Gastrodon - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle | Pokemon Sword and Shield

This is a strategy guide for using Gastrodon in competitive play for the games Pokemon Sword and Shield. Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, and Held Items to use with Gastrodon, as well as its strengths and weak points.

Gastrodon - Related Guides
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Gastrodon

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Gastrodon
Abilities
Sticky Hold	Protects the Pokemon from item theft.
Storm Drain	Draws in all Water-type moves to up Special Attack.
Sand Force (Hidden)	Boosts certain moves'power in sandstorm.

Type Defenses

	Type
Takes 4x damage
Takes 2x damage	-
Takes 0.5x damage
Takes 1/4x damage	-
Takes 0x damage

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

Best Nature for Gastrodon

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Gastrodon

Standard Moveset & Best Build

A build which takes advantage of Gastrodon's high defensive stats and its lone weakness to Grass. While forcing difficult opponents to switch with Yawn, it can use its damaging attacks together with Recover to hold on and continue the fight.

Its defensive power and few weaknesses allows it to switch in on hard-hitting opponents, using a Held Item which allows it to take heavy attacks. Sitrus Berry or Rindo Berry will give it an extra cushion to set up. In situations where you want to deal just a smidge more damage than normal, Rocky Helmet is a better option.

Other Viable Moves

Focus Sash Moveset & Best Build

This build takes advantage of Focus Sash combined with Counter and Mirror Coat to send back the damage taken from Grass moves. Recover provides a way to restore Gastrodon's HP back to full. Scald on the other hand is a strong STAB move that has a chance to apply burn.

Gastrodon is generally a tanky Pokemon. But with its 4x weakness to Grass, it is susceptible to one-hit knock outs which is where the Focus Sash comes into play.

Other Viable Moves

How to Use Gastrodon Effectively

A great type combination and high HP make for a stellar defender

With a single weakness to Grass and high Base HP, Gastrodon will fit just right in your team in a defensive position. As its Special Attack isn't particularly low either, it can withstand attacks while dealing out a certain extent of damage itself.

Counters for Gastrodon

Weakness

Knock it out with a Grass move or Freeze-Dry

A lone weakness it may be, but a 4x weakness to Grass is enough to leave opponents with plenty of room to take out Gastrodon. It can largely be taken out in one hit with a Grass move of sufficient power. Plus, although normal Ice-type attacks deal 1x damage to it, the unique move Freeze-Dry, with its effect of super effectiveness against Water types, stacks with Gastrodon's Ground type to become a new 4x weakness.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Mow Rotom	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Can knock out Gastrodon in one hit with a Grass move ・Can take Gastrodon's attacks with reduced damage Mow Rotom - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle
Rillaboom	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Can take most of Gastrodon's attacks with 1x or reduced damage ・Outspeeds Gastrodon with Grassy Glide as a one shot move. Rillaboom - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle
Nihilego	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Can knock out Gastrodon in one hit with a Grass move Nihilego - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle
Ferrothorn	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Can take most of Gastrodon's attacks with 1x or reduced damage ・Can deal massive damage with Power Whip even without EVs in Attack Moveset & Best Build for Ferrothorn
Lapras	Ranking: ★★★★☆ ・Can deal 4x damage with Freeze-Dry ・Can take most of Gastrodon's attacks with reduced damage Moveset & Best Build for Lapras
Calyrex (Ice Rider)	Ranking: ★★★★☆ ・Can deal 4x damage with Freeze-Dry How to Get Calyrex (Ice Rider) and Learnset | The Crown Tundra DLC
Gyarados	Ranking: ★★★★☆ ・Can deal super effective damage with Power Whip ・Can inflict Burn with Scald Moveset & Best Build for Gyarados

Related Links

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Tier List		Best Builds		Series 8 Tier List Contenders
Doubles Tier List		Team Building		Rental Teams

Best Builds for Returning Pokemon

Movesets & Best Builds for Returning Pokemon
Mimikyu	Wash Rotom	Gyarados
Ferrothorn	Aegislash	Excadrill
Tyranitar	Hydreigon	Heat Rotom
Arcanine	Mamoswine	Toxapex
Togekiss	Cloyster	Durant
Snorlax	Charizard	Sylveon
Lucario	Hippowdon	Umbreon
Conkeldurr	Quagsire	Gastrodon
Lapras	Whimsicott	Rhyperior
Goodra	Haxorus	Glaceon
Mow Rotom	Type: Null	Gengar
Milotic	Gardevoir	Flygon
Chandelure	Lanturn	Torkoal
Bisharp	Seismitoad	Silvally
Butterfree	Primarina	Incineroar
Blastoise	Decidueye	Venusaur
Darmanitan	Alolan Ninetales	Gothitelle
Crawdaunt	Clefable	Reuniclus
Kommo-o	Terrakion	Cobalion
Virizion	Noivern	Fan Rotom
Toxicroak	Pelipper	Jellicent
Celebi	Clefairy	Hitmontop
Diggersby	Ditto	Raichu