Graveler cements a role in the tier thanks to its high physical bulk and Rock typing, which make it a near-perfect counter to the ubiquitous Fearow, as well as the less common but still deadly Scyther. A healthy Graveler can effortlessly switch into all of their attacks, taking a maximum of 17.8% from Scyther's Slash, 17.2% from Fearow's Double-Edge, and 25.8% from Fearow's normally devastating Hyper Beam. Graveler’s role in the tier isn’t strictly defensive, though. STAB Earthquake and Rock Slide give Graveler perfect coverage, and thanks to its high Attack, it is able to 2HKO many foes.
Graveler is held back by its poor Speed and special bulk. It only outspeeds the rare Slowpoke and Speed ties Omanyte. These traits make it very difficult for Graveler to handle special attackers. It is notably outsped and walled by Porygon, which can switch into Graveler and threaten it with Blizzard. Graveler is OHKOed by Surf from Seaking, Staryu, and Dragonair, and it has a 40.7% chance to be 2HKOed by Drowzee's Psychic. This special frailty is exacerbated by Graveler’s fear of burn. Despite Graveler's resistance to Fire, it cannot switch into Rapidash or Arcanine's Fire Blast effectively. This weakness gives it competition with Omanyte, as the latter is able to switch into the Fire-types much more reliably. However, Graveler is much harder to switch into, since Seaking, Staryu, and Gastly are all very common Pokemon that take little damage from Omanyte's STAB moves. Additionally, Graveler's greater physical bulk makes it much more reliable against Fearow, as Omanyte can be ruined by a critical hit. Graveler also has Counter which can force Fearow into an uncomfortable prediction game, as well as Explosion, which can dent a bulky opponent, such as Porygon or Machamp. Overall, Graveler makes an excellent check to the ubiquitous Fearow, but its flaws make it difficult to fit on most teams.
[SET]
name: Tank
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: Counter / Substitute
move 4: Explosion
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Earthquake is Graveler’s strongest move. It easily 2HKOes every Pokemon weak to Ground, including the bulky Arcanine and Nidoqueen, as well as physically frail Pokemon, such as Staryu and Drowzee. Rock Slide hits Scyther, Fearow, and Pinsir, OHKOing the former and 2HKOing the latter two. Counter is used alongside Rock Slide in order to punish Fearow's Hyper Beam; the interaction begins with Graveler switching into Fearow's Hyper Beam and using Rock Slide as Fearow recharges. If Fearow switches out, Graveler can use Counter, which then uses the damage from its own Rock Slide in damage calculation, and OHKO whatever switches in. This leaves Fearow in an uncomfortable prediction situation; stay in and risk another Rock Slide, or switch out and risk a teammate getting KOed by Counter. Substitute can be used instead in order to ease prediction after Graveler switches into Fearow, as it no longer has to decide whether to use Rock Slide on Fearow or use Earthquake to catch whatever switches in. Explosion deals monstrous damage to any foe that isn’t resistant or immune to Normal. Notably, it has a chance to OHKO Porygon, which otherwise walls Graveler. However, Explosion must be used with caution, as once Graveler explodes, its team will have more trouble checking Fearow.
When using Graveler, it is important to keep it healthy until the opposing Fearow is KOed. Since Graveler is forced out by Seaking and Staryu, Pokemon that can switch into them, such as Seaking and Staryu for the former, or Drowzee and Vileplume for the latter, are good teammates. The latter three in particular complement Graveler well since Fearow often revenge kills them, giving Graveler free entry. However, it is important to note that Drowzee and Vileplume are quite slow, so it is important to remedy the Speed issue with faster teammates. Two good teammates for this are Rapidash and Arcanine, (AC) since they can also function as secondary checks to Fearow, allowing Graveler to use Explosion more freely. They can also fish for Body Slam paralysis on opposing Fire-types and Seaking, making them much worse at checking Graveler.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Due to the perfect coverage of Earthquake and Rock Slide and the sheer power of Explosion, Counter or Substitute should be dropped when considered other options on Graveler. Body Slam can be used to fish for paralysis on a predicted Seaking or Staryu switch, but the extra damage from Earthquake generally makes it the better option. Rest can be used for longevity against Fearow, but a sleeping Graveler is extremely easy to switch into, meaning Rest should be reserved for specific endgames, (RC) and is generally not recommended.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-type Attacks:** Seaking and Staryu both outspeed Graveler and are able to easily OHKO it with Surf. Earthquake 3HKOes Seaking and 2HKOes Staryu but Staryu can use Recover later to heal off the damage. Although Slowpoke is slower than Graveler, it is also able to OHKO it with Surf. Additionally, Nidoqueen and Dragonair can run Surf to land a surprise OHKO on Graveler.
**Earthquake Users:** Earthquake users, such as Machamp and Sandslash, 2HKO Graveler with Earthquake while taking little damage in return. Even with an Earthquake weakness of its own, Nidoqueen beats Graveler one-on-one since it's faster.
**Porygon:** Graveler is one of the few Pokemon Porygon outspeeds, and Graveler is unable to threaten an unparalyzed Porygon at all without using Explosion. Porygon can use Recover to heal off the damage from Graveler's attacks, and it 2HKOes Graveler with Blizzard. Graveler's terrible critical hit rate makes breaking through Porygon with critical hits extremely unlikely.
**Special Attackers:** Although they cannot switch in, special attackers such as Dragonair and Drowzee outspeed and deal heavy damage to Graveler, often forcing it out.
**Burn:** Graveler hates being burned, so it has to watch out from Fire Blast from Pokemon it would normally beat, such as Rapidash and Arcanine. They can also freely set up Agility on a burned Graveler, since using Agility will re-apply the Attack drop from burn, making Graveler do feeble damage. Graveler struggles to switch into Fire-types as a result, but it is good at revenge killing them, especially once they're paralyzed.
**Grass-types:** Vileplume and the rare Weepinbell can switch into Graveler and easily KO it. Graveler has an 80.9% chance to 2HKO Weepinbell with Earthquake but Weepinbell OHKOes Graveler with Razor Leaf. Vileplume 2HKOes Graveler with Mega Drain but is bulkier, being 3HKOed by Earthquake. However, Graveler walls Vileplume sets lacking Mega Drain.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gastlies.540559/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sabelette.583793/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sabelette.583793/
Graveler is held back by its poor Speed and special bulk. It only outspeeds the rare Slowpoke and Speed ties Omanyte. These traits make it very difficult for Graveler to handle special attackers. It is notably outsped and walled by Porygon, which can switch into Graveler and threaten it with Blizzard. Graveler is OHKOed by Surf from Seaking, Staryu, and Dragonair, and it has a 40.7% chance to be 2HKOed by Drowzee's Psychic. This special frailty is exacerbated by Graveler’s fear of burn. Despite Graveler's resistance to Fire, it cannot switch into Rapidash or Arcanine's Fire Blast effectively. This weakness gives it competition with Omanyte, as the latter is able to switch into the Fire-types much more reliably. However, Graveler is much harder to switch into, since Seaking, Staryu, and Gastly are all very common Pokemon that take little damage from Omanyte's STAB moves. Additionally, Graveler's greater physical bulk makes it much more reliable against Fearow, as Omanyte can be ruined by a critical hit. Graveler also has Counter which can force Fearow into an uncomfortable prediction game, as well as Explosion, which can dent a bulky opponent, such as Porygon or Machamp. Overall, Graveler makes an excellent check to the ubiquitous Fearow, but its flaws make it difficult to fit on most teams.
[SET]
name: Tank
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: Counter / Substitute
move 4: Explosion
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Earthquake is Graveler’s strongest move. It easily 2HKOes every Pokemon weak to Ground, including the bulky Arcanine and Nidoqueen, as well as physically frail Pokemon, such as Staryu and Drowzee. Rock Slide hits Scyther, Fearow, and Pinsir, OHKOing the former and 2HKOing the latter two. Counter is used alongside Rock Slide in order to punish Fearow's Hyper Beam; the interaction begins with Graveler switching into Fearow's Hyper Beam and using Rock Slide as Fearow recharges. If Fearow switches out, Graveler can use Counter, which then uses the damage from its own Rock Slide in damage calculation, and OHKO whatever switches in. This leaves Fearow in an uncomfortable prediction situation; stay in and risk another Rock Slide, or switch out and risk a teammate getting KOed by Counter. Substitute can be used instead in order to ease prediction after Graveler switches into Fearow, as it no longer has to decide whether to use Rock Slide on Fearow or use Earthquake to catch whatever switches in. Explosion deals monstrous damage to any foe that isn’t resistant or immune to Normal. Notably, it has a chance to OHKO Porygon, which otherwise walls Graveler. However, Explosion must be used with caution, as once Graveler explodes, its team will have more trouble checking Fearow.
When using Graveler, it is important to keep it healthy until the opposing Fearow is KOed. Since Graveler is forced out by Seaking and Staryu, Pokemon that can switch into them, such as Seaking and Staryu for the former, or Drowzee and Vileplume for the latter, are good teammates. The latter three in particular complement Graveler well since Fearow often revenge kills them, giving Graveler free entry. However, it is important to note that Drowzee and Vileplume are quite slow, so it is important to remedy the Speed issue with faster teammates. Two good teammates for this are Rapidash and Arcanine, (AC) since they can also function as secondary checks to Fearow, allowing Graveler to use Explosion more freely. They can also fish for Body Slam paralysis on opposing Fire-types and Seaking, making them much worse at checking Graveler.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Due to the perfect coverage of Earthquake and Rock Slide and the sheer power of Explosion, Counter or Substitute should be dropped when considered other options on Graveler. Body Slam can be used to fish for paralysis on a predicted Seaking or Staryu switch, but the extra damage from Earthquake generally makes it the better option. Rest can be used for longevity against Fearow, but a sleeping Graveler is extremely easy to switch into, meaning Rest should be reserved for specific endgames, (RC) and is generally not recommended.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-type Attacks:** Seaking and Staryu both outspeed Graveler and are able to easily OHKO it with Surf. Earthquake 3HKOes Seaking and 2HKOes Staryu but Staryu can use Recover later to heal off the damage. Although Slowpoke is slower than Graveler, it is also able to OHKO it with Surf. Additionally, Nidoqueen and Dragonair can run Surf to land a surprise OHKO on Graveler.
**Earthquake Users:** Earthquake users, such as Machamp and Sandslash, 2HKO Graveler with Earthquake while taking little damage in return. Even with an Earthquake weakness of its own, Nidoqueen beats Graveler one-on-one since it's faster.
**Porygon:** Graveler is one of the few Pokemon Porygon outspeeds, and Graveler is unable to threaten an unparalyzed Porygon at all without using Explosion. Porygon can use Recover to heal off the damage from Graveler's attacks, and it 2HKOes Graveler with Blizzard. Graveler's terrible critical hit rate makes breaking through Porygon with critical hits extremely unlikely.
**Special Attackers:** Although they cannot switch in, special attackers such as Dragonair and Drowzee outspeed and deal heavy damage to Graveler, often forcing it out.
**Burn:** Graveler hates being burned, so it has to watch out from Fire Blast from Pokemon it would normally beat, such as Rapidash and Arcanine. They can also freely set up Agility on a burned Graveler, since using Agility will re-apply the Attack drop from burn, making Graveler do feeble damage. Graveler struggles to switch into Fire-types as a result, but it is good at revenge killing them, especially once they're paralyzed.
**Grass-types:** Vileplume and the rare Weepinbell can switch into Graveler and easily KO it. Graveler has an 80.9% chance to 2HKO Weepinbell with Earthquake but Weepinbell OHKOes Graveler with Razor Leaf. Vileplume 2HKOes Graveler with Mega Drain but is bulkier, being 3HKOed by Earthquake. However, Graveler walls Vileplume sets lacking Mega Drain.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gastlies.540559/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sabelette.583793/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sabelette.583793/
Last edited:
