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Overview
Tapu Koko is a fantastic Pokemon that can hit extremely hard to due its ability Electric Surge, which gives its Electric-type moves a strong 50% boost while also blocking sleep-inducing moves such as Sleep Powder. Tapu Koko also sports a rare Electric typing, which allows it to defeat top threats such as Mega Gyarados and Mega Charizard Y. This, in combination with its extremely high Speed tier, allows it to outspeed almost all of the metagame, barring Mega Gengar, Pheromosa, and fast Choice Scarf users such as Porygon-Z. Tapu Koko also has access to Taunt, helping it defeat walls and setup sweepers that it would usually have trouble with, such as Deoxys-D and Chansey. However, Tapu Koko has generally mediocre offensive stats, which are mostly remedied by Electric Terrain. Tapu Koko also has low defensive stats, making it frail and susceptible to many attacks. This makes it reliant on high-damaging moves to OHKO foes and will usually lose if it cannot. Tapu Koko also lacks good coverage options, leaving it unable to bypass its checks such as Mega Venusaur and Kyurem-B. Tapu Koko also gets completely walled by Ground-type Pokemon such as Donphan, as its only attack cannot touch them.
Electrium Z
- Tapu Koko @ Electrium Z
- Ability: Electric Surge
- EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
- Timid / Modest Nature
- - Thunder
- - Taunt
- - Substitute
- - Charge / Nature's Madness
Set Comments
Moves
Thunder is Tapu Koko's main attack; when used with an Electrium Z, its Base Power is boosted to a respectable 185 while also having STAB and a further boost from Electric Terrain. Gigavolt Havoc also ignores Thunder's unreliable accuracy and nukes most Pokemon that do not resist it. Taunt can shut down bulkier Pokemon such as Chansey and Deoxys-D that Tapu Koko would usually have trouble with, blocking their recovery and occasionally making them Struggle. It can also stop Pokemon such as Mega Charizard X from setting up. Substitute is useful for sponging up powerful Z-moves and recharge moves and can also aid Tapu Koko in defeating FEAR Pokemon such as Aron. Charge boosts Tapu Koko's Special Defense by one stage, allowing it to better deal with special attackers and Mega Venusaur. It also doubles the power of Tapu Koko's next Electric-type attack, making Gigavolt Havoc hit even harder. Nature's Madness, on the other hand, deals 50% damage to every Pokemon, regardless of resistance. It can be useful against Pokemon that Tapu Koko cannot OHKO, such as Chansey. However, Tapu Koko's low mixed bulk means that it usually cannot live an attack after using Nature's Madness, so it should only be used against very bulky Pokemon.
Set Details
The special set uses the first EV spread, which maximizes Tapu Koko's Speed and Special Attack, giving it as much power as possible while allowing it to outspeed most of the metagame. Tapu Koko can also be given a Timid nature to maximize its Speed, outspeeding Pokemon such as maximum Speed Greninja along with Speed tying Mega Gengar. On the other hand, a Modest nature can be used to give Tapu Koko more power, but this comes at the cost of Speed. However, Modest Tapu Koko can still outspeed maximum Speed Mega Metagross and Modest Greninja. The physical set maximizes Tapu Koko's Speed and Attack. A Jolly nature gives it more Speed, whereas an Adamant nature gives Tapu Koko more offensive power. The item of choice is Electrium Z, which powers up Thunder or Wild Charge by a large amount. When used in tandem with Electric Surge, it can OHKO most foes.
Usage Tips
In most situations, click Gigavolt Havoc to nuke opposing Pokemon such as Mega Gyarados. Both special and physical variants of Tapu Koko are equally viable, but they can be used to deal with different Pokemon. Physical variants can better deal with Pokemon with high Special Defense, such as Meloetta and Chansey. However, a specially oriented set allows Tapu Koko to defeat Pokemon with high Defense, such as Mega Metagross. When up against a bulkier Pokemon such as Deoxys-D, use Taunt to cripple them, making them unable to heal while also potentially making them use Struggle. Against high-HP Pokemon such as Chansey, Nature's Madness should be used to chip off lots of damage in tandem with Taunt to stop recovery. Avoid sending in Tapu Koko against Pokemon that can easily beat it, such as Donphan. However, teammates such as Mega Gyarados can be used to threaten these Pokemon and bring in Tapu Koko against a more favorable matchup. Try to keep Tapu Koko away from Pokemon that outspeed it, such as Choice Scarf Porygon-Z and Pheromosa, as they can OHKO it due to its low defenses. Tapu Koko can also be used to threaten opposing Pokemon such as Mega Pinsir and Mega Gyarados, allowing the safety of teammates such as Mega Charizard Y.
Team Options
Pokemon weak to Mega Gyarados or Mega Charizard Y, such as Crustle and Magearna, can take advantage of Tapu Koko's typing and speed to scare off potent threats. Mega Gyarados in particular can be used to cover some of Tapu Koko's checks such as Donphan and Crustle. Fast hard-hitting Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Garchomp can easily KO Tapu Koko, making checks such as Mega Slowbro appropriate teammates. Tapu Koko can also take care of many bulky Pokemon such as Deoxys-D and Chansey, and Magearna, allowing Pokemon such as Kyurem-B to come in safely. On the other hand, Tapu Koko can also nuke many fast wallbreakers such as Mega Metagross, Greninja, and Mega Pinsir, allowing more defensive Pokemon to be brought in. Tapu Koko also has a very hard time dealing with Ground-type Pokemon, meaning teammates such as Mega Gyarados can scare them off and make it easier to bring in Tapu Koko.
Strategy Comments
Other Options
Tapu Koko can run Hidden Power Ice, but it only hits Landorus and non-Choice Scarf Garchomp and has a low Base Power. Tapu Koko can also use Dazzling Gleam as a backup move in case Gigavolt Havoc does not OHKO the foe due to Thunder's unreliable accuracy. It can almost always finish off a foe that has lived Gigavolt Havoc and can also hit Pokemon that are not affected by Gigavolt Havoc. Thunderbolt can also be used instead of Thunder, as it produces only a slightly weaker Gigavolt Havoc and has reliable accuracy if Gigavolt Havoc does not OHKO.
Checks and Counters
- Ground-type Pokemon: Ground-type Pokemon such as Donphan and Rhyperior are completely unaffected by Gigavolt Havoc and can OHKO Tapu Koko with hard-hitting moves of their own..
- Sturdy and Disguise: Every Sturdy Pokemon besides Air Balloon Magnezone beats Tapu Koko, as they can live any single hit and proceed to OHKO Tapu Koko in return. Mimikyu can also beat Tapu Koko by living any attack through Disguise and retaliating with a powerful Z-move.
- Choice Scarf Users: Choice Scarf users such as Garchomp and Porygon-Z outspeed Tapu Koko and can easily OHKO it with their STAB moves due to its low defenses.
- Electric-resistant Pokemon: Pokemon that resist Tapu Koko's main move Gigavolt Havoc, such as Kyurem-B, usually defeat Tapu Koko by virtue of living its most powerful attack and dealing massive damage back. Grass-type Pokemon such as Mega Venusaur and Ferrothorn also resist Gigavolt Havoc and can OHKO Tapu Koko in return.