Tapus - VGC 17 Counters

Disclaimer: this is for VGC17 Doubles ruleset. If you're a Smogoner it is of less relevance, but still relevant. Smogoners and other Singles formats check out
[Shedinja] because it can true-counter some of the Tapus that try to steal the game from you.







Tapu Koko: Tapu Koko has base 130 speed, one of the top 10 fastest in the game. Anything that outspeeds it is either non-threatening or banned (one exception: Scarf users).
Therefore it's best to deal with Tapu Koko defensively, and then react with a strong move to kill. This is relatively easy to do because Tapu Koko has a shallow movepool.
Expect this Pokemon to be frequently used with Rain openings so that it can freely use boosted Thunders. Its Atk stat is its better stat, but it doesn't get
too many threatening Physical moves, and trying to Thunder-Rain spam with it involves using its weaker base 95 SpA.
	Movepool: Brave Bird/Thunderbolt/Return/Steel Wing/Dazzling Gleam/Grass Knot/U-Turn

		[A-Marowak] guaranteed OHKO with bonemerang and resists Grass, Steel, and has Electric immunity. Koko's only neutral move is Brave Bird 3HKO.

		[Garchomp] holding a Roseli Berry, takes 27-33% damage from Dazzling Gleam from +252 SpAtk EV Tapu Koko that's NOT holding Life Orb,
		returns an Earthquake that OHKOs

		[Mudsdale] doesn't give a single goddamn about anything that Tapu Koko does. Fires back powerful STAB earthquake that does 85%.
			Mudsdale does not even get guaranteed 3HKOed by Brave Bird, and Tapu Koko has to hurt itself the whole time to use that move.
		[Pheromosa] The only legal pokemon that both outspeeds and kills it with Poison Jab. It has no Priority, so Pheromosa is safe. She would enjoy
			An ally that Follows Me so that she doesn't get nailed by Koko's on-field partner.
		[Magneton], [Magnezone], and [Togedemaru] Resist its moveset but only have neutral Steel moves to fire back
		[Scarf Gengar] outspeeds and guarantees OHKO with Sludge Bomb.
		[Scarf Salazzle] outspeeds and has a 25% chance to OHKO with Sludge Bomb.
		[Alolan-Muk] Survives and uses Gunk Shot to kill.
		Soft counter: Since all of Koko's moves are single target, it is vulnerable to redirection.
				[Clefairy] using Follow Me can withstand any attack, even rain-and-terrain-boosted Thunders, for 1 turn while an ally kills Tapu Koko.
		If you happen to have Trick Room down already, you can use [Crabominable]'s Earthquake to kill Koko.
		[Buzzwole] also has an Earthquake that can nearly kill Koko but will need TR set up beforehand as well.

		Strategies that counter: Changing Electric Terrain by using any slower Tapu Pokemon as a mirrored opening,
					Eliminating Rain by using your own weather.
					Trick Room* -> especially a team that includes Mudsdale
		[Pachirisu] with Follow Me absolutely fucks Tapu Koko, but it is not legal in VGC17 (fuck you gamefreak)











Tapu Lele: This pokemon has base 95 speed, Psychic/Fairy typing. It has bulky 115 SpDef and 130 SpAtk. It is powerful and should be outsped and killed before it has a chance to
attack. The pokemon's terrain-summoning ability powers up its Psychic moves even more and also disables damaging Priority moves. It has 70/75/115 defenses, so hitting it
on the physical side is the smartest option. Its moveset can include Psychic/Dazzling Gleam/Thunderbolt/Thunder/Shadow Ball/Focus Blast/Energy Ball/Taunt. This pokemon
is probably the most dangerous of the Island Guardians on its own. It has perfect neutral coverage, nothing resists its whole moveset.

		[Gengar] outspeeds, but does not OHKO. With Helping Hand it is a guaranteed kill until Lele has invested 172 SpDef EVs or more.
				It is remarkable that Gengar can do so much damage to such a specially defensive pokemon. Let's search for physically-based counters.
		[Aerodactyl] with Iron Head will do about 60%, but will be OHKOed in return. Remember Mega evolving is not allowed in VGC17.
		[Dhelmise] can 2HKO it if you can find a way to redirect the Shadow Ball.
		[Metagross] can guaranteed OHKO it with Iron Head, but not before taking up to 84% damage from Shadow Ball (Lele is faster).
				Again, you could do a MadmanScarf set if you're desperate.
		[Celesteela] takes about half damage from Thunderbolt but OHKOs with Iron Head.
		[Nihilego] Checks with Sludge bomb. Make sure you bring Sludge BOMB, not Sludge WAVE. Sludge WAVE is an AoE attack and therefore
				gets reduced by 25% damage in Doubles. It's important to single-target-focus down a dangerous pokemon such as Tapu Lele,
				especially because if it lives through your attack it's going to deal about 90% damage to you with Psychic. You will want to run
				max speed with Modest nature on your Nihilego.
		[Xurkitree] can trade hits with it, both of them doing similar damage to each other, but since Xurkitree wins in speed with Scarf, it will
				kill Lele first.
		[Toxapex] One of two true counters. Tanks the hit and Poison Jabs.
		[Alolan-Muk] This gay puddle of oil is such a goddamn baller. The other of the 2 true counters. This pokemon was designed to kill Tapu Lele and fuck your mother.
				Even with no special defense investment, is barely 3HKOed by Tapu Lele's Dazzling Gleam, and gives a Physical-based Gunk Shot back for the
				guaranteed OHKO. Without this pokemon Tapu Lele would be retarded. Immune to Fake Out and other gay shit the Lele user can do to overcome
				other counters.
		[Alolan-Marowak] can be made specially defensive to take about 80% damage from Psychic.
				Has Iron Head coverage move (breedable onto Cubone) that does 80+% to Lele.
		[Kartana] is a good option. Smart Strike is an 80 BP Steel Physical move and guarantees a OHKO even after being Intimidated.
				However, if the enemy runs Fake Out field partner, Kartana can be stopped and easily OHKOed by Lele's Thunderbolt.
		[Alolan-Muk] is godsend against this pink Matryoshka doll piece of shit. Thunderbolt is a "possible 5HKO after Black Sludge recovery,"
				And that's with zero SpDef investment.	Meanwhile A-Muk Gunk Shots back and does 84% to 99% damage.
		[Alolan-Dugtrio] this is an angry fucking worm with hair. Steel type because reasons. OHKOs guaranteed with Iron Head.
		Half the reason this pokemon is a piece of shit is because you can't use [Scizor] to kill it. If you could eliminate Psychic Terrain somehow, Scizor
		kills Lele without even trying (guaranteed OHKO, almost nothing in terms of EV investment can make her live through the hit). Scarf Bisharp also isn't
		legal in vgc17 format, so you're forced to use a shitmon like Metagross instead.

		Tapu Lele + a Fake Out user opening will be absolutely terrifying.
		Imagine you bring a specifically-crafted counter to Tapu Lele such as Scarf Metagross and manage to open with it against the enemy Tapu Lele.
		Lele's field partner Fakes Out, Lele HP Fires, suddenly 90% of your HP is gone. You'll kill the Lele next turn, but you basically had to sac a whole poke
		to do it. And the Lele might realize you're Choiced, and has the option to switch into any Steel type.

		This pokemon covers for its own weaknesses through abilities, offensive type coverage, or Doubles partners. It will be a mainstay of the VGC17 meta. As I said, it uses its ability to eliminate its most reliable counter, Scizor. Its other counters it can outspeed and deal 60% - 85% damage to.
		Why the fuck is this thing so fast on top of being bulky? I haven't talked about Z-moves or life orb sets either, with which I am sure Tapu Lele could
		probably OHKO its "counters." The only saving grace is that HP Fire is hard to get in-game, but that won't stop the top battlers from obtaining it.

		Another terrifying high-tempo opening: Tapu Lele + Salamence opening. Salamence Intimidates the foe, covering Lele's weaker defense stat and discouraging about 95% of
		Lele's checks. Meanwhile, Salamence starts Z-Move Draco Meteoring followed by Draco Meteor.

		Chansey is a "counter" in that it can switch in, but in the fast-paced Doubles meta it won't do anything to Lele before Lele destroys your entire team.
		There is also no reason that Lele needs to target Chansey once it's on the field because Chansey doesn't have redirection.
		Tapu Lele also has Nature's Madness which can be upgraded to the Z-Move that takes away 75% of your HP (so balanced wow).
		This can be used against pokemon such as Toxapex who Lele normally can't damage for 75%.
		Toxapex can Recover so the enemy will need to focus it down after Z-move Nature's Madness, so at least allies can be saved for 1 turn and you can plan around that.








Tapu Bulu: This Grass/Fairy type is 4x weak to poison, 2x weak to steel, flying, ice, and fire. This pokemon is not remarkable and will die to many things. It has 75 base Speed,
so is outsped by many things. It has 70 HP, 115 Def, 95 SpDef. It's best to hit it with a Sludge Bomb or something like that. Movepool is shallow and predictable, does not have
any support options or tricky sets. Cannot utilize Hidden Power effectively due to shitty SpA.
Learns WoodHammer/BrickBreak/Return/DazzlingGleam/Megahorn and some other shitty moves. Overall not the best coverage.

		Once again, [Alolan-Muk] is a true boss and is only 3HKOed by Return, meanwhile uses Gunk Shot to do 189% AT THE LEAST.
		[Gengar] Outspeeds, OHKO. Resists most of its shit, so can even switch in sometimes.
		[Salazzle] Outspeeds, OHKO
		[Scizor] Bullet punch has 43% chance to OHKO with Life Orb
		[Kartana] used Iron Head!
		[Celesteela] OHKOs with Air Slash
		[Alolan-Marowak] deals with its attacks just fine and can kill it with a Fire attack.
		[Tapu Koko] Steel Wing
		[Kartana] Smart Strike. It even likes Grassy Terrain boosts for its own Leaf Blade.
		[Nihilego] just fucks up this faggot
		[A-Dugtrio] does heavy damage with Iron Head but doesn't OHKO.

It's not difficult to kill Bulu. Pokemon like Tapu Lele require a specifically designed pokemon to kill it. Not so with Bulu.
Your normal sweeper's moveset can probably kill Bulu. Bulu also lacks a good fairy STAB on its higher attacking stat (it only has Dazzling gleam 85 base SpA).
It's not very threatening by itself. Its most dangerous asset is Grassy Terrain which will synergize with Sunny Day and also reduces the power of Ground moves by 50%, so if
your team is reliant upon Earthquake spam you will probably get boned by Bulu's teammates after Bulu dies a horrible death because it's a shitmon.










Tapu Fini: Stop comparing this pokemon to Azumaril you stupid fucks. It has nothing to do with that pokemon.

Tapu Fini is a Water/Fairy with high defenses. It has 85 base speed and is more Specially Defensive than Physically Defensive. It is 2x weak to Electric, Grass, Poison. It is immune
to Dragon. It has many support moves such as including Scald, both Screens, Mist, Heal Pulse, Safeguard, Toxic, and sets Misty Terrain naturally upon entry.
It has access to Calm Mind. Its offenses are not very scary (75/95) and has access only to Special-type moves. It can be outsped and killed easily by many threats.

		[Jolteon] OHKO Thunderbolt
		[Tapu Lele] OHKO Thunder, especially in Rainy Weather.
		[Alolan-Muk] OHKO Gunk Shot
		[Gengar] chance to OHKO with Sludge Bomb
		[Salazzle] chance to OHKO with Sludge bomb
		[Toxapex] can kill it eventually while it can do nothing in return
		[Kartana] kills it with Leaf Blade
		[Nihilego] is def a problem for this queer.

Fini's biggest threat is the support it can provide to the team. Scald + Dazzling Gleam to deter Dragons while setting up double Screens, or setting up Reflect and Heal Pulsing
allies can do a lot of work in Doubles. On her own, Fini is not that threatening. Even if it tries to break away from you with Calm Mind, you can always hit it on its weak
Def stat.









==================================================
!!!!!!!!! ~ Specific Openings ~ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
==================================================
Suppose you see the following in team preview as potential openings? What will you do?

*Tapu Koko + Politoed Opening: May be a common opening in vgc17 to establish Electric Terrain + Rain on turn 1.

		[A-Marowak] + [Jolteon] = Koko will go first, but can't really hurt Jolteon and really can't hurt A-Marowak.
				Jolteon will go next, OHKOing Politoed easily with Thunderbolt. Politoed doesn't get to go.
				A-Marowak doesn't need to worry about its Hydro Pump.
				A-Marowak goes last and OHKOs Tapu Koko with Bonemerang. Everyone on the enemy's side dead, and your Jolteon is enjoying
				Electric-Terrain-boosted Thunderbolts. Best the enemy can do is switch out and you get free damage, but since the enemy is using Rain,
				There is a high chance that whatever comes in will be at least in part Water or Flying(Rain-Hurricane). Jolteon will do heavy damage anyway.

		[A-Marowak] + [A-Raichu] Similar to the previous, Raichu left on your side with Surge Surf active.

		[Lanturn] + something else can deal well. Lanturn doesn't care about Koko's attacks or Politoed's attacks. Lanturn can OHKO Politoed.

		[A-muk] won't care about Koko's attacks and survives against Politoed pretty well. Pair with anything that can kill Politoed and won't get OHKOed by a faster
				Thunder, Dazzling Gleam, Brave Bird, or Steel Wing from Koko.



*Mudsdale + Oranguru Trick Room Opening: Mudsdale is a powerful sweeper under Trick Room and Oranguru has access to Telepathy,
so Mudsdale can spam a STAB Earthquake (nearly) as powerful as Garchomp's. Mudsdale also gets an ability that raises its Def stat every time it gets hit by an attack,
and is a pure Ground type and has few weaknesses.

		[Fake Out] followed by a fast Dark- or Ghost-type Attack to immediately kill Oranguru will be a game winning play.
		Oranguru can also be taunted before putting up Trick Room. The most important thing to know is that Oranguru's support movepool is not that deep
		and its existence on the enemy's team only means one thing; "I'm going to set up Trick Room." You'll have to predict the TR opening and stop
		it or else you will probably lose. There are many powerful TR sweepers in this generation including Buzzwole.




*Pheromosa + Tapu Lele: Have you ever wanted to lose a regulation VGC 2017 Doubles match in 2 turns, humiliating you & leaving you with the sad realization that
the only reason you still play a children's game is because your parents neglected you as a child & you subconsciously feel that
you cannot progress to true adulthood until your parents accept you for who you really are? Look no further, your dream is coming true!
You're about to get shitblasted back to the stone age. Heh nothin' personnel, kid...

		Alright look, the normal counter to Pheromosa is Priority. But Psychic Terrain is on the field, so you can't use that crispy sick Bullet Punch to OHKO
		that skinny whore. No Fake Out. No Outspeeding.
		So you're going to take an attack from 137/137 offense. And you can't kill Tapu Lele in one turn because there are about 8 pokemon in VGC17 that
		can do that, and if your opponent is smart he's going to outspeed the one you brought (if it's on the field) and OHKO it with Pheromosa.
		Then Lele is going to expand your asshole with its 130 base SpA.

		So you're fucked, right?

		Wait up boi, I got the hook ups.

		[A-Muk] + [Scarfed Something]. The Scarfed something can be anything that fits into your team. As long as it can OHKO Pheromosa (not hard), it will work.
		Another point; your Scarfed Something is going to need exactly base 83 Speed or higher or else it will get outsped and OHKOed by Pheromosa.
		Scarfed Xurkitree is a good choice. The problem is that you're going to lose your Scarfed pokemon, in all likelihood. Whoops. That's because your Scarfed
		pokemon will target Pheromosa and kill it, but will likely suffer an attack from Tapu Lele. A-Muk will go right after Lele and OHKO it with Gunk Shot, but
		not before it does its damage. You will kill Tapu Lele and Pheromosa in the end, but you will lose or sustain heavy damage on 1 pokemon.
		[Silvally] has a good movepool and enjoys the Scarf, but it will still take about 75% damage from Lele's Psychic.
		If you're not a fan of Scarfs, try [Alolan-Muk] + [Toxapex]. Toxapex can just sit there and recover, or Poison Jab if it wants to. A-Muk can OHKO both
		and takes little damage from neither, especially with Black Sludge recovery.

		This opening seriously fucks up 95% of the entire Alolan region. I personally checked the entire Dex and almost all of them are OHKOed by the combination, and
		most do little in return. Other standard openings that I suspect will be common in VGC17 either trade evenly with this opening or lose something crucial.
		You seem to have to specifically design an opening to counter this specific opening, or just straight up lose the fucking game.
		If you want to wreck your casual friends in a Doubles match, this would be the quickest way to do it. Basically Psychic Terrain is a goddamn piece of shit
		and there needs to be an ability that negates all terrain on the field (AND DON'T GIVE IT TO A SHITMON GAMEFREAK). All of the problems with facing this opening
		stem from the Psychic Terrain, which disables damaging Priority moves. Really limits your fucking options to the point that you are FORCED to bring a Scarf user
		on your team or you 100% automatically lose the game. The only option outside of that is to bring A-Muk and Toxapex. Specifically. Other walls won't work.

		Interesting fact: upon inspection of the ultra beasts, I believe that Xurkitree was specifically designed to be a check to Pheromosa. It has the exact
		speed cutoff necessary in order to wear Scarf, with Timid nature, and barely, barely outspeed Pheromosa for a OHKO.
		Strange choice, Gamefreak.