[OVERVIEW]
Tepig is a brutal attacker that utilizes powerful moves with large drawbacks. Due to being weak to Stealth Rock, using Life Orb, relying on recoil-heavy moves, and having lackluster stats, Tepig's impact is limited but intense. However, more powerful attackers such as Darumaka give Tepig competition, as Darumaka hits far harder than Tepig due to Hustle and has U-turn to preserve momentum, with Tepig's saving grace being its reliability and ability to hit Water-types super effectively with Wild Charge. Tepig's better coverage options also let it edge out Ponyta as an all-out attacker despite Tepig being slower and lacking recovery.
[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Flare Blitz
move 2: Head Smash
move 3: Sucker Punch
move 4: Wild Charge / Superpower
item: Life Orb
ability: Blaze
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Flare Blitz is Tepig's most powerful attack, with few Pokemon truly wanting to take it; only Pokemon that resist Fire can switch into it well. Head Smash complements Flare Blitz's coverage and power, OHKOing walls such as Ponyta and Vullaby after Stealth Rock. Sucker Punch gives Tepig the ability to pick off weakened Pokemon and can often be used to finish off Pokemon that dared to switch into it. The last slot is dedicated to rounding out Tepig's offensive presence, with Wild Charge allowing Tepig to obliterate all Water-types except Goldeen and Chinchou, and Superpower giving Tepig a way to remove Porygon, the rarer Lileep, and other Rock-types. However, Flame Charge is another option to consider, as it puts Tepig into a Speed tier above the unboosted metagame, giving it more time to launch brawny attacks.
Set Details
========
Life Orb provides Tepig with incredible power and allows it to switch moves, making it superior to Choice Band. Due to Tepig being weak to Stealth Rock, using Life Orb, and employing recoil-intensive moves, Blaze makes Tepig's inevitable low-HP final hurrah hit insanely hard. The EVs and nature are tailored to maximize Tepig's strength while also outspeeding or Speed tying all common Water-types.
Usage Tips
========
Tepig should never switch into an attack; rather, it should come in off a slow U-turn or to revenge kill opposing Pokemon. Tepig's health is a valuable resource, so strive to clear entry hazards from the field and remove the opponent's Stealth Rock setter early. Flare Blitz will do a large amount of damage to everything bar the uncommon dependable Pokemon that resist Fire, so it should be used most often.
Team Options
========
Entry hazard removers, such as Staryu, Drilbur, Archen, and Vullaby, are great for keeping up Tepig's longevity, as Tepig has to worry enough about recoil as is without adding Stealth Rock damage into the mix. Tepig appreciates all forms of entry hazard support, especially Stealth Rock setters such as Archen, Dwebble, Tirtouga, and Pawniard, as the residual damage helps Tepig bust through most of its common switch-ins. Toxic Spikes setters such as Skrelp and Omanyte also reliably provide extra chip damage on the foe, making it easier for Tepig to shatter through opposing teams of all varieties. Both Dwebble and Omanyte also have access to Spikes, which turns many 2HKOs into OHKOs for Tepig. Sticky Web support from Surskit or Spinarak gives Tepig the ability to outspeed all of the grounded metagame, making it much harder for the opposing team to deal with. Grass-types such as Snivy and Cottonee can make quick work of the Ground-, Rock-, and Water-types that pester Tepig. Pumpkaboo-S is especially synergistic, as it provides spinblocking support to help keep entry hazards on the field, securing OHKOs for Tepig. Archen, Fletchling, and Cottonee all have access to Tailwind and can use it to allow Tepig to outspeed everything for several turns and potentially pickup a handful of KOs. Lastly, Buneary has access to Healing Wish and Thunder Wave, which can give Tepig a second chance and cripple faster Pokemon for Tepig.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Tepig has access to some utility options such as Will-O-Wisp and Taunt, but it is usually better off with an all-out attacker set. Hidden Power Grass provides savvy coverage versus Rock / Water and Rock / Ground types such as Tirtouga and Onix, which can otherwise wall Tepig decently with their defensive sets. Unfortunately, this forces Tepig to go mixed and thus run a Naive nature, worsening its matchup against Staryu and Skrelp. Zen Headbutt gives Tepig the ability to muscle past the likes of Timburr and Koffing. Additionally, Tepig can don a Choice Scarf to outspeed unboosted Pokemon and reduce the recoil damage it takes; however, this makes Tepig incredibly weak and prone to being taken advantage of.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Faster Attackers**: Although Tepig possesses moderate Speed, faster Pokemon such as Mienfoo, Staryu, Archen, and Choice Scarf Magnemite are fairly common and able to revenge kill it easily.
**Priority Attackers**: Due to its poor defenses, Tepig is vulnerable to powerful priority attacks, such as Fletchling's Acrobatics, Pawniard's Sucker Punch, and Corphish's Aqua Jet.
**Entry Hazards**: Tepig is already easily worn down by recoil damage, but entry hazards put Tepig on even more of a timer and limit how often it can switch.
**Hippopotas**: Hippopotas is unbelievably bulky, so it can stall out Tepig and either set up Stealth Rock or OHKO it with Earthquake.
Tepig is a brutal attacker that utilizes powerful moves with large drawbacks. Due to being weak to Stealth Rock, using Life Orb, relying on recoil-heavy moves, and having lackluster stats, Tepig's impact is limited but intense. However, more powerful attackers such as Darumaka give Tepig competition, as Darumaka hits far harder than Tepig due to Hustle and has U-turn to preserve momentum, with Tepig's saving grace being its reliability and ability to hit Water-types super effectively with Wild Charge. Tepig's better coverage options also let it edge out Ponyta as an all-out attacker despite Tepig being slower and lacking recovery.
[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Flare Blitz
move 2: Head Smash
move 3: Sucker Punch
move 4: Wild Charge / Superpower
item: Life Orb
ability: Blaze
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Flare Blitz is Tepig's most powerful attack, with few Pokemon truly wanting to take it; only Pokemon that resist Fire can switch into it well. Head Smash complements Flare Blitz's coverage and power, OHKOing walls such as Ponyta and Vullaby after Stealth Rock. Sucker Punch gives Tepig the ability to pick off weakened Pokemon and can often be used to finish off Pokemon that dared to switch into it. The last slot is dedicated to rounding out Tepig's offensive presence, with Wild Charge allowing Tepig to obliterate all Water-types except Goldeen and Chinchou, and Superpower giving Tepig a way to remove Porygon, the rarer Lileep, and other Rock-types. However, Flame Charge is another option to consider, as it puts Tepig into a Speed tier above the unboosted metagame, giving it more time to launch brawny attacks.
Set Details
========
Life Orb provides Tepig with incredible power and allows it to switch moves, making it superior to Choice Band. Due to Tepig being weak to Stealth Rock, using Life Orb, and employing recoil-intensive moves, Blaze makes Tepig's inevitable low-HP final hurrah hit insanely hard. The EVs and nature are tailored to maximize Tepig's strength while also outspeeding or Speed tying all common Water-types.
Usage Tips
========
Tepig should never switch into an attack; rather, it should come in off a slow U-turn or to revenge kill opposing Pokemon. Tepig's health is a valuable resource, so strive to clear entry hazards from the field and remove the opponent's Stealth Rock setter early. Flare Blitz will do a large amount of damage to everything bar the uncommon dependable Pokemon that resist Fire, so it should be used most often.
Team Options
========
Entry hazard removers, such as Staryu, Drilbur, Archen, and Vullaby, are great for keeping up Tepig's longevity, as Tepig has to worry enough about recoil as is without adding Stealth Rock damage into the mix. Tepig appreciates all forms of entry hazard support, especially Stealth Rock setters such as Archen, Dwebble, Tirtouga, and Pawniard, as the residual damage helps Tepig bust through most of its common switch-ins. Toxic Spikes setters such as Skrelp and Omanyte also reliably provide extra chip damage on the foe, making it easier for Tepig to shatter through opposing teams of all varieties. Both Dwebble and Omanyte also have access to Spikes, which turns many 2HKOs into OHKOs for Tepig. Sticky Web support from Surskit or Spinarak gives Tepig the ability to outspeed all of the grounded metagame, making it much harder for the opposing team to deal with. Grass-types such as Snivy and Cottonee can make quick work of the Ground-, Rock-, and Water-types that pester Tepig. Pumpkaboo-S is especially synergistic, as it provides spinblocking support to help keep entry hazards on the field, securing OHKOs for Tepig. Archen, Fletchling, and Cottonee all have access to Tailwind and can use it to allow Tepig to outspeed everything for several turns and potentially pickup a handful of KOs. Lastly, Buneary has access to Healing Wish and Thunder Wave, which can give Tepig a second chance and cripple faster Pokemon for Tepig.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Tepig has access to some utility options such as Will-O-Wisp and Taunt, but it is usually better off with an all-out attacker set. Hidden Power Grass provides savvy coverage versus Rock / Water and Rock / Ground types such as Tirtouga and Onix, which can otherwise wall Tepig decently with their defensive sets. Unfortunately, this forces Tepig to go mixed and thus run a Naive nature, worsening its matchup against Staryu and Skrelp. Zen Headbutt gives Tepig the ability to muscle past the likes of Timburr and Koffing. Additionally, Tepig can don a Choice Scarf to outspeed unboosted Pokemon and reduce the recoil damage it takes; however, this makes Tepig incredibly weak and prone to being taken advantage of.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Faster Attackers**: Although Tepig possesses moderate Speed, faster Pokemon such as Mienfoo, Staryu, Archen, and Choice Scarf Magnemite are fairly common and able to revenge kill it easily.
**Priority Attackers**: Due to its poor defenses, Tepig is vulnerable to powerful priority attacks, such as Fletchling's Acrobatics, Pawniard's Sucker Punch, and Corphish's Aqua Jet.
**Entry Hazards**: Tepig is already easily worn down by recoil damage, but entry hazards put Tepig on even more of a timer and limit how often it can switch.
**Hippopotas**: Hippopotas is unbelievably bulky, so it can stall out Tepig and either set up Stealth Rock or OHKO it with Earthquake.
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