What is a good moveset for Golem?

Question

This thread is for Kantonian Golem. For Aolan Golem, please go here.

If you have a good competitive moveset for Golem, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for its pre-evolutions, if any, can also be shared on this thread.

Be sure to include full set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some detail, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Golem Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Answer 1

OK here is the set of speed!

Sweep it under the rock!

Golem @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 Atk / 6 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Autotomize
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Fire Punch / Thunder Punch

Ok before you down-vote me for trying to make Golem fast hear me out please. Sturdy makes him able to have a guarantee to set up with Autotomize which gives him a 414 speed and has the benefit of giving him a chance of surviving low kick but I make no promises about grass knot. Leftovers can heal him after he survives with Sturdy which may allow him to survive another him depending on how many turns it is before he gets hit again and Priority will kill him. Stone edge and E-quake provide STAB. Fire-punch or Thunder-punch choose who you want to cover Grass and Ice or Water. This set is definitely not a game changer but can be useful.

Comments

You could also add a liechi berry so when sturdy activates, so does the attck boost, making it a better sweeper

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Or a Salac Berry for an insane speed boost

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no! No speedy Golem! It willl kill us all!

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speedy golem? wut?

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autotomize raises its speed

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In Gens 6 and 7, you could have Golem hold the Weakness Policy so then, when it is hit by a super-effective hit and Sturdy is still intact, Golem can have double the Attack power that it has.

Answer 2

Role: Lead
Golem (M) @ Red Card

Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 96 HP / 160 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Fire Punch
- Earthquake
- Explosion

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Well, He's Fairly Straight foward.

Set up Rocks

Kill Leads like Forretress and Ferrothorn with Fire Punch

Earthquake for STAB and to hit some Pokemon harder than Fire Punch.

Explode when you're done to piss off opponent.

Answer 3

THE ROCK

Graveler @ Eviolite
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 200 HP / 58 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Defense Curl / Curse
- Rollout / Gyro Ball
- Toxic
- Protect

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Defense-curl if you want Roll-out, Curse if you want Gyro-ball. Toxic is for Stalling. Protect is great with Toxic.

Answer 4

This moveset does pretty well in UU and heck even in OU to an extent
__
Role: Fast physical sweeper

Golem @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 8 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Rock Polish / Autotomize
- Rock Slide / Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Sucker Punch

• Rock Polish / Autotomize: Raises speed
• Rock Slide/Stone Edge: stab, and 30% chance to flinch or stab, High crit, and more damage but less accuracy.
• Earthquake: Stab
• Sucker Punch: Coverage and priority if Opponent plans an attack.

Answer 5

Role: Lead

Golem @ Custap Berry / Weakness Policy
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Explosion / Sucker Punch
- Rock Blast / Stone Edge
- Roar / Earthquake

Explanation

Golem functions its best when used as an SR lead. Because of its great ability Sturdy, it allows it to withstand an otherwise OHKO move and counter back. Although it faces competition from other SR leads (in PU), such as Carracosta and Barbaracle, the Sturdy + Explosion are the sole reasons of using Golem over other SR leads.

Stealth Rock is a mandatory entry-hazard move.

Explosion gives massive damage and gets Priority when Sturdy + Custap Berry activates. On the other hand, if you're running Weakness Policy, Sucker Punch is the superior option to pick off weak targets.

Rock Blast can be used to break Focus Sash on certain leads, while Stone Edge gets better power.

Roar is used as a move to stop set-up users, while Earthquake is a good STAB move.

Answer 6

Rawklizzard 1HP sweeper!

Golem @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Automize
- Earthquake
- Flail
- Stone Edge
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Switch him into a mon that is weak to ground/rock, get a free turn of automize when they switch and probably bring in a grass or water type. Set up another automize when they attack, proc sturdy and weakness policy. Proceed to sweep with moves that 100% do neutral damage due to coverage or super effective hits!
My personal favorite way to go sanic with a slow Pokemon.

Answer 7

Gen 9 NU Suicide Lead

Golem @ Custap Berry
Ability: Sturdy
Tera Type: Normal
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Rock Blast
- Explosion
- Endure

Golem has a niche as a suicide lead on Hyper Offense teams in Gen 9 NU. It uses the typical Sturdy + Custap set, but with a move that the other Sturdy Custap Golem sets don't have. Stealth Rock is nice to chip opposing Pokemon switching in. Rock Blast is used for the Rock STAB so it can hit opposing lead Pokemon such as Coalossal, Froslass, as well as being useful against Pokemon who use Substitute such as Salazzle. Explosion is a nice move to chip Pokemon that aren't Ghost-types at the cost of sacrificing Golem. Should a Ghost-type switch into Explosion, it doesn't really matter, as Explosion is used mainly to generate momentum for the HO team. Endure may sound like an odd choice for a Suicide Lead set, but there is a reason for it. If Golem gets hit by an attack that doesn't bring it down to 1/4 of its HP or less, it can't use Custap Berry. With Endure, Golem can take another hit that can bring it down to 1/4 or 25% of its HP, meaning it can use Custap Berry after using Endure. Golem doesn't really need to use a Tera Type on this set since it is a Suicide Lead for HO teams, but if you insist on using a Tera Type, Tera Normal can be used to boost the power of Explosion.

Answer 8

Gen V Set for Graveler

Graveler (M) @ Eviolite
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Rock Blast
- Sucker Punch
- Earthquake
- Fire Punch

It gets good defense, so it makes a decent physical tank. Sturdy lets you survive. Rock Blast is the best Rock type attack imo. It has the accuracy of Rock Slide, and does the same damage a good amount of the time, or does equal to or greater damage than Stone Edge (while also being more accurate than Stone Edge.) Also, it breaks through Substitute, Focus Sash, and Sturdy, making it more useful than either Rock Slide or Stone Edge. Sucker Punch gives you priority. Earthquake is there for STAB. Fire Punch deals with those Steel types that Earthquake doesn't deal with, like Bronzong, Skarmory, Air Ballooners, Forretress, Durant, and Ferrothorn. EVs are tanking EVs,

Answer 9

Gen V

Golem (M) @ Custap Berry
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Rock Blast
- Explosion
- Fire Punch

Okay, Earthquake is there for STAB. Rock Blast is there for the same reason as I gave for Graveler, so just read up above. Fire Punch is also there for the same reason as it is there for Graveler. Now then, Golem has a ton of weaknesses, and you'll likely be having Sturdy activated. This will in turn activate the Custap Berry, which will let you go first next turn except in the case of priority. This will allow you to say farewell in style with Explosion. Although not as powerful as last generation, the damage you did with the attack the previous turn combined with Explosion should faint the foe. I mean, 250 base power is a lot. And it's not like you'll be wasting Golem, you have 1 HP left. The EVs are your standard physical tank.

Answer 10

Double/Triple Battle

Golem (M) @ Expert Belt
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def
Adamant Nature
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Fire Punch

Rock Slide and Earthquake get STAB and are amazing moves in Double/Triple Battles. Fire Punch is coverage. In my experience, entry hazards aren't the most useful in Double/Triple Battles. I see switching kept to a minimum. But Golem can't do much else, so you might as well get some damage in when the foe is sent out.

Answer 11

Here's my Golem all the way when I had it in Gen I (RBY Versions). You'll see why in a moment:

Golem @ Zoom Lens
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
- *Fissure
- Smack Down
- Stealth Rock
- Roar

Okay, the truth is, I've been playing Pokémon since the RBY days, so, as you can see, this isn't your ordinary Golem. It still has Fissure, which back in Gen I was an actual TM, TM 27 to be precise. OK, so this Golem is basically going for a OHKO strategy. So you won't just have Fissure because each Pokémon has a set of four moves, and for an obviously good reason. You have Smack Down, which surprisingly gets STAB, and the effect of grounding down your opponent, whether they have Levitate, Magnet Rise, or if they are Flying-Type, so long as the move hits, they will be grounded down to be taken down by Fissure, which is surprising because this set is uncommon in the metagame. Oh and the fillers, Stealth Rock and Roar are there in case if the opponent tries to avoid being struck down by gaining stats, or setting up their own strategy, then Roar them away (along with Stealth Rock for some additional damage to aid you in hurting your foes), thereby Sturdy users won't stand a chance when Fissure comes.

