Torterra Movesets & Competitive Sets

Moves Wood Hammer is Torterra's strongest STAB move and can reach ludicrous levels of damage output in conjunction with Grassium Z and Overgrow, capable of KOing Oricorio-E after Stealth Rock. However, this can be situational, and it does cause heavy recoil to Torterra. Stone Edge threatens Flying-types that can otherwise easily check Torterra, OHKOing Dodrio and Articuno from full health as well as Oricorio-G after Stealth Rock damage. Alternatively, Swords Dance can allow Torterra to achieve OHKOs on Pokemon that might otherwise survive a hit from full HP and retaliate, such as Drampa, as well as allowing it to better break a few defensive checks such as Sableye and Bronzor. Synthesis is another option for Torterra's final moveslot, as it gives Torterra more defensive utility early-game and allows it to spam Wood Hammer more freely. Set Details Maximum investment in Speed allows Torterra to outspeed the entire unboosted metagame as well as slow Choice Scarf users like Aurorus and Alolan Sandslash after a Rock Polish boost. An Adamant nature allows Torterra to hit sufficient Speed levels while maximizing damage output. However, a Jolly nature can be used to outspeed various threats such as Golurk and Assault Vest Lanturn before a Rock Polish, as well as Choice Scarf Skuntank and Kabutops after a boost. Grassium Z allows Torterra to OHKO Pokemon like Mudsdale, Kangaskhan, Stoutland, and Jellicent from full health as well as Eelektross, Regirock, and Crabominable after Stealth Rock damage, while also avoiding recoil from Wood Hammer. Alternatively, Rockium Z can be used with Stone Edge to guarantee an OHKO on Oricorio-E and Oricorio-G without Torterra needing to be in Overgrow range, as well as avoiding accuracy issues when attempting to KO Pokemon such as Articuno and Altaria. Usage Tips Rock Polish Torterra is best used as a late-game sweeper, as it requires slight chip on many Pokemon to achieve KOs before boosting. Try to avoid needing to set up a Swords Dance, as the damage from taking an extra turn to set up can be significant when combined with entry hazards and Wood Hammer recoil. However, Swords Dance can also allow Torterra to function as an early-game wallbreaker, albeit at the cost of sacrificing its late-game utility if not paired with a Healing Wish user or Z-Parting Shot Alolan Persian. This secondary role may be more useful in some matchups, particularly when facing Choice Scarf users capable of outspeeding Torterra after a Rock Polish, such as Dodrio. Be careful about when to use Torterra's Z-Move, as it can gain significantly from breaking a check with Bloom Doom or Continental Crush when it isn't wasted. However, Wood Hammer's recoil can also be beneficial, as Torterra can use the recoil to strategically put itself into Overgrow range and boost the power of Bloom Doom to better break through Pokemon such as Lurantis. Be sure to scout for Ice-type coverage from Pokemon that might be looking to lure Torterra, such as Ice Beam Silvally-Water and Hidden Power Ice Eelektross. Team Options Entry hazard removers such as Cryogonal can be vital, as Torterra does not want to take unnecessary damage from Spikes. Torterra also benefits a lot from entry hazards to chip the opposing team, although it pairs well with very few Stealth Rock users. Regirock and Alolan Sandslash are notable though for taking on most of the Flying-types that check Torterra. Due to its lack of recovery and tendency to get worn down by Wood Hammer recoil, Torterra highly appreciates VoltTurn partners such as Lanturn, Eelektross, Primeape, and Rotom-F that can bring it in safely against targets it can threaten like Clefairy. Lanturn in particular fits exceptionally well with Torterra, as it is able to switch in on Pokemon like Oricorio-E and Rotom-F that can revenge kill Torterra as well as heal it from status with Heal Bell. In return, Torterra can check threats that Lanturn struggles with like Eelektross and Mudsdale. Healing Wish users such as Musharna, as well as Z-Parting Shot Alolan Persian, can allow Torterra to come in multiple times and act as both a wallbreaker and a sweeper, significantly enhancing its threat level in many cases. Pursuit from teammates such as Choice Band Skuntank and Absol can help to take out a few of Torterra's checks and counters, such as Cryogonal and Bronzor. These Pokemon also form a strong wallbreaking core with Torterra, breaking down physically defensive Pokemon such as Lurantis. Strong special wallbreakers such as Drampa are also notable for being able to pressure Tangela, Torterra's biggest counter. Jellicent is another notable defensive partner, as it can check many Fire- and Ice-types that give Torterra problems, while Torterra puts pressure on Lanturn and Eelektross.

Moves Earthquake and Wood Hammer allow Torterra to hit most of the metagame, save Flying- and Grass-types, for at least neutral damage, and give it good damage output despite no investment. Set Details The special defense investment and a Careful nature allows Torterra to survive two Flamethrowers from Eelektross after Stealth Rock, an uninvested Supersonic Skystrike from Oricorio-E before Stealth Rock, and a Freeze-Dry from a fully invested Cryogonal, as well as various other hits such as Assault Vest Lanturn's Ice Beam. The Defense investment avoids the OHKO from Choice Scarf Dodrio's Brave Bird from full health. Shell Armor is preferred over Overgrow, as Torterra would rather avoid critical hits than get situational damage boosts. Usage Tips As with most Stealth Rock users, prioritize setting entry hazards early to get as much chip on the opposing team as possible. Due to its many weaknesses, Torterra is particularly prone to being taken advantage of by smart double switches into threats such as Simisear or Aurorus. Be careful to avoid getting predictable. Particularly attempt to minimize free switches from Abomasnow and Aurorus, as their hail can reduce Synthesis's healing ability even several turns later. Keep in mind that Wood Hammer recoil can put Torterra at problematically low health, and it may be better to recover with Synthesis rather than incurring extra chip damage. Avoid Toxic whenever possible, as it massively cuts into Torterra's longevity and effectiveness. Be careful using Synthesis too much, as while Torterra likes to stay healthy, Synthesis has only 8 PP and can be stalled out quite quickly. Team Options Ice-type checks such as Alolan Sandslash, Clefairy, and Gurdurr are vital for defensive synergy. Flying- and Fire-type answers such as Eelektross, Regirock, and Jellicent are also important, as Torterra can be a magnet for particular type-advantaged wallbreakers. For its part, Torterra is a strong check to Eelektross, making it a good partner for Flying-types such as Swanna and Oricorio-G, as well as many of the aforementioned defensive partners. Torterra can stack entry hazards fairly well with Qwilfish, as they have a decent early-game defensive presence and can try to overwhelm the opposing team with Stealth Rock and Spikes. Clerics such as Altaria and Audino can keep Torterra Toxic free; however, most clerics do not pair especially well with Torterra outside of stall save for Lanturn and Musharna.

Moves Wood Hammer and Earthquake are a strong STAB combination that allows Torterra to hit most of the metagame extremely hard after a Swords Dance. Set Details 96 Speed EVs allow Torterra to beat out uninvested Lanturn and maximum Speed Drampa. The rest are put into HP and Special Defense to make Torterra as bulky as possible and better check Pokemon such as Victreebel and Alolan Raichu. An alternate spread with 124 Speed EVs can be used to outpace specially defensive Alolan Sandslash, although it does cut into Torterra's bulk more heavily. Usage Tips This Torterra set finds most of its utility in early-game wallbreaking, although if the opponent has a hard counter such as Tangela, Torterra may need to perform more of a defensive role until its counter is removed. Carefully mixing it up between using Swords Dance and attacking is fairly important, as Torterra can often force mind games versus weakened foes between boosting to take them out next turn and predicting a switch to an offensive threat capable of revenge killing Torterra. Torterra should avoid status at all costs, as burn makes it fairly non-threatening while Toxic can severely limit its wallbreaking and defensive potential in conjunction with the many other sources of chip damage that plague Torterra. Most teams lacking a very hard counter will find it fairly difficult to switch into Torterra, meaning that in some matchups it won't be necessary to set up a Swords Dance at all. Be careful about using Earthquake too freely, as giving free switches to Pokemon with Levitate or Flying-types can result in a massive loss of momentum. Wood Hammer is far more spammable, as it does good damage even to many Pokemon that resist it such as Oricorio-E. Team Options Stealth Rock users such as Metang can help chip away at Torterra's many Flying-type checks. Metang also can function as an Ice-type answer for Torterra. Other Pokemon that resist Ice are also beneficial, with Cryogonal being notable as an interesting offensive partner as well, as it can check Tangela and Sableye and wear down Bronzor in conjunction with Torterra. Many sweepers and cleaners such as Silvally-Fairy, Lycanroc, and Dodrio benefit significantly from Torterra's wallbreaking support and ability to pressure defensive behemoths like Regirock and Mudsdale. Primeape is a notable offensive partner, as Torterra is a solid check to many of Primeape's answers such as Musharna and Jellicent. Simisear is another good wallbreaker to use with Torterra, as it can use bulky Grass-types that counter Torterra, such as Tangela and Lurantis, as setup fodder. As Tangela is a major defensive problem for Torterra, luring it and crippling it with Toxic or Knock Off from Pokemon such as Primeape and Alolan Persian can be extremely valuable. Pursuit users such as Absol can also help trap checks to Torterra like Cryogonal and Bronzor.

Moves Stealth Rock is mandatory on every competitive team, and Torterra is a decent user of the move thanks to its durability. Wood Hammer threatens bulky Water- and Ground-types like Milotic, Seismitoad, and Flygon and notably OHKOes Zygarde-10% if boosted by Overgrow, allowing Torterra to effectively check it. Earthquake is Torterra's secondary STAB move and has good coverage alongside Wood Hammer, threatening Steel-types like Registeel and Metagross and Fire-types like Arcanine and Ninetales. Synthesis allows Torterra to continually check Pokemon like Zygarde-10%, Barbaracle, and Metagross throughout the match. Set Details Maximum HP and Defense investment is run to help Torterra check physical threats like Zygarde-10%, Barbaracle, and Metagross. Overgrow means Wood Hammer hits incredibly hard when Torterra is weakened, in particular allowing it to OHKO Zygarde-10%. Leftovers gives Torterra some passive recovery so it isn't forced to heal up with Synthesis as often. Usage Tips Stealth Rock should be set up early-game against Pokemon that are forced out by or fail to threaten Torterra such as Metagross, Barbaracle, and Zygarde-10% locked into Thousand Arrows in order to chip down Torterra's Flying- and Fire-type checks, namely Noivern, Mandibuzz, and Arcanine. Synthesis should be used semi-regularly against Pokemon that Torterra forces out in matchups where it needs to be healthy enough to check the aforementioned threats. Additionally, Wood Hammer shouldn't be used too liberally, as the recoil will force Torterra to waste Synthesis's already sparse PP. Avoid letting Torterra get hit with status, namely burn and poison, as they will severely hinder it by reducing its longevity and, in burn's case, significantly hurt its offensive presence. Team Options Torterra fits best on bulkier offense and balance teams that appreciate its ability to check troublesome Pokemon like Zygarde-10%, Metagross, and Barbaracle. Bulky Water-types such as Milotic and Mantine are great partners for Torterra, as they help to cover Torterra's Fire and Ice weaknesses. Torterra is worn down heavily by Spikes, so entry hazard removers like Mega Blastoise, Mandibuzz, and the aforementioned Mantine are very useful. Steel-types like Registeel and Bronzong appreciate Torterra checking Zygarde-10%, and in turn, they check Pokemon like Roserade, Gardevoir, Swellow, and, in Bronzong's case, Mega Abomasnow. Lastly, Torterra invites Flying-types like Noivern and Mandibuzz, so Pokemon that can take advantage of them like Tyrantrum and Raikou are great teammates.

Moves Stone Edge nails switch-ins to Torterra’s STAB attacks like Altaria, Rotom-S, and Shiinotic. Crunch gives this set unique coverage primarily to hit Bronzor as well as others like Exeggutor and Gourgeist-XL. Set Details Maximum Attack with an Adamant nature and Choice Band allows Torterra to break past walls like Bronzor and Altaria. Usage Tips Torterra should be played as a bulky wallbreaker, switching into walls like Golem, Mareanie, and Muk; however, watch out for debilitating status effects from these three. Wood Hammer does enormous damage even to frailer Pokemon that resist Grass like Combusken, Rapidash, and Rotom-S. In these cases, and so long as the opponent does not have a more reliable Grass-type switch-in like Leafeon, Altaria, or Sap Sipper Bouffalant, Wood Hammer is safer to lock into compared to Earthquake. On the other hand, Earthquake can be used without the fear of Torterra losing HP, as Wood Hammer's high recoil severely limits Torterra's longevity. Crunch and Stone Edge are good for catching some of Torterra’s checks off guard like Bronzor and Jumpluff, but their lack of power can be exploited by opposing setup sweepers like Combusken and Silvally-Fighting. These situations and more show that Torterra is heavily prediction reliant and needs to be played accordingly, lest it succumb to inadequate damage. Getting Torterra into Overgrow range for the Attack buff can be done early by letting it trade hits with faster attackers like Leafeon or Silvally or naturally from Wood Hammer recoil. Team Options Offensive U-turn and Volt Switch users like Silvally-Water and Electivire help bring in Torterra and have good defensive type synergy with it. Similarly, defensive pivots such as Bronzor and Mareanie help soak up Ice-, Flying-, and Fire-type attacks from Pokemon that may try to revenge kill Torterra like Electivire and Rapidash. Choice Scarf users like Swanna and Rotom-S help check opposing setup sweepers like Combusken, Crustle, Leafeon, and Chatot if Torterra is locked into unfavorable attacks like Crunch and Earthquake. In turn, Torterra breaks down walls like Sandslash and Mawile for them. Specially attacking late-game cleaners like Z-Rain Dance Swanna and Nasty Plot Raichu appreciate Torterra's prior wallbreaking. Entry hazard removers like Komala and Rotom-S keep the field clean for Torterra to come in safely, avoiding unnecessary chip damage while also threatening common entry hazard setters like Golem, Mawile, and Mareanie. Entry hazard setters on Torterra's side like Metang and Shuckle provide the necessary chip damage to break Gourgeist-XL, Altaria, and Rotom-S; Sticky Web from Shuckle also slows down targets like Silvally-Water and Mr. Mime to make them vulnerable to Torterra.

Moves Rock Polish allows Torterra to clean a weakened team late-game after setting up. Stone Edge provides the needed coverage to hit Flying-types and Pokemon that resist Grass like Pinsir and Simisage. Swords Dance is another option over Stone Edge to boost Attack and provide a Double Dance set that can break past more walls like Granbull and Silvally-Fighting. Set Details Maximum Speed and a Jolly nature are run to outspeed slower Choice Scarf users like Pinsir and Rotom-S after a Rock Polish. Grassium Z provides extra power and negates recoil on Wood Hammer on Silvally-Water and Komala and is especially relevant if Swords Dance is run over Stone Edge. Rockium Z on the other hand offers accurate, powerful Rock-type coverage for hitting Flying-types like Altaria and Jumpluff that could wall Torterra without it. Usage Tips Set up a Rock Polish to clean late-game once faster Choice Scarf users like Electivire and Swanna are dealt with, along with bulkier physical walls like Gourgeist-XL and Shiinotic that Torterra cannot break on its own. Torterra’s natural bulk allows it to set up on walls and sweepers alike, such as Golem, Sandslash, and Silvally-Dragon. It does lack some firepower, though, meaning foes like Silvally-Dragon needs to already be significantly weakened for Torterra to set up on and sweep past them. If Torterra has Swords Dance, try to boost the appropriate stat when needed, or use both setup moves when the opponent is trying to sacrifice their Golem or Mawile and is not expecting the Double Dance set. When up against defensive teams, Torterra may not need to set up Rock Polish and instead can be best played expendably to try to dent walls like Pyukumuku and Poliwrath. Team Options Entry hazard support from Bronzor or Metang helps Torterra secure the chip damage it needs to clean late-game, and their useful Ice- and Flying-type resistances help against attacks that scare Torterra. Wallbreakers like Choice Band Komala and Nasty Plot Simisear help break through walls that check Torterra like Bronzor and Gourgeist-XL. Pursuit trappers like Silvally-Dark and Pawniard also get rid of Bronzor and additionally can secure the damage needed on other attackers to put them in sweeping range for Torterra. Other sweepers like Life Orb Combusken and Nasty Plot Simipour can bait revenge killers like Choice Scarf Electivire and Rotom-S, which can all be setup fodder for Torterra once they are Choice locked. Swanna and Silvally-Fighting are worthwhile entry hazard removers that can allow Torterra to preserve its full natural bulk for when it enters the field to set up and sweep.

Moves Synthesis allows Torterra to recover its health and outstall special attackers like Silvally-Dragon and Kadabra. Stealth Rock lets Torterra be an entry hazard setter that threatens other setters and removers like Golem, Mawile, Sandslash, and Komala. Toxic can be used to threaten switch-ins or entry hazard removers like Gourgeist-XL and Silvally-Fighting, but it makes Torterra much more passive and comes at the cost of one of its more relevant moves like Stealth Rock or Synthesis. Set Details Maximum Special Defense investment is used for tanking general special attacks. Usage Tips Set up Stealth Rock when the opponent is using entry hazard setters and removers that have a hard time dealing with or trading hits with Torterra, such as the opposing Golem, Sandslash, Mareanie, Silvally-Dragon, and Silvally-Dark. Torterra can switch in on and force out multiple slower defensive Pokemon like Metang, Mawile, and Pyukumuku, though it does have to worry about being hit by Toxic. Torterra can tank most special hits very well, and even Pokemon with strong super effective coverage like Swanna and Silvally-Water can lose trades, as Torterra can tank their hits and OHKO back with an Overgrow-boosted Wood Hammer. However, it still falls to harder hits like if Swanna is running Flyinium Z. In the same vein, Torterra can be played offensively to set up Stealth Rock early and then sacrifice itself with a favorable tradeoff on attackers like Combusken, Swanna, and Simisear that all have a hard time OHKOing Torterra without the help of a Z-Move. Switching in to block Volt Switch can be risky when Electivire and Rotom-S both have super effective coverage and should be done with caution. Team Options Torterra should be paired with walls that can cover its weaknesses like Bronzor, Mareanie, and Poliwrath, which form a defensive core and enjoy Torterra's good Ground- and Electric-type matchups. Bronzor and Mareanie especially benefit from Torterra's positive matchups against foes like Kadabra and Sandslash thanks to its great special bulk and ability to take a weaker Knock Off. Pivots like Rotom-S and Silvally-Water help take heavy hits from Flying-, Fire- and Ice-type attacks that Torterra struggles tanking on its own. Offensive picks like Komala, Crustle, and Pinsir appreciate Torterra's ability to threaten faster attackers like Kadabra and Silvally-Dragon as well as switch into Ground- and Rock-types that check them defensively. Stealth Rock support from Torterra helps setup sweepers like Swanna and Combusken get the chip damage on walls like Rotom-S and Silvally-Dragon they need to clean late-game.

Moves Swords Dance allows Torterra to double its Attack against walls that don't threaten it so that it can break past potential switch-ins. Stone Edge helps hit Flying- and Grass-types that resist its STAB attacks. Set Details Rockium Z both makes Stone Edge perfectly accurate and grants it high Base Power for anything that resists Torterra's STAB coverage, like Gourgeist-XL or Rotom-S. An Adamant nature is preferred over Jolly for the extra power, though Jolly can be an option to make Torterra faster than Modest Glaceon, Pawniard, and Combusken. Usage Tips Torterra can set up a Swords Dance against slower walls like Golem and Mareanie to then break past potential switch-ins like Gourgeist-XL, Exeggutor, and Altaria with Continental Crush. Torterra can revenge kill slower walls and frailer offensive Pokemon without setting up like Sandslash, Kecleon, and Crustle. It should not, however, always switch into them, as Kecleon and Crustle heavily threaten Torterra with Ice Beam and X-Scissor, respectively. Continental Crush can catch Flying-type switch-ins like Rotom-S and Altaria off guard when the opponent is predicting either a defensive set or a STAB attacks. Keeping Torterra healthy and distant from status like burn or Toxic allows it to break past walls throughout the game without succumbing to the heavy recoil from Wood Hammer. Team Options Late-game cleaners such as Swords Dance Combusken, Choice Scarf Pinsir, and Shell Smash Crustle appreciate the wallbreaking that Torterra can provide early-game. Entry hazards from Metang, Crustle, and Mareanie can all support Torterra with wallbreaking and punishing the opponent from switching out against it. Pivots like Silvally-Water and Rotom-S have good defensive type synergy with Torterra and allow it to switch in more safely while also proving entry hazard removal so that Torterra remains healthy. Pokemon like Bronzor, Rapidash, and Poliwrath help switch into Swanna and Simisear, some of Torterra’s revenge killers, and help defend and keep Torterra alive for longer in the game.

Moves Wood Hammer is a powerful STAB move that beats Water- and Ground-types with the unfortunate side effect of dealing recoil damage. Similarly, Earthquake is a more reliable STAB move that hits Steel- and Electric-types without the nasty recoil effect of Wood Hammer. Swords Dance allows Torterra to set up on Pokemon such as Alomomola and Registeel, allowing it to dismantle common bulky teams and apply pressure to more offensive ones. Lastly, Synthesis allows Torterra to reliably check certain threats and remain healthy throughout the match, allowing it to set up on a wider variety of Pokemon. Set Details Foremost, maximum HP EVs coupled with 180 Special Defense EVs ensure that Torterra avoids the 2HKO from Choice Specs Magneton's Flash Cannon after Leftovers recovery. Additionally, the Speed EVs allow it to outspeed Alomomola, allowing Torterra to Swords Dance before Alomomola can attempt to burn it. Lastly, Leftovers is the best item for this set, as it gives Torterra extra longevity and provides it with passive healing to somewhat mitigate Wood Hammer recoil. Additionally, an EV spread of 252 HP / 24 Atk / 156 SpD / 76 Spe can be used with an Adamant nature to guarantee the OHKO on Registeel after a Swords Dance. However, you have to be more careful when switching into Magneton because Torterra cannot take an Analytic-boosted Flash Cannon followed by a normal Flash Cannon. Usage Tips First, always try to bring in Torterra on defensive Pokemon such as Diancie and Registeel that can't really threaten it. Also, be cautious when switching into Electric-types, since many run Hidden Power Ice; Magneton also does a large amount of damage to Torterra with Flash Cannon. Team Options Torterra is traditionally featured on slow, bulky offensive teams that rely on a solid defensive backbone to function effectively. Torterra has a crippling weakness to Ice-type Pokemon and coverage moves, so Pokemon that resist Ice such as Jellicent, Houndoom, and Slowking make excellent teammates. Torterra struggles to break past Flying-types, so offensive Pokemon that can beat them, such as Jolteon, Sneasel, and Mega Glalie, are helpful team members for this role. As a wallbreaker, Torterra appreciates VoltTurn users that can get it in for free against Pokemon that it enjoys setting up on. A perfect example of this is Flygon, which lures in Alomomola and can allow you to bring in Torterra for free. Uxie is another useful U-turn user that can get Torterra in with slow U-turns. Uxie can also set up Stealth Rock to wear down Torterra's checks. Mesprit another is more offensively oriented than Uxie, but it can give Torterra a second chance at a sweep with Healing Wish. Magneton is a particularly helpful partner, as it resists Ice-type attacks and can also break past Flying-types fairly easily while providing Volt Switch support. Lastly, Heal Bell users such as Diancie and Mega Audino are good partners for Torterra because Torterra can often get burned from switching into defensive Water-types. It also despises Toxic from defensive Pokemon, especially since Torterra is usually featured on slower bulky offense teams.

Maximum Attack investment with a Choice Band allows Torterra's Wood Hammer to OHKO or 2HKO a large swath of offensive threats like Huntail and Stoutland, and Overgrow allows Wood Hammer to even have a chance to OHKO Monferno. Stone Edge rounds out the coverage by hitting Flying-types such as Jumpluff or Natu that would wall Torterra's STAB moves otherwise. The last moveslot goes mostly unused, as the other three slots are near-perfect coverage, but Superpower works for hitting certain threats like Scraggy harder, while Seed Bomb also works as a Grass-type STAB option without recoil while still 2HKOing threats like Ursaring and Beheeyem. Even with all of this Attack investment, Torterra is still heavily walled by Bronzor. As such, partners that can beat Bronzor such as Simisear and Monferno are heavily appreciated. Choice Band Torterra also excels in baiting Bronzor in, so teammates like Scraggy that can set up on Bronzor also make for good options. Torterra also excels in breaking down walls like Stunfisk to make way for a teammate like Monferno and Zebstrika to sweep later. Stealth Rock goes a long way in helping Torterra break down walls, since it tends to draw in Flying-types, so partners that set them consistently like Dwebble and Bronzor are very appreciated. It also heavily appreciates a free switch-in from a pivot like Klang or Monferno to keep itself healthy and positioned well.

This set runs both Swords Dance and Rock Polish not with the expectation of getting both boosts off but so Torterra has the correct setup option for whatever situation it finds itself in. Rock Polish is for the potential late-game sweep, and Swords Dance is for when Torterra needs to be a wallbreaker. Wood Hammer is Torterra's most powerful STAB option but comes with heavy recoil, and Earthquake is the secondary STAB move with no recoil. Either STAB option or Swords Dance can be replaced with Stone Edge for better coverage against common Flying-type switch-ins like Jumpluff and Natu. Life Orb is the chosen item for an extra power boost to ease sweeps after Rock Polish, comfortably 2HKOing threats like Beheeyem and OHKOing Stunfisk, but Yache Berry can also be used to absorb a stray Ice-type attack like Hidden Power Ice from Zebstrika to earn a turn to set up. Overgrow is the preferred ability for its ability to power up Torterra's Wood Hammer to dizzying heights when activated, but if Stone Edge is chosen over Wood Hammer, then Shell Armor should be the chosen ability. Even with Swords Dance and a Life Orb, Torterra is still walled by Bronzor. Common answers for beating Bronzor include Monferno, Simisear, Marowak, and Scraggy. Torterra can also be threatened out by some Choice Scarf Pokemon even after a Rock Polish such as Golduck and Monferno, so partners like Klang and Frillish can be excellent choices for protecting Torterra from the revenge killers. Torterra is also excellent at breaking through physical walls like Machoke and Stunfisk, so Pokemon like Monferno and Zebstrika appreciate its wallbreaking potential.

Earthquake is chosen primary STAB move, and Stone Edge is chosen as the primary coverage in order to hit Flying-types such as Natu and Jumpluff; however, Wood Hammer is stronger against neutral targets and cannot miss. The last moveslot is extremely versatile and can be whatever the team needs. Stealth Rock is always appreciated and Torterra is a particularly reliable hazard setter thanks to its bulk and typing. Rock Polish and Swords Dance are both good options for setting up and sweeping or wallbreaking, respectively. Toxic is useful for hitting and getting chip damage on common switch-ins like Jumpluff. Roar can be useful for phazing threats like Duosion that might set up otherwise but is generally more situational than the other strong choices for the last moveslot. The EVs in HP and Special Defense are to survive two Hidden Power [Ice] Ices or one Hidden Power [Ice] and one Overheat from Magnet Zebstrika after Stealth Rock, with the rest being put into Attack to always get an OHKO on Zebstrika and Tentacool with Earthquake. Yache Berry is critical for making the previous calculation work, but Occa Berry can also work for absorbing Fire-type moves like a Flare Blitz from Monferno and Overheat from Zebstrika and KOing with Earthquake. This Torterra set is focused around bringing out as many of Torterra's strengths in a single role as possible and can find a home on offensive teams that need a solid tank that can fill in multiple roles such as setting Stealth Rock while tanking hits from both physical and special threats such as Arbok or Vileplume. Torterra's resistances to Rock and Ground and immunity to Electric allow it to find a home on teams that need checks to Rampardos, Gabite, and Zebstrika. Pokemon such as Monferno and Purugly also appreciate the defensive synergy that Torterra provides, properly answering their common walls such as Stunfisk. Torterra is also weak to Fire, Flying, and Ice, so partners like Tentacool and Klang can be excellent choices for rounding out a defensive core.

Maximum HP and Defense EVs allow Torterra to take considerably less damage and even avoid a 2HKO from Choice Band Stoutland. This investment in bulk makes Torterra one of the most reliable Stealth Rock setters in the tier. The last moveslot is very flexible; Swords Dance is the default option, as it allows Torterra to set up and beat many slow setup threats such as Scraggy, making Torterra into a potent wallbreaker in addition to a wall. Roar allows Torterra to phaze and rack up more chip damage from entry hazards it sets up. Earthquake is a secondary STAB option without recoil, and Toxic is always good for slowly chipping down targets and hitting threats on the switch. Torterra has notable weaknesses to Ice- and Fire-type attacks, so partners like Tentacool and Frillish that can absorb those attacks make for excellent partners. Tentacool also has the added benefit of Rapid Spin and Toxic Spikes while Torterra covers the Ground-type attacks pointed at Tentacool, so the synergy between these two is of particular note. Torterra is also excellent at shutting down setup sweepers like Scraggy and Duosion by either setting up itself with Swords Dance or phazing with Roar, so offensive pivots such as Zebstrika and Monferno appreciate having an easy option to pivot into to solve those matchups. Torterra also invites in many Flying-types such as Jumpluff, so a partner that can resist Flying-type attacks such as Zebstrika or Klang can also make for great partners.

While Torterra can go fully defensive or fully offensive quite effectively, it can also perform as a reliable bulky attacker capable of taking strong attacks and returning the favor with its own strong moves. Stealth Rock is a great move on Torterra as it can keep the Fire- and Flying-type Pokemon that Torterra generally has issues with at bay. Wood Hammer is the primary choice for a STAB move as it deals with bulky Water-type Pokemon, and most importantly ensures Kabutops will have to sacrifice itself to spin away Stealth Rock. However, Earthquake is another solid STAB option. While it is incapable of dealing with Water-types as effectively, it does let Torterra better handle Aggron and it gets better neutral coverage with Torterra's coverage move on this set. Stone Edge gives Torterra solid coverage and ensures that Flying-types, such as Moltres, will always have something to think about before switching in. Synthesis rounds off the set as it allows Torterra to stay healthy and keep taking hits from serious threats such as Aggron and Rotom-C. The EV spread maximizes Torterra's damage output and ensures it can outspeed minimum Speed Lanturn. The rest is put into HP for overall bulk. As many bulkier Pokemon such as Golurk also aim for the same Speed tier, it might be worth your while to move a few HP EVs over to Speed in order to ensure Torterra can outspeed and prevent them from doing anything before Torterra strikes. Rock Slide can be used over Stone Edge if the accuracy bugs you, but the loss in power is rarely worth it. Overgrow is the primary ability choice as it gives Wood Hammer a serious power boost for when you just need Torterra to blast the opposing team one final time. Shell Armor is a bit more niche, but an untimely critical hit can quickly spell the end for Torterra, and possibly cost you the game should Torterra be the last thing keeping something like Rotom-C or Aerodactyl from freely using their STAB moves to finish a match. This Torterra is one of the most reliable offensive responses to Aggron in the entire tier, so Pokemon that loathe the presence of Aggron, such as Uxie, Spiritomb, and Swellow, are good options to use with Torterra. Swellow is especially notable due to Torterra's ability to destroy just about any Rock- or Steel-type in the tier, especially if it runs Earthquake. Bulky Water-type Pokemon are nice choices as they can come in on most Fire- and Ice-type moves aimed at Torterra while it is immune to the Electric-type moves they don't like. Slowking, Alomomola, and Poliwrath are all solid choices in this regard. Torterra really has nothing to stop Tangrowth from switching in at will, so teammates that can handle it are much appreciated. Moltres, Emboar, and Escavalier are all capable of handling Tangrowth with relative ease. Toxic Spikes support is another option and Qwilfish is a great option for this considering it can reliably take on Escavalier and Durant for Torterra.

While Torterra is capable of using its offensive prowess to sweep with Rock Polish or utilize it alongside its good bulk, a Choice Band turns Torterra into a very potent wallbreaker. Torterra is capable of 2HKOing the vast majority of the RU tier, but as its STABs have many resistances and immunities, one must play with great prediction to get the absolute most out of this set. Wood Hammer is the primary STAB move as it lacks any immunities and is able to smash many of the bulky Water- and Ground-types in the tier, such as Slowking, Alomomola, and Golurk. Earthquake beats up the Fire- and Steel-type Pokemon expecting to come in on a resisted Wood Hammer, but due to the presence of Levitate users and Flying-type Pokemon, this can be an even riskier move to lock into. Stone Edge is there to crush the Flying-type Pokemon that can otherwise switch-in on Torterra's STAB moves and respond accordingly. With the offensive coverage it really needs in three moves, Torterra can use more of a niche utility move in the last slot. Bullet Seed might seem strange, but it does have the ability to hit through Substitutes, Focus Sashes, and Sturdy. Sleep Talk is never a terrible option in a metagame that is infested with sleep inducers, but one must keep in mind that Torterra can't deal with most of them as effectively as other Sleep Talk users such as Emboar, Escavalier, and Druddigon. The EV spread maximizes damage output while making sure Torterra will outspeed max Speed Adamant Aggron. As Torterra will rarely ever use the move it chooses in the last slot, there are some other options to look into. Toxic can cripple Tangrowth to help Torterra's teammates wear it down faster. Seed Bomb is a bit stronger than Bullet Seed on average, but it lacks the ability to hit through Substitutes. Superpower is there if you really need to deal with Ferroseed in short order, but Earthquake will usually be enough to handle it. A bulkier spread of 164 HP / 252 Atk / 92 Spe can be used if you want more bulk with Torterra, but being outsped by Aggron limits Torterra's ability to reliably beat it since this set lacks any kind of recovery. Like any other Torterra set, you want something to deal with Tangrowth as it simply doesn't care about anything Torterra runs outside of the rare Toxic. Powerful Fire- and Bug-type Pokemon such as Moltres, Emboar, and Escavalier can quickly break down Tangrowth. Alternatively, Spikes support from Qwilfish or Omastar can also be used to wear down Tangrowth and limit the effect Regenerator has. Paralysis support from the likes of Uxie and Slowking can be useful to allow Torterra to have more of an impact against offensive teams. Having sturdy fall-back options for when you overpredict or simply don't predict the correct switch-in is a good idea due to the nature of Torterra's STABs. Aerodactyl has blazing fast Speed and can use its typing to check most Fire- and Flying-type Pokemon. Once Torterra has dented the opposing team enough, Life Orb Aerodactyl can easily clean up with its decent power and amazing Speed. Uxie, Mesprit, and Rotom-C are common Levitate Pokemon that can come in for free on Earthquake. Spiritomb fares well against the former two while Rotom-C can find it difficult to handle the likes of Druddigon, Roselia, and even your own Rotom-C. If you can't afford paralysis support, but still wish to fix the Speed issues, then you can use Trick Room. Slowking happens to be a reliable Trick Room setter and have solid synergy with Torterra. However, keep in mind that this will let Escavalier outspeed Torterra. Make sure to use a Brave nature with 0 Speed IVs and to move all Speed EVs to HP when going this route.

This is Torterra's trademark offensive set, and for good reason. The premise of this set is simple: grab a Rock Polish boost on a Pokemon that cannot hit Torterra for significant damage such as Aggron to make Torterra fast enough to outspeed the entire unboosted RU metagame, bar Accelgor, and watch as Torterra shreds through offensive and defensive teams alike with its blistering Speed and fantastic coverage. Earthquake will be Torterra's main attack, as it is still incredibly strong and lacks the recoil Wood Hammer has; however, Wood Hammer's extra power and Grass-type coverage allows it to crush certain Pokemon that Earthquake would be unable to dent, such as Uxie and Mesprit. Wood Hammer also crushes bulky Water-type Pokemon, most importantly Alomomola, thus making Torterra one of the very few physical sweepers that can get past Alomomola with little to no support. Stone Edge rounds off Torterra's coverage by allowing it to nail those pesky Flying-type Pokemon that are immune to Earthquake and resist Wood Hammer. Between these three attacks, Torterra has virtually flawless coverage, and in tandem with its blistering Speed after a Rock Polish, Torterra would appear to have the ability to tear through opposing teams in an instant. However, things aren't quite so simple for Torterra. As much as it would enjoy the ability to simply Rock Polish up and sweep at any moment, this simply isn't feasible early- or mid-game just because the things that do beat Torterra will likely still be alive and kicking, ready to stop Torterra's sweep in an instant should it attempt it. Furthermore, even though Torterra is a very strong Pokemon offensively, RU is a metagame with numerous bulky Pokemon, and there are a large number of Pokemon that are capable of surviving an Earthquake or Wood Hammer from Torterra at full health. Fortunately, Torterra is not really just a one-trick pony; thanks to its bulk and typing, it can still act as a solid bulky attacker early- and mid-game. By using Torterra in this way, it can actually wear down many of its checks by itself early-game, giving it the opportunity to sweep late-game. For example, while Escavalier can take a hit from Torterra and KO it in return with Megahorn, it is actually 2HKOed by Earthquake; therefore, if you can get Torterra in earlier in the match and hit it with Earthquake as it comes in on a predicted Wood Hammer, you could have easily just opened the door for Torterra to sweep later in the match, should Escavalier have been the opponent's main answer to it. Keep in mind though that most of the time the opponent will carry more than one answer to Torterra simply due to the nature of its coverage and typing. Thus, during Team Preview, it is important to see what answers to Torterra the opponent has, and decide whether or not it is more advantageous to play Torterra as just a bulky attacker or your team's main sweeper. An Adamant nature is generally preferred for this set, as it gives Torterra a much-needed boost in power. With an Adamant nature, Leftovers are the recommended item, as they give Torterra a way to offset the recoil from Wood Hammer and give Torterra more longevity in general. However, Jolly is certainly a respectable option; for example, with a Jolly nature, Torterra is able to outspeed the likes of Accelgor after a Rock Polish, though this comes at the cost of a large amount of power. To circumvent this, you can opt to use a Life Orb in order to make up for the lost power, but unfortunately this will cause Torterra to faint very quickly, especially when coupled with the recoil from Wood Hammer. Still, the increased Speed and power from using a Jolly nature in tandem with Life Orb does make Torterra a much better sweeper, though at the cost of much of its early- to mid-game utility. Overgrow is the ability of choice on this set, as it allows Torterra, in a desperate situation, to unleash one last, devastating Wood Hammer against a slower opponent. When it comes to sweeping, Torterra absolutely needs Tangrowth out of the picture. Moltres, Emboar, and Sigilyph are all solid options to remove it from play. Slowking is a solid pivot option as it can use Thunder Wave to slow down faster Choice Scarf users while also luring out Electric-type moves for Torterra to gain free access to the battlefield to set up. Although Typhlosion isn't exactly the best Choice Scarf user around, it can outspeed and OHKO Torterra even after it uses Rock Polish, so having a Slowking or Druddigon would be a good idea to ensure it can't inflict much damage on your team when it forces out Torterra. As Tangrowth is the best defensive counter to Rock Polish Torterra, Toxic Spikes aren't a bad idea in order to wear it down faster. Qwilfish is ideal for this role as it can handle Escavalier and Durant without a lot of problems.

Although Torterra has high physical defense, a specially defensive set is usually the best way to go with Torterra. With this set, Torterra is able to check most Electric-types and stop their attempts at building momentum with Volt Switch, as well as retaining the ability to check some dangerous physical attackers such as Aggron and Kabutops. Stealth Rock is a great move for any defensive Pokemon, but it is especially useful coming from Torterra as it beats the most common Rapid Spin user in the tier, Kabutops, without many issues. Wood Hammer is a reliable STAB move Torterra can use to deal with bulky Water-type Pokemon such as Slowking and Poliwrath. This also serves to nail Levitate Pokemon, such as Uxie and Rotom. Earthquake is another good STAB option to smash Aggron while also keeping any Fire-type not named Moltres at bay. Synthesis is a great move as it provides reliable recovery so Torterra can continue to come in on powerful offensive threats and set up Stealth Rock again should it be removed by a spinner. The EV spread maximizes special bulk while making sure Torterra can switch into Choice Band Aggron's Head Smash without suffering a 2HKO after Stealth Rock damage. Although the given moveset and EV spread is the best to use, there are a couple of things to consider. Leech Seed is an alternative method of healing for Torterra. While it makes it much harder for Torterra to stay healthy, the extra chip damage it provides can be useful for when a sweeper would otherwise fall just short of being able to push past its check. Toxic is useful if only to screw over Tangrowth. It's also nice to chip away at the likes of Moltres and Uxie. Roar can be a neat option if you're using Torterra with Spikes support. Both Toxic and Roar should be seriously considered should your team already have a Stealth Rock user. As a final note, one can use a physically defensive spread with 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD with an Impish nature to take on Pokemon such as Aggron, Rhydon, and Golurk with much greater ease. However, this will make it very difficult for Torterra to handle the likes of Rotom-C and the given spread already allows Torterra to sufficiently handle Aggron in most situations. Bulky Water-type Pokemon are generally good options to use with Torterra as they can take on many of the Fire-type Pokemon in the tier. Alomomola and Qwilfish are both good options. Alomomola can take on many of the tier's physical attackers while Qwilfish is a more reliable check to Escavalier and Durant. If you're more concerned about Moltres being a pain, Slowking is a better option as it can still take on resisted physical attacks while handling Moltres more reliably than Alomomola or Qwilfish ever could. As Torterra isn't just a sitting duck, it isn't a bad idea to run it on balanced teams either. Moltres has great defensive synergy with Torterra as it can take on most Electric- and Rock-types that can force Moltres out. Meanwhile, Moltres can use its powerful attacks to quickly break down the opposing team or even use a Choice Scarf set to pick and choose its spots while having a good fall-back option in Torterra. Offensive Water-types such as Omastar, Kabutops, and Samurott can find their lives much easier with Torterra being a great way to answer most Electric-types in the tier.

This set is meant to fully utilize one of Torterra’s best perks: its base 109 Attack stat. The hardest decision when using Torterra is whether to run Wood Hammer or Seed Bomb. Wood Hammer is the more powerful option, but its recoil forces the use of a Life Orb, as it is illogical with a Focus Sash. However, if you don't like the recoil and want to use Focus Sash, Seed Bomb is your best option. Earthquake is obvious as it is a powerful STAB attack; Rock Slide is also mandatory as it hits the Flying-types that resist Torterra's STABs super effectively. Finally, as is the case with every other VGC Pokemon, Protect enables Torterra to scout attacks and keep itself safe for a turn. Wide Guard can also be considered because it blocks Heat Wave and Blizzard, two common moves in the metagame. A Brave nature is used in conjunction with 0 Speed IVs and 252 Attack EVs to minimize Torterra's Speed while maximizing its Attack, which lets it reach its highest potential as a Trick Room sweeper. To fully utilize this set, Trick Room is an absolute must. Cresselia, Musharna, and Bronzong are amazing partners, as they are immune to Earthquake, and the former two can boost the power of Earthquake with Helping Hand. Other Trick Room users, such as Dusclops, Reuniclus, and Slowking, also make good teammates; however, they lack said Earthquake immunity. Pokemon that can set up sandstorm, namely Tyranitar and Hippowdon, also pair greatly with Torterra, who is immune to sandstorm recoil. Of the two, Tyranitar is the more recommended choice as their only common weakness is Bug, an attack type that is almost never seen in the VGC metagame. It is also worth mentioning again that Torterra is a great counter to Swampert, Gastrodon, and Rhyperior. Another effective partner to Torterra is a Rotom forme, as depending on its forme, it can eliminate threats to Torterra such as Tornadus, Thundurus, Scizor, and Fire-types. To add to the success of their pairing, Rotom-A is immune to the turtle's Earthquakes, and Torterra is immune to Discharge as well.

While Torterra is usually seen as a fearsome sweeper, it can also be played as a tough tank, especially with a beefy 384 HP and 339 Defense. As Torterra holds key resistances to the common Rock-, Ground-, and Electric-type moves, it's easy for Torterra to come in, sponge an attack, and begin Leech Seeding foes. Torterra's usefulness doesn't end there; if needed, it can set up Stealth Rock, and even Roar out opponents, such as Dragon Dance Altaria, which fails to OHKO Torterra even with a boosted STAB attack. Torterra can also scare away sweepers with its powerful STAB moves in Wood Hammer and Earthquake. Torterra ideally works on teams that require a physically-bulky Pokemon that can also hit common switch-ins hard. As a plus, Torterra is one of the more reliable Rhyperior counters in the game, fearing only Choice Band-boosted Megahorn. After surviving Rhyperior's attack, it can then threaten Rhyperior with a 4x super effective Wood Hammer or Seed Bomb. Roar works best in the last slot, as it can help Torterra rack up Spikes and Stealth Rock damage, as well as prevent Baton Pass chains from setting up. The EVs are quite simple: 212 HP EVs give Torterra a Leftovers number, while 44 Speed give it the ability to outpace common Pokemon such as Omastar and Rhyperior. The rest is dumped into Defense to maximize its physical bulk. Even though Torterra is an excellent physical tank, Ice-type attacks will usually be enough to take it down. As such, pairing Torterra with Pokemon that can take Ice-type attacks is a good idea. Lanturn makes a great partner as it can easily sponge Ice-type attacks in addition to Fire-type attacks, while also scaring away the users. In return, Torterra can handle Lanturn's Ground-type weakness. Nonetheless, Torterra has high enough Defense to take even boosted physical Ice-type moves; for example, Dragon Dance Feraligatr without Life Orb fails to OHKO Torterra with Ice Punch.

Torterra makes an excellent staller due to Leech Seed, its high defenses, and its bulky Substitutes. Additionally, Torterra has the ability to 2HKO Venusaur with its powerful STAB Earthquake. Wood Hammer and Toxic are there for completely different reasons, but both of them are viable. Toxic gives Torterra a way around Grass-types not named Venusaur. Wood Hammer helps Torterra fend off Pokemon such as Mismagius, Omastar, Cloyster, and Donphan. The premise is simple: send Torterra into a weak physical or resisted attack and set up a Substitute on the switch. If the Pokemon that comes in is not a Grass-type or Clefable, use Leech Seed and start stalling until they are in KO range. Venusaur and Clefable are both 2HKOed by Earthquake, so they are no worry anyway. If a pure Grass-type such as Tangrowth comes in, hit it with Toxic and stall its HP away. With Wood Hammer, you trade the ability to handle pure Grass-types for the ability to strike Pokemon such as Cloyster and Claydol super effectively. The EVs look a little obscure at first, but they are quite necessary for this set to work effectively. The 216 HP EVs give Torterra bulky Substitutes and a Substitute number, meaning that it will be able to Substitute five times in a row. 80 Attack EVs and an Adamant nature ensure that Torterra can 2HKO the common support Venusaur. 212 Speed EVs allow Torterra to outpace many threats, such as defensive Milotic and Venusaur, as well as Hitmontop, Donphan, and Omastar. For this set to work to its fullest potential, it needs to be paired with Spikes and Stealth Rocks users, as well as a Ghost to block Rapid Spin. Omastar, Qwilfish, and Cloyster are great at setting up Spikes, and they also all resist Ice. Defensive Mismagius works great as a Pokemon to block Rapid Spin because it can Taunt Foresight users such as Hitmontop. Generally, any SubSeed set requires you to remove Grass-types for it to function well, so Scyther and Moltres make great partners for Torterra, as they can switch into any Grass-type attack and OHKO the user with Aerial Ace and Fire Blast respectively. Common Grass-types that will stand in Torterra's way include Exeggutor, Tangrowth, Leafeon, and physically defensive Venusaur. Exeggutor is easily eliminated with the help of a Pursuit user such as Absol, Drapion, or Spiritomb. Tangrowth and Leafeon can be stalled out with Torterra's Toxic, but having a Weezing with Flamethrower as a partner will make Torterra's life a lot easier, as it can wall and burn every Grass-type except Exeggutor. Finally, even though Venusaur is rather unpredictable, it is easily defeated by faster Fire- and Flying-types such as Houndoom, Arcanine, and Swellow.

Torterra is a great asset to stall teams thanks to its handy resistances coupled with its formidable physical bulk. These let it switch in on a large amount of the metagame's most common Pokemon, such as Rhyperior, Registeel, and Steelix, and Roar as they either switch or do a negligible amount of damage. This forces the opponent to lose health to entry hazards and possibly reveal previously hidden members of their team. Rest fully heals Torterra, meaning that it is less worried by weak super effective hits. The real selling point of this set is, interestingly enough, its Speed. Torterra sits in a Speed tier slightly above most other defensive Pokemon, and can really put the pressure on opposing stall teams with the combination of Rest, Sleep Talk, and Roar, which allows Torterra to Roar before slower opposing Pokemon have a chance to heal. The fact that it can switch into a majority of Pokemon on opposing stall teams makes its job even easier. 40 Speed EVs also allow Torterra to outpace standard Clefable by two points. This does not mean that this set is dead weight against offensive teams, either. Torterra can abuse its physical bulk to come in on many of the physically-oriented sweepers of UU, such as Hitmontop and other Fighting-types. Balanced teams will tend to include one of the defensive Pokemon mentioned earlier. Once in, Torterra can opt to add further residual damage with Roar, or to try to hit an opposing Pokemon hard with one of its STAB moves. Wood Hammer is preferred due to the fact that nothing is immune to it, and it allows Torterra to hit bulky Water-types that may switch in and use Ice Beam for the KO. Wood Hammer's recoil is also negated by Rest, meaning that Torterra does not need to worry about being low on health. Earthquake is an option that will allow Torterra to hit more Pokemon for neutral damage, most notably Venusaur, and opposing Fire-types, such as Arcanine, for super effective damage. While it allows Levitators and Flying-types to come in freely, they will likely get Roared out again anyway. This set plays off Torterra's ability to force switches and, as such, needs support from Pokemon that can set up entry hazards to function effectively. Good examples are Omastar, which provides handy Fire-, Ice-, and Flying-type resistances, as well as the ability to set up Spikes; and Chansey, which can cover the special attackers that the opponent will try to use against Torterra, in addition to being able to set up Stealth Rock. Toxic Spikes support is useful but not as high of a priority as the other two hazard types. Bulky Water-types like Slowbro pair up well with this set, as they have the ability to check many of common stallbreakers, such as Blaziken. They can also force switches with their stalling capability, furthering the goal of the stall team. Lanturn gets a particular mention because of its Flying-type resistance, good Special Defense, and ability to threaten the Water-types that try to prey on Torterra's Ice weakness. Having another physically bulky Pokemon with a Flying-type resistance such as Registeel and Steelix is good for dealing with Scyther, which can stop this set dead once it is allowed to switch in.

While Torterra is normally seen utilizing an offensive set with Rock Polish, this set aims to conserve its health with Synthesis while also inflicting damage with Torterra's excellent type coverage; the combination of Grass-, Ground-, and Rock-type moves is only handled by Weezing, Tangrowth, and Leafeon in UU. This set is notoriously effective against unprepared stall teams that lack dedicated checks to Torterra. In addition to its offensive prowess, Torterra's typing gives it an immunity to Thunder Wave and a resistance to Earthquake, both of which allow it to switch into attacks more frequently. Wood Hammer makes a fantastic move in tandem with Synthesis, as Synthesis allows Torterra to offset the damage taken from recoil. Torterra makes a great user of Earthquake as it frightens most Water- and Ground-types with Wood Hammer, which are the Pokemon that often switch into other common users of Earthquake. With that said, predicting a Flying-type switch-in and using Stone Edge or Rock Slide accordingly is an important skill to have when using this set. Selecting between Stone Edge and Rock Slide is essentially a choice between power and accuracy. Stone Edge allows Torterra to hit defensive Altaria and Articuno for heavier damage (possibly OHKOing them), while Rock Slide is a safer alternative that still OHKOes offensive Moltres. Adamant is the recommended nature as it allows Torterra to nab the listed OHKOs and 2HKOs for the set. However, Jolly can be chosen to give Torterra enough Speed to outpace Jolly Aggron and Omastar, and smack them with Earthquake before they can do anything. Some Milotic also run just enough Speed to outrun Adamant Torterra, so a Jolly nature would help there too. Leftovers allows Torterra to bluff a defensive set, allowing it to hit defensive Pokemon that casually switch in for heavy damage. On the other hand, Life Orb secures an OHKO on defensive Milotic and has a higher chance of OHKOing Slowbro; however, it might deplete Torterra's HP too fast in conjunction with Wood Hammer's recoil. Leafeon, Tangrowth, and Weezing are problematic for this set. Leafeon and Tangrowth can take a Stone Edge while shutting down Torterra with Swords Dance + Leaf Blade and Hidden Power Ice, respectively. Weezing can switch into Torterra's STAB moves with impunity and strike back with Fire Blast or Will-O-Wisp. Moltres makes an excellent offensive partner alongside Torterra, as it can safely switch into Torterra's counters and scare them with a STAB Fire Blast. Should your opponent run an offensive Leafeon instead of a defensive one, Registeel is a better answer, as a Swords Dance-boosted Life Orb Return can OHKO Moltres. If you plan on using Moltres as your dedicated check to the aforementioned threats, Rapid Spin support is required. Moltres can beat this set if played correctly because it can switch into three-fourths of the moveset easily. It is advised that you run a bulky Water-type with a reliable recovery move to effectively combat Moltres for the entire match. Milotic and Slowking make excellent Moltres counters and also resist Torterra's Fire- and Ice-type weaknesses. Using Stealth Rock is also a good idea since it restricts Moltres's opportunities to switch in.

Choice Band Torterra requires no setup to deal damage, allowing it to immediately enter battle and fire off powerful Earthquakes and Wood Hammers coming off a 522 Attack stat. Wood Hammer is highly recommended over Seed Bomb, as its high Base Power allows it to OHKO every Water-type in UU, as well as deal up to 62% to standard Hariyama. Earthquake is another strong STAB move that lacks Wood Hammer's nasty recoil, and also hits the Steel-types that attempt to absorb Wood Hammer. Stone Edge covers Flying-types such as Moltres, Scyther, and Altaria that are immune to Earthquake and take little damage from Wood Hammer. The last slot is up to you; Seed Bomb hits the likes of Claydol and Mismagius without having to rely on Wood Hammer's recoil or Stone Edge's shaky accuracy, while Superpower is a safer option against enemy Torterra and Magnet Rise Aggron than Wood Hammer. Toxic is an option solely for taking out foes such as Tangrowth that wall this set. Ice-type attacks and Grass-types such as Tangrowth and Leafeon are the bane of Torterra's existence, especially for this set, as Torterra could potentially be locked into an ineffective move. Having Pokemon that can take Ice- and Fire-type attacks as well as threaten bulky Grass Pokemon would benefit Torterra greatly. Fire-types such as Arcanine and Houndoom can help safeguard Torterra from Ice- and Fire-type attacks while simultaneously threatening Grass-types.

With respectable Attack and subpar Speed, Torterra is a natural candidate for Rock Polish. After a single boost, Torterra reaches an amazing 422 Speed, and when coupled with an Attack stat of 348, becomes a dangerous late-game sweeper. Common walls such as Steelix, Slowbro, and Milotic can't take repeated abuse from its Ground- and Grass-type STAB moves. Stone Edge covers Flying-types such as Altaria and Moltres, both of which are immune to Ground and 4x resist Grass. Wood Hammer is preferred over Seed Bomb as it can OHKO the standard Slowbro roughly 80% of the time and guarantees an OHKO on Milotic and Claydol while 2HKOing Spiritomb and Miltank after Stealth Rock damage. However, Seed Bomb can be used if you want a non-recoil Grass-type STAB move that still hits Pokemon such as Slowbro and Milotic hard enough to 2HKO. Although Torterra packs a ton of power, it gets stopped cold by most bulky Grass-types, such as Leafeon and Tangrowth. The most Torterra can do is hit them with a neutral Stone Edge, which deals only 25% maximum to Tangrowth. With this in mind, Pokemon that can remove bulky Grass-types are ideal partners for Torterra. Life Orb Milotic or Slowbro is an excellent lure for Grass-types such as Venusaur, as Venusaur would normally expect to outspeed and OHKO both with a Life Orb Leaf Storm or Power Whip, only to be hit by a powerful Ice Beam or Psychic on the switch. Torterra can also switch into Electric-type attacks directed at Slowbro or Milotic and get a free chance to Rock Polish. Lastly, Swellow is also an excellent partner that is capable of luring in Steel-types such as Registeel and Steelix, U-turning to Torterra, and allowing it to Rock Polish or 2HKO both with Earthquake. Keep in mind that while Rock Polish doubles Torterra's Speed, it can still be outsped and revenge killed by certain Choice Scarf users. Any Choice Scarf-using Pokemon with 423 Speed or above, such as positive-natured Rotom, Venusaur, Moltres, and Primeape, can easily outrun and revenge kill Torterra. Registeel works well with Rock Polish Torterra because it can absorb attacks from Choice Scarf Venusaur and Rotom easily. It can also paralyze them to give Torterra an easier time sweeping. Against Moltres and Primeape, bulky Milotic can help sponge their hits and retaliate back with Surf. While Leftovers is an option if you prefer Torterra to last longer, it comes at the cost of some power. Although Torterra will likely be sweeping late-game, where most of its counters are weakened to the point that Torterra does not always require a Life Orb to finish them off, the power loss is most noticeable when Torterra is weakening its counters early-game.

This set is designed to set up Reflect and Light Screen, which enable Pokemon such as Dragon Dance Feraligatr and Swords Dance Absol to set up much more easily before sweeping the opponent. What sets Torterra apart from other UU dual screen users is its typing, as most dual screen users are Psychic-type. Torterra is also one of the few dual screens users that are physically offensive. Reflect and Light Screen, obviously, are used on this set to support the team. Light Clay prolongs the moves' effects, allowing for more setup time. Earthquake and Seed Bomb are two powerful STAB attacks that Torterra can use when in a pinch. Torterra isn't a slouch in Attack either, as even with no EVs, Torterra sits at a respectable 254 Attack. For example, Earthquake OHKOes Pokemon such as Blaziken, Ninetales, and Toxicroak, while Seed Bomb OHKOes Omastar and Kabutops. If you wish to increase Torterra's longevity and give it the option of setting up dual screens multiple times, then Synthesis is a good option over one of the attacking moves. Because Torterra will be taking less damage thanks to Reflect and Light Screen, Stealth Rock can be used to support your sweeper, as the residual damage will help score the OHKOs needed for an easy sweep. The EVs listed maximize Torterra's defenses so that it can take physical and special hits with relative ease. As was previously stated, Torterra's typing is another asset to this set. Torterra is a prime target for Bug- and Ice-type attacks. This makes Torterra a great teammate for Charizard as well as Water-types like Feraligatr. Behind screens, it's very easy for Charizard to set up a Substitute and then Belly Drum. Poliwrath can also set up with Belly Drum, or even Bulk Up. Opposing Brick Break users will be a problem as they can shatter dual screens, even against Ghost-types. Fortunately, most Pokemon in UU that can use Brick Break, such Toxicroak, Blaziken, and Hariyama, have better options in terms of Fighting attacks, and in the case of the former two, are KOed by Earthquake. The only Pokemon in UU that commonly uses Brick Break is Scyther, which resists Seed Bomb and is immune to Earthquake anyway, so you will need to find ways around it. Scyther is hurt most by Stealth Rock, which will reduce its HP by half, allowing it to be picked off easily by many Pokemon. Registeel and Steelix also make good counters to it because of their massive Defense stats and resistances to Scyther's STAB moves.

Torterra's decent base 85 Special Defense is often overshadowed by its much higher Defense. However, with this set, Torterra can counter some of the most powerful special attackers in UU, including Mismagius, Alakazam, and Rotom. This Torterra is also one of the best checks to Slowbro, as it can easily absorb most of Slowbro's attacks (except Ice Beam) and retaliate back with STAB Wood Hammer. Even without any investment, Torterra's Defense stands at a respectable 246, giving it good mixed walling capability. Its Ground- and Rock-type resistances allow it to switch into Rhyperior, Donphan, and Aggron (beware of Ice Punch) and hit them with the appropriate attack. Wood Hammer is Torterra's main STAB attack and hits hard even without Attack investment. Torterra's STAB Earthquake maims Steel- and Fire-type switch-ins, something its fellow Grass-type Venusaur is unable to do effectively. Synthesis grants Torterra instant recovery and allows it to continuously switch into special threats, like Mismagius. Common Mismagius counters such as Spiritomb and Registeel can eventually be worn down, but Torterra can simply replenish its health to continually prevent Mismagius from sweeping. Torterra's last moveslot is dedicated to utility options. Leech Seed grants Torterra and its teammates extra recovery while sapping the opponent's health. Roar lets Torterra force out stat boosters like Curse Miltank and prevents Scyther and Moltres from switching in too easily while Stealth Rock is up. Torterra has access to Stealth Rock and can use it over Leech Seed or Roar in the last slot. It's an inferior option, however, as there are better users of Stealth Rock and the other two moves grant Torterra far more utility. With maximum EVs and a positive nature, Torterra's Special Defense maxes out at a respectable 295. An unboosted Shadow Ball from Mismagius does a mere 23.1% - 27.4%, while +2 Shadow Ball deals 45.7% - 54.1%. As Mismagius uses Nasty Plot, Torterra can strike it with Wood Hammer, which has a chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock. Another scenario includes Mismagius using Substitute as Torterra switches in; as Mismagius sets up with Nasty Plot, Torterra can hit it with Wood Hammer, survive the incoming Shadow Ball, and OHKO it the next turn. With this spread, Torterra will never be KOed by Psychic followed by Signal Beam from Timid Life Orb Alakazam, even with Stealth Rock factored in. This grants Torterra another advantage over Venusaur, which has no hope of taking on Alakazam. Torterra can invest some EVs into Speed to outspeed certain threats, but this should be done with great care, as losing Special Defense means Torterra will be less adept at its walling duties. With 40 Speed EVs, Torterra can outspeed and hit 4 Speed Clefable before it heals. 96 Speed EVs allow Torterra to outspeed and OHKO 4 Speed Lanturn before Lanturn can strike back with Ice Beam. 4 Speed EVs are usually enough, though, as they allow Torterra to outpace most threats like Rhyperior and Azumarill. Torterra makes a great defensive core with Weezing and Milotic. RestTalk Weezing can handle Venusaur and sponge the strong STAB Fighting-type attacks that Torterra can't. Milotic grants great Ice- and Fire-type resistances for Torterra, (especially against the likes of Moltres) while Torterra provides insurance against Electric attacks in return. Thanks to Torterra's ability to draw out Weezing, Omastar has ample opportunities to set up entry hazards. Because it doesn't enjoy status, Torterra appreciates the support of a cleric. Chansey can use Heal Bell and pass Wish to Torterra if it hasn't had a chance to heal with Synthesis. Altaria makes a nice alternative cleric; it resists Torterra's Fire weakness while Torterra resists Altaria's Rock weakness, but the two share a nasty 4x Ice weakness. Altaria also poses more of an offensive threat than Chansey with Dragon Dance.

With its great bulk and typing providing many chances of switching in, Torterra can cause a few switches itself. Substitute is a great move to abuse this, because unlike Rock Polish, Substitute Torterra will easily take out a Pokemon every time it comes in because of the free attack it gets. Substitute and Earthquake are staples on this set, but Wood Hammer and Stone Edge can easily be replaced by other moves. Seed Bomb is an option, since Substitute and Wood Hammer's recoil will wear Torterra down quickly. Leftovers allows Torterra to make more Substitutes, although Life Orb can be used for more power. The EVs are fairly simple. 216 HP EVs give Torterra a Substitute number and excellent bulk. With 40 Speed EVs, Torterra outpaces Pokemon such as Omastar and Rhyperior, and the rest of the EVs are dumped into Attack to maximize Torterra's damage output. First and foremost, this Torterra set needs a Pokemon that will lure out Earthquake and Stone Edge for Torterra to switch into and set up on. Fire-types such as Houndoom, Arcanine, and Magmortar are great partners for this reason. Because Torterra also requires a teammate to switch into Ice Beam, you can kill two birds with one stone by using one of the Pokemon listed above. This set also works well with Spikes because it uses the opponent's switches to its advantage. Cloyster is one of the most effective Spikes users, and it also has great defensive synergy with Torterra.