What is a good moveset for Avalugg?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Avalugg, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for its pre-evolutions, if any, can also be shared on this thread.

Be sure to include full set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some detail, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Avalugg Pokedex & learnset for reference.

Comments

A good move on Avalugg would be body press. Good power due to high defense, 100 accuracy and covers weakness to rock and steel types. It learns body press by TR in Sword and Shield

Answer 1

"Titanic Indestructible? CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!!!"
-Avalugg, 1912.

Avalugg @ Air Balloon / Chesto Berry / (Chople/Charti) Berry
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature

• Mirror Coat
• Rapid Spin
• Recover / Rest
• Swagger / (powerful physical attack of your choice)

When I found out that this monster could learn Mirror Coat I was like YISSSSSSS! Suck it special attackers.
Basically you can tell from the choice of nature and EV spread that this set allows Avalugg to sponge any neutral physical attack, I'm not sure if he could sponge a Mega Mawile iron head, or powerful fighting moves though, thankfully sturdy ensures he will use a move.

-Mirror Coat is to stop special attackers cold, while hanging in there with sturdy (assuming you're at full health).

-Air Balloon is to support Rapid Spin. Although Avalugg doesn't care about sticky web, Spikes and Toxic Spikes will ruin sturdy, and being able to have a free switch in to predictable Earthquakes is a nice touch.

-Recover or Rest is down to personal preference (Chesto Berry if you're using rest).

-And the last slot is also down to personal preference. A powerful physical move such as Avalanche or Gyro Ball may be the best option, but Swagger seems like a cool idea since Avalugg will eat up but the most powerful physical attacks anyway, and the confusion, with a little luck, will allow him to recover any damage taken. It will also troll contrary Malamar, but I don't see the 'mon very often in online battles.

And lastly, if you still doubt Avalugg's defencive capability, you could give it one of those berry's that reduce super-effective damage, such as the Charti Berry (rock) and the Chople Berry (fighting). You could replace replace the healing move with swagger and keep the physical move if you feel the healing is unnecessary.

Wow, so sorry for the long post!

Comments

+1 for the titanic reference. Cool moveset too.

---

It's rather difficult to stay at full health due to stealth rock weakness.

---

what would you propose breeding it with in order to learn mirror coat?

---

Chain breeding, with the father being an Aurorus, A Sampert, Another Avalugg, or a Blastoise, or their respective Pre-Evolved forms.

---

try iron defence over rapid spin to beat up physical attackers

Answer 2

Avalugg @ Shell Bell
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature

• Mirror Coat
• Recover
• Curse
• Avalanche

This set should find an open lane for it on a special attacker, Sturdy its move, Mirror Coat it back, and grab loads of health through Shell Bell, because you just inflicted massive damage. Recover is in case you didn't get all your HP back, and Curse and Avalanche are to have somewhat of an offensive presence. Note: Keep entry hazards away at all times. Preserving HP is necessary.

Answer 3

Avalugg @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SDef
Adamant Nature
- Avalanche
- Double-Edge
- Curse
- Earthquake

Revenge killer. This guy isn't outspeeding anything, so Avalanche wrecks. Main part of the set. Special moves can hurt, so Sturdy gets a free attack. Although OHKOs aren't too common except for Honedge's SDanced Fightings.

Comments

It doesn't say on here that Avalugg can have the ability Sturdy

---

I like Gyro Ball > Double Edge

---

yeah its his hidden ability

---

i'll use gyro ball using it's super slow speed

---

Trick room support will make this guy extremely "fast". Add a brave nature, earthquake, gyro ball, stone edge, and avalanche (Wreck priority users) and you have a very nice TR sweeper. Leftovers wouldn't be bad, but perhaps life orb is the better option for extra power. If you run sturdy, rapid spin support is completely necessary.

Answer 4

Luckily, in Sword and Shield, Avalugg got access to a pretty good move for it:
Body Press
With their massive 184 base defense stat, Avalugg can deal some heavy damage.

Avalugg @ Heavy Duty Boots
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 8 HP / 252 Def / 248 Atk
Impish / Relaxed Nature

• Body Press
• Avalanche
• Heavy Slam / Earthquake / Curse / Recover / Rapid Spin
• Heavy Slam / Earthquake / Curse / Recover / Rapid Spin

This set is supposed to act a physical tank of some sort. Body Press covers its rock and steel weakness, and can deal some nice damage overall, thanks to Avalugg's defense. Since Avalugg is very slow, it can be used in their advantage with avalanche, a move that doubles its power if the Pokémon moves last. It is also simply STAB. Sorry for having so many options for the last move slots, but there are many great options for it. Heavy Slam can be coverage that deals a lot of damage, due to Avalugg's heaviness. Earthquake is a powerful move that covers its fire, steel, and rock weaknesses. Curse can make the Pokémon's defense and attack even higher. Recover can be used to heal when predicting a switch, or possibly a setup move from the opponent. Finally, Rapid Spin can deal with hazards so its team doesn't get damaged from them.

Unfortunately, this Avalugg can possibly struggle against a stalling Ferrothorn or Toxapex, but can at least somewhat handle most other Pokémon.

Thanks!

Comments

Recover should be, more or less, mandatory if it's acting as a "Tank". Might want to unslash it somewhere.

Answer 5

Gen 8 ZU

Avalugg @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Icicle Spear
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Rock Polish

Sturdy Rock Polish set. Rock Polish is to boost your speed. When you get hit by a super effective move, Weakness Policy will activate. Icicle Spear is STAB that can hit 2-5 times, meaning it can break Sturdy and Sashes. Earthquake deals with fire and steel types. Rock Slide provides more coverage.

Comments

Given Avalugg's pathetic base Speed, I'd definitely recommend Jolly. Also, I think you should use Icicle Spear over Ice Fang.

Answer 6

Gen 8 ZU

Avalugg @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Iron Defense
- Body Press
- Gyro Ball
- Rapid Spin / Toxic

Despite Avaluggs garbage special defense, it can still use It's massive 184 base defense to potentially sweep teams. (Unless you get Psychic'd haha)

Iron defense is to boost that massive defense further, and boost the power of body press.

Body press is self explanatory. I don't think I EVER needed to explain why I put it in this moveset.

Gyro Ball is there to put that low 28 base speed to usage. 0 Speed IV's, and a Relaxed nature help with this.

Rapid spin is to get rid of the pesky hazards that Accelgor and Uxie can set up. Toxic can be used in place of it for stalling capability, but Rapid spin is just better.

Answer 7

Choice Banded is the way to go;

Avalugg (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Ice Fang
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Crunch

Speed investment because why not

Comments

that is so bad

---

Why not? because it's speed stat is abhorrent.
And Zach, calling someone's set is irrelevant to the actual quality. Though it's not the best, I can think of plenty worse

---

Honestly, you could up his speed but it would be nearly usless. He would still be outsped by most pokemon.

---

Hmm... Try Avalanche over Ice fang, keeps its stab, and will be WAY  more powerful, also, an assault vest also works as a nice alt item to a choice band, since its sp. def is kinda bad. Nice set anyway though! ;)

Answer 8

Avalugg @ Quick Claw
Ability: Ice Body
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature

• Hail
• Avalanche
• Giga Impact
• Curse

Hail makes Avalugg restore health since its ability is Ice body. Avalanche inflicts double the damage. Giga Impact is a very strong move. Curse Powers up Physical Attacks like Avalanche and Giga Impact, and makes Avalugg bulkier on the physical side.

Comments

I'm sorry, but this set is really bad due to giga impact. THough it is powerful, it is a terrible move except in 1v1

---

Giga impact is nice for slightly suicidal killings on strong enemies, don't under estimate the 150 BP.

---

The only useable attack is avalanche, and if you're up against a special sweeper, it's bye Avalugg

Answer 9

Avalugg @ Icy Rock
Ability: Ice Body
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Hail
- Blizzard
- Earthquake
- Rapid Spin / Gyro Ball

Thanks to his high attack, he'd make a pretty awesome physical sweeper. Hail is for his ability Ice Body which regains HP every turn. Blizzard has high power and 100% accuracy during hail. Earthquake has high power, high accuracy and it can be used for coverage against fire, rock and steel types. Rapid Spin is if you fear stealth rocks, but if you don't then you can go for Gyro Ball because he has really low speed, which makes this move powerful.

Comments

Blizzard's high power is put off by Avalugg's disgusting Special Attack stat. Avalanche works much better.

---

And have some other Hail setter
Ninetales-Alola works extremely well, as it can also lay a layer of Aurora Veil

Answer 10

Avalugg @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def
Adamant Nature
- Avalanche
- Crunch
- Rapid Spin
- Earthquake

• Avalanche: a powerful STAB that compliments his low speed.
• Crunch: slight coverage
• Rapid Spin: spin away those hazards!
• Earthquake: great coverage for its Fire/Steel/Rock weakness

Basically this blue coffee table is a Rapid Spinner that gets a free spin off its Sturdy ability. once the Rapid Spin is off you deal as much damage as possible! and you can wall a physical attackers with that god-like Defense!

Comments

I think you mean Rapid Spin.

Answer 11

Would anyone mind sharing their thoughts on this set:

Avalugg @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sturdy
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 SpD

- Avalanche
- Rapid Spin
- Earthquake
- Gyro Ball

With the 252 in SpDef I am trying to balance out it's Defenses I've also added the Assault Vest to it to compliment it even further. I know the Curse/Recover set is probably superior to this in many ways but I just want to try something new.

My thinking is if someone gets set up with a Pokemon and runs through my team, along with Sturdy and Avalanche STAB doubling to 120 base power after going second which is guaranteed through Sturdy is going to do a lot of damage with the Adamant nature along with the 252 Atk. Also I am guaranteed to spin away hazards with Sturdy if that's all he's good for in a battle.

One thing I will say is you're probably better off with a Careful nature running this set, I just happened to find an Adamant nature Bergmite in the Friend Safari.

Answer 12

Physical Avalugg

Avalugg @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Mirror Coat
- Iron Defense
- Recover
- Avalanche

With Avalugg's low sp.def, a combination of Mirror Coat and Sturdy seem the ideal combination, as, if a special attack leaves him on 1 HP, Mirror Coat will land a 1 hit KO.
Against physical attackers the combination of Iron Defense and Recover will leave Avalugg taking almost zero damage on good HP so they can be killed with a few Avalanches. The only real problems are not knowing wether the opponent will use a physical or special attack, a special attack combined with hazards and toxic. Also if they are a special attacker Avalugg will only be able to knock out one Pokemon but still a useful moveset with his stats.

Answer 13

1V1 Avalugg that's surprisingly useful outside of 1V1...

Avalugg @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
- Gyro Ball
- Avalanche / Protect
- Recover
- Mirror Coat

Gyro Ball is a powerful move with low speed, Avalanche is good STAB, Recover is healing, and Mirror Coat destroys special attackers, since his S.Def is awful. This set walls physical attackers with rocky helmet, healing and great defence, and special attackers with sturdy and mirror coat. Protect is to scout in 1V1, for instance to see is a Charizard is a MegaZard X or Y.

Answer 14

TR abuse set:

Avalugg @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Brave Nature
- Gyro Ball
- Ice Fang
- Crunch
- Rapid Spin / Stone Edge

With sturdy under TR, Weakness policy can be great on him, raising his high attack even further. Gyro Ball is amazing due to his low speed. Ice Fang is the best STAB he has besides Avalanche, which isn't the move you want on a TR abuser. Crunch is a powerful, reliable move and Rapid Spin is for hazard removal. Stone Edge can be used to counter Fire types that resist his other moves. Sadly, he doesn't get Ice Shard.

Answer 15

Avalugg sweeper?

Avalugg @ Life Orb
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
- Curse
- Avalanche / Ice Fang
- Stone Edge / Rock slide
- Recover

Curse to set up in physical attackers face.
Avalanche is preferred for power and STAB to one shot the likes of Superpower Adamant Life Orb Absol and many other offensive threats. Ice Fang if you think you want to flinch but depending on luck isn't wise.
Stone Edge for power and coverage. I need not explain why Rock Slide isn't preferred, however, it is more accurate.
Finally, Recover so you can set up longer, but be mindful of crits.

Answer 16

A Defensive Spinner:

Avalugg @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Recover
- Avalanche
- Earthquake / Toxic / Roar

You could go full Special Defense because you'd take 30% less from special attacks, but if you go max Defense you only take 10% less from physical attacks.

A slightly different set which is more of a fun set:

Avalugg @ Apicot Berry
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Recover
- Avalanche
- Earthquake / Toxic / Roar

Answer 17

Gimmicks, yay :D

Avalugg @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 128 HP / 252 Def / 128 SpD
Sassy / Careful Nature
- Skull Bash / Rapid Spin
- Avalanche
- Earthquake / Gyro Ball
- Mirror Coat

• Skull Bash / Rapid Spin: Yes, I know it’s a 2 turn move and the opponent can switch in to a Ghost type, but it raises Defense.
• Avalanche: a necessity.
• Earthquake / Gyro Ball (use Sassy nature): huge coverage, or make use of your low speed.
• Mirror Coat: lure special attackers and counter them.

I understand this isn’t the best set, but it’s very gimmicky. Recovery is a problem, but if you want you can give it Ice Body and have a teammate set up Hail for you.

Answer 18

"Ice Wall"

Avalugg @ Leftovers
Ability: Ice Body
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Barrier
- Earthquake
- Hail

• Rapid Spin: Get rid of hazards or just replace whatever you want here.
• Barrier: Get that Defense to 4x. It's not that hard
• Earthquake: A necessity
• Hail: Get in that extra health from Ice Body

Since this guy sucks while it comes to Special Defense just give him that extra 4 to Attack. What I usually do when I switch in Avalugg is start Hail or use Barrier and then start to Hail. Repeat until you get to 4x and... boom! Best staller (Unless you get hit with a special attack).

Answer 19

Gen 6:

Role: Physical Tank/Spinner

Avalugg @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 128 Def / 128 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Gyro Ball
- Ice Fang
- Rock Slide
- Rapid Spin
__
If your playing a generation 8+ Game, swap Rapid Spin out for Body Press.

Answer 20

Avalugg @ Leftovers
Ability: Ice Body
EVs: 252 Def / 252 HP / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
- Ice Fang / Icicle Spear / Rapid Spin
- Recover / Rapid Spin
- Aurora Veil
- Hail

This Avalugg will. Not. Die. It is good in Double Battles as support because of Aurora Veil and Rapid Spin. It heals a lot each turn with Leftovers and Ice Body, but Recover is available if you need it.