ADV 50 Analysis - Golem

    Golem
    Type: Rock / Ground
    Stats: 80 | 110 | 130 | 55 | 65 | 45
    Abilities: Rock Head / Sturdy

    Introduction

    With a pretty high attack stat, combined with high-powered physical attacks, Golem is an excellent wallbreaker. Although it is slow, and with many defensive vulnerabilities, its power makes it a strong choice in the metagame. Its typing significantly enables it to check Muk (although watch out for Giga Drain), a top threat in the metagame, as well as resisting Normal- and Flying-type attacks - combined with a very good Defense stat - enabling it to check other physically-based threats such as Fearow too. It competes with Aggron, which is faster and has more resistances, and Armaldo, which has Bug-type STAB, Swords Dance, and Rapid Spin, but Explosion and the raw power of STAB-boosted Earthquake ensure that it stands out.

    Sets

    Choice Band

    Golem @ Choice Band
    Ability: Rock Head
    EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
    Jolly Nature
    - Earthquake
    - Explosion
    - Rock Slide / Rock Blast
    - Double-Edge

    Set Details

    Earthquake is a phenomenal Ground-type STAB move - high power with perfect accuracy. Explosion, coming off of such a high, invested attack stat (hitting over 450 after factoring EVs and Choice Band) is sure to take out any Pokemon which doesn't resist it. Rock Slide is the primary choice of Rock-type STAB, with good (though not perfect) accuracy, a flinch chance (occasionally handy in spite of Golem's low Speed), and is the most reliably powerful option available. Rock Blast can hit even harder should it hit 4 or 5 times, but its damage is less reliable and its accuracy is poorer than Rock Slide. However, one big upside is its ability to catch out Substitute-abusing Flying-types such as Fearow and Crobat, as the multi-hit nature of Rock Blast enables it to break their substitutes and then continue to do damage beyond that. Hidden Power Rock is a slightly weaker option than Rock Slide, with perfect accuracy, although it has a notable downside in forcing an imperfect Speed IV, meaning it doesn't speed tie with other Golem, or Granbull. Double-Edge is used in the last slot: with Rock Head, Double-Edge has no recoil, and it is a strong option versus Ground-resistant Pokemon without a Rock-type weakness, such as Meganium, and has perfect accuracy unlike Rock Slide; it is a great catch-all move on it, especially as Normal-resistant Pokemon are very hesitant to switch into Golem due to Earthquake. There are other possible options in the final slot too, though, such as Hidden Power Bug or Flying, which is marginally stronger against Meganium, though still coming nowhere close to OHKOing, or Body Slam, which is weaker than Double-Edge but gives it the ability to spread paralysis. Generally, Golem is better off just aiming to do damage straight up, but it at least can leave a mark on Meganium. The EVs maximise Speed and Attack; it enables it to outspeed slow bulky Pokemon which don't invest in Speed such as Whiscash, as well as speed tie with other Golem and Granbull, with the rest ploughed into Attack to maximise its raw, unadulterated power.

    Other Options

    Golem has few other interesting options. A set using Leftovers rather than a Choice Band, with a focus on something beyond wall-breaking is a possibility, maybe using more utilitarian moves such as Roar, Toxic, or Rock Tomb, but it competes with Pokemon such as Aggron and Steelix, with far better defensive typings.

    Checks and Counters

    Meganium is the closest thing to a true counter, able to recover HP quite quickly, faster than Golem, with a STAB that OHKOs Golem, and a resistance to Golem's stronger STAB. However, it is 2HKOd by Double-Edge, which could be problematic in conjunction with paralysis support for Golem. Bulky Water-types such as Whiscash are the next-best things, not resistant to Earthquake but able to stomach it, and force Golem out with their super-effective STABs. Misdreavus is immune to both Earthquake and Explosion, and often carries a super-effective Hidden Power, making it a quite good check in spite of its frailty. Resistances and immunities to Golem's STABs are essential on virtually all teams, granting some amount of leniency in handling Golem. If it can be scouted what move Golem is locking itself into, it becomes far easier to handle, so Pokemon using Substitute or Protect are useful checks in that regard (however, beware of Rock Blast when using Substitute).

    Analysis written by Disaster Area