Grass
========
Ferrothorn is a staple pick on Grass teams due to its great natural bulk and fantastic defensive typing, giving it an immunity to Poison-type attacks. Iron Barbs alongside its great natural physical bulk allows it to act as a blanket check to a variety of physical attackers such as Excadrill and punish contact move users such as Alolan Muk and Metagross. Ferrothorn is also blessed with fantastic utility moves in Leech Seed and Spikes; the former allows it to have a form of passive recovery, while the latter allows it to support its offensive teammates by chipping their checks. However, while its Steel typing does offer plenty of defensive utility, it also exacerbates its natural Fire weakness, and with all these amazing qualities, Ferrothorn also has a decent number of drawbacks such as its low Speed stat, which allows it to be easily broken by Taunt users such as Mew, Gliscor, and Hydreigon. Ferrothorn also is held back by the fact that it is dependent on passive forms of recovery such as Leech Seed and Leftovers to stay healthy throughout the match.
[SET]
name: Utility (Grass)
move 1: Gyro Ball
move 2: Spikes
move 3: Leech Seed
move 4: Protect
item: Leftovers
ability: Iron Barbs
nature: Relaxed
evs: 252 HP / 168 Def / 88 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Gyro Ball is Ferrothorn's only attacking move and allows it to check Pokemon such as Kyurem-B and Mega Diancie. Spikes provides residual chip damage each time a foe switches in, granting Ferrothorn's offensive teammates such as Tapu Bulu and Celebi an easier time cleaning late-game. Leech Seed is Ferrothorn's main form of recovery and allows it to regain health throughout the match. Protect allows Ferrothorn to scout Choice-locked attackers, such as Dragonite, while also being able to extend recovery turns from Leech Seed.
Set Details
========
252 HP and 168 Defense EVs alongside a Relaxed nature allows Ferrothorn to take a Close Combat from Mega Gallade at full health. A Relaxed nature also increases the power of its Gyro Ball. 88 EVs are then placed into Special Defense to allow it to avoid the 2HKO from Kyurem-B's Ice Beam while increasing its overall special bulk. Iron Barbs allows Ferrothorn to punish physical attackers by chipping them each time they use a contact move. Leftovers is Ferrothorn's second form of residual recovery.
Usage Tips
========
To keep Ferrothorn healthy throughout the entire match, it should spam Leech Seed. Alongside spamming Leech Seed, it should use Protect as often as possible to maximize Leech Seed's recovery. Protect should also be used to scout attacks throughout the match from Choice-locked Pokemon, such as Dragonite and Greninja, allowing Ferrothorn to switch into the appropriate teammate without risk. On the same note, if you predict a switch, Ferrothorn should use Leech Seed to maximize its turns of recovery. It should go without saying, since it provides so many important defensive qualities for Grass teams such as being immune to Poison-type attacks and neutral to Ice-type attacks, so it should be kept healthy through the match as well as possible. Ferrothorn should take advantage of opportunities when the foe cannot do much damage to it by setting up Spikes. However, if Spikes does not have an impact on the match, Ferrothorn should use Leech Seed or Gyro Ball on foes such as Mantine on Flying teams. Ferrothorn should avoid losing its item through Knock Off or Trick, as it depends on Leftovers to stay healthy throughout the match. While most Pokemon should try to stay away from status, Ferrothorn should be used as the team's switch-in to Thunder Wave, as once it is paralyzed, the power of Gyro Ball significantly increases. However, Ferrothorn should avoid being burned by moves such as Scald and Will-O-Wisp which negates its Leftovers recovery and reduces the power of Gyro Ball, making it far too passive. Ferrothorn is a key Pokemon to the team in matchups such against Steel and Electric; as such, do not allow Ferrothorn to be trapped by Magnet Pull users such as Alolan Golem and Magnezone. To avoid being trapped, it should switch out immediately to a teammate that can check these Pokemon such as Breloom, rather than staying in.
Team Options
========
Mega Venusaur and Ferrothorn form an impressive defensive and anti-Fairy core together. Mega Venusaur also provides Ferrothorn with an additional Leech Seed support and the ability to check threats such as Mega Scizor with Hidden Power Fire. Thick Fat also allows Mega Venusaur to tank attacks such as Choice Scarf Victini's V-create, which would otherwise OHKO Ferrothorn. With Stealth Rock, Cradily forms the other part of the entry hazard stacking core with Ferrothorn and is also the designated special sponge of the team, being able to tank a hit from Pokemon such as Volcarona and proceed to OHKO it with Rock Slide. Cradily also provides neutrality to Fire-type attacks, allowing it to switch into attacks for Ferrothorn such as Heatran's Magma Storm. Breloom can put threats to sleep with Spore and act as an emergency check to Pokemon such as Mega Pinsir with its Focus Sash intact thanks to Rock Tomb. It also appreciates Ferrothorn's ability to wear down other Pokemon with Spikes and Leech Seed, allowing it to clean more easily late-game in matchups such as Ice with Mach Punch. Tapu Bulu is the team's revenge killer and fastest Pokemon with Choice Scarf, being able to take on threats such as unboosted Volcarona and Mega Charizard Y with Stone Edge and Heatran and Kyurem-B with Superpower. Ferrothorn also appreciates the support it brings through Grassy Terrain, giving it another form of residual recovery and enabling it to check threats such as Choice Band Excadrill more easily. Celebi is the team's special wallbreaker, appreciating Ferrothorn's Leech Seed support giving it a minor form of recovery while setting up and in return being able to take on Pokemon such as Toxapex with Shattered Psyche. It is also able to check threats such as Mega Scizor and Heatran with Hidden Power Fire and Earth Power, respectively. Additionally, Celebi can provide a nuke in Tectonic Rage, which allows it to take on Pokemon such as Toxapex and Alolan Muk for the team. Decidueye can check threatening Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon for the team such as Blacephalon and Victini with its priority in Sucker Punch and Shadow Sneak. This allows it to become a dangerous setup sweeper in those matchups. Its Ghost typing also provides the team which is a means of spinblocking, improving the Bug- and Fire-type matchup.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Grass
--------
Toxic can be used over Protect, allowing Ferrothorn to cripple annoying Pokemon such as Zapdos; however, without Protect, it is not as easily able to take advantage of Leech Seed recovery, making threats such as Kyurem-B more difficult to take on. Rocky Helmet can be run over Leftovers to maximize punishing physical attackers. However, Ferrothorn appreciates the extra recovery Leftovers provides.
Checks and Counters
===================
Grass
--------
**Mega Sableye**: Mega Sableye completely walls Ferrothorn, as it is easily able to tank Gyro Ball, can burn Ferrothorn with Will-O-Wisp, reflects its Spikes thanks to Magic Bounce, and is able to remove its Leftovers with Knock Off. Mega Sableye counters Ferrothorn in absolutely every sense of the word.
**Fire-types**: Due to its natural quadruple weakness to Fire-type attacks, any Fire-type poses a massive threat to it and can OHKO it with their STAB moves while being resistant to Gyro Ball.
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-type Pokemon such as Kommo-o, Keldeo, and Terrakion can all break past Ferrothorn with their STAB Fighting-type attacks. However, Terrakion needs to be careful, as Ferrothorn can take one Close Combat and retaliate with Gyro Ball.
**Taunt Users**: Taunt users such as Mew, Skarmory, and Gliscor can prevent Ferrothorn from using its utility moves and can then proceed to slowly wear it down. Mew especially can cripple Ferrothorn, as it can burn it with Will-O-Wisp and remove its Leftovers with Knock Off.
**Wallbreakers**: Powerful wallbreakers such as Victini and Choice Specs Keldeo can easily break past Ferrothorn with their powerful STAB attacks.
**Setup Sweepers**: Setup sweepers such as Swords Dance Garchomp and Kommo-o can easily set up on Ferrothorn due to its passive nature and proceed to take it out with boosted Fire Fang and Close Combat, respectively.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[maroon, 305839]]
- Grass analysis by: [[maroon, 305839]]
- Quality checked by: [[Decem, 362454], [Havens, 391540], [Vid, 239907]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [JockeMS, 53214]]
Last edited:
