[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Circle Throw
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Rest
move 4: Sleep Talk
item: Leftovers
ability: Guts
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Defensive Throh is one of the best and most metagame-defining Pokemon in PU, capable of performing multiple key roles for a team. High HP and great bulk combined with Rest make Throh very difficult for teams to wear down and take out while also allowing it to keep threats like Glaceon and Raichu firmly in check. Furthermore, thanks to Guts, Throh can absorb debilitating status conditions for its teammates and simultaneously augment its offensive presence, both of which are especially helpful against threats like Lilligant, which it can also phaze using Circle Throw. Properly punishing Throh can be difficult, since Circle Throw and Knock Off are highly disruptive moves that are incredibly good at chipping away at teams, particularly if entry hazards are up or if Guts is activated. A physically defensive EV spread with an Impish nature can instead be used to give Throh an easier matchup against foes Alolan Dugtrio, Drednaw, and Morpeko. Running Toxic instead of Circle Throw lets Throh take care of Drifblim and defensive Gourgeist-XL. Rocky Helmet is a viable alternative to Leftovers, forcing physical attackers like Klinklang and Silvally-Rock to take chip damage whenever they contact with it and giving them a harder time breaking.
Throh fits best on bulky offense and balance teams, since they make the best use of its defensive characteristics and appreciate Throh staving off threats to the playstyles. Spikes pair well with Throh, since they increase the residual damage being spread across entire teams and make Circle Throw harder to switch into. Alongside setting Spikes, Sandslash can use Rapid Spin to give Throh an easier time switching in, while Roselia handles special attackers capable of overwhelming Throh, such as Appletun. Both examples can also potentially annoy counters to Throh like Gourgeist-XL and Drifblim with either poison or Sleep Powder, respectively, which gives them a harder time taking it on. In return, Throh deals with threatening attackers like Golduck and Glaceon. Psychic-, Fairy-, and Flying-types like Mr. Rime, Galarian Rapidash, offensive Mawile, and Unfezant are good at pressuring Throh, mandating that it be paired with responses to them such as Klinklang, Type: Null, Tangela, and Stunfisk. These examples are notably reliant on their item for bulk or longevity, and they appreciate Throh coming to their aid against Knock Off users like Pawniard. Throh can't do much to Ghost-types, so it should paired with wallbreakers that threaten them such as Morpeko and Gourgeist.
[SET]
name: Guts Wallbreaker
move 1: Superpower / Storm Throw
move 2: Facade / Earthquake
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Poison Jab
item: Flame Orb
ability: Guts
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
When equipped with Flame Orb, Throh can immediately increase its already good Attack thanks to Guts and become one of the tier's strongest and most threatening wallbreakers. Although Throh isn't particularly fast, it outspeeds virtually every defensive Pokemon, which, combined with its amazing coverage options, gives it more opportunities to switch in and wreak havoc against bulkier teams. Throh's bulk being naturally good without investment also prevents it from being deadweight against faster teams, since it can often tank a neutral hit from Pokemon like Morpeko and unboosted Lilligant before KOing them in return. Storm Throw doesn't drop Throh's Attack and Defense, but Superpower is usually better because of its higher Base Power and greater consistency. Facade is a strong and spammable option that doesn't force Throh to be wholly reliant on Superpower for damage output, but Earthquake can be used instead to hit Pokemon like Stunfisk, Mareanie, and Mawile harder. Knock Off targets Ghost- and Psychic-types like Dusknoir and Beheeyem, and it also makes Eviolite users easier to break through by removing their item. Poison Jab threatens Fairy-types such as Galarian Rapidash, Togetic, and Shiinotic, and it also KOes Tangela after Superpower if its Eviolite has been removed.
While Throh can muscle through physical walls like Sandslash, doing so tends to force it to take unnecessary chip damage on top of constant burn damage. Because of this, special wallbreakers such as Mr. Rime, Appletun, and Golduck are useful partners to have. The latter two also provide pivoting support through Eject Pack and Flip Turn, respectively, bringing Throh in against Pokemon like Klinklang, Type: Null, and Lickilicky and potentially giving it a free turn to activate its Flame Orb. Healing Wish users like Hattrem, Galarian Mr. Mime, and Musharna can give Throh another shot at breaking through teams if it gets worn down too quickly. The former two can minimize the damage Throh takes from entry hazards through Magic Bounce and Rapid Spin, while Musharna can use Future Sight to deter opponents from switching into checks like Mareanie as well as overwhelm foes such as Gourgeist-XL and opposing Musharna. A good defensive backbone consisting of Pokemon like Stunfisk, Mawile, and Type: Null is nice to have, providing Throh with a safety net for revenge killers like Unfezant and Galarian Rapidash. Sweepers and cleaners like Lilligant, Klinklang, and Choice Scarf Unfezant benefit from the holes that Throh leaves in teams, since this paves the way for them to finish teams off. In return, these Pokemon can make up for Throh's inconsistent matchup against offense. Lilligant is especially notable, since it sets up on and takes care of foes such as Mareanie and Sandslash so that Throh doesn't have to.
[SET]
name: Substitute + Bulk Up
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Bulk Up
move 3: Storm Throw
move 4: Knock Off
item: Leftovers
ability: Mold Breaker
nature: Adamant
evs: 144 HP / 156 Atk / 28 Def / 56 SpD / 124 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Throh uses its impressive defensive attributes and access to Bulk Up to function as a bulky setup sweeper that can be very difficult for teams to consistently handle. Balance and stall especially struggle against this set, since, in the process of trying to break its Substitute, staples like Stunfisk and Lickilicky often give Throh multiple turns to freely set up and become gradually more difficult to revenge kill. Mold Breaker allowing Throh to circumvent Pyukumuku's Unaware further limits defensive counterplay while also differentiating it from other setup sweepers. Alongside being reliable and decently strong, Storm Throw always results in a critical hit, meaning Throh can potentially beat Defense-boosting setup sweepers like opposing Throh, as well as Dubwool and Type: Null thanks to Mold Breaker. 28 Defense EVs combined the HP investment prevent Throh's Substitute from being broken by Type: Null's Crush Claw, and 56 Special Defense EVs alongside the HP investments prevent Throh's Substitute from being broken by Stunfisk and non-Growth Tangela. 124 Speed EVs enable Throh to outspeed Tangela and Type: Null, which means it can use Substitute and avoid taking a Knock Off or being badly poisoned by Toxic.
Toxic Spikes support from Pokemon like Mareanie and Roselia is extremely valuable, since it makes getting past Pokemon like Gourgeist-XL and Musharna easier for Throh. Mareanie and Roselia also absorb Toxic Spikes upon switching in, which extends Throh's longevity and gives it more chances to switch in and set up, and they can check Pokemon that have the ability to overwhelm Throh, such as Klinklang and Lilligant. Strong wallbreakers like Mr. Rime and Choice Specs Lilligant are nice partners to have because of how good they are at softening teams up and compensating for Throh's low damage output prior to setting up. Pivots such as Type: Null, Unfezant, and Manectric give Throh an easier time switching in, and in return, it can exploit the defensive Pokemon that these pivots tend to lure in, like Klinklang and Stunfisk. Healing Wish support from Pokemon like Musharna and Galarian Mr. Mime can provide Throh with another opportunity to set up and break if it gets weakened too soon, which allows for it to play more recklessly early-game.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[asa, 400292]]
- Quality checked by: [[gum, 434150], [username2, userid2]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1]]
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