What are some effective defensive tanks in Gen 5 competitive play?

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What are some effective defensive tanks in Gen 5 competitive play?

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5th of November · Answer 1 · 2013-08-21T14:30:39+0000

Scrafty

Scrafty (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Shed Skin
EVs: 120 HP / 136 Def / 252 SDef
IVs: 0 Speed
Sassy Nature (+SDef, -Spd)

Bulk Up
Drain Punch
Payback/ Crunch
Ice Punch

I give him Shed Skin because Burns cripple his attack and Toxic will kill him before he can shine. It is reliable. Leftovers for recovery.

Bulk Up is to beef up his Attack and Defense to help turn him into a Physical Tank. Drain Punch is his STAB move which also give recovery. Payback is used since he is slow, which allows him to get 50 bp boost. Set IV speed to 0 for this, other wise use Crunch. Ice Punch is coverage

Slowbro

(He is Specially Defensive, but I love him)

Slowbro (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 200 HP / 56 SAtk / 252 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)

Calm Mind
Scald/ Surf
Psychic
Slack Off

Regenerator for that healing upon switch out. Helps make him last longer. Leftovers for obvious reasons (He gets hungry). Slowbro is naturally bulky Defensive-wise.

Calm Mind to power up his Sp. Attack and Sp. Def. Scald is STAB and has that sexy 30% chance of burning, which bulks up his Defense at the same time crippling the opponent for Slowbro and the rest of your team. You can use Surf for extra power, but I reccomend Scald. Psychic is STAB and has a 10% chance of lowering Sp. Def. Slack Off is for recovery.
___

Quagsire

Quagsire (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Unaware
EVs: 252 HP / 44 Def / 212 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)

Curse
Waterfall
Earthquake
Ice Punch/ Recover

Unaware is a godsend. He ignores the stat boosts that the opponent uses. If the opponent uses 3 Swords Dance(why would you let him do that you fool?!) and attacks Quagsire, Quagsire will be hit with the same power as wiithout Swords Dance. He ignores the +6 Attack. He also ignores Defense boosts when he attacks them. This also works the same with Sp. Attack and Sp. Defense. If I have to explain what Leftovers are for, I'm gonna punch you right in the stomach.

Curse is for the +1 Attack & +1 Speed. He is not a speed demon, so the -1 Speed is tolerable. Waterfall is STAB with the Flinch hax. Earthquake is powerful STAB. Ice Punch is for coverage while Recover is for... well... recovery.

Regirock

Regirock @ Leftovers
Trait: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)

Curse
Stone Edge
Earthquake
Drain Punch/ Toxic/ Thunder Wave

Clear Body prevents opponents attempts at dropping your stats.

Curse for the boost in Attack and Defense. EdgeQuake with half being STAB. Drain Punch is for HP recovery. Toxic and Thunder Wave are to cripple the opposing team.

Tangrowth
(They are mating)

Tangrowth (M) @ Leftovers/ Rocky Helmet
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SAtk
Quiet Nature (+SAtk, -Spd)

Giga Drain
Sleep Powder
Leech Seed
Hidden Power [Fire]

Regenator for the health on the switch. If you feel the moves and ability heal him enough and want to hurt physical hitter, go for Rocky Helmet.

Giga Drain for STAB life-stealer. Sleep Powder to feast with no problem. Leech Seed For the health sapping (Tangrowth is a Health monger). HP [Fire] for coverage.

Umbreon

Umbreon (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Synchronize
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)

Curse
Payback
Confuse Ray
Return

EVs and Nature for Max Defense. Lefetovers for, you guessed it, healing.

Curse makes Umbreon a tank. It raises his Attack and Defense, which raises the power of Payback and Return and allows him to take hits. It also lowers his Speed allowing Payback to acheive its full power by making him move last. Payback is STAB at 75 if he moves first and 150 if he moves last. Confuse Ray gets the opponent punching themselves in the face. Return is tthere for it's 102 BP.

fondant · Answer 2 · 2013-08-21T15:05:24+0000

OU

Metagross @ Leftovers/ Expert Belt
Ability: Clear Body
EVs; 196 HP, 252 Atk, 60 Def
Nature: Adamant
- Zen Headbutt
- Ice Punch
- Meteor Mash
- Bullet Punch/ Agility

The Agility set usually sees full EV investment in speed, but I tried it out with my Tank Metagross set, and Agility is actually a really great move. It has base 70 speed, and even with no EV investment, Metagross nearly reaches Jolteon speed (full 252 EV investment) with just one Agility.

Reuniclus @ Life Orb/ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP, 252 Def, 4 Sp. DEf
Nature: Bold
- Calm Mind
- Recover
- Psyshock
- Signal Beam/ Focus Blast

Typical Calm Mind stall, and Magic Guard is the added bonus that Reuinclus won't take damage from weather or status. Psyshock and Signal Beam give pretty much full coverage apart from steel.

T-Tar @ Leftovers/ Chople Berry
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP, 76 Atk, 180 Sp. Def
Nature: Adamant
- Crunch
- Pursuit
- Low Kick
- Fire Blast/ Stealth Rock

At first T-Tar seems to have a poor typing for a tank, but Sand Stream boosts its Sp. Def, meaning most Grass and Water moves will deal less damage to T-Tar in sand (many Grass & Water moves being special). Base 100/ 110/ 100 defences are really something, even in Ubers.

Hippowdon @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP, 252 Def, 4 Atk
Nature: Impish
- Earthquake
- Slack Off
- Ice Fang
- Stealth Rock/ Whirlwind

Hippowdon already has high attack, so maximum EVs in defences for optimum tanking. Also, Sand Stream will buffet and wear most opponents down, which helps with tanking.

UU

Snorlax @ Leftovers
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 144 HP, 188 Def, 176 Sp. Def
Nature: Careful
- Curse
- Body Slam
- Earthquake / Crunch
- Rest

Curselax is a classic mixed tank. With Curse, it's able wall physical hits too (After 1 Curse, Low Kick won't OHKO it).

Bronzong @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP, 252 Def, 4 SpD
Nature: Relaxed
- Gyro Ball
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic
- Earthquake

Make no mistake, Bronzong is a tank. It has low offensive capabilities, yes, but it has Gyro Ball, which gives it an offensive presence. Gyro Ball damage is calculated by speed, and Bronzong therefore needs no EV investment in its attacks in order to deal significant damage.

Swampert @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 240 HP, 252 Atk, 16 Def (Offensive)
OR
EVs: 240 HP, 16 Atk, 252 Def (Defensive)
- Scald/ Waterfall
- Earthquake
- Roar/ Ice Punch
- Stealth Rock/ Roar/ Toxic

Swampert is the classic physical tank. Even without EV investment in attack, it can still hit hard. Scald for defensive set, Waterfall for offensive set.

Ducktank @ Eviolite
Ability: Trace
EVs: 252 HP, 252 Sp. Atk, 4 Def
Nature: Modest
- Recover
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
- Toxic/ Tri Attack

Nananananananana Nananananananana... Duck Tank! Your best buddy from bathroom playtime is back, and with a vengeance.

Suicune @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP, 252 Def, 4 Sp. Atk
Nature: Bold
- Calm Mind
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Scald

I hate Suicune with a passion (just like how I hate Walrein). It's unbelievably hard to get rid of without a hazer/ phaser.

Jofly · Answer 3 · 2013-08-21T13:25:01+0000

Come on! Who doesn't like Scizor?

Scizor @ Choice Band
Trait: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SDef
Adamant Nature
- U-turn
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
- Pursuit

The menace from DPP returns, retaining its status as a top-tier Pokemon. U-turn allows Scizor to deal out huge damage to incoming Pokemon and maintain momentum, scouting the switch-in and grabbing a favorable match-up. Choice Band-boosted Bullet Punch is incredibly powerful and allows Scizor to revenge kill dangerous threats such as Salamence locked into Outrage, Choice Scarf Hydreigon, and Double Booster Terrakion.

The other two moves on this set—Superpower and Pursuit—give Scizor some added utility. Superpower does huge damage to Scizor's main counters, OHKOing Heatran, Magnezone, and Ferrothorn expecting a Bullet Punch. Specially defensive Skarmory also takes significant damage and can be OHKOed if it Roosts. Pursuit allows Scizor to KO or do huge damage to fleeing Psychic-types, such as Reuniclus, Starmie, and Slowbro; it also checkmates Choice Specs Latios locked into Draco Meteor. Quick Attack can be a good option over Pursuit as, depending on the circumstances, it can give Scizor the opportunity to beat threats that resist Bullet Punch, such as Infernape and weakened Gyarados. It also comes with the added benefit of OHKOing 4 HP / 0 Def Volcarona after Stealth Rock damage.

Credit to Smogon for the descriptions.

Yeah, thanks Smogon.

MonoUmbreon · Answer 4 · 2013-08-21T14:14:15+0000

TBH I'm a Little Unsure Of What a Tank is :3 I'll Do My Best :D

Glaceon @ Choice Specs

Glaceon

Trait: Snow Cloak
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 HP / 4 SDef
Modest Nature
- Ice Beam
- Shadow Ball
- Water Pulse
- Hidden Power [Ground]

What I think A Tank Is [Slow But Bulky, Packs A Punch Or in This case an Ice Beam.]
If What I Think A Tank Is Is Right, Then I Present Specs Glaceon.

This Thing Hits So Hard With A Specs Boosted STAB Boosted Ice Beam, It Has Water Pulse & HP Ground For Coverage, and Then Shadow Ball For Musharna, It Has Enough Bulk To Survive For A While and The Choice Specs Ice Beam Is Just So Powerful... You Could Try this Guy/Gal Out In Trick Room, I Think It Could Do Well There.

:3 I Hope I Got It Right

Aeternis · Answer 5 · 2013-08-22T00:32:14+0000

wow, the word tank was mentioned but Ferrothorn wasn't? What a shock...
If no one will do it, I will :P

Ferrothorn @ Leftovers

enter image description here
Trait: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 148 Def / 108 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spd

Leech Seed
Protect
Power Whip
Gyro Ball

Ferrothorn should be one of the best tanks out there. With it's stellar defenses and decent Attack, you must always be prepared before you decide to take on Ferrothorn. Iron Barbs will ware down physical sweepers like a parasite whiles Leech Seed will be doing exactly the same thing whiles you get some recovered HP. Protect is to help you finish of some Pokemon whiles staying safe once the Leeching Seeds drain the last bit of HP from Ferrothorn's prey. It will also help you evade those Jump Kicks and Hi Jump Kicks from Mienshao who will not be appreciating a missed hit. Power Whip is one of the moves that actually make him a tank. Power Whip is the bain to any ground and water type's existence as it will OHKO Gastrodon, take a good chunk of HP from both Vaporeon and Politoed... Gyro Ball is that move that will OHKO a by Stealth Rocks damaged Latios, Gengar etc.. and 2HKO a 252 Max speed one. Isn't that just wonderful :3

Gastrodon @ Leftovers

enter image description here
Trait: Storm Drain
EVs:252 HP / 248 SpD / 8 Spe
Calm Nature

Scald
Recover
Toxic
Mirror Coat

If your name isn't Ferrothorn, Ludicolo or any other grass type of any kind, good luck taking Gastrodon down as it will not exactly be the easiest thing to do as Tank is spelled all over that well...peculiar face. It's tanking abilities are high enough to tank the most prominent sweepers in the Uber tier, including Kyigre. This is mainly because a base 111 HP stat isn't exactly the smallest HP around and a base 92 special attack is definitely not disappointing. With a nice movepool, Gastrodon will be tanking any Pokemon that isn't holding a grass type move, or a grass Pokemon. Scald is your only STAb and the move that is most likely often used to get some burns to cripple some physical sweepers whiles stalling them to death are switching into a Pokemon that can easily finish them of. Recover is the most important move in Gastrodon's range as it will enable you to watch your opponent die from a beautiful intoxication whiles recovering yourself from any move that hits. Toxic is that move that not many Pokemon like to see. Even the bulkiest of Pokemon will fall to it as it's power is rather tricky and slow, however very deadly. The only ting Cresselia can actually do aginst Gastrodon is intoxicate and wait, but now that it has to rival and be wary of an intoxication herself, this will be a lot harder. Mirror Coat is no special attacker or sweeper would like to here as the consequences of there special actions will be avenged in double the power they fired it off. Storm Drain will pretty much cripple every opposing water type that isn't holding Hidden Power grass :>

Vaporeon @ Life Orb

enter image description here
Trait: Hydration
EVs:212 Def / 252 SpA / 44 Spe
Modest Nature

Surf
Ice Beam
Hidden Power Grass
Rest

When you look on a Pokemon website and write tank and you can't find Vaporeon...then I feel for you because this little fellow is one of the greatest tanks in existence...once he is under the rain of course. It's defense stat might seem rather disappointing, however that base 130 HP makes up for everything. It's special attack is high and it's special defense is good, you just spelled special tank. Surf is your only STAB move and will be doing a lot of damage under the rain, even to those who claim to resist it. Ice Beam is to answer to the dragons. Most of the dragon types will just be obliterated once you even pronounce the I of Ice beam as a base 110 Special Attack stat isn't exactly small. Hidden Power Grass is that move that Gastrodon and every other water type detests and for a good reason. A Modest Natured Vaporeon with a 252 EV investment on Special Attack boosted by a Life Orb.....that will hurt...a lot. He is a tank for something and every tank will appreciate a little backup or recovery move. Some can do without, but Vaporeon loves to recover since he knows he will immediately awake in the rain, that is what Rest is for. Everyone that was doomed to face a Hydration Vaporeon has suffered from the Rest spam once as it is incredibly annoying and will often lead to facedesking, facepalming, facewalling and all their equivalents.

