(VGC 2017) Goodra - Special Attacker - 2 Movesets
(VGC 2017) Goodra - Special Attacker - 2 Movesets
![[Image: goodra_by_all0412-d7s3vnu.jpg]](http://img15.deviantart.net/4569/i/2014/205/e/0/goodra_by_all0412-d7s3vnu.jpg)
Goodra serves as an anti-meta Pokemon capable of withstand some of the strongest special attackers in the VGC format thanks to its colossal base 150 Special Defense stat and utilizing its massive special movepool. Despite the prevalence of Fairy-type Pokemon like the Guardian Deity Tapus, Goodra is perhaps one of the only Dragon-types capable of tanking most of their STAB Fairy-type hits, and immediately retaliating with its Sludge Bomb Poison-type coverage. Thanks to its Dragon-typing and high special defense stat, Goodra can sponge even strong weather-based team bar sand-based teams as it takes little from resisted Fire-/Water-type hits and withstand even super effective Ice-type damage. For abilities, Sap Sipper is by-far the best choice to allow Goodra to effectively counter some of the strongest Grass-types attackers such as Tapu Bulu and Kartana which remain relevant.
With all that said, note Goodra must rely on its strong coverage options in order to net some 2HKOs, which then isn't as impressive. What holds Goodra back for the most part is the lack of speed and average defense stats as the opponent can outspeed or threaten it with powerful physical attacks. As mentioned, Goodra's Special Attack of 110 is passable, though not strong enough to warrant immediate OHKOs without using its special coverage. Despite these flaws, Goodra can serve as a strong special tank capable of withstanding some of the common metagame threats, Tapus, weather-based teams, and other special attackers in the format. In all, Goodra is an underrated anti-meta threat which can stand tall and punish its foes with its strong offensive coverage and defensive potential.
![[Image: goodra.png]](http://pokemonforever.com/images/pokeimages/gen6/goodra.png)
Goodra
Type: Dragon
Base Stats: 90 HP / 100 Attack / 70 Defense / 110 Special Attack / 150 Special Defense / 80 Speed
Weaknesses: Dragon [x2] , Ice [x2] , Fairy [x2]
Resistances: Fire [x0.5] , Water [x0.5] , Electric [x0.5], Grass [x0.5]
Immunities: None / Grass [x0] with Sap Sipper
Ability 1 : Sap Sipper - Grants Grass-type immunity and raises Attack stat if hit by any Grass-type move.
Ability 2: Hydration - Cures Status Conditions (Poison, Sleep, Paralysis, Freeze, Burn) in rain.
Hidden Ability - Gooey - Reduces speed stat of the attacker by one stage for every direct contact made.
Assault Vest Tank
Goodra @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sap Sipper
Level: 50
EVs: 204 HP / 188 Def / 76 SpA / 36 SpD / 4 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dragon Pulse / Draco Meteor
- Sludge Bomb
- Thunderbolt
- Flamethrower / Ice Beam / Muddy Water
Milestones:
- HP Value to reduce sand, hail, and burn damage.
- Life Orb Modest Tapu Koko's Dazzling Gleam has a low chance to 2HKO
- Kartana's Smart Strike has a low chance to 2HKO.
- Withstands Z-Earthquake from Garchomp at least 15/16ths of the time.
- Modest Tapu Lele's Moonblast has a 6.3% chance to 2HKO Goodra.
- Withstands most special attacks in the format.
Goodra @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sap Sipper
Level: 50
EVs: 204 HP / 188 Def / 76 SpA / 36 SpD / 4 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dragon Pulse / Draco Meteor
- Sludge Bomb
- Thunderbolt
- Flamethrower / Ice Beam / Muddy Water
Milestones:
- HP Value to reduce sand, hail, and burn damage.
- Life Orb Modest Tapu Koko's Dazzling Gleam has a low chance to 2HKO
- Kartana's Smart Strike has a low chance to 2HKO.
- Withstands Z-Earthquake from Garchomp at least 15/16ths of the time.
- Modest Tapu Lele's Moonblast has a 6.3% chance to 2HKO Goodra.
- Withstands most special attacks in the format.
It doesn't take a genius to realize pairing Goodra with the Assault Vest can warrant itself as a stand out special tank. Thanks to the Assault Vest, Goodra can withstand almost any strong special attack, even from at least once from most of the Tapus such as Moonblast from Lele, LO Dazzling Gleam from Koko, and one Specs Moonblast from Fini. Speaking for hard hitting Tapu Bulu, Goodra's Sap Sipper ability negates any damage completely and allows Goodra to completely wall Bulu as it doesn't have a STAB physical Play Rough. Against opposing weather-based teams, Goodra can withstand any multiple STAB Eruptions from Torkoal and Rain-boosted Water-type moves from Pelipper-Golduck and retaliate back with any of its coverage options.
Given how Goodra doesn't need much Special Defense investment, rather the Assault Vest to achieve these benchmarks, players can focus Goodra's Effort Values into either Defense to take physical attacks better, or its special attack to bolster its offensive potential. For this set, this Goodra has a significant HP and Def investment to tank either Z-Earthquake or Dragon Claw from Garchomp, and two Smart Strikes from Kartana. Intimidate and Snarl support from allied Pokemon can allow Goodra with better tank both special and physical attacks, in case players want to allocate more into special attack.
The moveset for this Goodra set is self-explanatory, though its extremely flexible based on the player's team and/or liking. Dragon Pulse is listed first given its a reliable Dragon-type STAB for neutral coverage or for opposing Dragon-types, though rather weak. Draco Meteor allows Goodra to pickup the OHKOs against most Dragon-types and deals better damage in general, though SpA will drop by minus two stages. Sludge Bomb is essential to allow Goodra to stand toe-to-toe against the Tapus and other Fairy-type Pokemon with the added 30% chance to get poisons. Thunderbolt is listed so Goodra can hit opposing Water- and Flying-type Pokemon, notably against Rain-teams.
The last moveslot is up to the player's discretion, though each are viable in certain situations. Flamethrower allows Goodra to target down would be Steel-type checks such as Kartana, Metagross, Celesteela, Vikavolt, Alolan Ninetales, and others for super effective damage. Ice Beam pairs well with Thunderbolt and can hit Ground-, Grass-, and Flying-types. Lastly, Muddy Water is a Water-type spread attack used mainly for Fire-, Ground-, and Rock-types with the added chance to drop the opponents's accuracy. To show the strength of Assault Vest Goodra, here's a list of damage calculations and defensive milestones achieved with its EV Spread and item.
Offensive Calcs
Given how Goodra doesn't need much Special Defense investment, rather the Assault Vest to achieve these benchmarks, players can focus Goodra's Effort Values into either Defense to take physical attacks better, or its special attack to bolster its offensive potential. For this set, this Goodra has a significant HP and Def investment to tank either Z-Earthquake or Dragon Claw from Garchomp, and two Smart Strikes from Kartana. Intimidate and Snarl support from allied Pokemon can allow Goodra with better tank both special and physical attacks, in case players want to allocate more into special attack.
The moveset for this Goodra set is self-explanatory, though its extremely flexible based on the player's team and/or liking. Dragon Pulse is listed first given its a reliable Dragon-type STAB for neutral coverage or for opposing Dragon-types, though rather weak. Draco Meteor allows Goodra to pickup the OHKOs against most Dragon-types and deals better damage in general, though SpA will drop by minus two stages. Sludge Bomb is essential to allow Goodra to stand toe-to-toe against the Tapus and other Fairy-type Pokemon with the added 30% chance to get poisons. Thunderbolt is listed so Goodra can hit opposing Water- and Flying-type Pokemon, notably against Rain-teams.
The last moveslot is up to the player's discretion, though each are viable in certain situations. Flamethrower allows Goodra to target down would be Steel-type checks such as Kartana, Metagross, Celesteela, Vikavolt, Alolan Ninetales, and others for super effective damage. Ice Beam pairs well with Thunderbolt and can hit Ground-, Grass-, and Flying-types. Lastly, Muddy Water is a Water-type spread attack used mainly for Fire-, Ground-, and Rock-types with the added chance to drop the opponents's accuracy. To show the strength of Assault Vest Goodra, here's a list of damage calculations and defensive milestones achieved with its EV Spread and item.
Offensive Calcs
Weakness Policy
Goodra @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Sap Sipper
Level: 50
EVs: 204 HP / 188 Def / 76 SpA / 36 SpD / 4 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dragon Pulse / Draco Meteor
- Sludge Bomb
- Flamethrower / Thunderbolt / Ice Beam
- Protect
Ability: Sap Sipper
Level: 50
EVs: 204 HP / 188 Def / 76 SpA / 36 SpD / 4 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dragon Pulse / Draco Meteor
- Sludge Bomb
- Flamethrower / Thunderbolt / Ice Beam
- Protect
Milestones:
- EV Spread same as above.
- Life Orb Modest Tapu Koko's Dazzling Gleam has a low chance to 2HKO
- OHKOs most Tapu Koko and Tapu Lele with Weakness Policy boost.
- EV Spread same as above.
- Life Orb Modest Tapu Koko's Dazzling Gleam has a low chance to 2HKO
- OHKOs most Tapu Koko and Tapu Lele with Weakness Policy boost.
Even without the Assault Vest, Goodra can take a couple special attacks, even some super effective damage before it goes down. Here we have a Weakness Policy Goodra which is designated lure to let the Dragon-type take a noticeable weak super effective hit, and gain +2 in special attack. With the boosted special attack, Goodra can retaliate against any of its would be threats with its strong Dragon-type hits or coverage option listed. Both Dragon Pulse and Draco Meteor are listed, though one is weaker, but deals reliable damage while the other is stronger, though can negate the Weakness Policy boosts. Sludge Bomb as +2 can now OHKO most of the Tapu Koko and Tapu Lele sets and can 2HKO Tapu Fini. For the third slot, Flamethrower can be used for Steel/Ice-types, Thunderbolt for Water-types, and Ice Beam for Ground/Flying-types. Protect is here to allow Goodra to scout an attack, or better position for the following turn.
The following damage calculations show Goodra at +2 Special Attack with the following respective coverage options listed.
Offensive Calcs:Defensive Calcs:
Potential Teammates include, but aren't limited to:
- Steel-types - Despite Goodra extraordinary special bulk, it can get worn down by opposing Fairy-, Ice-, and Dragon-types attacks with some progressive damage. As a result, Steel-type Pokemon are able to hold their own against all three and have type advantages against Fairy- and Ice-type Pokemon. (Ex. Celesteela, Metagross, Magnezone, Kartana, etc. )
- Fire-types - Another type to pair with Goodra are Fire-type Pokemon as they can withstand against Fairy- and Ice-type Pokemon and defensive Steel-type checks as well. ( Ex. Arcanine, Alolan Marowak, Talonflame, Incineroar, Salazzle, etc)
- Fairy-types - When facing Dragon-type Pokemon, Goodra can rely on other Fairy-types as they are immune to Dragon-type STAB and can retaliate back with their own STABs.
- Intimidate Support - With an average defense stat of base 70, Goodra needs Intimidates support in order to withstand better physical hits possibly without allocating too much investment. ( Ex. Arcanine, Krookodile, Gyarados, Salamence, etc).
- Strong Specially Defensive Pokemon - Celesteela, Porygon2, Gigalith, Snorlax, Milotic, etc.
- Steel-types with high Special Defense - Celesteela, Metagross, Magnezone, etc
- Snarl Spam - Arcanine, Mandibuzz, Krookodile, etc
- Dragon-types - Garchomp, Salamence, Drampa, etc
- Fairy-types - ( Tapus, Mimikyu )
- Ice-types - Alolan Ninetales, Alolan Sandslash, Weavile, etc
- Powerful Physical STABs / Z-Move Attacks
- Misty Terrain
- Goodra can utilize the 50% Berries such as Iapapa, Figy, Wiki, Mago, and Aguav Berry to give it some recovery.
- Some physical attacks such as Earthquake and Power Whip can be utilized to take out Electric- and Water-types respectively
- Offensive item choices such as Life Orb, Choice Specs, and even Dragonium Z can be utilized.
- A surprised max speed Goodra with Choice Scarf can outspeed up to base 130 Pokemon.
- Feint is an interesting Priority move which can "break" protection, which can certainly be a useful option.
Goomy is now a lord. Goomen
