In Pokémon, run into a Bronzong and it feels like running into a wall. This floating bronze bell is known for being a very sturdy defensive pivot, discouraging trainers with its outstanding bulk and been-curbed support moves.
Its typing is also unique, giving it a huge list of resistances to standard attacks. For this reason, many players have a tough time breaking through its defenses and the opposing team can freely set up hazards or heal up safely.
Even the strongest Pokemon has weaknesses you can take advantage of. To find a genuine Bronzong weakness, you’re going to do the type math plus stat analysis and prediction. By knowing precisely how this Pokémon functions, you can transform its defensive strengths into weaknesses, and in turn sweep it off the battlefield with relative ease.
Bronzong’s Type and Stats
Brongzong is dual typed Steel, and Psychic. This is regarded as one of the greatest defensive duos in the game. Along with a full immunity to Poison, it offers natural resistance to other very common offensive types like Dragon, Fairy, Flying and Normal. Offensively, this typing supplies Bronzong with entry hazard-immune access to potent Same-Type Attack Bonus (STAB) moves in Gyro Ball and Zen Headbutt.
Bronzong’s defensive prowess becomes even clearer when you take a look at its base stats. It has an excellent base 116 Defense and base 116 Special Defense. But bulk brings its own costs. Bronzong has a mediocre base 67 HP, so it cannot sponge high-damage, neutral hits indefinitely. It also sports a dismal base 33 Speed, ensuring that it will move last against almost any foe not under the effect of Trick Room.
Exploiting Bronzong’s Weaknesses
Due to its typing, Bronzong is technically weak to four attack types: Fire, Ground, Dark, and Ghost. However, attacking this Pokémon is rarely straightforward due to a massive hurdle known as the ability mind game.
Fire and Ground Attacks
Steel types usually dread Fire and Ground moves. Whereas every other Steel-type in the game is weak to both Fire- and Fighting-type moves, Bronzong completely flips this script using its two main abilities: Levitate and Heatproof. Ground-type attacks have no effect on Bronzong because of Levitate. Heatproof reduces damage from Fire-type attacks by half, negating that weakness.
Due to the fact that you can not see your opponent’s powers at the start of combat, using a Fire or Ground move is always a danger. And, for example, if you use Earthquake and Bronzong has Levitate, you lose a turn. If it has Heatproof and you use Flamethrower against a Steel-type, you will deal minimal damage.
Dark and Ghost Attacks
Psychic typing provides a balanced approach to combat; playing into weaknesses but also granting natural resistances in turn. Unlike Fire and Ground, these weaknesses are totally consistent. Bronzong has no immunities to any of those elements. You will always deal super-effective damage with these three options as they hit hard with a strong Knock Off, Foul Play or Shadow Ball being the best tools to chunk its health bar.
Strategies to Counter Bronzong
Taking down this defensive staple requires you to play aggressively and smartly. Here are a few reliable strategies to help you break through.
Attack with Super-Effective Moves
Always use heavy Ghost or Dark moves to completely avoid the Levitate vs Heatproof Defender guessing game. Gengar, Dragapult, or Hydreigon can all absolutely destroy Bronzong. If you do not have those types available, you will need to scout its ability. You can check for Levitate by attacking with a Ground move via a Pokémon you don’t care about losing, or checking for passive damage. Heatproof Bronzong takes normal damage from Spikes and Toxic Spikes, but a Levitate Bronzong just floats right over them.
Utilize Offensive Pressure
Bronzong needs you to stay on the field for multiple turns in order to set up Stealth Rock, use Toxic or buff your team. This can be mitigated with heavy offensive pressure as soon as possible. Spikes, stuff like empoleon if you were worried about wallbreakers with choice bands or specs. As Bronzong has no way to reliably recover outside of Leftovers through passive healing, repeatedly attacking it with strong neutrals will eventually chip it away.
Control the Speed
With a base speed stat of 33, nearly every Pokémon in the game will attack first. You can take advantage of this slowness. Brave Pokémon with the Taunt move can nullify their support capabilities entirely, leaving Bronzong to resort to weak attacks. Such setup sweepers are able to set up on Bronzong as well, snagging a Swords Dance or Nasty Plot boost before hitting it hard with a strong attack.
Clear the Bell from the Battlefield
Beating Bronzong is just a case of knowing your types and predicting its moves. This Steel-type mainstay is an absolute joke in a metagame with such consistently reliable Dark or Ghost coverage, and heavy hitters coming out of its HP pool can effectively ignore the bulk if you run Taunt to break its support options. Revise your existing competitive team builder, slot the needed counter-aggressions into place, and prepare to sound the death knell for your opponents.
