Amoonguss Movesets & Competitive Sets

Spore shuts down Pokemon such as Moltres and Scizor, deterring them from wanting to pivot into it. This often requires an opposing team to use a Pokemon as sleep fodder, making it easier for Amoonguss's teammates to capitalize on. Stun Spore is an option that can be run over Spore to potentially cripple Pokemon like Celesteela, Cobalion, and Nihilego that would otherwise wall it once a Pokemon has been slept. It can also be used more often due to Sleep Clause. Giga Drain heavily damages Rotom-W and Keldeo, which Amoonguss naturally checks by virtue of its typing and bulk. It also enables Amoonguss to regain some HP, reducing the need for it to continually pivot for Regenerator recovery. Alternatively, Synthesis can be run to instantly regain health, though its low PP should be noticed, and Hippowdon's sand can limit the amount of health recovered by it. Sludge Bomb threatens Primarina, Zarude, and Azumarill. It is also useful for the chance to poison switch-ins such as Salamence and Mandibuzz. Foul Play dents physical attackers such as Gyarados and Scizor and prevents them from setting up on Amoonguss, and it is also Amoonguss's best way to damage other Steel-types such as Jirachi. Rocky Helmet punishes physical attackers Amoonguss switches into such as Azumarill and Zarude. Black Sludge is an alternative option that reduces Amoonguss's reliance on switching out to regain HP with Regenerator. Eject Button can be run so Amoonguss can pivot into a foe, take a hit, and bring in a teammate safely. 36 Special Defense EVs guarantee that Amoonguss can take a Choice Specs-boosted Psychic from Primarina as well as better check Keldeo. Amoonguss fits best on bulky offense, balance, and stall teams that appreciate its ability to blanket check dangerous metagame staples such as Tangrowth and Primarina. Chansey can take on special attackers like Nidoking, Moltres, and Salamence that can overwhelm Amoonguss. Checks to Moltres and Salamence, such as Hippowdon and Primarina, are useful partners that can switch into them and force it out. They also can take on Cobalion after Spore has been burned. Krookodile and Mandibuzz can check Psychic-types like Galarian Slowbro and Azelf. Mandibuzz also helps Amoonguss not get overwhelmed by Zygarde-10%. Slower wallbreakers like Conkeldurr appreciate Salamence and Skarmory being crippled by Stun Spore. Amoonguss is heavily threatened by Fire-types such as Moltres and Rotom-H, so checks to these such as Slowking and Swampert make good partners. Amoonguss is vulnerable to Stealth Rock and Spikes chip damage, and gives free opportunities for Pokemon such as Nihilego and Skarmory to set these after Spore has been used, so entry hazard removal support from partners such as Salamence and Excadrill enables it to switch in more often and prevents entry hazards from cancelling out its Regenerator recovery.

Amoonguss's good bulk and good utility make it a great support Pokemon with the tools to deal with the majority of the metagame. Clear Smog resets the boosts of Geomancy Xerneas and Cosmic Power Eternatus. Amoonguss will always carry Rage Powder, redirecting powerful attacks such as Zacian's Behemoth Blade and Regieleki's Thunder away from its common allies like Xerneas and Kyogre. Spore is used to disrupt the enemy team with sleep while also breaking Trick Room setups. Other options are Pollen Puff to heal your own Pokemon and Grass Knot to hit Groudon and Kyogre hard. Amoonguss will usually carry a Mental Herb to shake off Taunt from threats such as Whimsicott, Tornadus, and Incineroar, but it can also run an Occa Berry to survive Groudon's Heat Crash, Volcarona's Overheat, and Incineroar's Flare Blitz and put them to sleep in return. Regenerator provides Amoonguss longevity, while its EV spread makes it survive a +1 Behemoth Blade from Zacian-C and a Hurricane from Tornadus, although it can never survive a Calyrex-S Expanding Force. Unfortunately, Amoonguss's low offensive presence makes it rely heavily on its partners to deal significant damage. This makes Volcarona and Rillaboom often preferred over it. Amoonguss is a great partner for Zacian-C and Xerneas, since both Pokemon appreciate its redirection and support for setting up or preserving their health. Kyogre is another good option, since its rain weakens Fire-type moves. Fire-types such as Entei and Incineroar are also appreciated, since they can power through opposing Grass-types like Rillaboom and Tsareena easily, which can disrupt Amoonguss because they're immune to Rage Powder and Spore. Landorus, Palkia, and Urshifu-R are other good allies to KO opposing Fire-type Pokemon such as Incineroar and Volcarona.

Spore is an incredibly powerful move in VGC 2022 due to its ability to incapacitate an opponent's Dynamaxed or Restricted Pokemon for multiple turns, which can massively swing the momentum of battles. Rage Powder is a staple move in Doubles, allowing Amoonguss to use its high bulk to shield its partner from attacks. Pollen Puff heals allies, which is especially effective when opposing Pokemon are asleep. Pollen Puff also ensures that Amoonguss isn't completely neutralized by Taunt, breaks potential Focus Sashes, and chips in for small amounts of damage. However, teams that have difficulty dealing with bulky Water-type Pokemon like Gastrodon may opt to use Giga Drain to chunk them down and provide some recovery to Amoonguss. Coba Berry is Amoonguss's primary item due to the ubiquity of Max Airstream in VGC 2022, allowing it to survive the move from Pokemon like Landorus-T and Thundurus and put them to sleep or provide further Rage Powder support for its allies. Alternatively, Focus Sash trades the ability to potentially survive multiple other attacks after a Max Airstream for the ability to survive a plethora of super effective Max Moves and other powerful moves such as Expanding Force from Calyrex-S. The given EV spread allows Amoonguss to always survive a Behemoth Blade from maximum Attack Zacian-C, with the rest of the EVs being used to maximize Special Defense. 27 Speed IVs ensure that Amoonguss is slower than minimum Speed Calyrex-I, allowing Amoonguss to move before it under Trick Room and use Spore while also allowing Amoonguss to outspeed and use Spore on Torkoal outside of Trick Room.

Spore allows Amoonguss to cripples many Pokemon to give teammates chances to come in. Sludge Bomb synergizes well with Spore, since it targets Pokemon immune to Spore like the Guardian Deities. Foul Play checks physical attackers like Bisharp and Dragapult that could try using it as setup fodder. Heavy-Duty Boots is used to help with durability, since Grass teams don't run entry hazard removal; however, Black Sludge is an alternative. All of Amoonguss's teammates, especially its offensive teammates in Zarude and Rillaboom, appreciate its Spore to give them opportunities to come in and ability to absorb Toxic Spikes. Amoonguss forms a defensive core alongside Ferrothorn and Cradily, and both notably can check Ice-types like Kyurem and Alolan Ninetales and provide entry hazard support. Ferrothorn's typing allows it to check Psychic-, Dragon-, and Flying-types such as Tapu Lele, Dragapult, and Dragonite. It also has utilities like Thunder Wave, Toxic, and Knock Off to cripple defensive Pokemon like opposing Ferrothorn and Skarmory that Amoonguss relies on teammates to get rid of. Cradily checks special attackers like Zapdos, Volcarona, and Heatran and Substitute users like Hydreigon, Galarian Moltres, and Togekiss with Rock Blast. Whimsicott checks Fighting-, Dragon-, and Dark-types like Guts Heracross, Dragonite, and Mandibuzz along with Substitute users like Galarian Moltres and Kommo-o. Zarude and Rillaboom gets rid of defensive Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Aegislash thanks to their Fighting + Dark coverage. Zarude checks Psychic-types like Latios and Tapu Lele thanks to its Dark typing, while Rillaboom revenge kills threats like Nihilego, Alolan Ninetales, and Mamoswine for Amoonguss. Zarude notably appreciates Amoonguss's ability to check Fairy- and Fighting-types like Tapu Bulu and Buzzwole.

Amoonguss is a fantastic defensive pivot for Poison teams thanks to Regenerator and its Grass typing, allowing it to take neutral damage from Ground-type attacks and switch into attacks such as Choice Scarf Excadrill's Earthquake even with Stealth Rock up. Spore allows Amoonguss to put threats such as Diggersby and Excadrill to sleep and avoid becoming set up bait against setup sweepers such as Bisharp. Giga Drain allows Amoonguss to target Ground- and Water-type Pokemon such as Hippowdon, Krookodile, Seismitoad, and Keldeo. Foul Play allows Amoonguss to punish physical setup sweepers such as Swords Dance Scizor and Pokemon weak to Dark such as Dragapult. Stomping Tantrum is an option to punish Salazzle, a pain to face for Poison teams, but it is not good in any other matchup. Synthesis gives Amoonguss a reliable form of recovery and also allows it to switch into Choice Scarf Excadrill through the match continually. Black Sludge gives Amoonguss a form of passive recovery, and Regenerator allows Amoonguss to excel as a defensive pivot. Its EVs and Bold nature allow Amoonguss to avoid a 2HKO from physical attacks such as Choice Scarf Excadrill's Earthquake after Stealth Rock damage. Toxapex and Amoonguss form the Regenerator core on Poison teams. Toxapex also provides Amoonguss with a switch-in to Fire- and Ice-type attacks from Pokemon such as Charizard and Weavile. In return, Amoonguss can tank Electric-type attacks for Toxapex, such as Zeraora's Plasma Fists. Galarian Weezing can switch into powerful Dragon-type attacks for Amoonguss, such as Hydreigon's Draco Meteor. Galarian Weezing also switches into Ground-type attacks that Amoonguss cannot, such as Choice Band Diggersby's Earthquake, as well as cripple physical attackers such as Terrakion with Will-O-Wisp. Skuntank provides a switch-in to Psychic-type attacks and can check dangerous threats to Amoonguss with Sucker Punch, such as Alolan Raichu and Dragapult. Both can also clear entry hazards for Amoonguss with Defog. Amoonguss can put foes to sleep for Gengar with Spore, allowing Gengar to break through the opposing team more easily. Gengar can, in return, cripple walls for Amoonguss like Toxapex by using Trick, making them near deadweight. Salazzle keeps faster foes in check and can check Pokemon such as Excadrill with Flamethrower, taking the burden off Amoonguss to switch into its Earthquake. Salazzle can also significantly improve the Poison- and Steel-type matchup by crippling foes such as Corviknight and Toxapex with Toxic thanks to its ability Corrosion. Scolipede is a powerful setup sweeper that can break through walls such as Chansey with Megahorn and threaten Psychic teams very effectively thanks to Speed Boost and its ability to OHKO or 2HKO all Psychic-type Pokemon. While not incredibly viable, Toxtricity can take on Flying-type Pokemon such as Corviknight, Mantine, and Mandibuzz with Overdrive, which otherwise wall Amoonguss.

Sludge Bomb is Amoonguss's primary offensive option, hitting Tapu Fini as well as Grass-types like Rillaboom, which are immune to Spore. Protect can be used instead to scout for moves such as Choice Scarf Genesect locking into Ice Beam, but this leaves Amoonguss quite passive. Pollen Puff heals Amoonguss's partner. Rage Powder keeps partners safe from attacks and is most effective when used alongside setup Pokemon, or while setting field conditions such as Trick Room and Tailwind. Besides critically putting foes out of action, Spore helps ensure Amoonguss is not too passive while on the field. Sitrus Berry complements Amoonguss's bulk, turning many would-be 2HKOs into 3HKOs instead, such as Ice Beam from non-Life Orb Kyurem-B. Regenerator also helps Amoonguss's longevity on switching out, which can let it give future utility even when at low health. The given EV spread and nature, combined with Sitrus Berry, allow Amoonguss to live two Heat Waves from Volcanion, with the remaining EVs placed in Defense. 28 Speed IVs let it underspeed Diancie to move first under Trick Room while still being able to outspeed foes with the help of speed control.

Amoonguss is a bulky special wall that is hard to wear down thanks to Regenerator. It is capable of checking dangerous threats such as Ash-Greninja, Clefable, and Tapu Koko. Spore is capable of almost guaranteeing putting a non-Grass-type foe out of commission via sleep. This is especially effective considering most Grass-types, as well as the sleep blocking Tapu Fini, cannot safely switch into Amoonguss. This also makes Pokemon that would otherwise be able to absorb Sludge Bomb easily, such as Corviknight and Toxapex, hesitant to switch in due to the threat of Spore. Hidden Power Fire hits Kartana and Ferrothorn while also applying some chip to other Steel-types, such as Mega Scizor, Magnezone, and Mega Mawile. Clear Smog can be used over Sludge Bomb to shut down setup attempts from Calm Mind Clefable, Calm Mind Tapu Fini, Swords Dance Gliscor, and a reckless Manaphy, but Sludge Bomb's poison chance and ability to apply more damage to Rillaboom, Tangrowth, and Serperior makes it the preferred option. 56 Defense EVs allow Amoonguss to tank a +2 Smart Strike from Kartana and a +2 Life Orb Knock Off from Rillaboom. 204 Special Defense EVs and a Calm nature allow Amoonguss to tank two Dark Pulses from a transformed Ash-Greninja if at full health. Regenerator is the preferred ability, as it allows Amoonguss to regain health every time it switches out, therefore letting it pivot into threats such as Ash-Greninja, Tapu Koko, and Zeraora consistently. Amoonguss is bait for most of the metagame's Fire-types, especially if Spore has already been used. Water-types such as Slowking and Tapu Fini are capable of checking the very threatening Heatran, while a bulky Dragon-type such as Garchomp or Kommo-o can help out against Mega Charizard Y and Volcarona. The aforementioned Water-types appreciate Amoonguss checking Electric-types such as Tapu Koko, Magnezone, and Zeraora, while the Dragon-types appreciate Amoonguss dealing with Fairy-types such as Clefable and Tapu Fini. Slowking also appreciates Amoonguss checking Ash-Greninja, while the two of them can work together to form a Regenerator core that is tough to break. A Ground-type, such as Landorus-T, Garchomp, or Gliscor, can also prevent Amoonguss from being pivoted on by Volt Switch by the aforementioned Electric-types. A Dark-resistant Pokemon, such as Clefable or Mega Tyranitar, can also help Amoonguss pivot around Ash-Greninja effectively. Amoonguss is a Grass-type that is incapable of properly checking Ground-types, such as Landorus-T, Garchomp, and Gliscor, as well as Rillaboom. A bulky Flying-type, most notably Corviknight, can help out with this, as can a powerful offensive Ice-type, such as Weavile or Kyurem. Corviknight can also help out Amoonguss against Psychic-types such as Tapu Lele and Mega Latias.

Moves Spore is one of the main reasons to use Amoonguss, putting anything that isn't a Grass-type to sleep. Giga Drain is a consistent STAB move that also gets Amoonguss some health back. Hidden Power Fire is used to hit Steel-types such as Scizor and Cobalion, which otherwise completely wall Amoonguss. Sludge Bomb hits Celebi, Togekiss, and Primarina for more damage, the former two of which otherwise use Amoonguss as setup fodder. Stun Spore can be used to paralyze an unsuspecting foe that thinks it's safe after Spore's been used. Another option is Foul Play, which can hit Pokemon such as Mega Beedrill and Mega Aerodactyl pretty hard. Set Details 252 HP EVs and 80 Special Defense EVs allow Amoonguss to avoid the 2HKO from Choice Specs Primarina's Hydro Pump after Stealth Rock and guarantee that it survives Mega Manectric's Overheat after Stealth Rock. The remaining EVs, alongside a Bold nature, are placed in Defense to allow Amoonguss to take physical attacks more easily. However, a Calm nature can be used to always survive Psychic from Choice Specs Primarina after Stealth Rock at the cost of some physical bulk. Regenerator allows Amoonguss to consistently check special attackers such as Primarina and Rotom-C. Rocky Helmet allows Amoonguss to wear down U-turn users like Scizor and Hydreigon, but Black Sludge can also be used for extra longevity. Usage Tips Switch Amoonguss into the Pokemon that it checks, such as Primarina, Mega Altaria, and Mega Blastoise, but be wary of coverage options. Spore is often a good move to go for to put an opposing Pokemon to sleep, but refrain from using it too early on so that you can put something more important to sleep later. Utilize Regenerator a lot so that you keep Amoonguss as high on health as possible, because Amoonguss needs to be at high HP to check Primarina, Zeraora, and Mega Altaria. Team Options Water-types such as Alomomola, Slowbro, Suicune, and Volcanion work well with Amoonguss, as they can check Fire-types while Amoonguss checks Grass- and Electric-types. Alomomola and Slowbro form a solid Regenerator core with Amoonguss, as they can check many of the physical attackers that can break past it. Entry hazard removers such as Latias and Scizor are also appreciated, as not having to take the chip damage is ideal to handle the special attackers that Amoonguss checks. Latias and Starmie make for good picks, as they both resist Fire. Pursuit trappers such as Scizor, Krookodile, and Mega Aerodactyl can make for good teammates, as they can remove the Psychic-types that threaten Amoonguss. Pokemon that appreciate the setup opportunities that Amoonguss gives with Spore, such as Swords Dance Cobalion, Calm Mind Latias, and Swords Dance Terrakion, pair well with it. Steel-types such as Cobalion, Scizor, and Klefki can also patch up Amoonguss's Ice and Psychic weaknesses, but they do share a weakness in Fire. If running Stun Spore, teammates that appreciate Latias being paralyzed, such as Nidoking, make for good teammates.

Rage Powder is a necessity for all Amoonguss sets and allows moves to be redirected towards its bulky self. Spore puts foes to sleep, which renders them temporarily useless. Due to Amoonguss's low speed, it severely punishes threats in Trick Room this way before they can act. Clear Smog does decent damage and also resets opposing Pokemon's stat changes to zero. This should be used against Belly Drum Snorlax or Competitive Milotic. Sludge Bomb chunks both Grass- and Fairy-types such as Ludicolo, the Tapu group, and Gardevoir. Giga Drain allows Amoonguss to recover health whilst doing solid damage. It also deals large chunks of damage to Milotic and Mega Swampert. Protect is a staple move in VGC and should be used to scout out for moves, defend Amoonguss, or allow an ally to remove a threat. The EVs combined with a Sassy nature allow Amoonguss to survive a sun-boosted Heat Wave from Mega Charizard Y and guarantees Landorus-T's Earthquake to deal less than 50% of damage. Wiki Berry maximizes recovery. However, if you do not want to risk it not being activated, you can go with a Sitrus Berry. An alternative, more physically bulky option to go with is available with a Relaxed nature and an EV spread of 244 HP / 196 Def / 68 SpD. These can be used to survive a non-Terrain-boosted Zen Headbutt from Mega Metagross. Tapu Koko and Tapu Fini are minor threats to Amoonguss, as their Terrains make Spore unusable against grounded Pokemon. However, Amoonguss does decent damage to Tapu Fini with both Sludge Bomb and Giga Drain, and it can redirect Electric-type moves from Tapu Koko and easily take them. Amoonguss forms a nice duo with Mega Kangaskhan and Tyranitar to defend them against incoming Fighting-type moves they are weak to. In addition to this, Tyranitar can safely set up with Dragon Dance with the assistance of redirection from Amoonguss. Amoonguss is a good lead, as it can be immediately threatening, and you shouldn't be overly concerned about it taking damage early-game, because its recovery tools will allow it to continue supporting its teammates late-game. You don't want to focus too much on recovery, because it is not very good if it remains as your last Pokemon. Sometimes sacrificing Amoonguss is alright if it saves its partner from a strong hit in doing so.

Moves Rage Powder allows Amoonguss to redirect single-target attacks from its allies. Using Spore, Amoonguss can put foes to sleep with 100% accuracy. Combined with Amoonguss's rock-bottom Speed, this lets it pose a significant threat to opposing Trick Room teams after Trick Room is set. Sludge Bomb is generally the preferred attacking move on Amoonguss, as it hits each of the four island guardians for respectable damage. Giga Drain is an alternative option, hitting prominent Water-types like Tapu Fini, Suicune, and Mega Swampert for decent damage while also providing another form of recovery to Amoonguss. Protect is generally used in the last slot, allowing Amoonguss to stall out a turn while its ally deals with any pressing threats on the battlefield. Set Details The given spread, combined with a Wiki Berry, a Sassy nature, and 0 Speed IVs, minimizes Amoonguss's Speed for optimal performance inside of Trick Room and allows it to take Landorus-T's Tectonic Rage. Regenerator is the preferred ability for Amoonguss, as it allows Amoonguss to recover a third of its HP every time it switches out. Usage Tips Amoonguss works well at almost any point in the game to provide redirection support for its allies or just serve as a bulky pivot that absorbs attacks in place of teammates that don't want to. When Electric and Misty Terrain are down, use Spore to immobilize the foes that are particularly threatening to your team. Keep in mind that even when the aforementioned Terrains are active, Spore can still be used on Flying-types and levitating Pokemon. Be wary of Grass-types, as they can ignore both Rage Powder and Spore. Regenerator gives Amoonguss plenty of opportunities to recover, so don't be afraid to pivot Amoonguss in on a neutral or resisted hit and definitely don't think twice about switching it out if it's in danger. Offensively, Amoonguss is very weak and passive, so don't keep it in when Terrains prevent sleep, or when redirection support isn't needed. Team Options Most ally Pokemon appreciate Amoonguss's ability to redirect attacks, but setup attackers like Zygarde, Tapu Fini, and Kommo-o especially appreciate Amoonguss's presence. Trick Room setters like Stakataka and Diancie have great synergy with Amoonguss, as Amoonguss helps the setters activate Trick Room while Amoonguss gets to move first once Trick Room is set. Out of the four island guardians, Tapu Lele is usually the best teammate for Amoonguss, as Psychic Terrain cancels out Electric and Misty Terrain, allowing Amoonguss to freely use Spore on its foes. Tapu Bulu is also able to reset sleep-cancelling Terrains, but it shares most of the same weaknesses Amoonguss has. Although less than ideal, Amoonguss is still capable of being on the same team as Tapu Koko and Tapu Fini; Amoonguss is redirection utility first and foremost, and it still does an excellent job at that when paired with them. Although Amoonguss is usually placed on teams to support allies and not be supported by them, it certainly appreciates teammates that can clear out the strong Flying-, Psychic-, Fire-, and Ice-type Pokemon that Amoonguss struggles with. Tyranitar stands out as a Pokemon that clears out all of the aforementioned threats, and in return Amoonguss can help it set up a Dragon Dance. Rain sweepers like Kingdra and Mega Swampert are adept at clearing out Fire-types with their STAB moves, Flying-types with Ice coverage, and Psychic-types with rain-boosted sheer force. Because Amoonguss is so passive offensively, try not to use too many other passive Pokemon besides Amoonguss on your team.

Amoonguss is an interesting alternative to Mega Venusaur, since it doesn't take up a Mega slot, has access to a better sleeping move in Spore, gets a great ability in Regenerator, and can use Foul Play to punish setup sweepers. However, its offensive presence is much lower than Mega Venusaur's, so it can only replace defensive variants.

Moves Spore puts the target to sleep and gives Amoonguss's ally leeway to set up or attack. Rage Powder redirects foes' attacks towards Amoonguss so its ally can attack or set up without getting hit unless it is a multi-hit attack. Giga Drain is a reliable STAB move which inflicts direct damage and helps against Water-types such as Rotom-W and Politoed. Protect keeps Amoonguss safe from its ally's spread attacks, buys time for Amoonguss to gain back some recovery from Black Sludge, and scouts attacks. Set Details Regenerator allows Amoonguss to heal back damage taken from attacks after using Rage Powder when it switches out, allowing it to switch in again later to rinse and repeat. Effect Spore is also an option if Amoonguss is primarily focusing on taking advantage of Rage Powder thereby giving Amoonguss's ally freedom to attack. However, Effect Spore is risky if Amoonguss goes for Spore a lot, as it could waste a turn if the foe gets paralyzed or poisoned because of it on the turn Amoonguss uses Spore. The given EVs allow for maximum overall bulk and a Calm nature allows Amoonguss to outspeed Pokemon that are equipped to operate in Trick Room while still being slow at the same time. A Sassy nature can be used instead, as it allows Amoonguss to minimize its Speed and therefore to go first against almost everything under Trick Room. Usage Tips Amoonguss is very useful early-game when it can switch in and out to regain health with Regenerator. If Amoonguss's ally is a Fake Out user, the procedure is to have it use Fake Out, have Amoonguss use Spore on the foe which wasn't hit by Fake Out, and have Amoonguss use Spore on the other foe the next turn. Rage Powder should be used when the ally wants to either set up or to receive protection from moves such as Will-O-Wisp or Thunder Wave. Effect Spore helps with Mega Kangaskhan, whose ability, Parental Bond, gives it double the chance of getting statused. Team Options Amoonguss works well with multiple Pokemon; however, it should avoid having an ally that is weak to Fire-type moves, such as Heat Wave. Kangaskhan is an amazing ally for Amoonguss, as its Fake Out lets Amoonguss use Spore with great comfort and Rage Powder prevents Fighting-type attacks, which Amoonguss resists, from hitting Mega Kangaskhan as it uses Power-Up Punch to raise its Attack by two stages. Rotom-W and Talonflame appreciate Amoonguss's ability to take Grass-, Electric-, and Water-type attacks for them. Trick Room users such as Aromatisse allow Amoonguss to go first and work even more effectively. Amoonguss's ally should make up for Amoonguss's lack of offensive presence.

Moves Rage Powder is the main reason to use Amoonguss, as it protects Amoonguss's allies against single-target moves by redirecting them. Spore is the most reliable method of putting foes to sleep available and is therefore a great move for debilitating foes. Spore is also an excellent check to opposing Trick Room setters, as they'll be put to sleep before they can use the move as a result of its negative priority. Grass Knot provides an offensive option that has a high Base Power against the format's often very heavy Pokemon, in particular dealing excellent damage to Primal Kyogre. Clear Smog is used almost exclusively to counter Xerneas, as it removes the stat boosts gained from Geomancy. It can also help deal with other setup sweepers such as Power-Up Punch Mega Kangaskhan. Protect provides the option of shielding Amoonguss for a turn, allowing its partner a turn to maneuver. Set Details Mental Herb can be used to block a single use of Taunt, as this could otherwise shut down Amoonguss's ability to support its team. Lum Berry is an alternative item that helps to check Smeargle, as Amoonguss can use Spore to shut it down while its teammate uses Protect. A Lum Berry also grants the swift removal of Thunder Wave paralysis and freezes from Ice-type attacks that get fired towards it and its partner. Regenerator is Amoonguss's better ability, as the healing it provides allows Amoonguss to remain healthy late-game. A notable downside to its alternative, Effect Spore, is that it interferes with Amoonguss's ability to use Spore if the foe is poisoned, for example. A Speed-reducing nature and 0 Speed IVs are used to allow Amoonguss to move sooner under the effect of Trick Room, as its low base Speed means it doesn't mind the loss in Speed even when operating outside of Trick Room. 244 HP EVs and 60 Defense EVs allow Amoonguss to take a Double-Edge from Jolly Mega Kangaskhan. A Sassy nature is chosen, with the remaining EVs placed in Special Defense, to increase Amoonguss's ability to check the many special attackers that it faces, such as Primal Kyogre and Xerneas. Usage Tips While Amoonguss works well at most stages of the game, it generally prefers being used early-game the most. This ensures Regenerator's recovery will be used more often, and prevents a supporter with low offensive presence, such as Amoonguss, from having to close out the game. You'll typically want to avoid using attacking moves over Rage Powder or Spore, as Amoonguss's damage output is poor. An exception, however, is when Amoonguss is being threatened by Taunt, as you might want to attack to avoid wasting a turn. Take opportunities to switch Amoonguss out if it has taken damage or is being threatened, as Regenerator will heal it for doing so. However, it's also sometimes fine to let Amoonguss faint to a big hit, as it might have already done its job in doing so. This then allows a potentially more appropriate partner to switch in for free, continuing your team's momentum. Be aware that neither Rage Powder nor Spore will function against Grass-types or foes holding Safety Goggles. Team Options Trick Room setters such as Cresselia, Dialga, and Palkia can help Amoonguss take advantage of its low Speed stat by reversing the turn order. Primal Groudon appreciates Amoonguss's ability to deal with Primal Kyogre and, in the case of a special attacking variant, protect it from chip damage to maintain Eruption's high Base Power. Primal Kyogre similarly enjoys having Electric-type attacks such as Thunderbolt redirected, particularly to preserve its HP for Water Spout. In return, Primal Kyogre's Primordial Sea makes Amoonguss immune to Fire-type attacks, which it's otherwise weak to. Furthermore, Amoonguss has tools to keep Xerneas in check, which Primal Kyogre would otherwise struggle with. Flying-types such as Ho-Oh and Yveltal also appreciate being defended against Electric-type attacks. Setup sweepers such as Geomancy Xerneas and Power-Up Punch Mega Kangaskhan have an easier time using their moves safely with Amoonguss available to redirect attacks away from them. Mega Kangaskhan synergizes with Amoonguss particularly well, as Amoonguss resists the Fighting-type moves Mega Kangaskhan is weak to. Mewtwo is quite physically frail and therefore enjoys being safer in the face of physical attacks, especially Sucker Punch, which will fail when Rage Powder is used.

Moves Rage Powder removes offensive pressure from Amoonguss's partner, allowing it to attack an opposing threat or set up without worry of taking damage. Spore puts a foe to sleep, immobilizing it and reducing the two-on-two scenario to two-on-one. Energy Ball allows Amoonguss to not entirely be Taunt bait and allows it to check Pokemon such as Rotom-W, Keldeo, and Terrakion. It also notably OHKOs Mega Swampert. Protect allows Amoonguss to scout for attacks or protect itself when you predict a double target. Set Details Rocky Helmet is used in order to punish physical attackers, dealing damage with every hit. This is especially nice against Mega Kangaskhan, against which it deals twice as much damage due to Parental Bond, and Focus Sash users that make contact like Breloom, Bisharp, and Terrakion, as it breaks their Focus Sashes. A Sitrus Berry can be a useful alternative on Amoonguss, giving it more health to work with against any attack that does not outright KO it and allowing it to use Rage Powder more freely. 252 HP and 172 Defense EVs and a Relaxed nature allow Amoonguss to always survive a Jolly Mega Metagross's Zen Headbutt. The rest of the EVs are placed into Special Defense to help Amoonguss survive attacks such as a Kyurem-B's Ice Beam. A Speed-decreasing nature and a 0 Speed IV are chosen to give Amoonguss a better Trick Room matchup, and with a base Speed stat of 30 it isn't going to be outspeeding anything outside of Trick Room anyway. An alternate spread of 240 HP / 216 Def / 52 SpD and a Sassy Nature allows Amoonguss to withstand standard Mega Gardevoir's Psychic, which has a chance to OHKO the listed spread. Amoonguss often gets low on health amidst redirection and switching into attacks for the team, but Regenerator allows it to maintain its HP by healing a third of its health when it switches out. This enables Rocky Helmet Amoonguss in particular to have reliable ways to recover health even though it lacks a Sitrus Berry. Usage Tips Using Amoonguss is fairly straightforward; use Spore against Trick Room setters that aren't immune to it, on predicted switches, and while Amoonguss's partner is protecting itself. Use Energy Ball when Amoonguss has been Taunted or when it is super effective and Amoonguss's partner isn't in danger. Use Protect against Fake Out or if the opponent is likely to double target Amoonguss and your other Pokemon can knock out one of the threats. Otherwise, use Rage Powder to redirect non-threatening moves to Amoonguss and allow its partner to move safely, whether it be setting up or attacking. Keep in mind, however, that Rage Powder and Spore do not affect Grass-types, Safety Goggles users, and Pokemon with Overcoat. Amoonguss works well throughout the match, neutralizing big threats with Spore early-game, aiding setup and better positioning during the mid-game, and easing the pressure on its teammates during cleanup in the end-game. Keep in mind that switching Amoonguss out of a dangerous situation has the benefit of restoring its health, so if Amoonguss is highly pressured and a safe switch is available, switching out is often the best option. Team Options Amoonguss struggles to take multiple super effective hits and appreciates teammates that can hurt threats like Heatran, Mega Charizard Y, Mega Gardevoir, and Talonflame. Pokemon with Rock-type attacks can hurt the Flying-, Fire-, and Ice-type Pokemon that scare Amoonguss, so Terrakion, Landorus-T, and Mega Diancie are all good choices. Amoonguss also helps them in return by redirecting Hydro Pumps, Close Combats, Flash Cannons, and any non-STAB Grass-type moves. Amoonguss does a great job at aiding setup, so boosting Pokemon that don't share its weaknesses, such as Azumarill, have a much easier time with Amoonguss on the field. Substitute users such as Heatran and Kyurem-B have a much easier time getting up a Substitute with Amoonguss around to redirect attacks. Amoonguss works extremely well under Trick Room with its low Speed stat, so Trick Room attackers make for great partners. For example, Mega Camerupt removes the Grass-types that shut down Amoonguss while Amoonguss returns the favor against Water-types. In a similar vein, Cresselia, Hoopa-U, and Jellicent help Amoonguss by setting up Trick Room and beating threats to its success. Amoonguss has almost no offensive presence itself, so it needs partners that can pressure the opposing team offensively. Thus, any offensively oriented pokemon that doesn't share too many weaknesses with Amoonguss is a good teammate.

Moves Spore and Rage Powder are what Amoonguss is known for, as they are superb at creating safe options for its partners by putting a threat to sleep or redirecting a threatening attack. Giga Drain helps restore Amoonguss's HP and helps it check Pokemon such as Rotom-W, while Sludge Bomb is useful for hitting Fairy-, Grass-, and Flying-types such as Sylveon, other Amoonguss, and Thundurus for much better damage. Protect is a staple move in Battle Spot Doubles and helps dissuade the opponent from double targeting Amoonguss carelessly. Set Details Maximum Defense investment is recommended because of how physically oriented the metagame is, as shown by the top threats being Pokemon such as Mega Kangaskhan and Landorus-T. More specially defensive Amoonguss are usable depending on your team, and it's recommended that you customize your EV spreads according to your team. Negative Speed natures are preferred to underspeed Pokemon under Trick Room, which is useful to check opposing Trick Room teams, even if you're not using it yourself. Neutral Speed natures are also acceptable to outspeed slower Pokemon such as Aegislash and Spore them before they attack. 68 Speed EVs with a Bold nature let Amoonguss outspeed Quiet Aegislash, and more Speed EVs can be used for other threats, but bear in mind Amoonguss isn't going to outspeed much of anything considering its base 30 Speed. If a more specially defensive spread is wanted, 188 HP / 164 Def / 156 SpD with a Sassy nature does the job. It allows Amoonguss to live Psychic from positive natured Mega Gardevoir most of the time, while still retaining a good amount of physical bulk. Sitrus Berry is the preferred item to allow Amoonguss to take in more hits with Rage Powder, but it can be replaced with Black Sludge or Leftovers if another Pokemon needs it more (keeping in mind Item Clause). Rocky Helmet is useful for getting damage off on physical attackers, most notably Mega Kangaskhan, which loses a third of its health when it attacks Amoonguss. Usage Tips You should focus on using Spore and Rage Powder and Protecting when Amoonguss is immediately threatened. Keep in mind that you can switch out to restore health with Regenerator, which makes conserving Amoonguss after it takes a beating much more advantageous. Attacking with Amoonguss isn't ideal unless it gets Taunted and would rather not or can't switch out, unless you think you can break a Focus Sash or grab a KO against a severely weakened Pokemon. Also keep in mind that allowing Amoonguss to faint for a greater cause, such as getting Mega Kangaskhan to +2 or setting up Trick Room, isn't something to strictly avoid. Team Options Amoonguss does well with just about anything that doesn't share too many of its weaknesses. Examples are Mega Kangaskhan, Terrakion, and Heatran, as Amoonguss resists most if not all of their weaknesses. Trick Room Pokemon such as Jellicent also enjoy Amoonguss's company, especially because Amoonguss is often the slowest Pokemon on the field, which means it can outspeed and Spore anything without a Grass typing or Safety Goggles. Amoonguss also works well with or against rain teams, as they remove its Fire weakness and often have Water-types. Intimidate also allows Amoonguss to survive attacks such as Talonflame's Brave Bird, making it more useful to sponge hits. Gyarados is a prime example, but of course just about anything appreciates having Amoonguss around.

Due to Amoonguss's respectable overall bulk, good defensive typing, and access to Regenerator, it can take on a variety of offensive Pokemon, both physical and special. Spore is a huge draw for Amoonguss, allowing it to cripple any Pokemon unless the opponent carries a Vital Spirit or Sap Sipper user. Giga Drain provides Amoonguss with a moderately powerful STAB attack that also recovers HP, letting it comfortably take on Water-types such as Feraligatr and Lanturn. With Clear Smog, Amoonguss can neutralize stat boosts and hit Grass-types for reasonable damage, allowing it to effectively check an assortment of boosting Grass-, Fighting-, and Water-type Pokemon. On the other hand, Sludge Bomb, while no longer letting Amoonguss indefinitely combat certain boosting sweepers, provides a more powerful secondary STAB. This allows Amoonguss to not only better take on Pokemon such as Substitute + Bulk Up Gallade, but also better threaten incoming Fire-types such as Moltres and Entei, especially with Sludge Bomb's high poison rate. The final move is largely influenced by individual needs. Stun Spore gives Amoonguss a secondary status move to cripple faster Pokemon after Spore has been used, as well as Pokemon unfazed by Spore. Synthesis eases the strain on Regenerator for recovery, allowing Amoonguss to better take on powerful off-the-bat attackers such as Galvantula. Lastly, Hidden Power Fire is an option to hit incoming Steel-types fairly hard, most notably 2HKOing Escavalier and OHKOing Durant, two common switch-ins to Amoonguss. With the given EV spread, Amoonguss capably takes on physically and specially attacking Pokemon alike, ensuring it is never 2HKOed by Lilligant's Hidden Power Fire or OHKOed by Sceptile's Flying Gem-boosted Acrobatics among other things, and letting it effectively take on most Water- and Grass-types in the tier. The Special Attack investment allows Amoonguss to consistently 3HKO Qwilfish and 2HKO Ferroseed after Stealth Rock damage with the appropriate attack, limiting the amount of entry hazards they can set up. However, Amoonguss's EVs are incredibly flexible, so don't hesitate to alter the EVs to tailor them to your team's individual needs. Between Regenerator, Giga Drain, and perhaps even Synthesis, Amoonguss isn't exactly hard-pressed for recovery, so Rocky Helmet can be utilized to punish zealous physical attackers, wearing down Pokemon such as Feraligatr and Hitmonlee. Though Amoonguss is rather self-sufficient, certain Pokemon can help ease its duties. Water-types offer good synergy with Amoonguss, both defensively and offensively. Offensive Water-types such as Crawdaunt and Kabutops appreciate Amoonguss's ability to check Grass-types that prevent their sweep, and Slowking and Alomomola can both form an effective Regenerator core with it to take on a variety of threats. Rock-types such as Rhydon and Regirock help combat Fire- and Flying-type Pokemon for Amoonguss and provide Stealth Rock support to wear down Pokemon such as Entei.

Despite an average 85 Special Attack, Amoonguss can effectively take on an offensive role. This set hits decently hard, standing out from its main competitors with Spore being able to incapacitate an opponent as well as Regenerator being able to heal off Life Orb damage. Its decent bulk along with its typing also ensure that it will be able to last long enough to be able to dent an opposing team. Spore is again used to basically eliminate an opponent from the match with the fifth generation sleep mechanics. Giga Drain is the preferred STAB move here, hitting for solid damage while also proving Amoonguss with recovery. Sludge Bomb is essential secondary STAB; it hits Grass-types hard while hitting neutrally against incoming Fire-types such as Darmanitan. Hidden Power Fire is the preferred coverage move here to hit Steel-types such as Bisharp and Cobalion for heavy damage. Stun Spore, however, can be used in order to cripple an opponent, making up for Amoonguss's low Speed stat. Maximum is invested into Special Attack to hit as hard as possible. 120 HP EVs give an HP stat that works best with the Life Orb. The remaining EVs are dumped into Defense to add overall bulk. Regenerator is the ability of choice here as a form of recovery should Amoonguss be forced out; it also works well with Life Orb wearing Amoonguss down. A Life Orb is the preferred item for its additional power as Amoonguss is playing an offensive role. Hidden Power Rock is a notable option that can be used over Hidden Power Fire in order to hit Victini, but Victini can be incapacitated with Spore and Hidden Power Fire has more general utility. As with the previous set, Slowbro makes for a great teammate, sporting both good defensive and offensive synergy with Amoonguss, and it can also set up Trick Room, which works well with Amoonguss's low Speed stat. Spikes support from the likes of Crustle or Qwilfish is useful to help Amoonguss attain more needed KOs that it may otherwise miss out on. As Victini may be troublesome, Houndoom or Arcanine is useful to keep opposing Victini at bay while being able to maim bulky Steel-types that trouble Amoonguss. Finally, a weapon against Psychic-types such as Azelf or Mew is useful. Bisharp and Escavalier are both good examples of these, and can keep Psychic-types in check.

This is Amoonguss's flagship set, which it pulls off quite decently. Thanks to good bulk and resistances allowing it to take on threats such as Zapdos, Mienshao, and Kingdra, this set can be a good fit on more defensive teams. While it faces stiff competition as a defensive Grass-type from Roserade, Amoonguss stands out with its perfectly accurate Spore, Regenerator, and good physical defense. Spore is the big selling point of this set, completely incapacitating an opponent. With the new sleep mechanics, this is essentially eliminating said Pokemon from the match. Giga Drain is the primary STAB move, dealing a decent amount of damage and restoring HP. Clear Smog is the preferred move in the next moveslot, as although extremely weak, it resets stat changes, allowing Amoonguss to deter setup chances. Sludge Bomb is, however, acceptable if the extra power is preferred over resetting stat boosts. Finally, Stun Spore is the chosen move to cripple opponents with paralysis after one Pokemon has fallen to Spore. However, Synthesis can be used as reliable recovery. The EV spread invests maximum HP and Defense to allow Amoonguss to more reliably check threats such as Kingdra and Mienshao, still leaving Amoonguss with enough special bulk to take on Raikou. A specially defensive EV spread can be used to more reliably check special variants of Kingdra as well as Raikou and Zapdos. However, this also leaves Amoonguss more prone to Heracross. Leftovers is the chosen item for its consistent recovery. Regenerator is the preferred ability as a means of free recovery should Amoonguss be forced out of the battle. Slowbro is an excellent teammate for Amoonguss, resisting most attacks that Amoonguss fears and vice versa. Slowbro also forms a Regenerator core with Amoonguss as they both sport the ability. Additionally, entry hazard support from the likes of Qwilfish or Bronzong is helpful, as Amoonguss may force some switches. Finally, a Dark-type such as Bisharp can be helpful to keep opposing Psychic-types at bay. Bisharp in particular benefits from Amoonguss being able to take on its common counters, such as Fighting-types.

Spore, in conjunction with Amoonguss's excellent bulk, will almost always incapacitate an opponent the first turn unless they specifically prepare for it. Rage Powder allows Amoonguss to help its team set up field effects such as Tailwind or Trick Room, and with its bulk, it can easily take moves that could OHKO frailer Pokemon. It also attracts Beat Up, so the vaunted Beat Up Whimsicott-Terrakion combination utterly fails against Amoonguss. Giga Drain 2HKOes Terrakion, and does good damage to Water-types such as Jellicent or Samurott while healing back HP. It also helps break Focus Sashes. Protect allows Amoonguss to stall the opponent, and gives its partner time to take out whatever may be threatening it. The EVs give it excellent special bulk, allowing it to take Reuniclus's Life Orb Psychic and take much less damage from Chandelure's Heat Wave. Hidden Power Ice can work well over Protect; although Amoonguss loses the ability to survive a move that would otherwise OHKO it, it lets Amoonguss hit the genies and Dragon-types for a good amount of damage, which can help immensely if Amoonguss is the last Pokemon on the field. Mental Herb is a viable choice over Coba Berry; although Amoonguss loses the ability to take a Flying Jewel-boosted Acrobatics from Tornadus or Archeops, two of its common counters, a Mental Herb allows it to bypass Taunt and Encore for a turn. A Sassy nature can be used as well, but Amoonguss doesn't outspeed other Pokemon with base 30 Speed, such as Musharna and Reuniclus, and it will thus be unable to use Spore on them before they use Psychic to severely damage or KO Amoonguss. A Sassy nature also does not allow Amoonguss to outspeed opposing Amoonguss and Spore them if Trick Room is not up. However, if Trick Room is up, a Sassy nature will allow Amoonguss to Speed tie with these Pokemon and possibly use Spore on them, incapacitating them before they can take it out. As a lead, Amoonguss tends to do better with a Bold nature. However, if Amoonguss isn't being used as a lead, it generally has greater success with a Sassy nature and 0 Speed IVs. A Lum Berry is another viable item; if Amoonguss faces another Amoonguss in a Trick Room mirror match, a Lum Berry will allow Amoonguss to always take the opposing Spore, Spore back, and remain awake and able to support its team. Trick Room teams can utilize Amoonguss very effectively, as Rage Powder can almost always guarantee that Trick Room will be set up, while Amoonguss can use Trick Room to abuse its low Speed and spam Spore. For this reason, Reuniclus is an excellent partner for Amoonguss due to with its ability to set up Trick Room and 2HKO the entire metagame with Trick Room in effect. Amoonguss can also work well on faster teams, and its access to Rage Powder allows it to sponge an attack aimed at its partner, giving Pokemon with many weaknesses, such as Terrakion and Hydreigon, a turn to take out many of their common checks. Taunt users can completely wreck Amoonguss if it does not have a Mental Herb, so a Rock Slide user can help to take out Thundurus and Tornadus, the most common users of Taunt, while an Ice Beam or Blizzard user such as Cryogonal or Vanilluxe can hurt the genies as well as Whimsicott. Safeguard users such as Terrakion, Virizion, and Cobalion can stop Amoonguss from using Spore, and remove much of its utility. A Taunt user, particularly Tornadus or Whimsicott, or a Pokemon such as Archeops that can OHKO them before they use Safeguard can allow Amoonguss to bypass this and put the opponent to sleep.

This set brings out Amoonguss's full potential as a team player and a defensive Pokemon. Spore is a staple on Amoonguss, as it allows Amoonguss to instantly put a threatening foe to sleep, rendering it helpless for several turns. Rage Powder, which redirects any attack aimed at Amoonguss's partner back to itself, is another non-negotiable move, as it is especially helpful for allowing Amoonguss's teammate to set up safely. Giga Drain is Amoonguss's STAB move of choice; not only does it prevent Amoonguss from becoming dead weight if Taunted, it also ensures that Amoonguss's health is as high as possible. Protect is generally a useful move in doubles, as it allows Amoonguss to avoid a possible attack from either opponent. Sludge Bomb is a stronger STAB move and stops Amoonguss from being walled by opposing Grass-types and Pokemon with the Sap Sipper ability. Sitrus Berry capitalizes on Amoonguss's bulk, restoring Amoonguss's health when it drops below half. Mental Herb prevents Taunt's effects for one turn and guarantees that Amoonguss will pull off one Spore. Maximum HP and Special Defense is the best spread, allowing Amoonguss to stay alive for as long as possible. A physically defensive spread of 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD and a Bold nature works if your team would instead prefer insurance against Fighting-type attacks. Such a spread would also give Amoonguss a better chance of surviving Zen Headbutt from Metagross and Gallade so it can put them to sleep. A Sassy nature allows Amoonguss to be as slow as possible should it be used on a Trick Room team, as it makes Amoonguss as fast as possible under Trick Room. Coba Berry and Occa Berry reduce the damage Amoonguss takes from powerful Flying- and Fire-type attacks, respectively. Black Sludge and Leftovers give Amoonguss gradual HP recovery, but due to the fast-paced nature of doubles play, the slow health recovery is not that beneficial. 68 Speed EVs and a neutral Speed nature allow Amoonguss to outpace Quiet Abomasnow and put it to sleep or nail it with Sludge Bomb. Rock-types, such as Tyranitar and Rhyperior, appreciate having Amoonguss as a partner, because it can divert Grass-, Water-, and Fighting-type attacks aimed at them. In return, they can deal with most Fire- and Flying-types that plague Amoonguss. Amoonguss also works well with Trick Room users, such as Slowbro, Slowking, and Jellicent, as it resists Electric- and Grass-type moves aimed at those three. Lastly, Amoonguss works extremely well on Drizzle teams as the rain reduces damage it takes from Fire-type attacks, and it can use Rage Powder to redirect Grass- and Electric-type attacks aimed at Politoed.

Spore and Rage Powder are the calling cards of Amoonguss, letting it neutralize threats and redirect troublesome attacks away from its partner. Giga Drain lets Amoonguss heal while doing non-negligible damage to bulky Water-types and Tyranitar. Sludge Bomb lets Amoonguss hit Thundurus and Latios for neutral damage. 252 HP EVs provide Amoonguss with general bulk, the 156 Special Defense EVs hit a +2 stat point, and the remaining EVs are dumped into Defense. This spread allows Latios to survive a Dragon Gem-boosted Draco Meteor from Latios, a Zen Headbutt from Metagross, and an Ice Punch from Conkeldurr. Minimum Speed allows Amoonguss to more consistently check opposing Trick Room teams. Amoonguss is slower than the most common sweepers, Heatran and Conkeldurr, and can potentially nullify the majority of the five turns of Trick Room due to Spore. Mental Herb blocks Taunt, which would otherwise all but force Amoonguss to switch out, while Lum Berry is useful in the Amoonguss mirror matchup. It also lets Amoonguss be a one-Pokemon check to Breloom + Liepard teams and Swagger-spamming Thundurus with Rage Powder. Other Options Running any Speed IVs can let Amoonguss use Spore on other slow Pokemon if Trick Room is not active, most notably opposing Amoonguss and Conkeldurr. ChestoRest increases Amoonguss’s survivability while preserving its matchup against opposing Amoonguss. Sunny Day allows Amoonguss to further check rain. Common Partners Amoonguss supports most everything well by drawing the foe’s attention to itself either with Rage Powder or the threat of Spore, and its presence on the field enables its partner to attack or set up with impunity. One specific example is Tyranitar, which checks Amoonguss’s counters in Psychic-, Flying-, and Fire-types while Amoonguss redirects and resists almost all of Tyranitar's weaknesses. Checks and Counters Tornadus OHKOes Amoonguss with Flying Gem Acrobatics and has a 50% chance to do so without its Flying Gem. Heatran's most common sets can all check Amoonguss. Substitute blocks Spore, while Fire Gem sets are capable of OHKOing Amoonguss. Latios, Metagross, and Cresselia are all capable of KOing Amoonguss with their STAB Psychic-type attacks. Latios and Metagross can OHKO Amoonguss with a boosting item, while Cresselia commonly sports a Chesto Berry and is capable of 2HKOing it. Opposing Amoonguss can be a major threat if it is holding a Lum Berry, if it moves first, or if your Amoonguss is holding Mental Herb. Conversely, Taunt users can shut down Lum Berry sets, forcing Amoonguss to either switch or attack with its pitiful Giga Drain and uninvested Special Attack. Conkeldurr can be an interesting check to Amoonguss. Conkeldurr is faster than Amoonguss outside of Trick Room but becomes slower after using a single Hammer Arm, letting it move first if under the field modifier's effect. An Ice Punch from the standard Life Orb Iron Fist Conkeldurr set can deal up to 98% of Amoonguss's health, making it potentially a major threat.

This is a sample set. We aren't working on BW Monotype analyses at the moment, but check out BW Monotype resources for more information about the metagame.

Amoonguss's access to 100% accurate sleep in Spore, redirection in Rage Powder, excellent typing, and a low speed that allows it to function as a built-in Trick Room check makes it one of the premier support Pokemon in the metagame. Giga Drain is a weak STAB attack that does decent damage against Water-types. The given EV spread lives Metagross's Zen Headbutt while maximizing Special Defense so that Amoonguss can better tank common special moves, such as Life Orb Latios's Psychic or Kyurem-B's Ice Beam. A Sassy nature with 0 Speed IVs minimizes Amoonguss's Speed so that it can function better as a Trick Room check. Most notably, it underspeeds Conkeldurr in Trick Room. Sitrus Berry can increase Amoonguss's longevity by allowing it to survive being attacked by both foes or 2HKOs it would not otherwise, thus allowing it to continue disrupting with Spore or redirection. Lum Berry is mainly for opposing Amoonguss, as it cures Amoonguss from sleep, whereas Mental Herb is mainly for Thundurus, preventing Amoonguss from being shut down by Taunt for one turn. Amoonguss can be extremely flexible with its spread and item depending on the needs of the team. For example, teams can opt for a more physically defensive set if necessary. Amoonguss aims to disrupt the opponent by putting key threats to sleep or supporting teammates with redirection. With its typing, Amoonguss can act as a pivot by switching into attacks and putting a threat to sleep. Against rain or Trick Room teams, it is best to preserve Amoonguss's health as much as possible, as it matches up well against them. Amoonguss is extremely flexible, so it can fit on many team compositions. Jellicent is an excellent teammate, forming a defensive core that is generally capable of answering anything in the metagame. Landorus-T is another great teammate due to Intimidate weakening opposing physical attackers, its ability to threaten Thundurus, Heatran, and Metagross, and access to U-turn, which allows it to pivot safely into Amoonguss. Finally, Amoonguss synergizes well with Heatran, as it can redirect Fighting- and Water-type attacks as well as allows Heatran to set up Substitute easier.