Moves
Draco Meteor is an absurdly powerful STAB move that is guaranteed to hit non-Dragon-resistant and -immune Pokemon relatively hard, though the move's reliability is hindered by the fact that it drops Guzzlord's Special Attack by two stages. Dark Pulse is Guzzlord's secondary STAB move and is more reliable and spammable than Draco Meteor due to its lack of drawbacks and immunities. Fire Blast nails bulky Steel-types like Steelix, Ferroseed, and Silvally-Steel, as well as Whimsicott, which resists both of Guzzlord's STAB types. Sludge Bomb hits Fairy-types like Aromatisse and Mega Audino hard while also giving Guzzlord a more reliable means of OHKOing Whimsicott.
Set Details
Maximum investment in Special Attack coupled with a Modest nature makes Guzzlord a very devastating wallbreaker. 180 Speed EVs allow Guzzlord to outspeed Vaporeon. The remainder of the EVs are placed into Guzzlord's Defense to enable it to more reliably check Incineroar. Choice Specs further increases Guzzlord's damage output at the cost of locking it into one move. Beast Boost increases its Special Attack every time it KOes a Pokemon, progressively turning it into a more and more dangerous wallbreaker.
Usage Tips
Guzzlord should mainly switch into Pokemon that cannot immediately threaten it such as Palossand, Decidueye, and non-Assault Vest Slowking. Because Guzzlord is locked into one move and isn't very fast, it is reliant on prediction in order to wallbreak to the best of its ability. For example, if Guzzlord predicts a Fairy-type to switch in, it should use Sludge Bomb. Dark Pulse is the move that Guzzlord should be using most of the time, as the move's lack of drawbacks and Pokemon immune to it prevent it from being completely exploitable. Exercise caution regarding which move Guzzlord locks itself into, especially in the case of Draco Meteor, as the fact that it's slow and can't switch moves can turn it into setup fodder for dangerous Pokemon like Klinklang and Comfey.
Team Options
Guzzlord fits best on bulky offensive teams that are in need of a wallbreaker that can directly switch into and pressure common defensive staples, most notably defensive Slowking. Pairing Guzzlord with entry hazard setters such as Rhydon, Steelix, Garbodor, and Weezing is ideal, as Guzzlord forces a lot of switches, a number of its switch-ins lack reliable recovery, and Guzzlord is capable of pressuring hazard control and removers like Xatu, Blastoise, and Silvally-Steel. In return, the latter three can check Fairy-types, with Garbodor and Weezing also being Fighting checks. Guzzlord also appreciates having teammates that can remove or prevent entry hazards like Blastoise, Xatu, Rotom, Silvally-Steel, and Golbat, since Guzzlord is forced out by many Pokemon, lacks recovery, and cannot reliably switch into defensive Pokemon like Steelix if it takes too much residual damage. Teammates that can switch into the types that Guzzlord is threatened by are appreciated, with Fighting checks like Slowking and Golbat, Ice checks like Delphox and Alolan Sandslash, and Fairy checks like Steelix and Garbodor being notable examples. Pivots such as Passimian, Heliolisk, Rotom, and Silvally-Steel make for useful partners, since they guarantee that Guzzlord can safely switch in against opposing teams. Passimian appreciates having Fighting checks heavily damaged and can provide Knock Off support, while Rotom and Silvally-Steel can weaken opposing Pokemon with Will-O-Wisp and Parting Shot, respectively. Pokemon such as Sceptile, Aromatisse, Klinklang, and Omastar have a much easier time sweeping weakened teams late-game as a result of Guzzlord breaking through them.