uploaded -zard
[OVERVIEW]
Tangela is capable of providing an amazing defensive presence for teams due to its gargantuan physical bulk that is further supplemented by Eviolite, making it one of the most solid blanket checks to physical attackers in the tier, checking Kingler, Primeape, and Lycanroc. It also has many forms of recovery, with Regenerator being by far its most advantageous trait, allowing it to heal off prior damage with greater efficacy with the HP regained upon switching out, helping it remain healthy. Despite its lack of offensive presence, Tangela can pressure opposing teams with its utility moves such as Knock Off, Sleep Powder, and Leech Seed. Although Tangela's Grass typing is great for the purpose of checking physically offensive Water- and Ground-types, this, unfortunately, comes with weaknesses to extremely prevalent attacking types in Ice, Fire, and Flying, leaving it easily threatened by offensive threats such as Pyroar, Aurorus, Eelektross, and Oricorio-G. In addition, Tangela's abysmal Special Defense means that even passive Pokemon with super effective coverage such as Weezing can easily overpower it. Furthermore, it is reliant on Eviolite to function as a blanket check to strong physical attackers, despite its naturally good Defense, and thus is prone to being crippled by certain Pokemon it can be used to deal with, such as Gurdurr and Absol. Tangela also finds itself often competing with Ferroseed and Gourgeist-XL for teams in need of a defensive Grass-type, with the former offering Spikes support and a Steel typing that grants it an immunity to Toxic and the latter being a spinblocker that isn't as bothered by Knock Off. Despite these setbacks, Tangela can be a favorable choice overall for teams in need of a reliable cushion against prominent physical attackers.
[SET]
name: Defensive Pivot
move 1: Giga Drain
move 2: Hidden Power Fire
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Leech Seed / Synthesis / Sleep Powder
item: Eviolite
ability: Regenerator
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Giga Drain is Tangela's main way of dealing consistent damage while also functioning as a source of recovery and greatly punishing Pokemon weak to it such as Gastrodon and Regirock. Hidden Power Fire is primarily used to reliably beat Ferroseed, but it can also be used to deal heavy damage to Abomasnow and Alolan Sandslash. Knock Off is a strong option due to its utility, allowing Tangela to pressure Pokemon such as Clefairy, Type: Null, Weezing, and Skuntank by removing their Eviolite or recovery items. This move can also scout for Z-Moves if it doesn't remove an item. Leech Seed supplies Tangela with another form of recovery that it can use to pressure switch-ins by racking up residual damage against them. Alternatively, Synthesis trades the ability to deliver chip damage for functioning as Tangela's most reliable form of recovery besides Regenerator, allowing it to heal 50% of its HP. Finally, Sleep Powder can incapacitate a threat from the opposing team and is a solid option against many Pokemon that take negligible damage from the rest of Tangela's attacks like Skuntank and Pyroar. It can also be used to effectively prevent slower Pokemon such as Regirock and Clefairy from getting up Stealth Rock early-game.
Set Details
========
Regenerator combined with Tangela's physical bulk is an integral part of what makes this set viable, allowing it to negate one-third the amount of damage it may have taken by simply switching out. The EVs are invested into HP and Defense with a Bold nature to maximize Tangela's physical bulk. Eviolite is necessary for augmenting Tangela's bulk to function as an extremely sturdy physical wall against the majority of the tier.
Usage Tips
========
Although Tangela can be used at any point in the battle, its primary function is to utilize its massive Defense stat and pivot into physical attackers such as Kabutops, Kangaskhan, and Kingler. Utilizing Regenerator and the rest of Tangela's recovery options to keep it as healthy as possible is key in consistently addressing hard-hitting attackers such as Stoutland and can make dealing with late-game powerhouses like Belly Drum Zangoose and Lycanroc a lot easier as well. Tangela should generally avoid switching into special attackers unless it is a defensive Pokemon that it has a good matchup against, such as Gastrodon. It's good to be mindful of possible utility options that can be used to cripple Tangela, as moves such as Toxic and Knock Off can significantly disrupt it and reduce its longevity. Tangela's utility options in Leech Seed and Knock Off are very safe for pressuring the opposing team, while Sleep Powder can be quite impactful for incapacitating switch-ins or temporarily stopping slower Pokemon like Clefairy and Audino from doing their jobs throughout the match. Finally, Synthesis makes it easy to recover off damage once Tangela has been considerably weakened.
Team Options
========
Due to Tangela's massive Defense and mediocre Special Defense, defensive checks to popular special attackers form some of the best cores on balanced teams with it, such as Clefairy, Type: Null, Munchlax, and Lanturn. Meanwhile, they appreciate Tangela's ability to switch into powerful physical wallbreakers. They also provide responses to Toxic through Magic Guard, Rest, or Heal Bell, respectively. Although Tangela's bulk is still good without Eviolite, teammates that can sponge Knock Off such as Regirock and Silvally-Fairy are still great for alleviating pressure on it. Regirock can also switch into troublesome Pokemon that can otherwise easily KO Tangela, such as Pyroar, special Skuntank, and Oricorio-G. Silvally-Fairy can act as a secondary check to Dark-types like Absol and Alolan Raticate. Hazard control is ideal, as it allows Tangela to get the most out of its recovery from Regenerator when pivoting and not be constantly chipped from Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Toxic Spikes. Hitmonchan can offer this role while checking special attackers like Eelektross and Aurorus. Skuntank can Pursuit trap special attackers like Mesprit and Haunter and absorbs Toxic Spikes for Tangela, while in return, Tangela can switch into Ground-types like Gastrodon and Alolan Dugtrio. Tangela's solid utility and Defense allows it to also fit on stall archetypes, pairing with staples like Audino and Pyukumuku that appreciate it offering support options like Knock Off and taking on hard-hitting physical attackers like Zangoose and Choice Band Primeape. Audino can remove any possible status ailment with Heal Bell and forms a strong Regenerator core with Tangela, which allows them to pivot between each other with ease while staying healthy.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Toxic does a fine job of crippling bulky Pokemon in general and is one of Tangela's best options for responding to opposing Grass-types, but choosing this option would require Tangela to forgo one of its other utility or recovery options. An alternative EV spread of 252 HP / 96 Def / 160 SpD can be used to always survive a hit from Jynx, Choice Specs Mesprit, and Eviolite Combusken while still being a physical wall; however, Tangela has to sacrifice a significant amount of Defense in order to use this spread. Tangela can take the route of an offensive pivot and be fairly threatening thanks to Leaf Storm, decent coverage, ability to tank hits against some attackers, and Sleep Powder, but it prefers the role of checking hard-hitting physical attackers, a trait that this set would sacrifice. It also still fails to be very threatening to its strongest checks due to its lack of strong coverage options. Stun Spore is an option for crippling fast switch-ins like Pyroar and Jynx, but it tends to be less consistent than its main utility options. Hidden Power Ice is a viable option that allows Tangela to hit Alolan Exeggutor and Drampa harder, but the move renders Tangela without a means to significantly wear down Ferroseed. A specially defensive spread can help take on Pokemon like Lanturn and special Floatzel better, but Tangela usually functions better in the majority of matches as a physical wall. Finally, Worry Seed can be used on movesets with Toxic to quickly wear down and cripple Clefairy, Type: Null, and Munchlax; it cripples Clefairy by removing its Magic Guard ability and therefore making it vulnerable to Toxic, and it nullifies Type: Null and Munchlax's recovery option by preventing them from using Rest due to Insomnia. This strategy, however, tends to render Tangela's moveslot less useful in other matchups, and Knock Off, Sleep Powder, and Leech Seed are already plenty useful in crippling these Pokemon.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dragon-types**: Dragon-types resist both of Tangela's most common attacking moves, and its best way of chipping at them is the uncommon Hidden Power Ice, making these Pokemon among the most solid switch-ins. Between Alolan Exeggutor's Grass typing and Drampa's Sap Sipper ability, these Pokemon aren't worried about being crippled Tangela's utility moves in Leech Seed and Sleep Powder and can easily OHKO Tangela. Silvally-Dragon doesn't have that same advantage in being immune to Tangela's Grass-type utility moves, but it still takes on the majority of Tangela's moveset extremely well and can reliably threaten it with Flamethrower.
**Fire-types**: Offensive Fire-types such as Pyroar and Combusken only really fear Sleep Powder and can get chipped somewhat with Leech Seed, but they otherwise have little trouble taking any hit that Tangela can throw at it and can easily OHKO Tangela in return with their Fire-type moves.
**Flying-types**: Swanna and Oricorio-G both have the ability to easily break past Tangela due to their strong special STAB moves. Additionally, Oricorio-G resists Tangela's STAB moves and can safely use it as setup fodder with Calm Mind and bypass Sleep Powder with Substitute.
**Special Wallbreakers**: Due to Tangela's low Special Defense even with Eviolite, it can be heavily punished by practically any specially offensive wallbreaker, with prominent examples being Eelektross, Mesprit, special Skuntank, and Haunter.
**Toxic**: Despite Tangela's recovery options, Toxic effectively puts it on a timer by severely limiting its survivability and defensive capabilities. Toxic Spikes are equally problematic and can be set by Pokemon like Weezing, whose typing, decent bulk, and ability to deal significant damage with its own STAB moves are enough to force Tangela out.
[OVERVIEW]
Tangela is capable of providing an amazing defensive presence for teams due to its gargantuan physical bulk that is further supplemented by Eviolite, making it one of the most solid blanket checks to physical attackers in the tier, checking Kingler, Primeape, and Lycanroc. It also has many forms of recovery, with Regenerator being by far its most advantageous trait, allowing it to heal off prior damage with greater efficacy with the HP regained upon switching out, helping it remain healthy. Despite its lack of offensive presence, Tangela can pressure opposing teams with its utility moves such as Knock Off, Sleep Powder, and Leech Seed. Although Tangela's Grass typing is great for the purpose of checking physically offensive Water- and Ground-types, this, unfortunately, comes with weaknesses to extremely prevalent attacking types in Ice, Fire, and Flying, leaving it easily threatened by offensive threats such as Pyroar, Aurorus, Eelektross, and Oricorio-G. In addition, Tangela's abysmal Special Defense means that even passive Pokemon with super effective coverage such as Weezing can easily overpower it. Furthermore, it is reliant on Eviolite to function as a blanket check to strong physical attackers, despite its naturally good Defense, and thus is prone to being crippled by certain Pokemon it can be used to deal with, such as Gurdurr and Absol. Tangela also finds itself often competing with Ferroseed and Gourgeist-XL for teams in need of a defensive Grass-type, with the former offering Spikes support and a Steel typing that grants it an immunity to Toxic and the latter being a spinblocker that isn't as bothered by Knock Off. Despite these setbacks, Tangela can be a favorable choice overall for teams in need of a reliable cushion against prominent physical attackers.
[SET]
name: Defensive Pivot
move 1: Giga Drain
move 2: Hidden Power Fire
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Leech Seed / Synthesis / Sleep Powder
item: Eviolite
ability: Regenerator
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Giga Drain is Tangela's main way of dealing consistent damage while also functioning as a source of recovery and greatly punishing Pokemon weak to it such as Gastrodon and Regirock. Hidden Power Fire is primarily used to reliably beat Ferroseed, but it can also be used to deal heavy damage to Abomasnow and Alolan Sandslash. Knock Off is a strong option due to its utility, allowing Tangela to pressure Pokemon such as Clefairy, Type: Null, Weezing, and Skuntank by removing their Eviolite or recovery items. This move can also scout for Z-Moves if it doesn't remove an item. Leech Seed supplies Tangela with another form of recovery that it can use to pressure switch-ins by racking up residual damage against them. Alternatively, Synthesis trades the ability to deliver chip damage for functioning as Tangela's most reliable form of recovery besides Regenerator, allowing it to heal 50% of its HP. Finally, Sleep Powder can incapacitate a threat from the opposing team and is a solid option against many Pokemon that take negligible damage from the rest of Tangela's attacks like Skuntank and Pyroar. It can also be used to effectively prevent slower Pokemon such as Regirock and Clefairy from getting up Stealth Rock early-game.
Set Details
========
Regenerator combined with Tangela's physical bulk is an integral part of what makes this set viable, allowing it to negate one-third the amount of damage it may have taken by simply switching out. The EVs are invested into HP and Defense with a Bold nature to maximize Tangela's physical bulk. Eviolite is necessary for augmenting Tangela's bulk to function as an extremely sturdy physical wall against the majority of the tier.
Usage Tips
========
Although Tangela can be used at any point in the battle, its primary function is to utilize its massive Defense stat and pivot into physical attackers such as Kabutops, Kangaskhan, and Kingler. Utilizing Regenerator and the rest of Tangela's recovery options to keep it as healthy as possible is key in consistently addressing hard-hitting attackers such as Stoutland and can make dealing with late-game powerhouses like Belly Drum Zangoose and Lycanroc a lot easier as well. Tangela should generally avoid switching into special attackers unless it is a defensive Pokemon that it has a good matchup against, such as Gastrodon. It's good to be mindful of possible utility options that can be used to cripple Tangela, as moves such as Toxic and Knock Off can significantly disrupt it and reduce its longevity. Tangela's utility options in Leech Seed and Knock Off are very safe for pressuring the opposing team, while Sleep Powder can be quite impactful for incapacitating switch-ins or temporarily stopping slower Pokemon like Clefairy and Audino from doing their jobs throughout the match. Finally, Synthesis makes it easy to recover off damage once Tangela has been considerably weakened.
Team Options
========
Due to Tangela's massive Defense and mediocre Special Defense, defensive checks to popular special attackers form some of the best cores on balanced teams with it, such as Clefairy, Type: Null, Munchlax, and Lanturn. Meanwhile, they appreciate Tangela's ability to switch into powerful physical wallbreakers. They also provide responses to Toxic through Magic Guard, Rest, or Heal Bell, respectively. Although Tangela's bulk is still good without Eviolite, teammates that can sponge Knock Off such as Regirock and Silvally-Fairy are still great for alleviating pressure on it. Regirock can also switch into troublesome Pokemon that can otherwise easily KO Tangela, such as Pyroar, special Skuntank, and Oricorio-G. Silvally-Fairy can act as a secondary check to Dark-types like Absol and Alolan Raticate. Hazard control is ideal, as it allows Tangela to get the most out of its recovery from Regenerator when pivoting and not be constantly chipped from Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Toxic Spikes. Hitmonchan can offer this role while checking special attackers like Eelektross and Aurorus. Skuntank can Pursuit trap special attackers like Mesprit and Haunter and absorbs Toxic Spikes for Tangela, while in return, Tangela can switch into Ground-types like Gastrodon and Alolan Dugtrio. Tangela's solid utility and Defense allows it to also fit on stall archetypes, pairing with staples like Audino and Pyukumuku that appreciate it offering support options like Knock Off and taking on hard-hitting physical attackers like Zangoose and Choice Band Primeape. Audino can remove any possible status ailment with Heal Bell and forms a strong Regenerator core with Tangela, which allows them to pivot between each other with ease while staying healthy.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Toxic does a fine job of crippling bulky Pokemon in general and is one of Tangela's best options for responding to opposing Grass-types, but choosing this option would require Tangela to forgo one of its other utility or recovery options. An alternative EV spread of 252 HP / 96 Def / 160 SpD can be used to always survive a hit from Jynx, Choice Specs Mesprit, and Eviolite Combusken while still being a physical wall; however, Tangela has to sacrifice a significant amount of Defense in order to use this spread. Tangela can take the route of an offensive pivot and be fairly threatening thanks to Leaf Storm, decent coverage, ability to tank hits against some attackers, and Sleep Powder, but it prefers the role of checking hard-hitting physical attackers, a trait that this set would sacrifice. It also still fails to be very threatening to its strongest checks due to its lack of strong coverage options. Stun Spore is an option for crippling fast switch-ins like Pyroar and Jynx, but it tends to be less consistent than its main utility options. Hidden Power Ice is a viable option that allows Tangela to hit Alolan Exeggutor and Drampa harder, but the move renders Tangela without a means to significantly wear down Ferroseed. A specially defensive spread can help take on Pokemon like Lanturn and special Floatzel better, but Tangela usually functions better in the majority of matches as a physical wall. Finally, Worry Seed can be used on movesets with Toxic to quickly wear down and cripple Clefairy, Type: Null, and Munchlax; it cripples Clefairy by removing its Magic Guard ability and therefore making it vulnerable to Toxic, and it nullifies Type: Null and Munchlax's recovery option by preventing them from using Rest due to Insomnia. This strategy, however, tends to render Tangela's moveslot less useful in other matchups, and Knock Off, Sleep Powder, and Leech Seed are already plenty useful in crippling these Pokemon.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dragon-types**: Dragon-types resist both of Tangela's most common attacking moves, and its best way of chipping at them is the uncommon Hidden Power Ice, making these Pokemon among the most solid switch-ins. Between Alolan Exeggutor's Grass typing and Drampa's Sap Sipper ability, these Pokemon aren't worried about being crippled Tangela's utility moves in Leech Seed and Sleep Powder and can easily OHKO Tangela. Silvally-Dragon doesn't have that same advantage in being immune to Tangela's Grass-type utility moves, but it still takes on the majority of Tangela's moveset extremely well and can reliably threaten it with Flamethrower.
**Fire-types**: Offensive Fire-types such as Pyroar and Combusken only really fear Sleep Powder and can get chipped somewhat with Leech Seed, but they otherwise have little trouble taking any hit that Tangela can throw at it and can easily OHKO Tangela in return with their Fire-type moves.
**Flying-types**: Swanna and Oricorio-G both have the ability to easily break past Tangela due to their strong special STAB moves. Additionally, Oricorio-G resists Tangela's STAB moves and can safely use it as setup fodder with Calm Mind and bypass Sleep Powder with Substitute.
**Special Wallbreakers**: Due to Tangela's low Special Defense even with Eviolite, it can be heavily punished by practically any specially offensive wallbreaker, with prominent examples being Eelektross, Mesprit, special Skuntank, and Haunter.
**Toxic**: Despite Tangela's recovery options, Toxic effectively puts it on a timer by severely limiting its survivability and defensive capabilities. Toxic Spikes are equally problematic and can be set by Pokemon like Weezing, whose typing, decent bulk, and ability to deal significant damage with its own STAB moves are enough to force Tangela out.
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