[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Moonblast
move 2: Scald / Nature's Madness
move 3: Defog
move 4: Taunt
item: Leftovers
ability: Misty Surge
nature: Bold
tera type: Steel / Grass
evs: 248 HP / 164 Def / 96 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Tapu Fini's solid typing, good bulk, and vast utility make it an excellent defensive presence in the metagame, holding the tier together against numerous Pokemon, such as Latios, Mega Tyranitar, and Keldeo. Misty Surge makes it excellent at regaining momentum against status users, such as Clefable, Skarmory, and Blissey, allowing setup teammates like Aegislash to more freely set up against these Pokemon. Scald provides Tapu Fini with a STAB move that can burn the likes of Celesteela and Tapu Bulu attempting to take advantage of it while also letting it apply pressure to targets such as Iron Moth and Blade forme Aegislash. Alternatively, Nature's Madness allows Tapu Fini to hit defensive Pokemon it would otherwise be unable to punish for switching in, like Assault Vest Galarian Slowking and Amoonguss. Defog keeps entry hazards off against walls that its typing enables it to match up well against, like Ting-Lu and Skarmory. Taunt, besides preventing the aforementioned Pokemon from relaying hazards in front of Tapu Fini, also denies healing and setup attempts from Pokemon like Clefable, Blissey, and Aegislash, particularly when used in combination with Nature's Madness to more quickly wear down said targets. Tera Steel grants Tapu Fini a Poison immunity and some extremely valuable resistances, namely a complete Poison immunity, and resistances to Ice, Grass, and Stealth Rock, letting it take attacks from Pokemon such as Z-Happy Hour Jirachi and Serperior. Alternatively, Tera Grass can still help it play around the latter, lets it keep its Water resistance, and lets it check Electric-types like Choice Band Iron Hands, Sandy Shocks, and Zeraora when needed. 96 Speed EVs ensure that Tapu Fini outruns Adamant Scizor, letting it shut down potential Swords Dance attempts against it, while the rest is put into Defense to maximize its walling capabilities against Pokemon such as Mega Gyarados, Psyshock Latios, and Excadrill. Defog Tapu Fini fits onto many bulky offense and balance teams for its valuable role compression. Tapu Fini is prone to being overwhelmed and lacks any form of healing outside of Leftovers, which makes other defensive Pokemon that can support it against the aforementioned threats extremely valuable; these include Pokemon such as Skarmory and Assault Vest Tangrowth. Wish users such as Jirachi and Blissey are also highly noticeable in this regard for their ability to keep Tapu Fini healthy throughout the game in addition to synergizing with it immensely by handling special attackers that can threaten Tapu Fini, such as Serperior and Alakazam, while also gaining protection from the latter's Glare in return. Other defensive Pokemon like Buzzwole, Assault Vest Slowking, and Mega Aggron benefit from Tapu Fini's ability to clear hazards, allowing them to more safely leverage their HP to check the threats they are meant to deal with. Finally, powerful offensive Pokemon that appreciate Misty Terrain's effects, like Swords Dance Aegislash and Choice Band Tyranitar, also enjoy being able to fall back on Tapu Fini to deal with offensive threats like Keldeo and clear hazards, improving their potential to wallbreak throughout the game.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Moonblast
move 2: Hydro Pump / Surf
move 3: Trick
move 4: Defog / Taunt / Nature's Madness
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Misty Surge
nature: Timid
tera type: Steel / Fairy
evs: 188 HP / 96 SpA / 224 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Scarf Tapu Fini can outspeed and revenge kill common offensive Pokemon such as Blaziken, Mega Gyarados, and non-Choice Scarf Meowscarada. Additionally, Tapu Fini can still uphold its natural defensive qualities and bulk to switch into other threats like Cinderace and Latios when needed, before outspeeding and threatening them too, while also providing Defog support. Hydro Pump is Tapu Fini's strongest move to hit Iron Moth and Excadrill with, OHKOing both after Stealth Rock damage, but Surf can be used instead if accuracy is a concern despite having less power. Trick allows Tapu Fini to cripple an incoming wall that would normally try to take advantage of it, like Blissey and Amoonguss. Defog allows Tapu Fini to clear entry hazards for its team in a pinch, especially once it has Tricked away its Choice Scarf, but if Defog is already found on another Pokemon, Taunt and Nature's Madness are options that can be used instead to further mess with most defensive Pokemon, chipping them down quickly or denying healing attempts. The given EV spread ensures that Tapu Fini survives a +2 Acrobatics from Hawlucha and outspeeds +1 Mega Gyarados. Tera Steel is usually the preferred Tera type to give Tapu Fini resistances to Stealth Rock, Ice, Psychic, and Fairy, helping it respond to threats such as Scizor and Alakazam in a pinch; however, Tera Fairy can be used to strengthen Moonblast against offensive Pokemon that are weak to it, namely Latios, Mega Altaria, and the aforementioned +1 Mega Gyarados. Tapu Fini fits best on offensive teams that appreciate its defensive utility and role compression. Wallbreakers that benefit from its ability to check faster offensive threats like Keldeo and Galarian Zapdos include Pokemon such as Swords Dance Aegislash, Choice Band Tyranitar, and Mega Heracross, with each additionally benefiting from Misty Terrain's status immunity. On the other hand, Tapu Fini's tendency to lure in defensive Pokemon that it can Trick its Choice Scarf over to, like Blissey and Assault Vest Galarian Slowking, can be exploited by Pokemon that normally struggle to break past them, such as Iron Moth and Nasty Plot Hydreigon. As Tapu Fini can struggle to check threats like Latios and Victini in the long run, other Pokemon like Celesteela and Galarian Moltres can help provide extra insurance against these Pokemon.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/arishem.546157/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/pubo.535121/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/wrathoftheleopard.511181/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lumari.232216/
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Moonblast
move 2: Scald / Nature's Madness
move 3: Defog
move 4: Taunt
item: Leftovers
ability: Misty Surge
nature: Bold
tera type: Steel / Grass
evs: 248 HP / 164 Def / 96 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Tapu Fini's solid typing, good bulk, and vast utility make it an excellent defensive presence in the metagame, holding the tier together against numerous Pokemon, such as Latios, Mega Tyranitar, and Keldeo. Misty Surge makes it excellent at regaining momentum against status users, such as Clefable, Skarmory, and Blissey, allowing setup teammates like Aegislash to more freely set up against these Pokemon. Scald provides Tapu Fini with a STAB move that can burn the likes of Celesteela and Tapu Bulu attempting to take advantage of it while also letting it apply pressure to targets such as Iron Moth and Blade forme Aegislash. Alternatively, Nature's Madness allows Tapu Fini to hit defensive Pokemon it would otherwise be unable to punish for switching in, like Assault Vest Galarian Slowking and Amoonguss. Defog keeps entry hazards off against walls that its typing enables it to match up well against, like Ting-Lu and Skarmory. Taunt, besides preventing the aforementioned Pokemon from relaying hazards in front of Tapu Fini, also denies healing and setup attempts from Pokemon like Clefable, Blissey, and Aegislash, particularly when used in combination with Nature's Madness to more quickly wear down said targets. Tera Steel grants Tapu Fini a Poison immunity and some extremely valuable resistances, namely a complete Poison immunity, and resistances to Ice, Grass, and Stealth Rock, letting it take attacks from Pokemon such as Z-Happy Hour Jirachi and Serperior. Alternatively, Tera Grass can still help it play around the latter, lets it keep its Water resistance, and lets it check Electric-types like Choice Band Iron Hands, Sandy Shocks, and Zeraora when needed. 96 Speed EVs ensure that Tapu Fini outruns Adamant Scizor, letting it shut down potential Swords Dance attempts against it, while the rest is put into Defense to maximize its walling capabilities against Pokemon such as Mega Gyarados, Psyshock Latios, and Excadrill. Defog Tapu Fini fits onto many bulky offense and balance teams for its valuable role compression. Tapu Fini is prone to being overwhelmed and lacks any form of healing outside of Leftovers, which makes other defensive Pokemon that can support it against the aforementioned threats extremely valuable; these include Pokemon such as Skarmory and Assault Vest Tangrowth. Wish users such as Jirachi and Blissey are also highly noticeable in this regard for their ability to keep Tapu Fini healthy throughout the game in addition to synergizing with it immensely by handling special attackers that can threaten Tapu Fini, such as Serperior and Alakazam, while also gaining protection from the latter's Glare in return. Other defensive Pokemon like Buzzwole, Assault Vest Slowking, and Mega Aggron benefit from Tapu Fini's ability to clear hazards, allowing them to more safely leverage their HP to check the threats they are meant to deal with. Finally, powerful offensive Pokemon that appreciate Misty Terrain's effects, like Swords Dance Aegislash and Choice Band Tyranitar, also enjoy being able to fall back on Tapu Fini to deal with offensive threats like Keldeo and clear hazards, improving their potential to wallbreak throughout the game.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Moonblast
move 2: Hydro Pump / Surf
move 3: Trick
move 4: Defog / Taunt / Nature's Madness
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Misty Surge
nature: Timid
tera type: Steel / Fairy
evs: 188 HP / 96 SpA / 224 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Scarf Tapu Fini can outspeed and revenge kill common offensive Pokemon such as Blaziken, Mega Gyarados, and non-Choice Scarf Meowscarada. Additionally, Tapu Fini can still uphold its natural defensive qualities and bulk to switch into other threats like Cinderace and Latios when needed, before outspeeding and threatening them too, while also providing Defog support. Hydro Pump is Tapu Fini's strongest move to hit Iron Moth and Excadrill with, OHKOing both after Stealth Rock damage, but Surf can be used instead if accuracy is a concern despite having less power. Trick allows Tapu Fini to cripple an incoming wall that would normally try to take advantage of it, like Blissey and Amoonguss. Defog allows Tapu Fini to clear entry hazards for its team in a pinch, especially once it has Tricked away its Choice Scarf, but if Defog is already found on another Pokemon, Taunt and Nature's Madness are options that can be used instead to further mess with most defensive Pokemon, chipping them down quickly or denying healing attempts. The given EV spread ensures that Tapu Fini survives a +2 Acrobatics from Hawlucha and outspeeds +1 Mega Gyarados. Tera Steel is usually the preferred Tera type to give Tapu Fini resistances to Stealth Rock, Ice, Psychic, and Fairy, helping it respond to threats such as Scizor and Alakazam in a pinch; however, Tera Fairy can be used to strengthen Moonblast against offensive Pokemon that are weak to it, namely Latios, Mega Altaria, and the aforementioned +1 Mega Gyarados. Tapu Fini fits best on offensive teams that appreciate its defensive utility and role compression. Wallbreakers that benefit from its ability to check faster offensive threats like Keldeo and Galarian Zapdos include Pokemon such as Swords Dance Aegislash, Choice Band Tyranitar, and Mega Heracross, with each additionally benefiting from Misty Terrain's status immunity. On the other hand, Tapu Fini's tendency to lure in defensive Pokemon that it can Trick its Choice Scarf over to, like Blissey and Assault Vest Galarian Slowking, can be exploited by Pokemon that normally struggle to break past them, such as Iron Moth and Nasty Plot Hydreigon. As Tapu Fini can struggle to check threats like Latios and Victini in the long run, other Pokemon like Celesteela and Galarian Moltres can help provide extra insurance against these Pokemon.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/arishem.546157/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/pubo.535121/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/wrathoftheleopard.511181/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lumari.232216/
Last edited:
