This is a strategy guide for using Tapu Koko in competitive play for the games Pokemon Sword and Shield. Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, and Held Items to use with Tapu Koko, as well as its strengths and weak points.
| Tapu Koko - Related Guides | |
|---|---|
 Evolution and Learnset |
 Build for Ranked Battle |
List of Contents
| Pokemon | Type 1 | Type 2 |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
| Abilities | ||
| Electric Surge | The Pokemon creates an Electric Terrain when it enters a battle. | |
| Telepathy (Hidden) | Anticipates an ally's attack and dodges it. | |
| Type | |
|---|---|
| Takes 4x damage |
|
| Takes 2x damage |
|
| Takes 0.5x damage |
|
| Takes 1/4x damage |
|
| Takes 0x damage |
|
| HP | Attack | Defense | Sp. Atk | Sp. Def | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | 115 | 85 | 95 | 75 | 130 |
| Best Natures | ||
|---|---|---|
| Jolly (+Spd, -Sp.Atk) |
Timid (+Spd, -Atk) |
|
| Nature | Timid (+Spd, -Atk) |
|---|---|
| EV Spread | Sp.Atk 252 / Sp.Def 4 / Spd 252 |
| Final Stat Values | HP 145 / Def 105 / Sp.Atk 147 / Sp.Def 96 / Spd 200 |
| Ability | Electric Surge |
| Held Item | Focus Sash Life Orb Choice Specs Choice Scarf |
| Moveset | ・Thunderbolt ・Dazzling Gleam ・Volt Switch ・Grass Knot |
Tapu Koko's respectable special attack stat and wide special movepool allow it to effectively run a special attacking set, despite its higher attack!
Thunderbolt is Tapu Koko's main STAB. Dazzling Gleam is its secondary STAB that also hits both opposing Pokemon in Doubles.
Volt Switch is Tapu Koko's main pivoting move, and is a secondary Electric-type STAB that deals good damage. It's last move is Grass Knot, allowing Tapu Koko to potentially KO heavy defensive Ground-types.
We're using a straightforward special attacking EV spread with full investment in Special Attack and Speed. The remaining EVs are placed in Special Defense to round off its bulk.
Electric Surge is Tapu Koko's best ability, instantly setting up Electric Terrain as soon as it switches in. It also boosts the power of Tapu Koko's electric moves and prevents all grounded Pokemon from falling asleep.
Tapu Koko has a lot of options for held item.
Focus Sash lets it survive a super effective hit, while Life Orb boosts its damage by 30% at the cost of residual damage.
Choice Specs lets it hit harder, boosting its special attacks by 50% but restricts it to using only the initial move it used for the turn. Finally, Choice Scarf lets it outspeed its usual checks and counters.
| Nature's Madness | Halves the opposing Pokemon's HP. A good choice to use against Special Walls. |
|---|---|
| U-Turn | An alternative to Volt Switch that doesn't get blocked by Ground-types. |
| Brave Bird | Can be used in mixed attacking sets, but is more useful when used during Dynamax as it becomes Max Airstream. |
| Nature | Timid (+Spd, -Atk) |
|---|---|
| EV Spread | HP 172 / Sp.Def 84 / Spd 252 |
| Final Stat Values | HP 167 / Def 105 / Sp.Atk 105 / Sp.Def 106 / Spd 200 |
| Ability | Electric Surge |
| Held Item | Light Clay |
| Moveset | ・Thunderbolt ・Light Screen ・Reflect ・Taunt |
Tapu Koko can forgo an attacking set and fill the role of a support Pokemon, with its naturally high speed letting it set dual screens for its teammates.
Light Screen and Reflect doubles the party's Special Defense and Defense stat respectively for five turns, boosting the team's overall bulkiness - especially if Tapu Koko manages to set up both.
Thunderbolt is its main attacking move while Taunt allows Tapu Koko to cripple opposing support Pokemon.
We're using a modified EV spread to emphasize Tapu Koko's supportive role. 252 EVs in Speed make it as fast as possible while 172 HP EVs and 84 Special Defense EVs boost its special bulk.
Electric Surge is Tapu Koko's best ability, instantly setting up Electric Terrain as soon as it switches in. It also boosts the power of Tapu Koko's electric moves and prevents all grounded Pokemon from falling asleep.
We're giving Tapu Koko Light Clay, which extends the duration of Reflect and Light Screen to 8 turns instead of 5.
| Nature's Madness | Halves the opposing Pokemon's HP. A good choice to use against Special Walls. |
|---|
| Nature | Timid (+Spd, -Atk) |
|---|---|
| EV Spread | Sp.Atk 252 / Sp.Def 4 / Spd 252 |
| Final Stat Values | HP 145 / Def 105 / Sp.Atk 147 / Sp.Def 96 / Spd 200 |
| Ability | Electric Surge |
| Held Item | Focus Sash Life Orb |
| Moveset | ・Electroweb
・Thunderbolt ・Dazzling Gleam ・Taunt |
Tapu Koko provides valuable Electric Terrain support in Doubles, with its Ability instantly setting the terrain up the moment it switches in. While it lacks the offensive presence of other Doubles leads, it does provide respectable team support with its moves.
Electroweb is its main support move, and is a multi-target attack that lowers the opposing Pokemon's Speed by 1 stage. Dazzling Gleam is its secondary STAB move and provides great chip damage as it hits both opposing Pokemon.
Thunderbolt is its secondary Electric-type move and provides strong consistent damage that's further boosted by Electric Terrain. It's last move is Taunt, which allows Tapu Koko to shut down opposing setup sweeprs and defensive Pokemon and preventing them from using Status moves.
We're using a straightforward special attacking EV spread with full investment in Special Attack and Speed. The remaining EVs are placed in Special Defense to round off its bulk.
Electric Surge is Tapu Koko's best ability, instantly setting up Electric Terrain as soon as it switches in. It also boosts the power of Tapu Koko's electric moves and prevents all grounded Pokemon from falling asleep.
Focus Sash lets it survive a super effective hit, while Life Orb boosts its damage by 30% at the cost of residual damage.
| Thunder Wave | A good alternative to Taunt that allows Tapu Koko to go all out on Speed Control, and is especially effective against hyper offense teams that focus on Speed. |
|---|---|
| Volt Switch | This move can replace Thunderbolt and allows Tapu Koko to pivot from the battle at the cost of lower Base Power. |
Whether it's running a physical or special set, Tapu Koko is best used as an offensive pivot instead of an outright sweeper. It's high speed and pivoting moves gives its teammates great offensive momentum, making it a popular choice as a member of an offensive core in Hyper Offense teams.
Tapu Koko is easy to fit into most teams and isn't restricted to pure offensive teams. Although it's a great pivot in Singles, it's best used in Doubles.
Both physical and special variants of Tapu Koko excel as a lead terrain setter in Doubles, and is always partnered with Pokemon that can take advantage of the instant Electric Terrain it sets up.
| Doubles Lead | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pokemon |
 Tapu Koko
|
 Hawlucha
|
| Ability | Electric Surge | Unburden |
| Held Item | Choice Specs | Electric Seed |
| Nature | Timid | Jolly |
| EV Spread | 252 Sp.Atk / 4 Sp.Def / 252 Spe | 4 Def / 252 Atk / 252 Spe |
| Moveset | ・Thunderbolt ・Dazzling Gleam ・Volt Switch ・Grass Knot |
・Brave Bird ・High Jump Kick ・Rock Slide ・Roost |
Hawlucha makes a great partner for Tapu Koko in Doubles. As soon as both switch in and Electric Terrain is set, Hawlucha consumes its Electric Seed. This boosts its defense while also activating Unburden, which doubles its speed and allowing it to outrun virtually anything in the metagame.
Hawlucha can then unleash its powerful STAB moves or attempt to flinc the opposing team with Rock Slide while Tapu Koko uses its main STAB to deal chip damage to the opposing team.
Check out our full article below to learn more about the basics of doubles team building.
How to Build a Doubles Team
| Weakness |
|
|---|
Both variants of Tapu Koko have a hard time overcoming bulky Poison-types. While some of these counters can't outright KO the Electric Tapu, they can put a stop to its offensive pivoting and distrupt overall team momentum.
| Pokemon | Description |
|---|---|
 Amoonguss
|
Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Resists Tapu Koko's Electric and Fairy-STAB and takes little damage from its other moves ・Can put Tapu Koko to sleep with Spore or poison it with Toxic Moveset & Best Build for Amoonguss |
 Venusaur
|
Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Resists Tapu Koko's Electric and Fairy-STAB and takes little damage from its other moves ・Special attacking variants can threaten or even KO Tapu Koko with Sludge Bomb Moveset & Best Build for Venusaur |
Tapu Koko's shallow movepool makes it easy pickings for Ground-types, with some even using it as setup fodder! Thanks to their Electric-type immunity, these Ground-types can even stop Tapu Koko from pivoting with Volt Switch!
| Pokemon | Description |
|---|---|
 Landorus (Therian Forme)
|
Ranking: ★★★★★
・Immune to Tapu Koko's Electric-type moves and takes little damage from Dazzling Gleam ・Swords Dance variants can use Tapu Koko as setup fodder or KO it immediately with STAB Earthquake Moveset & Best Build for 'Counter' |
 Nidoking
|
Ranking: ★★★★★
・Immune to Tapu Koko's Electric-type moves and resists its Fairy-type STAB ・Easily KO's Tapu Koko with Sheer Force and Life Orb boosted Sludge Wave or Earth Power Moveset & Best Build for 'Counter' |
All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle
| Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Tier List |
 Best Builds |
 Series 10 List of Contenders |
|||
 Doubles Tier List
|
 Team Building |
 Rental Teams |
|||
Tapu Koko - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle
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Tapu Koko did NOT get access to: - Rising Voltage - Play Rough - Close Combat in the Crown Tundra dlc. You should check out the actual games instead of relying on "leaks". ^^