The build
Item
Booster Energy
Ability
Protosynthesis
Tera type
Steel
Nature · EVs
Jolly · 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moves
Showdown export
Great Tusk @ Booster Energy Ability: Protosynthesis Tera Type: Steel EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe Jolly Nature - Headlong Rush - Close Combat - Rapid Spin - Knock Off
Overview
Great Tusk's defensive typing (Ground/Fighting) gives it 4 resistances and a Ghost immunity. With Booster Energy + Quark Drive, Spe is the highest base stat (87) — wait, actually 131/131/87 are tied for HP/Atk/Def. Booster activates Defense unless Spe is highest, which makes the Bulky Booster Defense set the more common one. Headlong Rush is your Ground STAB (120 BP physical, drops Def 1 stage after).
Move analysis
Headlong Rush is your nuke (120 BP STAB Ground). Close Combat for Steel-types and Tyranitar. Rapid Spin removes hazards + boosts Speed by 1 stage. Knock Off for utility and Specs Dragapult removal.
Team partners
Gholdengo (Steel/Ghost defensive backbone, Make It Rain), Iron Valiant (Encore + Moonblast), Slowking-Galar (Chilly Reception + status), Sinistcha (Matcha Gotcha cleric).
What beats Great Tusk
Corviknight (Defog + Body Press), Slowbro/Slowking (Scald burns + Future Sight chip), Skarmory (Whirlwind + Spikes setup), Tera Fairy on Slowking-Galar (Moonblast OHKO).
How to use the build
Open our damage calculator and plug in the EV spread above to see what Great Tusk OHKOs and 2HKOs against the current OU/VGC meta. Drop Great Tusk into the team builder to check defensive coverage gaps when paired with your other 5 slots.
Other Ground/Fighting options
If you want to run a different Ground-type, browse our competitive builds hub. For more on Tera mechanics, see the damage calculator's Tera explainer and our guide on type matchups.