Golisopod
QC: Quantum Tesseract / Chazm / xavgb
GP: martha / The Dutch Plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
As one of the premier Blue Orb attackers in Mix and Mega, Golisopod is one of the best offensive wallbreakers. Golisopod's Liquidation, backed by a strong base 175 Attack after the Blue Orb boost as well as Primordial Sea, punches holes in many walls in the tier. Furthermore, Aqua Jet allows it to also serve as a revenge killer to pick off faster threats and weakened attackers. A key resistance to Ground-type moves and a Fire immunity as it switches in give it many opportunities to come in against opposing threats. Unfortunately, a poor base 40 Speed stat leaves Golisopod vulnerable to faster attackers. In addition, the one-dimensional nature of Golisopod's attacks can make it predictable and easy to check.
Golisopod also fails to 2HKO bulky walls unboosted, limiting its ability as a wallbreaker.
[SET]
name: Blue Orb Attacker
move 1: Liquidation
move 2: Aqua Jet
move 3: Swords Dance / Drill Run / Toxic
move 4: Drill Run / Spikes
item: Blue Orb
ability: Emergency Exit
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Liquidation is Golisopod's primary STAB attack, dealing heavy damage to foes that do not resist Water-type moves. Aqua Jet allows it to pick off faster threats and revenge kill weakened Pokemon, including Lucarionite Terrakion and Lucarionite Zygarde. Swords Dance allows Golisopod to boost its Attack to break past many bulky walls such as Sablenite Blissey and bulky Arceus formes. Drill Run hits many of Golisopod's switch-ins, such as Primal Groudon and Red Orb Victini, for good damage. Toxic can be used to wear down many walls like Arceus-Fairy in tandem with Liquidation. Spikes, likewise, can be used to deal damage on entry and can be set on many of Golisopod's switch-ins, such as Latiasite Toxapex and Aggronite Buzzwole.
Set Details
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Blue Orb gives Golisopod access to Primordial Sea, canceling out Fire-type attacks and giving Golisopod's Water-type STAB attacks a boost. In addition, the +50 Attack boost and +20 Special Defense boost give it additional power and a slight increase in bulk. An Adamant nature and 252 Attack EVs maximize Golisopod's offensive capabilities. 252 HP EVs are used to maximize overall bulk, and 4 Special Defense EVs slightly increase Golisopod's special bulk.
Usage Tips
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Golisopod should be utilized early-game to break and chip walls with its powerful Liquidation while keeping Red Orb users such as Primal Groudon and Victini in check. Aqua Jet should be utilized to damage switch-ins and revenge kill weakened threats throughout the game, such as Darkrai and Lucarionite Zygarde. Utilization of Golisopod's Ground and Fire resistances should give it many opportunities to switch into offensive threats such as Primal Groudon and nullify them. If Spikes or Toxic is opted for, it can be used early on to slowly wear down opposing walls such as Venusaurite Zapdos. Entry hazards should be kept off Golisopod's side to prevent it from losing defensive value. Swords Dance should be used sparingly, as Red Orb users can easily come in on the turn the Golisopod boosts and shut it down. Keeping Golisopod unstatused is quite important, as once statused, it loses much of its ability to neuter the aforementioned threats.
Team Options
========
Primal Groudon appreciates Golisopod breaking down many of its checks, such as Blue Orb Skarmory and Arceus-Ground, and in turn it can set Stealth Rock to weaken Golisopod's checks, such as Aggronite Buzzwole and Sablenite Zapdos, as well. Lucarionite Terrakion heavily threatens many of Golisopod's checks, including Red Orb Victini and Sablenite Zapdos, and can form an offensive core with Golisopod. Altarianite Zygarde, Diancite Tapu Lele, and Metagrossite Kartana appreciate Golisopod's ability to wear down checks and give them opportunities to sweep. Lunala and Cameruptite Magearna act as special attackers that can work in tandem with Golisopod to break opposing defensive cores. Sablenite users such as Mew, Blissey, and Zapdos bounce back entry hazards and status moves, giving Golisopod more chances to switch in. Defog support from Venusaurite Gliscor and support Arceus formes also helps prevent Stealth Rock being set up on Golisopod's side. Arceus-Fairy and Aggronite Buzzwole check the variety of Zygarde formes and and provide additional defensive utility. Arceus-Ground and Venusaurite Gliscor can check Primal Groudon, which is one of the premier switch-ins to Golisopod.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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First Impression is an option to inflict heavy STAB damage on the first turn out on threats such as Lucarionite Zygarde but is not reliable enough due to it only being usable on the first turn. Leech Life can be used to give Golisopod longevity but is usually not worth it, as the recovery is usually negligible.
Checks and Counters
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**Red Orb Users**: Red Orb Users, such as Primal Groudon, Victini, Volcarona, and Raikou, all threaten to switch in on Golisopod's Water-type moves and nullify them with Desolate Land. However, many of them should be wary of Drill Run.
**Water-resistant Pokemon**: Latiasite Toxapex, Mega Salamence, Arceus-Water, and Giratina resist Liquidation and are not affected greatly by Golisopod's coverage options.
**Bulky Walls**: Aggronite Buzzwole, Sablenite Zapdos, and Aggronite Mew can avoid the 2HKO from Golisopod's Liquidation and retaliate.
**Pinsirite Users**: Pinsirite users like Zygarde, Entei, Genesect, Magearna, and Metagross all outspeed Golisopod and OHKO it with super effective Aerilate-boosted STAB moves.
**Powerful Offensive Threats**: Altarianite Zygarde, Lunala, Ultra Necrozma, Diancite Shaymin-S, and Diancite Tapu Lele do not appreciate switching in on Liquidation, but they can check Golisopod with powerful offensive moves.
**Stealth Rock**: Golisopod does not enjoy taking 25% damage on entry from Stealth Rock, which can quickly wear it down.
**Status**: Burn and poison damage wear down Golisopod quickly. Furthermore, burn halves Golisopod's attack, rendering it feeble.
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