[OVERVIEW]
* Dondozo is an extremely bulky Pokemon that when combined with Tatsugiri's Commander becomes very hard to deal with both offensively and defensively. It boasts good matchups against metagame staples Incineroar, Flutter Mane, Landorus, and, to an extent, Urshifu-R.
* Dondozo's most common teammates are two cores of two: Dragonite and Chien-Pao is one, and the other is Chi-Yu and Flutter Mane. Together they form a team archetype popularly referred to as "2-2-2". These cores complement one another well, covering for each other's weaknesses; for example, Flutter Mane and Chi-Yu can deal with Urshifu-R, Rillaboom, Iron Hands, and Dragon-types such as Archaludon and Latias, while Dondozo beats Incineroar. Dondozo is also utilized on teams with Tornadus and Glimmora. Tornadus provides it with Tailwind that makes it effectively impossible to outspeed once it swallows Tatsugiri. Glimmora chips down teams with poison via Toxic Debris, putting them on a timer against boosted Dondozo.
* Dondozo should be used thoughtfully and manoeuvred into advantageous situations, as when combined with Tatsugiri, Dondozo is the only Pokemon of the two that can attack which can be exploited by opponents. When boosted, Dondozo struggles against Follow Me Ogerpon-W, both Urshifu formes, and, without Terastallization, Rillaboom.
[SET]
Commander Sweeper (Dondozo) @ Leftovers / Rocky Helmet
Ability: Oblivious / Unaware
Level: 50
Tera Type: Grass / Dragon
EVs: 12 HP / 76 Atk / 20 Def / 164 SpD / 236 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Wave Crash
- Order Up
- Earthquake / Substitute
- Protect
[SET COMMENTS]
* Boosted Wave Crash 2HKOes or OHKOes nearly the entire metagame. This is especially potent when used with Oblivious, as it allows Dondozo to completely ignore Intimidate cycling from the likes of Incineroar and Landorus-T. However, Unaware allows Dondozo to ignore boosts in the face of Nasty Plot Gholdengo and other Dondozo.
* Order Up is usually used alongside Tatsugiri-C to boost Dondozo's already raised Attack even higher, turning it into a nuke. However, Tatsugiri-S can be used to give Dondozo Speed boosts when it uses Order Up, allowing it to outspeed every relevant Pokemon in the metagame.
* Earthquake provides a way to get around Follow Me Ogerpon-W and comes with the added benefit of hitting Iron Hands hard.
* Substitute can be utilized over Earthquake on teams with a good Ogerpon-W matchup as it allows Dondozo to punish passive plays like using Protect and switching while also allowing it to waste turns of Trick Room and have an easier time against Iron Crown's Psychic Terrain-boosted assaults.
* Leftovers increases Dondozo's longevity against both the Urshifu formes and Chien-Pao and notably combined with Rillaboom's Grassy Terrain to give it further recovery. Rocky Helmet allows Dondozo to punish the aforementioned Pokemon heavily while also discouraging Fake Out from Incineroar and Rillaboom.
* The Speed EVs allow it to outrun maximum Speed Landorus at +2 and, after a Speed-boosting Order Up, Flutter Mane and Chien-Pao.
* The given Defense investment allows Dondozo to never be 2HKOed by Chien-Pao's Sacred Sword or Mystic Water Urshifu-R's Tera Water-boosted Surging Strikes in rain.
* The Special Defense investment lets Dondozo never be 2HKOed by Choice Specs Flutter Mane's Tera Fairy-boosted Moonblast, Choice Specs Chi-Yu's Dark Pulse, or Iron Crown's Modest Special Attack Booster Energy Expanding Force under Psychic Terrain.
* Tera Grass improves Dondozo's matchup against Rillaboom and Iron Hands while also letting it win the mirror matchup against other Dondozo. Alternatively, Tera Dragon gives Dondozo useful resistances to Grass and Electric while maintaining its Fire and Water resistances; it also boosts Order Up's power to a high level, letting Dondozo 2HKO just about any Pokemon in the metagame. Tera Dragon does make Dondozo more vulnerable to Flutter Mane, but that can be played around with careful positioning and Speed control.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sole-survivor.518634/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lameliarleo.641287/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/wrathoftheleopard.511181/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/therealbigc.532450/
[OVERVIEW]
* Tatsugiri is Dondozo's partner-in-crime, used almost exclusively for the purpose of boosting Dondozo via Commander; it should not be used outside of this role due to its low stats and lackluster movepool.
* Tatsugiri's only uses other than boosting Dondozo come in the form of Icy Wind and being able to close out games with Draco Meteor.
[SET]
Choiced Attacker (Tatsugiri) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Commander
Level: 50
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 44 HP / 196 Def / 76 SpA / 4 SpD / 188 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Muddy Water
- Draco Meteor
- Icy Wind
- Helping Hand / Sleep Talk / Tera Blast
[SET COMMENTS]
* Muddy Water and Draco Meteor can finish off teams weakened by Dondozo and its allies while Icy Wind provides speed control.
* Sleep Talk lets Tatsugiri get around Spore from Amoonguss while Tera Blast Steel does good damage against Flutter Mane.
* Choice Scarf with the given Speed investment lets Tatsugiri get the jump on Chien-Pao and Flutter Mane.
* The Defense EVs let Tatsugiri always survive an Adamant Chien-Pao Icicle Crash and almost always take a maximum Attack Adamant Urshifu Close Combat.
* Tera Steel gives Tatsugiri resistances to Dragon and Fairy, notably Raging Bolt and Flutter Mane.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sole-survivor.518634/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lameliarleo.641287/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/wrathoftheleopard.511181/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/therealbigc.532450/
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