QC: Gary, dk, Finchinator
GP: Fireflame479 (lotiasite), CryoGyro
[OVERVIEW]
Ferrothorn is a premier hazard setter in the OU tier, as it has access to both Spikes and Stealth Rock. They are very important in pressuring opposing teams as they switch Pokemon, which is why Ferrothorn is so successful. Ferrothorn can also annoy other teams with moves like Leech Seed and Knock Off, which whittle or cripple opposing Pokemon. Thanks to solid defenses and an excellent Grass / Steel typing that provides plenty of resistances, it finds many opportunities to set up entry hazards or fire off moves to annoy the opposing team. Ferrothorn is naturally a good check to Pokemon such as Tapu Koko, Nihilego, Greninja lacking Hidden Power Fire, and Mega Metagross lacking Hammer Arm. While Ferrothorn is a very good Pokemon, it is extremely slow, which hampers its offensive presence, since it will practically always be outsped. Fortunately, it has high-Base Power STAB moves, so it is not completely passive, but it is still generally found on teams with more offensive partners. Ferrothorn is also 4x weak to Fire, so it should be wary of Hidden Power Fire from Pokemon like Greninja, and it is easily forced out by Heatran and other Fire-types.
[SET]
name: Hazard Setter
move 1: Spikes / Stealth Rock
move 2: Leech Seed
move 3: Power Whip
move 4: Knock Off / Gyro Ball / Protect
item: Leftovers
ability: Iron Barbs
nature: Impish / Relaxed
evs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Spikes allows Ferrothorn to pressure the opposing team via residual damage when switching. This is the recommended hazard, as Ferrothorn gets many opportunities to set it up, and the ability to stack layers allows it to use these free turns better than Stealth Rock variants. Stealth Rock is also an option to pressure the opposing team but is only recommended if you can't fit another Stealth Rock user on your team. Leech Seed provides Ferrothorn with a way to restore HP and is particularly helpful for wearing down Pokemon such as Heatran. Power Whip is the main STAB move due to its ability to OHKO Ash-Greninja and deal large amounts of damage to Tapu Fini and Manaphy. Knock Off removes the items of common switch-ins such as Heatran, Tangrowth, and Celesteela, which limits their effectiveness. Gyro Ball is another STAB option that hits Tapu Lele, Gengar, Tapu Bulu, and Latios much harder than Power Whip. Protect can be used to stall turns and gain extra recovery—which is great with Leech Seed—as well as scout for coverage moves. This is also very helpful against Mega Medicham's High Jump Kick.
Set Details
========
Maximum HP investment improves Ferrothorn's overall bulk, while 168 Special Defense EVs ensure that +3 Timid Manaphy's Ice Beam does not 2HKO it. The rest of the bulk is poured into Defense with an Impish nature (Relaxed with Gyro Ball). This helps Ferrothorn take physical attacks from Pokemon such as Mega Metagross. A Careful nature can be used to better check Ash-Greninja, although moves such as Landorus-T's Earthquake become harder to stomach. Leftovers is the optimal item for Ferrothorn, as it provides passive recovery and aids its longevity. Chople Berry is an alternate item that allows Ferrothorn to take a powerful Fighting-type move from Pokemon such as Mega Medicham, Alakazam, and Gengar. Chople Berry should be used with Thunder Wave, as it allows Ferrothorn to cripple these faster threats after surviving the hit, making it easier for the rest of your team to deal with them. Finally, Iron Barbs punishes physical attackers with chip damage.
Usage Tips
========
Switch in Ferrothorn on favorable circumstances, like when against weaker Pokemon such as Toxapex or Pokemon that it walls such as Tapu Koko. Use the early turns with Ferrothorn to set up entry hazards, because this pressures the opponent's entire team and in some cases forces in hazard removers. Leech Seed and Knock Off should be used to whittle down threats as they switch in, particularly if you predict big threats to switch in or if Ferrothorn has already set up hazards. Leech Seed should also be used to keep Ferrothorn healthy throughout the match so that it can stick around to check various threats or set up entry hazards again if they get removed. Generally, it is best not to sacrifice Ferrothorn until the opposing hazard remover has been weakened, if one's present at all.
