Dondozo + Ting-Lu
Commander hands Dondozo +2 everywhere while Tatsugiri hides — from there it’s Order Up scaling, Earthquake spread, and Substitute plus Leftovers to force bad guesses. Ting-Lu isn’t decorative: Vessel of Ruin trims special damage so your boosted fish doesn’t evaporate to the first Moonblast, and Flutter Mane is your “normal Pokémon” mode when Dozo isn’t the answer.
Gameplan
Opening
Lead Dondozo + Tatsugiri when you can afford the Commander commit — Protect and reads matter because a bad double target can end the gimmick before it starts. Sub on predicted switches or when you want to stall a control turn while fish chip with Icy Wind or Muddy Water from the back.
Mid-game
Slam Ting-Lu in when special pressure is high or you need Ruination to blow up a fat target; if you Earthquake, Protect with Dondozo or pivot so you don’t clip your own fish. Order Up tracks Attack or Defense depending on what’s threatening — don’t autopilot the boost.
End-game
If the matchup hates Dozo (Encore, strong Unaware answers, double special), run Flutter Mane plus the Incineroar/Rillaboom core for Fake Out, Intimidate, terrain, and fast Moonballs instead of forcing the fish stack every game.
Team Roster
Dondozo
- Item:
- Leftovers
- Ability:
- Unaware
- Nature:
- Adamant
- EVs:
- 252 HP / 4 Atk / 108 Def / 140 SpD / 4 Spe
- Moves:
- Order Up, Earthquake, Protect, Substitute
Tatsugiri
- Item:
- Focus Sash
- Ability:
- Commander
- Nature:
- Timid
- EVs:
- 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
- Moves:
- Draco Meteor, Muddy Water, Icy Wind, Protect
Ting-Lu
- Item:
- Sitrus Berry
- Ability:
- Vessel of Ruin
- Nature:
- Careful
- EVs:
- 252 HP / 4 Atk / 108 Def / 140 SpD / 4 Spe
- Moves:
- Earthquake, Ruination, Heavy Slam, Protect
Incineroar
- Item:
- Safety Goggles
- Ability:
- Intimidate
- Nature:
- Careful
- EVs:
- 252 HP / 4 Atk / 60 Def / 140 SpD / 52 Spe
- Moves:
- Fake Out, Knock Off, Flare Blitz, Parting Shot
Flutter Mane
- Item:
- Booster Energy
- Ability:
- Protosynthesis
- Nature:
- Timid
- EVs:
- 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
- Moves:
- Moonblast, Shadow Ball, Icy Wind, Protect
Rillaboom
- Item:
- Assault Vest
- Ability:
- Grassy Surge
- Nature:
- Adamant
- EVs:
- 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spe
- Moves:
- Fake Out, Wood Hammer, Grassy Glide, High Horsepower