What makes a good "Tank"?

SNX7

Now, we all know about Walls, which basically absorb either special or pysichal hit's without a second thought. Now, what about tanks, which are supposed to be able to switch in on either type of attack? Now, we all know Dusknoir, but what other pokemon make a decent tank? And what are the general EV/Stat spreads on them? Do you want both defenses to be about equal?

For example, I'm trying to turn my Uxie into a Tank. Currently, she's 252 HP, 252 Defense, 4 SpDef, with a Bold nature. Since Bold gives +Def, should I change my spread to 252 HP, 50 Def, 202 SpDef? This would give her 354 HP, 338 Def and 346 SpDef.

Also, I'd also like to discuss (and discover) other pokemon that can take special and physical hit's well besides Dusknoir and Cresselia.
 
A tank can be defined as something that is both capable of taking hits and dealing hits, as well having definite staying power. Weavile, a strong, fast attacker, isn't a tank because it can't take hits. Uxie, in your case, isn't a tank because it can't deal damage, lacking good attack stats and a decent movepool. Cresselia falls short of being a tank, as it isn't capable of dealing reliable damage to anything not named Salamence or Garchomp.

On the other hand, we have Rhyperior. Great defense stat, good special defense in sand storm, good attack stat, can take hits. Rhyperior is clearly a tank. Dusknoir is a tank for the same reasons.
 
Huh, I guess I just generalized tanks as pokemon who can take hits well from both ends of the spectrum, I didn't even think about dealing damage back. I guess there are many pokemon like that, I just didn't think about any of them.
 
What makes a good tank?
You need a ton of HP, plus defense EVs on one of or both of the defense stats. Example- Giratina, Lugia
By the way, Uxie can learn a recovery move. Rest.
 
Slowbro makes a decent tank. Slack off, Curse/Calm Mind for bulking up, and its got great offensive stats to back up Psychic/Surf.
 
Bulky Waters are always nice tanks; my two favourites are Vaporeon and Milotic.

Vaporeon gets the Water Absorb trait meaning it can come in on any Water attack and heal.
Surf and Ice Beam are standard on bulky waters. Can also be used as support with Substitute, Wish and Baton Pass.

Milotic also makes a good tank, but 4th gen has crippled her slighty (Grass Knot, anyone?)
Again Surf and Ice Beam standard, and she gets Recover. A Rest Talking version could also work, and her Marvel Scale trait boosts Defence when asleep. Milotic also gets Mirror Coat, so if she survives an Electric attack (which Milotic usually does), hit 'em back twice as hard.
 
Most Tanks also Learn moves that can boost there offensive power so, you can focus on there HP and defenses to allow time for the move to work, then a powerfull stabbed attack can dominate your enemy. Crocune from advance was my favorite tank, it used Rest, sleep talk, Surf and Calm mind...generally tanks have lost alot of ground due to Specs and crap like that because its hard to focus on all the threats.
 
tangrowth tanks extremely well from the physical side, being resistant to EQ and having 125 base def, and can hit hard with STAB power whips.
 
Donphan! 120 base Attack and Defense makes hits and takes hits.
Mamoswine is decent with a couple of Defense evs.
Jirachi can support and KO certain threats with Zen Headbutt. It has a reliable healing Wish.
 
Coops said:
Bulky Waters are always nice tanks; my two favourites are Vaporeon and Milotic.

Vaporeon gets the Water Absorb trait meaning it can come in on any Water attack and heal.
Surf and Ice Beam are standard on bulky waters. Can also be used as support with Substitute, Wish and Baton Pass.

Milotic also makes a good tank, but 4th gen has crippled her slighty (Grass Knot, anyone?)
Again Surf and Ice Beam standard, and she gets Recover. A Rest Talking version could also work, and her Marvel Scale trait boosts Defence when asleep. Milotic also gets Mirror Coat, so if she survives an Electric attack (which Milotic usually does), hit 'em back twice as hard.
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Bulky Waters are not really all that great. They used to work, but as Tinnacious said, everything hits a lot harder in D/P. And Bulky Waters must now pour more EVs in Defense and HP in order to survive, decreasing their chances of gettimg 245 Sp. Atk, the requirement to destroy Chomp with a single Ice Beam. Slowbro is actually the only Bulky Water that can survive due to a decent recovery move in Slack Off and a good defense. Plus it can CM up so his Sp.Atk surpasses 266.
 
Cooper is trying to say Uxie (and Cresselia/Forry etc) should be defined as a Wall/Sponge as opposed to a tank. They must rely on either status or common 4x weak moves (i.e Ice Beam for Garchomp) or Seismic Toss to deal their damage.
 
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