Doubles Gastrodon (GP 1/1)

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[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.
 
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zoe

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[OVERVIEW]
  • Overview's main issues is more or less in the core, but that's OK! Just kinda hard to go over as much as I would like atm. What I want you to do in the overview is first go over what the mon does (in this case redirect water moves/check Fire-Types), why it sucks (shouldn't have to explain this one lol), and what Pokemon are good with it. Be sure to flesh out each of these too!
  • Wouldn't say Close Combat cripples Gastordon, because it just does a lot of damage.
  • Toxic and Taunt aren't gastro exclusive issues so I wouldn't bother mentioning them here.
  • Mention teammates that would appreciate Storm Drain
[SET COMMENTS]
  • Say how the given EV spread lets Gastrodon live Close Combat and OHKO Landorus with Ice Beam. No need for the spread to be between two different lines.
  • You mention Recover in the line below this one, so just cut it
  • Toxic line is good.
  • Mention specific Pokemon that Earth Power hits, and don't mention Toxic here, Earth Power would be used to deal damage to the fires even without Toxic
  • Reminder to mention Sitrus Berry here too, as well as Ice Beam and Storm Drain
[OTHER OPTIONS]
  • Say how Yawn is very telegraphed and will very rarely actually put something to sleep.
  • Mention Clear Smog
Ping me wherever when you're ready
 

zoe

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DOU & Discord Head
gm

[OVERVIEW]
  • Would use Volcanion's Steam Eruption over rend, due to Volcanion being more common+relevant.
  • Reminder to merge all three sections into one paragraph
[SET COMMENTS]
  • Wouldn't mention how the Special Defense and Calm nature are for Lando-I specifically, just how it helps it check Fire-types better and Lando better
[OTHER OPTIONS]
  • Mention the downsides to having to give up a move slot for Clear Smog and Scald

QC 1/2
dnagerbdager2.gif
 

emma

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[OVERVIEW]

Gastrodon holds a very small Want to higlight that Gastrodon is terrible niche in DOU for its ability in Storm Drain, which allows it to redirect strong Water-type moves like Urshifu's Surging Strikes and Volcanion's Steam Eruption away from vulnerable teammates. This can serve as a deterrent against these moves, as switching in Gastrodon can potentially invalidate an opposing Pokemon's turn. This is fluff and not needed. Additionally, it's its typing and special bulk allow it to switch into strong Fire-type moves, such as Torkoal and Torkoal is bad Heatran's Eruption, and counterattack with moves such as Earth Power or Ice Beam. However, a lack of physical bulk makes it difficult for Gastrodon to have longevity, and somewhat neuters its ability to counter physical Water types that have neutral coverage. This can make it difficult to switch into them if they aren't locked into a move due to a Choice item. Gastrodon is also fairly passive, and difficulty having a long-term impact on the game. Gastrodon has difficulty pressuring many of the high tier threats in the metagame offensively due it its relatively lackluster offensive stats, and lacks enough utility to effectively support teammates outside of its situational niche in redirecting water moves. This is fluff - you basically said the same thing last sentence but in a more concise way which is key for analyses. Additionally, Gastrodon's typing leaves it vulnerable to Rillaboom's Grassy Glide and Kyurem-B's Freeze Dry, the former of which is fairly common. Because of this, Gastrodon requires teammates that can effectively switch into Rillaboom, such as Genesect and Heatran Incineroar. Gastrodon works best when paired with Pokemon that can take advantage of its ability to redirect Water type moves. Diancie appreciates the redirection, as it can provide some safety to set up Trick Room. Fire types like Incineroar and Heatran also appreciate Gastrodon's ability to deter Water-type attacks. However, 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.

Rearrange the order a bit - when talking about Gastrodon's weaknesses I would go hard loses to Rillaboom -> Passive -> Weak defensively.

[SET]
name: Lil Slugger
Gastrodon @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 92 SpA / 76 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Ice Beam
- Earth Power
- Toxic
- Recover

[SET COMMENTS]

* The Max HP and Defense EVs allow Gastrodon to not get OHKOed by Urshifu's Close Combat, while the Special Defense investment and Calm Nature enhance Gastrodon's ability to check special Fire-type attackers, as well as Landorus. First explain what SpA does, then what Def does, then mention SpD as a dump

* Toxic allows Gastrodon to damage and wear down Pokemon that it is unable to deal significant damage to. This combined with Recover allows Gastrodon to potentially outlast and wear out opposing threats that can't make it past Gastrodon's special bulk.

* Earth Power is an effective STAB move that allows Gastrodon to provide super-effective damage against Incineroar and Heatran.

* Sitrus Berry increases Gastrodon's longevity, and allows it to gain back a portion of its health after being hit by strong moves like Landorus' Earth Power.

* Storm Drain is the main reason to use Gastrodon, and allows it to redirect moves like Urshifu's Surging Strikes and Volcanion's Steam Eruption away from vulnerable teammates.

* Ice Beam allows Gastrodon to OHKO significant threats like Landorus and Zygarde.

Order: Ice Beam / Earth Power (combine into one line) -> Toxic / Recover -> Storm Drain -> EVs

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Gastrodon is able to run Scald instead of Earth Power in order to cripple physical attackers. This can increase Gastrodon's ability to survive against physical threats. Gastrodon is also able to run Yawn as well, but this is highly telegraphed, and very unlikely to actually put anything to sleep. Say instead how Yawn can force switches / lets Gastrodon put on some pressure. 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, since losing an attacking move prevents Gastrodon from having enough offensive presence to pressure most of the metagame, and losing Toxic and Recover removes Gastrodon's ability to maintain its health while eroding enemy Pokemon.

This is a pretty good analysis - most of my changes are formatting the information to better suit the analysis structure.
 

emma

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[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's 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 or Ice Beam. However, Gastrodon's typing makes it extremely vulnerable to Rillaboom's Grassy Glide. Because of this, Gastrodon requires teammates that can effectively switch into Rillaboom, such as Genesect and Incineroar. Can you move this bolded sentence to the latter half of the paragraph where you talk about teammates? I think the analysis would flow better that way. You might have to do some rewording to make it work. Additionally, Gastrodon is also fairly passive, and has difficulty having a long-term impact on the game. Its effectiveness is also undermined by a lack of physical bulk, which makes it difficult for Gastrodon to have longevity, and somewhat neuters its ability to counter physical Water types Water-types that have neutral coverage such as Urshifu-R. Gastrodon works best when paired with Pokemon that can take advantage of its ability to redirect Water type Water-type moves. Diancie appreciates the redirection, as it can provide some safety to set up Trick Room. Fire types Fire-types like Incineroar and Heatran also appreciate Gastrodon's ability to deter Water-type attacks. However Overall, 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: Lil Slugger
Gastrodon @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 92 SpA / 76 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Ice Beam
- Earth Power
- Toxic

- Recover

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 allows Gastrodon to OHKO OHKOs significant threats like Landorus and Zygarde, while Earth Power is an effective STAB move that allows Gastrodon to provide super-effective provides super-effective damage against Incineroar and Heatran.

* Toxic allows Gastrodon to damage and wear wears down bulkier Pokemon that it Gastrodon is unable to deal significant damage to Add an example or two please. This combined with Recover allows Gastrodon to potentially outlast and wear out opposing threats that can't make it past Gastrodon's special bulk.

* Storm Drain is the main reason to use Gastrodon, and allows it to redirect redirects moves like Urshifu's Urshifu-R's Surging Strikes and Volcanion's Steam Eruption away from vulnerable teammates.

* The SpA Special Attack investment allows Gastrodon to OHKO significant threats such as Zygarde and Landorus, while the HP and Defense investment allows Gastrodon to survive a Close Combat from Urshifu Special Defense investment allows Gastrodon to avoid the 2HKO from Landorus with Sitrus Berry. The rest is dumped into Special Defense, which, alongside a Calm Nature, allow it to better check Fire-type attackers.

* Sitrus Berry increases Gastrodon's longevity, and allows it to gain back a portion of its health after being hit by strong moves like Landorus' Earth Power.


Sitrus Berry is now mentioned in the line before so no need for its own point.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Gastrodon is able to run Scald instead of Earth Power in order to cripple physical attackers. Gastrodon is also able to run Yawn as well, which 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 even more difficult to justify Gastrodon on a team, since losing an attacking move dropping Ice Beam or Earth Power prevents Gastrodon from having enough offensive presence to pressure most of the metagame hinders Gastrodon's coverage, and while losing Toxic and or Recover removes Gastrodon's ability to maintain its health while eroding enemy Pokemon.


QC 2/2
 
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GP 1/1
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[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 or and Ice Beam. However, Gastrodon's typing makes it extremely vulnerable to Rillaboom's Grassy Glide. Additionally, Gastrodon is also fairly passive (RC) and has difficulty having making a long-term impact on the game. Its effectiveness is also undermined by a lack of physical bulk, which makes it difficult for Gastrodon to have longevity, and 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 appreciates the redirection, as it can provide can gain some safety to set up Trick Room, (comma) while Fire types like Incineroar and Heatran also appreciate Gastrodon's ability to deter Water-type attacks ("shut down threatening attackers" or anything else to make it more real world-focused). However, Gastrodon's 4x weakness to Grassy Glide means that it requires teammates that can switch into Rillaboom (RC) 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 OHKOs OHKOes significant threats like Landorus and Zygarde, while Earth Power provides super effective (RH) 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 Gastrodon's its special bulk.

* Storm Drain is the main reason to use Gastrodon, and redirects 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 investment allows EVs enable (repetition) plus Sitrus Berry Gastrodon to survive avoid the 2HKO from Landorus's Earth Power (?) with Sitrus Berry.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Gastrodon is able to run Scald instead of Earth Power in order to cripple physical attackers. Gastrodon is also able to run Yawn as well, which 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, as 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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