[OVERVIEW]
Tangela is a fantastic Pokemon in the PU tier, with high physical Defense and Special Attack in addition to a wide array of support moves, it can function as a great glue for several team styles. A mono Grass-typing allows Tangela to resist the several strong Earthquakes that get thrown around the tier, unlike fellow Grass-type Ivysaur. The downsides of Tangela lie in its somewhat low Speed and low special bulk, which can make even resisted hits like Minun's Thunderbolt do significant damage.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Giga Drain
move 2: Hidden Power Fire
move 3: Stun Spore / Sleep Powder
move 4: Morning Sun
item: Leftovers
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 196 Def / 60 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Tangela's high physical bulk makes it one of the best checks to physical threats in the tier, especially those that commonly run Earthquake like Marshtomp, Kingler, Furret, and Trapinch. It can also sometimes pivot into Pokemon like Arbok and Seviper if using coverage moves but is extremely threatened by STAB Sludge Bomb from either or Flamethrower from the latter. Giga Drain is Tangela's best STAB move and Hidden Power Fire allows it to hit Grass-resistant Pokemon like Mawile and opposing Tangela. Either Stun Spore or Sleep Powder can be used depending on what type of support your team needs and are mostly interchangeable, while Morning Sun provides reliable recovery for long term fights against things like Lickitung or Wigglytuff. The given EV spread allows Tangela to outspeed max Speed Adamant Graveler while maximizing its physical bulk. Tangela offers a great defensive profile, so Pokemon like Minun and Combusken that are threatened by Earthquake make great partners. Likewise, Pokemon that can handle Ice- or Fire-type attacks aimed at Tangela like Lickitung, Sealeo, and Dragonair for the latter, make Tangela's job as a defensive wall easier. Trapinch or Mawile work as partners too as they can handle the Poison-types that give Tangela trouble.
[SET]
name: Sun Sweeper
move 1: Solar Beam
move 2: Hidden Power Fire / Hidden Power Ice
move 3: Sleep Powder
move 4: Sunny Day
item: Leftovers
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
While Tangela does have decent physical bulk, it also has one of the highest Special Attack stats in the tier. This set tries to leverage that along with Chlorophyll to make Tangela a formidable sweeper. Sunny Day Tangela is best used towards the end of the game when Pokemon that resist Solar Beam like Swalot and Dragonair have been KO'd or brought into range of the move. Usually, Hidden Power Fire is the coverage of choice, as it hits harder under sun and allows Tangela to KO Mawile and opposing Tangela more easily, though Ice can be used to deal with Dragonair as well. Sleep Powder is a sort of get-out-of-jail-free card allowing Tangela to beat things it normally wouldn't if it gets the right amount of sleep turns. This set best functions with teammates that can handle Poison-types like Trapinch or Mawile, as they greatly limit Tangela's ability to sweep. As a late-game cleaner, it also appreciates support from Pokemon like Choice Band Arbok or Furret, who can punch holes in teams early and allow Tangela to sweep much easier. Spikes support from Omanyte or Pineco is appreciated for wearing down Pokemon over the course of a game but are not necessary.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
**Dual status**: On defensive sets, both Sleep Powder and Stun Spore could be run on the same set, and Toxic can even be used sometimes to weaken bulkier Pokemon like Wigglytuff or Lickitung, forcing them to use their limited Heal Bells, though this takes away from Tangela's coverage.
**Hidden Power Grass**: Still on the aforementioned defensive sets, if opting out of Hidden Power as a coverage move, Hidden Power Grass does hit harder than Giga Drain. However, it will leave Tangela with no viable coverage options.
**Leech Seed**: Leech Seed is an alternative option for Tangela which can also provide some passive healing to its team. However, it is not compatible with Morning Sun, limiting Tangela's immediate survivability and is also detrimental when facing a Swalot.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Poison-types**: Even on offensive sets, Swalot, Arbok, and Seviper all can take hits from Tangela relatively easily and threaten it with Sludge Bomb. Special mention goes to Swalot as its Liquid Ooze ability means Tangela's Giga Drain will actually hurt itself if Swalot switches in.
**Special coverage**: Tangela's special bulk is so low that any relatively strong special attacker can usually dispatch it. Most notably, despite the resistance, Minun's Thunderbolt into a Hidden Power Ice almost always KOs it even with max HP. Even an opposing offensive Tangela can almost OHKO it with Hidden Power Fire outside of sun.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sergiorules.265399/
Quality checked by:
Grammar checked by:
Tangela is a fantastic Pokemon in the PU tier, with high physical Defense and Special Attack in addition to a wide array of support moves, it can function as a great glue for several team styles. A mono Grass-typing allows Tangela to resist the several strong Earthquakes that get thrown around the tier, unlike fellow Grass-type Ivysaur. The downsides of Tangela lie in its somewhat low Speed and low special bulk, which can make even resisted hits like Minun's Thunderbolt do significant damage.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Giga Drain
move 2: Hidden Power Fire
move 3: Stun Spore / Sleep Powder
move 4: Morning Sun
item: Leftovers
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 196 Def / 60 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Tangela's high physical bulk makes it one of the best checks to physical threats in the tier, especially those that commonly run Earthquake like Marshtomp, Kingler, Furret, and Trapinch. It can also sometimes pivot into Pokemon like Arbok and Seviper if using coverage moves but is extremely threatened by STAB Sludge Bomb from either or Flamethrower from the latter. Giga Drain is Tangela's best STAB move and Hidden Power Fire allows it to hit Grass-resistant Pokemon like Mawile and opposing Tangela. Either Stun Spore or Sleep Powder can be used depending on what type of support your team needs and are mostly interchangeable, while Morning Sun provides reliable recovery for long term fights against things like Lickitung or Wigglytuff. The given EV spread allows Tangela to outspeed max Speed Adamant Graveler while maximizing its physical bulk. Tangela offers a great defensive profile, so Pokemon like Minun and Combusken that are threatened by Earthquake make great partners. Likewise, Pokemon that can handle Ice- or Fire-type attacks aimed at Tangela like Lickitung, Sealeo, and Dragonair for the latter, make Tangela's job as a defensive wall easier. Trapinch or Mawile work as partners too as they can handle the Poison-types that give Tangela trouble.
[SET]
name: Sun Sweeper
move 1: Solar Beam
move 2: Hidden Power Fire / Hidden Power Ice
move 3: Sleep Powder
move 4: Sunny Day
item: Leftovers
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
While Tangela does have decent physical bulk, it also has one of the highest Special Attack stats in the tier. This set tries to leverage that along with Chlorophyll to make Tangela a formidable sweeper. Sunny Day Tangela is best used towards the end of the game when Pokemon that resist Solar Beam like Swalot and Dragonair have been KO'd or brought into range of the move. Usually, Hidden Power Fire is the coverage of choice, as it hits harder under sun and allows Tangela to KO Mawile and opposing Tangela more easily, though Ice can be used to deal with Dragonair as well. Sleep Powder is a sort of get-out-of-jail-free card allowing Tangela to beat things it normally wouldn't if it gets the right amount of sleep turns. This set best functions with teammates that can handle Poison-types like Trapinch or Mawile, as they greatly limit Tangela's ability to sweep. As a late-game cleaner, it also appreciates support from Pokemon like Choice Band Arbok or Furret, who can punch holes in teams early and allow Tangela to sweep much easier. Spikes support from Omanyte or Pineco is appreciated for wearing down Pokemon over the course of a game but are not necessary.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
**Dual status**: On defensive sets, both Sleep Powder and Stun Spore could be run on the same set, and Toxic can even be used sometimes to weaken bulkier Pokemon like Wigglytuff or Lickitung, forcing them to use their limited Heal Bells, though this takes away from Tangela's coverage.
**Hidden Power Grass**: Still on the aforementioned defensive sets, if opting out of Hidden Power as a coverage move, Hidden Power Grass does hit harder than Giga Drain. However, it will leave Tangela with no viable coverage options.
**Leech Seed**: Leech Seed is an alternative option for Tangela which can also provide some passive healing to its team. However, it is not compatible with Morning Sun, limiting Tangela's immediate survivability and is also detrimental when facing a Swalot.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Poison-types**: Even on offensive sets, Swalot, Arbok, and Seviper all can take hits from Tangela relatively easily and threaten it with Sludge Bomb. Special mention goes to Swalot as its Liquid Ooze ability means Tangela's Giga Drain will actually hurt itself if Swalot switches in.
**Special coverage**: Tangela's special bulk is so low that any relatively strong special attacker can usually dispatch it. Most notably, despite the resistance, Minun's Thunderbolt into a Hidden Power Ice almost always KOs it even with max HP. Even an opposing offensive Tangela can almost OHKO it with Hidden Power Fire outside of sun.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sergiorules.265399/
Quality checked by:
Grammar checked by:
Last edited: