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Those that enjoy the Pokemon VGC know there are many roles different Pokemon can fill. Players should strive for a well-rounded team, and Tanks are reliable options when it comes to mixing offensive and defensive battle strategies.

What makes a Pokemon a Tank is its ability to take lots of damage and still give significant amounts of damage back. The Pokemon that fall into this category are stubborn beasts on the battlefield and can't be underestimated. Players can gain the upper hand in battle with the right Tank on their team because they usually fill supportive roles as well. Let's review some of the best Tanks used in competitive battles.

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Tyranitar

Pokemon VGC Tanks Tyranitar

HP: 100

Attack: 134

Defense: 110

Sp. Atk: 95

Sp. Def: 100

Speed: 61

Tyranitar is an incredibly effective Tank from Generation II. It has a well-balanced stat distribution, except for a low speed. It makes up for this with its high Attack and Same-Type Attack Bonus (STAB) opportunities with moves like Crunch, Stone Edge, and Rock Slide. Tyranitar has a give-and-take system with its typing because as powerful as an offensive type like Rock/Dark is, it is at the mercy of 7 types; players should watch out for Fighting types in particular.

Still, its bulk is impressive with a solid HP, Defense, and Sp. Def. Its defensive stats are even more effective in Dynamax with the Sp. Def boost from Max Quake. Grimmsnarl is a great teammate for Tyranitar because it can set up barriers that allow Tyranitar to spam Dragon Dance and give it time to activate its Weakness Policy, raising Tyranitar's Sp. Atk and Attack by 2 stages.

Amoonguss

Pokemon VGC Tanks Amoonguss

HP: 114

Attack: 85

Defense: 70

Sp. Atk: 85

Sp. Def: 80

Speed: 30

Amoonguss can be surprisingly tanky. The Grass/Poison mushroom Pokemon is from Generation V. Since its induction to the VGC, players have taken advantage of its survivability and decent Attack stats, both of which make it a great supportive and offensive pick on most teams.

While its low Speed means it will be taking some sort of hit before moving, it can survive most hits because of its high HP and Defense. When an opponent lands a physical attack, there is a chance that the ability Effect Spore will activate and poison, paralyze, or put it to sleep. Also, Amoonguss's best offensive moves have the tendency to have STAB, so it puts out a respectable amount of damage. The Hidden Ability Regenerator that restores up to 33.3% of its HP when it is called out of battle and moves like Giga Drain can extend Amoonguss's life on the field even longer.

Rillaboom

Pokemon VGC Tanks Rillaboom

HP: 100

Attack: 125

Defense: 90

Sp. Atk: 60

Sp. Def: 70

Speed: 85

Rillaboom was introduced in Generation VIII and is the final form of the starter Grass-type Grookey. In the Pokemon VGC, it is a popular support choice due to its moveset. Moves such as Drum Beating give players an edge in speed and turn-order by lowering the Speed stat of Pokemon that switch in. This usually guarantees that it will move first. Players also have the choice of U-turn, Knock Off, and Fake Out.

Rillaboom is a versatile tank, and while it makes a good support Pokemon, its offensive abilities can't be ignored by opponents. It has a decent Speed stat, and its Attack stat makes it a hard hitter when it lands. Additionally, its Overgrow ability kicks in when its health is low, so attacks can potentially deal extra damage. It does all of this while using its strong Defense and high health to eat damage and survive for an extended amount of time. Rillaboom is a great pick to counter Water-types like Kyrogre and Blastoise, and pairing Grassy Surge with the move Grassy Glide flips the playing field in its favor with the triggered Grassy Terrain.

Blastoise

Pokemon VGC Tanks Blastoise

HP: 79

Attack: 83

Defense: 100

Sp. Atk: 85

Sp. Def: 105

Speed: 78

Blastoise is best known for its bulk. The Generation I starter is a classic in a single-player game and the competitive Pokemon scene. Competitively, Blastoise holds its own defensively, absorbing most damage and giving players the time to strike. To use Blastoise effectively, players will need to pair it with the right Pokemon. For example, Rain Dish is a handy recovery ability, but it is only triggered when there is rain on the field, so it is admittedly limiting.

Despite its bulk, it still has access to moves that cause trouble on the field offensively. Rapid Spin not only deals damage, but doubles as a support move by clearing the field of any entrance hazards and binding moves. Hydro Pump is a solid STAB option that can tear through most types, and its ability Torrent boosts Water-type moves once Blastoise's HP falls to a certain level. For another boost, players can use Shell Smash, which decreases the user's Defense and Sp. Def but increases Attack, Sp. Atk, and Speed in return.

Metagross

Pokemon VGC Tanks Metagross

HP: 80

Attack: 135

Defense: 130

Sp. Atk: 95

Sp. Def: 90

Speed: 70

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Introduced in Generation III, Metagross is almost the perfect Tank. It has well-matched Attack and Defense stats, and its Steel/Psychic typing makes it sturdy. However, it does have some common weaknesses in Ground, Fire, and Dark. Still, its Steel typing is more of a bonus than a disadvantage paired with its strong Defense, so taking it down is no easy feat.

Metagross is a reliable Pokemon in most situations. When it does get the opportunity to attack, it can be devastating with a 135 Attack stat behind all of its moves. It also has access to Earthquake, so it can take out Steel- and Fire-types. Its ability Clear Body makes it resistant to the effects of Intimidate as well, which is a popular ability in the meta.

Mega Venusaur

Pokemon VGC Tanks Mega Venusaur

HP: 80

Attack: 100

Defense: 123

Sp. Atk: 122

Sp. Def: 120

Speed: 80

Compared to its standard form, Mega Venusaur is a very powerful defensive ally to have on a team. Venusaur evolves into Mega Venusaur with the Venusaurite introduced in Generation VI. The evolution brings a significant increase to its offensive and defensive stats. Recovery is Mega Venusaur's strongest perk, while Synthesis, Leech Seed, and Giga Drain make it hard to get it off the field once there. It has some STAB options with Giga Drain and Solar Beam, but players can also use Earthquake and Knock Off to get ahead.

Its durability is a side effect of high and balanced defensive stats. Its ability Thick Fat only adds to this by protecting it from Ice and Fire. Thick Fat reduces the damage from those move types by 50%, which is effectively neutralizing them in practice. Water-type opponents who rely on Ice Beam lose a huge advantage with this ability, too.

Groudon

Pokemon VGC Tanks Groudon

HP: 100

Attack: 150

Defense: 140

Sp. Atk: 100

Sp. Def: 90

Speed: 90

Groudon is a top-tier tank. Its been around since Generation III, and maintains popularity in the Pokemon VGC Meta. Groudon is equipped with massive power behind its attacks with the Defense stats to match. Its physical moveset includes Earthquake, Precipice Blades, and Earth Power — all fantastic STAB options.

Additionally, it has a good support moveset, so players can't go wrong by using it. Roar and Stealth Rock make a good pairing on the field, and players can immobilize their opponents with Thunder Wave. One of the most notable things about Groudon is its ability Drought, which activates Sunny Day on the field. This assists with its Water weakness, but also boosts Fire-types moves. Groudon has some Fire-type moves at its disposal, and it is very helpful in Double battles.

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