[OVERVIEW]
Although Golem does face competition as a lead, it does boast rather impressive offensive presence as a result of its high Attack and unresisted STAB combination, which allow it to more easily pressure certain entry hazard setters and removers such as Qwilfish, Regirock, and Hitmonchan. Unlike most leads, Golem isn't reliant on Focus Sash to do its job because of its ability Sturdy, meaning that it can hold Weakness Policy and potentially augment its offensive presence even further. Additionally, Golem's access to Explosion gives it a powerful means of pressuring removers not to clear the field and immediately generating momentum for its team, while its access to Sucker Punch gives it the ability to threaten more offensive teams as well as compensate for its low Speed. However, Golem tends to be less consistent than other leads such as Omastar, Smeargle, Aurorus, and Crustle due to their access to solid support and utility options in Spikes, Spore, Encore, and Knock Off and their higher Speed. Golem also faces competition from Stealth Rock Aggron despite it not being a lead, as it boasts higher Speed, slightly greater offensive presence because of Head Smash, and access to Taunt. Taunt users like Weezing can easily prevent Golem from setting Stealth Rock because of its low Speed, and it's that same low Speed that can make pressuring removers difficult. Golem is also relatively predictable, as it struggles to reliably deviate much from its main set.
[SET]
name: Lead
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Stone Edge / Rock Blast
move 4: Explosion / Sucker Punch
item: Weakness Policy
ability: Sturdy
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock chips away at opposing teams as they switch in, and Golem makes for an effective setter because of both Sturdy and its good offensive presence allowing it to pressure many hazard removers as well as force switches, which can give Golem a free turn to set the entry hazard. Earthquake is Golem's most reliable STAB move and is very powerful, especially when factoring in Golem's high Attack, threatening to at worst deal decent damage to most neutral targets. Stone Edge pairs well with Earthquake, dishing out damage to important Ground-immune foes like Mesprit, Oricorio-G, Altaria, and Eelektross on top of completing the deadly EdgeQuake combination. Though it is less reliable than Stone Edge, Rock Blast can be used over Stone Edge to bypass Focus Sash against opposing leads like Crustle and Substitute against Pokemon like Articuno and Jynx. Explosion is a powerful one-time attack that can pressure hazard removers, generates momentum instantly, and deals massive damage to Pokemon that could otherwise wall Golem like Tangela, Mudsdale, and Weezing at the cost of sacrificing Golem. Alternatively, Sucker Punch can be used to pick off weakened, fast Pokemon and threaten faster Ghost- and Psychic-types such as Haunter and Mesprit as well as other frail Pokemon like Swanna, which is especially useful after Golem's Sturdy has been broken. It should be noted that both Explosion and Sucker Punch become much more threatening tools against teams should Golem's Weakness Policy be activated.
Set Details
========
The investment in Attack in combination with an Adamant nature maximizes Golem's offensive presence, while the investment in Speed allows Golem to outspeed Pokemon like Drampa and positive-natured Carracosta. A Jolly nature can opted for to outspeed defensive Mesprit and Adamant Aggron, though the loss of power is noticeable. Sturdy guarantees that Golem will always be able to take one hit from full, giving it a much easier time with both setting Stealth Rock and attacking. Weakness Policy doubles Golem's Attack if it is hit by a super effective attack and turns it into a major offensive threat. Weakness Policy is especially useful in combination with Sturdy given that super effective attacks are typically the easiest way for teams to deal with Golem.
Usage Tips
========
Golem should almost always be used as a lead, since Sturdy can be difficult to preserve because of entry hazards and gives it the best possible chance of immediately using Stealth Rock. Leading with Golem also gives it an opportunity to heavily damage or KO opposing leads like Crustle. Try to set Stealth Rock as soon as possible in order to instantly begin applying constant pressure to teams. After doing so, Golem should go on to either inflict damage with its powerful STAB moves and Sucker Punch or use Explosion to prevent removers from switching in and clearing the field. Preserve Golem if the opposing team carries a faster Taunt user like Sableye or Misdreavus, since they prevent Golem from fulfilling its role by disallowing the use of Stealth Rock. Both examples can also burn Golem with Will-O-Wisp, with Misdreavus even being immune to both Earthquake and Explosion. Against more offensive users of Taunt like non-Will-O-Wisp Froslass, Golem should go for the KO rather than attempt to set Stealth Rock. Despite being a lead, Golem can be preserved to reliably revenge kill Pokemon on offensive teams like Kangaskhan or if Golem's team is exceptionally weak to any one threat on the opposing team such as Scyther because of Sturdy. Golem can also be preserved to prevent Volt Switch users like Manectric from freely generating momentum before generating its own momentum by setting Stealth Rock. Although Explosion and Sucker Punch are both powerful tools against offensive teams, they can both potentially be exploited by Ghost-types and certain setup sweepers, respectively, meaning that Golem should be careful about using these moves against teams if they have one or the other. Most setup sweepers find directly setting up on Golem difficult if its Sturdy is still intact, however.
Team Options
========
Golem should be used as a Stealth Rock setter on offensive and hyper offensive teams due to the combination of Sturdy, its power, and its ability to prevent Stealth Rock from being removed thanks to Explosion. Spikes setters like Qwilfish and Froslass pair well with Golem, as their entry hazards increase the amount of chip damage opposing teams are forced to take upon entry, and they can both prevent Defog users like Skuntank from clearing the field with Taunt. Froslass can also block Rapid Spin because of its Ghost typing as well as potentially force a trade with Destiny Bond, and it also has a positive matchup against Mesprit, while Qwilfish can handle other threats to Golem like Tangela. In return, Golem can pressure specially bulky Pokemon like Audino for Froslass as well as threaten Mesprit and removers like Silvally-Dragon for Qwilfish. Ghost-types such as Spiritomb, Oricorio-G, and the previously mentioned Froslass are great partners to have, since removing Stealth Rock becomes much easier once Golem is KOed, and these Pokemon can block Rapid Spin. Similarly, pairing Golem with either Primeape or Pawniard is wise, as both of these Pokemon can deter and punish the use of Defog because of Defiant. Stealth Rock damage as well as Explosion wearing Pokemon like Weezing, Altaria, and Mudsdale down gives setup sweepers like Absol, Lilligant, and Lycanroc an easier time finishing off weakened teams late-game. These Pokemon also appreciate Explosion instantly generating momentum for them. These same setup sweepers as well as powerful wallbreakers like Aurorus and Zangoose also appreciate Stealth Rock breaking Focus Sash and Sturdy against Pokemon like Froslass and opposing Golem, as this allows them to break through teams without fearing being crippled or revenge killed after KOing a foe.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Choice Band could be used to take advantage of Golem's dangerous STAB combination and coverage in Explosion and Sucker Punch by turning it into a fearsome wallbreaker, though Aggron is a better wallbreaker both offensively and defensively. A physically or specially defensive Stealth Rock set can be used to make use of Golem's defensive capabilities, though a set like this is hindered by Golem's plentiful weaknesses and lack of recovery. Furthermore, other defensive Stealth Rock setters like Regirock, Mesprit, and Clefairy perform this role better because of their better defensive presence. A set of Sunny Day / Stealth Rock / Explosion / Earthquake or Stone Edge can be used as a lead for sun teams, though Regirock tends to outperform Golem because of the former's better defensive typing and higher bulk giving it an easier time setting both Stealth Rock and Sunny Day. Fire Punch and Superpower are alternatives that give Golem super effective coverage for Pokemon like Bronzor and Cradily, though these Pokemon aren't very common and Golem's STAB moves in combination with Explosion and Sucker Punch provide as much coverage as it typically needs. Rock Polish could be used in tandem with Weakness Policy to make up for Golem's lackluster Speed and turn it into a setup sweeper, though most common Choice Scarf users like Togedemaru and Kabutops can still easily revenge kill Golem even after the boosts. Toxic cripples switch-ins like Mudsdale, Tangela, and Gourgeist-XL by putting them on a timer, though finding room for this option can be rather difficult. Mental Herb prevents Golem from being stopped by Taunt once, which can be especially useful given that Sturdy already makes setting Stealth Rock easier, though this leaves it much weaker. Counter is a niche option that allows Golem to take advantage of Sturdy by removing physical attackers like Shiftry and Primeape after they attack, though Sturdy combined with any Weakness Policy-boosted attack serves almost exactly the same purpose and doesn't rely on Shiftry using a physical attack instead of Leaf Storm. Another thing holding such a set back is the prevalence of U-turn leads, with Primeape and Mesprit being notable examples. Flail can be used to take advantage of Golem's many weaknesses and meager uninvested bulk, though Explosion fulfills a similar purpose, and Golem's low Speed limits the damage it can cause to opposing teams.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Taunt**: Taunt from Pokemon like Alolan Persian, Misdreavus, and Sableye prevents Golem from setting up Stealth Rock, and its low Speed only makes matters worse. The latter two examples can also burn Golem with Will-O-Wisp. There are more offensive Taunt users like Qwilfish and Oricorio-E, though they don't appreciate taking Golem's attacks and the former activates Golem's Weakness Policy with its Water-type STAB moves.
**Entry Hazard Removal**: Although Golem offensively pressures many removers such as Altaria, Swanna, and Hitmonchan, they are capable of getting rid of Stealth Rock for good once Golem is KOed.
**Super Effective Attacks**: Once Golem's Sturdy isn't intact, Pokemon with super effective STAB moves like Lilligant, Bellossom, and Floatzel can easily KO Golem. Pokemon that possess super effective coverage like Fightinium Z Kangaskhan are also notable, as they can lure Golem in and take it out. It's also worth mentioning that all of these examples outspeed Golem. Prior to Sturdy being broken, however, these Pokemon cannot KO Golem.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[allstarapology, 400292]]
- Quality checked by: [[UberSkitty, 355061], [yogi, 252106], [Darkinium, 448296]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]], [lotiasite, 302985]]
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