Druddigon @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 148 HP / 252 Atk / 108 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Gunk Shot
- Sucker Punch
- Outrage
- Superpower / Fire Punch
Offensive Druddigon's main reason to be used over other Dragon-types such as Garchomp and Dragonite is the ability to one-shot Clefable and Azumarill, as well as destroy Tangrowth with Stealth Rock damage in play. Druddigon can also use Gunk Shot as a pseudo-STAB move, because it hits harder than Dragon Claw since it packs a total power of 156 factoring in Sheer Force. Therefore, Druddigon makes for a nice Pokemon if you need a Dragon-type Pokemon that acts as a Fairy lure and a revenge killer in one.
Gunk Shot is the most important move on Druddigon's part, since it's its main weapon against Fairy-types, especially Clefable and Azumarill, and should always be used when in doubt, due to its surprisingly good power. Factoring in Stealth Rock damage, it OHKOes Tornadus-T, Raikou, Tangrowth, Celebi and most offensively-inclined Pokemon without resorting to Outrage, whose locking-in effect can backfire due to the presence of Ferrothorn, Weavile and Fairy-type Pokemon in the tier, a large problem for many Dragon-type Pokemon, who largely prefer to use Dragon Claw for this very reason. Sucker Punch is another good reason to use Druddigon, due to its ability to revenge kill Alakazam, Latios and Latias after Stealth Rock damage, and can be used to pick off slightly weakened Pokemon, especially Hoopa Unbound and Mega Sceptile. Outrage is the move of choice when facing bulky teams, since it has enough juice to 2HKO Suicune and Hippowdon after Stealth Rock and always 2HKO Tyranitar and Mew, even when the latter uses Will-o-Wisp on the second turn. Lastly, the 4th slot generally goes to a coverage move - both Superpower and Fire Punch break through Ferrothorn, Bisharp and Magnezone, but the former generally takes out Heatran, Chansey and Tyranitar while the latter is useful for Skarmory, Scizor and Jirachi.
Other moves include:
- Earthquake: it is better against Heatran for obvious reasons, while still getting OHKOes on Tyranitar and Bisharp. If Tentacruel and Dragalge are annoying, Earthquake can be used to get past them without resorting to Outrage.
- Flamethrower: better than Fire Punch if you loathe Rocky Helmet damage when facing a Ferrothorn or a Skarmory. If you're using this move, move the HP EVs to Special Attack, but beware of the consequences: you'll get a less bulky Druddigon.
- Hone Claws: really, this move isn't that good due to Druddigon's low speed and overreliance on Sucker Punch, but it can be used in a pinch if you're convinced you don't need any other coverage move and want to muscle through a bulky Pokemon that doesn't really care about any other move (such as Hippowdon or Suicune) or at late-game against a weakened offensive team.
EV Spread
The 108 Spe EVs allow Druddigon to outspeed Support Tyranitar, but mostly Clefable and Choice Band Azumarill, one of the main reasons to justify Druddigon over other Dragon-type Pokemon in this slot. The 148 HP EVs enhance its bulk, allowing it to survive a Moonblast from Clefable after Stealth Rock and letting it survive HP Ice from the likes of Manectric and Raikou more confortably. The rest of the EVs go into Attack to make Druddigon hit as hard as possible, especially with the Adamant nature.
Team Options
Druddigon is best paired with offensive Pokemon that can overcome its vulnerability to faster Ice-type attacks and other Dragon-types which prey on its low speed. Mega Altaria is thus a great partner, abusing its immunity to opposing Dragon-type attacks and threatening to set up a Dragon Dance boost on Pokemon such as Dragonite, Latios and even Garchomp, but it has some trouble combatting Mega Charizard X. Mega Diancie is also very effective, since it boasts Diamond Storm and Moonblast against Mega Charizard X and Mega Altaria respectively, despite having problems mega-evolving. Meanwhile, Druddigon can take out Ferrothorn and Heatran easily, threats both fairies hate. Keldeo is an interesting partner which capitalizes on Druddigon's ability to remove Clefable and Azumarill, while Keldeo takes care of Weavile and Mamoswine. Tyranitar and Excadrill pair well with Druddigon, since the former revenge kills Latios and Latias comfortably, while the latter threatens to set up a Swords Dance on faster fairy-types that annoy Druddigon, such as Gardevoir and Altaria.
