Welcome to the sixth installment of 6th generation's Pokemon of the Week! This week we'll be covering this generation's most popular Dragon type. This week, we discuss Goodra.
Goomy is said to be the weakest Dragon Pokemon in existence. It's forced to live in damp, shady areas so that it's body doesn't dry out. However, the slimy membrane that covers it makes it difficult to do any damage without it sliding right off. Sliggoo releases a sticky liquid that can dissolve anything, in an attempt to protect itself from danger. Upon evolution, it's eyes devolved, so it is blind. The four horns it has act as a radar system that can sense smells and sounds, rather than using a nose and ears. Goodra is an affectionate Pokemon that loves to hug it's Trainer, leaving them covered in slime. A punch from Goodra is equal to the force of a hundred pro boxers.
Base Stats: 90 HP / 100 Attack / 70 Defense / 110 Sp. Attack / 150 Sp. Defense / 80 Speed
Goodra's in an odd position, competitively speaking. It's built like a tank, but has no reliable recovery. If it had been around last generation where infinite rain existed, it would have had an awesome niche as a bulky special attacker that could fully heal itself whenever it wanted. Unfortunately, rain is a lot less common now, since having Politoed on your team is hardly worth what is effectively 7 turns of rain.
So now Goodra is in an odd position. The special bulk it has is comparable to Latias, even being slightly bulkier and it has a marginally higher Sp. Attack stat, as well as a 15 point higher Attack stat. That said, Latias has higher Speed and Defense, as well as a typing that affords it more resistances (though it also has a nasty Pursuit weakness, as well as an annoying weakness to Shadow Sneak and Sucker Punch), and a much better ability in Levitate, which not only grants it an immunity to Earthquake, but to Spikes and Toxic Spikes. Most of all, Latias has Recover, which allows it to stay around much longer.
Overall, Goodra is... okay. It's slow and bulky, but the lack of reliable recovery really makes it a poor choice in comparison to other defensive Dragons.
Goodra@ Assault Vest Sap Sipper / Gooey Quiet nature (+Sp. Attack, -Speed) EVs: 248 HP / 252 Sp. Attack / 8 Sp. Defense Draco Meteor Fire Blast Thunderbolt / Sludge Bomb Earthquake / Dragon Tail |
Goodra's naturally high Sp. Defense makes for a great abuser of Assault Vest, tanking nearly any special attacker and hitting back with powerful blows. Draco Meteor is your spam of choice, depending on the opponent's team. Fire Blast melts Steel types that resist Draco meteor, and gives you a weapon to hurt Mega Mawile. Thunderbolt hurts the other two common Fairy types in OU, Azumarill and Togekiss, Super Effectively, as well as providing great coverage. Sludge Bomb is an option as well, since it deals the same damage Thunderbolt would, but it has worse overall coverage.
The last slot is a toss-up. Earthquake is almost exclusively for Heatran, who takes 70-83% from it. If Heatran switches into Draco Meteor, it will immediately be OHKO'd by Earthquake afterwards, if you've got Stealth Rock up. Dragon Tail is a great option for phazing, though, so Goodra doesn't become setup bait. It pairs most effectively with entry hazards, so be sure to choose wisely based on your team.
The choice of ability is a bit tricky, but it's mostly because neither ability is overly fantastic. Sap Sipper gives you an immunity to Grass attacks, and this is most important when considering things like Spore, Leech Seed, and the occasional Grass Knot and Power Whip. It also ensures a OHKO on Heatran even if you don't have Stealth Rock on the field. Gooey, however, can help slow an opponent down enough to give you two hits in a row. The main problem with Gooey is that most contact moves are physical, and you don't really want to keep Goodra in on powerful physical attackers.
The EVs are set to give maximum bulk and power, with 248 HP EVs reducing Stealth Rock damage.
Goodra@ Choice Specs Gooey / Sap Sipper Modest nature (+Sp. Attack, -Attack) EVs: 252 Sp. Attack / 248 HP / 8 Sp. Defense Draco Meteor Fire Blast Focus Blast Thunderbolt / Dragon Pulse |
A Choice Specs set is a great surprise for opponents expecting you to be running a more defensive Assault Vest set, and Goodra has the power and coverage to punch holes into opponents before they know what hit them. Draco Meteor is your go-to move, punching giant holes into almost anything not resistant, or carrying an egg in a pouch. Fire Blast hits Steel types that resist Dragon. Focus Blast hits both Heatran and Tyranitar very hard on the switch.
The last slot is a choice between coverage and a more reliable sweeping STAB. Thunderbolt hits Azumarill and Togekiss Super Effectively, as well as other Water types, but Dragon Pulse gives Goodra a STAB without a punishing side-effect.
This set appreciates entry hazards to help ensure KOs. For example, with Stealth Rock alone, Focus Blast has a 75% chance to OHKO Assault Vest Tyranitar in Sand, where it would otherwise be a 6.5% chance to KO. With Stealth Rock and one layer of Spikes, Focus Blast has a 50% chance to OHKO Heatran, which jumps to 100% if you manage 3 layers and Stealth Rock. Sticky Web also deserves a mention on this set, as Goodra's subpar Speed becomes less of an issue, and it allows it to power through opponents who might otherwise KO you before you can hit them.
Gooey is the chosen ability on this set because it provides this more offensively inclined set the opportunity to slow down opposing Pokemon to possibly get an extra hit in, which could be the difference between knocking the opponent out and being knocked out. Additionally, this set uses no physical moves, so it benefits from Sap Sipper slightly less than the previous set.
Goodra@ Leftovers Sap Sipper Calm nature (+Sp. Defense, -Attack) / Sassy nature (+Sp. Defense, -Speed) EVs: 248 HP / 252 Sp. Defense / 8 Sp. Attack Dragon Pulse Flamethrower Thunderbolt Toxic / Dragon Tail |
Goodra's naturally high Sp. Defense makes it a great candidate for a special wall set. Dragon Pulse provides a nice STAB attack, with Flamethrower for Steel types. Thunderbolt hits the other two Fairy types, and has good coverage. The last slot provides Goodra a move that disrupts opponents. Toxic breaks down opposing special walls, putting a timer on how long they can stay in, and forcing them to heal more often. Dragon Tail, on the other hand, is a great move to ensure that Goodra isn't setup bait, and really helps if you've got entry hazards stacked on the opposing side.
It may be obvious, but the main problem with this set is that Goodra lacks Recover, something that will continue to baffle many fans for years to come. Without a means of recovery, it's almost essential that you carry a Wish passer. In that regard, Jirachi makes an excellent defensive teammate, given their fantastic synergy. Clefable is another seemingly unusual option, but it can provide both Wish and Aromatherapy, though it's not as bulky as you might like.
Goodra's lack of recovery is a major problem, but this set also lacks power, so you may want to consider exactly why you're using Goodra as your special wall of choice. I don't really have much else to say about this set, but it is something to think about.
Goodra@ Leftovers / Damp Rock Hydration Modest nature (+Sp. Attack, -Attack) EVs: 248 HP / 252 Sp. Attack / 8 Sp. Defense Rain Dance Rest Dragon Pulse Thunder / Focus Blast / Toxic |
Even with Politoed's infinite rain gone, Goodra can still utilize Hydration well enough on it's own as the one means of "reliable" recovery it has. Rain Dance sets the rain, for 5-8 turns depending on your item, and Rest fully heals you, with the Sleep being removed at the end of the turn. Dragon Pulse is your main STAB attack, dealing good damage without any drawbacks.
The last slot has many options available. Thunder is a powerful option to hit 2/3 of the main Fairies in OU as hard as possible, and it also has a nice 30% Paralysis rate. Focus Blast hits common Steel types hard, such as Ferrothorn and Heatran. Toxic can be used to break opposing walls while you continually heal yourself.
This set has a multitude of problems that you'll assuredly run into. First off, depending on what moves you're using, you're walled by something. Ferrothorn walls you if you run Thunder, but Fairy types wall you if you run Focus Blast. All Steel types wall you if you use Toxic.
The EVs for this set give Goodra a lot of bulk while maximizing offensive output, so Goodra isn't sitting there doing nothing. If you'd like a bulkier spread, however, 248 HP, 252 Sp. Defense, 8 Sp. Attack can be utilized, but note that you won't be doing much damage, and become easy setup bait.
Goomy can be found on Route 14 in the swampy areas. It evolves into Sliggoo at the very late level of 40. Sliggoo can be found on Route 19, as well as in Friend Safari's, which is where you'll need to go if you want one with Gooey. Sliggoo evolves into Goodra at level 50, but only if it's raining natural rain on the route you're on as it levels up. Here's what I would recommend for an in-game Goodra:
Goodra Dragon Pulse Flamethrower Thunderbolt Sludge Bomb |
Goodra's movepool is expansive and should be utilized to bring down as many threats as possible. Dragon Pulse is your main STAB attack, dealing the most damage to anything that isn't hit Super Effectively by your other moves. Flamethrower hits Steel types that would otherwise be problematic for this set. Thunderbolt has good overall coverage, while Sludge Bomb hits the multitude of Fairy types that X and Y throw at you constantly.
I'm very mixed on how I feel about Goodra. On the one hand, it's freaking adorable and it's a nice change of pace from the fast, frail sweeper Dragon we usually have. On the other hand, it's slimy and sticky and gross, so it's also a bit terrifying if it's coming after you. It's kind of like Muk, but with the ability to walk and oh yeah IT'S A DRAGON. Speaking of typing, why the heck isn't Goodra Dragon/Poison? Do you have any idea how amazing that would have made Goodra? It would actually be in good competition with Latias, lacking the Pursuit weakness while retaining the Fighting resistance. It's got GOO in the name. Come on, Game Freak. No, you give it to freakin' Dragalge, who is laaaame.
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