Verdurous - Grass-types in OU

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Introduction

Grass-types have always been underrepresented in competitive play due to their slew of weaknesses, but that is not always the case. From defensive juggernauts such as Ferrothorn and Tangrowth to threatening wallbreakers like Tapu Bulu and Kartana, OU has a small but respectable group of Grass-types. This article shall look over their presence and influence in the metagame.

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What's new?

SM has been pretty generous with Grass-types as a whole. Kartana is a potent sweeper with access to Swords Dance that when coupled with various Z-Crystals is difficult to check defensively; on top of that, it can also function with Choice Scarf as a late-game cleaner. Tapu Bulu boasts a great defensive typing as well as Grassy Surge, which provides a whole slew of benefits to one's team. It can also utilize Swords Dance to the same extent as Kartana, but it can also act as a bulky pivot with Assault Vest or reach dangerous levels of power with Choice Band.

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Returning Pokémon

Ferrothorn continues to reprise its role as a mixed defensive wall while providing great utility to a team with access to Stealth Rock and Spikes. Mega Venusaur remains notably the same, though the burn nerf in SM does increase its longevity overall. Tangrowth is also still quite notable with either its Assault Vest or physically defensive set. Serperior and Amoonguss also do pop around occasionally on certain team compositions.

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Ferrothorn

Ferrothorn packs an incredible defensive typing as well as great utility due to its access to double hazards. Spikes is often preferred, as teams often run a Stealth Rock setter alongside Ferrothorn and it makes better use of forced switches, but Stealth Rock is still a decent option if the team cannot afford to fit another user. Ferrothorn handily checks threats like Ash-Greninja and Tapu Koko as well as a good chunk of the metagame. It's also extremely easy to fit on a team and can find itself on various playstyles. It still does suffer from its 4x Fire weakness, which can be exploited, and susceptibility to Magnezone, but Ferrothorn is a very notable Pokémon in OU and should be accounted for during teambuilding.

• Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
• Ability: Iron Barbs
• EVs: 252 HP / 48 Def / 208 SpD OR 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SpD
• Careful Nature / Impish Nature
• - Spikes / Stealth Rock
• - Leech Seed
• - Power Whip
• - Knock Off / Gyro Ball

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Kartana

Kartana acts as a fearsome wallbreaker that takes advantage of common Pokémon such as Ferrothorn and defensive Landorus-T and turns them into setup fodder. It's also quite versatile with its Z-Move selection, being able to use Bloom Doom, All-Out Pummeling, and Black Hole Eclipse depending on what the team needs to eliminate. It can also use Knock Off to punish switches. Choice Scarf, on the other hand, transforms it into a dangerous late-game cleaner and can make it snowball if given some team support. Thanks to its good neutral coverage and offensive pressure, it can also run Defog to remove hazards for its team. It still does suffer from its Speed being just shy of 110, relatively low-Base Power moves, and overall poor special bulk. Despite these drawbacks, Kartana is a great Pokémon in OU, and most teams should at least be prepared for it.

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Tangrowth

Tangrowth serves the role of a resilient wall with its Assault Vest set, but it can also be physically defensive on certain team compositions. Its great typing and bulk allows it to handily answer the likes of Keldeo, Ash-Greninja, Tapu Bulu, Tapu Koko, and many more. Its access to Regenerator also increases its longevity on the field, and it also has a good offensive movepool to back itself up with colorful options such as Sludge Bomb, Earthquake, Rock Slide, and Knock Off. Despite these assets, Tangrowth still finds itself rather passive on occasion, and for Assault Vest variants, it cannot afford to get its item removed. It is generally a solid addition for most teams, though, as its positives far outweigh its downsides.

• Tangrowth @ Assault Vest
• Ability: Regenerator
• EVs: 252 HP / 28 Def / 228 SpD
• Sassy Nature
• - Giga Drain
• - Knock Off
• - Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Fire
• - Earthquake

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Tapu Bulu

Tapu Bulu is a defining force in the metagame thanks to raw power coupled with its good defensive typing and ability, which heavily aids Pokémon like Magearna and Heatran. With Continental Crush and All-Out Pummeling, it can even burst through would-be answers such as Mega Venusaur and Celesteela. It is worth noting that Grassium Z is also a great choice coupled with Wood Hammer, which gives it a stronger nuke in general. Alternatively, it can make use of Substitute + Swords Dance coupled with Life Orb, which makes use of forced switches. A recent trend that has been popping up is Assault Vest Tapu Bulu as an alternative to Tangrowth with its recovery in Grassy Terrain as well as access to Nature's Madness, which heavily chunks switch-ins. This set has been gaining a large amount of traction and is the most common Tapu Bulu set present in the current metagame. It is overall a great contender in USM OverUsed.

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Mega Venusaur

Mega Venusaur makes use of its potent defensive typing that handily answers Pokémon like Mega Diancie, Tapu Koko, Kartana, and the like. Thick Fat removes its weaknesses to Fire and Ice and allows it to answer threats like Heatran in a pinch. It sets itself apart from its Grass-type brethren thanks to its offensive presence. Uninvested Sludge Bomb still deals a hefty chunk to most Pokémon in the tier. However, Mega Venusaur is quite susceptible to most forms of passive damage including Spikes, Scald burns, and sand. Synthesis's 8 PP also leaves a lot to be desired, as it cannot freely use the move. Leech Seed has been used to slightly alleviate this issue, annoying switch-ins like Celesteela. Not the most common sight in USM OverUsed, but it is definitely relevant nonetheless.

• Venusaur @ Venusaurite
• Ability: Chlorophyll
• EVs: 248 HP / 88 Def / 156 SpD / 16 Spe
• Calm Nature / Sassy Nature
• - Giga Drain / Leech Seed
• - Sludge Bomb
• - Synthesis
• - Hidden Power Fire / Earthquake

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Honorable Mentions

While not OU by usage, these Pokémon do see themselves in certain team compositions thanks to their attributes and the benefits that they provide for a team.

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Amoonguss

Amoonguss is notable thanks to its great mixed bulk, Regenerator, and access to moves like Spore, Stun Spore, and Clear Smog. Unlike Mega Venusaur, Amoonguss is less susceptible to passive damage thanks to its ability and Black Sludge and can also pivot in and out much more easily. However, it is still extremely passive, especially after Spore has already been used, which can leave it as setup bait for certain threats assuming it lacks Clear Smog. It's something to keep in mind when building balance or stall teams.

• Amoonguss @ Black Sludge
• Ability: Regenerator
• EVs: 248 HP / 44 Def / 216 SpD
• Calm Nature
• - Spore
• - Giga Drain
• - Hidden Power Fire / Sludge Bomb
• - Stun Spore / Toxic

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Serperior

Serperior has coveted access to Contrary alongside Leaf Storm, which allows it to freely fire off a high- powered STAB move while raising its damage output. It also makes use of its great Speed tier, outpacing the likes of Mega Diancie, Gengar, and Latios. Lastly, it has a great support movepool and can use Glare, Leech Seed, and Defog if need be. Despite all these selling points, Serperior possesses a mediocre base 75 Special Attack stat when unboosted, and it also suffers from the lack of notable coverage moves, with Hidden Power and Dragon Pulse being its only options. It's definitely not a bad choice in USM OverUsed, though.

• Serperior @ Leftovers
• Ability: Contrary
• EVs: 56 HP / 200 SpA / 252 Spe
• Timid Nature
• - Leaf Storm
• - Hidden Power Fire
• - Substitute
• - Leech Seed

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Get out there!

While rather few and far between, Grass-types in OU are here to stay and will likely remain for generations to come. I hope you've grassped the concept of this article!

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