Komala

Komala, the Drowsing Pokémon. Komala spends its entire life sleeping. It feeds on leaves that contain a potent poison only Komala can break down. A potent anesthetic can be made by diluting Komala's drool. This anesthetic was used for surgeries in the past.

Overview

Komala’s introduction in Generation 7 was that of a mild curiosity. Always being asleep granted it immunity to every other status and enabled interactions with Sleep Talk unfeasible on other Pokémon. Its Base 115 Attack is viable, and with a huge array of coverage options enables Komala as a potent force if it can get going.

However, Komala’s gimmick was always just that. Normal typing has been one of the worst types in the game for its lack of resistances, super effective targets, and viable physical STABs which Komala has neither the bulk or power to compensate for the shortcomings of its typing. Poor speed leaves Komala at the mercy of many faster attackers, forcing it to take its with its middling to lackluster bulk. Even Komala’s gimmick giving status immunity is outdone by Garganacl. Komala is not without merit, but other Pokémon have overtaken it while Komala sleeps the day away.
Positives
Base 115 Attack is complimented by the wealth of coverage Normal types are known for and access to Swords Dance for a potent attacker
Comatose is a great ability, providing invaluable status immunity while its downsides are near non-existent.
Good support options in Yawn, Rapid Spin and Wish

Negatives
Normal typing is poor defensively and further hampered by Komala’s own lacking HP and Defense
Middling Speed further hampers any offensive or defensive efforts Komala can muster.
Loss of Return and Last Resort is a massive drop in power, leaving Komala wanting for power.
Outclassed in about every niche.

Movesets

Sleep Dancing

-Swords Dance
-Body Slam
-Earthquake
-Sucker Punch
Ability: Comatose
Item: Life Orb
EVs and Nature:
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature

Komala can function as a Swords Dance Sweeper that can be difficult stop thanks to its Burn and Toxic immunity. Come in on a compromised opponent, setup Swords Dance and go for the sweep. Body Slam is a good STAB, having decent power and the good chance of Paralysis punishes even resistant targets. Earthquake is fantastic coverage, hitting the Steel and Rock types that resist Body Slam. Sucker Punch rounds out the set, providing both valuable coverage against Ghost types in addition to priority to remedy Komala’s own speed.

Tera Types:
Tera Normal is great for ratcheting up Komala’s power as high as possible. Tera Fairy is worth consideration for providing a Fighting Resistance, a boost to Play Rough while not worsening Komala’s Ghost matchup.

EVs and Items:
Standard Sweeper array of max Attack and Speed for as much power as possible. Moving Speed investment to HP is worth consideration, often giving Komala a larger buffer to setup Swords Dance, but leaves it more vulnerable to normally slower opponents like Beartic, and Perrserker. Life Orb is for Extra Damage, while Silk Scarf gives Komala slightly less power in return for not tearing itself apart with Life Orb.

Partners:
Mismagius makes for a decent partner for Rotom, able to pivot into Fighting attacks, threatens most Ghost types and can easily enable Swords Dance between Will-o-Wisp, Mystical Fire and/or Thunder Wave. Most other Ghost types can suffice in this role. Direct answers to ghost types like Umbreon, and Houndoom make for great partners, as Komala often struggles with Ghost types and the former two having Yawn and Will-o-Wisp to help facilitate Komala’s own sweep. Slowbro provides an excellent answer to Fighting types and other physical attackers, has Future sight to help Komala push through would be checks and has Thunder Wave and Yawn to help enable safe setup.

Other Options:
Play Rough -directly punishes Fighting types and synchronizes well with Fairy Tera
Wood Hammer -hits Rock, Ground and Water types hard, but Earthquake and Sucker Punch cover more of Komala’s weaknesses.
Choice Band + Sleep Talk -Pure Gimmick, but having a Pokémon that can change its moves while receiving the Choice Band boost does have their niche, but more often than note you get more mileage playing around Choice Band instead of having no control what attack you are doing.
Rapid Spin -Entry Hazard removal is always at a premium and helps address Komala’s poor speed in a poor Double Dance sort of way.
U-Turn -great for scouting and getting an ally in safely.
Wish -Pairs well with U-Turn to heal a teammate.

Countering Komala

Many Fighting types make great check for Komala, their naturally higher speed and STABs easily roast Komala and its lackluster bulk, with Heracross, Passimian, and the Paldean Tauros breeds being excellent examples.

Ghost types are also a consistent thorn in Komala’s side, as its best coverage option is Sucker Punch, which most ghosts with their subversive movesets can easily play around. Mismagius, Rotom, and Drifblim are particularly troublesome, their typings/abilities granting immunity to Earthquake in addition to Normal STAB. Bronzong also falls into this category for similar reasons.

Locations in Games

Red/Blue/Yellow:
Not in game

Gold/Silver/Crystal:
Not in game

Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Not in game

FireRed/LeafGreen:
Not in game

Colosseum/XD:
Not in game

Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Not in game

HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Not in game

Black/White:
Not in game

Black 2/White 2:
Not in game

X/Y:
Not in game

Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Not in game

Sun/Moon:
Route 11

Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon:
Route 11

Let's Go, Pikachu!/Let's Go, Eevee!:
Not in game

Sword/Shield:
Not in game

Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl:
Not in game

Legends: Arceus:
Not in game

Scarlet/Violet:
East Province Area One, East Province Area Two, South Province Area One, Tagtree Thicket, West Province Area Three
Tera Raid Battles: 4 Star Raid Battles

Anime Appearences

Komala has had multiple appearances in the anime. In them, it was owned by Samson Oak at the Pokémon School in Alola and rang the bell

# -English Episode Name- -Jp. Episode Name- Pics
945 The Guardian's Challenge! Enter the Guardian Deity Tapu Koko! Let Us Attempt To Master Our Z-Move! Pics
946 Loading the Dex! Good Rotomorning, I am the Rotomdex, Roto! Pics
948 Yo, Ho, Ho! Go, Popplio! Popplio, Do Your Balloonest! Pics
950 That's Why Litten is a Scamp! The Marketplace Wanderer, Litten! Pics
951 Lillie's Egg-xhilarating Challenge! Who's in Charge of the Egg? Pics
952 To Top A Totem! The Totem Pokémon is Gumshoos! Pics
956 Racing to a Big Event! The Great Alola Pancake Race! Pics
957 Getting to Know You! The Fruit of Courage: Lillie and Vulpix! Pics
958 Rocking Clawmark Hill! Scratchmark Hill, Rockruff and Lycanroc!! Pics
960 Crystal-Clear Sleuthing! Alola Detective Rotom! The Mystery of the Lost Crystal!! Pics
962 A Guardian Rematch! Intense Electric Shock Training! A Rematch with Tapu Koko!! Pics
964 One Journey Ends, Another Begins... It is Time for Litten to Set Off!! Pics
967 Alolan Open House! Alola! The First Visitation Day!! Pics
968 A Team-on-Team Tussle! The Fight Over the Crystal! Team Rocket VS Team Skull!! Pics
969 So Long, Sophocles! Farewell, Sophocles! Pics
971 Pulling Out the Pokémon Base Pepper The Fierce Pokébase Match! Aim for a Home Run to Turn the Tide!! Pics
973 The Ol' Raise and Switch Lillie, Take Good Care of Pikachu Pics
974 The Island Whisperer! Enter Olivia! Cry and Laugh, Island Queen!! Pics
982 Mallow and the Forest Teacher! Mallow the Runaway and Oranguru Pics
987 A Dream Encounter! Ash and Nebby! A Mysterious Encounter!! Pics
988 Now You See Them, Now You Don't! Nebby's Panic! The Teleport Happened Suddenly!! Pics
992 Mission: Total Recall! Lillie & Silvally: Memories Reborn! Pics
993 Faba's Revenge! Faba Strikes Back! Nebby Gets Abducted!! Pics
994 Family Determination! EffortfuLillie! A Determined Runaway Act! Pics
998 The Professors' New Adventure! Thank You, Solgaleo! You are Our Nebby!! Pics
999 Let Sleeping Pokémon Lie! A Strong Sleeper: Komala's Secret Pics
1004 A Mission of Ultra Urgency! Set Off! You Are Our Ultra Guardians!! Pics
1007 TBC Ash and Passimian! A Touchdown of Friendship!! Pics
1008 Turning Heads and Training Hard! Ilima and Eevee Have Ilimade Their Entrance!! Pics
1009 Smashing with Sketch! Smashing with Sketch! The Fierce Poké-Ping Pong Match!! Pics
1010 Love at First Twirl! Pika Pika Sparkling Love! Poipole Spins Round and Round!! Pics
1012 Rise and Shine, Starship! Shine On, Starship Celesteela! Pics
1013 The Young Flame Strikes Back! Protect the Farm! The Blue Flame Strikes Back!! Pics
1014 Dewpider Ascending! Dewpider Gets Lana!? Pics
1021 Twirling with a Bang! Ultra Beast Clash! Operation: Boom Boom Crackle!! Pics
1028 The Long Vault Home! Leap 'n' Climb: Stakataka! Pics
1030 Filling the Light with Darkness! Crisis in Alola! The Darkness that Eats Radiance!! Pics
1031 Full Moon and Many Arms! Lunala VS UB: BLACK! A Battle at Full Moon!! Pics
1036 Lillier and the Staff! The Hero Lilliel and the Alolan Cane! Pics
1037 A Haunted House for Everyone! Ghost Pokémon Everywhere! Everyone's Haunted House!! Pics
1038 Sparking Confusion! Wela Volcano: The Golem, the Graveler and the Hikers! Pics
1041 Bright Lights, Big Changes! The Duo Splits Up!? Ash & Rotom Pics
1045 Alola, Alola! An Alola! in Alola! Brock and Misty! Pics
1053 Keeping Your Eyes on the Ball! Hole in One at PokéGolf Pics
1054 Show Me the Metal! Arrival in Alola! Melty Metal Panic!! Pics
1057 Beauty is Only Crystal Deep! Beauty and the Meowth Pics
1058 The Dealer of Destruction! Guzma, Emperor of Destruction! Pics
1067 Living on the Cutting Edge! Perfect Sharpness! Kartana has Arrived! Pics
1069 Pikachu's Exciting Adventure! Pikachu's Exciting Expedition! Pics
1072 Battle Royal 151 Brawl! Battle Royal 151!! Pics
1073 Battling Besties! Mallow & Lana! A Fully Powered Battle of Friendship!! Pics
1089 Thank You, Alola! The Journey Continues! Thank You, Alola! Respective Departures!! Pics