[OVERVIEW]
Ghost
========
Cofagrigus's low Speed allows it to serve as an effective setter of Trick Room for Ghost teams. Its high Defense stat allows it to comfortably take attacks from threatening physical attackers such as Excadrill and Tapu Bulu and set Trick Room. Cofagrigus is also able to pressure certain types such as Fairy and Normal with a useful entry hazard in Toxic Spikes. Mummy is a particularly useful ability for nullifying abilities against contact move users, which helps against threats Ghost teams would normally struggle against such as Mega Lopunny, Mega Pinsir, and Mega Altaria. However, Cofagrigus cannot effectively utilize its own Trick Room due to its lack of damage output when unboosted and overreliance on Shadow Ball. Despite its good physical bulk, it lacks a reliable form of recovery, limiting the number of times it can set Trick Room throughout a match. Its good Defense comes with a horrendous HP stat, which prevents it from being a good check to special attackers such as Latios and Kyurem-B when uninvested in Special Defense.
[SET]
name: Trick Room setter (Ghost)
move 1: Trick Room
move 2: Toxic Spikes
move 3: Hex
move 4: Memento
item: Darkinium Z
ability: Mummy
nature: Relaxed
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Trick Room is used to support Cofagrigus's slower teammates like Hoopa, Dhelmise, Golurk, and Alolan Marowak by making up for their poor Speed and therefore turning them into potent offensive threats. Toxic Spikes puts pressure on tough matchups such as Fairy and Normal by poisoning grounded foes. Hex is Cofagrigus's only attacking move and allows it to do a lot of damage by taking advantage of the status induced by its Toxic Spikes. Memento allows Cofagrigus to support a teammate such as Alolan Marowak by lowering the opposing Pokemon's offensive stats and bringing said teammate in safely after setting Trick Room.
Set Details
========
Maximum HP and Defense investment along with a Relaxed nature makes Cofagrigus as physically bulky as possible and lets it comfortably switch into physical attackers such as Landorus-T, Alolan Muk, and Scizor while outspeeding foes such as Mega Sableye and Ferrothorn under Trick Room. Darkinium Z powers Memento up into Z-Memento, allowing Cofagrigus to support a worn-down teammate by restoring its health. Mummy is particularly useful for crippling ability-reliant Pokemon such as Mega Altaria, Mega Lopunny, and Mega Pinsir.
Usage Tips
========
Cofagrigus should use its good bulk to look for opportunities to set up Trick Room and Toxic Spikes throughout a match in order to support its teammates. It should generally try to switch in on physical attackers such as Mega Aerodactyl and defensive Pokemon such as Porygon2, as they all fail to 2HKO it. In matchups such as Fairy, Normal, Fighting, and Bug, Cofagrigus should take full advantage of Toxic Spikes by setting them early-game. This is also beneficial for using Toxic Spikes as a way to boost Hex's damage output. However, be wary of Taunt users such as Gliscor, Tapu Koko, and Mew that try to stop Cofagrigus from setting up Trick Room, and switch out to a teammate that can handle said Taunt user. As this set cannot properly take advantage of Trick Room itself, Z-Memento should be used after using Trick Room in order to preserve turns of Trick Room for Cofagrigus's teammates such as Alolan Marowak to take advantage of, and it notably helps if said teammate is significantly worn down. Cofagrigus should aim to cripple Pokemon that are reliant on their abilities to function using Mummy, namely Mega Altaria, Mega Lopunny, and Mega Pinsir, as well as other abilities such as Mimikyu's Disguise and Dragonite's Multiscale.
Team Options
========
Alolan Marowak is the main Pokemon to benefit from Trick Room on Trick Room Ghost teams. Using its low Speed and high damage output, it becomes a dangerous wallbreaker able to dismantle types such as Normal and Steel with Swords Dance. Hoopa's lackluster Speed makes it another potent Pokemon to take advantage of Cofagrigus's Trick Room while also being able to set up Trick Room itself if Cofagrigus ever fails to set it. Mega Sableye is able to check Dark-type Pokemon such as Hydreigon and Greninja that threaten Cofagrigus and switch in on Taunt users such as Crobat and Mew that prevent Cofagrigus from setting its Trick Room. Mimikyu's Fairy-type STAB move along with its ability in Disgusie makes it a perfect check to Dark-type Pokemon such as Mega Sharpedo and Hydreigon that Cofagrigus dislikes dealing with. It is also able to serve as a secondary Trick Room setter that can support the team if Cofagrigus is ever unable to set it. Gengar and Blacephalon are faster offensive Ghost-type Pokemon that are able to revenge kill faster Pokemon for Cofagrigus such as Hydreigon, Tapu Koko, and Mega Charizard Y outside of Trick Room. They also appreciate Cofagrigus's Toxic Spikes that gradually wear the team down for them to sweep easier. Golurk provides Stealth Rock support, which helps it by chipping Pokemon that Cofagrigus forces out.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Ghost
--------
An offensive set with Nasty Plot and Never-Ending Nightmare can be used in order to give Cofagrigus an offensive presence under Trick Room, although its overreliance on Shadow Ball and a Nasty Plot boost to do damage hampers its effectiveness. Will-O-Wisp can be used to burn and cripple physical attackers such as Alolan Golem, Dragonite, Mega Swampert, and Garchomp.
Checks and Counters
===================
Ghost
--------
**Dark-types**: Dark-type Pokemon such as Hydreigon, Bisharp, and Mega Sharpedo are all able to threaten Cofagrigus with their Dark-type STAB attacks.
**Taunt**: Taunt users such as Mew, Crobat, and Kommo-o deal with Cofagrigus, as they all disrupt its ability to support its team with Trick Room as well as use its other status moves.
**Special Attackers**: Special attackers such as Mega Diancie, Tapu Koko, and Nidoking are easily able to 2HKO Cofagrigus because of its lackluster special bulk.
**Residual Damage**: Residual forms of damage such as entry hazards and status limit the number of times Cofagrigus is able to set Trick Room throughout the match. This is exacerbated by its lack of recovery.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Decem, 362454]]
- Ghost analysis by: [[Decem, 362454]]
- Quality checked by: [[Misaka Mikoto, 240969], [maroon, 305839], [Moosical, 215618]]
- Grammar checked by: [[deetah, 297659], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
Last edited:
