Best Water Type Pokemon

Water Type Pokemon are strong against Fire, Ground, and Rock Type Pokemon. Learn what are the best Water Type Pokemon for Competitive, Tera Raids and the Story, as well as the best Pokemon to give a Water Tera Type to in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (SV)!

Best Water-type Pokemon for Tera Raids

Best Water-type Pokemon for Tera Raids
Azumarill	Greninja	Quaquaval

Azumarill

Azumarill Tera Raid Build	Tera Type			Nature
				Adamant (↑ Atk, ↓ Sp.Atk)
	EV Spread
	HP 228 / Atk 252 / Def 12 / Sp.Def 12 / Spe 4
Ability	Moveset
Huge Power	・ Belly Drum ・ Liquidation ・ Play Rough ・ Rain Dance
Held Item
Sitrus Berry

Azumarill's Belly Drum and Liquidation combo is an effective way to cheese most Tera Raids. Using Belly Drum will raise Azumarill's Attack stat by six stages, which is also bolstered by Huge Power. It can then attack with Liquidation to deal massive damage!

Azumarill Best Tera Raid Build

Greninja

Greninja Tera Raid Build	Tera Type			Nature
				Adamant (↑ Atk, ↓ Sp.Atk)
	EV Spread
	HP: 252		Atk: 252		Def: 4
Ability	Moveset
Torrent	・ Liquidation ・ Taunt ・ Rain Dance ・ Swords Dance
Held Item
Shell Bell

Greninja with the Ability Torrent can be useful for Tera Raids, as its Water-type moves can be boosted by 50% once its HP drops down to 1/3 of its max health. You can avoid being knocked out if you let it hold a Shell Bell to recover HP every time it attacks.

You can also use Rain Dance to weaken any Fire-type moves used by raid bosses. This will also boost the power of your attacks, especially if you are able to Terastallize.

Greninja Best Tera Raid Build

Quaquaval

Quaquaval Tera Raid Build	Tera Type			Nature
				Adamant (↑ Atk, ↓ Sp.Atk)
	EV Spread
	HP: 252		Atk: 252		Spe: 4
Ability	Moveset
Torrent	・ Ice Spinner ・ Swords Dance ・ Liquidation ・ Close Combat
Held Item
Clear Amulet

You can use Quaquaval as your sweeper against raid bosses if you set up with Swords Dance and attack with Liquidation. This move also has a chance of lowering the opponent's Defense by one stage.

Quaquaval Best Tera Raid Build

Best Water-type Pokemon for Competitive Ranked Battle

Best Water-type Pokemon for Ranked Battles
Iron Bundle	Wash Rotom	Palafin

Iron Bundle

	Iron Bundle Best Build for Ranked Battle
Nature	Timid (↑ Spe, ↓ Atk)
EV Spread	Def 4 / Sp.Atk 252 / Spe 252
Final Stat Values	HP 131 / Def 135 / Sp.Atk 176 / Sp.Def 80 / Spe 206
Ability	Quark Drive
Tera Type
Held Item	Focus Sash
Moveset	・ Hydro Pump ・ Ice Beam ・ Freeze-Dry ・ Flip Turn

Iron Bundle is a Pokemon that can hit hard and fast, with a 136 base Speed stat which is only rivaled by Electrode and Dragapult. Although Iron Bundle does not get a very wide ranging move pool, the combination of Ice Beam, Hydro Pump and Freeze-Dry is able to hit every Pokemon in the game for at least neutral damage.

Iron Bundle Movesets and Best Builds

Wash Rotom

	Wash Rotom Best Build for Ranked Battle
Nature	Modest (↑ Sp.Atk, ↓ Atk)
EV Spread	HP 248 / Def 32 / Sp.Atk 228
Final Stat Values	HP 156 / Def 131 / Sp.Atk 169 / Sp.Def 127 / Spe 106
Ability	Levitate
Tera Type
Held Item	Sitrus Berry
Moveset	・ Hydro Pump ・ Thunderbolt ・ Will-O-Wisp ・ Protect

Wash Rotom is great against Pokemon that are weak to its STAB moves, and can comfortably switch into Ground-type attacks thanks to its Levitate Ability. Terastallizing into Electric ensures that Wash Rotom has no weaknesses.

Wash Rotom Movesets and Best Builds

Palafin

	Palafin Best Build for Ranked Battle
Nature	Jolly (↑ Spe, ↓ Sp.Atk)
EV Spread	Atk 252 / Sp.Def 4 / Spe 252
Final Stat Values	Before transforming: HP 175 / Atk 122 / Def 92 / Sp.Def 83 / Spe 167 After transforming: HP 175 / Atk 212 / Def 117 / Sp.Def 108 / Spe 167
Ability	Zero to Hero
Tera Type
Held Item	Choice Scarf
Moveset	・ Wave Crash ・ Flip Turn ・ Ice Punch ・ Close Combat

This set aims to use Flip Turn as quickly as possible and have Palafin in Hero Form ready at the back later in the match.

This build is good when used as a lead, letting you reposition yourself in a match into a more advantageous situation, while having a more powerful Palafin ready for later.

Palafin Movesets and Best Builds

Best Water-type Pokemon for Story Playthrough

Best Water-type Pokemon for the Story
Quaquaval	Floatzel	Gyarados

Quaquaval

	Quaquaval Best Build for the Story
Nature	Adamant (↑ Atk, ↓ Sp.Atk)
EV Spread	Atk 252 / Spe 252
Ability	Moxie
Tera Type
Held Item	Muscle Band
Moveset	・ Aqua Step ・ Close Combat ・ Aqua Jet ・ Swords Dance

This build capitalizes on Quaquaval's high Attack and good Speed stats. An Adamant Nature and Muscle Band will boost its attack power, on top of the buffs from Moxie whenever it KOs an opponent in battle.

Use Close Combat and Aqua Jet to lay down the hurt on your opponents. If you want Quaquaval to hit harder and faster, use Aqua Step and Swords Dance. But don't count on Close Combat too much, as it will debuff Quaquaval's Defense and Special Defense stats. This makes it more vulnerable to enemy counter-attacks if they manage to withstand the move.

Quaquaval Best Moveset for the Story

Floatzel

	Floatzel Best Build for the Story
Nature	Adamant (↑ Atk, ↓ Sp.Atk)
EV Spread	Atk 252 / Spe 252
Ability	Swift Swim
Tera Type
Held Item	Mystic Water
Moveset	・ Aqua Jet ・ Liquidation ・ Ice Fang ・ Wave Crash

Floatzel is one of the most accessible Water-type Pokemon in Paldea that you can easily catch. You can take advantage of its high Attack and Speed stats and make it an effective physical attacker.

Floatzel Best Movesets for the Story

Gyarados

	Gyarados Best Build for the Story
Nature	Adamant (↑ Atk, ↓ Sp.Atk)
EV Spread	Atk 252 / Spe 252
Ability	Intimidate
Tera Type
Held Item	Muscle Band
Moveset	・ Crunch ・ Aqua Tail ・ Earthquake ・ Dragon Dance

Magikarp is also another Pokemon that can be easily caught in the game, and can evolve into the mighty Gyarados once it reaches level 20.

If you chose Fuecoco as your starter you can bench Magikarp in your team and let it receive experience points while beating the first set of Gyms. This will allow it to level up passively and make it evolve, which you can then use as one of your main attackers in the middle to late stages of the game.

Gyarados Best Moveset for the Story

Best Pokemon to Terastallize to Water

Best Pokemon to Terastallize to Water
Iron Bundle	Azumarill	Cetitan

Iron Bundle

	Iron Bundle Best Build for Ranked Battle
Nature	Timid (↑ Spe, ↓ Atk)
EV Spread	Def 4 / Sp.Atk 252 / Spe 252
Final Stat Values	HP 131 / Def 135 / Sp.Atk 176 / Sp.Def 80 / Spe 206
Ability	Quark Drive
Tera Type
Held Item	Focus Sash
Moveset	・ Hydro Pump ・ Ice Beam ・ Freeze-Dry ・ Flip Turn

Iron Bundle is a Pokemon that can hit hard and fast, with a 136 base Speed stat which is only rivaled by Electrode and Dragapult. Although Iron Bundle does not get a very wide ranging move pool, the combination of Ice Beam, Hydro Pump and Freeze-Dry is able to hit every Pokemon in the game for at least neutral damage.

Iron Bundle Movesets and Best Builds

Azumarill

	Azumarill Best Build for Ranked Battle
Nature	Adamant (↑ Atk, ↓ Sp.Atk)
EV Spread	HP 252 / Atk 252 / Sp.Def 4
Final Stat Values	HP 207 / Atk 112 (224 with Huge Power) / Def 100 / Sp.Def 101 / Spe 70
Ability	Huge Power
Tera Type
Held Item	Assault Vest
Moveset	・ Aqua Jet ・ Liquidation ・ Play Rough ・ Superpower

This set wants Azumarill to hit as hard as possible without the need for Belly Drum, while still being specially defensive with Assault Vest.

Azumarill Movesets and Best Builds

Cetitan

	Cetitan Best Build for Ranked Battle
Nature	Adamant (↑ Atk, ↓ Sp.Atk)
EV Spread	HP 4 / Atk 252 / Spe 252
Final Stat Values	HP 246 / Atk 181 / Def 85 / Sp.Def 75 / Spe 125
Ability	Slush Rush
Tera Type
Held Item	Life Orb
Moveset	・ Ice Spinner ・ Liquidation ・ Earthquake ・ Ice Shard

Cetitan's natural bulk and respectable physical coverage make it a great attacker for dedicated Snow teams, using its Slush Rush Ability to outspeed its usual checks and counters even with just an Adamant nature. Life Orb is the preferred held item for this build, boosting the power of its moves at the cost of some HP lost.

Cetitan Movesets and Best Builds

Best Tera Type for Water-type Pokemon

Water Tera Type

Water-type Pokemon are able to deal more damage with their Water-type moves when they have a Water Tera Type, thanks to the boost from STAB and being Terastallized with the same type.

Moreover, all of these damage boosts also stack with the damage buffs received when rain is active in the field, which can make these Pokemon a bigger threat in battles.

Grass Tera Type

Water-type Pokemon can resist Grass-type moves if they Terastallized into Grass. This will allow them to tank moves like Energy Ball or Leaf Blade.

You can change your Pokemon's Tera Type to Grass with Grass Tera Shards.

Ground Tera Type

Water-types can also bypass their weakness to Electric-type moves by Terastallizing into a Ground-type. This will make them immune to Thunderbolt and other common Electric-type moves.

You can change your Pokemon's Tera Type to Ground with Ground Tera Shards.

Best Pokemon to Terastallize

Best Water Type Pokemon by Base Stat

Best Water Type Pokemon by Base Stats

Pokémon	H	A	B	C	D	S	Total
Palkia	90	120	100	150	120	100	680
Palkia (Origin Forme)	90	100	100	150	120	120	680
Kyogre	100	100	90	150	140	90	670
Palafin (Hero Form)	100	160	97	106	87	100	650
Manaphy	100	100	100	100	100	100	600
Volcanion	80	110	120	130	90	70	600
Walking Wake	99	83	91	125	83	109	590
Suicune	100	75	115	90	115	85	580
Keldeo	91	72	90	129	90	108	580
Iron Bundle	56	80	114	124	60	136	570
Ogerpon (Wellspring Mask)	80	120	84	60	96	110	555
Urshifu Rapid-Strike Style	100	130	100	63	60	97	550
Milotic	95	60	79	100	125	81	540
Gyarados	95	125	79	60	100	81	540
Kingdra	75	95	95	95	95	85	540
Swampert	100	110	90	85	90	60	535
Lapras	130	85	80	85	95	60	535
Dondozo	150	100	115	65	65	35	530
Greninja	72	95	67	103	71	122	530
Blastoise	79	83	100	85	105	78	530
Feraligatr	85	105	100	79	83	78	530
Empoleon	84	86	88	111	101	60	530
Basculegion (Male)	120	112	65	80	75	78	530
Basculegion (Female)	120	92	65	100	75	78	530
Primarina	80	74	74	126	116	60	530
Inteleon	70	85	65	125	65	120	530
Quaquaval	85	120	80	85	75	85	530
Samurott	95	100	85	108	70	70	528
Hisuian Samurott	90	108	80	100	65	85	528
Cloyster	50	95	180	85	45	70	525
Vaporeon	130	65	60	110	95	65	525
Wash Rotom	50	65	107	105	107	86	520
Tentacruel	80	70	65	80	120	100	515
Poliwrath	90	95	95	70	90	70	510
Golduck	80	82	78	95	80	85	500
Clawitzer	71	73	88	120	89	59	500
Floatzel	85	105	55	85	50	115	495
Toxapex	50	63	152	53	142	35	495
Barraskewda	61	123	60	60	50	136	490
Slowbro	95	75	110	100	80	30	490
Paldean Tauros (Fighting/Water Form)	75	110	105	30	70	100	490
Slowking	95	75	80	100	110	30	490
Drednaw	90	115	90	48	68	74	485
Phione	80	80	80	80	80	80	480
Ludicolo	80	70	70	90	100	70	480
Veluza	90	102	73	78	65	70	478
Bruxish	68	105	70	70	70	92	475
Tatsugiri	68	50	60	120	95	82	475
Dewgong	90	70	80	70	95	70	475
Cramorant	70	85	55	85	95	85	475
Gastrodon (East Sea)	111	83	68	92	82	39	475
Gastrodon (West Sea)	111	83	68	92	82	39	475
Swanna	75	87	63	87	63	98	473
Alomomola	165	75	80	40	45	65	470
Crawdaunt	63	120	85	90	55	55	468
Whiscash	110	78	73	76	71	60	468
Basculin	70	92	65	80	55	98	460
Lanturn	125	58	58	76	76	67	460
Lumineon	69	69	76	69	86	91	460
Palafin	100	70	72	53	62	100	457
Araquanid	68	70	92	50	132	42	454
Pelipper	60	50	100	95	70	65	440
Qwilfish	65	95	85	55	55	85	440
Quagsire	95	85	85	65	65	35	430
Wugtrio	35	100	50	50	70	120	425
Azumarill	100	50	80	60	80	50	420
Luvdisc	43	30	55	40	65	97	330

This is a list of fully-evolved Water-type Pokemon by total base stats. For a full comparison of all Pokemon including unevolved forms, try our List of Pokemon by Base Stats.

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