In-battle formes
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HP: | 70 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Attack: | 85 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Defense: | 140 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Sp. Atk: | 85 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Sp. Def: | 70 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Speed: | 20 |
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Utility Support
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Ability | |
Nature |
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EVs |
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Torkoal's ability Drought, good physical bulk, and utility moves like Stealth Rock and Rapid Spin make it a premier support Pokemon on Fire-type teams. Stealth Rock lets Torkoal wear down opposing teams, making it easier for its offensive teammates to wallbreak. Rapid Spin keeps troublesome entry hazards like Stealth Rock and Sticky Web away, which can plague the entire team. Lava Plume is the only attacking move on the set, hits decently hard with sun support, and is used to fish for burns against physical attackers like Mimikyu, Mega Lopunny, and Zeraora. Yawn is a good move to force foes to switch out, letting Torkoal set up Stealth Rock or clear hazards with Rapid Spin. It also threatens setup sweepers like Dragonite and Mega Gallade and gives opportunities to teammates like Volcarona and Mega Charizard X to set up. Due to the role compression that Torkoal provides, it is essential to keep it around for its Drought and hazard removal support. Maximum HP and Defense investment with a Bold nature makes Torkoal as bulky as possible, allowing it to take on physical attackers like Mega Lopunny, Mega Gallade, and Dragonite a lot better. Heat Rock increases the number of active sun turns for Torkoal's teammates to use boosted Fire-type moves.
Any Fire-type team appreciates the support Torkoal brings to the team. Pokemon like Cinderace, Blacephalon, Victini, Volcarona, and Mega Charizard X benefit massively from sun support, since it lets them use boosted, hard-to-wall Fire-type attacks. They also appreciate Stealth Rock and Rapid Spin support to have an easier time wallbreaking and safely setting up. Specially defensive Heatran is also a good partner to Torkoal because it can sponge special hits for it from the likes of Latios and Tapu Lele and check Nihilego for the team thanks to its Rock neutrality. Volcanion provides an important immunity to Water-type attacks, which lets it check Belly Drum Azumarill, and secondary hazard removal with Defog, taking pressure off from Torkoal. Alolan Marowak can cover Electric-type attacks for Torkoal from threats like Tapu Koko, Regieleki, and Alolan Raichu. It can also break apart defensive types like Poison with sun support and a Swords Dance boost. Mega Charizard Y is also a decent teammate that brings in secondary Drought support to the team and helps improve matchups like Water and Ground.
Other Options
Fire
Body Press can be used to take on Rock-type threats like Mega Tyranitar and Terrakion. Toxic is an option over Yawn and helps against foes like Swampert, Porygon2, and Mantine. Heavy-Duty Boots as item is an option to keep Torkoal more healthy throughout the battle, especially when Mega Charizard Y is a teammate for additional Drought support.
Checks and Counters
Fire
Special Attackers: Owing to its mediocre Special Defense stat, Torkoal is easily overwhelmed by special attackers such as Latios, Blacephalon, Hydreigon, and Gengar, which can heavily dent or KO it.
Special Walls: Special walls and defensive Pokemon like Blissey and Toxapex have no trouble taking on Torkoal, as they can whittle it down with Seismic Toss and Scald + Toxic, respectively. Blissey can also use Teleport to go into an appropriate teammate to deal with Torkoal and gain momentum. On the other hand, Toxapex can set up Toxic Spikes.
Wallbreakers: Insanely strong wallbreakers like Landorus and Diggersby can easily break apart Torkoal, and it cannot switch in against them safely during battle.
Dragon-types: Since Torkoal's only commonly run attack is Lava Plume, it struggles to do anything meaningful against Dragon-type Pokemon like Hydreigon, Kyurem, and Latios that can deal heavy damage to it in return or use setup moves to exploit this.
Water-types Water-type Pokemon like Pelipper, Swampert, and Kingdra have almost nothing to fear from Torkoal and can effectively take it down.