13thShade 4,323/5000 Posted June 28, 2017 AUTHOR: @13thShade META: VGC/Doubles INTRODUCTION Welcome to my final Pokemon of the Week of June! This week we are taking a look at one of my personal favorites, Alolan Dugtrio. Despite its mediocre-to-bad BST and a somewhat shallow movepool, the prevalence of the Tapus and Gigalith’s great Sand Stream ability give it a chance to shine on the right team. BASIC INFO POKEMON: Dugtrio-Alola, The Mole Pokemon, #051 TYPE/S: Ground/Steel ABILITY 1: Sand Veil - Raises the Pokémon’s evasion during a sandstorm by one level. ABILITY 2: Tangling Hair - Lowers opponent's Speed by 1 stage when the opponent makes physical contact with the Pokémon. HIDDEN ABILITY: Sand Force - Ground-type, Rock-type & Steel-type moves have their power increased by 33% in a Sandstorm. BASE STATS HP: 35 ATTACK: 100 DEFENSE: 60 SPECIAL ATTACK: 50 SPECIAL DEFENSE: 70 SPEED: 110 BASE STAT TOTAL: 425 IMPORTANT MOVES: - Earthquake: Physical Ground move. Hits adjacent Pokemon. Power doubles in Dig. - Iron Head: Physical Steel move. 30% chance to flinch the target. - Rock Slide: Physical dual-target Rock move. 30% chance to flinch the targets. - Shadow Claw: Physical Ghost move. High critical hit ratio. - Stone Edge: Physical Rock move. High critical hit ratio. - Sucker Punch: Physical Dark move. Usually goes first. Fails if the target is not attacking. - Substitute: User takes 1/4 of its max HP to put into a Substitute. - Bulldoze: Physical Ground move. 100% chance to lower adjacent Pokemon’s speed by 1. - Fissure: OHKOs the target. Fails if the user is lower level. ANALYSIS: Its movepool is mostly common STAB and Sand Force boosted moves, but a few cool support options and Fissure can give Dugtrio the element of surprise. One thing that is great about Dugtrio-Alola is its speed, outspeeding all meta threats not named Tapu Koko, Pheromosa, Persian-Alola or Raichu-Alola. Also, it gets the ever-valuable Steel type STAB, hitting all the common Fairy types for big damage, and Earthquake also does big damage to basically every Pokemon in the game. It’s a shame that Dugtrio’s non-existent bulk makes Tangling Hair useless, but the great ability Sand Force more than makes up for it. STANDARD SETS: Sash Attacker Dugtrio-Alola @ Focus Sash Ability: Sand Veil Level: 50 EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe Jolly Nature - Earthquake - Iron Head - Rock Slide/Fissure - Protect When a Pokemon has the non-existent bulk of Dugtrio, a trainer’s first instinct is usually to put a Focus Sash on it, and that’s exactly what this set is. Earthquake + Iron Head can deal with the Tapus and Arcanine and also does solid damage to Chomp. Rock Slide can be run for flinch chances and chip damage, as well as a way to deal with Flying types, but I prefer Fissure. The OHKO on a bulky passive ‘Mon like Porygon can turn a game in your favor on turn 1, or turn a game around from the depths. Calcs: 252 Atk Sand Force Dugtrio-Alola Earthquake vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Tapu Koko in Sand: 158-188 (108.2 - 128.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO 252 Atk Sand Force Dugtrio-Alola Iron Head vs. 164 HP / 92 Def Tapu Lele in Sand: 168-200 (101.2 - 120.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO 252 Atk Sand Force Dugtrio-Alola Iron Head vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Tapu Bulu in Sand: 134-158 (75.7 - 89.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after sandstorm damage and Grassy Terrain recovery 252 Atk Sand Force Dugtrio-Alola Iron Head vs. 252 HP / 100 Def Tapu Fini in Sand: 60-72 (33.8 - 40.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after sandstorm damage and Leftovers recovery -1 252 Atk Sand Force Dugtrio-Alola Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Arcanine in Sand: 110-132 (55.8 - 67%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after sandstorm damage and Figy Berry recovery No defensive calcs are necessary, it is Sashed. Z Move Nuke Dugtrio-Alola @ Groundium Z Ability: Sand Force Level: 50 EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe Jolly Nature - Earthquake - Iron Head - Rock Slide/Fissure - Protect This set is essentially the same as the last one, but has the capability to one shot the whole world with Groundium Z. A real downside of this set is the lack of Sash, so Scarfed Pokemon will absolutely destroy this Dugtrio. It will basically guarantee a KO before it goes down, unless a ScarfMon is on the other side of the field. Expect anything that isn’t resisted by Dugtrio to be an OHKO. Calcs: -1 252 Atk Sand Force Dugtrio-Alola Tectonic Rage (180 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Arcanine in Sand: 266-314 (135 - 159.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO 252 Atk Sand Force Dugtrio-Alola Tectonic Rage (180 BP) vs. 252 HP / 20 Def Tapu Fini in Sand: 145-172 (81.9 - 97.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after sandstorm damage 252 Atk Sand Force Dugtrio-Alola Tectonic Rage (180 BP) vs. 164 HP / 92 Def Tapu Lele in Sand: 187-222 (112.6 - 133.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO 252 Atk Sand Force Dugtrio-Alola Tectonic Rage (180 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Garchomp in Sand: 175-207 (95.6 - 113.1%) -- 75% chance to OHKO 252+ SpA Tapu Lele Psychic vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Dugtrio-Alola in Psychic Terrain: 85-101 (76.5 - 90.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO 252 SpA Life Orb Tapu Koko Dazzling Gleam vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Dugtrio-Alola: 35-43 (31.5 - 38.7%) -- 91.1% chance to 3HKO Flinch Spam Dugtrio-Alola @ King's Rock Ability: Sand Force Level: 50 EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe Jolly Nature - Rock Slide - Iron Head - Earthquake/Bulldoze - Protect This is probably the most self-explanatory set in the world. Outspeed your opponent, do moderate damage, and have a big chance to flinch. It can be inconsistent and make or break games for the trainer, similarly to the Fissure set. If you want to be really annoying, you can also add Bulldoze to slow down your opponent, and could even pair it with a Weakness Policy Metagross if you were feeling cheeky. Calcs: 252 Atk Sand Force Dugtrio-Alola Earthquake vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Tapu Koko in Sand: 158-188 (108.2 - 128.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO 252 Atk Sand Force Dugtrio-Alola Iron Head vs. 164 HP / 92 Def Tapu Lele in Sand: 168-200 (101.2 - 120.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO 252 Atk Sand Force Dugtrio-Alola Iron Head vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Tapu Bulu in Sand: 134-158 (75.7 - 89.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after sandstorm damage and Grassy Terrain recovery 252 Atk Sand Force Dugtrio-Alola Iron Head vs. 252 HP / 100 Def Tapu Fini in Sand: 60-72 (33.8 - 40.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after sandstorm damage and Leftovers recovery -1 252 Atk Sand Force Dugtrio-Alola Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Arcanine in Sand: 110-132 (55.8 - 67%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after sandstorm damage and Figy Berry recovery 252+ SpA Tapu Lele Psychic vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Dugtrio-Alola in Psychic Terrain: 85-101 (76.5 - 90.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO 252 SpA Life Orb Tapu Koko Dazzling Gleam vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Dugtrio-Alola: 35-43 (31.5 - 38.7%) -- 91.1% chance to 3HKO ALTERNATIVE SETS: - Support: With Fissure, Bulldoze, Sucker Punch, Toxic and Substitute, Dugtrio has the opportunity to be a solid surprise support Pokemon with the capability to randomly OHKO an opponent. Though I think the all-out attacking sets are better, this set could be very good if used by the right player. - Choice Band/Life Orb: Bigger damage. That’s all this set is. Basically, use this set if you want the big damage of Z Move Dugtrio without taking up your Z Move slot. - Surprise Z Move: A surprise Z Move like Ghostium or Steelium could be very good for countering specific matchups. - BrightPowder: Sand Veil + evasion is 100% RNG-based but can actually be good. If you set up a Substitute and have that 1.2x evasion, you are free to fire off powerful Earthquakes and Iron Heads. PARTNER POKEMON: - Gigalith: Dugtrio needs Gigalith, as its only 2 viable abilities are based on Sandstorm. Also, Gigalith counters Trick Room, which is a huge weakness for Dugtrio. - Magnezone: It is immune to Gigalith’s Sand Stream and also beats Tapu Fini, the one Pokemon in the meta not named Celesteela that has a 0% chance of being OHKO’d by Dugtrio. - Celesteela: Speaking of Celesteela, it is immune to Sand, beats Tapu Fini, beats Kartana, and can out-stall Porygon2. Perfect for Dugtrio. THREATS/COUNTERS: - Ground Type Pokemon/Moves: Non-existent bulk means that Dugtrio-Alola is OHKO’d by a Ground move from any relatively offensive Pokemon. - Fire Type Pokemon/Moves: The same goes for Fire types. - Tapu Fini: Dugtrio can’t really touch it, and Fini OHKOs in return. - Celesteela: Celesteela can’t be touched at all by Dugtrio because it even is immune to Fissure, and Flamethrower will do big damage in return. - Porygon2: Ice Beam is a 2HKO, P2 sets up TR, and Dugtrio can’t hurt it aside from Fissure. Porygon2 is a great counter for Dugtrio. Well, here ends my final Pokemon of the Week of June. Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed it and maybe even learned something. @Eastonn8@Telfer@Thesi Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Achievements
Guest Eastonn8 Posted June 28, 2017 Approved. Say, does Dugtrio-Alola not get Reversal? Could be a decent move on a Sash set. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
13thShade 4,323/5000 Posted June 28, 2017 Just now, Eastonn8 said: Approved. Say, does Dugtrio-Alola not get Reversal? Could be a decent move on a Sash set. I have no idea. I can check tonight after work, but I wrote this in May when I had time lmao. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Achievements
Guest CGoodlet26 Posted June 28, 2017 47 minutes ago, Eastonn8 said: Approved. Say, does Dugtrio-Alola not get Reversal? Could be a decent move on a Sash set. It does indeed! Reversal is an egg move it can be bred with from quite a few common Pokemon in Sun/Moon. I have personally never used Dugtrio-Alola but am tempted to test out a set with reversal+Sash. Gigalith is huge in VGC right now and they could function really well together. EDIT: Reversal would be base 200 after being brought to sash.... That's some serious damage output. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Eastonn8 Posted June 28, 2017 1 hour ago, CGoodlet26 said: It does indeed! Reversal is an egg move it can be bred with from quite a few common Pokemon in Sun/Moon. I have personally never used Dugtrio-Alola but am tempted to test out a set with reversal+Sash. Gigalith is huge in VGC right now and they could function really well together. EDIT: Reversal would be base 200 after being brought to sash.... That's some serious damage output. In X/Y I used to use regular Dugtrio with Sash and Reversal. It's better due to arena trap, but no reason why it couldn't work in S/M! Definitely would say not to use this set in VGC though. This specific Dugtrio set is awful in doubles for a reason lol. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Thesi Posted June 29, 2017 approveled. nek minut you'll be doing one for crobat lmao. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Telfer 0/300 Posted July 7, 2017 Approved Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Achievements
