power
uh-oh, the game in trouble
[SET]
name: Special Z-Move
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Roost / Calm Mind
move 3: Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Fire
move 4: U-turn / Dazzling Gleam
item: Electrium Z / Fairium Z
ability: Electric Surge
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Thunderbolt provides Tapu Koko with a strong, consistent special STAB move boosted by the Electric Terrain Tapu Koko summons. Thunderbolt also turns into a strong 175-Base Power Gigavolt Havoc when powered up by Electrium Z. Roost provides Tapu Koko with the longevity to continue to pivot against teams featuring common balance cores like Toxapex + Celesteela. On Electrium Z sets, Hidden Power Ice hits popular offensive Ground-types such as Landorus-T, Zygarde, and Garchomp. U-turn lets Tapu Koko safely pivot versus Ground-types and gives it a safe move to use against Pokemon that it forces out. Dazzling Gleam is necessary on Fairium Z sets to use Twinkle Tackle—a strong nuke that deals with Ground-types while also hurting Pokemon looking to switch in on a harmless Hidden Power Ice, such as Tyranitar. On Fairium Z sets, Hidden Power Fire hits Ferrothorn and does slightly more damage to Mega Scizor than Thunderbolt. Calm Mind is usable on Fairium Z sets to boost Tapu Koko's Special Attack, most notably OHKOing Landorus-T and Tapu Bulu with a +1 Twinkle Tackle.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment with a positive nature makes Tapu Koko as fast as possible and gives it the ability to outspeed Greninja. Maximum Special Attack investment ensures that Tapu Koko hits as hard as possible. Electric Surge, the only available ability, is a significant boon that powers up Tapu Koko's Electric-type moves by 50%.
Usage Tips
========
Tapu Koko doesn't fear locking itself into Electric-type STAB attacks unlike Choice Specs sets that can lose momentum against Ground-type Pokemon. Roost gives it the longevity to switch into attacks such as Toxapex's Scald, and unlike Wild Charge sets, this variant of Tapu Koko is not significantly crippled by a burn. Gigavolt Havoc is a strong nuke that should be used against Pokemon that Tapu Koko may find itself unable to break such as Mew or even weakened Pokemon resistant to Electric-type moves such as Mega Charizard X. Alternatively, Twinkle Tackle nukes Pokemon such as Kyurem-B that expect to be able to fire off a strong Ice Beam on a Choice-locked Tapu Koko. Calm Mind should be used on predicted switches, as it gives Tapu Koko the power to OHKO Landorus-T and Tapu Bulu with a +1 Twinkle Tackle. Since Tapu Koko forces out Pokemon such as Greninja and Toxapex, use them to gain free momentum with U-turn or a boost with Calm Mind. For example, +1 Hidden Power Fire will easily 2HKO common switch-ins such as Ferrothorn, while Ferrothorn is unable to OHKO back. If one of Tapu Koko's teammates deals with Tangrowth or another switch-in slower than Tapu Koko, it is sometimes better to not predict. For example, teams with Mega Scizor can simply attack the Tangrowth with Tapu Koko upon switch in and then U-turn the following turn to maximize residual damage on Tangrowth and offset Regenerator.
Team Options
========
Tapu Koko pairs incredibly well with bulky hazard setters—Stealth Rock Landorus-T, Spikes Ferrothorn, and Toxic Spikes Toxapex are excellent partners that wear down checks and counters such as Landorus-T, Zygarde, and Tangrowth. On the other hand, offensive partners such as Spikes Ash-Greninja also put pressure on shared checks. Because Tapu Koko is such an excellent pivot, strong breakers such as Kyurem-B and Choice Band Tyranitar appreciate Tapu Koko's ability to bring them in safely. Life Orb Kyurem-B in particular also appreciates Tapu Koko's ability to power up its already strong Fusion Bolt, 2HKOing Pokemon such as Heatran and Mew. Tapu Koko appreciates partners that also carry Volt Switch and U-turn to maintain momentum, such as Mega Scizor, Assault Vest Magearna, and the aforementioned Landorus-T. Tapu Koko is vulnerable to every hazard type—partners such as Mega Scizor and Mew provide important Defog support, and Toxapex notably absorbs Toxic Spikes.
name: Special Z-Move
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Roost / Calm Mind
move 3: Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Fire
move 4: U-turn / Dazzling Gleam
item: Electrium Z / Fairium Z
ability: Electric Surge
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Thunderbolt provides Tapu Koko with a strong, consistent special STAB move boosted by the Electric Terrain Tapu Koko summons. Thunderbolt also turns into a strong 175-Base Power Gigavolt Havoc when powered up by Electrium Z. Roost provides Tapu Koko with the longevity to continue to pivot against teams featuring common balance cores like Toxapex + Celesteela. On Electrium Z sets, Hidden Power Ice hits popular offensive Ground-types such as Landorus-T, Zygarde, and Garchomp. U-turn lets Tapu Koko safely pivot versus Ground-types and gives it a safe move to use against Pokemon that it forces out. Dazzling Gleam is necessary on Fairium Z sets to use Twinkle Tackle—a strong nuke that deals with Ground-types while also hurting Pokemon looking to switch in on a harmless Hidden Power Ice, such as Tyranitar. On Fairium Z sets, Hidden Power Fire hits Ferrothorn and does slightly more damage to Mega Scizor than Thunderbolt. Calm Mind is usable on Fairium Z sets to boost Tapu Koko's Special Attack, most notably OHKOing Landorus-T and Tapu Bulu with a +1 Twinkle Tackle.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment with a positive nature makes Tapu Koko as fast as possible and gives it the ability to outspeed Greninja. Maximum Special Attack investment ensures that Tapu Koko hits as hard as possible. Electric Surge, the only available ability, is a significant boon that powers up Tapu Koko's Electric-type moves by 50%.
Usage Tips
========
Tapu Koko doesn't fear locking itself into Electric-type STAB attacks unlike Choice Specs sets that can lose momentum against Ground-type Pokemon. Roost gives it the longevity to switch into attacks such as Toxapex's Scald, and unlike Wild Charge sets, this variant of Tapu Koko is not significantly crippled by a burn. Gigavolt Havoc is a strong nuke that should be used against Pokemon that Tapu Koko may find itself unable to break such as Mew or even weakened Pokemon resistant to Electric-type moves such as Mega Charizard X. Alternatively, Twinkle Tackle nukes Pokemon such as Kyurem-B that expect to be able to fire off a strong Ice Beam on a Choice-locked Tapu Koko. Calm Mind should be used on predicted switches, as it gives Tapu Koko the power to OHKO Landorus-T and Tapu Bulu with a +1 Twinkle Tackle. Since Tapu Koko forces out Pokemon such as Greninja and Toxapex, use them to gain free momentum with U-turn or a boost with Calm Mind. For example, +1 Hidden Power Fire will easily 2HKO common switch-ins such as Ferrothorn, while Ferrothorn is unable to OHKO back. If one of Tapu Koko's teammates deals with Tangrowth or another switch-in slower than Tapu Koko, it is sometimes better to not predict. For example, teams with Mega Scizor can simply attack the Tangrowth with Tapu Koko upon switch in and then U-turn the following turn to maximize residual damage on Tangrowth and offset Regenerator.
Team Options
========
Tapu Koko pairs incredibly well with bulky hazard setters—Stealth Rock Landorus-T, Spikes Ferrothorn, and Toxic Spikes Toxapex are excellent partners that wear down checks and counters such as Landorus-T, Zygarde, and Tangrowth. On the other hand, offensive partners such as Spikes Ash-Greninja also put pressure on shared checks. Because Tapu Koko is such an excellent pivot, strong breakers such as Kyurem-B and Choice Band Tyranitar appreciate Tapu Koko's ability to bring them in safely. Life Orb Kyurem-B in particular also appreciates Tapu Koko's ability to power up its already strong Fusion Bolt, 2HKOing Pokemon such as Heatran and Mew. Tapu Koko appreciates partners that also carry Volt Switch and U-turn to maintain momentum, such as Mega Scizor, Assault Vest Magearna, and the aforementioned Landorus-T. Tapu Koko is vulnerable to every hazard type—partners such as Mega Scizor and Mew provide important Defog support, and Toxapex notably absorbs Toxic Spikes.
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