[OVERVIEW]
Torkoal is a reliable setter for sun teams, making the playstyle a very viable option. As a result, Torkoal makes Pokemon such as Venusaur, Leafeon, and Charizard viable as well. Other than that, Torkoal has the privilege of learning Stealth Rock, as well as boasting a high Defense stat, which makes it capable of checking physically offensive Pokemon such as Mega Glalie, Choice Scarf Heracross, Doublade, and Durant. It also checks strong Psyshock users such as Gardevoir. Moreover, Torkoal has access to support moves including Will-O-Wisp and Yawn, which helps its partners in breaking the opposing team. However, Torkoal lacks reliable recovery and has a poor defensive typing, being weak to Stealth Rock and having weaknesses to common types like Water, Ground, and Rock. Torkoal is also very slow, drains a lot of momentum upon switching in, and suffers from a poor Special Defense stat, which leaves it 2HKOed by most strong special attacks.
[SET]
name: Sun Support
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Lava Plume
move 3: Explosion
move 4: Toxic / Will-O-Wisp
item: Heat Rock
ability: Drought
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock helps Torkoal's teammates to pressure opposing Pokemon better. Lava Plume is a good spammable STAB move that gets boosted by sun and has a 30% chance to burn. Explosion is used in order to severely damage a foe, as well as providing a safe switch in for one of Torkoal's teammates. Toxic is used to cripple the bulky Water- or Rock-types that tend to switch into Torkoal, while Will-O-Wisp cripples the Rock-types, especially Gigalith, and any physically offensive wallbreakers that try to switch into Torkoal, such as Bruxish. Alternatively, Yawn is an option to deter the opponent from setting up, as well as force switches and wear down foes as they switch into entry hazards.
Set Details
========
Maximum Defense EVs ensure that Torkoal can take as many physical hits as possible, while the HP EVs minimize Stealth Rock damage. Heat Rock extends the period of Drought, which is ideal for a sun team. Leftovers can be used to give Torkoal some form of recovery, as it lacks one otherwise. Drought is the only useful ability of Torkoal, as it allows Torkoal to set up sun for its partners.
Usage Tips
========
Torkoal should be used as a lead, using Stealth Rock as soon as possible. After setting Stealth Rock, Torkoal can attempt to weaken foes by spamming Lava Plume and Toxic. It is useful to continuously spam Yawn whenever it hits a foe, as they tend to switch out to prevent falling sleep. This allows Torkoal to wear down the opposing team while entry hazards are up. Torkoal should not use Explosion early-game; Explosion should only be used late-game when the opposing team is weakened enough and when you need a free switch to one of your sweepers. Lastly, it is wise to preserve Torkoal at low health in order to set up sun late-game for its partners to attempt to sweep.
Team Options
========
Chlorophyll users such as Venusaur and Leafeon go well with Torkoal, as they appreciate Drought enabling them to perform as dangerous sweepers. They also help Torkoal defensively by switching into Water-types, as well as handling Ground- and Rock-types. Torkoal in return can handle Steel-types such as Doublade and Registeel for them. Whimsicott is also a good partner for Torkoal, as it can set up sun with Prankster, as well as provide team support with Encore. Cresselia can check most of the special attackers that threaten Torkoal, benefit from Drought by using Moonlight, and support the team by using Lunar Dance. Entry hazard removers such as Donphan and Gligar provide an Electric immunity, as well as checking Choice Band Goodra and Dragalge that are slower than them. Gligar also gives slow U-turn support to switch its teammates in safely. Rotom-H checks Flying-types for sun teams and has access to boosted Overheats thanks to Drought, while Charizard benefits from Solar Power and can be a hard Pokemon to reliably switch into.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Torkoal can utilize Rapid Spin, but coupled with its poor typing and Stealth Rock weakness, it is a poor hazard remover. Shuca Berry can be used so Torkoal can set up Stealth Rock against Nidoqueen, but it reduces the number of Drought turns, which are crucial to a sun team. An offensive set with Shell Smash can be used, but Torkoal is slow even after a boost and lacks the power to break through common RU walls.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Water-types**: Bulky Water-types such as Mantine and Slowbro can counter Torkoal and attempt to hit its teammates with Air Slash and Psyshock, respectively, which are bothersome for Chlorophyll sweepers such as Venusaur.
**Bulky Rock-types**: Rhyperior, Gigalith, and Diancie can switch into Torkoal and can take it out with their STAB moves. Gigalith is especially dangerous, as it also nullifies Drought with Sand Stream.
**Specially Offensive Pokemon**: Strong special attackers such as Nidoqueen, Choice Specs Zoroark, Yanmega, Salazzle, Swellow, Kommo-o, and Dragalge can take out Torkoal with their STAB moves. Moltres can use Substitute when facing Torkoal and beat it one-on-one
**Knock Off**: Knock Off severely hinders Torkoal, as it loses one of its main niches as a reliable sun setter due to the fewer Drought turns after its Heat Rock has been removed. If Torkoal is running Leftovers, it loses its only form of recovery.
**Residual Damage**: Torkoal hates switching into Stealth Rock and is also vulnerable to Toxic, as it lacks reliable recovery and can be worn down very easily by both.
Torkoal is a reliable setter for sun teams, making the playstyle a very viable option. As a result, Torkoal makes Pokemon such as Venusaur, Leafeon, and Charizard viable as well. Other than that, Torkoal has the privilege of learning Stealth Rock, as well as boasting a high Defense stat, which makes it capable of checking physically offensive Pokemon such as Mega Glalie, Choice Scarf Heracross, Doublade, and Durant. It also checks strong Psyshock users such as Gardevoir. Moreover, Torkoal has access to support moves including Will-O-Wisp and Yawn, which helps its partners in breaking the opposing team. However, Torkoal lacks reliable recovery and has a poor defensive typing, being weak to Stealth Rock and having weaknesses to common types like Water, Ground, and Rock. Torkoal is also very slow, drains a lot of momentum upon switching in, and suffers from a poor Special Defense stat, which leaves it 2HKOed by most strong special attacks.
[SET]
name: Sun Support
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Lava Plume
move 3: Explosion
move 4: Toxic / Will-O-Wisp
item: Heat Rock
ability: Drought
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock helps Torkoal's teammates to pressure opposing Pokemon better. Lava Plume is a good spammable STAB move that gets boosted by sun and has a 30% chance to burn. Explosion is used in order to severely damage a foe, as well as providing a safe switch in for one of Torkoal's teammates. Toxic is used to cripple the bulky Water- or Rock-types that tend to switch into Torkoal, while Will-O-Wisp cripples the Rock-types, especially Gigalith, and any physically offensive wallbreakers that try to switch into Torkoal, such as Bruxish. Alternatively, Yawn is an option to deter the opponent from setting up, as well as force switches and wear down foes as they switch into entry hazards.
Set Details
========
Maximum Defense EVs ensure that Torkoal can take as many physical hits as possible, while the HP EVs minimize Stealth Rock damage. Heat Rock extends the period of Drought, which is ideal for a sun team. Leftovers can be used to give Torkoal some form of recovery, as it lacks one otherwise. Drought is the only useful ability of Torkoal, as it allows Torkoal to set up sun for its partners.
Usage Tips
========
Torkoal should be used as a lead, using Stealth Rock as soon as possible. After setting Stealth Rock, Torkoal can attempt to weaken foes by spamming Lava Plume and Toxic. It is useful to continuously spam Yawn whenever it hits a foe, as they tend to switch out to prevent falling sleep. This allows Torkoal to wear down the opposing team while entry hazards are up. Torkoal should not use Explosion early-game; Explosion should only be used late-game when the opposing team is weakened enough and when you need a free switch to one of your sweepers. Lastly, it is wise to preserve Torkoal at low health in order to set up sun late-game for its partners to attempt to sweep.
Team Options
========
Chlorophyll users such as Venusaur and Leafeon go well with Torkoal, as they appreciate Drought enabling them to perform as dangerous sweepers. They also help Torkoal defensively by switching into Water-types, as well as handling Ground- and Rock-types. Torkoal in return can handle Steel-types such as Doublade and Registeel for them. Whimsicott is also a good partner for Torkoal, as it can set up sun with Prankster, as well as provide team support with Encore. Cresselia can check most of the special attackers that threaten Torkoal, benefit from Drought by using Moonlight, and support the team by using Lunar Dance. Entry hazard removers such as Donphan and Gligar provide an Electric immunity, as well as checking Choice Band Goodra and Dragalge that are slower than them. Gligar also gives slow U-turn support to switch its teammates in safely. Rotom-H checks Flying-types for sun teams and has access to boosted Overheats thanks to Drought, while Charizard benefits from Solar Power and can be a hard Pokemon to reliably switch into.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Torkoal can utilize Rapid Spin, but coupled with its poor typing and Stealth Rock weakness, it is a poor hazard remover. Shuca Berry can be used so Torkoal can set up Stealth Rock against Nidoqueen, but it reduces the number of Drought turns, which are crucial to a sun team. An offensive set with Shell Smash can be used, but Torkoal is slow even after a boost and lacks the power to break through common RU walls.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Water-types**: Bulky Water-types such as Mantine and Slowbro can counter Torkoal and attempt to hit its teammates with Air Slash and Psyshock, respectively, which are bothersome for Chlorophyll sweepers such as Venusaur.
**Bulky Rock-types**: Rhyperior, Gigalith, and Diancie can switch into Torkoal and can take it out with their STAB moves. Gigalith is especially dangerous, as it also nullifies Drought with Sand Stream.
**Specially Offensive Pokemon**: Strong special attackers such as Nidoqueen, Choice Specs Zoroark, Yanmega, Salazzle, Swellow, Kommo-o, and Dragalge can take out Torkoal with their STAB moves. Moltres can use Substitute when facing Torkoal and beat it one-on-one
**Knock Off**: Knock Off severely hinders Torkoal, as it loses one of its main niches as a reliable sun setter due to the fewer Drought turns after its Heat Rock has been removed. If Torkoal is running Leftovers, it loses its only form of recovery.
**Residual Damage**: Torkoal hates switching into Stealth Rock and is also vulnerable to Toxic, as it lacks reliable recovery and can be worn down very easily by both.
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