[SET]
name: Bulky Pivot
move 1: Volt Switch
move 2: Nature's Madness
move 3: Electroweb / Sky Drop
move 4: Taunt / Defog
item: Wiki Berry
ability: Electric Surge
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 36 Def / 44 SpD / 176 Spe
ivs: 0 Atk
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Naturally high speed and access to Volt Switch make Tapu Koko an excellent pivot. When in an unfavorable position, it can easily score some chip damage on an opposing Pokemon while rotating into a Pokemon that can more effectively deal with the situation at hand. Nature's Madness provides a means of consistent damage output, covering for this set's lack of offensive investment and powerful attacks. Electroweb provides Tapu Koko with a way to give itself and its teammates speed initiative as well as knock out severely weakened Pokemon. Sky Drop can be used in lieu of Electroweb to disrupt opposing teams and give Tapu Koko's partner a chance to set up at a lesser risk. Taunt lets Tapu Koko shut down opposing status moves, preventing foes from utilizing speed control options like Trick Room and Tailwind or boosting their stats with attacks like Swords Dance and Dragon Dance. The combination of Taunt and Nature's Madness also makes Tapu Koko a very good check to Pokemon like Chansey and Cresselia, which rely on their bulk and recovery moves to be effective. Defog should be chosen when Tapu Koko is used alongside Pokemon like Mega Charizard Y and Volcarona, which will be severely hindered by taking Stealth Rock damage.
Set Details
========
The given Speed EVs and Timid nature allow Tapu Koko to outspeed Mega Salamence, one of the fastest threats in the Doubles OU tier. Thanks to its investment in HP and Defense, Tapu Koko will survive a Stomping Tantrum from Mega Metagross after Stealth Rock or a -1 Kyurem-B's Subzero Slammer. The remaining EVs are dumped into Special Defense, letting Tapu Koko survive a Psychic from Modest Tapu Lele in Psychic Terrain. Wiki Berry is used for recovery, but Assault Vest is another option if a status move like Taunt or Defog is not required. When Assault Vest is the item of choice, an EV spread of 252 HP / 24 Def / 56 SpD / 176 Spe should be used to guarantee survival of sun-boosted Overheat from Mega Charizard Y and Subzero Slammer from -1 Kyurem-B while maintaining the same Speed. The fourth move on Assault Vest Tapu Koko could be the previously unchosen Sky Drop or Electroweb, Thunderbolt for slightly better damage output overall, or Hidden Power Fire to OHKO offensive Kartana.
Usage Tips
========
Starting off a battle with Tapu Koko as a lead can be advantageous, since it can easily pivot into a better matchup and the Speed stats of opposing Pokemon like Tapu Koko and Landorus-T can be checked by following the order of ability activation. Scoring some early damage with Nature's Madness can also be very helpful, as chipping targets down to 50% immediately can leave them crippled for the remainder of the battle. If Tapu Koko is used in conjuction with a Pokemon like Mega Charizard Y or Volcarona that desperately requires Stealth Rock to be cleared, Tapu Koko should be preserved until it can enter the field against two Pokemon that either are slower than it or cannot knock it out so it can guarantee a Defog. Electroweb can be spammed when Tapu Koko is in a relatively safe position for some chip damage and, more importantly, speed control. If Tapu Koko is in a position where it can claim a knockout on a severely weakened Pokemon, it is often more advantageous to take the knockout with Electroweb instead of Volt Switch so you get more out of that turn by lowering the Speed of the knocked-out Pokemon's partner. Nature's Madness combines incredibly well with strong attacks from Tapu Koko's partner, often resulting in knockouts. Generally, it is advisable to position yourself in such a way that you can use Nature's Madness and the aforementioned strong attack on the same turn such that your opponent cannot switch or Protect the weakened Pokemon to prevent a knockout on the next turn. If Sky Drop is chosen, the most efficient use of the pickup turn of Sky Drop is either setting up with a partner or switching in a Pokemon with a favorable matchup against the picked up Pokemon. This way, the Pokemon that was picked up cannot use Protect on the following turn before being dropped, and Tapu Koko's partner can secure an all-but-guaranteed knockout. Tapu Koko still isn't the bulkiest of Pokemon in general, so you must be sure not to be careless when using Tapu Koko as a damage sponge. If you lose Tapu Koko before it was able to perform an essential function, such as clearing Stealth Rock for its partners, you may find yourself at a stark disadvantage.
Team Options
========
Bulky Tapu Koko is best used on teams that already have ample firepower; since Tapu Koko generally fits the role of a strong, fast attacker, the bulky set requires teammates that can maintain offensive pressure. Pokemon like Mega Charizard Y and Volcarona greatly appreciate the support provided by Tapu Koko because their 4x weaknesses to Stealth Rock all but necessitate entry hazard removal. Additionally, their strong Heat Waves can take advantage of Nature's Madness's ability to prime opposing Pokemon for knockouts. Life Orb Kyurem-B also synergizes well with Tapu Koko thanks to its fantastic BoltBeam + Ground coverage. Ice Beam handles the Ground-types that threaten Tapu Koko, while Electric Terrain and Nature's Madness both combine very well with Kyurem-B's powerful attacks. When Sky Drop is chosen, Pokemon with stat-boosting moves like Calm Mind and Swords Dance are fantastic partners. Common Swords Dance users include Tapu Bulu and Kartana, which both additionally appreciate Tapu Koko's ability to outspeed and significantly damage Mega Charizard Y, while the most effective Calm Mind users are Tapu Fini and Cresselia. Cresselia deserves special mention thanks to Tapu Koko's Electric Surge ability, which allows Cresselia to consume its commonly chosen Electric Seed item and boost its Defense. Choice Band Zygarde makes for an interesting partner, since it benefits from the support provided by Nature's Madness and Electroweb while also being able to smack foes that have been picked up by Sky Drop with Thousand Arrows. Sky Drop also has a unique interaction with Trick Room—if Tapu Koko picks up a Pokemon slower than it while its partner uses Trick Room, its partner can use Trick Room again the following turn as Tapu Koko drops the opposing Pokemon to effectively remove it from battle for two turns. This technique is best used to stall out certain field conditions like rain or force opposing Pokemon to take more residual damage from sources like Toxic and Sand.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[MajorBowman, 188164]]
- Quality checked by: [[talkingtree, 232101], [GenOne, 306383]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Fireflame479, 231476], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
name: Bulky Pivot
move 1: Volt Switch
move 2: Nature's Madness
move 3: Electroweb / Sky Drop
move 4: Taunt / Defog
item: Wiki Berry
ability: Electric Surge
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 36 Def / 44 SpD / 176 Spe
ivs: 0 Atk
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Naturally high speed and access to Volt Switch make Tapu Koko an excellent pivot. When in an unfavorable position, it can easily score some chip damage on an opposing Pokemon while rotating into a Pokemon that can more effectively deal with the situation at hand. Nature's Madness provides a means of consistent damage output, covering for this set's lack of offensive investment and powerful attacks. Electroweb provides Tapu Koko with a way to give itself and its teammates speed initiative as well as knock out severely weakened Pokemon. Sky Drop can be used in lieu of Electroweb to disrupt opposing teams and give Tapu Koko's partner a chance to set up at a lesser risk. Taunt lets Tapu Koko shut down opposing status moves, preventing foes from utilizing speed control options like Trick Room and Tailwind or boosting their stats with attacks like Swords Dance and Dragon Dance. The combination of Taunt and Nature's Madness also makes Tapu Koko a very good check to Pokemon like Chansey and Cresselia, which rely on their bulk and recovery moves to be effective. Defog should be chosen when Tapu Koko is used alongside Pokemon like Mega Charizard Y and Volcarona, which will be severely hindered by taking Stealth Rock damage.
Set Details
========
The given Speed EVs and Timid nature allow Tapu Koko to outspeed Mega Salamence, one of the fastest threats in the Doubles OU tier. Thanks to its investment in HP and Defense, Tapu Koko will survive a Stomping Tantrum from Mega Metagross after Stealth Rock or a -1 Kyurem-B's Subzero Slammer. The remaining EVs are dumped into Special Defense, letting Tapu Koko survive a Psychic from Modest Tapu Lele in Psychic Terrain. Wiki Berry is used for recovery, but Assault Vest is another option if a status move like Taunt or Defog is not required. When Assault Vest is the item of choice, an EV spread of 252 HP / 24 Def / 56 SpD / 176 Spe should be used to guarantee survival of sun-boosted Overheat from Mega Charizard Y and Subzero Slammer from -1 Kyurem-B while maintaining the same Speed. The fourth move on Assault Vest Tapu Koko could be the previously unchosen Sky Drop or Electroweb, Thunderbolt for slightly better damage output overall, or Hidden Power Fire to OHKO offensive Kartana.
Usage Tips
========
Starting off a battle with Tapu Koko as a lead can be advantageous, since it can easily pivot into a better matchup and the Speed stats of opposing Pokemon like Tapu Koko and Landorus-T can be checked by following the order of ability activation. Scoring some early damage with Nature's Madness can also be very helpful, as chipping targets down to 50% immediately can leave them crippled for the remainder of the battle. If Tapu Koko is used in conjuction with a Pokemon like Mega Charizard Y or Volcarona that desperately requires Stealth Rock to be cleared, Tapu Koko should be preserved until it can enter the field against two Pokemon that either are slower than it or cannot knock it out so it can guarantee a Defog. Electroweb can be spammed when Tapu Koko is in a relatively safe position for some chip damage and, more importantly, speed control. If Tapu Koko is in a position where it can claim a knockout on a severely weakened Pokemon, it is often more advantageous to take the knockout with Electroweb instead of Volt Switch so you get more out of that turn by lowering the Speed of the knocked-out Pokemon's partner. Nature's Madness combines incredibly well with strong attacks from Tapu Koko's partner, often resulting in knockouts. Generally, it is advisable to position yourself in such a way that you can use Nature's Madness and the aforementioned strong attack on the same turn such that your opponent cannot switch or Protect the weakened Pokemon to prevent a knockout on the next turn. If Sky Drop is chosen, the most efficient use of the pickup turn of Sky Drop is either setting up with a partner or switching in a Pokemon with a favorable matchup against the picked up Pokemon. This way, the Pokemon that was picked up cannot use Protect on the following turn before being dropped, and Tapu Koko's partner can secure an all-but-guaranteed knockout. Tapu Koko still isn't the bulkiest of Pokemon in general, so you must be sure not to be careless when using Tapu Koko as a damage sponge. If you lose Tapu Koko before it was able to perform an essential function, such as clearing Stealth Rock for its partners, you may find yourself at a stark disadvantage.
Team Options
========
Bulky Tapu Koko is best used on teams that already have ample firepower; since Tapu Koko generally fits the role of a strong, fast attacker, the bulky set requires teammates that can maintain offensive pressure. Pokemon like Mega Charizard Y and Volcarona greatly appreciate the support provided by Tapu Koko because their 4x weaknesses to Stealth Rock all but necessitate entry hazard removal. Additionally, their strong Heat Waves can take advantage of Nature's Madness's ability to prime opposing Pokemon for knockouts. Life Orb Kyurem-B also synergizes well with Tapu Koko thanks to its fantastic BoltBeam + Ground coverage. Ice Beam handles the Ground-types that threaten Tapu Koko, while Electric Terrain and Nature's Madness both combine very well with Kyurem-B's powerful attacks. When Sky Drop is chosen, Pokemon with stat-boosting moves like Calm Mind and Swords Dance are fantastic partners. Common Swords Dance users include Tapu Bulu and Kartana, which both additionally appreciate Tapu Koko's ability to outspeed and significantly damage Mega Charizard Y, while the most effective Calm Mind users are Tapu Fini and Cresselia. Cresselia deserves special mention thanks to Tapu Koko's Electric Surge ability, which allows Cresselia to consume its commonly chosen Electric Seed item and boost its Defense. Choice Band Zygarde makes for an interesting partner, since it benefits from the support provided by Nature's Madness and Electroweb while also being able to smack foes that have been picked up by Sky Drop with Thousand Arrows. Sky Drop also has a unique interaction with Trick Room—if Tapu Koko picks up a Pokemon slower than it while its partner uses Trick Room, its partner can use Trick Room again the following turn as Tapu Koko drops the opposing Pokemon to effectively remove it from battle for two turns. This technique is best used to stall out certain field conditions like rain or force opposing Pokemon to take more residual damage from sources like Toxic and Sand.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[MajorBowman, 188164]]
- Quality checked by: [[talkingtree, 232101], [GenOne, 306383]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Fireflame479, 231476], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
Last edited:
