[OVERVIEW]
Thanks to its typing that grants it a whopping total of nine resistances and one immunity, as well as its ability to use Eviolite, Ferroseed is an effective defensive Pokemon that is able to check threatening offensive RU Pokemon such as Tyrantrum and Aerodactyl. In addition to being able to use Spikes, which is much less common than Stealth Rock, Ferroseed has access to a good deal of supporting moves such as Leech Seed and Thunder Wave. Sadly, Ferroseed is weak to two common offensive types in Fire and Fighting and must rely on Leech Seed or Wish support to regain health, as it lacks any other method of consistent recovery. Ferroseed is also greatly crippled if it loses its Eviolite via Knock Off or Trick. Lastly, due to its defensive nature and poor offensive presence, Ferroseed can be easily taken advantage of with Taunt or Substitute.
[SET]
name: Defensive Support
move 1: Spikes / Stealth Rock
move 2: Leech Seed
move 3: Protect / Thunder Wave
move 4: Gyro Ball / Seed Bomb
item: Eviolite
ability: Iron Barbs
nature: Relaxed / Impish
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Spikes damages grounded Pokemon as they switch in. Stealth Rock is an option if no other teammates have it. Leech Seed gradually drains the foe's health, providing Ferroseed with a method of recovery. Protect helps Ferroseed gain more recovery from Leech Seed and allows it to scout for coverage moves such as Hidden Power Fire and attacks from Choice-locked Pokemon. Thunder Wave can be used to cripple fast attackers such as Aerodactyl. Gyro Ball hits decently hard thanks to Ferroseed's low Speed and can pressure faster attackers such as Meloetta and Choice Scarf Tyrantrum. Seed Bomb can be used if a more consistent method of direct damage is desired in addition to hitting Water-types such as Samurott more effectively. Knock Off is also a good option to cripple Pokemon like Amoonguss and Sigilyph by removing their items. It should be noted that paralyzed foes take less damage from Gyro Ball, so running Thunder Wave and Gyro Ball together is rather counterproductive.
Set Details
========
A Relaxed nature with maximum HP and Defense EVs, and 0 Speed IVs maximize Ferroseed's bulk and allow it to take reduced damage from entry hazards while also increasing Gyro Ball's power. If Seed Bomb or Knock Off is chosen over Gyro Ball, an Impish nature with maximum Speed IVs is more effective. Iron Barbs wears down the foe every time it uses a contact move, which works well in conjunction with Leech Seed. Eviolite greatly increases Ferroseed's bulk, making it much harder to KO.
Usage Tips
========
Ferroseed's typing is its greatest asset, allowing it to force out common attackers that can't damage it thoroughly such as Tyrantrum and Aerodactyl, which gives it an opportunity to set up entry hazards or cripple its foes with Thunder Wave. Leech Seed is also useful for putting a timer on most setup sweepers, as it forces them out most of the time, giving Ferroseed even more opportunities to set up entry hazards. Protect can be used to provide an extra turn of Leech Seed recovery and scout for possible coverage moves and Choice-locked Pokemon such as Exploud; it shouldn't be relied on, however, as the foe can set up on the turn Ferroseed uses Protect. Avoid Knock Off at all costs, as losing its Eviolite greatly neuters Ferroseed's defensive capabilities. Iron Barbs punishes the foe for trying to remove the entry hazards that Ferroseed has set up with Rapid Spin. As a bonus, if the foe faints from Iron Barbs recoil after using Rapid Spin, all entry hazards will remain on the field.
Team Options
========
Bulky Water-types are great overall partners for Ferroseed due to their resistance to Fire-type moves. Alomomola provides Wish support for Ferroseed, while Ferroseed provides a useful resistance to Grass-type attacks in return. Slowking and Jellicent can switch into both Fire- and Fighting-type moves, although neither of them can switch into Knock Off. Diancie can also switch into Fire-type moves for Ferroseed as well as providing Stealth Rock and cleric support. Ghost-types such as Jellicent and Rotom are helpful for spinblocking and switching into Fighting-type attacks. Wish support from Alomomola and Aromatisse, the latter of which can also provide cleric support, is quite appreciated, as Leech Seed is a rather unreliable method of recovery. Fighting-type checks such as Slowking and Granbull are also appreciated to alleviate the pressure that Fighting-types put on Ferroseed. Mega Camerupt can switch into Knock Off and Fire-type attacks to an extent for Ferroseed, while in return, Ferroseed switches into Water-type attacks.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Due to Ferroseed's rather limited movepool and defensive nature, it doesn't have much else to work with. Toxic can be used to hit Pokemon like Flygon that would otherwise freely remove entry hazards, but Ferroseed's other moves are too important to pass up.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fire-types**: Fire-types such as Houndoom, Mega Camerupt, and Emboar can easily switch into Ferroseed's attacks and threaten it with their powerful Fire-type moves, although none of them appreciate switching into Thunder Wave, save for Mega Camerupt, or Leech Seed, and Emboar is quickly worn down by Iron Barbs and Flare Blitz recoil.
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types such as Hitmonlee, Virizion, and Medicham threaten Ferroseed with their powerful Fighting-type moves. It should be noted, however, that none of these Pokemon except Lum Berry Virizion can switch into Thunder Wave or Leech Seed.
**Taunt Users**: Taunt prevents Ferroseed from using its supporting moves, rendering it nigh useless. Taunt users are scarce in RU, however.
**Flygon**: Flygon can reliably remove all entry hazards Ferroseed sets up with Defog, is immune to Thunder Wave, and can threaten it with Fire Blast.
**Knock Off Users**: Ferroseed hates losing its Eviolite at the hands of Knock Off users such as Absol and Scrafty, as this drastically reduces its bulk.
**Magneton**: Magneton can easily switch into Ferroseed, as it resists all of its attacks, is immune to Thunder Wave, and can trap it with Magnet Pull; it can then OHKO Ferroseed with Hidden Power Fire.
**Electric-types with Fire-type Coverage**: Eelektross and Manectric take little damage from Gyro Ball, are immune to Thunder Wave, with Manectric even receiving a Special Attack boost upon switching into it, and can OHKO Ferroseed with Flamethrower or, in Manectric's case, Overheat.
**Tangrowth**: Tangrowth takes little damage from Ferroseed's attacks, is immune to Leech Seed, and mitigates entry hazard damage with Regenerator; it can then force out Ferroseed with Focus Blast or Hidden Power Fire or cripple it with Knock Off.
Thanks to its typing that grants it a whopping total of nine resistances and one immunity, as well as its ability to use Eviolite, Ferroseed is an effective defensive Pokemon that is able to check threatening offensive RU Pokemon such as Tyrantrum and Aerodactyl. In addition to being able to use Spikes, which is much less common than Stealth Rock, Ferroseed has access to a good deal of supporting moves such as Leech Seed and Thunder Wave. Sadly, Ferroseed is weak to two common offensive types in Fire and Fighting and must rely on Leech Seed or Wish support to regain health, as it lacks any other method of consistent recovery. Ferroseed is also greatly crippled if it loses its Eviolite via Knock Off or Trick. Lastly, due to its defensive nature and poor offensive presence, Ferroseed can be easily taken advantage of with Taunt or Substitute.
[SET]
name: Defensive Support
move 1: Spikes / Stealth Rock
move 2: Leech Seed
move 3: Protect / Thunder Wave
move 4: Gyro Ball / Seed Bomb
item: Eviolite
ability: Iron Barbs
nature: Relaxed / Impish
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Spikes damages grounded Pokemon as they switch in. Stealth Rock is an option if no other teammates have it. Leech Seed gradually drains the foe's health, providing Ferroseed with a method of recovery. Protect helps Ferroseed gain more recovery from Leech Seed and allows it to scout for coverage moves such as Hidden Power Fire and attacks from Choice-locked Pokemon. Thunder Wave can be used to cripple fast attackers such as Aerodactyl. Gyro Ball hits decently hard thanks to Ferroseed's low Speed and can pressure faster attackers such as Meloetta and Choice Scarf Tyrantrum. Seed Bomb can be used if a more consistent method of direct damage is desired in addition to hitting Water-types such as Samurott more effectively. Knock Off is also a good option to cripple Pokemon like Amoonguss and Sigilyph by removing their items. It should be noted that paralyzed foes take less damage from Gyro Ball, so running Thunder Wave and Gyro Ball together is rather counterproductive.
Set Details
========
A Relaxed nature with maximum HP and Defense EVs, and 0 Speed IVs maximize Ferroseed's bulk and allow it to take reduced damage from entry hazards while also increasing Gyro Ball's power. If Seed Bomb or Knock Off is chosen over Gyro Ball, an Impish nature with maximum Speed IVs is more effective. Iron Barbs wears down the foe every time it uses a contact move, which works well in conjunction with Leech Seed. Eviolite greatly increases Ferroseed's bulk, making it much harder to KO.
Usage Tips
========
Ferroseed's typing is its greatest asset, allowing it to force out common attackers that can't damage it thoroughly such as Tyrantrum and Aerodactyl, which gives it an opportunity to set up entry hazards or cripple its foes with Thunder Wave. Leech Seed is also useful for putting a timer on most setup sweepers, as it forces them out most of the time, giving Ferroseed even more opportunities to set up entry hazards. Protect can be used to provide an extra turn of Leech Seed recovery and scout for possible coverage moves and Choice-locked Pokemon such as Exploud; it shouldn't be relied on, however, as the foe can set up on the turn Ferroseed uses Protect. Avoid Knock Off at all costs, as losing its Eviolite greatly neuters Ferroseed's defensive capabilities. Iron Barbs punishes the foe for trying to remove the entry hazards that Ferroseed has set up with Rapid Spin. As a bonus, if the foe faints from Iron Barbs recoil after using Rapid Spin, all entry hazards will remain on the field.
Team Options
========
Bulky Water-types are great overall partners for Ferroseed due to their resistance to Fire-type moves. Alomomola provides Wish support for Ferroseed, while Ferroseed provides a useful resistance to Grass-type attacks in return. Slowking and Jellicent can switch into both Fire- and Fighting-type moves, although neither of them can switch into Knock Off. Diancie can also switch into Fire-type moves for Ferroseed as well as providing Stealth Rock and cleric support. Ghost-types such as Jellicent and Rotom are helpful for spinblocking and switching into Fighting-type attacks. Wish support from Alomomola and Aromatisse, the latter of which can also provide cleric support, is quite appreciated, as Leech Seed is a rather unreliable method of recovery. Fighting-type checks such as Slowking and Granbull are also appreciated to alleviate the pressure that Fighting-types put on Ferroseed. Mega Camerupt can switch into Knock Off and Fire-type attacks to an extent for Ferroseed, while in return, Ferroseed switches into Water-type attacks.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Due to Ferroseed's rather limited movepool and defensive nature, it doesn't have much else to work with. Toxic can be used to hit Pokemon like Flygon that would otherwise freely remove entry hazards, but Ferroseed's other moves are too important to pass up.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fire-types**: Fire-types such as Houndoom, Mega Camerupt, and Emboar can easily switch into Ferroseed's attacks and threaten it with their powerful Fire-type moves, although none of them appreciate switching into Thunder Wave, save for Mega Camerupt, or Leech Seed, and Emboar is quickly worn down by Iron Barbs and Flare Blitz recoil.
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types such as Hitmonlee, Virizion, and Medicham threaten Ferroseed with their powerful Fighting-type moves. It should be noted, however, that none of these Pokemon except Lum Berry Virizion can switch into Thunder Wave or Leech Seed.
**Taunt Users**: Taunt prevents Ferroseed from using its supporting moves, rendering it nigh useless. Taunt users are scarce in RU, however.
**Flygon**: Flygon can reliably remove all entry hazards Ferroseed sets up with Defog, is immune to Thunder Wave, and can threaten it with Fire Blast.
**Knock Off Users**: Ferroseed hates losing its Eviolite at the hands of Knock Off users such as Absol and Scrafty, as this drastically reduces its bulk.
**Magneton**: Magneton can easily switch into Ferroseed, as it resists all of its attacks, is immune to Thunder Wave, and can trap it with Magnet Pull; it can then OHKO Ferroseed with Hidden Power Fire.
**Electric-types with Fire-type Coverage**: Eelektross and Manectric take little damage from Gyro Ball, are immune to Thunder Wave, with Manectric even receiving a Special Attack boost upon switching into it, and can OHKO Ferroseed with Flamethrower or, in Manectric's case, Overheat.
**Tangrowth**: Tangrowth takes little damage from Ferroseed's attacks, is immune to Leech Seed, and mitigates entry hazard damage with Regenerator; it can then force out Ferroseed with Focus Blast or Hidden Power Fire or cripple it with Knock Off.
Last edited: