alexwolf
lurks in the shadows
Avalugg #713
Type:
Ability: Own Tempo / Ice Body / Sturdy (Hidden Ability)
Base Stats: 95 HP / 117 Atk / 184 Def / 44 SpA / 46 SpD / 28 Spe (514 BST)
Complete Known Movepool
Notable Moves:
Recover
Avalanche
Curse
Ice Fang
Toxic
Rock Tomb
Stone Edge
Rapid Spin
Earthquake
Bulldoze
Rock Slide
Crunch
Roar
Mirror Coat
General Analysis of Pokemon
The first thing that catches the eye when looking at Avalugg is its titanic physical bulk, which is similar to that of Giratina, the physically bulkiest Pokemon in the game. Even with such a poor defensive typing, its physical bulk allows it to check multiple physical threats in OU, such as Landorus-T, Garchomp, Dragonite, Salamence, Mamoswine, Toxicroak, and Gyarados. In addition, Avalugg has Recover and Rapid Spin, allowing it to become a sturdy physical wall and spinner, which unlike Forretress, has both reliable recovery and good offensive presence thanks to a respectable base 110 Atk stat and good coverage moves in Earthquake and Stone Edge. However, Avalugg has some crippling flaws that will probably make it a very difficult Pokemon to use. Its low special bulk hinders its ability to deal with some physical sweepers which often carry special moves, such as Fire Blast Garchomp and Fire Blast Salamence. As a spinner, it is weak to Stealth Rock and susceptible to all other formes of entry hazards, while also being unable to get past Jellicent, the premiere spinblocker for defensive teams in 5th gen. Fortunately, Avalugg can hit hard both Gengar and Aegislash, the spinblockers that will be used on offensive teams. Finally, Avalugg has horrible defensive typing and Speed stat, meaning that it is very easy to force out. Couple this with the fact that it is Stealth Rock weak and you have a Pokemon that is really hard to use and very easy to take advantage of.
Potential Movesets
Avalugg @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Recover
- Avalanche
- Earthquake / Roar / Stone Edge
This is the set that takes advantage of Avalugg's best traits, namely Rapid Spin and the ability to counter certain physical attackers. For example, with the given EV spread it takes only 60.54 - 71.46% from Double Dance Landorus-T +2 Stone Edge, 33.41 - 39.35% from bulky DD Gyarados's +1 Waterfall in rain, 59.15 - 69.8% from SD LO Garchomp's +2 Outrage, and 43.81 - 51.48% from Adamant LO Mamoswine's Superpower. As long as Avalugg makes sure that Stealth Rock doesn't stay up (he can actually do this against some common Stealth Rock users, such as Landorus-T and Ferrothorn), he can counter those threats. Earthquake gets the best coverage alongside Avalanche, OHKOes SD Toxicroak, dents Terrakion, and hits most Steel- and Fire-types looking to switch into Avalugg for super effective damage (Lucario, Heatran, Magnezone). Roar phazes any physical attacker whom you can't beat, such as BU Conkeldurr, bulky SD Scizor, and more, and generally makes Avalugg as hard as possible to set up on. Finally, Stone Edge makes Avalugg a very reliable SubDD Gyarados counter, as it can 2HKO it while Gyarados can never 2HKO back after a boost, even with SR and rain up. Stone Edge also provides coverage against Cloyster and Volcarona.
Checks and Counters
Avalugg's goal is to check certain physical threats and Rapid Spin, so as long as you prevent it from spinning (with double switches to Pokemon that can threaten it or Jellicent) or have at least one Pokemon that can get past it (any special Attacker will do really) you will be fine.
Personal Opinion and Conclusion
I think that Avalugg will become a very niche option in OU with very specific uses. Its ability to check the aforementioned physical threats while being able to Rapid Spin may grant it a spot on teams that have problem with certain Stealth Rock users (such as Landorus-T), but other than that i don't think it will be used for any other role.
Type:
Ability: Own Tempo / Ice Body / Sturdy (Hidden Ability)
Base Stats: 95 HP / 117 Atk / 184 Def / 44 SpA / 46 SpD / 28 Spe (514 BST)
Complete Known Movepool
Level-Up Movepool
Lv0 - Iron Defense
Lv0 - Skull Bash
Lv0 - Crunch
Lv46 - Blizzard
Lv51 - Recover
Lv56 - Double-Edge
Lv60 - Skull Bash
Lv65 - Crunch
TM & HM Compatibility
TM05 - Roar
TM06 - Toxic
TM07 - Hail
TM10 - Hidden Power
TM13 - Ice Beam
TM14 - Blizzard
TM15 - Hyper Beam
TM17 - Protect
TM18 - Rain Dance
TM20 - Safeguard
TM21 - Frustration
TM26 - Earthquake
TM27 - Return
TM32 - Double Team
TM39 - Rock Tomb
TM42 - Facade
TM44 - Rest
TM45 - Attract
TM48 - Round
TM68 - Giga Impact
TM69 - Rock Polish
TM70 - Flash
TM71 - Stone Edge
TM74 - Gyro Ball
TM78 - Bulldoze
TM79 - Frost Breath
TM80 - Rock Slide
TM87 - Swagger
TM88 - Sleep Talk
TM90 - Substitute
TM91 - Flash Cannon
TM94 - Rock Smash
TM100 - Confide
HM03 - Surf
HM04 - Strength
Egg Moves
Recover
Mist
Mirror Coat
Lv0 - Iron Defense
Lv0 - Skull Bash
Lv0 - Crunch
Lv46 - Blizzard
Lv51 - Recover
Lv56 - Double-Edge
Lv60 - Skull Bash
Lv65 - Crunch
TM & HM Compatibility
TM05 - Roar
TM06 - Toxic
TM07 - Hail
TM10 - Hidden Power
TM13 - Ice Beam
TM14 - Blizzard
TM15 - Hyper Beam
TM17 - Protect
TM18 - Rain Dance
TM20 - Safeguard
TM21 - Frustration
TM26 - Earthquake
TM27 - Return
TM32 - Double Team
TM39 - Rock Tomb
TM42 - Facade
TM44 - Rest
TM45 - Attract
TM48 - Round
TM68 - Giga Impact
TM69 - Rock Polish
TM70 - Flash
TM71 - Stone Edge
TM74 - Gyro Ball
TM78 - Bulldoze
TM79 - Frost Breath
TM80 - Rock Slide
TM87 - Swagger
TM88 - Sleep Talk
TM90 - Substitute
TM91 - Flash Cannon
TM94 - Rock Smash
TM100 - Confide
HM03 - Surf
HM04 - Strength
Egg Moves
Recover
Mist
Mirror Coat
Notable Moves:
Recover
Avalanche
Curse
Ice Fang
Toxic
Rock Tomb
Stone Edge
Rapid Spin
Earthquake
Bulldoze
Rock Slide
Crunch
Roar
Mirror Coat
General Analysis of Pokemon
The first thing that catches the eye when looking at Avalugg is its titanic physical bulk, which is similar to that of Giratina, the physically bulkiest Pokemon in the game. Even with such a poor defensive typing, its physical bulk allows it to check multiple physical threats in OU, such as Landorus-T, Garchomp, Dragonite, Salamence, Mamoswine, Toxicroak, and Gyarados. In addition, Avalugg has Recover and Rapid Spin, allowing it to become a sturdy physical wall and spinner, which unlike Forretress, has both reliable recovery and good offensive presence thanks to a respectable base 110 Atk stat and good coverage moves in Earthquake and Stone Edge. However, Avalugg has some crippling flaws that will probably make it a very difficult Pokemon to use. Its low special bulk hinders its ability to deal with some physical sweepers which often carry special moves, such as Fire Blast Garchomp and Fire Blast Salamence. As a spinner, it is weak to Stealth Rock and susceptible to all other formes of entry hazards, while also being unable to get past Jellicent, the premiere spinblocker for defensive teams in 5th gen. Fortunately, Avalugg can hit hard both Gengar and Aegislash, the spinblockers that will be used on offensive teams. Finally, Avalugg has horrible defensive typing and Speed stat, meaning that it is very easy to force out. Couple this with the fact that it is Stealth Rock weak and you have a Pokemon that is really hard to use and very easy to take advantage of.
Potential Movesets
Avalugg @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Recover
- Avalanche
- Earthquake / Roar / Stone Edge
This is the set that takes advantage of Avalugg's best traits, namely Rapid Spin and the ability to counter certain physical attackers. For example, with the given EV spread it takes only 60.54 - 71.46% from Double Dance Landorus-T +2 Stone Edge, 33.41 - 39.35% from bulky DD Gyarados's +1 Waterfall in rain, 59.15 - 69.8% from SD LO Garchomp's +2 Outrage, and 43.81 - 51.48% from Adamant LO Mamoswine's Superpower. As long as Avalugg makes sure that Stealth Rock doesn't stay up (he can actually do this against some common Stealth Rock users, such as Landorus-T and Ferrothorn), he can counter those threats. Earthquake gets the best coverage alongside Avalanche, OHKOes SD Toxicroak, dents Terrakion, and hits most Steel- and Fire-types looking to switch into Avalugg for super effective damage (Lucario, Heatran, Magnezone). Roar phazes any physical attacker whom you can't beat, such as BU Conkeldurr, bulky SD Scizor, and more, and generally makes Avalugg as hard as possible to set up on. Finally, Stone Edge makes Avalugg a very reliable SubDD Gyarados counter, as it can 2HKO it while Gyarados can never 2HKO back after a boost, even with SR and rain up. Stone Edge also provides coverage against Cloyster and Volcarona.
Checks and Counters
Avalugg's goal is to check certain physical threats and Rapid Spin, so as long as you prevent it from spinning (with double switches to Pokemon that can threaten it or Jellicent) or have at least one Pokemon that can get past it (any special Attacker will do really) you will be fine.
Personal Opinion and Conclusion
I think that Avalugg will become a very niche option in OU with very specific uses. Its ability to check the aforementioned physical threats while being able to Rapid Spin may grant it a spot on teams that have problem with certain Stealth Rock users (such as Landorus-T), but other than that i don't think it will be used for any other role.
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