VGC Sun Team Core Guide
Torkoal
Drought auto-sun + exceptional Defense — the indispensable support core for Groudon/Koraidon sun teams
DroughtSun TeamPermenant Sun
Why Torkoal instead of just Groudon?
☀️
Frees restricted slot
Torkoal is an unrestricted Pokémon that provides permanent sun, saving your 2 restricted slots for sweepers like Calyrex-Shadow + Groudon.
🛡️
140 Def physical wall
Survives Extreme Speeds, Bullet Punches, and most priority moves that might disrupt sun setup.
📊
Enables full sun team
Run Groudon (Desolate Land) as restricted AND Torkoal as backup. Torkoal ensures sun stays up if Groudon faints.
Base Stats
70
HP
85
Atk
140
Def
85
SpAtk
70
SpDef
20
Spe
70 HP, 140 Defense, 90 SpDef — astonishing physical bulk lets Torkoal reliably maintain sun support without being KO’d by physical attackers.
Sun Weather Mechanics
Fire moves: ×1.5 damage in sun
Reshiram’s Blue Flare, Koraidon’s Collision Course (boosted by sun), Fire-type moves from Flutter Mane, Arcanine all benefit.
Water moves: ×0.5 in sun
Kyogre’s Water Spout, Origin Pulse — all cut in half. Sun teams hard counter standard rain teams.
Solar Beam / Solar Blade: 0 charge turns
Instant Grass-type coverage without a charge turn — useful for anti-rain coverage.
Synthesis / Morning Sun: restore 2/3 HP
Recovery moves restore 66% instead of 50% under sun. Torkoal can run Slack Off to heal even more.
Thunder: 50% accuracy in sun
Reduces opponent’s Thunder accuracy — indirect defensive benefit against Kyogre.
5 turns baseline / 8 with Heat Rock
Torkoal should almost always carry Heat Rock to extend sun to 8 turns. Critical for 6-turn games.
Recommended Builds
Meta
Standard Sun Setter
Moves
- Heat Wave
- Earth Power
- Yawn
- Protect
Item：Heat Rock
Nature：Modest (252 HP / 252 SpAtk / 4 SpDef)
EV：252 HP / 252 SpAtk / 4 SpDef
Heat Rock extends sun to 8 turns. Heat Wave is STAB spread move boosted by sun (90 BP × 1.5 = 135 effective). Earth Power covers Rock/Steel types. Yawn forces switches or sleep.
Alt
Defensive Wall
Moves
- Heat Wave
- Will-O-Wisp
- Slack Off
- Protect
Item：Heat Rock / Leftovers
Nature：Bold (252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpDef)
EV：252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpDef
Will-O-Wisp cripples physical attackers. Slack Off heals 50% HP (66% in sun if using Morning Sun). Can take hits from Koraidon and Groudon after Will-O-Wisp chip.
Sun Team Structure
| Slot | Pokémon | Role |
|---|---|---|
| ① Restricted | Groudon / Koraidon | Primary sun setter + physical attacker |
| ② Restricted | Calyrex-Shadow / Reshiram / Zekrom | High-power sweeper under sun |
| ③ Support | Torkoal | Backup sun + spread Fire-type damage |
| ④ Control | Incineroar | Intimidate support + fire synergy |
| ⑤ Speed | Flutter Mane / Tornadus | Fast spread attacker or Tailwind setter |
| ⑥ Coverage | Rillaboom / Amoonguss | Grassy Terrain / Rage Powder support |
How to Counter
Kyogre (Primordial Sea)
Overrides Drought with permanent Heavy Rain — Fire moves become 0 power. Kyogre hard counters all sun teams. Must carry Water-resist or switch Torkoal in carefully.
Weather change moves
Rain Dance, Snowscape, Sandstorm override sun for 5 turns. Bring Torkoal back in to re-activate Drought.
Water-type Tera moves
Even in sun, a Tera Water Pokémon with Origin Pulse (×0.5 from sun, but super-effective) can threaten Torkoal.
Rock-type attackers
Torkoal has ×2 Rock weakness. Stone Edge from Groudon or Rock Slide from Landorus-T can KO without recovery.