Togekiss (Update)

Snorlaxe · May 19, 2010

Rising_Dusk helped me out a lot with this analysis and also wrote several parts, so make sure you give him credit when this goes on-site! This is a joint analysis between Rising_Dusk and I, Dusk's writing will be in blue.

Chris is Me wrote the Old School Nasty Plot set due to my lack of time, so thanks a lot Chris :)

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http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/togekiss

[Overview]

Togekiss fills a unique role in the OU metagame with its ability to serve as a sweeper, a specially defensive tank, an excellent Nasty Plot Baton Passer, or as a general annoyance. It's also one of the few users of Serene Grace, and it's certainly able to put it to good use with its great movepool. Togekiss's respectable typing provides it with enough ways to switch into combat and its above average defenses make it surprisingly difficult for opponents to shoot down this paper plane without STAB, super effective attacks.

Togekiss has a few weaknesses that it it needs to watch out for when being used, however. As it is weak to Rock-type attacks, it loses 25% of its HP upon switching into Stealth Rock. Additionally, Togekiss is not fast enough to outpace a large portion of the metagame, having only a base 80 Speed stat. This means that if you plan on having Togekiss successfully sweep, you will need to either spread paralysis around or eliminate your opponent's faster Pokemon. Despite these downfalls, Togekiss is a useful addition to any team with the right support.

[SET]
name: Old School Plot Sweeper
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Air Slash
move 3: Aura Sphere / Heal Bell
move 4: Roost
item: Leftovers
ability: Serene Grace
nature: Modest
evs: 252 HP / 36 SpA / 220 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

This Togekiss takes a more conventional route toward sweeping, taking advantage of its massive Special Attack, good defenses, and access to Roost in order to successfully obtain a Nasty Plot boost. With a Modest nature, a boosted Air Slash does catastrophic damage, OHKOing Scizor after Stealth Rock, while scoring 2-3HKOs even on Pokemon who resist it. When you combine Air Slash's flinch rate and Togekiss's bulk, you'll find that it has no problem sweeping teams that are sufficiently weakened. Unlike most Nasty Plot sweepers, Togekiss has both instant recovery in Roost and the bulk needed to take down opponents without worrying about taking excessive damage; even weaker super effective hits won't significantly damage it.

Aura Sphere is for Tyranitar, who threatens an OHKO with Stone Edge. Aura Sphere OHKOes right back after a Nasty Plot, while also providing useful extra damage against Blissey, Metagross, Heatran, and other Pokemon who resist Flying. While Air Slash is often the primary attack against these foes, Aura Sphere allows you to finish off these Pokemon at higher percentages. Heal Bell is extremely useful against stall teams, allowing Togekiss to switch in and absorb status attacks, while providing the means to win against even Toxic Blissey 1-on-1 in tandem with Roost.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

Substitute is an option if you use Aura Sphere. Using it on the switch allows you to scout out threats like Scarf Tyranitar and Pokemon with status moves. You won't beat Seismic Toss / Toxic Blissey with it, but it may be useful in providing some rudimentary status prevention. Safeguard can do effectively the same job as Heal Bell, but instead of healing the rest of the team, it provides a safety net if Togekiss is forced to switch out, with the additional benefit of having more PP. The drawback is that it does not allow Togekiss to switch into status attacks. Lum Berry is an option that lets you beat Blissey 60% of the time. If you Plot on the switch, and then Plot again as she statuses you, a 2HKO is possible by using Air Slash, hoping for a flinch, followed by Aura Sphere.

The EV spread takes advantage of Togekiss's impressive bulk by maximizing its already-awesome HP stat. If you want to be able to OHKO Scizor with a +2 Air Slash after Stealth Rock, however, then you can take some EVs out of HP and place them into Special Attack; 192 Special Attack EVs are enough to ensure the OHKO. 220 Speed EVs are used to outrun Modest Heatran, and if you don't care about Heatran, you can lower that number to boost Togekiss's Special Attack further. If you invest at least 192 EVs in HP, Vaporeon will never 2HKO with Ice Beam after Stealth Rock.

Togekiss's main concerns are Rotom-A and Zapdos. While this set does a little better against them than other sets, they are both still big threats to Togekiss's sweep and need to be dealt with beforehand. Pursuit users are great teammates to pair with Togekiss, as they get rid of Rotom; this allows Togekiss's team to use a Rapid Spinner to clear away Stealth Rock. Heracross is probably the best choice since it isn't bothered by Will-O-Wisp, but Metagross, Tyranitar, and Snorlax all work as well. With Rotom out of the way, Rapid Spin support from Starmie, Forretress, or Tentacruel helps tremendously as without Stealth Rock, Togekiss can switch in and out repeatedly at will, giving it a good chance against Zapdos. Stealth Rock support will hurt Zapdos enough to make it unable to repeatedly switch into play. If you pack Tyranitar for Rotom, it also makes a great Zapdos check, boasting high Special Defense and super effective STAB Rock-type attacks.

Paralysis support helps tremendously as Togekiss isn't the fastest sweeper in the game. Pokemon like Jirachi, Gyarados, and Celebi can all provide useful paralysis support. Jirachi in particular is nice as it lures out Starmie, whom you can Pursuit.

[SET]
name: Offensive Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Air Slash
move 3: Fire Blast
move 4: Roost / Aura Sphere
item: Life Orb
ability: Serene Grace
nature: Timid
evs: 192 HP / 236 Spe / 80 SpA

[SET COMMENTS]

This set takes a more offensive approach to Nasty Plot Togekiss. While many Togekiss sets aim to exploit its impressive bulk, this set takes advantage of its massive Special Attack and decent Speed. Very few Pokemon will be able to switch in on this Togekiss safely once it secures a Nasty Plot boost; indeed, every Pokemon in the OU tier is at the very least 2HKOed by a +2 Togekiss.

Nasty Plot allows Togekiss to boost its already high Special Attack to astronomical levels in just one turn of set up. Air Slash is Togekiss's STAB move, and comes with a neat 60% flinch rate, thanks to Serene Grace. Fire Blast is used to hit Pokemon like Jirachi and Bronzong who resist Togekiss's Air Slash. It also sees additional use in its ability to OHKO 252 HP Zapdos and Rotom-A who resist all of Togekiss's other moves and can otherwise set up on it. Roost is the best choice in the final slot for its ability to heal Togekiss's health, prolonging its sweep. However, Aura Sphere can be used instead to give Togekiss a means of hitting Tyranitar and Heatran, who will otherwise wall Togekiss.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

Another interesting option for a move is Shadow Ball. With it, Togekiss is able to hit Rotom-A for high damage right off the bat. However, it has very little use beyond this, and so is often better off untouched.

The EV spread is customized to fit Togekiss's needs. After a Nasty Plot boost, Togekiss's Life Orb Fire Blast will do a minimum of 87% damage to 252 HP Rotom-A, while 252 HP Zapdos is hit for at least 80% damage. With Stealth Rock support, Togekiss is able to easily OHKO both of the aforementioned Pokemon. 236 Speed EVs and a Timid nature are used as they allow Togekiss to outspeed Adamant Lucario and proceed to scorch it with Fire Blast for an OHKO. The remaining EVs are placed into HP, giving Togekiss an impressive HP stat of 311; when you combine this number and Togekiss's already impressive defenses, you'll find that you have both a sturdy and powerful sweeper on your hands.

One of the most important things to have when using this Togekiss set is Stealth Rock support. It allows Togekiss to achieve several notable OHKOes that it otherwise would not be able to, so it is a necessity. Swampert is a good choice for the role of a Stealth Rock user as he and Togekiss cover each other's weaknesses very well. Metagross is another capable teammate for the same reason. Rapid Spin support can also be a big factor when using this Togekiss. It will lose 25% of its health every time it switches in, which means that it will be put at a disadvantage from the very first time it comes into play, and will not be able to sweep quite as easily. For this reason, Rapid Spin support is extremely beneficial alongside this Togekiss; Life Orb Rapid Spin Starmie is a good choice for this. It can switch in easily on many attacks that would otherwise threaten Togekiss, such as Ice Beam, and proceed to either spin or beat down the opposing team with its powerful STAB attacks. It is also a great offensive partner alongside Togekiss. While not at all necessary, Thunder Wave support is an interesting option to use alongside this set, as it allows Togekiss to outspeed and severely damage Pokemon who would otherwise be faster than it. Celebi is capable of using Thunder Wave well, and works decently on a defensive level alongside Togekiss.

[SET]
name: Paraflinch
move 1: Air Slash
move 2: Thunder Wave / Body Slam
move 3: Aura Sphere / Nasty Plot / Substitute
move 4: Roost
item: Leftovers
nature: Bold
ability: Serene Grace
evs: 252 HP / 188 Def / 68 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]

Serene Grace is definitely not wasted on a Pokemon like Togekiss. A 60% flinch rate combined with paralysis support leaves the opposing Pokemon with only a 30% chance of doing anything at all. Combine this with Togekiss's general bulk and recovery in the form of Roost, and it can pose a serious threat to an opponent's team.

Air Slash is mandatory for STAB and flinching on Togekiss. Thunder Wave is the most reliable option in the second slot to paralyze whoever your opponent might switch into Togekiss. Body Slam is another option to use in order to have the ability to paralyze Pokemon immune to Thunder Wave. The third slot has numerous options to choose from. Aura Sphere is the primary choice to round out Togekiss's coverage, hitting Rock- and Steel-types particularly hard. Nasty Plot is available to help Togekiss sweep, although it should be noted that it's illegal with Body Slam. Substitute can also be used to make Togekiss even harder and more annoying to take down and keep it safe from status. The last move is given to Roost to provide Togekiss with reliable recovery.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

The EVs and nature are chosen to give Togekiss enough physical bulk so that Choice Band Scizor's Bullet Punch will never 2HKO you even after Stealth Rock is taken into account. The rest of the EVs are placed into Special Defense to add as much special bulk as possible. No Speed investment is used here as the set should attempt to paralyze as much as possible before trying to sweep.

Pokemon who further help spread paralysis around an opponent's team are great candidates for teammates to this Togekiss. Jirachi, carrying Iron Head and its own paralysis-inducing attack, immediately comes to mind. Jirachi can also switch into the Rock- and Ice-type attacks aimed at Togekiss with ease. Celebi and Blissey can spread paralysis around quite effectively, although it should be noted that they share much of their counter lists with Togekiss. Magnezone resists all of the attacks Togekiss is weak to, while Togekiss will gladly switch into Ground-type attacks aimed at Magnezone. Magnezone will also happily remove the Steel-type Pokemon who resist Togekiss's Air Slash. Entry hazard support should definitely be considered with this Togekiss as well, since once the opponent is paralyzed and can't hit Togekiss, they will not want to stay in and sacrifice their Pokemon. Speaking of entry hazards, Rapid Spin support is worth considering to give Togekiss an easier time switching in. Forretress can perform this role admirably by being able to sponge up the attacks aimed at Togekiss and set up Spikes or Rapid Spin as they switch out.

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Air Slash
move 2: Aura Sphere
move 3: Fire Blast / Flamethrower
move 4: Trick
item: Choice Scarf
nature: Timid
ability: Serene Grace
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

A quick and easy fix to Togekiss's middling Speed is to slap a Choice Scarf on it. Many of the Pokemon who switch into Togekiss expecting to outspeed it are quickly worn down by repeated attacks and possibly flinched to death. Combine this with an arsenal of respectable attacks, good coverage, and Serene Grace and Togekiss can be a dangerous threat to your opponent. Choice Scarf Togekiss can even make for a decent lead, shutting down many common leads right off the bat by flinching them to death with Air Slash. It also has access to Trick, which enables it to cripple common Stealth Rock users such as Swampert and Metagross right off the bat.

Air Slash is chosen for its flinch rate and STAB, while Aura Sphere is chosen for the excellent secondary coverage it provides. Fire Blast is recommended in the third slot to guarantee the 2HKO on standard Bronzong and the OHKO on standard Spiker Skarmory. Flamethrower is a viable alternative to Fire Blast for the added accuracy, but the lost OHKOs are a letdown. Trick is recommended in the final slot to cripple popular switch-ins to this Togekiss like Blissey, who will otherwise easily wall Togekiss. However, many other moves could be used as well, such as Tri Attack, Shadow Ball, and Hidden Power Ice.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

Timid is used to let you outspeed Pokemon like Choice Scarf Heatran and base 130 Speed Pokemon, most notably Jolteon. Modest can be used if you don't plan on using Trick, but failing to outspeed the aforementioned Pokemon can be very detrimental to Togekiss's usefulness. The EV spread is chosen to give Togekiss five switches into Stealth Rock while maximizing its Speed and Special Attack.

As this Togekiss isn't nearly as slow as other sets, it can find its way into offensive teams. The biggest advantages Togekiss carries over other Choice Scarf users is its very respectable special bulk and ability to flinch its opponents, making it able to take down even threats that aren't 2HKOed by its attacks. Rapid Spin support is incredibly important to this Togekiss, as it will be switching in and out a lot. Forretress stands out from the crowd as an excellent Rapid Spinner to complement Togekiss, absorbing many of the physical attacks thrown at it and also providing invaluable entry hazard support.

[SET]
name: Baton Pass
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Baton Pass
move 3: Air Slash / Encore
move 4: Roost / Wish
item: Leftovers
nature: Calm
ability: Serene Grace
evs: 252 HP / 64 SpD / 192 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Togekiss is a member of the elite group of Pokemon to not only learn Nasty Plot, but also be able to Baton Pass it. Using this set is very straightforward; set up a Nasty Plot or two, Air Slash and Roost as necessary, and then pass it to the appropriate recipient when someone appears who Togekiss can't beat.

Nasty Plot and Baton Pass are the crux of this set. Air Slash is for mandatory STAB and flinch abuse on Togekiss, and when backed by a Nasty Plot can do some serious damage to its opponents. Air Slash also prevents Togekiss from becoming Taunt bait. Encore is an option in the third slot, though, because it can force a switch and give you a free turn of setup. If you can cover for being Taunt bait, then it may prove useful for switching into something like Swampert's Earthquake. Roost rounds out the set in the last slot by keeping Togekiss healthy and able to pass at any point during a match. Wish can be used over Roost to support the team and the recipient better, but Togekiss will be worn down fast without the instant recovery in Roost.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

The EVs are tailored to let Togekiss outspeed certain major threats while retaining as much of its bulk as possible. 192 Speed EVs allow Togekiss to outrun Jolly non-Choice Scarf Tyranitar, while 252 HP EVs give Togekiss respectable bulk. The remaining EVs are placed in Special Defense to let it set up more freely against special threats, but if you'd like Togekiss to be more threatening with its Air Slash, you can place them in Special Attack. Calm is preferred as a nature to boost its already excellent Special Defense stat.

This Togekiss greatly appreciates it if your team can keep Stealth Rock off the field. Its survivability and ability to pass Nasty Plot successfully take a serious hit if it has to lose 25% of its maximum HP when it switches in. A dual screen Azelf lead can be useful in keeping opposing Stealth Rock away with Taunt while throwing up screens to help Togekiss successfully pass either one or multiple boosts. Dual screens in general help Baton Passes be more reliable, so users of those moves, such as Cresselia or Uxie, can be very helpful. As for recipients of the Nasty Plot boosts, it is recommended to use something that is not destroyed by common priority moves such as Bullet Punch. For this reason, Pokemon like Jirachi, Lucario, and Zapdos are good to consider. Jirachi and Lucario can run mixed sets with Iron Head and Close Combat respectively to punch through Blissey and other walls, and all three of them resist Bullet Punch. Zapdos deserves a special mention for having the highest Special Attack of these options while also having excellent bulk and a resistance to both Mach Punch and Bullet Punch. Both Lucario and Zapdos can also set up Agility to facilitate their sweep. A specially offensive Electivire may also be worth considering if you can Baton Pass to it on a turn where you might be expecting a slower Electric-type attack, as it'll absorb it to increase its Speed. If you are looking for a special powerhouse to send the boosts to, you might consider Porygon-Z, although its lackluster Speed and vulnerability to popular priority moves hinder its ability to sweep.

[SET]
name: Encore Supporter
move 1: Encore
move 2: Wish / Roost
move 3: Air Slash
move 4: Aura Sphere / Thunder Wave / Body Slam
item: Leftovers
ability: Serene Grace
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 20 Def / 236 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Togekiss's ability to support the team is amplified when it has Encore and Wish in its arsenal. The strategy is to come in on a set-up or support move and Encore it, likely forcing a switch. While Togekiss is out it can also Encore faster Pokémon, which requires lots of prediction but can have huge payoffs. These situations allow Togekiss to assist the team by setting up Wish and then proceeding to pass it to a counter for the current opposing Pokémon while not having to worry about being taken out. If one chooses not to Wish, it's possible to simply abuse the free turn to paralyze an incoming Pokémon with either Body Slam or Thunder Wave. Forcing a switch can also allow one of your sweepers to come in unharmed, set up, and cause havoc for your opponent. Roost is an option over Wish if none of Togekiss's teammates are Rapid Spinners, as Stealth Rock damage can really pile up on it. However, Roost greatly cuts down on Togekiss's ability to support the team, meaning that Wish is preferable for this particular set.

Air Slash and Aura Sphere allow for a neutral hit on every single Pokémon, barring Zapdos and Rotom. Air Slash, a powerful STAB attack, can also help Togekiss to keep some Wish recovery for itself due to the 60% flinch chance on slower Pokémon. Aura Sphere is not a requirement though as this Togekiss is not meant to sweep, reducing the need for type coverage. Body Slam or Thunder Wave can take its spot to paralyze incoming Pokémon, as mentioned earlier. The choice depends on whether the team has more of a problem with speedy Ghosts such as Gengar, or Pokémon immune to Electric-type moves such as Jolteon or Flygon.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

The EV spread on this set is a lot speedier compared to a majority of Togekiss's sets. A quick Togekiss allows for much easier Encoring, which is why so many Speed EVs are required. 236 Speed EVs with a Timid nature allows Togekiss to have 280 Speed, outspeeding an Adamant Lucario. This lets Togekiss come in on the unsuspecting Lucario as it Swords Dances, and Encore it. It will then be forced to switch, or be 2HKOed by either of Togekiss's attacks. 252 HP EVs and 20 Defense EVs allow for its maximum defensive capabilities after reaching 280 Speed. This lets it come in and perform its strategy several times, due to its high survivability.

Entry hazard support is greatly appreciated for this set, as Togekiss will likely be forcing a lot of switches with Encore (and possibly a paralysis move). Swampert has great defensive synergy alongside Togekiss, and can also set up Stealth Rock. Specially Defensive Forretress makes for a great teammate for this set due to its ability to easily set up Spikes on many of the Pokemon this set cripples, such as Swords Dance Lucario and common Stealth Rock users. Forretress can also use Rapid Spin to great effect, which is helpful because of Togekiss's Stealth Rock issues. In the same vein, Life Orb Rapid Spin Starmie is a good teammate, capable of dealing heavy damage to opposing Pokemon with its powerful STAB attacks as well as utilizing Rapid Spin to get rid of the opponent's Stealth Rock.

[Team Options]

Togekiss is a Pokemon who will often force a lot of switches, and as such, entry hazard support helps a lot when using it. Swampert makes a great choice to supply Stealth Rock, as it and Togekiss cover each others' weaknesses marvelously. Swampert is also one of the most reliable Stealth Rock users in OU, and is capable of consistently setting Stealth Rock up at almost any given time in a match. Metagross makes another good teammate for similar reasons. As far as Spikes support goes, Skarmory can make a good teammate, and Taunt variants can set up Spikes on Blissey who lack Flamethrower. This is important, as Blissey will often switch in on Togekiss to absorb her attacks. Skarmory can also set up Spikes against Tyranitar, who will often come in on Togekiss, to an extent.

One of Togekiss's biggest problems is its weakness to Stealth Rock. For a defensive Pokemon like Togekiss, losing a fourth of its health upon switching in is a huge handicap. For this reason, Rapid Spin support can be very helpful in maintaining Togekiss's health. Life Orb Rapid Spin Starmie makes a great offensive partner for Togekiss, capable of switching in on many Pokemon who could potentially threaten Togekiss and Rapid Spinning. Starmie's powerful STAB attacks also help wear down the opposing team to the point where Togekiss can potentially sweep. For more defensive Togekiss, Forretress makes a better partner, capable of not only using Rapid Spin, but also setting up Spikes, which is useful for reasons mentioned in the above paragraph.

Status is the bane of any Togekiss set; a well-timed Toxic or Thunder Wave will completely end Togekiss's sweep, and make it near-useless for the remainder of the match. As such, having a solid status absorber can be helpful when using Togekiss. RestTalk Rotom-A can make a good choice to perform this role thanks to its amazing defensive typing, which includes a handy resistance to Electric-type moves. Poison Heal Breloom can also do well, as it has plenty of free chances to switch in on Blissey, who is a common switch-in to Togekiss. It should be noted, however, that Breloom doesn’t have the same defensive synergy with Togekiss that Rotom-H does.

[Optional Changes]

Being a Normal-type, Togekiss's movepool is quite vast, and therefore it has many options to utilize. Togekiss can set up dual screens in order to better support its team. While a set like this is largely outclassed by other Pokemon, such as Bronzong and Uxie, Togekiss's Normal/Flying-typing can give it a unique niche as a dual screener; its Stealth Rock weakness is disappointing, however. Grass Knot is also a solid choice to wear down Ground- and Water-types, such as Hippowdon and Swampert. Unfortunately, it is often hard to find a place for it on a set. Yawn can be used to force switches, and considering that Togekiss is usually used with entry hazard support, you can find yourself racking up big damage against an opponent. Counter can be used to take out physical attackers, although if you predict incorrectly, the results could be unfavorable. Tri Attack can be used as a secondary source of special STAB, but it gets poor neutral coverage with Air Slash.

For most Togekiss sets, capitalizing on its impressive bulk is a must. That’s why it is usually a good idea to maximize Togekiss's HP. However, if you are using a more offensive set, like the Choice Scarf variant, then a simple 252 SpA / 252 Spe spread works just fine as well. 104 Speed EVs can be used to outrun Adamant Tyranitar, but you can just as easily use more Speed in order to beat Jolly non-Choice Scarf variants. Taking advantage of Togekiss's awesome Special Attack is always a good idea, so if you find yourself with spare EVs, dumping them in Special Attack won't hurt.

[Counters]

Status seriously cripples basically all variants of Togekiss. Blissey and Cresselia come to mind as the best choices to abuse this weakness, taking pittance from Togekiss's attacks and being able to heal off any damage taken while threatening paralysis or poison. Lanturn can also come in on Togekiss with its resistance to Air Slash and threaten it with Thunder Wave.

A few other defensive and offensive Pokemon alike stand out for being able to switch into Togekiss with relative impunity. Zapdos resists both Air Slash and Aura Sphere, and with its greater Speed stat can set up a Substitute before being hit by Thunder Wave. Jolteon or Electivire can come in on a predicted Air Slash or Thunder Wave and immediately threaten Togekiss. Rotom-A can also switch in safely as it is immune to Aura Sphere and resists Air Slash. All of these Pokemon have high-power, super effective attacks and status moves that threaten Togekiss. Bronzong also takes little damage from Air Slash and paralysis causes its Gyro Ball to hit harder.

jc104 · May 19, 2010

I would suggest removing the first sentence as it seems a little outdated. You could also mention that Scarf Togekiss works pretty well in the lead position too.

Snorlaxe · May 19, 2010

Thanks, I never tested the Scarf set as Dusk wrote it, but I'm sure it is a good lead. I'll also remove the first sentence :)

Demoness · May 19, 2010

[Overview]

Togetic evolved from obscurity to celebrity in the transition to Diamond and Pearl. Togekiss fills a very unique role in the OU metagame with its ability to serve as a sweeper, a specially defensive tank, a general annoyance, or an excellent Nasty Plot Baton Passer. It's also one of the few users of Serene Grace, and it's certainly able to put it to use with its movepool. Togekiss' respectable typing provides it enough ways to switch into combat and its above average defenses make it surprisingly difficult for opponents to shoot down this paper plane without STAB, super effective attacks.

Togekiss has a few weaknesses that it it needs to watch out for when being used, however. As it is weak to Rock-type attacks, it loses 25% of its HP on switching in. It's also not fast enough to outpace much of the metagame, having only a base 80 Speed stat. This means that if you plan on having Togekiss successfully sweep, you need to either spread paralysis around or eliminate your opponent's faster Pokemon.

[SET]
name: Nasty Plot Sweeper
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Air Slash
move 3: Aura Sphere / Fire Blast
move 4: Roost
item: Lum Berry / Life Orb
ability: Serene Grace
nature: Timid
evs: 168 HP / 102 SpA / 236 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Nasty Plot skyrockets Togekiss's Special Attack to an astonishing 602, giving it the ability to potentially sweep with the near perfect coverage obtained by using Air Slash and Aura Sphere or Fire Blast. Roost allows Togekiss to heal itself while also becoming neutral to its three weaknesses (Rock, Ice, and Electric). Aura Sphere provides especially useful coverage against Tyranitar and Steel-types who resist your STAB attack. A Lum Berry is the recommended hold item because most forms of status (especially Toxic or Thunder Wave) will completely stop Togekiss’s sweep. Leftovers is also useful should you not have the time to completely heal with Roost; it also restores HP lost from Stealth Rock damage. Life Orb is another great option; with it, Togekiss can OHKO all Steel-types (barring Heatran), plus Zapdos and Rotom-A with Stealth Rock when using Fire Blast (after a Nasty Plot boost, of course). Without Aura Sphere, however, Togekiss is left vulnerable to Heatran and Tyranitar. Another alternate attacking option is AncientPower, which OHKOes Zapdos plus has a 20% chance to boost all stats thanks to Serene Grace.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

The choice in EV spread mostly depends on how offensive you want Togekiss to be. The given EV spread is the most universal, outrunning Adamant Lucario plus defensive Zapdos and Rotom-A while retaining some bulk and attacking power. Should you wish to use a go on the offensive, a simple 252 SpA / 252 Spe spread isn't a bad option, especially with the power of Life Orb backing it up. Switching to a Modest nature, maxing out HP, then giving Togekiss 104 Speed EVs allows it to outrun Adamant Tyranitar, and makes Togekiss a whole lot bulkier.

Togekiss greatly appreciates support in removing Pokemon who resist both Air Slash and Aura Sphere (should you decide to go with Aura Sphere), such as Zapdos and Rotom-A. Pursuit users like Tyranitar come to mind, KOing Rotom-A with Pursuit when switching and possessing the ability to KO Zapdos with Stone Edge. Stealth Rock causes Togekiss to lose 25% of its health each time it switches in, making Rapid Spinners like Forretress and Starmie good partners. Pokemon who can set up Stealth Rock for Togekiss are invaluable, allowing Togekiss to OHKO Rotom-A and Zapdos with Fire Blast when holding a Life Orb. Should Togekiss decide to use Fire Blast, you'll need Pokemon who can take care of Heatran and Tyranitar. Bulky Fighting-types are especially usful in this case because they can counter Tyranitar, Blissey, and Snorlax, plus land a super effective hit on Heatran. Other partners who help include defensive Pokemon who can take strong hits from fast revenge killers like Salamence and Jolteon.

Togekiss's middling Speed and the fact that Air Slash is heavily more effective when the opponent is paralyzed makes paralysis support from Togekiss’s teammates a fantastic option. Jirachi resists two of Togekiss’s weaknesses (Rock and Ice) and has the ability to paralyze even Ground-types with a Serene Grace Body Slam; its also has its own flinching moves to make further use of the paralysis. Lanturn resists Togekiss’s Ice- and Electric-type weaknesses and can paralyze the opponent with Thunder Wave, while also having the ability to switch in easily on Rotom-A and Zapdos’s Thunderbolts then scare them away.

[SET]
name: Paraflinch
move 1: Air Slash
move 2: Thunder Wave / Body Slam
move 3: Aura Sphere / Nasty Plot / Substitute
move 4: Roost
item: Leftovers
nature: Bold
ability: Serene Grace
evs: 252 HP / 188 Def / 68 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]

Serene Grace is definitely not wasted on a Pokemon like Togekiss. A 60% flinch rate combined with paralysis support leaves the opposing Pokemon with only a 30% chance of doing anything at all. Combine this with Togekiss' general bulk and recovery in the form of Roost and it can pose a serious threat to an opponent's team.

Air Slash is mandatory for STAB and flinching on Togekiss. Thunder Wave is the most reliable option in the second slot to paralyze whatever your opponent might switch into Togekiss. Body Slam is an option so as to still have the ability to paralyze Pokemon immune to Thunder Wave. The third slot has numerous options to choose from. Aura Sphere is the primary choice to round out Togekiss' coverage, hitting Rock- and Steel-types particularly hard. Nasty Plot is available to help Togekiss sweep, although it should be noted that it'd illegal with Body Slam. Substitute can also be used to make Togekiss even harder to take down and keep it safe from status. The last move is given to Roost to provide Togekiss with reliable recovery.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

The EVs and nature are chosen to give Togekiss enough physical bulk so that Choice Band Scizor's Bullet Punch will never 2HKO you even after Stealth Rock is taken into account. The rest of the EVs are placed into Special Defense to add as much special bulk as possible. No Speed investment is used here as the set should attempt to paralyze as much as possible before trying to sweep.

Pokemon that further help spread paralysis around an opponent's team are great candidates for teammates to this Togekiss. Jirachi carrying Iron Head and its own paralysis inducing attack immediately comes to mind. Jirachi can also switch into the Rock-type attacks aimed at Togekiss with ease. Blissey can also spread paralysis around quite effectively, although it should be noted that Blissey shares much of its counter list with Togekiss. Magnezone resists all of the attacks Togekiss is weak to, meanwhile Togekiss will gladly switch into the Ground-type attacks aimed at Magnezone. Magnezone will also happily remove the Steel-type Pokemon that resist Togekiss' Air Slash. Entry hazard support should definitely be considered with this Togekiss as well, since once the opponent is paralyzed and can't hit Togekiss they will not want to stay in and sacrifice their Pokemon. Speaking of entry hazards, Rapid Spin support is worth considering to give Togekiss an easier time switching in. Forretress can perform this role admirably by being able to sponge up the attacks aimed at Togekiss and set up Spikes or Rapid Spin as they switch out.

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Air Slash
move 2: Aura Sphere
move 3: Fire Blast / Flamethrower
move 4: Trick / Tri Attack / Shadow Ball / Hidden Power Ice
item: Choice Scarf
nature: Timid
ability: Serene Grace
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

A quick and easy fix to Togekiss' middling Speed is to slap a Choice Scarf on it. Many of the Pokemon that switch into Togekiss expecting to outspeed it and take it out are quickly worn down by repeated attacks and will be unpleasantly surprised to be flinched. Combine this with an arsenal of respectable attacks, good coverage, and Serene Grace and Togekiss can be a dangerous threat to your opponent.

Air Slash is chosen for its flinch rate and STAB, with Aura Sphere chosen for the excellent secondary coverage it provides. Fire Blast is recommended in the third slot to guarantee the 2HKO on standard Bronzong and the OHKO on Specially Defensive Skarmory. Flamethrower is a viable alternative to Fire Blast for the added accuracy. Trick is recommended in the final slot to cripple popular switch-ins to this Togekiss like Blissey, who will otherwise easily wall Togekiss. Tri Attack can be used for its excellent synergy with Serene Grace as well as STAB; it will hit Electric-types that like to switch into Togekiss the hardest of all of its options. Shadow Ball provides perfect coverage with Aura Sphere and is Togekiss' only option that can 2HKO Standard Rotom-A. Hidden Power Ice can be useful to 2HKO Zapdos if it switches into Stealth Rock and OHKO Salamence.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

Timid as a nature is used to let you outspeed Pokemon like Choice Scarf Heatran and base 130 Speed Pokemon, most notably Jolteon. Modest can be used if you don't plan on using Trick, but failing to outspeed the aforementioned Pokemon can be very detrimental to Togekiss' usefulness. The EV spread is chosen to give Togekiss 5 switches into Stealth Rock while maximizing its Speed and Special Attack.

As this Togekiss isn't nearly as slow as other sets, it can find its way into offensive teams. The biggest advantages Togekiss carries over other Choice Scarf users is its very respectable special bulk and ability to flinch its opponents, making it able to take down even threats that aren't 2HKO'd by its attacks. Rapid Spin support is incredibly important to this Togekiss, as it will be switching in and out a lot. Forretress stands out from the crowd as an excellent Rapid Spinner to complement Togekiss, absorbing many of the physical attacks thrown at it and also providing invaluable entry hazard support.

[SET]
name: Leadkiss
move 1: Air Slash
move 2: Roost / Encore
move 3: Thunder Wave
move 4: Fire Blast
item: Leftovers
ability: Serene Grace
nature: Modest
evs: 160 HP / 252 Def / 96 SpA

[SET COMMENTS]

While Togekiss is often used as a sweeper, it may also be employed as an exceptional lead. Togekiss can make use of its extremely annoying Air Slash, which, in conjunction with Serene Grace, ensures a 60% flinch rate and the demise of many common leads to start the battle in your favor. Thunder Wave provides a solution to its poor Speed, allowing it to use Air Slash or Fire Blast before the opponent can counterattack.

The second move slot is entirely up to the user's personal preference. Roost is a reliable option for durability and can keep Togekiss around until the end of the match if needed, while Encore is an excellent choice for locking common leads into Stealth Rock, thus forcing a switch. Encore can really help you start the match off with the upper hand, especially if you can predict after using it, and Thunder Wave on the switch. However, Togekiss is Taunt-bait due to its low Speed so the usage of Encore might be slightly limited. ExtremeSpeed is an option for finishing off Focus Sash leads, and if you really need priority then it can be useful as it receives STAB, though Encore and Roost are more viable options.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

Togekiss can make use of its overall bulkiness to shrug off many attacks from common leads, while paralyzing them and proceeding to KO with the appropriate move. Togekiss is one of the few leads who can boast being able to beat the popular Machamp anti-lead, and so you should take advantage of its ability to do this when using Togekiss. It can use Flamethrower to 3HKO a standard Metagross holding an Occa Berry, and Fire Blast to 2HKO. In return, Metagross' Meteor Mash can only 2HKO if it gets an Attack boost. Fire Blast is recommended over Flamethrower to ensure Metagross will be KOed before it can use Explosion. However, Flamethrower is useful if accuracy is an issue.

The EV spread ensures Togekiss can survive as long as possible against physical leads. 252 Defense EVs are necessary to take all of the hits it can, giving it time to Roost off damage. Common leads either outspeed or do not invest in Speed at all, so there is no reason to invest EVs in Speed. The 96 Special Attack EVs give Togekiss a respectable stat of 330, and allow it to 4HKO leads such as Hippowdon and Swampert.

Togekiss can stand as an excellent Pokemon on its own, but combined with other Pokemon who support its weaknesses, it is superb. Jolteon and Electivire can switch in to absorb super effective Electric attacks aimed at Togekiss. Tyranitar, one of Togekiss's main counters, can come in and scare Togekiss, while setting up a possible Dragon Dance or just inflicting massive damage with its STAB attacks. Togekiss is also hammered by super effective Stone Edges, particularly by Aerodactyl and the aforementioned Tyranitar. A Choice Scarf Flygon with Stone Edge can scare all of these away, but has a tough time switching in due to its frailness. Gliscor is a very reliable switch-in to take on these threats, but keep it away from Gyarados. Fast Pokemon who utilize Ice-type moves can come in on Togekiss and inflict heavy damage, so bulky Water-types such as Vaporeon or Suicune are great choices.

[SET]
name: Baton Pass
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Baton Pass
move 3: Air Slash / Encore
move 4: Roost / Wish
item: Leftovers
nature: Calm
ability: Serene Grace
evs: 252 HP / 64 SpD / 192 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Togekiss is a member of the elite group of Pokemon to not only learn Nasty Plot, but also be able to Baton Pass it. The use of this set is very straightforward; set up a Nasty Plot or two, Air Slash and Roost as necessary, and then pass it to the appropriate recipient when something appears that Togekiss can't beat.

Nasty Plot and Baton Pass are the crux of this set. Air Slash is mandatory STAB and flinch abuse on Togekiss, and when backed by a Nasty Plot can do some serious damage to its opponents. Air Slash also prevents Togekiss from becoming Taunt bait. Encore is an option in the third slot, though, because it can force a switch and give you a free turn of setup. If you can cover for being Taunt bait, then it may prove useful for switching into something like Swampert's Earthquake. Roost rounds out the set in the last slot by keeping Togekiss healthy and able to pass at any point during a match. Wish can be used over Roost to support the team and the recipient better, but Togekiss will be worn down fast without the instant recovery in Roost.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

The EVs are tailored to let Togekiss outspeed certain major threats while retaining as much of its bulk as possible. 192 Speed EVs allow Togekiss to outrun Jolly non-Choice Scarf Tyranitar, while 252 HP EVs give Togekiss respectable bulk. The remaining EVs are placed in Special Defense to let it set up more freely against special threats, but if you'd like Togekiss to be more threatening with its Air Slash, you can place them in Special Attack. Calm is preferred as a nature to boost its already excellent Special Defense stat.

This Togekiss greatly appreciates it if your team can keep Stealth Rock off the field. Its survivability and ability to pass Nasty Plot successfully takes a serious hit if it has to lose 25% of its maximum HP when it switches in. A Dual Screen Azelf lead can be useful in keeping opposing Stealth Rock away with Taunt while throwing up screens to help Togekiss successfully pass either one or multiple boosts. Dual screens in general help Baton Passes be more reliable in general, so users of those moves, such as Cresselia or Uxie, can be very helpful. As for recipients for the Nasty Plot boosts, it is generally useful to use something that is not destroyed by common priority moves such as Bullet Punch. For this reason, Pokemon like Jirachi, Lucario, and Zapdos are good to consider. Jirachi and Lucario can run mixed sets with Iron Head and Close Combat respectively to punch through Blissey and other walls, and all three of them resist Bullet Punch. Zapdos deserves a special mention for having the highest Special Attack of these options while also having excellent bulk and a resistance to Mach Punch. Both Lucario and Zapdos can also set up Agility to facilitate their sweep. A specially offensive Electivire may also be worth considering if you can Baton Pass to it on a turn where you might be expecting a slower Electric-type attack, as it'll absorb it to increase its Speed. If you are looking for a special powerhouse to send the boosts to, you might consider Porygon-Z, although its lackluster Speed and vulnerability to popular priority moves hinders its ability to sweep.

[SET]
name: Encore Supporter
move 1: Encore
move 2: Wish / Roost
move 3: Air Slash
move 4: Aura Sphere / Thunder Wave / Body Slam
item: Leftovers
ability: Serene Grace
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 20 Def / 236 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Togekiss' ability to support the team is amplified when it has Encore and Wish in its arsenal. The strategy is to come in on a set-up or support move and Encore it, likely forcing a switch. While Togekiss is out it can also Encore faster Pokémon, which requires lots of prediction but can have huge payoffs. These situations allow Togekiss to assist the team by setting up Wish and then proceeding to pass it to a counter for the current opposing Pokémon while not having to worry about being taken out. If one chooses not to Wish, it's possible to simply abuse the free turn to paralyze an incoming Pokémon with either Body Slam or Thunder Wave. It can also allow one of your sweepers to come in unharmed, set up, and cause havoc for your opponent. Roost is an option over Wish if none of Togekiss' teammates are Rapid Spinners, as Stealth Rock damage can really pile up on it. However, Roost greatly cuts down on Togekiss' ability to support the team, meaning that Wish is preferable for this particular set.
( needs to have a space here between paragraphs)
Air Slash and Aura Sphere allow for a neutral hit on every single Pokémon, barring Zapdos and Rotom. Air Slash, a powerful STAB attack, can also help Togekiss to keep some Wish recovery for itself due to the 60% flinch chance on slower Pokémon. Aura Sphere is not a requirement though as this Togekiss is not meant to sweep, reducing the need for type coverage. Body Slam or Thunder Wave can take its spot to paralyze incoming Pokémon, as mentioned earlier. The choice depends on whether the team has more of a problem with speedy Ghosts such as Gengar, or Pokémon immune to Electric-type moves such as Jolteon or Flygon.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

The EV spread on this set is a lot speedier compared to a majority of Togekiss' sets. A quick Togekiss allows for much easier Encoring, which is why so many Speed EVs are required. 236 Speed EVs with a Timid nature allows Togekiss to have 280 Speed, outspeeding an Adamant Lucario. This lets Togekiss come in on the unsuspecting Lucario as it Swords Dances, and Encore it. It will then be forced to switch, or be 2HKOed with either of Togekiss' attacks. 252 HP EVs and 20 Defense EVs allow for its maximum defensive capabilities after reaching 280 Speed. This lets it come in and perform its strategy several times, due to its high survivability.

Entry hazard support is greatly appreciated for this set, as Togekiss will likely be forcing a lot of switches with Encore (and possibly a paralysis move). Swampert has great defensive synergy alongside Togekiss, and can also set up Stealth Rock. Specially Defensive Forretress makes for a great teammate for this set due to its ability to easily set up Spikes on many of the Pokemon this set cripples, such as Swords Dance Lucario and common Stealth Rock users. Forretress can also use Rapid Spin to great effect, which is helpful because of Togekiss’ Stealth Rock issues. In the same vein, Life Orb Rapid Spin Starmie is a good teammate, capable of dealing heavy damage to opposing Pokemon with its powerful STAB attacks as well as utilizing Rapid Spin to get rid of the opponent’s Stealth Rock.

[SET]
name: Mixed Sweeper
move 1: ExtreemeSpeed
move 2: Aura Sphere
move 3: Flamethrower
move 4: Roost
item: Life Orb
ability: Hustle
nature: Naughty / Lonely
evs: 252 Atk / 112 SpA / 144 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

The element of surprise is this set’s trump card. While an ExtremeSpeed off a mediocre Attack stat of 218 may not seem like much, Hustle and Life Orb will boost the power to acceptable levels. The other moves are fairly intuitive in that they eliminate most of Togekiss' switch-ins. A Life Orb boosted Aura Sphere 2HKOes both Tyranitar and Heatran. Flamethrower will OHKO Scizor, Skarmory (with Stealth Rock), and Forretress, while also 2HKOing Jirachi and Celebi. Roost helps Togekiss recover its health after Life Orb recoil and other indirect damage take their toll.

The given EVs are tailored to allow Togekiss a Speed advantage on Adamant Tyranitar and neutral 88 Speed Rotom formes. The Attack EVs are to boost ExtremeSpeed's power, while the remaining EVs are placed to boost Togekiss’s Special Attack. If outpacing Adamant Tyranitar is not necessary, throw the Speed EVs into Special Attack. A Naughty nature provides a balance of defenses by preserving Togekiss's lesser defensive stat, while a Lonely nature helps Togekiss maintain its sky-high Special Defense stat.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

Hidden Power Rock could be used as a move choice over Flamethrower; while you lose the ability to hit Pokemon like Scizor and Forretress, you gain the ability to significantly damage Gyarados and Salamence. In fact, a combination of Hidden Power Rock followed by ExtremeSpeed will always OHKO both Gyarados and Salamence, regardless of Intimidate. However, if your team already fares well against these two Pokemon, then Flamethrower will probably be the superior option.

When played correctly, this Togekiss will often catch several Pokemon off guard, and has the potential to significantly damage the opposing team once it is weakened. For this reason, mid-game wall-breakers make for great teammates. Mixed Salamence is an excellent Pokemon to pair with this Togekiss, as it can KO a variety of Pokemon who trouble this set, such as Swampert and Gliscor; mixed Infernape works in a similar way. Rapid Spin support will also be helpful in prolonging Togekiss’ life. Life Orb Rapid Spin Starmie makes an excellent teammate for this set. Not only can it efficiently use Rapid Spin to dispose of entry hazards, but it can also use its powerful special attacks to get rid of opposing physical walls who otherwise will take paltry damage from Togekiss’ ExtremeSpeed.

To show the usefulness of ExtremeSpeed on switch-ins defensively weak and also on those faster than Togekiss, here are an assortment of damage calculations using the given EVs. With the exclusion of Blissey, these calculations assume that the Pokémon has a neutral nature in Defense.

<ul class="damage_calculation">
<li>0 HP / 0 Def Azelf: 71.13% - 84.59</li>
<li>0 HP / 0 Def Infernape: 69.97% - 82.94%</li>
<li>136 HP / 156 Def Starmie: 50.85% - 60.00% (2HKO with Stealth Rock)</li>
<li>68 HP / 0 Def Raikou: 58.58% - 69.23%</li>
<li>0 HP / 0 Def Weavile: 78.29% - 92.88% (OHKO with Stealth Rock)</li>
<li>204 HP / 0 Def Tentacruel: 62.50% - 74.15%</li>
<li>0 HP / 0 Def Heracross: 65.78% - 77.74%</li>
<li>0 HP / 0 Def Gyarados (w/out Intimidate): 57.10% - 67.37%</li>
<li>0 HP / 0 Def Salamence (w/out Intimidate): 56.50% - 67.07%</li>
<li>0 HP / 252 Def Calm Blissey: 47.00% - 55.45% (2HKO with Stealth Rock)</li>
<li>0 HP / 252 Def Bold Blissey: 43.32% - 51.15% (53% chance to 2HKO with Stealth Rock)</li>
</ul>

It should be noted, however, that due to Hustle reducing the accuracy of the physical attacks it boosts, the expected OHKOs and 2HKOs shown above will only occur 80% and 64% of the time respectively.

Bold means add or change
Red means remove

I'll look at this when you've added the rest

Epic Cherubi · May 19, 2010

Oh, Scarf Togekiss absolutely rapes ass as a lead. It 2HKOs most of them, or just flinches the more bulky ones

Togekiss @ Choice Scarf
Modest
252 Special Attack / 240 Speed / 16 HP

Air Slash
Aura Sphere
Flamethrower
Trick

Trick slower leads like Swampert (or go for the 4HKO with Air Slash). Flamethrower 2HKOs Occa Metagross (surviving MM + Bullet Punch) while OHKOing Forretress and 2HKOing Skarmory. Aura Sphere splits Tyranitar (not in one hit, but it still hurts), Heatran and some other stuff I forgot.

You can run Extremespeed over Trick and Life Orb over Choice Scarf and beat the same things, just you lose the utility and just end up slow and weak. You don't have a chance at flinching Azelf out of rocks either, and slow leads get away with rocks taking a bit of damage if you're unlucky.

Edit: This was designed for fighting leads quite a few months ago so there is probably a more effective spread. Speed outruns Weavile.

Snorlaxe · May 20, 2010

@Epic Cherubi: Looks like a cool set, I'll get a QC member to take a peek at it before I add it into the analysis, though :)

@Beserker Lord: Thanks for the check, editing now.

Rising_Dusk · May 20, 2010

jc104 said:
I would suggest removing the first sentence as it seems a little outdated.

As true as that is, I kept it in because it's in the spirit of the original analysis and is perhaps one of the coolest points about Togekiss in general. It went from absolute zero to relative hero in the transition to the fourth generation, and the analysis could use a bit of personality anyway. I personally think we should keep it, but let's see what others think.

jc104 said:
You could also mention that Scarf Togekiss works pretty well in the lead position too.

Agreed, it is pretty useful there, and if you read the analysis you'll notice that it has been mentioned! It's particularly nice with all of the Anti-Lead Machamp that are running around lately, while still scoring important 2HKOs on Pokemon like Azelf.

Snorlaxe said:
@Epic Cherubi: Looks like a cool set, I'll get a QC member to take a peek at it before I add it into the analysis, though :)

No need, really. It's the same as the Scarf set already in the analysis with Trick and Flamethrower chosen in their respective slots. You shouldn't slash Modest into the Scarf set for a few reasons:

Can no longer outspeed base 130's with a positive nature
Can no longer revenge standard Choice Scarf Heatran
Earn no majorly notable OHKOs or 2HKOs (ie. RestTalk and Anti-Lead Machamp are still 2HKOed either way)

Anyway, additions in bold, removals in red. Double parenthesis indicate a side remark explaining a change.

[Overview]

Togetic evolved from obscurity to celebrity in the transition to Diamond and Pearl. ((I think this should stay for some flavor)) Togekiss fills a very unique role in the OU metagame with its ability to serve as a sweeper, a specially defensive tank, a general annoyance, or an excellent Nasty Plot Baton Passer. It's also one of the few users of Serene Grace, and it's certainly able to put it to use with its movepool. Togekiss' respectable typing provides it enough ways to switch into combat and its above average defenses make it surprisingly difficult for opponents to shoot down this paper plane without STAB, super effective attacks.

Togekiss has a few weaknesses that it it needs to watch out for when being used, however. As it is weak to Rock-type attacks, it loses 25% of its HP on switching into Stealth Rock. It's also not fast enough to outpace much of the metagame, having only a base 80 Speed stat. This means that if you plan on having Togekiss successfully sweep, you need to either spread paralysis around or eliminate your opponent's faster Pokemon. Despite these downfalls, though, Togekiss is a useful addition to a team that can put it to use.

[SET]
name: Nasty Plot Sweeper
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Air Slash
move 3: Aura Sphere / Fire Blast
move 4: Roost
item: Lum Berry / Leftovers / Life Orb
ability: Serene Grace
nature: Timid
evs: 168 HP / 102 SpA / 236 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Nasty Plot skyrockets Togekiss's Special Attack to an astonishing 602, giving it the ability to potentially sweep with the respectable near perfect coverage obtained by using Air Slash and Aura Sphere or Fire Blast. Roost is chosen to keep Togekiss healthy throughout a match, and is especially useful with Togekiss's natural bulk. allows Togekiss to heal itself while also becoming neutral to its three weaknesses (Rock, Ice, and Electric). ((Togekiss is pretty slow and the stuff slower it doesn't want to stay in on, so this is a moot point)) Aura Sphere provides especially useful coverage against Tyranitar and Steel-types who resist your STAB attack. A Lum Berry is the recommended hold item because most forms of status, (especially Toxic and or Thunder Wave,) will completely stop Togekiss's sweep. Leftovers is also useful should you not have the time to completely heal with Roost; it also restores HP lost from Stealth Rock damage. Life Orb is another great viable option; with it, Togekiss can OHKO all Steel-types (barring Heatran), plus Zapdos and Rotom-A with Stealth Rock when using Fire Blast (after a Nasty Plot boost, of course). Without Aura Sphere, however, Togekiss is left vulnerable to Heatran and Tyranitar. Another alternate attacking option is AncientPower, which OHKOes Zapdos plus has a 20% chance to boost all stats thanks to Serene Grace.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

The choice in EV spread mostly depends on how offensive you want Togekiss to be. The given EV spread is the most universal, outrunning Adamant Lucario plus defensive Zapdos and Rotom-A while retaining some bulk and attacking power. Should you wish to use a go on the offensive, a simple 252 SpA / 252 Spe spread isn't a bad option, especially with the power of Life Orb backing it up. Switching to a Modest nature, maxing out HP, then giving Togekiss 104 Speed EVs allows it to outrun Adamant Tyranitar, and makes Togekiss a whole lot bulkier.

Togekiss greatly appreciates support in removing Pokemon who resist both Air Slash and Aura Sphere (should you decide to go with Aura Sphere), such as Zapdos and Rotom-A. Pursuit users like Tyranitar come to mind, OHKOing Rotom-A with Pursuit when switching and possessing the ability to OHKO Zapdos with Stone Edge. Stealth Rock causes Togekiss to lose 25% of its health each time it switches in, making Rapid Spinners like Forretress and Starmie good partners. Pokemon who can set up Stealth Rock for Togekiss are invaluable, allowing Togekiss to OHKO Rotom-A and Zapdos with Fire Blast when holding a Life Orb. Should Togekiss decide to use Fire Blast, you'll need Pokemon who can take care of Heatran and Tyranitar. Bulky Fighting-types are especially useful for utile in this case because they can counter Tyranitar, Blissey, and Snorlax, plus while landing a super effective hit on Heatran. Other partners to consider who help include defensive Pokemon who can take strong hits from fast revenge killers like Salamence and Jolteon.

Togekiss's middling Speed and the fact that Air Slash is heavily more effective when the opponent is paralyzed makes paralysis support from Togekiss’s teammates a fantastic option. Jirachi resists two of Togekiss’s weaknesses (Rock and Ice) and has the ability to paralyze even Ground-types with a Serene Grace Body Slam; its also has its own flinching moves to make further use of the paralysis. Lanturn resists Togekiss’s Ice- and Electric-type weaknesses and can paralyze the opponent with Thunder Wave, while also having the ability to switch in easily on Rotom-A and Zapdos’s Thunderbolts and threaten them out with status thenscare them away.

[SET]
name: Paraflinch
move 1: Air Slash
move 2: Thunder Wave / Body Slam
move 3: Aura Sphere / Nasty Plot / Substitute
move 4: Roost
item: Leftovers
nature: Bold
ability: Serene Grace
evs: 252 HP / 188 Def / 68 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]

Serene Grace is definitely not wasted on a Pokemon like Togekiss. A 60% flinch rate combined with paralysis support leaves the opposing Pokemon with only a 30% chance of doing anything at all. Combine this with Togekiss's general bulk and recovery in the form of Roost and it can pose a serious threat to an opponent's team.

Air Slash is mandatory for STAB and flinching on Togekiss. Thunder Wave is the most reliable option in the second slot to paralyze whatever your opponent might switch into Togekiss. Body Slam is an option so as to still have the ability to paralyze Pokemon immune to Thunder Wave. The third slot has numerous options to choose from. Aura Sphere is the primary choice to round out Togekiss's coverage, hitting Rock- and Steel-types particularly hard. Nasty Plot is available to help Togekiss sweep, although it should be noted that it'd illegal with Body Slam. Substitute can also be used to make Togekiss even harder to take down and keep it safe from status. The last move is given to Roost to provide Togekiss with reliable recovery.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

The EVs and nature are chosen to give Togekiss enough physical bulk so that Choice Band Scizor's Bullet Punch will never 2HKO you even after Stealth Rock is taken into account. The rest of the EVs are placed into Special Defense to add as much special bulk as possible. No Speed investment is used here as the set should attempt to paralyze as much as possible before trying to sweep.

Pokemon that further help spread paralysis around an opponent's team are great candidates for teammates to this Togekiss. Jirachi carrying Iron Head and its own paralysis inducing attack immediately comes to mind. Jirachi can also switch into the Rock- and Ice-type attacks aimed at Togekiss with ease. Celebi and Blissey can also spread paralysis around quite effectively, although it should be noted that Blissey they shares much of its their counter lists with Togekiss. Magnezone resists all of the attacks Togekiss is weak to, meanwhile Togekiss will gladly switch into the Ground-type attacks aimed at Magnezone. Magnezone will also happily remove the Steel-type Pokemon that resist Togekiss's Air Slash. Entry hazard support should definitely be considered with this Togekiss as well, since once the opponent is paralyzed and can't hit Togekiss they will not want to stay in and sacrifice their Pokemon. Speaking of entry hazards, Rapid Spin support is worth considering to give Togekiss an easier time switching in. Forretress can perform this role admirably by being able to sponge up the attacks aimed at Togekiss and set up Spikes or Rapid Spin as they switch out.

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Air Slash
move 2: Aura Sphere
move 3: Fire Blast / Flamethrower
move 4: Trick / Tri Attack / Shadow Ball / Hidden Power Ice
item: Choice Scarf
nature: Timid
ability: Serene Grace
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

A quick and easy fix to Togekiss's middling Speed is to slap a Choice Scarf on it. Many of the Pokemon that switch into Togekiss expecting to outspeed it and take it out are quickly worn down by repeated attacks and will be unpleasantly surprised to be flinched. Combine this with an arsenal of respectable attacks, good coverage, and Serene Grace and Togekiss can be a dangerous threat to your opponent. Choice Scarf Togekiss can even make for a decent lead, shutting down many common Pokemon leads right off the bat by flinching them to death with Air Slash.

Air Slash is chosen for its flinch rate and STAB, with Aura Sphere chosen for the excellent secondary coverage it provides. Fire Blast is recommended in the third slot to guarantee the 2HKO on standard Bronzong and the OHKO on Specially Defensive standard Spiker Skarmory. Flamethrower is a viable alternative to Fire Blast for the added accuracy, but the lost OHKOs are a letdown. Trick is recommended in the final slot to cripple popular switch-ins to this Togekiss like Blissey, who will otherwise easily wall Togekiss. Tri Attack can be used for its excellent synergy with Serene Grace as well as STAB; it will hit Electric-types that like to switch into Togekiss the hardest of all of its options. Shadow Ball provides perfect coverage with Aura Sphere and is Togekiss's only option that can 2HKO Standard Rotom-A. Hidden Power Ice can be useful to 2HKO Zapdos if it switches into Stealth Rock and OHKO Salamence.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

Timid as a nature is used to let you outspeed Pokemon like Choice Scarf Heatran and base 130 Speed Pokemon, most notably Jolteon. Modest can be used if you don't plan on using Trick, but failing to outspeed the aforementioned Pokemon can be very detrimental to Togekiss's usefulness. The EV spread is chosen to give Togekiss 5 switches into Stealth Rock while maximizing its Speed and Special Attack.

As this Togekiss isn't nearly as slow as other sets, it can find its way into offensive teams. The biggest advantages Togekiss carries over other Choice Scarf users is its very respectable special bulk and ability to flinch its opponents, making it able to take down even threats that aren't 2HKO'd by its attacks. Rapid Spin support is incredibly important to this Togekiss, as it will be switching in and out a lot. Forretress stands out from the crowd as an excellent Rapid Spinner to complement Togekiss, absorbing many of the physical attacks thrown at it and also providing invaluable entry hazard support.

[SET]
name: Leadkiss
move 1: Air Slash
move 2: Roost / Encore
move 3: Thunder Wave
move 4: Fire Blast
item: Leftovers
ability: Serene Grace
nature: Modest
evs: 160 HP / 252 Def / 96 SpA

[SET COMMENTS]

While Togekiss is often used as a sweeper, it may also be employed as an exceptional lead. Togekiss can make use of its extremely annoying Air Slash, which, in conjunction with Serene Grace, ensures a 60% flinch rate and the demise of many common leads to start the battle in your favor. Thunder Wave provides a solution to its poor Speed, allowing it to use Air Slash or Fire Blast before the opponent can counterattack.

The second move slot is entirely up to the user's personal preference. Roost is a reliable option for durability and can keep Togekiss around until the end of the match if needed, while Encore is an excellent choice for locking common leads into Stealth Rock, thus forcing a switch. Encore can really help you start the match off with the upper hand, especially if you can predict after using it, and Thunder Wave on the switch. However, Togekiss is Taunt-bait due to its low Speed so the usage of Encore might be slightly limited. ExtremeSpeed is an option for finishing off Focus Sash leads, and if you really need priority then it can be useful as it receives STAB, though Encore and Roost are more viable options.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

Togekiss can make use of its overall bulkiness to shrug off many attacks from common leads, while paralyzing them and proceeding to KO with the appropriate move. Togekiss is one of the few leads who can boast being able to beat the popular Machamp anti-lead, and so you should take advantage of its ability to do this when using Togekiss. It can use Flamethrower to 3HKO a standard Metagross holding an Occa Berry, and Fire Blast to 2HKO. In return, Metagross' Meteor Mash can only 2HKO if it gets an Attack boost. Fire Blast is recommended over Flamethrower to ensure Metagross will be KOed before it can use Explosion. However, Flamethrower is useful if accuracy is an issue.

The EV spread ensures Togekiss can survive as long as possible against physical leads. 252 Defense EVs are necessary to take all of the hits it can, giving it time to Roost off damage. Common leads either outspeed or do not invest in Speed at all, so there is no reason to invest EVs in Speed. The 96 Special Attack EVs give Togekiss a respectable stat of 330, and allow it to 4HKO leads such as Hippowdon and Swampert.

Togekiss can stand as an excellent Pokemon on its own, but combined with other Pokemon who support its weaknesses, it is superb. Jolteon and Electivire can switch in to absorb super effective Electric attacks aimed at Togekiss. Tyranitar, one of Togekiss's main counters, can come in and scare Togekiss, while setting up a possible Dragon Dance or just inflicting massive damage with its STAB attacks. Togekiss is also hammered by super effective Stone Edges, particularly by Aerodactyl and the aforementioned Tyranitar. A Choice Scarf Flygon with Stone Edge can scare all of these away, but has a tough time switching in due to its frailness. Gliscor is a very reliable switch-in to take on these threats, but keep it away from Gyarados. Fast Pokemon who utilize Ice-type moves can come in on Togekiss and inflict heavy damage, so bulky Water-types such as Vaporeon or Suicune are great choices.

[SET]
name: Baton Pass
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Baton Pass
move 3: Air Slash / Encore
move 4: Roost / Wish
item: Leftovers
nature: Calm
ability: Serene Grace
evs: 252 HP / 64 SpD / 192 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Togekiss is a member of the elite group of Pokemon to not only learn Nasty Plot, but also be able to Baton Pass it. The use of this set is very straightforward; set up a Nasty Plot or two, Air Slash and Roost as necessary, and then pass it to the appropriate recipient when something appears that Togekiss can't beat.

Nasty Plot and Baton Pass are the crux of this set. Air Slash is mandatory STAB and flinch abuse on Togekiss, and when backed by a Nasty Plot can do some serious damage to its opponents. Air Slash also prevents Togekiss from becoming Taunt bait. Encore is an option in the third slot, though, because it can force a switch and give you a free turn of setup. If you can cover for being Taunt bait, then it may prove useful for switching into something like Swampert's Earthquake. Roost rounds out the set in the last slot by keeping Togekiss healthy and able to pass at any point during a match. Wish can be used over Roost to support the team and the recipient better, but Togekiss will be worn down fast without the instant recovery in Roost.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

The EVs are tailored to let Togekiss outspeed certain major threats while retaining as much of its bulk as possible. 192 Speed EVs allow Togekiss to outrun Jolly non-Choice Scarf Tyranitar, while 252 HP EVs give Togekiss respectable bulk. The remaining EVs are placed in Special Defense to let it set up more freely against special threats, but if you'd like Togekiss to be more threatening with its Air Slash, you can place them in Special Attack. Calm is preferred as a nature to boost its already excellent Special Defense stat.

This Togekiss greatly appreciates it if your team can keep Stealth Rock off the field. Its survivability and ability to pass Nasty Plot successfully take a serious hit if it has to lose 25% of its maximum HP when it switches in. A Dual Screen Azelf lead can be useful in keeping opposing Stealth Rock away with Taunt while throwing up screens to help Togekiss successfully pass either one or multiple boosts. Dual screens in general help Baton Passes be more reliable in general, so users of those moves, such as Cresselia or Uxie, can be very helpful. As for recipients for of the Nasty Plot boosts, it is generally useful recommended to use something that is not destroyed by common priority moves such as Bullet Punch. For this reason, Pokemon like Jirachi, Lucario, and Zapdos are good to consider. Jirachi and Lucario can run mixed sets with Iron Head and Close Combat respectively to punch through Blissey and other walls, and all three of them resist Bullet Punch. Zapdos deserves a special mention for having the highest Special Attack of these options while also having excellent bulk and a resistance to both Mach Punch and Bullet Punch. Both Lucario and Zapdos can also set up Agility to facilitate their sweep. A specially offensive Electivire may also be worth considering if you can Baton Pass to it on a turn where you might be expecting a slower Electric-type attack, as it'll absorb it to increase its Speed. If you are looking for a special powerhouse to send the boosts to, you might consider Porygon-Z, although its lackluster Speed and vulnerability to popular priority moves hinders its ability to sweep.

[SET]
name: Encore Supporter
move 1: Encore
move 2: Wish / Roost
move 3: Air Slash
move 4: Aura Sphere / Thunder Wave / Body Slam
item: Leftovers
ability: Serene Grace
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 20 Def / 236 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Togekiss' ability to support the team is amplified when it has Encore and Wish in its arsenal. The strategy is to come in on a set-up or support move and Encore it, likely forcing a switch. While Togekiss is out it can also Encore faster Pokémon, which requires lots of prediction but can have huge payoffs. These situations allow Togekiss to assist the team by setting up Wish and then proceeding to pass it to a counter for the current opposing Pokémon while not having to worry about being taken out. If one chooses not to Wish, it's possible to simply abuse the free turn to paralyze an incoming Pokémon with either Body Slam or Thunder Wave. It can also allow one of your sweepers to come in unharmed, set up, and cause havoc for your opponent. Roost is an option over Wish if none of Togekiss' teammates are Rapid Spinners, as Stealth Rock damage can really pile up on it. However, Roost greatly cuts down on Togekiss' ability to support the team, meaning that Wish is preferable for this particular set.

Air Slash and Aura Sphere allow for a neutral hit on every single Pokémon, barring Zapdos and Rotom. Air Slash, a powerful STAB attack, can also help Togekiss to keep some Wish recovery for itself due to the 60% flinch chance on slower Pokémon. Aura Sphere is not a requirement though as this Togekiss is not meant to sweep, reducing the need for type coverage. Body Slam or Thunder Wave can take its spot to paralyze incoming Pokémon, as mentioned earlier. The choice depends on whether the team has more of a problem with speedy Ghosts such as Gengar, or Pokémon immune to Electric-type moves such as Jolteon or Flygon.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

The EV spread on this set is a lot speedier compared to a majority of Togekiss' sets. A quick Togekiss allows for much easier Encoring, which is why so many Speed EVs are required. 236 Speed EVs with a Timid nature allows Togekiss to have 280 Speed, outspeeding an Adamant Lucario. This lets Togekiss come in on the unsuspecting Lucario as it Swords Dances, and Encore it. It will then be forced to switch, or be 2HKOed with either of Togekiss' attacks. 252 HP EVs and 20 Defense EVs allow for its maximum defensive capabilities after reaching 280 Speed. This lets it come in and perform its strategy several times, due to its high survivability.

Entry hazard support is greatly appreciated for this set, as Togekiss will likely be forcing a lot of switches with Encore (and possibly a paralysis move). Swampert has great defensive synergy alongside Togekiss, and can also set up Stealth Rock. Specially Defensive Forretress makes for a great teammate for this set due to its ability to easily set up Spikes on many of the Pokemon this set cripples, such as Swords Dance Lucario and common Stealth Rock users. Forretress can also use Rapid Spin to great effect, which is helpful because of Togekiss’ Stealth Rock issues. In the same vein, Life Orb Rapid Spin Starmie is a good teammate, capable of dealing heavy damage to opposing Pokemon with its powerful STAB attacks as well as utilizing Rapid Spin to get rid of the opponent’s Stealth Rock.

[SET]
name: Mixed Sweeper
move 1: ExtreemeSpeed
move 2: Aura Sphere
move 3: Flamethrower
move 4: Roost
item: Life Orb
ability: Hustle
nature: Naughty / Lonely
evs: 252 Atk / 112 SpA / 144 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

The element of surprise is this set’s trump card. While an ExtremeSpeed off a mediocre Attack stat of 218 may not seem like much, Hustle and Life Orb will boost the power to acceptable levels. The other moves are fairly intuitive in that they eliminate most of Togekiss's switch-ins. A Life Orb boosted Aura Sphere 2HKOes both Tyranitar and Heatran. Flamethrower will OHKO Scizor, Skarmory (with Stealth Rock), and Forretress, while also 2HKOing Jirachi and Celebi. Roost helps Togekiss recover its health after Life Orb recoil and other indirect damage take their toll.

The given EVs are tailored to allow Togekiss a Speed advantage on Adamant Tyranitar and neutral 88 Speed Rotom-A formes. The Attack EVs are to boost ExtremeSpeed's power, while the remaining EVs are placed used to boost Togekiss's Special Attack. If outpacing Adamant Tyranitar is not necessary, throw put the Speed EVs into Special Attack. A Naughty nature provides a balance of defenses by preserving Togekiss's lesser defensive stat, while a Lonely nature helps Togekiss maintain its sky-high Special Defense stat.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

Hidden Power Rock could be used as a move choice over Flamethrower; while you lose the ability to hit Pokemon like Scizor and Forretress, you gain the ability to significantly damage Gyarados and Salamence. In fact, a combination of Hidden Power Rock followed by ExtremeSpeed will always OHKO both Gyarados and Salamence, regardless of Intimidate. However, if your team already fares well against these two Pokemon, then Flamethrower will probably be the superior option.

When played correctly, this Togekiss will often catch several Pokemon off guard, and has the potential to significantly damage the opposing team once it is weakened. For this reason, mid-game wall-breakers make for great teammates. Mixed Salamence is an excellent Pokemon to pair with this Togekiss, as it can KO a variety of Pokemon who trouble this set, such as Swampert and Gliscor; mixed Infernape works in a similar way. Rapid Spin support will also be helpful in prolonging Togekiss's life. Life Orb Rapid Spin Starmie makes an excellent teammate for this set. Not only can it efficiently use Rapid Spin to dispose of entry hazards, but it can also use its powerful special attacks to get rid of opposing physical walls who otherwise will take paltry damage from Togekiss's ExtremeSpeed.

To show the usefulness of ExtremeSpeed on switch-ins defensively weak and also on those faster than Togekiss, here are an assortment of damage calculations using the given EVs. With the exclusion of Blissey, these calculations assume that the Pokémon has a neutral nature in Defense.

<ul class="damage_calculation">
<li>0 HP / 0 Def Azelf: 71.13% - 84.59</li>
<li>0 HP / 0 Def Infernape: 69.97% - 82.94%</li>
<li>136 HP / 156 Def Starmie: 50.85% - 60.00% (2HKO with Stealth Rock)</li>
<li>68 HP / 0 Def Raikou: 58.58% - 69.23%</li>
<li>0 HP / 0 Def Weavile: 78.29% - 92.88% (OHKO with Stealth Rock)</li>
<li>204 HP / 0 Def Tentacruel: 62.50% - 74.15%</li>
<li>0 HP / 0 Def Heracross: 65.78% - 77.74%</li>
<li>0 HP / 0 Def Gyarados (w/out Intimidate): 57.10% - 67.37%</li>
<li>0 HP / 0 Def Salamence (w/out Intimidate): 56.50% - 67.07%</li>
<li>0 HP / 252 Def Calm Blissey: 47.00% - 55.45% (2HKO with Stealth Rock)</li>
<li>0 HP / 252 Def Bold Blissey: 43.32% - 51.15% (53% chance to 2HKO with Stealth Rock)</li>
</ul>

It should be noted, however, that due to Hustle reducing the accuracy of the physical attacks it boosts, the expected OHKOs and 2HKOs shown above will only occur 80% and 64% of the time respectively.

I haven't proofread the Leadkiss set because I question its effectiveness against countless common leads. I especially question its effectiveness compared to the Scarf Set in the lead slot.

Against the Leadkiss set:

Azelf can Taunt your TWave, get up rocks freely, and explode at will, dealing 101.7% - 119.7% to and OHKOing this Togekiss.
Aerodactyl reliably gets up rocks and can Taunt your TWave.
You do a measly 27.7% - 32.9% to MixPert leads with Air Slash, it has a good chance to get up rocks in that time and is immune to Thunder Wave
You keep Metagross from exploding with two Fire Blasts, but it gets up rocks, while also avoiding a 2HKO from Meteor Mash and Bullet Punch.
Scarf Jirachi maims you with Iron Head spam.
Infernape will get up rocks and then do 42.7% - 50.4% with its Fire Blast before going down, or it can switch out because you don't get your own rocks up right away
You have a good chance to stop Machamp with Air Slash.
Roserade puts you to sleep and then sets up on you.
Heatran walls your entire moveset, sets up rocks and then explodes on either you or something else on your team.
It even loses to Smeargle leads reliably.

As you can see, you only fare well against Metagross, Infernape, and Machamp of all of the common leads. You basically have to run Encore to have a chance of beating any of them and then what? If they have a Pokemon immune to Thunder Wave able to switch in, this Togekiss accomplishes absolutely nothing for the team. Thee worst part is that Togekiss just can't keep itself alive for long without Roost, so not having it is pretty detrimental. I'd like to point out that Scarf Togekiss leads stop those three leads Leadkiss beats all the same, doesn't get hit by Infernape, stops Azelf, stops Aerodactyl, stops Roserade, stops Heatran, stops Smeargle, etc. (There's a trend here) I honestly want to see the QC team go over that set if it's going to be included, because I just don't buy it. Sorry!

I also haven't proofread the Encore Supporter because I have a few comments on it first. You should really sell it on the advantages of using Encore. Come in on Blissey using Softboiled, Crocune using Calm Mind / Rest, etc. and beat them all with it, especially as last Pokemon. Being able to shut up Crocune without having to Trick it a choice item is perhaps the greatest thing ever. I'd really like to see you sell it more on these points, since they are the main advantages of running Encore.

Good work all around, though! :)

Zystral · May 20, 2010

If there's anybody who knows how to use Togekiss it's me.

Lead Togekiss should run Choice Scarf instead, otherwise it is easily taken down by nearly any other lead, being faster and able to 2HKO. Leftovers isn't good enough to give Togekiss the longevity, and it needs power.
A simple 252 Spa / 252 Spe / 4 HP with Air Slash/Tri Attack/Fire Blast/Aura Sphere should suffice, being able to handle all of the following comfortably;
Machamp, Infernape, Jirachi, Metagross, Azelf, Roserade, Aerodactyl and Smeargle.
With Leftovers you are not dealing enough damage fast enough to stop the opponent getting their Entry Hazards up and then killing you.
Infernape won't even bother with Fake Out on the first turn. Without Max SpA, don't expect Air Slash to KO and don't count on the flinch rate thanks to speed.

This is also different to the Scarf sweeper set - make no mistake. The Scarf Sweeper employs Timid and Trick to be fully effective over the course of a battle where as this Togekiss is simply meant to kill the opponent's lead then be held back until it is ready to revenge kill whatever else. Trick is unnecessary on this set since most leads who would normally warrant the use of Trick (Swampert, some Smeargle, some Gliscor, perhaps even Hippowdon) are much better dealt with early on by your attacks, simply killing them is better than having their primary strategy ruined and then having them come back in to kill you.

In regards to the Scarf Set, I seriously think Tri-Attack and Hidden Power Ice should be removed as options. Tri-Attack is a lot more easily walled than Air Slash, which you should be more commonly spamming, and anything that's hit hard by HP Ice bar Dragonite should really be Air Slashed to death or ran away from.

Encore Supporter really shouldn't be there since Togekiss is too slow to use Encore and frankly, it will have trouble making anything of it. The fact that Thunder Wave isn't even a primary option makes it worse, since one of the reasons for using this set is to immobilize your opponent and allow something else to come in.
If anything, Encore should be exclusively used on a Substitute set, since as you Substitute on the switch, your opponent expecting Scarf or Thunder Wave, you can then launch an Encore and switch something else in or Thunder Wave the next switch appropriately. Aura Sphere is unneeded - you aren't going for a coverage for a sweeper, if a Rock- or Steel-type comes in then paralyse them and switch out. You aren't going for damage, you're going for team support. Similar stories with Baton Pass and Encore - they don't need Encore and won't be abusing its effects well enough.

On top of this, I am seriously debating the effectiveness of ExtremeSpeed. Hustle and Life Orb aside, Delibird performs this task better due to having more Attack and a better option to work with in the form of Ice Shard and Aerial Ace. That's not a good thing.
Surprise factor or no, the clear fact is that reducing ExtremeSpeed's accuracy is severely limiting its effectiveness, and you really shouldn't be giving up more Speed and Special Attack power just have a chance to stop things Like Blissey (who you shouldn't even be dealing with unless you're Tricking it a Scarf) or other random sweepers who you can probably beat by slapping a Scarf on and either Air Slashing or Tri-Attacking them to death.

I think the order is to be re-arranged and some sets are to be omitted;
TrickScarf Sweeper
ParaFlinch
Nasty Plot
Anti-Lead
Baton Pass

Encore Sweeper doesn't work. It's bulky, but not bulky enough to capitalize on the multiply strong hits it will be taking. It's also slow, so don't expect to play mind-games or Encore-lock them into something annoying. The Mixed Sweeper is even worse, since the surprise factor is undermined by the lack of raw power. It's really not that good.

Sorry for having such a negative, scathing attack, but Togekiss is one of my honest favourites, and I know what its strong points are.
tl;dr remove mixed sweeper, remove encore from all sets, anti-lead set should run scarf 4 attacks.
I'll give this a proofread later, maybe.

RaikouLover · May 20, 2010

No Choice Specs? Choice Specs Fire Blast 2HKOs Rotom and Zapdos easily...

Snorlaxe · May 20, 2010

@Rising_Dusk: Thanks for everything, after talking with ZystraL for a while we found out what's good and not and I'm going to be making some changes, thanks for all of your input ^_^

Thanks for all of your help, Zy, and after our long irc conversation, I have decided how to handle this (obviously with loads of help from you lol). I'm planning on making a SEPARATE lead set that is Choice Scarf + 4 attacks (the set Zy mentions above). I'm going to keep the current set, but also write a set for what Zy wants. I'm going to keep Encore supporter but make a few changes, so look for those. As for everything else, I'll test it more thoroughly later. Thanks a lot! :)

EDIT: RL, I tested Choice Specs and found it pretty disappointing, but I'll retest it, thanks :)

Super Mario Bro · May 21, 2010

Perhaps you should mention heal bell as on option on the Nasty Plot Sweeper set? I have used it in conjunction with Nasty Plot, Roost, and Air Slash with decent success. It allowed Togekiss to be a very competent Blissey killer.

Also, "Extremespeed" is misspelled on the mixed sweeper set.

Finally, you need to place 104 SPA EVs onto the Nasty Plot Togekiss set as the current EV spread only adds up to 506.

Snorlaxe · May 22, 2010

Alright, I've been lazy over the past few days, but I'm going to go through this and implement everyone's changes today.

Also, Nintendo Gamer, Heal Bell sounds cool; I'll mention it in additional comments. Also, I'll fix the ExtremeSpeed and EV things, ty ^_^

EDIT: Good point Dr. Reid, thanks.

Ray Jay · May 22, 2010

By the way, if you add heal bell you'll want to mention that lum berry is somewhat pointless with heal bell.

franky · May 22, 2010

[Overview]

Togekiss fills a very unique role in the OU metagame with its ability to serve as a sweeper, a specially defensive tank, an annoyer, or an excellent Nasty Plot Baton Passer. Togekiss is also one of the few users of Serene Grace, and it's certainly able to put it to use with its movepool. Togekiss's respectable typing provides it enough ways to switch into combat and its great defenses make it difficult for opponents to shoot down this paper plane without a STAB super effective attack.

There are several weaknesses Togekiss needs to watch out for when being used. Due to his part Flying-type, it loses 25% of his HP upon switching in. He's also not fast enough to outpace much of the metagame, having only a base 80 Speed stat. This means that if you plan on having Togekiss successfully sweep, you need to either spread paralysis around or eliminate your opponent's faster Pokemon. [this last bit is untrue -- it can most certainly have a successful sweep on slower teams without paralysis support.]

[SET]
name: Nasty Plot Sweeper
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Air Slash
move 3: Aura Sphere / Fire Blast
move 4: Roost
item: Lum Berry / Life Orb
ability: Serene Grace
nature: Timid
evs: 168 HP / 102 SpA / 236 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Nasty Plot skyrockets Togekiss's Special Attack to an astonishing 602, giving it the ability to potentially sweep with the near perfect coverage by using Air Slash and Aura Sphere or Fire Blast. Roost allows Togekiss to heal itself, while also becoming neutral to his three weaknesses (Rock, Ice, and Electric) for one turn. Aura Sphere provides especially useful coverage against Tyranitar and Steel-types who resist your STAB attack. A Lum Berry is the recommended hold item because most forms of status (especially Toxic or Thunder Wave) will completely stop Togekiss's sweep. Leftovers is also useful should you not have the time to completely heal with Roost; it also restores HP lost from Stealth Rock damage. Life Orb is another great option as it can help OHKO all Steel-types (barring Heatran), plus Zapdos and Rotom-A with Stealth Rock when using Fire Blast (after a Nasty Plot boost, of course). Without Aura Sphere, however, Togekiss is left vulnerable to Heatran and Tyranitar. Another alternate attacking option is AncientPower, which OHKOes Zapdos and additionally has a 20% chance to boost all stats thanks to Serene Grace.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

The choice in EV spread mostly depends on how offensive you want Togekiss to be. The given EV spread is the most universal, outrunning Adamant Lucario plus defensive Zapdos and Rotom-A while retaining some bulk and attacking power. Should you wish to use a go on the offensive, a simple 252 SpA / 252 Spe spread isn't a bad option, especially with the power of Life Orb backing it up. Switching to a Modest nature, maxing out HP, then giving Togekiss 104 Speed EVs allows it to outrun Adamant Tyranitar, and makes Togekiss a whole lot bulkier.

Togekiss greatly appreciates support in removing Pokemon who resist both Air Slash and Aura Sphere (should you decide to go with Aura Sphere), such as Zapdos and Rotom-A. Pursuit users like Tyranitar come to mind; KOing Rotom-A with Pursuit when switching out and possessing the ability to KO Zapdos with Stone Edge. Stealth Rock causes Togekiss to lose 25% of its health each time it switches in, making Rapid Spinners like Forretress and Starmie good partners. Pokemon who can set up Stealth Rock for Togekiss are invaluable, allowing Togekiss to OHKO Rotom-A and Zapdos with Fire Blast when holding a Life Orb. Should Togekiss decide to use Fire Blast, you'll need Pokemon who can take care of Heatran and Tyranitar. Bulky Fighting-types are especially useful in this case because they can counter Tyranitar, Blissey, and Snorlax, while additionally landing a super effective hit on Heatran. Other partners who help include defensive Pokemon who can take strong hits from fast revenge killers like Salamence and Jolteon.

Togekiss's middling Speed and the fact that Air Slash is heavily more effective when the opponent is paralyzed makes paralysis support from Togekiss’s teammates a fantastic option. Jirachi resists two of Togekiss’s weaknesses (Rock and Ice) and has the ability to paralyze even Ground-types with a Serene Grace Body Slam; its also has its own flinching method via Serene Grace to make further use of the paralysis. Lanturn resists Togekiss’s Ice- and Electric-type weaknesses and can paralyze the opponent with Thunder Wave, while also having the ability to switch in easily on Rotom-A and Zapdos’s Thunderbolts then scare them away.

[SET]
name: Paraflinch
move 1: Air Slash
move 2: Thunder Wave / Body Slam
move 3: Aura Sphere / Nasty Plot / Substitute
move 4: Roost
item: Leftovers
nature: Bold
ability: Serene Grace
evs: 252 HP / 188 Def / 68 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]

Serene Grace is definitely not wasted on a Pokemon like Togekiss. A 60% flinch rate combined with paralysis support leaves the opposing Pokemon with only a 30% chance of doing anything at all. Combine this with Togekiss's general bulk and recovery in the form of Roost and he can pose a serious threat to an opponent's team.

Air Slash is mandatory for STAB and flinching on Togekiss. Thunder Wave is the most reliable option in the second slot to paralyze whatever your opponent might switch into Togekiss. Body Slam is an option to look for if you want to paralyze Pokemon immune to Thunder Wave, such as Jolteon, Flygon, and Swampert. The third slot has numerous options to choose from. Aura Sphere is the primary choice to round out Togekiss' coverage, hitting Rock- and Steel-types particularly hard. Nasty Plot is available to help Togekiss sweep, although it should be noted that it'd illegal with Body Slam. Substitute can also be used to make Togekiss even harder to take down and keep him safe from status. The last move is given to Roost to provide Togekiss with reliable recovery.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

The EVs and nature are chosen to give Togekiss enough physical bulk so that Choice Band Scizor's Bullet Punch will never 2HKO you even after Stealth Rock is taken into account. The rest of the EVs are placed into Special Defense to add as much special bulk as possible. No Speed investment is used here as the set should attempt to spread paralysis as much as possible before trying to sweep.

Pokemon that further help spread paralysis around an opponent's team are great candidates for teammates to this Togekiss. Jirachi carrying Iron Head and its own paralysis inducing attack immediately comes to mind. Jirachi can also switch into the Rock-type attacks aimed at Togekiss with ease. Blissey can also spread paralysis around quite effectively, although it should be noted that Blissey shares much of its counter list with Togekiss. Magnezone resists all of the attacks Togekiss is weak to, meanwhile Togekiss will gladly switch into the Ground-type attacks aimed at Magnezone. Magnezone will also happily remove the Steel-type Pokemon that resist Togekiss' Air Slash. Entry hazard support should definitely be considered with this Togekiss as well, since once the opponent is paralyzed and can't hit Togekiss they will not want to stay in and sacrifice their Pokemon. Speaking of entry hazards, Rapid Spin support is worth considering to give Togekiss an easier time switching in. Forretress can perform this role admirably by being able to sponge the attacks aimed at Togekiss and set up Spikes or Rapid Spin as they switch out.

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Air Slash
move 2: Aura Sphere
move 3: Fire Blast / Flamethrower
move 4: Trick / Tri Attack / Shadow Ball / Hidden Power Ice
item: Choice Scarf
nature: Timid
ability: Serene Grace
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

A quick and easy fix to Togekiss' middling Speed is to slap a Choice Scarf on it. Many of the Pokemon that switch into Togekiss expecting to outspeed it and take it out are quickly worn down by repeated attacks and will be unpleasantly surprised to be flinched. Combine this with an arsenal of respectable attacks, good coverage, and Serene Grace and Togekiss can be a dangerous threat to your opponent. Choice Scarf Togekiss can even make for a decent lead, shutting down many common Pokemon right off the bat by flinching them to death with Air Slash.

Air Slash is chosen for its flinch rate and STAB, with Aura Sphere chosen for the excellent secondary coverage it provides. Fire Blast is recommended in the third slot to guarantee the 2HKO on standard Bronzong and the OHKO on Specially Defensive Skarmory. Flamethrower is a viable alternative to Fire Blast for the added accuracy. Trick is recommended in the final slot to cripple popular switch-ins to this Togekiss like Blissey, who will otherwise easily wall Togekiss. Tri Attack can be used for its excellent synergy with Serene Grace as well as STAB; it will hit Electric-types that like to switch into Togekiss the hardest of all of its options. Shadow Ball provides perfect coverage with Aura Sphere and is Togekiss' only option that can 2HKO Standard Rotom-A. Hidden Power Ice can be useful to 2HKO Zapdos if it switches into Stealth Rock and OHKO Salamence.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

A Timid nature is used to let you outspeed Pokemon like Choice Scarf Heatran and base 130 Speed Pokemon, most notably Jolteon. Modest can be used if you don't plan on using Trick, but failing to outspeed the aforementioned Pokemon can be very detrimental to Togekiss' usefulness. The EV spread is chosen to give Togekiss 5 switches into Stealth Rock while maximizing its Speed and Special Attack.

As this Togekiss isn't nearly as slow as other sets, it can find its way into offensive teams. The biggest advantages Togekiss carries over other Choice Scarf users is its very respectable special bulk and ability to flinch its opponents, making it able to take down even threats that aren't 2HKO'd by its attacks. Rapid Spin support is incredibly important to this Togekiss, as it will be switching in and out a lot. Forretress stands out from the crowd as an excellent Rapid Spinner to complement Togekiss, absorbing many of the physical attacks thrown at it and also providing invaluable entry hazard support.

[SET]
name: Leadkiss
move 1: Air Slash
move 2: Encore / Roost
move 3: Thunder Wave
move 4: Fire Blast
item: Leftovers
ability: Serene Grace
nature: Modest
evs: 160 HP / 252 Def / 96 SpA

[SET COMMENTS]

While Togekiss is often used as a sweeper, it may also be employed as an exceptional lead. Togekiss can make use of its extremely annoying Air Slash, which, in conjunction with Serene Grace, ensures a 60% flinch rate and the demise of many common leads to start the battle in your favor. Thunder Wave provides a solution to its poor Speed, allowing it to use Air Slash or Fire Blast before the opponent can counterattack.

The second move slot is entirely up to the user's personal preference. Roost is a reliable option for durability and can keep Togekiss around until the end of the match if needed, while Encore is an excellent choice for locking common leads into Stealth Rock, thus forcing a switch. Encore can really help you start the match off with the upper hand, especially if you can predict after using it, and Thunder Wave on the switch. However, Togekiss is Taunt-bait due to its low Speed so the usage of Encore might be slightly limited. ExtremeSpeed is an option for finishing off Focus Sash leads, and if you really need priority then it can be useful as it receives STAB, though Encore and Roost are more viable options.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

Togekiss can make use of its overall bulkiness to shrug off many attacks from common leads, while paralyzing them and proceeding to KO with the appropriate move. Togekiss is one of the few leads who can boast being able to beat the popular Machamp anti-lead, and so you should take advantage of its ability to do this when using Togekiss. It can use Flamethrower to 3HKO a standard Metagross holding an Occa Berry, and Fire Blast to 2HKO. In return, Metagross' Meteor Mash can only 2HKO if it gets an Attack boost. Fire Blast is recommended over Flamethrower to ensure Metagross will be KOed before it can use Explosion. However, Flamethrower is useful if accuracy is an issue.

The EV spread ensures Togekiss can survive as long as possible against physical leads. 252 Defense EVs are necessary to take all of the hits it can, giving it time to Roost off damage. Common leads either outspeed or do not invest in Speed at all, so there is no reason to invest EVs in Speed. The 96 Special Attack EVs give Togekiss a respectable stat of 330, and allow it to 4HKO leads such as Hippowdon and Swampert.

Togekiss can stand as an excellent Pokemon on its own, but combined with other Pokemon who support its weaknesses, it is superb. Jolteon and Electivire can switch in to absorb super effective Electric attacks aimed at Togekiss. Tyranitar, one of Togekiss's main counters, can come in and scare Togekiss, while setting up a possible Dragon Dance or just inflicting massive damage with its STAB attacks. Togekiss is also hammered by super effective Stone Edges, particularly by Aerodactyl and the aforementioned Tyranitar. A Choice Scarf Flygon with Stone Edge can scare all of these away, but has a tough time switching in due to its frailness. Gliscor is a very reliable switch-in to take on these threats, but keep it away from Gyarados. Fast Pokemon who utilize Ice-type moves can come in on Togekiss and inflict heavy damage, so bulky Water-types such as Vaporeon or Suicune are great choices.

[SET]
name: Baton Pass
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Baton Pass
move 3: Air Slash / Encore
move 4: Roost / Wish
item: Leftovers
nature: Calm
ability: Serene Grace
evs: 252 HP / 64 SpD / 192 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Togekiss is a member of the elite group of Pokemon to not only learn Nasty Plot, but also be able to Baton Pass it. The use of this set is very straightforward; set up a Nasty Plot or two, Air Slash and Roost as necessary, and then pass it to the appropriate recipient when something appears that Togekiss can't beat.

Nasty Plot and Baton Pass are the crux of this set. Air Slash is mandatory STAB and flinch abuse on Togekiss, and when backed by a Nasty Plot can do some serious damage to its opponents. Air Slash also prevents Togekiss from becoming Taunt bait. Encore is an option in the third slot, though, because it can force a switch and give you a free turn of setup. If you can cover for being Taunt bait, then it may prove useful for switching into something like Swampert's Earthquake. Roost rounds out the set in the last slot by keeping Togekiss healthy and able to pass at any point during a match. Wish can be used over Roost to support the team and the recipient better, but Togekiss will be worn down fast without the instant recovery in Roost.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

The EVs are tailored to let Togekiss outspeed certain major threats while retaining as much of its bulk as possible. 192 Speed EVs allow Togekiss to outrun Jolly non-Choice Scarf Tyranitar, while 252 HP EVs give Togekiss respectable bulk. The remaining EVs are placed in Special Defense to let it set up more freely against special threats, but if you'd like Togekiss to be more threatening with its Air Slash, you can place them in Special Attack. Calm is preferred as a nature to boost its already excellent Special Defense stat.

This Togekiss greatly appreciates it if your team can keep Stealth Rock off the field. Its survivability and ability to pass Nasty Plot successfully take a serious hit if it has to lose 25% of its maximum HP when it switches in. A Dual Screen Azelf lead can be useful in keeping opposing Stealth Rock away with Taunt while throwing up screens to help Togekiss successfully pass either one or multiple boosts. Dual screens in general help Baton Passes be more reliable, so users of those moves, such as Cresselia or Uxie, can be very helpful. As for recipients for the Nasty Plot boosts, it is generally useful to use something that is not destroyed by common priority moves such as Bullet Punch. For this reason, Pokemon like Jirachi, Lucario, and Zapdos are good to consider. Jirachi and Lucario can run mixed sets with Iron Head and Close Combat respectively to punch through Blissey and other walls, and all three of them resist Bullet Punch. Zapdos deserves a special mention for having the highest Special Attack of these options while also having excellent bulk and a resistance to Mach Punch. Both Lucario and Zapdos can also set up Agility to facilitate their sweep. A specially offensive Electivire may also be worth considering if you can Baton Pass to it on a turn where you might be expecting a slower Electric-type attack, as it'll absorb it to increase its Speed. If you are looking for a special powerhouse to send the boosts to, you might consider Porygon-Z, although its lackluster Speed and vulnerability to popular priority moves hinders its ability to sweep.

[SET]
name: Encore Supporter
move 1: Encore
move 2: Wish / Roost
move 3: Air Slash
move 4: Aura Sphere / Thunder Wave / Body Slam
item: Leftovers
ability: Serene Grace
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 20 Def / 236 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Togekiss' ability to support the team is amplified when it has Encore and Wish in its arsenal. The strategy is to come in on a set-up or support move and Encore it, likely forcing a switch. While Togekiss is out it can also Encore faster Pokémon, which requires lots of prediction but can have huge payoffs. These situations allow Togekiss to assist the team by setting up Wish and then proceeding to pass it to a counter for the current opposing Pokémon while not having to worry about being taken out. If one chooses not to Wish, it's possible to simply abuse the free turn to paralyze an incoming Pokémon with either Body Slam or Thunder Wave. It can also allow one of your sweepers to come in unharmed, set up, and cause havoc for your opponent. Roost is an option over Wish if none of Togekiss' teammates are Rapid Spinners, as Stealth Rock damage can really pile up on it. However, Roost greatly cuts down on Togekiss' ability to support the team, meaning that Wish is preferable for this particular set.

Air Slash and Aura Sphere allow for a neutral hit on every single Pokémon, barring Zapdos and Rotom. Air Slash, a powerful STAB attack, can also help Togekiss to keep some Wish recovery for itself due to the 60% flinch chance on slower Pokémon. Aura Sphere is not a requirement though as this Togekiss is not meant to sweep, reducing the need for type coverage. Body Slam or Thunder Wave can take its spot to paralyze incoming Pokémon, as mentioned earlier. The choice depends on whether the team has more of a problem with speedy Ghosts such as Gengar, or Pokémon immune to Electric-type moves such as Jolteon or Flygon.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

The EV spread on this set is a lot speedier compared to a majority of Togekiss' sets. A quick Togekiss allows for much easier Encoring, which is why so many Speed EVs are required. 236 Speed EVs with a Timid nature allows Togekiss to have 280 Speed, outspeeding an Adamant Lucario. This lets Togekiss come in on the unsuspecting Lucario as it Swords Dances, and Encore it. It will then be forced to switch, or be 2HKOed with either of Togekiss' attacks. 252 HP EVs and 20 Defense EVs allow for its maximum defensive capabilities after reaching 280 Speed. This lets it come in and perform its strategy several times, due to its high survivability.

Entry hazard support is greatly appreciated for this set, as Togekiss will likely be forcing a lot of switches with Encore (and possibly a paralysis move). Swampert has great defensive synergy alongside Togekiss, and can also set up Stealth Rock. Specially Defensive Forretress makes for a great teammate for this set due to its ability to easily set up Spikes on many of the Pokemon this set cripples, such as Swords Dance Lucario and common Stealth Rock users. Forretress can also use Rapid Spin to great effect, which is helpful because of Togekiss’ Stealth Rock issues. In the same vein, Life Orb Rapid Spin Starmie is a good teammate, capable of dealing heavy damage to opposing Pokemon with its powerful STAB attacks as well as utilizing Rapid Spin to get rid of the opponent’s Stealth Rock.

[SET]
name: Mixed Sweeper
move 1: ExtreemeSpeed
move 2: Aura Sphere
move 3: Flamethrower
move 4: Roost
item: Life Orb
ability: Hustle
nature: Naughty / Lonely
evs: 252 Atk / 112 SpA / 144 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

The element of surprise is this set’s trump card. While an ExtremeSpeed off a mediocre Attack stat of 218 may not seem like much, Hustle and Life Orb will boost the power to acceptable levels. The other moves are fairly intuitive in that they eliminate most of Togekiss' switch-ins. A Life Orb boosted Aura Sphere 2HKOes both Tyranitar and Heatran. Flamethrower will OHKO Scizor, Skarmory (with Stealth Rock), and Forretress, while also 2HKOing Jirachi and Celebi. Roost helps Togekiss recover its health after Life Orb recoil and other indirect damage take their toll.

The given EVs are tailored to allow Togekiss a Speed advantage on Adamant Tyranitar and neutral 88 Speed Rotom formes. The Attack EVs are to boost ExtremeSpeed's power, while the remaining EVs are placed to boost Togekiss’s Special Attack. If outpacing Adamant Tyranitar is not necessary, throw the Speed EVs into Special Attack. A Naughty nature provides a balance of defenses by preserving Togekiss's lesser defensive stat, while a Lonely nature helps Togekiss maintain its sky-high Special Defense stat.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

Hidden Power Rock could be used as a move choice over Flamethrower; while you lose the ability to hit Pokemon like Scizor and Forretress, you gain the ability to significantly damage Gyarados and Salamence. In fact, a combination of Hidden Power Rock followed by ExtremeSpeed will always OHKO both Gyarados and Salamence, regardless of Intimidate. However, if your team already fares well against these two Pokemon, then Flamethrower will probably be the superior option.

When played correctly, this Togekiss will often catch several Pokemon off guard, and has the potential to significantly damage the opposing team once it is weakened. For this reason, mid-game wall-breakers make for great teammates. Mixed Salamence is an excellent Pokemon to pair with this Togekiss, as it can KO a variety of Pokemon who trouble this set, such as Swampert and Gliscor; mixed Infernape works in a similar way. Rapid Spin support will also be helpful in prolonging Togekiss’ life. Life Orb Rapid Spin Starmie makes an excellent teammate for this set. Not only can it efficiently use Rapid Spin to dispose of entry hazards, but it can also use its powerful special attacks to get rid of opposing physical walls who otherwise will take paltry damage from Togekiss’ ExtremeSpeed.

To show the usefulness of ExtremeSpeed on switch-ins defensively weak and also on those faster than Togekiss, here are an assortment of damage calculations using the given EVs. With the exclusion of Blissey, these calculations assume that the Pokémon has a neutral nature in Defense.

<ul class="damage_calculation">
<li>0 HP / 0 Def Azelf: 71.13% - 84.59</li>
<li>0 HP / 0 Def Infernape: 69.97% - 82.94%</li>
<li>136 HP / 156 Def Starmie: 50.85% - 60.00% (2HKO with Stealth Rock)</li>
<li>68 HP / 0 Def Raikou: 58.58% - 69.23%</li>
<li>0 HP / 0 Def Weavile: 78.29% - 92.88% (OHKO with Stealth Rock)</li>
<li>204 HP / 0 Def Tentacruel: 62.50% - 74.15%</li>
<li>0 HP / 0 Def Heracross: 65.78% - 77.74%</li>
<li>0 HP / 0 Def Gyarados (w/out Intimidate): 57.10% - 67.37%</li>
<li>0 HP / 0 Def Salamence (w/out Intimidate): 56.50% - 67.07%</li>
<li>0 HP / 252 Def Calm Blissey: 47.00% - 55.45% (2HKO with Stealth Rock)</li>
<li>0 HP / 252 Def Bold Blissey: 43.32% - 51.15% (53% chance to 2HKO with Stealth Rock)</li>
</ul>

It should be noted, however, that due to Hustle reducing the accuracy of the physical attacks it boosts, the expected OHKOs and 2HKOs shown above will only occur 80% and 64% of the time respectively.

----

done for now. gotta sleep.

Aeres · May 22, 2010

I'm a bit nervous attempting to proofread this, as this is my first time doing so on Smogon. Forgive me if I seem a bit overzealous with the corrections; disregard my edits if you think so. You can't improve unless you practice, though... right?

Snorlaxe said:
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot Sweeper
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Air Slash
move 3: Aura Sphere / Fire Blast
move 4: Roost
item: Lum Berry / Life Orb
ability: Serene Grace
nature: Timid
evs: 168 HP / 102 SpA / 236 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Nasty Plot skyrockets Togekiss's Special Attack to an astonishing 602, allowing it a chance to sweep by exploiting the near-perfect coverage provided by Air Slash and either Aura Sphere or Fire Blast. Roost allows Togekiss to heal itself while also becoming neutral to its three weaknesses (Rock, Ice, and Electric). Aura Sphere provides especially useful coverage against Tyranitar and Steel-types who resist your STAB attack. (Maybe you should explain the benefits of using Fire Blast over Aura Sphere?) A Lum Berry is the recommended hold item so as to prevent status (especially Toxic or Thunder Wave) from halting Togekiss's sweep prematurely. Since Togekiss may not find an opportunity to heal with Roost, Leftovers is a viable item choice as well; the passive healing is particularly welcome for recovering damage sustained from Stealth Rock. Life Orb is another great option to secure OHKOs on all Steel-types (barring Heatran), plus Zapdos and Rotom-A with a +2 Fire Blast after Stealth Rock. Without Aura Sphere, however, Togekiss is left vulnerable to Heatran and Tyranitar. AncientPower is an option if Zapdos is causing your team some grief, as it OHKOs the thunderbird, on top of granting a 20% chance to boost all stats due to Serene Grace.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

The choice in EV spread mostly depends on how offensively-minded you want Togekiss to be. The given EV spread is the most universal, outpacing Adamant Lucario, plus defensive Zapdos and Rotom-A, while retaining some bulk and attacking power. Should you prefer to focus on offensive prowess in exchange for bulk, a simple 252 SpA / 252 Spe spread isn't a bad option, especially with the power of Life Orb backing it up. If you desire increased staying power instead, using a Modest nature alongside a 252 HP / 154 SpA / 104 Spe spread grants Togekiss significantly enhanced bulk, as well as the ability to outpace Adamant Tyranitar.

Pokemon who resist both Air Slash and Aura Sphere, such as Zapdos and Rotom-A, are a thorn in Togekiss's side, and as such, a method of removing these Pokemon is appreciated. Pursuit users like Tyranitar come to mind, KOing Rotom-A with Pursuit when switching and possessing the ability to KO Zapdos with Stone Edge. Stealth Rock causes Togekiss to lose 25% of its health each time it switches in, making Rapid Spinners like Forretress and Starmie good partners. Pokemon who can set up Stealth Rock for Togekiss are invaluable, allowing Togekiss to OHKO Rotom-A and Zapdos with Fire Blast when holding a Life Orb. Should Togekiss decide to use Fire Blast, you'll need Pokemon who can take care of Heatran and Tyranitar. Bulky Fighting-types are especially useful in this case because they can counter Tyranitar, Blissey, and Snorlax, as well as land a super effective hit on Heatran. Other beneficial partners who help include defensive Pokemon who can take powerful hits from speedy revenge killers, such as Salamence and Jolteon.

Paralysis support is a fantastic option when using Togekiss, as its middling Speed often lets it down (not to mention Air Slash's utility is drastically increased against slower foes). Jirachi makes a fine partner for this purpose, as it resists two of Togekiss’s weaknesses (Rock and Ice) and has the ability to paralyze even Ground-types with a Serene Grace Body Slam; its also has its own flinching moves to make further use of the paralysis. Lanturn resists Togekiss’s Ice- and Electric-type weaknesses and can paralyze the opponent with Thunder Wave, while also having the ability to switch in easily on Rotom-A and Zapdos’s Thunderbolts, forcing them out.

Additions and revisions are in purple, while comments are in black, and removals are in red.

The Duke · May 23, 2010

togekiss is so annoying :( 100)% paralyze then flinch hax to death :(

inner focus ftw :D

Snorlaxe · May 23, 2010

Thanks for the proofreads franky and Aeres, will add now! ^_^ Additionally, after a lot of testing, I've decided to remove the mixed sweeper set. Any objections?

Snorlaxe · Jun 13, 2010

Well, life has been gay lately, but I've finally gotten around to this analysis. I added Team Options, Optional Changes, and Counters, and I de-Latias'ed the analysis. I also made the Choice Scarf set a bit more focused around leading, and some other stuff.

Now that this is done, I would like some quality checks on this, please (currently more concerned about this than grammar checks, though grammar checks are still great ^_^).

RaikouLover · Jun 19, 2010

Just want to mention, for Choice Scarf, your outspeeding Jolteon but you really arent doing much unless you want to be Suicidal with Air Slash.

For any of the sets, one of the things that made Tri Attack useful is that 40% chance to inflict Freeze / Burn / Para... I'd take any of those statuses and that is a pretty high frequency..

cim · Jun 19, 2010

I just tested Togekiss so I can give you some thoughts on NP in particular.

Honestly Timid is a complete waste on Togekiss. Adamant Lucario doesn't matter (Extremespeed), Zapdos doesn't matter (you're not touching it), Rotom doesn't matter (you're not touching it), so going Timid is a MASSIVE waste. You're not getting significant help from it at all. Fire Blast becomes even less of an option because Air Slash can easily be EV'd to OHKO Scizor and 2H (with Aura Sphere 2nd) Metagross. Life Orb is also pretty counterproductive. With the Stealth Rock weak, you're hurting Togekiss pretty heavily when one of its best assets is its bulk (you're not even maxing SpA and you want LO?). I think "fast sweeper" is something Togekiss can't be and such a set fundamentally misuses Togekiss.

Yes, you can OHKO Zapdos and Rotom with Fire Blast if you lose all your Special Attack, throw a LO on, and go fast, but that's honestly a massive waste when you could just carry a Pursuiter on your team and not ruin Togekiss's bulky edge. I feel the set isn't very "team centric" and doesn't consider the other 5 Pokemon on your team, overarching for just one or two counters.

The lead set honestly looks pretty poor. When did you test it?

RaikouLover · Jun 20, 2010

Honestly Timid is a complete waste on Togekiss. Adamant Lucario doesn't matter (Extremespeed), Zapdos doesn't matter (you're not touching it), Rotom doesn't matter (you're not touching it), so going Timid is a MASSIVE waste. You're not getting significant help from it at all. Fire Blast becomes even less of an option because Air Slash can easily be EV'd to OHKO Scizor and 2H (with Aura Sphere 2nd) Metagross. Life Orb is also pretty counterproductive. With the Stealth Rock weak, you're hurting Togekiss pretty heavily when one of its best assets is its bulk (you're not even maxing SpA and you want LO?). I think "fast sweeper" is something Togekiss can't be and such a set fundamentally misuses Togekiss.

But for your points, Adamant Lucario is OHKOed when your sweeping (Lucario assumes its faster). And you do realize that with the current EV spread a +2 Life Orb Fire Blast does a minimum of 116% to Rotom and 81% to physically defensive Zapdos and that isn't even using Max Special Attack!! I fail to see how outspeeding and OHKOing two of Togekiss's best counters is a "waste." And you wouldn't have to worry about 2HKOing Metagross when you OHKO with Fire Blast also... (Metagross has a tendacy to explode on things...). Arbitrarily saying Togekiss can't be a "faster" sweeper is just saying that when it is proven that he CAN benefit from the higher speed. And to be honest, I actually think Fire Blast is more useful than Aura Sphere for higher base power and being able to just outright OHKOs if you decide to run 2 attacks plus Roost.

Zystral · Jun 20, 2010

You have to remember what comes with outspeeding Jolteon; Aura Sphereing Aerodactyl, Shadow Balling Starmie Azelf and Gengar, Air Slashing Infernape.

In fact, the biggest gaps between 388 (Modest Scarf) and 426 (Timid Scarf) are +1 Adamant Gyarados (who you can then flinchhax), Choice Scarf Heracross (Air Slash), Choice Scarf Heatran (who takes 66.9% - 79.3% Aura Sphere), Adamant AgiliGross, and should you employ ScarfKiss as a lead, Ninjask you can then proceed to Trick and destroy.

You also have to remember, Trick being a vital part of its Choice set, getting past the likes of non-max Speed Gyarados can really help after it loses the scarf.

Instead of removing the defensive leadkiss, I'd rename it. It's very effective late-game, but is horrible early-game since then it loses to so many common leads, like Azelf and Aerodactyl who will just Taunt to stop you doing anything. Encore and Thunder Wave later on is much more helpful getting your cleaner to set up, so I'd merge "LeadKiss" with the Encore support and have it saved for late game.

cim · Jun 20, 2010

RaikouLover said:
But for your points, Adamant Lucario is OHKOed when your sweeping (Lucario assumes its faster). And you do realize that with the current EV spread a +2 Life Orb Fire Blast does a minimum of 116% to Rotom and 81% to physically defensive Zapdos and that isn't even using Max Special Attack!! I fail to see how outspeeding and OHKOing two of Togekiss's best counters is a "waste." And you wouldn't have to worry about 2HKOing Metagross when you OHKO with Fire Blast also... (Metagross has a tendacy to explode on things...). Arbitrarily saying Togekiss can't be a "faster" sweeper is just saying that when it is proven that he CAN benefit from the higher speed. And to be honest, I actually think Fire Blast is more useful than Aura Sphere for higher base power and being able to just outright OHKOs if you decide to run 2 attacks plus Roost.

I feel "beating your counters!!!" doesn't justify sacrificing overall utility as well as being completely fucked if Tyranitar comes in. Aura Sphere is a much more balanced, versatile, and accurate option, and relying on your opponent not knowing your Togekiss is faster than his Lucario is a poor strategy in the long term when Lucario has Extremespeed.

Togekiss actually has some of the best defensive stats in OU, along with great Special Attack. I think when you run a Life Orb set (that Zapdos can still outrun, by the way) and Fire Blast just for two Pokemon that can be pretty easily trapped by common OU partners, you're compromising Togekiss's abilities and advantages over other boosting Pokemon.

I would really rather at least there be a "traditional NP set" for people that like using togekiss's advantages and a "3 attacks LO" set so you can beat your counters and also not get fucked by Tyranitar either.

MegaKick · Jun 20, 2010

I may have missed it, but you should mention what togekiss has over jirachi. Me and lucaliber has a discussion on shoddy the other day about it (togekiss > jirachi anyday i say) and i think you should talk about:
higher special attack: when using a scarf or paraflinch set, the higher special attack means it takes less hits to KO the opponet - which means you don't have to push your luck as much,
aura sphere: lets togekiss cover heatran, who normally is a full stop to jirachi.
fire blast: hits harder then fire punch, meaning it hits steels harder.
flying STAB: mention the merits of flying stab over steel stab, like arguably better neutral coverage and the ability to beat fighters like machamp. aura sphere handles rocks.
better speicial defense and roost: allows togekiss to setup and beat speciel attacks easier.
nasty plot: boost twice as fast as calm mind, and your boosting move works with your flinch move, unlike jirachi who's iron head cannot be boosted.

Snorlaxe · Jun 21, 2010

Lots of stuff to address....

Firstly, Chris:

Honestly Timid is a complete waste on Togekiss. Adamant Lucario doesn't matter (Extremespeed), Zapdos doesn't matter (you're not touching it), Rotom doesn't matter (you're not touching it), so going Timid is a MASSIVE waste. You're not getting significant help from it at all. Fire Blast becomes even less of an option because Air Slash can easily be EV'd to OHKO Scizor and 2H (with Aura Sphere 2nd) Metagross. Life Orb is also pretty counterproductive. With the Stealth Rock weak, you're hurting Togekiss pretty heavily when one of its best assets is its bulk (you're not even maxing SpA and you want LO?). I think "fast sweeper" is something Togekiss can't be and such a set fundamentally misuses Togekiss.

I actually disagree. Firstly, Timid does matter. Outspeeding Zapdos is actually a pretty cool thing as after Stealth Rock damage and a Nasty Plot boosted Fire Blast, you are easily OHKOing it. Considering Zapdos is basically one of Togekiss' biggest counters, I would say that this is pretty significant. Likewise for Rotom; a +2 Fire Blast is OHKOing it anyway. And yeah, while Life Orb does seem counterproductive, I've found it really useful. Not only does it allow you to hit so much harder in general, but it also allows Togekiss to deal hefty damage even before a Nasty Plot boost, which is important if you don't manage to find the time for Togekiss to set up. The Stealth Rock weak isn't even a huge concern, it's so easy to just come in after the opponent's SRer is dead and Spin. I think that Togekiss can do "fast sweeper" quite well, and while you do raise good points, I'm keeping it the way it is.

The lead set honestly looks pretty poor. When did you test it?

I'm actually fixing to remove the lead set. I tested it over two months ago, and it doesn't work nearly as well now as it did back then.

RL:

But for your points, Adamant Lucario is OHKOed when your sweeping (Lucario assumes its faster). And you do realize that with the current EV spread a +2 Life Orb Fire Blast does a minimum of 116% to Rotom and 81% to physically defensive Zapdos and that isn't even using Max Special Attack!! I fail to see how outspeeding and OHKOing two of Togekiss's best counters is a "waste." And you wouldn't have to worry about 2HKOing Metagross when you OHKO with Fire Blast also... (Metagross has a tendacy to explode on things...). Arbitrarily saying Togekiss can't be a "faster" sweeper is just saying that when it is proven that he CAN benefit from the higher speed. And to be honest, I actually think Fire Blast is more useful than Aura Sphere for higher base power and being able to just outright OHKOs if you decide to run 2 attacks plus Roost.

Yeah, you basically summed up my thoughts PERFECTLY. Togekiss is super versitile anyway, and by only being a bulky sweeper, I think its pretty much too predictable. Togekiss can run "fast sweeper" very well, and I agree; nailing Rotom and Zapdos is p important as they are its biggest counters.

Zy:

Instead of removing the defensive leadkiss, I'd rename it. It's very effective late-game, but is horrible early-game since then it loses to so many common leads, like Azelf and Aerodactyl who will just Taunt to stop you doing anything. Encore and Thunder Wave later on is much more helpful getting your cleaner to set up, so I'd merge "LeadKiss" with the Encore support and have it saved for late game.

I'm still considering this, but I want other opinions on it. I would practically have to rewrite the entire thing, and while I don't mind doing that at all, then I would have to get more proofreads, more quality nitpicks, and it would just set the analysis back by a lot. I'm actually perfectly content at this point to simply give the bulky leadkiss a mention in OC, as it seems most appropriate atm, but I'll wait for other opinions on this before it happens.

Uberiffic:

I may have missed it, but you should mention what togekiss has over jirachi. Me and lucaliber has a discussion on shoddy the other day about it (togekiss > jirachi anyday i say) and i think you should talk about:
higher special attack: when using a scarf or paraflinch set, the higher special attack means it takes less hits to KO the opponet - which means you don't have to push your luck as much,
aura sphere: lets togekiss cover heatran, who normally is a full stop to jirachi.
fire blast: hits harder then fire punch, meaning it hits steels harder.
flying STAB: mention the merits of flying stab over steel stab, like arguably better neutral coverage and the ability to beat fighters like machamp. aura sphere handles rocks.
better speicial defense and roost: allows togekiss to setup and beat speciel attacks easier.
nasty plot: boost twice as fast as calm mind, and your boosting move works with your flinch move, unlike jirachi who's iron head cannot be boosted.

I seriously don't think it's important to compare Togekiss and Jirachi at all...
people think that all Togekiss and Jirachi can do is flinch hax, but seriously, both are such versitile Pokemon that theres absolutely no need to compare them. Both have advanrtages and disadvantages, and anyone with a brain can tell that. To sum it up, I dont think that comparing them is needed, at least not in this analysis.

Togekiss (Update)

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