I've been using Ground in Gen 9 Monotype, and it is pretty good, especially with the recent bans of Annihilape and Iron Bundle. The team I use is a Hazard Stack Ground team. The team is fine, but there's a Pokemon I'm considering adding, but don't know if I should should add it if to my team if it's worth a slot. There are also a couple considerations I plan on making. Here is the Team Pokepaste if you want to try the team out.
Gastrodon
Gastrodon @ Leftovers
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Spikes
- Earth Power
- Yawn
- Recover
Gastrodon provides a nice water immunity for the team. Gastrodon lost Scald and Toxic, but gains access to Spikes in Gen 9. Yawn allows Gastrodon to discourage setup sweepers and opposing Pokemon from staying in.
Clodsire
Clodsire @ Black Sludge
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Earthquake
- Toxic
- Toxic Spikes
- Recover
I chose Clodsire as it provides another Water immunity, and its Poison/Ground typing along with its high HP and
Special Defense stats that allow it to check special wallbreakers such as Iron Moth, Volcarona, Scovillain, Flutter Mane, and Gholdengo. Toxic and Toxic Spikes are used on the same set, as Toxic can let you poison Pokemon who aren't grounded and Pokemon who use Heavy-Duty Boots.
Ting-Lu
Ting-Lu @ Leftovers
Ability: Vessel of Ruin
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Throat Chop
- Whirlwind
Ting-Lu is the Stealth Rock setter of the team. I chose Ting-Lu due to its high physical defense, which lets it check physical wallbreakers. It's Vessel of Ruin Ability lowers the Special Attack of all other Pokemon on the field, which can help it take some special hits. Whirlwind is used to force setup sweepers off the field and is useful when you setup hazards on your opponent's side.
Great Tusk
Great Tusk @ Leftovers
Ability: Protosynthesis
EVs: 252 HP / 216 SpD / 40 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Headlong Rush
- Close Combat
- Bulk Up
- Rapid Spin
Great Tusk is another Pokemon that can take physical hits well. I use a Bulk Up + Rapid Spin that allows Great Tusk to compress as a Rapid Spinner and a setup breaker in one set. Rapid Spin also boosts your speed, which can let you outspeed Pokemon so you attack opposing Pokemon with your attacks. 40 Speed EVs allow Great Tusk to outspeed Magnezone. The remaining EVs are used in Special Defense to help Great Tusk take some special hits.
Sandy Shocks
Sandy Shocks @ Choice Specs
Ability: Protosynthesis
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Earth Power
- Power Gem
- Thunderbolt
- Volt Switch
I chose Sandy Shocks since I needed a special wallbreaker on my team. Choice Specs is used to further boost Sandy Shocks' breaking power. Sandy Shocks' STAB combination makes it hard to switch in to. Power Gem is used to target Pokemon such as Kilowattrel and Abomasnow.
Iron Treads
Iron Treads @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Quark Drive
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Ice Spinner
- Volt Switch
Iron Treads, aka the Excadrill of Gen 9, is used as a Choice Scarf Pokemon to provide speed control for the team. Choice Scarf Iron Treads can clean through weakened teams late game. Ice Spinner targets Pokemon such as Garchomp, Dragonite, Amoonguss, Kilowattrel, and Brambleghast. Volt Switch is used to chip opposing Pokemon and bring in a teammate.
Here are some things I'm considering doing:
- Replacing a Pokemon with Palossand: I'm considering adding Palossand so I can have a spinblocker on the team. Even though it doesn't have a water immunity, Water Compaction is still nice for the defense boost. Is it worth adding Palossand to the team? If so, who should I drop in order to have Palossand on the team?
- Earthquake + Body Press > Headlong Rush + Close Combat on Great Tusk: I use Headlong Rush and Close Combat due to their high BP despite the defense drops. However, Earthquake + Body Press have more PP than the two moves I use. Body Press also takes advantage of the defense boosts, so this might be a permanent change after I test it out.
- Physically Defensive EV spread to a mixed defensive EV spread on Ting-Lu: Should I keep Ting-Lu's spread physically defensive, or should I change it to a mixed defensive spread?
- Physically Defensive -> Specially Defensive Gastrodon: Since I have Ting-Lu and Great Tusk as Pokemon who can take physical hits, should I change Gastrodon's EV spread to a specially defensive one, or keep it as a physically defensive one?
That's all I have for now. Looking forward to improvements that make this team better. Thanks for reading!