Celebi @ Leftovers

enter image description here
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs:60 HP / 252 SpA / 196 Spe
Modest Nature

Leaf Storm
Earth Power
U-Turn
Recover

Celebi's perfect stat distribution and it's equal offensive presence make it a very impressive tank as it can wall most Pokemon in OU due to it's rather interesting movepool. It has a nice ability in Natural Cure that makes it as well as impervious to any status move. Since this set doesn't include stat-boosters, it doesnt mind switching out at all. Leaf Storm should be it's most powerful move an primary STAB as it will enable you to get rid of many Pokemon that form a threat to the other teammates. It can kill of 2 of the weather starters whiles it can also take care of respective weather sweepers such as Keldeo etc..Earth Power is a move that will usually seem more useful the Psychic as it will it many more Pokemon then Psychic will such as ht Tyranitar, Scizor for some neutral damage. U-Turn is a great move that will permit Celebi a free switch out as well as helping it escape from Pursuit. Recover is Celebi's most useful move and most reliable way to recover as it will enable it to stay around for much longer

Flare · Answer 6 · 2013-08-22T08:40:52+0000

Conkeldurr

Sub Punch:

Conkeldurr @ Leftovers
Trait: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 HP / 4 SDef
Adamant Nature

Focus Punch
Substitute
Mach Punch
Ice Punch

Bulk Up:

Conkeldurr @ Leftovers
Trait: Guts
EVs: 252 Atk / 120 HP / 136 SDef
Brave / Adamant Nature
IVs: 0 Spd

Mach Punch
Drain Punch
Payback
Bulk Up

These sets are a terror ti behold, and nothing that that doesn't resist it wouldn't want to face a Mach Punch from this guy. Boasting massive HP and Attack, as well as acceptable defensive stats, he is a monster. After one Bulk Up, it's attack Stat basically reaches over the moon and his defends shoots up. Any physical attacker attempting to hit this big man won't do much, but they will die.
___

mkkp · Answer 7 · 2016-02-18T23:24:59+0000

Wow. No one mentioned my favourite tank in all of Gen 6: Avalugg

So how about this moveset...

Avalugg @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 252 Defense, 252 Sp. Defense, 4 HP
Moves:
-Avalanche
-Iron Defense
-Hail
-Curse/Crunch/Recover

Avalugg is my favourite physical tank. I gave him Sturdy to survive a OHKO move or random Fire Blasts, Adamant to do more damage and EVs to take Special hits and even more Physical hits and the HP to survive longer. Avalanche because of his Speed and its priority will always go last, Iron Defense to tank even more Physical hits, Hail to wear others down and the last move is undecided because that you can boost your stats, take down Ghosts or recover more HP respectively and that's always useful...

Hope this helps!

NoobyDeFirst · Answer 8 · 2018-10-02T10:38:08+0000

What is the problem with you all? Try this! :3

Snorlax @ Leftovers
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 HP / 192 Def / 64 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Toxic
- Double Team
- Rest
- Curse

The toxic, double team and rest is just completely epic, and curse is just for more stat boosts, cuz if the foe as something like aerial ace or aura sphere, which ignores you double team effect, this curse will definitely bulk you up. And the leftovers are just for, uh HP restoring?

Toxapex @ Black Sludge
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Baneful Bunker
- Toxic
- Stockpile
- Recover

To be honest , this actually looks like a troll. Well, yes but, this is still quite good. Stockpile for setting up, just switch out if any of your foes have a one-shot move or whirlwind. Recover and baneful bunker are obvious. Why did I use black sludge? Cuz if your foe has a trick or switcheroo troller then you can troll them back.

Ampharos @ Ampharosite
Ability: Static
EVs: 248 HP / 104 Def / 72 SpA / 84 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Cotton Guard
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Thunderbolt

Now this one is supreme. Try it out, and I did. It SWEEPED. Now, you basically cotton guard and rest and stuff, and sleep talk has a about 30% chance to thunderbolt, to at least do some stab damage, or if your sleep talk goes to cotton guard, its not a problem, too. Just beware for sylveons and slurpuffs. They are tanky and special attackers (kinda).

There are also a few I wanna mention, like umbreon with toxic moonlight, politoed with swagger hypnosis, but still! Try these out!

Bye for now :3

Pokemanic · Answer 9 · 2019-03-24T21:46:18+0000

Simple.

Exeggutor-Alola

Exeggutor-Alola @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Harvest
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Leech Seed
- Protect
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power [Fire]

This thing is one of the most tanky Pokemon I know, (and thats saying something). First turn use leech seed to steal health. Then you can protect for a free turn of healing, and whenever your health drops below half, BOOM havest-sitrus kicks in. This is broken so bad and is hillarios. Although beware ice type as they destroy this set.

TylerHebert · Answer 10 · 2019-05-23T17:46:41+0000

CELESTEELA @Leftovers
Trait: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Def / 252 SDef / 8 Atk
Nature: Impish

HEAVY SLAM
LEECH SEED
FLAMETHROWER
PROTECT

What are some effective defensive tanks in Gen 5 competitive play?

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