[OVERVIEW]
With a good typing and solid defenses, Tapu Fini is a strong defensive Pokemon that can check many of the metagame's offensive threats, such as Urshifu-R, Buzzwole, and Weavile, while supporting its own team with Misty Terrain, keeping them safe from status. Tapu Fini further supports its team with access to a handful of powerful utility moves, like Trick, allowing it to cripple opposing defensive Pokemon with a Choice Scarf set, and Taunt, which lets it take advantage of more passive foes to set up and shut down opposing setup sweepers. However, Tapu Fini lacks reliable recovery, only learning Draining Kiss, which is a significant Base Power downgrade from Moonblast, and Rest, which is blocked by Misty Terrain. This makes it reliant on Leftovers and susceptible to being chipped down if it loses them or opts for a Choice Scarf set, which can eventually lead to it being overwhelmed by the Pokemon that it is supposed to check, like Weavile and Urshifu-R. Additionally, many prominent metagame threats like Rillaboom, Kartana, and Tapu Koko pose a serious threat to Tapu Fini.
[SET]
Tapu Fini @ Leftovers
Ability: Misty Surge
EVs: 252 HP / 192 Def / 64 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Bold Nature
- Calm Mind
- Scald
- Draining Kiss
- Taunt
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
With Calm Mind, Tapu Fini bolsters its already high Special Defense, helping it better check Pokemon like Tapu Lele and Dragapult after a couple of boosts. Scald can deter Rillaboom and Kartana from switching in with the threat of a burn. Draining Kiss helps keep Tapu Fini from being worn down, especially if it has lost its Leftovers. Taunt blocks the likes of Blissey and Toxapex from using healing moves in front of Tapu Fini, letting it use these Pokemon as setup fodder, while preventing Pokemon like Volcarona and Clefable from setting up in front of it. 64 Speed EVs allow Tapu Fini to outspeed Tyranitar, with the rest invested to maximize Tapu Fini's physical bulk.
Team Options
========
Tapu Fini fits well on bulky offense and balance teams that appreciate its ability to check a variety of offensive threats. Ground-types like Garchomp and Landorus-T are necessary to check Electric-types like Zeraora and Tapu Koko, while Zapdos and Tornadus-T are appreciated to help against Rillaboom and Kartana. All of these in turn benefit from Tapu Fini being able to handle Weavile. Tapu Fini also struggles against Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Melmetal, so teammates like Magnezone and Heatran that can take care of them are needed. Additionally, Tapu Fini does not appreciate taking Knock Off because it relies on the weak Draining Kiss for recovery, so teammates that are less reliant on their items like Skarmory and Corviknight can be considered.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Tapu Fini can serve as an entry hazard remover with Defog, but it lacks recovery and doesn't run Heavy-Duty Boots, so other Defoggers like Corviknight are preferred. Tapu Fini can also opt to run Knock Off as a way to hinder opponents, but it tends to get more utility out of Taunt, as many of its common teammates, like Kartana and Weavile, already run Knock Off. Surf or Hydro Pump can be used over Scald for more power, but they trade off the potential to burn incoming Rillaboom, and, in the case of Hydro Pump, very reduced accuracy. Substitute is a niche option on Calm Mind sets to allow Tapu Fini to set up safely but comes at the cost of Taunt's utility. Ice Beam is another niche choice that can let Tapu Fini take Zapdos and Rillaboom switching in by surprise, but both of these Pokemon still outspeed and threaten Tapu Fini while recovering off damage through Roost or Grassy Terrain.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Galarian Slowking**: Galarian Slowking is one of the metagame's truest counters to Tapu Fini, as it takes negligible damage from any attacks, especially if it's running an Assault Vest, and easily heals with Regenerator while 2HKOing Tapu Fini with Sludge Bomb. Nasty Plot sets can also overwhelm Tapu Fini, quickly wearing it down with Psyshock or Sludge Bomb. It is crippled by being receiving a Choice Scarf from Trick sets, though Tapu Fini should be wary of hindering its own utility by taking on an Assault Vest or hurting itself by receiving Black Sludge from either its own Trick or Galarian Slowking's.
**Steel-types**: Most Steel-types can survive any attack from Tapu Fini and threaten it back, particularly Melmetal with Double Iron Bash, while mostly being immune to a Scald burn thanks to Misty Terrain. Ferrothorn can easily take Tapu Fini's attacks and deal huge damage back with Power Whip, though not all Ferrothorn sets include Power Whip, and these sets in particular hate being Taunted. Corviknight can live any one hit from Tapu Fini, but fears being burned and will struggle to damage it back. Additionally, any of these Steel-types are severely hindered by taking a Choice Scarf from Trick Tapu Fini variants.
**Electric- and Grass-types**: The metagame has a plethora of offensive Electric- and Grass-types like Tapu Koko, Zeraora, Arctozolt, Rillaboom, and Kartana, all of which outspeed and deal significant damage to Tapu Fini.
