QC [3/3]
GP [2/2]
uploaded -zard
[OVERVIEW]
Ferroseed has a great defensive typing that provides it with useful resistances to types like Water, Fairy, and Psychic and an immunity to Toxic Spikes. This, along with its excellent defensive stats and ability to hold an Eviolite, allows it to come in easily on top threats such as Carracosta and Kangaskhan. Ferroseed is also one of the few Pokemon that has access to both Stealth Rock and Spikes and can set both reliably throughout a match. Iron Barbs is an incredibly useful ability, allowing Ferroseed to net some chip damage on foes. However, a 4x weakness to Fire and a weakness to very common Fighting-type attacks can give Ferroseed some trouble, as does its susceptibility to Taunt. Ferroseed also has no access to reliable recovery, although Leech Seed can help to nullify this and force even more switches.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Spikes / Stealth Rock
move 2: Leech Seed
move 3: Gyro Ball
move 4: Protect
item: Eviolite
ability: Iron Barbs
nature: Sassy
evs: 248 HP / 128 Def / 132 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Spikes is one of the best entry hazards in the game, and Ferroseed can set them up very reliably due to its good typing and defensive stats. Leech Seed heals Ferroseed and racks up residual damage against the foe. Gyro Ball is Ferroseed's most reliable STAB move due to its lacking Speed stat, and it also makes Ferroseed not complete setup bait to Pokemon carrying Taunt such as Floatzel, Qwilfish, and Sableye. Protect lets Ferroseed scout for moves as well as recover more HP safely after the opposing Pokemon has been hit by Leech Seed. Thunder Wave can be used on Ferroseed to cripple threats that try to switch in such as Magmortar, Primeape, and Lilligant, though this does reduce the damage that Gyro Ball does. Ferroseed can use Toxic on a predicted switch-in to cripple Pokemon that try to use it as setup fodder like Mesprit, Gurdurr, and Musharna.
Set Details
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248 HP EVs are used to take the minimum amount of Spikes damage when switching in while also retaining as much bulk as possible. 132 Special Defense EVs with a Special Defense-boosting nature let Ferroseed avoid being 2HKOed by Blizzard from Life Orb Abomasnow, and the other 128 EVs are thrown into Defense to make it as bulky as possible. A Sassy nature makes Ferroseed slower so it can deal more Gyro Ball damage. Eviolite boosts Ferroseed's bulk to even greater levels. Iron Barbs chips down opposing Pokemon that make contact.
Usage Tips
========
Use Ferroseed early-game to set up entry hazards as soon as possible. Ferroseed is best used checking Water-, Psychic-, Fairy-, Rock-, and Normal-types such as Carracosta, Mesprit, Mr. Mime, Aggron, and Kangaskhan because they cannot do much back unless they're using Hidden Power Fire or Fighting-type coverage. Ferroseed should always try to use Leech Seed on the foe as fast as possible if Ferroseed lost HP to gain it back. Use Protect to scout for coverage moves and react accordingly. Make sure to keep Ferroseed healthy whenever the opponent has a Pokemon such as Shell Smash Carracosta or Z-Lovely Kiss Jynx, but be wary of switching it into Jynx, as Ferroseed might find itself asleep next turn. Make sure to try to double switch around Fire-types such as Pyroar, as they lose 25% of their health if Stealth Rock is on the field.
Team Options
========
Pokemon such as Carracosta, Qwilfish, Lanturn, Gastrodon, and Regirock are all able to pressure Fire-types such as Pyroar, which are really troublesome for Ferroseed. Carracosta can also set up Stealth Rock for Ferroseed, allowing it to use Spikes more freely. In return, Ferroseed provides an Electric- and Grass-type resistance for all of them. Pokemon that appreciate Spikes and Stealth Rock support such as Gurdurr, Floatzel, Abomasnow, and Absol are excellent teammates for Ferroseed because it can switch into most of their checks and set up entry hazards, letting them nail quite a few KOs on foes like Musharna, Mesprit, and Cradily. Assault Vest Magmortar is an excellent teammate because it's able to switch into Fire-types and pressure them with Earthquake, and it also benefits from Stealth Rock and Spikes support to get KOs. Pokemon such as Hitmonchan and Primeape both benefit from Ferroseed's defensive typing because it resists every single weakness they have while also providing them Stealth Rock or Spikes suppport. Spinblockers such as Sableye and Palossand can keep hazards on the field.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Knock Off can be used to cripple switch-ins such as Hitmonchan, Primeape, and Pyroar by removing their item. Seed Bomb can be used for Water-types such as Floatzel, Lanturn, and Carracosta that may try to switch into Ferroseed. Bullet Seed can be used to break through Substitute. Curse, while very niche, can make Ferroseed very annoying to deal with late-game, especially if opposing Fire- and Fighting- types are removed, as Ferroseed can then keep boosting its Defense stat while also being able to hit harder.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fire-types**: Fire-types such as Pyroar, Magmortar, and Combusken can all OHKO Ferroseed with their 4x super effective STAB moves, but they cannot keep switching in consistently due to Ferroseed setting up Stealth Rock and Spikes.
**Fighting-types**: Primeape, Hitmonchan, Gurdurr, and Passimian are all able to pressure Ferroseed with their super effective STAB moves ; however, Ferroseed can use Protect to scout for U-turn against Choice Scarf Primeape and Passimian.
**Probopass**: Due to Probopass's access to Magnet Pull, it's able to effectively trap Ferroseed and KO it with Hidden Power Fire.
**Super Effective Coverage**: Pokemon such as Jynx, Lanturn, and Mr. Mime can all run super effective coverage such as Focus Blast and Hidden Power Fire for Ferroseed.
**Taunt**: Taunt from users such as Sableye, Qwilfish, and Floatzel make Ferroseed useless due to its passivity.
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