[OVERVIEW]
Tapu Fini's fantastic Water / Fairy typing in conjunction with solid bulk allows it to check the plethora of Water-, Fire-, Dark-, and Dragon-types that fill the tier, in particular making it one of the best switch-ins to extremely threatening Pokemon such as Ash-Greninja and Keldeo. Misty Surge provides Tapu Fini with an incredible niche, automatically setting up Misty Terrain upon entrance and preventing itself and its teammates from being inflicted with status. Tapu Fini also has access to a bountiful support movepool, with options such as Taunt, Nature's Madness, Defog, and even Calm Mind. Despite its somewhat low Special Attack stat, Tapu Fini is rather versatile, as it can run either a bulky Calm Mind set or a defensive set to good effect. Although its Water / Fairy typing grants Tapu Fini a myriad of resistances, it also leaves it weak to common Grass- and Electric-type attacks. Furthermore, Tapu Fini struggles to reliably use Defog versus common entry hazard setters such as Greninja and Ferrothorn. Due to its only decent Special Attack stat, Tapu Fini is rather passive and lacks the ability to KO most Pokemon quickly. Nature's Madness somewhat circumvents this, but it is very lackluster versus Pokemon with Regenerator such as Tangrowth and Amoonguss. Also, in spite of its Fairy typing, Tapu Fini is not a great switch-in to Knock Off, as it has no form of reliable recovery outside of Leftovers. Due to this lack of recovery, Tapu Fini can be easy to whittle down throughout a battle with entry hazards and continuous attacks from the likes of Greninja and Zygarde. Even when Tapu Fini is holding its Leftovers, this problem persists.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Taunt
move 2: Nature's Madness
move 3: Moonblast
move 4: Defog / Scald
item: Leftovers
ability: Misty Surge
nature: Calm
evs: 248 HP / 192 Def / 16 SpD / 52 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Taunt allows Tapu Fini to shut down opposing walls such as Chansey and Skarmory while also preventing offensive Pokemon such as Dragon Dance Mega Charizard X and Coil Zygarde from obtaining too many boosts. In addition, it enables Tapu Fini to prevent slower Pokemon like Clefable, defensive Landorus-T, and Ferrothorn from setting up entry hazards. Nature's Madness deals damage equal to half of the target's current HP stat and is incredibly useful in conjunction with Taunt for weakening troublesome walls such as Ferrothorn and Toxapex. Moonblast is a reliable Fairy-type STAB attack, hitting Pokemon such as Keldeo, Zyagrde, and Garchomp for super effective damage. Defog clears the field of hazards, which provides immense utility for Tapu Fini's teammates. Due to Tapu Fini's excellent defensive typing and bulk, it is a great user of the move. Scald can be used in this slot if one of Tapu Fini's teammates already carries Defog or Rapid Spin; outside of this situation, however, the utility Defog provides to a team almost always outclasses Scald's ability to hit Ground- and Fire-types for super effective damage. Similarly, Scald has poor synergy with Misty Surge, as it cannot burn the target while Misty Terrain is set up. Lastly, Whirlpool is a viable option that allows Tapu Fini to trap and remove defensive Pokemon such as Toxapex when used in conjunction with Taunt and Nature's Madness.
Set Details
========
Maximum HP investment is optimal for overall bulk, while 52 Speed EVs allow Tapu Fini to outspeed uninvested Landorus-T. 16 Special Defense EVs along with a Calm nature hit an extra stat point, and the rest of the EVs are poured into Defense to help Tapu Fini check physical attackers more easily. One can opt for a more physically defensive spread with a Bold nature; however, this leaves Tapu Fini more easily exploited by powerful special attackers such as Ash-Greninja. Leftovers is the item of choice, as the passive recovery it provides extends Tapu Fini's longevity tremendously. Misty Surge sets up Misty Terrain upon entry, preventing Tapu Fini and its teammates from being inflicted with status for five turns.
Usage Tips
========
Tapu Fini is a great switch-in to threatening Pokemon such as Ash-Greninja, Keldeo, and Latios and should therefore be used to check them. Taunt should be used to prevent walls such as Ferrothorn and Skarmory from setting up entry hazards. Despite its solid bulk and resistance to Dark, avoid switching Tapu Fini into Knock Off, as it relies heavily on its Leftovers to continuously preform its role throughout a battle. Similarly, although Tapu Fini boasts an impressive number of resistances, do not use it as a blanket check to all of the aforementioned Pokemon, as its lack of recovery means it can be overwhelmed easily. It is important to be aware of how many Misty Terrain turns are remaining after sending Tapu Fini into battle, as Tapu Fini is hindered greatly if afflicted by status.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that particularly despise entry hazards such as Volcarona, Mega Charizard Y, and Mega Pinsir make for excellent teammates, as they greatly appreciate the Defog support Tapu Fini provides. Grass-types such as Amoonguss, Ferrothorn, and Tapu Bulu can combat the Electric- and opposing Grass-types that plague Tapu Fini, while Tapu Fini can conversely handle the Fire-, Ice-, and Bug-types that bother them. Tapu Bulu in particular has good synergy with Tapu Fini, as it can reset Tapu Fini's Misty Terrain with its Grassy Terrain, thus ensuring Tapu Fini always has its full five turns of Misty Terrain upon entry. Pokemon such as Swords Dance Mega Mawile, Coil Zygarde, and Swords Dance Garchomp take advantage of Tapu Fini's Misty Terrain well, being able to set up without fear of status ailments.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Hydro Pump / Scald
move 3: Moonblast
move 4: Taunt / Protect
item: Leftovers
ability: Misty Surge
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 24 SpA / 232 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Calm Mind boosts Tapu Fini's Special Attack and Special Defense, allowing it to properly break through the opposing team. Hydro Pump hits very hard after a Calm Mind boost and is capable of OHKOing offensive variants of Landorus-T after Stealth Rock damage. Scald can be used in place of Hydro Pump for increased accuracy and a 30% chance to burn the target outside of Misty Terrain, but it is far weaker. Moonblast completes Tapu Fini's STAB move combination and complements Hydro Pump well, hitting Pokemon that resist Scald such as Greninja, Keldeo, and Latios for super effective damage. Taunt is very useful for preventing bulkier Pokemon such as Ferrothorn and Celesteela from using Leech Seed as well as stopping Pokemon such as Chansey and Clefable from healing with Soft-Boiled. Protect can be used in this slot in order to provide Tapu Fini with extra Leftovers recovery and thus increase Tapu Fini's longevity; however, it wastes Misty Terrain turns and makes it more difficult for Tapu Fini to break through bulkier walls.
Set Details
========
Maximum HP investment is optimal for overall bulk, while 232 Speed investment with a Timid nature allows Tapu Fini to outspeed threatening Pokemon such as Gyarados, Adamant Landorus-T, and Modest Tapu Lele. Finally, 24 Special Attack EVs ensure Tapu Fini's Hydro Pump will always OHKO offensive variants of Landorus-T after Stealth Rock damage. Leftovers is the item of choice, increasing Tapu Fini's longevity greatly. Misty Surge not only aids Tapu Fini in its own Calm Mind sweep but also provides fantastic utility for its teammates.
Usage Tips
========
Do not attempt a Calm Mind sweep until the later stages of the battle, when Electric-(space)and Grass-types that threaten Tapu Fini have been removed. Calm Mind Tapu Fini is also able to function as a solid check to Pokemon such as Ash-Greninja and Keldeo, but it should not be used as a team's only check to powerful physical attackers such as Mega Charizard X and Zygarde.
Team Options
========
Powerful wallbreakers such as Tapu Lele and Swords Dance Landorus-T work very well alongside Tapu Fini, as they can heavily weaken bulky walls for Tapu Fini to sweep late-game. Landorus-T in particular works well with Tapu Fini, as it can switch into and threaten out the Electric-types that can nail Tapu Fini for super effective damage as well as weaken bulky Grass-types that wall Tapu Fini with a powerful Continental Crush or Supersonic Skystrike. Tapu Fini greatly appreciates Stealth Rock and Spikes support from the likes of Heatran, Skarmory, and Greninja, as they effectively chip away at bulkier Pokemon that can combat Tapu Fini even after a Calm Mind boost. Setup sweepers such as Volcarona and Swords Dance Garchomp also make for solid teammates alongside Tapu Fini, as Misty Terrain allows them to set up without fear of status.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Surf can be used as an alternative to Scald on any of Tapu Fini's sets for increased damage output while maintaining perfect accuracy, but Scald's 30% burn chance and Hydro Pump's raw power are both normally more useful. A bulky Calm Mind set is sound in theory, but it struggles to keep up with more offensive teams and is more easily overwhelmed.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Electric-types**: Powerful Electric-types such as Tapu Koko, Zapdos, and Magnezone can threaten Tapu Fini out with their super effective STAB moves.
**Grass-types**: Grass-types such as Serperior, Amoonguss, Assaut Vest Tangrowth, and Tapu Bulu threaten Tapu Fini greatly, as they can tank any attack Tapu Fini wants to throw at them and retaliate with their super effective STAB moves.
**Offensive Pressure**: Due to its lack of reliable recovery, Tapu Fini can be easily overwhelmed when tasked with checking multiple Pokemon throughout a battle. Thunder Punch Mega Charizard X and Choice Band Zygarde are good examples of Pokemon Tapu Fini can usually check but are often capable of overwhelming it with repeated attacks or any form of chip damage.
