[OVERVIEW]
Often considered the best Pokemon in standard OU thanks to its high Attack, great Speed, and workable bulk, in STABmons Tauros is even more threatening thanks to its Normal typing providing it a plethora of amazing tools. Slash provides an instantly powerful and spammable attack that 3HKOes nearly every neutral target, Swords Dance can boost Body Slam and Hyper Beam to unwallable levels, Recover provides Tauros reliable recovery, and Glare can ruin any would-be check reliant on its Speed. This is combined with access to Explosion, providing Tauros the means to trade with virtually every neutral target, and even Rock-types take immense damage from it. With Tauros's power, Speed, versatility, and Explosion, it's not uncommon for Tauros to take out multiple Pokemon in a game.
However, Tauros is so effective that it's often a waste for it to take out just one foe, even if it might seem enticing to trade with a bulky foe using Explosion. Doing so can leave the player with a net loss, because the opponent also likely has a Tauros that could make even more progress. This fact also often incentivizes opponents to have their Explosion users such as Clefable and Kangaskhan to trade with Tauros, since it's usually a net gain for them. Without Explosion forcing a trade, Slash Tauros can sometimes struggle to break through Recover-using Normal-types, while Swords Dance variants are forced to spend a whole turn setting up to become a proper wallbreaker. This issue is further exacerbated by the prevalence of Glare and Thunder Wave, which can leave Tauros overwhelmed by the onslaught of powerful attackers. Even Explosion isn't always reliable, because the opponent can always sacrifice a Pokemon they don't need, and Gengar can switch in and take 0 damage while Tauros faints; as Tauros gets paralyzed and loses HP, its Explosion becomes more predicable. Tauros also has 4MSS, with it forced to give up valuable utility or the ability to threaten Gengar. Regardless, Tauros an incredible progress maker that can reliably trade with one Pokemon at minimum, making it nearly mandatory on teams. However, maximizing Tauros's portential requires careful play, because teams are always built to minimize the progress an opposing Tauros can deal.
[SET]
name: Slash
move 1: Slash
move 2: Explosion
move 3: Earthquake / Glare
move 4: Recover
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Slash 3HKOes most neutral targets, such as Exeggutor, Kangaskhan, and opposing Tauros. It can also 2HKO frailer targets such as Starmie and Alakazam. Explosion lets Tauros OHKO nearly every neutral target, with even Snorlax being OHKOed more often than not. Earthquake hits Gengar, which could otherwise wall Tauros if it only runs Normal-type attacking moves and make Explosion do nothing but KO Tauros if Gengar switches in at the right time. Glare is an alternative if Gengar isn't a concern, letting Tauros ruin speedy foes such as Starmie and opposing Tauros. It can also help against Recover users that Tauros can't reliably 2HKO with Slash, such as Kangaskhan and Clefable, since Tauros can usually break through them with the help of full paralysis before Slash is PP stalled. Recover allows Tauros to heal off weak hits, letting it stay healthy to wallbreak throughout a game and duel other Recover users.
Tauros should be used on the vast majority of teams, generally acting as a mid-game wallbreaker. Tauros enjoys switching in to revenge kill a weakened foe such as Exeggutor or paralyzed Starmie, using the sheer power of its Slash to dissuade the target from switching out. Its gameplan slightly changes as a result of its choice of move—if running Earthquake, it can afford to be more aggressive early-game, threatening a potential Gengar switch with heavy damage. If running Glare, Tauros is best saved until Gengar is removed, which can be done using fast attackers such as Starmie or Alakazam, or slower, bulkier attackers such as Kangaskhan and Exeggutor once Sleep Clause is active. In general, Tauros hates getting paralyzed, because it's easily dispatched by slower attackers like Exeggutor, and Slash users that could otherwise only 3HKO Tauros are suddenly favored to win thanks to the chance of full paralysis. Starmie is one of Tauros's best answers, being able to paralyze Tauros and 2HKO it with Crabhammer. Alakazam can't 2HKO Tauros but it can outspeed and paralyze it as well. Exeggutor can switch into each of these Pokemon's STAB moves while also not minding paralysis that much, sometimes even enjoying being paralyzed since it can now sleep block itself. If Exeggutor is tasked with something else, Chansey can be used to check these foes as well. Sometimes Tauros is forced to take paralysis, usually against a slow, bulky, Normal-type Recover-user such as Snorlax, Clefable, or Kangaskhan. If so, Tauros enjoys having Glare to paralyze them back, making it favored to win a one-on-one when accounting for full paralysis and its higher Speed. Opponents have a tendency to use Explosion on their Pokemon to make a favorable trade with Tauros, making Gengar an excellent partner to switch into these otherwise unwallable attacks. Tauros should carefully consider the need for it to use Explosion, and should usually only do so when removing the target can enable a teammate, such as Exeggutor for Starmie, or when its clear it will be KOed in a one-on-one, such as versus Starmie.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Blizzard can 2HKO Rhydon and Golem, but alongside them being rare, neither can 2HKO Tauros with their STAB moves nor do they have reliable recovery, so Tauros is favored to beat them anyways, barring Golem's Explosion. Super Fang can halve the HP of bulky foes, and even hits Gengar, but Slash already does close to 50% on most foes, so both generally achieve a 3HKO, but Slash relies on less moveslots.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Gengar**: * If Tauros is only running Normal-type attacking moves, it cannot touch Gengar at all, leaving Gengar free to threaten Tauros's team with damage and sleep. Gengar can also switch into Tauros's Explosion, making its sacrifice for naught. However, Gengar must be wary of Earthquake, which 2HKOes it. While extremely rare, Haunter is sometimes used alongside Gengar, being able to achieve a similar role as its evolution.
**Starmie**: Starmie outspeeds Tauros, 2HKOes it with Crabhammer, and can paralyze it with Thunder Wave. However, Starmie must watch out for Tauros 2HKOing it with Slash and paralyzing it with Glare, as well as using Explosion to KO both of them.
**Opposing Normal-types**: Tauros frequently trades with itself, with both healing off Slash until one uses Explosion. Tauros with Glare have an advantage, with the paralyzed Tauros's Explosion usually being very telegraphed. Other Normal-types such as Snorlax, Kangaskhan, and Clefairy can paralyze Tauros, and unless it can paralyze them back it is usually force to trade with Explosion. Tauros is favored to win if they both are paralyzed, but the Normal-type can use Explosion to force this unforable trade as well.
**Paralysis**: Once paralyzed, Tauros is easily overwhelmed by most decently powerful attackers, with Recover being less effective due to the chance of full paralysis. Tauros can still use Explosion to trade, but this can be very perdictable and played around.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
Quality checked by:
Grammar checked by:
Often considered the best Pokemon in standard OU thanks to its high Attack, great Speed, and workable bulk, in STABmons Tauros is even more threatening thanks to its Normal typing providing it a plethora of amazing tools. Slash provides an instantly powerful and spammable attack that 3HKOes nearly every neutral target, Swords Dance can boost Body Slam and Hyper Beam to unwallable levels, Recover provides Tauros reliable recovery, and Glare can ruin any would-be check reliant on its Speed. This is combined with access to Explosion, providing Tauros the means to trade with virtually every neutral target, and even Rock-types take immense damage from it. With Tauros's power, Speed, versatility, and Explosion, it's not uncommon for Tauros to take out multiple Pokemon in a game.
However, Tauros is so effective that it's often a waste for it to take out just one foe, even if it might seem enticing to trade with a bulky foe using Explosion. Doing so can leave the player with a net loss, because the opponent also likely has a Tauros that could make even more progress. This fact also often incentivizes opponents to have their Explosion users such as Clefable and Kangaskhan to trade with Tauros, since it's usually a net gain for them. Without Explosion forcing a trade, Slash Tauros can sometimes struggle to break through Recover-using Normal-types, while Swords Dance variants are forced to spend a whole turn setting up to become a proper wallbreaker. This issue is further exacerbated by the prevalence of Glare and Thunder Wave, which can leave Tauros overwhelmed by the onslaught of powerful attackers. Even Explosion isn't always reliable, because the opponent can always sacrifice a Pokemon they don't need, and Gengar can switch in and take 0 damage while Tauros faints; as Tauros gets paralyzed and loses HP, its Explosion becomes more predicable. Tauros also has 4MSS, with it forced to give up valuable utility or the ability to threaten Gengar. Regardless, Tauros an incredible progress maker that can reliably trade with one Pokemon at minimum, making it nearly mandatory on teams. However, maximizing Tauros's portential requires careful play, because teams are always built to minimize the progress an opposing Tauros can deal.
[SET]
name: Slash
move 1: Slash
move 2: Explosion
move 3: Earthquake / Glare
move 4: Recover
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Slash 3HKOes most neutral targets, such as Exeggutor, Kangaskhan, and opposing Tauros. It can also 2HKO frailer targets such as Starmie and Alakazam. Explosion lets Tauros OHKO nearly every neutral target, with even Snorlax being OHKOed more often than not. Earthquake hits Gengar, which could otherwise wall Tauros if it only runs Normal-type attacking moves and make Explosion do nothing but KO Tauros if Gengar switches in at the right time. Glare is an alternative if Gengar isn't a concern, letting Tauros ruin speedy foes such as Starmie and opposing Tauros. It can also help against Recover users that Tauros can't reliably 2HKO with Slash, such as Kangaskhan and Clefable, since Tauros can usually break through them with the help of full paralysis before Slash is PP stalled. Recover allows Tauros to heal off weak hits, letting it stay healthy to wallbreak throughout a game and duel other Recover users.
Tauros should be used on the vast majority of teams, generally acting as a mid-game wallbreaker. Tauros enjoys switching in to revenge kill a weakened foe such as Exeggutor or paralyzed Starmie, using the sheer power of its Slash to dissuade the target from switching out. Its gameplan slightly changes as a result of its choice of move—if running Earthquake, it can afford to be more aggressive early-game, threatening a potential Gengar switch with heavy damage. If running Glare, Tauros is best saved until Gengar is removed, which can be done using fast attackers such as Starmie or Alakazam, or slower, bulkier attackers such as Kangaskhan and Exeggutor once Sleep Clause is active. In general, Tauros hates getting paralyzed, because it's easily dispatched by slower attackers like Exeggutor, and Slash users that could otherwise only 3HKO Tauros are suddenly favored to win thanks to the chance of full paralysis. Starmie is one of Tauros's best answers, being able to paralyze Tauros and 2HKO it with Crabhammer. Alakazam can't 2HKO Tauros but it can outspeed and paralyze it as well. Exeggutor can switch into each of these Pokemon's STAB moves while also not minding paralysis that much, sometimes even enjoying being paralyzed since it can now sleep block itself. If Exeggutor is tasked with something else, Chansey can be used to check these foes as well. Sometimes Tauros is forced to take paralysis, usually against a slow, bulky, Normal-type Recover-user such as Snorlax, Clefable, or Kangaskhan. If so, Tauros enjoys having Glare to paralyze them back, making it favored to win a one-on-one when accounting for full paralysis and its higher Speed. Opponents have a tendency to use Explosion on their Pokemon to make a favorable trade with Tauros, making Gengar an excellent partner to switch into these otherwise unwallable attacks. Tauros should carefully consider the need for it to use Explosion, and should usually only do so when removing the target can enable a teammate, such as Exeggutor for Starmie, or when its clear it will be KOed in a one-on-one, such as versus Starmie.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Blizzard can 2HKO Rhydon and Golem, but alongside them being rare, neither can 2HKO Tauros with their STAB moves nor do they have reliable recovery, so Tauros is favored to beat them anyways, barring Golem's Explosion. Super Fang can halve the HP of bulky foes, and even hits Gengar, but Slash already does close to 50% on most foes, so both generally achieve a 3HKO, but Slash relies on less moveslots.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Gengar**: * If Tauros is only running Normal-type attacking moves, it cannot touch Gengar at all, leaving Gengar free to threaten Tauros's team with damage and sleep. Gengar can also switch into Tauros's Explosion, making its sacrifice for naught. However, Gengar must be wary of Earthquake, which 2HKOes it. While extremely rare, Haunter is sometimes used alongside Gengar, being able to achieve a similar role as its evolution.
**Starmie**: Starmie outspeeds Tauros, 2HKOes it with Crabhammer, and can paralyze it with Thunder Wave. However, Starmie must watch out for Tauros 2HKOing it with Slash and paralyzing it with Glare, as well as using Explosion to KO both of them.
**Opposing Normal-types**: Tauros frequently trades with itself, with both healing off Slash until one uses Explosion. Tauros with Glare have an advantage, with the paralyzed Tauros's Explosion usually being very telegraphed. Other Normal-types such as Snorlax, Kangaskhan, and Clefairy can paralyze Tauros, and unless it can paralyze them back it is usually force to trade with Explosion. Tauros is favored to win if they both are paralyzed, but the Normal-type can use Explosion to force this unforable trade as well.
**Paralysis**: Once paralyzed, Tauros is easily overwhelmed by most decently powerful attackers, with Recover being less effective due to the chance of full paralysis. Tauros can still use Explosion to trade, but this can be very perdictable and played around.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
Quality checked by:
Grammar checked by:
Attachments
Last edited: