[SET]
name: Defensive Wall (Ground)
move 1: Recover
move 2: Scald
move 3: Earth Power / Earthquake
move 4: Toxic / Clear Smog
item: Leftovers
ability: Storm Drain
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Recover gives Gastrodon reliable recovery and lets it fulfill the role of a wall. Scald's potential burn specifically threatens physical sweepers such as Dragonite and Excadrill. Earth Power makes Gastrodon able to take on Steel-types, such as Excadrill and Heatran, and Toxapex after a Storm Drain boost. Earthquake is an option that OHKOes Alolan Raichu and breaks the Substitutes of Keldeo and Mega Gallade, making it more difficult for them to setup. Toxic lets Gastrodon spread status and cripple opposing walls that brush off or are unaffected by its STAB moves, such as Rotom-W, Staraptor, and Porygon2. Clear Smog prevents threatening setup sweepers from setting up, such as Azumarill, Kommo-o, and Latias. Storm Drain in conjunction with Gastrodon's typing gives Ground teams a valuable Water immunity and Ice neutrality. The EV spread and Bold nature give Gastrodon as much physical bulk as possible; a Relaxed nature is preferred if you opt for Earthquake.
Gastrodon fits on both sand and non-sand Ground teams, as all Ground-types appreciate its immunity to Water and Ice neutrality. On sand teams, Hippowdon is a good physical wall and sand setter to pair with Gastrodon because it can set entry hazards and phaze with Whirlwind. Excadrill can spin away entry hazards such as Toxic Spikes that are a detriment to Gastrodon's longevity and break through foes that have been worn down from Gastrodon's Toxic or Scald burn. Landorus makes a great teammate on both sand and non-sand teams to wallbreak and take on Grass- and Steel-types that Gastrodon is unable to, such as Mega Venusaur and Celesteela, thanks to its Gravity support and Sheer Force and Life Orb-boosted Earth Power. Mamoswine gives Ground teams another Ice switch-in due to Thick Fat, can take on Dragon- and Flying-types that wear Gastrodon down such as Latios and Zapdos, and has access to priority in Ice Shard that can break Dragonite's Multiscale. Mega Garchomp is another great teammate that survives an Aqua Jet from Azumarill after a Belly Drum and OHKOes it with Earthquake. Mega Steelix is a viable option that helps Gastrodon specifically in the Fairy and Ice matchups, since it can take on Tapu Bulu and Galarian Darmanitan with relative ease.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Heavy-Duty Boots can be used over Leftovers so Gastrodon doesn't have to worry about being worn down from Spikes or Toxic Spikes. You can also opt for a specially defensive spread that helps in walling Hydreigon and Tapu Lele, but Gastrodon would no longer wall physical threats such as Urshifu-S and Excadrill.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-type Pokemon and Attacks**: Rillaboom, Ferrothorn, and Mega Venusaur brush off all of Gastrodon's attacks and OHKO it back with a STAB move. Additionally, Mega Charizard Y and Alolan Raichu often carry Grass-type coverage in Solar Beam and Grass Knot that either OHKOes or does serious damage to Gastrodon.
**Wallbreakers**: Powerful wallbreakers such as Mega Latios, Mega Medicham, and Tapu Lele can power through Gastrodon with their STAB attacks, outputting more damage than Gastrodon can recover.