**Chip Damage**: Because Tapu Fini is fully reliant on Leftovers and the weak Draining Kiss for recovery, it can be quickly worn down by entry hazards and U-turn and Future Sight from opposing Pokemon like Landorus-T, Tornadus-T, Tapu Lele, and Slowbro, especially if it is running a Choice Scarf set. There are a number of Pokemon that threaten Tapu Fini's Leftovers with Knock Off, including Toxapex and Tornadus-T, the former of which can usually act as a hard counter to Tapu Fini thanks to its typing and access to moves like Haze and Poison Jab.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/theia.439018/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tpp.260369/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tysonslayer.349443/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
With a good typing and solid defenses, Tapu Fini is a strong defensive Pokemon that can check many of the metagame's offensive threats, such as Urshifu-R, Buzzwole, and Weavile, while supporting its own team with Misty Terrain, keeping them safe from status. Tapu Fini further supports its team with access to a handful of powerful utility moves, like Trick, allowing it to cripple opposing defensive Pokemon with a Choice Scarf set, and Taunt, which lets it take advantage of more passive foes to set up and shut down opposing setup sweepers. However, Tapu Fini lacks reliable recovery, only learning Draining Kiss, which is a significant Base Power downgrade from Moonblast, and Rest, which is blocked by Misty Terrain. This makes it reliant on Leftovers and susceptible to being chipped down if it loses them or opts for a Choice Scarf set, which can eventually lead to it being overwhelmed by the Pokemon that it is supposed to check, like Weavile and Urshifu-R. Additionally, many prominent metagame threats like Rillaboom, Kartana, and Tapu Koko pose a serious threat to Tapu Fini.
[SET]
Tapu Fini @ Leftovers
Ability: Misty Surge
EVs: 252 HP / 192 Def / 64 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Bold Nature
- Calm Mind
- Scald
- Draining Kiss
- Taunt
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
With Calm Mind, Tapu Fini bolsters its already high Special Defense, helping it better check Pokemon like Tapu Lele and Dragapult after a couple of boosts. Scald can deter Rillaboom and Kartana from switching in with the threat of a burn. Draining Kiss helps keep Tapu Fini from being worn down, especially if it has lost its Leftovers. Taunt blocks the likes of Blissey and Toxapex from using healing moves in front of Tapu Fini, letting it use these Pokemon as setup fodder, while preventing Pokemon like Volcarona and Clefable from setting up in front of it. 64 Speed EVs allow Tapu Fini to outspeed Tyranitar, with the rest invested to maximize Tapu Fini's physical bulk.
Team Options
========
Tapu Fini fits well on bulky offense and balance teams that appreciate its ability to check a variety of offensive threats. Ground-types like Garchomp and Landorus-T are necessary to check Electric-types like Zeraora and Tapu Koko, while Zapdos and Tornadus-T are appreciated to help against Rillaboom and Kartana. All of these in turn benefit from Tapu Fini being able to handle Weavile. Tapu Fini also struggles against Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Melmetal, so teammates like Magnezone and Heatran that can take care of them are needed. Additionally, Tapu Fini does not appreciate taking Knock Off because it relies on the weak Draining Kiss for recovery, so teammates that are less reliant on their items like Skarmory and Corviknight can be considered.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Tapu Fini can serve as an entry hazard remover with Defog, but it lacks recovery and doesn't run Heavy-Duty Boots, so other Defoggers like Corviknight are preferred. Tapu Fini can also opt to run Knock Off as a way to hinder opponents, but it tends to get more utility out of Taunt, as many of its common teammates, like Kartana and Weavile, already run Knock Off. Surf or Hydro Pump can be used over Scald for more power, but they trade off the potential to burn incoming Rillaboom, and, in the case of Hydro Pump, very reduced accuracy. Substitute is a niche option on Calm Mind sets to allow Tapu Fini to set up safely but comes at the cost of Taunt's utility. Ice Beam is another niche choice that can let Tapu Fini take Zapdos and Rillaboom switching in by surprise, but both of these Pokemon still outspeed and threaten Tapu Fini while recovering off damage through Roost or Grassy Terrain.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Galarian Slowking**: Galarian Slowking is one of the metagame's truest counters to Tapu Fini, as it takes negligible damage from any attacks, especially if it's running an Assault Vest, and easily heals with Regenerator while 2HKOing Tapu Fini with Sludge Bomb. Nasty Plot sets can also overwhelm Tapu Fini, quickly wearing it down with Psyshock or Sludge Bomb. It is crippled by being receiving a Choice Scarf from Trick sets, though Tapu Fini should be wary of hindering its own utility by taking on an Assault Vest or hurting itself by receiving Black Sludge from either its own Trick or Galarian Slowking's.
**Steel-types**: Most Steel-types can survive any attack from Tapu Fini and threaten it back, particularly Melmetal with Double Iron Bash, while mostly being immune to a Scald burn thanks to Misty Terrain. Ferrothorn can easily take Tapu Fini's attacks and deal huge damage back with Power Whip, though not all Ferrothorn sets include Power Whip, and these sets in particular hate being Taunted. Corviknight can live any one hit from Tapu Fini, but fears being burned and will struggle to damage it back. Additionally, any of these Steel-types are severely hindered by taking a Choice Scarf from Trick Tapu Fini variants.
**Electric- and Grass-types**: The metagame has a plethora of offensive Electric- and Grass-types like Tapu Koko, Zeraora, Arctozolt, Rillaboom, and Kartana, all of which outspeed and deal significant damage to Tapu Fini.
**Chip Damage**: Because Tapu Fini is fully reliant on Leftovers and the weak Draining Kiss for recovery, it can be quickly worn down by entry hazards and U-turn and Future Sight from opposing Pokemon like Landorus-T, Tornadus-T, Tapu Lele, and Slowbro, especially if it is running a Choice Scarf set. There are a number of Pokemon that threaten Tapu Fini's Leftovers with Knock Off, including Toxapex and Tornadus-T, the former of which can usually act as a hard counter to Tapu Fini thanks to its typing and access to moves like Haze and Poison Jab.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/theia.439018/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tpp.260369/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tysonslayer.349443/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Last edited: