[OVERVIEW]
Graveler is a staple on balance and defensive teams, thanks to its access to the rare Rapid Spin. Spinning away Spikes makes threats such as Xatu and Dugtrio much easier to handle for the defensive teams Graveler fits on. Graveler's ability to scare away the tier's Spiker, Pineco, and the tier's only spinblocker, Gastly, means that it generally doesn't find it difficult to pull off Rapid Spin. Graveler supplements its spinning ability with terrific defensive and offensive utility: on the defensive side, it checks the likes of Fearow and Weezing while absorbing dangerous Normal-type attacks, including Explosion and Self-Destruct. On the offensive side, it has a powerful Earthquake, a very good complementary STAB type in Rock, and the tier's most powerful Explosion. Its Explosion is especially deadly due to how Graveler threatens every Normal-resistant Pokemon, such as Sudowoodo and Magnemite, with its Earthquake. Graveler can use Explosion on common switch-ins such as Octillery, opening a path for teammates such as Xatu and Ninetales.
However, Graveler is crippled by a 4x weakness to Water, and thus needs to run away from Octillery and Dewgong, at least one of which is found on almost every serious NU team. This weakness also means that it can be lured in by Pokemon it's supposed to check, as Weezing can use Hidden Power Water and Pineco can use any of Giga Drain, Toxic, and Hidden Power Water, which can prevent Graveler from safely using Rapid Spin. Graveler also has a severe vulnerability to status, namely Toxic, due to not using Rest. Pokemon that it otherwise checks well such as Ninetales and Persian can cripple it with Toxic and Hypnosis, respectively. Graveler's poor special bulk means it struggles to take hits from Xatu and makes it far less reliable at checking Fire-types. Lastly, Graveler faces competition from other Rock-types; Sudowoodo is much bulkier and lacks 4x weaknesses, while Pupitar is faster than Octillery and uses Screech to answer Curse Normal-types such as Wigglytuff far better than Graveler can.
[SET]
name: Rapid Spin
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Hidden Power Rock
move 3: Rapid Spin
move 4: Explosion
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Earthquake is Graveler's main STAB move, able to at minimum 3HKO every neutral target other than Dewgong and 2HKO frailer Pokemon such as Hitmonlee. Hidden Power Rock is Graveler's secondary STAB move, 2HKOing the likes of Xatu and Pineco and threatening a 3HKO on Dewgong. It has excellent synergy with Earthquake, since it hits every single Ground-resistant and -immune Pokemon for super effective damage, outside of the rare Grass-types. Rapid Spin is Graveler's main niche in the tier and makes it easier for its team to take attacks. Explosion lets Graveler trade itself for an almost guaranteed KO and gives it opportunities to open a path for its teammates if it explodes on the correct target.
Team Options
====
Pokemon that give Pineco opportunities to set up Spikes, such as Gloom, Porygon, Stantler, Primeape, and non Double-Edge Wigglytuff, synergize well with Graveler. In return, Gloom can keep Hidden Power Electric Octillery and Dugtrio in check, while Porygon and Wigglytuff can switch into Dewgong. Gloom is an especially great partner, as it can paralyze Xatu, making it even more scared of switching into Graveler, while checking other major threats to it such as Primeape. Graveler also takes on non-Hidden Power Water Weezing and Fearow for Gloom. Octillery and especially Dewgong love Graveler's ability to keep Spikes off the field, while both can switch into Xatu and Ice Beam Octillery for it. Hitmonlee, Primeape, and Kingler all threaten Octillery and Dewgong, and appreciate Rapid Spin support. Houndour Pursuit traps Xatu, which makes it easier for Graveler to spam Earthquake. Houndour also pairs well with other Pokemon that appreciate Graveler, like Gloom and Hitmonlee. Ninetales loves Graveler's ability to lure in and use Explosion on Octillery, and can ease pressure off it to check Weezing. Weezing works well with Graveler, as its Explosion in combination with Graveler's Explosion is an amazing form of offense, and Weezing loves not having to deal with Spikes due to not using recovery. Pineco can work well with Graveler, but the two are hard to fit together, as the offensive teams Pineco fits on usually prefer Dugtrio or Pupitar as their Ground-type, while the balance teams Graveler fits on struggle to fit Pineco over a more individually useful Pokemon. However, having Spikes on the opposing side of the field while not having them on your own side can be a massive, sometimes game-winning advantage, making it well worth the teambuilding struggles.
Other Options
====
Rest keeps Graveler safe from Toxic, but it leaves it unable to spin away Spikes for two turns and forces it to let in key threats. Curse can let Graveler beat Curse + RestTalk Normal-types, such as Wigglytuff. However, it will sorely miss Explosion, and Sudowoodo is often better at using Curse.
Checks and Counters
====
**Water-types**: Pokemon like Octillery and Dewgong can immediately threaten out Graveler with their STAB moves. However, both take heavy damage from Graveler's STAB moves and are usually defensive pillars of their team, making it risky to lose them to Explosion.
**Status**: Graveler doesn't use RestTalk, making it vulnerable to status conditions. Pineco can lure it in and cripple it with Toxic, and it can struggle in other otherwise good matchups like Persian, Ninetales, and Weezing due to their ability to poison it, or in Persian's case, shut it down with Hypnosis.
**Grass-types**: Although rare, pure Grass-types like Exeggcute and Bayleef resist Earthquake, can take Hidden Power Rock, and scare Graveler away with their STAB moves. Gloom doesn't resist Earthquake but can still threaten a swift OHKO with a Grass-type move or cripple it with Stun Spore or poison from Sludge Bomb.
**Xatu**: Although 2HKOed by Hidden Power Rock, Xatu can switch into Earthquake and threaten huge damage due to Graveler's poor Special Defense. Xatu's presence alone makes Graveler hesitant to spam Earthquake at times.
**Porygon**: Porygon can outspeed Graveler, is only 3HKOed by Earthquake, and can threaten a cold 2HKO with Ice Beam, set up Curse on it, or Recover stall its Earthquakes. However, Graveler can pressure Porygon to repeatedly use Recover, giving easier switch opportunities to its teammates, while also having the option to trade itself with Explosion. Graveler can also crit right through a Curse-boosted Porygon with its ample opportunities to use Earthquake.
**Super Effective Coverage**: Graveler's 4x weaknesses to Water and Grass mean that certain Pokemon such as Weezing, Pineco, and Magmar can lure it in and blow it away with Hidden Power Water or Grass.
**Dugtrio**: Although it gets 2HKOed by Earthquake, Dugtrio can easily switch into Hidden Power Rock or Rapid Spin and 2HKO Graveler with Earthquake.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gabraltar.573149/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/beeorsomething.583728
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/juoean.486979/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
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