[OVERVIEW]
* Dugtrio, although one-dimensional, finds its niche in the Ubers tier as a trapper that can reliably OHKO Magearna and offensive variants of Primal Groudon and Necrozma-DM.
* Dugtrio also has some support moves such as Memento and Toxic that can be useful for the team after its main job is done.
* Dugtrio's Speed tier lets it outspeed all of its targets if they are unboosted.
* Sadly, Dugtrio's utility after its job is done is near zero, considering its mediocre Attack stat and fragility.
* It also takes the Z-Move slot, which can be used better by another Pokemon like Necrozma-DM or Lunala.
[SET]
name: Utility Trapper
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Screech
move 3: Substitute
move 4: Memento / Toxic
item: Groundium Z
ability: Arena Trap
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Earthquake, along with Groundium Z, allows Dugtrio to use Tectonic Rage, letting it trap and OHKO offensive Primal Groudon and Magearna and OHKO Double Dance Necrozma-DM and Toxapex after Stealth Rock damage.
* Substitute allows Dugtrio to scout for a recovery move from specially defensive Necrozma-DM and remove it in conjunction with Screech.
* Screech makes even an unboosted Earthquake a dangerous move against defensive targets, most notably specially defensive Necrozma-DM; Dugtrio can outdamage its recovery move and potentially OHKO it.
* Memento serves as a way to bring an ally setup sweeper in a favorable scenario by lowering the offensive stats of the foe by two stages.
* Toxic can be used to cripple Pokemon that Dugtrio cannot do much against normally, such as Lugia and support Arceus formes, but forgoing Memento can leave it as setup fodder.
* Stone Edge is another option if your team is weak against Ho-Oh, since it OHKOes any variant after Stealth Rock damage, but it doesn't get any use outside of this.
Set Details
========
* Full investment in Attack with an Adamant nature ensures Dugtrio can OHKO offensive Primal Groudon and Double Dance Necrozma-DM, two of its main targets, after Stealth Rock damage.
* Groundium Z lets Dugtrio use Tectonic Rage, which can OHKO the Pokemon that Dugtrio is used to trap.
* Full investment in Speed lets Dugtrio outspeed everything up to Magearna at +2 without Speed investment. If using a Jolly nature, Dugtrio can outspeed Mega Diancie and Mega Lucario and trap both while Speed tying with Arceus formes, letting Dugtrio get some damage or use Toxic on them as a last-ditch effort, but the power difference is notable against other targets.
* Arena Trap is the only ability that makes Dugtrio useful, letting it trap and at least cripple some threats in the tier.
Usage Tips
========
* Dugtrio has the ability to discourage Primal Groudon and Magearna from switching in and using Stealth Rock or Volt Switch, respectively. Use this information to pressure the opposing team by preventing Primal Groudon from setting Stealth Rock or baiting Primal Groudon or Magearna to come in by bringing out a Pokemon weak to them, such as Xerneas.
* Never bring Dugtrio into an attack. Due to its terrible bulk, it will fall to almost any neutral hit and will not complete its job.
* After trapping and removing the desired target, Dugtrio can be sacrificed to gain some momentum.
* While Dugtrio is fast, it will fail to cripple slower Pokemon with priority moves, such as Extreme Killer Arceus and boosted Adamant Mega Lucario. Do not try to trap these threats, as Dugtrio will be KOed for no reason.
* Dugtrio can be used to force Necrozma-DM to transform into Ultra Necrozma when trying to trap it, leaving it unable to check Geomancy Xerneas anymore. Be wary, though, that if Necrozma-DM transforms, Dugtrio will be KOed before it can do anything.
* Toxapex and Blissey usually run Shed Shell, allowing them to avoid being trapped and keep momentum by switching out. Do not try to trap them without removing their items beforehand, or at least scout for Black Sludge or Leftovers.
Team Options
========
* Pokemon that appreciate Primal Groudon and Necrozma-DM being removed, such as Xerneas, make good partners.
* Setup sweepers, such as offensive Geomancy Xerneas and Mega Salamence, can use the foe afflicted by Dugtrio's Memento as setup fodder.
* Dugtrio traps and removes Magearna, letting Yveltal use its STAB moves with less caution.
* Similarly, Primal Kyogre and its regular forme appreciates Dugtrio's ability to trap and remove Primal Groudon
* Slow pivots pair well with Dugtrio, bringing it in safely. Mega Scizor is a good example , since it baits in Necrozma-DM and Primal Groudon, allowing Dugtrio to trap them.
