Morpeko, the Two-Sided Pokémon. As it eats the seeds stored up in its pocket-like pouches, this Pokémon is not just satisfying its constant hunger. It's also generating electricity. It carries electrically roasted seeds with it as if they're precious treasures. No matter how much it eats, it always gets hungry again in short order. Intense hunger drives it to extremes of violence, and the electricity in its cheek sacs has converted into a Dark-type energy. Hunger hormones affect its temperament. Until its hunger is appeased, it gets up to all manner of evil deeds.
Overview
The Sword Shield Pikaclone, Morpeko is a case of two steps forward, one step back. Morpeko is still far better than Dedenne, but falls short in comparison to the bar set by Togedemaru. Morpeko does boast a usable Attack stat and nice Speed, which compliments its expansive physical movepool. Its signature attack in Aura Wheel is also fantastic, having very high unconditional power and a built in type switching enables moveslot coverage compression in a manner unique to it alone. And with further access to excellent support moves like Parting Shot, Taunt and Rapid Spin gives Morpeko a valuable degree of flexibility.
However, Morpeko’s problems are even more numerous. Its defensive stats are utterly pathetic, and its typing boasts several common weaknesses to exploit. Even Morpeko’s best stats -its Attack and Speed fail to hold up. Base 95 Attack is usable, but Morpeko has almost no native way to boost up, leaving the lack of attack noticeable against dedicated walls. Base 97 Speed is good and can be boosted with Aura Wheel, but base 97 falls short of the base 100 Speed common with many popular Pokémon leaving it fewer opportunities to boost up before being outright KO’d. So many Dark and Electric types do Morpeko’s jobs so much better than it. When you are as frail as Morpeko, you need something powerful to edge out against the pack and a gimmick around a type changing move just does not cut it. Morpeko has the moveset of something great but falls short at the starting line thanks to its horrid stats.
Positives
Aura Wheel is an insane signature move. Base 110 power with a built in Speed Boost is bonkers, and its ability to switch its type can make it difficult to block.
Wide coverage options in Seed Bomb, Psychic Fangs and the elemental Fangs and a viable Attack gives Morpeko a move for almost every situation.
Great support movepool with Rapid Spin, Taunt and the rare Parting Shot
Good Base 97 Speed and built in boosting with Aura Wheel gives Morpeko the jump on many foes.
Negatives
Utterly horrid defenses. Morpeko struggles to take hits from normally defensive Pokémon.
Inability to boost Attack leave’s Morpeko’s power wanting and easily walled.
Outclassed by many Dark and Electric types like Incineroar, Rotom, Krookodile and Arctozolt.
Aura Wheel can be unreliable and be the wrong type you need it to be.
Movesets
Banded Wheel
-Aura Wheel
-Seed Bomb
-Psychic Fangs
-Parting Shot
Ability: Hunger Switch
Item: Choice Band
EVs and Nature:
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
Choice Band alleviates some of Morpeko’s power problems, allowing it to hit throughout the game for decent damage. Aura Wheel is insane, enabling Morpeko to hit above its weight class and do appreciable damage while making it difficult to outspeed after one use and nigh impossible after two. Seed Bomb covers Ground types that otherwise are very problematic to Morpeko thanks to their half immunity to Aura Wheel and naturally high defense. Psychic Fangs provides coverage against Fighting types as well as striking out against Grass Poison types that half resist Aura Wheel and provides additionally utility by Breaking Screens. Parting Shot rounds out the set, enabling Morpeko to doubleswitch and pivot into a counter’s counter or setup sweeper to wrest control of the battle.
DYNAMAX:
Not recommended. While Morpeko can use Max Knuckle to boost its attack while Dynamaxed, it is so pitiably frail that it struggles to tank hits while Dynamaxed and can’t escalate its speed like it can with Aura Wheel when not maxed.
EVs and Items:
Max Speed and Attack to boost Morpeko’s best stats as much as possible. Choice Band is recommended for as much power as possible. While move switching with Life Orb is nice, Morpeko struggles to get the OHKOs it needs with Choice Band, let alone Life Orb.
Partners:
Partners that can take advantage of Morpeko luring in and pivoting out with Parting Shot are greatly appreciated. Setup sweepers like Cloyster and Gyarados enjoy Morpeko’s ability to lure Ground types in and turn them into setup fodder while simultaneously ridding Morpeko of the troublesome type.
Psychic types make for great partners as well, able to pivot into Fighting moves and eliminate such users. Special Attackers like Slowbro, and Exeggutor stand out for their ability to cleave through Physical walls, Ground types and their ability to safely get the defensively lacking Morpeko in with Teleport/Yawn/Sleep Powder.
Other Options:
Crunch -ensures Morpeko has both of its STABs half the time.
Heavy Duty Boots+Rapid Spin -if going for a support set, this is fantastic, and pairs well with Parting Shot, enabling Morpeko to get in, spin and then use its boosted Speed to get out safely into a check or counter.
Protect -when you need to stall out Hunger Switch to get the STAB you need and enables you to scout for attacks.
Taunt -shuts down attempts for using Morpeko as setup fodder.
Super Fang -enables Morpeko to wreck defensive targets that it otherwise can’t touch, but they must have near non-existent offensive presence to risk doing so.
Fire Fang -Hits Ferrothorn
Countering Morpeko
Morpeko’s biggest flaw offensively is its middling Attack, so physical walls are ideal. Sadly, so many of them are weak to Aura Wheel. Steelix, Tangrowth and Ferrothorn standout as near counters, all resisting half of Aura Wheel and having such high defense to render the other STAB useless while also tanking the common Seed Bomb well, only fearing the very rare Super Fang and being annoyed by Parting Shot.
Otherwise, revenge KOing Morpeko is always a viable option, thanks to its pitiable defense struggling to take neutral hits well. Aura Wheel can make outspeeding Morpeko before it can get Parting Shot off difficult, so priority, especially Mach Punch is preferred. Attackers like Conkeldurr, Hitmontop, Rillaboom, and Lucario can all outspeed and OHKO Morpeko thanks to their priority moves, forcing Morpeko to switch out without parting shot.
While Morpeko’s widemoveset does make it difficult to truly counter, it can’t account for everything, and will often be forced out thanks to being reliant on Choice Band for power. Any opponent it fails to KO has a very good change of knocking it out in turn.
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
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:
Not in game
Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon:
Not in game
Let's Go, Pikachu!/Let's Go, Eevee!:
Not in game
Sword/Shield:
Route 7, Route 9, Lake of Outrage, Challenge Beach, Ballimere Lake
Max Raid Battles: Giant's Mirror, Lake of Outrage, Motostoke Riverbank, Fields of Honor, Forest of Focus, Challenge Beach, Honeycalm Sea
Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl:
Not in game
Legends: Arceus:
Not in game
Anime Appearences
