In-battle formes
Base
| Type | |
|---|---|
| Abilities | |
| Tier |
| HP: | 108 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attack: | 130 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Defense: | 95 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Atk: | 80 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Def: | 85 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Speed: | 102 |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Swords Dance
| Move 1 |
| ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Move 2 |
| ||||||||||||||||
| Move 3 |
| ||||||||||||||||
| Move 4 |
|
Set Details
Garchomp is CAP's premier wallbreaker, being able to sweep teams with its great STAB combination, above average Speed, and Swords Dance to boost its already stellar Attack. Scale Shot makes it nearly impossible to revenge kill, especially thanks to its good natural bulk, while also doubling up as a decently strong STAB move. Fire Fang allows Garchomp to break past the few Pokemon that resist its STAB combination, namely Corviknight, Equilibra, and Jumbao, while also being an effective tool to handle Ferrothorn. Stone Edge is an option to immediately dispose of Flying-types such as Mandibuzz and Zapdos. Leftovers provides more longevity, while a Life Orb boosts Garchomp's firepower and lets it blow past Clefable and Equilibra.
Garchomp is a very self-sufficient Pokemon, helping its teammates moreso than getting help from them. Regardless, Future Sight support from Slowking or Slowbro is appreciated to prevent physical walls such as Tomohawk and Arghonaut from immediately switching in. Jumbao is another good partner, breaking past physical walls with its strong special attacks and potentially providing Drought for a stronger Fire Fang or Healing Wish support. Stealth Rock setters like Heatran and Tyranitar can take Ice-type moves to cover one of Garchomp's core weaknesses. Heatran also covers the Fairy-type matchup and can use Taunt on walls such as Tomohawk and Zapdos to prevent them from recovering their HP. Because Rillaboom can revenge kill -1 Defense Garchomp, Zapdos and Corviknight are good to resist its Grassy Glide, and they can also provide Defog. In return, Garchomp offensively checks Heatran, which threatens both of them. In hyper offense builds, Volcarona and Cawmodore both form good wallbreaking cores with Garchomp, with Volcarona disposing of Garchomp's checks in Jumbao and Tomohawk while Garchomp breaks through Heatran and Blissey. Cawmodore and Garchomp overwhelm their shared checks through repeated hits.
Defensive Stealth Rock
| Move 1 |
| ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Move 2 |
| ||||||||
| Move 3 | |||||||||
| Move 4 |
| Item | |
|---|---|
| Ability | |
| Nature |
|
| EVs |
|
Set Details
Defensive Garchomp has a great defensive typing, great natural bulk, and good Speed, allowing it to set up Stealth Rock quite comfortably despite not having reliable recovery. Rough Skin and Rocky Helmet hurt contact-reliant physical attackers such as Zeraora and Rillaboom as well as U-turn and Knock Off users like Tornadus-T. Toxic allows Garchomp to cripple common entry hazard removers such as Tomohawk, Mandibuzz, Zapdos, and Tornadus-T, which are immune to Earthquake, and the bulky Water- and Ground-types that want to switch into it. Endure works extremely well with the poison and contact damage that Garchomp deals. Another option is Rest, which gives Garchomp longevity while also turning it into a pseudo-status absorber against various foes it switches into, such as Heatran and Toxapex. Alternatively, Dragon Tail phazes foes and forces them to take damage from Stealth Rock. Fire-type coverage can be run to hit Steel-types such as Equilibra and Corviknight, which are otherwise immune to Garchomp's moveset and can remove Stealth Rock for free as it switches out. 120 Speed EVs with an Impish nature allow Garchomp to outspeed Adamant Rillaboom, while a Jolly nature allows it to outspeed Jolly Rillaboom, Timid Heatran, and Zapdos.
Defensive Garchomp appreciates Knock Off support to get the most mileage out of its Stealth Rock by removing foes' Heavy-Duty Boots and Leftovers. Ferrothorn and Arghonaut both have Knock Off and appreciate Garchomp pressuring Defog users so they can set up their own hazards. Garchomp struggles against Fairy-types, so partners like Heatran, Corviknight, and Scizor are appreciated. Blissey is a great partner that can provide cleric support and sponge the commonly special Ice- and Dragon-type attacks Garchomp fears. In exchange, Garchomp can take on the physical attackers that threaten Blissey and most likely chip them as they make contact with it. Bulky Water-types like Slowking and Arghonaut and Flying-types like Tornadus-T all appreciate Garchomp checking Electric-type pivots such as Zeraora and Zapdos extremely well.
Checks and Counters
Fairy-types: Jumbao, Clefable, and Tapu Fini can all switch in on Garchomp and take a hit while threatening it out with Moonblast, but they still have to be careful of Life Orb Swords Dance sets. They also block Scale Shot and the Speed boost it provides so Garchomp can be more easily revenge killed. Kerfluffle has the option of switching in and threatening to OHKO, but it takes heavy damage from Earthquake.
Physically Bulky Pokemon: Tomohawk, Hippowdon, Slowbro, and Arghonaut all can take Garchomp's physical hits and force it out by either phazing it, threatening it with status, or straight up winning against it. None of them appreciate the defensive set's Toxic, though.
Ice-type moves: Syclant and Weavile both can outspeed and force out Garchomp, and they can even revenge kill it after Scale Shot with STAB Ice Shard. Ice Beam from various special attackers such as Krilowatt and Gastrodon will similarly end with Garchomp being KOed.
Rillaboom: Not only can Rillaboom revenge kill Swords Dance sets thanks to Grassy Glide and Scale Shot lowering Garchomp's Defense, but its Grassy Terrain lowers Earthquake's power. Defensive Garchomp will almost trade with it through recoil, however, so it has to be careful.
