In-battle formes
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| HP: | 111 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Attack: | 83 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Defense: | 68 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Atk: | 92 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Def: | 82 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Speed: | 39 |
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Evolutions
- Shellos
- Gastrodon
Overview
Ground
Thanks to its ability Storm Drain, Gastrodon is one of the two viable Ground-types that are immune to Water-type moves, making it a key partner on Ground teams. Its secondary Water typing gives it an important neutrality to Ice-type moves and lets it wall certain foes like non-Choice Band Mamoswine, and its decent natural bulk enables it to tank even the strongest moves of the metagame, such as Choice Band Diggersby's Return. In addition to its typing and bulk, reliable recovery in the form of Recover enables Gastrodon to continually switch into threatening Pokemon like Greninja and Keldeo. However, Gastrodon's typing also leaves it virtually defenseless against problematic Grass-types, such as Mega Venusaur and Ferrothorn, and Pokemon like Volcarona and Alolan Raichu that often carry Grass-type coverage moves. Moreover, Gastrodon has an abysmal Speed stat coupled with a low Special Attack stat, making it prone to losing momentum and susceptible to Taunt from stallbreakers like Mew and Hydreigon. Finally, Gastrodon fights with Seismitoad for a spot on any Ground team as the Water-immune Pokemon, as the latter possesses a superior offensive presence and is able to check Azumarill, one of the greatest threat to Ground teams. On the other hand, Gastrodon's superior longevity thanks to Recover helps it check dangerous foes consistently, which Seismitoad cannot do.
Water
Gastrodon is the only Electric-immune Pokemon Water has access to that also has reliable recovery, making it a very solid option on any balanced Water team. Gastrodon finds its niche on Water-type teams by being able to switch into Trick users such as Latios because of Sticky Hold while also being able to wall Pokemon such as Mega Diancie. Since Gastrodon is only weak to Grass, it is often hard for teams that lack Grass-type coverage to find ways to revenge kill it. It does, however, stack Water teams' natural weakness to Grass-type coverage. Gastrodon's low Speed and passive nature also leave it vulnerable to Taunt from stallbreakers like Mew and Gliscor preventing it from recovering off damage and acting as a wall. Gastrodon does not appreciate being badly poisoned, as it severely limits Gastrodon's ability to effectively wall Pokemon like Mega Diancie. Furthermore, Gastrodon faces competition from Mega Swampert as a team's Electric switch-in; Swampert has the ability to set Stealth Rock, but Gastrodon is a reliable wall and can more easily switch into Electric-type Pokemon lacking Grass-type coverage due to Recover.
Defensive Wall (Ground)
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Moves
Scald is used as Gastrodon's main STAB move, as it can burn opposing Pokemon and enable Gastrodon to wall powerful physical wallbreakers like Dragonite and Mega Gallade. Earth Power is Gastrodon's secondary STAB move and synergizes well with Storm Drain, letting it always 2HKO Toxapex after a boost. Recover is Gastrodon's form of reliable recovery, which lets it act as an efficient wall. Toxic is used to cripple most defensive Pokemon like Rotom-W and Porygon2 that are not bothered by Gastrodon's STAB moves.
Set Details
Storm Drain gives Gastrodon an immunity to Water-type moves and is the main reason why it's considered as a valuable teammate for Ground. It also has the side effect of raising Gastrodon's Special Attack stat when hit by a Water-type move, making both Scald and Earth Power hit slightly harder. Maximum HP and Defense investment with a Bold nature makes Gastrodon as physically bulky as possible and enables it to never be 2HKOed by Choice Specs Keldeo. Leftovers gives Gastrodon passive recovery throughout the match and is also needed to beat Choice Specs Keldeo.
Usage Tips
Gastrodon is best used when switched in on predicted Water-type moves coming from potent threats like Choice Specs Keldeo, especially if no other viable moves from those Pokemon can seriously harm it. Since Gastrodon is the team's Water-immune Pokemon, it should not be sacrificed, because that would enable threatening Water-types to greatly damage and KO most of its teammates with their STAB moves. Gastrodon also has the luxury of switching into would-be threats for Ground teams, such as Rotom-W and Tapu Koko, without much repercussion. However, watch out for lures that could cripple or OHKO Gastrodon, such as Toxic Rotom-W and Grass Knot Tapu Koko. Scald can be used freely to burn, cripple, and wear down physical attackers as they switch into Gastrodon or try to overpower it. Burning defensive Pokemon that don't care about Toxic, such as Mega Sableye and Celesteela, to slowly whittle them down is also a good idea. Use Toxic to cripple defensive Pokemon like Zapdos and Mantine on the switch or to put setup sweepers like Kommo-o and Mega Slowbro on a timer. Against hard matchups, specifically Water, spreading Toxic early-game can also greatly help to give Ground the advantage. Also, when facing Pokemon that are unable to 2HKO or poison Gastrodon, it is advised to Toxic these foes and stall them out with Recover so that Gastrodon has as much HP as possible to check the remaining threats. Try to keep Gastrodon healthy by using Recover so that it can take, if possible, two hits from opposing threats. If this condition is met, Scald or Toxic can be used depending on the remaining Pokemon on the opposing team. However, since it drains momentum from its own team, Gastrodon should be played carefully and make good use of double switches by sponging a Water-type move or a weak attack before switching out to a more favorable teammate if threatening foes like Kyurem-B and Celebi are still alive. Moreover, as Gastrodon possesses very little offensive presence, stallbreakers like Mew and Hydreigon greatly threaten it with Taunt. To play around them, try to double switch as they come in or switch out to a more appropriate teammate on a predicted Taunt to gain momentum, since Gastrodon has no way of dealing with those Pokemon by itself. Finally, like most defensive Pokemon, Gastrodon's stalling capabilities become greatly limited when it's hit by Toxic. Therefore, it's better to avoid opposing status users unless they can't be dealt with another way, such as Porygon2, than by using Toxic against them.
Team Options
Every Ground team appreciates having a teammate such as Gastrodon that can switch into Water-type moves. Hippowdon and Gastrodon form a nice defensive core, as the former walls strong physical attackers like Mega Lopunny and phazes setup sweepers like Mega Scizor, while the latter can switch into Greninja's and Keldeo's moves with ease. Mega Garchomp is a remarkable teammate, as it's the most viable Ground-type (aside from Seismitoad) that outspeeds Azumarill and survives its +6 Aqua Jet after Stealth Rock damage. It can also help Gastrodon deal with Ferrothorn and other Grass-types with its Fire-type coverage moves. Excadrill is a much-needed spinner on Ground teams to get rid of entry hazards, especially Toxic Spikes, which seriously hinder Gastrodon's longevity and ability to wall certain threats. Excadrill can also clean through weakened teams more easily if paired with Gastrodon thanks to its ability to cripple its switch-ins with Toxic. Additionally, Excadrill can take on most relevant Grass-types for Gastrodon, since they take serious amounts of damage or are OHKOed by its STAB moves. Landorus is a useful and powerful wallbreaker that helps Gastrodon take care of Steel- and Grass-types such as Celesteela (with Gravity support) and Mega Venusaur. Mamoswine is an alternative wallbreaker that eases the Grass and Flying matchups with its Ice STAB moves, being able to pick off weakened Tapu Bulu and Breloom with Ice Shard and take out other threats, namely Zapdos and Ferrothorn, with Icicle Crash and Superpower. Mamoswine also has the added benefit of bringing a secondary Ice-type switch-in thanks to its ability Thick Fat. Mega Steelix is a more niche teammate that performs incredibly well in certain matchups, namely Fairy and Dragon, that Gastrodon greatly struggles against. Gliscor can also from a defensive core with Gastrodon thanks to its Grass-type neutrality and ability to efficiently stallbreak. In fact, Gliscor can shut down many of Gastrodon's defensive answers, such as Celesteela and Mega Veusaur, with Taunt before slowly wearing them down with Earthquake or Knock Off, and, thanks to Poison Heal, can switch into opposing Toxics aimed at Gastrodon. In return, Gastrodon can switch into Ice- and Water-type moves aimed at Gliscor. Dugtrio is a nice teammate that traps and helps Gastrodon dispose of numerous foes like Chansey, Kyurem-B, and Tapu Bulu.
Mixed Wall (Water)
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Moves
Scald is Gastrodon's main Water-type STAB move and also has a chance to burn the foe, allowing it to take on physical attackers like Bisharp. Earth Power also hits Pokemon that are immune or resistant to Water-type attacks such as Seismitoad and Toxapex. Recover allows Gastrodon to stay healthy through the entire match, allowing it to consistently take on foes throughout a battle. Toxic cripples opposing walls such as Porygon2 and setup sweepers such as Kommo-o by putting them on a timer.
Set Details
The HP and Special Defense investment alongside a Calm nature allows Gastrodon to act as a mixed wall, avoiding the 2HKO from Mega Diancie's Moonblast and Life Orb Kyurem-B's Ice Beam, both after Stealth Rock damage. Leftovers gives Gastrodon residual recovery at the end of each turn, allowing it to switch into hazards more easily. Sticky Hold prevents it from being Tricked by Choice-locked Pokemon like Latios and Victini and prevents Knock Off users such as Mega Sableye from removing Gastrodon's Leftovers. Gastrodon can use Storm Drain to help against threats such as Perish trap Azumarill, which threatens balanced Water-type teams. However, running Storm Drain means that Gastrodon will not be able to run Sticky Hold, leaving the team very weak to Trick users such as Latios.
Usage Tips
Since Gastrodon is used on bulkier Water teams that usually lack switch-ins to Trick users like Latios, it should fill this role thanks to Sticky Hold, which prevents it from losing its Leftovers. Gastrodon should be kept as healthy as possible throughout the match so it can easily be switched into strong attacks like Mega Diancie's Moonblast. Gastrodon should especially be kept healthy in matchups like Electric so it can repeatedly switch in on and threaten Pokemon like Alolan Raichu with Earth Power. Gastrodon should avoid being statused with Toxic, as it severely reduces Gastrodon's ability to stay healthy through the match, making it easier to revenge kill. Use Toxic on walls such as Mantine or on Pokemon it cannot threaten with its other attacks such as Zapdos to make it easier for teammates such as Mega Sharpedo to clean late-game. Recover can be used alongside Toxic to put opposing Pokemon on a timer and easily recover off damage. Gastrodon should try to cripple physical attackers such as Bisharp with Scald burns, allowing teammates like Toxapex to more easily take them on. Gastrodon should always scout for Grass-type coverage by switching out on Pokemon like Volcanion. If Gastrodon is using Storm Drain, it should always be used as a switch-in to Perish trap Azumarill, as Storm Drain prevents Azumarill from trapping it with Whirlpool and putting it on a three-turn timer with Perish Song.
Team Options
Toxapex can check setup sweepers such as Kommo-o and Mega Altaria with Haze, set Toxic Spikes to cripple foes, and scout attacks with Baneful Bunker, all while switching into Grass-type attacks such as Ferrothorn's Power Whip. Toxapex can also switch into Toxic and remove Toxic Spikes for Gastrodon. Azumarill provides a Grass-type immunity with access to Sap Sipper and can Perish trap foes like Breloom for Gastrodon, and Gastrodon can switch into Electric-type attacks for Azumarill. Together, they form an immunity core that covers both of Water-types' weaknesses. Mantine appreciates Gastrodon's immunity to Electric-type attacks and can use Haze against setup sweepers like Azumarill and Kommo-o for Gastrodon. Mantine also provides a Ground-type immunity, allowing it to take on Pokemon like Landorus and Excadrill, which Gastrodon and its teammates struggle with, and can clear annoying entry hazards such as Toxic Spikes for Gastrodon to prevent it from being poisoned. Empoleon can support Gastrodon as a bulky teammate neutral to Grass and provide effective hazard control, setting Stealth Rock and clearing hazards with Defog. Suicune also appreciates Gastrodon's ability to switch into Trick. Suicune in turn can stall out Grass-types like Mega Venusaur and Ferrothorn with Substitute + Protect. Greninja appreciates that Gastrodon can switch into powerful threats such as Tapu Koko and Mega Diancie for it and can in turn revenge kill Grass-types like Tapu Bulu with Gunk Shot and Ice Beam. Greninja also appreciates Gastrodon's ability to Toxic stall many of its checks down like Porygon2 so it can sweep more easily late-game. Powerful wallbreakers such as Keldeo and Mega Sharpedo similarly appreciate Gastrodon's ability to wear down their checks with Toxic. The former then can break through some of Gastrodon's checks such as Ferrothorn, while the latter can easily sweep late-game and check Taunt users such as Mew and Gliscor for Gastrodon. Gyarados appreciates Gastrodon's ability to Toxic poison Pokemon that might give Gyarados trouble such as Rotom-Wash and in return can take on Grass-types like Tapu Bulu and Mega Venusaur for Gastrodon with Dragon Dance and Supersonic Skystrike. Mega Slowbro and Gastrodon form an amazing defensive core able to handle most wallbreaking cores, including the fearsome Ground-type core of Landorus and Excadrill.
Other Options
Ground
Acid Armor is an interesting tool over Earth Power that enables Gastrodon to wall and Toxic stall even the most powerful physical attackers, such as Choice Band Dragonite and Diggersby, strong Ice-type Pokemon like Mamoswine and Weavile, or certain setup sweepers such as Mega Scizor and Cloyster. Unfortunately, using Acid Armor is generally outclassed and unadvised, as giving up on Earth Power means that Gastrodon cannot hurt Toxapex anymore. A specially defensive spread of 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD with a Calm nature lets Gastrodon better take on or completely wall specially oriented Pokemon like Grass Knot Tapu Koko and Kyurem-B, but it falls short against most Ice-types and Choice Specs Keldeo, which are handled much easier with a physically defensive spread and much harder for the Ground team to cover otherwise. Finally, Earthquake could be used over Earth Power with a Relaxed nature if Calm Mind Keldeo really bothers your team, but Earth Power's generally superior usefulness greatly outweighs the specific utility of Earthquake. With Earthquake, Gastrodon also cannot outspeed or 2HKO Toxapex anymore, which means it has to switch out and potentially risk a teammate getting poisoned by Toxic Spikes or burned by Scald.
Water
Ice Beam allows Gastrodon to hit Tapu Bulu on the switch, preventing it from freely switching in. However, if Gastrodon runs Ice Beam it has to forgo Scald, which would otherwise allow Gastrodon to cripple physical attackers such as Bisharp.
Checks and Counters
Ground
Grass-types: Apart from possible Scald burns, most Grass-type Pokemon like Mega Venusaur, Tapu Bulu, and Ferrothorn easily tank Gastrodon's moves and can easily KO it or cripple one of its teammates with their Grass-type STAB moves. On top of that, some Pokemon like Volcarona, Mega Charizard Y, and Alolan Raichu carry Grass-type coverage moves to beat Gastrodon and some other Water-types. Also, since all of these Pokemon are faster than Gastrodon, they will KO it before it even moves.
Stallbreakers: Taunt users like Mew and Gliscor easily shut down Gastrodon by preventing it from using either Recover, Toxic, or any other status move.
Wallbreakers: Unless Gastrodon is using a specially defensive spread, strong special attackers like Kyurem-B and Hydreigon can easily plow through its weaker Special Defense. Moreover, even with the suggested physically defensive spread, Gastrodon is 2HKOed by powerful physical wallbreakers like Choice Band Excadrill, Diggersby, and Dragonite. However, since they cannot OHKO a healthy Gastrodon, those three Pokemon do fear being burned by Scald.
Toxic: Gastrodon's walling potential can be easily deterred with an opposing Toxic, as being badly poisoned cripples Gastrodon to the point where checking threats and simply staying alive become a heavy task.
Water
Grass-types: Grass-type Pokemon can threaten Gastrodon with their STAB attacks, which are 4x effective against it, and resist both of its STAB types.
Stallbreakers: Due to Gastrodon's low Speed, any Pokemon with a decent amount of bulk and access to Taunt can make Gastrodon near useless, as it relies on Toxic and Recover to be effective in battle.
Wallbreakers: Wallbreakers such as Choice Specs Hydreigon and Mega Gallade can easily cripple Gastrodon with their powerful STAB attacks and threaten to OHKO it with the smallest amount of chip.
Toxic: Gastrodon does not appreciate being poisoned by Toxic, as it severely limits its longevity in battle. However, common walls that spread Toxic such as Zapdos also do not appreciate being poisoned in return.
Setup Sweepers: Due to Gastrodon's passive nature, setup sweepers can use Gastrodon to set up, such as Double Dance Mew and Volcarona. However, they should be wary of Toxic, as it can severely limit their time in battle.