*The move Fissure was TM 27 in Gen I, so this Golem is NOT hacked, it's legit.

Comments

there is no way to trade pokemon from gen 1 or 2 to gen 3 or later as far as I know. and since I don't think stealth rock or smack down existed in gen 1 or 2 either then this moveset should be impossible. Its a cool idea though. 1HKO moves are fun and I wish they were more readily available in the later games.

Answer 12

Golem @ Iron Ball
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 6 HP / 252 Atk / 252 SpD
Brave Nature
- Curse
- Hammer Arm
- Gyro Ball
- Fire Punch / Thunder Punch

• Curse: Lowers your speed for gyro ball and ups your attack and defence.
• Hammer Arm: 100 base power and also lowers users speed.
• Gyro Ball: After lowering your speed for the first few turns, this move is likely to smash through anything.
• Fire Punch / Thunder Punch: Covers some of your weaknesses.

Comments

Hammer Arm  lowers the users speed.

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ah yes, that was a typo ;)

Answer 13

Golem @ Leftovers
Ability: Rock Head
EVs: 252 Atk / 6 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Block
- Double-Edge
- Swagger

Earthquake: 100 power STAB a very good move.

Block: for trapping disadvantage, good for counter shifting enemy team.

Double Edge: 120 power plus no recoil because of rock head, covers many types.

Swagger: good cover for block since the enemy can't shift out, plus additional attack damage doesn't really hurt Golem, just try to avoid using it on fighting types.

Answer 14

Role: Defensively bulky physical sweeper

Golem @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def
Brave / Adamant Nature
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Curse
- Gyro Ball / Explosion

• Stone Edge: Stab and high crit ratio
• Earthquake: Stab
• Curse: Raises Attack and defense by 1 but lowers speed by 1 as well.
• Gyro Ball / Explosion: Gyro ball is coverage and thanks to curse and your Brave nature, it will power up the slower you are. Explosion is to take your opponent with you if you are almost finished.

Answer 15

Alola Golem
Role: Wallbreaker

Golem-Alola @ Choice Band
Ability: Galvanize
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Stone Edge / Rock Slide
- Double Edge / Return
- Earthquake
- Explosion

This set hits ridiculously hard. Explosion is pretty much an instant guaranteed OHKO on anything that doesn't resist it.

Answer 16

Golem @ Weakness Policy

Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
• Rock Polish
• Stone Edge
• Earthquake
• Flail

A super effective attack will activate the Weakness Policy, and it will live with sturdy. Rock Polish boosts its speed. Stone edge and earthquake are STABs. Flail does tons of damage when it is at 1 HP.

Comments

Flail does have pwr: 200 at 1 HP, yes.
But at this situation wouldn't be better to just use Explosion for 250? Even if you'd Rock Polish once, you're risking any priority move. In this specific situation your opponent already have something super effective facing you, he reduced you into 1 HP, no point to switch otherwise a predict.

Answer 17

Gen 7 PU / ZU

Golem @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature

• Stone Edge / Rock Blast
• Earthquake
• Rock Polish
• Explosion / Fire Punch / Thunder Punch / Toxic

Stone Edge is STAB with great power, a high crit rate, but shaky accuracy and only 8 PP. Rock Blast is also STAB, but is slightly more accurate, ignores Sturdy/Sash/Substitute, and can be stronger, at the cost of less consistency. Both cover Ice types. Earthquake is a consistently and powerful STAB that covers Steel types. Rock Polish is key on this set, after a boost, Golem hits 414 Speed, enough to outspeed almost everything in PU or ZU. Explosion does massive damage and can provide momentum I guess. Fire Punch covers Grass types. Thunder Punch covers Water types. Toxic to put things on a timer.

Answer 18

Golem @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Autotomize
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge/Rock Slide
- Fire Punch/Brick Break

Alright, because this guy has so many weaknesses, weakness policy is probably your best bet. Use sturdy to survive the super effective hit, and on that same turn use automatize to get your speed up to 414. Earthquake is stab. So is stone edge and rock slide. Pick one depending on what you care about most, accuracy or power. Fire punch and brick break are your two best coverage options.