Team Options
========
Landorus-T and Heatran can set up Stealth Rock, allowing Ferrothorn the freedom to run Spikes. Landorus and Ferrothorn together check a large amount of the metagame as well thanks to their solid type synergy. Greninja can defeat common entry hazard removers such as Zapdos and Mega Scizor, and provides a lot of offensive presence to complement Ferrothorn's more passive nature. Ash-Greninja and Keldeo are also good with Ferrothorn, as they threaten Fire-types. Zygarde is also strong against many Fire-types and appreciates the hazards Ferrothorn sets up, as they wear down many of its common checks. Ferrothorn can support its teammates by removing items like Assault Vest from Tangrowth and Leftovers from Tapu Fini that are forced to use Defog. Fast pivots like Tapu Koko and Tornadus-T provide speed control and momentum while taking advantage of the hazards that Ferrothorn sets up by forcing switches. Rotom-W relieves pressure from Ferrothorn by being an extra check to Pokemon such as Greninja and Mega Metagross while providing utility in Volt Switch. Fast wallbreakers such as Gengar and Swords Dance Garchomp appreciate having Spikes up to wear down the opposing team and provide offensive firepower that makes up for Ferrothorn's mediocre offensive presence.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A set with both Stealth Rock and Spikes can be used, but it generally limits your other options with Ferrothorn, makes it easier to switch into, and has a very bad matchup against prevalent Pokemon such as Zapdos. Rocky Helmet is an alternate item that helps to wear down physical attackers very quickly in conjunction with Iron Barbs. The main drawback is that Ferrothorn loses the passive recovery that it needs, and this makes the matchup against users of special or non-contact attacks such as Earthquake worse. Choice Band is another option to catch opponents off guard, as Ferrothorn has high-Base Power moves that can do reasonable damage to many switch-ins, and can lure pokemon such as Heatran with Bulldoze.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fire-types**: Heatran, Volcarona, Mega Charizard Y, Mega Charizard X, and Alolan Marowak are extremely threatening to Ferrothorn, as they OHKO it with their STAB moves. The special attackers in particular don't mind Ferrothorn's Iron Barbs.
**Electric-types**: Zapdos is one of the best counters to Ferrothorn, as it takes pitiful damage from all of Ferrothorn's attacks, can remove any entry hazards, and threatens to do massive damage if it carries Heat Wave. Magnezone is also a large threat to Ferrothorn, as it can trap it with Magnet Pull and 2HKO it.
**Mega Sableye**: Mega Sableye prevents Ferrothorn from setting up hazards and can take any combination of attacks from it, not even being annoyed by Knock Off or Leech Seed. It should be noted that Impish Ferrothorn does Speed tie with Mega Sableye and can threaten to 2HKO a weakened Mega Sableye on the switch. However, Ferrothorn is generally dead weight in matchups against Mega Sableye.
**Grass-types**: Mega Venusaur and Amoonguss primarily counter Ferrothorn, as they take very little damage from its attacks and threaten to beat it down with Hidden Power Fire. Mega Venusaur in particular does not mind Knock Off. Tangrowth is an okay check, as it is unaffected by Leech Seed, but it fears losing its item, particularly if it is an Assault Vest variant.
**Fighting-types**: Mega Medicham is very threatening to Ferrothorn not carrying Protect, as High Jump Kick is a clean OHKO. Other Fighting-types such as Terrakion and Keldeo can also threaten Ferrothorn, but they fail to OHKO it unless they are holding a boosting item such as Choice Band or Choice Specs, respectively.
**Wallbreakers**: Various wallbreakers such as Mega Metagross, Protean Greninja, Swords Dance Landorus-T, Mega Mawile, Garchomp, and Hoopa-U can overwhelm Ferrothorn with coverage or sheer power.
