[OVERVIEW]
Eldegoss's solid utility options give it a small niche as a defensive Pokemon that provides valuable role compression in entry hazard removal, cleric, and pivot. It's a solid spinner because it matches up well against common Stealth Rock setters like Mudsdale and Aerodactyl. Its typing alongside passable natural bulk means it can check offensive threats like Silvally-Ground, Heliolisk, and non-Ice Beam Starmie as well as switch into common bulky Water-types like Vaporeon, Gastrodon, and Quagsire. However, its shallow offensive movepool and lack of damage output make it a sitting duck most of the time; it gives free entry to common threats like Salazzle, Alolan Exeggutor, and Talonflame, and it also can't threaten spinblockers like Dhelmise and Decidueye. Eldegoss is also outclassed by other Grass-types such as Rotom-C, Tsareena, and Vileplume, which can do one of the few things Eldegoss can but better, as well as possessing more offensive presence and relevant support options.
[SET]
name: Defensive Utility
move 1: Giga Drain / Leaf Storm
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Aromatherapy / Pollen Puff
move 4: Leech Seed / Synthesis / Sleep Powder
item: Heavy-Duty Boots / Eject Pack
ability: Regenerator
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 224 Def / 16 SpD / 16 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Giga Drain provides Eldegoss with valuable recovery, but Leaf Storm can be used in conjunction with Eject Pack to let Eldegoss be a one-time reliable pivot to safely bring in a teammate, which works exceptionally well with Regenerator. Moreover, after the item's consumption, it can check Poltergeist and Knock Off users like Golurk and Guzzlord more reliably. Leaf Storm also nets a guaranteed OHKO against Gastrodon, Starmie, and Inteleon. If another cleric is present on the team, Pollen Puff is an alternative option to threaten Grass-types like Rotom-C, Alolan Exeggutor, and Tsareena that would otherwise wall Eldegoss completely. A recovery move in Leech Seed has the added benefit of chipping down switch-ins like Salazzle, Talonflame, and Escavalier and lets Eldegoss go toe-to-toe with Stealth Rock setters like Copperajah and Stakataka, while Synthesis gives it an instant healing option. Sleep Powder can be used to punish switch-ins looking to take advantage of Eldegoss's passivity and potentially gives it opportunities to switch in later on in the battle, which compensates for its lack of a recovery move. Heavy-Duty Boots lets it act as a more reliable pivot and spinner by preventing it from being overwhelmed by entry hazards. The EVs let it outspeed Adamant Copperajah and give it more Special Defense, with everything else dumped into Defense to check Silvally-Ground better.
Due to its valuable defensive presence, utility options, and role compression, Eldegoss fits nicely in balance and stall teams, the latter of which can also tolerate its lack of offensive presence. Other defensive staples like Talonflame, Mantine, and Guzzlord make for great teammates, as they can cover its defensive shortcomings; Talonflame checks Tauros and Gallade, Mantine deals with Alolan Exeggutor and Salazzle, and Guzzlord helps against Decidueye and Rotom-C. In return, Talonflame and Mantine appreciate Eldegoss removing Stealth Rock as they tend to have their Heavy-Duty Boots removed by foes like Escavalier and Gallade. It also checks bulky Water-types like Vaporeon, Gastrodon, and Quagsire and reliably switches into Swords Dance Silvally-Ground. Aromatherapy also removes stray poison from Toxic that they often catch and wakes up Guzzlord from Rest. With Eldegoss as a spinner, Talonflame and Mantine can forgo Defog for other utility moves or form a strong entry hazard removal core with it to support Stealth Rock-weak teammates like Life Orb Aerodactyl and Choice Band Sneasel.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Rocky Helmet can be used to punish physical attackers like Silvally-Ground, Tsareena, Copperajah, and Stakataka, the latter two of which are common Stealth Rock setters that would otherwise beat Eldegoss one-on-one. Stun Spore permanently incapacitates Eldegoss's foes and, similar to Sleep Powder, prevents them from freely switching into Eldegoss; however, it can't afford to drop any of its moves.
Checks and Counters
====
**Grass-types**: Alolan Exeggutor, Vileplume, Decidueye, and Dhelmise can switch in and comfortably take any of Eldegoss's attacks, block its Leech Seed and powder moves, and use it as an opportunity to wallbreak. In addition, Decidueye and Dhelmise can spinblock Eldegoss. Alolan Exeggutor can be threatened with Pollen Puff, though.
**Flying-types**: Talonflame, Mantine, and Galarian Articuno can threaten Eldegoss out with their super effective STAB attacks and heal off any damage from it with their recovery move.
**Poison-types**: Drapion, Garbodor, Weezing, and Salazzle don't mind any of Eldegoss's attacks and can pressure it with their STAB attacks. Garbodor is especially problematic, since it's an entry hazard setter that Eldegoss will always lose to one-on-one.
**Strong Wallbreakers**: Choice item users like Exploud and Passimian can repeatedly use their strong STAB moves to overwhelm Eldegoss, as it's unable to threaten them in return.
**Setup Sweepers**: Due to Eldegoss's general passivity, Pokemon like Swords Dance Gallade and Escavalier, Calm Mind Sylveon, Nasty Plot Toxicroak, and CurseLax can easily use it as setup fodder.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[royalfluxh, 493260]]
- Quality checked by: [[Rabia, 336073], [Togkey, 400664]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Rabia, 336073]]
Eldegoss's solid utility options give it a small niche as a defensive Pokemon that provides valuable role compression in entry hazard removal, cleric, and pivot. It's a solid spinner because it matches up well against common Stealth Rock setters like Mudsdale and Aerodactyl. Its typing alongside passable natural bulk means it can check offensive threats like Silvally-Ground, Heliolisk, and non-Ice Beam Starmie as well as switch into common bulky Water-types like Vaporeon, Gastrodon, and Quagsire. However, its shallow offensive movepool and lack of damage output make it a sitting duck most of the time; it gives free entry to common threats like Salazzle, Alolan Exeggutor, and Talonflame, and it also can't threaten spinblockers like Dhelmise and Decidueye. Eldegoss is also outclassed by other Grass-types such as Rotom-C, Tsareena, and Vileplume, which can do one of the few things Eldegoss can but better, as well as possessing more offensive presence and relevant support options.
[SET]
name: Defensive Utility
move 1: Giga Drain / Leaf Storm
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Aromatherapy / Pollen Puff
move 4: Leech Seed / Synthesis / Sleep Powder
item: Heavy-Duty Boots / Eject Pack
ability: Regenerator
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 224 Def / 16 SpD / 16 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Giga Drain provides Eldegoss with valuable recovery, but Leaf Storm can be used in conjunction with Eject Pack to let Eldegoss be a one-time reliable pivot to safely bring in a teammate, which works exceptionally well with Regenerator. Moreover, after the item's consumption, it can check Poltergeist and Knock Off users like Golurk and Guzzlord more reliably. Leaf Storm also nets a guaranteed OHKO against Gastrodon, Starmie, and Inteleon. If another cleric is present on the team, Pollen Puff is an alternative option to threaten Grass-types like Rotom-C, Alolan Exeggutor, and Tsareena that would otherwise wall Eldegoss completely. A recovery move in Leech Seed has the added benefit of chipping down switch-ins like Salazzle, Talonflame, and Escavalier and lets Eldegoss go toe-to-toe with Stealth Rock setters like Copperajah and Stakataka, while Synthesis gives it an instant healing option. Sleep Powder can be used to punish switch-ins looking to take advantage of Eldegoss's passivity and potentially gives it opportunities to switch in later on in the battle, which compensates for its lack of a recovery move. Heavy-Duty Boots lets it act as a more reliable pivot and spinner by preventing it from being overwhelmed by entry hazards. The EVs let it outspeed Adamant Copperajah and give it more Special Defense, with everything else dumped into Defense to check Silvally-Ground better.
Due to its valuable defensive presence, utility options, and role compression, Eldegoss fits nicely in balance and stall teams, the latter of which can also tolerate its lack of offensive presence. Other defensive staples like Talonflame, Mantine, and Guzzlord make for great teammates, as they can cover its defensive shortcomings; Talonflame checks Tauros and Gallade, Mantine deals with Alolan Exeggutor and Salazzle, and Guzzlord helps against Decidueye and Rotom-C. In return, Talonflame and Mantine appreciate Eldegoss removing Stealth Rock as they tend to have their Heavy-Duty Boots removed by foes like Escavalier and Gallade. It also checks bulky Water-types like Vaporeon, Gastrodon, and Quagsire and reliably switches into Swords Dance Silvally-Ground. Aromatherapy also removes stray poison from Toxic that they often catch and wakes up Guzzlord from Rest. With Eldegoss as a spinner, Talonflame and Mantine can forgo Defog for other utility moves or form a strong entry hazard removal core with it to support Stealth Rock-weak teammates like Life Orb Aerodactyl and Choice Band Sneasel.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Rocky Helmet can be used to punish physical attackers like Silvally-Ground, Tsareena, Copperajah, and Stakataka, the latter two of which are common Stealth Rock setters that would otherwise beat Eldegoss one-on-one. Stun Spore permanently incapacitates Eldegoss's foes and, similar to Sleep Powder, prevents them from freely switching into Eldegoss; however, it can't afford to drop any of its moves.
Checks and Counters
====
**Grass-types**: Alolan Exeggutor, Vileplume, Decidueye, and Dhelmise can switch in and comfortably take any of Eldegoss's attacks, block its Leech Seed and powder moves, and use it as an opportunity to wallbreak. In addition, Decidueye and Dhelmise can spinblock Eldegoss. Alolan Exeggutor can be threatened with Pollen Puff, though.
**Flying-types**: Talonflame, Mantine, and Galarian Articuno can threaten Eldegoss out with their super effective STAB attacks and heal off any damage from it with their recovery move.
**Poison-types**: Drapion, Garbodor, Weezing, and Salazzle don't mind any of Eldegoss's attacks and can pressure it with their STAB attacks. Garbodor is especially problematic, since it's an entry hazard setter that Eldegoss will always lose to one-on-one.
**Strong Wallbreakers**: Choice item users like Exploud and Passimian can repeatedly use their strong STAB moves to overwhelm Eldegoss, as it's unable to threaten them in return.
**Setup Sweepers**: Due to Eldegoss's general passivity, Pokemon like Swords Dance Gallade and Escavalier, Calm Mind Sylveon, Nasty Plot Toxicroak, and CurseLax can easily use it as setup fodder.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[royalfluxh, 493260]]
- Quality checked by: [[Rabia, 336073], [Togkey, 400664]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Rabia, 336073]]
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