[OVERVIEW]
With its great Speed, decent bulk, and superb utility toolkit, Tornadus-T is one of the best pivots in the tier, fitting on a wide variety of teams. It provides teams with consistent entry hazard removal with Defog thanks to its perfect-fitting ability in Regenerator, and it can pester various defensive switch-ins with options like Knock Off and Taunt. It works well both as a defensive piece and as an attacker, with multiple options like Flyinium Z and Fightinium Z to deal huge damage. Its respectable offensive presence provides lots of opportunities to pivot out with U-turn to bring in other offensive teammates. However, its offensive presence is quite linear, meaning that its easily checked by the likes of Tapu Koko and Zapdos and struggles to dent Magearna. It's deathly afraid of paralysis from the likes of Chansey and Serperior, and it often has to rely on the poor accuracy of Hurricane in order to beat threats like Kartana, Mega Medicham, and the aforementioned Serperior.
[SET]
name: Bulky Pivot
move 1: Hurricane
move 2: Knock Off / Heat Wave
move 3: U-turn / Taunt / Heat Wave
move 4: Defog
item: Rocky Helmet / Flyinium Z
ability: Regenerator
nature: Timid
evs: 240 HP / 64 Def / 204 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
Hurricane deals solid damage to neutral targets like Landorus-T and lets Tornadus-T OHKO Serperior, Mega Medicham, and Kartana in a pinch. Knock Off is a great punish to common Hurricane answers like Chansey, Magearna, and Celesteela, reducing their bulk or longevity so that they're easier to break through. Heat Wave is another option that allows Tornadus-T to accrue chip damage on various Steel-types like Magearna and Mega Mawile, lets it threaten Ferrothorn significantly better, and OHKOes Kartana with consistent accuracy. U-turn is an invaluable momentum tool that allows Tornadus-T to capitalize on the switches it forces as well as chip Mega Tyranitar and Rotom-W. Taunt is great for passive walls like Chansey, Toxapex, and Skarmory, as it prevents them from healing off damage and responding with status. It's additionally useful for forcefully preventing entry hazards from the likes of Heatran, Ferrothorn, and Landorus-T and prevents Zapdos from healing off Stealth Rock damage. Defog synergizes well with Regenerator, as Tornadus-T heals off Stealth Rock damage by default, allowing it to clear hazards with less risk.
Set Details
========
240 HP EVs and 64 Defense EVs let Tornadus-T survive an Ice Punch from Mega Medicham from full health. The Speed investment allows Tornadus-T to outspeed Choice Scarf Magnezone. Rocky Helmet chips away at contact attackers like Landorus-T and Mega Medicham, while Flyinium Z provides both access to an accurate powered-up Hurricane and less damage from Knock Off.
Usage Tips
========
Tornadus-T has the unique benefit of being a Defogger with Regenerator, meaning that it will heal off Stealth Rock damage; however, Tornadus-T cannot meaningfully heal itself up while Stealth Rock is on the field, so it should avoid trading significant amounts of health while Stealth Rock is active. If carrying Taunt, can aggressively come in on Stealth Rock Gliscor, Chansey, and Ferrothorn to remove their entry hazards, but otherwise, it risks taking a crippling status condition. Early-game, Tornadus-T can switch in to scout or threaten Grass-types like Kartana and Tapu Bulu and defensive Landorus-T and can punish their contact moves with Rocky Helmet. Since Tornadus-T can heal off minor chip damage with Regenerator, it finds easy entry against passive walls like Toxapex, Gastrodon, and Gliscor, not caring so much about Scald and Toxic damage as long as it doesn't stay in for too long. Against overly hostile offense matchups, Tornadus-T is most useful brought in through other pivots or as a revenge killer.
Team Options
========
Tornadus-T fits well on teams ranging from bulky offense to balance, providing consistent entry hazard removal and pivoting support. Other pivots like Landorus-T and Magearna have great synergy because they can work in tandem with Tornadus-T to generate momentum, with Landorus-T sharing resistances with Tornadus-T and reducing its defensive burden. Wallbreakers like Mega Medicham and Mega Tyranitar are the prime beneficiaries of the momentum that Tornadus-T generates, and they can break through the likes of Magearna and Zapdos to make Tornadus-T more potent. Bulky Ground-types like Seismitoad, Gastrodon, and Excadrill check Electric-types like Zapdos, Tapu Koko, and Rotom-W and block Volt Switch, with Tornadus-T handling Grass-types like Kartana for them in return. Tornadus-T is a great choice for a Defogger on rain teams, too, as it has a great resistance to Grass, and its Hurricane is boosted to 100% accuracy while rain is active. Sand teams are another good option due to Tornadus-T's aforementioned good synergies with Mega Tyranitar and Excadrill, the latter providing excellent speed control and Rapid Spin support to free Tornadus-T's moveslots. Other Regenerator users like Toxapex and Slowbro form consistent defensive pivoting cores, and they can be switched between each other infinitely to stall out Celesteela's Leech Seed and potentially force a draw against stall teams. Mega Latias shares resistances to Grass and Fighting with Tornadus-T and reduces its defensive burden, additionally helping to check Electric-types for it.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zinnias.569291/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/diyusi.519886/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adorluigi.528364/
[SET]
name: Offensive Pivot
move 1: Hurricane
move 2: Knock Off / Focus Blast / Heat Wave
move 3: U-turn / Taunt
move 4: Defog
item: Flyinium Z / Fightinium Z
ability: Regenerator
nature: Timid
evs: 128 HP / 8 Def / 156 SpA / 216 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
Hurricane is a solid damage-spreading option, and Supersonic Skystrike blows through neutral targets with consistent accuracy and great power without using an extra slot. Knock Off is a traditional complement to Hurricane for punishing Steel-types by removing their item, but All-Out Pummeling is a great option to snipe certain Steel-types like Heatran and Excadrill and others like Mega Tyranitar. Heat Wave is complementary coverage for Flyinium Z sets that threatens Steel-types switching in and gives a higher accuracy move to OHKO Kartana without wasting Tornadus-T's Z-Move. U-turn generates momentum while chipping defensive answers like Rotom-W and Mega Tyranitar. Taunt makes damage stick to targets by blocking their recovery, blocks status attempts from the likes of Chansey and Gliscor, and makes Tornadus-T a much better Defogger by proactively stopping entry hazards from Gliscor and Toxapex to take the pressure off of itself.
Set Details
========
216 Speed EVs allow Tornadus-T to outpace Choice Scarf Tyranitar. 128 HP EVs ensure that Tornadus-T survives Flamethrower from Mega Charizard Y in sun, with the extra 8 Defense EVs letting it survive Mega Medicham's High Jump Kick after Stealth Rock damage. Focus Blast should only be used with Fightinium Z due to the low reward compared to the risk. Otherwise, Flyinium Z should be used.
Usage Tips
========
This set can be used to check Grass-types, revenge kill the likes of Kartana and Mega Medicham, remove entry hazards with Defog, and generate momentum with U-turn, but the lack of bulk makes it more important to conserve HP, especially against the likes of Choice Scarf Kartana. Supersonic Skystrike can be used to surprise neutral targets like Landorus-T and Tapu Lele early-game, and it can also be saved as a perfect accuracy move for crucial turns against the likes of Mega Medicham. Hurricane into Supersonic Skystrike finishes off Toxapex and specially defensive Gliscor, so it can pivot with U-turn to build momentum if the opponent attempts to scout the Z-Move. Tornadus-T can OHKO Mega Tyranitar and offensive Heatran with All-Out Pummeling, though it never hurts to scout with U-turn first in case Mega Tyranitar switches to scout or Heatran is specially defensive. Other times, Tornadus-T can use its Z-Move to heavily dent or finish off Mega Mawile or Mega Diancie. Hurricane's accuracy is too poor to trade damage consistently, so the focus should be on using it to chip switch-ins and then pivoting out straight away.
Team Options
========
This set fits best on bulky offense and balance teams, where it can make progress on top of serving as a pivot and Defogger. Other pivots like Magearna form a pivoting core with Tornadus-T, getting it in easier and keeping up momentum. Bulky Ground-types like Seismitoad and specially defensive Gliscor can patch up Tornadus-T's poor matchup against Electric-types and block Volt Switch. Ferrothorn can handle Electric-types for Tornadus-T and set Spikes to chip down the likes of Tapu Koko, Heatran, and Magearna. Calm Mind Mega Latias greatly benefits from Tornadus-T removing Heatran and Mega Tyranitar with Fightinium Z. Spikes from Ferrothorn and Skarmory aids Tornadus-T in chipping switch-ins like Jirachi and Magearna and making its U-turn generally more potent against grounded targets.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zinnias.569291/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/diyusi.519886/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adorluigi.528364/
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Icy Wind can be used with Icium Z to snipe Swords Dance Gliscor as well as Landorus-T and Garchomp, though it has very little other use. Superpower is a way to hit Mega Tyranitar and Heatran without going full send on Fightinium Z, but it doesn't do as much damage, failing to OHKO either. Firium Z can be used with Heat Wave to OHKO Mega Scizor, Ferrothorn, and Mega Mawile and deal significant damage to other Steel-types like Jirachi and Celesteela. Life Orb increases Tornadus-T's offensive potency without using up a Z-Crystal, though the recoil cuts into its immediate longevity, especially while Stealth Rock is up. Toxic provides a safe punish to the likes of Zapdos, Rotom-W, and Tapu Koko by putting them on a timer. Assault Vest is an option to enable Tornadus-T to more safely make trades and scout special attacks when Defog is taken care of by another teammate.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Steel-types**: Steel-types like Magearna, Heatran, and Mega Mawile resist Hurricane and can hit Tornadus-T back hard, though the likes of Heatran and Celesteela are really bothered by Knock Off.
**Electric-types and Electric-type Coverage**: Tapu Koko, Rotom-W, and Zapdos all defensively check and threaten out Tornadus-T with their Electric typing. Electric-type coverage is also quite threatening, with examples including Thunder Punch from Kommo-o and Thunder from Clefable and Mega Latias.
**Ice-types and Ice-type Coverage**: Weavile outspeeds and threatens to OHKO Tornadus-T with Icicle Crash, though it can't switch in safely. Kyurem-B can tank hits and beat Tornadus-T without much issue. Ice-type coverage is commonplace, so watch out for Ice Punch from Mega Medicham and Kommo-o and Ice Beam from Clefable and Protean Greninja.
**Rock-types and Rock-type Coverage**: Mega Tyranitar and Mega Diancie both destroy Tornadus-T one-on-one, though the former needs to scout for Fightinium Z from Tornadus-T. Mega Tyranitar is especially irritating due to its powerful STAB Pursuit forcing damage and potentially removing Tornadus-T entirely. Landorus-T and Tapu Bulu can snipe incoming Tornadus-T with Stone Edge, sometimes boosted into Continental Crush by Rockium Z for a clean OHKO.
**Faster Attackers**: Mega Alakazam, Ash-Greninja, and Mega Lopunny all outspeed and can threaten a chipped Tornadus-T, though none of them are interested in switching in directly.
**Paralysis** Thunder Wave users like Chansey, Slowbro, and Ferrothorn completely ruin Tornadus-T by removing its crucial good Speed, which prevents it from pivoting safely and revenge killing. Serperior can catch Tornadus-T with Glare as it switches in, and Zapdos's Static ensures Tornadus-T is never free to use Knock Off and U-turn.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zinnias.569291/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/diyusi.519886/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adorluigi.528364/
With its great Speed, decent bulk, and superb utility toolkit, Tornadus-T is one of the best pivots in the tier, fitting on a wide variety of teams. It provides teams with consistent entry hazard removal with Defog thanks to its perfect-fitting ability in Regenerator, and it can pester various defensive switch-ins with options like Knock Off and Taunt. It works well both as a defensive piece and as an attacker, with multiple options like Flyinium Z and Fightinium Z to deal huge damage. Its respectable offensive presence provides lots of opportunities to pivot out with U-turn to bring in other offensive teammates. However, its offensive presence is quite linear, meaning that its easily checked by the likes of Tapu Koko and Zapdos and struggles to dent Magearna. It's deathly afraid of paralysis from the likes of Chansey and Serperior, and it often has to rely on the poor accuracy of Hurricane in order to beat threats like Kartana, Mega Medicham, and the aforementioned Serperior.
[SET]
name: Bulky Pivot
move 1: Hurricane
move 2: Knock Off / Heat Wave
move 3: U-turn / Taunt / Heat Wave
move 4: Defog
item: Rocky Helmet / Flyinium Z
ability: Regenerator
nature: Timid
evs: 240 HP / 64 Def / 204 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
Hurricane deals solid damage to neutral targets like Landorus-T and lets Tornadus-T OHKO Serperior, Mega Medicham, and Kartana in a pinch. Knock Off is a great punish to common Hurricane answers like Chansey, Magearna, and Celesteela, reducing their bulk or longevity so that they're easier to break through. Heat Wave is another option that allows Tornadus-T to accrue chip damage on various Steel-types like Magearna and Mega Mawile, lets it threaten Ferrothorn significantly better, and OHKOes Kartana with consistent accuracy. U-turn is an invaluable momentum tool that allows Tornadus-T to capitalize on the switches it forces as well as chip Mega Tyranitar and Rotom-W. Taunt is great for passive walls like Chansey, Toxapex, and Skarmory, as it prevents them from healing off damage and responding with status. It's additionally useful for forcefully preventing entry hazards from the likes of Heatran, Ferrothorn, and Landorus-T and prevents Zapdos from healing off Stealth Rock damage. Defog synergizes well with Regenerator, as Tornadus-T heals off Stealth Rock damage by default, allowing it to clear hazards with less risk.
Set Details
========
240 HP EVs and 64 Defense EVs let Tornadus-T survive an Ice Punch from Mega Medicham from full health. The Speed investment allows Tornadus-T to outspeed Choice Scarf Magnezone. Rocky Helmet chips away at contact attackers like Landorus-T and Mega Medicham, while Flyinium Z provides both access to an accurate powered-up Hurricane and less damage from Knock Off.
Usage Tips
========
Tornadus-T has the unique benefit of being a Defogger with Regenerator, meaning that it will heal off Stealth Rock damage; however, Tornadus-T cannot meaningfully heal itself up while Stealth Rock is on the field, so it should avoid trading significant amounts of health while Stealth Rock is active. If carrying Taunt, can aggressively come in on Stealth Rock Gliscor, Chansey, and Ferrothorn to remove their entry hazards, but otherwise, it risks taking a crippling status condition. Early-game, Tornadus-T can switch in to scout or threaten Grass-types like Kartana and Tapu Bulu and defensive Landorus-T and can punish their contact moves with Rocky Helmet. Since Tornadus-T can heal off minor chip damage with Regenerator, it finds easy entry against passive walls like Toxapex, Gastrodon, and Gliscor, not caring so much about Scald and Toxic damage as long as it doesn't stay in for too long. Against overly hostile offense matchups, Tornadus-T is most useful brought in through other pivots or as a revenge killer.
Team Options
========
Tornadus-T fits well on teams ranging from bulky offense to balance, providing consistent entry hazard removal and pivoting support. Other pivots like Landorus-T and Magearna have great synergy because they can work in tandem with Tornadus-T to generate momentum, with Landorus-T sharing resistances with Tornadus-T and reducing its defensive burden. Wallbreakers like Mega Medicham and Mega Tyranitar are the prime beneficiaries of the momentum that Tornadus-T generates, and they can break through the likes of Magearna and Zapdos to make Tornadus-T more potent. Bulky Ground-types like Seismitoad, Gastrodon, and Excadrill check Electric-types like Zapdos, Tapu Koko, and Rotom-W and block Volt Switch, with Tornadus-T handling Grass-types like Kartana for them in return. Tornadus-T is a great choice for a Defogger on rain teams, too, as it has a great resistance to Grass, and its Hurricane is boosted to 100% accuracy while rain is active. Sand teams are another good option due to Tornadus-T's aforementioned good synergies with Mega Tyranitar and Excadrill, the latter providing excellent speed control and Rapid Spin support to free Tornadus-T's moveslots. Other Regenerator users like Toxapex and Slowbro form consistent defensive pivoting cores, and they can be switched between each other infinitely to stall out Celesteela's Leech Seed and potentially force a draw against stall teams. Mega Latias shares resistances to Grass and Fighting with Tornadus-T and reduces its defensive burden, additionally helping to check Electric-types for it.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zinnias.569291/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/diyusi.519886/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adorluigi.528364/
[SET]
name: Offensive Pivot
move 1: Hurricane
move 2: Knock Off / Focus Blast / Heat Wave
move 3: U-turn / Taunt
move 4: Defog
item: Flyinium Z / Fightinium Z
ability: Regenerator
nature: Timid
evs: 128 HP / 8 Def / 156 SpA / 216 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
Hurricane is a solid damage-spreading option, and Supersonic Skystrike blows through neutral targets with consistent accuracy and great power without using an extra slot. Knock Off is a traditional complement to Hurricane for punishing Steel-types by removing their item, but All-Out Pummeling is a great option to snipe certain Steel-types like Heatran and Excadrill and others like Mega Tyranitar. Heat Wave is complementary coverage for Flyinium Z sets that threatens Steel-types switching in and gives a higher accuracy move to OHKO Kartana without wasting Tornadus-T's Z-Move. U-turn generates momentum while chipping defensive answers like Rotom-W and Mega Tyranitar. Taunt makes damage stick to targets by blocking their recovery, blocks status attempts from the likes of Chansey and Gliscor, and makes Tornadus-T a much better Defogger by proactively stopping entry hazards from Gliscor and Toxapex to take the pressure off of itself.
Set Details
========
216 Speed EVs allow Tornadus-T to outpace Choice Scarf Tyranitar. 128 HP EVs ensure that Tornadus-T survives Flamethrower from Mega Charizard Y in sun, with the extra 8 Defense EVs letting it survive Mega Medicham's High Jump Kick after Stealth Rock damage. Focus Blast should only be used with Fightinium Z due to the low reward compared to the risk. Otherwise, Flyinium Z should be used.
Usage Tips
========
This set can be used to check Grass-types, revenge kill the likes of Kartana and Mega Medicham, remove entry hazards with Defog, and generate momentum with U-turn, but the lack of bulk makes it more important to conserve HP, especially against the likes of Choice Scarf Kartana. Supersonic Skystrike can be used to surprise neutral targets like Landorus-T and Tapu Lele early-game, and it can also be saved as a perfect accuracy move for crucial turns against the likes of Mega Medicham. Hurricane into Supersonic Skystrike finishes off Toxapex and specially defensive Gliscor, so it can pivot with U-turn to build momentum if the opponent attempts to scout the Z-Move. Tornadus-T can OHKO Mega Tyranitar and offensive Heatran with All-Out Pummeling, though it never hurts to scout with U-turn first in case Mega Tyranitar switches to scout or Heatran is specially defensive. Other times, Tornadus-T can use its Z-Move to heavily dent or finish off Mega Mawile or Mega Diancie. Hurricane's accuracy is too poor to trade damage consistently, so the focus should be on using it to chip switch-ins and then pivoting out straight away.
Team Options
========
This set fits best on bulky offense and balance teams, where it can make progress on top of serving as a pivot and Defogger. Other pivots like Magearna form a pivoting core with Tornadus-T, getting it in easier and keeping up momentum. Bulky Ground-types like Seismitoad and specially defensive Gliscor can patch up Tornadus-T's poor matchup against Electric-types and block Volt Switch. Ferrothorn can handle Electric-types for Tornadus-T and set Spikes to chip down the likes of Tapu Koko, Heatran, and Magearna. Calm Mind Mega Latias greatly benefits from Tornadus-T removing Heatran and Mega Tyranitar with Fightinium Z. Spikes from Ferrothorn and Skarmory aids Tornadus-T in chipping switch-ins like Jirachi and Magearna and making its U-turn generally more potent against grounded targets.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zinnias.569291/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/diyusi.519886/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adorluigi.528364/
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Icy Wind can be used with Icium Z to snipe Swords Dance Gliscor as well as Landorus-T and Garchomp, though it has very little other use. Superpower is a way to hit Mega Tyranitar and Heatran without going full send on Fightinium Z, but it doesn't do as much damage, failing to OHKO either. Firium Z can be used with Heat Wave to OHKO Mega Scizor, Ferrothorn, and Mega Mawile and deal significant damage to other Steel-types like Jirachi and Celesteela. Life Orb increases Tornadus-T's offensive potency without using up a Z-Crystal, though the recoil cuts into its immediate longevity, especially while Stealth Rock is up. Toxic provides a safe punish to the likes of Zapdos, Rotom-W, and Tapu Koko by putting them on a timer. Assault Vest is an option to enable Tornadus-T to more safely make trades and scout special attacks when Defog is taken care of by another teammate.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Steel-types**: Steel-types like Magearna, Heatran, and Mega Mawile resist Hurricane and can hit Tornadus-T back hard, though the likes of Heatran and Celesteela are really bothered by Knock Off.
**Electric-types and Electric-type Coverage**: Tapu Koko, Rotom-W, and Zapdos all defensively check and threaten out Tornadus-T with their Electric typing. Electric-type coverage is also quite threatening, with examples including Thunder Punch from Kommo-o and Thunder from Clefable and Mega Latias.
**Ice-types and Ice-type Coverage**: Weavile outspeeds and threatens to OHKO Tornadus-T with Icicle Crash, though it can't switch in safely. Kyurem-B can tank hits and beat Tornadus-T without much issue. Ice-type coverage is commonplace, so watch out for Ice Punch from Mega Medicham and Kommo-o and Ice Beam from Clefable and Protean Greninja.
**Rock-types and Rock-type Coverage**: Mega Tyranitar and Mega Diancie both destroy Tornadus-T one-on-one, though the former needs to scout for Fightinium Z from Tornadus-T. Mega Tyranitar is especially irritating due to its powerful STAB Pursuit forcing damage and potentially removing Tornadus-T entirely. Landorus-T and Tapu Bulu can snipe incoming Tornadus-T with Stone Edge, sometimes boosted into Continental Crush by Rockium Z for a clean OHKO.
**Faster Attackers**: Mega Alakazam, Ash-Greninja, and Mega Lopunny all outspeed and can threaten a chipped Tornadus-T, though none of them are interested in switching in directly.
**Paralysis** Thunder Wave users like Chansey, Slowbro, and Ferrothorn completely ruin Tornadus-T by removing its crucial good Speed, which prevents it from pivoting safely and revenge killing. Serperior can catch Tornadus-T with Glare as it switches in, and Zapdos's Static ensures Tornadus-T is never free to use Knock Off and U-turn.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zinnias.569291/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/diyusi.519886/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adorluigi.528364/
Last edited:
