[OVERVIEW]
Gastrodon holds a miniscule niche in DOU for its ability in Storm Drain, which allows it to redirect strong Water-type moves like Urshifu-R's Surging Strikes and Volcanion's Steam Eruption away from vulnerable teammates. Additionally, its typing and special bulk allow it to switch into strong Fire-type moves, such as Heatran's Eruption, and counterattack with moves such as Earth Power and Ice Beam. However, Gastrodon's typing makes it extremely vulnerable to Rillaboom's Grassy Glide. Additionally, Gastrodon is also fairly passive and has difficulty making a long-term impact on the game. Its effectiveness is also undermined by a lack of physical bulk, which also somewhat neuters its ability to counter physical Water-types that have neutral coverage. Gastrodon works best when paired with Pokemon that can take advantage of its ability to redirect Water-type moves. Diancie can gain some safety to set up Trick Room, while Fire types like Incineroar and Heatran also appreciate Gastrodon's ability to shut down threatening Water-type attackers. However, Gastrodon's 4x weakness to Grassy Glide means that it requires teammates that can switch into Rillaboom like Incineroar and Genesect. All in all, Gastrodon is overall a suboptimal pick that struggles to meaningfully benefit a team more than other options. Its weakness to some of the most potent Pokemon in the metagame means that facing a hard counter is extremely likely, and it doesn't provide enough utility for it to be worth it.
[SET]
name: Bulky Storm Drain
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Earth Power
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Recover
item: Sitrus Berry
ability: Storm Drain
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 92 SpA / 76 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
* Ice Beam OHKOes significant threats like Landorus and Zygarde, while Earth Power provides super effective damage against Incineroar and Heatran.
* Toxic wears down bulkier Pokemon that Gastrodon is unable to deal significant damage to, such as Porygon2. This combined with Recover allows Gastrodon to potentially outlast and wear out opposing threats that can't make it past its special bulk.
* Storm Drain is the main reason to use Gastrodon, redirecting moves like Urshifu-R's Surging Strikes and Volcanion's Steam Eruption away from vulnerable teammates.
* The Special Attack Investment allows Gastrodon to OHKO significant threats such as Zygarde and Landorus, while the HP and Special Defense EVs plus Sitrus Berry enable Gastrodon to avoid the 2HKO from Landorus's Earth Power.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Gastrodon is able to run Scald instead of Earth Power in order to cripple physical attackers. Yawn allows Gastrodon to apply pressure by forcing switches. Finally, Clear Smog can be used to remove stat boosts from set-up Pokemon, preventing them from snowballing. However, removing one of the four moves from the standard set makes it difficult to justify Gastrodon on a team, dropping Ice Beam or Earth Power hinders Gastrodon's coverage, while losing Toxic or Recover removes Gastrodon's ability to maintain its health while eroding enemy Pokemon.
Gastrodon holds a miniscule niche in DOU for its ability in Storm Drain, which allows it to redirect strong Water-type moves like Urshifu-R's Surging Strikes and Volcanion's Steam Eruption away from vulnerable teammates. Additionally, its typing and special bulk allow it to switch into strong Fire-type moves, such as Heatran's Eruption, and counterattack with moves such as Earth Power and Ice Beam. However, Gastrodon's typing makes it extremely vulnerable to Rillaboom's Grassy Glide. Additionally, Gastrodon is also fairly passive and has difficulty making a long-term impact on the game. Its effectiveness is also undermined by a lack of physical bulk, which also somewhat neuters its ability to counter physical Water-types that have neutral coverage. Gastrodon works best when paired with Pokemon that can take advantage of its ability to redirect Water-type moves. Diancie can gain some safety to set up Trick Room, while Fire types like Incineroar and Heatran also appreciate Gastrodon's ability to shut down threatening Water-type attackers. However, Gastrodon's 4x weakness to Grassy Glide means that it requires teammates that can switch into Rillaboom like Incineroar and Genesect. All in all, Gastrodon is overall a suboptimal pick that struggles to meaningfully benefit a team more than other options. Its weakness to some of the most potent Pokemon in the metagame means that facing a hard counter is extremely likely, and it doesn't provide enough utility for it to be worth it.
[SET]
name: Bulky Storm Drain
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Earth Power
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Recover
item: Sitrus Berry
ability: Storm Drain
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 92 SpA / 76 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
* Ice Beam OHKOes significant threats like Landorus and Zygarde, while Earth Power provides super effective damage against Incineroar and Heatran.
* Toxic wears down bulkier Pokemon that Gastrodon is unable to deal significant damage to, such as Porygon2. This combined with Recover allows Gastrodon to potentially outlast and wear out opposing threats that can't make it past its special bulk.
* Storm Drain is the main reason to use Gastrodon, redirecting moves like Urshifu-R's Surging Strikes and Volcanion's Steam Eruption away from vulnerable teammates.
* The Special Attack Investment allows Gastrodon to OHKO significant threats such as Zygarde and Landorus, while the HP and Special Defense EVs plus Sitrus Berry enable Gastrodon to avoid the 2HKO from Landorus's Earth Power.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Gastrodon is able to run Scald instead of Earth Power in order to cripple physical attackers. Yawn allows Gastrodon to apply pressure by forcing switches. Finally, Clear Smog can be used to remove stat boosts from set-up Pokemon, preventing them from snowballing. However, removing one of the four moves from the standard set makes it difficult to justify Gastrodon on a team, dropping Ice Beam or Earth Power hinders Gastrodon's coverage, while losing Toxic or Recover removes Gastrodon's ability to maintain its health while eroding enemy Pokemon.
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