What is a good moveset for Tapu Koko?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Tapu Koko, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for its pre-evolutions, if any, can also be shared on this thread.

Be sure to include full set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some detail, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Tapu Koko Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Comments

Only one physical Electric move, which causes recoil damage, and no Play Rough. It's only damaging Fairy move is Dazzling Gleam. Come on Game Freak, Tapu Koko is a miniature god. He deserves better than this.

---

^ This.

I went through its Dex with  "tf is this crap" running through my head.

---

I guess you could run Nature's Madness to break down walls, then finish them off with Brave Bird/Wild Charge, but this looks to be the worst Tapu. At least it gets a fast Roost to mitigate recoil damage.

---

You can't have one Tapu running around leaving scars and the other just "idk maybe Nature's Madness and then Brave Bird I guess and let's not forget to Roost before I die of recoil"

It's just not done. imo Koko looks the coolest of them all, but the price for pretty looks is far too much >.>

---

My girl Tapu Fini disagrees with your assessment of "coolest Tapu," but I see your point. Tapu Koko looks way too cool to be left in the dust like this.

Also, Tapu Bulu may suffer from lack of Play Rough even more than Koko.

---

I am fini-shed with this conversation, but I'll admit Tapu Fini COMES A CLOSE SECOND TO MUH BOY KOKO

---

Tapu Koko would be broken with Play Rough.

---

I doubt Play Rough would make Tapu Koko broken. Tapu Lele gets Moonblast and a 130 SpA versus Tapu Koko's 115 Attack.

---

Tapu Koko is a speed demon, unlike Tapu Lele.

---

Acrobatics @Electric Seed might be useful

---

I wish tapu koko got play rough would be so OP

---

there is a shiny tapu koko event now so get it while you can

Answer 1

For competitive, I've seen this moveset circulating Pokemon Showdown's ladder quite a bit:

Tapu Koko @ Life Orb
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 Def
- Thunderbolt
- Dazzling Gleam
- Volt Switch
- Hidden Power [Ice]

Thunder than Thunderbolt works if you have Drizzle Pelipper on the team.

Even with its lesser SpAtk stat, Electric Terrain (and Drizzle if you're using Thunder) more than makes up for it. I've found it can absolutely two-shot (if not one-shot) the entire known OU meta save checks/counters.
Lemme know if you have any concerns, questions, etc.

Comments

Oh, and common checks are Marowak-Alolan, Excadrill, and Mega-Venusaur, if that was not obvious.

---

Could you tell me what hidden power ice is good for? Is it the best hidden power for Tapu Koko?

---

HP Ice is mostly run to get rid of Lando-T in particular, but it could help fight various other Ground types. If you want to try to KO Excadrill and Ferrothorn, you can run HP Fire, but most Excas tend to be faster than Koko due to Scarf or Sand Rush.

---

Then I will probably go for HP ice. Thanks for replying!

---

It's what I'm here for.

Answer 2

The special move set is better overall, but I use a physical Tapu Koko with the following stats.

Tapu Koko @ Life Orb / Terrain Extender
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 SpD
Jolly Nature
- Wild Charge
- Roost
- U-turn
- Brave Bird

Wild Charge is your only STAB and effectively deals double damage due to STAB and Electric Terrain being active. Brave Bird takes care of the Grass types that resist your STAB. U-turn is for momentum. The final slot is for Roost so you can regain your health from the recoil damage, preferably on a switch.

The item is interchangeable, but I have used Life Orb more frequently. Choice Band/Scarf would be a good substitute, most likely switching Roost for Steel Wing for additional coverage against Rock types.

Comments

Thanks, this is now my battle tree lead and btw i'd keep roost because you can always u turn out of a rock or groud type, also i run mudsdale so he can build his stamina off of not very effective those moves

---

Tapu Koko is innately strong with physically attacks and speed. I'd say this is a better set.

---

I use a mixed set

---

I like yours the most.

Answer 3

Tapu Koko @ Zap Plate
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Timid / Modest Nature
- Thunderbolt / Electro Ball
- U-Turn
- Hidden Power [Ice] / Hidden Power [Fire] / Grass Knot
- Volt Switch

HP Ice is there to nail Ground types like Land-T and Garchomp. Grass Knot nails Gastrodon and some others like Hipow switching in and HP Fire deals with Ferro switching in. Tapu Koko's high speed can allow it to be a scout with Volt Switch and U-Turn which gains momentum and does very well in weakening teams while hiting a multiple of Pokemon effectively. Thunderbolt is reliable STAB. Tapu Koko has really high speed and Max Speed means it can outspeed almost everything. Electro Ball is there and also powerful as Tapu Koko has really high speed. It hits real hard at some slower attackers like Slowbro. Thanks to Tapu Koko's great ability, Thunderbolt and Electro Ball will be more powerful. Zap Plate since Life Orb will hurt you and Specs prevent the momentum of Volt Switch and U-Turn.

Comments

Hmm. I have a HP Grass on a Timid Tapu Koko. Workable or no?

Answer 4

No Dual Screens Tapu Koko? Hmm....

Gen 8 OU / National Dex OU

Tapu Koko @ Light Clay
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 248 HP / 8 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly / Timid Nature
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Taunt
- U-turn / Volt Switch

Pretty simple. Set up Light Screen and Reflect. Taunt prevents Pokemon from using moves like Stealth Rock and Defog. U-Turn is to pivot and bring in a teammate that appreciates dual screens support. Volt Switch can be used instead for STAB and pivoting. Just... watch out for ground types.

Comments

Maybe Volt Switch over U-Turn for STAB and the Electric Terrain boost?

---

True, but I prefer U-Turn so I can still pivot in against ground types.

Answer 5

Gen 8 OU

Tapu Koko @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Dazzling Gleam
- U-turn
- Roost

Tapu Koko is a great offensive pivot due to it's solid speed tier, outspeeding and forcing out Pokemon like Tornadus-T and Weavile with it's STAB attacks. Tapu Koko can apply pressure to common Flying type defoggers with Thunderbolt while still reliably pivoting out with U-turn. Dazzling Gleam provides great nuetral coverage against weakened Pokemon for Tapu Koko to pick off. Roost and Heavy-Duty Boots extend keep it healthy throughout the match. Despite Tapu Koko's middling special attack, it can still pick up KOs due to how effective it is at whittling down Pokemon without good recovery. Because of this, Tapu Koko pairs well with Knock Off users like Kartana and Tornadus-T that can remove Leftovers from Pokemon such as Landorus-T, Tyranitar, and Swampert.

Answer 6

National Dex

Tapu Koko @ Choice Specs
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Dazzling Gleam
- Volt Switch
- Hidden Power [Fire]

Hidden Power Fire beats Specially Defensive Ferrothorn, and removing it early in the game is useful for common teammates like Ash-Greninja. Also beats a rare hard counter in Shedinja and a hella weak switch-in in Magnezone (which takes like 45% from Thunderbolt lol). Dazzling Gleam already does more than half to Lando anyways.

Answer 7

Ok this is really bad but I'm posting it anyway

Tapu Koko @ Choice Specs / Life Orb
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe or 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Jolly/Naive Nature
- Dazzling Gleam
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Fire] / Brave Bird
- Volt Switch / Calm Mind / Roost

Honestly this shouldn't be on a real team but HP fire might help against kartana or something and if it can pull off a cm it could work maybe idk

Answer 8

Tapu Koko is great, being able to run special/physical and mixed sets. It highly depends on what your team needs.

Tapu Koko @ Life Orb
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 HP
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt / Thunder
- Dazzling Gleam
- Volt Switch
- Taunt / Hidden Power [Ice]

Thunderbolt is obviously the best Electric-type choice for a special moveset. However Thunder is insane in the rain with Pelipper. Dazzling Gleam is your fairy STAB and the choice for ground types if not carrying HP Ice. Volt Switch is for scouting and gaining momentum and is very strong with electric terrain. Last of all, Taunt is a very good choice for shutting down status moves and Koko's speed is nothing to laugh at. HP Ice is also a recommend for Ground types. Life Orb is recommended because Koko's SpA is nowhere near fantastic. I highly recommend you to include a Pokemon that can take on ground types in your team!

Answer 9

Tapu Koko @ Terrain Extender / Life Orb
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 HP
Jolly Nature
- Wild Charge
- U-Turn
- Brave Bird / Roost
- Taunt

Wild Charge's power is more than doubled in Electric terrain, making it fearsome. U-turn is the scouting move here. Brave Bird is for Grass-types which resist Wild Charge, but can be replaced by Roost to heal off recoil damage. Taunt is again a good choice looking at its speed. Life orb is not necessary because Koko's Atk is already good.

Answer 10

Tapu Koko @ Leftovers / Air Balloon
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 252 Spe / 252 SpA / 4 Atk
Naive Nature
- Brave Bird / U-Turn
- Volt Switch / Thunderbolt
- Wild Charge
- Dazzling Gleam

Explanation: This is a Mixed Tapu Koko Moveset. Air Balloon or Leftovers is the Best item here. Leftovers to heal up that Brave Bird/Wild Charge recoil. Air Balloon to avoid Ground Type attacks. Brave Bird is For all out Power and Coverage against Grass and Bug Types but at the Risk or Recoil or U-Turn for Coverage against Grass, Psychic and some Dark types and for a little Scouting. Volt Switch and Thunderbolt are STAB. Volt Switch is for Scouting or Thunderbolt is Great Power and Accuracy with a Chance to Paralyze your Foe. Wild Charge is STAB along with Great Power but at the Risk of Recoil. Dazzling Gleam is STAB along with hitting multiple foes in Double Battles and Battle Royals.

Answer 11

Physical set!

Tapu Koko @ Terrain Extender
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Adamant Nature
- Wild Charge
- Brave Bird
- Dazzling Gleam
- Roost

• Wild charge (High power, STAB)
• Brave bird (Strong attack, Killer)
• Dazzling gleam (Coverage)
• Roost (heal the recoil!)

It's not holding a life orb because he is taking enough damage from recoil already. If you think he should, go ahead.

Comments

I would suggest either Lonely or Naughty if you plan to run Dazzling Gleam.  The -Sp. Attack you get from being Adamant won't help out if you're in a situation where you need to use Dazzling Gleam.  Lonely is -Defense and Naughty is -Sp. Defense, but you'll be able to use Dazzling Gleam more effectively.

Answer 12

Tapu Koko @ Magnet
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Dazzling Gleam / Hidden Power [Ice]
- Volt Switch
- U-Turn

I find a set with Magnet and U-Turn to usually be preferable to a Life Orb set with more coverage. U-Turn is really helpful for grabbing momentum against incoming Ground types, and since Tapu Koko dishes out the most damage with its Electric moves anyways, the loss of a coverage move, and the Life Orb power going towards it, is not a big deal.

Answer 13

Tapu Koko @ Electric Gem
Ability: Electric Terrain
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 HP
Adamant Nature
- Wild Charge
- Acrobatics
- Thief
- Roost

you use wild charge use up electric gem then full power acrobatics or use thief to get another item roost to heal off recoil damage off wild charge

Comments

You can't get the electric gem in Gen 7

Answer 14

Tapu Koko @ Flyinium Z
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 HP / 252 Spe
Rash Nature
- Dazzling Gleam
- Thunderbolt
- U-Turn
- Mirror Move

• Dazzling Gleam STAB
• Thunder Bolt STAB
• U-Turn More Coverage switchs effectively against ground types
• Mirror Move

So here's what I got
Rash nature because we have bad Sp.Def anyway
So We have dazzling gleam for STAB
Thunder Bolt for powerful STAB
U turn for switching against ground types
Mirror move for being able to use z moves you normally could not use

Comments

Pretty good eh? Decided to put tapu Kokos Mirror move to work

Answer 15

You guys... why are there so many people use SpA for Tapu Koko???
This is mine, and I found this dude is extremely OP on Showdown.

Tapu Koko @ Life Orb
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Wild Charge
- Brave Bird
- U-turn
- Roost / Taunt

I let him get Jolly because Life Orb can handle the damage-dealing thing.
I also think taunt is better than roost to takeover stat-boost moves (e.g Dragon Dance; Calm Mind; Bulk Up,...). But Roost is also good to fix the HP lost by Life Orb and recoil.

Answer 16

Tapu Koko @ Zap Plate / Electric Seed / Choice Scarf / Choice Specs (I couldn't decide on only 1 or 2)
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid / Modest Nature
- Thunder / Thunderbolt
- Electro Ball
- Dazzling Gleam / Agility
- Agility / Grass Knot

• Thunder / Thunderbolt (Stab)
• Electro Ball (Stab& Spe)
• Dazzling Gleam (ONLY USE WITH MODEST) / Agility (Setup)
• Agility (Setup) / Grass Knot (Coverage)

Comments

I'm pretty sure you mean Choice Specs, not Band.

---

ya sorry about that I was rushing

Answer 17

2 sets for my favorite Tapu:

Physical sweeper

Tapu Koko @ Sitrus Berry / Life Orb / Choice Band
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Wild Charge
- Acrobatics / Brave Bird
- U-Turn
- Roost / Taunt

• Wild Charge-a must-have on any physical Koko.
• Acrobatics if you’re using Sitrus Berry, Brave Bird if you’re using Life Orb.
• U-Turn- scouting.
• Roost for healing, Taunt for shutting out setups.

Special sweeper

Tapu Koko @ Life Orb / Choice Specs
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Dazzling Gleam
- Hidden Power [Ice] / Hidden Power [Grass]
- Volt Switch

• Thunderbolt- great special STAB. Use Thunder with Drizzle, obviously.
• Dazzling Gleam- also great special STAB.
• Hidden Power- Ice/Grass, whichever your team needs.
• Volt Switch- scouting.

Feel free to put Taunt or Roost wherever, if you really need it.

Hope these help!

Answer 18

For competitive ladder,
I take advantage of Electric Seed. When Electric Terrain is active, Electric Seed gives Koko a defense boost, but also doubles Acrobatics' power (55 power w/ item ; 143 power w/o item. It is stronger than Brave Bird's 120 power. STAB Wild Charge (90 power) is stronger than STAB Thunder Punch (75 power), but Thunder Punch doesn't deal recoil damage. Hidden Power Ice is a check for Lando-T and Gliscore. And finally, I have Roost as a Heal move for Wild Charge's recoil. I chose Nature's Madness for the replacement because Nature's Madness can half the health of any mon, including Chancy-Toxic walls (I hate dealing with those).

Tapu Koko @ Electric Seed
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Acrobatics
- Thunder Punch / Wild Charge
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Roost / Nature's Madness

Koko has 394 max speed, so it's faster than most. Koko out speeds Base Greninja (377) but falls to Ash-Greninja(399). Lando-T has 309, so Hidden Power Ice is a pleasing check.

Answer 19

Tapu Koko @ Tapunium Z
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Electro Ball
- Nature's Madness
- Roost
- U-Turn

• Electro Ball (STAB)
• Nature's Madness (STAB and for z-move)
• Roost (to heal)
• U-Turn (For returning)

Answer 20

Gen 8 1v1

Tapu Koko @ Electric Seed
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 248 HP / 8 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Taunt
- Eerie Impulse
- Roost

Thunderbolt is STAB and slowly damages the opponent. Taunt is for stopping opposing Pokemon from using status moves. Eeire Impulse is to lower the opponent's special attack. Roost is for healing.

Comments

what do you do against a ground type?