[OVERVIEW]
* Thanks to its solid bulk and Grass / Steel typing, Ferrothorn can act as a check to Primal Kyogre, Necrozma-DM, the majority of support Arceus formes, and some Xerneas variants.
* While Ferrothorn lacks reliable recovery, its immunity to Toxic and resistance to Stealth Rock, combined with Leftovers, Leech Seed and Protect, can make it frustratingly hard to wear down over the match.
* It is also one of the very few Pokemon in the metagame that can provide Spikes support, something that not many teams are able to afford but is highly appreciated.
* Access to strong STAB move in Power Whip and Gyro Ball keeps Ferrothorn from being too passive against Mega Gengar, Xerneas, and Primal Kyogre with Substitute, meaning it can't easily be turned into setup fodder.
* However, Ferrothorn will be overwhelmed by repeated strong neutral hits from the likes of Yveltal.
* Despite having only two weaknesses, there is an abundance of Pokemon in Ubers that can threaten Ferrothorn. Fire-types like Ho-Oh, Blaziken, and, most notably, Primal Groudon can easily force it out or outright OHKO it. Fighting-types like Marshadow and Mega Lucario can use Ferrothorn as setup fodder.
* Coverage moves that are aimed to hit Ferrothorn will hamper its role as a wall; while scouting with Protect can alleviate this issue, one should always be aware of Fire- and Fighting-type coverage moves from the likes of Xerneas, Yveltal, Rayquaza, Deoxys-A, Lunala, Dialga, and Palkia.
* Its low Speed forces Ferrothorn to move last and leaves it susceptible to Taunt from users like Mega Gengar and Yveltal, and it is almost completely helpless against threats that are behind Substitute, with examples being Zygarde-C and Zekrom.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Protect
move 2: Spikes
move 3: Leech Seed
move 4: Gyro Ball / Power Whip
item: Leftovers
ability: Iron Barbs
nature: Sassy / Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Protect lets Ferrothorn scout for unexpected coverage moves, such as Fire Blast from support Arceus formes, as well as scouting moves of Choice-item users like Xerneas and Yveltal. It also provides an extra turn of recovery from Leech Seed and Leftovers.
* Spikes wears down grounded foes very quickly, and this helps late-game sweepers such as Dragon Dance Rayquaza, Geomancy Xerneas, and Swords Dance Arceus successfully sweep.
* Toxic can be used over Protect or Spikes and puts Defog users such as Giratina-O and support Arceus formes on a timer, but this comes at a cost of the inability to scout moves and recover more consistently or set entry hazards.
* Stealth Rock can be used if Ferrothorn's teammates do not have access to this move, but it is usually better for Ferrothorn to set Spikes instead due to its ability to consistently switch into support Arceus formes and set hazards. Ferrothorn also tends to naturally draw in threats weak to Stealth Rock, such as Ho-Oh and Mega Salamence, making this option a questionable choice.
* Leech Seed lets Ferrothorn wear down switch-ins such as Primal Groudon while recovering from damage it has taken.
* Gyro Ball lets Ferrothorn combat Mega Gengar and Z-Geomancy Xerneas while letting it do a large chunk of damage to most neutral foes.
* Power Whip is an alternative STAB move that lets Ferrothorn check Primal Kyogre more consistently, and it has significantly more PP than Gyro Ball.
* Both said attacking moves can be used by forgoing Protect or Spikes if Ferrothorn has to act as a more offensive check to Primal Kyogre while not being passive against Mega Gengar.
Set Details
========
* HP and Special Defense are maximized for Ferrothorn to prevail against threats it is tasked to handle; the EV spread lets Ferrothorn take minimal damage from Primal Kyogre while being able to take two +3 Moonblast from Z-Geomancy Xerneas.
* Leftovers helps Ferrothorn recover and stay healthy throughout the match, and it synergizes well with Leech Seed.
* Iron Barbs inflict damage to foes that make contact with Ferrothorn.
* A Sassy nature and 0 Speed IVs should be run if Gyro Ball is used to maximize its Base Power.
Usage Tips
========
* Due to its typing and bulk, Ferrothorn is able to find ample opportunities to switch into Primal Kyogre and support Arceus formes to absorb damage and proceed to set entry hazards or spread status.
* Leech Seed must be used often to keep Ferrothorn healthy and let it continuously switch into Judgment from the likes of Arceus-Ground and Arceus-Fairy. There are not many viable Grass-types in the tier, so Ferrothorn will have an easy time consistently recovering itself while wearing down the opposing team.
* Gyro Ball should be used with care, since it has only 8 PP and depleting it early will leave Ferrothorn very passive and, more notably, vulnerable to Mega Gengar.
* Threats such as Mewtwo and Lunala that switch into Ferrothorn must be scouted with Protect to see if they carry coverage moves like Fire Blast or Focus Blast. However, it should be used with caution against potential setup sweepers like Rayquaza, since a wrong prediction will give them a free turn.
* Against the likes of Lugia, Chansey, and Zygarde-C, Ferrothorn can switch into Toxic or Glare in Zygarde-C's case. Ferrothorn can then take advantage of their high HP stats with Leech Seed and use them as Spikes fodder.
* If threats such as Primal Kyogre and Xerneas are still healthy, Ferrothorn shouldn't be recklessly switched in often, since it has to be as healthy as possible to check them.
* Ferrothorn is practically useless against teams with Mega Sableye, as anything Ferrothorn throws at it does pathetic damage, and any status moves will be bounced back. Ferrothorn should be used as fodder to lure in Mega Sableye while double switching into teammates like Xerneas, Arceus-Fairy, and Primal Groudon, all of which are naturally able to threaten or defeat Mega Sableye one-on-one.
Team Options
========
* Ferrothorn isn't enough to handle Xerneas by itself, since said threat usually carries coverage moves such as Focus Blast and Hidden Power Fire that are dedicated to hit Steel-types. Specially defensive Necrozma-DM is able to check every Geomany Xerneas variant and set up Stealth Rock, letting Ferrothorn run Spikes. Magearna is also a reliable counter to Xerneas and is able to switch into Yveltal, which potentially threatens Ferrothorn with Taunt or Heat Wave.
* Primal Groudon can set up Stealth Rock to form hazard stacking core with Ferrothorn and is able to handle Geomancy Xerneas that carry Hidden Power Fire or Focus Blast if Ferrothorn lacks Chople Berry. Assuming Primal Groudon healthy enough, it is able to switch into Marshadow and Ho-Oh.
* Xerneas, Mega Salamence, Arceus, and Rayquaza all massively benefit from the Spikes support Ferrothorn provides, since said hazard wears down their conventional checks in Steel-types and Arceus formes, drawing them near KO range after boosts. Mega Salamence in particular appreciates Ferrothorn's ability to switch into Ice Beam and Judgment from Arceus formes while leaving Celesteela unable to recover by using its immunity to Leech Seed.
* Primal Kyogre appreciates Ferrothorn naturally drawing in Primal Groudon and wearing it down with Spikes and Leech Seed. Ferrothorn can switch into Toxic from Arceus formes or opposing Ferrothorn to prevent recovery from Leech Seed. Primal Kyogre provides a switch-in to Fire-type moves aimed at Ferrothorn, defeats Ho-Oh, and threatens Arceus formes that carry Fire Blast.
* Ho-Oh also can act as a check to Xerneas that carry coverage moves to hit Ferrothorn while spreading status with Sacred Fire and Toxic, aiding Ferrothorn in wearing down opposing teams with residual damage.
* Zygarde-C is one of the best partners for Ferrothorn because they form a solid defensive core. Zygarde-C appreciates Ferrothron's ability to switch into Ice Beam from support Arceus formes and use Leech Seed on Primal Groudon to make it much easier to check. In return, Zygarde-C is able to switch into Ho-Oh, Primal Groudon, Blaziken, Mega Salamence, and most physical attackers in the metagame. Dragon Tail also has significantly better use if Spikes are on the field.
* Arceus-Fairy is another option to form a defensive core with Ferrothorn. While taking care of Yveltal, Rayquaza, and Mega Salamence, Arceus-Fairy is able to lure Ferrothorn's checks such as Primal Groudon and Ho-Oh and put them on timer using Toxic. Ferrothorn is able to switch into Steel-types and wear down Arceus-Fairy's checks with Spikes and Leech Seed.
* Dark-types, such as Yveltal and Arceus-Dark, are able to check Arceus-Ghost and Mega Gengar, while Ferrothorn can switch into Fairy-type attacks and use Toxic in return. The aforementioned Dark-types appreciate Ferrothorn's Spikes support, as the former forces switches often, while the latter can take advantage of Spikes and set up Calm Mind to defeat its weakened checks.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Chople Berry lets Ferrothorn check Geomancy Xerneas that carry Focus Blast, if used with Gyro Ball. However, Ferrothorn will be worn down faster without Leftovers recovery.
* Thunder Wave can surprise foes that try to take advantage of Ferrothorn's passivity, such as Mega Salamence and Mega Lucario, but it will decrease Gyro Ball's damage and thus is a questionable move to use over other utility moves.
* Knock Off is able to remove key items, such as Leftovers from Celesteela and opposing Ferrothorn, Power Herb from Xerneas, and Choice-items. However, most threats in the metagame have irremovable items, such as Red Orb, Blue Orb, Mega Stones, and appropriate Plates from support Arceus formes, making this option inconsistent.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fire-types**: While all of them hate switching into Toxic, Fire-types such as Primal Groudon, Ho-Oh, and Blaziken are able to switch into Ferrothorn while taking negligible damage from Gyro Ball or Power Whip. Primal Groudon, while susceptible to residual damage, is able to set entry hazards, set up, or severely damage switch-ins as Ferrothorn is forced out. Ho-Oh in particular doesn't care about Leech Seed damage thanks to Regenerator.
**Fighting-types**: Marshadow, Mega Lucario, Mega Mewtwo X, and Mega Blaziken are able to force out Ferrothorn, and some of them are able to set up while doing so. Due to narrow counterplay, it is especially dangerous to give setup opportunities to the former two. Mega Mewtwo X is able to use Taunt on Ferrothorn to stop Spikes and Leech Seed or simply KO it with Low Kick or Drain Punch.
**Coverage Moves**: Fire-type coverage moves are ways Ferrothorn is easily disposed of. Hidden Power Fire from Xerneas, Fire Blast from Mewtwo, Naganadel, support Arceus formes, Dialga, and Palkia, and the rare Heat Wave from Ultra Necrozma are prime examples that are able to outright eliminate Ferrothorn. Focus Blast from Mega Gengar, Lunala, and Mewtwo and Superpower from Deoxys-A easily 2HKO Ferrothorn.
**Mega Sableye**: Ferrothorn is hopelessly shut down the by presence of Mega Sableye due to Magic Bounce bouncing back hazards and Leech Seed, leaving it unable to set hazards, spread status, or recover itself. Mega Sableye can burn Ferrothorn with Will-O-Wisp to nullify recovery from Leftovers and force Ferrothorn to slowly succumb to repeated attacks. Threats such as support Arceus formes and Prmal Kyogre, which Ferrothorn is tasked to switch into consistently, can take advantage of this and slowly wear it down while Ferrothorn can't do much in return.
**Substitute Users**: Although Substitute users are uncommon, they are able to take advantage of Ferrothorn's passivity and reliance on Leech Seed to set up on it or wear it down. Examples include offensive Zygarde-C with Substitute and Dragon Dance, Primal Kyogre with Substitute and Calm Mind, and Zekrom with Substitute and Hone Claws. However, Primal Kyogre can still be taken care of if Ferrothorn runs Power Whip.
**Taunt**: Taunt leaves Ferrothon unable to recover itself with Leech Seed or set hazards. However, common users of Taunt, such as Mega Gengar and Yveltal, take considerable damage from Gyro Ball.
**Gothitelle**: Due to Shadow Tag, Ferrothorn is unable to switch out from Gothitelle while it is completely neutralized with Taunt and Charm.
**Consistent Hazard Removers**: Giratina is able to win the PP war against Ferrothorn thanks to Pressure. Pressure also limits the number of times Ferrothorn is able to use Leech Seed throughout the match. Giratina can also use Rest to get rid of damage dealt from Leech Seed or status. Arceus-Steel is immune to Toxic, takes pathetic damage from Gyro Ball and Power Whip, and can consistently remove Spikes from the field with Defog, though it doens't like switching into Thunder Wave. Mega Scizor can counter Ferrothorn in the same way, and it rather appreciates Thunder Wave to a certain extent, since it can pivot to gain momentum against more foes.
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