pancake
movement and location
finished this for him cuz he quit -zard
[OVERVIEW]
Gurdurr has just the right tools to succeed as both a Bulk Up sweeper and a defensive check to a large portion of the PU metagame. Gurdurr has great bulk that is further boosted by Eviolite, allowing it to act as a very effective blanket check to physical attackers. It has a small but very useful movepool, including recovery in Drain Punch, priority in Mach Punch, and utility in Knock Off. Also, Gurdurr's ability Guts allows it to take advantage of a plethora of defensive Pokemon in the tier that can only meaningfully damage it with status. However, Gurdurr's special bulk is subpar, so it can be easily taken advantage of by common special attackers like Mesprit and Magmortar. Additionally, its only form of recovery, Drain Punch, is very unreliable, so it can be worn down throughout the match. Finally, because Gurdurr is reliant on Mach Punch to deal with faster Pokemon, they can easily exploit Gurdurr, especially if they are resistant or immune to Mach Punch like Oricorio-G and Mesprit.
[SET]
name: Bulky Attacker
move 1: Drain Punch
move 2: Mach Punch
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Bulk Up
item: Eviolite
ability: Guts
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 192 Atk / 64 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Drain Punch is Gurdurr's main STAB move, which also provides it with an extremely useful form of recovery. Mach Punch makes up for Gurdurr's low Speed by allowing it to revenge kill faster Pokemon or clean late-game after checks to it have been weakened and it has used Bulk Up. Knock Off is a very helpful utility move that allows Gurdurr to hit Ghost- and Psychic-types like Golurk and Mesprit on the switch as well as get rid of important items like Weezing's Black Sludge. Finally, Bulk Up allows Gurdurr to beat many physical attackers one-on-one or clean late-game in conjunction with Mach Punch.
Set Details
========
Guts is the preferred ability because it allows Gurdurr to take advantage of Pokemon like Miltank and Regirock, which can only damage it meaningfully by using status moves like Toxic. 64 Defense EVs are used in order to avoid the 2HKO from Silk Scarf Kangaskhan's Double-Edge after Stealth Rock. The rest of the EVs are funneled into HP and Attack, which along with an Adamant nature, give Gurdurr amazing physical bulk while still retaining an offensive presence. Eviolite further boosts Gurdurr's already decent bulk.
Usage Tips
========
Gurdurr is an effective Bulk Up sweeper late-game, but should not bother setting up too early as it has many common checks which need to be weakened. Switch into Pokemon that Gurdurr checks, such as Skuntank or Miltank, in order to threaten them with Drain Punch or set up with Bulk Up. If you predict a switch into a Pokemon that walls Gurdurr like Weezing, use Knock Off because removing Black Sludge or Leftovers can help teammates wear them down more easily. Use Mach Punch to pick off weakened threats like Jynx and Lilligant, even after they've used their respective boosting move. Alternatively, after using Bulk Up, Mach Punch can be used to clean late-game once Gurdurr's checks, like Psychic- and Poison-types, have been weakened. Finally, although Gurdurr resists Dark-type moves, try not to switch into Knock Off, as Gurdurr's item is vital for it to act as a check to physical attackers.
Team Options
========
Gurdurr fits best on offensive or balanced teams that can make use of its ability to be a blanket check to the tier's physical attackers.
It struggles to take on both Poison- and Fairy-types, so Pokemon that give it a better matchup against them, such as Magmortar, Mesprit, and Haunter, make for decent partners. In return, Gurdurr can switch into the powerful physical moves that threaten these offensive Pokemon and threaten even faster Pokemon with Mach Punch. Gurdurr also is taken on easily by Mesprit, one of the most common Pokemon in the tier, so a switch-in to Psychic-type STAB moves like Skuntank or Sableye is necessary. Pursuit trappers, such as Spiritomb or the aforementioned Skuntank, can also help to remove Psychic- and Ghost-types which give Gurdurr a hard time. Because Gurdurr's special bulk is subpar, Pokemon that have better special bulk like Assault Vest Magmortar and Lanturn make for pretty good partners; Gurdurr can even take physical hits for them. In particular, Eelektross makes for a useful partner as it can whittle away at bulkier teams and take on Flying-types for Gurdurr.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Gurdurr does not have too many other options that are worth running. A bulkier EV spread of 248 HP / 56 Atk / 204 Def can be run to give Gurdurr a bigger cushion against physical attacks; it avoids the 2HKO from Choice Band Stoutland's Return and Jynx's Psyshock at the cost of some power. Poison Jab could be used to dent traditional checks such as Granbull and Silvally-Fairy, but it does not do nearly enough damage to be worth it. An EV spread with Special Defense investment could be used to better take on Pokemon like Pyroar. Similarly, a spread with 44 Speed could be used to outspeed base 45s like Golem, but Gurdurr does not need it because those Pokemon are uncommon and the bulk it would lose is usually more important.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Weezing**: Weezing can chip away at Gurdurr with Sludge Bomb and Rocky Helmet, as well as use Gurdurr as an opportunity to set up Toxic Spikes. Meanwhile, Gurdurr is incapable of doing any significant damage in return.
**Psychic-types**: Mesprit and Musharna can both survive a Knock Off and OHKO or 2HKO Gurdurr with their STAB attacks; Colbur Berry and Z-Move variants of these Pokemon don't even particularly care about Knock Off.
**Strong Special Attackers**: Gurdurr's physical bulk is superb, but its special bulk is lacking, so strong special attackers like Magmortar, Lilligant, and Alolan Exeggutor threaten to OHKO or 2HKO it. Most of them, however, cannot switch into Gurdurr.
**Fairy-types**: Although rare, Granbull, Silvally-Fairy, and Togetic don't take much damage from Gurdurr's moves and can retaliate with their super effective STAB attacks. Clefairy can chip away at Gurdurr if it is carrying Moonblast, but does not appreciate losing its Eviolite.
[OVERVIEW]
Gurdurr has just the right tools to succeed as both a Bulk Up sweeper and a defensive check to a large portion of the PU metagame. Gurdurr has great bulk that is further boosted by Eviolite, allowing it to act as a very effective blanket check to physical attackers. It has a small but very useful movepool, including recovery in Drain Punch, priority in Mach Punch, and utility in Knock Off. Also, Gurdurr's ability Guts allows it to take advantage of a plethora of defensive Pokemon in the tier that can only meaningfully damage it with status. However, Gurdurr's special bulk is subpar, so it can be easily taken advantage of by common special attackers like Mesprit and Magmortar. Additionally, its only form of recovery, Drain Punch, is very unreliable, so it can be worn down throughout the match. Finally, because Gurdurr is reliant on Mach Punch to deal with faster Pokemon, they can easily exploit Gurdurr, especially if they are resistant or immune to Mach Punch like Oricorio-G and Mesprit.
[SET]
name: Bulky Attacker
move 1: Drain Punch
move 2: Mach Punch
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Bulk Up
item: Eviolite
ability: Guts
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 192 Atk / 64 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Drain Punch is Gurdurr's main STAB move, which also provides it with an extremely useful form of recovery. Mach Punch makes up for Gurdurr's low Speed by allowing it to revenge kill faster Pokemon or clean late-game after checks to it have been weakened and it has used Bulk Up. Knock Off is a very helpful utility move that allows Gurdurr to hit Ghost- and Psychic-types like Golurk and Mesprit on the switch as well as get rid of important items like Weezing's Black Sludge. Finally, Bulk Up allows Gurdurr to beat many physical attackers one-on-one or clean late-game in conjunction with Mach Punch.
Set Details
========
Guts is the preferred ability because it allows Gurdurr to take advantage of Pokemon like Miltank and Regirock, which can only damage it meaningfully by using status moves like Toxic. 64 Defense EVs are used in order to avoid the 2HKO from Silk Scarf Kangaskhan's Double-Edge after Stealth Rock. The rest of the EVs are funneled into HP and Attack, which along with an Adamant nature, give Gurdurr amazing physical bulk while still retaining an offensive presence. Eviolite further boosts Gurdurr's already decent bulk.
Usage Tips
========
Gurdurr is an effective Bulk Up sweeper late-game, but should not bother setting up too early as it has many common checks which need to be weakened. Switch into Pokemon that Gurdurr checks, such as Skuntank or Miltank, in order to threaten them with Drain Punch or set up with Bulk Up. If you predict a switch into a Pokemon that walls Gurdurr like Weezing, use Knock Off because removing Black Sludge or Leftovers can help teammates wear them down more easily. Use Mach Punch to pick off weakened threats like Jynx and Lilligant, even after they've used their respective boosting move. Alternatively, after using Bulk Up, Mach Punch can be used to clean late-game once Gurdurr's checks, like Psychic- and Poison-types, have been weakened. Finally, although Gurdurr resists Dark-type moves, try not to switch into Knock Off, as Gurdurr's item is vital for it to act as a check to physical attackers.
Team Options
========
Gurdurr fits best on offensive or balanced teams that can make use of its ability to be a blanket check to the tier's physical attackers.
It struggles to take on both Poison- and Fairy-types, so Pokemon that give it a better matchup against them, such as Magmortar, Mesprit, and Haunter, make for decent partners. In return, Gurdurr can switch into the powerful physical moves that threaten these offensive Pokemon and threaten even faster Pokemon with Mach Punch. Gurdurr also is taken on easily by Mesprit, one of the most common Pokemon in the tier, so a switch-in to Psychic-type STAB moves like Skuntank or Sableye is necessary. Pursuit trappers, such as Spiritomb or the aforementioned Skuntank, can also help to remove Psychic- and Ghost-types which give Gurdurr a hard time. Because Gurdurr's special bulk is subpar, Pokemon that have better special bulk like Assault Vest Magmortar and Lanturn make for pretty good partners; Gurdurr can even take physical hits for them. In particular, Eelektross makes for a useful partner as it can whittle away at bulkier teams and take on Flying-types for Gurdurr.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Gurdurr does not have too many other options that are worth running. A bulkier EV spread of 248 HP / 56 Atk / 204 Def can be run to give Gurdurr a bigger cushion against physical attacks; it avoids the 2HKO from Choice Band Stoutland's Return and Jynx's Psyshock at the cost of some power. Poison Jab could be used to dent traditional checks such as Granbull and Silvally-Fairy, but it does not do nearly enough damage to be worth it. An EV spread with Special Defense investment could be used to better take on Pokemon like Pyroar. Similarly, a spread with 44 Speed could be used to outspeed base 45s like Golem, but Gurdurr does not need it because those Pokemon are uncommon and the bulk it would lose is usually more important.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Weezing**: Weezing can chip away at Gurdurr with Sludge Bomb and Rocky Helmet, as well as use Gurdurr as an opportunity to set up Toxic Spikes. Meanwhile, Gurdurr is incapable of doing any significant damage in return.
**Psychic-types**: Mesprit and Musharna can both survive a Knock Off and OHKO or 2HKO Gurdurr with their STAB attacks; Colbur Berry and Z-Move variants of these Pokemon don't even particularly care about Knock Off.
**Strong Special Attackers**: Gurdurr's physical bulk is superb, but its special bulk is lacking, so strong special attackers like Magmortar, Lilligant, and Alolan Exeggutor threaten to OHKO or 2HKO it. Most of them, however, cannot switch into Gurdurr.
**Fairy-types**: Although rare, Granbull, Silvally-Fairy, and Togetic don't take much damage from Gurdurr's moves and can retaliate with their super effective STAB attacks. Clefairy can chip away at Gurdurr if it is carrying Moonblast, but does not appreciate losing its Eviolite.
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