[OVERVIEW]
Togekiss operates as a stallbreaker, able to use Nasty Plot in conjunction with Serene Grace and Air Slash to break past walls and dismantle stall teams. Unfortunately, Togekiss's average Speed and many common weaknesses prevent it from functioning well against offensive teams; thus, Togekiss requires a team able to patch up its weaknesses versus offense. While Togekiss has immunities to Dragon and Ground as well as solid resistances to Dark, Fighting, Bug, and Grass, its weaknesses to Electric, Ice, and Steel leave it vulnerable to many common Pokemon in the OU tier. Its weakness to Stealth Rock also limits its ability to effectively switch in.
[SET]
name: Stallbreaker
move 1: Air Slash
move 2: Nasty Plot
move 3: Roost
move 4: Heal Bell
item: Leftovers
ability: Serene Grace
nature: Timid
evs: 184 HP / 72 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Air Slash is Togekiss's main attack, as it has a 60% chance to flinch when paired with Serene Grace. Nasty Plot lets Togekiss boost its Special Attack to break defensive Pokemon such as Chansey without relying as much on flinches. Roost keeps Togekiss healthy, allowing it to use Nasty Plot multiple times and break through multiple walls. Heal Bell heals Togekiss and its team of status conditions such as poison and burn.
Set Details
========
Serene Grace gives Air Slash a 60% chance to flinch, allowing Togekiss to break past Unaware walls. 72 Special Attack EVs allow Togekiss to 3HKO Chansey at +6, requiring only one flinch to break past it. 252 Speed EVs and a Timid nature let Togekiss outspeed Tapu Bulu, Breloom, and Adamant Landorus-T, as well as Speed tying with Hoopa-U. 184 HP EVs give Togekiss the bulk required to set up on all common defensive Pokemon, including Chansey, Tangrowth, Clefable, Mega Sableye, and Skarmory lacking Whirlwind. Leftovers helps Togekiss set up Nasty Plot, as it negates burn damage, gives an extra turn to use Heal Bell when badly poisoned, and turns Seismic Toss into a 5HKO.
Usage Tips
========
Against most stall teams, lead with Togekiss, boost with Nasty Plot, and break a hole in the stall team's defensive core. This will allow the rest of Togekiss's team to clean up late-game. When not against stall, Togekiss can use its typing along with Roost to continually pivot into Dragon-, Bug-, Fighting-, and Ground-type attacks.
Team Options
========
Excadrill is a great partner, as it is able to remove Stealth Rock and switch into the Electric- and Steel-type attacks targeted at Togekiss. Lightning Rod Alolan Marowak is another good answer to the Electric- and Steel-types Togekiss brings in. In particular, it is a great switch-in to Zapdos, and it can proceed to place heavy pressure on the opposing team after pivoting in. Unfortunately, it shares a weakness to Stealth Rock with Togekiss. Tyranitar can also place pressure on Zapdos, as it easily switches in, threatens to do heavy damage with Stone Edge or Crunch, and can deal decent damage with Pursuit when forcing it out. Defensive Grass-types such as Tangrowth and Mega Venusaur can take on Electric-types and many offensive Pokemon. In return, Togekiss helps their poor matchup versus defensive teams. While Togekiss is able to almost single-handedly dismantle stall, it struggles against nearly every other team composition; thus, Togekiss fits well with partners that have great matchups versus offensive teams but otherwise struggle against stall. These include Pokemon such as Trick Room Magearna, Greninja, Tapu Koko, and Mega Metagross. Battle Bond Greninja in particular is a great partner; Togekiss lures in and can break through Chansey, giving Greninja a chance to activate Battle Bond. In return, Ash-Greninja's Water Shuriken and Speed tier help Togekiss versus more offensively inclined teams.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Choice Scarf set could be used to patch up Togekiss's average Speed, allowing it to flinch down most enemies. However, without Nasty Plot, Togekiss's attacks can be easily switched into, making it lose momentum. Although Togekiss can Trick its Choice Scarf to cripple a defensive Pokemon, this set generally removes Togekiss's ability to beat stall. Choice Scarf Togekiss is also still too slow to revenge kill many setup sweepers. Togekiss's extensive movepool, including Defog, Thunder Wave, and Baton Pass, open the door for many defensive variations; however, its many common weaknesses prevent it from being an effective defensive Pokemon in the OU tier. The item Metronome could be used to break past Unaware walls such as Clefable without having to rely on double flinches, but this item is outclassed by the ability to easily set up that Leftovers provides.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Electric-type Pokemon**: In general, Pokemon that resist Air Slash can often switch into and force out Togekiss. Bulkier Electric-types such as Zapdos can survive multiple Air Slashes and threaten to inflict massive damage in return, while faster Electric-types such as Tapu Koko can pivot in on Air Slash and gain momentum with Volt Switch.
**Rock-type Pokemon**: Most Rock-types such as Tyranitar and Nihilego take very little damage from Air Slash and are able to force Togekiss out, causing Togekiss to lose momentum.
**Steel-type Pokemon**: Offensive Steel-types like Heatran and Mega Metagross can switch into Togekiss and force it out with their powerful STAB moves. However, most defensive Steel-types such as Skarmory and Ferrothorn have trouble taking boosted Air Slashes and risk losing to a flinch.
**Faster Pokemon**: Many common Pokemon in the OU tier can outspeed and OHKO Togekiss, such as Tapu Koko, Weavile, Mega Metagross, and Nihilego.
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