[OVERVIEW]
At first glance, Onix's enormous base 160 Defense, Rock typing, and access to useful moves like Bind and Explosion may give the impression that it's usable. After all, it can switch in to stonewall Fearow, a top threat, and fire off attacks. However, Onix is rendered completely unviable by its terrible stats. Having an Attack stat lower than Oddish means that Onix does pitiful damage and struggles to break through anything, even targets that are weak to its STAB moves. Bind is already an unreliable option due to its terrible accuracy, but it suffers further due to Onix's mediocre Speed, which notably leaves it outsped by Nidoqueen. Onix's huge Defense is held back by its atrocious base HP and weakness to Earthquake, which makes it lose to most physical attackers regardless. Its special bulk fares even worse, as its low HP, even worse Special, and weaknesses to Water, Grass, and Ice make it lose to nearly every special attacker in the tier. While Onix does stop Fearow in its tracks, it should not be used on any serious team on account of it losing to pretty much every other relevant threat in PU.
[SET]
name: Bind Pivot
move 1: Bind
move 2: Toxic / Body Slam
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Explosion
[SET COMMENTS]
Bind lets Onix pivot out of opposing switch-ins and slower threats. Toxic pairs well with Bind in wearing down foes. Alternatively, Body Slam can be used to spread paralysis. Earthquake is Onix's primary STAB attack, though it's weak due to Onix's terrible Attack stat. Explosion lets Onix sacrifice itself to deal heavy damage to its target, but it should be used sparingly, as it still doesn't OHKO the majority of the tier, and Onix's primary goal is to stay alive to wall Fearow. Onix works best supporting Pokemon that dislike facing Fearow, such as Pinsir and Abra. Checks to Water- and Grass-types, such as Staryu and Drowzee, work well in helping Onix's with its worst matchups. Paralysis support works well to enable Onix's Bind.
[CREDITS]
- Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
- Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sabelette.583793/
- Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sabelette.583793/
At first glance, Onix's enormous base 160 Defense, Rock typing, and access to useful moves like Bind and Explosion may give the impression that it's usable. After all, it can switch in to stonewall Fearow, a top threat, and fire off attacks. However, Onix is rendered completely unviable by its terrible stats. Having an Attack stat lower than Oddish means that Onix does pitiful damage and struggles to break through anything, even targets that are weak to its STAB moves. Bind is already an unreliable option due to its terrible accuracy, but it suffers further due to Onix's mediocre Speed, which notably leaves it outsped by Nidoqueen. Onix's huge Defense is held back by its atrocious base HP and weakness to Earthquake, which makes it lose to most physical attackers regardless. Its special bulk fares even worse, as its low HP, even worse Special, and weaknesses to Water, Grass, and Ice make it lose to nearly every special attacker in the tier. While Onix does stop Fearow in its tracks, it should not be used on any serious team on account of it losing to pretty much every other relevant threat in PU.
[SET]
name: Bind Pivot
move 1: Bind
move 2: Toxic / Body Slam
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Explosion
[SET COMMENTS]
Bind lets Onix pivot out of opposing switch-ins and slower threats. Toxic pairs well with Bind in wearing down foes. Alternatively, Body Slam can be used to spread paralysis. Earthquake is Onix's primary STAB attack, though it's weak due to Onix's terrible Attack stat. Explosion lets Onix sacrifice itself to deal heavy damage to its target, but it should be used sparingly, as it still doesn't OHKO the majority of the tier, and Onix's primary goal is to stay alive to wall Fearow. Onix works best supporting Pokemon that dislike facing Fearow, such as Pinsir and Abra. Checks to Water- and Grass-types, such as Staryu and Drowzee, work well in helping Onix's with its worst matchups. Paralysis support works well to enable Onix's Bind.
[CREDITS]
- Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
- Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sabelette.583793/
- Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sabelette.583793/
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