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steel dragons
04-19-2011, 04:53 PM
http://shaym.in/media/bw-sprites/465.pnghttp://shaym.in/media/bw-sprites/465.pnghttp://shaym.in/media/bw-sprites/465.png

Tangrowth

Type: Grass

Abilities:
Chlorophyll: "When Sunny, the Pokemon's speed doubles. However, Speed will not double on the turn weather becomes Clear Skies." (from Serebii)
Leaf Guard: "All status problems are healed during strong sunlight." (from Serebii)
Regenerator (Dream World, released): "When the Pokemon switches out of battle, up to 33.3% of its maximum Hit Points are restored." (from Serebii)

Base Stats:
100 HP
100 Atk
125 Def
110 SpA
50 SpD
50 Spe

http://www.serebii.net/pokedex-bw/465.shtml

Overview

In generation four, Tangrowth was one of the best Sun sweepers, if not the best Sun sweeper. Tangrowth fulfilled the role of a Sun sweeper well mainly due to its ability, Chlorophyll, which doubles its speed under sun. Tangrowth also has the stats to pull this off; it has good offensive stats, passable speed, and even great physical defensive stats. Tangrowth also has good moves, like Power Whip, Earthquake, Focus Blast, Hidden Power Fire, and Sleep Powder which helped it to sweep effectively. Tangrowth also was a great physically defensive wall, mainly because of its great stats and its good supporting moves, like Leech Seed and Sleep Powder. In generation five, Tangrowth is perhaps an even better Sun sweeper. This is mainly due to the move Growth, which doubles the attack and special attack stats in sunny weather, and more importantly due to Ninetales' Drought ability, which provides the everlasting sunny weather that aids Tangrowth in its sweep. Tangrowth might face some competition from Venasaur for the role of sun sweeper. Tangrowth has better offensive stats and better physically defensive stats than Venasaur, while Venasaur has a higher base speed than Tangrowth. Tangrowth also can perform walling duties well in this generation, checking some common threats like Gliscor and Garchomp. Tangrowth both has the stats to pull that off, as well as having the Regenerator ability, which somewhat heals Tangrowth every time that it is switched out.

Despite how great Tangrowth can be, there are a few downsides to Tangrowth. Its grass typing hurts Tangrowth more than it helps it, as Tangrowth is weak to many common attacking types, including Fire, Ice, Poison, Flying, and Bug attacks. Also, despite Tangrowth's speed being boosted in the sun, Tangrowth's speed is still fairly low. Even in sunny weather, Tangrowth can be outspeed by most Pokemon holding a Choice Scarf. Finally, Tangrowth's special defense stat is also low, so most strong special attacks will do heavy damage to Tangrowth.
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In Depth / Move Sets

http://shaym.in/media/bw-sprites/465.png
Physically Based Growth Sweeper
Tangrowth w/ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
Naive / Jolly nature
EVs: 252 Atk, 252 Spe, 4 SpA
Growth
Power Whip
Earthquake
Hidden Power Fire / Hidden Power Ice / Sleep Powder

Set Comments

In sunny weather and after a Growth boost, Tangrowth easily can have the ability to sweep teams. Just to give you a picture of how threatening Tangrowth can be, it effectively has stats of 598 attack, 514 special attack, and 436 speed after a Growth boost in the sun. Remember, Growth boosts attack and special attack by two stages in the sun, and this kind of boost can make nearly any Pokemon hard to face. Growth is obviously used in the first slot to power up Tangrowth. Power Whip is Tangrowth's strongest physical Grass move, and should be used on this set. Earthquake hits many Pokemon that resist Power Whip, mainly Fire Pokemon and Steel Pokemon, and Earthquake gets good coverage with Power Whip. There are many options for the last slot. Hidden Power Fire ensures KOs on Pokemon like Scizor, Ferrothorn, and even specially defensive Skarmory after a Growth boost in the Sun. Hidden Power Ice, on the other hand, hits other targets that resist Power Whip and Earthquake like Salamence and Latios, and also ensures KOs on Gliscor and Garchomp. Sleep Powder doesn't help Tangrowth hit additional targets, but it can help Tangrowth set up Growth by putting a threatening target to sleep.

Additional Comments

Since Tangrowth will be boosting its attacking stats through Growth, it is wise to mainly invest in speed so that Tangrowth outspeeds as much as possible. With max speed and in the sun, Tangrowth can outspeed nearly every non-boosted Pokemon, and some slower boosted Pokemon, like scarfed Magnezone and all Gyarados after a boost. Since this is a physical varient of Tangrowth, the remaining EVs are put into attack. Obviously, Life Orb should be used for the power, and Chlorophyll should be used to make Tangrowth outspeed things in the sun. If only physical moves are being used here, then a Jolly nature should be used.

http://shaym.in/media/bw-sprites/465.png
Physical Wall - credited to Benlisted from Smogon
Tangrowth w/ Leftovers
Ability: Regenerator
Relaxed / Impish / Bold nature
EVs: 252 HP, 252 Def, 4 SpD

Leech Seed
Sleep Powder
Power Whip / Giga Drain
Hidden Power Ice / Earthquake

Set Comments

In addition to being a good Chlorophyll sweeper, Tangrowth can be a great physically defensive wall as well. It can fulfill this role well because of its good base 100 HP and base 125 Defense stats, and also because of its new ability Regenerator. These assets can make Tangrowth an ideal counter to certain Pokemon like Gliscor, Garchomp, and Excadrill. Tangrowth also gets good supporting moves which help it to preform its walling duties. Leech Seed should be used for the first slot, as it allows Tangrowth to recover lots of HP each turn. Sleep Powder is the ideal choice for the second slot, allowing Tangrowth to put one of the opponent's Pokemon to sleep, possibly messing up the opponent's strategy. Power Whip is recommended for Tangrowth's stab move, simply because it is one of Tangrowth's strongest stab moves. Giga Drain can be used instead, mainly because of the extra HP recovery that it provides. The final slot should be used to hit Pokemon that can survive Tangrowth's grass attacks. Hidden Power Ice can be used, particularly to deal with most Gliscors and Garchomps, and Earthquake can be used to hit many of the Pokemon resistant to Grass moves.

Additional Comments

Since Tangrowth main purpose here is to be a defensive wall, max HP and defense EVs are used here, along with a defense-boosting nature. The nature itself is dependent on what attacking moves Tangrowth uses. A Relaxed nature is necessary if Tangrowth is using a physical move and a special move, a Bold nature is necessary is Tangrowth is using only special moves, and a Impish nature is used if Tangrowth is using only physical moves. Leftovers, without question, should be Tangrowth's held item.

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Other Options

Leaf Storm - Could be used on a specially based Chlorophyll Sweeper Tangrowth. However, the special attack lowering aspect of Leaf Storm makes it unappealing to most people.
Knock Off - Could be used on more defensive Tangrowth sets. Most Pokemon do not enjoy losing their helld item.
Stun Spore - Could be used to cripple some sweepers that could trouble Tangrowth. However, it usually doesn't fit into any of Tangrowth's sets.
Focus Blast - Could be used, especially since Focus Blast has great power and Tangrowth has a good special attack stat. However, its accuracy is unappealing, and other moves usually suit Tangrowth better.
Rock Slide - Could be used on the Chlorophyll sweeper set, as it gets decent coverage along with Power Whip and Earthquake. However, certain Pokemon, most notable Ferrothorn, would wall Tangrowth.

Teammates

For Chlorophyll Tangrowth, Ninetales is a required teammate, as its everlasting Sun helps Tangrowth sweep. Thundurus can also work well with Chlorophyll Tangrowth, as it can destroy Tyranitar and Politoed with Focus Blast and Thunderbolt, repsectively. For the defensive set, Slowbro is probably one of the most common teammates to Tangrowth, as they both have Regenerator and they both resist some of the weaknesses of the other Pokemon. Together, they make a good stall combo, as one could spend many turns switching between them and stalling the opponent. Heatran can also work well with tangrowth and Slowbro, as the trio resists nearly every kind of attack that can be thrown at them. Heatran in particular resists Dragon moves, counters Scizor well, and has the special defense to take some hits that Tangrowth and Slowbro may have trouble taking. For both Tangrowth sets, Starmie can make a good partner, as its Ice Beam can kill most of the Dragons and its Water attacks can destroy some of the Fire-typed Pokemon that can endanger Tangrowth.

Counters

Chlorophyll Tangrowth simply can't function if weather is on the field other then sun, so other weather inducers like Politoed and Tyranitar can help to neutralize Chlorophyll Tangrowth. It isn't recommended to switch those weather inducers directly into Tangrowth though. In general, most Dragon-typed Pokemon work well against Tangrowth, especially if they can hit Tangrowth's weak special defense stat. Most dragons, like Latios, Salamence, and Dragonite, resist most of Tangrowth's moves and work well in countering Tangrowth, but they have to watch out for Hidden Power Ice. Choice Band Scizor can also work well, as its U-Turn will heavily damage Tangrowth and Slowbro, a common teammate. Scizor does have to watch out for Hidden Power Fire though. Heatran, especially with the Air Balloon, also counters Tangrowth well. In general, any strong Pokemon with a super-effective move that can hit Tangrowth's weak special defense stat can work well against Tangrowth. Some examples of this are Infernape with Fire Blast, Tornadus with Hurricane, and Gengar with Sludge Bomb.

Opinion

Tangrowth is a great sweeper in the Sun, because of its good stats, good moves, decent bulk, and access to Chlorophyll. Tangrowth also can be a great defensive wall, checking common threats like Garchomp and Gliscor. Though it may not be the most popular Pokemon, and though it can be outsped by most Scarfed Pokemon, it should definitely not be underestimated.

SilentDreams
04-19-2011, 04:58 PM
Mike says Tangrowth's main thing should be a defensive wall.

steel dragons
04-19-2011, 06:20 PM
Ok, I have added a physical walling set, as well as mentions of its physical defense.

lapras6666
04-19-2011, 08:42 PM
What about substitute on the fourth slot? It would let Tangrowth act as a Sub-Seeder, plus, since you have regenerator, you don't have to worry about the damage.

Tony32
04-20-2011, 02:26 AM
What about substitute on the fourth slot? It would let Tangrowth act as a Sub-Seeder, plus, since you have regenerator, you don't have to worry about the damage.

Tangrowth is a horrible Sub-Seeder.

MikeDecIsHere
04-20-2011, 02:33 AM
Tangrowth is a horrible Sub-Seeder.

This. If anything, Protect or Toxic should be mentioned. Protect for scouting and Toxic to cripple other walls.

steel dragons
09-01-2011, 12:55 PM
Ok, I'm finished this analysis finally. I';m moving this to the OU section shortly.

SilentDreams
09-01-2011, 04:57 PM
This should be in UU and Mike says you need a Special Sweeper set.