Pokemon Sword and Shield

Gastrodon - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

Game8's Pokemon TCG Pocket Wiki is live!
☆ Check out our competitive guides for Scarlet and Violet!
Tier List / Doubles Tier List / Movesets / Rental Teams
Competitive Battle Guide

Gastrodon.png

Gastrodon Movesets in Other Games
Pokemon Scarlet LogoSV Pokemon SWSH LogoSWSH

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
Pokemon SWSH - Gastrodon Evolution and LearnsetEvolution and Learnset Pokemon SWSH - Gastrodon Best BuildBuild for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Gastrodon

Types and Abilities

Pokemon Type 1 Type 2
Pokemon Sword and Shield - Water Type Pokemon Sword and Shield - Ground Type
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.

Gastrodon Weaknesses and Resistances

Type
Takes 4x damage
Pokemon Grass Image
Takes 2x damage
-
Takes 0.5x damage
Pokemon Fire Image Pokemon Poison Image Pokemon Rock Image Pokemon Steel Image
Takes 1/4x damage
-
Takes 0x damage
Pokemon Electric Image

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

HP Attack Defense Sp. Atk Sp. Def Speed
111 83 68 92 82 39

Best Nature for Gastrodon

Best Natures
Bold
(+Def, -Atk)
Calm
(+SpDef, -Atk)
Modest
(+SpAtk, -Atk)

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Gastrodon

Standard Moveset & Best Build

Standard Gastrodon.png

Nature Bold (+Def, -Atk)
EV Spread HP 244 / Def. 228 / Sp.Def. 36
Final Stat Values HP 217 / Def. 128 / Sp.Atk. 112 / Sp.Def. 107 / Spd. 59
Ability Storm Drain
Held Item Sitrus Berry
Rocky Helmet
Rindo Berry
Leftovers
Moveset Scald
Clear Smog
Recover
Yawn

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

Earth Power A possibility for a Ground-type attack. Can deal powerful STAB damage.
Mirror Coat Its high HP and Special Defense allow it to survive a Special attack and turn it against its user to take it down in a single blow, as long as it's not a Grass-type move or Freeze-Dry.
Ice Beam A possibility for an Ice-type move. Although there are fewer Pokemon weak to Ice than in previous games, it's reliable for hitting a variety of targets.

Focus Sash Moveset & Best Build

Nature Bold (+Def, -Atk)
EV Spread HP 252 / Def. 252 / Sp.Def. 4
Final Stat Values HP 218 / Def. 132 / Sp.Atk. 112 / Sp.Def. 103 / Spd. 59
Ability Storm Drain or Sticky Hold
Held Item Focus Sash
Moveset Scald
Counter
Recover
Mirror Coat

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

Earth Power A possibility for a Ground-type attack. Can deal powerful STAB damage.
Yawn Good status move to use against tankier Pokemon.
Ice Beam A possibility for an Ice-type move. Although there are fewer Pokemon weak to Ice than in previous games, it's reliable for hitting a variety of targets.

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

Gastrodon
Weakness Pokemon Grass Image

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
Pokemon SWSH - Mow Rotom ImageMow 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
Pokemon SWSH - Rillaboom ImageRillaboom 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
Pokemon SWSH - Nihilego ImageNihilego Ranking: ★★★★★
・Can knock out Gastrodon in one hit with a Grass move

Nihilego - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle
Pokemon SWSH - Ferrothorn ImageFerrothorn 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
Pokemon SWSH - Lapras ImageLapras Ranking: ★★★★☆
・Can deal 4x damage with Freeze-Dry
・Can take most of Gastrodon's attacks with reduced damage
Moveset & Best Build for Lapras
Pokemon SWSH - Calyrex (Ice Rider) ImageCalyrex (Ice Rider) Ranking: ★★★★☆
・Can deal 4x damage with Freeze-Dry

How to Get Calyrex (Ice Rider) and Learnset | The Crown Tundra DLC
Pokemon SWSH - Gyarados ImageGyarados Ranking: ★★★★☆
・Can deal super effective damage with Power Whip
・Can inflict Burn with Scald
Moveset & Best Build for Gyarados

Related Links

Pokemon Sword and Shield - Best Builds for Ranked Battle

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Pokemon SWSH - Tier ListTier List Pokemon SWSH - Best BuildsBest Builds Pokemon Sword and Shield - Ranked Battle Series 10 Contenders.pngSeries 10 List of Contenders
Pokemon SWSH - Doubles Tier ListDoubles Tier List Pokemon SWSH - Competitive Team BuildingTeam Building Pokemon SWSH - Rental TeamsRental Teams

