Type: Grass
Abilities - Chlorophyll: Doubles speed in sun
Leaf Guard - Prevents status effects in sun
Regenerator (Hidden ability) - Heals 1/3 of HP upon switching out
Base Stats
HP: 100
Atk: 100
Def: 125
SpAtk: 110
SpDef: 50
Spe: 50
Like many other Pokemon, Tangrowth received a couple of new toys in Generation 6. Knock Off's boost to 65 BP makes the move much more viable on a pokemon that was already known for running the move back when it was merely 20 BP. Sleep Powder no longer affects other grass types, making Tangrowth an even better Breloom counter than it used to be, and allowing it many more switch in opportunities. It still has regenerator, which is probably the best ability (along with magic guard) that a defensive pokemon could hope for. Add these things to it's natural physical bulk, and Tangrowth could certainly see more usage in Gen 6.
However, things are not all peachy for our viney green friend. Tangrowth still has abysmal special defense, and even neutral special attacks will take large chunks out of its HP total. Also, sleep mechanics have change again; sleep no longer resets on a switch, but still only lasts 1-3 turns, making sleep powder less effective than in Gen 5. With mixed sweepers such as Greninja arriving in Gen 6, Tangrowth finds its job harder than ever sometimes. However, play to its strengths and give it some support, and Mojonbo is ready to rule here all over again.
Knock It Off, Mojonbo Rules Here! (Physical Tank)
252 HP, 252 Def, 4 SpAtk
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Regenerator
Nature: Relaxed
- Giga Drain
- Knock Off
- Earthquake / Sleep Powder
- Hidden Power Fire / Hidden Power Ice / Earthquake
A throwback to Gen 4, Mojonbo can tank hits and chip away at its counters. It's good mixed stats allow it to do a variety of things, including mixed attacking coverage. Tangrowth takes about 44.91 - 53.1% from a Choice Band Garchomp's Outrage, allowing it to comfortably switch out into an appropriate counter while regenerating most of it's health back. It's a reliable switch into SD aegislash, only taking 26.9 - 31.9% from shadow sneak and playing mind games between sleep powder and earthquake. Whenever discussing a defensive grass type, one must inevitably compare it to Ferrothorn, whose typing allows it many more switch ins. However, Tangrowth is capable of many different things (besides the obvious regenerator). Where ferrothorn is typically a team supporter, Tangrowth's strength lies in forcing switches while maintaining some offensive momentum. Giga Drain is its main STAB move, doing solid damage to anything that doesn't resist it and returning health back simultaneously. With the Knock Off's buff to 65 BP, it has gone from a niche move to a completely viable move. Either after something is asleep or on a predicted switch, it's an easily spammable move to cripple whatever decides to come in on tangrowth, possibly ridding Dragonite of its Lum Berry or even Scizor of its Choice Band, crippling it for the rest of the match. Knock Off also allows Tangrowth to check the increasingly popular Ghost types, hitting them super effectively and ridding them of their item at the same time.
The second set of moves really depend on what you want Tangrowth to check. Earthquake can be nasty against the Fire and Steel types that want to switch into Tangrowth, and has solid coverage overall. HP Ice is for the dragons that love to switch into Tangrowth, easily 2HKOing Dragonite even after multiscale. HP Fire smacks Scizor and Ferrothorn, which can use Tangrowth to lay hazards down with the change to sleep powder. Both hidden powers are super effective against grass, so choosing one depends on what you feel threatens your team more.
Relaxed is the preferred nature, as Tangrowth isn't outspeeding anything anyway and needs both attacking stats. However, 124 EVs with a neutral speed nature allow Tangrowth to outspeed 4 Spe Scizor, allowing you to nail it with HP Fire before your opponent realizes what happened. Putting EVs from Def to either attacking stat can help with some extra power, but be warned that Tangrowth needs all the help it can get as Grass isn't the best defensive type on its own. Focus Blast is Tangrowth's best option against Kyurem-B and Ferrothorn in rain, but its shaky accuracy makes it a difficult choice. Leaf Storm is Tangrowth's strongest attack, but renders its special attacks useless afterward. Toxic is always an option on a defensive pokemon, but Tangrowth has more unique things to be doing with its moveslots. Protect and Substitute are always an option with leech seed, but there are pokemon that simply do this better than Tangrowth.
Assualt Vest Pivot
252 HP, 252 SpDef, 4 SpAtk
Item: Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
Nature: Relaxed (+Def -Spe)
- Giga Drain / Leaf Storm
- Knock Off
- Earthquake
- Hidden Power Fire / Hidden Power Ice / Rock Slide
Assault Vest is an interesting new item that boosts the wearer's SpDef by 50%, but only allows it to use attacking moves. Normally, lack of passive recovery would be a massive problem for a tank, but luckily for tangrowth, regenerator can be all it needs. Assault Vest with the maxed EVs and nature allow Tangrowth to hit 298 SpDef, which essentially gives it fully invested base 100 SpDef. This may not sound like a ton, but Tangrowth has a lot of health to tank those hits with, and still has 314 Def with 0 investment and a positive nature. However, this set does not play like a wall, but instead plays like a hit and run attacker. You switch in tangrowth, tank the hit, and pick whatever you think will be super effective against the switch, and switch out as you recover health. This set is not meant to take repeated hits, but instead uses tangrowth's decent attacking stats and regenerator to try and chip away at your opponent's health without losing any yourself. Most opponents won't expect this set, so capitalizing on the first few opportunities is paramount.
Earthquake is Tangrowth's most powerful physical move and takes care of many important Pokemon, some of which Tangrowth is suppsoed to counter and some of which like to switch into it, such as Excadrill, Heatran, Mega Char X, Lucario, and Aegislash. On the last slot, all three moves are viable choices, although it can be detrimental having three physical moves on Tangrowth, as it oftens ends up getting burnt by water-types. Hidden Power Ice covers Garchomp, Zygarde, Landorus-T, Landorus, Dragonite, and Gliscor, all Pokemon that Tangrowth can check or wall, while Hidden Power Fire covers Ferrothorn, Scizor, Genesect, Forretress, Skarmory, and both Hidden Power 2HKO Breloom. Lastly, Rock Slide takes care of Volcarona, Talonflame, Thundurus, Thundurus-T, regular Gyarados, regular Charizard and Mega Charizard Y, and deals respectable damage to Togekiss.
Other Options
Infestation can be used, but most things that tangrowth wants to trap aren't staying in anyway, making it generally inferior to leech seed. Rock Slide destroys Talonflame, doing 90.8 - 107.2% to the standard 80 HP set. Bulldoze is gimmicky, but can set up a teammate to come in if used properly, although Tangrowth won't be outspeeding much itself even with an opponent at -1. Tangrowth gets chlorophyll and growth, but still isn't very fast and is outsped by most common scarfers even with the boosts. A double powder set with sleep powder and stun spore is usable, but struggles for coverage offensively. Tangrowth can set reflect, but usually prefers to put things to sleep in a support role.
Checks and Counters
Venusaur is the number one counter, especially Mega Venusaur; it can take anything Tangrowth wants to do and destroy it with sludge bomb. Tangrowth doesn't have great special defense, and powerful super effective attacks will down it quickly. Because most Tangrowth will run knock off, any pokemon with a mega stone makes a good switch in. If (mega stone) lucario with justified predicts knock off, it can come in and nab a boost, with Close Combat dealing 71.2 - 84.1%, meaning Tangrowth must be at full health to deal with it. Grass pokemon and overcoat users are immune to sleep, making pokemon like Mandibuzz safe switch ins, although grass types must watch out for sludge bomb. Unless tangrowth runs rock slide, talonflame is safe switch, and retaliates with dual STABS of 48 - 56.9% and 71.7 - 85.1% (choice band) in flare blitz and brave bird. Everything switching in must be aware of knock off, as things like the aforementioned talonflame hate losing their choice band. Sap Sipper Goodra gets a special mention, gaining a boost from tangrowth's STAB and walling anything it wants to do. Tangrowth is vulernable to all entry hazards, and getting them up shortens his lifespan and limits regenerators usefulness.
*Major credit for the Assault Vest set goes to AlexWolf*
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