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[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Scald / Toxic
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Clear Smog
move 4: Recover
item: Leftovers
ability: Storm Drain
nature: Sassy
evs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Gastrodon is a formidable specially defensive wall on bulkier teams, sporting an amazing defensive typing and good bulk, allowing it to safely check Electric- and Fire-types such as Tapu Koko, Magnezone, and Heatran. A stellar ability in Storm Drain further lets it check the likes of Ash-Greninja and Manaphy lacking Energy Ball. However, it tends to get worn down and overpowered with constant offensive pressure, status effects, and entry hazards. Scald lets Gastrodon threaten physical attackers such as Landorus-T, Mega Swampert, Rillaboom, Garchomp, and Kartana with burn. Alternatively, Toxic puts its switch-ins such as Tangrowth, Kommo-o, and Kyurem on a timer. Earthquake lets Gastrodon nail specially defensive Heatran, as well as hitting the numerous Electric-types that it checks, such as Magnezone, Tapu Koko, and Zeraora. Clear Smog prevents Calm Mind Tapu Fini and Clefable from using it as setup fodder, as well as letting it check Manaphy lacking Energy Ball. Leftovers means Gastrodon doesn't get worn down as quickly.
Gastrodon fits best on bulkier balance or stall teams that appreciate it checking the likes of Manaphy, Ash-Greninja, and Clefable. Corviknight, Mega Scizor, and Mega Latias are stellar to take the strong Grass-type attacks directed at Gastrodon from the likes of Rillaboom and Kartana, and it can switch into Fire- and Electric-type moves such as Tapu Koko’s Thunderbolt and Heatran’s Magma Storm for the first two. Due to Gastrodon's vulnerability to Toxic, Pokemon such as Chansey and Clefable that can absorb and/or remove status effects work well with it. Gastrodon’s low Defense lets the likes of Mega Medicham, Mega Mawile, and Mega Lopunny easily pressure it, so teammates such as Skarmory, Corviknight and Clefable are great partners. Special attackers with super effective coverage such as Mega Charizard Y, Kyurem, and Protean Greninja can break past Gastrodon, so checks to these such as Chansey and Blissey are good partners. Good entry hazard control from Pokemon such as Mega Sableye and Corviknight is phenomenal, making it harder to wear down.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Heavy-Duty Boots (added hyphen) can be used over Leftovers so that Gastrodon can be paired with more lenient weaker entry hazard control, but without the passive recovery, (AC) Gastrodon often tends to get into a constant cycle of recovering every time it comes in. Earth Power can be used on teams that use Rillaboom or Tapu Bulu for a harder hit under terrain, but its in Grassy Terrain, but it's generally not preferred due to not hitting Heatran as hard.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types and Grass-type Coverage**: Due to Gastrodon’s crippling weakness to Grass, defensive Grass-types such as Tangrowth, Amoonguss, Tapu Bulu, and Ferrothorn can consistently pivot into it and force it out, healing off any damage that Gastrodon has dealt. Offensive Grass-types such as Serperior, Kartana, and Rillaboom all force out Gastrodon with their STAB attacks, but the latter two fear a Scald burn and therefore struggle to switch in consistently. Coverage moves such as Solar Beam from Mega Charizard Y and Energy Ball from Manaphy completely demolish Gastrodon as well.
**Residual Damage**: Due to its vulnerability to status and entry hazards, Gastrodon gets worn down incredibly quickly throughout the match, often getting easily overpowered in the long term by the Pokemon it would normally check.
**Physical Wallbreakers**: Due to its mediocre physical bulk, strong physical wallbreakers such as Mega Medicham and Mega Mawile can overpower Gastrodon extremely quickly, but all fear a Scald burn, so they have to be careful when switching in.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[adem, 529732]]
- Quality checked by: [[The Dragon Master, 521275], [pannuracotta, 517892]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Scald / Toxic
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Clear Smog
move 4: Recover
item: Leftovers
ability: Storm Drain
nature: Sassy
evs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Gastrodon is a formidable specially defensive wall on bulkier teams, sporting an amazing defensive typing and good bulk, allowing it to safely check Electric- and Fire-types such as Tapu Koko, Magnezone, and Heatran. A stellar ability in Storm Drain further lets it check the likes of Ash-Greninja and Manaphy lacking Energy Ball. However, it tends to get worn down and overpowered with constant offensive pressure, status effects, and entry hazards. Scald lets Gastrodon threaten physical attackers such as Landorus-T, Mega Swampert, Rillaboom, Garchomp, and Kartana with burn. Alternatively, Toxic puts its switch-ins such as Tangrowth, Kommo-o, and Kyurem on a timer. Earthquake lets Gastrodon nail specially defensive Heatran, as well as hitting the numerous Electric-types that it checks, such as Magnezone, Tapu Koko, and Zeraora. Clear Smog prevents Calm Mind Tapu Fini and Clefable from using it as setup fodder, as well as letting it check Manaphy lacking Energy Ball. Leftovers means Gastrodon doesn't get worn down as quickly.
Gastrodon fits best on bulkier balance or stall teams that appreciate it checking the likes of Manaphy, Ash-Greninja, and Clefable. Corviknight, Mega Scizor, and Mega Latias are stellar to take the strong Grass-type attacks directed at Gastrodon from the likes of Rillaboom and Kartana, and it can switch into Fire- and Electric-type moves such as Tapu Koko’s Thunderbolt and Heatran’s Magma Storm for the first two. Due to Gastrodon's vulnerability to Toxic, Pokemon such as Chansey and Clefable that can absorb and/or remove status effects work well with it. Gastrodon’s low Defense lets the likes of Mega Medicham, Mega Mawile, and Mega Lopunny easily pressure it, so teammates such as Skarmory, Corviknight and Clefable are great partners. Special attackers with super effective coverage such as Mega Charizard Y, Kyurem, and Protean Greninja can break past Gastrodon, so checks to these such as Chansey and Blissey are good partners. Good entry hazard control from Pokemon such as Mega Sableye and Corviknight is phenomenal, making it harder to wear down.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Heavy-Duty Boots (added hyphen) can be used over Leftovers so that Gastrodon can be paired with more lenient weaker entry hazard control, but without the passive recovery, (AC) Gastrodon often tends to get into a constant cycle of recovering every time it comes in. Earth Power can be used on teams that use Rillaboom or Tapu Bulu for a harder hit under terrain, but its in Grassy Terrain, but it's generally not preferred due to not hitting Heatran as hard.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types and Grass-type Coverage**: Due to Gastrodon’s crippling weakness to Grass, defensive Grass-types such as Tangrowth, Amoonguss, Tapu Bulu, and Ferrothorn can consistently pivot into it and force it out, healing off any damage that Gastrodon has dealt. Offensive Grass-types such as Serperior, Kartana, and Rillaboom all force out Gastrodon with their STAB attacks, but the latter two fear a Scald burn and therefore struggle to switch in consistently. Coverage moves such as Solar Beam from Mega Charizard Y and Energy Ball from Manaphy completely demolish Gastrodon as well.
**Residual Damage**: Due to its vulnerability to status and entry hazards, Gastrodon gets worn down incredibly quickly throughout the match, often getting easily overpowered in the long term by the Pokemon it would normally check.
**Physical Wallbreakers**: Due to its mediocre physical bulk, strong physical wallbreakers such as Mega Medicham and Mega Mawile can overpower Gastrodon extremely quickly, but all fear a Scald burn, so they have to be careful when switching in.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[adem, 529732]]
- Quality checked by: [[The Dragon Master, 521275], [pannuracotta, 517892]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
Last edited: