TINKATON features in this month's Community Day event, and with a potent new signature move. No real Bottom Line Up Front needed here: GIGATON HAMMER is an amazingly powerful move that there's little reason to NOT pursue, but let's jump into it and why it works on this Pokémon in particular as compared to existing alternatives. Here we go!
TINKATON
Fairy/Steel Type
GREAT LEAGUE:
Attack: 106 (105 High Stat Product)
Defense: 141 (142 High Stat Product)
HP: 141 (143 High Stat Product)
(Highest Stat Product IVs: 1-14-14, 1495 CP, Level 25.5)
ULTRA LEAGUE:
Attack: 140 (on average)
Defense: 177 (on average)
HP: 178 (on average)
(Highest Stat Product IVs: 13-15-15, 2499 CP, Level 49.5)
MASTER LEAGUE:
Fun thought, but even with the new move… no. Just no.
The typing is not really new, as Mawile and Klefki both got there first. But Fairy/Steel is worth at least a mention, as it IS a really good defensive type combination, weak to only Ground and Fire, resistant to Dark, Fairy, Flying, Grass, Ice, Normal, Poison (that's a big deal for a Fairy!), Psychic,and Rock, 2x resistant to Bug damage, and 3x resistant to Dragon damage. It's hard to crack through the shell of a good Fairy/Steel.
And it's harder than ever in this case, as Tinkaton is noticably bulkier than its Steely Fairy predecessors, having over 200 more stat product than Klefki and well over 300 more than Mawile. It ALSO can get much bigger than either, able to hit 2500 CP for Ultra League whereas Klefki tops out at 2204, and Mawile doesn't even cross 1850 CP. Compared to other things, Tinkaton is the third-bulkiest Fairy in Great League, behind only Carbink and Azumarill, and THE bulkiest Fairy of all in Ultra League. It is slightly bulkier than Medicham, Corviknight, and Jellicent, and just slightly behind stuff like Lickilicky, Cradily, and Noctowl. Eliminating Shadow variants (which just become redundant), Tinkaton sits just outside the Top 50 of all Pokémon in terms of bulk/stat product in Great League, and currently sits right at #30 in Ultra League, which is pretty darn great!
But we'll get more into Ultra League later. For now, I know what you're here for: the moves, especially the new one. Let's check them all out!
FAST MOVES
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Fairy Wind (Fairy, 2.0 DPT, 4.5 EPT, 1.0 CoolDown)
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Rock Smash (Fighting, 3.0 DPT, 2.33 EPT, 1.5 CD)
Sometimes, I know players hang on analyses like this, waiting for the opinion of their favorite people who need a new hobby analysts and content creators to know how heavily to invest in things, and what moves can give them a competitive edge. Sometimes, they come to artictles like this one for a comprehensive breakdown on available moves, perhaps looking for that under-the-radar gem that can shock and awe the opponent and shine brightly on the right Pokémon. I take that seriously and always try and dig out those gems where I find them, to make things FUN in this game, because it's a game, right? I am humbled at how people keep coming back for that and thank me afterwards for my silly little seven year hobby writing these things. 😊
…And then sometimes, it comes down to "any move but Rock Smash, and you all don't need me at all. 😅 Especially when you have one of the overall best fast moves in the game in Fairy Wind sitting right there. Just run that, and if you don't know why, I am terribly sorry for failing you after all this time. 🙃 Moving on….
á´± – Exclusive (Community Day) Move
CHARGE MOVES
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Bulldoze (Ground, 45 damage, 45 energy, 50% Chance: Reduce Opponent Defense -1 Stage)
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Heavy Slam (Steel, 70 damage, 50 energy)
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Play Rough (Fairy, 90 damage, 60 energy)
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Gigaton Hammerá´± (Steel, 130 damage, 60 energy)
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Flash Cannon (Steel, 110 damage, 70 energy)
So, good as Tinkaton is, it's been kept at least somewhat in check by a viable-but-boring (or frankly just mediocre, if I'm being honest) pool of charge moves. Bulldoze provides some nice coverage against (most) Fire types that resist the rest of its moves, but it's really more here for baiting and praying to Arceus for the debuff to trigger. And after that? Heavy Slam is cheap (compared to other options, anyway!) but lackluster, and that's being charitable… there are seventeen charge moves that deal the same damage for less energy. 50 energy for 70 damage is Parabolic Charge/Flame Charge, but here without the self-buffing. If you want to deal Steel damage (and you probably usually want the option), Flash Cannon is overall a better move but 10 more energy and similarly underpowered for the cost. (You mostly have the attempt to keep Registeel in check in the meta to thank for that.) Play Rough is an okay all-arounder but, again, it's comparatively underpowered for its 60-energy cost… only it's more egregious here, as EVERY other 90-damage move in the game costs less, including Dazzling Gleam! (The same 90 Fairy-type damage for 5 less energy.) None of these are moves that most Pokémon want to have to rely on outside of Hail Mary and/or desperation coverage use, and here's Tinkaton sitting with ALL of its charge moves in that camp. Not great.
Still, as you'll see below (if you haven't already seen in battle!), Tinkaton thrives anyway. A lot of bulk, a great typing, and excellent energy generation (from Fairy Wind) will do that for you. But now it gets the Community Day treatment with a truly amazing charge move that folks have been looking forward to ever since Tinkatink hit the game a year ago: Gigaton Hammer. And it's anything but underpowered. Keep in mind that moves like Brave Bird, Overheat, and Leaf Storm deal the same 130 damage, and for 5 energy less, but come with HUGE self-debuffs in the process. Hammer's 130d/60e stats are identical to Origin Pulse and Precipice Blades, moves that are of course exclusive to one single Legendary Pokémon each. And every other move that deals 130 damage (or more) costs more than 60 energy. Holy power level, Batman!
This is clearly a straight upgrade on Flash Cannon and probably pushes Heavy Slam to the side too. However, it's worth pointing out that anything that resists Steel but doesn't resist Fairy will still end up taking more damage from Play Rough than Gigaton Hammer, though not by much (usually only a difference of 5-6 damage even in those cases). But all things being equal, Gigaton becomes the new best closer.
But to best demonstrate that, of course, we have to go to the sims!
PERFORMANCE IN GREAT LEAGUE
So as we usually do, let's start with our barometer: Tinkaton with pre-Community Day moves. In Great League, it draws the best overall numbers with Flash Cannon (and Bulldoze setting it up), though Play Rough and Heavy Slam are right behind it. Flash Cannon alone can blow away Clefable, and compared directly to Play Rough, also overpowers Togekiss, Alolan Ninetales, and Azumarill, whereas Play Rough instead gets Lickilicky, Medicham, and Shadow Feraligatr. (And they remain within a win or two of each other in other even shield matchups too.)
But now Gigaton Hammer comes in and… well, brings the hammer down on all that. In 1v1 shielding, it beats ALL the same things Flash Cannon can plus Medicham, Lickilicky, and ShadowGatr, all the same things Play Rough beats plus Clefable, Azumarill, Alolan Ninetales, and Togekiss, and also handles Shadow Scizor and Clodsire that neither Flash nor Rough can match. With shields down, the only real advantage that Play Rough has is a win over Shadow Quagsire, while Hammer instead nails (haha see what I did there? 🔨) Fearow, Shadow Scizor, Alolan Ninetales, and Clodisre (and is strictly better than Flash Cannon), and in 2v2 shielding, while Play Rough can pick off Feraligatr, Gigaton Hammer again outshines it and Flash Cannon otherwise with unique wins versus Gourgeist and Lickilicky, Azumarill specifically in the case of Flash, and Clefable, Alolan Ninetales, and Stunfisk in the case of Rough.
So yes, there are edge cases for Play Rough, but Gigaton Hammer is just so overpowered that it's the clear best in nearly all scenarios. So might one go with their powers combined? What could the best of Play Rough and Gigaton Hammer bring to the table, shedding the bait and perhaps coverage of Bulldoze? Well, it's a viable option, though the ceiling is a bit lower with losses that include SScizor, Primeape, and pesky Morpeko. But I think I might like it a little better than Bulldoze/Play Rough, which gets those wins I just mentioned, but unlike Rough/Hammer, cannot punch out things like Clodsire and a bunch of Fairies (Togekiss, A-Ninetales, Clefable, Azu). You COULD just go for those two closers and do alright for yourself depending on your playstyle. I can see it even here in Great League!
Does that also hold up in Ultra League?
PERFORMANCE IN ULTRA LEAGUE
So at this level, the current best is with both current closing moves: Play Rough and Flash Cannon, moreso than with Bulldoze in the mix. That said, subbing in Gigaton Hammer instead of Flash Cannon doesn't tack on all that much, dropping Shadow Dusknoir and the mirror, though the difference between Hammer and Cannon with shields down is more glaring, with Hammer beating all the same things Cannon can as well as Lapras, Lickilicky, Corviknight, and again the mirror. So I could stop right there and say that, yes, Gigaton Hammer is again a move you want here, as an upgrade. But I would be remiss to not point out that humble Bulldoze DOES have a role to play at this level too. While Play Rough can again sneak a couple wins that Bulldoze/Hammer cannot (Virizion in 1shield, Ludicolo in 0shield, and ShadowGatr in 2shield), Hammer with Bulldoze can take out Ground weak things like Ampharos, Bellibolt, and Tentacruel, as well as outracing Primeape in 1shield, Shadow Nidoqueen and Steelix with shields down, and Ampharos, Tentacruel, Golisopod, Cobalion, ShadowNoir, Greninja, and Annihilape in 2v2 shielding matchups.
So end of the day, the conclusion is probably a surprise to no one….
IN SUMMATION….
Yes, Gigaton Hammer is a move you absolutely want on Tinkaton in PvP, in any all Leagues or Cups where you would consider using Tinkaton. (This includes the upcoming Fantasy Cup, where Flash Cannon/Bulldoze is the current best, but Megaton Hammer/Bulldoze will now be better with extra wins over SScizor in 1shield, Azumarill and Primarina in 2shield, and all of the following with shields down: SScizor, Ferrothorn, Altaria, Turtonator, and the mirror match.) It's not exactly gamebreaking, but it makes an already-good Pokémon even better and more dangerous. No surprise, but hopefully this analysis makes it clear the extent to which it's better and a move you're basically always going to want on Tinkaton moving forward.
So there we go! Until next time, you can always find me on Twitter with regular GO analysis nuggets or Patreon.
Good hunting, folks! Stay safe out there, have some fun with your locals, and catch you next time, Pokéfriends!
by JRE47