Katakiri
Listen, Brendan...
Avalugg
Why this Pokemon deserves an OU analysis:
This Pokemon is criminally underrated but for reasons that mostly make sense given the history of its fellow Ice-types; it's a slow Pure-Ice-type and it's none too fond of Special Attacks. But Pokemon like Skarmory have shown that lack of Special-bulk isn't a deciding factor so really the Ice typing would be what holds hit back from the limelight but I'm even willing to argue against that point.
In truth, this Pokemon is effectively Mamoswine meets Regirock with Recover thrown in; not Moonlight or something with low PP but 16 PP Recover, baby. That's not even an exaggeration as it has (the defense goes without saying) a rock-solid Base 117 Attack and STAB Avalanche, base 120 STAB, with Earthquake for that same near-perfect coverage that Mamoswine has. And it's not base 60 HP or something with that Base 184 Defense, it's Base 95 HP; it's certainly no Shuckle.
"But defensive Ice-types suck" you might say. Here's how much the Ice-typing means to Avalugg:
- 252+ Atk Technician Mega Scizor Bullet Punch vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Avalugg: 114-134 (28.9 - 34%) -- 98.9% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery
- 252 Atk Staraptor Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Avalugg: 114-136 (28.9 - 34.5%) -- 99.8% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery
- 252+ Atk Conkeldurr Drain Punch vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Avalugg: 134-158 (34 - 40.1%) -- 33.4% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
- 252+ Atk Landorus-T Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Avalugg: 120-142 (30.4 - 36%) --
- 252+ Atk Bisharp Iron Head vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Avalugg: 132-156 (33.5 - 39.5%) -- 13% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
- 252+ Atk Tyranitar Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Avalugg: 168-200 (42.6 - 50.7%) -- 2.3% chance to 2HKO after sandstorm damage and Leftovers recovery
- 252 Atk Terrakion Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Avalugg: 182-216 (46.1 - 54.8%) -- 7.4% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
- 252+ Atk Life Orb Talonflame Flare Blitz vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Avalugg: 190-226 (48.2 - 57.3%) -- 38.7% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
- 252 Atk Tough Claws Mega Charizard X Flare Blitz vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Avalugg: 236-278 (59.8 - 70.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
Meanwhile, Avalugg does a heavy chunk of damage to anything that attacks it (70% HP damage to Bisharp with EQ) if it doesn't just KO them out-right (62.5% chance to OHKO Mega Pinsir) because unlike Skarmory, Forretress, or even Furfrou, Avalugg hits back. It can even beat Conkeldurr 1v1 because Avalanche out-damages two turns of Conk's Drain Punch healing (which has the same PP as Recover but can't out-damage Recovers healing if it comes down to PP somehow). Stealth Rock is THE downside to its typing as a Defensive Pokemon; not many Pokemon can switch into Mega Charizard X anyway so it's not that big of a deal that Avalugg can't either just because of its typing.
So with that said, this Pokemon is viable in OU; it requires team support to function but is hardly set-up fodder; has Sturdy as a last resort to revenge-KO or Roar a sweeper; and can switch in on things like Mega Pinsir, Landorus-T, Garchomp, non-Belly Drum Azumarill, Mamoswine, and even some Talonflame (Jolly Choice Band can't 2HKO after Lefties) and either KO them, Roar them away, or spin-away hazards set by them. It's no all-star, I know, and will likely see n RU or very low UU future, but it works well enough in OU that it probably deserves an analysis.
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Overview
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- Titanic defense (get it? it's an iceberg and the titanic was sunk by a... Too soon for Titanic jokes? Still?)
- No, seriously, Base 184 Defense and Base 95 HP.
- Only a handful of physical attackers can hope to..."break the ice" (eeeh? I got jokes. I got jokes.)
- Unlike most defensive walls, Avalugg has a base 117 attack stat to abuse with a 120 base-power STAB move and Earthquake for nearly unresisted coverage
- It gets Recover to ensure nothing is chipping it to death (Chipping? Ice? Eh? ...Laugh damn you.)
- Ice-typing effects Avalugg far less than other Ice-types and is kind of a blessing for the STAB Avalanche.
