[OVERVIEW]
* Tangrowth's useful defensive typing gives it a resistance to common offensive types in Ground, Water, and Electric.
* Very good physical bulk lets it check Pokemon such as Zygarde, Excadrill, Mega Metagross, Landorus-T lacking Supersonic Skystrike, and Garchomp lacking Fire Blast.
* Regenerator is an amazing ability that lets it switch into foes repeatedly.
* It has a good utility movepool with Knock Off, Sleep Power, and Leech Seed.
* It also has access to decent offensive coverage with Earthquake, Hidden Power, Rock Slide, and Sludge Bomb, as well as decent offensive stats.
* However, it has crippling weaknesses to Ice, Fire, and Flying.
* Its special bulk is lacking, although Assault Vest remedies this problem.
* It somewhat suffers from being passive, especially if a Pokemon is already put to sleep.
* It can check many notable threats in the SM OU metagame, such as Tapu Koko, Tapu Bulu, and Zygarde.
[SET]
name: Assault Vest
move 1: Giga Drain
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Fire / Sludge Bomb
item: Assault Vest
ability: Regenerator
nature: Sassy
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Giga Drain is a decently strong STAB move with no drawbacks that has the ability to sap some HP from the foe.
* Knock Off is a must on this set, since its ability to remove items can severely cripple Pokemon such as Celesteela, Tornadus-T, and Kyurem-B that would otherwise switch in on it freely.
* Earthquake lets Tangrowth hit Heatran and Mega Charizard X, which otherwise shut it down completely.
* Hidden Power Ice lets Tangrowth better deal with Ground-types such as Zygarde, Landorus-T, and Garchomp.
* Hidden Power Fire hits various Steel-types and Grass-types such as Ferrothorn, Scizor, Tapu Bulu, and Skarmory.
* Finally, Sludge Bomb is Tangrowth's best option against Tapu Bulu and Tapu Koko.
* Leaf Storm is a strong STAB move that guarantees an OHKO on Manaphy. While the Special Attack drop is crippling, it doesn't prevent Tangrowth from being able to make use of Knock Off or Earthquake, and Tangrowth is meant to repeatedly switch in and out regardless.
* Rock Slide can also be used to hit Tornadus-T and Mega Charizard Y while also hitting Mega Charizard X for decent damage.
Set Details
========
* An Assault Vest lets Tangrowth take powerful special hits such as +3 Ice Beam from Manaphy, Latios's Draco Meteor, and Mega Alakazam's Psychic.
* Tangrowth's Special Defense is maximized in order for it to take special hits even better, and its natural physical bulk makes investment in Defense unnecessary.
* Regenerator is a given on this set; it makes Tangrowth far more durable by giving it a large amount of recovery every time it switches out.
* A Sassy nature is used because Tangrowth uses both physical and special attacks, and its Speed stat is mostly irrelevant given how low it is naturally.
* Alternatively, a Relaxed nature gives Tangrowth a buffer against the likes of Garchomp, Tapu Bulu, and non-Fly Landorus-T.
Usage Tips
========
* Use Tangrowth as a pivot, sending it in on the Pokemon it walls, such as Tapu Koko, Rotom-W, Serperior, Keldeo, and Manaphy, and switching out very shortly afterwards.
* Tangrowth can take powerful special hits like Latios's Draco Meteor; however, keep in mind that it needs to immediately switch out in order to keep healthy.
* Switch in and out as much as possible in order to rack up Regenerator recovery. Even when Tangrowth is at low health, it can still get back to a good amount if it keeps switching in and out of weak moves.
* Knock Off should be used early on in the battle in order to remove items. However, if you know your opponent's main Tangrowth answer can't get its item knocked off, try to play around it with your coverage.
* Be wary when using Leaf Storm, since the Special Attack drop will render Tangrowth unable to deal noticeable special damage.
* Avoid Knock Off, since losing Assault Vest will severely decrease the number of threats Tangrowth can switch into.
Team Options
========
* This set fits very well on bulky teams that require a reliable and consistent check to special attackers, particularly Water-types, that can also provide Knock Off support.
* It's a good idea to pair Tangrowth with another Regenerator user such as Slowbro or Tornadus-T in order to form a Regenerator core. Toxapex is particularly good, since it resists all of Tangrowth's weaknesses bar Flying and can use Haze to cripple sweepers that set up on Tangrowth.
* Tangrowth is very vulnerable to Poison-types such as Mega Venusaur and Amoonguss, so a check to these, like Latios, would work very well as a partner.
* Additionally, Fire-types like Heatran and Mega Charizard X threaten Tangrowth massively, so a Ground-type like Hippowdon or a Rock-type like Tyranitar also makes for a good teammate.
* Water-types like Suicune and Rotom pair up well with Tangrowth too, since they resist Fire and Ice and can often shrug off Flying-type moves, and in return, Tangrowth takes care of Electric- and Grass-types.
* Tangrowth has trouble breaking past certain walls, so it appreciates the support of a stallbreaker. Heatran is particularly good, since it resists all five of Tangrowth's weaknesses, and in return, Tangrowth takes on Water- and Ground-types.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Sleep Powder
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Fire / Leech Seed
item: Rocky Helmet / Leftovers
ability: Regenerator
nature: Relaxed
evs: 248 HP / 212 Def / 48 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Sleep Powder is fantastic utility, crippling almost any Pokemon that may switch into Tangrowth.
* Giga Drain is Tangrowth's main STAB attack; it's a decently strong move that also gives it health back, increasing its longevity.
* Knock Off is very important on this set for crippling opposing Pokemon, providing even more team support and preventing certain Pokemon such as Latios from easily disposing of Tangrowth.
* Hidden Power Ice ensures that Tangrowth isn't setup fodder for SubCoil Zygarde and nails Garchomp and Landorus-T as well.
* Alternatively, Hidden Power Fire is Tangrowth's best option against Steel-types in general, notably Ferrothorn.
* However, Leech Seed can also be used for the passive recovery and additional team support.
* Stun Spore is a final option that can cripple setup sweepers and faster Pokemon even after Sleep Clause is broken, and it has the advantage of being more permanent than Sleep Powder.
Set Details
========
* The given EVs give Tangrowth as much physical bulk as possible while also letting it avoid the 2HKO from Tapu Koko's Magnet-boosted Thunderbolt after Stealth Rock damage, provided it's using Leftovers.
* A Relaxed nature is used in order for all of Tangrowth's moves to hit decently hard without weakening it overall bulk.
* Rocky Helmet is great on this set, since it punishes U-turn users such as Landorus-T as well as physical attackers like Mega Metagross and Garchomp.
* Leftovers lets Tangrowth have additional recovery if the passive damage is not needed and Tangrowth would rather have a buffer against all attacks.
* Regenerator is by far Tangrowth's best ability, since it gives it recovery every time it switches out, thus making it very durable.
Usage Tips
========
* Tangrowth should be exclusively sent in on physical attackers such as Landorus-T, Tapu Bulu, Excadrill, and Azumarill.
* Try to keep Tangrowth healthy throughout the battle by constantly switching in and out.
* You should usually use Sleep Power early on in the battle in order to severely cripple something.
* However, if the opponent has a Venusaur, an Amoonguss, or their own Tangrowth, try to get rid of it before using Sleep Powder.
* You may also want to refrain from using Sleep Power if you spot a dangerous sweeper that may want to set up on Tangrowth such as Mega Charizard X or Shift Gear Magearna so that you can put it to sleep if it does.
* Knock Off is the safest move to use, since it's very likely to cripple whatever switches into Tangrowth.
* If the opposing teams main switch-in to Tangrowth can't have its item removed and something on the opposing team has already been put to sleep, you should use Giga Drain most of the time, since it's Tangrowth's most powerful move and gives it a bit of recovery.
* You may use Hidden Power Fire in order to hit Mega Scizor switch-ins, but for the mot part, there is little need to predict.
* Don't be afraid to switch into non-STAB U-turns. Similarly, Tangrowth doesn't mind Knock Offs too much, since Rocky Helmet will deal recoil to the user regardless.
Team Options
========
* Other Regenerator users like Toxapex, Slowbro, and Slowking, can form a good Regenerator core with Tangrowth, giving the team a very good defensive backbone.
* Tangrowth cannot do anything to Mega Venusaur or Amoonguss, so a reliable answer to these two is also needed. Heatran is particularly good, since it covers Tangrowth's weaknesses extremely well and generally speaking handles special attackers that Tangrowth cannot deal with. In return, Tangrowth handle Ground-types and physical attackers that Heatran struggles with.
* Similarly, Alolan Marowak pairs up very well with Tangrowth, and unlike Heatran, it isn't prone to being trapped by Dugtrio.
* Latios also checks Mega Venusaur and Amoonguss while proving a check to Fire-types and can lure Heatran and take it out with Surf or Earthquake; however, it needs to be paired up with a good check to Ice-types.
* Once Sleep Clause is broken, Tangrowth is completely shut down by Fire-types like Heatran, Mega Charizard X, and Mega Charizard Y, so a good check to these such as Nihilego or Hippowdon makes for a good partner. Rock-types in general are good partners for Tangrowth, since they cover most of its weaknesses.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Toxic can be used on the defensive set, but it's hard to fit and Sleep Power is generally a better option, since Steel-types commonly switch in on Tangrowth.
* Focus Blast can cover both Heatran and Ferrothorn in a single moveslot, but its inaccuracy and inability to hit Heatran particularly hard make it a poor choice.
* Synthesis may seem useful on Tangrowth for the recovery, but it eats up a moveslot and isn't needed at all due to Regenerator providing enough recovery.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Flying-types**: Flying-types don't fear anything from Tangrowth besides Sleep Power and the rare Rock Slide. Tornadus-T in particular is a very good check, and thanks to Regenerator, it won't necessarily be worn down by Tangrowth. Specially defensive Gliscor doesn't really fear anything from it, even absorbing Sleep Powder, and can set up on it rather easily; however, it must be wary of using Roost on a Grass move.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types can switch in on most of Tangrowth's moves and retaliate with a super effective STAB attack. Heatran can switch in on anything bar Earthquake and Leech Seed and OHKO even the Assault Vest set with Fire Blast. Mega Charizard X can also check Tangrowth very well, OHKOing both sets with Flare Blitz, while Charizard Y walls any set that doesn't carry Rock Slide and easily OHKOes back. Volcarona can set up on Tangrowth rather easily and KO it with Fire Blast or Bug Buzz.
**Bug-types**: Bug-types serve as pretty good checks to Tangrowth, since they resist its STAB attacks and hit it back super effectively. Buzzwole only fears Sleep Powder and Hidden Power Fire and hit back very hard with Leech Life. Pheromosa can't switch in due to its terrible bulk, but it can significantly threaten the Assault Vest and physically defensive sets with U-turn and Ice Beam, respectively.
**Grass-types**: Grass-types that can take Hidden Power Fire, such as Mega Venusaur, Amoonguss, and opposing Assault Vest Tangrowth, can easily absorb Sleep Power and put Tangrowth in a bad position and, in Venusaur's case, deal massive damage to it.
**Ice-types**: While they can't switch in, Ice-types such as Weavile, Mamoswine, and Kyurem-B pose a massive threat to Tangrowth, since they can outspeed it and deal massive damage to it.
**Defensive Pokemon**: Defensive Pokemon that either cannot get their item knocked off or don't mind losing it and take little damage from Tangrowth's coverage, such as Clefable, Mew, and Reuniclus, can switch into Tangrowth rather easily, although they don't like getting put to sleep.
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