
Gastrodon-East @ Leftovers / Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy / Calm Nature
- Scald
- Earthquake / Earth Power
- Toxic
- Recover
Gastrodon's great special bulk, Water immunity, and excellent defensive typing position it as a strong pick on anything between balance and hard stall. Earthquake is chosen for greater damage on specially defensive Pokemon like Galarian Slowking, but Earth Power can be used with a Calm nature to threaten foes like Toxapex and Melmetal better. Toxic is crucial for crippling setup sweepers like Dragonite and Volcarona lacking Giga Drain, as well as beating other threats like Zapdos that Gastrodon wants to switch into. Leftovers typically provides the most longevity, but because Gastrodon can be easily overwhelmed if Spikes are on the field, Heavy-Duty Boots is useful on teams that lack reliable hazard removal or want to preserve their own hazards. Corviknight is one such teammate that can provide hazard removal, also answering the Grass-types that Gastrodon is threatened by while benefiting from Gastrodon checking Pokemon like Heatran and Zapdos; Skarmory does much the same but provides Spikes instead of Defog, which are incredibly valuable for the slower-paced teams Gastrodon often finds its way onto. Status absorbers or clerics Clefable can prevent Gastrodon from being crippled by Toxic, while in return Gastrodon can switch into Poison- and Fire-types.
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