Obstagoon PvP IV Deep-Dive

Obstagoon has been a powerful pick in both the Great League and Ultra League Pokemon GO PvP metas ever since its release. Recently, Obstagoon was present on the 1st and 2nd place Champion’s teams in the 2022 Pokemon GO Milwaukee Regional. Given that the Galarian Zigzagoon Community Day is coming up on 8/13/22, now is as good of a time as ever to highlight Obstagoon’s best PvP IVs.

Unlike most Pokemon, Obstagoon appears to benefit from a higher Atk weight in both leagues. The Obstagoon PvP IV Deep Dive breaks down why Atk Obstagoon is so good and guides players to these unconventional IV spreads. Also, this guide will highlight IV spreads that benefit from its new Community Day exclusive attack Obstruct.

This guide discusses the hidden true stats of Pokemon in Pokemon GO. In order to see these true stats you need to use an IV checking app (CalcyIV, Pokegenie) or an IV checking website (GOStadium, PvPIVs.com, or PvPoke itself). To make things simple, the guide also features PvP IV tables. 

If you’re not familiar with PvP IVs, check out this PvP IVs Simplified video.

The main moves Obstagoon usually runs are Counter and Night Slash. The second Charge Move comes down to what extra utility you’d like Obstagoon to have. Cross Chop manages Normal, Dark, Steel, Ice, and Rock-types better. Gunk Shot makes Fairy-types wish they used a Shield. And Hyper Beam a heavy surprise nuke that also offers coverage vs Fairies. 

Obstruct adds another Charge Move to the mix. Its low damage and higher energy cost suggests it’d be best paired with Night Slash, enabling Goon to build up some extra Defense in matchups it already has an advantage in. Obstagoon hard counters some targets well enough where a spicy Obstruct + Hyper Beam combo could also play well. For example, Hyper Beam can KO an Azumarill after a single Obstruct debuff. Even with Obstruct’s added utility, Obstagoon’s moveset will still boil down to what jobs you’d like Obstagoon to handle better. Therefore, you should expect to build 2 Obstagoon for each league: 1 with Obstruct, and 1 without. 

The tables below feature the IV spreads that meet some of the more important stat checks highlighted in the article. It’s important to review their respective sections to make sure you’re getting what you want out of your Obstagoon. For example, dropping your Def lower than recommended could open up a wider variety of Atk weights. 

Great League - Premium Atk (115 Atk, 123.23 Def, 135 HP)

• 115.5 Atk is slightly better
• 123.56 Def and 137 HP are also notable checkpoints

Great League - Bulk Focus (126 Def, 137 HP)

• Higher Def offers more potential for the Obstruct win vs Froslass in the 2-2

Ultra League - General Atk (146.95 Atk, 163.8 Def, 172 HP)

• 147.89+ Atk is likely better
• 174+ HP gives more potential in the Gyarados 2-2

Ultra League - Mirror Focus (149.1 Atk, 172 HP)

• 163.8 Def is still useful, but not the priority here

Ultra League - Bulk Focus (166.8 Def, 174 HP)

Unlike most Great League Pokemon, Obstagoon prioritizes its Atk stat. With 115-115.5 Atk, Obstagood consistently gets match flipping breakpoints on Registeel and Sableye. These are two matchups Obstagoon is expected to overcome, and with a high Atk weight Obstagoon handles them that much better. This Atk weight also covers XL Bastiodon, Shadow Walrein, Vigoroth, and Venusaur, to name a few. If you’re skeptical, this level Atk is similar to the Obstagoon used on Reis2Occasion’s 1st place 2022 Milwaukee Regional team.

The table below highlights what Atk Obstagoon can do: 

• 114.35-115.5, Registeel 1-1 shield scenario straight Cross Chop
  • Based on 190-192.19 Def Registeel
• 114.96-115.73, Sableye 0-0 & 1-2 shield scenarios
  • Can also prevent Sableye from using 2 Returns in the 1-1 & 2-2
  • Based on Rank 1 and slightly higher Def weighted Purified XL Sableye
• 114, Bastiodon 0-0 prevents Stone Edge if using Cross Chop
  • Prevents 2nd Stone Edge if using Obstruct and Fast Move farming down
• 114.71, Venusaur 2-1 potential
• 115.1-115.3, Vigoroth 1-0 a la Charge Move Priority
  • Atk based on high stat product Vigoroth
• 115.27, Shadow Walrein, no apparent even matchup changes

While Obstagoon focuses on Atk, bulk shouldn’t be ignored entirely. At a minimum, 123.23 Def and 135 HP should be sufficient for most of Obstagoon’s matchups. The 123.23 Def notably reduces damage from Ember Shadow Kanto Ninetales (potentiating the 1-1), Best Buddy Pachirisu (flipping the 2-1 with 137 HP or if they misplay), Bastiodon, and Skarmory. 123.56 Def is slightly more consistent, covering higher Atk weights of the aforementioned Pokemon and potentiating the Shadow Alolan Marowak 2-2 shield scenario (based on Atk weight S!Awak from our Deep Dive). 135 HP covers most of Obstagoon’s matchups, notably the Shadow Alolan Marowak 0-1 shield scenario, the Altaria 2-2 with Hyper Beam, and possibly the Trevenant 0-1 with Obstruct + Night Slash (137 HP is more consistent for lower Def weights).

To simplify these stat goals, we’re recommending Obstagoon has at least 115 Atk, 123.23 Def, and 135 HP. 123.56 Def makes the 135 HP more consistent, 123.23 Def may want slightly higher HP. You can find a table that meets these stat checks Here.

As with the Great League, the Ultra League Obstagoon is primarily concerned with its Atk stat. At 146.62-146.95 Atk, Obstagoon can get match flipping breakpoints on Registeel (2-2 potential) and Empoleon (0-1). Pushing higher to 147.89 Atk gives breakpoint advantage on Venusaur (2-2), Galvantula (1-0), and Escavalier (1-0). Higher Atk weights can also have an advantage in the mirror due to CMP and a possible Atk Breakpoint. That said, Goon will want at least 172 HP to better secure the 1-1 shield scenario mirror with Cross Chop. 174 HP also stands out, giving more potential for the Gyarados 2-2. Outside of specific mirror scenarios, Def has a lower priority than Atk and HP. Having at least 163.8 Def could be helpful against Poison Jab Alolan Muk though (1-1 & 2-2 potential).

The Obstagoon mirror match can be a little bit of a mess between them using Cross Chop, baiting with Obstruct or Night Slash, and getting the boost. In general, getting Charge Move Priority and having at least 172 HP should be enough, but Def can come into play in the 1-1 without Cross Chop and the 2-2. 165.4 Def should be sufficient for most mirrors, but only 3 specific IV spreads hit 147.89 Atk, 165.4 Def, and 172 HP. Ignoring Def to pump up your Atk to secure more CMP based situations or dropping your HP to 168 to pump up your Def are two ways to potentiate more mirrors. The high Def route only works out well if the low Def Goon’s Atk isn’t above 149.1. Given how much of a tangled mess simming out different stat weights for the mirror can be, it may be good to run your own sims to find what you feel works best. In general, high Atk with 172 HP should be the most consistent.

Even with such high Atk weights, Obstagoon still flirts with XL Candy a bit. Keep the Ultra League Premier Cup in mind when choosing which Goons to evolve. Also, while bulk isn’t Obstagoon’s focus, it could be mindful to have a high bulk Obstagoon evolved, just in case it proves to be useful in the future. 

Snarl, Lick, and Body Slam all sound like the recipe for a good Great League Pokemon. Unfortunately, Galarian Linoone lacks the bulk and relevant coverage to stand out. If Dig wasn’t somehow worse than Bulldoze (which is already bad), it could have a shot. As it is though, you’re better off marking a high stat product one (just in case the future looks brighter) and leave it at that.

It’s refreshing to know that an optimal IV Obstagoon can be hatched, freeing players from the need to trade Pokemon indefinitely. It’s also cool that Pokemon GO is giving an already meta Pokemon a new toy to play with. It’ll be interesting to see what impact Obstruct Obstagoon will have on the Great League and Ultra League metas. Perhaps this will make Pokemon GO more open to buffing a more meta relevant Ghost-type on October’s Community Day this year? Counter Gengar? Will-O-Wisp Chandelure? Forest’s Curse Trevenant? We’ll have to see what they have in store.