Turtonator, The Blast Turtle Pokémon. The shell on its back is chemically unstable and explodes violently if struck. The hole in its stomach is its weak point. It gushes fire and poisonous gases from its nostrils. Its dung is an explosive substance and can be put to various uses.
Overview
Turtonator is a unique Pokémon having Dragon/Fire typing available only to Reshiram, who's banned to Ubers, and Mega Charizard X, who uses a mega slot. However unlike the other two who are pure offensive powerhouses mostly, Turtonator is a defensive threat boosting massive physical defense. However the typing doesn't lend itself to well for this as Fire is a more offensive type, but it can still function well enough in tier.
Positives
+Dragon/Fire is amazing offensive typing unresisted outside of Heatran because of Flash Fire
+Fairly nice move pool allowing a little bit of flexing and room to toy with moves
+Fire removes the weakness to Fairy and Ice as well as grants quad resistance to Fire
Negatives
-No recovery move outside of Rest really hurts its ability to be a pivot
-Dragon/Fire is more geared toward offensive typing, removing its Water resistance as well as gaining weakness to Rock and Ground
-Offensive stats are overall subpar 78 Attack and 91 Special making it hard to abuse its great typing
Abilities
Shell Armor - Prevents critical hits - Its only ability and overall a really subpar one but it prevents a hacks I guess.
Movesets
The Turtle That Wasn't Water
-Will-O-Wisp
-Flamethrower/Dragon Pulse
-Protect
-Taunt/Toxic
Item Attached: Leftovers
Ability: Shell Armor
EVs and Nature:
248HP/8Def/252SpDef
Calm Nature
With its base stats, Turtonator screams tank and it more or less has all the tools needed to do it. Shell Armor is quite nice here as crits override status drops. This pairs well with the first and one of the main moves of the set Will-O-Wisp, halving Attack. This pairs well with its typing as well as the stat spread. With the burn status, EV's are better placed into Special Defense, which also allows it to deal with other threats a bit easier such as Glaceon, plus most of Turtonator's weaknesses are physical and can be crippled on switching in. Protect is a must use as it allows scouting for choices moves as well as stall out status moves, synergizing well with the other status move options, Toxic or Taunt. Toxic allows for better match ups into Fire types while Taunt is better into other tanky Pokémon. Flamethrower or Dragon Pulse are the last moves allowing you to deal damage, the choice is a preference.
I'm part Dragon?
-Draco Meteor/Dragon Pulse
-Fire Blast
-Solar beam/Hidden Power Grass
-Focus Blast/Shell Smash
Item Attached: Grassium Z/Assault Vest/Choice Specs
Ability: Shell Armor
EVs and Nature:
248HP/8Def/252SpAtk or 252SpAtk/4SpDef/252Spd
Modest/Timid Nature
This set uses Turtonator's unresisted coverage to just break through the enemy team. Draco Meteor or Dragon Pulse are the primary stab move dealing a lot of damage to most threats you'll run into. Fire Blast is the main Fire option, though Flamethrower is an option, crippling a lot of threats coming in without the status drop of Draco Meteor. Solar beam takes the next spot ONLY when you run the Grassium Z for Bloom Doom otherwise Hidden Power Grass takes this slot to nail waters hard. Last slot is a bit more open, Focus Blast is nice for damage and hitting Rocks hard while you can use Shell Smash and look to sweep and as such benefits more from the faster EV spread. Choice Specs are a top item pick due to your tanky nature allowing you to smash threats with ease while an Assault Vest allows for more switch ins and in general tanking.
Other Options & Partners
-Bulk Up- More for a physical bait set, it can work with some support. Viable moves include Dragon Claw, Stone Edge, and Earthquake.
-Earthquake- Usable on the special sets but most Rocks in tier have such low Special Defense it's not necessary
-Air Balloon- Usable with the Shell Smash to avoid Earthquake so it's easier to sweep but you lose the Grassium Z so it's a personal preference.
Hitmontop is probably one of the best partners with its ability to Rapid Spin away hazards and switch in on Lycanroc one of the better revenge killers in tier as well as Alolan Golem and Rhydon, though they're less reliable answers. Alolan Golem itself likes Turtonator as well as Turtonator removes or cripples bulky Waters as well as destroys Grass threats that threaten it. Braviary likes Turtonator for similar reasons, crippling bulky Waters or burning Lycanroc, Alolan Golem, and Rhydon that are annoying for it to deal with. Lastly, Rock Polish Aggron works well, grants gimmicky, really likes the threats offensive Turtonator removes and cripples while defensive burns threats capable of revenging Aggron once it boosts. Lastly it can boost on Togetic, one of the better answers to Turtonator.
