sanguine
friendly fire
[OVERVIEW]
A good defensive typing and above average bulk when holding Eviolite give Ferroseed a small niche as a check to prominent threats such as Primarina, Latias, Grassium Z Celebi, and Mega Altaria as well as a setter of Stealth Rock or Spikes. Additionally, Iron Barbs is a good situational ability, giving Ferroseed the ability to punish certain physical attackers such as Mimikyu and spinners like Starmie. Moreover, Ferroseed can use its ability along with moves like Leech Seed and Toxic to reliably rack up chip damage on opposing teams. However, Ferroseed's reliance on Eviolite means the omnipresent Knock Off and the less common Trick from Pokemon like Bisharp and Togekiss must always be accounted for. Ferroseed additionally has a subpar matchup against common entry hazard removers like Rotom-H and Gligar, and its weaknesses to Fighting- and Fire-type moves leave it forced out by common threats like Moltres and Terrakion and susceptible to coverage moves on the Pokemon it is supposed to check like Fire Blast on Mega Altaria.This is further compounded by Ferroseed's lacking damage output, making it vulnerable to common Taunt users such as Hydreigon and Krookodile and common setup users like Cobalion. Ferroseed also faces competition from other defensive Grass-types like Amoonguss and Chesnaught, as they have more reliable forms of recovery and check more threats. Roserade and Chesnaught in particular can set Spikes like Ferroseed. Finally, Ferroseed's lack of reliable recovery outside of Leech Seed often leaves it easily worn down, hampering its ability to check the threats it's supposed to check, especially if there is an opposing Grass-type to potentially absorb Leech Seed.
[SET]
name: Bulky Entry Hazard Setter
move 1: Stealth Rock / Spikes
move 2: Gyro Ball
move 3: Leech Seed
move 4: Toxic / Protect
item: Eviolite
ability: Iron Barbs
nature: Sassy
ivs: 0 Spe
evs: 252 HP / 80 Def / 176 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock or Spikes is mandatory, giving Ferroseed the ability to utilize its above average bulk to set the entry hazard and support teammates. Gyro Ball is Ferroseed's main attack, taking advantage of its poor Speed stat in order to take on the likes of Mega Altaria and Mega Aerodactyl and discourage prominent threats such as Terrakion and Choice Scarf Hydreigon from directly switching in. Leech Seed is mandatory as Ferroseed's only form of recovery, allowing it to stay healthy over the course of long games. Toxic lets Ferroseed take on Celebi and Latias and also punishes common switch-ins such as Rotom-H, making it the best option in the majority of scenarios. Protect can be useful, however, to scout the likes of Choice Scarf Krookodile and Choice Band Terrakion and gain extra Leech Seed recovery.
Set Details
========
Eviolite is mandatory, giving Ferroseed the bulk it needs to take on metagame staples like Primarina. The given HP and Special Defense investment lets Ferroseed avoid a 4HKO from Choice Specs Primarina's Hydro Pump, with the remaining EVs placed into Defense in order to improve its survivability against weaker physical attackers. A Sassy nature and 0 Speed IVs provide the strongest possible Gyro Ball. Iron Barbs is Ferroseed's only ability, punishing common Rapid Spin users such as Starmie.
Usage Tips
========
Ferroseed's bulk and typing give it good matchups against threats like Primarina and Latias, forcing them to switch out. Use these switches as an opportunity to set entry hazards. However, before sending in Ferroseed, scout for coverage moves such as Hidden Power Fire on Latias and Fire Blast on Mega Altaria. The combination of Gyro Ball and Toxic is nearly mandatory for taking on the likes of Latias, Grassium Z Celebi, and Choice Specs Primarina, so prioritize landing Toxic on these threats before doing anything else. Protect should be used to scout out Knock Off and Trick users like Krookodile and Togekiss, which is important due to Ferroseed's reliance on Eviolite to check foes. It can also help Ferroseed scout for Choice item users with super effective coverage like Choice Scarf Infernape, as well as get a free turn of Leech Seed. Do not let Ferroseed stay in for too long, as its reliance on status moves for damage can often give openings to setup sweepers like Nasty Plot Infernape. If entry hazards are up, however, using Leech Seed is a semi-reliable option to recover HP while also chipping away at switch-ins. Still, Ferroseed's reliance on Leech Seed means one should focus on using it to check only one or two threats at most in order to avoid overstretching your limited resources and losing too much momentum. Lastly, Iron Barbs should be used to deter Rapid Spin as well as punishing weaker U-turns from foes like Gligar and defensive Celebi.
Team Options
========
Ferroseed fits best on bulky offense and balance teams looking for an entry hazard setter and answer to common threats like Choice Specs Primarina and Mega Altaria. Knock Off switch-ins are a necessity when using Ferroseed, so Fairy-types like Sylveon and defensive Primarina make for good partners. Sylveon and Florges in particular work well, as they can heal Ferroseed with Wish. Additionally, Heal Bell support from teammates such as Sylveon, Florges, Blissey, and Mega Altaria is helpful to keep Ferroseed healthy throughout a match. Fire- and Fighting-type checks such as Latias and Tentacruel are also necessities when using Ferroseed, as they can take on common switch-ins like Cobalion. Strong wallbreakers that can take advantage of entry hazards set by Ferroseed, like Nidoking, are good complements as well. Hydreigon in particular appreciates Ferroseed checking Fairy-types and Latias for it, making it a good option. Ghost-types like Mimikyu and Gengar can also take advantage of entry hazards while also blocking Rapid Spin from users Ferroseed cannot check safely, like Tentacruel. If using Spikes, an offensive Stealth Rock user is necessary in order to stop Defog and Rapid Spin users from removing entry hazards, as Ferroseed's lackluster matchups versus common removers like Empoleon, Mew, and Tentacruel mean it will struggle to keep Spikes up without support. Krookodile is a good example of this, as it can also use Taunt to prevent the use of Defog. Physical walls like Slowbro form defensive good cores with Ferroseed, as Ferroseed can deal with a lot of threatening special attackers that they cannot, like Primarina and Starmie. Checks to Scizor, like Tentacruel and Rotom-H, are good partners as well. Rock-types such as Terrakion and Rhyperior can take on Rotom-H and free up Ferroseed to run Spikes. Infernape is a very good teammate, taking advantage of the entry hazards set by Ferroseed, while Ferroseed can answer common checks to Infernape like Primarina and Latias.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Knock Off is a plausible option in the fourth moveslot to remove items from switch-ins, but it does not provide enough utility compared to the moves listed on the set. Similarly, Thunder Wave is an option over Toxic, but being left completely susceptible to threats like Rotom-H and Krookodile is inadvisable.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Knock Off and Trick Users**: Ferroseed's reliance on Eviolite for a significant portion of its bulk means that Knock Off and Trick users like Krookodile, Tentacruel, and Latias can severely cripple it.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types like Infernape and Rotom-H shrug off anything Ferroseed can throw at them and force it out with the threat of their STAB moves. Defog Moltres and Rotom-H in particular are extraordinarily troublesome, as they can easily Defog away any entry hazards set by Ferroseed, but they should still watch out for Toxic.
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types like Terrakion and Bewear can easily come in on Ferroseed and OHKO it. Additionally, these threats often have setup moves, punishing Ferroseed for coming out in the first place, although the former should be mindful of Gyro Ball. Lucario and Cobalion in particular are immune to Toxic, making them especially notable checks.
**Grass-types**: Ferroseed's reliance on Leech Seed means Grass-types like Chesnaught, Amoonguss, and Tsareena can easily come in on it and prevent it from recovering health. Roserade in particular can come in on most of its moves and force it out with the threat of Hidden Power Fire, even though it must watch out for Gyro Ball. Ferroseed's poor matchup against opposing Grass-types is further exacerbated by the fact that Chesnaught and Roserade can use Ferroseed to get a free turn to set Spikes as it switches out, while Tsareena can remove any entry hazards set by Ferroseed with Rapid Spin.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types such as Mega Steelix and Bisharp can easily come in on Ferroseed due to their immunity to Toxic and resistance to Gyro Ball and force it out with their strong physical attacks. Additionally, the likes of Scizor and Doublade can also use Ferroseed as setup fodder, and Roost Scizor in particular does not care about Leech Seed. Magneton is another notable threat, as it essentially comes in for free on Ferroseed, traps it with Magnet Pull, and OHKOes it with Hidden Power Fire. Leech Seed is problematic for all of these Pokemon bar Magneton and Roost Scizor, however, as their lack of recovery can mean the chip damage could leave them in KO range of Ferroseed's teammates later in the match.
**Setup Sweepers**: Setup users like Psychium Z Celebi and Suicune can easily use Ferroseed as setup fodder due to its low damage output.
**Taunt Users**: Ferroseed's abysmal Speed and damage output leave it vulnerable to common Taunt users like Cobalion and Krookodile.
**Strong Wallbreakers**: Strong wallbreakers like Gengar, Choice Band Crawdaunt, and Life Orb Hydreigon can quite easily muscle past Ferroseed regardless of Eviolite.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[faded love, 241308]]
- Quality checked by: [[Twilight, 344575], [Hilomilo, 313384], [Nuked, 382658]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Empress, 175616], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
A good defensive typing and above average bulk when holding Eviolite give Ferroseed a small niche as a check to prominent threats such as Primarina, Latias, Grassium Z Celebi, and Mega Altaria as well as a setter of Stealth Rock or Spikes. Additionally, Iron Barbs is a good situational ability, giving Ferroseed the ability to punish certain physical attackers such as Mimikyu and spinners like Starmie. Moreover, Ferroseed can use its ability along with moves like Leech Seed and Toxic to reliably rack up chip damage on opposing teams. However, Ferroseed's reliance on Eviolite means the omnipresent Knock Off and the less common Trick from Pokemon like Bisharp and Togekiss must always be accounted for. Ferroseed additionally has a subpar matchup against common entry hazard removers like Rotom-H and Gligar, and its weaknesses to Fighting- and Fire-type moves leave it forced out by common threats like Moltres and Terrakion and susceptible to coverage moves on the Pokemon it is supposed to check like Fire Blast on Mega Altaria.This is further compounded by Ferroseed's lacking damage output, making it vulnerable to common Taunt users such as Hydreigon and Krookodile and common setup users like Cobalion. Ferroseed also faces competition from other defensive Grass-types like Amoonguss and Chesnaught, as they have more reliable forms of recovery and check more threats. Roserade and Chesnaught in particular can set Spikes like Ferroseed. Finally, Ferroseed's lack of reliable recovery outside of Leech Seed often leaves it easily worn down, hampering its ability to check the threats it's supposed to check, especially if there is an opposing Grass-type to potentially absorb Leech Seed.
[SET]
name: Bulky Entry Hazard Setter
move 1: Stealth Rock / Spikes
move 2: Gyro Ball
move 3: Leech Seed
move 4: Toxic / Protect
item: Eviolite
ability: Iron Barbs
nature: Sassy
ivs: 0 Spe
evs: 252 HP / 80 Def / 176 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock or Spikes is mandatory, giving Ferroseed the ability to utilize its above average bulk to set the entry hazard and support teammates. Gyro Ball is Ferroseed's main attack, taking advantage of its poor Speed stat in order to take on the likes of Mega Altaria and Mega Aerodactyl and discourage prominent threats such as Terrakion and Choice Scarf Hydreigon from directly switching in. Leech Seed is mandatory as Ferroseed's only form of recovery, allowing it to stay healthy over the course of long games. Toxic lets Ferroseed take on Celebi and Latias and also punishes common switch-ins such as Rotom-H, making it the best option in the majority of scenarios. Protect can be useful, however, to scout the likes of Choice Scarf Krookodile and Choice Band Terrakion and gain extra Leech Seed recovery.
Set Details
========
Eviolite is mandatory, giving Ferroseed the bulk it needs to take on metagame staples like Primarina. The given HP and Special Defense investment lets Ferroseed avoid a 4HKO from Choice Specs Primarina's Hydro Pump, with the remaining EVs placed into Defense in order to improve its survivability against weaker physical attackers. A Sassy nature and 0 Speed IVs provide the strongest possible Gyro Ball. Iron Barbs is Ferroseed's only ability, punishing common Rapid Spin users such as Starmie.
Usage Tips
========
Ferroseed's bulk and typing give it good matchups against threats like Primarina and Latias, forcing them to switch out. Use these switches as an opportunity to set entry hazards. However, before sending in Ferroseed, scout for coverage moves such as Hidden Power Fire on Latias and Fire Blast on Mega Altaria. The combination of Gyro Ball and Toxic is nearly mandatory for taking on the likes of Latias, Grassium Z Celebi, and Choice Specs Primarina, so prioritize landing Toxic on these threats before doing anything else. Protect should be used to scout out Knock Off and Trick users like Krookodile and Togekiss, which is important due to Ferroseed's reliance on Eviolite to check foes. It can also help Ferroseed scout for Choice item users with super effective coverage like Choice Scarf Infernape, as well as get a free turn of Leech Seed. Do not let Ferroseed stay in for too long, as its reliance on status moves for damage can often give openings to setup sweepers like Nasty Plot Infernape. If entry hazards are up, however, using Leech Seed is a semi-reliable option to recover HP while also chipping away at switch-ins. Still, Ferroseed's reliance on Leech Seed means one should focus on using it to check only one or two threats at most in order to avoid overstretching your limited resources and losing too much momentum. Lastly, Iron Barbs should be used to deter Rapid Spin as well as punishing weaker U-turns from foes like Gligar and defensive Celebi.
Team Options
========
Ferroseed fits best on bulky offense and balance teams looking for an entry hazard setter and answer to common threats like Choice Specs Primarina and Mega Altaria. Knock Off switch-ins are a necessity when using Ferroseed, so Fairy-types like Sylveon and defensive Primarina make for good partners. Sylveon and Florges in particular work well, as they can heal Ferroseed with Wish. Additionally, Heal Bell support from teammates such as Sylveon, Florges, Blissey, and Mega Altaria is helpful to keep Ferroseed healthy throughout a match. Fire- and Fighting-type checks such as Latias and Tentacruel are also necessities when using Ferroseed, as they can take on common switch-ins like Cobalion. Strong wallbreakers that can take advantage of entry hazards set by Ferroseed, like Nidoking, are good complements as well. Hydreigon in particular appreciates Ferroseed checking Fairy-types and Latias for it, making it a good option. Ghost-types like Mimikyu and Gengar can also take advantage of entry hazards while also blocking Rapid Spin from users Ferroseed cannot check safely, like Tentacruel. If using Spikes, an offensive Stealth Rock user is necessary in order to stop Defog and Rapid Spin users from removing entry hazards, as Ferroseed's lackluster matchups versus common removers like Empoleon, Mew, and Tentacruel mean it will struggle to keep Spikes up without support. Krookodile is a good example of this, as it can also use Taunt to prevent the use of Defog. Physical walls like Slowbro form defensive good cores with Ferroseed, as Ferroseed can deal with a lot of threatening special attackers that they cannot, like Primarina and Starmie. Checks to Scizor, like Tentacruel and Rotom-H, are good partners as well. Rock-types such as Terrakion and Rhyperior can take on Rotom-H and free up Ferroseed to run Spikes. Infernape is a very good teammate, taking advantage of the entry hazards set by Ferroseed, while Ferroseed can answer common checks to Infernape like Primarina and Latias.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Knock Off is a plausible option in the fourth moveslot to remove items from switch-ins, but it does not provide enough utility compared to the moves listed on the set. Similarly, Thunder Wave is an option over Toxic, but being left completely susceptible to threats like Rotom-H and Krookodile is inadvisable.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Knock Off and Trick Users**: Ferroseed's reliance on Eviolite for a significant portion of its bulk means that Knock Off and Trick users like Krookodile, Tentacruel, and Latias can severely cripple it.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types like Infernape and Rotom-H shrug off anything Ferroseed can throw at them and force it out with the threat of their STAB moves. Defog Moltres and Rotom-H in particular are extraordinarily troublesome, as they can easily Defog away any entry hazards set by Ferroseed, but they should still watch out for Toxic.
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types like Terrakion and Bewear can easily come in on Ferroseed and OHKO it. Additionally, these threats often have setup moves, punishing Ferroseed for coming out in the first place, although the former should be mindful of Gyro Ball. Lucario and Cobalion in particular are immune to Toxic, making them especially notable checks.
**Grass-types**: Ferroseed's reliance on Leech Seed means Grass-types like Chesnaught, Amoonguss, and Tsareena can easily come in on it and prevent it from recovering health. Roserade in particular can come in on most of its moves and force it out with the threat of Hidden Power Fire, even though it must watch out for Gyro Ball. Ferroseed's poor matchup against opposing Grass-types is further exacerbated by the fact that Chesnaught and Roserade can use Ferroseed to get a free turn to set Spikes as it switches out, while Tsareena can remove any entry hazards set by Ferroseed with Rapid Spin.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types such as Mega Steelix and Bisharp can easily come in on Ferroseed due to their immunity to Toxic and resistance to Gyro Ball and force it out with their strong physical attacks. Additionally, the likes of Scizor and Doublade can also use Ferroseed as setup fodder, and Roost Scizor in particular does not care about Leech Seed. Magneton is another notable threat, as it essentially comes in for free on Ferroseed, traps it with Magnet Pull, and OHKOes it with Hidden Power Fire. Leech Seed is problematic for all of these Pokemon bar Magneton and Roost Scizor, however, as their lack of recovery can mean the chip damage could leave them in KO range of Ferroseed's teammates later in the match.
**Setup Sweepers**: Setup users like Psychium Z Celebi and Suicune can easily use Ferroseed as setup fodder due to its low damage output.
**Taunt Users**: Ferroseed's abysmal Speed and damage output leave it vulnerable to common Taunt users like Cobalion and Krookodile.
**Strong Wallbreakers**: Strong wallbreakers like Gengar, Choice Band Crawdaunt, and Life Orb Hydreigon can quite easily muscle past Ferroseed regardless of Eviolite.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[faded love, 241308]]
- Quality checked by: [[Twilight, 344575], [Hilomilo, 313384], [Nuked, 382658]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Empress, 175616], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
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