[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Sludge Bomb
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Leech Seed
move 4: Synthesis
item: Eviolite
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
ivs: 0 Atk
[SET COMMENTS]
Gloom's convenient Grass / Poison typing, solid defensive stats boosted by Eviolite, and reliable recovery make it a decent wall. Physical wallbreakers and setup sweepers such as Leafeon, Meganium, Whiscash, and Kingler all struggle to break through Gloom without a boost, and all of them take massive damage from Gloom's Giga Drain and Sludge Bomb. Attacks from Stealth Rock setters such as Solrock, Wormadam-G, and Hippopotas hardly damage Gloom, giving it free entry. Leech Seed makes Gloom less passive against physical attackers it struggles to damage, such as Muk, Pawniard, and Arbok. Leech Seed can also support Gloom's teammates that don't have any form of recovery, such as Lairon, Grumpig, and Walrein. Synthesis keeps Gloom healthy on its own, letting it take repeated attacks from physical pivots like Mienfoo and Persian. Although Gloom is a physical wall, its natural special bulk and Poison typing enable it to sit on passive Pokemon like Frillish, Staryu, and Wormadam-S.
Physically frail teammates like Clefairy, Raichu, and Mr. Mime appreciate Gloom taking on physical attackers like Leafeon and Mienfoo. In return, they check problematic specially offensive Pokemon like Simisear, Glaceon, and Grumpig. Gloom deals little damage to Poison-types like Muk and Arbok, so partners like Grumpig, Mr. Mime, Whiscash, and Solrock pair well with it. In exchange, Gloom can check bulky Grass-types and physical attackers like Meganium and Whiscash. Clefairy walls Gloom thanks to Magic Guard, so Mienfoo, Knock Off Persian, and Taunt Emolga make great partners. Gloom is dependent on its Eviolite for its bulk, so physical attackers like Persian and Mienfoo that run Knock Off can be problematic for it. Partners like Solrock and Emolga can help Gloom hold onto its item and check the aforementioned threats.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Gloom has access to support moves such as Stun Spore and Toxic, but Leech Seed's ability to wear down targets like Arbok, Muk, and Wormadam-S is more valuable. Worry Seed nullifies Clefairy's Magic Guard, but Gloom struggles to fit it over a STAB attack. Dropping Giga Drain makes Gloom worse into Kingler and Whiscash, while dropping Sludge Bomb makes Gloom worse into Leafeon and Meganium. Most specially offensive Pokemon in the tier such as Simisear, Glaceon, and Mr. Mime hit Gloom super effectively, so a specially set is less useful than a physically defensive one.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Specially Offensive Pokemon**: Grumpig, Simisear, Mr. Mime, and Glaceon have no problem blowing past Gloom with their powerful STAB moves. Other special attackers such as Raichu and Pikachu often run super effective coverage like Hidden Power Ice.
**Clefairy**: Gloom cannot break through even physically defensive Clefairy, as its Magic Guard denies Sludge Bomb poisoning and Leech Seed. Clefairy can weaken Gloom as a wall with Knock Off and Thunder Wave.
**Poison- and Steel-types**: Gloom has little besides Leech Seed to deal with Arbok and Muk, and Ivysaur is unaffected. Pawniard can use Gloom as an opportunity to set up, while Wormadam-S can use it to set Stealth Rock.
**Emolga**: Emolga is especially dangerous for Gloom with its Flying Gem boosted Acrobatics, Taunt, Encore, and Knock Off, neutralizing Gloom as a wall if Emolga doesn't just overwhelm it.
**Knock Off**: Gloom relies on Eviolite for a significant amount of its bulk, and losing it is problematic. Mienfoo and Persian are common physical attackers that can disrupt Gloom with Knock Off. Ivysaur, Emolga, and Clefairy also commonly run Knock Off.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/missangelic.452572/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zastra.558636/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/autumn.384270/
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Sludge Bomb
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Leech Seed
move 4: Synthesis
item: Eviolite
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
ivs: 0 Atk
[SET COMMENTS]
Gloom's convenient Grass / Poison typing, solid defensive stats boosted by Eviolite, and reliable recovery make it a decent wall. Physical wallbreakers and setup sweepers such as Leafeon, Meganium, Whiscash, and Kingler all struggle to break through Gloom without a boost, and all of them take massive damage from Gloom's Giga Drain and Sludge Bomb. Attacks from Stealth Rock setters such as Solrock, Wormadam-G, and Hippopotas hardly damage Gloom, giving it free entry. Leech Seed makes Gloom less passive against physical attackers it struggles to damage, such as Muk, Pawniard, and Arbok. Leech Seed can also support Gloom's teammates that don't have any form of recovery, such as Lairon, Grumpig, and Walrein. Synthesis keeps Gloom healthy on its own, letting it take repeated attacks from physical pivots like Mienfoo and Persian. Although Gloom is a physical wall, its natural special bulk and Poison typing enable it to sit on passive Pokemon like Frillish, Staryu, and Wormadam-S.
Physically frail teammates like Clefairy, Raichu, and Mr. Mime appreciate Gloom taking on physical attackers like Leafeon and Mienfoo. In return, they check problematic specially offensive Pokemon like Simisear, Glaceon, and Grumpig. Gloom deals little damage to Poison-types like Muk and Arbok, so partners like Grumpig, Mr. Mime, Whiscash, and Solrock pair well with it. In exchange, Gloom can check bulky Grass-types and physical attackers like Meganium and Whiscash. Clefairy walls Gloom thanks to Magic Guard, so Mienfoo, Knock Off Persian, and Taunt Emolga make great partners. Gloom is dependent on its Eviolite for its bulk, so physical attackers like Persian and Mienfoo that run Knock Off can be problematic for it. Partners like Solrock and Emolga can help Gloom hold onto its item and check the aforementioned threats.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Gloom has access to support moves such as Stun Spore and Toxic, but Leech Seed's ability to wear down targets like Arbok, Muk, and Wormadam-S is more valuable. Worry Seed nullifies Clefairy's Magic Guard, but Gloom struggles to fit it over a STAB attack. Dropping Giga Drain makes Gloom worse into Kingler and Whiscash, while dropping Sludge Bomb makes Gloom worse into Leafeon and Meganium. Most specially offensive Pokemon in the tier such as Simisear, Glaceon, and Mr. Mime hit Gloom super effectively, so a specially set is less useful than a physically defensive one.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Specially Offensive Pokemon**: Grumpig, Simisear, Mr. Mime, and Glaceon have no problem blowing past Gloom with their powerful STAB moves. Other special attackers such as Raichu and Pikachu often run super effective coverage like Hidden Power Ice.
**Clefairy**: Gloom cannot break through even physically defensive Clefairy, as its Magic Guard denies Sludge Bomb poisoning and Leech Seed. Clefairy can weaken Gloom as a wall with Knock Off and Thunder Wave.
**Poison- and Steel-types**: Gloom has little besides Leech Seed to deal with Arbok and Muk, and Ivysaur is unaffected. Pawniard can use Gloom as an opportunity to set up, while Wormadam-S can use it to set Stealth Rock.
**Emolga**: Emolga is especially dangerous for Gloom with its Flying Gem boosted Acrobatics, Taunt, Encore, and Knock Off, neutralizing Gloom as a wall if Emolga doesn't just overwhelm it.
**Knock Off**: Gloom relies on Eviolite for a significant amount of its bulk, and losing it is problematic. Mienfoo and Persian are common physical attackers that can disrupt Gloom with Knock Off. Ivysaur, Emolga, and Clefairy also commonly run Knock Off.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/missangelic.452572/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zastra.558636/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/autumn.384270/
Last edited: