Stonjourner

Stonjourner, The Big Rock Pokémon. It stands in grasslands, watching the sun's descent from zenith to horizon. This Pokémon has a talent for delivering dynamic kicks. Once a year, on a specific date and at a specific time, they gather out of nowhere and form up in a circle.

Overview

A Stonehenge Pokémon is an interesting concept. However, that is where the buck stops with Stonjourner, as it finds itself outclassed as a Rock type at almost every turn. Even in the base game, Stonjourner faced stiff competition from Rhyperior, Gigalith, Coalossal and Tyranitar as the rock type of choice. However, Stonjourner just crumbles before the competition. Rhyperior, Tyranitar and Gigalith all possess comparable physical defense, even more offensive prowess and the ability to actually take a special attack. Culminating with an absolutely worthless ability in singles, and it becomes difficult to find a reason to use Stonjourner.
Positives
Base 125 Attack is phenomenal and Stonjourner's physical movepool is wide enough to make effective use of it.
High HP and an amazing 135 Defense ensures that it can switch into various Physical attacks
Ability is amazing in doubles but does nothing in singles.
Negatives
Base 20 Special Defense is horrid. Stonjourner will drop to any special attack.
Rock is one of the worse defensive typings in the game, giving Stonjourner plenty of weaknesses to target.
Generally outclassed by other Rock types, who all perform its nice much better.

Movesets

Immaculate Ruins

-Rock Polish
-Rock Slide
-Earthquake
-Heat Crash
Item Attached: Life Orb
Ability: Power Spot
EVs and Nature:
252 Atk / 4 SDef / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature

The idea of this set is to have Stonjourner switch into a Physical attacker that can't dispatch it easily like Mimikyu, setup Rock Polish while they switch out and devastate your opponent's switch in who is now slower than Stonjourner. Rock Slide is the preferred STAB for being more reliable and Stonjourner capable of grabbing flinches with its high Speed after Rock Polish. Earthquake pairs well with Stonjourner's Rock STAB, hitting many targets that resist Rock Slide. Heat Crash rounds out the set, hitting Ground resistant Steel types like Ferrothorn, Corviknight, and Kartana hard with Stonjourner's half ton weight makes reaching max power easy.

DYNAMAX:
Stonjourner can make excellent use of Dynamax. Its above average HP synergizes well with Dynamax and the guaranteed Sandstorm does a enable Stonjourner to actually take a special attack as does the Special Defense boost from Max Quake. Dynamaxing Stonjourner after it has setup Rock Polish is recommended, as the extra bit of setup before the opponent can react can mean the difference between Stonjourner surviving an attack or being knocked out.

EVs and Items:
EVs and Nature are set to maximize speed and power as much as possible. 252 Speed plus Jolly ensures that Stonjourner outspeeds Choice Scarf Kartana. Going down to 144 Speed EVs and Adamant would be the minimum required to outspeed Timid Non Scarf Dragapult. Investing the extra in Special Defense enables Stonjourner to survive a hit from Clefable or Moltres. Life Orb is for a reliable power boost.

Other Option:
Weakness Policy -Stonjourner can take a page out of Metagross' book and combine Rock Polish with a Dynamax Weakness Policy boost to run over opponents, though Stonjourner's more numerous weaknesses and crippling special bulk means that it struggles to survive Super Effective hits even when Dynamaxed.
Stealth Rock -Excellent entry hazard and with its physical bulk, Stonjourner can reliably set it up.
Heavy Slam -Another weight based move that strikes Fairies especially hard, but the coverage is poorer in comparison to Heat Crash.

Partners:
Slowbro, and Blissey -can take many special attacks for Stonjourner and slow pivot into it with Teleport, forming a defensive Core in the party. Stonjourner's Stealth Rocks further improve the strategy , eating away at your opponents as the switch out to counter your counter.
Mantine -resists or is neutral to everything that Stonjourner is weak to, has the Special Defense to take any special attack headed Stonjourner's way, while burns from Scald makes further improves Stonjourner's physical bulk..

VGC & Double Battle Options

Stonjourner makes for an interesting support Pokémon in doubles, where it gives any of its allies essentially a free Life Orb boost. However, Stonjourner's flaws become even more pronounced in doubles. Stiff competition from other Rock types who can take a hit and deal a stronger one out and an absurdly frail special defense that assures even spread Special attacks have a good chance of OHKOing. Power Spot changes the dynamic significantly in doubles. A passive universal boost is rare in Pokémon, and is Stonjourner's claim to fame, enabling team mates to reach for KOs they wouldn't be able to otherwise, just by Stonjourner being on the field.

Artifact of Victory

-Rock Slide
-Protect
-Assurance
-Superpower
Item Attached: Focus Sash
Ability: Power Spot
EVs and Nature:
252 Atk / 4 SDef /252 Spe
Jolly Nature

This Stonjourner is meant to apply further pressure on your opponent alongside Stonjourner's partner. STAB Rock Slide is powerful and can proc Flinch chances on Trick Room setters like Porygon2 as well as naturally slower targets like Torkoal and Incineroar. Protect as always is mandatory for Doubles, punishing focus fire attempts, scouting out moves or just stalling out setup like Tailwind, Trick Room or Weather. Assurance is for use with faster partners, providing a second strong hit with valuable coverage that can overwhelm Dusclops, Cresselia, Indeedee-F and Dragapult. Superpower rounds out the set providing valuable Fighting coverage for the likes of Porygon2, Urshifu-Single, and Kartana. Focus Sash ensures that Stonjourner can take a hit, forcing your opponent to focus fire on Stonjourner.

DYNAMAX:
While Stonjourner has several moves that are good for Dynamax, you want Stonjourner to be buffing up a Dynamax partner, not be the Dynamax user.

Other Doubles Options & Team Ideas

-Body Press -an alternative Fighting coverage move that isn't impacted by Intimidate and does not lower Stonjourner's prowess like Superpower, but is much weaker.
-Imprison -Sealing Protect has always been a tech option in Doubles, and can combo well with Stonjourner. Have Stonjourner come in after its partner is all setup to boost it up further and prevent them from stalling with Imprison.
-Bulldoze -a good speed control option and Stonjourner has the attack to make it hurt.
-Heavy Slam -A alternative coverage option that covers fairies like Grimmsnarl in addition to opposing Rock types like Tyranitar and Rhyperior.
-Mimikyu and Dragapult work well with this set. They are fragile speedsters that enjoy the extra boost from Power Spot. As Ghost types they are immune to Fake Out and using Fake out on a Stonjourner is less than ideal. Dynamaxing and unleashing a boosted Max Phantasm can powerup Stonjourner's own moves via the Defense drop and Stonjourner threatens the most popular Dark types Incineroar and possibly Grimmsnarl./p>

Countering Stonjourner

Any special attacker with investment can and will OHKO Stonjourner with any non-resisted move. And with Stonjourner's middling speed, many Special attackers like Alakazam, Dragapult, Hydreigon and Nidoking can all easily revenge KO it.

Strong physical attackers with STAB super effective moves like Kartana, Garchomp,Blaziken and Barraskewda can also swiftly revenge KO Stonjourner.

None of the above especially enjoy switching into Stonjourner's attacks. However, Stonjourner will invariably be running a physical set, so physically bulky Pokémon that run special attacks make for extremely reliable counters. Slowbro, Suicune, Gastrodon and Celesteela can all fit the criteria and make for excellent switch ins. Scald effectively ruins Stonjourner by both striking its achilles heel and even if it does survive, saddling it with a crippling burn.

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:
Not in game

Black 2/White 2:
Not in game

X/Y:
Not in game

Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Not in game

Sun/Moon:
Not in game

Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon:
Not in game

Let's Go, Pikachu!/Let's Go, Eevee!:
Not in game

Sword/Shield:
Route 10, Lake of Outrage, Giant's Bed, Giant's Foot (Sword) Max Raid Battles: Giant's Seat, Rolling Fields, Stony Wilderness, Slippery Slope, Giant's Bed, Snowslide Slope, Ballimere Lake

Anime Appearences

Stonjourner has yet to make an appearance in the anime.

# -English Episode Name- -Jp. Episode Name- Pics
1216 Just a Scone's Throw From Here Goh and Cinderace! The Place Where It All Began!! Pics
24 Reunion at the Ancient Castle! Reunion at the Old Castle Pics