Mix and Mega

Analysis written by VoltDarkrai.
« back to home
Tapu Koko

Overview

With access to two pivoting moves, Electric Surge, and a good typing, Tapu Koko has carved itself a large niche as one of Mix and Mega's best revenge killers and pivots. Electric Surge, Tapu Koko's signature ability, activates Electric Terrain which grants it and all other grounded Pokemon a 1.5x boost to their Electric-type attacks. In addition, Tapu Koko has access to U-turn and Volt Switch which allow it to function as an effective pivot. Despite its shallow movepool, it has what it needs to function well, and its offensive stats allow it to function as an effective revenge killer. Finally, its stellar offensive typing allows it to force out common metagame threats such as Weavile, Suicune, and Pinsirite Genesect. However, it struggles with dominating forces in the current metagame such as Primal Groudon and Zapdos. In addition, upon Mega Evolving, it loses Electric Surge, which can be a huge disadvantage in battle.

Lucarionite

Set Comments

Moves

Volt Switch allows Tapu Koko to pivot out of any non-Ground-type switch-in, gaining momentum for the team. Thunderbolt hits ridiculously hard with the Adaptability boost gained by Lucarionite and the boost provided by Electric Terrain. Dazzling Gleam is a secondary move designed to hit the Grass-, Dragon-, and Ground-types that Thunderbolt cannot handle. Grass Knot can be used to hit Primal Groudon and Arceus for more consistent damage, but the Fairy STAB move would be lost. Nature's Madness punishes switch-ins like Primal Groudon and other Ground types by halving their HP, putting them at a range where they are easier to deal with.

Set Details

Maximum investment in Speed allows Tapu Koko to outspeed unboosted Pokemon such as Glalitite Weavile, Absolite Tapu Lele, Metagrossite Kartana, and Absolite Manaphy. Special Attack is also maximized in order to hit as hard as possible. Lucarionite boosts Tapu Koko's base Special Attack to 120, also gifting it with Adaptability, which changes the STAB multiplier from 1.5x to 2x. Electric Surge is a great pre-Mega ability, as it summons Electric Terrain, which provides a 1.5x boost to Tapu Koko's Electric-type attacks.

Usage Tips

Identifying threats on the opponent's team like Primal Groudon and using double switches to bring in your check can turn the game in your favor. In addition, you can also use Nature's Madness to soften the threats to a level where Tapu Koko can handle them. Preserving your answers to defensive threats such as Cresselia and Blissey will serve you well in the long run, since both Pokemon wall and can set up on Tapu Koko due to its relatively low damage output compared to other metagame threats. Knowing when to Mega Evolve is key as well, since upon Mega Evolving, Tapu Koko loses its ability to summon Electric Terrain. Despite the small advantage provided by Electric Terrain, however, situations where you will not Mega Evolve Tapu Koko are rare. Use Nature's Madness liberally early on in the game in order to cripple the opponent's team, as the whole team will likely become easier to handle at lower HP values.

Team Options

Tapu Koko appreciates being partnered with Primal Groudon checks such as Arceus-Water and Golisopod. Golisopod in particular helps Tapu Koko in the matchup versus Primal Groudon due to forcing a switch from the Primal Groudon user. Checks to Cresselia such as Golisopod, Darkrai, and Hoopa-U are appreciated due to Tapu Koko doing negligible damage to it and having to switch out of the battle in favor of a partner capable of forcing Cresselia out. Mega Gengar could be an option to use Perish Trap on Sablenite Blissey, which Tapu Koko otherwise struggles to beat. Checks to Red Orb Raikou such as Primal Groudon work well in tandem with Tapu Koko due to Red Orb Raikou walling both of Tapu Koko's STAB moves with no difficulty and Primal Groudon forcing it out. However, Primal Groudon can be forced out as well, as it has no recovery and the damage from Raikou's Weather Ball deals a significant amount of damage. Entry hazard removers such as Zapdos and defensive Arceus formes carrying Defog are appreciated so that Tapu Koko isn't worn down from pivoting too much. Hazard setters such as Terrakion and Primal Groudon work well due to compensating for Tapu Koko's low offensive stats.

Pinsirite

Set Comments

Moves

Return is the main move that the player will be spamming. It provides a strong Flying-type STAB attack for Tapu Koko and doesn't have the recoil that Wild Charge does, allowing Tapu Koko to stay longer on the field without fainting itself due to recoil damage. U-turn allows the player to pivot out of any switch-ins, gaining momentum. Quick Attack is a priority Aerilate-boosted STAB attack that allows Tapu Koko to revenge kill weakened foes. It can also net a surprise KO on Pheromosa. U-Turn allows the player to pivot out of any switchins, gaining momentum. Wild Charge is the Electric-type STAB move of choice, hitting Pokemon that don't resist, such as Suicune, it for a hefty amount of damage when Electric Terrain is up and Tapu Koko hasn't Mega Evolved. Nature's Madness can be run over Wild Charge, as it is useful for crippling switch-ins to Tapu Koko such as Zapdos, but Tapu Koko loses its Electric-type STAB move, which makes it more difficult to handle Absolite Manaphy and Sablenite Suicune.

Set Details

252 Speed EVs along with a Jolly nature are used to outspeed as much Pokemon as possible. The Pokemon that are outsped include Absolite Manaphy, Lucarionite Keldeo, and Salamencite Gyarados. 252 Attack EVs allow Tapu Koko to take advantage of its Attack stat after it has Mega Evolved. Pinsirite gives Tapu Koko the Flying type and Aerilate, allowing Tapu Koko to utilize its decent pre-Mega base 115 Attack stat due to having a physical Normal-type option in Return.

Usage Tips

Bring Tapu Koko in when you can force switches with it such as on Keldeo, Golisopod, and Pinsirite Genesect. This allows you to maintain momentum in the battle and respond to Pokemon that threaten Tapu Koko without having to spend a turn on switching out. It is also important to consider when you will Mega Evolve Tapu Koko. Electric Surge is a useful ability for Tapu Koko, so timing the moment that it will Mega is important. However, it is less important on the Pinsirite set, as Return is a more spammable attack than Wild Charge upon Mega Evolving. In addition, if you choose to forgo Wild Charge in favor of Nature's Madness, you can completely ignore preserving Electric Surge. When there is a Zapdos on the field, be sure to preserve your answer to it. Tapu Koko cannot 2HKO Zapdos regardless of what it does. When your opponent has Suicune, do not Mega Evolve until it is off the field. If Tapu Koko has Mega Evolved, it only 3HKOes Sablenite Suicune due to Electric Terrain not boosting Wild Charge. However, if Tapu Koko hasn't Mega Evolved, it easily 2HKOes Sablenite Suicune despite its lower attack, provided Electric Terrain is still active.

Team Options

Bring Tapu Koko in when you can force switches with it such as on Keldeo, Golisopod, and Pinsirite Genesect. This allows you to maintain momentum in the battle and respond to Pokemon that threaten Tapu Koko without having to spend a turn on switching out. It is also important to consider when you will Mega Evolve Tapu Koko. Electric Surge is a useful ability for Tapu Koko, so timing the moment that it will Mega is important. However, it is less important on the Pinsirite set, as Return is a more spammable attack than Wild Charge upon Mega Evolving. In addition, if you choose to forgo Wild Charge in favor of Nature's Madness, you can completely ignore preserving Electric Surge. When there is a Zapdos on the field, be sure to preserve your answer to it. Tapu Koko cannot 2HKO Zapdos regardless of what it does. When your opponent has Suicune, do not Mega Evolve until it is off the field. If Tapu Koko has Mega Evolved, it only 3HKOes Sablenite Suicune due to Electric Terrain not boosting Wild Charge. However, if Tapu Koko hasn't Mega Evolved, it easily 2HKOes Sablenite Suicune despite its lower attack, provided Electric Terrain is still active.

Strategy Comments

Other Options

Taunt can be run on both sets, but oftentimes, it ends up being more of a hindrance than a benefit, as on the Lucarionite set, Nature's Madness is better for weakening answers to Tapu Koko, while on the Pinsirite set, you are either missing out on the priority, the strong Flying-type STAB move, the Electric-type STAB move, or the pivoting move. In addition, Taunt doesn't hit most of what it is meant to anyway, since a lot of defensive threats in the tier carry Sablenite, which provides Magic Bounce. Absolite can be run for the extra Speed plus Magic Bounce, but the former doesn't necessarily matter, as Lucarionite Pheromosa still outspeeds it. Calm Mind is an option that can be run on the Lucarionite set but Tapu Koko would sorely miss any of the other moves, which means there is less room for Calm Mind. Roost can be run on either set, but the problem with it is Tapu Koko requires all four moves on both sets to function, and it gives your opponent a free turn.

Checks and Counters

« back to home