I AM GROOT
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Poltergeist
move 2: Wood Hammer
move 3: Sucker Punch / Grassy Glide
move 4: Trick
item: Choice Band
ability: Natural Cure
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Trevenant is a powerful wallbreaker that threatens teams without sturdy Ghost and Grass answers or sufficient offensive pressure. Thanks to Natural Cure, it can pivot into status better compared to other attackers and eases the need for a cleric. However, it faces competition from Gourgeist-S, which has significantly higher Speed. Trevenant compensates by hitting much harder, 2HKOing switch-ins like Altaria and Qwilfish, the latter after Stealth Rock damage. Sucker Punch nails faster foes like Rotom, Jynx, and Froslass. If Trevenant is paired with Thwackey, Grassy Glide can provide Trevenant with a safer priority move. Trick cripples lured walls like Tangela and Sap Sipper Miltank, which otherwise switch in safely. Natural Cure allows Trevenant to pivot into Pokemon reliant on status such as Stunfisk and defensive Poliwrath.
Despite Trevenant’s strength, it struggles to break through physical walls, especially ones that invalidate its STAB moves like Tangela, Sap Sipper Miltank, and itemless Gourgeist-XL. Special wallbreakers like Jynx, Skuntank, and Thievul overwhelm them with super effective coverage or setup. Pivots such as Uxie and Alolan Persian can help Trevenant get onto the field against faster builds. Coalossal can cover its Fire-, Ice-, and Flying-type weaknesses and provide Rapid Spin, while Dark-types like Skuntank can cover its Dark- and Ghost-type weaknesses. In return, Trevenant can offensively deal with many Water- and Ground-types, including Poliwrath, Rhydon, and Stunfisk. Thwackey not only gives Trevenant Grassy Glide, a more reliable priority move, but also an offensive partner that works together to overwhelm bulky Grass-types.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Some attacks can be used over Trick. Horn Leech and Drain Punch give Trevenant recovery, with the latter hitting Sap Sipper Miltank and the rare Bouffalant harder. Shadow Claw can hit Pokemon without an item, which synergizes better with Knock Off teammates. Earthquake provides a stronger hit against Poison-types like Qwilfish and Skuntank. Offensive Trick Room sets can bypass Trevenant's low Speed and surprise offensive teams, though Gourgeist-XL tends to perform better thanks to its Explosion, superior bulk, and lower Speed. Harvest sets with Substitute can capitalize on passive teams, though they struggle to find other opportunities due to Trevenant’s middling bulk.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Grass-types like Tangela and itemless Gourgeist-XL should be wary of Trick but can stomach most of Trevenant’s hits relatively easily and force it out. Offensive Grass-types like Thwackey and Flapple can revenge kill it with some prior damage.
**Dark-types**: Skuntank and Shiftry resist both of Trevenant’s STAB moves and can revenge kill it with some prior damage. Other Dark-types like Silvally-Dark and Thievul can switch into Poltergeist but not Wood Hammer. Alolan Persian is notable for not only outspeeding it, but taking Wood Hammer if necessary and OHKOing with Foul Play.
**Flying-types**: Articuno can stall Trevenant out with the combination of Roost and Pressure. Offensive Flying-types like Silvally-Flying and Unfezant can revenge kill it but cannot safely switch into it.
**Faster Attackers**: Trevenant’s low Speed and mediocre bulk make it easy for faster attackers to revenge kill. Pokemon like Sawk and Rapidash can defeat it with minimal to no prior chip damage. However, Pokemon weak to Sucker Punch, such as Rotom and Froslass, need to be more careful.
**Sap Sipper**: Sap Sipper Miltank and the rare Bouffalant can freely switch into Trevenant and set up. However, Miltank does not appreciate Trick.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[5Dots, 543866]]
- Quality checked by: [[Tuthur, 369076], [Corthius, 484079]]
- Grammar checked by: [[CryoGyro, 331519]]
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