Tapu Fini's fantastic Water / Fairy typing in conjunction with solid bulk allows it to check the plethora of Water-, Fire-, Dark-, and Dragon-types that fill the tier, in particular making it one of the best switch-ins to extremely threatening Pokemon such as Ash-Greninja and Keldeo. Misty Surge provides Tapu Fini with an incredible niche, automatically setting up Misty Terrain upon entrance and preventing itself and its teammates from being inflicted with status. Tapu Fini also has access to a bountiful support movepool, with options such as Taunt, Nature's Madness, Defog, and even Calm Mind. Despite its somewhat low Special Attack stat, Tapu Fini is rather versatile, as it can run either a bulky Calm Mind set or a defensive set to good effect. Although its Water / Fairy typing grants Tapu Fini a myriad of resistances, it also leaves it weak to common Grass- and Electric-type attacks. Furthermore, Tapu Fini struggles to reliably use Defog versus common entry hazard setters such as Greninja and Ferrothorn. Due to its only decent Special Attack stat, Tapu Fini is rather passive and lacks the ability to KO most Pokemon quickly. Nature's Madness somewhat circumvents this, but it is very lackluster versus Pokemon with Regenerator such as Tangrowth and Amoonguss. Also, in spite of its Fairy typing, Tapu Fini is not a great switch-in to Knock Off, as it has no form of reliable recovery outside of Leftovers. Due to this lack of recovery, Tapu Fini can be easy to whittle down throughout a battle with entry hazards and continuous attacks from the likes of Greninja and Zygarde. Even when Tapu Fini is holding its Leftovers, this problem persists.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Taunt
move 2: Nature's Madness
move 3: Moonblast
move 4: Defog / Scald
item: Leftovers
ability: Misty Surge
nature: Calm
evs: 248 HP / 192 Def / 16 SpD / 52 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Taunt allows Tapu Fini to shut down opposing walls such as Chansey and Skarmory while also preventing offensive Pokemon such as Dragon Dance Mega Charizard X and Coil Zygarde from obtaining too many boosts. In addition, it enables Tapu Fini to prevent slower Pokemon like Clefable, defensive Landorus-T, and Ferrothorn from setting up entry hazards. Nature's Madness deals damage equal to half of the target's current HP stat and is incredibly useful in conjunction with Taunt for weakening troublesome walls such as Ferrothorn and Toxapex. Moonblast is a reliable Fairy-type STAB attack, hitting Pokemon such as Keldeo, Zyagrde, and Garchomp for super effective damage. Defog clears the field of hazards, which provides immense utility for Tapu Fini's teammates. Due to Tapu Fini's excellent defensive typing and bulk, it is a great user of the move. Scald can be used in this slot if one of Tapu Fini's teammates already carries Defog or Rapid Spin; outside of this situation, however, the utility Defog provides to a team almost always outclasses Scald's ability to hit Ground- and Fire-types for super effective damage. Similarly, Scald has poor synergy with Misty Surge, as it cannot burn the target while Misty Terrain is set up. Lastly, Whirlpool is a viable option that allows Tapu Fini to trap and remove defensive Pokemon such as Toxapex when used in conjunction with Taunt and Nature's Madness.
Set Details
========
Maximum HP investment is optimal for overall bulk, while 52 Speed EVs allow Tapu Fini to outspeed uninvested Landorus-T. 16 Special Defense EVs along with a Calm nature hit an extra stat point, and the rest of the EVs are poured into Defense to help Tapu Fini check physical attackers more easily. One can opt for a more physically defensive spread with a Bold nature; however, this leaves Tapu Fini more easily exploited by powerful special attackers such as Ash-Greninja. Leftovers is the item of choice, as the passive recovery it provides extends Tapu Fini's longevity tremendously. Misty Surge sets up Misty Terrain upon entry, preventing Tapu Fini and its teammates from being inflicted with status for five turns.
Usage Tips
========
Tapu Fini is a great switch-in to threatening Pokemon such as Ash-Greninja, Keldeo, and Latios and should therefore be used to check them. Taunt should be used to prevent walls such as Ferrothorn and Skarmory from setting up entry hazards. Despite its solid bulk and resistance to Dark, avoid switching Tapu Fini into Knock Off, as it relies heavily on its Leftovers to continuously preform its role throughout a battle. Similarly, although Tapu Fini boasts an impressive number of resistances, do not use it as a blanket check to all of the aforementioned Pokemon, as its lack of recovery means it can be overwhelmed easily. It is important to be aware of how many Misty Terrain turns are remaining after sending Tapu Fini into battle, as Tapu Fini is hindered greatly if afflicted by status.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that particularly despise entry hazards such as Volcarona, Mega Charizard Y, and Mega Pinsir make for excellent teammates, as they greatly appreciate the Defog support Tapu Fini provides. Grass-types such as Amoonguss, Ferrothorn, and Tapu Bulu can combat the Electric- and opposing Grass-types that plague Tapu Fini, while Tapu Fini can conversely handle the Fire-, Ice-, and Bug-types that bother them. Tapu Bulu in particular has good synergy with Tapu Fini, as it can reset Tapu Fini's Misty Terrain with its Grassy Terrain, thus ensuring Tapu Fini always has its full five turns of Misty Terrain upon entry. Pokemon such as Swords Dance Mega Mawile, Coil Zygarde, and Swords Dance Garchomp take advantage of Tapu Fini's Misty Terrain well, being able to set up without fear of status ailments.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Hydro Pump / Scald
move 3: Moonblast
move 4: Taunt / Protect
item: Leftovers
ability: Misty Surge
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 24 SpA / 232 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Calm Mind boosts Tapu Fini's Special Attack and Special Defense, allowing it to properly break through the opposing team. Hydro Pump hits very hard after a Calm Mind boost and is capable of OHKOing offensive variants of Landorus-T after Stealth Rock damage. Scald can be used in place of Hydro Pump for increased accuracy and a 30% chance to burn the target outside of Misty Terrain, but it is far weaker. Moonblast completes Tapu Fini's STAB move combination and complements Hydro Pump well, hitting Pokemon that resist Scald such as Greninja, Keldeo, and Latios for super effective damage. Taunt is very useful for preventing bulkier Pokemon such as Ferrothorn and Celesteela from using Leech Seed as well as stopping Pokemon such as Chansey and Clefable from healing with Soft-Boiled. Protect can be used in this slot in order to provide Tapu Fini with extra Leftovers recovery and thus increase Tapu Fini's longevity; however, it wastes Misty Terrain turns and makes it more difficult for Tapu Fini to break through bulkier walls.
Set Details
========
Maximum HP investment is optimal for overall bulk, while 232 Speed investment with a Timid nature allows Tapu Fini to outspeed threatening Pokemon such as Gyarados, Adamant Landorus-T, and Modest Tapu Lele. Finally, 24 Special Attack EVs ensure Tapu Fini's Hydro Pump will always OHKO offensive variants of Landorus-T after Stealth Rock damage. Leftovers is the item of choice, increasing Tapu Fini's longevity greatly. Misty Surge not only aids Tapu Fini in its own Calm Mind sweep but also provides fantastic utility for its teammates.
Usage Tips
========
Do not attempt a Calm Mind sweep until the later stages of the battle, when Electric-(space)and Grass-types that threaten Tapu Fini have been removed. Calm Mind Tapu Fini is also able to function as a solid check to Pokemon such as Ash-Greninja and Keldeo, but it should not be used as a team's only check to powerful physical attackers such as Mega Charizard X and Zygarde.
Team Options
========
Powerful wallbreakers such as Tapu Lele and Swords Dance Landorus-T work very well alongside Tapu Fini, as they can heavily weaken bulky walls for Tapu Fini to sweep late-game. Landorus-T in particular works well with Tapu Fini, as it can switch into and threaten out the Electric-types that can nail Tapu Fini for super effective damage as well as weaken bulky Grass-types that wall Tapu Fini with a powerful Continental Crush or Supersonic Skystrike. Tapu Fini greatly appreciates Stealth Rock and Spikes support from the likes of Heatran, Skarmory, and Greninja, as they effectively chip away at bulkier Pokemon that can combat Tapu Fini even after a Calm Mind boost. Setup sweepers such as Volcarona and Swords Dance Garchomp also make for solid teammates alongside Tapu Fini, as Misty Terrain allows them to set up without fear of status.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Surf can be used as an alternative to Scald on any of Tapu Fini's sets for increased damage output while maintaining perfect accuracy, but Scald's 30% burn chance and Hydro Pump's raw power are both normally more useful. A bulky Calm Mind set is sound in theory, but it struggles to keep up with more offensive teams and is more easily overwhelmed.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Electric-types**: Powerful Electric-types such as Tapu Koko, Zapdos, and Magnezone can threaten Tapu Fini out with their super effective STAB moves.
**Grass-types**: Grass-types such as Serperior, Amoonguss, Assaut Vest Tangrowth, and Tapu Bulu threaten Tapu Fini greatly, as they can tank any attack Tapu Fini wants to throw at them and retaliate with their super effective STAB moves.
**Offensive Pressure**: Due to its lack of reliable recovery, Tapu Fini can be easily overwhelmed when tasked with checking multiple Pokemon throughout a battle. Thunder Punch Mega Charizard X and Choice Band Zygarde are good examples of Pokemon Tapu Fini can usually check but are often capable of overwhelming it with repeated attacks or any form of chip damage.
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