Best Builds for Returning Pokemon

Movesets & Best Builds for Returning Pokemon
Pokemon SWSH - Mimikyu Best BuildsMimikyu Pokemon SWSH - Wash Rotom Best BuildsWash Rotom Pokemon SWSH - Gyarados Best BuildsGyarados
Pokemon SWSH - Ferrothorn Best BuildsFerrothorn Pokemon SWSH - Aegislash Best BuildsAegislash Pokemon SWSH - Excadrill Best BuildsExcadrill
Pokemon SWSH - Tyranitar Best BuildsTyranitar Pokemon SWSH - Hydreigon Best BuildsHydreigon Pokemon SWSH - Heat Rotom Best BuildsHeat Rotom
Pokemon SWSH - Arcanine Best BuildsArcanine Pokemon SWSH - Mamoswine Best BuildsMamoswine Pokemon SWSH - Toxapex Best BuildsToxapex
Pokemon SWSH - Togekiss Best BuildsTogekiss Pokemon SWSH - Cloyster Best BuildsCloyster Pokemon SWSH - Durant Best BuildsDurant
Pokemon SWSH - Snorlax Best BuildsSnorlax Pokemon SWSH - Charizard Best BuildsCharizard Pokemon SWSH - Sylveon Best BuildsSylveon
Pokemon SWSH - Lucario Best BuildsLucario Pokemon SWSH - Hippowdon Best BuildsHippowdon Pokemon SWSH - Umbreon Best BuildsUmbreon
Pokemon SWSH - Conkeldurr Best BuildsConkeldurr Pokemon SWSH - Quagsire Best BuildsQuagsire Pokemon SWSH - Gastrodon Best BuildsGastrodon
Pokemon SWSH - Lapras Best BuildsLapras Pokemon SWSH - Whimsicott Best BuildsWhimsicott Pokemon SWSH - Rhyperior Best BuildsRhyperior
Pokemon SWSH - Goodra Best BuildsGoodra Pokemon SWSH - Haxorus Best BuildsHaxorus Pokemon SWSH - Glaceon Best BuildsGlaceon
Pokemon SWSH - Mow Rotom Best BuildsMow Rotom Pokemon SWSH - Type: Null Best BuildsType: Null Pokemon SWSH - Gengar Best BuildsGengar
Pokemon SWSH - Milotic Best BuildsMilotic Pokemon SWSH - Gardevoir Best BuildsGardevoir Pokemon SWSH - Flygon Best BuildsFlygon
Pokemon SWSH - Chandelure Best BuildsChandelure Pokemon SWSH - Lanturn Best BuildsLanturn Pokemon SWSH - Torkoal Best BuildsTorkoal
Pokemon SWSH - Bisharp Best BuildsBisharp Pokemon SWSH - Seismitoad Best BuildsSeismitoad Pokemon SWSH - Silvally Best BuildsSilvally
Pokemon SWSH - Butterfree  Best BuildsButterfree Pokemon SWSH - Primarina Best BuildsPrimarina Pokemon SWSH - Incineroar Best BuildsIncineroar
Pokemon SWSH - Blastoise Best BuildsBlastoise Pokemon SWSH - Decidueye Best BuildsDecidueye Pokemon SWSH - Venusaur Best BuildsVenusaur
Pokemon SWSH - Darmanitan Best BuildsDarmanitan Pokemon SWSH - Alolan Ninetales Best BuildsAlolan Ninetales Pokemon SWSH - Gothitelle Best BuildsGothitelle
Pokemon SWSH - Crawdaunt Best BuildsCrawdaunt Pokemon SWSH - Clefable Best BuildsClefable Pokemon SWSH - Reuniclus Best BuildsReuniclus
Pokemon SWSH - Kommo-o Best BuildsKommo-o Pokemon SWSH - Terrakion Best BuildsTerrakion Pokemon SWSH - Cobalion Best BuildsCobalion
Pokemon SWSH - Virizion Best BuildsVirizion Pokemon SWSH - Noivern Best BuildsNoivern Pokemon SWSH - Fan Rotom Best BuildsFan Rotom
Pokemon SWSH - Toxicroak Best BuildsToxicroak Pokemon SWSH - Pelipper Best BuildsPelipper Pokemon SWSH - Jellicent Best BuildsJellicent
Pokemon SWSH - Celebi Best BuildsCelebi Pokemon SWSH - Clefairy Best BuildsClefairy Pokemon SWSH - Hitmontop Best BuildsHitmontop
Pokemon SWSH - Diggersby Best BuildsDiggersby Pokemon SWSH - Ditto Best BuildsDitto Pokemon SWSH - Raichu Best BuildsRaichu
Pokemon SWSH - Hawlucha Best BuildsHawlucha Pokemon SWSH - Shiftry Best BuildsShiftry Pokemon SWSH - Tsareena Best BuildsTsareena
Pokemon SWSH - Ludicolo Best BuildsLudicolo

Author

    Walkthrough Menu

    Please participate in our
    site improvement survey 11/2024
    Would you assist in
    improving Game8's site?
    ×
    This survey will take about 1 minute.
    Your answers will help us to improve our website.
    We are listening to our users' valuable opinions and discussing how to act on them.
    The information collected through this survey will be used for the purpose of improving our services. In addition, the information will only be disclosed a part of a statistic in a format that will not allow identification of personal information.
    Begin Survey

    All rights reserved