Ting Lu

With an incredible typing, fantastic bulk, and an amazing ability in Vessel of Ruin, Ting-Lu is one of the best special walls in the tier, being able to check threats like Raging Bolt, Gholdengo, and Iron Moth. With access to Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Whirlwind—compounded by its absurd bulk—it is one of the tier’s most reliable entry hazard setters and phazers. Ruination is used to apply consistent pressure and make progress by chipping down defensive Pokemon that lack access to recovery, like Landorus-T and Great Tusk. Unfortunately, without any recovery moves outside of Rest, Ting-Lu is usually reliant on Leftovers for passive healing, making it especially weak to Knock Off, unlike similar bulky Ground-types like Gliscor. Rest is an option, usually seen with Sleep Talk, but it is often tough to fit. Ting-Lu can choose to run other items like Rocky Helmet, particularly to punish Rapid Spin from Pokemon like Great Tusk and Iron Treads, and U-turn from Pokemon like Corviknight. Ting-Lu often runs Red Card, utilizing its gargantuan bulk to eat a hit and phaze out the opposing Pokemon. While it is an amazing defensive Pokemon, many foes Ting-Lu would otherwise beat run options to overcome it or shut it down, like Will-O-Wisp or Knock Off Darkrai, Taunt Deoxys-S, and Solar Beam Raging Bolt. Its lack of reliable recovery also makes it highly susceptible to chip damage, so it can be overwhelmed by the number of strong special attackers it must face. Additionally, reliable hazard control options like Magic Bounce Hatterene and Defog Galarian Weezing can prevent Ting-Lu from keeping hazards on the field. Bulky Water-types like Alomomola and Synthesis Ogerpon-W can switch in on Ting-Lu comfortably and, in the latter's case, threaten it for significant damage in return.