Togedemaru, The Roly-Poly Pokémon. With the long hairs on its back, this Pokémon takes in electricity from other electric Pokémon. It stores what it absorbs in an electric sac. When it's in trouble, it curls up into a ball, makes its fur spikes stand on end, and then discharges electricity indiscriminately.

Overview

The SM Pikachu as is tradition, Togedemaru stands head and shoulders over its brethren with the Steel typing it received. This in combination with a decent utility movepool and good abilities to make use of allows Togedemaru to act as an offensive pivot and scout. This gives Togedemaru a nice niche in singles as a pivot that is immune to electric attacks or chips away at the opponent with Iron Barbs to help its teammates late game. Overall it's still another regional Pikaclone so it's not going to make waves in singles, but it's definitely one of the stronger ones.
Positives
-Lightning Rod and Iron Barb are fantastic abilities as it allows Togedemaru to pivot into most Electric-types with ease or wear down opponents with Iron Barbs with an argument that Rocky Helmet can be used to further the damage, similar to Garchomp in the past.
-Access to U-Turn is rare for Electric types and with access to it, Togedemaru can pivot out on Ground types unlike others such as Rotom Wash.

Negatives
-Todegemaru has low base stats overall, only having two base stats over 90 and one over 70. This can hinder Todegemaru as it lacks the defensive stats to act as a great pivot since it can be worn down quickly.
-Togedemaru has some good support options such as Nuzzle and U-Turn, but its lack of hazards does hinder it compared to other pivots such as Landorus Therian, especially with Defog becoming more rare temporarily. This could have given Todegemaru a massive niche but alas.

Movesets

Choice Scarf

-U-Turn
-Nuzzle
-Zing Zap
-Iron Head / Volt Switch
Item Attached: Choice Scarf
Ability: Lightning Rod / Iron Barbs
EVs and Nature:
252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Speed
Jolly Nature

With U-Turn to scout and create momentum for its team, Togedemaru is an excellent scout. Nuzzle allows for quick Speed control for bulkier sweepers such as Snorlax and Togekiss, and also breaks any potential Focus Sash unlike Thunder Wave. Zing Zap grants Togedemaru a powerful STAB with a chance to flinch potentially winning a game. Finally the last slot is open, though Iron Head being ideal as a Steel-type Zing Zap. Volt Switch is an option but inferior overall when you already have U-Turn.

Togedemaru's role as a Choice Scarf users means it is best at investing fully in its offense, with Jolly nature maximizing its Speed which is ideal for most Choice Scarf users. The ability choice is mostly preference, Lightning Rod grants it free switches into Electric-type moves which is always great but the extra chip against physical attackers makes Iron Barbs useful as well.

Partners

-Boosting Sweepers - Most boosting sweepers are going to enjoy the general support Togedemaru brings to the table as it can spread Paralysis efficiently with Nuzzle, all while having clean-up potential. Swords Dance Haxorus is one that jumps to mind as not needing to set up a Dragon Dance can give the option for more coverage while slower sweepers such as Snorlax can boost more safely.

VGC & Double Battle Options

Togedemaru is one of those Pokemon that always manages to show up every now and then in Doubles, yet it rarely sticks around long enough to be a mainstay in the metagame. As far as Pikaclones go, Togedemaru is one of the better ones due to its abilities, typing, and support options. Fake Out and Lightning Rod support have their place on teams utilizing Electric-weak Pokemon such as Gyarados, and support moves such as Nuzzle, Reflect, and Helping Hand all aid in its role as a support Pokemon dedicated to helping its teammate. As a bonus, Togedemaru has rare access to two STAB moves that provide a nice chance to flinch which can help disrupt foes directly as well. Unfortunately flinch support faces more issues this generation with the introduction of Dynamax so Togedemaru's niche struggles a bit beyond providing Lightning Rod support, and even that niche has counterplay if the user is Duraludon. Togedemaru is overall not the most effective support option this time around, but it still does the same thing it did last generation.

Thunder Fist

- Fake Out
- Nuzzle
- Iron Head
- Reflect / Zing Zap / Helping Hand / Spiky Shield
Item Attached: Focus Sash
Ability: Lightning Rod
EVs and Nature:
252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature

Fake Out is valuable support in Doubles and exerts a lot of pressure in a lead scenario, provided that the target doesn't simply Dynamax turn 1. However, forcing a specific foe to Dynamax can also be valuable pressure, so this can still be useful. Likewise, Nuzzle provides excellent support by not only paralyzing the foe, but also dealing damage to break a potential Focus Sash. Iron Head is Togedemaru's primary offensive STAB move, allowing for flinching against the largest range of foes and hitting Whimsicott for super-effective damage. However, you can also choose to run Zing Zap alongside Iron Head to have both strong flinching options. Togedemaru also has a few other support options it can opt for, Reflect helps reduce incoming damage from physical attackers but note that it cannot learn Light Screen if you wanted that option instead. Helping Hand can help boost the damage output of its teammate which can be great when Togedemaru has outlasted its usefulness, though Spiky Shield can provide it with some useful positioning options to keep its Focus Sash intact, assuming the foe isn't a Dynamax user.

Togedemaru wants to be as fast as possible to Fake Out as many foes as it can, so Jolly nature and maximum Speed investment are ideal. Maximum Attack also gives it the most utility out of its decent STAB options, and it gains little from investing in bulk when it's using Focus Sash most of the time anyway. Lightning Rod is the chosen ability because it provides innate redirection against Electric-type foes, which is the primary reason you would use it over other Fake Out users.

Other Options & Team Ideas

- Air Balloon can disrupt most users of Ground-type moves since Togedemaru's typing makes it annoying for these Pokemon to hit it otherwise. However, Focus Sash is generally more reliable support in general.
- In theory using Sturdy as the ability opens up the item choice for something else, though Lightning Rod's utility is very useful and can't be easily replicated otherwise.
- Togedemaru's Lightning Rod makes it very useful for supporting Electric-weak Pokemon, so Braviary and Gyarados stand out as offensive teammates for it. Both sit in awkward Speed tiers that also benefit from Nuzzle support to help them outspeed foes as well.
- Dragapult already provides great pressure with its incredible Speed, but Fake Out support can help push it further as well. Dragapult is also generally a very common Pokemon so you can rarely go wrong with it.

Countering Togedemaru

-Manectric - Another Lightning Rod user, Manectric can pivot into Zing Zap and threaten with Flamethrower or just pivot itself with Volt Switch as it is an excellent pivot itself. -Arcanine - Access to Intimidate, Fire typing to resist Iron Head and take little from U-Turn, and Will-O-Wisp to hinder Togedemaru all make Arcanine an excellent counter to the steel porcupine.

Animé Appearences

Togedemaru has made a few appearances in the anime. Most notably it is used by Sophocles as his partner Pokémon throughout Ash's adventures in Alola # -English Episode Name- -Jp. Episode Name- Pics 944 Alola to New Adventure! Alola! New Islands, New Pokémon!! 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 947 First Catch in Alola, Ketchum-style! Enter Rowlet! I Got A Pokémon in Alola!! Pics 948 Yo, Ho, Ho! Go, Popplio! Popplio, Do Your Balloonest! Pics 949 A Shocking Grocery Run! Zing Zap Togedemaru! 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 953 Trial and Tribulation Will the Z-Move Work?! Challenging the Grand Trial!! Pics 955 The Sun, the Scare, the Secret Lair! The Extracurricular Lesson is on Mareanie?! 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 961 A Seasoned Search! For Real?! Mallow's Cooking Operation! Pics 962 A Guardian Rematch! Intense Electric Shock Training! A Rematch with Tapu Koko!! Pics 963 Partner Promises! The Promise Between Ash and Pikachu!! Pics 965 A Shivering Shovel Search! Beware of Shovels!! Pics 966 Getting the Band Back Together! Here's a Real Shocker! A Dugtrio Split-Up?! 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 970 A Glaring Rivalry! Come Forth, Lycanroc with the Crimson Look!! Pics 971 Pulling Out the Pokémon Base Pepper The Fierce Pokébase Match! Aim for a Home Run to Turn the Tide!! Pics 972 Lulled to La-La Land! Hey Mush, Are You Going to Sleep in the Morelull Forest Too? 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 975 Treasure Hunt, Akala Style! We Found a Treasure! Stoutland Search!! Pics 976 Big Sky, Small Fry! Little Wishiwashi Isn't Lacking, It's the Lord of the Lake! Pics 977 A Crowning Moment of Truth! A Fire Battle! Marowak Shows Up! Pics 978 Currying Favor and Flavor! A Curry-zy Beautiful Battle! The Dance of Lurantis! Pics 979 Trials and Determinations! Olivia's Grand Trial! The Hardest Pokémon Match Ever!! Pics 980 Rising from the Ruins! Rockruff and the Guardian Diety of the Ruins of Life! Pics 981 Mimikyu Unmasked Mimikyu's Disguise! Pics 982 Mallow and the Forest Teacher! Mallow the Runaway and Oranguru Pics 983 Balloons, Brionne, and Belligerence! Popplio, Brionne and the An-chor-gry Dhelmise! Pics 984 Mounting an Electrifying Charge! Dash, Charjabug! Pics 985 Alola, Kanto An Alola! in Kanto! Brock & Misty! Pics 986 When Regions Collide Gym Battle! Z-Move VS Mega Evolution!! 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 989 Deceiving Appearances! C'mon, Search for the Transformed Ditto! Pics 990 A Masked Warning! Gladion & Silvally! The Confinement Mask!! Pics 991 Night of a Thousand Poses! Strike a Fully Powered Pose for a Sleepover! 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 995 Revealing the Stuff of Legend! The Altar of the Sunne! Solgaleo Descends!! Pics 996 Rescuing the Unwilling! Hurry Up! Operation: Rescue Lusamine!! Pics 997 10,000,000 Reasons to Fight! Shine, Z-Power Ring! A Super Fully Powered 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt!! 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 1000 The Dex Can't Help It! Rotom Won't Stop Undergoing Forme Change! Pics 1002 Tasting the Bitter with the Sweet! Mallow & Lana: Bittersweet Memories! Pics 1003 Getting a Jump on the Competition! Lillie is Soaring Through The Air! The PokéSled Jump Tournament! Pics 1004 A Mission of Ultra Urgency! Set Off! You Are Our Ultra Guardians!! Pics 1005 Acting True to Form! The Dark Meowth is Alolan Meowth!? Pics 1006 Pushing the Fiery Envelope! Burn with Passion, Litten! Down with Incineroar!! 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 1011 Real Life...Inquire Within! Work Experience! Around the Clock with the Pokémon Center! 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 1015 Sours for the Sweet! Ta-Dough! Burn with Passion, Mallow's Family! Pics 1017 Tough Guy Trials! This Tough Old Geezer's the Island Kahuna? Pics 1019 A Battle Hand-Off! The Decisive Super Battle! Pikachu VS Mimikyu!! Pics 1021 Twirling with a Bang! Ultra Beast Clash! Operation: Boom Boom Crackle!! Pics 1022 Showering the World With Love! Minior and Poipole: A Promise that Got Lost in the Starry Skies! Pics 1023 Not Caving Under Pressure! A Sandshrew's Storm! An Ice Hole Double Battle!! Pics 1024 A Young Royal Flame Ignites! The Young Flame of Alola! The Birth of Royal Ash!! Pics 1025 All They Want to Do is Dance Dance! Won't You Give us a Dance Dance Evolution? Pics 1026 Dummy, You Shrunk the Kids! Ash Becomes Tiny Pics 1027 The Shape of Love to Come! The Shape of Family: Poipole's Feelings! Pics 1028 The Long Vault Home! Leap 'n' Climb: Stakataka! Pics 1029 I Choose Paradise! I Choose Here! The Pokémon Steam Paradise!! 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 1032 The Prism Between Light and Darkness! A Prism of Light and Darkness: Its name is Necrozma! Pics 1033 Securing the Future! Connect to the Future! The Legend of the Blinding One!! 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 1040 No Stone Unturned! Dartrix the Master!!! Rowlet the Sleeperzzz Pics 1041 Bright Lights, Big Changes! The Duo Splits Up!? Ash & Rotom Pics 1042 We Know Where You're Going, Eevee! Where is Eevee Going? To the End of the World for the Sake of a Meeting! Pics 1044 Parallel Friendships! Fire it Off! The Twin Gigavolt Havoc of Friendship!! Pics 1045 Alola, Alola! An Alola! in Alola! Brock and Misty! Pics 1046 Heart of Fire! Heart of Stone! A Passionate Heart That Smashes Even Rocks! Olivia and Brock!! Pics 1047 That's Some Spicy Island Research! Research Projects on Poni Island! Find the Island Kahuna!! Pics 1049 Evolving Research! We Have the Sea and We Have Valleys! Pokémon Evolution Training!! Pics 1050 Run Heroes Run! Run, Kiawe! Surpass Yourself!! Pics 1051 Memories in the Mist! In Tapu Fini's Mist Pics 1052 A Grand Debut! An Island Kahuna is Born! Ash's Grand Trial!! 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 1055 Got Meltan? A New Species Has Been Discovered! I Got a Meltan!! Pics 1056 This Magik Moment! A New Show?! The Tiny Melody of Magikarp Pics 1057 Beauty is Only Crystal Deep! Beauty and the Meowth Pics 1058 The Dealer of Destruction! Guzma, Emperor of Destruction! Pics 1059 The Secret Princess! Lillie and the Secret Ingenuity Princess! Pics 1060 Drawn with the Wind! Shaymin, Meltan and Sandy! Lost Explorers!! Pics 1061 Aiming for the Top Floor! Aim for the Top Floor! The Explosive Dragon Gym!! Pics 1062 A High-Speed Awakening! Superspeed Vikavolt! The Awakening of Sophocles!! Pics 1063 The One That Didn't Get Away! Lana Hooks a Kyogre?! Pics 1064 A Recipe for Success! Mallow's Valiant Effort! The Forest Pokémon Café!! Pics 1065 Spying for the Big Guy! You're Being Watched! Team Rocket's Alola Forms!! Pics 1066 A Fiery Training Camp Trick! Master the Z-Move! Kiawe's Fierce Boot Camp!! Pics 1067 Living on the Cutting Edge! Perfect Sharpness! Kartana has Arrived! Pics 1070 Chasing Memories, Creating Dreams! Gladion & Lillie! Chasing a Father's Phantom!! Pics 1071 League Offenders and Defenders! The Curtain Rises! The Alola Pokémon League!! Pics 1072 Battle Royal 151 Brawl! Battle Royal 151!! Pics 1073 Battling Besties! Mallow & Lana! A Fully Powered Battle of Friendship!! Pics 1074 The Battlefield of Truth and Love! Jessie VS James! A Battlefield of Love and Truth!! Pics 1075 Imitation Is the Sincerest Form of Strategy! Overcome Decidueye!! Pics 1077 The Road to the Semifinals! Everyone's Fully Powered! The Road to the Semifinals!! Pics 1078 The Final Four! The Semifinals! Kiawe VS Gladion! Pics 1079 Getting Down to The Ire! Rising Fire! More Than One Rival!! Pics 1080 The Wisdom Not to Run! Guzma the Undefeated! Pics 1081 Final Rivals! The Finals! The Ultimate Rival Showdown!! Pics 1082 Enter the Champion! He's Born! The Alolan League Winner! Pics 1083 Z-Move Showdown! Guzzlord Attacks! Decisive Z-Move Battle!! Pics 1084 Exhibition Unmasked! Final Battle! Ash VS Kukui!! Pics 1085 A Full Battle Bounty! Burn with Passion! Get Filled with Intensity! A Full Battle!!! Pics 1086 Fiery Surprises! Conclusion! Incineroar VS Torracat!! Pics 1087 From Z to Shining Z! The Greatest Z in Alola! Tapu Koko VS Pikachu! Pics 1088 Dreaming of the Sun and Moon! The Sun, the Moon and Everyone's Dreams! Pics 1089 Thank You, Alola! The Journey Continues! Thank You, Alola! Respective Departures!! Pics 1126 The New Old Gang of Mine I Am Back! Nice to See You, Alola! Pics 1185 Lighting the Way Home! Reach Space! Ampharos' Light Pics 1201 Helping the Hometown Hero! A Triumphant Return! The Alola Champion!! Pics 1220 Paring Pokémon While Parrying! The Finals III: Smashing Pics 1221 Partners in Time! The Finals IV: Partner Pics 57 TBC A Terapagos I Don't Know! Pics