Hello again gentlemen and ladies, today I would like to present to you a counter to protect us from the threat of the vile construction worker that is Gurdurr. While many of my peers will present more effective and commonplace counters allow me to re-introduce you to a forgotten member of our tier. The mustached one himself, Swalot!
You honestly must be mistaken, I am not fast, bulky or strong. What can I honestly do to stop an I-beam enthusiast?
"Well good sir, you are both unexpected and deserving of a little time in the sun."
So this is really happening?
"Yes."
AWESOME!
Now with those introductions out of the way it is now time to explain this most perplexing of choices. For while Swalot's stats are a tad on the mediocre side, against this middle evolutionary hoodlum Swalot's typing is more than ideal and his move pool allows for him to out preform Gurdurr in honorable one-on-one combat.
Here is the set we will be using to defeat the bulky middle child of the Conkledurr family,
The above EV spread and nature allows Swalot to physically withstand Gurdurr and due to typing and EVs Swalot does not need to worry about losing out against the vigor stealing Drain Punch.
The ability Sticky Hold was chosen for one primary reason, Swlaot will always have HP recovery each turn, which allows it to whittle down the Gurdurr even more. While this does come at the cost of more damage from Knock Off, I felt that HP recovery was more important when you are stuck in a grinding battle.
The moves chosen also succeed in breaking the body of Gurdurr for two reasons, Acid Spray not only allows for Swalot's STAB and recovery moves to hit harder, but can also force Gurdurr to switch to prevent it from being the target of more status debuffs or powerful Special moves. Swalot's other moves were chosen for the fact that he needs a STAB, Sludge Bomb, and a form to gain additional recovery, Giga Drain. Hidden Power Fire is used to provide coverage against any Steel-Type switch-ins who resist or are immune to Swalot's other attacks.
Finally, it is time to prove that our sturdy, sapient sludge monster is ready for this job by way of calculations. For these calculations we will be assuming that Swalot switched into Gurdurr, there by giving the brute a free Bulk Up.
Our friend, Swalot, emerges from his spherical home to find a brawny pokemon doing bench presses with an I-Beam. Confused, terrified and excited about finally getting to be used in a battle our friend strikes a fighting pose.
Turn 1:
0 SpA Swalot Acid Spray vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Eviolite Gurdurr: 39-46 (10.4 - 12.2%) -- possible 9HKO
+1 252+ Atk Gurdurr Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Swalot: 122-144 (30.1 - 35.6%) -- guaranteed 4HKO after Black Sludge recovery
Our friend, promptly vomits from the stress as Gurdurr tries to steal Swalot's lunch. It sadly does not go as planned, for now acid covers Gurdurr.
Turn 2:
0 SpA Swalot Sludge Bomb vs. -2 252 HP / 4 SpD Eviolite Gurdurr: 172-204 (45.9 - 54.5%) -- 54.3% chance to 2HKO
+1 252+ Atk Gurdurr Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Swalot: 122-144 (30.1 - 35.6%) -- guaranteed 4HKO after Black Sludge recovery
Swalot, embarrassed and furious, now raises to his full size and prepares to strike down the bully that has attempted to take his morsels. With many tools at his disposal Swalot is free to dispatch Gurdurr however Swalot sees fit.
To conclude this, here are some miscellaneous calculations to show that Gurdurr's best moves were put forward.
+1 252+ Atk Gurdurr Drain Punch vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Swalot: 70-83 (17.3 - 20.5%) -- possible 7HKO after Black Sludge recovery
+1 252+ Atk Gurdurr Mach Punch vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Swalot: 38-45 (9.4 - 11.1%) -- possibly the worst move ever
Gurdurr is thwarted and the threat removed for your team. Not only have we countered the threat, but we have also brought forward one of the more Underused pokemon of the NU tier.
You honestly must be mistaken, I am not fast, bulky or strong. What can I honestly do to stop an I-beam enthusiast?
"Well good sir, you are both unexpected and deserving of a little time in the sun."
So this is really happening?
"Yes."
AWESOME!
Here is the set we will be using to defeat the bulky middle child of the Conkledurr family,
Swalot @ Black Sludge
Ability: Sticky Hold
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
- Acid Spray
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Sludge Bomb
The set above may seem rather odd, but after running calculations it works for several reasons. First Swalots decent HP stat allows it to endure some pretty vicious hits, particularly Knock-Off, which is further aided by the fact that his poison typing reduces Gurdurr's main attacking move, Drain Punch.Ability: Sticky Hold
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
- Acid Spray
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Sludge Bomb
The above EV spread and nature allows Swalot to physically withstand Gurdurr and due to typing and EVs Swalot does not need to worry about losing out against the vigor stealing Drain Punch.
The ability Sticky Hold was chosen for one primary reason, Swlaot will always have HP recovery each turn, which allows it to whittle down the Gurdurr even more. While this does come at the cost of more damage from Knock Off, I felt that HP recovery was more important when you are stuck in a grinding battle.
The moves chosen also succeed in breaking the body of Gurdurr for two reasons, Acid Spray not only allows for Swalot's STAB and recovery moves to hit harder, but can also force Gurdurr to switch to prevent it from being the target of more status debuffs or powerful Special moves. Swalot's other moves were chosen for the fact that he needs a STAB, Sludge Bomb, and a form to gain additional recovery, Giga Drain. Hidden Power Fire is used to provide coverage against any Steel-Type switch-ins who resist or are immune to Swalot's other attacks.
Finally, it is time to prove that our sturdy, sapient sludge monster is ready for this job by way of calculations. For these calculations we will be assuming that Swalot switched into Gurdurr, there by giving the brute a free Bulk Up.
Our friend, Swalot, emerges from his spherical home to find a brawny pokemon doing bench presses with an I-Beam. Confused, terrified and excited about finally getting to be used in a battle our friend strikes a fighting pose.
Turn 1:
0 SpA Swalot Acid Spray vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Eviolite Gurdurr: 39-46 (10.4 - 12.2%) -- possible 9HKO
+1 252+ Atk Gurdurr Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Swalot: 122-144 (30.1 - 35.6%) -- guaranteed 4HKO after Black Sludge recovery
Our friend, promptly vomits from the stress as Gurdurr tries to steal Swalot's lunch. It sadly does not go as planned, for now acid covers Gurdurr.
Turn 2:
0 SpA Swalot Sludge Bomb vs. -2 252 HP / 4 SpD Eviolite Gurdurr: 172-204 (45.9 - 54.5%) -- 54.3% chance to 2HKO
Or
0 SpA Swalot Giga Drain vs. -2 252 HP / 4 SpD Eviolite Gurdurr: 96-114 (25.6 - 30.4%) -- guaranteed 4HKO
+1 252+ Atk Gurdurr Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Swalot: 122-144 (30.1 - 35.6%) -- guaranteed 4HKO after Black Sludge recovery
Swalot, embarrassed and furious, now raises to his full size and prepares to strike down the bully that has attempted to take his morsels. With many tools at his disposal Swalot is free to dispatch Gurdurr however Swalot sees fit.
To conclude this, here are some miscellaneous calculations to show that Gurdurr's best moves were put forward.
+1 252+ Atk Gurdurr Drain Punch vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Swalot: 70-83 (17.3 - 20.5%) -- possible 7HKO after Black Sludge recovery
+1 252+ Atk Gurdurr Mach Punch vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Swalot: 38-45 (9.4 - 11.1%) -- possibly the worst move ever
Gurdurr is thwarted and the threat removed for your team. Not only have we countered the threat, but we have also brought forward one of the more Underused pokemon of the NU tier.
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