[OVERVIEW]
- A great typing in Water/Ground and access to Storm Drain as an ability gives Gastrodon immunities to Water and Electric while leaving it weak to only Grass
- A really solid HP stat with Recover to back it up, though undone by its low Defense
- Storm Drain gives Gastrodon immunity to Water Type moves and boosts its nice Special Attack if it is hit by a Water move
- Really low Speed makes it outsped by near everything
- Competition with Blastoise and Slowbro as bulky Water Types, as both are overall more bulky, better at walling, and offer more utility
- Extremely passive playstyle makes it vulnerable to strong wallbreakers such as Vanilluxe and Medicham while also being fodder for Sceptile and Vivillon
Name: Defensive
move 1: Scald
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Recover
move 4: Toxic
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Sticky Hold
Nature: Bold
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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- Scald is the most optimal Water STAB as Gastrodon really appreciates burning physical attackers
- Earthquake is Ground STAB that can threaten Dry Skin users like Toxicroak and Heliolisk with an OHKO
- Recover gives Gastrodon a way to recover some of its large HP back
- Toxic cripples almost every Pokemon except for Poison/Steel Types which don't like to take an Earthquake and Xatu
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- 252 HP is to maximize Gastrodon's bulk
- 252 Defense and a Bold nature gives Gastrodon a lot better time taking physical attacks
- Leftovers helps sustain Gastrodon without using Recover
- Storm Drain is the best ability for Gastrodon, giving it the ability to absorb Water Type moves for a special attack boost
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- Gastrodon loves to switch into Water Type attacks and gain the special attack boost, allowing it to hit pretty hard even on neutral atttacks
- Never keep Gastrodon in on any Grass Type or Pokemon that runs any Grass Type moves such as Vivillon and Vikavolt, even if Gastrodon is boosted, its really low speed is basically asking for your Gastrodon to be taken out
- Gastrodon really doesn't like to be Taunted from Jellicent or Mismagious, preventing it from using Recover and Toxic
- Gastrodon's low Defense and Speed make it really difficult to use Recover effectively against physical attackers
Team Options
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- Pokemon who have an easy time switching into Grass Types and KOing them for Gastrodon: like Incineroar and Golbat
- Teammates who can remove Toxic like Aromatisse and Mega Audino from Gastrodon, making its job as a wall a lot more easier
- Teammates who can remove Toxic Spikes like Garbodor or Altaria for the same reason as above
- Pokemon who appreciate Gastrodon's ability to switch into Water attacks like Incineroar, Rhydon, and Piloswine, giving the a free switch out and giving Gastrodon a nice special attack boost
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- Sludge Bomb / Sludge Wave can be used to cover Grass and Fairy Types, but mostly isn't worth it as almost every Grass Type outspeeds and OHKOs Gastrodon and almost every Fairy Type in the meta is better to just Toxic
- 252 Special Attack EVs or Choice Specs can be run to get OHKOs and 2HKOs on mons such as Steelix or Klinklang without boosting, but usually isn't worth giving up bulk or a better item for a chance to OHKO or 2HKO
- Earthquake with a Relaxed Nature can be run over Earth Power to hit Assault Vest mons like Magmortar and Incineroar
- Ice Beam can be used, but is only really useful for scaring off the likes of Altaria, Sigilyph, and Xatu. Gastrodon would usually rather Toxic or Scald everything else
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**Grass Types / Moves**: Gastrodon is 4x weak to the type, it usually won't live a Grass Type move from anything, not to mention Grass Types also resist both of Gastrodon's STAB and in Vileplume's case: are immune to Toxic
**Toxic / Toxic Spikes**: They ruin Gastrodon's longevity by whittling it down over time constantly, usually making Recover not as useful
**Taunt Users**: Taunt users like Jellicent and Mismagius prevent Gastrodon from using Recover or Toxic, both of which are very important to Gastrodon
**Bulky Status Absorbers**: Mega Audino and Aromatisse can withstand Gastrodon's attacks and can simply Heal Bell and Wish away Toxic damage, Gastrodon also must be careful of Facade users like Stoutland or the rare Guts Hariyama
**Water Absorbers**: Mainly Jellicent and Vaporeon as they can absorb a Scald to heal themselves, and in Jellicent's case, can Taunt Gastrodon to prevent Toxic and Recover. Heliolisk and Toxicroak also can absorb Scald, but they don't want to take an Earth Power or Earthquake
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