Stats
HP: | 100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Attack: | 180 | |
| Defense: | 160 | |
| Sp. Atk: | 150 | |
| Sp. Def: | 90 | |
| Speed: | 90 |
Overview
In Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, we were introduced to Primal Reversions and new Weather mechanics. Groudon was also blessed to receive a new move known as Precipice Blades which is a more powerful Earthquake that only hits your opponent's side of the field. Primal Groudon is an incredible Pokemon even for being a Legendary Pokemon. Primal Groudon gains the Fire Typing in addition to its Ground Type to be a Fire and Ground Type. This might seem weird since it makes Primal Groudon 4x weak to water however it gets a fantastic ability with its Primal Reversion: Desolate Land. Desolate Land makes Water Type attacks useless so Primal Groudon doesn't have to worry about water moves as long as Desolate Land is on the field. In addition, now Primal Groudon gets a boost to its Fire Type attacks from being a Fire Type as well as the boost from Desolate Land to do huge amounts of damage. Primal Groudon gets an incredible buff to its stats, an amazing ability, and the Fire typing for the cost of its item, however it is one of the best Pokemon in the entire game. Its speed stat makes it viable in Trick Room and Tailwind, as well as having fantastic Physical and Special Attack stats to have so much variety since it can be a physical sweeper, special sweeper or a mixed attacker since it has an amazing movepool. It also is great because of its ability to resist Xerneas's Fairy Type attacks and do big damage to Xerneas. It has incredible physical bulk with its base 160 Defense and the only real weakness is its lack of Special Defense.
Abilities
Desolate Land: Summons Strong Sun. (Increases the power of Fire Type moves by 50%. The following abilities work under Strong Sun: Leaf Guard, Chlorophyll, Flower Gift, Solar Power, Dry Skin and Forcast) Renders Water Type moves useless. This weather lasts until the Pokemon leaves the field. It cannot be removed by regular weathers and moves: Sunny Day, Rain Dance, Sandstorm, Hail, Drought, Drizzle, Sand Stream and Snow Warning. It can be removed however by a Pokemon switching in with the following abilities or having the following abilities activate after Desolate Land: Primordial Sea and Delta Sky. The effects of Desolate Land can be removed if a Pokemon with the following abilities is on the field: Air Lock and Cloud Nine. The weather will go away when the ability is removed by the following moves: Gastro Acid and Cloud Nine. Desolate Land can be reset by the following moves: Role Play and Skill Swap.
A fantastic ability for Primal Groudon which eliminates its Water weakness and increases its Fire Type attacks. The only ability that Primal Groudon gets but the only ability Primal Groudon needs.
Item Selection
- Red Orb: Allows Groudon to undergo Primal Reversion. (Required)
Viable Move Selection
- Precipice Blades: (Ground/120 Power/85 Accuracy/10-16 PP/Spread Move that hits both slots on the opponent's side of the field)
Precipice Blades is a stronger Earthquake with less accuracy that only hits your opponent's side of the field. A super strong move that is probably the best move on a Physical Primal Groudon set. The only reason people wouldn't run this move on a Physical set is the fear of missing.
- Eruption: (Fire/150 Power/100 Accuracy/5-8 PP/Spread Move that hits both slots on the opponent's side of the field) The lower the user's HP, the less powerful this attack becomes.
Eruption is the strongest Fire Type attack that Primal Groudon can learn that hits both of your opponent's pokemon. With Primal Groudon's ability boosting the power of Eruption as well as its new Fire Typing, Eruption is easily going to pick up knock outs or at least weaken your opponent's pokemon a lot when at full power. It is an HP based attack so you have to make sure you keep Groudon healthy.
- Earth Power: (Ground/90 Power/100 Accuracy/10-16 PP/Single Target/10% chance to lower the opponent's Sp Def)
Earth Power is used on Special Groudons and is the strongest Special Ground Type move Primal Groudon gets. It is able to okho most Primal Groudon variants that aren't Specially Defensive and is able to do a lot of damage.
- Earthquake: (Ground/100 Power/100 Accuracy/10-16 PP/Spread Move that hits all slots on the the field)
An accurate but less powerful Precipice Blades however hits the entire field including your ally. Earthquake is best used with a team filled with multiple Flying Types and Pokemon with the ability; Levitate.
- Flamethrower: (Fire/90 Power/100 Accuracy/15-24 PP/Single Target/10% chance to burn the opponent)
Flamethrower is used as the second Fire type attack after Eruption. It doesn't do much damage unless you invest a lot in Special Attack however it is 100% accurate for people who don't like missing Fire Blast or Overheat
- Overheat: (Fire/140 Power/90 Accuracy/5-8 PP/Single Target/Reduces the user's Sp Att by 2 stages)
Overheat is a strong move especially when boosted by Desolate Land and is able to easily okho a Pokemon even non invested in Sp Att. Overheat is only used on Physical or Mixed sets because of the Sp Att decrease.
- Fire Blast: (Fire/110 Power/85 Accuracy/5-8 PP/Single Target/10% chance to burn the opponent)
Powerful Fire Type attack that has a chance to okho non bulky Mega Kangaskhan. Very strong move under Desolate Land and is great on a lot of sets as long as you don't mind the 15% chance to miss.
- Hidden Power Ice: (Ice/60 Power/100 Accuracy/15-24 PP/Single Target)
Hidden Power Ice is a rare move on Groudon but works well on Special sets. It is able to hit Pokemon such as Mega Salamence, Landorus and Rayquaza for good damage when they think they are safe from Primal Groudon's Fire and Ground Type attacks.
- Rock Slide: (Rock/75 Power/90 Accuracy/10-16 PP/Spread Move that hits both slots on the opponent's side of the field/10 % chance to flinch the opponent)
Rock Slide is a decent option to hit Flying types however it will not do much damage to most Pokemon in the format but it can change the tide of a battle with one flinch.
- Stone Edge: (Rock/100 Power/80 Accuracy/5-8 PP/Single Target/High Critical Hit ratio)
Stone Edge is a move that will pick up okhos unlike Rock Slide on Pokemon such as bulky Thundurus or bulky Ho-Oh however it requires hitting the move.
- Fire Punch: (Fire/75 Power/100 Accuracy/15-24 PP/Single Target/10% chance to burn the opponent)
The only physical Fire Type move Groudon gets. It hits for decent damage and is able to 2-hit ko a lot of Pokemon in the metagame like Mega Kangaskhan and Xerneas.
- Rock Polish: (Raises Speed by 2 stages)
Being able to double Primal Groudon's speed is amazing as it can catch opponent's by surprise and covers one of Primal Groudon's weaknesses by being slow. Also because Primal Groudon cannot be paralyzed by Thunder Wave, it can be assured to be the fastest thing on the field.
- Swords Dance (Raises Attack by 2 stages)
Swords Dance is a great move for Primal Groudon. This turns a lot of the moves that Primal Groudon uses from 2-hit kos to clean okhos. Most teams that use Primal Groudon use Tailwind and Trick Room as speed control so a lot of people end up making switches or using the move Protect to stall out Trick Room or Tailwind. Primal Groudon can use the situation to set up a Swords Dance and net some kos in the next turn.
- Substitute (Creates a decoy at the cost of 25% of the user's full health)
Substitute is an interesting option where like Swords Dance, you can easily set up one on an opponent's attempt to stall out Trick Room or Tailwind. This also creates pressure by making the opponent having to double target Primal Groudon in order to try and take it out.
- Thunder Wave (Paralyzes the target)
Thunder Wave is a form of speed control mainly for slowing down Xerneas. It can help Primal Groudon outspeed a lot of common threats like Primal Kyogre, Mega Rayquaza, Mega Salamence and Mega Gengar.
- Roar (Forces your opponent's Pokemon to switchout into a random Pokemon in the back)
Mainly used for phasing Pokemon that try to set up such as Xerneas after a Geomancy, Mega Rayquaza and more. Also can phase out Pokemon trying to set up Trick Room.
- Protect (It enables the user to evade all attacks)
Standard move on VGC pokemon.
Less Viable Moves
- Psych Up (Copies the targets stat changes)
-With Geomancy
- Dragon Pulse (Dragon/60 Power/100 Accuracy/10-16 PP/Single Target)
-Hits Mega Salamence and Mega Rayquaza
Moves that shouldn't be used in VGC
- Hones Claws
- Iron Head
- Thunder
- Thunderbolt
- Iron Head
- Solarbeam
- Lava Plume
- Hammer Arm
- Toxic
- Dragon Tail
- Power-Up Punch
- Thunder Punch
- Stealth Rock
Sample Sets
- Standard Physical/Mixed Trick Room Set
Groudon-Primal @ Red Orb
Ability: Desolate Land
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Precipice Blades
- Fire Punch/ Overheat
- Rock Slide / Substitute/ Stone Edge
- Protect
- Mixed Trick Room Set
Groudon-Primal @ Red Orb
Ability: Desolate Land
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpA
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Eruption
- Earth Power
- Precipice Blades
- Protect
- Standard Special Trick Room Set
Groudon-Primal @ Red Orb
Ability: Desolate Land
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Eruption
- Earth Power
- Flamethrower/ Fire Blast/ Hidden Power Ice
- Protect
- Fast Special Sweeper
Groudon-Primal @ Red Orb
Ability: Desolate Land
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 4 Def / 244 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid/Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Eruption
- Earth Power
- Flamethrower/ Fire Blast/ Hidden Power Ice
- Protect
- Fast Physical Sweeper
Groudon-Primal @ Red Orb
Ability: Desolate Land
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 244 Atk / 4 Def / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant/Jolly Nature
- Precipice Blades
- Fire Punch/ Overheat
- Rock Slide/ Stone Edge/ Substitute/ Thunder Wave/ Roar
- Protect
Important Damage Calcs
- 68+ Atk Primal Groudon Precipice Blades (Double Target) vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Xerneas: 102-120 (50.4 - 59.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
- +2 68+ Atk Primal Groudon Precipice Blades (Double Target) vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Xerneas: 202-238 (100 - 117.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
- +2 252+ Atk Primal Groudon Precipice Blades (Double Target) vs. 252 HP / 108 Def Primal Kyogre: 208-246 (100.4 - 118.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
- 252+ Atk Primal Groudon Precipice Blades (Singe Target) vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Primal Groudon: 192-228 (109 - 129.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
- 252+ Atk Primal Groudon Precipice Blades (Single Target) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Primal Groudon: 192-228 (92.7 - 110.1%) -- 50% chance to OHKO
- 252+ SpA Primal Groudon Earth Power vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Primal Groudon: 204-242 (115.9 - 137.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
- 252+ SpA Primal Groudon Earth Power vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Primal Groudon: 204-242 (98.5 - 116.9%) -- 87.5% chance to OHKO
- 252+ SpA Primal Groudon Eruption (150 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Primal Groudon in Harsh Sunshine: 96-113 (46.3 - 54.5%)
- 252+ SpA Primal Groudon Eruption (150 BP) vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Primal Groudon in Harsh Sunshine: 96-113 (54.5 - 64.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
- 252+ SpA Primal Groudon Eruption (Double Target) (150 BP) vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Mega Kangaskhan in Harsh Sunshine: 177-208 (97.7 - 114.9%) -- 81.3% chance to OHKO
- 252 Atk Life Orb Mega Rayquaza Waterfall vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Primal Groudon: 203-244 (98 - 117.8%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO
- 252+ SpA Primal Groudon Earth Power vs. 252 HP / 156 SpD Primal Groudon: 174-206 (84 - 99.5%)
- 252+ SpA Primal Kyogre Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Primal Groudon: 79-93 (38.1 - 44.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
- 252+ SpA Primal Kyogre Ice Beam vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Primal Groudon: 79-93 (44.8 - 52.8%) -- 25.8% chance to 2HKO
- +2 252 SpA Fairy Aura Xerneas Dazzling Gleam (Double Target) vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Primal Groudon: 75-88 (42.6 - 50%) -- 0.4% chance to 2HKO
- +2 252 SpA Fairy Aura Xerneas Moonblast vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Primal Groudon: 118-139 (67 - 78.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
- +2 252 SpA Fairy Aura Xerneas Moonblast vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Primal Groudon: 118-139 (57 - 67.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
- +2 252 SpA Fairy Aura Xerneas Dazzling Gleam (Double Target) vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Primal Groudon: 75-88 (36.2 - 42.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
Common Primal Groudon Partners
Cresselia - Cresselia is Primal Groudon's best partner with so many ways to support Primal Groudon. Cresselia can help Primal Groudon move first on the field with Trick Room, boosts the power of Primal Groudon's attacks with Helping Hand, help Primal Groudon hit flying types while increasing the accuracy of Precipice Blades with Gravity and reset Desolate Land with Skill Swap. Skill Swapping Levitate onto Primal Groudon helps Primal Groudon against the mirrors and a Helping Hand Precipice Blades can knock out opposing Primal Groudons. Cresselia also has the ability; Levitate to avoid Primal Groudon's Earthquake if you want to run Earthquake.
Gothitelle/Gothorita - Can do a lot of the same things as Cresselia by setting up Trick Room, using Helping Hand, Gravity and resetting Desolate Land with Skill Swap. The difference are the abilities where Gothitelle can trap opposing Pokemon while Cresselia gets Levitate. Shadow Tag is nice when facing Primal Kyogre as you only need to reset the weather once and spam attacks while not worrying about Primal Kyogre switching out. Another big difference is Gothitelle is able to use Heal Pulse to keep Primal Groudon healthy for Eruption.
Xerneas - Xerneas and Primal Groudon have perfect synergy together as Primal Groudon resists all of Xerneas's weaknesses and can hit for a lot of damage on anything that resists Fairy Type attacks. The combination of a boosted Xerneas and Primal Groudon can easily sweep unprepared teams and give more prepared teams a harder time.
Palkia - Palkia is an interesting pokemon where it can help set up Trick Room and Gravity for Primal Groudon. The main appeal of Palkia is that it resists Primal Groudon's Eruption and takes Primal Kyogre's hits relatively well.
Thundurus - Thundurus offer speed control with Thunder Wave to help Primal Groudon to outspeed opposing Pokemon. Thundurus also gets Prankster Role Play which can help reset the weather against Primal Kyogre as well as get off some decent damage against Primal Kyogre with a Thunderbolt.
Crobat - Offers Tailwind as speed control and combined with Super Fang, Eruption and Precipice Blades can easily get knock outs.
Togekiss - Togekiss carries speed control with Thunder Wave and Tailwind along with Follow Me to help redirect attacks from Primal Groudon. A Choice Scarf Togekiss can also use After You to make Primal Groudon potentially move first with a powerful move such as Eruption.
Liligant - Gains speed from Chlorophyll and has support moves such as Sleep Powder and After You. A nice combination is After You + Eruption to allow Primal Groudon an Eruption before getting hit.
Venusaur - Gains speed from Chlorophyll and also carries Sleep Powder like Liligant or Jumpluff. Venusaur can be used as a fast attacker in the sun and then choose to Mega Evolve when facing Primal Kyogre.
Jumpluff - A fast Pokemon that also gains speed from Chlorophyll. Jumpluff offers great utility with fast Sleep Powders, Rage Powder, Encore and Helping Hand options to support Primal Groudon.
Primal Groudon Checks and Counters
Primal Kyogre - Primal Kyogre is the natural enemy of Primal Groudon negating Primal Groudon's Desolate Land and making its Fire Type attacks useless. However Primal Kyogre must be careful when it comes in because its weather needs to be secure as most Primal Groudon teams will have weather control options but if Primal Kyogre can get one Water Type move on Primal Groudon, its all ogre.
Rayquaza - Rayquaza has the ability Air Lock so even if Primal Groudon has Desolate Land, Rayquaza can still fire off Water Type attacks such as Surf or Waterfall without fail. Also Rayquaza is immune to Primal Groudon's Ground Type attacks and Primal Groudon's Fire Type attacks won't be doing much damage.
Mega Rayquaza - Mega Rayquaza can help by getting rid of Desolate Land and firing off Waterfalls. Just like regular Rayquaza, Mega Rayquaza can take hits from Primal Groudon. Mega Rayquaza can also knock out Primal Groudon with a boosted Earth Power or Draco Meteor.
Palkia - Palkia resists Primal Groudon's Fire Type attacks and can take Primal Groudon's Ground Type attacks decently. Palkia can hurt Primal Groudon with a strong Dragon Type attack or Earth Power.
Giratina Origin - Giratina Origin is immune to Ground Type moves thanks to Levitate and can tank all of Primal Groudon's moves. Giratina can also fire off strong special attacks like Draco Meteor and Earth Power to deal huge damage to Primal Groudon.
Landorus - Either form of Landorus is great to deal with Groudon. Both forms are faster than Primal Groudon have very good chances to okho Primal Groudon with a Life Orb boosted Earth Power. Landorus Therian can help with Intimidate weaken physical attacking Primal Groudon while Landorus Incarnate has a better chance to okho Primal Groudon.
Latias/Latios/Hydreigon - Levitating Dragons are great against Primal Groudon because they are immune to Primal Groudon's Ground Type attacks and resist Fire Type attacks. They can then fire off a strong Psychic, Dark Pulse or Dragon Type attacks to deal a good amount to Primal Groudon.
Swampert - Swampert resists the Fire Type attacks that Primal Groudon can use and take the Ground Type attacks decently. Earth Power is a 2-hit knock out and Swampert can support its teammates with Wide Guard to block Earthquakes, Precipice Blades and Eruptions.
