In the fifth generation, Sturdy changed to work as a pseudo Focus Sash.
Here are the Pokémon with Sturdy:
Aggron, Bastiodon, Donphan, Forretress, Golem, Magneton/Magnezone, Probopass, Shuckle, Skarmory, Steelix, Sudowoodo
Dream World: Relicanth, Regirock
5th Gen: Dageki, Iwaparesu, Abagoora, Gigaiasu
I'm not sure how Sturdy will interact with entry hazards. Possibly, it will 'break' the Focus Sash. But lead-wise, it has incredible potential. It's early days yet to try to predict the lead metagame, but let's go:
On the flip side, a lot of these Pokémon are slow and already bulky, so will they be able to use their ability effectively? I think in the case of like, Skarmory (which btw only gets Keen Eye as an alternative, Sturdy is def. better now..), it won't be a matter of using the ability so much as taking advantage of it. The likes of Sudowoodo probably can't stand up to the big boys, but Aggron has a unique niche that may well give it a use in the lead metagame. In the cases of Spikes leads, if the item Aiming Mark is true (lets you hit a Pokémon with a move it's immune to), spin blocking may become impossible, devaluing multiple layers of Spikes. If our Ghost-types are still hit by Rapid Spin, there go all your Spikes, and you have a crippled Skarmory to show for it. Sturdy still lets them take on boosting attackers, though, so if you can get rid of entry hazards (something important to stall anyway), and in this case it would be easy, you can phaze them out while taking an attack that would otherwise KO.
Okay, I'll be straight up here. We don't know the mechanics of this; that's something for our research team in the near future. Does it work more than once? I assume it only works from full health.The Ability "Sturdy", which used to protect against OHKO attacks (Horn Drill, Fissure, etc.) now negates efforts to OHKO the Pokémon with any move, albeit leaving it with 1 HP.
Here are the Pokémon with Sturdy:
Aggron, Bastiodon, Donphan, Forretress, Golem, Magneton/Magnezone, Probopass, Shuckle, Skarmory, Steelix, Sudowoodo
Dream World: Relicanth, Regirock
5th Gen: Dageki, Iwaparesu, Abagoora, Gigaiasu
I'm not sure how Sturdy will interact with entry hazards. Possibly, it will 'break' the Focus Sash. But lead-wise, it has incredible potential. It's early days yet to try to predict the lead metagame, but let's go:
- Skarmory can get guaranteed layer of Spikes, two if it's faster. It can run Lum, Leftovers, or Shed Shell alongside Sturdy to stop sleep, provide healing against non-OHKOing leads, or screw over Magnet Pull Pokémon. Perhaps if it Roosts up while the opponent switches to something that can OHKO Skarmory, Sturdy will work again, letting it get another layer of Spikes against the dangerous foe.
- Donphan and Forretress can Rapid Spin against strong attackers with super effective special hits. In Skarmory's vein, Forry as a lead will become even more effective. Donphan gets Ice Shard, letting it finish off faster, stronger Pokémon who are hit hard by its strong EQ.
- Magnezone will probably prefer Magnet Pull, but there's a niche for a bluffing set (although if you're anything like me, you always check for Arena Trap against Dugtrio, etc.) against Pokémon that OHKO, such as Metagross.
- Steelix, Sudowoodo, and Regirock can all get up Stealth Rock and Explode/Selfdestruct, possibly making decent leads. However, unlike 4th gen's suicide leads (Azelf comes to mind), they may be too slow to pull off an Explosion on the second turn. Gigaiasu is in the same boat, as we've confirmed it gets Explosion.
- Relicanth's main uses, rain dance offense or ridiculously powerful non-recoil Head Smashes, will still hold true, especially with the Dream World abilities making rain more prevalent in OU, so it probably won't go with Sturdy. Our new bulky Water/Rock, Abagoora, gets Solid Rock and has great defensive stats, so I think it'll use that instead, though it gives it a chance against Grass-types.
- Dageki gets a host of cool abilities: Mold Breaker (Dream World), Inner Focus, and, of course, Sturdy. Which one it uses if it's used as a lead (since I think Inner Focus and MB will help it more as an offensive Pokémon) depends on its full movepool. It depends on TMs imo.
- One of Aggron's abilities is also Sturdy, and it gets the rare and awesome move Metal Burst, which allows it to take any damaging attack and deal 150% of it back (kind of like Mirror Coat / Counter, but weaker and works for both physical and special attacks). That gives it some universal surprise kills. That's some utility!
- Custap Berry! Though thwarted by priority, Custap Berry would make even the slower Pokémon able to function as suicide leads, setting up on the first turn while taking a heavy hit, then Custap Berry activates and you go kaboom. In the case of Skarmory, you could guaranteed get two layers of Spikes against a number of Pokémon.
On the flip side, a lot of these Pokémon are slow and already bulky, so will they be able to use their ability effectively? I think in the case of like, Skarmory (which btw only gets Keen Eye as an alternative, Sturdy is def. better now..), it won't be a matter of using the ability so much as taking advantage of it. The likes of Sudowoodo probably can't stand up to the big boys, but Aggron has a unique niche that may well give it a use in the lead metagame. In the cases of Spikes leads, if the item Aiming Mark is true (lets you hit a Pokémon with a move it's immune to), spin blocking may become impossible, devaluing multiple layers of Spikes. If our Ghost-types are still hit by Rapid Spin, there go all your Spikes, and you have a crippled Skarmory to show for it. Sturdy still lets them take on boosting attackers, though, so if you can get rid of entry hazards (something important to stall anyway), and in this case it would be easy, you can phaze them out while taking an attack that would otherwise KO.