Bronzong, the Bronze Bell Pokémon. In ages past, this Pokémon was revered as a bringer of rain. It was found buried in the ground. It brought rains by opening portals to another world. It was revered as a bringer of plentiful harvests.
Overview
Bronzong, the bane of anyone’s Sinnoh journey tolls for times long past. What was once THE definitive wall has been knocked down thanks to generational power creep and mechanic changes that open more exploitable weaknesses on top of Bronzong’s existing issues. Bronzong can take plenty of hits, but thanks to a lack of reliable recovery, it cannot do so repeatedly and is liable to being worn down. Low speed and poor offenses further exasperate this, forcing Bronzong to take multiple attacks as it sets up or attempts to disrupt. The current roster further troubles Bronzong, with excellent Dark types everywhere and with the popularity of Tera Steel making Bronzong both redundant and finding teams with no lack of Steel answers thanks to the others running about.
Bronzong was a staple for good reason, and its good traits are why it has not fallen as far as its contemporaries. A Levitating Steel type not weak to Fighting is massively problematic for many Pokémon to the point that they outright cannot meaningfully damage Bronzong especially considering its excellent 116 defenses. Additionally, its support movepool is rather solid, containing Screens, and Entry Hazards, alongside setup tools in Calm Mind and Iron Defense and even potent disruption in Hypnosis and Trick Room. While Bronzong remains ever vulnerable to Taunt, it still persists throughout the ages as the backbone to many teams.
Positives
A Levitating Steel type is one of the best defensive type combinations in the game, with many terrifying attackers unable to significantly damage Bronzong.
67/116/116 bulk ensures Bonzong can tank several hits before going down
Excellent Support movepool gives Bronzong flexibility in how it supports its team or even apply pressure.
Negatives
Lack of reliable recovery is the number one issue why Bronzong isn’t more common, leaving it easy to wear down through attrition.
Poor 33 Speed ensures Bronzong almost always takes a hit before dealing one in turn, further worsening its bulk.
Dark, Ghost and Fire users are everywhere ensuring most teams have one or two answers to Bronzong.
Movesets
Bell Press
-Iron Defense
-Body Press
-Gyro Ball
-Trick Room
Ability: Levitate
Item: Leftovers
EVs and Nature:
252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Relaxed Nature
Iron Defense Body Press enables Bronzong to shrug off its passivity and transform into something of a sweeper while still being able to leverage its fantastic defensive profile to easily get in and set up. Iron Defense bolsters Bronzong’s Defense to mindboggling levels making it difficult to break through physically as well as buffing up Body Press’ power in a single move. Body Press running off defense plays well with Bronzong’s style and allows it to play offense while on Defense. Gyro Ball is for coverage, hitting Ghost and Fairy types hard while working wonderfully off Bronzong’s paltry speed. Trick Room rounds out the set, punishing speedy setup sweepers that see Bronzong as setup fodder as well as turning Bronzong into a pseudo Speedster itself.
Tera Types:
Bronzong generally dislikes Terastalizing, as it gets so much mileage out of its base typing that you can save the Tera for a teammate that needs it. On the off chance you need to, Tera Fighting is great for getting more mileage out of Body Press, while not sharing any weaknesses. Tera Dark and Steel are also worth considering for removing the common Ghost and Dark weaknesses. Tera Dark actually resists such attacks and is neutral to Fire, while Steel gives Gyro Ball a boost and maintains much of Bronzong’s great defensive profile.
EVs and Items:
Max HP and Defense to maximize Bulk and Body Press damage. Special Defense can be worth considering to make it harder to KO Bronzong via its special side while relying on Iron Defense to account for Defense. Leftovers is great for passive healing, though if running Rest, use a Chesto Berry for a one time free heal.
Partners:
Pairing Iron Defense Bronzong with Special walls is great for pivoting and provides a nice defensive backbone to any team. Sylveon is amazing, answering Dark and more importantly, Ghost types that give Iron Defense Bronzong trouble, while able to pass Wishes to keep Bronzong Healthy and even Yawn to enable setup, while being slow enough to appreciate Trick Room in most cases.
Dragalge also stands out, able to stomach Fire attacks with ease while setting up Toxic Spikes to provide passive damage to reach KOs while Bronzong sets up and is a fellow Trick Room abuser. Bronzong pivoting into Ice, Ground and Psychic moves easily further improves the combination. Tatsugiri has a similar defensive profile, but is rather fast, making Trick Room less viable.
Other Options:
Earthquake -incredible physical coverage that can punish Fire types who think they have a free switch in
Psychic -Special STAB that has wide neutral coverage with Body Press
Rest -Only recovery Bronzong has, but the lost turns from sleep are very exploitable.
Light Screen -helps patch up Bronzong’s and its teams Special Defense which opponents will try to capitalize on after seeing Iron Defense.
Hypnosis -can turn a check into setup fodder for Bronzong or its team.
Stealth Rock -always good to have on hand and can help bluff a more passive set.
Zen Bell
-Calm Mind
-Psyshock
-Flash Cannon
-Shadow Ball
Ability: Levitate
Item: Leftovers
EVs and Nature:
252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Quiet Nature
Calm Mind Bronzong is the special sponge to Iron Defense Bronzong physical wall, though due to the nature of Calm Mind, it is far more offensive thanks to boasting greater coverage and likes pivoting in on more Special targets. General gameplan remains the same, have Bronzong use its great defensive profile to pivot in and setup before going on the offensive with its boosted attacks. Psyshock and Flash Cannon are STAB, the former targeting defense to prevent high Special Defense and Assault Vest targets from weathering Bronzong’s assault, while Flash Cannon is great for answering Rock types, Fairy types and Avalugg. Shadow Ball rounds out the set, providing coverage against opposing Psychic and Ghost types like Bruxish, Palossand and opposing Bronzong.
Tera Types:
Bronzong never likes Terastalizing. Steel is ideal for removing the Dark and Ghost weaknesses as well as buffing Flash Cannon. Otherwise, Dark is an all around good defensive Tera.
EVs and Items:
Max HP and Defense are recommended for ease of setup. Bronzong will be relying on Calm Mind to patch up its Special Attack and Special Defense. Leftovers is recommended, keeping Bronzong around longer and recovering damage accrued from entry hazards, switching in and setting up.
Partners:
Dachsbun makes for an excellent partner to Bronzong, being the physical wall to Bronzong’s special with the added benefit of being a Fairy type that can easily pivot into Fire Attacks. Being able to pass along Wish is incredible for Bronzong who lacks reliable recovery of its own. Bronzong in turn walls the problematic Steel and Poison types. Alomomola also fulfills a similar niche and provides pseudo physical bulk with Chilling Water.
Tauros Aqua Breed also makes for a fine partner to Bronzong, easily pivoting into Dark and Fire attacks while providing support with Intimidate while Bronzong pivots into Flying and Psychic Attacks. Tauros Aqua’s physical bulk also pairs nicely with the Calm Mind Bronzong’s special bulk.
Other Options:
Grass Knot -enables Bronzong to easily eliminate Ground types while providing an answer to Steel resistant Water types.
Rest + Chesto Berry -if lacking Wish Support, this is Bronzong’s best method of healing.
Reflect -buff’s Bronzong’s Physical Defense while Calm Mind handles Special Defense, since Calm Mind will generally draw in physical attackers.
Countering Bronzong
Taunt is by far the best tool against Bronzong. Its disruption, setup and support all revolve around status moves and its offense isn’t anything special if Bronzong can’t set up.
Otherwise checks and counters vary wildly by set. Iron Defense sets are more exposed to Special Attackers, especially Mismagius who does not care one whit about Body Press. Bellibolt can ruin Brozong’s defensive typing with Soak before going for a killing blow with its Electric STAB and Acid Spray. Salazzle doesn’t like Psychic or Earthquake but easily melts Bronzong with Fire STAB or permanently ruins it with Corrosion Toxic. Arcanine can struggle to deal damage, especially if Iron Defense is thrown up but can permanently cripple Bronzong with Will-O-Wisp and thanks to Intimidate does not mind Earthquake.
Calm Mind sets conversely are more vulnerable to physical attackers after setting up. Brute Bonnet is by far the best for this, having appreciable bulk and resists anything except Flash Cannon while having just enough speed to natively outrun Bronzong and stop any further shenanigans with Spore. Mabostiff places the Bronzong in a tough spot. Stay in and eat a Super Effective Crunch or switch out and eat a Stakeout boosted Crunch instead. Banded Krookodile and Life Orb Weavile can’t switch in safely due to Grass Knot and Flash Cannon but can safely 2HKO Bronzong.
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:
Turnback Cave, Mt. Coronet
HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Safari Zone
Black/White:
Abundant Shrine
Black 2/White 2:
Abundant Shrine
X/Y:
Friend Safari
Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Evolve Bronzor
Sun/Moon:
Transfer from Generation 6
Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon:
Transfer from Generation 6
Let's Go, Pikachu!/Let's Go, Eevee!:
Not in game
Sword/Shield:
Route 8, Axew's Eye, Bridge Field, Dusty Bowl, Giant's Seat, Lake of Outrage, Stony Wilderness, Giant's Bed, Giant's Foot, Three-Point Pass
Dynamax Adventures
Max Raid Battles: Dusty Bowl, Giant's Seat, Hammerlocke Hills, Stony Wilderness, Brawlers' Cave, Courageous Cavern, Stepping-Stone Sea, Giant's Bed, Snowslide Slope, Path to the Peak, Ballimere Lake
Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl:
Mt. Coronet, Turnback Cave
Legends: Arceus:
Coronet Highlands: Ancient Quarry, Clamberclaw Cliffs, Stonetooth Rows, Celestica Ruins or nearby
Alabaster Icelands: Lake Acuity, Snowpoint Temple or nearby
Crimson Mirelands: Massive Mass Outbreak
Coronet Highlands: Massive Mass Outbreak
Alabaster Icelands: Massive Mass Outbreak
Scarlet/Violet:
Casseroya Lake, Dalizapa Passage, Glaseado Mountain, North Province Area Two, South Province Area Six
Tera Raid Battles: 5 Star Raid Battles
Anime Appearences
