Orthworm, the Earthworm Pokémon. When attacked, this Pokémon will wield the tendrils on its body like fists and pelt the opponent with a storm of punches. This Pokémon lives in arid deserts. It maintains its metal body by consuming iron from the soil.

Overview

Despite Orthworm’s titanic role in Scarlet and Violet, at first glance it seems little more than worm food. Orthworm’s defensive merit is sundered by its poor Special Defense, causing even resisted hits to deal considerable damage, while Orthworm’s underwhelming Base 65 Speed further compromises its bulk by forcing it to take a hit. Lack of reliable recovery in Orthworm’s movepool and exposure to hazards. Pure Steel typing is underwhelming offensively, and with Orthworm’s below average Attack and paltry Special Attack, it struggles to apply offensive pressure. Orthworm’s Steel typing is a curse unto itself, with the popularity of the type for both staple walls and Terstalization, most teams will have an answer for Steel types, and thus Orthworm by extension. All of this has left Orthworm overlooked for other Steel types like Skarmory, Corviknight, Tinkaton, Forretress, and Bronzong.

This first impression does Orthworm a disservice. Base 145 Defense is enormous, allowing Orthworm to easily endure multiple physical attacks. This in conjunction with the fantastic Steel typing grants Orthworm many opportunities to switch in, but it doesn’t end there. Earth Eater makes Orthworm a Ground immune Steel type, a combination so aggravating there is good reason many Steel types run Air Balloon and part of why Skarmory and Corviknight have seen repeated play. Orthworm’s movepool isn’t too shabby either; as a bulky physical wall, it can be relied upon to setup Spikes and Stealth Rock repeatedly and Orthworm is allowed to weaponize its great Defense with the fantastic Iron Defense Body Press combination. All this pales in contrast to Shed Tail, one of the most powerful moves in the game, Shed Tail is a pivot move that sets up a Substitute on the way in. With this, Orthworm weaponizes its low speed as a slow pivot that gets its ally in safely with an intact Substitute, allowing them to freely setup and turn the opposing team into worm food. However, Shed Tail is far from easy to use in this manner due to its hefty HP cost, which Orthworm doesn’t have the reliable recovery to use more than twice at absolute best without an Earth Eater heal and Orthworm’s numerous other failings do make it difficult to use in general. Though with skill and good prediction, this worm can turn defeat into victory.
Positives
Base 145 Defense is incredible, allowing Orthworm to tank numerous physical attacks with ease.
Steel typing coupled with Earth Eater is fantastic defensively, with many Pokémon unable to hit Orthworm for neutral damage without Terastalizing.
Shed Tail is an absurd move and with Orthworm’s relatively low speed can easily lead to a game ending sweep.

Negatives
55 Special Defense is horrid, preventing Orthworm from safely taking even resisted Special Attacks repeatedly.
65 Speed is a shackle in every matter other than Shed Tail, further compromising Orthworm’s bulk by often forcing it to take hits before acting.
No reliable recovery outside of Earth Eater and exposure to entry hazards reduces Orthworm’s longevity.
Lacking offenses means Orthworm is rather passive outside of non-STAB Body Press.

Movesets

Alaskan Bull Worm

-Shed Tail
-Stealth Rock
-Spikes
-Body Press
Ability: Earth Eater
Item: Sitrus Berry
EVs and Nature:
252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Impish Nature

Shed Tail Orthworm is a fantastic enabler for setup sweepers, getting them in behind a Substitute that blocks most forms of interruption, allowing them to set up with impunity and proceed to ravage the opponent's team. The issue is getting Orthworm into position to do so. Shed Tail requires half of the user's HP or it fails, so Orthworm getting knocked under half (or three quarters if running Sitrus Berry) before acting, Shed Tail will fail and Orthworm becomes fodder for the opponent, so you need to pivot Orthworm in on a target that can't damage it well. This would largely be physical attackers that can't damage Ground Immune Steel types well like Necrozma Dusk Mane, Extreme Speed Arceus, non Earthquake Kyurem-Black, Dragonite, Scizor, Landorus-Therian, Gliscor, Iron Treads, etc. Ideally one wants to save Orthworm for when its partners' checks have been removed. If it is not time for Orthworm to Shed Tail, or if it is unable to is when the rest of its moveset comes into play, though you must be certain the opposing Pokémon can't damage Orthworm before trying anything else, or risk losing Shed Tail. Stealth Rock and Spikes greatly service Orthworm's sweeping partners, providing invaluable chip damage that can mean the difference between a knockout and survival. Body Press is so that Orthworm isn't completely ruined by Taunt and even threatens some of the Pokémon it walls like Tera Normal Dragonite, Kyurem-Black, Kingambit and normal Arceus.

Tera Types:
Orthworm gets a lot of mileage out of its base typing, and often you want to save the Terastalization so that its teammate can more effectively sweep, sometimes you will need Orthworm to change types to get Shed Tail off. Tera Water is a popular pick given its synergies with Steel, namely providing an invaluable Fire resistance and Fighting neutrality that allows Orthworm to tank even Banded Koraidon's brutal blows. Tera Ghost is also popular, blocking Rapid Spin users from clearing Orthworm's hazards on top of Ground Immune Ghost types being another potent combo that can wall some Pokémon like Ursaluna, and STAB+Rapid Spin Great Tusk. Tera Poison is another standout option, given Earth Eater leaves Orthworm weak to only Psychic while turning its Fighting weakness into a resistance, though potent Fire offense can still be a problem.

EVs and Items:
Maximum investment in Defense and HP is recommended. Orthworm's Special Defense is low enough that one shouldn't be trying to absorb special attacks from any competent special attacker, so it is better to reinforce good matchups to get Shed Tail off safely. The Defense investment increasing Body Press' power is just a bonus. Sitrus Berry is recommended for giving Orthworm significantly more leeway in setting up Shed Tail, for without, it must switch into predicted Ground attacks to heal. Mental Herb is a niche, but worth considering so Orthworm isn't prevented from using Shed Tail by Taunt.

Partners:
Setup sweepers of all flavors love Orthworm for the ease of setup it provides a turn of free setup allows a Pokémon to escalate out of control so quickly, especially if it can get multiple boosts uncontested. Calm Mind Miraidon, Belly Drum Azumarill, Swords Dance Koraidon, Quiver Dance Volcarona, etc. the list goes on and on. Grimmsnarl is a common partner in crime for Orthworm, being another setup sweeper enabler thanks to its own screens that also greatly facilitate Orthworm's hit taking ability, allowing it to get Shed Tail off in more circumstances while making the resulting Substitute even harder to break. Being able to preemptively Taunt opponents so they can't take advantage of Orthworm's passivity is another boon. Since Orthworm's role is largely concentrated in Shed Tail, despite having Stealth Rock and Spikes other hazard setters are greatly appreciated for enabling the Shed Tail recipients. Glimmora's efficacy at setting hazards lends itself well to the highly offensive teams that Orthworm enables.

Armored Annelid

-Coil
-Iron Tail
-Body Press
-Rest
Ability: Earth Eater
Item: Leftovers
EVs and Nature:
252 HP / 4 SDef / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature

At late game Coil set, Orthworm takes advantage of its fantastic Defense, typing and ability to become an unbreakable wall in the late game, acting as a win condition the opposing physical attackers can’t break through. Coil is key to this set, boosting Orthworm’s Defense to unbreakable levels while patching up its Attack to usable levels. What really has Coil stand out is its accuracy boosting effect, making Iron Tail viable for STAB now that it no longer misses as often. Iron Tail is Orthworm’s primary attack and despite Orthworm’s unimpressive base Attack, the base Power of Iron Tail, Coil and STAB add up quickly, dispatching opposing Fairy types and Ghost types. Body Press is amazing given Orthworm’s high Defense and the wide coverage Fighting provides, hitting most Pokémon for neutral, if not super effective damage in conjunction in Iron Tail. Rest is Orthworm’s only source of recovery but is indispensable in outlasting opponents while trying to boost up.

Tera Types:
Orthworm tends to be tera agnostic, using Earth Eater and its Steel typing to blunt opposing options. Even when Coil Orthworm does Terastalize it prefers defensive Terastalizes to help it stick around for longer. Tera Poison has fantastic synergy with Earth Eater, giving Orthworm only one weakness and a valuable Fighting resistance while maintaining its Fairy resistance and Poison immunity. Tera Ghost is great for nullifying Orthworm’s Fighting weakness, blocking Rapid Spin attempts if running entry hazards while being aggravating to deal with due to having 3 effective immunities.

EVs and Items:
Max HP and Speed are recommended. While Orthworm’s speed isn’t anything to write home about, the extra investment there is invaluable for getting a Coil off in the face of threatening attackers like Dundunsparce, Porygon 2, Hisuian Decidueye, and Sylveon. Special Defense investment is worth considering so that Orthworm isn’t entirely beholden to having Special Attackers removed, though it does leave Orthworm open to more attackers. Leftovers is the preferred healing item for the repeated recovery it provides. Chesto Berry is an option when running Rest, giving a one time free heal. Given Orthworm’s high Defense, Rocky Helmet is a niche option chipping down opponents while Orthworm sets up.

Partners:
Orthworm plies its trade as a physical bulwark and late game sweeper, so allies that can take out the Special Attackers it fears goes a long way in enabling Orthworm's end game. Snorlax works well with Orthworm, being able to soak special attacks and clobber them with its great Attack, while Orthworm can use the physical attackers Snorlax draws as an entry point, though the shared Fighting weakness is unfortunate. Goodra also works well, its wide coverage, Fire resistance and insane Special Defense make it ideal for cleaning up Special Attackers while Orthworm does well into opposing Fairy and Steel types.

Other Options:
Stealth Rock and Spikes are worth considering over Rest to give Orthworm early game utility by setting up hazards before returning in the late game.

Doubles and VGC Options

Orthworm’s slow Shed Tail remains as powerful a tool in Doubles formats as in Singles. Safely getting setup sweepers behind a sub who are then protected from almost every form of disruption allowing them to set up and start attacking with near impunity. Sadly, Orthworm offers little else besides Shed Tail. Defensive Pokémon often struggle to make a splash in doubles due to being prone to being overwhelmed by the two on one format where their passivity can be actively exploited and Orthworm is no exception. While Orthworm can weaponize its Defense with Body Press, it pales incomparison with other Body Press users like Kommo-o and Hisuian Goodra, who offer STAB and far better overall bulk respectively. Additionally, Sound based attacks like Incineroar’s Parting Shot and Primarina’s Liquid Voice Hyper Voices cleanly bypass Orthworm’s substitutes, leaving the effort of setting up Orthworm’s Shed Tails for naught.

Floral Field Medicine

-Shed Tail
-Iron Defense
-Body Press
-Protect
Ability: Earth Eater
Item: Sitrus Berry
Tera Type: Poison
EVs and Nature:
252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
Careful Nature

This set means to get the most out of Orthworm. Shed Tail is once again the star of the show, and the main reason for even considering to use Orthworm. Place Orthworm next to an ally who can provide Fake Out or redirection support so it can safely Shed Tail and bring in an ally under its protection to start setting up and sweeping. After Shed Tail is the reliable combination of Iron Defense and Body Press, Orthworm’s most offensive option and a potent win condition if Orthworm’s allies can remove opposing special attackers. Protect is a staple in Doubles, and allows Orthworm to punish opponents looking to focus it down trying to deny Shed Tail on top of its normal benefits of scouting for attacks and Terastalizations, stalling for allied setup, stalling out opposing field conditions, etc.

As it is harder to control what Orthworm faces in doubles, heavily investing in Special Defense is recommended to cover as wide a range of opponents as possible. Additionally, Orthworm’s defense is already plenty fierce, and Iron Defense can make up for the lack of initial investment. In regards to HP EVs, one can go for an even or odd amount of HP. Even HP means that a use of Shed Tail will instantly trigger the Sitrus Berry, while odd HP allows for two uses of Shed Tail, without the need for extraneous healing. Tera Poison is a fantastic Terastalization option, giving Orthworm a weakness only to the relatively rare Psychic, while providing a valuable Fighting resistance (and maintaining the Fairy resistance), though like in singles one would rather preserve the Terastalization to Orthworm’s teammates.

Preferred Partners:
Allies that can take advantage of Shed Tail are a must, namely explosive Sweepers, that can take over a game with the opportunity Shed Tail provides. Kommo-o is an immediate standout thanks to Clangorous Soul providing such a powerful boost, coupled with Kommo-o's insanely flexible moveset, allowing it to quickly take over games, while your opponent struggles to predict what comes next, while resisting Primarina’s Liquid Voice Hyper Voices. Primarina ironically enough given how it threatens this set also works, using Calm Mind to outpace other Special Attackers, while directly threatening opposing Fire and Fighting types with its STABs and resisting other Primarina’s as well. Volcarona is another explosive setup sweeper with Quiver Dance, though it can pull double duty and provide redirection support with Rage Powder Torkoal is more unorthodox example, best used on Trick Room teams, but loves the added protection Shed Tail provides switching in to abuse Full Health Eruptions for longer. Earthquake using allies are appreciated too, given if they are out at the same time as Orthworm, they can heal Orthworm up with their own STABs, allowing for multiple uses of Shed Tail and giving Orthworm utility beyond that. Gyarados is an immediate standout thanks to its Water and Fire resistances and general utility with Intimidate, while being able to sweep with Dragon Dance. Other Earthquake users that can double as Shed Tail recipients include Ursaluna and Gengar. Sinistcha is another fantastic enabler of Orthworm, healing it up for another Shed Tail with Hospitality, all the while providing redirection with Rage Powder. Gothitelle is more unorthodox, but can provide much of the same.

Other Options:
Helping Hand is great for Orthworm to apply more pressure without having to rely on its underwhelming offense. Iron Head is a secondary STAB that is great for hitting the Body Press immune Ghost types and Fairy types that try to resist Glimmora’s assault.

Countering Orthworm

The most difficult thing regarding Orthworm is managing Shed Tail, as giving it a free turn to set that up often spells the end of the match, thought a Substitute’s protection isn’t infallible. Sound based attacks like Volcarona’s Bug Buzz, Primarina’s Liquid Voice Hyper Voice, and Kommo-o’s Clanging Scales all put the Shed Tail recipient into a world of hurt. Skeledirge is possibly the best example of this, its Torch Song bypassing any Substitute while its Unaware ignores any setup the recipient may do. Multihit moves can also achieve a similar result, breaking past the Substitute and damaging the Pokémon inside. Scale Shot from various Dragons including Koraidon, Baxcalibur, Garchomp, Kyurem-Black’s Icicle Spear, are all standout examples.

The most expedient way of dealing with Orthworm is to hit it hard. Reducing its HP below half (or 75% if holding a Sitrus berry), it can’t Shed Tail any more and considering Orthworm rarely invest in its atrocious speed regardless, it is often nothing but bait once Shed Tail fails. Spikes is quite noticeable at this, limiting the number of switches it can do without compromising itself. Special Attackers like Charizard, Eelektross, Magmortan, Magneton, Oricorio, Pyroar, and more all threaten serious damage Orthworm can’t overlook and must run from.

It takes truly exceptional physical attackers to break Orthworm’s high Defense, with Koraidon’s Sun Boosted Flare Blitz, Banded Urshifu’s Close Combat, Guts Flareon’s Flare Blitz, Banded Hisuian Arcanine, etc. being the level of power needed to OHKO. If looking to Deny shedtail, the margins become a bit more generous, with Hisuian Decidueye having a good chance to knock Orthworm under 75% while, Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan, and Ursaluna are favoed to knock Orthworm under 50%. Mold Breaker Haxorus and Excadrill alongside Teravolt Kyurem Block can forcefully bypass Earth Eater for a reliable 2HKO that sends Orthworm running.

Anime Appearences

Orthworm has made an appearance in the anime. Most notably, one got on the Brave Olivine and attacked a wild Tinkatink that Dot had befriended # -English Episode Name- -Jp. Episode Name- Pics 39 Tinkatink's Ideal Hammer Tinkatink and its Choice Hammer Pics