Golem
Type: Rock / Ground
Stats: 80 | 110 | 130 | 55 | 45
Changes In Violet Pertinent To This Analysis:
- Rock Slide is now 85 BP.
- For a full list of changes in Violet, see this thread.
Introduction
Golem really doesn't change much in Violet, compared to RBY 1U, but the metagame around it changes quite significantly. Although Zapdos is still a respectable threat in the metagame, it's not the scariest Pokemon that Golem acts as a response to. The rise of Aerodactyl, with its newfound access to Rock Slide and Softboiled, gives Golem a new, more pertinent threat to handle. And while Rhydon is not included in Violet, due to its heavy overlap with Golem, the addition of Softboiled to Nidoqueen's movepool gives Golem plenty of competition. Golem is a more aggressive choice compared to Nidoqueen, due to its access to STAB Rock Slide, a scary proposition for Moltres, another top threat, as well as the evergreen Explosion - Golduck, now a Water- and Ghost-type, is the only Pokemon in the tier immune or resistant to Explosion that isn't weak to one of its STABs, so it certainly remains a good option.
Sets
Standard
Golem
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Body Slam / Fire Blast / Explosion
- Explosion / Rest
Set Details
Earthquake and Rock Slide are Golem's best STAB options; together they have perfect neutral coverage. The third attack is dedicated to pressuring common switch-ins, like Starmie, Tangela, and Golduck. Body Slam can paralyze switch-ins - Golduck is the only common switch-in immune to it, while Fire Blast can spread burns and does more damage to Tangela. Explosion has a high cost, but a potentially high reward too, if you can make a worthwhile trade with it. Rest might seem like a strange option, but it is a surprisingly worthwhile choice. Aerodactyl, one of the best Pokemon in Violet, and a Pokemon Golem is well-equipped to check, virtually always carries Fire Blast, and Rest provides Golem a means of alleviating burns accrued from switching in. Needless to say, as Golem is primarily a physical attacker, burns are a serious problem for it, and so any move which can clear that status deserve serious consideration.
Other Options
Substitute is an option to exploit paralyzed Pokemon, while Toxic is an alternative move Golem could use to frustrate switch-ins, making them vulnerable to Dream Eater.
Checks and Counters
Tangela and Exeggutor are great checks - they resist Earthquake, are neutral to Rock Slide, and have enough special to take Fire Blast quite comfortably. They can exploit Golem's low special, let alone its Grass-type weakness. Other Pokemon which resist or are immune to Earthquake are weak to Rock Slide, making them limited in their capacity to check Golem. Gyarados is maybe the best check that is immune to Ground-types, due to its high overall stats and Water-type STAB. Beyond Ground-type resistances, Golduck is one of Golem's better checks; it is immune to Explosion (and Body Slam) and can OHKO in return with its Water-type STAB options. Starmie is vulnerable to Body Slam and Explosion, but it has decent bulk, speed, Recover, and usually runs moves that can 2HKO, if not OHKO, Golem. Poliwrath and Machamp are notable for their resistances to Rock Slide, as well as their ability to retaliate against Golem with their STABs. Vileplume has acceptable stats all around, and while not resisting either of Golem's STABs, is nonetheless a decent check, due to its Grass-type STAB, as well as threatening status options. Reflect Chansey can act as a check to Golem if it's unhealthy and unparalyzed. Tauros is great at exploiting Golem, although it should only really switch in in a pinch. Many Poison-types, like Gengar, Golbat, Beedrill, and so on, can run Mega Drain to lure Golem, particularly as most of them don't usually run it. A number of other Pokemon don't like to switch in, but can OHKO it or pressure it offensively, like Articuno, Nidoqueen, Cloyster, Dugtrio, and Electabuzz, so handling it via offensive pressure is an option for teams that don't carry Pokemon like Aerodactyl or Zapdos which Golem effectively stonewalls.
Type: Rock / Ground
Stats: 80 | 110 | 130 | 55 | 45
Changes In Violet Pertinent To This Analysis:
- Rock Slide is now 85 BP.
- For a full list of changes in Violet, see this thread.
Introduction
Golem really doesn't change much in Violet, compared to RBY 1U, but the metagame around it changes quite significantly. Although Zapdos is still a respectable threat in the metagame, it's not the scariest Pokemon that Golem acts as a response to. The rise of Aerodactyl, with its newfound access to Rock Slide and Softboiled, gives Golem a new, more pertinent threat to handle. And while Rhydon is not included in Violet, due to its heavy overlap with Golem, the addition of Softboiled to Nidoqueen's movepool gives Golem plenty of competition. Golem is a more aggressive choice compared to Nidoqueen, due to its access to STAB Rock Slide, a scary proposition for Moltres, another top threat, as well as the evergreen Explosion - Golduck, now a Water- and Ghost-type, is the only Pokemon in the tier immune or resistant to Explosion that isn't weak to one of its STABs, so it certainly remains a good option.
Sets
Standard
Golem
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Body Slam / Fire Blast / Explosion
- Explosion / Rest
Set Details
Earthquake and Rock Slide are Golem's best STAB options; together they have perfect neutral coverage. The third attack is dedicated to pressuring common switch-ins, like Starmie, Tangela, and Golduck. Body Slam can paralyze switch-ins - Golduck is the only common switch-in immune to it, while Fire Blast can spread burns and does more damage to Tangela. Explosion has a high cost, but a potentially high reward too, if you can make a worthwhile trade with it. Rest might seem like a strange option, but it is a surprisingly worthwhile choice. Aerodactyl, one of the best Pokemon in Violet, and a Pokemon Golem is well-equipped to check, virtually always carries Fire Blast, and Rest provides Golem a means of alleviating burns accrued from switching in. Needless to say, as Golem is primarily a physical attacker, burns are a serious problem for it, and so any move which can clear that status deserve serious consideration.
Other Options
Substitute is an option to exploit paralyzed Pokemon, while Toxic is an alternative move Golem could use to frustrate switch-ins, making them vulnerable to Dream Eater.
Checks and Counters
Tangela and Exeggutor are great checks - they resist Earthquake, are neutral to Rock Slide, and have enough special to take Fire Blast quite comfortably. They can exploit Golem's low special, let alone its Grass-type weakness. Other Pokemon which resist or are immune to Earthquake are weak to Rock Slide, making them limited in their capacity to check Golem. Gyarados is maybe the best check that is immune to Ground-types, due to its high overall stats and Water-type STAB. Beyond Ground-type resistances, Golduck is one of Golem's better checks; it is immune to Explosion (and Body Slam) and can OHKO in return with its Water-type STAB options. Starmie is vulnerable to Body Slam and Explosion, but it has decent bulk, speed, Recover, and usually runs moves that can 2HKO, if not OHKO, Golem. Poliwrath and Machamp are notable for their resistances to Rock Slide, as well as their ability to retaliate against Golem with their STABs. Vileplume has acceptable stats all around, and while not resisting either of Golem's STABs, is nonetheless a decent check, due to its Grass-type STAB, as well as threatening status options. Reflect Chansey can act as a check to Golem if it's unhealthy and unparalyzed. Tauros is great at exploiting Golem, although it should only really switch in in a pinch. Many Poison-types, like Gengar, Golbat, Beedrill, and so on, can run Mega Drain to lure Golem, particularly as most of them don't usually run it. A number of other Pokemon don't like to switch in, but can OHKO it or pressure it offensively, like Articuno, Nidoqueen, Cloyster, Dugtrio, and Electabuzz, so handling it via offensive pressure is an option for teams that don't carry Pokemon like Aerodactyl or Zapdos which Golem effectively stonewalls.
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