What are some good defensive, tank and stall Pokémon for competitive play?

Question

I know this is a bit of an opinion question but what are some really good stally, tanky, and defensive Pokemon and the moves, abilities, items, and EVs on them?

Comments

Does this allow all fornats?

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Let's say the same rules apply as in the moveset questions, where you can post for any format as long as the set is legal in the base game (and Natdex is considered legal).

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Ok, got it.

Answer 1

90 SpA and 90 Atk but.... Makes opponent quit before they can do anything by Multiscale!

It's Ragequit (Lugia) @ Leftovers
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Roost
- Whirlwind
- Substitute
- Toxic

A Leftovers set with Substitute is chosen to preserve Substitute more easily. Maximum Defense investment allows it to easily switch-in to Mega-Rayquaza, Zacian-Crowned and Primal Groudon easily, while phazing Dragon Dance Necrozma Dusk Mane, Zygarde, etc. with Whirlwind. Substitute allows it to evade status from other Pokemon, while also beating Dragon Tail Zygarde which can phaze out it before it can use Whirlwind.

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Calculations:

VS Mega Rayquaza

• 252+ Atk Life Orb Rayquaza-Mega Dragon Ascent vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Multiscale Lugia: 107-127 (25.7 - 30.5%) -- 1.2% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery

Zacian-Crowned

• +1 252 Atk Zacian-Crowned Wild Charge vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Multiscale Lugia: 108-128 (25.9 - 30.7%) -- 3.3% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery

Groudon-Primal

• 252 Atk Groudon-Primal Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Multiscale Lugia: 84-99 (20.1 - 23.7%) -- possible 6HKO after Leftovers recovery

Zygarde

• +6 224 Atk Zygarde-Complete Thousand Arrows vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Multiscale Lugia: 144-169 (34.6 - 40.6%) -- 51.5% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery. IT'S AT +6!!!

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Good partners:

• Arceus formes with Ice Beam if not running Substitute so to beat Dragon Tail Zygarde
• Tyranitar which can Pursuit trap Lunala, Calyrex-Shadow, Mega-Gengar while taking hits from Yveltal.
• Chansey or any Heal Bell/Aromatherapy support, to beat Status, since Lugia can't afford getting statused if it has to switch-in to the most powerful Attackers.
• Defog Support from Ho-Oh, Giratina and anti-hazard leads such as M-Sableye and M-Diancie to ensure no Stealth Rocks to maintain Multiscale.

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Other options:

• A alternative spread of less bulk with 252 HP/ 52 Def/ 212 Spe can be run to outsped 90 BSTs at max Speed, mostly for Primal Groudon.
• A attacking move, such as Ice Beam if not running Substitute to better handle Zygarde. Psychic can be chosen to hit Mega-Gengar while Aeroblast can also work to especially annoy Gothitelle, which Shadow Tag traps it while Taunt shuts down it's Whirlwind. Also, Dragon Tail can be chosen to instead phaze out Gothitelle but worsens match-up against Substitute users.

Thanks for reading!

Answer 2

Posting sets that defensive Pokemon use for the format of Gen 9 NU:

Bronzong @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
Tera Type: Fairy
EVs: 252 HP / 164 Def / 92 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Psychic Noise
- Body Press / Earthquake
- Heavy Slam / Iron Defense / Gyro Ball

Bronzong's defensive stats, typing, and access to Levitate makes it a good defensive Pokemon for Gen 9 NU, being able to check Flygon. Psychic Noise can shut down HP recovery of opposing Pokemon, and Bronzong can even be a wincon if you use Iron Defense + Body Press. Gyro Ball is an alternate Steel STAB option to be able handle Dragon Dance / Choice Scarf Flygon better.

Registeel @ Leftovers
Ability: Clear Body
Tera Type: Ghost / Water
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Heavy Slam
- Earthquake
- Thunder Wave / Ice Spinner

Registeel's bulk makes it a good defensive Pokemon, being able to check special wallbreakers such as Porygon-Z, Kilowattrel, Munkidori, Galarian Articuno, and Sylveon. Earthquake lets Registeel hit Chandelure, Incineroar, Toxtricity and Hisuian Typhlosion super effectively. Thunder Wave lets Registeel cripple faster Pokemon, being a way for Registeel to check faster Pokemon. Ice Spinner is an option to discourage Flygon from setting up on it. Tera Ghost gives Registeel a Fighting immunity to check the Fighting-types in the tier, though you can use Water for a nice defensive typing to check Chandelure and Hisuian Typhlosion.

Slowbro-Galar @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Regenerator
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 HP / 228 Def / 28 Spe
Bold Nature
- Sludge Bomb
- Flamethrower
- Calm Mind
- Slack Off

Galarian Slowbro's typing and ability Regenerator makes it a solid Fighting-type check against Mienshao, Waterbull (Tauros-Paldea-Aqua), Toxicroak, Firebull (Tauros-Paldea-Blaze), and Breloom. Galarian Slowbro is also nice to check other physical wallbreakers such as Scyther, Cinccino, and Basculegion if Galarian Slowbro used its Tera. Galarian Slowbro can also serve as a wincon late-game with Calm Mind to boost its offensive power while letting it tank special attacks better. Tera Water gives Galarian Slowbro a nice defensive typing to check wallbreakers such as Basculegion, Flygon, and Waterbull better. Rocky Helmet lets Galarian Slowbro force chip damage against Pokemon who use a contact move on it.

Vaporeon @ Heavy-Duty Boots / Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
Tera Type: Poison
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Wish
- Protect
- Flip Turn / Haze / Ice Beam / Alluring Voice

Vaporeon is a good defensive Pokemon thanks to its bulk and Water Absorb ability that allow it to check offensive Water-types such as Basculegion, Inteleon, Waterbull, and Araquanid. Vaporeon can also check other physical wallbreakers with Scald's chance to burn opposing Pokemon. Vaporeon also provides utility for its team with Wish to heal its teammates and itself. Protect is nice to scout for choice locked Pokemon and can let Vaporeon get the HP recovery from Wish if it used Wish the previous turn. Flip Turn lets Vaporeon provide more utility by being a pivot to potentially Wishpass to its teammates. Haze can be used to get rid of stat boosts from opposing Pokemon, Ice Beam targets Grass-types such as Brambleghast, Vileplume, Tsareena, and Breloom, and Alluring Voice can be used to deal super effective damage to Waterbull. Tera Poison is used for a defensive typing to be able to check Waterbull better.

Milotic @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Marvel Scale / Competitive
Tera Type: Fairy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Recover
- Flip Turn / Dragon Tail / Alluring Voice
- Ice Beam / Haze / Alluring Voice

Milotic is another good defensive Water-type for Gen 9 NU, being able to utilize Marvel Scale to get a defense boost if statused by burns, paralysis, and poison, or Competitive to get a boost to its Special Attack due to how common Intimidate is in the tier. Scald and Recover are mandatory on Milotic, being used to cripple opposing Pokemon with burns and have reliable HP recovery, respectively. The last two slots can be mixed and match of the following moves: Flip Turn, Dragon Tail, Ice Beam, Haze, and Alluring Voice. Flip Turn lets Milotic generate/keep up momentum for its team. Dragon Tail/Haze is used to deal with setup sweepers by forcing them out the field/removing their stat boosts. Ice Beam targets the Grass-types in the tier, while Alluring Voice hits Aqua Tauros super effectively. Tera Fairy allows Milotic to have a type that lets it check Fighting-types such as Mienshao and Aqua Tauros.

Gastrodon @ Leftovers / Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Storm Drain
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Earth Power
- Ice Beam / Sludge Bomb / Surf
- Recover
- Stealth Rock / Spikes

The last defensive Pokemon I'll be covering is Gastrodon. Gastrodon's typing and bulk is nice to check special wallbreakers, with Storm Drain allowing Gastrodon to switch into Water moves. Ice Beam is used to hit Grass-types such as Brambleghast, Tsareena, and Breloom. Sludge Bomb is an option to cripple opposing bulky Water-types with the poison chance while still being able to hit Tsareena and Breloom super effectively. Surf can be used if you prefer to have a Water STAB. Stealth Rock or Spikes lets Gastrodon provide hazards for its teammates, depending on which hazards your team needs. Tera Ghost gives Gastrdon a Fighting immunity, being useful against Choice locked Pokemon that are locked into using a Fighting (or Normal) move. Tera Ghost is also useful to potentially blank Aqua Tauros depending on its set.

Answer 3

Well UU being my forte I will give you the best sets I know for that tier.

These are my personal favorite sets:

Mew @ Leftovers
Ability: Synchronize
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 Def
Calm Nature
- Substitute
- Roost
- Night Shade
- Will-O-Wisp

With its massive 404 HP stat, it makes 101 HP Substitutes -- which, with its Special bulk, are hard to tear down. Burning anything but Guts Heracross pretty much makes this set unstoppable.

Umbreon @ Leftovers
Ability: Synchronize
Calm Nature
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 Def
- Heal Bell
- Foul Play
- Wish
- Protect/Yawn

Cleric /Special wall. Pretty standard Umbreon set.

Miltank @ Leftovers
Ability: Thick Fat
Bold Nature
EVs: 252 Def / 236 HP / 16 Spe
- Stealth Rock
- Seismic Toss
- Milk Drink
- Heal Bell

Another Cleric with some utility, and can set Rocks. Bold nature and no Atk investment stops Foul Play from beating it up.

Weezing @ Black Sludge
Ability: Levitate
Bold Nature
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
- Pain Split
- Will-O-Wisp
- Substitute
- Clear Smog

This set focuses on crippling and stalling while clear smog stops it from being set up on by CM Suicune and the like.

I have found the Mew/Miktank core to be effective as Normal and Psychic cover each other well. Also Weezing/Umbreon are a pretty sweet matchup as well.

Hope this helps :)

Answer 4

Shuckle is the most defensive Pokemon you will get. With base 230 in both Defense and Special Defense, its only problem as a tank is its health.

Shuckle @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 128 Def / 128 SpD
Bold Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic
- Encore / Shell Smash
- Rest

You can also give 252 EVs in Def or SpD instead of dividing them, depending on your team.

Comments

why Shell Smash, it only lowers defense and boosts his stats he doesn't need. HE DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A CONTACT MOVE!!! Have Contrary instead of Sturdy if you want Shell Smash.

Answer 5

Definitely a good one is Azumarill.

Hypno-Tanker (Azumarill) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 252 HP / 128 SpD / 128 Def
Impish Nature
Aqua Tail - STAB / Since this is a staller, it doesn’t need priority.
Play Rough - STAB
Ice Punch - Coverage
Brick Break - Coverage

Hope I helped!

Comments

252 HP EVs > 252 Def/SpD btw

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Oh, okay!

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Each stat point comes from 4 EVs, and 130 and 126 arent divisible by 4, which wastes EVs. Use 128 Defense and 128 Special Defense.

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PrimalKyogre is right. Although I would invest in Attack to be honest.

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Sorry, I hate working with EVs. Also I HAD one listed that invested in attack but it was tanky according to Primal, so I took it down.

Answer 6

Ferrothorn is the best. With fantastic defenses, decent attack, an awesome support movepool, and good defensive typing you will see him on literally almost every OU team. I'll put a standard set I like to use.

Ferrothorn @ Leftovers / Rocky Helmet
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SpD
Impish Nature
- Power Whip
- Leech Seed
- Stealth Rock / Spikes
- Thunder Wave / Protect

Power Whip is STAB an can deal heavy damage to Gastrodon, Jellicent and Rotom-W, but watch out for the Will-O-Wisp they might carry. Leech Seed is simply for draining the foes HP slowly while healing yours. Stealth Rock or Spikes, your choice for a hazard. Thunder Wave is to cripple sweepers support your team, while Protect provides a free turn of healing with Leech Seed and possibly Leftovers.

Hope I helped! :)

Comments

Nice! I like it.

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I prefer Gyro Ball, and giving it a negative speed nature. In Doubles OU It works well gaining HP back and just supporting the other mon, and the Gyro Ball gives it coverage against Ice/Rock/Fairy types, making Charizard X a good partner. It also checks really good mons like Weavile.

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I use one with Toxic, Gyro Ball, Ingrain, and Curse. Curse lowers speed and raises attack and defense, so it's great for Gyro Ball. And if you Toxic and/or Ingrain before you start Cursing, it's even better. I expect there's a better one than mine out there, though.

Answer 7

When it comes to special walls, Blissey stands unopposed, her only competition being her pre-evo Chansey:

Blissey @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Softboiled
- Seismic Toss
- Toxic

You can also do a wish support set:

Blissey @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVS: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Wish
- Protect
- Seismic Toss
- Toxic

And here's the competition. Chansey, thanks to Eviolite, can be a great mixed wall and has greater overall bulk, but lacks leftovers recovery and faces an even greater threat from trick and knock off than her evolution:

Chansey @ Eviolite
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Wish
- Protect
- Seismic Toss
- Toxic

Comments

An even better set for chansey is: Toxic, Seismic Toss, Soft Boiled, and Double Team.

Answer 8

Lapras is an excellent rain tank with Hydration. The Ability cures ALL status in the rain, making it a viable Rest abuser. It's also solid in doubles with its dual-target STAB moves.

Lapras @ Leftovers / Damp Rock
Ability: Hydration
EVs: 252 HP / 128 Def / 128 SpD
Bold / Calm Nature
- Rest
- Rain Dance
- Blizzard
- Surf

Answer 9

One of the best tanks to me is Aegislash. Now he may be Uber but in an Anything Goes match he is an epic tank. Here is one of the setups I use for mine.

Aegislash @ Leftovers
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 252 Def / 252 SpD / 4 HP
Bold Nature
- King's Shield
- Spite
- Substitute
- Double Team

I chose this set because King's Shield protects against all damaging moves. Spite lets you decrease your target's PP; when it runs out, you have a safe entrance to another team member. Substitute provides turns for Leftovers and Double Team. Double Team is obviously to raise evasiveness which may be the key in many battles.

Answer 10

Toxapex @ Black Sludge
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe
Bold Nature
- Toxic
- Haze
- Recover
- Scald

Use Toxic just to kill them and then spam Scald. Recover when you're low on health.
And if the opponent is really bulked up, use Haze to reset their stats.
But be careful of Steel types because that's when you gotta switch.
Have fun using this poke:
Pstt.. You might make the other person rage.

Comments

You need to include the Item and Ability

Answer 11

I recommend Toxapex. It's one of the best defensive Pokémon in OU for all sorts of teams and offers some annoying time for your opponent(s). Scald can be used for Steel & Poison types. Haze is ideally for sweepers.
Other options are the item Black Sludge or the moves Baneful Bunker or Protect.

Toxapex @ Leftovers
Ability: Regenerator
EV's: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Scald
- Haze
- Recover
- Toxic

Answer 12

My First Tank in mind :

Toxapex (F) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Regenerator
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 128 Def / 128 SpD
Careful Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Baneful Bunker
- Toxic
- Infestation
- Recover

Baneful Bunker - a More Advanced [Protect] Poison on Contact , Perfect for Physical Attackers in General

Toxic - if they don't fall for Baneful Bunker this can be Assurance , plus Toxic's Poison kills them faster

Infestation - takes away 1/8 of Target's HP each Turn and Traps them , this is also a Physical Move at first not a Status Move , Perfect for those who use Taunt

Recover - A Good Combination with Black Sludge and to Stall/Condition

Second in mind :

Salty Coral (Corsola-Galar) (F) @ Eviolite
Ability: Cursed Body
EVs: 252 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Strength Sap
- Will-O-Wisp
- Whirlpool
- Mirror Coat

Strength Sap - for Physical Attackers , and to Condition yourself
Will O Wisp - also a Counter for Physical Attackers , and takes away thier HP each turn
Whirlpool - Traps them and is a Good Pair with Will O Wisp to take away thier HP each turn
Mirror Coat - if they think they can catch you with a Special Attacker , you Suprise em with a Counter just for it

Answer 13

Okay so this one is a bit uncommon, but I've won many battles with this guy:

Porygon2 @ Eviolite
Ability: Download
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 SpA
Sassy Nature
- Tri Attack
- Recover
- Trick Room
- Protect

So let me explain. Because of the Eviolite it's pretty hard to OHKO this dude, which gives you a chance to set up trick room. Then, depending on how much health you lost, you can either attack with Tri Attack or recover. Just repeat that process, Recovering or Protecting whenever you feel the need to, and remember always to recover on the turn right before Trick Room runs out so they don't KO you when you don't go first. Then, repeat. In an anything goes match, I took out an entire Uber team with this little duck. Lots of people also underestimate him, so that's a bonus. He's pretty useless against Ghost types, though. The Download is an extra bonus too if you up your Sp. Atk.

Hope this helps! :)

Comments

If you want, you can replace Protect with Shadow Ball to cover ghost

Answer 14

Sry For My English its bad but Garchomp a good tank and stall Pokemon

Garchomp @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 HP
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Dragon Claw
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide

Swords dance 2 or 3 times and attack with one of the 3 moves, rocky helmet will damage the opponent when they attack you while swords dancing.
Keep in mind Garchomp will be in yellow or red after swords dancing and can take many hits.

Comments

Brave nature and 252 Speed? Brave lowers Speed.

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And how is this Setup-Sweeper a Tank / Stall?

Answer 15

Ooh, I thought of a new one. I've been wondering for a while: WHY ARE ALL THE AEGISLASHES I SEE SWEEPERS???
Check this out:

Aegislash @ Leftovers
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 252 SpD / 252 HP / 4 Atk
Careful Nature
- King's Shield
- Shadow Claw
- Toxic
- Sacred Sword

Now, before you ask why there is no Shadow Sneak, it's not there because if this guy goes first, then it's wide open for a hit while it's in blade form. It's speed isn't too good, so it won't normally go first anyways. After you attack or toxic, King's Shield to switch back to shield form so you can withstand a hit. King's Shield also lets leftovers heal an extra turn, so yay. Sacred Sword is there because it's Sacred Sword.

Hope this helps

Answer 16

Luxray @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 60 Def / 196 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Baby-Doll Eyes
- Thunder Wave
- Volt Switch / Snarl (if doubles)
- Protect

Happy Tanky Luxray Incoming~