GP: Fireflame479 (lotiasite), CryoGyro
[OVERVIEW]
Ferrothorn is a premier hazard setter in the OU tier, as it has access to both Spikes and Stealth Rock. They are very important in pressuring opposing teams as they switch Pokemon, which is why Ferrothorn is so successful. Ferrothorn can also annoy other teams with moves like Leech Seed and Knock Off, which whittle or cripple opposing Pokemon. Thanks to solid defenses and an excellent Grass / Steel typing that provides plenty of resistances, it finds many opportunities to set up entry hazards or fire off moves to annoy the opposing team. Ferrothorn is naturally a good check to Pokemon such as Tapu Koko, Nihilego, Greninja lacking Hidden Power Fire, and Mega Metagross lacking Hammer Arm. While Ferrothorn is a very good Pokemon, it is extremely slow, which hampers its offensive presence, since it will practically always be outsped. Fortunately, it has high-Base Power STAB moves, so it is not completely passive, but it is still generally found on teams with more offensive partners. Ferrothorn is also 4x weak to Fire, so it should be wary of Hidden Power Fire from Pokemon like Greninja, and it is easily forced out by Heatran and other Fire-types.
[SET]
name: Hazard Setter
move 1: Spikes / Stealth Rock
move 2: Leech Seed
move 3: Power Whip
move 4: Knock Off / Gyro Ball / Protect
item: Leftovers
ability: Iron Barbs
nature: Impish / Relaxed
evs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Spikes allows Ferrothorn to pressure the opposing team via residual damage when switching. This is the recommended hazard, as Ferrothorn gets many opportunities to set it up, and the ability to stack layers allows it to use these free turns better than Stealth Rock variants. Stealth Rock is also an option to pressure the opposing team but is only recommended if you can't fit another Stealth Rock user on your team. Leech Seed provides Ferrothorn with a way to restore HP and is particularly helpful for wearing down Pokemon such as Heatran. Power Whip is the main STAB move due to its ability to OHKO Ash-Greninja and deal large amounts of damage to Tapu Fini and Manaphy. Knock Off removes the items of common switch-ins such as Heatran, Tangrowth, and Celesteela, which limits their effectiveness. Gyro Ball is another STAB option that hits Tapu Lele, Gengar, Tapu Bulu, and Latios much harder than Power Whip. Protect can be used to stall turns and gain extra recovery—which is great with Leech Seed—as well as scout for coverage moves. This is also very helpful against Mega Medicham's High Jump Kick.
Set Details
========
Maximum HP investment improves Ferrothorn's overall bulk, while 168 Special Defense EVs ensure that +3 Timid Manaphy's Ice Beam does not 2HKO it. The rest of the bulk is poured into Defense with an Impish nature (Relaxed with Gyro Ball). This helps Ferrothorn take physical attacks from Pokemon such as Mega Metagross. A Careful nature can be used to better check Ash-Greninja, although moves such as Landorus-T's Earthquake become harder to stomach. Leftovers is the optimal item for Ferrothorn, as it provides passive recovery and aids its longevity. Chople Berry is an alternate item that allows Ferrothorn to take a powerful Fighting-type move from Pokemon such as Mega Medicham, Alakazam, and Gengar. Chople Berry should be used with Thunder Wave, as it allows Ferrothorn to cripple these faster threats after surviving the hit, making it easier for the rest of your team to deal with them. Finally, Iron Barbs punishes physical attackers with chip damage.
Usage Tips
========
Switch in Ferrothorn on favorable circumstances, like when against weaker Pokemon such as Toxapex or Pokemon that it walls such as Tapu Koko. Use the early turns with Ferrothorn to set up entry hazards, because this pressures the opponent's entire team and in some cases forces in hazard removers. Leech Seed and Knock Off should be used to whittle down threats as they switch in, particularly if you predict big threats to switch in or if Ferrothorn has already set up hazards. Leech Seed should also be used to keep Ferrothorn healthy throughout the match so that it can stick around to check various threats or set up entry hazards again if they get removed. Generally, it is best not to sacrifice Ferrothorn until the opposing hazard remover has been weakened, if one's present at all.
Team Options
========
Landorus-T and Heatran can set up Stealth Rock, allowing Ferrothorn the freedom to run Spikes. Landorus and Ferrothorn together check a large amount of the metagame as well thanks to their solid type synergy. Greninja can defeat common entry hazard removers such as Zapdos and Mega Scizor, and provides a lot of offensive presence to complement Ferrothorn's more passive nature. Ash-Greninja and Keldeo are also good with Ferrothorn, as they threaten Fire-types. Zygarde is also strong against many Fire-types and appreciates the hazards Ferrothorn sets up, as they wear down many of its common checks. Ferrothorn can support its teammates by removing items like Assault Vest from Tangrowth and Leftovers from Tapu Fini that are forced to use Defog. Fast pivots like Tapu Koko and Tornadus-T provide speed control and momentum while taking advantage of the hazards that Ferrothorn sets up by forcing switches. Rotom-W relieves pressure from Ferrothorn by being an extra check to Pokemon such as Greninja and Mega Metagross while providing utility in Volt Switch. Fast wallbreakers such as Gengar and Swords Dance Garchomp appreciate having Spikes up to wear down the opposing team and provide offensive firepower that makes up for Ferrothorn's mediocre offensive presence.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A set with both Stealth Rock and Spikes can be used, but it generally limits your other options with Ferrothorn, makes it easier to switch into, and has a very bad matchup against prevalent Pokemon such as Zapdos. Rocky Helmet is an alternate item that helps to wear down physical attackers very quickly in conjunction with Iron Barbs. The main drawback is that Ferrothorn loses the passive recovery that it needs, and this makes the matchup against users of special or non-contact attacks such as Earthquake worse. Choice Band is another option to catch opponents off guard, as Ferrothorn has high-Base Power moves that can do reasonable damage to many switch-ins, and can lure pokemon such as Heatran with Bulldoze.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fire-types**: Heatran, Volcarona, Mega Charizard Y, Mega Charizard X, and Alolan Marowak are extremely threatening to Ferrothorn, as they OHKO it with their STAB moves. The special attackers in particular don't mind Ferrothorn's Iron Barbs.
**Electric-types**: Zapdos is one of the best counters to Ferrothorn, as it takes pitiful damage from all of Ferrothorn's attacks, can remove any entry hazards, and threatens to do massive damage if it carries Heat Wave. Magnezone is also a large threat to Ferrothorn, as it can trap it with Magnet Pull and 2HKO it.
**Mega Sableye**: Mega Sableye prevents Ferrothorn from setting up hazards and can take any combination of attacks from it, not even being annoyed by Knock Off or Leech Seed. It should be noted that Impish Ferrothorn does Speed tie with Mega Sableye and can threaten to 2HKO a weakened Mega Sableye on the switch. However, Ferrothorn is generally dead weight in matchups against Mega Sableye.
**Grass-types**: Mega Venusaur and Amoonguss primarily counter Ferrothorn, as they take very little damage from its attacks and threaten to beat it down with Hidden Power Fire. Mega Venusaur in particular does not mind Knock Off. Tangrowth is an okay check, as it is unaffected by Leech Seed, but it fears losing its item, particularly if it is an Assault Vest variant.
**Fighting-types**: Mega Medicham is very threatening to Ferrothorn not carrying Protect, as High Jump Kick is a clean OHKO. Other Fighting-types such as Terrakion and Keldeo can also threaten Ferrothorn, but they fail to OHKO it unless they are holding a boosting item such as Choice Band or Choice Specs, respectively.
**Wallbreakers**: Various wallbreakers such as Mega Metagross, Protean Greninja, Swords Dance Landorus-T, Mega Mawile, Garchomp, and Hoopa-U can overwhelm Ferrothorn with coverage or sheer power.
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