[VGC] Torkoal Special Attacker
![[Image: torkoal_for_the__twitterdex_by_phoenixwa...77nw9o.jpg]](http://pre11.deviantart.net/6b3e/th/pre/f/2014/054/3/3/torkoal_for_the__twitterdex_by_phoenixwave34-d77nw9o.jpg)
Credit to Phoenixwave34
Torkoal received a massive buff in 7th gen gaining the coveted Drought ability. Torkoal has an unrivaled ability to deal massive spread damage in the Sun. Combined that with it's slow speed turn Torkoal into one of the best Trick Room sweeper in the metagame. Unfortauntly Torkoal lackluster move pool makes it extremely one-dimesional. While Torkoal speed does make it an excellent in Trick Room it also makes it extreme dependent on it's teammates for support. The popularity of several of Torkoal counters, Arcanine, Garchomp, and Tapu fini practically guarantee every team will have some way of dealing with Torkoal. Torkoal also struggles against opposing weather, rain and hail, and wide guard blocks Eruption removing a majority of it's power. Even with all that said Torkoal still has one of the spread move in the format and easily dominate more teams if given the right support.
![[Image: torkoal.gif]](http://www.pokestadium.com/sprites/xy/torkoal.gif)
Type:
Base Stats: 70 HP / 85 Attack / 140 Defense / 85 Special Attack / 70 Special Defense / 20 Speed
Weaknesses:
x2 
x2 
x2(Water deals neutral damage in the sun)Resistances:
x0.5 
x0.5 
x0.5 x0.5 
x0.5 
x0.5Immunities: None
Ability 1: White Smoke: Opponents’ moves which lower this Pokémon’s stats have no effect. However this Pokémon may lower its own stats with its own moves
Drought: Weather changes to Intense Sunshine when the Pokémon enters the battle. As of X & Y, this lasts 5 turns.
Hidden Ability: Shell Armor: Prevents critical hits.
Click ERUPTION
Torkoal @ Charcoal / Firium Z
Ability: Drought
EVs: 116 HP / 252 SpA / 140 SpD
Quiet Nature
- Eruption/ Heat wave
- Overheat/ Heat wave / Flamethrower
- Solar Beam / Heat wave / Flamethrower
- Protect
Eruption is Torkoal niche and the move your going to want to be using the most. Never be afriad to click Eruption since the damage is so high your probably going 2HKO whatever they switch in. Overheat is an excellient option when you need OHKO a specific target. It's work especially well when paired with Firium Z since Z move don't drop your stats. Heat wave is a more reliable option when Torkoal hp is below 57%. If your uncomforable with the unreliability it's perfectly fine to replace eruption with heat wave. Flamethrower a solid single target that doesn't lower Torkoal special attack. Solar beam gives coverage water against water and rock types that would otherwise wall Torkoal. Charocoal boost Torkoal Eruption and allows it to pick up a few more 2HKO such as Alola Marowak that don't invest in special defense.
Damage Calculations:
Offensive
Defensive
Potential Teammates include, but aren't limited to;
- Lilligant threatens opposing rock, ground, and water types and can use After you to let Torkoal move first outside of Sun.
- Trick Room setters such as Oranguru, Porygon-2, Mimikyu, Tapu lele ensure Torkoal attaks first. Oranguru can use Instruct to allow Torkoal to get off another power eruption, Porygon-2 can threaten Garchomp and Salamence with ice beam, and Mimikyu redirect attacks aimmed at Torkoal with Ghostium Z destiny bond and threaten dragon which normally wall Torkoal.
- Nihilego Can beat threaten Fire types, Salamence, Garchomp(with hidden power ice), and Tapu fini which all threaten Torkoal. It also appreciate Torkoal ability to beat steel types and Torkoal sun weakening water types moves
- Other Pokemon that appreciate trick room such as Magnezone, Drampa, and Hariyama. Magnezone is especially good since it can beat Water and Rock Pokemon which normally give Torkoal problems and lure Garchomp with hidden power ice. If Drampa is paired with Torkoal the Cloud nine ability shouldn't be used since it'll remove the effect of Torkoal own sun, unless you plan on using Drampa as a rain count.
Threats include, but aren't limited to(Anything Eruption doesn't beat);
- Dragon types such as Garchomp, Goodra, Drampa, and Salamence all resist fire type move deal significant damage to Torkoal weakening it's Eruption. Drampa noteworthy since it can negate Torkoal sun with the cloud nine ability as long as it's on the field.
- Fire types resist eruption and can deal heavy damage to Torkoal. Arcanine is the main threat but Alolan Marowak can be an issue if it's invested in special defense.
- Water type such as Tapu fini, Gyarados, Milotic, Gastrodon, and Araquanid can all take an Eruption and deal considerable damage back. While Araquanid doesn't enjoy switching into an Eruption it's still especially threatening since it has access to wide guard. However Tapu fini, Milotic, and especially Gastrodon are threaten by a potential solar beam.
- Wide Guard users like Gigalith, Celesteela, Hariyama, Pelipper, Araquanid and Aerodactly can all block Torkoal Eruption.
- Opposing Weather users such as Gigalith and pelipper resist eruption and remove Torkoal Sun.
- Rock-type Such as Nihilego and Gigalith can easily take an eruption and Threaten Torkoal.
Other Notable Moves- Status move: Wl-o-Wisp can be used to weaken Garchomp and Toxic can help with Porygon-2 but Torkoal usually better off using Eruption.
- Hidden Power ice/electric Is an option to catch Garchomp, Salamence, Pelipper, or Gyarados but they fail to OHKO without a boosting item.
- Nature Power Can be used with Tapu Koko to effectively give eletric, Fairy, or Grass coverage depending on the Tapu it's fairly unreliable
- Speed Control: Torkoal does have rock tomb and bulldoze which can be used for speed control.
Other Notable Items- Choice Specs Can boost Eruption power turining several 3HKO into 2HKO, such as on Garchomp and Salamence, but Torkoal really like protect
- Sitrus/Figy Berry or any of the other compatible 50% healing berries can be used with Torkoal.
- Status move: Wl-o-Wisp can be used to weaken Garchomp and Toxic can help with Porygon-2 but Torkoal usually better off using Eruption.
