Feraligatr @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 88 HP / 252 Atk / 168 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Ice Punch
- Earthquake /
Substitute
The set to prepare for. Speed lets Gatr creep Archeops and Tauros after +1, and is fast enough to outrun Scarf Rotom after +2. Leftover HP EVs happen to be enough to conveniently survive Scarf Rotom's Thunderbolt from full and give it just that extra bit of bulk (especially when concerning a certain move's HP management).
Everyone knows how DD Gatr rolls: use its good typing and bulk to boost, and sweep the foe with insane power and respectable neutral coverage. And while Sheer Force obviously augments Gatr's already great power, it also yields another advantage in that now Gatr can no longer be worn down by its own Life Orb.
This means Gatr can now afford Substitute.
The ability to run Substitute is significant for many would-be Gatr checks: now Pokemon that rely on status to beat Gatr have to play a potentially game-ending prediction game, or in some cases be totally helpless. The threat of Substitute giving Gatr a free boost / attack off means that the likes of Gourgeist, Weezing, Musharna, Uxie, Mantine, and Seismitoad have to debate whether or not to status Gatr or attack to break its Sub, and mispredicting even once can be extremely costly (or, you know, game-ending), while Gatr usually can afford one slip-up due to its bulk. Some mons like Ferroseed and Prinplup find themselves absolute fodder now, unless they start running Grass moves. Even the Pokemon that Gatr would've missed out on if it drops Earthquake can find themselves in a pickle; Qwilfish wants Poison Jab to even do anything to Gatr, while Lanturn wasting its Volt Switch on the Sub and exposing its teammates would prompt it to run Thunderbolt and not look back. One can even use Substitute to punish offensive switch-ins, which most offensive teams would likely pull given how urgent it is for them to answer the Gatr threat immediately.
Ironically enough, the only reason I am still keeping Earthquake on Gatr is the threat of
other Gatrs using it as a setup opportunity (Even SmashPass Huntail / Gorebyss aren't as great threats because Gatr can punish their recipient for huge damage or with Substitute).
The only defensive counters that remain unfazed by this change would be Poliwrath, bulky Ludicolo, and Tangela (or if you want to be real, fucking Lapras >.<). The other Gatr responses now have to play dangerous mindgames, and some others need to start running certain moves just to stay in said game. Expect Gatr to create some massive shifts in this meta.