**Toxic**: Being badly poisoned wears Gastrodon down very quickly and hinders its performance as a wall.
**Taunt and Trick**: Gastrodon relies on its recovery to act as a wall, but Taunt users such as Tornadus-T and Kommo-o can shut it down and force it to switch; the latter can set up and sweep with Clangorous Soulblaze. Pokemon like Latios and Gengar can utilize Trick to give Gastrodon unwanted Choice items, making it difficult for it to do much.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[adjustments, 340084]]
- Ground analysis by: [[adjustments, 340084]]
- Quality checked by: [[Maple, 473171], [maroon, 305839]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
name: Defensive Wall (Ground)
move 1: Recover
move 2: Scald
move 3: Earth Power / Earthquake
move 4: Toxic / Clear Smog
item: Leftovers
ability: Storm Drain
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Recover gives Gastrodon reliable recovery and lets it fulfill the role of a wall. Scald's potential burn specifically threatens physical sweepers such as Dragonite and Excadrill. Earth Power makes Gastrodon able to take on Steel-types, such as Excadrill and Heatran, and Toxapex after a Storm Drain boost. Earthquake is an option that OHKOes Alolan Raichu and breaks the Substitutes of Keldeo and Mega Gallade, making it more difficult for them to setup. Toxic lets Gastrodon spread status and cripple opposing walls that brush off or are unaffected by its STAB moves, such as Rotom-W, Staraptor, and Porygon2. Clear Smog prevents threatening setup sweepers from setting up, such as Azumarill, Kommo-o, and Latias. Storm Drain in conjunction with Gastrodon's typing gives Ground teams a valuable Water immunity and Ice neutrality. The EV spread and Bold nature give Gastrodon as much physical bulk as possible; a Relaxed nature is preferred if you opt for Earthquake.
Gastrodon fits on both sand and non-sand Ground teams, as all Ground-types appreciate its immunity to Water and Ice neutrality. On sand teams, Hippowdon is a good physical wall and sand setter to pair with Gastrodon because it can set entry hazards and phaze with Whirlwind. Excadrill can spin away entry hazards such as Toxic Spikes that are a detriment to Gastrodon's longevity and break through foes that have been worn down from Gastrodon's Toxic or Scald burn. Landorus makes a great teammate on both sand and non-sand teams to wallbreak and take on Grass- and Steel-types that Gastrodon is unable to, such as Mega Venusaur and Celesteela, thanks to its Gravity support and Sheer Force and Life Orb-boosted Earth Power. Mamoswine gives Ground teams another Ice switch-in due to Thick Fat, can take on Dragon- and Flying-types that wear Gastrodon down such as Latios and Zapdos, and has access to priority in Ice Shard that can break Dragonite's Multiscale. Mega Garchomp is another great teammate that survives an Aqua Jet from Azumarill after a Belly Drum and OHKOes it with Earthquake. Mega Steelix is a viable option that helps Gastrodon specifically in the Fairy and Ice matchups, since it can take on Tapu Bulu and Galarian Darmanitan with relative ease.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Heavy-Duty Boots can be used over Leftovers so Gastrodon doesn't have to worry about being worn down from Spikes or Toxic Spikes. You can also opt for a specially defensive spread that helps in walling Hydreigon and Tapu Lele, but Gastrodon would no longer wall physical threats such as Urshifu-S and Excadrill.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-type Pokemon and Attacks**: Rillaboom, Ferrothorn, and Mega Venusaur brush off all of Gastrodon's attacks and OHKO it back with a STAB move. Additionally, Mega Charizard Y and Alolan Raichu often carry Grass-type coverage in Solar Beam and Grass Knot that either OHKOes or does serious damage to Gastrodon.
**Wallbreakers**: Powerful wallbreakers such as Mega Latios, Mega Medicham, and Tapu Lele can power through Gastrodon with their STAB attacks, outputting more damage than Gastrodon can recover.
**Toxic**: Being badly poisoned wears Gastrodon down very quickly and hinders its performance as a wall.
**Taunt and Trick**: Gastrodon relies on its recovery to act as a wall, but Taunt users such as Tornadus-T and Kommo-o can shut it down and force it to switch; the latter can set up and sweep with Clangorous Soulblaze. Pokemon like Latios and Gengar can utilize Trick to give Gastrodon unwanted Choice items, making it difficult for it to do much.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[adjustments, 340084]]
- Ground analysis by: [[adjustments, 340084]]
- Quality checked by: [[Maple, 473171], [maroon, 305839]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
Last edited:
