[Overview]
<p>With a poor movepool, stats that leave much to be desired, and being virtually required to use Eviolite, Gurdurr may seem to pale in comparison to other Fighting-types in RU. It is not the strongest, quickest, nor bulkiest of the many Fighting-types in the tier, but it can still set itself apart. The ability to use Eviolite and access to STAB Drain Punch and Mach Punch as well as one of the best abilities for a physical sweeper, Guts, are all good reasons to use Gurdurr. The idea is to play it like a mini Conkeldurr. If you're looking for a Pokemon who can speedily rip the opponent's team apart with immediate power, then Gurdurr is not the guy for you. However, if you need someone who can take hits and retaliate strongly, look no further; Gurdurr is the perfect fit for your team.</p>
[SET]
name: Bulk Up
move 1: Bulk Up
move 2: Drain Punch
move 3: Payback / Stone Edge
move 4: Mach Punch
item: Eviolite
ability: Guts
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Bulk Up is perhaps the best boosting move for a bulky sweeper like Gurdurr, increasing its Attack and Defense; in conjunction with the recovery afforded by Drain Punch, this will let it live longer and hit harder. Drain Punch is especially useful as Gurdurr doesn't even have Leftovers to restore health. Payback is the primary coverage option to allow it to take on Ghost-types better, while Stone Edge hits Flying-types such as Honchkrow and Moltres. Mach Punch enables Gurdurr to pick off faster threats, giving it useful priority and hitting pretty hard after a Bulk Up boost.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Careful as well as max HP and Special Defense EV investment shore up Gurdurr's weaker defense; Bulk Up buffers it on the physical side anyway. Eviolite is by far the best item for the immense boost it grants to Gurdurr's defenses.Guts allows Gurdurr to fearlessly take on random Scalds and gain power from a possible burn.While Guts helps to beat Ghost-types, it only helps once against Cofagrigus, due to Mummy. Entei and Emboar thus make good teammates, as they can come in on Will-O-Wisp and retaliate with a Choice Band-boosted STAB Flare Blitz. Furthermore, Gurdurr is stopped dead by Qwilfish and Eviolite Gligar. Cryogonal makes a good teammate in this respect because it can scare off Gligar and Rapid Spin away the hazards that Qwilfish may set up. Galvantula can also deal with the aforementioned threats with Hidden Power Ice and STAB Thunder.</p>
<p>Toxic or Toxic Spikes can severely shorten Gurdurr's life; cleric support can heal Gurdurr of the former, while a grounded Poison-type or a Rapid Spin user can help with the latter. Again, Cryonogal is a useful teammate, spinning away Toxic Spikes that, while giving Gurdurr more power, makes it die much sooner. Skuntank also makes an exceptional teammate, as it is immune to Toxic and can soak up Toxic Spikes. Skuntank can also utilize Pursuit to put quick, frail Psychic-types in a checkmate position. As far as clerics go, Clefable and Audino are usable, but neither of them share much synergy with Gurdurr.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Gurdurr has many other options, but is outclassed by other Fighting-types in these roles. For example, while Gurdurr is capable of running a Guts set with a status Orb, and a movepool of Facade, Drain Punch, Mach Punch, and Payback, it is outclassed in this by Hariyama, and suffers greatly from the loss of Eviolite. In general, Gurdurr has to choose between good bulk courtesy of Eviolite or offensive boosts from other items (and pitiful defenses). A Substitute + Focus Punch set could be viable, but this would leave Gurdurr without Drain Punch or Mach Punch, and access to both those moves is one of the things that sets it apart. Finally, a Choice Band set could be viable, but such a set would be outclassed completely by just about every Fighting-type in the game.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Qwilfish with Intimidate can set up Spikes on Gurdurr with impunity, taking little damage even from its boosted attacks. Gligar can Toxic, Taunt, or lay Stealth Rock while only "fearing" a non-STAB Payback from Gurdurr; Toxic damage severely reduces its longevity, particularly without Leftovers to offset this at least slightly. If Gurdurr picks Payback, Honchkrow can come in and threaten with Brave Bird, while if Stone Edge is used, then Psychic-types can check it with admirable ease, KOing it with their STAB attacks. Medicham and Gallade are especially good checks in this regard, because they resist both Stone Edge and Drain Punch and can KO back with Psycho Cut.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Iron Fist would definitely be usable considering Gurdurr's access to Drain Punch, Mach Punch, and Focus Punch, but getting Attack boosts from burns and other status is generally too good to pass up.</p>
<p>With a poor movepool, stats that leave much to be desired, and being virtually required to use Eviolite, Gurdurr may seem to pale in comparison to other Fighting-types in RU. It is not the strongest, quickest, nor bulkiest of the many Fighting-types in the tier, but it can still set itself apart. The ability to use Eviolite and access to STAB Drain Punch and Mach Punch as well as one of the best abilities for a physical sweeper, Guts, are all good reasons to use Gurdurr. The idea is to play it like a mini Conkeldurr. If you're looking for a Pokemon who can speedily rip the opponent's team apart with immediate power, then Gurdurr is not the guy for you. However, if you need someone who can take hits and retaliate strongly, look no further; Gurdurr is the perfect fit for your team.</p>
[SET]
name: Bulk Up
move 1: Bulk Up
move 2: Drain Punch
move 3: Payback / Stone Edge
move 4: Mach Punch
item: Eviolite
ability: Guts
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Bulk Up is perhaps the best boosting move for a bulky sweeper like Gurdurr, increasing its Attack and Defense; in conjunction with the recovery afforded by Drain Punch, this will let it live longer and hit harder. Drain Punch is especially useful as Gurdurr doesn't even have Leftovers to restore health. Payback is the primary coverage option to allow it to take on Ghost-types better, while Stone Edge hits Flying-types such as Honchkrow and Moltres. Mach Punch enables Gurdurr to pick off faster threats, giving it useful priority and hitting pretty hard after a Bulk Up boost.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Careful as well as max HP and Special Defense EV investment shore up Gurdurr's weaker defense; Bulk Up buffers it on the physical side anyway. Eviolite is by far the best item for the immense boost it grants to Gurdurr's defenses.Guts allows Gurdurr to fearlessly take on random Scalds and gain power from a possible burn.While Guts helps to beat Ghost-types, it only helps once against Cofagrigus, due to Mummy. Entei and Emboar thus make good teammates, as they can come in on Will-O-Wisp and retaliate with a Choice Band-boosted STAB Flare Blitz. Furthermore, Gurdurr is stopped dead by Qwilfish and Eviolite Gligar. Cryogonal makes a good teammate in this respect because it can scare off Gligar and Rapid Spin away the hazards that Qwilfish may set up. Galvantula can also deal with the aforementioned threats with Hidden Power Ice and STAB Thunder.</p>
<p>Toxic or Toxic Spikes can severely shorten Gurdurr's life; cleric support can heal Gurdurr of the former, while a grounded Poison-type or a Rapid Spin user can help with the latter. Again, Cryonogal is a useful teammate, spinning away Toxic Spikes that, while giving Gurdurr more power, makes it die much sooner. Skuntank also makes an exceptional teammate, as it is immune to Toxic and can soak up Toxic Spikes. Skuntank can also utilize Pursuit to put quick, frail Psychic-types in a checkmate position. As far as clerics go, Clefable and Audino are usable, but neither of them share much synergy with Gurdurr.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Gurdurr has many other options, but is outclassed by other Fighting-types in these roles. For example, while Gurdurr is capable of running a Guts set with a status Orb, and a movepool of Facade, Drain Punch, Mach Punch, and Payback, it is outclassed in this by Hariyama, and suffers greatly from the loss of Eviolite. In general, Gurdurr has to choose between good bulk courtesy of Eviolite or offensive boosts from other items (and pitiful defenses). A Substitute + Focus Punch set could be viable, but this would leave Gurdurr without Drain Punch or Mach Punch, and access to both those moves is one of the things that sets it apart. Finally, a Choice Band set could be viable, but such a set would be outclassed completely by just about every Fighting-type in the game.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Qwilfish with Intimidate can set up Spikes on Gurdurr with impunity, taking little damage even from its boosted attacks. Gligar can Toxic, Taunt, or lay Stealth Rock while only "fearing" a non-STAB Payback from Gurdurr; Toxic damage severely reduces its longevity, particularly without Leftovers to offset this at least slightly. If Gurdurr picks Payback, Honchkrow can come in and threaten with Brave Bird, while if Stone Edge is used, then Psychic-types can check it with admirable ease, KOing it with their STAB attacks. Medicham and Gallade are especially good checks in this regard, because they resist both Stone Edge and Drain Punch and can KO back with Psycho Cut.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Iron Fist would definitely be usable considering Gurdurr's access to Drain Punch, Mach Punch, and Focus Punch, but getting Attack boosts from burns and other status is generally too good to pass up.</p>