Moves
Flare Blitz is Tepig's most powerful attack, with few Pokemon truly wanting to take it; only Pokemon that resist Fire can switch into it well. Head Smash complements Flare Blitz's coverage and power, OHKOing walls such as Ponyta and Vullaby after Stealth Rock. Sucker Punch gives Tepig the ability to pick off weakened Pokemon and can often be used to finish off Pokemon that dared to switch into it. The last slot is dedicated to rounding out Tepig's offensive presence, with Wild Charge allowing Tepig to obliterate all Water-types except Goldeen and Chinchou, and Superpower giving Tepig a way to remove Porygon, the rarer Lileep, and other Rock-types. However, Flame Charge is another option to consider, as it puts Tepig into a Speed tier above the unboosted metagame, giving it more time to launch brawny attacks.
Set Details
Life Orb provides Tepig with incredible power and allows it to switch moves, making it superior to Choice Band. Due to Tepig being weak to Stealth Rock, using Life Orb, and employing recoil-intensive moves, Blaze makes Tepig's inevitable low-HP final hurrah hit insanely hard. The EVs and nature are tailored to maximize Tepig's strength while also outspeeding or Speed tying all common Water-types.
Usage Tips
Tepig should never switch into an attack; rather, it should come in off a slow U-turn or to revenge kill opposing Pokemon. Tepig's health is a valuable resource, so strive to clear entry hazards from the field and remove the opponent's Stealth Rock setter early. Flare Blitz will do a large amount of damage to everything bar the uncommon dependable Pokemon that resist Fire, so it should be used most often.
Team Options
Entry hazard removers, such as Staryu, Drilbur, Archen, and Vullaby, are great for keeping up Tepig's longevity, as Tepig has to worry enough about recoil as is without adding Stealth Rock damage into the mix. Tepig appreciates all forms of entry hazard support, especially Stealth Rock setters such as Archen, Dwebble, Tirtouga, and Pawniard, as the residual damage helps Tepig bust through most of its common switch-ins. Toxic Spikes setters such as Skrelp and Omanyte also reliably provide extra chip damage on the foe, making it easier for Tepig to shatter through opposing teams of all varieties. Both Dwebble and Omanyte also have access to Spikes, which turns many 2HKOs into OHKOs for Tepig. Sticky Web support from Surskit or Spinarak gives Tepig the ability to outspeed all of the grounded metagame, making it much harder for the opposing team to deal with. Grass-types such as Snivy and Cottonee can make quick work of the Ground-, Rock-, and Water-types that pester Tepig. Pumpkaboo-S is especially synergistic, as it provides spinblocking support to help keep entry hazards on the field, securing OHKOs for Tepig. Archen, Fletchling, and Cottonee all have access to Tailwind and can use it to allow Tepig to outspeed everything for several turns and potentially pickup a handful of KOs. Lastly, Buneary has access to Healing Wish and Thunder Wave, which can give Tepig a second chance and cripple faster Pokemon for Tepig.
