![[Image: tapukoko.png]](http://www.pokemon-sunmoon.com/media/uploads/july_01_assets/tapukoko.png)
Tapo Koko and "Electric Surge"
Its been awhile since Game Freak introduced a "trio" or part of a member of a potential legendary group, but about three months ago Tapu Koko was unveiled as a "guardian deity" of Melemele Island. Given with all legendary-based Pokemon groups like the Legendary Bird trio, Beast trio, "Golems" (referring to the Regis), Lake Guardians, Swords of Justice, and Forces of Nature, chances are Tapo Koko will have a high base stat total of either 580, or 600 depending on how "important" it is in terms of lore. Thing is, we aren't talking about the lore, no. Instead we want to know just how "powerful" or influential Tapo Koko will be with only the information given...and I believe it has potential.
Lets start off with its typing: Electric / Fairy (assuming no changes in the type chart). From defensive standpoint, Tapo Koko has a total of six resistances, but look carefully at those exact types: Flying-, Fighting-, Dark-, Bug-, Electric-, and one immunity to Dragon-type. Most of these types are somewhat offensive already, especially Flying-, and Dark-type so this makes Tapo Koko somewhat decent on the defensive end only being weak to Ground- and Poison-type. Now from an offensive perspective, here's a list of all the Pokemon that resist Electric-, and Fairy-type attacks (assuming it has Thunderbolt, and Dazzling Gleam as STABs).
Already we can tell if Tapo Koko ever gets the move "Psychic", it will be on its movepool as other options to hit most Poison-types like Nidoqueen, Mega Venusaur, Roserade, etc. For "Hidden Power", normally Electric-type Pokemon have HP Ice to have perfect neutral coverage on their moveset, however notice the prevalence of Grass-, and Steel-types like Ferrothorn, Excadrill, and Magnezone who resist, or are immune to Tapo Koko's STAB types. Very likely we'll see Tapo Koko with HP Fire, and maybe the occasional HP Ice to hit x4 weak Ground-types like Landorus-T or Garchomp.
For abilities, Electric Surge is honestly the most interesting ability released for Su/Mo yet as its the first "Terrain"-summoning field effect announced, specifically for Electric Terrain. Before we continue on the meat of the speculation, here are the list of effect Electric Terrain has on the field on "grounded" Pokemon:
Lets start off with its typing: Electric / Fairy (assuming no changes in the type chart). From defensive standpoint, Tapo Koko has a total of six resistances, but look carefully at those exact types: Flying-, Fighting-, Dark-, Bug-, Electric-, and one immunity to Dragon-type. Most of these types are somewhat offensive already, especially Flying-, and Dark-type so this makes Tapo Koko somewhat decent on the defensive end only being weak to Ground- and Poison-type. Now from an offensive perspective, here's a list of all the Pokemon that resist Electric-, and Fairy-type attacks (assuming it has Thunderbolt, and Dazzling Gleam as STABs).
Already we can tell if Tapo Koko ever gets the move "Psychic", it will be on its movepool as other options to hit most Poison-types like Nidoqueen, Mega Venusaur, Roserade, etc. For "Hidden Power", normally Electric-type Pokemon have HP Ice to have perfect neutral coverage on their moveset, however notice the prevalence of Grass-, and Steel-types like Ferrothorn, Excadrill, and Magnezone who resist, or are immune to Tapo Koko's STAB types. Very likely we'll see Tapo Koko with HP Fire, and maybe the occasional HP Ice to hit x4 weak Ground-types like Landorus-T or Garchomp.
For abilities, Electric Surge is honestly the most interesting ability released for Su/Mo yet as its the first "Terrain"-summoning field effect announced, specifically for Electric Terrain. Before we continue on the meat of the speculation, here are the list of effect Electric Terrain has on the field on "grounded" Pokemon:
- "Prevents Pokemon on the field from being put to sleep: Dark Void, Spore, Sleep Powder, Yawn, Rest, etc."
- "Increases the damage output of all Electric-type moves by 50%. Note this is only for "grounded" Pokemon so say Zapdos / Thundurus won't receive such a boost
- New Ability "Surge Surfer" will grant double the speed to the user if Electric terrain is up.
- From Pokemondb - "Electric Terrain is a new terrain condition and can coexist at the same time as weather conditions (but not other terrain conditions)."
- Electric Terrain lasts up to 5 turns.
While Electric Terrain didn't receive much use in either singles and doubles format, this generation looks like it, as well as the other Terrain moves might get summoning-like abilties similar to Drizzle, Drought, Sand, and Hail. Also note the last thing concerning Electric Terrain... it can stack with weather. The implications of this fact is rather huge as a player in a doubles battle format can send in Tapo Koko and Politoed to summon both the Rain and Electric Terrain at the same time...making a potential 50% boosted on Thunderbolt and Thunder hit incredibly hard to start off. Even if the Rain is removed, Tapo Koko can still get the 50% boost in its Electric-type attacks... and it still has the potential Held Item selection like Life Orb or Choice Specs.
Now lets assume given how "frail" Tapo Koko looks, as well as the Base Stat of other Legendary Electric-types like Zapdos (125), Thundurus (125), Thundurus-T (145), and Raikou (115)'s Special Attack. Most of these Electric-type Legendary Pokemon are mostly frail, but have moderately to high Special Attack and Speed. Lets Give Tapo Koko say 115 Special Attack (obviously not final), and lets slap a Choice Specs Thunder and Thunderbolt on that set, so here's some offensive damage calc (using "Raikou with 252 SpA timid or neutral nature).
So...that's what Specs Thunder with the Electric Terrain looks like using Raikou's 115 SpA for Tapo Koko. Anything higher and Tapo Koko can already start to 2HKO most of the metagame easily without using some rediculous special defense modifiers like AV or Light Screen. Like the potential damage output from these attacks is staggering to the point where Tapo Koko can essentially solo an entire team by spamming Thunder / Thunderbolt, while having its rain-partners deal with Ground- and Rock-type Pokemon. Also note even if Tapo Koko is a bit "frail" (lets hope so), it still resist Priority Gale Wing Brave Bird, Bullet Punch, Sucker Punch,Vaccum Wave, Mach Punch, and Pursuit to revenge kill. If Tapo Koko gains a strong Fairy-type move like Moonblast, it will be an invaluable asset on Rain-based teams as it can threaten both Tyranitar and Charizard Y, which is something Politoed normally has to judge around with.
The only other "confirmed" information we have about Tapu Koko is that it gets the new move called Nature's Madness, which acts like Super Fang and halves the target HP. While this move might be useful for Tapo Koko to weaken resisted Pokemon for its ally, chances are very very likely people will spam the combination of Electric Terrain + Boosting Item to get a ton of damage output. As of this time, we do know that Tapo Koko is the "Guardian Deity" for one of the four natural Alolan Islands, so maybe... there are other Tapu's or Guardian Deities who might have similar Terrain-based abilities to counter-base Electric Surge and the insane damage output it emits.
Again this is all pure "speculation" as the final BSTs allocation is what's going to "make" or "break" Tapo Koko. Who knows? Maybe the staff at Game Freak will think, " Hey lets give Tapo Koki a high attack stat, low speed / special attack, low stats, poor movepool, etc"...as troll freak has always done before. I mean this could happen, but chances are are looking rather great for Tapo Koko to have a huge impact in both the singles and doubles metagames.
Edit: Oh forgot about how Electric Terrain prevents all Pokemon on the field from going to sleep. Is this the DV Smeargle counter we've been waiting for? Probably not, but interesting as things like Smeargle, Breloom, and Amoonguss specifically will be hit rather hard in viability if they can't spread sleep status in Doubles.
Now lets assume given how "frail" Tapo Koko looks, as well as the Base Stat of other Legendary Electric-types like Zapdos (125), Thundurus (125), Thundurus-T (145), and Raikou (115)'s Special Attack. Most of these Electric-type Legendary Pokemon are mostly frail, but have moderately to high Special Attack and Speed. Lets Give Tapo Koko say 115 Special Attack (obviously not final), and lets slap a Choice Specs Thunder and Thunderbolt on that set, so here's some offensive damage calc (using "Raikou with 252 SpA timid or neutral nature).
- 252 SpA Choice Specs Raikou Thunder vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mega Kangaskhan in Electric Terrain: 195-229 (108.3 - 127.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
- 252 SpA Choice Specs Raikou Thunder vs. 248 HP / 92 SpD Amoonguss in Electric Terrain: 105-123 (47.7 - 55.9%) -- 28.1% chance to 2HKO after Black Sludge recovery
- 252 SpA Choice Specs Raikou Thunder vs. 16 HP / 0 SpD Mega Gardevoir in Electric Terrain: 153-180 (105.5 - 124.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO
- 252 SpA Choice Specs Raikou Thunder vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Sylveon in Electric Terrain: 156-184 (77.2 - 91%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
- 252 SpA Choice Specs Raikou Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Tyranitar in Electric Terrain: 108-127 (52.1 - 61.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
- 252 SpA Choice Specs Raikou Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 124 SpD Zapdos in Electric Terrain: 153-180 (77.6 - 91.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
- 252 SpA Choice Specs Raikou Thunder vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Aegislash-Shield in Electric Terrain: 136-162 (81.4 - 97%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
So...that's what Specs Thunder with the Electric Terrain looks like using Raikou's 115 SpA for Tapo Koko. Anything higher and Tapo Koko can already start to 2HKO most of the metagame easily without using some rediculous special defense modifiers like AV or Light Screen. Like the potential damage output from these attacks is staggering to the point where Tapo Koko can essentially solo an entire team by spamming Thunder / Thunderbolt, while having its rain-partners deal with Ground- and Rock-type Pokemon. Also note even if Tapo Koko is a bit "frail" (lets hope so), it still resist Priority Gale Wing Brave Bird, Bullet Punch, Sucker Punch,Vaccum Wave, Mach Punch, and Pursuit to revenge kill. If Tapo Koko gains a strong Fairy-type move like Moonblast, it will be an invaluable asset on Rain-based teams as it can threaten both Tyranitar and Charizard Y, which is something Politoed normally has to judge around with.
The only other "confirmed" information we have about Tapu Koko is that it gets the new move called Nature's Madness, which acts like Super Fang and halves the target HP. While this move might be useful for Tapo Koko to weaken resisted Pokemon for its ally, chances are very very likely people will spam the combination of Electric Terrain + Boosting Item to get a ton of damage output. As of this time, we do know that Tapo Koko is the "Guardian Deity" for one of the four natural Alolan Islands, so maybe... there are other Tapu's or Guardian Deities who might have similar Terrain-based abilities to counter-base Electric Surge and the insane damage output it emits.
Again this is all pure "speculation" as the final BSTs allocation is what's going to "make" or "break" Tapo Koko. Who knows? Maybe the staff at Game Freak will think, " Hey lets give Tapo Koki a high attack stat, low speed / special attack, low stats, poor movepool, etc"...as troll freak has always done before. I mean this could happen, but chances are are looking rather great for Tapo Koko to have a huge impact in both the singles and doubles metagames.
Edit: Oh forgot about how Electric Terrain prevents all Pokemon on the field from going to sleep. Is this the DV Smeargle counter we've been waiting for? Probably not, but interesting as things like Smeargle, Breloom, and Amoonguss specifically will be hit rather hard in viability if they can't spread sleep status in Doubles.
