Status: ready for upload
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[Overview]
<p>As Smogon's mascot, Koffing has a lot to live up to, and while it isn't the best Pokemon in Little Cup, it is definitely a viable choice. It has excellent Defense and access to Will-O-Wisp, allowing it to wall physical attackers. Koffing also has an awesome special movepool which, combined with its capability to reach 21 Speed with a Choice Scarf attached, allows it to serve as an effective revenge-killer.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Sludge Bomb
move 2: Fire Blast/Flamethrower/Thunderbolt
move 3: Dark Pulse/Shadow Ball
move 4: Explosion
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Levitate
nature: Naive
evs: 36 HP / 196 SpA / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Koffing has the blessing of being able to reach 21 Speed with Choice Scarf attached, allowing it to outpace all other non-Choice Scarf users. Koffing also boasts a magnificent special movepool, including Dark Pulse, Fire Blast, Flamethrower, Shadow Ball, Sludge Bomb, and Thunderbolt. At a glance, Koffing seems inferior to Gastly as a Choice Scarf user due to its lower Speed and lower Special Attack. However, Koffing does have its own unique traits that make it worth using. Koffing's bulk allows it to take priority hits much better than Gastly, as well as letting it switch in more easily. Koffing is also not weak to Pursuit, allowing it to flee from Munchlax without fear.</p>
<p>Sludge Bomb provides Koffing with a strong STAB attack and is the primary attacking option, offering decent neutral coverage and a Base Power of 135 (factoring in STAB). Fire Blast provides nice coverage alongside Sludge Bomb, hitting Steel-types that are immune to Sludge Bomb super effectively. It should be noted that Fire Blast is generally the preferred option over Flamethrower because the power increase is essential in the fast-paced Little Cup metagame. Choosing between Fire Blast and Thunderbolt is all about personal preference. Thunderbolt lets Koffing hit water types like Mantyke and Staryu for super-effective damage, while Fire Blast gives one more power overall and allows Koffing to hit Bronzor super-effectively. Sludge Bomb and Fire Blast/Thunderbolt together do not provide neutral coverage for all Pokemon, so Dark Pulse / Shadow Ball take care of the rest. When choosing between Dark Pulse and Shadow Ball, the most important factor is which secondary effect one prefers: a 20% chance to flinch, or a 20% chance to lower Special Defense.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Koffing works well with Dark-type Pokemon, as they are immune to Koffing's only weakness: Psychic. Physical Houndour and Carvanha are two great options, as they can hit hard physically and have strong STAB priority attacks, which Koffing lacks. Munchlax also works well with Koffing, as Koffing can take physical attacks quite well due to its high Defense stat, while Munchlax is one of the best Pokemon in Little Cup for taking special attacks.</p>
[SET]
name: Tank
move 1: Will-O-Wisp
move 2: Pain Split / Explosion
move 3: Sludge Bomb
move 4: Fire Blast / Shadow Ball / Dark Pulse
item: Oran Berry
ability: Levitate
nature: Bold
evs: 196 HP / 236 Def / 36 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Koffing makes a great physically defensive tank due to its high Defense stat and access to Will-O-Wisp and Pain Split. Koffing can very easily switch into most unboosted physical attacks, such as a Dynamicpunch from Scarf Machop. It then can use Will-O-Wisp, crippling a physical attacker or reducing the longevity of a special one after switching in. Alternatively, it can simply attack with an acceptable 13 Special Attack.</p>
<p>Will-O-Wisp is a great asset for Koffing as a physical wall because if it hits, a physical attacker will only be able to hit half as hard, thus making it even easier for Koffing to wall them. Pain Split is also very nice for Koffing because it gives it a recovery move once its Oran Berry has been used up. When choosing a move for the second slot, Pain Split is a nice move for healing up, albeit inconsistent. Explosion can also be very handy if Koffing is at low health, as it can take another Pokemon down with it. When choosing between Fire Blast and Dark Pulse / Shadow Ball, it is important to decide which is more important: power or coverage and accuracy. Fire Blast is by far the more powerful attack; however it does not provide as much coverage and has a 15% chance to miss, which can be critical in some situations.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Munchlax is the best partner for this set, hands down. This set provides exceptional protection on the physical side, while Munchlax is by far and away the best tank on the special side. Because Koffing will want to be doing a fair about of switching, this set works better if Stealth Rock is off the field and using a Taunt lead or having a Rapid Spinner is the best way to accomplish this. Ironically, this set will also cause a fair bit of switching, so having Stealth Rock down on the opponent's side will also be very beneficial. Thus, Phanpy, Kabuto, and Gligar make great partners to this set as they are all reliable Stealth Rockers.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>One of the Pokemon that give the Scarf set the most trouble is Munchlax, and because of this, Scarf Machop makes a great partner, as it can take a Return aimed at Koffing and then KO back with DynamicPunch. Other Fighting-types, such as Mankey, can also work well.</p>
<p>With the tank set, Koffing generally has a difficult time dealing with virtually all special attackers due to its very low Special Defense. Munchlax is always a great partner for Koffing as it can take the aforementioned special attacks. Mantyke can also function as a complementary special sponge due to its very high Special Defense stat. However, Mantyke is more commonly used as a sweeper than a wall, so it is a less viable teammate than Munchlax, who often invests heavily in Special Defense. The tank set also greatly appreciates Stealth Rock support, so Kabuto, Gligar, Phanpy, Digglet, Omanyte, and Hippopotas can all be great partners. Koffing also functions more effectively if Stealth Rock is not in play, so Taunters like Meowth, Diglett or Gligar can be useful. Rapid Spinners, such as Staryu, Kabuto, Phanpy, or Anorith, can also be beneficial to keeping Stealth Rock away for Koffing.</p>
[Optional Changes]
<p>At first, Curse seems like an interesting move that Koffing could use. However, it has an extremely shallow physical movepool and is very difficult to set up because a special attacker can come in and instantly threaten Koffing. Should Koffing choose to run a Curse set, it has access to moves that complement it very well: Gyro Ball and Payback. Gyro Ball will become more powerful every time Koffing uses Curse, as its speed will be lowered, while Payback’s power is doubled if the user moves second, which Koffing will be doing often with dropped speed.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Most special attackers are the best counters to the tank set, as they immediately threaten it with strong attacks to Koffing's weaker defense side. Examples include Chinchou, Mantyke, Houndour, Gastly, Abra, and Staryu. For example, Mantyke's Life Orb boosted Hydro Pump will OHKO Koffing without question. Abra will outspeed the non-scarf set and OHKO with STAB super-effective Psychic, and Houndour will also KO with STAB Fire Blast. Wynaut is another great counter to Koffing as it is guaranteed, barring critical hits, to live long enough to use Mirror Coat on Koffing, thereby KOing it. There are few counters to the Choice Scarf set, although the best ones are faster Choice Scarf users that wield special attacks, such as Chinchou or Staryu. Munchlax can also take Koffing's special attacks very well and hit hard back, though it does need to be wary of Explosion.</p>
------------------------------------------------
[Overview]
<p>As Smogon's mascot, Koffing has a lot to live up to, and while it isn't the best Pokemon in Little Cup, it is definitely a viable choice. It has excellent Defense and access to Will-O-Wisp, allowing it to wall physical attackers. Koffing also has an awesome special movepool which, combined with its capability to reach 21 Speed with a Choice Scarf attached, allows it to serve as an effective revenge-killer.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Sludge Bomb
move 2: Fire Blast/Flamethrower/Thunderbolt
move 3: Dark Pulse/Shadow Ball
move 4: Explosion
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Levitate
nature: Naive
evs: 36 HP / 196 SpA / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Koffing has the blessing of being able to reach 21 Speed with Choice Scarf attached, allowing it to outpace all other non-Choice Scarf users. Koffing also boasts a magnificent special movepool, including Dark Pulse, Fire Blast, Flamethrower, Shadow Ball, Sludge Bomb, and Thunderbolt. At a glance, Koffing seems inferior to Gastly as a Choice Scarf user due to its lower Speed and lower Special Attack. However, Koffing does have its own unique traits that make it worth using. Koffing's bulk allows it to take priority hits much better than Gastly, as well as letting it switch in more easily. Koffing is also not weak to Pursuit, allowing it to flee from Munchlax without fear.</p>
<p>Sludge Bomb provides Koffing with a strong STAB attack and is the primary attacking option, offering decent neutral coverage and a Base Power of 135 (factoring in STAB). Fire Blast provides nice coverage alongside Sludge Bomb, hitting Steel-types that are immune to Sludge Bomb super effectively. It should be noted that Fire Blast is generally the preferred option over Flamethrower because the power increase is essential in the fast-paced Little Cup metagame. Choosing between Fire Blast and Thunderbolt is all about personal preference. Thunderbolt lets Koffing hit water types like Mantyke and Staryu for super-effective damage, while Fire Blast gives one more power overall and allows Koffing to hit Bronzor super-effectively. Sludge Bomb and Fire Blast/Thunderbolt together do not provide neutral coverage for all Pokemon, so Dark Pulse / Shadow Ball take care of the rest. When choosing between Dark Pulse and Shadow Ball, the most important factor is which secondary effect one prefers: a 20% chance to flinch, or a 20% chance to lower Special Defense.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Koffing works well with Dark-type Pokemon, as they are immune to Koffing's only weakness: Psychic. Physical Houndour and Carvanha are two great options, as they can hit hard physically and have strong STAB priority attacks, which Koffing lacks. Munchlax also works well with Koffing, as Koffing can take physical attacks quite well due to its high Defense stat, while Munchlax is one of the best Pokemon in Little Cup for taking special attacks.</p>
[SET]
name: Tank
move 1: Will-O-Wisp
move 2: Pain Split / Explosion
move 3: Sludge Bomb
move 4: Fire Blast / Shadow Ball / Dark Pulse
item: Oran Berry
ability: Levitate
nature: Bold
evs: 196 HP / 236 Def / 36 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Koffing makes a great physically defensive tank due to its high Defense stat and access to Will-O-Wisp and Pain Split. Koffing can very easily switch into most unboosted physical attacks, such as a Dynamicpunch from Scarf Machop. It then can use Will-O-Wisp, crippling a physical attacker or reducing the longevity of a special one after switching in. Alternatively, it can simply attack with an acceptable 13 Special Attack.</p>
<p>Will-O-Wisp is a great asset for Koffing as a physical wall because if it hits, a physical attacker will only be able to hit half as hard, thus making it even easier for Koffing to wall them. Pain Split is also very nice for Koffing because it gives it a recovery move once its Oran Berry has been used up. When choosing a move for the second slot, Pain Split is a nice move for healing up, albeit inconsistent. Explosion can also be very handy if Koffing is at low health, as it can take another Pokemon down with it. When choosing between Fire Blast and Dark Pulse / Shadow Ball, it is important to decide which is more important: power or coverage and accuracy. Fire Blast is by far the more powerful attack; however it does not provide as much coverage and has a 15% chance to miss, which can be critical in some situations.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Munchlax is the best partner for this set, hands down. This set provides exceptional protection on the physical side, while Munchlax is by far and away the best tank on the special side. Because Koffing will want to be doing a fair about of switching, this set works better if Stealth Rock is off the field and using a Taunt lead or having a Rapid Spinner is the best way to accomplish this. Ironically, this set will also cause a fair bit of switching, so having Stealth Rock down on the opponent's side will also be very beneficial. Thus, Phanpy, Kabuto, and Gligar make great partners to this set as they are all reliable Stealth Rockers.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>One of the Pokemon that give the Scarf set the most trouble is Munchlax, and because of this, Scarf Machop makes a great partner, as it can take a Return aimed at Koffing and then KO back with DynamicPunch. Other Fighting-types, such as Mankey, can also work well.</p>
<p>With the tank set, Koffing generally has a difficult time dealing with virtually all special attackers due to its very low Special Defense. Munchlax is always a great partner for Koffing as it can take the aforementioned special attacks. Mantyke can also function as a complementary special sponge due to its very high Special Defense stat. However, Mantyke is more commonly used as a sweeper than a wall, so it is a less viable teammate than Munchlax, who often invests heavily in Special Defense. The tank set also greatly appreciates Stealth Rock support, so Kabuto, Gligar, Phanpy, Digglet, Omanyte, and Hippopotas can all be great partners. Koffing also functions more effectively if Stealth Rock is not in play, so Taunters like Meowth, Diglett or Gligar can be useful. Rapid Spinners, such as Staryu, Kabuto, Phanpy, or Anorith, can also be beneficial to keeping Stealth Rock away for Koffing.</p>
[Optional Changes]
<p>At first, Curse seems like an interesting move that Koffing could use. However, it has an extremely shallow physical movepool and is very difficult to set up because a special attacker can come in and instantly threaten Koffing. Should Koffing choose to run a Curse set, it has access to moves that complement it very well: Gyro Ball and Payback. Gyro Ball will become more powerful every time Koffing uses Curse, as its speed will be lowered, while Payback’s power is doubled if the user moves second, which Koffing will be doing often with dropped speed.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Most special attackers are the best counters to the tank set, as they immediately threaten it with strong attacks to Koffing's weaker defense side. Examples include Chinchou, Mantyke, Houndour, Gastly, Abra, and Staryu. For example, Mantyke's Life Orb boosted Hydro Pump will OHKO Koffing without question. Abra will outspeed the non-scarf set and OHKO with STAB super-effective Psychic, and Houndour will also KO with STAB Fire Blast. Wynaut is another great counter to Koffing as it is guaranteed, barring critical hits, to live long enough to use Mirror Coat on Koffing, thereby KOing it. There are few counters to the Choice Scarf set, although the best ones are faster Choice Scarf users that wield special attacks, such as Chinchou or Staryu. Munchlax can also take Koffing's special attacks very well and hit hard back, though it does need to be wary of Explosion.</p>
