#128: Tauros

Some will say that I should include Miltank in this post, but since they aren't connected in evolution and have different setups entirely then those people are wrong, I'm afraid to say. Hope I have't upset you too much with my bullishness (get it?). I guess the connection is that this is all male, Miltank is all female...

After reviewing Pinsir last time, we've got another fairly short shift, and this one doesn't even get a mega. Tauros is a normal-type Pokemon with a definite focus on the physical side of things (probably a throwback to the days before types could be both special and physical). This physical nature manifests in base 95 defence and 100 attack, which is joined by 110 speed and a medium 75HP. The special side of life is lacking with base 40 special attack and an indifferent 70 special defence. Moving on from the numbers game, we get the abilities intimidate (lowers the foe's attack by a stage), anger point (when this Pokemon is hit by a critical, its attack is maximised, basically boosted up 6 stages from neutral, or, more generally, boosted to 400% of normal) and the hidden ability of sheer force (bonus effects of moves like the stat boosts acquired from ancient power or the flinch of bite or even things like ember's burn are removed, boosting the power of the move by 30%). Recoil will still apply to sheer force-d moves.

Designers: add a few extras onto an existing animal and it's totally new!

As a normal Pokemon, you naturally start with tackle (base 50 physical normal and utterly unremarkable), and as a Pokemon with 3 tails you also get tail whip to lower the foe's defence. Rage remains rather useless as a move, starting at base 20 normal physical, but it gets stronger if you get hurt AND you keep on using it (but you'll get killed before it really gets up to power). Horn attack hits with a reasonable base 65 as a STAB physical normal move with decent PP, but it's still nothing you couldn't live without, whilst scary face (candidate for the worst move name ever) lowers the target's speed stat by two stages. Pursuit is the first move to really shake things up here: it's a dark physical move that hits as base 40, but if the foe tries to switch out then you strike before they can and with base 80. Rest will put you to sleep but fully heal you (most rest users will do one of the following: use it as a one off with a chesto berry to immediately wake them up, use it with the chesto berry and the move recycle, use it with sleep talk (which can select itself or rest, so you'll get an actual move only half the time), use it with snore, use it when they know they can wake back up before there's any danger or use it and then get pummelled and die anyway).

Payback is another move that bucks a trend in that it's again dark-type rather than normal, but it has low priority and deals double its base 50 in damage if the foe hurts you in that turn. Again, payback isn't all that great. Work up raises both attack stats by a stage, which is quite nice, in a way, I guess. Zen headbutt lacks a little in accuracy at 90, but is a psychic physical move that hits with base 80 power and can flinch the foe, or hits for 104 with sheer force, but no flinch. Take down is base 90 in power, 85 in accuracy and hurts the user, too, so it barely seems worth it. Swagger boosts the foe's attack by two stages and confuses them, so their confusion hurts them more than it normally would, too. Thrash is a base 120 normal physical move that hits for 2 or 3 turns before leaving the user confused, but I find this to be preferable to both take down, and the last level move, giga impact. Giga impact hits with an impressive base 150 normal physical and is 90 accuracy, but when you use it, you miss your next turn to recharge.

The TM list for Tauros is a massive slog, to be honest. Return is a great shout, in truth, and the rest of the normal ones are there. There's also a huge list of special moves for some reason, and you probably shouldn't ever consider these as they will be less Goku's amazing Kamehamehas that blasted Vegeta into the sky and more like the little farty Kamehamehas from Dragon Ball Evolution. Dreadful films aside, there's no point in taking good moves like ice beam, flamethrower, thunder/bolt, solar beam, hidden power or surf (unless you need and HM slave, as it can also get strength and rock smash, as well as secret power to open your secret base). There are some good physical moves on offer, like return, facade, earthquake, rock tomb, rock slide, stone edge, bulldoze and even wild charge, if you're that desperate.

If you want little baby bulls that have shiny egg moves, think again, buddy. With no egg moves and most of the good from the TM list being in the special-and-thus-doing-less-damage-than-a-mediocre-physical-move category, the tutor is the last bastion of freedom hope for some more useful moves. The issue is, they offer a wide selection of special moves (icy wind, shockwave, snore, water pulse, uproar) and moves you should have (zen headbutt, and outrage is just thrash from a dragon perspective). The moves you can get are ok, I guess: iron tail hits hard but lacks accuracy, iron head is basically a steel version of zen headbutt, spite can slash the PP of a move that threatens you, endeavour drags the foe's HP down to yours, helping hand can help a teammate in multi-battles (but is otherwise useless), and role play can copy the foe's ability onto you.

The issue I have here is the major lack of variety in physical moves. Earthquake is a good shout for a physical attacker, and return is decent, plus with the loss of added effects from sheer force, things like zen headbutt and iron head have 104 power, though the flinches aren't a bad thing, but the teasing of fire, ice and electric moves that turn out to be special (I don't like wild charge so I'm ignoring it) is a bit of a tease. The lack of egg moves is a little disappointing, but then I guess it makes breeding to perfection a lot easier. All in all, you don't really threaten too much, but you hit ok with nice speed to get you there.

(All artwork presented by Ken Sugimori, taken from the Bulbapedia image archives)