[OVERVIEW]
Ferrothorn serves well as a bulky attacker that's capable of checking multiple top-tier threats. Thanks to its nifty defensive typing and high bulk, Ferrothorn adds defensive value to a team by being able to check Mega Kangaskhan, Azumarill, Mega Diancie, Latios, and the rain archetype, while its ability Iron Barbs lets it apply chip damage on contact attackers, the main example beingMega Kangaskhan. Ferrothorn also poses a decent threat as an attacker thanks to its respectable Attack stat and powerful STAB attacks in Power Whip and Gyro Ball. Its low Speed is a mixed bag; it makes Ferrothorn a notable threat under Trick Room but leaves it the slowest Pokemon in the entire metagame outside of it. Moreover, Ferrothorn has a glaring weakness to Steel- and Fire-types, as it can't threaten them with any attack, making it setup bait for Substitute users such as Heatran and Aegislash; also, its 4x weakness to Fire leaves it easily forced out by the numerous Fire-types in the metagame such as Mega Charizard Y, Volcanion, and Heatran.
[SET]
Name: Bulky Attacker
move 1: Power Whip
move 2: Gyro Ball / Thunder Wave
move 3: Leech Seed
move 4: Protect
item: Leftovers / Rocky Helmet
ability: Iron Barbs
nature: Brave
evs: 252 HP / 176 Atk / 80 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=======
Power Whip and Gyro Ball are Ferrothorn's STAB attacks; the former has better coverage and reliable damage output, while the latter is useful for hitting Dragon-types such as Latios and Kyurem-B, Mega Diancie, and other speedy threats such as Choice Scarf Landorus-T and Gengar. Thunder Wave can be used over Gyro Ball to cripple fast threats such as Mega Kangaskhan, Latios, and Hydreigon, which would allow Ferrothorn's partners to deal with them more easily. Leech Seed allows Ferrothorn to slowly whittle down foes while gaining valuable recovery; this applies pressure and makes Ferrothorn harder to KO. Protect allows Ferrothorn to position and defend itself while letting a partner take out threats.
Set Details
=======
Maximum HP and 80 Defense EVs allow Ferrothorn to survive a Close Combat from Virizion or two Mach Punches from Breloom. The rest of the EVs are invested into Attack, which, in conjunction with a Brave nature, maximizes Ferrothorn's offensive presence. 0 Speed IVs should be used in order to maximize Gyro Ball's damage output and make Ferrothorn's matchup against Trick Room better. Leftovers is used in order to boost Ferrothorn's longevity with passive recovery, making it harder to take down, especially if Leech Seed is also in play. Rocky Helmet is also a useful item, allowing Ferrothorn to punish contact attackers such as Mega Kangaskhan harder than it would with just Iron Barbs.
Usage Tips
=======
Ferrothorn should be picked mostly for its ability to supplement the defensive backbone of any team with its wide array of resistances and high bulk. It excels at switching into physical attacks, particularly those that make contact because of its Iron Barbs ability, which enables it to punish attackers like Mega Kangaskhan and Azumarill, especially if it's using Rocky Helmet. Ferrothorn also works well as a pivot, being useful for taking a hit as necessary for its team. Once opposing Fire- and Fighting-types have been dealt with, Ferrothorn can function as a wincon by simply stalling out foes with Leech Seed and Protect, generally healing more HP than it is losing.
Team Options
=======
Pokemon that have trouble against Water-types such as Mega Diancie and Heatran appreciate Ferrothorn's ability to deal with them with ease. Teammates that can deal with opposing Fire-types are good to have; Water-types such as Keldeo, Volcanion, and Politoed can take out most Fire-type threats, with the latter even bringing rain to neuter them, while Landorus-T can take Fire-types out with either Earthquake or Rock Slide. Fighting- and Fire-types such as Mega Charizard Y, Keldeo, and Volcanion, as well as Landorus-T, are also handy to have in order to take out the Steel-types that wall Ferrothorn.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Stealth Rock can be useful in order to secure some KOs and put intense pressure on Mega Charizard Y and Talonflame. Lum Berry can be nifty to let Ferrothorn absorb status once, being useful in particular when trying to KO Rotom-W with Power Whip without getting burned. Chople Berry can be useful to take a Fighting-type attack once, letting it match up well against the likes of Keldeo and Conkeldurr. Knock Off lets Ferrothorn provide some utility by removing items.
Checks and Counters
==============
**Fire-type Pokemon**: Fire-types such as Mega Charizard Y and Heatran OHKO Ferrothorn while also walling it. Heatran in particular can easily set up a Substitute against it.
**Steel-type Pokemon**: Steel-types such as Aegislash, Mega Metagross, and the aforementioned Heatran wall Ferrothorn entirely. Both Heatran and Aegislash can easily set up a Substitute on Ferrothorn. Some Steel-types, such as Jirachi, do little back, however.
**Fighting-type Pokemon**: Fighting-type Pokemon such as Keldeo, Terrakion, and Conkeldurr can deal heavy damage to Ferrothorn with their powerful STAB attacks.
**Intimidate and Burns**: Both Intimidate and burns from the likes of Landorus-T, Gyarados, Rotom-W, and Gengar limit Ferrothorn's offensive presence, with burns also inflicting passive damage that limit Ferrothorn's longevity.
**Substitute**: Heatran and Aegislash can easily set up Substitutes against Ferrothorn, as it has no way of breaking them with its attacks. Substitute also blocks Leech Seed, potentially making Ferrothorn waste a turn.
Ferrothorn serves well as a bulky attacker that's capable of checking multiple top-tier threats. Thanks to its nifty defensive typing and high bulk, Ferrothorn adds defensive value to a team by being able to check Mega Kangaskhan, Azumarill, Mega Diancie, Latios, and the rain archetype, while its ability Iron Barbs lets it apply chip damage on contact attackers, the main example beingMega Kangaskhan. Ferrothorn also poses a decent threat as an attacker thanks to its respectable Attack stat and powerful STAB attacks in Power Whip and Gyro Ball. Its low Speed is a mixed bag; it makes Ferrothorn a notable threat under Trick Room but leaves it the slowest Pokemon in the entire metagame outside of it. Moreover, Ferrothorn has a glaring weakness to Steel- and Fire-types, as it can't threaten them with any attack, making it setup bait for Substitute users such as Heatran and Aegislash; also, its 4x weakness to Fire leaves it easily forced out by the numerous Fire-types in the metagame such as Mega Charizard Y, Volcanion, and Heatran.
[SET]
Name: Bulky Attacker
move 1: Power Whip
move 2: Gyro Ball / Thunder Wave
move 3: Leech Seed
move 4: Protect
item: Leftovers / Rocky Helmet
ability: Iron Barbs
nature: Brave
evs: 252 HP / 176 Atk / 80 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=======
Power Whip and Gyro Ball are Ferrothorn's STAB attacks; the former has better coverage and reliable damage output, while the latter is useful for hitting Dragon-types such as Latios and Kyurem-B, Mega Diancie, and other speedy threats such as Choice Scarf Landorus-T and Gengar. Thunder Wave can be used over Gyro Ball to cripple fast threats such as Mega Kangaskhan, Latios, and Hydreigon, which would allow Ferrothorn's partners to deal with them more easily. Leech Seed allows Ferrothorn to slowly whittle down foes while gaining valuable recovery; this applies pressure and makes Ferrothorn harder to KO. Protect allows Ferrothorn to position and defend itself while letting a partner take out threats.
Set Details
=======
Maximum HP and 80 Defense EVs allow Ferrothorn to survive a Close Combat from Virizion or two Mach Punches from Breloom. The rest of the EVs are invested into Attack, which, in conjunction with a Brave nature, maximizes Ferrothorn's offensive presence. 0 Speed IVs should be used in order to maximize Gyro Ball's damage output and make Ferrothorn's matchup against Trick Room better. Leftovers is used in order to boost Ferrothorn's longevity with passive recovery, making it harder to take down, especially if Leech Seed is also in play. Rocky Helmet is also a useful item, allowing Ferrothorn to punish contact attackers such as Mega Kangaskhan harder than it would with just Iron Barbs.
Usage Tips
=======
Ferrothorn should be picked mostly for its ability to supplement the defensive backbone of any team with its wide array of resistances and high bulk. It excels at switching into physical attacks, particularly those that make contact because of its Iron Barbs ability, which enables it to punish attackers like Mega Kangaskhan and Azumarill, especially if it's using Rocky Helmet. Ferrothorn also works well as a pivot, being useful for taking a hit as necessary for its team. Once opposing Fire- and Fighting-types have been dealt with, Ferrothorn can function as a wincon by simply stalling out foes with Leech Seed and Protect, generally healing more HP than it is losing.
Team Options
=======
Pokemon that have trouble against Water-types such as Mega Diancie and Heatran appreciate Ferrothorn's ability to deal with them with ease. Teammates that can deal with opposing Fire-types are good to have; Water-types such as Keldeo, Volcanion, and Politoed can take out most Fire-type threats, with the latter even bringing rain to neuter them, while Landorus-T can take Fire-types out with either Earthquake or Rock Slide. Fighting- and Fire-types such as Mega Charizard Y, Keldeo, and Volcanion, as well as Landorus-T, are also handy to have in order to take out the Steel-types that wall Ferrothorn.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Stealth Rock can be useful in order to secure some KOs and put intense pressure on Mega Charizard Y and Talonflame. Lum Berry can be nifty to let Ferrothorn absorb status once, being useful in particular when trying to KO Rotom-W with Power Whip without getting burned. Chople Berry can be useful to take a Fighting-type attack once, letting it match up well against the likes of Keldeo and Conkeldurr. Knock Off lets Ferrothorn provide some utility by removing items.
Checks and Counters
==============
**Fire-type Pokemon**: Fire-types such as Mega Charizard Y and Heatran OHKO Ferrothorn while also walling it. Heatran in particular can easily set up a Substitute against it.
**Steel-type Pokemon**: Steel-types such as Aegislash, Mega Metagross, and the aforementioned Heatran wall Ferrothorn entirely. Both Heatran and Aegislash can easily set up a Substitute on Ferrothorn. Some Steel-types, such as Jirachi, do little back, however.
**Fighting-type Pokemon**: Fighting-type Pokemon such as Keldeo, Terrakion, and Conkeldurr can deal heavy damage to Ferrothorn with their powerful STAB attacks.
**Intimidate and Burns**: Both Intimidate and burns from the likes of Landorus-T, Gyarados, Rotom-W, and Gengar limit Ferrothorn's offensive presence, with burns also inflicting passive damage that limit Ferrothorn's longevity.
**Substitute**: Heatran and Aegislash can easily set up Substitutes against Ferrothorn, as it has no way of breaking them with its attacks. Substitute also blocks Leech Seed, potentially making Ferrothorn waste a turn.
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