Gen 5 Forretress Other Options and Checks and Counters [QC 1/2]

[BLJ mario]

Figured I would do this now, since I'm wrapping up the rest of the analysis this weekend

Guh

[OTHER OPTIONS]
Forretress makes pretty good use of Pain Split to gain recovery from a healthier Pokémon and boost its longevity and use in a game. however, it is unreliable at that role, and using it makes Forretress unable to either hit Dragonite or Terrakion and Kyurem-Black. Other Utility moves like Stealth Rock and Toxic Spikes are nice to further chip away at teams that are unprepared, but Forretress cannot keep stealth rocks up reliably, and Toxic spikes are useless against Poison and levitators. Toxic is also a good option to Hit Gastrodon and Jellicent, the ladder being able to stop Forretress from keeping hazards off, but it doesn't hit a lot of other targets, and is useless versus many common threats on sand teams, including Clefable, Reuniclus, and Gliscor. additionally, many pokemon run lum berry, such as Dragonite and Volcarona. Hidden Power Fire is an excellent lure for Scizor and Ferrothorn, but otherwise has poor coverage and damage output, making forretress useless versus Keldeo and Substitute Kyurem-Black. Volt switch provides good momentum, but it doesnt help versus ground types, and means that Forretress will more often switch out then in, making it a lot more passive. Explosion also enables offensive teams when paired with sturdy, but many of the common pokemon in the tier, such as Tyranitar, Ferrothorn, and Landorus-Therian, can shrug it off with relative ease. Counter is also a nice option to stop Dragonite with multiple boosts and can use its bulk to pick off common pokemon like Landorus-Therian and Excadrill, but it otherwise has no utility aside from that, and is useless versus mixed attackers as they will target its weaker special defense.

[CHECKS AND COUNTERS]

Trappers: Magnezone can remove Forretress without much issue, and Heatran can bypass sturdy with Magma Storm, and set up rocks once it's gone.

Set up sweepers: Volcarona and Reuniclus can tank most of what forretress can do, and set up Quiver dances and Calm minds to steamroll the rest of its team. Dragonite can set up on Forretress lacking Hidden power ice, and Scizor can stack Swords dance boosts on Forretress lacking Hidden Power Fire.

Hazards and Ghost types: Hazards limit how many times Forretress can switch in, and will decrease its ability to tank hits. Jellicent can wall whatever Forretress tries to do, and can burn it with Will-O-Wisp, or prevent it from setting hazards with Taunt.

Strong special attackers: Choice Specs Latios can chip down forretress over the course of the game, and Keldeo can offload devastating Choice Specs boosted hydro pumps for free, or set up with Calm mind. Alakazam with Hidden Power fire also scare away Forretress, however it can take non-hidden power Alakazam.

Bulky walls: Clefable can knock off valuable leftovers from Forretress, and can paralyze it with thunder wave, making it very easy to play around. Blissey can do the same, except it can support its teammates with wish too. Ferrothorn can get hazards for free against non Hidden Power Fire Forretress, and can make it very hard for it to find chances to spin later in the game.

 

[Monai]

a bit late lol but qc1 when implemented

qc1

[OTHER OPTIONS]
Forretress can make use of Sturdy, both Stealth Rock and Spikes, and a Custap Berry in order to try and lead off the game with both hazards and hopefully none on its own side, but this is outclassed by Skarmory. Forretress can use makes pretty good use of Pain Split to gain recovery from a healthier Pokémon and boost its longevity and use in a game. however, it is unreliable at that role, and using it makes Forretress unable to either hit Dragon-types like Dragonite and Kyurem-B, or unable to hit Steel-types like Excadrill and Jirachi Dragonite or Terrakion and Kyurem-Black. Other Utility moves like Stealth Rock and Toxic Spikes are nice to further chip away at teams that are unprepared, but Forretress struggles to cannot keep stealth rocks up reliably against Tentacruel and Starmie in particular, and Toxic spikes are useless against much of the tier or even detrimental against Magic Guard Pokemon such as Reuniclusare useless against Poison and levitators. Toxic is a good catch-all option that hits common switch-ins such as Jellicent, Landorus-T, and Rotom-W. However, it is totally useless vs the numerous Pokemon with either a Steel-typing, Poison-typing, Magic Guard, or Poison Heal.Toxic is also a good option to Hit Gastrodon and Jellicent, the ladder being able to stop Forretress from keeping hazards off, but it doesn't hit a lot of other targets, and is useless versus many common threats on sand teams, including Clefable, Reuniclus, and Gliscor. Fine sentence but worded poorly. additionally, many common pokemon with setup run lum berry, such as Dragonite and Volcarona, which wastes a valuable turn to answer them as they set up. Hidden Power Fire is an excellent lure for Scizor, Ferrothorn, and other Forretress, and Ferrothorn, but otherwise has poor coverage and damage output, compromising Forretress against Pokemon it is meant to check such as Kyurem-B or Excadrill, depending on whether it drops Gyro Ball or Earthquakemaking forretress useless versus Keldeo and Substitute Kyurem-Black. Volt switch provides good momentum, but it doesnt help versus ground types that regularly want to switch into Forretress such as Landorus-T, and means that Forretress will more often switch out then in, making it a lot more passive. Explosion also enables offensive teams when paired with sturdy, but many of the common pokemon in the tier, such as Tyranitar, Ferrothorn, and Landorus-Therian, can shrug it off with relative ease. Counter is also a nice option to stop Dragonite with multiple boosts and can use its bulk to pick off common pokemon like Landorus-Therian and Excadrill, but it otherwise has no utility aside from that, and is useless versus special or mixed attackers as they will target its weaker special defense.

[CHECKS AND COUNTERS] Please look up the formatting next time, these categories are also way to general, rewrite counters, reach out to me or qc team if you need clarification

Trappers: Magnezone can remove Forretress without much issue, and Heatran can bypass sturdy with Magma Storm, and set up rocks once it's gone.

**Electric-Types**: Rotom-W, Thundurus-T, and Zapdos can easily switch into any move Forretress commonly runs and threaten enormous damage on it. Magnezone deserves a special mention, especially with an Air Balloon to avoid Earthquake, as it can trap and OHKO Forretress easily with Hidden Power Fire.

**Fire-Types**:

**Rapid Spin Users**:

**Special-Attackers**: While many can't switch directly into Forretress, special attackers target Forretress's poor special bulk for consistent 2HKOs. Latios's Surf and even resisted Draco Meteor can do upwards of 50% to Forretress, while Keldeo can switch into everything Forretress commonly runs and threatens to bring it down to Sturdy.

**Magic Guard**:

**Residual Damage**:

**Jellicent**:

Set up sweepers: Volcarona and Reuniclus can tank most of what forretress can do, and set up Quiver dances and Calm minds to steamroll the rest of its team. Dragonite can set up on Forretress lacking Hidden power ice, and Scizor can stack Swords dance boosts on Forretress lacking Hidden Power Fire.

Hazards and Ghost types: Hazards limit how many times Forretress can switch in, and will decrease its ability to tank hits. Jellicent can wall whatever Forretress tries to do, and can burn it with Will-O-Wisp, or prevent it from setting hazards with Taunt.

Strong special attackers: Choice Specs Latios can chip down forretress over the course of the game, and Keldeo can offload devastating Choice Specs boosted hydro pumps for free, or set up with Calm mind. Alakazam with Hidden Power fire also scare away Forretress, however it can take non-hidden power Alakazam.

Bulky walls: Clefable can knock off valuable leftovers from Forretress, and can paralyze it with thunder wave, making it very easy to play around. Blissey can do the same, except it can support its teammates with wish too. Ferrothorn can get hazards for free against non Hidden Power Fire Forretress, and can make it very hard for it to find chances to spin later in the game.

 

[BLJ mario]

Finally got around to doing it again, finals have been keeping me busy but qc 2 is ready

Guhhhh

Other Options
=============
Forretress can make use of Sturdy, both Stealth Rock and Spikes, and a Custap Berry in order to try and lead off the game with both hazards and hopefully none on its own side, but this is outclassed by Skarmory. Forretress can use Pain Split to gain recovery from a healthier Pokémon. However, it is unreliable at that role, and using it makes Forretress unable to either hit Dragon-types like Dragonite and Kyurem-B, or unable to hit Steel-types like Excadrill and Jirachi. Other Utility moves like Stealth Rock and Toxic Spikes are nice to further chip away at teams that are unprepared, but Forretress struggles to keep stealth rocks up reliably against Tentacruel and Starmie in particular, and Toxic spikes are useless against much of the tier or even detrimental against Magic Guard Pokemon such as Reuniclus. Toxic is a good catch-all option that hits common switch-ins such as Jellicent, Landorus-T, and Rotom-W. However, it is totally useless vs the numerous Pokemon with either a Steel-typing, Poison-typing, Magic Guard, or Poison Heal. additionally, many common pokemon with setup run lum berry, such as Dragonite and Volcarona, which wastes a valuable turn to answer them as they set up Hidden Power Fire is an excellent lure for Scizor, Ferrothorn, and other Forretress, but otherwise has poor coverage and damage output, compromising Forretress against Pokemon it is meant to check such as Kyurem-B or Excadrill, depending on whether it drops Gyro Ball or Earthquake. Volt switch provides good momentum, but it doesnt help versus ground types that regularly want to switch into Forretress such as Landorus-T, and means that Forretress will more often switch out then in, making it a lot more passive. Explosion also enables offensive teams , but many of the common pokemon in the tier, such as Tyranitar, Ferrothorn, and Landorus-Therian, can shrug it off with relative ease. Counter is also a nice option to stop Dragonite with multiple boosts and can use its bulk to pick off common pokemon like Landorus-Therian and Excadrill, but it otherwise has no utility aside from that, and is useless versus special or mixed attackers as they will target its weaker special defense.

Checks and Counters
===================
**Electric-Types**: Rotom-W, Thundurus-T, and Zapdos can easily switch into any move Forretress commonly runs and threaten enormous damage on it. Magnezone deserves a special mention, especially with an Air Balloon to avoid Earthquake, as it can trap and OHKO Forretress easily with Hidden Power Fire.

**Fire-Types**: Volcarona can set up in front of Forretress, and threaten to bring it down to sturdy while tanking earthquake in return. Although Heatran cannot switch into Forretress directly, it can threaten to OHKO it with Magma storm that goes through sturdy, and Air Balloon variants can switch into Forretress without any issue.

**Rapid Spin Users**:

**Special-Attackers**: While many can't switch directly into Forretress, special attackers target Forretress's poor special bulk for consistent 2HKOs. Latios's Surf and even resisted Draco Meteor can do upwards of 50% to Forretress, while Keldeo can switch into everything Forretress commonly runs and threatens to bring it down to Sturdy.

**Magic Guard**: Reuniclus can switch into Forretress, set up calm mind boosts, and threaten to sweep a team once forretress is gone. Clefable can set Stealth Rock, Paralyze it with Thunder Wave, and Knock its valuable leftovers, which it needs throughout the game to tank hits from most physical attackers.

**Residual Damage**: Over the course of the game, Spikes can chip Forretress down to put it in range of strong attacks such as Choice Band Mamoswine Earthquake or Excadrill.

**Jellicent**: Jellicent can wall most variants of Forretress unless they are packing Toxic, and can block attempts to spin hazards away.