SMASHKOAL
[SET]
name: SMASHKOAL (Offensive Rapid Spin)
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Fire Blast
move 4: Earth Power / Hidden Power Grass
item: White Herb
ability: Shell Armor
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Move over, Raphael, there is a new turtle in the sewers of Manhattan. With Cryogonal leaving the land of Neverused, Torkoal stands as one of the few remaining viable users of the coveted Rapid Spin in NU. Turned down and pushed aside due to its Stealth Rock weakness, a timorous Torkoal can finally come out of its shell and show the world what it has always been capable of. With Shell Smash and its good 70/140/70 defenses, it can set up and threaten all of the terrifying Ghost-type Pokemon that reside in NU such as Golurk, Haunter, Misdreavus, and Drifblim. While not all too important to Torkoal's role, Shell Armor allows Torkoal to set up and sweep more reliably as it doesn't have to fear critical hits. After a boost, Torkoal is capable of outpacing every Ghost-type Pokemon in the tier barring Haunter, who cannot switch into Torkoal's Fire Blast. With a Modest nature Torkoal hits an impressive 590 Special Attack and a good 278 Speed stat, which allow it to deal massive damage to anything outside of dedicated special walls that attempt to come in while outpacing a big portion of the metagame. However, it should be noted that it misses out on key base 80 and above Speed Pokemon such as Braviary, Sawk, and Rotom-A. Torkoal has two choices for its coverage move in Earth Power and Hidden Power Grass which allow it to hit specific types and targets. Earth Power hits Fire-type Pokemon, such as Emboar, Rapidash, and Flareon, while Hidden Power Grass hits Water-type Pokemon, such as Samurott, Gorebyss, Seismitoad, and provides a way to deal with the Alomomola + Amoonguss Regenerator core. Earth Power gets the nod over Hidden Power Grass as preventing Emboar from stopping your sweep is very important, and Earth Power still hits Water-type Pokemon neutrally and already gets excellent damage on Hidden Power Grass's targets.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Even though Torkoal still has fantastic 70/140 defenses, this set cannot be played the same way as the defensive Torkoal sets. Without any investment, powerful attackers, such as Choice Band Braviary and Emboar, can break through Torkoal without much residual damage needed. White Herb is the item of choice as it prevents Torkoal's defenses from being decreased once, allowing it to take powerful priority moves such as Absol's Sucker Punch considerably better than with any other item. While Torkoal's base 20 Speed stat is nothing to write home about, a Timid nature is actually very beneficial for Torkoal, as it lets it outspeed many key Pokemon that Modest does not, such as the key base 80 Speed Pokemon mentioned above. Timid Torkoal is still capable of OHKOing the most common Ghost-type Pokemon in the tier and makes up for the loss in power with the the ability to outspeed important Pokemon in the metagame. While Misdreavus can survive a +2 Fire Blast from Torkoal, thanks to its White Herb item and Misdreavus's lack of Special Attack investment, Torkoal is capable of getting off a second Shell Smash which allows it to cleanly OHKO standard Misdreavus with even a Timid nature. Without a boost Torkoal is capable of outpacing the standard Golem, Regirock, and Vileplume sets and hitting them with the appropriate move before they can retaliate. At +4, Modest Torkoal is almost guaranteed a sweep with Choice Scarf Pokemon out of the way as it outspeeds even Timid Electrode by a single point and can OHKO Lickilicky with Stealth Rock up. With a Timid nature, Torkoal even outspeeds Timid Scarf Rotom-A and still has enough power to trample through almost any Pokemon that stands in its way. Of course without Modest, Lickilicky, Hypno, and Grumpig can tank a single hit and either Thunder Wave Torkoal or hit it with Psychic against its -1 Special Defense stat. However, out of the Pokemon mentioned above only Lickilicky is common, and at +4 Torkoal is more than likely to sweep regardless.</p>
<p>White Smoke could be used over Shell Armor so that stat dropping effects from attacks, such as Crunch and Psychic, don't waste Torkoal's White Herb. While uncommon, this is a possible scenario and a reason to use White Smoke over Shell Armor. Torkoal could use other items, such as a Life Orb or Flame Plate, to increase its damage output; however, preventing the drops in Defense and Special Defense is generally more important. The increase in power from these items don't help it OHKO Misdreavus at +2 either, so it's usually not worth it. Torkoal is a great partner for Pokemon in need of Rapid Spin support such as Articuno, Altaria, Rotom-A, Braviary, Swellow, Charizard, and Butterfree. While it does compound a team's Rock-type weakness, Torkoal still gets the job done and further supports the above Pokemon by clearing the path of things that beat them, such as of Probopass, in Articuno and Altaria's case and Rock-type Pokemon, such as Golem and Regirock, in Charizard and Swellow's case.</p>