Teambuilding & Matchup
Turtonator brings a lot for a team in either build so it depends on the build you run so I'll break this into two sections
Defensive Turtonator brings a lot of physical checking as well as a strong special pivot allowing it to shine more on balanced teams. Its typing allows the ability it to pivot into special attackers pretty well such as Glaceon and Slowking. Despite its high physical defense, most physical Pokémon Turtonator has to deal with carry Earthquake or are Ground/Rock typing making it hard to deal with for it. As such when building balanced a flying type or Ground type will or well. Eelektross does well as it can capitalize with its Levitate ability and pressure most of these out with Grass Knot. Match up wise the defensive set will overall struggle into HO(hyper offensive) teams due to their high momentum style and Turtonator can't shut something down alone. It can be a nuisance but overall will fail, especially into special based HO teams.
Offensive Turtonator brings raw coverage, often undervalued, to a team making it a solid wall breaker making it overall better on bulky offensive teams due to its defensive base stats. Unlike the defensive versions, there isn't too much that can or wants to switch into Turtonator due to its coverage outside Togetic. As such think about special sweepers that like Omastar like this version with its ability to smash waters. Match up wise this version struggles with stall based teams due to their more resilient nature as well as HO again due to their high speed and power, but can slow them down with its power, namely Choice Specs.
VGC, Double, & Triple Battle Options
Turtonator is rarely used in VGC 2017. While Torkoal thrives, the "other" fire turtle rarely makes an appearance. Despite great physical defense and a good typing, Turtonator just does not exert enough offensive pressure on the opponent. Its low speed and unremarkable support movepool leaves the turtle without a clear role.
Bowsenator
-Flamethrower
-Dragon Pulse
-Wide Guard
-Protect
Item Attached: Mago Berry
Ability: Shell Armor
EVs and Nature:
252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
Turtonator can typically take a few hits thanks to a great Fire / Dragon defensive typing and good defensive stats. A Calm nature with max HP and Special Defense lets the turtle take special hits well, as its physical defense is already great. Mago Berry (or any other pinch berry that will not cause confusion) greatly increases Turtonator'a longevity. Battle Armor prevents critical hits, further guaranteeing that Turtonator lives.
Flamethrower and Dragon Pulse are solid STAB moves that provide good coverage. Wide Guard supports the team a bit, protecting both of your Pokémon from spread attacks. Protect of course is amazing in doubles.
Other Options & Team Ideas
-Assault Vest can also shore up Turtonator'a mediocre Special Defense.
-Overheat or Fire Blast are more powerful alternatives to Flamethower, but both have worse accuracy. Draco Meteor is similar in the power vs accuracy discussion against Dragon Pulse.
-Incinerate can burn berries on your opponent's Pokémon.
-Shell Trap is a bit tougher to use in doubles, and is probably too situational.
-Flash Cannon, Solarbeam, and Focus Blast are all additional coverage options.
-Bulldoze is nice form of speed control.
-Shell Smash, typically combined with a White Herb, can boost Turtonator's offensive skills, but it still cannot reach a great speed tier.
-Will-O-Wisp and Toxic can both inflict useful status conditions given the scenario.
-Roar and Taunt can help mess up set ups strategies like Tailwind.
-Tapu Bulu's grassy terrain can weaken opposing Earthquake, and the recovery also increases Turtonator's usefulness.
-Trick Room can help Turtonator due to its low speed.
-Teams in need of a Torkoal check like Turtonator's ability to shrug off any common move from its fellow turtle.
Countering Turtonator
Stealth Rocks are a major thing to make dealing with Turtonator easier as it will lose ź of its health upon switching in. Politoed, Vaporeon, and Slowking due the best at answering Turtonator with their bulky natures, and the later being more Special Defensive. However Turtonator is able to hit most of its switch ins for super effective damage. Togetic probably does the best job overall but suffers from the problem with Stealth Rocks like Turtonator but has access to Roost so it can heal off the damage it defense Lycanroc can revenge kill Turtonator pretty easily but has to be careful with the defense set as the burn will cripple it. Finally Guzzlord can check most of Turtonator's moves and can take a Dragon Pulse because of its insane health and KO back with Speced Draco Meteor.
Locations in Games
Red/Blue/Yellow:
Not in game
Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Not in game
FireRed/LeafGreen:
Not in game
Colosseum/XD:
Not in game
Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Not in game
HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Not in game
Black/White:
Not in game
Black 2/White 2:
Not in game
X/Y:
Not in game
Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Not in game
Sun/Moon:
Blush Mountain (Sun)
Trade from Sun (Moon)
Animé Appearences
