Tapu Fini (QC 1/2)

1_TrickPhony

1_TrickPhony

BSS Circuit Co-host
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Tapu Fini is a defining force in bulky offensive and balance builds in USUM. Its fantastic ability in Misty Terrain, which blocks non-volatile status while halving Dragon-type attacks, incredible mixed bulk, and respectable Special Attack gives Tapu Fini an unparalleled role as a check to many of the best Pokemon of this generation, being able to take hits and KO back offensive Pokemon such as Salamence and Blaziken. While originally being best known for its bulkier sets, such as defensive pinch berry and bulky Waterium-Z, it has grown into a role as a multipurpose wallbreaker with its Choice Specs, Tapunium-Z, and fast Taunt sets. In the case of its Choice Scarf set, it can even revenge kill and surprise many traditional weakened checks.

While Tapu Fini has been the premier defensive pokemon for much of this generation, its lack of reliably recovery can be noticeable, and should not take too much chip damage to remain effective.

[SET]
name: Bulky Pinch Berry
move 1: Scald / Surf
move 2: Moonblast
move 3: Calm Mind / Nature's Madness / Taunt
move 4: Hidden Power Fire / Reflect / Taunt
item: Iapapa Berry
ability: Misty Surge
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA

[SET COMMENTS]

Moves
========
  • Scald is used to burn pokemon that aren’t grounded, such as common switchin specially defensive Celesteela, as well as potentially burning Landorus-T, Salamence, and Gyarados that are off the ground, but Surf provides slightly more base damage.
  • All defensive sets should run Moonblast, to deal with Salamence and deliver maximum neutral damage.
  • Tapu Fini is bulky enough to pull off a Calm Mind set, with Scald and Moonblast working well as complementary STAB attacks
  • Hidden Power Fire allows Tapu Fini to deal good damage to Ferrothorn
  • Taunt is useful for shutting down recovery against bulky Pokemon such as Porygon2 and Snorlax, particularly in combination with Calm Mind or Nature’s Madness.
  • Nature's Madness is an option to deliver consistent damage to switch-ins for Tapu Fini.
  • Reflect provides team support and can help mitigate the effectiveness Mimikyu and other physical switch ins have.
Set Details
========
  • The given EVS are for maximum physical bulk, but can be modified to hit specific speed benchmarks for specific team compositions.
  • The 50% berry is used here in order to give Tapu Fini a pseudo recovery against Pokemon that may bring Tapu Fini to red HP, giving it the greatest longevity against strong physical attackers that dominate in BSS.
  • It can be beneficial to select an EV spread with higher speed if using Taunt. For example, hitting 160 Speed EVs will allow you to outspeed max speed Celesteela, taunting it before it is able to use a Leech Seed.

Usage Tips
========
  • Use this Tapu Fini to take on the physical titans of USUM BSS, including Salamence, Blaziken, Landorus-T, and Gyarados. If played correctly, defensive berry Tapu Fini can take on all of these pokemon, while providing team support in the form of Terrain, Taunt, and Reflect.
  • Don't be too reckless with Tapu Fini switch-ins, because while it might be bulky, it has no consistent, reliable recovery. Try and play around the berry activation, particularly positioning it against moves that come close to a 2hko but do not in order to activate the berry.

Team Options
========
  • This Tapu Fini is used to provide a defensive backbone that can sponge up hits while eliminating specific threats to your core. It should be used in combination with pokemon that have natural typing synergy, and can resist Electric, Grass, and Poison-type Pokemon.
  • Notable partners include Celesteela, Aegislash, or Landorus-T on the defensive side, or Metagross, Kartana, Charizard, Salamence, and Thundurus-T as more offensively inclined partners all of which have can resist multiple of the attacking types Tapu Fini hates.
  • Bulky Volcarona and Curse Snorlax, while not having the same excellent type synergy, benefit from ignoring status under Misty Terrain, allowing for free boosts to promote a sweep.

[SET]
name: Waterium Z
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Moonblast
move 3: Taunt / Calm Mind
move 4: Hidden Power Fire / Calm Mind / Icy Wind
item: Waterium Z
ability: Misty Surge
nature: Modest
EVs: 44 HP / 12 Def / 212 SpA / 4 SpD / 236 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Moves
========
  • Z-Hydro Pump along with Taunt and/or Calm Mind can blast through major defensive Pokemon together, such as Porygon2 and Cresselia. Z-Hydro Pump notably OHKOes 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 outmuscle many bulkier pokemon, while Taunt shuts down recovery, letting Tapu Fini defeat defensive Pokemon after using Z-Hydro Pump
  • Icy Wind is an option for your fourth move, allowing you to outspeed Mimikyu following a speed drop, break sash, and hit it with Waterium-Z.
Set Details
========
  • This set is designed to be a bulky attacker that can take a few hits, while maintaining move flexibility that choice sets cannot afford.
  • Waterium-Z Hydro Pump is the strongest Z move on base power Tapu Fini has, giving it a perfect accuracy one time nuke that much of the metagame cannot take, including some natural checks like Tapu Koko.
  • Given EVs outspeed Jolly Breloom while maintaining as much bulk and attacking power as possible.
  • It is possible to sacrifice speed for HP, giving it a bulky-attacker role. For example, to KO Mimikyu, Tapu Fini can run Icy Wind with 220 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 28 Spe, KOing most Mimikyu variants after Disguise is broken and outspeeding all normal variants.
Usage Tips
========
  • Bring out Z move Tapu Fini in order to break down opposing defensive backbones. It can be used as an effective lead against slower opposing teams.
  • If using Calm Mind, carefully consider when you go for a boost, saving it for when you have high or perfect HP, Tapu Fini outspeeds the opposing pokemon, or the faster attackers on the opponents side are using resisted / neutral special attacking moves. This Tapu Fini set does not have the greatest defenses and cannot survive too many hits from stronger pokemon, and will crumble to things like Salamence Double-Edge or offensive Landorus Earthquake after chip.
  • Consider carefully when Tapu Fini decides to Taunt opposing walls. If your set is unrevealed, it may be best to use Z-move first to get as much damage as possible, then Taunt to block recovery. If they have a reasonable suspicion that Tapu Fini will Z move and plan to recover on the turn it clicks a Z-move, it is better to Taunt first then try and wallbreak.
Team Options
========
  • This Tapu Fini excels at blasting through defensive Pokemon, so consider pairing it with sweepers that can take advantage of these holes.
  • The teammates from the previous set mostly hold true, as they all still have natural type synergy with Tapu Fini. Pokemon that appreciate the wallbreaking power of Waterium-Z, such as Choice Scarf Kartana, Pheromosa, and Bulky Xurkitree, who all can "snowball" after coming in to finish off broken walls, should also be considered.
  • U-turn and Volt Switch users like Landorus-T, Rotom-H, Rotom-W, Tapu Koko (on predicted switches), etc can all help Tapu Fini get in on its opponents without suffering too much chip damage. It can also help weaken Pokemon to in range of Moonblast and Hydro Vortex.

[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Hydro Pump / Surf
move 2: Hidden Power Fire
move 3: Moonblast
move 4: Trick
item: Choice Specs
ability: Misty Surge
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Moves
========
  • Hydro Pump is the preferred water attacking move, to inflict maximum damage and guarantee some OHKOs that Surf cannot, such as Tapu Koko. Surf can be used in place, in order to guarantee your hits.
  • HP Fire is used in order to not get hard walled by Ferrothorn, which would otherwise stop Tapu Fini in its tracks.
  • Moonblast can OHKO every Dragon, including Naganadel and Latias, and is the safest move to click when Steel switch-ins are removed or weakened.
  • Trick is used to cripple many switch-ins, such as Snorlax, Celesteela, P2, and Chansey. Alternatively, Surf or Scald can be used in combination with Hydro Pump, to get both a strong and accurate water coverage move; however, Trick is usually the preferred option.
Set Details
========
  • Maximum Speed and Special Attack are used in order to secure as many KOs as possible, since these sets do not try and typically tank opposing attacks.
  • Modest is chosen over Timid for Choice Specs in order to deal maximum damage per attack.
  • Once again, EVs can be modified, particularly with Specs, which often runs a bulky spread such as 108 HP 212+ Special Attack 188 Speed, which outspeeds max speed Celesteela while still retaining significant bulk. However, max Special Attack and Speed are most common.
  • Tapu Fini with a choice item becomes either a premier wallbreaker or revenge killer, blowing back non-resisted pokemon and providing significant chip to even resisted foes, without needing to set up Calm Mind.
Usage Tips
========
  • Choice Specs Tapu Fini works best with maximum health, to allow it to beat faster Pokemon while surviving hits, such as Tapu Koko, Manectric, Gengar, etc.
  • Choice Specs serves as a solid lead, as it does not take setup commitment and has nearly unresisted coverage with its three move choices.
  • Be careful with Pokemon that are immune to Trick, such as Mega Stone or Z-crystal pokemon. Attempt to scout out first, or risk getting swept by a switch in Mega/Z holder on a predicted Trick against a wall like Toxapex or Celesteela.
Team Options
========
  • Many of the team options mentioned previously can be used with a Choiced Tapu Fini.
  • Similar to the Waterium-Z set, volt-turn support to get this Tapu Fini in with as little damage as possible is preferable, such as Landorus-T, Thundurus-T, or Rotom-H.

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Hydro Pump/Surf
move 2: Nature's Maddness/Hidden Power Fire/Ice Beam
move 3: Moonblast
move 4: Trick/Nature's Maddness/Ice Beam
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Misty Surge
nature: Modest/Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Moves
========
  • Similar to the Choice Specs Set, Hydro Pump is the preferred water attacking move, to inflict maximum damage. Surf can be used in place, in order to guarantee your hits and still KO many Pokemon weak to water such as Blaziken and low bulk Rotom-H.
  • Nature's Madness is preferred over Hidden Power Fire, as the damage output is woefully low and is a difficult move to be choice locked into. It notably does not OHKO Ferrothorn or Scizor. Hidden Power Fire can be used to clean pokemon that are weak to it in lategame.
  • Moonblast filled out STAB coverage with Hydro Pump/Surf, dealing massive damage to Salamence-Mega and Garchomp.
  • Trick can also be used here to cripple similar switch-ins as the Choice Specs set such as Snorlax, Celesteela, P2, and Chansey. Alternatively, Surf/Scald can be also be used in combination with Hydro Pump for both accuracy and power.
  • Ice Beam is a secondary option that can guarantee OHKO revenge kills on Landorus-T and Salamence-Mega.
Set Details
========
  • Always use maximum Special Attack and Speed, or spread very close to max/max, in order to outspeed important targets and deal as much as possible.
  • With Choice Scarf Modest outspeeds up to Mega Lopunny, while Timid outspeeds +1 Gyarados and plus Speed natured Pheromosa and Alakazam.
  • Choice Scarf variants have the ability to get the jump on many traditional checks, such as Tapu Koko, and Gengar, allowing the rest of your teammates, such defensive flame charge Charizard-X, to clean up even if you find yourself in a bad matchup.
Usage Tips
========
  • Be careful when facing other Tapus with Scarf, as the order of terrain setting can reveal your speed tier and remove your surprise element!
  • Choice Scarf should be used as a revenge killer and cleaner, particularly when facing opposing Tapu teams, nullifying their damage output by removing their terrain and finishing off weakened pokemon.
  • Be careful with pokemon that are immune to Trick, such as mega stone or z-move pokemon. Attempt to scout out first, or risk getting swept by a switch in Mega/Z on a predicted Trick against a wall like Toxapex or Celesteela.
Team Options
========
  • While options for partners are fairly similar, Choice Scarf Tapu Fini most likely will not be able to wallbreak most teams, and can use the support of wallbreakers such as Z-move Kartana/Thundurus-T, Mega Salamence, etc.
  • Rotom-H and Metagross are well known core partner of Choice Scarf Tapu Fini, as it can provide the speed control for this core while Firium-Z Rotom-H and Adamant Metagross can wallbreak for Scarf Tapu Fini to clean up.

[SET]
name: Tapunium Z
move 1: Nature's Madness
move 2: Moonblast
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Brine / Reflect
item: Tapunium Z
ability: Misty Surge
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Moves
========
  • Tapunium Z Guardian of Alola is designed to put significant chip to Pokemon that would otherwise wall certain team compositions, such as bulky steels and bulky normals.
  • Moonblast is the strongest reliable stab, which in combination with Brine often is able to secure a KO after Guardian of Alola.
  • Taunt prevents bulky walls with 50% recovery to use their healing moves, but is beneficial in general for shutting down all types of non-damaging moves.
  • Brine is the preferred option for the last moveslot, dealing lethal to many bulky Pokemon already hit by Guardian of Alola. However, Reflect can be used in place, to provide team support, at the expense of KO on certain Pokemon such as Heatran. Scald is another option to spread burns, but with its weaker base power leaving it unable to KO some Pokemon after a Z move, it is considered to usually be a more niche option.
Set Details
========
  • Since damage is dealt primarily with Nature's Madness, attacking EVs are forgone for HP, and speed, to have the most bulk.
  • EVs can be modified to get certain KOs and live certain attacks, however, HP and Speed Max is probably the most common spread.
Usage Tips
========
  • This set is used to make switching in very difficult, without having to guess which coverage Pokemon you should use. It is very useful for guaranteeing the destruction of almost any wall in the game, excluding a very few exclusive Pokemon, such as Toxapex.
Team Options
========
This Tapu Fini is the preferred option for slower, more defensive teams that would otherwise lack universal wallbreaking power. In particular, defensive Charizard-X and Volcarona appreciates having walls removed, as defensive versions have great difficulty in wallbreaking a large portion of the Battle Spot cast due to forgoing coverage for longevity. Choice Scarf Kartana can also sweep after having major walls weakened as well.

Other Options
========
Some defensive sets can run leftovers over a 50% berry, for passive recovery, but 50% berries are generally the preferred option against offensively inclined Pokemon/teams. This includes Tapu Finis with Iron Defense, which can wall Pokemon while enjoying passive recovery.
Icium-Z along with Mist can give Tapu Fini a one time full HP recovery, but is often not worth using the team's Z-move slot.
Assault Vest allows Tapu Fini to take many special attacks and beat certain pokemon it may not be able to beat 1 vs 1.
Tapu Fini notably has access to Reflect and Light screen, allowing it to use a Light Clay dual screens setup. Its decent speed tier and access to Taunt allow this to work on a few team compositions, but outside of the surprise factor and Misty Terrain blocking status, it is outclassed by Tapu Koko, who can pivot and has a faster speed tier.

Checks and Counters
========

**Grass Types**: With Venusaur, Tapu Fini has little ways to touch Venusaur outside of Tapunium-Z, but Venusaur can heal up via either Giga Drain or synthesis right after. Without HP Fire, Tapu Fini allows Ferrothorn to easily set up Leech seed, Stealth Rock, or outright KO Fini, and Kartana can set up on non-HP fire Tapu Fini, particularly the newer SpD invested Kartana, which get 3HKOed by standard Moonblast and can live all non-HP Fire specs moves. If it doesn't need/want to set up it can outright KO as well w/ Leaf Blade. Amoonguss has the ability to pivot in and out, resisting both STABs, and allowing for pivoting in and out through Regenerator.
**Poison Attackers**: Naganadel and Gengar can OHKO with their poison coverage in certain circumstances, while outspeeding non-scarf versions. They have to be careful, however, because Choice Specs Moonblast can OHKO Naganadel and Choice Specs Hydro pump or Hydro Vortex can OHKO Gengar. While normally Tapu Fini walls Greninja, Gunk Shot variants can OHKO Tapu Fini while serving as a lure for it, and take less than half from Moonblast should it not OHKO.
**Electric Attackers**: Tapu Koko has the ability to outspeed OHKO with a Z-move or do massive chip without boosts/Z-moves. Similarly, Thundurus-T can outspeed most variants, set up Nasty Plot in the face of non-offensive Finis, and OHKO with Z moves or after a boost. However, these are not able to switch in cleanly, risking an OHKO to moves like Z-Hydro Pump or Choice Specs Hydro Pump due to no resistances.
**Charizard-Y**: Charizard-Y takes little from Moonblast and nullifies water coverage with its Drought. It also has the ability to 2hko with Solar beam or outright KO with a small amount of chip. It cannot switch in well to Calm Mind sets that still have their Z-move, however.
**Dedicated Special Walls**: Pokemon like Chansey, Toxapex, and Snorlax all take minimal damage from Tapu Fini attacks and are only truly stopped by Trick. All of these have the ability to heal off damage, and Snorlax can hit back hard with Return or Double Edge.
 
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Please use the correct format, which can be found and copy-pasted from here.

You are missing a lot of sections for the analysis formats. Moves / Set details / Usage Tips / Team Options should be a thing for each set, with Other Options and Checks and Counters being a thing for the entire Pokemon, and they should be grouped instead of having each Grass-type get their own bullet point (unless they are so unique there exists no other counters in the same vein. This format gets input straight into the SCMS so please follow the formatting and not following it is not going to help it get through GP.)

Yes I know it can be redundant for especially usage tips and move explanations but you can but you can talk about the general usage tips on the first / main set, then talk about specific stuff for each set. I think a lot of information is there, just not at the right place, so do this so we can move on quick.

Defensive set:
  • Talk about what this set is particularly good vs. (and how this setup helps Fini more than others)
  • For example, talk about what the defensive investment helps against (Blaziken, Mega Salamence, etc.) (This would go into Set Details, talking about the EV spread)
  • Also talk about how this is just the best general option to switch into things and recover using its 50% berry, and how it is resistant to surprise tech moves like Gunk Shot Greninja and such. (This would go into Usage Tips)
  • Just mention the specific Steel-types (Celesteela, Aegislash, Metagross) in team options. Ground-types like Landorus-T probably deserves a mention as well.
Offensive sets:
  • Mention known cores built around offensive sets. You mentioned Zard / Celesteela / Fini, but also mention things like Metagross / Rotom-H / Tapu Fini for the Specs set, Mawile / Latias + others, or Aegislash + Metagross teams that opt for Fini instead (to check their Gyarados / Dark Pulse special Greninja weakness) also really enjoys the Waterium-Z set (in general teams that use Fini as a secondary option use offensive)
 
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1_TrickPhony said:
Tapu Fini has been is a defining force in all forms of for bulky offensive and balance builds in USUM Battle Spot Singles (This is technically untrue but a nitpick, when headed towards balance and semi-stall, Fini gets its main competition from Toxapex which is preferred due to bulkier balance->semistall cores preferring the ability to spread status with gliscor, porygon2, pex itself etc. as well as reliable recovery, in general comps that dont like misty terrain are gonna have primarina/suicune/pex over fini). Its fantastic ability in Misty Terrain halving the effectiveness of dragon type moves and blocking non-volatile status conditions, incredible mixed bulk of 70/115/130, and respectable special attack stat of 95 gives Tapu Fini an unparalled roll unparalleled role as a check to many of the best most threatening offensive mons pokemon of this generation in the format, being able to take hits from and KO back offensive mons such as Mega Salamence and Mega Blaziken. While originally being best known for its bulky bulkier sets, such as defensive pinch berry (this needs reformatting into whatever is the official way to say 50% berries) and bulky Waterium-Z, its role has expanded to wallbreaker and revenge killer with its choiced, Tapunium, and fast taunt sets.

While Tapu Fini has been the premier defensive mon water type for much of the this generations, its lack of reliably reliable recovery can be is noticeable, and users of Tapu Fini should be careful not to take too much chip damage if Fini is needed as a defensive check to remain effective (needs rewording somehow).


Set 1: Bulky Pinch Berry (needs renaming)

Tapu Fini @ Iapapa Berry
Ability: Misty Surge
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
- Scald/Surf
- Moonblast
- Calm Mind/Nature’s Madness/Taunt
- HP Fire/Reflect/Taunt
  • Scald is used to can burn mons that aren’t non-grounded opponents, such as common switch-in SpD Celesteela (Gyarados, Salamence and Lando-T should be mentioned here), but Surf can provides slightly more damage.
  • All defensive Tapu Fini sets should run moonblast, to deal with hit Mega Salamence and deliver maximum neutral damage.
  • Tapu Fini is bulky enough to pull off a Calm Mind set, with Surf/Scald and Moonblast working well as complementary STAB attacks
  • Hidden Power Fire allows Tapu Fini to deal good damage to Ferrothorn, another common switch-in (delete this second part?).
  • Taunt is useful for shutting down recovery from against bulky Pokemon such as Porygon2 and Snorlax, particularly in combination w/ calm mind or nature’s madness. It can be beneficial to select an EV spread with higher speed if using taunt.
  • Nature's Madness is an option to deliver consistent damage to switch-ins for to tapu fini Tapu Fini.
  • Reflect provides team support and can help mitigate the effectiveness of mimikyu and other physical threats switch ins have.
  • Don't be too reckless with Tapu Fini switch-ins, because while it might be bulky, it has no consistent, reliable recovery.
  • Resists for Electric, Grass, and Poison-type Pokemon can help preserve Tapu Fini’s longevity, such as bulky steel type pokemon. mons
Set 2: Waterium Z

Tapu Fini @ Waterium Z
Ability: Misty Surge
EVs: 108 HP / 236 SpA / 164 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Moonblast
- Nature's Madness/Taunt
- Hidden Power Fire/Taunt/Calm Mind

(It is relatively rare you will see a spread like this on an offensive waterium-z tapu fini due to it not hitting any major defensive benchmarks, Ill put a spread down below this outspeeds jolly loom:

EVs: 44 HP / 12 Def / 212 SpA / 4 SpD / 236 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Moonblast
- Calm Mind
- Hidden Power [Fire]

Most importantly here though, generally you arent going to see natures madness paired up with spa investment since it is kinda counterintuitive though it is possible
  • Nature's Madness Calm Mind and plus Z-Hydro Pump can blast through major defensive walls Pokemon together, such as Porygon2 and Cresselia. Z-Hydro Pump notably OHKOes Tapu Koko.
  • Moonblast is a reliable STAB that slams Dragon-types.
  • Hidden Power Fire 2HKOs Ferrothorn after it switches into Nature's Madness.
  • Calm Mind gives Tapu Fini the power to defeat many bulkier pokemon, while Taunt shuts down recovery, letting Tapu Fini defeat defensive Pokemon even after using Z-Hydro Pump.
  • Given EVs outspeed adamant breloom and max speed celesteela, while maintaining as much bulk and attacking power as possible.
  • This Tapu Fini excels at blasting through defensive Pokemon, so consider pairing it with sweepers that can take advantage of these holes.
  • I think an Icy wind + Waterium-Z set to KO mimikyu needs to be mentioned here, look in spread compendium for more info on spread
Set 3: Choiced Attacker

Trick Scarf/Specs (Tapu Fini) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Misty Surge
Level: 50
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hydro Pump/Surf
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Moonblast
- Trick/Surf (trick I think is a key component of these sets)
  • Tapu Fini with a choice item becomes either a premier both a wallbreaker or and revenge killer, blowing back non-resisted mons and providing significant chip to even resisted mons, without needing to set up calm mind.
  • Hydro Pump is the preferred water STAB attacking move, to inflict maximum damage. Surf can be used in place, in order to guarantee your hits and still kill threaten many mons such as Blaziken and Rotom-Heat
  • HP Fire is used in order to not get hard walled by Ferrothorn, which would otherwise stop Fini in its tracks.
  • Moonblast can ohko every dragon, including Naganadel (this is untrue) and Latias, and is the safest move to click when steel switchins are removed or weakened. (this needs changing)
  • Trick is used to cripple many bulkier switch-ins such as Snorlax, Celesteela, Porygon2, and Chansey. Alternatively, Surf/Scald can be used in combination with hydro pump, to get both a strong and accurate water coverage move.
  • Once again, EVs can be modified, particularly with Specs, which often runs a bulky spread such as 108 HP 212+ Spa 188 Spe, which outspeeds max speed Celesteela while still retaining significant bulk turning 2hkos into 3hkos. However, max SpA and Spe are most common. (Needs changing somehow)
Set 4: Tapunium-Z

Tapunium-Z Fini (Tapu Fini) @ Tapunium Z
Ability: Misty Surge
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Nature's Madness
- Moonblast
- Taunt
- Brine/Reflect
  • Tapunium-Z is designed to put significant chip to mons pokemon that would otherwise wall certain team compositions, such as bulky steels and bulky normals.
  • Brine is the preferred option, dealing lethal to many fat mons significant damage to pokemon already hit by Guardian of Alola. However, reflect can be used in place, to provide team support, at the expense of kills on certain mons such as Heatran. (surf can be used here fine too)
  • EVs can be modified to get certain kills and live certain attacks, however, HP and Spe Max is probably the most common spread (Needs changing)
Team Options

Fini in combination w/ Bulky with Mega Charizard-X and Celesteela forms a difficult to break DFS Dragon Fairy Steel core, and is perhaps one of its most common partners. Offensive team options include Kartana, flame charge sweepers/Blaziken, Kangaskhan, and other setup sweepers that may have trouble with certain walls that wallbreaking Fini sets can deal with. Notable defensive partners include Bulky Steels such as Celesteela and Ferrothorn. Finally, mons that appreciate status blocking, such as Snorlax, Bulky Volcarona, and P2 can be used to take advantage of misty terrain, granting them the ability to operate without fear of status. (Its important to note here that Fini works excellently with just about every steel type and fits onto most bulky offensive team comps (fini gross rotom-h is one that is really worth noting though)


Checks and Counters

Venusaur: Fini has little ways to touch Mega Venusaur outside of Tapunium-Z and Venusaur can threaten with Grass/Poison STAB.
Tapu Koko: Tapu Koko has the ability to outspeed and threaten Tapu Fini with Electric type moves boosted under electric terrain. OHKO w/ a Z-move or do massive chip without boosts/Z-moves.
Ferrothorn: Without HP Fire, Fini allows ferrothorn to easily set up Leech seed, stealth rocks, or outright KO Fini with a grass type move.
Kartana: Similar to Ferrothorn, Kartana can set up on non-HP fire Fini, and threatens a beast boost with Leaf Blade. particularly the new age SpD invested Kartanas, which get 3hkod by standard moonblast and can live all non-hp fire specs moves. If it doesnt need/want to set up it can outright KO as well w/ leaf blade.
Charizard-Y: Mega Charizard-Y takes little from moonblast and nullifies weakens water coverage type moves with its drought. It also has the ability to 2hko w/ solar beam or outright kill with a small amount of chip.
Poison Attackers: Naganadel and Gengar can OHKO with their poison coverage in certain circumstances, while outspeeding non-scarf versions. They have to be careful, however, because specs moonblast can OHKO naga (it very rarely does) and specs hydro pump or hydro vortex can OHKO gengar.
Protean Greninja: While normally Tapu Fini walls Torrent Greninja, gunk shot variants can OHKO Fini while serving as a lure for it, and take less than half from moonblast should it not OHKO.
Click to expand...

Ive made a few edits above.
 
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I am unsure how realistic it is that we can get everything currently in progress done before SwSh, but I'm still working with the assumption that we can since Tapu Fini is an important Pokemon. There's still some formatting issues and stuff missing but I've left comments in bold, not going to be too picky about grammar stuff right now since that's for GP to check, not me.

I'd take a look the Spelling and Grammar Standards thread though, there's obviously way too much to memorize here but glancing a bit through here could help iron out some of the bigger writing errors. Again, fixing all the grammar errors is the GP team's job so don't worry about being perfect or anything, this just makes it easier on them once the analysis reaches that point.

1_TrickPhony said:
Tapu Fini has been a defining force in all forms of bulky offensive and balance builds in USUM. Its fantastic ability in Misty Terrain, incredible mixed bulk of 70/115/130, and respectable special attack of 95 gives Tapu Fini an unparalled roll (typo, should be role) as a check to many of the best mons of this generation, being able to take hits and KO back offensive mons such as Salamence and Blaziken. While originally being best known for its bulky sets, such as defensive pinch berry and bulky Waterium-Z, its role has expanded to wallbreaker and revenge killer with its choiced, Tapunium, and fast taunt sets. Write some of these names more properly (Choice Specs, Tapunium Z, Taunt), we do need some level of formality in general.

While Tapu Fini has been the premier defensive mon for much of this generations, its lack of reliably recovery can be noticeable, and should not take too much chip damage to remain effective. Don't shorten Pokemon to mon(s), same in the above instances.

[SET]
name: Bulky Pinch Berry
move 1: Scald/Surf
move 2: Moonblast
move 3: Calm Mind/Nature’s Madness/Taunt
move 4: HP Fire/Reflect/Taunt
item: Iapapa Berry
ability: Misty Surge
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Write out Hidden Power Fire and change the curly apostrophe to the regular ones, it sounds pedantic but the HTML is case-sensitive about this stuff.

[SET COMMENTS]

Moves
========
  • Scald is used to burn mons that aren’t grounded, such as common switch-in SpD Celesteela, but Surf can provide slightly more damage. Write out "Specially Defensive Celesteela" instead, in general don't abbreviate things unless it's something formally established like STAB.
  • All defensive sets should run moonblast, to deal with Salamence and deliver maximum neutral damage.
  • Tapu Fini is bulky enough to pull off a Calm Mind set, with Scald and Moonblast working well as complementary STAB attacks
  • Hidden Power Fire allows Tapu Fini to deal good damage to Ferrothorn, another common switch-in.
  • Taunt is useful for shutting down recovery against bulky Pokemon such as Porygon2 and Snorlax, particularly in combination w/ calm mind or nature’s madness.
  • Nature's Madness is an option to deliver consistent damage to switch-ins for tapu fini.
  • Reflect provides team support and can help mitigate the effectiveness mimikyu and other physical switch ins have.
Set Details
========
The given EVS are for maximum physical bulk, but can be modified to hit specific speed benchmarks for specific team compositions. Not going to be picky about which but I'd give an example of a specific spread that you can consider here. Also mention why the berry is being used here. Normally you'd explain the ability choice here but Telepathy isn't even available so it doesn't really matter.

Usage Tips
========
It can be beneficial to select an EV spread with higher speed if using taunt. This would be a good sentence to put in Set Details instead, mention a specific target you'd do this for too.
Don't be too reckless with Tapu Fini switch-ins, because while it might be bulky, it has no consistent, reliable recovery. Try and play around the berry activation, particularly w/ moves that 2hko without activating
Resists for Electric, Grass, and Poison-type Pokemon can help preserve Tapu Fini’s longevity, such as bulky steel mons This should be mentioned in the Team Options section which seems to be missing from this set.

-This vaguely ties in with the recovery issue you mention but I'd probably also make a mention in Usage Tips of being careful when choosing to use Calm Mind as opposed to just attacking. it's easy to make the mistake of trying to set up on something you shouldn't and getting punished because you take too much damage on retaliation to really handle that damage.

[Missing Team Options]


[SET]
name: Waterium Z
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Moonblast
move 3: Taunt/ Calm Mind
move 4: Hidden Power Fire/Calm Mind
item: Waterium Z
ability: Misty Surge
nature: Modest
EVs: 44 HP / 12 Def / 212 SpA / 4 SpD / 236 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Moves
========
  • Nature's Madness and Z-Hydro Pump can blast through major defensive Pokemon together, such as Porygon2 and Cresselia. Z-Hydro Pump notably OHKOes 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 many bulkier pokemon, while Taunt shuts down recovery, letting Tapu Fini defeat defensive Pokemon even after using Z-Hydro Pump
Set Details
========
-I know it's implicit from the Moves section but make mention of Waterium Z and why it's chosen for this set. You already mention this set is meant to wallbreak so it's already implied at least.
  • This set is designed to be a wallbreaker that can take a few hits, while maintaining move flexibility that choice sets cannot afford.
  • Given EVs outspeed adamant breloom and max speed celesteela, while maintaining as much bulk and attacking power as possible.
Usage Tips
========
  • This Tapu Fini excels at blasting through defensive Pokemon, so consider pairing it with sweepers that can take advantage of these holes. This is more of a Team Options thing. I'd make mention of stuff like being more careful with what you switch this set into when compared to the bulky sets, and the more aggressive play style of this set.
Team Options
========
Don't forget to add stuff here, don't feel the need to go too crazy here though, just a few obvious teammates will do.
[SET]
name: Choiced Attacker
- Hydro Pump/Surf
- Hidden Power [Fire] No need for the brackets here
- Moonblast
- Trick/Surf
item: Choice Specs / Choice Scarf
ability: Misty Surge
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

Moves
========
  • Hydro Pump is the preferred water attacking move, to inflict maximum damage. Surf can be used in place, in order to guarantee your hits and still kill many mons such as Blaziken and Rotom-H
  • HP Fire is used in order to not get hard walled by Ferrothorn, which would otherwise stop Fini in its tracks.
  • Moonblast can ohko every dragon, including Naganadel and Latias, and is the safest move to click when steel switchins are removed or weakened.
  • Trick is used to cripple many switch-ins, such as Snorlax, Celesteela, P2, and Chansey. Alternatively, Surf/Scald can be used in combination with hydro pump, to get both a strong and accurate water coverage move.
Set Details
========
-Truthfully, Choiced sets are typically their own sets unless the set plays similarly regardless of which Choice item (which is typically not the case). Also don't forget to explain the EV spread, simple as it may be.
  • Tapu Fini with a choice item becomes either a premier wallbreaker or revenge killer, blowing back non-resisted mons and providing significant chip to even resisted mons, without needing to set up calm mind.
Usage Tips
========
-The stuff here is better suited to Set Details.
  • Once again, EVs can be modified, particularly with Specs, which often runs a bulky spread such as 108 HP 212+ Spa 188 Spe, which outspeeds max speed Celesteela while still retaining significant bulk turning 2hkos into 3hkos. However, max SpA and Spe are most common.
  • Scarf should be used on teams that would otherwise lack speed control to get the jump on unsuspecting mons.
  • The Specs set, while lacking the raw power of other specs pokemon like Tapu Lele, enjoys catching players who believe they can set up on Fini, and also can damage steel defensive backbones with often unresisted water coverage.
Team Options
========
Same as before

[SET]
name: Tapunium Z
move 1: Nature's Madness
move 2: Moonblast
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Brine/Reflect
item: Tapunium Z
ability: Misty Surge
nature: timid
evs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
This set may not be important enough for its own full set and might be worth just making mention of in Other Options, see what others think about this first.

Moves
========
  • Tapunium boosted Nature's Madness is designed to put significant chip to mons that would otherwise wall certain team compositions, such as bulky steels and bulky normals. "Boosted" isn't the right descriptor I think, this is a bit pedantic though.
  • Moonblast is the strongest reliable stab, which in combination with brine often is able to secure a kill after Guardian of Alola.
  • Taunt prevents bulky walls with 50% recovery to use their healing moves, but is beneficial for shutting down all types of non-damaging moves.
  • Brine is the preferred option for the last moveslot, dealing lethal to many fat mons already hit by Guardian of Alola. However, reflect can be used in place, to provide team support, at the expense of kills on certain mons such as Heatran.
Set Details
========
  • EVs can be modified to get certain kills and live certain attacks, however, HP and Spe Max is probably the most common spread.
Usage Tips
========
  • This set is used to make switching in very difficult, without having to guess which coverage mon you should use. It is very useful for guaranteeing the destruction of almost any wall in the game, excluding a very few exclusive mons, such as toxapex.
Team Options
========

Fini in combination w/ Bulky Zard-X forms a difficult to break DFS core, and is perhaps one of its most common partners. Offensive team options include Kartana, flame charge sweepers/Blaziken, Kangaskhan, and other setup sweepers that may have trouble with certain walls that wallbreaking Fini sets can deal with. Notable defensive partners include Bulky Steels such as Celesteela, Ferrothorn. Finally, mons that appreciate status blocking, such as Snorlax, Bulky Volcarona, and P2 can be used to take advantage of misty terrain, granting them the ability to operate without fear of status.

[Missing Other Options section]

Checks and Counters

[Formatting is still a bit off]
Grass Types: With Venusaur, Fini has little ways to touch Venu outside of Tapunium-Z, but venu can heal up via either giga drain or synthesis right after. Without HP Fire, Fini allows ferrothorn to easily set up Leech seed, stealth rocks, or outright KO Fini, and Kartana can set up on non-HP fire fini, particularly the new age SpD invested Kartanas, which get 3hkod by standard moonblast and can live all non-hp fire specs moves. If it doesnt need/want to set up it can outright KO as well w/ leaf blade.
Poison Attackers: Naganadel and Gengar can OHKO with their poison coverage in certain circumstances, while outspeeding non-scarf versions. They have to be careful, however, because specs moonblast can OHKO naga and specs hydro pump or hydro vortex can OHKO gengar. While normally Tapu Fini walls Greninja, gunk shot variants can OHKO Fini while serving as a lure for it, and take less than half from moonblast should it not OHKO.
Tapu Koko: Tapu Koko has the ability to outspeed OHKO w/ a Z-move or do massive chip without boosts/Z-moves. You can probably expand this to relevant Electric-types in general rather than a specific Tapu Koko section
Charizard-Y: Zard-Y takes little from moonblast and nullifies water coverage with its drought. It also has the ability to 2hko w/ solar beam or outright kill with a small amount of chip.
Click to expand...
 
1_TrickPhony said:
Overview:
Generally, you want to stay away from stuff you can look up on /dt or serebii, like its base stat (aside from Speed I suppose), and instead focus on what it means. Rest of it is all good, though.

[SET]
name: Bulky Pinch Berry
move 1: Scald/Surf
move 2: Moonblast
move 3: Calm Mind/Nature's Madness/Taunt
move 4: Hidden Power Fire/Reflect/Taunt
item: Iapapa Berry
ability: Misty Surge
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA

[SET COMMENTS]

Looks great!

[SET]
name: Waterium Z
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Moonblast
move 3: Taunt/ Calm Mind
move 4: Hidden Power Fire/Calm Mind/Icy Wind
item: Waterium Z
ability: Misty Surge
nature: Modest
EVs: 44 HP / 12 Def / 212 SpA / 4 SpD / 236 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

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

    Nature's Madness isn't on the main set though? Change this appropriately.
Set Details
========
  • This set is designed to be a wallbreaker that can take a few hits, while maintaining move flexibility that choice sets cannot afford.

    I would say this is more of a bulky attacker than a wallbreaker - the set actually does very poorly vs cycle-oriented teams that have a ton of fat like Snorlax and Toxapex, so it is less of a wallbreaker and more so punishing opposing bulky attackers. This is notable because I'd argue this is pretty much one of the worse sets vs walls because it lacks Trick unlike the Choice sets, and doesn't really use Nature's Madness + Taunt like the Bulky Berry / Tapunium Z sets. I'd even argue that this Tapu Fini would also appreciate a mention of hard stallbreakers in its teammate options (like Gliscor, Excadrill, Gengar, Mega Mawile, - many of them have good synergy with FIni.)

    Similarly. I'd also mention Volt-Turn and momentum Pokemon, because it really wants to switch in without taking damage, against a Pokemon it threatens offensively. Sakku's Mawile - Latias team uses the Volt-Turn which supports Mawile and Offensive Fini.

[SET]
name: Choiced Attacker
move 1: Hydro Pump/Surf
move 2: Hidden Power Fire
move 3: Moonblast
move 4: Trick
item: Choice Specs / Choice Scarf
ability: Misty Surge
nature: Modest/Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

Format fixed. Also split Specs and Scarf sets - I think if you look at the comments below, there's many of them that just apply to exclusively Specs or Scarf, even the ones that do not directly mention its Item choice. This is a good indicator that these two sets should be split up.

[SET COMMENTS]

Moves
========
  • Hydro Pump is the preferred water attacking move, to inflict maximum damage.

    Mention KO targets of Hydro Pump over moves like Surf or Scald, like being able to OHKO Tapu Koko with Hydro Pump, and 2HKO 252 HP Aegislash-Shield.

  • Moonblast can ohko every dragon, including Naganadel and Latias, and is the safest move to click when steel switchins are removed or weakened.

    Things like this is why u can't just put Specs and Scarf together. Scarf Moonblast KOs neither, but obviously is way better at this cleanup thing mentioned in the second half of the sentence.

  • Trick is used to cripple many switch-ins, such as Snorlax, Celesteela, P2, and Chansey. Alternatively, Surf/Scald can be used in combination with hydro pump, to get both a strong and accurate water coverage move, however, Trick is usually the preferred option.

    Mention Ice Beam on Scarf for the OHKO calcs, also talk about 2 Water STAB over HP Fire, cuz Ferrothorn is just 1 Pokemon (and especially on Scarf, it just doesn't quite do enough and locking into HP Fire can force you into tough jams.
Set Details
========

Good, just split up appropriately.

Usage Tips
========

Mention Trick immunities and how this forces a lot of prediction wars and double switches with Mega Stone and Z-moves punishing the move hard. Looks good.

Team Options
========
  • Many of the team options mentioned previously can be used with a Choiced Tapu Fini.
  • Rotom-H and Metagross are well known partner of Choice Scarf Tapu Fini, as it can provide the speed control for this core while Firium-Z Rotom-H and adamant Metagross can wallbreak for Scarf Tapu Fini to clean up.

    Similarly to Offensive Waterium-Z, mention Volt-Turn support. Rotom-H is good over other fires because of the Volt Switch. U-turn on Landorus-T is really good with the Specs set, seen on both Metagross / Fini / Rotom-H / Landorus-T cores, as well as Gengar / Fini / Landorus-T cores.

    Scarf benefits a lot less from matchup control moves, because obviously it is worse at taking advantage of switches, so you want to mention wallbreaking damage support for Scarf Fini instead like you mentioned.


[SET]
name: Tapunium Z
move 1: Nature's Madness
move 2: Moonblast
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Brine/Reflect
item: Tapunium Z
ability: Misty Surge
nature: timid
evs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Moves
========
  • Tapunium Z Nature's Madness Guardian of Alola is designed to put significant chip to pokemon that would otherwise wall certain team compositions, such as bulky steels and bulky normals.

    Using the name of the held Z-crystal, or using the name of the Z-move is the GP standard over saying Z-[base move name]. Set looks solid.

Other Options
========
Some defensive sets can run leftovers over a 50% berry, for passive recovery, but 50% berries are generally the preferred option against offensively inclined pokemon/teams.

I'd mention Iron Defense with Leftovers. Seems to be the most common Leftovers set as this set requires you to sit on the board forever, getting the bang for your buck. Definitely see Iron Defense with Berry too, tho, so not always hand-in-hand.

Icium-Z along with Mist can give Tapu Fini a one time full HP recovery, but is often not worth using the team's Z-move slot.
Assault Vest allows Tapu Fini to take many special attacks and beat certain pokemon it may not be able to beat 1 vs 1.
Tapu Fini notably has access to Reflect and Light screen, allowing it to use a Light Clay dual screens setup. Its decent speed tier and access to Taunt allow this to work on a few team compositions, but outside of the surprise factor and Misty Terrain blocking status, it is outclassed by Tapu Koko, who can pivot and has a faster speed tier.

Checks and Counters
========

**Grass Types**: With Venusaur, Tapu Fini has little ways to touch Venusaur outside of Tapunium-Z, but Venusaur can heal up via either Giga Drain or synthesis right after. Without HP Fire, Tapu Fini allows Ferrothorn to easily set up Leech seed, stealth rocks, or outright KO Fini, and Kartana can set up on non-HP fire Tapu Fini, particularly the new age SpD invested Kartana, which get 3hkod by standard moonblast and can live all non-hp fire specs moves. If it doesn't need/want to set up it can outright KO as well w/ Leaf Blade.

format note.

Poison Attackers: Naganadel and Gengar can OHKO with their poison coverage in certain circumstances, while outspeeding non-scarf versions. They have to be careful, however, because specs Moonblast can OHKO Naganadel and specs hydro pump or hydro vortex can OHKO Gengar. While normally Tapu Fini walls Greninja, gunk shot variants can OHKO Tapu Fini while serving as a lure for it, and take less than half from Moonblast should it not OHKO.

Electric Attackers: Tapu Koko has the ability to outspeed OHKO with a Z-move or do massive chip without boosts/Z-moves. Similarly, Thundurus-T can outspeed most variants, set up Nasty Plot in the face of non-offensive Finis, and OHKO with Z moves or after a boost.

Mention how they also have issues switching in. Pokemon like Tapu Koko are at risk of a clean OHKO on the immediate switch-in.

Charizard-Y: Charizard-Y takes little from Moonblast and nullifies water coverage with its Drought. It also has the ability to 2hko with Solar beam or outright kill with a small amount of chip.

Add hard special walls, like Toxapex, Amoonguss, Chansey, Snorlax. The first two is great cuz it also has counterplay vs Taunt + Nature's Madness, and Snorlax is great cuz its Berry mechanics lets it take less from Nature's Madness in effect, and it can hit back hard against a Taunt. Not a hard Counter because of moves like Taunt, Guardian of Alola, Trick, etc., but it's a check enough.

Maybe you could mention hard hitters like Specs Lele, Mega Salamence Double-Edge, and SD-Z Mimikyu, which will generally just ignore any CM boosts and just finish off a weakend Fini. Offensive sets in particular are prone to revenge killers.
Click to expand...
 
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