name: Toxic Spikes (Dragon)
move 1: Toxic Spikes
move 2: Gunk Shot
move 3: Flip Turn
move 4: Protect
item: Black Sludge
ability: Adaptability
nature: Sassy
evs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
ivs: 24 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Toxic Spikes makes Dragalge an excellent pick for Dragon teams to further enhance their offensive presence, most notably against types such as Fairy, Ghost, and Normal. Its Poison typing also allows Dragalge to take Fairy-type attacks from foes like Tapu Fini and Choice Scarf Tapu Lele and remove opposing Toxic Spikes. With its typing and immense Special Defense, Dragalge can blanket check special attackers such as Tapu Koko, Nihilego, and Galarian Moltres, although Choice Specs Aegislash, for example, can 2HKO it. Adaptability-boosted Gunk Shot deals solid overall damage, nails the aforementioned Fairy-types, and threatens Calm Mind users such as Clefable and Hatterene because it's physical. Dragalge's low Speed lets it put Flip Turn to excellent use, bringing in teammates such as Kyurem and Hydreigon safely against Pokemon it underspeeds, such as Toxapex, that like to spread status. Protect scouts Choice-locked Pokemon, such as Tapu Lele, Jirachi, and Gengar, while providing an extra turn of Black Sludge recovery and Toxic Spikes damage. 24 Speed IVs along with a Sassy nature allow Dragalge to underspeed Toxapex, thus sponging its status-inflicting moves such as Scald and Toxic before pivoting with Flip Turn, while outspeeding Hatterene outside of Trick Room to 2HKO it.
Substitute users such as Kyurem and Hydreigon appreciate Toxic Spikes greatly, as it continually helps them break through types like Normal, Fairy, and Ground more consistently. Furthermore, Dragalge can act as a slow pivot for the two with Flip Turn. In return, Kyurem can crush Water-types that don't fear Dragalge such as Gastrodon and Toxapex with Freeze-Dry, while Hydreigon provides a Psychic immunity, and it takes advantage of Steel- and Poison-types such as Ferrothorn and Toxapex that switch into Dragalge. Choice Scarf Dragapult is an excellent revenge killer that threatens foes like Kingdra in rain, Choice Scarf Weavile, and Dragon Dance Dragapult with its almost unresisted STAB combination. Toxic Spikes from Dragalge enables Dragapult's Hex and puts defensive checks of Dragon Dance Dragapult, such as Kasib Berry Slowbro and Hippowdon, on a timer. Furthermore, its Ghost typing lets Dragapult spinblock against foes like Excadrill and Torkoal to keep Toxic Spikes up. Garchomp also benefits from Dragalge's slow pivoting abilities, taking advantage of Pokemon such as Toxapex and Klefki, which come in on Dragalge. Garchomp can also utilize a Choice Scarf set to threaten Choice Scarf Galarian Darmanitan, Cinderace, and Zeraora. Latias provides a Ground immunity and runs Healing Wish, which lets Dragalge have a second chance in checking Tapu Lele or Tapu Fini. Duraludon is another good partner for Dragalge, as the duo forms a good defensive backbone thanks to Duraludon's good physical bulk. Thanks to its Steel typing, Duraludon can switch into Choice Scarf Jirachi's Iron Head and threaten it with Thunder Wave, and it handles Physical Fairy- and Ice-types such as Azumarill, Mimikyu, Choice Scarf Cloyster, and Weavile. Dragonite provides a Ground immunity to check Mold Breaker Excadrill, and it can either take advantage of Toxic Spikes wearing down walls with a Dragon Dance set or provide Defog support with a defensive set.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Dragon
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Draco Meteor is an option over Protect, allowing Dragalge to catch Poison-resistant Pokemon such as Garchomp, Toxapex, and Dragapult switching in on Gunk Shot. However, the most common switch-ins to Dragalge are Steel-types such as Klefki and Ferrothorn and general walls such as Gastrodon, which do not mind Draco Meteor either. Because teams like Psychic and Ground teams have Poison-types that absorb Toxic Spikes, a set with Rest, Sleep Talk, Gunk Shot, and Flip Turn may be considered for more longevity. However, Toxic Spikes goes a long way against types such as Normal and Fairy, easing would-be difficult matchups for Dragon teams. Payapa Berry may be used to properly check Tapu Lele and Volcarona, which may otherwise remove Dragalge with their Psychic-type attacks, but the lack of Black Sludge recovery makes it easier to wear down.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Perish Song, 419696], [Neko, 542526]]
- Dragon analysis by: [[Perish Song, 419696], [Neko, 542526]]
- Quality checked by: [[Havens, 391540], [mushamu, 362454], [roxie, 481576]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Astra, 240732], [Adeleine, 517429]]
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