice teams due to Superpower and Grassy Glide. Furthermore, Rillaboom's Grassy Surge provides Ferrothorn with even more passive recovery and reduced damage from Ground type attacks. Celebi is another special attacker that can deal with Magnezone and Volcanion which could give Ferrothorn a hard time, and Celebi packs another Fighting resistance, and they also appreciate the hazards that help them clean late game. Choice Scarf Zarude can check threatening Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon such as Victini and Spectrier, as well as break other Steel-types like Heatran with Close Combat. Rotom-C is a powerful special attacker that can break physical walls like Toxapex and Corviknight in addition to providing an immunity to Ground attacks.
[OTHER OPTIONS]
Grass
--------
Gyro Ball with a Relaxed nature can be run over Iron Head to deal more damage to very speedy targets like Polteageist and Crobat, but it lacks the consistency of Iron Head's damage against the metagame and thus is more niche. Thunder Wave could be useful to cripple a switch in, and can help Ferrothorn's average-speed teammates like Rillaboom, Zarude, and Celebi to sweep easier. But while this could be handy, Ferrothorn has trouble sacrificing one of its moves for it. Stealth Rock is an additional hazard to compress onto Ferrothorn, but this is rarely needed as Cradily runs Stealth Rock, and not running Cradily alongside Ferrothorn can prove to be detrimental. Protect is useful to scout choice-locked opponents to see their intentions and to increase longevity with Leftovers but has little other use. Iron Defense can take advantage of Ferrothorn's already absurd defense stat and make Body Press even more threatening, but once again, Ferrothorn has trouble finding room for it. Toxic is another option to consider over Thunder Wave to whittle down set up sweepers or to better deal with many of the metagames’ passive walls like Corsola-G or Rotom-Wash, but since Cradily also runs Toxic, there isn't much reason for it.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/dimlug.582231/
Grass analysis by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/dimlug.582231/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/roxie.481576/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/neko.542526/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/maroon.305839/
Grammar checked by:
Name: Defensive Utility (Grass)
Move 1: Spikes
Move 2: Leech Seed
Move 3: Iron Head
Move 4: Body Press / Knock Off
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
Nature: Impish
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Ferrothorn is a staple on Grass teams due to its phenomenal defensive typing, access to Spikes, Steel STAB options to handle Hatterene not carrying Mystical Fire and Ice types, notably Kyurem, and a plethora of other utility moves. Spikes is valuable for Grass in order to help its wallbreakers like Rillaboom and Celebi to sweep late game, while also breaking opposing Focus Sash and chipping away at common defensive pivots like Galarian Slowking and Blissey. Leech Seed provides Ferrothorn with further recovery in tandem with Leftovers, as well as a means to stall out opposing walls such as Toxapex, Chansey, and Mantine. Iron Head hits Fairy- and Ice- types, and can notably OHKO Alolan Ninetales through Aurora Veil. It's also particularly useful to prevent the previously mentioned Kyurem from being able to stall it out. Body Press gives Ferrothorn a way to fight back against opposing Steel types, and what makes Ferrothorn the best counter for most Substitute Melmetal sets for Grass teams, and can make it trickier for opponents to switch Hydreigon in on it. Knock Off gives Ferrothorn a way to dissuade common Defog users like Corviknight, Mandibuzz and Braviary from switching in with the threat of removing the former's Leftovers, and Heavy Duty Boots from the latter two, but can also be valued in general for its item removal, particularly against Toxapex and Amoongus in the Water or Poison stall matchup. Maximum Defense EVs and an Impish nature lets Ferrothorn wall and check common physical attackers like Weavile, and Golisopod. Leftovers is the preferred item, as without it Ferrothorn would have to rely almost solely on Leech Seed for more longevity.
Cradily is perhaps the best teammate for Ferrothorn defensively, using its great special bulk and Rock typing to tank special Fire type attacks with ease, as well as common Fire type coverage from Nidoking and Zapdos, while Ferrothorn shrugs off most physical Steel, Ice and Bug type attacks from threats such as Bisharp, Arctozolt, and Golisopod respectively. Cradily also gets access to Stealth Rock, and forms a viable hazard stacking core with Ferrothorn. Amoonguss’s Poison typing, good bulk and having an excellent ability in Regenerator completes this trio and gives Ferrothorn a solid Fighting-resistant teammate to fall back on, while Ferrothorn gives Amoonguss a Psychic resistant teammate and a Flying neutrality. Amoonguss can also Spore a Pokemon that would threaten Ferrothorn like Zeraora, Urshifu-R, and Mimikyu carrying Drain Punch, and can use its Foul Play to check Dragapult and Aegislash. Whimsicott’s Prankster ability and access to Encore allow it to switch in on an opponent that's trying to setup in front of Ferrothorn like Volcarona, Dragonite and Spectrier and force it out, while also racking up damage from entry hazards from the switches that Encore forces. Whimsicott's Fairy typing coupled with Moonblast can additionally make it a check to Fighting- and Dragon-types that may force Ferrothorn to switch out, like Buzzwole, Galarian Zapdos, Hydreigon, and Kyurem. Or, at worst, provide additional Knock Off support against threats like Zapdos or Stun Spore against Tornadus and other Flying types. Its U-Turn can help Ferrothorn to come in easier as well. Rillaboom appreciates the hazards that Ferrothorn sets up, which makes it easier to sweep late game, especially against potential cleaners like Darmanitan-G and Alolan Raichu. It can also take advantage of an opponent with Leech Seed to set up easier. Access to High Horsepower and Superpower is also valuable coverage for Ferrothorn, as Rillaboom can notably check specially defensive Heatran, makes for a great teammate against Ice teams due to Superpower and Grassy Glide. Furthermore, Rillaboom's Grassy Surge provides Ferrothorn with even more passive recovery and reduced damage from Ground type attacks. Celebi is another special attacker that can deal with Magnezone and Volcanion which could give Ferrothorn a hard time, and Celebi packs another Fighting resistance, and they also appreciate the hazards that help them clean late game. Choice Scarf Zarude can check threatening Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon such as Victini and Spectrier, as well as break other Steel-types like Heatran with Close Combat. Rotom-C is a powerful special attacker that can break physical walls like Toxapex and Corviknight in addition to providing an immunity to Ground attacks.
[OTHER OPTIONS]
Grass
--------
Gyro Ball with a Relaxed nature can be run over Iron Head to deal more damage to very speedy targets like Polteageist and Crobat, but it lacks the consistency of Iron Head's damage against the metagame and thus is more niche. Thunder Wave could be useful to cripple a switch in, and can help Ferrothorn's average-speed teammates like Rillaboom, Zarude, and Celebi to sweep easier. But while this could be handy, Ferrothorn has trouble sacrificing one of its moves for it. Stealth Rock is an additional hazard to compress onto Ferrothorn, but this is rarely needed as Cradily runs Stealth Rock, and not running Cradily alongside Ferrothorn can prove to be detrimental. Protect is useful to scout choice-locked opponents to see their intentions and to increase longevity with Leftovers but has little other use. Iron Defense can take advantage of Ferrothorn's already absurd defense stat and make Body Press even more threatening, but once again, Ferrothorn has trouble finding room for it. Toxic is another option to consider over Thunder Wave to whittle down set up sweepers or to better deal with many of the metagames’ passive walls like Corsola-G or Rotom-Wash, but since Cradily also runs Toxic, there isn't much reason for it.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/dimlug.582231/
Grass analysis by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/dimlug.582231/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/roxie.481576/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/neko.542526/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/maroon.305839/
Grammar checked by:
Last edited by a moderator:
