Introduction
Quagsire is one of the most underrated defensive Pokemon in August. Its Water/Ground typing has no weaknesses except for Grass, ensuring that you cannot OHKO it using super-effective moves (unless your name is Dhelmise or Chesnaught). But Quagsire really shines because of its ability, Unaware, making it so that Quagsire ignores any stat changes on the opponent’s side. This gives Quagsire a valuable niche on stall teams as a counter to physical setup sweepers like Heracross and Scizor.
Breakdown
Quagsire has access to lots of options as a defensive Pokemon. Earthquake is usually its STAB move of choice, dealing good damage to Alolan Muk and Lanturn, two Pokemon that would otherwise completely wall it. Scald is also a decent choice as it can burn, rendering physical attackers useless (except for Guts Heracross). Spikes and Stealth Rock are good options to get chip damage on opposing Pokemon that switch in. Counter is used so that Quagsire can 1v1 physical attackers like Heracross, Scizor, and Mamoswine (if it isn’t running Icicle Spear), or deal big damage to any mon after Quagsire tanks a U-turn from banded Scizor. Toxic can be used as status that can also cripple Mandibuzz, which walls Quagsire otherwise. Haze can be used to get rid of all stat boosts that your opponent might have set up. Lastly, you can’t forget Recover, a move giving Quagsire decades of longevity.
Quagsire can also run the niche ability Water Absorb in order to completely wall Lanturn, stopping it from using Flip Turn to generate momentum. Rotom-Heat especially appreciates this as a partner to Quagsire because Lanturn walls Rotom-Heat completely.
Quagsire has decent physical bulk, but that won’t stop it from getting OHKO’d by a stab grass move from Dhelmise or Chesnaught, so Quagsire enjoys having Mandibuzz as a teammate to tank its moves. Mandibuzz also stops Iron Defense Chesnaught, which can be a problem for Quagsire if it runs a Grass move. Rotom-Heat is also a good partner, giving you an immunity to Choice Band Mamoswine’s Earthquakes, which will 2HKO Quagsire. Quagsire is also very weak to special attackers, so do it a favor and put a Blissey on your team as well.
Written by mmtaccos