[OVERVIEW]
Dugtrio, at first glance, is thoroughly outclassed by Dugtrio Alola, which sports a much better defensive typing and marginally better bulk, making it a much better check to Electric-types. However it still clings to some viability due to its higher speed tier, which allows it to use an Adamant nature and still outspeed the majority of the tier, increasing its ability to wallbreak and require less damage on its checks to win. Alternatively, Dugtrio outspeeds Starmie, Alolan Dugtrio, and various other Pokemon with a Jolly nature, which also allows it to reliably move before other base 110s like Dugtrio Alola and Gengar and OHKO them. While the resistance to U-turn and Toxic immunity from Dugtrio Alola usually outweighs the higher speed Dugtrio offers, Dugtrio's increased attack or speed can be the best option for some teams.
[SET]
name: Bald
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Sucker Punch
item: No Item
nature: Jolly / Adamant
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Information
========
Earthquake is largly unresisted by the tier and Dugtrio's best breaking tool, it is favored to 2HKO Melmetal after Stealth Rock, and can 2HKO mew after 2 rounds of Stealth Rock damage. Rock Slide provides much needed coverage for ground immunities, capable of 2HKOing Zapdos and Dragonite after Stealth Rock. Toxic is the best way for Dugtrio to punish switch-ins like Impish Mew, which is vital for it to be able to break past it later. Sucker Punch is often important for pokemon like Mega Alakazam, Mega Beedrill, and Cloyster provided they take enough chip damage, letting Dugtrio serve as a line of defense against fast threatening sweepers. An Adamant nature provides Dugtrio with impressive power, with Adamant Earthquake 2HKOing a lightly damaged Mew after Stealth Rock- however, a Jolly nature vitally allows Dugtrio to outspeed Gengar, Starmie, Alolan Persian, Dodrio, and a boosted Omastar.
Usage Tips
========
Unlike Dugtrio-Alola, Dugtrio struggles to get onto the field safely in almost any scenario due to its lower bulk and fewer resistances. It's possible to attempt to switch into Electric-type moves, but this is risky because of how much Dugtrio will take from any other move, including Zapdos U-turn, which will lead to it easily being forced out in addition to taking a large amount of damage. As such, you should play proactively and aggressive with Dugtrio to maximize its breaking opportunities. This can be done using U-turn support, or by switching into status moves like Stealth Rock, Toxic, and Thunder Wave, or Pokemon trying to recover health such as Zapdos or Chansey. Dugtrio can also be a very potent revenge killer when a pokemon is in range of its attacks, as it can often claim a kill with proper prediction due to how difficult it is to switch into.
Team Options
========
Dugtrio is too frail to function as a Stealth Rock setter, yet highly appreciates having them on the field. Teams using it should use Mew to set rocks, as it does not overlap as a Ground-Type and is very reliable at setting the hazard. Dugtrio forms an amazing offensive core with Gengar, as it can OHKO Gengar's answers in Alolan Muk and Chansey, and Gengar forces out Dugtrio's most common answer in Mew, getting Stealth Rock damage on it and therefore weakening one of Dugtrio's switch-ins. Mega-Alakazam can be used to similar effect, and thrives alongside the Dugtrio + Gengar combination.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Dugtrio has an extremely limited movepool, it is not recommended to explore outside of the listed moves. Substitute could be used on a sack to break even more of the opponent's team, but overall is a very poor choice, as Zapdos U-turn will break a sub, Double Iron Bash from Melmetal will OHKO you through a sub, and any Pokémon likely to use a status move can just as easily attack Dugtrio for massive damage.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Faster Pokémon**: Fast megas like Mega Aerodactyl, Mega Beedrill, and Mega Alakazam outspeed and OHKO Dugtrio easily, forcing it out and getting the opportunity to wallbreak. Starmie and Gengar can also do this if Dugtrio has an Adamant nature. However, all of these Pokémon should respect Sucker Punch, as many of them take heavy damage from it.
**Mew and Bulky Water-types**: Mew is the only Pokemon that can consistently come in on Dugtrio throughout a game, as it cannot be 2HKOd by Earthquake and can heal off the damage- however, even Mew must be kept in perfect condition to not be in danger of Adamant Dugtrio's Earthquake. Poliwrath, Mega Gyarados and Mega Blastoise take little from EQ and immediately force Dugtrio out, but they cannot heal this damage and often would prefer not to take it.
**Bulky Grass-types**: Alolan Exeggutor easily stomachs anything Dugtrio can throw at it several times over and threatens it with an OHKO in return. Mega Venusaur doesn't take Earthquake as comfortably, but it can happily win a one-on-one versus Dugtrio.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Collette, 520031]]
- Quality checked by: [[juoean, 486979], [Eve, 375272]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]
Dugtrio, at first glance, is thoroughly outclassed by Dugtrio Alola, which sports a much better defensive typing and marginally better bulk, making it a much better check to Electric-types. However it still clings to some viability due to its higher speed tier, which allows it to use an Adamant nature and still outspeed the majority of the tier, increasing its ability to wallbreak and require less damage on its checks to win. Alternatively, Dugtrio outspeeds Starmie, Alolan Dugtrio, and various other Pokemon with a Jolly nature, which also allows it to reliably move before other base 110s like Dugtrio Alola and Gengar and OHKO them. While the resistance to U-turn and Toxic immunity from Dugtrio Alola usually outweighs the higher speed Dugtrio offers, Dugtrio's increased attack or speed can be the best option for some teams.
[SET]
name: Bald
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Sucker Punch
item: No Item
nature: Jolly / Adamant
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Information
========
Earthquake is largly unresisted by the tier and Dugtrio's best breaking tool, it is favored to 2HKO Melmetal after Stealth Rock, and can 2HKO mew after 2 rounds of Stealth Rock damage. Rock Slide provides much needed coverage for ground immunities, capable of 2HKOing Zapdos and Dragonite after Stealth Rock. Toxic is the best way for Dugtrio to punish switch-ins like Impish Mew, which is vital for it to be able to break past it later. Sucker Punch is often important for pokemon like Mega Alakazam, Mega Beedrill, and Cloyster provided they take enough chip damage, letting Dugtrio serve as a line of defense against fast threatening sweepers. An Adamant nature provides Dugtrio with impressive power, with Adamant Earthquake 2HKOing a lightly damaged Mew after Stealth Rock- however, a Jolly nature vitally allows Dugtrio to outspeed Gengar, Starmie, Alolan Persian, Dodrio, and a boosted Omastar.
Usage Tips
========
Unlike Dugtrio-Alola, Dugtrio struggles to get onto the field safely in almost any scenario due to its lower bulk and fewer resistances. It's possible to attempt to switch into Electric-type moves, but this is risky because of how much Dugtrio will take from any other move, including Zapdos U-turn, which will lead to it easily being forced out in addition to taking a large amount of damage. As such, you should play proactively and aggressive with Dugtrio to maximize its breaking opportunities. This can be done using U-turn support, or by switching into status moves like Stealth Rock, Toxic, and Thunder Wave, or Pokemon trying to recover health such as Zapdos or Chansey. Dugtrio can also be a very potent revenge killer when a pokemon is in range of its attacks, as it can often claim a kill with proper prediction due to how difficult it is to switch into.
Team Options
========
Dugtrio is too frail to function as a Stealth Rock setter, yet highly appreciates having them on the field. Teams using it should use Mew to set rocks, as it does not overlap as a Ground-Type and is very reliable at setting the hazard. Dugtrio forms an amazing offensive core with Gengar, as it can OHKO Gengar's answers in Alolan Muk and Chansey, and Gengar forces out Dugtrio's most common answer in Mew, getting Stealth Rock damage on it and therefore weakening one of Dugtrio's switch-ins. Mega-Alakazam can be used to similar effect, and thrives alongside the Dugtrio + Gengar combination.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Dugtrio has an extremely limited movepool, it is not recommended to explore outside of the listed moves. Substitute could be used on a sack to break even more of the opponent's team, but overall is a very poor choice, as Zapdos U-turn will break a sub, Double Iron Bash from Melmetal will OHKO you through a sub, and any Pokémon likely to use a status move can just as easily attack Dugtrio for massive damage.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Faster Pokémon**: Fast megas like Mega Aerodactyl, Mega Beedrill, and Mega Alakazam outspeed and OHKO Dugtrio easily, forcing it out and getting the opportunity to wallbreak. Starmie and Gengar can also do this if Dugtrio has an Adamant nature. However, all of these Pokémon should respect Sucker Punch, as many of them take heavy damage from it.
**Mew and Bulky Water-types**: Mew is the only Pokemon that can consistently come in on Dugtrio throughout a game, as it cannot be 2HKOd by Earthquake and can heal off the damage- however, even Mew must be kept in perfect condition to not be in danger of Adamant Dugtrio's Earthquake. Poliwrath, Mega Gyarados and Mega Blastoise take little from EQ and immediately force Dugtrio out, but they cannot heal this damage and often would prefer not to take it.
**Bulky Grass-types**: Alolan Exeggutor easily stomachs anything Dugtrio can throw at it several times over and threatens it with an OHKO in return. Mega Venusaur doesn't take Earthquake as comfortably, but it can happily win a one-on-one versus Dugtrio.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Collette, 520031]]
- Quality checked by: [[juoean, 486979], [Eve, 375272]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]
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