[overview]
**Draft Order**: Pick 1 overall
**Price Range**: 19 points
**Overview**: Tapu Koko is considered by many to be the greatest Pokemon in the metagame. Sporting an elite Speed tier, a strong STAB combination, and an additional boost to its Electric-type moves from Electric Terrain, it can fill just about any role in any game. From fast pivot, to deadly wallbreaker, to even a utility support Pokemon, there's very little that can be said against Tapu Koko. For these reasons, it is both an elite pick and also a premier Z-Captain, being able to use Z-Moves to get past the few Ground-types that do tend to cause it trouble.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Wallbreaker**: Supported by either Z-Moves or damage-boosting items, Tapu Koko can bust through many teams' defensive backbones, as Electric Terrain-boosted Thunderbolt is incredibly hard for foes to switch into, and Dazzling Gleam and Brave Bird can cover most Grass-types.
**Setup Sweeper**: On occasions, Tapu Koko can forgo an extra attacking move for either Calm Mind or Work Up, allowing it to then decimate incoming checks with +1 Z-Moves.
**Pivot**: Due to its natural strength, many Pokemon are forced out by Tapu Koko, allowing it to pivot to a teammate with U-turn or Volt Switch. It can also pivot out of almost any bad matchup thanks to its amazing Speed tier, allowing it to bring in a safer check.
**Utility**: Tapu Koko can choose to drop its offenses in exchange for support moves such as dual screens, Taunt, and Nature's Madness, which can put a dent into any defensive counterplay. These moves synergies well with U-turn, as it can safely use them and switch to a teammate that can reap the benefits.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Thunderbolt, Dazzling Gleam, Volt Switch, Discharge, Wild Charge, Thunder
**Setup Moves**: Calm Mind, Work Up
**Utility Moves**: U-turn, Light Screen, Reflect, Taunt, Nature's Madness, Defog, Thunder Wave
**Coverage**: Grass Knot, Brave Bird, Hidden Power, Iron Head
Niche Moves
========
**Substitute**: Substitute works incredibly with Calm Mind Tapu Koko, allowing it to turn many walls into setup fodder, especially those reliant on Toxic.
**Agility**: As Tapu Koko is already lightning fast, Agility is usually useless, but with a Speed boost, it can be a deadly cleaner against teams that rely on Choice Scarf users to revenge kill it.
**Mirror Move**: Exclusively seen with Flyinium-Z, Z-Mirror Move gives Tapu Koko a +2 Attack boost, and if timed correctly, it can also become deadly by turning a foe's previous attack on them as well.
Common Items
========
**Damage-boosting Items**: Tapu Koko is primarily a wallbreaker, so damage-boosting items like Choice Specs, Life Orb, Choice Band, Expert Belt, and even Magnet can aid in dealing more damage, making it even harder for foes to switch into.
**Z-Crystals**: A variety of Z-Crystals can be used with Tapu Koko, from Electrium-Z to act a tactical nuke, Fairium-Z to deal with bulkier Dragon-types, Grassium-Z to decimate Ground-types, and even Flyinium-Z to obliterate Grass-types.
Niche Items
========
**Resistance Berries**: Primarily seen as a Shuca Berry, Tapu Koko can use resistance Berries as additional security against Choice Scarf users and opposing lures such as Roseli Berry Garchomp.
**Choice Scarf**: Choice Scarf can be used on rare occasions when no other speed control can out-speed the opponent's set-up Pokemon.
**Leftovers**: Leftovers is valuable on bulkier Tapu Koko sets that expect to pivot in and out frequently to offset Stealth Rock damage. Its also seen on Calm Mind and Substitute sets that value the longevity over immediate damage.
**Light Clay**: Dual screens sets tend to support setup sweepers, (AC) and the added turns of screens can be helpful in aiding this.
**Weakness Policy**: Bulkier Tapu Koko sets that are able to survive a single super effective hit and activate Weakness Policy can then begin to Alt + F4 the entire metagame barring Choice Scarf users.
Draft Strategy
========
Tapu Koko is the center of every draft it is on. Teams have to draft around optimizing their answers to it, and the best supporting teammates are ones that can work in tandem with it to form an unstoppable offensive core.
**Ground-type Checks**: Tapu Koko synergizes well with Grass- and Water-types, as they can pressure the Ground-types that check it while also taking their strong Ground-type moves. Good examples include Kartana, Tangrowth, and Rotom-W.
**Entry Hazard Control**: While Tapu Koko does have Defog, it rarely wants to use it, as it benefits from entry hazards being up on the opponent's side and prefers to dedicate its moveslots to other moves. Some hazard setters that work well with Tapu Koko include Nidoking, Seismitoad, and Uxie. Hazard removal options include Serperior, Empoleon, and Donphan.
**Complementary Wallbreakers**: Although it is an amazing wallbreaker, Tapu Koko works best when it is paired with other strong offensive threats to alleviate pressure from it to wallbreak. Strong wallbreakers such as Mega Charizard X, Mega Medicham, and Mega Sharpedo that can also help pressure its Ground- and Grass-type checks are incredibly helpful teammates.
**Rain**: Although not a necessity, Tapu Koko can be brilliant on Rain teams, as it can break Water-type checks while Water-types can beat its own checks. While Pelipper is the best Rain setter for this team composition, Politoed can function as well if the team is less reliant on rain. Teammates that benefit from rain such as Mega Swampert, Manaphy, and Ferrothorn go excellently with Tapu Koko.
**VoltTurn Partners**: Since Tapu Koko is already a great pivot, it can work well alongside other strong pivots such as Scizor, Infernape, and Mesprit to keep the opponent on the backfoot for the majority of the game and give them little leeway to regain momentum.
Checks and Counters
========
**Ground-types**: As it heavily relies on its Terrain- and STAB-boosted Electric-type moves, Tapu Koko is often best checked by Ground-type foes. As it naturally learns Grass Knot and can often use Hidden Power Ice, bulky Ground-types that are less afraid of those options such as Nidoqueen, Steelix, and Stunfisk make for the best checks.
**Lures**: One of the best ways to deal with Tapu Koko is to use Pokemon that it would normally beat as lures. Items like resistance Berries or even Focus Sash can be used on Pokemon such as Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Zygarde to trade KOs with it.
**Being Outsped**: Although it has nearly unrivaled natural Speed, Speed-boosting items and moves can be a great way to catch Tapu Koko off guard or check it. Choice Scarf users and setup threats with strong coverage can do the trick as well as a select group of Mega Evolutions with high Speed.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/jscurf.608304/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/odinrm.613514/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
**Draft Order**: Pick 1 overall
**Price Range**: 19 points
**Overview**: Tapu Koko is considered by many to be the greatest Pokemon in the metagame. Sporting an elite Speed tier, a strong STAB combination, and an additional boost to its Electric-type moves from Electric Terrain, it can fill just about any role in any game. From fast pivot, to deadly wallbreaker, to even a utility support Pokemon, there's very little that can be said against Tapu Koko. For these reasons, it is both an elite pick and also a premier Z-Captain, being able to use Z-Moves to get past the few Ground-types that do tend to cause it trouble.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Wallbreaker**: Supported by either Z-Moves or damage-boosting items, Tapu Koko can bust through many teams' defensive backbones, as Electric Terrain-boosted Thunderbolt is incredibly hard for foes to switch into, and Dazzling Gleam and Brave Bird can cover most Grass-types.
**Setup Sweeper**: On occasions, Tapu Koko can forgo an extra attacking move for either Calm Mind or Work Up, allowing it to then decimate incoming checks with +1 Z-Moves.
**Pivot**: Due to its natural strength, many Pokemon are forced out by Tapu Koko, allowing it to pivot to a teammate with U-turn or Volt Switch. It can also pivot out of almost any bad matchup thanks to its amazing Speed tier, allowing it to bring in a safer check.
**Utility**: Tapu Koko can choose to drop its offenses in exchange for support moves such as dual screens, Taunt, and Nature's Madness, which can put a dent into any defensive counterplay. These moves synergies well with U-turn, as it can safely use them and switch to a teammate that can reap the benefits.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Thunderbolt, Dazzling Gleam, Volt Switch, Discharge, Wild Charge, Thunder
**Setup Moves**: Calm Mind, Work Up
**Utility Moves**: U-turn, Light Screen, Reflect, Taunt, Nature's Madness, Defog, Thunder Wave
**Coverage**: Grass Knot, Brave Bird, Hidden Power, Iron Head
Niche Moves
========
**Substitute**: Substitute works incredibly with Calm Mind Tapu Koko, allowing it to turn many walls into setup fodder, especially those reliant on Toxic.
**Agility**: As Tapu Koko is already lightning fast, Agility is usually useless, but with a Speed boost, it can be a deadly cleaner against teams that rely on Choice Scarf users to revenge kill it.
**Mirror Move**: Exclusively seen with Flyinium-Z, Z-Mirror Move gives Tapu Koko a +2 Attack boost, and if timed correctly, it can also become deadly by turning a foe's previous attack on them as well.
Common Items
========
**Damage-boosting Items**: Tapu Koko is primarily a wallbreaker, so damage-boosting items like Choice Specs, Life Orb, Choice Band, Expert Belt, and even Magnet can aid in dealing more damage, making it even harder for foes to switch into.
**Z-Crystals**: A variety of Z-Crystals can be used with Tapu Koko, from Electrium-Z to act a tactical nuke, Fairium-Z to deal with bulkier Dragon-types, Grassium-Z to decimate Ground-types, and even Flyinium-Z to obliterate Grass-types.
Niche Items
========
**Resistance Berries**: Primarily seen as a Shuca Berry, Tapu Koko can use resistance Berries as additional security against Choice Scarf users and opposing lures such as Roseli Berry Garchomp.
**Choice Scarf**: Choice Scarf can be used on rare occasions when no other speed control can out-speed the opponent's set-up Pokemon.
**Leftovers**: Leftovers is valuable on bulkier Tapu Koko sets that expect to pivot in and out frequently to offset Stealth Rock damage. Its also seen on Calm Mind and Substitute sets that value the longevity over immediate damage.
**Light Clay**: Dual screens sets tend to support setup sweepers, (AC) and the added turns of screens can be helpful in aiding this.
**Weakness Policy**: Bulkier Tapu Koko sets that are able to survive a single super effective hit and activate Weakness Policy can then begin to Alt + F4 the entire metagame barring Choice Scarf users.
Draft Strategy
========
Tapu Koko is the center of every draft it is on. Teams have to draft around optimizing their answers to it, and the best supporting teammates are ones that can work in tandem with it to form an unstoppable offensive core.
**Ground-type Checks**: Tapu Koko synergizes well with Grass- and Water-types, as they can pressure the Ground-types that check it while also taking their strong Ground-type moves. Good examples include Kartana, Tangrowth, and Rotom-W.
**Entry Hazard Control**: While Tapu Koko does have Defog, it rarely wants to use it, as it benefits from entry hazards being up on the opponent's side and prefers to dedicate its moveslots to other moves. Some hazard setters that work well with Tapu Koko include Nidoking, Seismitoad, and Uxie. Hazard removal options include Serperior, Empoleon, and Donphan.
**Complementary Wallbreakers**: Although it is an amazing wallbreaker, Tapu Koko works best when it is paired with other strong offensive threats to alleviate pressure from it to wallbreak. Strong wallbreakers such as Mega Charizard X, Mega Medicham, and Mega Sharpedo that can also help pressure its Ground- and Grass-type checks are incredibly helpful teammates.
**Rain**: Although not a necessity, Tapu Koko can be brilliant on Rain teams, as it can break Water-type checks while Water-types can beat its own checks. While Pelipper is the best Rain setter for this team composition, Politoed can function as well if the team is less reliant on rain. Teammates that benefit from rain such as Mega Swampert, Manaphy, and Ferrothorn go excellently with Tapu Koko.
**VoltTurn Partners**: Since Tapu Koko is already a great pivot, it can work well alongside other strong pivots such as Scizor, Infernape, and Mesprit to keep the opponent on the backfoot for the majority of the game and give them little leeway to regain momentum.
Checks and Counters
========
**Ground-types**: As it heavily relies on its Terrain- and STAB-boosted Electric-type moves, Tapu Koko is often best checked by Ground-type foes. As it naturally learns Grass Knot and can often use Hidden Power Ice, bulky Ground-types that are less afraid of those options such as Nidoqueen, Steelix, and Stunfisk make for the best checks.
**Lures**: One of the best ways to deal with Tapu Koko is to use Pokemon that it would normally beat as lures. Items like resistance Berries or even Focus Sash can be used on Pokemon such as Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Zygarde to trade KOs with it.
**Being Outsped**: Although it has nearly unrivaled natural Speed, Speed-boosting items and moves can be a great way to catch Tapu Koko off guard or check it. Choice Scarf users and setup threats with strong coverage can do the trick as well as a select group of Mega Evolutions with high Speed.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/jscurf.608304/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/odinrm.613514/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Last edited:
