Tinkaton Movesets & Competitive Sets

Tinkaton's good matchup against Mandibuzz makes it a strong Stealth Rock setter that uses its typing to get plenty of entry hazard-setting chances. Certain teams prefer Tinkaton to use Thunder Wave, though, since they can fit another Stealth Rock setter; this can help significantly when dealing with foes like Latios. Knock Off is excellent utility that prevents Tinkaton from being passive, removing items from Excadrill, Tornadus-T, and Rotom-W. Encore is Tinkaton's most useful asset, letting it use its typing and bulk to checkmate foes like Latios and Hydrapple. Leftovers is preferred on Mold Breaker sets so that Tinkaton has some longevity, with Mold Breaker proving useful to let it OHKO Ogerpon-C and Mimikyu despite their abilities. Pickpocket with an Air Balloon can let it steal items from Excadrill, Weavile, and Lokix, which can help immensely in fending these threats off. The given EVs allow Tinkaton to KO Latios with Knock Off followed by Gigaton Hammer. Play Rough is a niche option that lets Tinkaton more directly pressure Greninja and Latios, but it is extremely weak against foes it doesn't hit super effectively. Tera Flying lets Tinkaton use Encore after Excadrill's Earthquake, While Tera Ghost can Encore Excadrill and other spinners into a failed attempt to remove hazards. Tera Dark helps Tinkaton against strong Psychic-type attackers like Choice Specs Latios, while Tera Dragon lets it check Greninja and Belly Drum Azumarill. Tinkaton's incredible typing and utility let it fit on all kinds of bulky offense and balance teams, using Stealth Rock to support teammates like Zarude and Lokix that love to weaken checks with Knock Off. It's also a good partner for teammates like Sandy Shocks and Rotom-W that dislike dealing with Latios. Tinkaton's flexibility lets it use its bulk to tank huge attacks and lock foes into them with Encore; for example, it often needs to lock Greninja into Surf. As such, teammates that can handle these attacks like Slowking and Hydrapple can be very useful to have. They also help signficantly against Excadrill, which Tinkaton tends to let in for free. Teams that use Tinkaton should aim to make progress fairly quickly; while it's a great stopgap to all kinds of threats, its lack of reliable recovery prevents it from lasting forever, so it needs progress-making teammates like Latios and Weavile, which can help it create favorable game states.

Tinkaton's access to strong utility moves allows it to facilitate its powerful teammates like Azumarill, Hatterene, and Iron Valiant. Gigaton Hammer threatens Pokemon like opposing Flutter Mane and Enamorus. Stealth Rock allows Tinkaton to make use of the free turns its good defensive typing gives it and aid its teammates by inflicting passive damage on foes. Encore punishes defensive threats like Gliscor and Toxapex by locking them into unfavorable moves, allowing Tinkaton to either set entry hazards or enable its teammates to come in safely. Thunder Wave takes advantage of the switches that Tinkaton forces, preventing would-be threats like Iron Moth, Ogerpon-W, and Ogerpon-H from switching in for free. Knock Off can be used over Thunder Wave to remove vital items from other Pokemon that can switch into it such as Archaludon, Garchomp, and Skarmory. Pickpocket paired with Air Balloon allows Tinkaton to steal items from Pokemon that use contact moves, most notably U-turn users like Landorus, Meowscarada, and Choice Scarf Sneasler. Additionally, Air Balloon allows Tinkaton to circumvent its Ground weakness, enabling it to switch into Ground-type moves from Excadrill and Ting-Lu. 232 Speed EVs let Tinkaton outspeed Landorus-T. Azumarill makes great use of Tinkaton's Encore, which allows it to set up for free against Pokemon like Gliscor or Ceruledge that are locked into unfavorable moves; this allows it to threaten the entire opposing team as a result. Additionally, Tinkaton's Stealth Rock enables Azumarill to comfortably KO Ogerpon-H and Ogerpon-C after a Belly Drum boost. Flutter Mane appreciates Stealth Rock wearing down checks like Toxapex and Alolan Muk over time and really enjoys Tinkaton removing their Black Sludges with either Pickpocket or Knock Off. In return, it blocks Rapid Spin, allowing Tinkaton's Stealth Rock to stay on the field. Iron Valiant makes great use of Tinkaton's Thunder Wave, which allows it to outspeed common checks like Flutter Mane, Sneasler, and Cinderace. To repay Tinkaton, it uses its BoltBeam coverage to threaten common Defoggers like Corviknight and Mandibuzz while also providing the entire team with a way to break through Steel-types. Tinkaton's Encore and Stealth Rock support benefits Hatterene immensely and makes its job as a setup sweeper much easier. In return, it reflects opposing entry hazards and status moves that Tinkaton normally invites. Primarina is also a great partner for Tinkaton, as it resists the Fire-type moves that Tinkaton attracts while also serving as either a dangerous setup sweeper or bulky pivot that makes great use of Tinkaton's Encore support.

Tinkaton finds a niche on Fairy teams thanks to its secondary Steel typing and unique support options. Gigaton Hammer OHKOes Rock- and Fairy-types like Glimmora, Kleavor, Flutter Mane, and Hatterene. Knock Off provides Tinkaton with another offensive option that removes important items from Steel-types such as Corviknight and Archaludon. Swords Dance allows Tinkaton to gain offensive pressure, securing OKHOs on more defensive Pokemon such as Galarian Weezing and Amoonguss while also dealing with walls like Defog Corviknight. Finally, Stealth Rock allows Tinkaton to provide utility when causing havoc offensively isn't an option. The EVs allow Tinkaton to get a jump on threats like Glimmora and Kleavor, with the rest invested into its bulk. Tinkaton majorly appreciates the support of Flutter Mane, which can use Thunderbolt and Power Gem to handle the Water- and Fire-types that Tinkaton cannot handle, namely Toxapex, Greninja, Ogerpon-H, and Torkoal. Enamorus, thanks to its secondary Flying typing, can switch in to Ground-type attacks from the likes of Great Tusk, Gliscor, Landorus, and Excadrill and threaten back with the appropriate coverage. Klefki and Tinkaton form an entry hazard-stacking core that Fairy's offensive threats appreciate. Tinkaton also enjoys dual screens support from Klefki, making its setup much safer. Mixed Iron Valiant provides incredible coverage, being able to remove targets like Landorus, Toxapex, and Archaludon, which otherwise wall Tinkaton. Hatterene values Tinkaton's utility in Stealth Rock and Knock Off chipping down switch-ins like Alolan Muk and Hisuian Goodra and can support Tinkaton by being able to use Nuzzle and slow down faster threats like Iron Boulder and Iron Valiant, which can threaten Tinkaton. Primarina cherishes Tinkaton's ability to remove Assault Vest from targets like Iron Hands and Galarian Slowking that can prove problematic. In return, Calm Mind Primarina can threaten bulky Steel- and Fire-type targets like Corviknight, Heatran, and Armarouge, which are hinderances for Tinkaton. Azumarill takes advantage of Tinkaton's Stealth Rock, which provides crucial chip damage, allowing it to OHKO targets like Toxapex and Corviknight that can be hurdles for both Tinkaton and Azumarill.

Tinkaton boasts an impressive support movepool alongside a fantastic typing in Fairy / Steel. Encore: Encore can open up opportunities for Tinkaton or its teammates, locking foes into status moves or attacks that are resisted. Knock Off versus Play Rough: Knock Off is Tinkaton's best attack against Gholdengo and is a strong utility move in general. Meanwhile, Play Rough provides offensive STAB and is Tinkaton's best option against Dragon-types. Thunder Wave: With Mold Breaker, Tinkaton is capable of paralyzing Gholdengo and Garganacl with Thunder Wave. Swords Dance: Despite Tinkaton's low offensive stats, it can still perform as an offensive Pokemon thanks to Gigaton Hammer's enormous 160 Base Power and Swords Dance. Combined with Mold Breaker, Tinkaton can even hit Unaware Dondozo with boosted Play Rough. Other Options Bulldoze: Bulldoze can be run instead of Thunder Wave, acting as an offensive alternative to reducing Speed that also breaks Focus Sashes. Tera Types Tera Dependency - Low / Medium: Tinkaton already has great typing and makes good use of items to improve its survivability. Its reliance on Tera largely depends on the matchups it wants to patch up. Water: Tera Water turns Tinkaton's Fire-type weakness into a resistance, allowing it to potentially lock Chi-Yu and Volcarona into resisted moves. Flying: Tera Flying makes Tinkaton immune to Ground, which can be useful in avoiding Earthquake from the likes of Ting-Lu, Garchomp, and Great Tusk. Fairy: Tera Fairy gives Tinkaton a stronger Play Rough. With Mold Breaker ignoring Multiscale, fully invested Adamant Tera Fairy Play Rough almost always OHKOs offensive Dragonite. Ground: Tera Ground thwarts Volt Switch pivoting, potentially giving Tinkaton extra turns to set up for itself or teammates. Bulldoze also becomes a more serviceable attack. Steel: Tera Steel powers up the already amazing Gigaton Hammer, but at the cost of being weaker to Fighting- and Dark-type attacks. Items Air Balloon: Air Balloon let's Tinkaton set up Stealth Rock against other common entry hazard setters such as Garchomp and Glimmora without the use of Flying Tera and pairs incredibly well with Encore. Focus Sash: Focus Sash allows Tinkaton to get support moves like Thunder Wave off even against powerful attacks from the likes of Terastallized Chi-Yu, Garchomp, and Dragapult. Leftovers: Leftovers has great synergy with Swords Dance and Encore, allowing it to set up while healing off some of the damage from weak moves. EV Speads 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe with Jolly or Adamant: This is a simple offensive spread that takes full advantage of Air Balloon or Focus Sash for survivability. If running Jolly, you can repurpose 24 Speed EVs to defensive stats and still outrun Jolly Annihilape. 244 HP / 4 Atk / 148 Def / 20 SpD / 92 Spe with Careful: The HP and Defense investment let's Tinkaton survive Adamant Dragonite's Earthquake into Extreme Speed. The Special Defense investment allows Tinkaton to survive one Timid Choice Specs Fire Blast from Hydreigon, two Modest Choice Specs Shadow Balls from Dragapult, and three uninvested Shadow Balls from Gholdengo. The Speed investment allows Tinkaton to outspeed a paralyzed Choice Scarf Timid Chi-Yu.