uploaded -zard
[OVERVIEW]
Throh's access to STAB Circle Throw makes it a very durable phazer; it is able to wear teams down due to its ability to take hits with its respectable bulk, and it will almost always force a Pokemon to be brought out against it. It is also able to hold its own against special attackers such as Pyroar and Assault Vest Magmortar. These attributes let it serve as a bulky setup sweeper with Bulk Up, and it is because of this that Throh is able to hold a niche over other Fighting-types in the tier, such as Gurdurr and Hitmonchan, despite competing with them for a teamslot. Additionally, its ability Guts lets Throh act as a status absorber for its team, allowing it to switch into Scald and other status moves with near-impunity. However, Throh relies on entry hazard damage through phazing to deal most of its damage, meaning Ghost-types like Haunter and Oricorio-G effectively shut down sets that lack Knock Off. Throh has great bulk, but this is somewhat diminished by its subpar typing, bringing few notable resistances and making it weak to prominent Psychic-types such as Jynx, Mesprit, and Musharna. This, combined with Throh's lack of reliable recovery, means that it is prone to getting worn down easily over the course of a match and forces it to rely on RestTalk as a means of recovery.
[SET]
name: RestTalk
move 1: Rest
move 2: Sleep Talk
move 3: Circle Throw
move 4: Bulk Up / Knock Off
item: Leftovers
ability: Guts
nature: Careful
evs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Circle Throw gives Throh its niche as a phazer and allows it to phaze Pokemon such as Musharna that either try to switch in on it or attempt to set up on it. This is especially devastating when paired with entry hazards, as it forces the opposing Pokemon to take even more damage upon its next switch in. Rest and Sleep Talk gives Throh recovery, and this pairs very well with Guts, as it allows Throh to fire off stronger attacks once it's asleep and does not cause Throh to become a complete sitting duck. Bulk Up is the primary option in the last slot, as it allows Throh to be a bulky sweeper late-game for its team. Knock Off is an option over Bulk Up, trading in the ability to boost up to allow Throh to not be completely walled out by Ghost-types like Oricorio-G. Knock Off also has use outside of that, however, by being able to remove the items of foes.
Set Details
========
The EV spread maximizes Throh's special bulk while minimizing the amount of entry hazard damage it takes. Guts is the ability of choice here, boosting Throh's power when it's statused and working particularly well with Rest. Leftovers is used to gain passive recovery every turn, increasing Throh's overall longevity.
Usage Tips
========
Early- to mid-game, Throh should pivot into Pokemon such as Regirock and attempt to wear down its switch-ins with Circle Throw or Knock Off. Throh can also pivot into status spreaders such as Lanturn and Miltank in order to absorb status for its team and boost its Attack thanks to Guts and use Rest to get rid of the status after. Throh can also function well late-game as a bulky sweeper, once its checks are worn down suffciently enough or are removed. This is especially important if Throh lacks Knock Off, as it'll give Ghost-types free switch ins otherwise. Try to use Rest whenever Throh's HP gets too low so as to not let it get worn down so fast. However be mindful of clicking Rest too early, as Throh is forced to then rely on the rather shaky Sleep Talk.
Team Options
========
Spikes support is amazing when using Throh, so Pokemon such as Ferroseed work well to set them up. Ferroseed also functions as a Psychic check for Throh. Toxic Spikes support also works with Throh, as it can help wear down Ghost-types such as Gourgeist-XL and Sableye for it, so setters like Weezing and Roselia can work. Pursuit trappers are able to reliably trap Ghost- and Psychic-types, which plague Throh. Options for this include Skuntank and Liepard. While Throh hates facing Ghost-types, it also appreciates them as partners, since they are able to spinblock the hazards that pair so well with Throh. Silvally-Ghost, Gourgeist-XL, and Oricorio-G are all examples of Pokemon that can spinblock for Throh. Although Guts means Throh isn't as concerned with status, Heal Bell users such as Audino can still be beneficial so it doesn't have to sleep for as long after using Rest. Hazard removers, such as Kabutops and Swanna, can help remove entry hazards on Throh's side so it does not become easier to wear down over the course of a match and makes it a more reliable switch-in to the Pokemon it is supposed to check. Spinners are more appreciated than Defoggers, however, as they don't remove Spikes from your opponent's side. Finally, bulky Rock-, Ground-, and Steel-types that are able to switch into Flying-types and fend them off such as Aggron and Regirock work well, and they also provide Stealth Rock support to help Throh's phazing even more.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A more offensive Bulk Up set with Storm Throw / Knock Off / Facade holding a Flame Orb can be used. However, this is usually outclassed by Ursaring due to the latter's much higher Attack and access to Swords Dance making it a much better wallbreaker. A Choice Band set with either Guts or Mold Breaker can also be used if you want more wallbreaking power out of Throh, but this faces competition from Passimian. Assault Vest seems appealing due to it boosting Throh's Special Defense by x1.5, but this set is even more prone to being worn down than it usually is and can't boost up using Bulk Up. Toxic is an option over Bulk Up or Knock Off to catch Throh's checks on the switch, though it is not worth the moveslot most of the time. Lastly, Storm Throw is a good alternative to Circle Throw if Throh is not used on a team with a lot of entry hazard support or if a stronger STAB move is more desired.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types such as Mesprit and Musharna are able to switch in on anything besides a Knock Off and proceed to scare Throh out with their STAB moves. Those two in particular can still tank a Knock Off as well due to Colbur Berry and Z-Crystals, respectively.
**Ghost-types**: Outside of fearing Knock Off, Ghost-types such as Spiritomb, Haunter, and Oricorio-G are able to switch into Throh with near-impunity and disrupt it due to their immunity to Circle Throw, meaning they cannot be phased. Sableye and Gourgeist-XL get special mentions due to access to Prankster Taunt + Recover to stall it out, while Knock Off does little back in the former's case and the latter almost always runs Colbur Berry alongside high bulk investment to mitigate Knock Off and can just simply recover off the damage. Haunter can Trick Throh a Choice Scarf, effectively crippling it and preventing it from going for Bulk Up or Rest.
**Flying-types**: Similarly to Psychic-types, Flying-types such as Swanna and Oricorio-G are able to scare out Throh with their STAB moves and switch into any moves it could run.
**Weezing**: Weezing can easily take both Circle Throw and Knock Off with ease. It also has access to Taunt to stop Throh from boosting with Bulk Up or healing with Rest.
**Offensive Pressure**: As Throh is reliant on Rest + Sleep Talk for recovery, in some cases it may be overwhelmed by offensive pressure from the opposing team due to being 2HKOed or 3HKOed by a lot of prominent, powerful attackers in the metagame such as Alolan Exeggutor, Kangaskhan, and Choice Band Aggron.
[OVERVIEW]
Throh's access to STAB Circle Throw makes it a very durable phazer; it is able to wear teams down due to its ability to take hits with its respectable bulk, and it will almost always force a Pokemon to be brought out against it. It is also able to hold its own against special attackers such as Pyroar and Assault Vest Magmortar. These attributes let it serve as a bulky setup sweeper with Bulk Up, and it is because of this that Throh is able to hold a niche over other Fighting-types in the tier, such as Gurdurr and Hitmonchan, despite competing with them for a teamslot. Additionally, its ability Guts lets Throh act as a status absorber for its team, allowing it to switch into Scald and other status moves with near-impunity. However, Throh relies on entry hazard damage through phazing to deal most of its damage, meaning Ghost-types like Haunter and Oricorio-G effectively shut down sets that lack Knock Off. Throh has great bulk, but this is somewhat diminished by its subpar typing, bringing few notable resistances and making it weak to prominent Psychic-types such as Jynx, Mesprit, and Musharna. This, combined with Throh's lack of reliable recovery, means that it is prone to getting worn down easily over the course of a match and forces it to rely on RestTalk as a means of recovery.
[SET]
name: RestTalk
move 1: Rest
move 2: Sleep Talk
move 3: Circle Throw
move 4: Bulk Up / Knock Off
item: Leftovers
ability: Guts
nature: Careful
evs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Circle Throw gives Throh its niche as a phazer and allows it to phaze Pokemon such as Musharna that either try to switch in on it or attempt to set up on it. This is especially devastating when paired with entry hazards, as it forces the opposing Pokemon to take even more damage upon its next switch in. Rest and Sleep Talk gives Throh recovery, and this pairs very well with Guts, as it allows Throh to fire off stronger attacks once it's asleep and does not cause Throh to become a complete sitting duck. Bulk Up is the primary option in the last slot, as it allows Throh to be a bulky sweeper late-game for its team. Knock Off is an option over Bulk Up, trading in the ability to boost up to allow Throh to not be completely walled out by Ghost-types like Oricorio-G. Knock Off also has use outside of that, however, by being able to remove the items of foes.
Set Details
========
The EV spread maximizes Throh's special bulk while minimizing the amount of entry hazard damage it takes. Guts is the ability of choice here, boosting Throh's power when it's statused and working particularly well with Rest. Leftovers is used to gain passive recovery every turn, increasing Throh's overall longevity.
Usage Tips
========
Early- to mid-game, Throh should pivot into Pokemon such as Regirock and attempt to wear down its switch-ins with Circle Throw or Knock Off. Throh can also pivot into status spreaders such as Lanturn and Miltank in order to absorb status for its team and boost its Attack thanks to Guts and use Rest to get rid of the status after. Throh can also function well late-game as a bulky sweeper, once its checks are worn down suffciently enough or are removed. This is especially important if Throh lacks Knock Off, as it'll give Ghost-types free switch ins otherwise. Try to use Rest whenever Throh's HP gets too low so as to not let it get worn down so fast. However be mindful of clicking Rest too early, as Throh is forced to then rely on the rather shaky Sleep Talk.
Team Options
========
Spikes support is amazing when using Throh, so Pokemon such as Ferroseed work well to set them up. Ferroseed also functions as a Psychic check for Throh. Toxic Spikes support also works with Throh, as it can help wear down Ghost-types such as Gourgeist-XL and Sableye for it, so setters like Weezing and Roselia can work. Pursuit trappers are able to reliably trap Ghost- and Psychic-types, which plague Throh. Options for this include Skuntank and Liepard. While Throh hates facing Ghost-types, it also appreciates them as partners, since they are able to spinblock the hazards that pair so well with Throh. Silvally-Ghost, Gourgeist-XL, and Oricorio-G are all examples of Pokemon that can spinblock for Throh. Although Guts means Throh isn't as concerned with status, Heal Bell users such as Audino can still be beneficial so it doesn't have to sleep for as long after using Rest. Hazard removers, such as Kabutops and Swanna, can help remove entry hazards on Throh's side so it does not become easier to wear down over the course of a match and makes it a more reliable switch-in to the Pokemon it is supposed to check. Spinners are more appreciated than Defoggers, however, as they don't remove Spikes from your opponent's side. Finally, bulky Rock-, Ground-, and Steel-types that are able to switch into Flying-types and fend them off such as Aggron and Regirock work well, and they also provide Stealth Rock support to help Throh's phazing even more.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A more offensive Bulk Up set with Storm Throw / Knock Off / Facade holding a Flame Orb can be used. However, this is usually outclassed by Ursaring due to the latter's much higher Attack and access to Swords Dance making it a much better wallbreaker. A Choice Band set with either Guts or Mold Breaker can also be used if you want more wallbreaking power out of Throh, but this faces competition from Passimian. Assault Vest seems appealing due to it boosting Throh's Special Defense by x1.5, but this set is even more prone to being worn down than it usually is and can't boost up using Bulk Up. Toxic is an option over Bulk Up or Knock Off to catch Throh's checks on the switch, though it is not worth the moveslot most of the time. Lastly, Storm Throw is a good alternative to Circle Throw if Throh is not used on a team with a lot of entry hazard support or if a stronger STAB move is more desired.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types such as Mesprit and Musharna are able to switch in on anything besides a Knock Off and proceed to scare Throh out with their STAB moves. Those two in particular can still tank a Knock Off as well due to Colbur Berry and Z-Crystals, respectively.
**Ghost-types**: Outside of fearing Knock Off, Ghost-types such as Spiritomb, Haunter, and Oricorio-G are able to switch into Throh with near-impunity and disrupt it due to their immunity to Circle Throw, meaning they cannot be phased. Sableye and Gourgeist-XL get special mentions due to access to Prankster Taunt + Recover to stall it out, while Knock Off does little back in the former's case and the latter almost always runs Colbur Berry alongside high bulk investment to mitigate Knock Off and can just simply recover off the damage. Haunter can Trick Throh a Choice Scarf, effectively crippling it and preventing it from going for Bulk Up or Rest.
**Flying-types**: Similarly to Psychic-types, Flying-types such as Swanna and Oricorio-G are able to scare out Throh with their STAB moves and switch into any moves it could run.
**Weezing**: Weezing can easily take both Circle Throw and Knock Off with ease. It also has access to Taunt to stop Throh from boosting with Bulk Up or healing with Rest.
**Offensive Pressure**: As Throh is reliant on Rest + Sleep Talk for recovery, in some cases it may be overwhelmed by offensive pressure from the opposing team due to being 2HKOed or 3HKOed by a lot of prominent, powerful attackers in the metagame such as Alolan Exeggutor, Kangaskhan, and Choice Band Aggron.
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