Straight To The Punch: The Fighting-types of CAP

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Art by Arkeis.

Art by Cartoons!.

Introduction

The Fighting type has shown itself to be a capable type in CAP both offensively and defensively. Its resistances to common moves in the metagame such as Knock Off and U-turn make it a great type for defensive purposes, letting it switch into numerous attacks throughout the game. It can struggle offensively, due to the metagame's high concentration of Poison- and Fairy-types, but it can work wonders when paired with another type. Almost all of the Fighting-type CAPs are able to capitalize on this typing, and it helps them function differently from each of their respective counterparts.

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Tomohawk

• HP105
• ATK60
• DEF90
• SPA115
• SPD80
• SPE85

Ever since its introduction in Generation 5, Tomohawk has shown itself to be one of the most defining forces in the CAP metagame. Its spectacular ability in Prankster alongside an expansive movepool makes Tomohawk an unparalleled utility Pokémon, able to offer support through priority Stealth Rock, Healing Wish, Memento, and Taunt. Priority Haze in particular is incredible, as it turns Tomohawk into the best stop to setup sweepers in the metagame and invalidates common OU setup sweepers like Tapu Bulu and Kartana, removing boosts before the foe even gets to move. Prankster Haze even allows Tomohawk to be a reliable stop to Shell Smash Necturna, a terrifying setup sweeper that can tear apart unprepared teams. Additionally, the combination of priority Roost and good bulk means that Tomohawk is able to stay healthy throughout a match, stopping common metagame threats like Colossoil and Zygarde from breaking through it. Tomohawk also has the option to run a strong variety of offensive sets off of its impressive Special Attack stat, nailing foes with a powerful STAB Hurricane and a priority Nature Power while still offering its utility services, even if these sets have mostly fallen off. It is even able to work well on rain teams, as Prankster Rain Dance lets it serve as a reliable setter while also boosting its own Hurricane, further showing its impressive adaptability. Of course, Tomohawk being so viable and centralizing has caused the majority of setup sweepers in the metagame to adapt it its presence and find reliable ways to beat it, making it not nearly as effective at acting as a safety net. However, Tomohawk is still a versatile and common threat in the current CAP metagame that can find a slot on almost any team.

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Arghonaut

• HP105
• ATK110
• DEF95
• SPA70
• SPD100
• SPE75

• Arghonaut @ Leftovers
• Ability: Unaware
• EVs: 252 HP / 124 Def / 132 SpD
• Careful Nature
• - Spikes
• - Knock Off
• - Earthquake / Circle Throw / Toxic
• - Recover

Arghonaut was originally created as a decentralizer back in Generation 4, and it still upholds that role to this day, stopping some of the biggest threats in the CAP metagame like Volkraken and Heatran with its great mix of bulk, reliable recovery, and a Water / Fighting typing. It is also blessed with the ability Unaware, letting it serve as one of the tier's best stops against setup sweepers like Naviathan and Mega Crucibelle. Additionally, it gets access to the rare Spikes, giving it a strong niche as a Spikes setter with Circle Throw. Furthermore, Arghonaut has access to numerous different utility options like Knock Off, Earthquake, and Toxic, allowing it to be customized to many different teams' needs. However, while it does resist a lot of common Pokémon's moves, it is also checked by the metagame's numerous Electric-, Flying-, and Fairy-types such as Tapu Koko, Jumbao, Tornadus-T and Tomohawk. It also faces massive competition from Toxapex, which has a great resistance to Fairy and much better recovery thanks to Regenerator. Even with these flaws, Arghonaut is still a formidable foe and serves as one of the metagame's best Fighting-types.

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Revenankh

• HP90
• ATK105
• DEF90
• SPA65
• SPD110
• SPE65

Utilizing its great bulk and decent utility movepool, Revenankh stands out as a decent defensive Pokémon that can spread a multitude of status afflictions, such as paralysis, poison, and burn, onto opposing teams. Revenankh's ability Triage also gives it good longevity with Moonlight and a reliable priority attacking move in Drain Punch, making sure that Revenankh will be able to stay alive throughout the match. Furthermore, Revenankh can use a Bulk Up set using its STAB priority moves as perfect coverage as well as its decent Attack stat to surprise teams that are unprepared for the set. However, Revenankh does have a lot of weaknesses to common Flying-, Ghost-, and Fairy-type attackers in the metagame. Tapu Lele in particular is brutal to Revenankh, as Psychic Terrain halts most of Revenankh's abilities, and it can slay Revenankh quite easily with either STAB option. Even if Revenankh does struggle in the metagame, it is still a decent choice for a defensive Pokémon and certainly has its place.

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Kerfluffle

• HP84
• ATK78
• DEF86
• SPA115
• SPD88
• SPE119

• Kerfluffle @ Life Orb
• Ability: Natural Cure
• EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
• Timid Nature
• - Moonblast
• - Focus Blast
• - Sludge Wave
• - Parting Shot

Using the rare Parting Shot, Kerfluffle separates itself from other pivots in the tier by being able to pivot with little consequence using its great base 119 Speed stat. Its Fairy / Fighting typing also lets it better take on Steel-types such as Naviathan and Ferrothorn, which are common checks to the other Fairy-types in the tier. Finally, Kerfluffle has solid utility options, packing Taunt, Wish, and Encore to assist teammates in battle. However, Kerfluffle is still outclassed by other Fairy-types such as Tapu Koko and Tapu Lele, which all are able to hit much harder thanks to Kerfluffle's subpar Special Attack and their respective Terrains and can run many different sets to better fit on teams, with Tapu Koko generally being a better option for an offensive pivot. As a Wish user, Kerfluffle also competes heavily with Clefable and Jumbao, which sport much better bulk and more move options overall.

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Voodoom

• HP90
• ATK85
• DEF80
• SPA105
• SPD80
• SPE110

• Voodoom @ Life Orb
• Ability: Lightning Rod
• EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
• Timid Nature
• - Nasty Plot
• - Dark Pulse
• - Focus Blast
• - Flash Cannon

While Voodoom does have some great coverage moves and has a decent Speed tier, letting it serve as a decent Nasty Plot user, it is outclassed by almost every Dark- or Fighting-type in the metagame, leaving it as a niche pick for only very specific teams to use. This is mostly in part due to its weak typing defensively, leaving it vulnerable to some of the most common types in the metagame such as Flying, Fighting, and worst of all Fairy. Its offensive stats are quite subpar before a Nasty Plot boost, so Voodoom will not be hitting anything remotely hard without it. Setting up is also quite a chore considering that its defenses are also not that great, meaning that Voodoom can be blasted away by almost any neutral attack. Finally, it is consistently stopped by Tomohawk and Toxapex, which are common defensive Pokémon with access to Haze. It can find usage on some teams that utilize Sticky Web and Aurora Veil, but even then there are usually better options for the role such as Magearna and Zygarde.

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Conclusion

The CAP Metagame has a ton of interesting Fighting-types to play around with, so go try them out! Also make sure to check out our Discord server and Showdown Room. Hope to see you there!

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