Yeah, let's face it, Tangrowth is ugly. I mean, LOOK AT THOSE EYES!! And the arms are pretty uninspired. This is probably the second ugliest Pokemon in the 4th gen, next to Probopass.
There are a ton of other grass-types, such as Celebi, Virizion, Roserade, Breloom, Ferrothorn, Abomasnow, Venusaur, Victrebeel, Shaymin, Shiftry... I can go on and on. HOWEVER, there is something Tangrowth has and all the above grass-types can only dream of: Regenerator and extreme physical bulk. With 100/125 physical defense, Tangrowth is bulkier than Skarmory and Kyurem-B. Also, Tangrowth has good attacking power, with 100 Attack and 110 Special Attack. Another godsend to Tangrowth is Knock Off. With this move, he can either tone down the firepower that some sweepers have(getting rid of the Life Orb), limit the survability of walls(especially Chansey), and shutting down Lum Berry users so he can put them to sleep.
Tangrowth can also go on the offensive as a Chlorophyll sweeper with Growth, shutting down Volcarona with Rock Slide, something Venusaur wishes it could do.
Tangrowth's problems are his poor speed and only mediocre special defense.
Let's have a look at Tangrowth's stats:
HP: 100 Good
Attack: 100 Okay
Defense: 125 Excellent
Sp.Attack: 110 Good
Sp. Defense: 50 Poor
Speed: 50 Poor
Now for Tangrowth's sets:
#1. Best sets
#1.1 Physically defensive tank
Tangrowth @ Leftovers
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def or 224 HP / 28 Atk / 252 Def
Nature: Lax
Ability: Regenerator
- Sleep Powder
- Hidden Power Fire / Hidden Power Ice / Earthquake
- Power Whip
- Knock Off / Leech Seed
This set is probably one of the most infurriating you will see in a OU battle. Sleep Powder is the crux of this set, crippling many sweepers(especially the physical ones) and rendering them near useless. On the second slot, it is all up to you. Hidden Power Fire and Ice hurt other grass-types, with the former beating Steel-types(including the omnipresent Scizor) and Ice-types, while the latter beats Dragonite and the rest of the dragons, as well as hurting Flying-types badly. Earthquake can be used for hitting Steel-types badly, and unlike HP Fire it can also beat physical Fire-types and hurt the special ones if the player predicts correctly. If using Earthquake, put 28 EVs into Attack to KO Heatran. Power Whip is the main STAB of Tangrowth, and backed by 100 Attack, it will dish out good damage to anything that does not resist it. On the final slot I prefer Knock Off, so that Tangrowth can cripple other Pokemon by getting rid of their items, but Leech Seed can be used if you want Tangrowth to restore more HP.
#1.2 Sun Sweeper
Tangrowth @ Life Orb
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Nature: Naughty
Ability: Chlorophyll (hopefully I'm spelling it right)
- Growth
- Power Whip
- Hidden Power Fire
- Earthquake / Rock Slide
Tangrowth can also work efficiently as a Chlorophyll mixed sweeper. Venusaur offers him competition, but Tangrowth has some qualities that set it apart, namely better attacking stats and great physical bulk, even uninvested. Growth boosts Tangrowth's attacking stats to horrifying levels in the sun, and Power Whip is a representation of Tangrowth's power. Hidden Power Fire works perfectly in the sun, destroying all steel-types that think they can switch in for free. Earthquake is preffered in the last slot to beat Heatran(who would otherwise wall this set to hell and back) and Fire-types, as well as Jolteon and Electivire. Rock Slide can be used instead of Earthquake if you need to eliminate Volcarona and Flying-types.
#2. Viable sets
#2.1 Choice Specs
Tangrowth @ Choice Specs
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 Def or 224 HP / 28 Atk / 252 SpA / 4 Def
Nature: Modest / Rash
Ability: Regenerator
- Leaf Storm
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power Fire / Hidden Power Ice
- Focus Blast / Earthquake
Use the first EV spread if using Focus Blast, and the second EV spread if using Earthquake. Choice Specs Leaf Storm is very powerful, OHKOing many threats such as Politoed, Jellicent and Hippowdon. Giga Drain restores Tangrowth's HP even more and is to be used if your opponent's team is weakened. Hidden Power Fire if you are in sunlight or you need to kill some pesky steel-types as well as ice-types, else use Hidden Power Ice. The final move is interesting to choose. Always use Focus Blast with Hidden Power Ice. However, if you absolutely hate Heatran, then you can pick Earthquake and move 28 EVs from the HP stat to the Attack stat to guarantee the OHKO.
#3. Other options
1 - a Choice Band set can be used, but it is outclassed by Choice Specs.
2 - Stun Spore can be used to cripple sweepers, but Sleep Powder normally outclasses it.
3 - a Swords Dance set can be used to wallbreak, but Tangrowth does not have the neccesary Speed, and the poor special bulk keeps him from being a bulky sweeper.
Counters
The physically defensive tank is actually ridiculously hard to counter. Due to Regenerator, Tangrowth can always switch out and regain health when a counter comes in, not to mention Tangrowth has good coverage.
It also has, and will not be afraid to use, Sleep Powder.
That said, Latias can wall Tangrowth's attacks and set up Calm Minds, but Sleep Powder can get in the way, not to mention Knock Off can get rid of her Leftovers. Ferrothorn can set up for free if Tangrowth lacks Hidden Power Fire. Heatran laughs at Tangrowth's grass-type attacks and can smash Tangrowth with Fire Blast, but needs to watch out for Earthquake. Volcarona can set up free Quiver Dances, but only if Tangrowth does not have Rock Slide.
Counters for the Chlorophyll set in the sun include any positive-natured Choice Scarf user with a base Speed of 85 or higher and a super effective move. Notably, Choice Scarf Latios and Latias with Hidden Power Fire or Ice are great counters. Politoed and Tyranitar can change the weather, but only Tyranitar can beat it.
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