As a seasoned Pokémon trainer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I must say that the stallers in these games have always been the unsung heroes of every team. They may not deal as much damage or be as flashy as their counterparts, but they are the ones that hold the battlefield together and keep our teams alive.
In most Pokemon fights, it’s all about dealing heavy blows quickly until your opponent faints. However, there’s another approach favored by competitive players – a tactic known as “stalling.” Unlike the direct approach, stalling is more indirect, employing defensive Pokémon to wear down opponents gradually rather than aiming for quick knockouts.
Top-tier Pokémon often boast high defense, self-healing abilities, and a variety of passive support skills. It may seem less thrilling compared to other battle styles, but you’d be surprised at the effectiveness of these Pokémon. Each one has its own strategic method for wearing down opponents until they’re defeated.
17. Tentacruel
Generation 1
- Type: Water/Poison
- Weaknesses: Ground (2×), Electric (2×), Psychic (2×)
- Held Item: Black Sludge
Tentacruel’s attacking prowess may not intimidate many trainers due to its average Attack and Special Attack. However, when utilized effectively, it can serve as a reliable defensive wall.
120 Special Defense significantly offsets the 65 base Defense, so it’s advisable for trainers to focus on enhancing Tentacruel’s speed, health points (HP), and defense stats. Additionally, consider boosting its defenses. Strategic moves such as Rapid Spin, Protect, and Toxic Spikes, along with Black Sludge as its held item, make Tentacruel an engaging choice for any party, offering a sneaky approach to team composition.
16. Gliscor
Generation 4
- Type: Ground/Flying
- Weaknesses: Water (2×), Ice (4×)
- Held Item: Toxic Orb
Despite Gliscor’s seemingly aggressive nature, trainers can effectively utilize it as a staller. Boasting a Defense of 125, Speed of 95, and Attack of 95, Gliscor is capable of adopting a more strategic role within battles.
Using Poison Heal and Toxic Orb effectively increases Gliscor’s Health Points (HP). However, its Special Defense stat could use some improvement, so focusing on boosting both HP and Special Defense using EVs would be advantageous. To make Gliscor a secondary sweeper, consider teaching it Roost, Swords Dance, and Venoshock.
15. Comfey
Generation 7
- Type: Fairy
- Weaknesses: Poison (2×), Steel (2×)
- Held Item: Rocky Helmet
Though it may seem delicate at first glance, Comfey actually ranks among the more robust Pokémon on this list. This diminutive Fairy-type boasts impressive base stats, with the exception of its modest HP and Attack. Its high Defense and Special Defense, however, make Comfey a sturdy choice in combat.
100 speed and 82 special attack make Comfey suitable for an offensive strategy in training, offering trainers the flexibility to employ Comfey more aggressively. Equipping it with a Rocky Helmet and teaching it Protect, Draining Kiss, and U-Turn can further enhance its utility in various roles.
14. Milotic
Generation 3
- Type: Water
- Weaknesses: Grass (2x), Electric (2x)
- Held Item: Leftovers
On many trainer teams, Mioltic could excel as a stalling Pokémon due to its primary vulnerability being its Basic Attack. Its substantial Health Points (HP) and Special Defense work well together to offset its ordinary Defense, while its impressive Special Attack offers a variety of strategic possibilities for trainers.
Provide Miotic with any remaining items and show it how to rest, thereby utilizing its Astonishing Size potential. Don’t forget to equip Protect and Hydro Pump among its skills too.
13. Clawitzer
Generation 6
- Type: Water
- Weaknesses: Grass (2x), Electric (2x)
- Held Item: Leftovers
A good Defense and a Special Defense make Clawitzer competitive in many fights, but its moderate speed may prevent trainers from frequently utilizing its powerful 120 Special Attack effectively.
With the Mega Launcher ability, Clawitzer can utilize some powerful moves from its arsenal. Specifically, Aura Sphere’s power is amplified by 50%. Trainers can also employ a strategic pairing of Protect and Heal Pulse to keep Clawitzer active in battles. Notably, the healing effect of Heal Pulse increases, restoring three-quarters instead of half of Clawitzer’s HP with the Mega Launcher ability activated.
12. Amoongus
Generation 5
- Type: Grass/Poison
- Weaknesses: Ground (2x), Electric (2x), Psychic (2x)
- Held Item: Rocky Helmet/Black Sludge
Amoongus, a Pokemon that thrives in grass or toxic environments, boasts an exceptionally defensive structure. This unique attribute grants it immunity against Water, Electric, Grass, Fighting, and Fairy attacks – types of offense that are frequently employed in competitive teams. Moreover, its health and defense stats (114 HP, 70 Def, 80 Sp. Def) are well-balanced, meaning it lacks significant vulnerabilities that opponents might exploit.
But the reason it’s one of the best Pokemon to use a Staller is its hidden ability, Regenerator, which allows it to recover ⅓ of its maximum HP when switched out. This allows Amoongus to come in, tank a couple of moves, and switch out with basically full health. Its best move is Spore, which is one of the only ways to inflict the Sleep status with a 100 accuracy. While this move doesn’t work on Grass types, that’s a small price to pay to cover every other type.
11. Quagsire
Generation 2
- Type: Water/Ground
- Weaknesses: Grass (4x)
- Held Item: Leftovers
Quagsire possesses the skill called “Unaware,” which allows it to disregard any enhanced attacks from opponents when it gets damaged. Introducing Quagsire into a battle can significantly disrupt a sweeper’s strategy, rendering their previous three Swords Dance turns ineffective. Boasting solid defensive stats and HP, along with the move Recover for self-healing, Quagsire is also capable of inflicting damage through Earthquake and Scald attacks.
It’s unfortunate that Quagsire struggles significantly against Grass-type attacks due to its weak typing. Additionally, its Special Defense, which is typically strong in defensive Pokémon, could use some improvement.
10. Whimsicott
Generation 5
- Type: Grass/Fairy
- Weaknesses: Flying (2×), Poison (4×), Steel (2×), Fire (2×), Ice (2×)
- Held Item: Leftovers
One often overlooked Pokemon that specializes in delay tactics is Whimsicott. It possesses the Prankster ability, which allows status moves to act first, irrespective of speed comparisons. Coupled with Substitute, Leech Seed, and Encore, it becomes a persistent hindrance and challenging to defeat. A skillfully timed Encore can even counteract other stallers by preventing them from restoring their health.
Managing Whimsicott can prove challenging due to its ineffectiveness against other Pokémon of the Grass type with Leech Seed. Furthermore, it has relatively low Hit Points (HP) compared to others on this list. Consequently, once its Substitute is depleted, it won’t endure for long.
9. Hippowdon
Generation 4
- Type: Ground
- Weaknesses: Water (2x), Grass (2x), Ice (2x)
- Held Item: Leftovers
Hippowdon is quite typically a sturdy Pokemon, boasting high Health Points and Defense. It possesses an efficient healing move, Slack Off, and can master numerous beneficial support moves. What makes it unique compared to others is its Sand Stream ability. When Hippowdon enters the battlefield, it stirs up a sandstorm. Pairing this with Toxic, Hippowdon can rapidly weaken opponents.
As a gamer, I’ve found that Hippowdon’s Sandstorm ability can be quite tricky. It’s capable of inflicting damage on my own team if Hippowdon gets switched out, which can be a real setback during battles. However, this Pokemon seems to prefer a more defensive approach and might not be the best at single-handedly defeating opponents.
8. Snorlax
Generation 1
- Type: Normal
- Weaknesses: Fighting (2x)
- Held Item: Leftovers
For a considerable period, Snorlax has been a significant part of competitive gaming. While its popularity might have waned somewhat, it remains an important character to consider. Snorlax boasts an impressive Health Points (HP) stat, coupled with strong Attack and Special Defense. A frequently used tactic with Snorlax is the Curse move. With Curse, Snorlax trades Speed for enhanced Attack and Defense. Given that Snorlax is already relatively slow, reducing Speed further won’t significantly impair it.
Resting and having the Thick Fat ability makes Snorlax even harder to defeat due to its increased survivability. However, as a Normal-type Pokémon with relatively low Defense, it’s vulnerable to Fighting-type attacks. Additionally, Snorlax may struggle against Ghost-types and can be weakened by being Burned or Poisoned.
7. Ferrothorn
Generation 5
- Type: Grass/Poison
- Weaknesses: Fighting (2x), Fire (4x)
- Held Item: Leftovers
At one point, Ferrothorn held dominance within the Pokemon game strategy (metagame). Although it’s no longer the go-to choice for winning, it remains a favorite among players. Its Steel/Grass dual type offers robust defense, and it can employ Leech Seed to preserve its own health. With Iron Barbs as an ability and moves like Spikes, Ferrothorn gradually weakens opponents over time.
In simpler terms, Ferrothorn’s speed is its significant disadvantage. Many opponents can outpace it, and it’s particularly vulnerable to Fire-type moves. Therefore, trainers using Ferrothorn need to carefully consider the composition of their opponents’ teams.
6. Clodsire
Generation 9
- Type: Poison/Ground
- Weaknesses: Water (2x), Ice (2x), Ground (2x), Psychic (2x)
- Held Item: Heavy-Duty Boots
Clodsire boasts one of the highly sought-after Pokemon abilities for any Staller: Unaware. This ability allows Clodsire to disregard any and all modifications made to stats on the battlefield, making moves such as Dragon Dance, Quiver Dance, Shell Smash, and many more ineffective. Paired with its substantial durability (130 HP, 100 Sp. Def), it can serve exceptionally well as a barrier in numerous scenarios. Water Absorb is also a beneficial option at times, as it mitigates one of its primary vulnerabilities, Water.
As a devoted admirer, I’d like to point out an intriguing aspect about Clodsire: it has the ability to select from a variety of entry hazards, such as Stealth Rock, Toxic Spikes, and Spikes, making life difficult for incoming Pokémon. However, its Physical Defense, standing at 60, can be exploited by a robust physical attacker. To add fuel to the fire, it also possesses both Toxic and Recover, a combination that’s notorious for causing headaches among trainers.
5. Dondozo
Generation 9
- Type: Water
- Weaknesses: Grass (2x), Electric (2x)
- Held Item: Heavy-Duty Boots
In the latest generation of Pokemon (Generation 9), Dondozo stands out as one of the most significant Stallers. It has rapidly established itself as a regular feature in competitive battles since then. When properly developed, Dondozo transforms into an unyielding barricade against physical attackers, with the potential to delay these attackers almost indefinitely. This is primarily due to two key aspects.
This Pokemon stands out with exceptional defensive attributes: 115 for physical defense and 150 HP. What truly sets it apart, however, is its unique ability, Unaware, which all Stallers possess. This ability enables the Pokemon to disregard modifications in stats from setup moves, causing trouble for setup sweepers. If they lack countermeasures, this ability could lead to their downfall. Additionally, being a pure Water-type, it doesn’t have any obvious weaknesses. What’s more, Dondozo isn’t merely a defensive staller; it can also unleash a formidable physical attack of 100, and it makes the most of this using its powerful STAB move, Waterfall.
4. Chansey
Generation 1
- Type: Normal
- Weaknesses: Fighting (2x)
- Held Item: Eviolite
From the very beginning of its appearance in games, Chansey has consistently proven itself as one of the strongest tanks. Its HP is massive, and it boasts excellent Special Defense as well. Moreover, Chansey possesses beneficial healing moves such as Heal Bell and Soft-Boiled, making it a formidable foe. Overcoming a Chansey can be extremely challenging due to its durability. Additionally, it can employ delaying tactics like Toxic and Stealth Rock to inflict damage on opponents.
Instead of using Blissey, it might be more advantageous to opt for Chansey, the Pokemon that hasn’t fully evolved yet. This is because, when equipped with an Eviolite, Chansey’s Defense stats can become even stronger than those of Blissey. Additionally, Chansey has access to the same moves as Blissey, but there are no particularly unique moves that Blissey possesses which Chansey does not.
3. Clefable
Generation 1
- Type: Fairy
- Weaknesses: Poison (2x), Steel (2x)
- Held Item: Leftovers
Clefable, in the game, can possess two outstanding abilities: Unaware, as mentioned earlier with Quagsire, and Magic Guard. This Pokémon can excel as a medic/wall combination, utilizing skills like Heal Bell and Wish. It also has potential as a damage dealer, equipped with Moonblast and other special attacks. Trainers who appreciate status moves may opt for Thunder Wave or Toxic for Clefable.
Clefable boasts a diverse array of moves, yet it doesn’t have an answer for every opponent. Particular caution is advised against Steel-type assaults. Physically-based attacks cause it somewhat more difficulty compared to Special ones.
2. Skarmory
Generation 2
- Type: Steel/Flying
- Weaknesses: Fire (2x), Electric (2x)
- Held Item: Rocky Helmet
For a very long time, Skarmory was the first Pokemon trainers thought of when it came to stallers. Steel/Flying is a great type that resists most attacks and has no 4x weaknesses. Skarmory also has access to Spikes, Stealth Rock, and a recovery move in Roost. Tie it all together with good Defense and you have a staple of many a team.
One concern about Skarmory is its limited ability to inflict damage. Its Attack stat isn’t particularly strong, and it struggles to employ many effective offensive moves when adopting a staller strategy. Some trainers opt for a purely defensive approach with Skarmory, omitting any attacking moves entirely. However, this tactic can be quite risky.
1. Toxapex
Generation 7
- Type: Poison/Water
- Weaknesses: Ground (2x), Electric (2x), Psychic (2x)
- Held Item: Black Sludge
If Skarmory is no longer the top choice for stalling, who has taken that role? It seems Toxapex has stepped into that position. Toxapex possesses all the qualities desirable in a staller: it withstands numerous move types, boasts exceptional Defense and Special Defense stats, and offers an array of support moves at its disposal. What sets it apart is its access to Regenerator, one of the most potent abilities in the game. This ability allows Toxapex to recover up to a third of its HP when swapped out during battle.
Toxapex possesses remarkable strength, yet it too has vulnerabilities. Like all others, it’s not invincible. Ground-type Pokémon are resistant to its Poison attacks. It must be particularly vigilant against Taunt – without its special status moves, Toxapex becomes almost ineffective.
Read More
- BTC PREDICTION. BTC cryptocurrency
- LUNC PREDICTION. LUNC cryptocurrency
- XRP PREDICTION. XRP cryptocurrency
- COMP PREDICTION. COMP cryptocurrency
- GOAT PREDICTION. GOAT cryptocurrency
- USD PHP PREDICTION
- STRK PREDICTION. STRK cryptocurrency
- EUR USD PREDICTION
- BCH PREDICTION. BCH cryptocurrency
- USD TRY PREDICTION
2024-12-06 06:54