SS Monotype Spotlight: Tapu Fini

Art by Pissog.

Introduction

Meet Tapu Fini, the swordfish of Monotype! Incredible defense stats and decent natural speed allow Tapu Fini to cement itself a niche on Water and Fairy teams in SS Monotype. Unlike most Pokémon, Tapu Fini is able to pull off a number of different sets, which results in its ability to cover a wide range of top threats, such as Kyurem and Galarian Moltres. This versatility is so great that it is able to see at least 33% usage on Water teams and 67% usage on Fairy teams! In this article, we will dive right in and explore Tapu Fini's viability within the tier, ranging from what sets it runs to countermeasures that can be taken to avoid being swept by this Island Guardian.

Common Sets

Calm Mind

• Tapu Fini @ Leftovers
• Ability: Misty Surge
• EVs: 252 HP / 184 Def / 8 SpA / 8 SpD / 56 Spe
• Calm Nature
• - Calm Mind
• - Scald
• - Draining Kiss
• - Taunt / Substitute

Seen on both Fairy- and Water-type teams, Calm Mind Tapu Fini takes advantage of Tapu Fini's unique movepool and high defensive stats to become a setup sweeper. Scald hits Steel- and Poison-type Pokémon such as Corviknight and Nidoking. Outside of Terrain, it also has a chance to burn opposing physical attackers as well as Celesteela. Draining Kiss allows Tapu Fini to hit Dragon-types like Dragapult and Hydreigon super effectively while also offering large amounts of recovery. Taunt allows Tapu Fini to effectively shut down Haze users such as Toxapex and Mantine, preventing them from clearing its stat boosts. However, Substitute can be used over Taunt to prevent foes such as Victini from statusing Tapu Fini once Misty Terrain runs out while also blocking Gastrodon's Clear Smog and Celesteela's Leech Seed. The given EV spread allows Tapu Fini to comfortably set up on Dragonite while also surviving a Power Whip from Choice Scarf Zarude. In addition, it gives Tapu Fini a much better matchup against Celesteela and Dragalge, especially after Reflect. 8 EVs in Special Defense prevent Gastrodon from breaking Tapu Fini's Substitute with Earth Power, as well as allowing Tapu Fini to take on Kyurem at +1, while 56 Speed EVs allow it to outspeed threats such as Choice Specs Aegislash and Azumarill. By far, the most common way of dealing with this set is by pressuring Tapu Fini and its teammates enough so it doesn't get a chance to set up. Pokémon like Power Whip Ferrothorn, Dragalge, Thundurus-T and Bolt Strike Victini help with this by taking care of Tapu Fini with their super effective moves before it can set up.

Choice Scarf

• Tapu Fini @ Choice Scarf
• Ability: Misty Surge
• EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
• Timid Nature
• - Trick
• - Moonblast
• - Ice Beam
• - Surf / Knock Off / Defog

Primarily seen on Water-type teams, Choice Scarf Tapu Fini is capable of checking foes such as Kyurem, Latios, and Bulk Up Zarude. Trick cripples common answers to other Tapu Fini sets like Toxapex and Ferrothorn, as well as passive foes such as Galarian Slowking. Knock Off removes items from common switch-ins such as Celesteela and Dragalge as well as Black Sludge from Poison-types like Toxapex, allowing Tapu Fini to safely transfer its Choice Scarf onto them with Trick. Defog can also be run over Surf or Knock Off if the team doesn't have any other entry hazard removal. Ice Beam threatens Flying-types such as Landorus-T and Dragonite. Common ways to deal with this set include protection moves on Pokémon that don't like receiving a Choice Scarf via Trick such as Ferrothorn and specially defensive Aegislash. Trick + Calm Mind is also an option on Choice Scarf Tapu Fini, as it annoys typical Calm Mind Tapu Fini checks such as Mantine, Dragalge, and Toxapex while also keeping faster foes in check.

Other Sets

Demon Tapu Fini

• Tapu Fini @ Leftovers
• Ability: Misty Surge
• EVs: 252 HP / 160 Def / 96 Spe
• Bold Nature
• IVs: 0 Atk
• - Calm Mind
• - Iron Defense
• - Draining Kiss
• - Stored Power

Like Calm Mind + Taunt Tapu Fini, this set is also a setup sweeper that is geared more towards defeating Dragon and Ground teams without Clear Smog Gastrodon. However, it takes a more offensive approach to the task. Calm Mind not only makes Tapu Fini harder to kill but also allows its attacks to pack quite a punch. Iron Defense increases Tapu Fini's physical bulk, making it a more formidable enemy and preventing offensive Poison- and Grass-types like Dragalge and Zarude from checking it. Draining Kiss is important to this set, as it is Tapu Fini's only means of recovery outside of Leftovers. However, this set wouldn't exist without Stored Power, allowing Tapu Fini to sweep opposing Water and Psychic teams. Tapu Fini's EVs allow it to outpace Jolly Golurk and Arctozolt outside of hail, with the rest of its EVs being invested into Defense to make it as bulky as possible. This set performs best against Psychic- and Dragon-type teams, as neither commonly run Haze users. However, unlike the previous set, this set is vulnerable to Taunt and (p)hazing from foes like the aforementioned Toxapex and Swampert, as well as to Steel-types. As a result of this, Tapu Fini appreciates teammates such as Thunder Punch Urshifu-R, which defeat Haze users like Toxapex and Mantine. Another reason why Urshifu-R is a good teammate is that it can easily pressure Aegislash and Celesteela.

Cores

Fairy

This is a classic Fairy-type core featuring Tapu Fini. Klefki is an almost mandatory teammate for Tapu Fini, as it provides both Reflect and Light Screen to help Tapu Fini set up a lot more easily. It also provides an immunity to Poison-type attacks, which Tapu Fini appreciates. Swords Dance + Substitute Tapu Bulu is able to defeat Toxapex and Mantine, both of which prevent Tapu Fini from setting up. In addition, Tapu Bulu can also threaten Steel- and Poison-types such as specially defensive Heatran and Galarian Slowking with High Horsepower. Tapu Lele is a great teammate for Tapu Fini because it can also threaten Fairy- and Poison-types with Psychic and Psyshock. In return, Tapu Fini and Klefki provide Tapu Bulu and Tapu Lele with a key neutrality to Steel-type moves, allowing them to act as switch-ins to foes such as Choice Scarf Excadrill.

Water

This is a standard Water core featuring Tapu Fini. Swampert sets Stealth Rock to help chip opposing Pokémon down while also threatening Steel- and Poison-types with Earthquake. In return, Tapu Fini prevents Swampert from getting poisoned by foes such as Mandibuzz. Urshifu-R's Thunder Punch enables it to surprise Haze users that would otherwise prevent Tapu Fini from setting up, such as Mantine. In addition, it excels against Ice-type teams, dealing with Freeze-Dry users such as Alolan Ninetales and Kyurem. In return, Tapu Fini prevents Urshifu-R from getting burned by Pokémon such as Spectrier and Toxapex. The combination of Tapu Fini and Choice Scarf Urshifu-R is also quite dangerous for Dark-type teams, as Urshifu-R deals with foes such as Tyranitar, Weavile, and Bisharp while Tapu Fini handles Mandibuzz and Hydreigon. Volcanion is an important teammate for Tapu Fini, as it provides a neutrality to Freeze-Dry as well as the ability to shred Steel's immunity cores. In return, Tapu Fini is able to set up on and sweep Dragon-type teams once Dragalge has fainted.

Sample Teams

Built by Attribute, this team has been extremely successful in many tournaments. Klefki provides screens for its teammates to set up more easily and a Poison immunity. Calm Mind transforms Clefable into a defensive setup sweeper that is capable of overwhelming types such as Water, Flying, and Psychic. Tapu Koko further improves the Water and Flying matchups while also spreading paralysis by using Discharge, neutering threatening foes such as Heavy Slam Celesteela. The EVs on Tapu Koko allow it to outspeed Jolly Weavile. The remainder was put into Defense to allow it to take hits from Zeraora as easy as possible. A Calm Mind set allows Tapu Lele to switch moves against teams like Poison, allowing it to sweep significantly easier. Tapu Bulu greatly improves the Water and Ground matchups. Its EVs allow it to outspeed Skuntank while also allowing its Substitute to survive Galarian Weezing's Strange Stream. 8 Defense EVs allow Tapu Bulu to tank non-Choice Band Victini's V-create at +1. Lastly, Tapu Fini was added to improve the Fire matchup while also helping against Ground teams. Its EVs allow it to outspeed Adamant Aegislash while also ensuring Gastrodon cannot break its Substitute with Earth Power.

This team was made by WhiteQueen and used during the laddering phase of the Monotype Ladder Tournament. Klefki is a staple on many Fairy teams, providing both a key immunity to Poison-type attacks as well as screens support to allow its teammates to set up more easily. Diancie is present on the team to check foes like Tornadus-T and Choice Specs Zapdos, as well as to provide Stealth Rock support for its teammates. Tapu Fini assists in the Fire and Ghost matchups, as well as against Poison and Water teams once Toxapex has been removed. Alolan Ninetales is able to blast through the defensive cores commonly found on Water teams. Clefable provides Knock Off to annoy foes that enjoy passive recovery, such as Toxapex, Dragalge, and Aegislash. Finally, Mimikyu was added to the team due to its ability to easily dismantle defensive cores like those that are found on Steel.

This team is a semi-rain team by Trichotomy. Pelipper is a mandatory teammate for all rain teams, as it is the only Water-type Pokémon that can reliably set rain. Ice Beam on Slowking is a good tech that helps it against Flying and Dragon, notably hitting Dragonite and ensuring that Hydreigon cannot use it as setup fodder. Tapu Fini is using its Choice Scarf set to annoy bulkier types such as Poison and Flying, shutting down Haze users like Toxapex and Mantine. Swampert is an excellent pivot that also provides an Electric immunity to prevent foes such as Regieleki from freely spamming Thunderbolt. Urshifu-R is a standard rain wallbreaker, using Thunder Punch to surprise Mantine as well as Water teams. Finally, Barraskewda not only provides speed but also can punch holes in Psychic and Dark teams for its teammates. It also helps Slowking break down Poison cores.

Counterplay

While it is true that playing against Tapu Fini may feel like an impossible task at first, it has many weaknesses that can be exploited. Toxic Spikes are a huge nuisance to setup variants, as Tapu Fini will be either poisoned or badly poisoned before Misty Terrain is activated. Due to its part Water typing, Tapu Fini is also extremely weak to Grass-type foes such as Rillaboom and Power Whip Zarude, as both can easily 1v1 it with their STAB moves. However, it should be noted that Zarude is unable to 1v1 Choice Scarf Tapu Fini without a Choice Scarf of its own. Ferrothorn is also unbothered by all of Tapu Fini's moves with the exception of Trick and Knock Off; while the latter still does very little actual damage to it, Ferrothorn must be wary of Trick, as that can severely cripple it. Celesteela can annoy Tapu Fini with Leech Seed while resisting all of its moves with the exception of Scald and Surf. However, Taunt variants of Tapu Fini will block Leech Seed. Haze users such as Mantine and Toxapex can stop Tapu Fini from setting up, and their high Special Defense and access to recovery mean they cannot be worn down by Tapu Fini. However, Taunt Tapu Fini can prevent them from using Haze, turning them into setup fodder. Meteor Beam Nihilego and Tapu Koko are also huge threats to Tapu Fini, as both can defeat it with Thunderbolt. Choice Specs Kyurem is also a threat to Tapu Fini, being able to 2HKO it with Freeze-Dry. However, Choice Scarf Tapu Fini need not fear Kyurem, as it outspeeds and 2HKOes it.

Conclusion

Since being introduced into Monotype, Tapu Fini has been an excellent addition onto both Fairy and Water teams that all teams must prepare for, as it can easily sweep unprepared teams. It is now time for you to get out there and build with these Tapu Fini sets, and possibly even create your own! As always, thank you for reading.