Golem

Golem is a common Sturdy Z-Move user in 1v1, which, stats and usage-wise, is very similar to Donphan, but it has some different utility due to its added Rock typing, such as its effectiveness against both Mega Charizard formes. Its Ground typing gives it a good matchup against common Steel-, Rock-, Electric-, and Fire-types, while its Rock typing helps it deal with Flying- and Ice-types. Golem also has Sucker Punch as its priority finisher, which hits things that resist Donphan's Ice Shard for neutral damage, allowing it to take out threats like bulky Genesect, which Donphan cannot. Golem really does need that priority Sucker Punch because of its relatively low Speed stat. Unfortunately, Golem has a huge weakness to several common types, but due to its Sturdy and its access to Sucker Punch, it can play around those weaknesses and still pick up victories against them. Golem stands absolutely no chance against Mega Gyarados and Kyurem-B, because their STAB moves and Mold Breaker or Teravolt allows them to OHKO Golem before Golem gets a chance to retaliate.
=Groundium Z=
Golem @ Groundium Z
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Rock Tomb
- Earthquake
- Sucker Punch
- Counter
==Set Comments==
===Moves===
Rock Tomb is enough to KO anything this set wants to KO with its Rock-type moves while also dropping Speed, allowing Golem to take out faster threats and break Sturdy or Air Balloon. Earthquake is Golem's main STAB move, which can take Pokemon out with an extremely strong Z-Move. If a foe has low HP, Sucker Punch is used to pick up the KO. Counter takes care of anything that recklessly tries to attack Golem with a physical move, such as Dragonite.
===Set Details===
252 Attack and Speed EVs with an Adamant nature allows Golem to be as fast as possible while retaining maximum firepower; this allows it to just barely outspeed base 80 Speed or lower Pokémon such as Dragonite and Heatran after a Rock Tomb. The leftover EVs of 4 HP gives Golem two extra HP of damage when brought to Sturdy and using Counter, which might make a difference in some situations. Sturdy guarantees that Golem survives one hit and can retaliate with its Z-Move, while Groundium Z greatly increases Golem's offensive capabilities by turning Earthquake into a devastating 180-Base Power Ground-type move.
===Usage Tips===
If you find your Z-Move plus Sucker Punch doesn't KO the foe, it's worth trying Rock Tomb + Z-Move if they're slow enough. Golem also faces off very well against offensive Pokemon such as Genesect, Magnezone, and Greninja, so it's worth using if you see one of those. Golem struggles to beat the common Mega Gyarados, Mimikyu, Kyurem-B, and Donphan, so avoid sending Golem out against them.
===Team Options===
Because Golem struggles to beat Mega Gyarados and Kyurem-B, Magearna is an excellent team option to deal with both. Mega Gyarados and Kyurem-B themselves are a great complement to Golem becauset beats common counters to them such as Magearna and Magnezone. Because many Steel-types such as Mega Metagross use Magnet Rise, Mega Charizard X is a good choice to pair with Golem to counter said Steel-types. Mega Venusaur and bulky Fairy-types have an advantage against Golem, so to counter this you can use Mega Metagross or Jirachi, which deal with both due to their typing.
=Rockium Z=
Golem @ Rockium Z
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 248 HP / 216 Atk / 44 SpD
Adamant Nature
IVs: 16 Spe
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Counter
- Sucker Punch
==Set Comments==
===Moves===
Stone Edge can be turned into a powerful Z-Move that lets Golem KO Pokemon like Charizard, Dragonite, Genesect, and Air Balloon Heatran, while Earthquake is a powerful secondary STAB move with good coverage that allows Golem to beat Magnezone, Tapu Koko, and Terrakion with relative ease. Counter helps beat physical attackers, and Sucker Punch helps deal that extra bit of damage needed to pick up KOs.
===Set Details===
248 HP and 44 Special Defense EVs are needed to survive an Ice Beam from Choice Scarf Kyurem-B, while the rest of the EVs are put in Attack with an Adamant Nature. The 16 Speed IVs are used to underspeed Aegislash, which then gets OHKOed in Blade forme. Sturdy allows Golem to take any hit without consequence to finish off the foe right after. Rockium Z fires off a 180-Base Power Continental Crush, which lets it KO Pokemon such as Charizard, Kyurem-B, and Dragonite.
===Usage Tips===
Just click the strongest move you have to hit the foe with, and use Sucker Punch if necessary to pick up KOs. Golem faces off very well against offensive Pokemon such as Genesect and Greninja, so it's worth using if you see one of those. This set is designed to beat Choice Scarf Kyurem-B and both Mega Charizard formes, so if your opponent has them, Golem is a good pick. Golem has trouble beating Mega Gyarados, Mimikyu, and Donphan, so you shouldn't be pairing Golem up against them, you should also be a little bit careful with Kyurem-B, as sets without Choice Scarf beat Golem.
===Team Options===
Golem is finetuned to beat Choice Scarf Kyurem-B, which allows Mega Charizard Y to pick up KOs on all the slower variants; it can also deal with most bulky Fairy-types and Mega Venusaur. Magearna, is an excellent complement to Golem because of its ability to deal with the two biggest threats to Golem, namely Mega Gyarados and Kyurem-B. Mega Charizard X can be used for similar reasons as Mega Charizard Y but might be slightly less reliable.
=Strategy Comments=
==Other Options==
Fire Punch can be used to more reliably beat Genesect and certain Magnet Rise Steel-types. This also pairs well with Weakness Policy, which is somewhat effective while beating other Pokemon such as Tapu Fini, Primarina, Keldeo, and Celesteela, which Golem is normally unable to beat. Smack Down can be used to get rid of Ground immunities, which lets it beat Celesteela and Magnet Rise Mega Metagross. Protect is another option that lets Golem beat Fake Out users that would normally beat it, most notably Mega Lopunny. Rock Blast on the Rockium Z set lets Golem match up better against Substitute users as well as helping against Mimikyu, which it would normally be unable to beat. If you were to replace any moves on Golem, Counter is the recommended option to replace, as the other three moves are generally very important to Golem's strength.
==Checks and Counters==
*Mega Gyarados is by far the most reliable Golem counter, since there's no way for Golem to survive a Waterfall.
*Golem struggles against most Grass-types, such as Mega Venusaur, Tapu Bulu, and Ferrothorn. Some Fairy-types are very bulky and are not threatened by Golem's Z-Moves, notably Tapu Fini and Z-Reflect Tapu Lele.
*Fake Out users such as Mega Lopunny, Mega Blastoise, and Mega Medicham are excellent at taking out Golem because of their ability to break Sturdy; other Pokemon that do the same are Mega Heracross and Kyurem-Black.
*Physically bulky walls with recovery can also defeat Golem, like Umbreon and Mega Slowbro.
Category:Analyses