Gen 7 VGC / Battle Spot / Doubles OU Cores Thread

[Black117]

Tapo Koko + Alolan Raichu

 

- Pokémon featured: Tapu Koko and Alolan Raichu
- Metagame: S/M VGC 17 
- Core type: Offensive
- Sets:

Tapu Koko @ Life Orb
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt 
- Dazzling Gleam
- Volt Switch / Discharge / HP Ice
- Protect

Raichu-Alola @ Focus Sash  
Ability: Surge Surfer  
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe  
Timid Nature  
- Fake Out  
- Psychic  
- Thunderbolt / Discharge 
- Encore / HP Ice / Protect

One of the most common pairs seen in VGC 17 is between the two Electric-types in Tapu Koko and Alolan Raichu. Note this pair is relatively strong to due their ability to outspeed most of the format and abuse the Electric Terrain field summoned from Tapu Koko. As long as the Guardian Deity activates Electric Terrain, all Electric-type attack receive a 1.5x boost, and allows Alolan Raichu's Surger Surfer to doubles its already fast base speed of 110. With the Electric Terrain, Tapu Koko can do sizable damage against the opposing Pokemon with its STAB Electric-type moves such as Thunderbolt, Discharge, Volt Switch, or Wild Charge if mixed. With its part-Fairy typing, Dazzling Gleam from Tapu Koko can at least threaten opposing Fighting-, Dragon-, and notably Dark-type Pokemon, who usually threaten Alolan Raichu. In turn, Alolan Raichu can threaten Poison-type Pokemon such as Gengar, Salazzle, and Nihilego who all three can knock out Tapu Koko with a Sludge Bomb. Alolan Raichu is not limited to using STAB Electric type moves + Psychic, but it has Fake Out pressure and Encore for disruption. Note with the rise of Ground-type and Lightening Rod users to counter this core, Discharge is a viable option to have to bypass such immunity / redirection. With their fast base speed, Tapu Koko and Alolan Raichu can serve as a fast mode which can pickoff heavily weaken Pokemon or deal initial damage to setup for faints for the late game.