Battle Spot Tapu Fini Preview [Singles]

[Theorymon]

[OVERVIEW]

Tapu Fini has a fantastic typing offensively and defensively, with its Fairy-typing giving it a big selling point over other Water-types, giving it a Dragon-type immunity and a Fighting-type resist. While Misty Terrain isn't as game defining as the other Terrains, preventing status and weakening Dragon-type attacks is still very useful overall, especially on something as bulky as Tapu Fini. Tapu Fini's bulk and typing also makes it one of the best Blaziken answers in the metagame. However, Tapu Fini's offensive stats aren't that great, and it can have trouble competing with Suicune due to worse bulk.

Below are some sample sets. These sets are likely to be standard, but they will be expanded upon and updated as the metagame progresses.

[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Surf
move 3: Moonblast
move 4: Mist / Hidden Power Fire / Taunt
item: Icium Z / Sitrus Berry / Iapapa Berry
ability: Misty Surge
nature: Bold
evs: 244 HP / 252 Def / 12 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

* Tapu Fini is bulky enough to pull off a Calm Mind set, with Surf and Moonblast working well as complimentary STAB attacks.

* Surf is better than Scald, since Misty Terrain blocks burns, thus Surf's higher base power is superior.

* Mist with Icium Z give Tapu Fini one chance to fully restore its health with Z-Mist.

* Hidden Power Fire allows Tapu Fini to deal good damage to Ferrothorn.

* Taunt is useful for shutting down recovery against bulky Pokemon such as Cresselia and Porygon2.

* Sitrus is a reliable way to restore some health, but Iapapa Berry is a riskier alternative that restores more health when Tapu Fini reaches 25% of its HP.

* The given EV spread ensures Tapu Fini outspeeds Jolly Alolan Marowak while giving it maximum bulk otherwise.

* Don't be too reckless with Tapu Fini switch-ins, because while it might be bulky, it has no consistent, reliable recovery.

* Make sure to pack in resists for Electric, Grass, and Posion-type Pokemon, as these are the kind of Pokemon that can bust through Tapu Fini's bulk.

[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Nature's Madness
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Moonblast
move 4: Hidden Power Fire / Calm Mind / Taunt / Haze
item: Waterium Z
ability: Misty Surge
nature: Modest
evs: 244 HP / 252 SpA / 12 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

* Nature's Madness and Z-Hydro Pump can blast through major defensive Pokemon together, such as Porygon2 and Cresselia. Z-Hydro Pump notably OHKOs Tapu Koko.

* Moonblast is a reliable STAB that slams Dragon-types.

* Hidden Power Fire KOs Ferrothorn after it switches into Nature's Madness.

* Calm Mind gives Tapu Fini the power to defeat Cresselia even if it restores its health with Sitrus Berry, qhilw Taunt shuts down recovery, letting Tapu Fini defeat defensive Pokemon even after using Z-Hydro Pump. Haze helps against Moody Pokemon and Extreme Evoboost Eevee chains.

* The given EV spread outspeeds Jolly Alolan Marowak while giving Tapu Fini a good amount of bulk and power.

* This Tapu Fini excells at blasting through defensive Pokemon, so consider pairing it with sweepers that can take advantage of these holes.

* Prepare Pokemon that resists Grass-, Electric-, and Poison-type attacks, since these are commonly aimed at Tapu Fini.

 

[dogknees]

No QC but a few things to say!

While Misty Terrain isn't as game defining as the other Terrains, preventing status and weakening Dragon-type attacks is still very useful overall, especially on something as bulky as Tapu Fini.

^ Pretty minor, but I'd be a little more specific with Misty Terrain only applying to grounded targets.

* Hidden Power Fire allows Tapu Fini to deal good damage to Ferrothorn.

^ And Mega-Scizor?

Might also be worth noting as well that 76 speed EVs is enough to creep defensive Lando-T.

 

[NOVED]

I'd talk about fini's bulk and typing making it a great Blaziken check. Should be generally clear that the Fairy type gives it a pretty significant niche over other waters like suicune, cause of the neat resistances.

On the offensive set I think taunt should go before Haze. Beating defensive stuff with Nature's Madness + Taunt is probably generally more useful than Hazing very specific things, especially with Cress back now and eevee possibly having a tough time with the power creep of postbank.

 

[Theorymon]

thanks NOVED and dogknees , implemented the checks!

 

[bobochan]

For the newer readers out there, you can go deeper/more specific on why Surf is the primary STAB over Scald.
Because 1. it gives you a higher BP move if you decide to run Waterium Z and 2. because of how Misty Terrain works Scald cannot burn for the duration.

1/1

 

[Theorymon]

Uploaded!