[OVERVIEW]
With impressive Attacking and Defensive stats, a solid defensive typing in pure-Ground, and a excellent array of moves to use at its disposal, Donphan should have everything that it needs to stand out in the metagame as an effective defensive wall with offensive capabilities. With access to moves like Rapid Spin, Encore, Roar, and Growl, Donphan has the potential to be a dangerous support Pokemon that can fire off powerful STAB Earthquakes that barely anything is willing to take, while stopping Curse sweepers in their tracks with the combination of Encore and Roar. Its typing gives it an incredibly useful immunity to Electric-type attacks, allowing it to server as an excellent counter to any Raikou or Zapdos that lack the proper HP-coverage. Donphan also has access to Curse, giving it the opportunity to raise its Attack and Defense stats to astronomical levels while threatening everything in the tier with the combination of Earthquake and Hidden Power Rock.
Unfortunately, while Donphan may have the tools it needs to become a prominent threat in the metagame, it is severely held back by its lacking Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed stats, further exploiting its weaknesses to Ice, Water, and Grass, all of which are Special types in this generation. Its role as a Rapid Spinner is hampered by its weak matchups to the tier’s other Rapid Spinners, namely Starmie, Forretress, and Cloyster, and while the Ground-typing certainly has its merits, the weakness to Ice and Water means that Pokemon it should be able to hard-wall, like Raikou and Zapdos, are able to get past it through the use of Hidden Power Ice or Water. Additionally, other Ground-types like Rhydon and Steelix are generally more favored as defensive walls thanks to their resistances to the ubiquitous Normal-type, and Marowak’s access to Thick Club and Swords Dance makes it more prefered as a physical attacker when compared to Donphan. Donphan, when used properly, can be an effective and useful team player, but it struggles to find its place in a metagame where nearly all of its roles are able to be filled by one or more other Pokemon in the OU tier.
[SET]
name: Standard
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Hidden Power Rock / Body Slam
move 3: Curse
move 4: Rest / Roar
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Earthquake is powerful STAB while HP Rock is used for coverage, Body Slam can be ran to spread paralysis. Curse is the setup move, Rest is used to remain healthy but Roar can be used as well to phaze out other phazers.
========
[SET 2]
name: Support
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Roar
move 3: Rapid Spin
move 4: Rest / Encore
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Earthquake is powerful STAB, Roar is used for phazing the opponent's team. Rapid Spin is to provide spin support and can help keep Spikes off of the field. Rest once again is used to remain healthy, but Encore can be used to stop Curse sweepers and other setup sweepers that are slower than Donphan, such as Marowak.
Team Options
========
Describe some teammates that would be a good idea to pair with this Pokemon.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
List some options for the Pokemon user that are plausible but not always recommended due to either being not consistent enough or too outclassed by other Pokemon in the metagame.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Insert Threat Here**: Describe why the Pokemon is a threat.
**Insert Threat Here**: Describe why the Pokemon is a threat.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Whydon]]
- Quality checked by: [[, ], [, ], [, ]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]
With impressive Attacking and Defensive stats, a solid defensive typing in pure-Ground, and a excellent array of moves to use at its disposal, Donphan should have everything that it needs to stand out in the metagame as an effective defensive wall with offensive capabilities. With access to moves like Rapid Spin, Encore, Roar, and Growl, Donphan has the potential to be a dangerous support Pokemon that can fire off powerful STAB Earthquakes that barely anything is willing to take, while stopping Curse sweepers in their tracks with the combination of Encore and Roar. Its typing gives it an incredibly useful immunity to Electric-type attacks, allowing it to server as an excellent counter to any Raikou or Zapdos that lack the proper HP-coverage. Donphan also has access to Curse, giving it the opportunity to raise its Attack and Defense stats to astronomical levels while threatening everything in the tier with the combination of Earthquake and Hidden Power Rock.
Unfortunately, while Donphan may have the tools it needs to become a prominent threat in the metagame, it is severely held back by its lacking Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed stats, further exploiting its weaknesses to Ice, Water, and Grass, all of which are Special types in this generation. Its role as a Rapid Spinner is hampered by its weak matchups to the tier’s other Rapid Spinners, namely Starmie, Forretress, and Cloyster, and while the Ground-typing certainly has its merits, the weakness to Ice and Water means that Pokemon it should be able to hard-wall, like Raikou and Zapdos, are able to get past it through the use of Hidden Power Ice or Water. Additionally, other Ground-types like Rhydon and Steelix are generally more favored as defensive walls thanks to their resistances to the ubiquitous Normal-type, and Marowak’s access to Thick Club and Swords Dance makes it more prefered as a physical attacker when compared to Donphan. Donphan, when used properly, can be an effective and useful team player, but it struggles to find its place in a metagame where nearly all of its roles are able to be filled by one or more other Pokemon in the OU tier.
[SET]
name: Standard
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Hidden Power Rock / Body Slam
move 3: Curse
move 4: Rest / Roar
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Earthquake is powerful STAB while HP Rock is used for coverage, Body Slam can be ran to spread paralysis. Curse is the setup move, Rest is used to remain healthy but Roar can be used as well to phaze out other phazers.
========
[SET 2]
name: Support
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Roar
move 3: Rapid Spin
move 4: Rest / Encore
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Earthquake is powerful STAB, Roar is used for phazing the opponent's team. Rapid Spin is to provide spin support and can help keep Spikes off of the field. Rest once again is used to remain healthy, but Encore can be used to stop Curse sweepers and other setup sweepers that are slower than Donphan, such as Marowak.
Team Options
========
Describe some teammates that would be a good idea to pair with this Pokemon.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
List some options for the Pokemon user that are plausible but not always recommended due to either being not consistent enough or too outclassed by other Pokemon in the metagame.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Insert Threat Here**: Describe why the Pokemon is a threat.
**Insert Threat Here**: Describe why the Pokemon is a threat.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Whydon]]
- Quality checked by: [[, ], [, ], [, ]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]
