Gastrodon

Gastrodon is an indispensable Ground-type for a large number of teams thanks to its typing, bulk, and ability letting it fit onto more defensive playstyles that need it to reliably answer many important threats such as Dragapult, Heatran, Tapu Koko, and Zapdos. Storm Drain allows it to wall foes that other Ground-types would dare not approach such as Volcanion and Tapu Fini, as well as letting it absorb Scald from defensive Pokemon like Toxapex and Galarian Slowking. Sticky Hold also has use in letting Gastrodon retain its item against Trick and Knock Off users like Blacephalon, Clefable, and Toxapex. Despite its middling attacking stats, Gastrodon's combination of Scald, Toxic, and Ground-type STAB moves make it very difficult to switch into for many teams that lack a Pokemon such as Blissey or Clefable, though it still faces issues with its passivity at times. Unfortunately, Gastrodon faces stiff competition from the other Ground-types such as Landorus-T and Garchomp but mainly Hippowdon, another option on the more defensively oriented teams Gastrodon often finds itself on, providing extra utility such as Stealth Rock and sand as well as higher physical bulk to take one foes like Tyranitar and Blaziken. Gastrodon can also find itself stretched thin when taking on the defensive duties of both a Ground- and Water-type, causing it to struggle because it can't check foes such as Urshifu-S and Weavile that most bulky Water-types are tasked with answering.