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FastFlygon · Jan 21st, 2013, 7:06:59 PM

QC [3/3]

Skeleton

Togekiss

[Overview]

Any Pokemon that wields a 60% chance to Flinch is bound to be annoying, and Togekiss is no exception. With a meaty base 120 Special Attack, two solid abilities and a wide offensive movepool, Togekiss is a very able offensive Pokemon, particularly considering its access to Nasty Plot, one of the best boosting moves in the game. It's no slouch defensively either, with the combination base 85 HP, 95 Defense, base 115 Special Defense and a decent defensive typing giving it impressive mixed bulk. These factors are complimented by a great defensive movepool, with access to Wish, Roost and Heal Bell.

However, it isn't all sunshine for the fairy-bird, with a nasty weakness to the omnipresent Stealth Rock severly hampering its defensive potential. Common weaknesses to Ice- and Electric-type moves don't do it any favours either, especially because Togekiss' decidedly average base speed means it will frequently fail to outpace common users of these moves. Nevertheless, incredible versatility, a phenomenal movepool and balanced stats combine to make it one of the most threatening Pokemon in the UU tier.

[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Air Slash
move 2: Roost
move 3: Heal Bell / Thunder Wave
move 4: Nasty Plot
item: Leftovers
ability: Serene Grace
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 216 Def / 44 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

It might seem strange to advocate a physically-defensive set on a Pokemon with special bulk as excellent as Togekiss', but with two of its three weaknesses usually seen as special attacks and a STAB Air Slash to maul UU's common Fighting-type Pokemon it's able to perform far better than its base stats might suggest. Togekiss' STAB Air Slash has great coverage in UU, with only the seldom-seen Rock-, Steel- and Electric-types resisting it. Roost allows Togekiss to heal itself of passive damage, particularly Stealth Rock, and gives in the general longevity needed to counter a range of weak physical attackers, such as Crobat and Hitmontop. Though uninvested, Togekiss still retains great special bulk, and with Heal Bell it has no trouble switching into Scald from bulky waters without fearing a burn. However, without investment in its Special Defense, it must be wary of the Ice Beam these Pokemon sometimes carry.
Nasty Plot is the most dangerous part of this set. It transforms Togekiss from a medicore tank into a devastating offensive threat, doubling its special attack after a single use. Common special walls such as Snorlax and Umbreon find that they are quickly worn down by repeated Air Slashes, with the chance to Flinch often preventing them from healing at a crucial moment.

Heal Bell is the primary option in the third moveslot, allowing Togekiss to cure it and its team of status and become an excellent supporter. In particular, burns and toxic poison quickly wear Togekiss down, so the ability to remove them makes it a much better check to Pokemon such as Toxic Hitmontop. However, the ability to remove Paralysis is useful too, because the speed drop can often prevent Togekiss from effectively Flinching opponents. Thunder Wave is a strong alernative that trades defensive support for more potent offense; a paralyzed Pokemon is less likely to move while it is Flinched. Thunder Wave can still support your team, too, and is particularly appreciated by Pokemon such as Druddigon who excel when nothing can outspeed them. Unfortunately, Thunder Wave is useless against Ground-types, but many of these are reluctant to switch into Togekiss for fear of taking a possibly boosted Air Slash. Only Togekiss' nemesis, Rhyperior, fears neither.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

The given EV spread gives Togekiss the bulk to switch in and check a plethora of weaker physical attackers while retaining enough speed to beat uninvested base 85 Pokemon such as Gligar and Suicune. It is also quick enough to outrun most Nidoqueen. If you wish to use a faster spread, 100 EVs is a good benchmark, outrunning defensive Roserade and Modest Empoleon. However, this is not recommended, because Togekiss will beat Roserade even without outrunning it and will struggle to defeat offensive variants of Empoleon even if it is faster thanks to Empoleon's Steel-typing. 248 HP EVs are used to keep Togekiss' HP stat odd instead of even, which minimises damage from Stealth Rock and allows it to switch in five times instead of four. Teams looking for Wish support may choose to use Wish and Protect over Roost and Nasty Plot, but this is not recommended because Umbreon is much better at passing wishes and the loss of Nasty Plot significantly impedes Umbreon's ability to break through bulkier Pokemon.

Togekiss is excellent at forcing switches, so it appreciates entry hazard support from the likes of Rhyperior, Qwilfish and Roserade. Rhyperior is a particularly good partener because it is able to switch into and defeat the Electric-types which threaten Togekiss. Speaking of Electric-types, a solid answer to them is a must, because they will almost always have no trouble defeating Togekiss. Swampert, Snorlax and Rhyperior are good answers to most Electric-types in the tier. Because of its hatred of Stealth Rock, Togekiss adores Rapid Spin support from the like of Hitmontop and Blastoise. Hitmontop is a particularly good partner because it can switch into and defeat Rock-type Pokemon looking to exploit Togekiss' weakness. With Intimidate, the pair can form a solid walling combination.

[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Air Slash
move 2: Roost
move 3: Heal Bell / Thunder Wave
move 4: Nasty Plot
item: Leftovers
ability: Serene Grace
nature: Calm
evs: 248 HP / 216 SpD / 44 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

This set takes a more conventional approach, focussing on Togekiss' fantastic base 115 Special Defense. Once again, Air Slash is a relaible STAB, with its handy 60% Flinch chance allowing Togekiss to beat many things it would otherwise struggle with. Roost mitigates damage suffered from Stealth Rock, Hail and other passive sources and does a good job of keeping Togekiss healthy despite its common weaknesses. This set appreciated Heal Bell even more than the previous one, as it may frequently be called on to switch into Scald from bulky Water-type Pokemon; the resulting burns hamper its longevity and the ability to remove them on a whim is very useful. However, Thunder Wave is still a solid choice, allowing Togekiss to Paralyze and Flinch faster special attackers that it might otherwise struggle with.

Nasty Plot makes Togekiss a fearsome tank, doubling its Special Attack in a single turn. It serves as a vital part of Togekiss' Flinching strategy by making sure every Flinch counts and allows it to power through walls it would otherwise struggle with. For example, Umbreon would otherwise effortlessly wall Togekiss, but after three Nasty Plots it is nonchalantly 2HKOd by Air Slash.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

This set's EV spread is a mirror of the previous one, with the Defense EVs move to Special Defense. However, due to the high base stat, Togekiss need not avoid strong attackers as much and is better suited to taking weak super-effective moves. A Calm nature is chosen to bolster this investment. Once again, 44 speed EVs are used to outrun uninvested base 85s and consequently almost all defensive Pokemon; however, the option to invest 100 and outrun minimum speed Roserade is still there. This set takes on Roserade even better than the previous one, though, so this is still not advised.

As Togekiss loathes Stealth Rock, it enjoys being partnered with a Rapid Spin user such as Blastoise or Hitmontop. Xatu is another decent partner, reflecting back any hazards used while it is on the field. However, none of these Pokemon have great defensive synergy with this Togekiss variant, so another partner is advised. Swampert is a good choice, able to tank a variety of Physical hits and take on the Electric-types that plague Togekiss. It can also set up Stealth Rock to abuse the switches Togekiss has a tendency of forcing. Other Electric-type counters or checks such as Snorlax and Rhyperior are also good choices, as Togekiss will lose to every UU Electric-type even with the additional Special Defence.

[Other Options]

 Due to its incredible versatility, Togekiss has a myriad of options not mentioned above. A more offensive Nasty Plot set is usable, with Air Slash, Fire Blast and Aura Sphere; however, Togekiss is rather slow and suffers from the mediocre base power of Air Slash when trying to utilise a more offensive set because any counter it fails to Flinch will likely cripple or KO it thanks to the lack of defensive investment. Additionally, giving up Roost makes Togekiss much more vulnerable to passive damage from Stealth Rock and Hail. Togekiss can also make use of Hustle in conjunction with Work Up and Extremespeed to run a Physical set; however, this is badly outclassed by other physical attackers such as Darmanitan, Heracross and Mienshao when it is not using Extremespeed and suffers badly from Hustle's accuracy-lowering drawback, which turns the usual frustration when facing Togekiss on its head by forcing it to miss 20% of the time. 

Togekiss can also use either a Choice Scarf or Choice Specs effectively. The former seems particularly enticing because it allows Togekiss to Flinch a wider range of Pokemon, but Togekiss is too slow to outrun any other notable scarfers and too weak without a boost to KO much. It does learn Trick, however, which is useful for crippling unsuspecting walls. Whether it uses a Choice Scarf or Specs, the lack of Roost will always trouble Togekiss, who will only be able to switch into Stealth Rock four times without the ability to heal itself.

Togekiss' defensive sets can also use a move from its wide offesnive movepool, such as Psychic, Aura Sphere, Grass Knot, Fire Blast or Shadow Ball, to hit problematic Pokemon. However, these are all inferior to the listed options if your team does not have particular trouble with the threat you choose to hit. Togekiss can also use Hyper Voice as a second STAB move, but this does not offer any meaningful coverage alongside Air Slash, so it should generally be avoided. Although Thunder Wave is the primary option for spreading Paralysis, Body Slam can also be used, sporting a 60% chance to to Paralyze thanks to Serene Grace and hitting Groun-types immune to Thunder Wave. However, it does pitiful damage even with STAB, and the reliability of Thunder Wave is generally preferred.

[Checks and Counters]

Without a doubt, Stealth Rock is Togekiss' most hated foe. It strips the fairy-bird of 25% of its health every time it switches in, quickly wearing it down. Electric-typed Pokemon such as Raikou and Zapdos are also excellent answers, easily absorbing Air Slash due to their resistance and hitting Togekiss hard with a STAB Thunderbolt or Volt Switch. As these Pokemon are naturally faster than Togekiss, it cannot Flinch them either. However, neither of these will appreciate being Paralyzed.

Rhyperior is also a very good counter; it is immune to Thunder Wave and takes pitiful damage from even boosted Air Slash and smashing Togekiss with STAB Rock-type moves. It must watch out for Aura Sphere and Grass Knot, though. Snorlax is also a pretty good answer, wearing Togekiss down with Body Slam or simply KOing it with Choice-Banded Return; however, it can be beaten with repeated Flinches.

 If you don't carry one of these Pokemon, your best bet simply to hit it hard and fast. Togekiss has three common weaknesses and few resistances to speak of, so Pokemon such as Choice Band Flygon and Life Orb Darmanitan can give it a lot of trouble. Weavile can easily smash Togekiss with a STAB Ice Punch; similarly, Nidoking's Life Orb, Sheer Force-boosted Ice Beam will quickly clip Togekiss' wings. Mienshao, Heracross and Victini can also plough right through it; really, any faster physical attacker gives Togekiss a lot of trouble. Hard hitters on the special side have more trouble, but can usually still get the job done if they are strong enough.

Talked with Kokoloko on IRC, will take this over.

Jan 21st, 2013, 7:06:59 PM	#1
FastFlygon Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 404	Togekiss [QC 3/3][GP 0/2] QC [3/3] Skeleton Togekiss [Overview] Considered to be one of the most rage-inducing Pokemon in the game, potentially even moreso than Jirachi, as Togekiss can be harder to kill. Base 120 Special Attack and a movepool that supports it lets Togekiss take on a multitude of threats and beat them down. 85 / 95 / 115 defenses and access to Roost, Wish, Heal Bell, and Protect makes Togekiss one tough cookie to break. Two solid abilities in Hustle and Serene Grace. Held back only by its middling Speed, weakness to Stealth Rock, and weakness to common offensive types. Extremely versataile. [SET] name: Physically Defensive move 1: Air Slash move 2: Roost move 3: Heal Bell / Thunder Wave move 4: Nasty Plot item: Leftovers ability: Serene Grace nature: Bold evs: 248 HP / 216 Def / 44 Spe [SET COMMENTS] One of the biggest piss-offs in the Underused metagame. Air Slash, especially in conjunction with Serene Grace, is what makes Togekiss such a piss-off. It's solid STAB with a 60% chance for Flinch (factoring Serene Grace), hitting everything in the tier for neutral or super-effective damage, bar the far-and-few-between Electric-, Rock-, or Steel-type Pokemon found in Underused. Roost keeps Togekiss' HP at healthy levels, making Togekiss even harder to kill. However, due to it's sub-par typing, Togekiss may find itself using Roost often if it isn't Flinch-haxing its opponent to death. Heal Bell prevents status, Burn and Toxic most importantly, from eating away at Togekiss' and its teammates' health. However, Thunder Wave may be used instead of Heal Bell, slowing all opponents, bar Ground-type Pokemon, completing the ParaFlinch strategy that Jirachi abuses so well in Overused. Nasty Plot allows Togekiss to double its already high Special Attack, allowing Togekiss to easily bypass its common counters, Snorlax, Umbreon, and Porygon2. [ADDITIONAL COMMENTS] The given EV spread allows Togekiss to switch-in on many weaker physical attacks or attackers, such as Crobat and Hitmontop, and quickly gain the upper hand by abusing its ability, Serene Grace. If you so desire, 100 Speed EVs can be used in order to outspeed Defensive Roserade and Modest Empoleon. However, Togekiss can beat them one-on-one, so it isn't necessary. Togekiss is adept at Wishpassing too, so using Wish and Protect over Roost and Nasty Plot is always an option. However, Umbreon is already a dedicated Wishpasser and has better typing and walling capabilities, and should be used instead if your aim is to Wishpass. Aura Sphere is a solid coverage move that Togekiss can run over Heal Bell or Thunder Wave to help it beat Rhyperior and Empoleon, two common switch-ins to Togekiss. Because of the amount of switches Togekiss can force between Paralysis and Flinch, entry hazard support from Rhyperior, Swampert, or Roserade are appreciated, weakening the opponent every time it switches in. Spinners, such as Blastoise or Hitmontop, make for good teammates, as Togekiss loathes Stealth Rock and wants it off the field before coming in. Pokemon capable of switching into and beating Zapdos, Raikou, and Rotom-H are also great teammates for Togekiss, as Electric-types will beat Togekiss every time. [SET] name: Specially Defensive move 1: Air Slash move 2: Roost move 3: Heal Bell / Thunder Wave move 4: Nasty Plot item: Leftovers ability: Serene Grace nature: Calm evs: 248 HP / 216 SpD / 44 Spe [SET COMMENTS] Air Slash is Togekiss' reliable STAB, bringing a 60% chance for a flinch to the table, thanks to Serene Grace. Air Slash has solid neutral coverage in the Underused metagame, only losing out against the handful of Rock-, Steel-, and Electric-type Pokemon in the tier. Even despite its weakness to common offensive types and Stealth Rock, Togekiss is more than capable of keeping its HP at high levels thanks to Roost, which heals 50% of Togekiss' HP at once. Heal Bell is also capable of keeping Togekiss, as well as its teammates, healthy from status, such as Burn or Paralysis. However, Thunder Wave may be used over Heal Bell to enable Togekiss the classic ParaFlinch strategy, making it difficult for the opponent to find room to attack unless it happens to be a Ground-type. Nasty Plot turns Togekiss into a very powerful tank, doubling its already solid Special Attack stat, leaving very few Pokemon safe from its wrath, allowing Togekiss to bypass things such as Snorlax, Umbreon, and Porygon2, [ADDITIONAL COMMENTS] The given EV spread allows Togekiss to surprise and tank many of the weaker Special Attackers in the tier, such as Virizion and Nidoqueen, and break through opponents with Thunder Wave and Air Slash. 100 Speed EVs can be implemented in order to outspeed specific threats, specifically Defensive Roserade and Modest Empoleon. However, Togekiss can beat them one-on-one, so it isn't necessary. Togekiss is adept at Wishpassing too thanks to its diverse movepool and solid HP stat, so using Wish and Protect over Roost and Nasty Plot can be considered. However, Umbreon excels as a dedicated Wishpasser thanks to its better typing and walling capabilities, and should be used over Togekiss if your aim is to Wishpass. Aura Sphere is a solid coverage move, creating exceptional coverage alongside Air Slash, that Togekiss can run over Heal Bell or Thunder Wave to help it beat problematic Pokemon, such as Rhyperior and Empoleon, whom happen to be common switch-ins to Togekiss. Because of the bizzare amount of switches Togekiss tends to force between Paralysis and Flinch, entry hazard support from Rhyperior, Bronzong, or Roserade are appreciated, weakening the opponent even further every time it switches in. Spinners, such as Blastoise or Hitmontop, make for good teammates, as Togekiss loathes Stealth Rock and wants it off the field before coming in. Xatu can also be used instead, as it can potentially keep hazards off the field permanently thanks to Magic Bounce. Pokemon capable of switching into and beating Zapdos, Raikou, and Rotom-H, such as Snorlax, Rhyperior, or Lanturn, are also great teammates for Togekiss, as Electric-types will beat Togekiss every time. [Other Options] Togekiss can utilize a more offensive set with Nasty Plot, air Slash, Fire Blast, and Aura Sphere. however, due to the offensive nature of the Underused tier, Togekiss is outclassed by other Special Attackers who have better typing and more Speed. Hustlekiss, Togekiss' signature Physical set, can also be used. However, due to its reliance on Hustle, making it very inaccurate, and stiff competition from threats such as Swords Dance Heracross and Life Orb Darmanitan - two Pokemon that can hit just as hard, it is not recommended. Choice Scarf or Choice Specs are usable items on Togekiss, with movesets similar to an offensive Nasty Plot set, however, other Pokemon such as Kingdra and Raikou, make for better users of those items, as they don't fear bouncing in and out of a match as much thanks to their typing and a lack of a Stealth Rock weakness. Fire Blast, Psychic, Shadow Ball, Grass Knot can be used to nab exclusive problem Pokemon if your team can't deal with certain threats. [Checks and Counters] Stealth Rock. Electric-types, such as Raikou, Zapdos, and Rotom-H, resist Air Slash and can hit Togekiss back hard with Thunderbolt or Volt Switch. Rhyperior takes infantismal damage from anything not named Aura Sphere , is immune to Thunder Wave, and can beat Togekiss down with Rock Blast or Stone Edge. Snorlax and Umbreon carry a vast amount of special bulk that will make it hard for Togekiss to break through, however, the former can be Flinched to death, while the latter has Inner Focus, preventing that from happening. Faster threats, such as Weavile, Nidoking, or Mienshao all pose a threat to Togekiss, as super effective coverage moves or powerful STAB moves will leave large dents in Togekiss' health. Faster Choice Scarf users, such as Raikou, Zapdos, or Flygon, can beat out Togekiss' Choice Scarf set using powerful STAB and coverage moves. Togekiss [Overview] <p>Any Pokemon that wields a 60% chance to Flinch is bound to be annoying, and Togekiss is no exception. With a meaty base 120 Special Attack, two solid abilities and a wide offensive movepool, Togekiss is a very able offensive Pokemon, particularly considering its access to Nasty Plot, one of the best boosting moves in the game. It's no slouch defensively either, with the combination base 85 HP, 95 Defense, base 115 Special Defense and a decent defensive typing giving it impressive mixed bulk. These factors are complimented by a great defensive movepool, with access to Wish, Roost and Heal Bell.</p> <p>However, it isn't all sunshine for the fairy-bird, with a nasty weakness to the omnipresent Stealth Rock severly hampering its defensive potential. Common weaknesses to Ice- and Electric-type moves don't do it any favours either, especially because Togekiss' decidedly average base speed means it will frequently fail to outpace common users of these moves. Nevertheless, incredible versatility, a phenomenal movepool and balanced stats combine to make it one of the most threatening Pokemon in the UU tier.</p> [SET] name: Physically Defensive move 1: Air Slash move 2: Roost move 3: Heal Bell / Thunder Wave move 4: Nasty Plot item: Leftovers ability: Serene Grace nature: Bold evs: 248 HP / 216 Def / 44 Spe [SET COMMENTS] <p>It might seem strange to advocate a physically-defensive set on a Pokemon with special bulk as excellent as Togekiss', but with two of its three weaknesses usually seen as special attacks and a STAB Air Slash to maul UU's common Fighting-type Pokemon it's able to perform far better than its base stats might suggest. Togekiss' STAB Air Slash has great coverage in UU, with only the seldom-seen Rock-, Steel- and Electric-types resisting it. Roost allows Togekiss to heal itself of passive damage, particularly Stealth Rock, and gives in the general longevity needed to counter a range of weak physical attackers, such as Crobat and Hitmontop. Though uninvested, Togekiss still retains great special bulk, and with Heal Bell it has no trouble switching into Scald from bulky waters without fearing a burn. However, without investment in its Special Defense, it must be wary of the Ice Beam these Pokemon sometimes carry.</p> <p>Nasty Plot is the most dangerous part of this set. It transforms Togekiss from a medicore tank into a devastating offensive threat, doubling its special attack after a single use. Common special walls such as Snorlax and Umbreon find that they are quickly worn down by repeated Air Slashes, with the chance to Flinch often preventing them from healing at a crucial moment.</p> <p>Heal Bell is the primary option in the third moveslot, allowing Togekiss to cure it and its team of status and become an excellent supporter. In particular, burns and toxic poison quickly wear Togekiss down, so the ability to remove them makes it a much better check to Pokemon such as Toxic Hitmontop. However, the ability to remove Paralysis is useful too, because the speed drop can often prevent Togekiss from effectively Flinching opponents. Thunder Wave is a strong alernative that trades defensive support for more potent offense; a paralyzed Pokemon is less likely to move while it is Flinched. Thunder Wave can still support your team, too, and is particularly appreciated by Pokemon such as Druddigon who excel when nothing can outspeed them. Unfortunately, Thunder Wave is useless against Ground-types, but many of these are reluctant to switch into Togekiss for fear of taking a possibly boosted Air Slash. Only Togekiss' nemesis, Rhyperior, fears neither.</p> [ADDITIONAL COMMENTS] <p>The given EV spread gives Togekiss the bulk to switch in and check a plethora of weaker physical attackers while retaining enough speed to beat uninvested base 85 Pokemon such as Gligar and Suicune. It is also quick enough to outrun most Nidoqueen. If you wish to use a faster spread, 100 EVs is a good benchmark, outrunning defensive Roserade and Modest Empoleon. However, this is not recommended, because Togekiss will beat Roserade even without outrunning it and will struggle to defeat offensive variants of Empoleon even if it is faster thanks to Empoleon's Steel-typing. 248 HP EVs are used to keep Togekiss' HP stat odd instead of even, which minimises damage from Stealth Rock and allows it to switch in five times instead of four. Teams looking for Wish support may choose to use Wish and Protect over Roost and Nasty Plot, but this is not recommended because Umbreon is much better at passing wishes and the loss of Nasty Plot significantly impedes Umbreon's ability to break through bulkier Pokemon.</p> <p>Togekiss is excellent at forcing switches, so it appreciates entry hazard support from the likes of Rhyperior, Qwilfish and Roserade. Rhyperior is a particularly good partener because it is able to switch into and defeat the Electric-types which threaten Togekiss. Speaking of Electric-types, a solid answer to them is a must, because they will almost always have no trouble defeating Togekiss. Swampert, Snorlax and Rhyperior are good answers to most Electric-types in the tier. Because of its hatred of Stealth Rock, Togekiss adores Rapid Spin support from the like of Hitmontop and Blastoise. Hitmontop is a particularly good partner because it can switch into and defeat Rock-type Pokemon looking to exploit Togekiss' weakness. With Intimidate, the pair can form a solid walling combination.</p> [SET] name: Specially Defensive move 1: Air Slash move 2: Roost move 3: Heal Bell / Thunder Wave move 4: Nasty Plot item: Leftovers ability: Serene Grace nature: Calm evs: 248 HP / 216 SpD / 44 Spe [SET COMMENTS] <p>This set takes a more conventional approach, focussing on Togekiss' fantastic base 115 Special Defense. Once again, Air Slash is a relaible STAB, with its handy 60% Flinch chance allowing Togekiss to beat many things it would otherwise struggle with. Roost mitigates damage suffered from Stealth Rock, Hail and other passive sources and does a good job of keeping Togekiss healthy despite its common weaknesses. This set appreciated Heal Bell even more than the previous one, as it may frequently be called on to switch into Scald from bulky Water-type Pokemon; the resulting burns hamper its longevity and the ability to remove them on a whim is very useful. However, Thunder Wave is still a solid choice, allowing Togekiss to Paralyze and Flinch faster special attackers that it might otherwise struggle with.</p> <p>Nasty Plot makes Togekiss a fearsome tank, doubling its Special Attack in a single turn. It serves as a vital part of Togekiss' Flinching strategy by making sure every Flinch counts and allows it to power through walls it would otherwise struggle with. For example, Umbreon would otherwise effortlessly wall Togekiss, but after three Nasty Plots it is nonchalantly 2HKOd by Air Slash.</p> [ADDITIONAL COMMENTS] <p>This set's EV spread is a mirror of the previous one, with the Defense EVs move to Special Defense. However, due to the high base stat, Togekiss need not avoid strong attackers as much and is better suited to taking weak super-effective moves. A Calm nature is chosen to bolster this investment. Once again, 44 speed EVs are used to outrun uninvested base 85s and consequently almost all defensive Pokemon; however, the option to invest 100 and outrun minimum speed Roserade is still there. This set takes on Roserade even better than the previous one, though, so this is still not advised.</p> <p>As Togekiss loathes Stealth Rock, it enjoys being partnered with a Rapid Spin user such as Blastoise or Hitmontop. Xatu is another decent partner, reflecting back any hazards used while it is on the field. However, none of these Pokemon have great defensive synergy with this Togekiss variant, so another partner is advised. Swampert is a good choice, able to tank a variety of Physical hits and take on the Electric-types that plague Togekiss. It can also set up Stealth Rock to abuse the switches Togekiss has a tendency of forcing. Other Electric-type counters or checks such as Snorlax and Rhyperior are also good choices, as Togekiss will lose to every UU Electric-type even with the additional Special Defence.</p> [Other Options] <p> Due to its incredible versatility, Togekiss has a myriad of options not mentioned above. A more offensive Nasty Plot set is usable, with Air Slash, Fire Blast and Aura Sphere; however, Togekiss is rather slow and suffers from the mediocre base power of Air Slash when trying to utilise a more offensive set because any counter it fails to Flinch will likely cripple or KO it thanks to the lack of defensive investment. Additionally, giving up Roost makes Togekiss much more vulnerable to passive damage from Stealth Rock and Hail. Togekiss can also make use of Hustle in conjunction with Work Up and Extremespeed to run a Physical set; however, this is badly outclassed by other physical attackers such as Darmanitan, Heracross and Mienshao when it is not using Extremespeed and suffers badly from Hustle's accuracy-lowering drawback, which turns the usual frustration when facing Togekiss on its head by forcing it to miss 20% of the time. </p> <p>Togekiss can also use either a Choice Scarf or Choice Specs effectively. The former seems particularly enticing because it allows Togekiss to Flinch a wider range of Pokemon, but Togekiss is too slow to outrun any other notable scarfers and too weak without a boost to KO much. It does learn Trick, however, which is useful for crippling unsuspecting walls. Whether it uses a Choice Scarf or Specs, the lack of Roost will always trouble Togekiss, who will only be able to switch into Stealth Rock four times without the ability to heal itself.</p> <p>Togekiss' defensive sets can also use a move from its wide offesnive movepool, such as Psychic, Aura Sphere, Grass Knot, Fire Blast or Shadow Ball, to hit problematic Pokemon. However, these are all inferior to the listed options if your team does not have particular trouble with the threat you choose to hit. Togekiss can also use Hyper Voice as a second STAB move, but this does not offer any meaningful coverage alongside Air Slash, so it should generally be avoided. Although Thunder Wave is the primary option for spreading Paralysis, Body Slam can also be used, sporting a 60% chance to to Paralyze thanks to Serene Grace and hitting Groun-types immune to Thunder Wave. However, it does pitiful damage even with STAB, and the reliability of Thunder Wave is generally preferred.</p> [Checks and Counters] <p>Without a doubt, Stealth Rock is Togekiss' most hated foe. It strips the fairy-bird of 25% of its health every time it switches in, quickly wearing it down. Electric-typed Pokemon such as Raikou and Zapdos are also excellent answers, easily absorbing Air Slash due to their resistance and hitting Togekiss hard with a STAB Thunderbolt or Volt Switch. As these Pokemon are naturally faster than Togekiss, it cannot Flinch them either. However, neither of these will appreciate being Paralyzed.</p> <p>Rhyperior is also a very good counter; it is immune to Thunder Wave and takes pitiful damage from even boosted Air Slash and smashing Togekiss with STAB Rock-type moves. It must watch out for Aura Sphere and Grass Knot, though. Snorlax is also a pretty good answer, wearing Togekiss down with Body Slam or simply KOing it with Choice-Banded Return; however, it can be beaten with repeated Flinches.</p> <p> If you don't carry one of these Pokemon, your best bet simply to hit it hard and fast. Togekiss has three common weaknesses and few resistances to speak of, so Pokemon such as Choice Band Flygon and Life Orb Darmanitan can give it a lot of trouble. Weavile can easily smash Togekiss with a STAB Ice Punch; similarly, Nidoking's Life Orb, Sheer Force-boosted Ice Beam will quickly clip Togekiss' wings. Mienshao, Heracross and Victini can also plough right through it; really, any faster physical attacker gives Togekiss a lot of trouble. Hard hitters on the special side have more trouble, but can usually still get the job done if they are strong enough.</p> Talked with Kokoloko on IRC, will take this over. __________________ From Hell's Heart I Stab at Thee Last edited by FastFlygon; May 29th, 2013 at 9:37:05 AM.