Oranguru, The Sage Pokémon. Known for its extreme intelligence, this Pokémon will look down on inexperienced Trainers, so it’s best suited to veteran Trainers. Deep in the jungle, high in the lofty canopy, this Pokémon abides. On rare occasions, it shows up at the beach to match wits with Slowking. It normally spends its time meditating in the treetops. It throws Poké Balls and gives other Pokémon orders as it pleases. Oranguru don’t get along with each other, so they’re always engaging in battles of wits to decide which one is superior.
Overview
The version opposite to Passimian, Oranguru is an interesting Pokémon. Normal/Psychic is a typing shared with only Girafarig and Meloetta which gives a welcome immunity to Ghost, but the neutrality to Fighting can become an issue. Good Special stats, however, makes Oranguru a strong user of Trick Room with its subpar Speed, though this ultimately makes it better in Doubles than Singles. Instruct also makes for interesting gimmicks in Doubles alongside powerful users of spread moves such as Torkoal, though this move was not as game-changing as people initially expected. However in lower tier singles formats, Oranguru is an interesting Pokémon and welcomed to Trick Room focused teams.
Positives
Trick Room Setter - Oranguru is a strong user and setter of Trick Room which isn't a common niche in lower tiers, mainly competing with Beheeyem. While Beheeyem is objectively better, Oranguru is a nice backup for Beheeyem so it can just go on the offensive. Oranguru also packs decent Special Attack and, perhaps Oranguru's strongest point, a solid movepool. This can make it a bit hard to actually switch in against Oranguru.
Instruct - An amazing move in Double Battles if teamed with the right partner, or even just if you manage to get the opponent to use a move beneficial to you.
Negatives
Typing - Oranguru's Normal typing is a huge problem for it as it prevents Oranguru from pivoting into the Fighting threats which is an issue, as Hitmonchan is an incredible threat. Oranguru has a huge issue with another threatening Pokémon in lower tiers, Skuntank, and really lacks a way to break through it which leaves it as Pursuit bait.
Abilities
Inner Focus - Prevents flinches - It's alright, Oranguru's only singles ability so you're kind of stuck with it.
Telepathy - Pokémon isn't hit by allies moves - A doubles ability that is similarly just alright, this is nice but it has no use in Singles.
Symbiosis - When an ally consumes its item, Pokémon gives the ally its held item - Another doubles only ability, there could be niche uses for this with double berries but this is not very consistent.
Movesets
Trick Room
-Trick Room
-Nasty Plot
-Psychic
-Focus Blast / Thunderbolt
Item Attached: Colbur Berry
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs and Nature:
248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD
Quiet Nature
Trick Room is the main reason one uses Oranguru making it a key move of the set, which impacts its EV and IV spread. Psychic is for STAB which provides a way to threaten Fighting-types such as Hitmonchan and Crabominable. Thunderbolt or Focus Blast are great coverage options, Focus Blast hitting Dark types hard while Thunderbolt is more neutral coverage with better accuracy. Finally, Nasty Plot allows Oranguru to threaten more Pokémon with +2 Special Attack, but this can be switched out for more coverage options such as Trick with a Choice item or Hidden Power Ground to hit Skuntank harder.
Quiet nature with 0 Speed IV makes Oranguru as slow as possible to function best under Trick Room, while the HP EVs make it as durable as possible. Colbur Berry also lets Oranguru avoid getting completely destroyed by a single Knock Off which can be enough to shift momentum in your favor. A Z-Crystal such as Psychium Z or Fightinium Z can achieve a similar effect while offering a more powerful nuke option as well depending on if the team already has one or not.
Other Options
Psyshock - An option over Psychic, this can get around Assault Vest as well as threaten specially defensive walls that might have a comfortable time switching in otherwise.
Possible Partners
Slow Powerhouses - As a Trick Room setter, anything slow really likes having Oraguru on its team. Aggron is a potent option as Choice Band Head Smash tends to just 2HKO a lot of Pokémon with coverage options such as Heavy Slam, Earthquake, and Aqua Tail. Eelektross is also a nice option as it has insane coverage, good offensive stats, and no weakness without Mold Breaker being around, meaning it can rip apart a team really easily. Finally Aurorus can be a potent threat due to Refrigerate to make Hyper Voice a move slightly less powerful than Blizzard that also hits through Substitute, or Snow Warning with Blizzard which can support other Pokémon as well as chip the opponent.
Countering Oranguru
Skuntank - Assault Vest Skuntank destroys Oranguru as it makes its already good Special Defense exceptional. This makes Oranguru's option either predicting it coming in and switching on the switch, eat the Pursuit, or try and hit multiple Focus Blasts. Not a very promising matchup for Oranguru.
Spiritomb - Similar to Skuntank but a harder answer due to being immune to Focus Blast, forcing the use of Thunderbolt. In combination with Spiritomb's access to Pursuit to trap, this can be a huge issue. However, Oranguru does have immunity to Ghost meaning a Choice Specs Spiritomb can be Trick Room bait if you're not careful.
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:
Lush Jungle (Moon)
Trade from Moon/Ultra Moon (Sun)
Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon:
Lush Jungle (Ultra Moon)
Trade from Moon/Ultra Moon (Ultra Sun)
Let's Go, Pikachu!/Let's Go, Eevee!:
Not in game.
Animé Appearences
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Oranguru has made a few appearances in the anime. Most notably, one owns a café in the forests of Melemele Island where many Pokémon come to relax.. |
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