This is a strategy guide for using Goodra 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 Goodra, as well as its strengths and weak points.

Goodra - Related Guides
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Goodra

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Goodra
Abilities
Hydration	Heals status problem if it is raining.
Sap Sipper	Boosts Attack when hit by a Grass-type move.
Gooey (Hidden)	Contact with the Pokemon lowers the attacker's Speed stat.

Goodra Weaknesses and Resistances

	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 Goodra

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Goodra

Sap Sipper + Assault Vest Moveset & Best Build

These values are from base stats and ideal EVs, excluding external factors.

With a combination of high base stats and the Special Defense boost from Assault Vest, it's able to withstand a Draco Meteor from Hydreigon. On top of that, its Ability Sap Sipper is able to nullify the effects of opponents' Grass-type Moves. If you can pull off a good read on the opponent, you can switch in Goodra to completely nullify an attack.

Other Viable Moves

Expert Belt Moveset & Best Build

These values are from base stats and ideal EVs, excluding external factors.

This build allows it to take maximum advantage of its wide movepool with the help of Expert Belt. Its Ability Gooey can lower the opponent's Speed, allowing it to strike first and finish the job.

Explanation of EV Spread

The Speed EVs have been placed to allow it to outspeed Mimikyu after Gooey has been activated.

Other Viable Moves

How to Use Goodra Effectively

Weather its opponents' attacks and hit back with Special attacks

Goodra's specialty can be said to be its extremely high Special Defense. Its primary strategy is to shake off a Special attack to fire back with its own super effective move. With its wide movepool granting it a range of moves which can deal heavy damage to any Pokemon it comes up against, it's a highly effective fighter when in the right situation.

Counters for Goodra

Weakness

Hit hard with a Physical attacker

Although Goodra's Defense seems high on first glance, it falls short of breaking half of its Special Defense. With the right Physical attacker on its tail, Goodra can be taken down more easily than it appears.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Glastrier	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Can withstand Goodra's attacks, allowing it to fight back. Moveset & Best Build for Glastrier
Tyranitar	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Has high attacking power. ・Can create a Sandstorm to take advantage of its high Special Defense. Moveset & Best Build for Tyranitar
Galarian Darmanitan	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Can generally outspeedd Goodra. ・A high-power Physical attacker. Moveset & Best Build for Galarian Darmanitan
Weavile	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Has high Speed stat and can strike first with Ice-type attacks. ・The move Triple Axel will render Focus Sash useless.

Wall it with a defensive Pokemon

Goodra does rock a powerful Special Attack and a wide variety of moves, but up against a Pokemon with massive defensive stats, it can have trouble taking it down. The likes of Snorlax and Gastrodon are able to put up with some smacking around and come out grinning.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Snorlax	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Extremely high Special Defense. ・Also a superb Physical attacker. Moveset & Best Build for Snorlax
Cresselia	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Has high defensive capabilities. ・Can further improve its Special Defense with Calm Mind. Moveset & Best Build for Cresselia
Gastrodon	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Can learn Recovery moves. ・Has high defensive capabilities. Moveset & Best Build for Gastrodon

Related Links

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Tier List		Best Builds		Series 10 List of 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
Hawlucha	Shiftry	Tsareena
Ludicolo