Disaster Area
formerly Piexplode
Already wrote one here so I figured I'd leave it here in case it'd be a nice addition to the dex!
[Introduction]
Tauros, the bull, is considered the King of RBY. The mascot of the metagame has it all - power, speed, bulk, luck. Tauros's earnt its spot due to it being the best at its unique role. His speed is high, and that also means his critical hit rate is high, his attack stat is high, his special and overall bulk are just high enough. It'd be difficult to think up a better way to distribute its stats, or improve its movepool. Being a Normal type, it's immune to the Paralysis of Body Slam, but this hinders it as much as helps it, since Body Slam is one of its key moves.
[Set]
name: Standard
move 1: Body Slam
move 2: Hyper Beam
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Blizzard
[Set Details]
Body Slam is your main STAB; it's resisted only by Rock and Ghost types, and only Normal or Ghost types can avoid being Paralyzed by it, making its 30% Paralysis chance very nifty. Earthquake hits all of the Pokemon that resist it or are immune (Rhydon, Golem, and Gengar are the only truly relevant ones in OU) for Super-Effective damage. It also can be used to stop Counter from working (since it counters only Normal and Fighting type moves), which is a common enough move on Jynx, Snorlax, and Chansey to worry about. Blizzard does Extra damage on Rhydon and Golem (can OHKO with a critical hit, whilst Earthquake can't come close), as well as doing a little extra damage on Exeggutor and Zapdos. Hyper Beam doesn't need to recharge if it KOs the opponent (or breaks a substitute), and can do incredible damage, getting early KOs, and can be used in an emergency scenario - STAB Critical Hit Hyper Beam from Tauros OHKOs nearly everything that doesn't resist it.
[How To Use Tauros]
Tauros generally works better late-game. Not only is more stuff vulnerable, with status spread and opponents weakened, but if you get Tauros in too early Snorlax can often switch in and win 1v1, even after taking a Body Slam on the switch, especially if it has Counter. Tauros should be used as a revenge killer and a sweeper, a cleaner for late-game.
You should always make the effort to get it in safely, without taking damage or paralysis, if you can possibly manage it. This often means when you've lost a Pokemon, but if you can predict well, Paralyzed Alakazam/Chansey's Recover/Softboiled is a potential chance to switch in - whilst, unless they're on very low health before they recover, you won't be incredibly threatening if they manage to heal successfully, you have the possibility of a full paralysis, which could put yourself in an incredibly good situation. It's not usually worth it for the risk of paralysis (they might throw out an odd Twave in some situations if they think there's a risk of Tauros switching in) so you usually only do that if you're in a situation of desperation. In terms of playing with it, you should be happy to go 1v1 with any Pokemon that you can OHKO at that point, and versus any Pokemon you can't OHKO at that point, anything that's not liable to explode, counter, or status, unless you can't afford the risk of having to switch out.
A Tauros ditto (where Tauros is versus Tauros occurs) is not something to avoid - it's very common (unless you or your opponent aren't running Tauros, or you're leagues above or below your opponent), and there's almost never an option to switch to something that'd give you a better matchup (although switching in a Rhydon/Golem into a Hyper Beam to KO it for free on the recharge turn might be an option). In this scenario, except in rare circumstances, the best play is to Body Slam twice than Hyper Beam. Beware about Hyper Beam being soaked up by a Rhydon or Golem though, on the final turn of a ditto.
[How To Play Against Tauros]
Generally, avoid switching out as much as possible, but healthy Snorlax (particularly CounterLax), Zapdos, Slowbro, Lapras, Exeggutor, Starmie, Articuno, Chansey, and Cloyster, are able to switch in fairly safely (though they may not win 1v1, and may prefer coming in on another move, e.g. Blizzard, if possible). Cloyster hates paralysis, but can explode or otherwise do heavy damage. Snorlax can't be paralyzed by body slam, but it's often used a lot in the earlier part of the game, so may not be healthy enough when Tauros comes in to be able to switch in. Reflect+Rest, Counter, and Self-Destruct all are useful in this scenario. Gengar's an option to switch in, as it's immune to Body Slam and Hyper Beam, and it can be used to bait out Earthquakes, but generally it's not doing anything useful versus Tauros apart from perhaps Exploding. Golem can switch in when healthy (ideally on a Hyper Beam) and use Explosion versus it, but Blizzard OHKOs on a critical hit, and can KO without one after an Earthquake. It can explode safely if you can get it to switch in on a Hyper Beam though. Lapras could come in on a Blizzard quite happily (as could the others, but not as easily). Chain switching is when you abuse resists to switch a Pokemon in without any Pokemon taking lots of damage or if possible status. It's sometimes considered gimmicky, but it can definitely be effective.
Very often the only or best way is to take it out is via a Tauros ditto. Often later on in the match when 2 Pokémon both faint (usually due to Explosion), or something is injured beyond use or easily forced out or KO'd by Tauros after an Explosion, etc. then it may be the only thing that can switch in versus a potential Tauros switch-in. Carrying a fast Pokémon outside of the lead spot that can KO an opposing Tauros if you lose a ditto (Alakazam, Jolteon, Starmie, Persian, whilst Gengar can tie) is the best security but is not strictly nessecary. Since Body Slam cannot Paralyze Normal types, it's definitely a sensible consideration.
Counter on Chansey and Snorlax can be used to help beat Tauros, but it should be primarily used for opposing Snorlax. If you're taking a more defensive approach, Tanklax (with Reflect and Rest) can take it on, although it handles it a lot better if Tauros is Paralyzed. Raish Chansey (as it's sometimes known - Reflect/Seismic Toss/Thunder Wave) can spread paralysis onto Tauros fairly easily, although it can't switch in easily.
[Other Options]
Thunderbolt's another option but it's a fairly poor one. Doing a lot of extra damage to Cloyster, and a little more versus Slowbro and Lapras, is generally not worth it for the utility of either Earthquake or Blizzard. Fire Blast still does a lot of damage to Exeggutor, and can be used to get a Burn (about 45% of the time) in Tauros dittos, neutering the opposing tauros; nevertheless, like Thunderbolt, it's not usually worth it for the utility lost by not using one of the 4 moves on its standard set. Finally, Substitute can be used when people death fodder Sleeping,Frozen, or low HP Pokemon etc. versus Tauros, but losing Blizzard is pretty costly.
3:O
[Introduction]
Tauros, the bull, is considered the King of RBY. The mascot of the metagame has it all - power, speed, bulk, luck. Tauros's earnt its spot due to it being the best at its unique role. His speed is high, and that also means his critical hit rate is high, his attack stat is high, his special and overall bulk are just high enough. It'd be difficult to think up a better way to distribute its stats, or improve its movepool. Being a Normal type, it's immune to the Paralysis of Body Slam, but this hinders it as much as helps it, since Body Slam is one of its key moves.
[Set]
name: Standard
move 1: Body Slam
move 2: Hyper Beam
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Blizzard
[Set Details]
Body Slam is your main STAB; it's resisted only by Rock and Ghost types, and only Normal or Ghost types can avoid being Paralyzed by it, making its 30% Paralysis chance very nifty. Earthquake hits all of the Pokemon that resist it or are immune (Rhydon, Golem, and Gengar are the only truly relevant ones in OU) for Super-Effective damage. It also can be used to stop Counter from working (since it counters only Normal and Fighting type moves), which is a common enough move on Jynx, Snorlax, and Chansey to worry about. Blizzard does Extra damage on Rhydon and Golem (can OHKO with a critical hit, whilst Earthquake can't come close), as well as doing a little extra damage on Exeggutor and Zapdos. Hyper Beam doesn't need to recharge if it KOs the opponent (or breaks a substitute), and can do incredible damage, getting early KOs, and can be used in an emergency scenario - STAB Critical Hit Hyper Beam from Tauros OHKOs nearly everything that doesn't resist it.
[How To Use Tauros]
Tauros generally works better late-game. Not only is more stuff vulnerable, with status spread and opponents weakened, but if you get Tauros in too early Snorlax can often switch in and win 1v1, even after taking a Body Slam on the switch, especially if it has Counter. Tauros should be used as a revenge killer and a sweeper, a cleaner for late-game.
You should always make the effort to get it in safely, without taking damage or paralysis, if you can possibly manage it. This often means when you've lost a Pokemon, but if you can predict well, Paralyzed Alakazam/Chansey's Recover/Softboiled is a potential chance to switch in - whilst, unless they're on very low health before they recover, you won't be incredibly threatening if they manage to heal successfully, you have the possibility of a full paralysis, which could put yourself in an incredibly good situation. It's not usually worth it for the risk of paralysis (they might throw out an odd Twave in some situations if they think there's a risk of Tauros switching in) so you usually only do that if you're in a situation of desperation. In terms of playing with it, you should be happy to go 1v1 with any Pokemon that you can OHKO at that point, and versus any Pokemon you can't OHKO at that point, anything that's not liable to explode, counter, or status, unless you can't afford the risk of having to switch out.
A Tauros ditto (where Tauros is versus Tauros occurs) is not something to avoid - it's very common (unless you or your opponent aren't running Tauros, or you're leagues above or below your opponent), and there's almost never an option to switch to something that'd give you a better matchup (although switching in a Rhydon/Golem into a Hyper Beam to KO it for free on the recharge turn might be an option). In this scenario, except in rare circumstances, the best play is to Body Slam twice than Hyper Beam. Beware about Hyper Beam being soaked up by a Rhydon or Golem though, on the final turn of a ditto.
[How To Play Against Tauros]
Generally, avoid switching out as much as possible, but healthy Snorlax (particularly CounterLax), Zapdos, Slowbro, Lapras, Exeggutor, Starmie, Articuno, Chansey, and Cloyster, are able to switch in fairly safely (though they may not win 1v1, and may prefer coming in on another move, e.g. Blizzard, if possible). Cloyster hates paralysis, but can explode or otherwise do heavy damage. Snorlax can't be paralyzed by body slam, but it's often used a lot in the earlier part of the game, so may not be healthy enough when Tauros comes in to be able to switch in. Reflect+Rest, Counter, and Self-Destruct all are useful in this scenario. Gengar's an option to switch in, as it's immune to Body Slam and Hyper Beam, and it can be used to bait out Earthquakes, but generally it's not doing anything useful versus Tauros apart from perhaps Exploding. Golem can switch in when healthy (ideally on a Hyper Beam) and use Explosion versus it, but Blizzard OHKOs on a critical hit, and can KO without one after an Earthquake. It can explode safely if you can get it to switch in on a Hyper Beam though. Lapras could come in on a Blizzard quite happily (as could the others, but not as easily). Chain switching is when you abuse resists to switch a Pokemon in without any Pokemon taking lots of damage or if possible status. It's sometimes considered gimmicky, but it can definitely be effective.
Very often the only or best way is to take it out is via a Tauros ditto. Often later on in the match when 2 Pokémon both faint (usually due to Explosion), or something is injured beyond use or easily forced out or KO'd by Tauros after an Explosion, etc. then it may be the only thing that can switch in versus a potential Tauros switch-in. Carrying a fast Pokémon outside of the lead spot that can KO an opposing Tauros if you lose a ditto (Alakazam, Jolteon, Starmie, Persian, whilst Gengar can tie) is the best security but is not strictly nessecary. Since Body Slam cannot Paralyze Normal types, it's definitely a sensible consideration.
Counter on Chansey and Snorlax can be used to help beat Tauros, but it should be primarily used for opposing Snorlax. If you're taking a more defensive approach, Tanklax (with Reflect and Rest) can take it on, although it handles it a lot better if Tauros is Paralyzed. Raish Chansey (as it's sometimes known - Reflect/Seismic Toss/Thunder Wave) can spread paralysis onto Tauros fairly easily, although it can't switch in easily.
[Other Options]
Thunderbolt's another option but it's a fairly poor one. Doing a lot of extra damage to Cloyster, and a little more versus Slowbro and Lapras, is generally not worth it for the utility of either Earthquake or Blizzard. Fire Blast still does a lot of damage to Exeggutor, and can be used to get a Burn (about 45% of the time) in Tauros dittos, neutering the opposing tauros; nevertheless, like Thunderbolt, it's not usually worth it for the utility lost by not using one of the 4 moves on its standard set. Finally, Substitute can be used when people death fodder Sleeping,Frozen, or low HP Pokemon etc. versus Tauros, but losing Blizzard is pretty costly.
3:O
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