Garbodor, the Trash Heap Pokémon. This Pokémon eats trash, which turns into poison inside its body. The main component of the poison depends on what sort of trash was eaten. This Pokémon eats trash, which turns into poison inside its body. The main component of the poison depends on what sort of trash was eaten. Due to Gigantamax energy, this Pokémon's toxic gas has become much thicker, congealing into masses shaped like discarded toys. It sprays toxic gas from its mouth and fingers. If the gas engulfs you, the toxins will seep in all the way down to your bones.
Overview
Garbodor returns in generation 8 very little changed from previous generations. A wide movepool with several attacking and support options including Spikes and Toxic Spikes alongside phazing options in Clear Smog and Haze gives Garbodor a small niche. Which is good, as its lackluster stats hold it back. No stat above 95 leaves Garbodor outclassed by most other pokemon, including Skarmory, who fills a similar Entry Hazard and Phazing niche, Toxapex, Roserade and Scolipede as opposing Poison type Entry Hazard setters, and both Weezings for general defensive utility.
The few changes Garbodor did get don’t leave a significant mark. The only Pokémon not of Generation 1 or 8 to get a Gigantamax form, G-Max Malador is incredibly lackluster, only inflicting normal Poison and shackled to the same lower base Power of normal Max Ooze is best left forgotten. Corrosive Gas is a neat trick, but can be done by many other Pokémon with Knock Off, applying damage at the same time. At the end of the day, while Garbodor’s good movepool and synergistic traits do give it a small niche, another man’s trash is often just more trash.
Positives
Great Movepool including the rare Spikes and Haze alongside other support options like Corrosive Gas, Clear Smog and Toxic Spikes.
Base 95 Attack with a great STAB in Gunk Shot and wide coverage pool gives Garbodor some offensive presence.
Decent Defenses coupled with, Pain Split, Rocky Helmet and Aftermath make taking down Garbodor as it sets up a painful chore.
Negatives
Defenses are only decent, leaving Garbodor liable to be ripped open by opposing targets.
Gunk Shot is far from reliable and Garbodor’s only decent attack prevents it from tearing into the many walls resistant or immune to Poison.
Outclassed by Pokémon that perform its roles better.
Movesets
Walking Mess
-Spikes
-Toxic Spikes
-Pain Split
-Haze
Ability:Aftermath
Item: Rocky Helmet
EVs and Nature:
252 HP / 252 Def /4 SDef
Bold Nature
Garbodor makes for a decent Entry Hazard setter, with Spikes and Toxic Spikes dependent on how your opponent's team is setup. Have Garbodor pivot into a physical attacker it can tank, often provoking Rocky Helmet damage and setup Entry Hazards while chipping them down with Rocky Helmet. Pain Split helps keep Garbodor healthy while further draining the opponent. Haze rounds out the moveset, preventing Garbodor from being setup fodder to setup sweepers while setting up Entry Hazards.
DYNAMAX:
Don't. No attacking moves or potentially only a Poison STAB leaves Garbodor one of the worst Dynamax options in the game bar stalling out an opposing Dynamax.
EVs and Items:
Max HP and Defense to soak as many physical attacks as possible to proc more Rocky Helmet damage. Rocky Helmet is also near required -the damage it provides prevents Garbodor from being completely passive.
Partners:
U-Turn/Volt-Switch/Flip Turn users love Garbodor, for their own switching antics often force switches (and thus entry hazard damage) of their own, but Garbodor can damage the opponent on switch in, often preserving momentum. Cinccino is a good example, able to lure in Fighting Attacks, while Rotom Wash can burn opponents and enjoys Garbodor's ability to tank Grass attacks. Flygon enjoys Garbodor walling Fairy types while answering opposing Ground, Poison and Steel types in turn.
Other Options:
Gunk Shot -prevents Garbodor from being completely passive, but Poison is a poor offensive type and resisted by many targets.
Corrosive Gas -Removes what may be a critical item for your opponent.
Explosion -when Garbodor has setup entry hazards and has nothing else to do.
.
Garbage Crusher
-Gunk Shot
-Seed Bomb
-Drain Punch
-Rock Blast
Ability:Weak Armor
Item: Choice Band
EVs and Nature:
208 HP / 252 Atk / 48 Spe
Adamant Nature
Choice Band Garbodor attempts to take advantage of its good attack and movepool to rip holes into the opposing team. Weak Armor is quite the ability -if Garbodor can tank a hit, it will lose some defense but double its speed, allowing it to outspeed most foes after just one boost. Choice Band Gunk Shot is the star of the set, doing massive damage to anything that doesn’t resist it. Seed Bomb provides excellent coverage against opposing Rock and Ground types, while Drain Punch provides recovery and excellent utility when Gigantamaxed. Rock Blast rounds out the set -most of Garbodor’s coverage moves are resisted by Flying types, so this gives it a reliable option against Flying types that resist Gunk Shot.
DYNAMAX:
Garbodor does enjoy Gigantamaxing, making it easier to accrue Weak Armor boosts thanks to the sizeable bulk increase. G-Max Malador is far preferred over the normal Max Ooze as Garbodor cannot use that Special Attack boost meaning fully, though the drop in power from normal Gunk Shot and breaking the Choice lock is noticeable. Max Overgrowth weakens opposing Earthquakes and provides needed passive recovery while Max Knuckle enables Garbodor to escalate offensively as well.
EVs and Items:
Max Attack investment to maximize power, considering Garbodor’s only decent attack. Not much speed investment is needed if Relying on Weak Armor. Only 48 Speed EVs and a Neutral Nature are needed to outspeed Base 130 targets after a single Weak Armor boost, enabling everything else to go into HP for more Bulk. Choice Band provides the largest power increase, though Life Orb can be considered.
Partners:
Allies that can answer sturdy physical walls are greatly appreciated. Chandelure excels, answering many Steel types, including Skarmory, Celesteela and Bronzong while providing a deterrent for Psychic types switching in. Celesteela, also performs admirably, clearing many physical walls while safely pivoting into Garbodor’s weaknesses.
Other Options:
Stomping Trantrum -provides excellent Anti Steel coverage, but doesn’t have the same utility as Draining Punch.
Countering Garbodor
Garbodors checks and counters vary depending on which set is being used, though there are a few constants. Poison resistant Flying types remain a big problem regardless, able to float over and defog away Garbodor’s entry hazards while able to reliably tank its hits. Skarmory walls out the physical set, and can defog and whirlwind away the Entry Hazard set with no risk to itself. Corviknight performs similarly albeit without Whirlwind. Celesteela provides a more offensive approach, while not being able to clear away the Hazards, can safely strike down Garbodor without triggering Rocky Helmet and Aftermath.
Fast Special Attackers make reliable checks for Garbodor. While its defenses are equal and decent, it will often specialize Physical Defense thanks to Aftermath, which is good reason not to directly contact Garbodor in any case. Alakazam, the Lati-Twins, Nidoking all outspeed and can reliably OHKO Garbodor, but few like taking a STAB Gunk Shot or coverage move.
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:
Not in game
HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Not in game
Black/White:
Route 9
Black 2/White 2:
Route 9
X/Y:
Lost Hotel, Pokémon Village, Friend Safari
Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Evolve Trubbish
Sun/Moon:
Malie City
Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon:
Evolve Trubbish
Let's Go, Pikachu!/Let's Go, Eevee!:
Not in game
Sword/Shield:
Bridge Field, Lake of Outrage
Max Raid Battles: East Lake Axewell, Giant's Cap, Motostoke Riverbank, North Lake Miloch, Giant's Bed, Frigid Sea, Ballimere Lake
Gigantamax Raid Battles: East Lake Axewell, Giant's Bed, Frigid Sea, Ballimere Lake
Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl:
Not in game
Legends: Arceus:
Not in game
Anime Appearences