* Paralysis support can be useful in a scenario where trapping an Arceus forme is desired, allowing Dugtrio to set up a Substitute on it and at least cripple it with Screech + Earthquake. Glare Zygarde-C can fulfill this role, since it baits support Arceus formes fairly well.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
========
* Dugtrio has some other options to support its team and itself, but they are mostly outclassed by its other moves.
* Stealth Rock can be used if the team lacks another setter, but Dugtrio isn't a reliable one and can fail to fulfill this role properly.
* Sucker Punch lets Dugtrio hit Mega Gengar and Lunala before getting OHKOed, but it will be almost useless against the latter.
* Focus Sash allows Dugtrio to, in theory, survive a hit and KO a foe, but Dugtrio will miss out on Groundium Z and therefore notable OHKOs on Pokemon it is supposed to trap.
Checks and Counters
========
**Flying-types**: Yveltal and Ho-Oh fear nothing from Dugtrio besides Toxic and the rare Stone Edge in Ho-Oh's case. Mega Salamence deserves a special mention, since Substitute or Refresh variants can use Dugtrio as setup fodder.
**Faster Pokemon**: Marshadow, Mega Gengar, and Ultra Necrozma can outspeed Dugtrio and OHKO it with ease due to Dugtrio's awful defensive stats. Despite this, Mega Gengar doesn't like the rare Sucker Punch. Priority users such as Life Orb Marshadow and Rayquaza, Mega Scizor, and Adamant Mega Lucario can all KO Dugtrio as well with their respective priority moves, and Choice Scarf users, such as Xerneas, will OHKO Dugtrio before it can deal damage or use Toxic.
**Bulky Grounded Pokemon**: Support Arceus formes, Mega Sableye, Zygarde-C, and Mega Scizor can shut down Dugtrio in any situation by OHKOing it with Ice Beam , crippling it with a burn, or using it as setup fodder. However, support Arceus formes dislike being hit with Toxic, which leaves them unable to check the rest of Dugtrio's team in the long run. Also, keep in mind that Mega Sableye can't be trapped because it's a Ghost-type, so try to not give momentum to your opponent.
* Dugtrio, although one-dimensional, finds its niche in the Ubers tier as a trapper that can reliably OHKO Magearna and offensive variants of Primal Groudon and Necrozma-DM.
* Dugtrio also has some support moves such as Memento and Toxic that can be useful for the team after its main job is done.
* Dugtrio's Speed tier lets it outspeed all of its targets if they are unboosted.
* Sadly, Dugtrio's utility after its job is done is near zero, considering its mediocre Attack stat and fragility.
* It also takes the Z-Move slot, which can be used better by another Pokemon like Necrozma-DM or Lunala.
[SET]
name: Utility Trapper
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Screech
move 3: Substitute
move 4: Memento / Toxic
item: Groundium Z
ability: Arena Trap
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Earthquake, along with Groundium Z, allows Dugtrio to use Tectonic Rage, letting it trap and OHKO offensive Primal Groudon and Magearna and OHKO Double Dance Necrozma-DM and Toxapex after Stealth Rock damage.
* Substitute allows Dugtrio to scout for a recovery move from specially defensive Necrozma-DM and remove it in conjunction with Screech.
* Screech makes even an unboosted Earthquake a dangerous move against defensive targets, most notably specially defensive Necrozma-DM; Dugtrio can outdamage its recovery move and potentially OHKO it.
* Memento serves as a way to bring an ally setup sweeper in a favorable scenario by lowering the offensive stats of the foe by two stages.
* Toxic can be used to cripple Pokemon that Dugtrio cannot do much against normally, such as Lugia and support Arceus formes, but forgoing Memento can leave it as setup fodder.
* Stone Edge is another option if your team is weak against Ho-Oh, since it OHKOes any variant after Stealth Rock damage, but it doesn't get any use outside of this.
Set Details
========
* Full investment in Attack with an Adamant nature ensures Dugtrio can OHKO offensive Primal Groudon and Double Dance Necrozma-DM, two of its main targets, after Stealth Rock damage.
* Groundium Z lets Dugtrio use Tectonic Rage, which can OHKO the Pokemon that Dugtrio is used to trap.
* Full investment in Speed lets Dugtrio outspeed everything up to Magearna at +2 without Speed investment. If using a Jolly nature, Dugtrio can outspeed Mega Diancie and Mega Lucario and trap both while Speed tying with Arceus formes, letting Dugtrio get some damage or use Toxic on them as a last-ditch effort, but the power difference is notable against other targets.
* Arena Trap is the only ability that makes Dugtrio useful, letting it trap and at least cripple some threats in the tier.
Usage Tips
========
* Dugtrio has the ability to discourage Primal Groudon and Magearna from switching in and using Stealth Rock or Volt Switch, respectively. Use this information to pressure the opposing team by preventing Primal Groudon from setting Stealth Rock or baiting Primal Groudon or Magearna to come in by bringing out a Pokemon weak to them, such as Xerneas.
* Never bring Dugtrio into an attack. Due to its terrible bulk, it will fall to almost any neutral hit and will not complete its job.
* After trapping and removing the desired target, Dugtrio can be sacrificed to gain some momentum.
* While Dugtrio is fast, it will fail to cripple slower Pokemon with priority moves, such as Extreme Killer Arceus and boosted Adamant Mega Lucario. Do not try to trap these threats, as Dugtrio will be KOed for no reason.
* Dugtrio can be used to force Necrozma-DM to transform into Ultra Necrozma when trying to trap it, leaving it unable to check Geomancy Xerneas anymore. Be wary, though, that if Necrozma-DM transforms, Dugtrio will be KOed before it can do anything.
* Toxapex and Blissey usually run Shed Shell, allowing them to avoid being trapped and keep momentum by switching out. Do not try to trap them without removing their items beforehand, or at least scout for Black Sludge or Leftovers.
Team Options
========
* Pokemon that appreciate Primal Groudon and Necrozma-DM being removed, such as Xerneas, make good partners.
* Setup sweepers, such as offensive Geomancy Xerneas and Mega Salamence, can use the foe afflicted by Dugtrio's Memento as setup fodder.
* Dugtrio traps and removes Magearna, letting Yveltal use its STAB moves with less caution.
* Similarly, Primal Kyogre and its regular forme appreciates Dugtrio's ability to trap and remove Primal Groudon
* Slow pivots pair well with Dugtrio, bringing it in safely. Mega Scizor is a good example , since it baits in Necrozma-DM and Primal Groudon, allowing Dugtrio to trap them.
* Paralysis support can be useful in a scenario where trapping an Arceus forme is desired, allowing Dugtrio to set up a Substitute on it and at least cripple it with Screech + Earthquake. Glare Zygarde-C can fulfill this role, since it baits support Arceus formes fairly well.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
========
* Dugtrio has some other options to support its team and itself, but they are mostly outclassed by its other moves.
* Stealth Rock can be used if the team lacks another setter, but Dugtrio isn't a reliable one and can fail to fulfill this role properly.
* Sucker Punch lets Dugtrio hit Mega Gengar and Lunala before getting OHKOed, but it will be almost useless against the latter.
* Focus Sash allows Dugtrio to, in theory, survive a hit and KO a foe, but Dugtrio will miss out on Groundium Z and therefore notable OHKOs on Pokemon it is supposed to trap.
Checks and Counters
========
**Flying-types**: Yveltal and Ho-Oh fear nothing from Dugtrio besides Toxic and the rare Stone Edge in Ho-Oh's case. Mega Salamence deserves a special mention, since Substitute or Refresh variants can use Dugtrio as setup fodder.
**Faster Pokemon**: Marshadow, Mega Gengar, and Ultra Necrozma can outspeed Dugtrio and OHKO it with ease due to Dugtrio's awful defensive stats. Despite this, Mega Gengar doesn't like the rare Sucker Punch. Priority users such as Life Orb Marshadow and Rayquaza, Mega Scizor, and Adamant Mega Lucario can all KO Dugtrio as well with their respective priority moves, and Choice Scarf users, such as Xerneas, will OHKO Dugtrio before it can deal damage or use Toxic.
**Bulky Grounded Pokemon**: Support Arceus formes, Mega Sableye, Zygarde-C, and Mega Scizor can shut down Dugtrio in any situation by OHKOing it with Ice Beam , crippling it with a burn, or using it as setup fodder. However, support Arceus formes dislike being hit with Toxic, which leaves them unable to check the rest of Dugtrio's team in the long run. Also, keep in mind that Mega Sableye can't be trapped because it's a Ghost-type, so try to not give momentum to your opponent.
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