Gen 5 Torterra [WIP]

Akir

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[OVERVIEW]

Torterra is an absolute monster of a threat in the BW PU metagame, carrying one of the most deadly offensive presences that works hand in hand with one of the most customizable toolkits in the tier. With it's massive stats in comparison to the tier, it's natural bulk and strength leave it able to fit into many teams. It's typing is incredible both offensively and defensively as well, granting it incredible coverage between it's STAB and access to EdgeQuake, while Torterra possesses monstrous defensive utility with its typing. Torterra thrives off its ability to fit into many teams seamlessly, being a great glue to prevent Electric-types such as Zebstrika from pivoting with Volt Switch, while resisting Ground-type attacks from threats such as opposing Torterra and Gabite. With it's offensive sets, it can quickly threaten to sweep opponents while falling back on it's incredible natural bulk to set up on more passive Pokemon such as Klang and Scraggy. Torterra's versatility can only carry it so far however, as it has a mediocre speed tier leaving it reliant on setup to become a game ending threat. With it's quadruple weakness to Ice-type attacks such as STAB Ice Punch from Sneasel and Ice Beam from faster Water-types such as Golduck forcing it to play carefully. Flying-type Pokemon such as Jumpluff and Swanna are additionally able to outspeed it and thwart it with their STAB, however they must be watchful of Stone Edge. Torterra also must be wary of Bronzor, who walls Torterra is most cases.

[SET]
name: Offensive Tank
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Stone Edge / Wood Hammer
move 3: Synthesis
move 4: Stealth Rock / Rock Polish / Swords Dance / Toxic / Roar
item: Yache Berry
ability: Shell Armor
nature: Careful
evs:

[SET COMMENTS]
Paragraph 1: Move explanations, EVs if relevant
Earthquake is chosen primary STAB,and Stone Edge is chosen as the primary coverage in order to hit Flying-types as the infamous Edgequake combo. Wood Hammer is also an excellent choice for more power than Earthquake and hitting common Water-type switch-ins hard, but has recoil and somewhat redundant coverage to Earthquake. The last moveslot is extremely versatile and can be whatever the team needs. Stealth Rock is always appreciated and Torterra is a particularly reliable hazard setter thanks to its bulk and typing. Rock Polish and Swords Dance are both good options for setting up and sweeping or wallbreaking, respectively. Toxic is useful for hitting and getting chip damage on common switch-ins like Jumpluff, and Roar can be useful for phazing threats like Duosion who might set up otherwise.

Paragraph 2: Usage tips, good Pokemon combinations

[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Synthesis
move 3: Wood Hammer
move 4: Swords Dance / Roar / Earthquake / Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Shell Armor
nature: Impish
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpDef

[SET COMMENTS]
Max Defense and HP EVs allows Torterra to take considerably more damage and even avoid a 2HKO from Choice Band Stoutland. This investment in bulk makes Torterra one of the most reliable Stealth Rock setters in the format as well. Wood Hammer is chosen to maximize power and avoid most immunities and still hurts even without any Attack investment. The last slot is very flexible with Swords Dance as the default option as it allows Torterra to set up and beat many slow set-up threats such as Scraggy. Roar allows Torterra to phaze and rack up more chip damage from entry hazards. Earthquake is a secondary STAB option without recoil, and Toxic is always good for slowly chipping down targets and hitting threats on switch-in.

Torterra has notable weaknesses to Ice- and Fire-type attacks, so partners like Tentacool or Frillish that can absorb those attacks make for excellent partners. Tentacool also has the added benefit of Rapid Spin and Toxic Spikes while Torterra covers the Ground-type attacks pointed at Tentacool, so the synergy between these two is of particular note. Torterra is also excellent at shutting down set-up sweepers like Scraggy or Duosion by either setting up itself with Swords Dance or phazing with Roar, so offensive pivots such as Zebstrika or Monferno appreciate having an easy option to U-turn into to solve that matchup. Torterra also invites in many Flying-types such as Jumpluff, so a partner that can resist Flying-type attacks such as Zebstrika or Klang can also make for great partners.


[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Wood Hammer
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Superpower / Seed Bomb
item: Choice Band
ability: Overgrow
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Max Attack investment with a Choice Band allows Torterra's Wood Hammer to OHKO or 2HKO a large swath of offensive threats like Swanna and Stoutland, and Overgrow allows Wood Hammer to even have a chance to OHKO Monferno. Earthquake is good coverage for Steel-types and is reliable STAB without recoil. Stone Edge rounds out the coverage by hitting Flying-types such as Jumpluff or Natu that would wall Torterra's STAB otherwise. The last slot goes mostly unused, as the other three slots are near-perfect coverage, but Superpower works for hitting certain threats like Scraggy harder and Seed Bomb also works as a Grass STAB option without recoil.

Even with all of this Attack investment, Torterra is still heavily walled by Bronzor. As such, partners that can beat Bronzor such as Simisear or Monferno are heavily appreciated. Choice Band Torterra also excels in baiting Bronzor in, so teammates like Scraggy that can set up on Bronzor also make for good options. Torterra also excels in breaking down walls like Stunfisk to make way for a teammate like Monferno or Zebstrika to sweep later. Stealth Rock goes a long way in helping Torterra break down walls since it tends to draw in Flying-types, so partners that set them consistently like Dwebble or Bronzor are very appreciated.


[SET]
name: Double Dance
move 1: Rock Polish
move 2: Swords Dance
move 3: Wood Hammer / Stone Edge
move 4: Earthquake / Stone Edge
item: Life Orb / Yache Berry
ability: Overgrow / Shell Armor
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd

[SET COMMENTS]
This set runs both Swords Dance and Rock Polish not with the expectation of getting both boosts off but so Torterra has the correct set-up option for whatever situation it finds itself in. Rock Polish is for the potential lategame sweep, and Swords Dance is for when Torterra needs to be a wallbreaker. Wood Hammer is Torterra's most powerful STAB option but comes with heavy recoil, and Earthquake is the secondary STAB with no recoil. Either STAB option or Swords Dance can be replaced with Stone Edge for better coverage against common Flying-type switchins like Jumpluff or Natu. Life Orb is the chosen item for an extra power boost to ease sweeps after Rock Polish, but Yache Berry can also be used to absorb a stray Ice-type attack like Hidden Power [Ice] from Zebstrika to earn a turn to set up. Overgrow is the preferred ability for its ability to power up Torterra's Wood Hammer to dizzying heights when activated, but if Stone Edge is chosen over Wood Hammer then Shell Armor should be the chosen ability.

Even with Swords Dance and a Life Orb, Torterra is still walled by Bronzor specifically. Common answers for beating Bronzor include Monferno, Simisear, Marowak, and Scraggy. Torterra can also be threatened out by some Choice Scarf Pokemon even after a Rock Polish such as Swanna or Monferno, so partners like Klang or Frillish can be excellent choices for protecting Torterra from the revenge kill. Torterra is also excellent at breaking through physical walls like Machoke or Stunfisk, so Pokemon like Monferno or Zebstrika appreciate its wallbreaking potential.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Akir, 231726]], [[SBPC, 468904]]
- Quality checked by: [[name, id], [name, id]]
- Grammar checked by: [[name, id]]
 
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