Gen 6 Cofagrigus (OU) [GP 0/2]

[Overview]

Cofagrigus's Ghost typing, great natural bulk, and diverse movepool makes it the most versatile Toxic Spikes user in ORAS OU. With access to Toxic Spikes and Will-O-Wisp, Cofagrigus is able to cripple offense and balance teams while also doubling as a spin blocker to prevent entry hazard removal. Cofagrigus boasts a unique ability, Mummy, which is able to shut down wallbreakers like Mega Medicham, Mega Lopunny, and Mega Altaria, as well as denying Regenerator to dominant pivots like Tornadus-T. In addition, Cofagrigus's low speed tier and access to the move Nasty Plot allows it utilize it's good offensive typing on Trick Room teams. However it's low Special Attack and susceptibility to Dark-types often makes this option inferior to the defensive Toxic Spikes set. Although Cofagrigus possesses a wide array of utility options, it is held back by a lack of reliable recovery and vulnerability to residual damage from entry hazards and status conditions. As a result, it faces competition from walls with better longevity such as Slowbro and Hippowdon, which have access to Slack Off, and other spin blockers like Jellicent, which has access to Recover.

[Set]
name: Toxic Spikes Support
move 1: Toxic Spikes
move 2: Will-O-Wisp
move 3: Pain Split
move 4: Hex
item: Leftovers
ability: Mummy
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
ivs: 0 Atk

[SET COMMENTS]

Moves
=========
Cofagrigus can use Toxic Spikes to quickly whittle down teams, putting powerful wallbreakers like Keldeo, Mega Medicham, and Mega Lopunny on a timer and limiting their longevity. Will-O-Wisp is used to cripple Pokemon unaffected by Toxic Spikes such as Mega Scizor, Mega Metagross, Rotom-W, Tornadus-T, and Landorus-T. Pain Split utilizes Cofagrigus's low HP stat to chip down opponents and heal itself, but is an unreliable source of recovery. Hex can be used to severely chip statused opponents and is an excellent way to deter hazard removal from the likes of Excadrill and Starmie. It can also be used in conjunction with Will-O-Wisp to deny setup opportunities to Pokemon like Mega-Latias, Mega-Altaria, and Mega-Pinsir. Skill Swap may also be used to immediately pressure would-be counters such as Clefable and Gliscor by stripping their abilities and making them susceptible to residual damage from status. It may also be used defensively to neuter the likes of Mega Altaria and Mega Pinsir, preventing them from hitting Cofagrigus with STAB Frustrations and ultimately discouraging set-up.

Set Details
=========
252 Defense EVs in conjunction with 248 HP EVs are used to maximize Cofagrigus's physical bulk, while the 8 SpDef EVs add a slight boost to it's special bulk as well. A Bold Nature with 0 Attack IVs means that Cofagrigus will take minimum damage from Foul Play. Leftovers is used to provide passive recovery to Cofagrigus, enhancing its longevity.

Usage Tips
=========
It is important to analyze the opponent's team prior to battle to see if Toxic Spikes are good vs them and to get them up as soon as possible if that is the case. Cofagrigus can take advantage of switching into Pokemon like Excadrill to spinblock, as well as switching into Pokemon like Mega Medicham, Mega Metagross, and Mega Scizor to remove their abilities and cripple them with Will-O-Wisp. Once the opposing team is mostly crippled, Cofagrigus can start spamming damage boosted Hexes to severely chip them down, and Pain Split whenever necessary to heal off damage. Due to Cofagrigus's lack of reliable recovery, it is best to avoid being statused and / or having it's Leftovers knocked off.

Team Options
=========
Bulky sweepers like Calm Mind Suicune, Calm Mind Mega Latias, and Sub-Roost Kyurem appreciate Cofagrigus's ability to switch into Pokemon that check them like Mega Metagross and Mega Medicham respectively. They also benefit from Cofagrigus's ability to whittle down offensive teams with Toxic Spikes and Will-O-Wisp. Pursuit users like Tyranitar and Weavile also pair well with Cofagrigus, punishing attempts at entry hazard removal by trapping Defoggers such as Latios and Latias. Spike setters also appreciate Cofagrigus's ability to prevent Rapid Spin. Ferrothorn is a notable partner as it can set Spikes and appreciates Cofagrigus switching into Fighting-type moves. Ferrothorn can also aid Cofagrigus's recovery by using Leech Seed on incoming switch ins to Pokemon like Mega Medicham and Mega Lopunny, which enhances Cofagrigus's ability to switch into them long-term. Cofagrigus also appreciates partners that can resist Dark-types and moves such as Knock Off. Pokemon like Tyranitar and Clefable are able to do so, however Mega-Diancie can also be used as a more offensive option to check Dark-types. Since Cofagrigus is susceptible to residual damage from entry hazards, it benefits from Rapid Spinners such as Excadrill or Starmie that can spin off entry hazards without removing Cofagrigus's Toxic Spikes.

[Set]
name: Offensive Trick Room
move 1: Trick Room
move 2: Nasty Plot
move 3: Shadow Ball
move 4: Hidden Power Fighting
item: Leftovers
ability: Mummy
nature: Quiet
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA
ivs: 0 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Moves
=========
Under Trick Room, Cofagrigus is able to outspeed most of the ORAS metagame, barring Pokemon like Ferrothorn. By using Nasty Plot, Cofagrigus is able to boost it's Special Attack, allowing to sweep under Trick Room. Shadow Ball allows Cofagrigus to spam a largely unresisted STAB move, OHKOing Psychic types like Mega-Metagross, Latios, Latias, and Starmie at +2. Hidden Power Fighting is preferred over Will-O-Wisp to hit Dark- types like Tyranitar and Normal-Types like Chansey that would otherwise wall Cofagrigus. It is also able to OHKO common Dark-Types such as Weavile and Bisharp.

Set Details
=========
Max Special Attack EVs coupled with 0 Speed IVs and a Quiet Nature allows Cofagrigus to maximize it's offensive power while also being as quick as possible under Trick Room. The rest of the EVs are invested into HP and Defense, with the added bulk allowing it to survive a Life Orb Bisharp's Sucker Punch from full HP. Leftovers are also used to maximize Cofagrigus's longevity.

Usage Tips
=========
It is best to use Cofagrigus late-game to sweep after your opponent's team has been weakened. In order to prevent Cofagrigus's sweep from being cut short, it is optimal to use Nasty Plot prior to using Trick Room in order to have the maximum 4 turns to attack under Trick Room.

Team Options
=========
Pokemon that lure in and severely chip or KO bulky Normal- and Dark-types pair well with Cofagrigus and help to enable it's sweep. Latios can work to lure in Tyranitar to chip it with Draco Meteor into the range where it can be KO'd by +2 Hidden Power Fighting. Tail Glow Manaphy and Life Orb Clefable can be used to lure in Chansey and severely chip it down with boosted Surfs and Moonblasts respectively. Special attacking Knock Off users such as Serperior and Clefable may also be used lure Cofagrigus's switchins like Chansey and Tornadus-T, removing their items to reduce their bulk.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
=========

Other Options
=========
Cofagrigus has a wide array of options that can be used to disrupt many Pokemon in ORAS OU, however, many of them are situational and often fall short to the defensive Toxic Spikes set. Skill Swap may be used on Pokemon like Clefable, enabling it to take residual damage from Will-O-Wisp or Toxic-Spike while also preventing Cofagrigus from taking residual damage. It may also be used on Pokemon reliant on their abilities to heal, such as Gliscor, which in-turn takes heavy damage from it's Toxic Orb following a Skill Swap. Snatch can be used to steal boosting moves from Pokemon Calm Mind Clefable, as well as stealing recovery moves like Soft Boiled, Roost, and Slack Off. Memento is a possible option to use on Trick Room teams or as a suicide lead, as it pairs well with Cofagrigus's ability to cripple attackers with status and turn them into set up fodder. Haze may also be used to deny setup to sweepers, which can be devastating especially if they are put on a timer by Toxic Spikes or Will-O-Wisp. Knock Off is also an option that may be used to lure in Specially bulky Pokemon like Tornadus-T, Chansey, and Clefable removing their items as a result.

Checks and Counters
=========

**Dark-types**: Pokemon like Tyranitar, Weavile, and Bisharp all take minimal damage from Cofagrigus's STAB attacks and can force it out with Knock Off. However, these Pokemon do not appreciate switching into Will-O-Wisps.

**Status Immune Pokemon**: Pokemon such as Mega Altaria, Heatran, Clefable, Gliscor, Rest Suicune, Chansey, and Refresh Mega Latias are all either immune to residual damage from status or they can heal such damage off. In addition, these Pokemon have enough bulk to prevent being 2HKO'd by boosted Hexes and may consequently set up in front of Cofagrigus.

**Strong Special Attackers**: Although Cofagrigus's physical bulk is very high, it's special bulk is not, often resulting in it being overpowered by special attacking Wallbreakers like Keldeo, Manaphy, Thundurus, and Volcarona.

**Taunt users**: Due to Cofagrigus's reliablity on status moves to whittle down teams, it can often be shut down by most Taunt users due to it's low speed. Pokemon like Serperior are easily able to use Taunt to prevent Toxic Spikes and Will-O-Wisp usage versus offensive teams.

**Residual Damage**: Cofagrigus's lack of adequate recovery options makes it susceptible to being worn down by entry hazards and status such as burn and poison. This can force Cofagrigus into a state of passivity, relying on Pain Split to desperately regain HP.


[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Anvil Head, 440741]]
- Quality checked by: [[Vulpix03, 306299], [jonfilch, 472436]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1], [username2, userid2]]
 
Last edited:

Vulpix03

is a Tiering Contributoris a Forum Moderator Alumnus
RUPL Champion
Okay i'm finally here. After some consideration and discussion I've decided that for the bulky tspikes set you should remove shadow ball from the set, and only have hex listed. Of course this means remove the part about shadow ball in the "moves" section as well. I know I told you to add it initially but that was my mistake.

Cofagrigus is a more niche mon and I think you got all of the details down already, so after you remove shadow ball I will give you QC 1/2
 
Okay i'm finally here. After some consideration and discussion I've decided that for the bulky tspikes set you should remove shadow ball from the set, and only have hex listed. Of course this means remove the part about shadow ball in the "moves" section as well. I know I told you to add it initially but that was my mistake.

Cofagrigus is a more niche mon and I think you got all of the details down already, so after you remove shadow ball I will give you QC 1/2
Implemented
 

fade

pistol pete
is a Forum Moderator Alumnusis a Past SCL Championis a Former Old Generation Tournament Circuit Champion
MPL Champion
Set comments (toxic spikes support)

Moves: mention skill swap here, its useful to immediately remove abilities like pixilate from altaria, magic guard from clefable, and posion heal from gliscor, crippling would-be counters.

Checks and counters

Rather than have specially defensive mons, have status-immune mons like mega alt, heatran, clef, gliscor, rest suicune, chansey, and refresh mega latias since coffin isn’t particularly threatening.

Pretty good analysis, edit these in and ill give your second qc
 
Set comments (toxic spikes support)

Moves: mention skill swap here, its useful to immediately remove abilities like pixilate from altaria, magic guard from clefable, and posion heal from gliscor, crippling would-be counters.

Checks and counters

Rather than have specially defensive mons, have status-immune mons like mega alt, heatran, clef, gliscor, rest suicune, chansey, and refresh mega latias since coffin isn’t particularly threatening.

Pretty good analysis, edit these in and ill give your second qc
Implemented jon
 

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