Golisopod, the Hard Scale Pokémon. It has the skill to cleave even air or seawater in two with a flash of its giant, sharp claws..

Overview

The ace of generation 7’s team leader Guzma, Golisopod has always cut an imposing figure, with both an incredible design and solid stats. Base 125 Attack is great for a non-Mega Evolution, reaching a standard of power that many Pokémon have excelled with even uninvested. Golisopod makes the most of this too, not only with the good Water STAB, but Grass slaying Bug STAB and a list of coverage options including Drill Run, Rock Slide, Close Combat, Iron Head, and Poison Jab that cover a wide range of foes. To say nothing of Golisopod’s priority options, with STAB Aqua Jet, Sucker Punch and its newly buffed signature First Impression ensuring anything facing Golisopod is not getting away unscathed. Golisopod isn’t just power, it also boasts an incredible defensive profile. Bug Water is solid defensively with valuable resistances to Fighting, Ground, Water, Ice and Steel. The Fighting and Ground resistances are especially apt given Golisopod’s massive base 140 Defense, allowing it to save off ferocious physical assaults from two of the strongest physical types in the game, while 75/90 special bulk can be made usable with investment.

Yet Golisopod has been completely unviable since its introduction due to being completely hamstrung by its ability and abysmal speed. Base 40 Speed is molasses slow, causing Golisopod to be outsped by even the likes of Dragalge and Hippowdon, two Pokémon already known for their poor speed, forcing Golisopod to lean on its bulk. However, it is how this speed negatively interacts with Emergency Exit is what ruins Golisopod. Emergency Exit in theory is a crazy ability, allowing the user to switch it for free after being dropped to half, gaining free repositioning in a poor matchup. It would be, if the wielder of the ability is fast. On something as slow as Golisopod, it is a free turn skip for any Pokémon that can knock Golisopod below 50%. Golispod does not have the sheer bulk to deny that, making it easy for opponents to deny Golisopod from doing anything, especially if Stealth Rocks are in play. Not only that but once Golisopod comes back in it is easy pickings for any opponent given its low speed and its incredible bulk is nowhere near as impressive when at less than 50% HP. While Golisopod’s priority options can protect against this, they are all flawed, with Aqua Jet being weak, Sucker Punch non-STAB and easy to play around and the amazing First Impression being easily resisted leaving no lack of opponents that can tank Golisopod’s priority. Emergency Exit also means Golisopod pHazes itself, making any boosting option unviable when Golisopod will easily just reset its own boosts, further constraining what it can do. Emergency Exit even prevents defensive pivoting for Golisopod since every bit of chip damage counts in bringing it closer to forcing itself out. By all accounts Golisopod should be an incredible Pokémon, but its poor Speed and inner Wimpod means it just can’t stand up for itself.
Positives
Base 125 Attack is great allowing Golisopod to hit hard from the word go.
Incredible physical offensive movepool with all the STABs, priority and coverage Golisopod could ask for.
140 Defense is absurd, allowing Golisopod to endure all sorts of physical attacks.
Bug Water typing is good defensively, with a list of valuable resistances that Golisopod can use to full effect.

Negatives
Base 40 Speed is abysmal, forcing Golisopod to tank a hit before acting.
Emergency Exit interacts poorly with Golisopod’s abysmal speed, allowing opponents to easily turn skip Golisopod as well as denying several common tactics such as defensive pivoting and setup.

Movesets

Skull Storm

-First Impression
-Aqua Jet
-Liquidation
-Drill Run
Ability: Emergency Exit
Item: Rocky Helmet
Stats and Nature:
32 HP / 32 Atk / 2 SDef
Adamant Nature

While Golisopod is hard to use due to the issues between its poor Speed and Emergency Exit, it can be used as a bulky attacker. First Impression is highly recommended for its incredible power and priority tier, allowing Golisopod to bypass the issues of its poor Speed. First Impression is also one of the few moves that positively interacts with Emergency Exit, freely resetting after Golisopod is forced out, allowing an easy way to get a second use. Aqua Jet is secondary priority past First Impression’s window allowing Golisopod to pick off or chip opposing Pokémon with Protect/Detect. Ensuring they don’t get away from Golisopod unscathed. Liquidation is primary STAB for the rare opponent’s that are passive and/or slower than Golisopod, dealing solid damage to most Pokémon and punishing opponents trying to pivot in a Bug resist to tank First Impression. Drill Run is recommended for coverage, handling many of the Water resistant Steel and Poison types that soak up Golisopod’s STABs with ease.

Stats and Items:
Max HP and Attack are recommended. Golisopod needs as much bulk as it can get to avoid a premature activation of Emergency Exit and HP investment pays dividends in doing so. Some speed investment can go a long way, allowing Golisopod to outspeed more foes and thus get more opportunities to use its coverage and stronger STAB. 11 Speed is the minimum necessary to outrun base 50s like Kingambit and Azumarill. 21 Speed with a neutral nature is what is necessary to outrun uninvested base 60s like Primarina, Sylveon, and Hisuian-Goodra, but at that point one is sacrificing a lot of Attack investment to do so. Rocky Helmet is recommended as the item. Golisopod’s defense is quite good so it can be expected to tank multiple hits on the physical side and the chip from Rocky Helmet ensures that even if Golisopod is outsped and forced out, that the attacker is unlikely to have do so unscathed. Mystic Water is also a solid option for boosting up Aqua Jet and Liquidation. If they return, Heavy-Duty Boots would be all but mandatory for Golisopod protecting it from the Stealth Rocks and Spikes that make it laughably easy to knock into Emergency Exit range. If Choice Band Returns it also works well with Golisopod, given the massive power boost it provides and Emergency Exit resetting the move Golisopod is locked into.

Partners:
Hazard control is strongly recommended for Golisopod, given its horrid weakness to chip damage from Spikes and especially Stealth Rocks. Glimmora is the best hazard remover for Golisopod, given that it not only sets up its own entry hazards that makes Golisopod’s job easier, but its Rock and Poison STABs are invaluable into the Water resistant Flying and Fairy types that stave off Golisopod’s STABs. Cinderace is another solid option with its Court Change flipping the script on hazard setters while its access to Libero empowered Gunk Shot and Zen Headbutt do wonders against Water resistant Fairy and Poison types. Both Glimmora and Cinderace in turn appreciate Golisopod’s solid matchups into opposing Water and Ground types. Pivots to get Golisopod in safely to threaten big damage are also recommended. Galarian-Slowking is one of the best slow pivots around, and its Special bulk complements Golisopod’s physical quite nicely while Future Sight is powerful dissuasion for any Poison or Fighting type looking to absorb a First Impression. In turn Galarian-Slowking loves Golisopod for its good matchups into Ground and Dark types that give it trouble. Bellibolt is also a strong pick between its highly synergistic Electric typing and ability to spread Toxic to chip opponents down. Orthworm also works due to being a Shed Tail user to get Golisopod in safely and protected so it can apply extra pressure while liking the Fighting resistance ability to threaten Fire types. Given Golisopod’s many issues with Flying and Water types, an Electric type to back it up is ideal. Mega Raichu Y immediately stands out thanks to the auto Paralysis of Zap Cannon bringing many opponents down to Golisopod’s speed level. Pawmot also does well, its secondary Fighting STAB invaluable into the Archaludon that walls both Golisopod and Electric attacks while Ice Punch can better handle the Flying-Dragon types like Salamence and Dragonite. Golisopod returns the favor by being an excellent check to most Ground types between its high Defense, Ground resistance and Water STAB to make quick work of them.

Other Options:
Rock Slide is Golisopod’s best option into Flying Dragon types like Gyarados, Salamence and Dragonite who resist both STABs.
Poison Jab handles the Bug-Water resistant Primarina, Azumarill and Mega Altaria.
Close Combat threatens Water resistant Steel types like Archaludon and Empoleon. Sucker Punch is a stronger priority option than Aqua Jet but at the cost of being able to be played around.
Leech Life is Bug STAB with a healing rider, though it is hard for Golisopod to get use out of it when dropped below Emergency Exit range.
Spikes gives Golisopod utility for when it can’t deal significant damage.

Countering Golisopod

Golisopod’s physical prowess both offensively and defensively are truly impressive, but it struggles to do anything of note thanks to Emergency Exit.

Entry hazards are Golisopod’s biggest bane, especially Stealth Rocks. With Stealth Rocks up, opponents only need to take 25% to force Golisopod out with Emergency Exit, a laughably low number that even passive walls can manage and make Golisopod easy to remove once it comes back in.

Offensively checking Golisopod is highly recommended given how easy it is to outspeed and force it out with Emergency Exit. The big asterisk to this is Golisopod’s litany of priority options which can make attackers pay dearly for the deed. Even then, (Mega) Salamence, Mega Dragonite, Archaludon, Kommo-o, Mega Dragalge and Primarina all resist both STABs and can deal at least 50% with their own STAB or coverage options while naturally outspeed. Mega Charizard Y also does well thanks to Drought weakening Aqua Jet. Other sufficiently bulky/resistant attackers include Mega Staraptor with Intimidate, Mega Baxcalibur, Gholdengo (Thunderbolt or Power Gem), Alolan-Ninetales (with Freeze-Dry), and Sylveon. These are only the checks that trade positively against Golisopod’s priority, with even more attackers that can survive Golisopod’s priority from full and force it out.

Defensive checks are more contingent on what Golisopod is running for coverage. If lacking Drill Run or Close Combat, Hisuian-Goodra and Archaludon do very well into Golisopod, taking pittance from everything else and grinding it down. 32 HP/32 Defense Toxapex only takes 36-44% from Drill Run and easily outlasts Golisopod but is admittedly a free opportunity for Spikes Golisopod. Intimidate Gyarados takes little from anything not named Rock Slide which even then only deals 44-52% but struggles to deal damage to Golisopod in turn and cannot Mega Evolve due to fear of Bug STAB or Close Combat. Azumarill is similar to Gyarados in that it takes little from non Poison Jab attacks and is only slightly better off in that Play Rough is solid 3HKO.

Mega Corner

Mega Golisopod, the Hard Scale Pokémon. It uses four of its arms to fiercely assail its foes. Once they've been pushed to the brink of defeat, it finishes them off with the arms it kept hidden.

Overview

Golisopod getting a Mega Evolution in the Mega Dimensions DLC was a shock but not unwelcome for such a prominent but struggling Pokémon. Mega Golisopod delivers, fixing everything base Golisopod struggled with and realizing the unstoppable juggernaut it is supposed to be. As good as Bug Water typing is, Bug Steel is one of the best type combinations in the game between its myriad of resistances and only one exploitable weakness. Without that one weakness Mega Golisopod is an incredibly tough nut to crack especially when considering its improved defenses. Base 175 Defense goes into straight absurdity, being the 8th highest available, allowing Mega Golisopod to weather off the strongest physical attacks in the game without issue. Base 120 Special Defense is quite respectable either, giving Mega Golisopod immense staying power on both sides of the spectrum. Add in reliable recovery from Leech Life, and Mega Golisopod is a nigh immovable bulwark, repeatedly tanking all sorts of attacks without issue. Mega Golisopod isn’t a passive threat either. Base 150 Attack is legendary in stature and would alone ensure Mega Golisopod hits hard. Yet this power is backed by Tough Claws, making up for the lack of an item slot and giving Mega Golisopod truly absurd power. Tough Claws is an incredible boon for Mega Golisopod, not only synergizing with its movepool chock full of applicable moves to get the boost, but getting rid of the shackle that was Emergency Exit. Now Mega Golisopod can boost without fear of forcing itself out, tank a blow without being turn skipped and defensively pivot, all tasks it could not do before.

The one crack in Mega Golisopod’s is its extreme weakness to Fire. Even with Mega Golisopod’s absurd defense, Fire attacks, both physical and special are its bane, incinerating Mega Golisopod with little fanfare, a troubling aspect given the number of popular Fire typed Mega Evolutions and the many Dragons that may or may not be carrying Fire coverage for Steel types in general. Such attackers can easily exploit this weakness too given Mega Golisopod’s untouched base 40 Speed, forcing it to move second in most engagements. Leech Life as Mega Golisopod’s only form of recovery is a pain point too. While Mega Golisopod’s Tough Claws boosted STAB Leech Life does deal immense damage, it does not change the fact that Bug is the most resisted type in the game, greatly cutting down on the potential recovery Mega Golisopod receives. Bug Steel, as great as it is defensively, is not that potent offensively, being mutually resisted by Fire and Steel types, to say nothing of many prominent Water types. While Mega Golisopod does have the coverage to manage, it struggles to fit everything and the priority it wants. These issues do not detract from the inevitability that is Mega Golisopod, whose sheer bulk and power ensures that opponents without its one weakness find themselves in a losing battle against an unstoppable juggernaut.
Positives
75/175/120 defenses are insane, allowing Mega Golisopod to tank incredible blows that would down most other Pokémon.
Bug Steel is one of the best defensive types in the game with a myriad of resistances and only one weakness.
Base 150 Attack is legendary, giving Mega Golisopod incredible stopping power.
Tough Claws is game changing for Mega Golisopod, removing Emergency Exit and synergizing incredibly with Mega Golisopod’s moveset.

Negatives
Base 40 Speed is abysmal, forcing Mega Golisopod to tank a hit before acting.
Extreme Fire weakness renders incredible bulk moot to even Fire coverage..

Movesets

Steel Shelled Samurai

-Swords Dance
-Leech Life
-Iron Head
-Sucker Punch
Ability: Emergency Exit -> Tough Claws
Item: Golisopite
Stats and Nature:
32 HP / 32 Atk / 2 SDef
Adamant Nature

Mega Golisopod is a terrifying setup sweeper, using its fantastic typing and absurd bulk to safely and sometimes repeatedly setup Swords Dance to devastate entire teams. With Leech Life, Swords Dance even supports Mega Golisopod’s durability, by increasing Mega Golisopod’s damage output and thus increasing the recovery from Leech Life. Leech Life is primary STAB for this reason as the recovery is part of what makes Mega Golisopod so immovable in that it is not easily worn down. Iron Head is secondary STAB, hitting many of the targets that Leech Life does, most importantly Fairy types like Sylveon, Mega Floette, Alolan-Ninetales, Primarina, and Unaware Clefable, preventing them from safely walling Mega Golisopod. Sucker Punch offers priority, preventing faster attackers from effectively threatening Mega Golisopod out, especially the Dark weak Mega Delphox, Skeledirge and Ceruledge that otherwise immediately threaten Mega Golisopod as well as doing the most damage out of all Mega Golisopod’s priority options to Mega Charizard Y in the Sun.

Stats and Items:
If wanting to go simple, Max HP and Attack are the way to go. Mega Golisopod is a bulky attacker and its defenses are its best selling point so maximizing its HP increases its overall bulk the most. Attack investment can help increase Mega Golisopod’s bulk as well, improving the damage output of Leech Life. If running Bulk Up, it is recommended for full Special Defense investment given how Mega Golisopod’s Attack and Defense are being addresses by Bulk Up. That being said, even Swords Dance Mega Golisopod can make use of the Special Defense investment for more reliable setups, or even just partial investments to reach certain 2HKOs. With 18 Special Defense, Mega Golisopod cannot be 2HKOd by Modest Mystic Water Primarina’s Hyper Voice, or uninvested Skeledirge’s Torch Song. while 15 Special Defense ensures Life Orb Gholdengo can’t 2HKO with Shadow Ball. Speed investment is generally not recommended; The most relevant Fire type Mega Golisopod can outrun with investment is Skeledirge, which requires 27 points with an Adamant nature, or 20 points with a Jolly nature to outrun uninvested Skeledirge, when investing in Special Defense is much better off. Item is locked to the Golisopite.

Partners:
Given Mega Golisopod’s issues with Fire attacks, allies that can handle them are greatly appreciated. Water types are a natural pick for this. Primarina does well at this role especially given its excellent Special Bulk complementing Mega Golisopod’s physical. The Fairy subtyping is also invaluable against Mega Dragonite and Mega Garchomp Z who frequently carry Flamethrower as coverage. Mega Golisopod returns the favor with its quadruple resistance to Grass and immunity to Poison. Tyranitar also works in this role, its Sandstorm overwriting Mega Charizard Y’s Drought, while Mega Golisopod is immune to the same Sandstorm chip. Dragon types also work well. Garchomp especially with its own STAB Earthquake to directly check most Fire and Steel types, Stealth Rock to chip Fire types into Sucker Punch range, etc. In return, Golispod’s Steel typing makes it a natural answer to the Ice and Fairy attacks used to threaten Dragon types. Ceruledge and Chandelure push this to the extreme thanks to their Flash Fire ability and Fire types rarely having coverage for opposing Fire types. Their ability to check opposing Steel types with their own STABs is an added benefit.

Other Options:
Bulk Up is a more defensive boosting option, making Mega Golisopod all but immune to physical attacks while jacking up its Attack. Aqua Jet is unconditional priority that threatens most Fire types, but misses out on Mega Charizard Y. Drill Run handles most Steel types and Torkoal without dropping Mega Golisopod’s defenses. Close Combat is Mega Golisopod’s strongest anti Fighting coverage but at the caveat of ruining its defenses. U-Turn is a strong option on Mega Golisopod turning it into a slow pivot that deals obscene damage on the way out. First Impression is Mega Golisopod’s strongest priority option even outdamaging Aqua Jet if resisted. Synergizes incredibly well with U-Turn.

Doubles and VGC Options

Mega Golisopod’s excellent blend of offense and defense extends into Doubles formats. Mega Golisopod’s typing and bulk in particular turn it into a win condition that if its very specific checks are removed, opponents may not have the damage necessary to overcome Mega Golisopod. Another part of this is due to the ability to outright weaponize its low Speed in Trick Room, outslowing even common Trick Room counterpicks like Sylveon and Kingambit. The other part is the increased strength of weather, making it easier to fit Fire dampening Rain support on such a team and pair Mega Golisopod with allies that can directly threaten the Fire types that give it issues. However, the continued dominance of physical attackers in Regulations M-A and M-B ensure that most teams are well prepared for physical offenses in Regulation M-C, even with the influx of new Special and Mixed Mega Evolutions, drastically cutting down on Mega Golisopod’s power. This is compounded by the poor coverage of Mega Golisopod’s own STABs, both of which it still very much wants to run for their utility or what they do hit. The situational nature of First Impression and Sucker Punch do not help either considering how pervasive Protect is in Doubles. Mega Golisopod is also a victim of its own success, with many people packing surprise Flamethrowers on their Pokémon types explicitly for Mega Golisopod.

Golisopod and Bros

-Leech Life
-Iron Head
-Protect
-Liquidation
Ability: Emergency Exit -> Tough Claws
Item: Golisopite
Stat Points and Nature:
32 HP / 32 Atk / 2 SDef
Brave Nature

Mega Golisopod in Doubles is a veritable juggernaut, flourishing on Trick Room and Rain cores that play to its slow speed and address its Fire weakness. Leech Life and Iron Head are staples found on nearly every Mega Golisopod. Leech Life is Tough Claws boosted STAB draining, giving Mega Golisopod considerable longevity and allowing it to tank and shake off multiple blows before going down despite Bug's poor offensive coverage. Iron Head is secondary STAB and despite Steel's poor coverage, it is invaluable against many Bug resists including opposing Fairy types like Sylveon, Mega Floette and Mega Meganium. Protect is the doubles standard, invaluable for allowing Mega Golisopod to stall for Trick Room setup, block Fake Out, stave off Fire attacks so its allies can deal with said attackers and more. The last move is up to personal preference. Liquidation is strongly recommended if running Rain support, allowing Mega Golisopod to directly deal with Fire attackers like Incineroar, Mega Charizard Y and Mega Delphox.

Standard Trick Room attacker spread of Max HP and Attack. This makes Mega Golisopod as bulky and difficult to remove as possible while dealing as much damage as possible. If running setup like Bulk Up or Swords Dance, Attack investment can be sacrificed for more bulk. Special Defense investment is generally recommended given how over the top Mega Golispod's Defense is. It is not recommended to go below 8 Attack with an Attack boosting nature as that guarantees the OHKO on VGC staple Rillaboom with Leech Life, removing a troublesome threat that is easily capable of stalling out Trick Room.

Preferred Partners & Other Options:
Mega Golisopod low speed becomes terrifying in Trick Room so reliable setters are a must. Farigiraf and Indeedee are the gold standards thanks to their priority blocking abilities denying the Fake Out that could otherwise be used to help stall out Trick Room. If running First Impression or Sucker Punch, Firagiraf is generally recommend given that Indeedee's Psychic Surge is reciprocal. Mega Golisopod also helps them a great deal, threatening and dispatching the Dark types that give them trouble. Rain setters are also invaulable partners for Mega Golisopod, reducing the power of Fire attacks and potentially fueling Mega Golisopod's own Water attacks on top of just . Politoed stands out due to its better synergies with Trick Room over Pelipper but both are viable. First Impression is Mega Golisopod's signature move and definitely worth consideration. Between 100 base power, STAB, Tough Claws and Mega Golisopod's insane attack, it can certainly pick up OHKOs. However, Bug is commonly resisted and Protect is everywhere in Doubles. Sucker Punch is alternative priority option that can be used past the first turn. Close Combat is powerful Fighting coverage, excellent into the Steel types that wall Mega Golisopod's STABs. Swords Dance and Bulk Up are both viable boosting options for Mega Golisopod, the former granting explosive power, the latter making Mega Golisopod all but immune to physical attacks.

Countering Mega Golisopod

Mega Golisopod’s immense power and impeccable bulk make it nigh unstoppable, though this is balanced by its poor speed and weakness to Fire in all forms.

Fire attacks are highly recommended in dealing with Mega Golisopod, its extreme Fire weakness rendering its amazing defenses moot. Given Mega Golisopod’s low speed, in theory any sufficiently strong Pokémon with Fire attacks would work, but Mega Golisopod’s bountiful priority options but a wrench in things, requiring such attackers to be healthy to properly check Mega Golisopod. Fire types are natural picks regardless as while Mega Golisopod may or may not be running priority, it will be running both of its STABs for the utility of the Bug attacks and the valuable anti Fairy coverage of Steel and Fire resists both allowing them to switch in more safely. Mega Charizard X, 32 HP/32+ Def Volcarona, Skeledirge, 32 HP Rotom-Heat are all notable for being able to survive a +2 Aqua Jet/Sucker Punch and OHKO back. If Mega Golisopod doesn’t have a Swords Dance boost, checks greatly increase with Mega Charizard Y (50-59% from Sucker Punch), Armarouge (83-98% from First Impression), Ceruledge (50-59% from Sucker Punch), Cinderace (58-70% from Aqua Jet), and Blaziken (62-73% from Aqua Jet, which does mean the recoil from Flare Blitz will knock out Blaziken in turn). The many Fire breathing Dragon types are also notable, but the lack of STAB does mean they can miss OHKOs. Mega Salamence tanks even boosted blows well thanks to its high Defense and pre Mega Intimidate, but needs Fire Blast to guarantee the OHKO (with Flamethrower having a 9/16 chance to OHKO otherwise). 2 HP Mega Garchomp Z barely survives a First Impression and OHKOs with Flamethrower. Mega Dragonite easily tanks any blow with Multiscale and threatens an OHKO back with any Fire coverage, while Fire Punch base Dragonite deals 65-79% to Mega Golisopod. Hisuian Goodra tanks everything but except Drill Run and Close Combat, while dealing at least 85% with Flamethrower. Mega Meganium’s Weather Ball is another assured OHKO (64-77% from First Impression) but can’t switch in at all due to Iron Head. Other attackers like Mega Delphox and Dragapult can work, but they cannot withstand a First Impression/Sucker Punch respectively.

Burning Mega Golisopod also does a lot in handling it, reining in its power and providing chip damage that makes it much easier to trade positively against it, especially given how it weakens Leech Life. Mega Bannett, Mimikyu, Sableye, Mega Scovillain can all reliably Burn Mega Golisopod irrespective of priority.

If Fire attacks are not available, Special Attackers are recommended to deal with Mega Golisopod given its much more reasonable Special Defense. However, it is still recommended that these attackers are resistant to Bug at the very least so that Mega Golisopod can’t undo their progress with Leech Life. 32+ Special Attack Primarina does decently well with Mystic Water Sparkling Aria being a 75% chance to 2HKO while resisting all Mega Golisopod’s priority options, though an unboosted Iron Head still does 74-88%. Gholdengo can’t tank a Sucker Punch but really only fears that, Drill Run and Liquidation while 3 HKOing with Shadow Ball. Mega Raichu Y deals 56-66% with Zap Cannon, but it is 2HKOd but Sucker Punch and OHKOd by First Impression while taking at least 91% from Leech Life, so it can only pick off a weakened Mega Golisopod.

Defensive checks can outlast Mega Golisopod but again must be resistant to Bug to avoid being outlasted and Mega Golisopod’s coverage can still cause trouble. Steel types are most prominent at this given their native resistance to both STABs and general high Defense, though must be wary of Drill Run and Close Combat. Mega Lucario Z and Archaludon both have the resistances and effective defense to stave off most attacks and with their specially inclined assaults can wear Mega Golisopod down. Intimidate Gyarados handles every attack well save Rock Slide, taking at most 30% from -1 STABs, but needs to boost to get over Mega Golisopod’s Defense and loses hard to Bulk Up sets. Corviknight is an immovable wall for any Mega Golisopod lacking setup, with Liquidation capping at 26-31%, but Brave Bird only does 20-24% back, all but mandating Iron Defense + Body Press or Bulk Up to break through, and struggles against opposing Bulk Up sets as a result. Skarmory is solid enough to reliably pHaze boosting sets, but otherwise needs IronPress to match Mega Golisopod.

Anime Appearences

Golisopod has made a few appearances in the anime. Most notably, it was used by Guzma during his Alola League campaign # -English Episode Name- -Jp. Episode Name- Pics 1058 The Dealer of Destruction! Guzma, Emperor of Destruction! Pics 1077 The Road to the Semifinals! Everyone's Fully Powered! The Road to the Semifinals!! Pics 1078 The Final Four! The Semifinals! Kiawe VS Gladion! Pics 1079 Getting Down to The Ire! Rising Fire! More Than One Rival!! Pics 1080 The Wisdom Not to Run! Guzma the Undefeated! Pics 1081 Final Rivals! The Finals! The Ultimate Rival Showdown!! Pics 1089 Thank You, Alola! The Journey Continues! Thank You, Alola! Respective Departures!! Pics