Mix and Mega

Analysis written by Zephyr Dragon Lord.
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Togekiss

Overview

Togekiss has a very wide movepool that includes diversity in both offensive and status moves, which in turn, allows for both an impressive neutral coverage and a wide variety of support roles. It also has a solid typing in Fairy / Flying, giving it an important immunity to Ground and many resistances, including one to Fighting. In addition, it can become Fairy / Fire with a Water immunity thanks to Desolate Land from Red Orb, turning it into a big stallbreaker with a resistance to Ice. Base 120 Special Attack guarantees that Togekiss will not be extremely passive when attacking. 85 / 95 / 115 bulk pre-Mega Evolving is enough to make sure Togekiss takes at least one hit, and most often two, allowing it to effectively be a supporter. However, Togekiss will always be weak to Rock-types, meaning that faster ones like Archeops and Terrakion will always stop it due to its base 80 Speed. Electric-types easily exploit Togekiss's natural Flying typing, making Sablenite Togekiss a momentum sink against Tapu Koko and other fast Volt Switch users.

Sablenite Support

Set Comments

Moves

Dazzling Gleam is Togekiss's primary STAB move, hitting Dragon-, Dark-, and Fighting-types super effectively from a base 140 Special Attack. Air Slash is Togekiss's secondary STAB move to complement Thunder Wave, but it is otherwise not great compared to Dazzling Gleam. It is a moderately powerful Flying-type attack, hitting Bug- and Grass-types for super effective damage while hitting Fire-types neutrally. However, Dazzling Gleam is the better attack most of the time. Recovery is also important here, and the best choice is Roost, healing half of Togekiss's health. Toxic wears down bulkier threats that Togekiss cannot handle on its own. Alternatively, Thunder Wave helps slow down Pokemon found on offense such as Mimikyu, Cobalion, and Dragonite. Thunder Wave can be used well alongside the Air Slash flinch chance or from moderately fast teammates due to its ability to fully paralyze and cause the foes to flinch until they're KOed. Defog is an important support move, removing entry hazards when needed. Heal Bell provides very nice support for the whole team, ridding them of their status, with Togekiss being one of the best users.

Set Details

Sablenite increases Togekiss's bulk by 50 for both defenses, skyrocketing its bulk to 85 / 145 / 165 upon Mega Evolving, leaving it free to use the great amount of support options it has to offer. The EVs are set up to maximize special bulk, which lets it take on support Arceus formes, Hoopa-U, and Keldeo extremely well. A Bold nature with 252 Defense EVs is just as viable, however, letting it take on physical attackers such as Dragonite, Garchomp, and physical Arceus far better.

Usage Tips

This set is best used reactively, being switched in on incoming Fighting-, Ground-, or Dragon-type moves and using that opportunity to Mega Evolve. Then, Togekiss should either poison or simply attack the foe, depending on the situation. Togekiss is typically bulky enough to also take several attacks, especially the side that it's invested in. After Mega Evolving, you can also use Togekiss's Magic Bounce to freely switch in on incoming Toxics, punishing the user heavily. Regardless of investment, Togekiss cannot handle Glalitite users, so don't leave it in against them unless you have to. It also struggles against Electric-types.

Team Options

Heal Bell support is appreciated by a number of physical sweepers, including Gyarados, Terrakion, and Weavile, which simply cannot function when inflicted with status. Togekiss appreciates Electric-resistant teammates, meaning Primal Groudon serves as a good partner. Primal Groudon also hates Toxic Spikes, along with other entry hazards, and benefits from having a teammate that can bounce them back. Ground-types such as Hippowdon, Gliscor, and Garchomp can take Rock- and Electric-type attacks and usually force out the attacker. While anything weak to Stealth Rock also stacks weaknesses with Togekiss, Weavile and other fast sweepers like not having to deal with chip damage every time they come in. Pivots appreciate this quality of Togekiss especially, as they can fall back on Togekiss when needed. Steel-types such as Magearna and Arceus-Steel provide Togekiss with an important Ice switch-in, blunting the blows from threats such as Weavile and Kyurem. Excadrill in particular has a great type to deal with all of Togekiss's weaknesses and can take Pokemon of those types out with either an Iron Head or an Earthquake. However, do be wary that it is not meant to be a wall for Togekiss, as a wise prediction can severely hurt it.

Red Orb Support

Set Comments

Moves

Flamethrower is a reliable STAB move. Recovery depends on preference: Morning Sun heals more in Desolate Land, but Roost has more PP and is more reliable in rain. While Dazzling Gleam can be used as another STAB source, the slot can also be filled with Toxic, which wears down bulky walls, especially Primal Groudon, but both moves benefit Togekiss greatly in hampering an opposing team. Heal Bell restores the status of the whole team, which is incredibly valuable for keeping the team status-free. Defog removes pesky entry hazards from your side of the field. Thunder Wave can also be used in the third or fourth slot to slow down fast attackers that Togekiss and its teammates might struggle with otherwise.

Set Details

Red Orb Togekiss can assume a more supportive role on a team, as 85 / 115 / 115 bulk, along with the unique Fire / Fairy typing, gives it opportunities to wall Golisopod without coverage, Manaphy, and Weavile, both of which are threats to many teams. Togekiss also gains a newfound Fire typing, which, when coupled with Desolate Land, allows Togekiss to wall both Water- and Ice-types with ease and removes a weakness to Electric, allowing Togekiss to support the team better against them. The EVs are made to maximize Special Defense, which is better for taking on opposing Red Orb users and special Arceus while still having enough natural bulk to shrug off Weavile. A physically defensive variant can also be used but cannot withstand powerful special attackers like Tapu Koko and Raikou anymore, in exchange for withstanding some -ate sweepers better.

Usage Tips

Thanks to being a Desolate Land Fire-type and having good defenses, Togekiss can shrug off weaker Ice- and all Water-type attacks, which gives Togekiss an opportunity to use Nasty Plot to inflict major damage to the foe, support the team by disrupting the foe's efforts to inflict status it, or heal. Like most Red Orb Pokemon, be wary of Blue Orb Pokemon that could be switching in. In such cases, Dazzling Gleam will dent a good chunk of the neutral ones, so that's often the go-to option. If Togekiss's HP is 40% or lower, it should heal with Morning Sun or Roost to sustain its health for longer. Togekiss is an ideal switch-in to Golisopod, Keldeo, and Manaphy thanks to the Red Orb, as well as other Blue Orb threats and Water-types like Primal Kyogre. As such, you can use this as a Water-type counter. Red Orb Togekiss also scares out Blue Orb Steel-types such as Skarmory and Scizor, so use this to force them out. Togekiss functions as more of a check than a counter to Blue Orb Water-types, as they can simply switch back in and summon their rain. Therefore, Blue Orb users are best worn down by Dazzling Gleam.

Team Options

Hippowdon, Gliscor, and Garchomp remain very good choices to absorb Rock-type attacks and retaliate. They also appreciate the shield from opposing Water-types such as Manaphy, as well as the easy guard against Weavile. Blue Orb Steel-types such as Skarmory and Scizor help nullify Togekiss's Fairy weakness and can form a Red Orb + Blue Orb core with Togekiss, allowing it to wall both kinds of weather users with ease, potentially giving your team the upper hand. Red Orb Togekiss likes having Giratina-O as a teammate, among other Primal Groudon answers. Giratina-O can also Defog away Stealth Rock, which would otherwise hurt Togekiss significantly. Both Zygarde and Dragonite appreciate Togekiss countering Weavile greatly, but beware that they share a Rock weakness with Togekiss, which can potentially cause issues.

Strategy Comments

Other Options

Togekiss can also hold Salamencite, which complements it rather well, allowing it to focus on either speedy or bulky offense with a set of Nasty Plot / Hyper Voice / Dazzling Gleam / Roost, although it can be used to support the team. Nasty Plot is an option if you wish to go for a more offensive role with Togekiss. You should shift EVs from Special Defense into Special Attack and run a Modest nature if you decide to run Nasty Plot, particularly on a Red Orb set. As a result, Togekiss becomes a very strong and bulky attacker. Seismic Toss provides consistent damage on the Sablenite set, which can be beneficial against certain threats such as Cresselia. Aura Sphere, Shadow Ball, and Flamethrower can also be used on the Sablenite supporting set to remove a counter from play, such as Heatran with Aura Sphere, offensive Celesteela and other Fighting-neutral Steel-types with Flamethrower, and Gengar with Shadow Ball. While Roost is more reliable, Wish allows Togekiss to help a weakened member. Protect complements Wish nicely, allowing guaranteed healing. Encore can be used on any support set to discourage sweepers from setting up in front of Togekiss. Tailwind can help set up a sweep for a teammate, but it requires either another attacking move or support move to be sacrificed, which is undesirable.

Checks and Counters

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