Torterra, The Continent Pokémon. Small Pokémon occasionally gather on its unmoving back to begin building their nests. Groups of this Pokémon migrating in search of water have been mistaken for moving forests.
Overview
Torterra remains a flawed, but formidable Pokémon in its return in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. It possesses great natural bulk, formidable Attack that ensures it isn’t passive and a multitude of boosting options to keep one guessing. However, Torterra is let down by its typing, leaving it with easily walled STABs, and common weaknesses that conflict with other popular Pokémon such as Scizor, Garchomp, Gliscor. Add in stiff competition with Breloom and Tangrowth while lacking the valuable Water resistance of Grass types and Torterra just falls by the wayside.
Positives
Base 109 Attack with access to STAB Earthquake, Curse and Swords Dance ensures Torterra can do serious damage when called for.
Impressive all-around bulk with access to Synthesis and Leech Seed helps Torterra stick around and enables it to setup.
Negatives
Grass Ground typing leaves Torterra with a common Fire and a crippling Ice weakness that stresses team building
Finds it difficult to fit STABs, coverage, setup and recovery onto one set and thus is always missing a move it needs.
Slow Speed leaves Torterra vulnerable to revenge killing and forces it to take a hit before it can act.
Movesets
Cursed Continent
-Curse
-Earthquake
-Stone Edge
-Synthesis
Item Attached: Leftovers
Ability: Overgrow
EVs and Nature:
252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SDef
Impish Nature
Curse Torterra is a tank that can perform as a setup sweeper in the late game. Curse enables Torterra to improve its best qualities, enabling Torterra to check potent physical threats while muscling past dedicated walls that would otherwise stop it. Earthquake is an excellent STAB move. Stone Edge is preferred here for its synergistic coverage with Earthquake. Synthesis rounds out the set, keeping Torterra healthy throughout the game as it takes hits setting up and pivoting it to take attacks.
DYNAMAX:
Torterra is unable to Dynamax at this time
EVs and Items:
Max HP and Special Defense is recommended. Torterra will be improving its own Defense and Attack with Curse. Max Special Defense is not strictly needed -172 Special Defense and Max HP guarantees Torterra to live a Neutral Natured Ice Beam from Milotic after Stealth Rock. Leftovers is for continual recovery so Torterra doesn’t have to Synthesis quite as often, though Lum Berry can be considered as a ward against Toxic or Scald burns.
Other Options:
Seed Bomb/Wood Hammer -Grass STAB is quite valuable against the many water types running around but is resisted by Flying, Bug and Grass types alongside Torterra’s Ground STAB.
Crunch -Hits Bronzong hard, who otherwise is a hard wall.
Rock Polish -like Empoleon, Torterra can run a Rock Polish set to offset its poor speed for the surprise factor, but is outsped by any Base 95 Speed Choice Scarfer.
Stealth Rock -one of the best moves in the game and Torterra certainly has the bulk to set them up.
Partners:
Chansey makes a great partner for Torterra, given Torterra’s low Special Defense providing a big target and able to heal off Burns and Toxic with Heal Bell.
In general, Fire types make excellent partners for Torterra, as they cover the Grass, Bug and Floating Steel types that otherwise wall Torterra hard in addition to absorbing Fire and Ice attacks. Magmortar, Houndoom, and Entei are examples that fit this niche, while enjoying Toterra’s ability to blank Ground and Rock type attacks.
Countering Torterra
Tangrowth, Leafeon, and Skarmory are some of the biggest Torterra counters in the game. Their high Defense, resistance to both STABs and natural recovery ensure that Torterra can’t beat them in a 1 on 1 fight.
Rotom-Mow and Weezing are similarly troublesome but must Burn Torterra as their offense won’t secure a quick KO. Bronzong also solidly walls any set lacking Crunch.
Torterra’s lacking Stone Edge can be stopped by most Flying and Bug types like Yanmega, Moltres, Salamence, Togekiss, and Gliscor.
Exploiting Torterra’s weaknesses and slow speed makes any non-rock Polish set simple to revenge KO but be wary of its natural bulk -non-STAB Ice moves will miss the OHKO if Torterra is appropriately invested.
Locations in Games
Red/Blue/Yellow:
Not in game
Gold/Silver/Crystal:
Not in game
Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Not in game
FireRed/LeafGreen:
Not in game
Colosseum/XD:
Not in game
Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Evolve Grotle
HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Trade from Diamond/Pearl/Platinum
Black/White:
Transfer from Generation 4
Black 2/White 2:
Transfer from Generation 4
X/Y:
Trade from Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire
Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Evolve Grotle
Sun/Moon:
Trade from Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon
Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon:
Evolve Grotle
Let's Go, Pikachu!/Let's Go, Eevee!:
Not in game
Sword/Shield:
Not in game
Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl:
Evolve Grotle
Anime Appearences
