https://www.smogon.com/dex/sm/pokemon/gastrodon/

   Requested by: TheRainbowSylveon 

    At this point in time, Gastrodon is a Pokemon that suddenly shot up from one of the lowest to the highest tiers. In XY, it was in NU, but right now, it's in OU. With it's great typing being only shared by Mega Swampert, that means it's only weaknesses are the following: Grass moves and only 1 Ice move. Freeze Dry is unique in the fact that it is super effective against water types, and it's 4X super effective against Gastrodon. This Pokemon has Storm Drain, Sticky Hold, and Sand Force for it's abilities, but a lot of people use Storm Drain because it's the best out of all of them that it can use to it's fullest potential. Now that we've discussed it's weaknesses, type wise, let's get into it's role in OU. 

     Since Gastrodon is very slow in comparison to Swampert, it's used as a tanky Pokemon, mainly on the special side. The ability Storm Drain is used mainly for it's capabilities of absorbing/taking in water moves and boost it's special attack. So, whoever could this be useful against? Tapu Fini's SCALDing attacks and Greninja's Water moves are going to be the prey of this ability, and add in the special defense EVs, and the other moves of those Pokemon don't do much. Gastrodon can wall Rotom-Wash as none of it's moves can really touch it except maybe for the potential Toxic. Tapu Koko can't do anything against Gastrodon, as none of it's moves except maybe for Grass Knot - which is a bit of a waste of a moveslot can actually hurt it. But there certainly is are a few way

    Gastrodon struggles, however to survive physical moves, especially Grass ones or Ground ones. Earthquake can do a lot of damage, but a Scald of it's own can limit the effectiveness of that. Toxic is good for hitting Grass types who don't have Steel or Poison as their secondary typing. Ice Beam can hit Grass types, but it doesn't really help against any of them since they can take it and then strike back with a powerful Grass move.  Earthquake is good for Magearna and Steel types who don't fear Scald, and I forgot to mention Toxic can hit Rotom-Wash. According to the Smogon guide for Gastrodon, Sludge Bomb for Tapu Fini. This isn't very useful since it means you have to give something up to hit it, and Ferrothorn beats it into oblivion even more by making it even more of a wall and gives it a chance to set up entry hazards. 

   Also, Gastrodon is nothing when it comes to setting up moves, since it can't do anything. Grass types such as Ferrothorn, Mega Venusaur, and Tapu Bulu obliterate it like Exodia was just here and smashed everything. Those with grass moves love to use those moves to make gastrodon feel...well...a bit left out after fainting. It's defense isn't the best either, so physical sweepers make it feel like bruises are always going to be on it's body. Gastrodon is pretty passive as well. Teammates who cover it's huge Grass weakness and check them with coverage or STAB moves are appreciated, as well. All the flaws up above are enough to make Gastrodon not that great as a physical wall, but it can't cover everything with it's limited movepool! Still, I have to give it props for being a great Water move check, and I can't really blame it for not having much for Grass moves or Grass types, which can be very common. 

Score: 5/10 or 6/10