[SET]
name: Custap Berry
move 1: Outrage
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Swords Dance
move 4: Endure
item: Custap Berry
ability: Rough Skin
nature: Adamant
evs: 96 HP / 248 Atk / 44 SpD / 120 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Garchomp aims to surprise Pokemon such as Galarian Darmanitan, Naganadel, and Dragapult; the combination of Endure and Custap Berry allows it to move first and OHKO with its STAB moves. Outrage is also used to beat Dragon-types like Kommo-o that are naturally slower. Earthquake lets Garchomp beat Electric- and Fire-types like Zeraora, Tapu Koko, Regieleki, and Volcanion. Swords Dance gets past stall Pokemon like Chansey and Galarian Corsola.
EVs
=============
96 HP EVs allow Garchomp to survive Outrage from Life Orb Zeraora, while the 44 Special Defense EVs let it take Steam Eruption from Choice Specs Volcanion. 120 Speed EVs are used to outspeed base 85 Speed Pokemon like Kommo-o, and 248 Attack EVs allow for better OHKO odds versus Galarian Darmanitan. Alternatively, an EV spread of 176 HP / 112 Atk / 80 Def / 120 Spe secures the matchup versus Choice Band Zeraora, as it takes Outrage, though the reduced Attack does not let Garchomp OHKO Galarian Darmanitan.
Usage Tips
=============
Using Earthquake on turn 1 is usually the best option versus Zeraora and Volcanion, as Garchomp tanks most of their hits, but Choice Band Outrage from Zeraora OHKOes Garchomp unless it has the alternate EV spread, so some prediction is required. Using Endure is the best option against Pokemon that OHKO it, like Galarian Darmanitan, Dragapult and Naganadel. When in Custap Berry range, Outrage will OHKO these targets before they can move. Swords Dance should be used twice or thrice versus stall like Chansey or Galarian Corsola, respectively.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Outrage
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Fire Fang
move 4: Stone Edge / Poison Jab
item: Choice Band
ability: Rough Skin
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Choice Band Garchomp deals gargantuan amounts of damage, with Outrage beating Dragon-types such as Goodra, opposing Garchomp, and non-Choice Scarf Haxorus while also heavily damaging neutral targets like Venusaur. Earthquake OHKOes many Fire- and Steel-types including Entei, most Metagross, and Aegislash. Fire Fang helps versus Steel-types that are not weak to Earthquake such as Ferrothorn, Kartana, and some Celesteela. Stone Edge lets it win versus prominent Pokemon like Togekiss more often. On the other hand, Poison Jab beats Tapu Bulu and non-Kebia Berry Whimsicott, so it can be considered.
EVs
=============
252 Speed EVs are used to Speed tie other Garchomp and outspeed base 100 Speed Pokemon like Entei, Volcarona, and Zapdos. The remaining EVs are invested into Attack to improve matchups versus Choice Scarf Togekiss and defensive Volcarona.
Usage Tips
=============
Choice Band Garchomp is relatively straightforward to use, as either STAB attack will usually deal massive damage. Coverage for Fairy-types like Togekiss and Whimsicott should be used as necessary.
[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Scale Shot
move 4: Poison Jab / Outrage
item: Life Orb
ability: Rough Skin
nature: Adamant
evs: 192 HP / 112 Atk / 68 Def / 136 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
This set allows Garchomp to switch between its STAB and utility move options while retaining high damage output. Swords Dance allows it to boost versus foes like Tapu Bulu and Spectrier, which normally check Garchomp with Disable and Will-O-Wisp respectively, and then KO them. Life Orb-boosted Earthquake OHKOes Pokemon like Zeraora and Heatran. Scale Shot acts as a secondary boosting move by increasing Garchomp's Speed. It also counters stall Pokemon like Pressure Entei by breaking through Substitute. Poison Jab deals with Fairy-types like Tapu Bulu, whereas Outrage increases reliability versus Zapdos.
EVs
=============
The 192 HP EVs secure the matchup versus Choice Specs Magnezone, as Garchomp survives Hyper Beam even after Life Orb recoil, and also assist versus stall Pokemon like Galarian Corsola and Registeel, ensuring that Night Shade and Seismic Toss take five hits to KO. 68 Defense EVs and the HP investment allow Garchomp to survive Outrage from Choice Band Zeraora. The 136 Speed EVs let Garchomp outspeed some faster Pokemon after Scale Shot, most notably Entei and Spectrier, while also outspeeding Pokemon like Dracozolt without the Speed boost.
Usage Tips
=============
When versus Zeraora, use Earthquake, as you survive a Choice Band-boosted Outrage. Use Scale Shot versus Magnezone and other Sturdy users like Crustle to avoid risking Weakness Policy or Counter activation, respectively, and KO with Earthquake on turn 2. Scale Shot can also be used versus faster Pokemon like Entei and Spectrier to outspeed and KO in the following turns. The main use of Swords Dance is to break past passive stall Pokemon like Galarian Corsola and Registeel, as they cannot do enough damage before Garchomp KOes them. However, it also lets Garchomp KO some Pokemon more quickly, like Spectrier, as Swords Dance after a Scale Shot allows Garchomp to KO on turn 3.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Outrage
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Flamethrower / Poison Jab
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Rough Skin
nature: Naive / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Choice Scarf Garchomp is able to outspeed many of its checks like Galarian Darmanitan and Togekiss, as well as opposing Dragon-types like Dragapult, OHKOing them with Stone Edge or Outrage. Earthquake is a strong STAB move that hits Electric-types like Zeraora and Tapu Koko hard, while Outrage deals with neutral targets like Zapdos and Spectrier. Flamethrower secures matchups versus Grass-types like Kartana and some Ferrothorn sets, which usually check Garchomp, while Poison Jab provides more reliability versus Togekiss and has the added bonus of beating non-Kebia Berry Whimsicott.
EVs
=============
This set runs 252 Speed EVs in order to outspeed Galarian Darmanitan, Togekiss, and Kartana. If running Poison Jab over Flamethrower, the 4 Special Attack EVs can be used in a different stat, and the nature should be changed to Jolly over Naive.
Usage Tips
=============
The vast majority of the time, Choice Scarf Garchomp wins by using the appropriate high-damage move. Stone Edge should be used over Outrage for Galarian Darmanitan, as its higher damage matters versus some bulkier sets. If running Poison Jab over Flamethrower, use it on Togekiss over Stone Edge for its higher accuracy. Flamethrower should only be used against Pokemon that are quadruply weak to it, like Ferrothorn and Kartana. Against other Grass-types like Rillaboom and Venusaur, Outrage will do higher damage.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Garchomp can utilize a set with Haban Berry for Dragon-types like Naganadel and Dracovish. This set runs an EV spread of 248 HP / 48 Atk / 40 Def / 92 SpD / 80 Spe with the moves Swords Dance, Scale Shot, Earthquake, and Poison Jab. The defensive investment allows Garchomp to survive both Outrage and Fishious Rend from Adamant Choice Scarf Dracovish, as well as Draco Meteor from Modest Choice Specs Naganadel, while the Speed investment outspeeds base 80 Speed Pokemon like Venusaur and Regidrago. Swords Dance + Poison Jab on this set can defeat Fairy-types like Tapu Bulu, while Scale Shot handles most Dragon-types, including Dracovish. Garchomp can also run Fling on Choice Band sets in the fourth moveslot to break Heatran or Metagross's Air Balloon, KOing them with Earthquake in the following turn.
[SET]
name: Haban Berry
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Scale Shot
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Poison Jab / Outrage
item: Haban Berry
ability: Rough Skin
nature: Jolly
evs: 248 HP / 48 Atk / 40 Def / 92 SpD / 80 Spe
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[doc1203, 526135]]
- Quality checked by: [[zo, 249890], [Itchy, 518399]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Adeleine, 517429]]
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