Tauros has an interesting history with the Pokemon franchise. In the anime it was known as the Pokemon that Ash suddenly owned dozens of without any explanation as to how no thanks to the banned Safari Zone episode, and in the competitive scene it used to be the undisputed king of gen 1 with every pro player having one. These days Tauros has seen less and less use however no thanks to power creep and it losing some of its luster with each new generation.
But Tauros still brings a lot to the table no thanks to a good mix of attack, defense, speed, and access to Intimidate as an ability. And with the addition of the Paldean regional variants, there are fewer reasons now to not run this raging bull.
Kanto Bull
Ability: Intimidate
Item: Life Orb
Nature: Jolly
EVs: (HP 4) (Attack 252) (Speed 252)
Tera Type: Normal or Ghost
Moves:
Work Up
Double-Edge/Raging Bull
Close Combat
Earthquake
Set Details:
Set up Work Up to boost power, Double-Edge is your most powerful STAB, but if the recoil turns you off you can sub in Raging Bull, and Close Combat and Earthquake offer powerful coverage options to handle the Rock and Steel types. Ability goes to Intimidate to drop the opponent's power and make every switch in easier, item will be Life Orb to boost your own power, stats are invested in speed but mostly power, and Tera typing will be either Normal to further jack up your STAB or Ghost to block and incoming Fighting attack.
Kaliente Aries
Ability: Intimidate
Item: Life Orb
Nature: Jolly
EVs: (HP 4) (Attack 252) (Speed 252)
Tera Type: Fighting or Fire
Moves:
Bulk Up
Close Combat
Flare Blitz/Raging Bull
Earthquake/Flame Charge
Set Details:
No real reason to use ordinary Paldean Tauros since the added type coverage and STAB are worth the extra weaknesses. Bulk Up provides extra power and defense, Close Combat is your ever spammable Fighting STAB, Flare Blitz is a powerful secondary STAB but you can sub in Raging Bull if you are not a fan of the recoil, and Earthquake offers excellent neutral coverage, though if you want to shore up your speed in addition to your attack you could also replace it with Flame Charge and then sweep like crazy. Intimidate is still standard, Life Orb offers more attack, stats in attack and speed again, and Tera typing is to boost your choice of STAB while removing some of your weaknesses.
Water Buffalo
Ability: Intimidate
Item: Life Orb
Nature: Jolly
EVs: (HP 4) (Attack 252) (Speed 252)
Tera Type: Fighting or Water
Moves:
Bulk Up
Close Combat
Wave Crash/Raging Bull
Earthquake/Aqua Jet
Set Details:
Same story as the last set only with Water typing. Bulk Up ups attack and defense, Close Combat is your powerful STAB with acceptable defense drawbacks, Wave Crash for power or Raging Bull for less power but no recoil, and then either Earthquake for coverage or Aqua Jet for access to priority in the event Tauros's speed does not cut it. As per usual, Intimidate, Life Orb, attack and speed investment, and Tera typing to boost STAB.
It feels like a lost opportunity for Gamefreak not to include a Fighting/Grass variant with Wood Hammer and Trailblaze too just to complete the starter triangle, but honestly I am just glad this Kanto classic received some extra love aside non gen 1 players who pine for the old competitive scene. No bull**** here to be seen.
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