Pokémon Amoonguss

[DC]

Amoonguss

Base Stats: 114 HP | 85 Atk | 70 Def | 85 SpA | 80 SpD | 30 Spe
Abilities: Effect Spore | Regenerator (H)

Moves

Level Up Moves:
- [01] Absorb
- [01] Astonish
- [01] Growth
- [01] Stun Spore
- [12] Mega Drain
- [16] Synthesis
- [20] Clear Smog
- [24] Sweet Scent
- [28] Giga Drain
- [32] Ingrain
- [36] Toxic
- [42] Rage Powder
- [48] Solar Beam
- [54] Spore

TMs:
- [TM08] Hyper Beam
- [TM09] Giga Impact
- [TM11] Solar Beam
- [TM21] Rest
- [TM24] Snore
- [TM25] Protect
- [TM28] Giga Drain
- [TM31] Attract
- [TM33] Rain Dance
- [TM34] Sunny Day
- [TM39] Facade
- [TM57] Payback
- [TM74] Venoshock
- [TM76] Round
- [TM77] Hex
- [TM88] Grassy Terrain
- [TM98] Stomping Tantrum

TRs:
- [TR01] Body Slam
- [TR20] Substitute
- [TR22] Sludge Bomb
- [TR26] Endure
- [TR27] Sleep Talk
- [TR59] Seed Bomb
- [TR65] Energy Ball
- [TR77] Grass Knot
- [TR81] Foul Play
- [TR96] Pollen Puff

Egg Moves:
- Defense Curl
- Poison Powder
- Rollout
- Worry Seed

Transfer-Only Moves:
- Nature Power
- Gastro Acid
- Confide
- Double Team
- Swagger

Newly Obtained Moves: Pollen Puff, Hex

[Notable Moves]
- Spore
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
- Clear Smog
- Stun Spore
- Foul Play
- Stomping Tantrum
- Synthesis
- Toxic
- Worry Seed

[Overview]
[Pros]

• Possesses solid all-around bulk and typing, letting it function as a defensive wall that can limit the effectiveness of Pokemon such as Zeraora and Wish Teleport Clefable
• Regenerator offers reliable healing that allows Amoonguss to pivot while remaining healthy throughout the match
• Has various utility options and can spread status effectively

[Cons]

• Typing leaves it vulnerable to a plethora of threats that includes the likes of Volcarona, Kyurem, and Cinderace
• Loss of Hidden Power Fire means it is unable to threaten Steel-types
• Unimpressive base 30 Speed stat leaves it outsped by almost all Pokemon in the metagame

[Potential Move Set]

Defensive Pivot
Amoonguss @ Rocky Helmet / Black Sludge
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 176 Def / 80 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Spore
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb / Clear Smog
- Stun Spore / Foul Play / Synthesis

Spore is the primary reason for using Amoonguss, allowing it to put a non Grass-type to sleep and limiting that Pokemon's effectiveness. Giga Drain and Sludge Bomb form a formidable STAB move duo, threatening Seismitoad, Tangrowth, and Clefable. Clear Smog is a notable alternative over Sludge Bomb to prevent boosting from the likes of Iron Defense Kommo-o. Bulk Up Zeraora, and Calm Mind Primarina. Stun Spore provide speed control against faster threats such as Gengar and Bisharp that may attempt to switch into Amoonguss after a successful Spore. Alternatively, Foul Play punishes foes such as Dragon Dance Dragapult, Swords Dance Excadrill, and Swords Dance Aegislash that attempt to use Amoonguss as setup fodder. Synthesis is an option for Rocky Helmet sets to provide much more reliable recovery. Rocky Helmet provides crucial chip damage against physical attackers and punishes U-turn users such as Hydreigon and Mienshao while Black Sludge allots an extra source of recovery. The EV spread allows Amoonguss to live two Hydro Pumps from Choice Specs Primarina after Stealth Rocks while bolstering its physical defense to live +1 Dragon Darts from Dragapult. This set primarily fits on balanced and bulky offensive teams that appreciate Amoonguss's ability to spread status and function as a defensive pivot.

 

[Bombkirby]

I think Hex is worth considering since a statused target is pretty much guaranteed when using Amoonguss. Ghost hits some important popular Pokemon like Dragapult, which Amoonguss normally cannot deal with. It fights for the same niche slot as Foul Play though, but it is better against special attackers.

 

[DC]

I think Hex is worth considering since a statused target is pretty much guaranteed when using Amoonguss. Ghost hits some important popular Pokemon like Dragapult, which Amoonguss normally cannot deal with. It fights for the same niche slot as Foul Play though, but it is better against special attackers.

Thanks for the suggestion! I didn't put Hex in the fourth slot because the other three options are generally more reliable. A statused target is not always guaranteed when you are only running one status move in Spore. In the scenario that you presented about Dragapult, the damage output between the two moves is massive with Foul Play 2HKOing it while unboosted Hex does not. I'm also not sure that Hex would be better against special attackers since most special attackers are covered by your STAB moves and Foul Play.

 

[Bombkirby]

Thanks for the suggestion! I didn't put Hex in the fourth slot because the other three options are generally more reliable. A statused target is not always guaranteed when you are only running one status move in Spore. In the scenario that you presented about Dragapult, the damage output between the two moves is massive with Foul Play 2HKOing it while unboosted Hex does not. I'm also not sure that Hex would be better against special attackers since most special attackers are covered by your STAB moves and Foul Play.

True. I typically run Amoonguss with full SpAk EVs (namely for Giga Drain healing/Sludge Bomb to KO fairies), similar to the old offensive set on the BW Smogon page. In that scenario Hex performs better against a special Dragapult:

252+ SpA Amoonguss Hex (130 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Dragapult: 296-350 (93.3 - 110.4%) -- 62.5% chance to OHKO
0- Atk Amoonguss Foul Play vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Dragapult: 182-216 (57.4 - 68.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Foul play performs way better on Physical Dragapult though but the option for Hex is there to be used on other more binary Special Attacking Pokemon that shrug off Foul Play.