[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 8
**Price Range**: 1-2 points
**Overview**: Despite its thoroughly underwhelming stats, Sudowoodo leverages two rock-solid abilities and a surprisingly wide movepool to be a cheap last Pokemon on a draft that can use its utility. Its distinguishing assets compared to other bottom-tier Pokemon are its access to both Stealth Rock and Spikes, Sturdy, and Rock Head alongside multiple powerful recoil attacks for potentially unexpected offensive sets. Unfortunately, its terrible Speed, minimal special bulk, and middle-of-the-road Attack leave Sudowoodo only pseudo-useful on most teams, even at such a low cost.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Entry Hazard Lead**: Sturdy allows Sudowoodo to usually guarantee a turn, allowing it to set either Stealth Rock or Spikes while keeping a free item slot for added utility. Its low Speed means that it usually only has the chance to set a single entry hazard, so it's typically best to pick one and use the remaining moveslots for utility options or attacks to counter the opponent's likely lead Pokemon and entry hazard removers.
**Sturdy Revenge Killer**: Heavy-Duty Boots alongside Sturdy gives Sudowoodo a one-time opportunity to survive a single attack and retaliate. Due to their relative inaccuracy, Sudowoodo's STAB attacks should not be the primary option on these sets; instead, it should look at options like Counter, Endeavor, and coverage attacks to tailor its counterattack to the setup foes it needs to revenge kill. Sucker Punch can help get the jump on Dark-weak offensive foes or ones already weakened by Endeavor.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Head Smash, Stone Edge, Rock Slide
**Setup Moves**: Iron Defense, Curse, Rock Polish
**Utility Moves**: Stealth Rock, Spikes, Endeavor, Counter, Taunt, Brick Break
**Coverage**: Wood Hammer, Earthquake, Drain Punch, Body Press, Low Kick, Fire Punch, Ice Punch, Thunder Punch, Sucker Punch, Foul Play, Double-Edge
Niche Moves
========
**Rock Blast**: Rock Blast can knock out opposing Rock-weak Focus Sash leads like Ribombee, though due to Sudowoodo's low Speed, they'll still get a turn to act first.
**Endure**: Endure is a valid option on Custap Berry + Sturdy sets to help guarantee the Berry activation if chip damage breaks Sturdy.
Common Items
========
**Custap Berry**: On lead sets, Custap Berry gives Sudowoodo an extra turn to use Endeavor to weaken the foe or throw off a powerful attack. Recoil attacks like Wood Hammer and Double-Edge work well here because the recoil knocks Sudowoodo out before the foe can move, potentially blocking an entry hazard removal attempt. Head Smash should be avoided for this particular use, since the imperfect accuracy can lead to a wasted Berry.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots + Sturdy is the tried and true "survive a single attack from a setup Pokemon and retaliate" combo that can allow Sudowoodo to trade KOs with a more powerful Pokemon. Counter for physical Pokemon or Endeavor + Sucker Punch are usually the tools of choice here.
**Mental Herb**: Mental Herb is a good alternative to Custap Berry on lead sets when an opposing Taunt lead is expected and Sudowoodo needs to secure a layer of entry hazards.
Niche Items
========
**Choice Band**: While its low Speed and poor bulk keep Sudowoodo from being a true offensive threat, Choice Band pairs well with Rock Head and its powerful recoil moves like Head Smash and Wood Hammer to surprise an opponent expecting a traditional entry hazard set.
**Red Card**: While it requires keeping away entry hazards, Red Card also works with Sturdy to let Sudowoodo survive a hit from a powerful setup Pokemon and force it out. This can be preferable to the traditional Heavy-Duty Boots option when the opponent has low entry hazard pressure and Sudowoodo doesn't have a reliable option to deal with the relevant setup Pokemon.
Tera
========
As a bottom-tier Pokemon, Sudowoodo generally shouldn't be picked as a Tera Captain unless there are no other options. If this imitation tree finds itself with the unexpected honor of being a Tera Captain, it can turn into the Grass-type it always pretended to be for a more powerful Wood Hammer and useful resistances to Water, Grass, and Ground or stay petrified with Tera Rock for a frighteningly strong Head Smash. Lead Sudowoodo may prefer Tera Ghost to prevent foes from removing its hard-earned entry hazards with Rapid Spin.
Draft Strategy
========
As a minimal-cost Pokemon, Sudowoodo won't be a primary piece of any draft and should instead be used to fill the last slot on a team that needs its particular abilities as an entry hazard lead and Sturdy insurance. Since Sudowoodo adds little defensive value to a team, it's best served on drafts that already have their main defensive priorities covered.
Checks and Counters
========
**Special Attackers**: Sudowoodo has terrible special bulk, rendering it weak to almost any special attacker that it for neutral damage or better, such as Raging Bolt and Greninja. Special setup sweepers like Gholdengo and Calm Mind Iron Valiant have an easier time avoiding its revenge killer set, as they do not need to fear options like Counter and Foul Play and just need to be able to survive a hit from its mediocre unboosted Attack stat.
**Priority**: Sudowoodo heavily relies on Custap Berry to move for more than one turn, so priority users like Rillaboom, Azumarill, and Scizor can move before it and finish Sudowoodo off before it can act.
**Chip Damage and Multi-hit moves**: Chip damage from options like Rapid Spin and burn can break Sturdy and leave Sudowoodo open to being knocked out without putting it in range of Custap Berry. Multi-hit moves like Bullet Seed and Surging Strikes can be an efficient way to knock Sudowoodo out in a single turn, potentially stopping it from acting at all.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hawhatos.139162/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/jscurf.608304/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
**Draft Order**: Round 8
**Price Range**: 1-2 points
**Overview**: Despite its thoroughly underwhelming stats, Sudowoodo leverages two rock-solid abilities and a surprisingly wide movepool to be a cheap last Pokemon on a draft that can use its utility. Its distinguishing assets compared to other bottom-tier Pokemon are its access to both Stealth Rock and Spikes, Sturdy, and Rock Head alongside multiple powerful recoil attacks for potentially unexpected offensive sets. Unfortunately, its terrible Speed, minimal special bulk, and middle-of-the-road Attack leave Sudowoodo only pseudo-useful on most teams, even at such a low cost.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Entry Hazard Lead**: Sturdy allows Sudowoodo to usually guarantee a turn, allowing it to set either Stealth Rock or Spikes while keeping a free item slot for added utility. Its low Speed means that it usually only has the chance to set a single entry hazard, so it's typically best to pick one and use the remaining moveslots for utility options or attacks to counter the opponent's likely lead Pokemon and entry hazard removers.
**Sturdy Revenge Killer**: Heavy-Duty Boots alongside Sturdy gives Sudowoodo a one-time opportunity to survive a single attack and retaliate. Due to their relative inaccuracy, Sudowoodo's STAB attacks should not be the primary option on these sets; instead, it should look at options like Counter, Endeavor, and coverage attacks to tailor its counterattack to the setup foes it needs to revenge kill. Sucker Punch can help get the jump on Dark-weak offensive foes or ones already weakened by Endeavor.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Head Smash, Stone Edge, Rock Slide
**Setup Moves**: Iron Defense, Curse, Rock Polish
**Utility Moves**: Stealth Rock, Spikes, Endeavor, Counter, Taunt, Brick Break
**Coverage**: Wood Hammer, Earthquake, Drain Punch, Body Press, Low Kick, Fire Punch, Ice Punch, Thunder Punch, Sucker Punch, Foul Play, Double-Edge
Niche Moves
========
**Rock Blast**: Rock Blast can knock out opposing Rock-weak Focus Sash leads like Ribombee, though due to Sudowoodo's low Speed, they'll still get a turn to act first.
**Endure**: Endure is a valid option on Custap Berry + Sturdy sets to help guarantee the Berry activation if chip damage breaks Sturdy.
Common Items
========
**Custap Berry**: On lead sets, Custap Berry gives Sudowoodo an extra turn to use Endeavor to weaken the foe or throw off a powerful attack. Recoil attacks like Wood Hammer and Double-Edge work well here because the recoil knocks Sudowoodo out before the foe can move, potentially blocking an entry hazard removal attempt. Head Smash should be avoided for this particular use, since the imperfect accuracy can lead to a wasted Berry.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots + Sturdy is the tried and true "survive a single attack from a setup Pokemon and retaliate" combo that can allow Sudowoodo to trade KOs with a more powerful Pokemon. Counter for physical Pokemon or Endeavor + Sucker Punch are usually the tools of choice here.
**Mental Herb**: Mental Herb is a good alternative to Custap Berry on lead sets when an opposing Taunt lead is expected and Sudowoodo needs to secure a layer of entry hazards.
Niche Items
========
**Choice Band**: While its low Speed and poor bulk keep Sudowoodo from being a true offensive threat, Choice Band pairs well with Rock Head and its powerful recoil moves like Head Smash and Wood Hammer to surprise an opponent expecting a traditional entry hazard set.
**Red Card**: While it requires keeping away entry hazards, Red Card also works with Sturdy to let Sudowoodo survive a hit from a powerful setup Pokemon and force it out. This can be preferable to the traditional Heavy-Duty Boots option when the opponent has low entry hazard pressure and Sudowoodo doesn't have a reliable option to deal with the relevant setup Pokemon.
Tera
========
As a bottom-tier Pokemon, Sudowoodo generally shouldn't be picked as a Tera Captain unless there are no other options. If this imitation tree finds itself with the unexpected honor of being a Tera Captain, it can turn into the Grass-type it always pretended to be for a more powerful Wood Hammer and useful resistances to Water, Grass, and Ground or stay petrified with Tera Rock for a frighteningly strong Head Smash. Lead Sudowoodo may prefer Tera Ghost to prevent foes from removing its hard-earned entry hazards with Rapid Spin.
Draft Strategy
========
As a minimal-cost Pokemon, Sudowoodo won't be a primary piece of any draft and should instead be used to fill the last slot on a team that needs its particular abilities as an entry hazard lead and Sturdy insurance. Since Sudowoodo adds little defensive value to a team, it's best served on drafts that already have their main defensive priorities covered.
Checks and Counters
========
**Special Attackers**: Sudowoodo has terrible special bulk, rendering it weak to almost any special attacker that it for neutral damage or better, such as Raging Bolt and Greninja. Special setup sweepers like Gholdengo and Calm Mind Iron Valiant have an easier time avoiding its revenge killer set, as they do not need to fear options like Counter and Foul Play and just need to be able to survive a hit from its mediocre unboosted Attack stat.
**Priority**: Sudowoodo heavily relies on Custap Berry to move for more than one turn, so priority users like Rillaboom, Azumarill, and Scizor can move before it and finish Sudowoodo off before it can act.
**Chip Damage and Multi-hit moves**: Chip damage from options like Rapid Spin and burn can break Sturdy and leave Sudowoodo open to being knocked out without putting it in range of Custap Berry. Multi-hit moves like Bullet Seed and Surging Strikes can be an efficient way to knock Sudowoodo out in a single turn, potentially stopping it from acting at all.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hawhatos.139162/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/jscurf.608304/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Last edited:
