Pokemonbattles have always strived to be entertaining, and as a result, defensive Pokemon tend to be some of the least exciting in the series. Nevertheless, they are necessary for success on the ranked ladder. They help disrupt opposing strategies by enduring blows, providing support, and counter-attacking with incredible force.
These guardians can stall out opponents and open opportunities to reposition.Pokemon Scarlet & Violethave not only introduced new Pokemon, but also mechanics like Terastallization which provide creative ways to showcase the defensive viability of certain Pokemon. These walls are great for stalling and brawling, but a select few stand out as the sturdiest.
Updated Jun 13, 2025 by Quinton O’Connor:With the arrival of The Indigo Disk DLC, Pokemon Scarlet & Violet’s string of major post-launch content comes to a close, and a pair of defensive all-stars brought to us via the Blueberry Pokedex crack our list.
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Like a fine wine, Arboliva grows even more powerful the longer it stays around. It has fantastic defensive stats and a move pool that’s perfect for gradually draining opponents of HP while simultaneously reducing their damage output.
Its Seed Sower Ability also allows it to set grassy terrain when hit, and its Hidden Ability Harvest allows it to consume a Berry after it’s been used if it’s in harsh sunlight, both of which can drastically increase its survivability. Its slow Speed and powerful Special Attack make it fantastic in a Trick Room, so there are plenty of reasons to believe in Arboliva.
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Bisharp’s newest evolution is the king of defensive Pokemon. With a whopping base 120 Defense, this metal monarch no longer has to worry about being one-shot with a four-times super-effective Fighting-type move.
Its base 100 HP lets its reign last even longer, especially when equipped with an Assault Vest. It gets great use out of both offensive and defensive Terastallization, and with its Sucker Punch being one of the most powerful in the game, it certainly feels good to be king. When it comes to defensive viability, Kingambit certainly leads the pack.
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Abomasnow can be a problem for any opponent, especially in Generation Nine. This frosty fern received an early Christmas present with the release of Scarlet & Violet when Hail was reworked. Previously, Hail only did damage to non-Ice-type Pokemon, and boosted specific moves like Aurora Veil and Blizzard.
In Paldea, this was changed to Snow, which no longer damages Pokemon but does provide a 50 percent buff to allIce-type Pokemon— including Abomasnow. Since it’s the only available Pokemon with the Ability Snow Warning, it’s incredibly vital to any Snow team. Its added bulk makes it nearly impenetrable without a Fire-type move, and even that can be mitigated with aWater-type Terastallization. As a defensive Pokemon, Abomasnow is perfect for spreading some holiday fear.
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Steel-types tend to be some of the most defensive Pokemon around, and Orthworm is a prime example. This iron invertebrate has an incredibly high base Defense of 145, one of the highest available in the game.
Its unique Ability, Eartheater, not only neutralizes itsGround-typeweakness but heals it as well, making it a great partner for Earthquake users like Garchomp. It also gets Body Press, allowing it to use its Defense stat offensively, and the fact that it’s one of the few Pokemon with access Shed Tail makes Orthworm an ominous threat — as a giant sandworm should be.
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While it may not be the most intimidating pseudo-Legendary, Goodra is certainly capable of putting its opponents in sticky situations. It drives against Special Attack-based Pokemon with its base 150 Special Defense, the second-highest in the game and tied with Probopass, who we’ll look at later.
With increased resistance through Terastallization, it’s nearly impossible to take down before it can counterattack with its base 110 Special Attack. Its Hidden Ability, Gooey, punishes physical attackers by dropping their Speed one stage when contact is made — turning any fight with Goodra into a slugfest.
Latias' blue-tinted brethren, Latios, is a bit better offensively. But this pinkish-red flying fortress is more accustomed to taking hits than dishing them out. 130 Special Defense pivots Latias as an excellent counter to many of Pokemon Scarlet & Violet’s more aggressive Special Sweepers, while Levitate helps the relatively modest (though no doubt still great) 90 Defense against stalwart physical moves like Earthquake.
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Blissey is not only a helpful healer, but also an incredible tank. This bubbly buddy is and will always be a powerful wall in the competitive meta, solely because it has the highest HP stat in the game. Its base HP is 55 points higher than the Legendary Regidrago, and 85 points higher than the next closest, Cetitan.
This makes Blissey incredibly hard to take down, and while its Attack stat is disappointing, it has a fantastic supportive move pool that includes Life Dew, Charm, and Helping Hand. This allows it to take blow after blow while healing and supporting its allies. Terastalization can increase its viability even further, as no one wants to face a Steel-Type Blissey.
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Paldea has plenty of powerhouse Paradox Pokemon, but none are as defensively viable as the Great Tusk. This ancestral Donphan has a fantastic stat distribution, with 135 in both Attack and Defense. Since its Ability Protosynthesis boosts its strongest stat by 30 percent in harsh sunlight, Great Tusk can instantly boost its Defense on a sun-based team.
As Ground and Fighting-type, it has six different weaknesses. This can be concerning, but easily remedied with a Steel or Water-type Terastalization. Plus, its base 115 HP can take a super effective hit if needed, which is exactly why this ancient elephant is so great.
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One incredibly defensive Pokemon that is guaranteed to leave opponents salty is Garganacl. With a base 90 Special Defense and a staggering base 150 Defense, thisMinecraft-looking character is a challenging obstacle for any opponent.
It gains resistance toGhost-type movesand immunity to status conditions with its unique Ability Purifying Salt, as well as an impressive move pool of Rock Slide, Stone Edge, Body Press, and Recover. Its unique move, Salt Cure, does substantial damage over time as well, especially to Steel andWater-types. It’s the most solid wall of the Generation Nine Pokemon, and it continues to see usage in the highest levels of play.
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With a base Defense stat of 184, Avalugg laughs in the face of physical attacks. Paired with Iron Defense to further boost its Defense, and Recover to restore any health that is lost, and you won’t find Avalugg fainting from physical attacks anytime soon. Plus, with its Icy Body Ability, Avalugg fits in extremely well in Snow-based teams, making it even tankier.
Avalugg also has access to Protect and Mirror Coat, Aurora Veil and Mist through Egg Moves for additional defensive support. Just don’t expect Avalugg to be outspeeding anything, and be careful against Special Attacks, which it is extremely weak to.