- Can tank physical super effective hits surprisingly well, not even allowing a Mega Charizard X to KO it even after Stealth Rock.
- A Stealth Rock weakness is the biggest downside to its typing
- It takes special hits like Blissey takes physical hits; it can take one neutral hit but not two.
- Moves about as fast as your would expect an iceberg
- Sturdy with decent a Attack stat is a rarity and a nice last resort
- Works a lot like a bulkier and more powerful Gen IV Swampert; a road block that bites back.
- *Overview might need some trimming but it is a pretty unknown Pokemon in OU*
Defensive
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name: Defensive
move 1: Avalanche
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Recover
move 4: Roar / Rapid Spin
ability: Sturdy
item: Leftovers
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP 252 Def 4 Atk
Moves
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- Avalanche is a base 120 STAB move that always goes last
- Earthquake provides nearly unresisted coverage with Rotom-W being the only common Pokemon that resists both
- Recover is the move that makes Avalugg viable as a wall
- Roar can force any set-up sweepers out of Avalugg's face while stacking on entry hazard damage
- Rapid Spin allows Avalugg to remove the hazards set by Garchomp, Landorus-T, Mamoswine, and other Pokemon that pose very little threat to Avalugg
Set Details
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- Avalugg is a true tank, meant to make hard switches into physical attackers and wall them up, down, and all-around while firing off high-base-power Attacks at targets or switch-ins.
- Max HP and max Defense achieve just that, reaching a massive defense stat of 513 on top of a rock-solid 394 HP stat. Lefties for extra recovery.
- It switches into Pokemon like Mega Pinsir, Landorus-T, Garchomp, non-Belly Drum Azumarill, and Mamoswine and either KOs them, Roar them away, or spin-away hazards set by them
Usage Tips
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- It pays to play risky with a full-health Avalugg as damage rolls tend to be in Avalugg's favor even against Super Effective hits. A Fire Punch from Dragonite isn't going to hurt Avalugg much unless it burns. Even crits aren't particularly devastating as most attacks do 20-40% to Avalugg so any crits are easily healed-off by Recover
- When you wall the opponent completely, it's best to predict their switch or recover any damage you've taken. If a Dragonite is completely walled, you're very much free to go for an Earthquake on their Heatran or Aegislash switch and if they stay in, that's just a free KO, Roar, or Recover for Avalugg next turn.
- Physical non-STAB coverage moves aren't very threatening to Avalugg so consider Pokemon like Landorus-T and Staraptor, even though they have Stone Edge or Close Combat, a pretty minimal threat
- Lower base-power STAB moves are in the same boat so just let that Excadrill have its fun with Iron Head's 40% damage while you KO it with Earthquake and even Pokemon like Breloom can only threaten Avalugg with Spore.
- Sturdy with Avalugg's above-average Attack stat can be a powerful tool for revenge-KOing Pokemon or as a last resort Roar to reset a boosting-sweeper. Recover makes it all too common for Avalugg to be at full HP when those situations arise.
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- Defog support is appreciated should Avalugg not be running Rapid Spin itself
- Pokemon that can tank hits from the various special-attackers Avalugg draws in is appreciated
- Specially defensive Zapdos gets extra marks for being an excellent special sponge as well as a Defog user
- Latios and Latias can both Defog and tank Fire- or Fighting-type hits aimed at Avalugg
- Stealth Rock support is very handy with Roar and Avalugg's STAB + EQ coverage makes Rapid Spinning or Defogging difficult
- Heatran can be perfect for that job and covers Avalugg's fire weakness while Avalugg soaks-up any Earthquakes aimed at Heatran
Other Options
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- Mirror Coat + Sturdy can be useful
- Avalanche + Earthquake has such great coverage that any other attacking move gives up type coverage or your support move-slot
- That said, Stone Edge or Rock Slide hits Charizard, Talonflame, and Volcarona switch-ins
- Curse is an option but requires all Special Attackers to be removed and generally isn't worth the trouble
Checks and Counters
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- Special Attackers in general. Beware of Sturdy retaliation or Magic Coat.
- Status abusers
- Rotom-W
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