[OVERVIEW]
Despite being a very obscure Pokemon in OU, Cofagrigus has a few qualities which can make it a good choice for certain teams. It sports solid bulk, espeically on the physical side, and can therefore make good use of its decent support movepool, including Will-O-Wisp, Toxic Spikes, Knock Off, Haze and Snatch. But Cofagrigus's most notable trait is its Mummy ability, which shuts down a large amount of physical attackers by removing their ability, particularly megas like Lopunny, Altaria, Medicham, Metagross and Pinsir. Cofagrigus also sets itself apart from other Toxic Spikes user thanks to the ability to handle physical attackers, as well as spinblock its own hazards.
Unfortunately, Cofagrigus suffers from a handful of crippling flaws. It lacks reliable recovery, and thus, cna have a hard time consistently walling certain Pokemon. Furthermore, its mediocre defensive typing leaves it with a crippling weakness to Dark-type moves, particularly Pursuit and Knock Off and no particularly useful resistances or immunities besides Fighting. Cofagrigus also quite passive, lacking offensive moves with which it can hit Dark- and Normal-types, and its low speed makes it very easy to force out and finish off if weakened.
[SET]
name: Toxic Spikes
move 1: Toxic Spikes
move 2: Hex
move 3: Will-O-Wisp
move 4: Pain Split / Rest
item: Leftovers
ability: Mummy
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Toxic Spikes is the main purpose of this set, as it enables Cofagrigus to provide excellet support, it can heavily and permanantly cripple common Pokemon such as Keldeo, Garchomp, Hippowdon, Azumarill and more. Will-O-Wisp is needed in order to cripple Dark-type physical attackers like Bisharp, Weavile and Tyranitar, certain Normal-types like Lopunny and Diggersby, as well as neuter physical attackers that are unaffected by Mummy in general such as Landorus-T and Garchomp. It can also serve to wear down special attackers, especially ones unaffected by Toxic Spikes like Venusaur and Thundurus. Hex is Cofagrigus's main STAB move, it has fantastic neutral coverage and hits most hazard removers very hard. It is preffered over Shadow Ball since it deals significantly more damage against burnt or poisoned targets. This is beneficial on teams which heavily rely on opposing Pokemon being afflicted by status, which Cofagrigus is generally found on. It also enables it to deal more significant damage to Gliscor, who is unaffected by Toxic Spikes or Will-O-Wisp.
Pain Split is usually chosen in the final slot in order to give Cofagrigus some form of recovery, as well as an additional way of wearing down opposing Pokemon. However, Rest can also be used as recovery, serving as more substantial recovery and keeping Cofagrigus alive for much longer, enabling it to more reliably fill duties which do not require it to be awake duties, such as spinblocking and disabling physical attackers. However, this comes at the cost of giving the opponent multiple free turns. Rest should be chosen if you have a Heal Bell user on your team. Finally, Knock Off can be used in order to cripple certain Pokemon such as Heatran. However, it is hard to fit, since Cofagrigus either has to sacrifice its main STAB move or its recovery of choice.
Set Details
========
Leftovers are a necessity on Cofagrigus, givig it great passive recovery and helping it more easily switch into Pokemon and subsequently force them out. Mummy is Cofagrigus's is an excellent ability, and enables it to cripple physical attackers like Azumarill, Mega Altaria, Scizor, Mega Metagross, Mega Medicham, Mega Pinsir, Mega Aerodactyl and more. In particular, it prevents Lopunny from dealing any damage to Cofagrigus one it has hit is, and enables it to bypass Mega Sableye's Magic Bounce if it hits it with Knock Off or Foul Play, a very notable trait for a hazard setter. Cofagrigus runs full physical defense investement in order to more comfortably switch into the physical attackers it is supposed to handle, and lets it spinblock Excadrill more easily. A specially defensive spread can be run in order to avoid the 2HKO from Starmie's Life Orb Hydro Pump thus enabling it to spinblock it more easily, but its lack of recovery means it cannot reliably handle it, and the decreased physical bulk makes it significantly harder for it to switch into physical attackers.
Usage Tips
========
Switch Cofagrigus in on physical attackers which it can force out, such as Azumarill, Lopunny and Altaria. You should usually use this opportunity to set down a layer of Toxic Spikes if you have not done so yet, unless the opponent still has a Magic Bounce user active. However, if only one or two Pokemon on the opposing team are affected by Toxic Spikes, laying them down will probably not be worth it. In which case, simply use Will-O-Wisp instead.If your opponent has a physically offensive Dark-type like Bisharp or Weavile still active, try to burn it as it switches in on Cofagrigus, or double switch to a check to it such as Keldeo or Mega Lopunny. This is especially important if it carries Pursuit, since if it switches in without being burnt, Cofagrigus cannot switch out of it without taking a lot of damage. If your opponent's answer to Cofagrigus is already afflicted with status, or is immune to status, use Hex. Try the best you can to keep Cofagrigus healthy trhoughout the battle. If it is weakened and your opponent is likely to send a healthy Pokemon against it, use Pain Split. Once you have set up a solid amount of entry hazards, attempt to maintain them by playing aggresively when you can. Send Cofagrigus in on spinners even if it is severely weakened, and if you have a Defiant user, send it in on Defoggers. If the opponent has a Mega Sableye, and you espect it to use Knock Off or Foul Play, send Cofagrigus in on it. If you have predicted correctly, Mummy will remove its ability, enabling you to lay down one layer of Toxic Spikes in the process.
If Cofagrigus is running Pain Split, you should make sure that whatever it will be facing when it uses the move is healthy enough to give Cofagrigus a decent amount of health back. Likewise, if Cofagrigus is running Rest, don't use it if it invites a setup sweeper like Bisharp or Mega Charizard X to set up on it.
Team Options
========
Cofagrigus primarily fits on hazard-stacking balanced teams in need of a Toxic Spikes setter, a spinblocker, and a check to various physical attackers. As such, Spikes setters like Skarmory and Ferrothorn pair up well with it, since they benefit from its spinblocking capabilites. Physical sweepers whose checks are heavily crippled by Toxic Spikes, such as Talonflame, Mega Charizard-X, Mega Lopunny and Weavile all act as very good partners to Cofagrigus. Bisharp in particular is an excellent partner for Cofagrigus since, not only does it resist all of Cofagrigus's weaknesses, it can also act as a detterent to Defog and hugely benefit from Toxic Spikes support since most of its checks are heavily crippled by them. Purusit trappers alo pair up well with Coafagrigus, thanks to their ability to remove Latios, Latias and Starmie from play. Choice Scarf Tyranitar is particularly good since it also traps Gengar which easily checks Cofagrigus, and benefits from Hippowdon and Keldeo being crippled by poison. Assault Vest Metagross also enjoys Toxic Spikes support, and deals with certain Fairy-types which threaten Cofagrigus. An answer to Fire-types, which Cofagrigus struggles massively with, is required in order to support it. For instance, Heatran can check Fire-types relatively well thanks to Flash Fire and benefits from Toxic Spikes crippling bulky Water-types, while Slowbro can handle Talonflame and Charizard-X, although the latter is less of a threat to Cofagrigus due to its weakness to Toxic Spikes and the fatc that Tough Claws is removed by Mummy. Latios and Latias act as very good partners too, for their ability to check Mega Charizard X as well as ceratin threatening special attackers like Keldeo and Thundurus, and are able to lure Steel-types that are not affected by Toxic Spikes and therefore pose a threat to Cofagrigus, such as Skarmory or Scizor with Hidden Power Fire, or Heatran with Earthquake. Cofagrigus also benefits from a good answer to Dark-types which it is very vulnerable to, preferrably a Fighting-type like Keldeo, Chesnaught or Cobalion. Special attackers in general are very threatening to Cofagrigus, so make sure you are adequately prepared for them, and pack either an Assault vest user like Tornadus-T or Raikou, or a naturally specially bulky Pokemon like Jirachi or Slowking. Mega Venusaur's ability to absorb Toxic Spikes makes it an obstacle to any team relying on Cofagrigus's support, so a lure such as Hidden Power Flying Keldeo, Psychic Thundurus or Psychic Diancie can be employed to remove it from the picture. Due to its lack of reliable recovery, Cofagrigus benefits from support from a cleric, either a Wishpasser or, if Rest is used, a Heal Bell user. Fairy-types are good partners for Cofagrigus since they can help deal with Mega Sableye, who can bounce back Cofagrigus's Toxic Spikes. Clefable and Mega Altaria are particularly good partners since they also provide claric support. Gliscor serves as a good partner to Cofagrigus as well, since it can absorb Knock Offs and Toxic for Cofagrigus, and can handle Mega Sableye with SD or block slower Defoggers with Taunt.
[SET]
name: Offensive Trick Room
move 1: Trick Room
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Hidden Power Fighting / Will-O-Wisp
move 4: Nasty Plot
item: Life Orb / Spooky Plate
ability: Mummy
nature: Quiet
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA
IVs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Thanks to Cofagrigus's low speed, Trick Room enables it to temporarily outspeed the vast majority of the tier, as well as provide support to other slow attackers such as Azumarill, Mega Heracross and Crawdaunt.
Shadow Ball is Cofagrigus's most powerful STAB move, hitting most of the OU tier neutrally or super-effectively.
Hidden Power Fighting rounds off the coverage by hitting Dark-types like Bisharp and Tyranitar and Normal-types like Mega Lopunny and Diggersby. Will-O-Wisp is also a good option, since it cripples these Pokemon, and bypasses Bisharp's Sucker Punch, however, Hidden Power Figthing is a more immediate answer to them which doesn't waste Trick Room turns.
Nasty Plot acts as a powerful boosting move, enabling Cofagrigus to break through defensive Pokemon like Mega Sableye and Heatran more easily
Set Details
========
A Life Orb boosts Cofagrigus's power, enabling it to make best use of its limited Trick Room turns. Spooky Plate is also a good option which helps it set up more easily, given that it doesn't make Cofagrigus suffer from any recoil, however, it prevents Cofagrigus from 2HKOing Chansey at +6 and cannot guarantee the 2HKO on Choice Scarf Tyranitar.
Finally, Leftovers is a good option to increase longevity, but it renders Cofagrigus significantly weaker.
Max SpA gives Cofagrigus as much power as possible, and max HP gives it a good amount of bulk, enabling it to set up reliably. Running a Quiet nature with no speed IVs enables Cofagrigus to outspeed as much as possible under Trick Room.
Usage Tips
========
It's bets to preserve this set until mid or lategame, when the opposing Pokemon will be weakened enough for Cofagrigus to sweep under Trick Room. Send Cofagrigus in on physical attackers which heavily rely on their ability such as like Mega Lopunny, Mega Medicham and Azumarill. Against more offensive teams, it usually isn't a good idea to use Nasty Plot, since Cofagrigus will find it difficult to set up against those kinds of teams. Instead, use Trick Room, in order to outspeed anything which may try to revenge kill Cofagrigus. If you do plan on using both Trick Room and Nasty Plot, use Nasty Plot first, since you will want to increase the turns under Trick Room during which you attack as much as possible. Try to play around Dark-types by hitting them with Hidden Power Fighting or Will-O-Wisp on the switch.
Team Options
========
This set works best on Trick Room teams, since Cofagrigus can act both as a setter and a sweeper on them. It can also work outside of them, however, it is bets to have teammates which can take advantage of Trick Room such as Azumarill, Choice Banded Tyranitar and Mega Heracross. Since Dark-types are a big threat to Cofagrigus, it is necessary to have a teammate which can deal with them, like Keldeo or Mega Scizor. It's usually a good idea to pair Cofagrigus up with Volt Switch or U-Turn users like Landorus-T or Rotom-W since, although it can switch in relatively easily, it needs to be kept at full health in order to reliably sweep
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
========
Colbur Berry can be used on Cofagrigus in order to take Knock Offs and Pursuits from Dark-types before burning them, however, the leftovers recovery is sorely missed and forces it to rely on Pain Split or Rest as its only form of recovery. Snatch can be used to steal status and recovery moves such as Mega Venusaur's Synthesis or Mega Sableye's Calm Mind, however, it is very situational and difficult to fit on a defensive set. Haze can be used to prevent certain swepeers from setting up on it, but Will-O-Wisp already does this very well for the most part. Toxic can be used to hit Fire-types such as Talonflame and Charizard, but generally isn't worth ithe moveslot. Magic Coat can bounce back Stealth Rocks and Taunt, but in return cannot steal recovery, and much like Snatch is too situational to come in use often.
Checks and Counters
========
**Fire-types**: Fire-types are immune to Will-O-Wisp and can often deal a lot of damage to Cofagrigus, or even set up on it. However, most of them have trouble against the Trick Room set. Talonflame is immune to Toxic Spikes and can freely SD on Cofagrigus or even Taunt it, but loses Gale Wings as it hits Cofagrigus. Heatran is immune to poison and can disable Cofagrigus by taunting it, but can be crippled by Knock Off. Mega Charizard X easily sets up on Cofagrigus, but loses Tough Claws if it hits it, while Mega Charizard Y fears nothing from Cofagrigus and can deal massive amounts of damage back. Mega Houndoom is a particularly good Cofagrigus counter since it resists Hex, can easily 2HKO Cofagrigus with Dark Pulse, set up on it, or even Taunt it.
**Special attackers**: Special attackers don't fear Burns and can hit Cofagrigus very hard. Keldeo can dela massive damage to Cofagrigus with Hydro Pump, or set up Calm Minds and Substitutes on it. Manaphy has the bulk to take Hexes and can quite easily Tail Glow on Cofagrigus. Serperior can use Cofagrigus as an opportunity to set up, especially if it carries a Lum Berry or Taunt, and while Gengar can't switch into a Hex from Cofagrigus comfortably, it cleanly OHKOs it with Shadow Ball.
**Dark-types**: While most Dark-types can't switch into Cofagrigus due to Will-O-Wisp, they take little damage from Hex and are able to deal massive damage to it back, and even Pursuit trap it. Hoopa-U in particular can easily OHKO Cofagrigus with Life Orb Dark Pulse or Choice Banded Hyperspace Fury. Bisharp can set up on Cofagrigus if it carries a Lum Berry, and deals a lot of damage to it with Life Orb Knock Off, as does Weavile. Mega Gyarados can set up a Substitute on Cofagrigus and easily stacks Dragon Dances. Mandibuzz can take anything Cofagrigus can throw at it very easily, and can even Defog its hazards away and Taunt it. Hydreigon doesn't mind being burnt and hits Cofagrigus back extremely hard. Tyranitar can deal a good chunch of damage to Cofagrigus with Crunch, but needs a Choice Band to secure a 2HKO on it, and needs Cofagrigus to be weakened prior if it doesn't want to be burnt.
**Status-immune defensive Pokemon**: Defensive Pokemon which are immune to status or have a way to cure it handle Cofagrigus very well outside of Nasty Plot sets. Clefable in can easily set up on Cofagrigus, and Gliscor can either Swords Dance on it or Taunt it. Mega Sableye can bounce back Toxic Spikes and Will-O-Wisp, but, thanks to Mummy, loses the ability to do so if it hits Cofagrigus with Knock Off or Foul Play.
**Taunt users**: Taunt users such as Skarmory and Tornadus-T can completely shut down Cofagrigus, provided that they do not take too much damage from Hex, and can even prevent the Trick Room ste from setting up.
**Mega Diancie**: Thanks to Magic Bounce, Mega Diancie can bounce Cofagrigus's Toxic Spikes and Will-O-Wisps back, and can also take its Hexes quite well. However, its struggles against Trick Room Cofagrigus.
Despite being a very obscure Pokemon in OU, Cofagrigus has a few qualities which can make it a good choice for certain teams. It sports solid bulk, espeically on the physical side, and can therefore make good use of its decent support movepool, including Will-O-Wisp, Toxic Spikes, Knock Off, Haze and Snatch. But Cofagrigus's most notable trait is its Mummy ability, which shuts down a large amount of physical attackers by removing their ability, particularly megas like Lopunny, Altaria, Medicham, Metagross and Pinsir. Cofagrigus also sets itself apart from other Toxic Spikes user thanks to the ability to handle physical attackers, as well as spinblock its own hazards.
Unfortunately, Cofagrigus suffers from a handful of crippling flaws. It lacks reliable recovery, and thus, cna have a hard time consistently walling certain Pokemon. Furthermore, its mediocre defensive typing leaves it with a crippling weakness to Dark-type moves, particularly Pursuit and Knock Off and no particularly useful resistances or immunities besides Fighting. Cofagrigus also quite passive, lacking offensive moves with which it can hit Dark- and Normal-types, and its low speed makes it very easy to force out and finish off if weakened.
[SET]
name: Toxic Spikes
move 1: Toxic Spikes
move 2: Hex
move 3: Will-O-Wisp
move 4: Pain Split / Rest
item: Leftovers
ability: Mummy
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Toxic Spikes is the main purpose of this set, as it enables Cofagrigus to provide excellet support, it can heavily and permanantly cripple common Pokemon such as Keldeo, Garchomp, Hippowdon, Azumarill and more. Will-O-Wisp is needed in order to cripple Dark-type physical attackers like Bisharp, Weavile and Tyranitar, certain Normal-types like Lopunny and Diggersby, as well as neuter physical attackers that are unaffected by Mummy in general such as Landorus-T and Garchomp. It can also serve to wear down special attackers, especially ones unaffected by Toxic Spikes like Venusaur and Thundurus. Hex is Cofagrigus's main STAB move, it has fantastic neutral coverage and hits most hazard removers very hard. It is preffered over Shadow Ball since it deals significantly more damage against burnt or poisoned targets. This is beneficial on teams which heavily rely on opposing Pokemon being afflicted by status, which Cofagrigus is generally found on. It also enables it to deal more significant damage to Gliscor, who is unaffected by Toxic Spikes or Will-O-Wisp.
Pain Split is usually chosen in the final slot in order to give Cofagrigus some form of recovery, as well as an additional way of wearing down opposing Pokemon. However, Rest can also be used as recovery, serving as more substantial recovery and keeping Cofagrigus alive for much longer, enabling it to more reliably fill duties which do not require it to be awake duties, such as spinblocking and disabling physical attackers. However, this comes at the cost of giving the opponent multiple free turns. Rest should be chosen if you have a Heal Bell user on your team. Finally, Knock Off can be used in order to cripple certain Pokemon such as Heatran. However, it is hard to fit, since Cofagrigus either has to sacrifice its main STAB move or its recovery of choice.
Set Details
========
Leftovers are a necessity on Cofagrigus, givig it great passive recovery and helping it more easily switch into Pokemon and subsequently force them out. Mummy is Cofagrigus's is an excellent ability, and enables it to cripple physical attackers like Azumarill, Mega Altaria, Scizor, Mega Metagross, Mega Medicham, Mega Pinsir, Mega Aerodactyl and more. In particular, it prevents Lopunny from dealing any damage to Cofagrigus one it has hit is, and enables it to bypass Mega Sableye's Magic Bounce if it hits it with Knock Off or Foul Play, a very notable trait for a hazard setter. Cofagrigus runs full physical defense investement in order to more comfortably switch into the physical attackers it is supposed to handle, and lets it spinblock Excadrill more easily. A specially defensive spread can be run in order to avoid the 2HKO from Starmie's Life Orb Hydro Pump thus enabling it to spinblock it more easily, but its lack of recovery means it cannot reliably handle it, and the decreased physical bulk makes it significantly harder for it to switch into physical attackers.
Usage Tips
========
Switch Cofagrigus in on physical attackers which it can force out, such as Azumarill, Lopunny and Altaria. You should usually use this opportunity to set down a layer of Toxic Spikes if you have not done so yet, unless the opponent still has a Magic Bounce user active. However, if only one or two Pokemon on the opposing team are affected by Toxic Spikes, laying them down will probably not be worth it. In which case, simply use Will-O-Wisp instead.If your opponent has a physically offensive Dark-type like Bisharp or Weavile still active, try to burn it as it switches in on Cofagrigus, or double switch to a check to it such as Keldeo or Mega Lopunny. This is especially important if it carries Pursuit, since if it switches in without being burnt, Cofagrigus cannot switch out of it without taking a lot of damage. If your opponent's answer to Cofagrigus is already afflicted with status, or is immune to status, use Hex. Try the best you can to keep Cofagrigus healthy trhoughout the battle. If it is weakened and your opponent is likely to send a healthy Pokemon against it, use Pain Split. Once you have set up a solid amount of entry hazards, attempt to maintain them by playing aggresively when you can. Send Cofagrigus in on spinners even if it is severely weakened, and if you have a Defiant user, send it in on Defoggers. If the opponent has a Mega Sableye, and you espect it to use Knock Off or Foul Play, send Cofagrigus in on it. If you have predicted correctly, Mummy will remove its ability, enabling you to lay down one layer of Toxic Spikes in the process.
If Cofagrigus is running Pain Split, you should make sure that whatever it will be facing when it uses the move is healthy enough to give Cofagrigus a decent amount of health back. Likewise, if Cofagrigus is running Rest, don't use it if it invites a setup sweeper like Bisharp or Mega Charizard X to set up on it.
Team Options
========
Cofagrigus primarily fits on hazard-stacking balanced teams in need of a Toxic Spikes setter, a spinblocker, and a check to various physical attackers. As such, Spikes setters like Skarmory and Ferrothorn pair up well with it, since they benefit from its spinblocking capabilites. Physical sweepers whose checks are heavily crippled by Toxic Spikes, such as Talonflame, Mega Charizard-X, Mega Lopunny and Weavile all act as very good partners to Cofagrigus. Bisharp in particular is an excellent partner for Cofagrigus since, not only does it resist all of Cofagrigus's weaknesses, it can also act as a detterent to Defog and hugely benefit from Toxic Spikes support since most of its checks are heavily crippled by them. Purusit trappers alo pair up well with Coafagrigus, thanks to their ability to remove Latios, Latias and Starmie from play. Choice Scarf Tyranitar is particularly good since it also traps Gengar which easily checks Cofagrigus, and benefits from Hippowdon and Keldeo being crippled by poison. Assault Vest Metagross also enjoys Toxic Spikes support, and deals with certain Fairy-types which threaten Cofagrigus. An answer to Fire-types, which Cofagrigus struggles massively with, is required in order to support it. For instance, Heatran can check Fire-types relatively well thanks to Flash Fire and benefits from Toxic Spikes crippling bulky Water-types, while Slowbro can handle Talonflame and Charizard-X, although the latter is less of a threat to Cofagrigus due to its weakness to Toxic Spikes and the fatc that Tough Claws is removed by Mummy. Latios and Latias act as very good partners too, for their ability to check Mega Charizard X as well as ceratin threatening special attackers like Keldeo and Thundurus, and are able to lure Steel-types that are not affected by Toxic Spikes and therefore pose a threat to Cofagrigus, such as Skarmory or Scizor with Hidden Power Fire, or Heatran with Earthquake. Cofagrigus also benefits from a good answer to Dark-types which it is very vulnerable to, preferrably a Fighting-type like Keldeo, Chesnaught or Cobalion. Special attackers in general are very threatening to Cofagrigus, so make sure you are adequately prepared for them, and pack either an Assault vest user like Tornadus-T or Raikou, or a naturally specially bulky Pokemon like Jirachi or Slowking. Mega Venusaur's ability to absorb Toxic Spikes makes it an obstacle to any team relying on Cofagrigus's support, so a lure such as Hidden Power Flying Keldeo, Psychic Thundurus or Psychic Diancie can be employed to remove it from the picture. Due to its lack of reliable recovery, Cofagrigus benefits from support from a cleric, either a Wishpasser or, if Rest is used, a Heal Bell user. Fairy-types are good partners for Cofagrigus since they can help deal with Mega Sableye, who can bounce back Cofagrigus's Toxic Spikes. Clefable and Mega Altaria are particularly good partners since they also provide claric support. Gliscor serves as a good partner to Cofagrigus as well, since it can absorb Knock Offs and Toxic for Cofagrigus, and can handle Mega Sableye with SD or block slower Defoggers with Taunt.
[SET]
name: Offensive Trick Room
move 1: Trick Room
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Hidden Power Fighting / Will-O-Wisp
move 4: Nasty Plot
item: Life Orb / Spooky Plate
ability: Mummy
nature: Quiet
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA
IVs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Thanks to Cofagrigus's low speed, Trick Room enables it to temporarily outspeed the vast majority of the tier, as well as provide support to other slow attackers such as Azumarill, Mega Heracross and Crawdaunt.
Shadow Ball is Cofagrigus's most powerful STAB move, hitting most of the OU tier neutrally or super-effectively.
Hidden Power Fighting rounds off the coverage by hitting Dark-types like Bisharp and Tyranitar and Normal-types like Mega Lopunny and Diggersby. Will-O-Wisp is also a good option, since it cripples these Pokemon, and bypasses Bisharp's Sucker Punch, however, Hidden Power Figthing is a more immediate answer to them which doesn't waste Trick Room turns.
Nasty Plot acts as a powerful boosting move, enabling Cofagrigus to break through defensive Pokemon like Mega Sableye and Heatran more easily
Set Details
========
A Life Orb boosts Cofagrigus's power, enabling it to make best use of its limited Trick Room turns. Spooky Plate is also a good option which helps it set up more easily, given that it doesn't make Cofagrigus suffer from any recoil, however, it prevents Cofagrigus from 2HKOing Chansey at +6 and cannot guarantee the 2HKO on Choice Scarf Tyranitar.
Finally, Leftovers is a good option to increase longevity, but it renders Cofagrigus significantly weaker.
Max SpA gives Cofagrigus as much power as possible, and max HP gives it a good amount of bulk, enabling it to set up reliably. Running a Quiet nature with no speed IVs enables Cofagrigus to outspeed as much as possible under Trick Room.
Usage Tips
========
It's bets to preserve this set until mid or lategame, when the opposing Pokemon will be weakened enough for Cofagrigus to sweep under Trick Room. Send Cofagrigus in on physical attackers which heavily rely on their ability such as like Mega Lopunny, Mega Medicham and Azumarill. Against more offensive teams, it usually isn't a good idea to use Nasty Plot, since Cofagrigus will find it difficult to set up against those kinds of teams. Instead, use Trick Room, in order to outspeed anything which may try to revenge kill Cofagrigus. If you do plan on using both Trick Room and Nasty Plot, use Nasty Plot first, since you will want to increase the turns under Trick Room during which you attack as much as possible. Try to play around Dark-types by hitting them with Hidden Power Fighting or Will-O-Wisp on the switch.
Team Options
========
This set works best on Trick Room teams, since Cofagrigus can act both as a setter and a sweeper on them. It can also work outside of them, however, it is bets to have teammates which can take advantage of Trick Room such as Azumarill, Choice Banded Tyranitar and Mega Heracross. Since Dark-types are a big threat to Cofagrigus, it is necessary to have a teammate which can deal with them, like Keldeo or Mega Scizor. It's usually a good idea to pair Cofagrigus up with Volt Switch or U-Turn users like Landorus-T or Rotom-W since, although it can switch in relatively easily, it needs to be kept at full health in order to reliably sweep
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
========
Colbur Berry can be used on Cofagrigus in order to take Knock Offs and Pursuits from Dark-types before burning them, however, the leftovers recovery is sorely missed and forces it to rely on Pain Split or Rest as its only form of recovery. Snatch can be used to steal status and recovery moves such as Mega Venusaur's Synthesis or Mega Sableye's Calm Mind, however, it is very situational and difficult to fit on a defensive set. Haze can be used to prevent certain swepeers from setting up on it, but Will-O-Wisp already does this very well for the most part. Toxic can be used to hit Fire-types such as Talonflame and Charizard, but generally isn't worth ithe moveslot. Magic Coat can bounce back Stealth Rocks and Taunt, but in return cannot steal recovery, and much like Snatch is too situational to come in use often.
Checks and Counters
========
**Fire-types**: Fire-types are immune to Will-O-Wisp and can often deal a lot of damage to Cofagrigus, or even set up on it. However, most of them have trouble against the Trick Room set. Talonflame is immune to Toxic Spikes and can freely SD on Cofagrigus or even Taunt it, but loses Gale Wings as it hits Cofagrigus. Heatran is immune to poison and can disable Cofagrigus by taunting it, but can be crippled by Knock Off. Mega Charizard X easily sets up on Cofagrigus, but loses Tough Claws if it hits it, while Mega Charizard Y fears nothing from Cofagrigus and can deal massive amounts of damage back. Mega Houndoom is a particularly good Cofagrigus counter since it resists Hex, can easily 2HKO Cofagrigus with Dark Pulse, set up on it, or even Taunt it.
**Special attackers**: Special attackers don't fear Burns and can hit Cofagrigus very hard. Keldeo can dela massive damage to Cofagrigus with Hydro Pump, or set up Calm Minds and Substitutes on it. Manaphy has the bulk to take Hexes and can quite easily Tail Glow on Cofagrigus. Serperior can use Cofagrigus as an opportunity to set up, especially if it carries a Lum Berry or Taunt, and while Gengar can't switch into a Hex from Cofagrigus comfortably, it cleanly OHKOs it with Shadow Ball.
**Dark-types**: While most Dark-types can't switch into Cofagrigus due to Will-O-Wisp, they take little damage from Hex and are able to deal massive damage to it back, and even Pursuit trap it. Hoopa-U in particular can easily OHKO Cofagrigus with Life Orb Dark Pulse or Choice Banded Hyperspace Fury. Bisharp can set up on Cofagrigus if it carries a Lum Berry, and deals a lot of damage to it with Life Orb Knock Off, as does Weavile. Mega Gyarados can set up a Substitute on Cofagrigus and easily stacks Dragon Dances. Mandibuzz can take anything Cofagrigus can throw at it very easily, and can even Defog its hazards away and Taunt it. Hydreigon doesn't mind being burnt and hits Cofagrigus back extremely hard. Tyranitar can deal a good chunch of damage to Cofagrigus with Crunch, but needs a Choice Band to secure a 2HKO on it, and needs Cofagrigus to be weakened prior if it doesn't want to be burnt.
**Status-immune defensive Pokemon**: Defensive Pokemon which are immune to status or have a way to cure it handle Cofagrigus very well outside of Nasty Plot sets. Clefable in can easily set up on Cofagrigus, and Gliscor can either Swords Dance on it or Taunt it. Mega Sableye can bounce back Toxic Spikes and Will-O-Wisp, but, thanks to Mummy, loses the ability to do so if it hits Cofagrigus with Knock Off or Foul Play.
**Taunt users**: Taunt users such as Skarmory and Tornadus-T can completely shut down Cofagrigus, provided that they do not take too much damage from Hex, and can even prevent the Trick Room ste from setting up.
**Mega Diancie**: Thanks to Magic Bounce, Mega Diancie can bounce Cofagrigus's Toxic Spikes and Will-O-Wisps back, and can also take its Hexes quite well. However, its struggles against Trick Room Cofagrigus.
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