Tatsugiri Movesets & Competitive Sets

Tatsugiri is a Nasty Plot sweeper that compresses offensive utility in its access to both Rapid Spin and Storm Drain. The former is not only a valid option for entry hazard removal but also one way that Tatsugiri may clean late-game when setting up on more passive foes like Palossand and Coalossal. That being said, Tatsugiri is very frail, which limits its potential to set up both Nasty Plot and Rapid Spin, making it easier to revenge kill with priority and diminishes the impact of Storm Drain when Water-types like Bruxish can OHKO it with their stronger coverage. Eject Pack is ran over Heavy-Duty Boots on some offensive VoltTurn teams, as the sacrifice to Tatsugiri's bulk and consistency in removing entry hazards could be worth it to preserve momentum and bring in a wallbreaker after using Draco Meteor. A Timid nature ensures Tatsugiri may revenge kill Adamant Skuntank and Bombirdier, but on teams where its revenge killing purposes are not as necessary, Tatsugiri may opt for a Modest nature, which enjoys some extra liberties like 2HKOing Hoopa with Draco Meteor after Stealth Rock. Tatsugiri's Tera typings are defensive, as they offer the strongest sweeping chances by limiting its revenge killers; Tera Fairy is generally the best, allowing Tatsugiri to wall opposing Tatsugiri and resist Sucker Punch. Tera Ghost is another option to reliably revenge kill—or prevent the revenge kill from—foes like Ambipom and Choice Scarf Heracross. Lastly, Tera Normal is a niche option to avoid relevant Ghost-type attacks like Hisuian Decidueye's Shadow Sneak and Choice Scarf Hoopa's Shadow Ball, with the minor benefit of buffing Rapid Spin. Tatsugiri may easily fit on a variety of teams due to its offensive utility, with a predilection for offensive structures, but it ultimately always needs careful positioning for it to get on the field due to its frailty. It will best offensively check entry hazard users like Mudsdale and Coalossal, so pivots like Rotom-Heat, Grimmsnarl, and Passimian are great at getting Tatsugiri in safely against these walls. Skuntank and Hisuian Typhlosion may lure these walls in as well, making for riskier albeit just as rewarding, positioning plays for Tatsugiri to double switch or simply come in on their Stealth Rock and Spikes. In return, these two offensive teammates put pressure on some of the specially defensive walls that Tatsugiri struggles with, like Florges and Assault Vest Galarian Slowbro. Fire- and Ground-types such as Paldean Tauros-F and Golurk will enjoy Tatsugiri's ability to deter Water-type attacks from walls and revenge killers alike, such as Milotic, Cramorant, and Choice Scarf Bruxish; use these matchups as setup opportunities for Tatsugiri. Defensive cores with walls such as Mudsdale, Galarian Slowbro, and Florges are good to rely on when Tatsugiri is forced out by faster revenge killers like Pawmot and Zoroark. With Eject Pack, Tatsugiri will have a one-time switch on special walls like Wo-Chien and Snorlax, so physical wallbreakers that enjoy the free switch-in like Flame Orb Heracross and Choice Band Paldean Tauros-F will make the most out of this interaction.

Tatsugiri-D's main role is to be beside Dondozo and give it a boost thanks to Commander and Order Up boosting Dondozo's Defense stat. When not beside Dondozo, it can support partners with Helping Hand and deal spread damage with Muddy Water, which can swing games by having a chance to lower the foes' accuracy. Draco Meteor is a strong Dragon-type attack that can threaten other Dragon-types like Miraidon and Roaring Moon. Helping Hand can be used to boost the attacks of partners like Calyrex-S and Chi-Yu. With Helping Hand, Calyrex-S can KO Raging Bolt with Astral Barrage, while Chi-Yu can KO Flutter Mane with Heat Wave. Focus Sash allows Tatsugiri-D to survive an attack and fire back or support its partners. With a Modest Nature, Tera Stellar Tatsugiri-D can OHKO both Urshifu formes, Calyrex-S, and most Assault Vest Raging Bolt with Draco Meteor and Chi-Yu with Muddy Water. Tatsugiri-D can run a Timid nature, making it deal less damage but letting it outspeed threats like Modest Terapagos and Regidrago. Tatsugiri is solely used to combine with Dondozo, and shouldn't be picked outside of that purpose.

Icy Wind is used as a late-game speed control option. Dragon Pulse is a more consistent STAB move compared to Draco Meteor and Muddy Water, at the cost of damage. Sleep Talk allows Tatsugiri to better answer Amoonguss, while Tera Blast hits Flutter Mane and Chien-Pao in the rare circumstances where Tatsugiri is Terastallized. Choice Scarf allows Tatsugiri to clean up late-game once Dondozo is down, either serving as speed control with Icy Wind to support its partner or dealing damage with Muddy Water and Draco Meteor. The given EVs allow Tatsugiri to outspeed Choice Scarf Landorus-T and survive an Icicle Crash from Chien-Pao and a Wicked Blow from Urshifu-S. Tera Steel gives Tatsugiri a resistance to Dragon and Fairy and a generally better defensive profile. Tera Water can be used to boost Muddy Water's damage and remove its weakness to Flutter Mane's Fairy-type STAB moves, which is useful in some end-game scenarios.

Tatsugiri only appears on teams to enable Dondozo with its Commander ability and potentially offer some support and damage. Icy Wind offers speed control and considerable damage into the likes of Garchomp and Dragonite, though it only appears on Choice Scarf sets. Draco Meteor is a high-damage STAB option with drawbacks, while Dragon Pulse offers consistent damage. Taunt can stop status moves like Spore from Amoonguss; Follow Me from Electabuzz, Magmar, and Maushold; and Trick Room from Porygon2 and the Indeedee formes. Taunt in combination with Safety Goggles can ignore Rage Powder to stop opposing setup. The status moves are not intended for a Choice Scarf set. Protect appears on Focus Sash and Safety Goggles sets, and it can be used to bait attacks into Tatsugiri before Dondozo is sent out, drawing damage away from Tatsugiri's partner. Choice Scarf lets Tatsugiri outspeed the entire metagame if the opponent does not have Speed boosts, though it is less flexible. Focus Sash aids survivability for Tatsugiri, with its low defensive presence, but the set lacks speed control. Safety Goggles stops Tatsugiri from getting punished by a slow Spore on the turn Dondozo faints. The Safety Goggles set has mediocre Speed and bulk and can be taken out by fast offensive threats. Tera Ghost is useful for blocking moves like Fake Out and Extreme Speed, which will quickly break a Focus Sash. Tera Steel turns Tatsugiri's weaknesses to Dragon, Fairy, and Freeze Dry into resistances and adds other useful resistances, such as to Grass- and Normal-type moves like Wood Hammer, Blood Moon, and Hyper Voice. Tera Stellar boosts general offense, given that Focus Sash Tatsugiri is likely to survive a turn.