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Iconic
11-08-2008, 09:24 PM
Tauros:

http://www.legendarypokemon.net/images/dp_artwork/128.png

Choice Band:

Tauros @ Choice Band
Ability: Intimidate
Nature: Jolly (+Speed, -Sp.Att.)
EV’s: 6 HP/252 Att/252 Speed
- Return/Double Edge
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Pursuit/Zen Headbutt

What do you do to a Poke with fantastic Speed and above average Attack? You slap a Choice Band on it of course! This thing has the ability to hit very hard late game when those annoying defensive walls are out of the way. Return will be your move of choice, and it’ll hit hard backed by STAB and 448 Attack. You obviously won’t be getting any super-effective hits with it, but it’ll be getting some powerful neutral shots off. You can opt for Double Edge instead if you’re feeling kamikaze, but the recoil really hurts. Earthquake deals with the Rocks and Steels trying to soak up your Returns, as well as scoring super-effective hits on Fires, Electrics and Poisons. Stone Edge deals with Flyers, and also Levitating Ghosts. Without Stone Edge, the combination of Return + Earthquake would do nothing to Gengar, Mismagius and Rotom. Speaking of these Pokes, the last slot should be some sort of move to deal with them. Pursuit would be your best choice, as you can either revenge kill them, or come in on a Shadow Ball to trap them (especially if they’re Choiced!). Most times they’ll flee, which means Pursuit will nail them for double the damage. It’ll always 1HKO Gengar if it switches out, but if it doesn’t, you’ll have to settle for a 2HKO. Zen Headbutt is a solid alternative however, since neither Stone Edge nor Pursuit will 1HKO Gengar if he stays in. A nice Zen Headbutt will ensure he dies in one blow, but Pursuit is generally the better option.

There are plenty of ways to play with the EV spread. However, firstly and obviously, max out your Attack. Most people just run a Jolly 6 HP/252 Att/252 Speed Tauros, which puts you at 350 Speed (which is recommended). This ties you with most Gengars, Frosslass and Espeons, allowing you to be in a potential speed tie. However, since you might be Pursuiting them, you can always go for lower Speed. You’ll need: 240 EVs to beat Ape (347 Speed), 216 EVs makes you faster than Mismagius (341 Speed), 176 EVs puts Tauros ahead of Charizard, Ninetales, Salamence and more importantly Staraptor (330 Speed) while 136 EVs beats Houndoom (319 Speed). Keep in mind that all those stats are if you use Tauros with a Jolly nature and that you should dump remaining EVs into HP. Just pick a magic Speed number and hopefully it’ll serve its purpose.

Sub-Salac/Anger Point:

Tauros @ Salac Berry/Liechi Berry
Ability: Anger Point
Nature: Jolly (+Speed, -Sp.Att.)
EV’s: 252 Att/6 Def/252 Speed
- Substitute
- Return
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge

If you’ve ever had the misfortune of being swept by one of these things, you’ll know how good they can be. For those that are unfamiliar with the ability, Anger Point raises Tauros’ Attack to +6 if he is hit by a critical hit. Now, you can try to switch Tauros in on attacks like Rapid Spin or Knock Off to potentially get a crit, but it’d be best to Substitute instead. Since Tauros doesn’t resist anything, most attacks would OHKO if it happens to be a critical hit, so Substituting is the best way to protect yourself from that predicament. It’s also useful because it allows you to Sub down to a berry boost. Salac Berry is the preferable item since it’ll make you faster than most Scarfed Pokes, which could save you from bring revenge killed. Liechi Berry is an acceptable alternative if you aren’t able to activate Anger Point.

You’ll want to make his HP stat odd by not putting any EVs in it so that you can make 4 Subs and your Salac Berry will activate on the fourth. This means there’s a 25% chance that you’ll be able to activate Anger Point, which isn’t too bad.

Mixed Sweeper:

Tauros @ Life Orb
Ability: Intimidate
Nature: Naïve (+Speed, -Sp.Def.)
EV’s: 252 Att/122 Sp.Att/136 Speed
- Return
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Fire Blast/Flamethrower

Despite an abysmal Special Attack stat, Fire Blast is Tauros’ only chance on breaking Steels. Skarmory, who will often be switching in trying to absorb a CB Tauros’ attack, takes between 57%-67% from a Life Orbed Fire Blast, which is a solid 2HKO with no questions asked. Most Steelix are also 2HKOed, while Forretress dies in 1 shot. Your Attack is still maxed so you can deal damage on the physical side. The Speed EVs puts you at 318, ahead of max Speed Pokes with base 95.

You’ll likely want to conceal the fact you have Fire Blast on this set and try to pass it off as a purely physical attacker. Do you best to do scout for a Steel Poke as well so you can nail it on the switch. In addition, if you’re afraid of Fire Blast missing, Flamethrower is an acceptable alternative. It has the ability to serve the same purpose as Fire Blast, but you’ll need more Special Attack EVs, which is why Fire Blast is generally the better choice.

Other Options:

Tauros doesn’t have a very great movepool (I would have more sets if he did). Body Slam is an option over Return if you want to take advantage of the paralysis, but Return’s higher BP is your better choice. The same goes for Rock Slide, if you want the flinch chance and better accuracy. Outrage is an interesting choice for another attack. It’s a great counter for YacheMence, as you’ll be faster before a DD and it’ll always OHKO. However, as most of us know, Outrage isn’t that great without STAB, so I’d stay away from it. Just like any Poke, you can run a Rest-Talking set, but there are clearly better options. Finally, Tauros has an excellent special movepool, but Fire Blast should be the only special attack you use if you do choose to use one.

Opinion:

Tauros is definitely an interesting Pokemon. Although he’s outclassed by several other physical threats, he has the ability to hit hard. Most Pokes (who don’t resist it) won’t enjoy taking a CB Return, and Steel walls need to be prudent for a potential Fire Blast. In addition, if you’re able to get a Salac/Anger Point set to work properly, you’ve likely got a clean sweep. Tauros can work quite will in BL/UU battles, and that’s no bull.

Counters:

Bronzong and Skarmory can switch in with ease, but they need to be weary for Fire Blast (which Tauros rarely runs). Same goes with Forretress, but unlike the aforementioned Pokes, Forry is weak to EQ. Levitating Ghosts, as mentioned can switch in Return and Earthquake, but need to be careful for Stone Edge. Sturdier Ghosts like Dusknoir and Spiritomb are nice counters, since they can take hits and threaten with a Will-O-Wisp.

Statigar
11-08-2008, 10:30 PM
Finally! A new guide! :)

Well done Iconic for keeping the spirit! Shame that no one else has :/

Iconic
11-08-2008, 10:36 PM
Finally! A new guide! :)

Well done Iconic for keeping the spirit! Shame that no one else has :/
Thanks James :D

Hopefully more guides will get up. I'm gonna keep working on more as well.

beaconjames
11-09-2008, 01:08 AM
nice! a new guide.