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This is a guide to movesets and best builds for using Palafin in competitive play for the games Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (SV). Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, Tera Type, and Held Items to use with Palafin, as well as its strengths and weakness.
Palafin - Related Guides | |
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Evolution and Learnset | Moveset for Ranked Battle |
List of Contents
Paldea #292 | Type | |
---|---|---|
Palafin | ||
Abilities | ||
Zero to Hero |
||
Weak to: | ||
(2x) | ||
Damaged Normally By: |
(1x) | |
Resists: | (0.5x) | |
Ability Name | Description | |
---|---|---|
Zero to Hero | When switched out, the Pokemon transforms into its Hero Form which lasts until the end of the battle. |
Stat | Value | Rank |
---|---|---|
HP | 100 | 82 |
Atk | 70 | 471 |
Def | 72 | 376 |
SpAtk | 53 | 578 |
SpDef | 62 | 497 |
Speed | 100 | 120 |
Total | 457 | 436 |
Stat | Max | 0Nat | 0EV | -Nat | Min |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
HP | 207 | 207 | 175 | 175 | 160 |
Atk | 134 | 122 | 90 | 81 | 67 |
Def | 136 | 124 | 92 | 82 | 69 |
SpAtk | 115 | 105 | 73 | 65 | 52 |
SpDef | 125 | 114 | 82 | 73 | 60 |
Spd | 167 | 152 | 120 | 108 | 94 |
Best Natures | ||
---|---|---|
Jolly (+Spe, -Sp. Atk) |
Adamant (+Atk, -Sp. Atk) |
Build Name | Recommendation |
---|---|
Choice Scarf Palafin | ★★★★★ |
Bulk Up Palafin | ★★★★ |
Nature | Jolly (+Spe, -Sp. Atk) |
---|---|
EV Spread | 252 Atk / 4 Sp. Def / 252 Spe |
Final Stat Values | 175 HP / 122 Atk / 92 Def / 83 Sp. Def / 167 Spe After Transforming: HP 175 / 212 Atk / 117 Def / 108 Sp. Def / 167 Spe |
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 quick as possible and have Palafin in Hero Form ready at the back later in the match.
This set 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.
Iron Head | Iron Head gives Palafin coverage against Fairy-types, and a chance of flinching them. |
---|
Nature | Adamant (+Atk, -Sp. Atk) |
---|---|
EV Spread | 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spe |
Final Stat Values | 207 HP / 122 Atk / 92 Def / 82 Sp. Def / 121 Spe After Transforming: HP 207 / 233 Atk / 117 Def / 108 Sp. Def / 121 Spe |
Ability | Zero to Hero |
Tera Type | |
Held Item | Leftovers |
Moveset | ・
Jet Punch
・ Wave Crash ・ Bulk Up ・ Protect |
Palafin can also function well in teams where it functions as a Bulky Sweeper.
To better achieve this, Bulk Up is used to further boost Palafin's Attack and Defenses. After stacking multiple Bulk Ups, Palafin's Priority Jet Punch can deal big damage to Pokemon that don't resist it.
Ice Punch | Ice Punch is good against Dragon and Grass-types that may want to wall Palafin's Water-type offense. |
---|
Build Name | Recommendation |
---|---|
Physically Offensive Rain Palafin | ★★★★ |
Nature | Adamant (+Atk, -Sp. Atk) |
---|---|
EV Spread | 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def |
Final Stat Values | 207 HP / 134 Atk / 93 Def / 83 Sp. Def / 120 Spe After Transforming: HP 207 / 233 Atk / 118 Def / 107 Sp. Def / 120 Spe |
Ability | Zero to Hero |
Tera Type | |
Held Item | Mystic Water |
Moveset | ・
Jet Punch
・ Wave Crash ・ Haze ・ Protect |
This Palafin set is best played alongside Pelipper who can set up Rain and further boost the damage of Palafin's Water-type Moves. This set intentionally does not run coverage moves but instead focuses on consistency, having only Water-type Moves.
Wave Crash is Palafin's main offensive tool, able to take out most Pokemon or deal massive damage even on resisted hits. Jet Punch is great for taking out low HP Pokemon during late-game.
Haze is used to remove stat buffs, most notably used for Dondozo matchups. Protect is useful for making sure Palafin remains healthy.
Palafin's Held Item of choice is Mystic Water, which further boosts its Water-type Moves.
Water Tera further boosts Palafin's Water-type Moves.
STAB, Rain, Tera, and Mystic Water all make for exceptionally powerful Wave Crashes and Jet Punches.
This Palafin build features the same moves as the Champion's team in the recently concluded 2023 Oceanic International Championships. It was used to great success by the champion, Gavin Michaels.
VGC Tournament Results: 2023 Oceania International Championships
Ice Punch | Ice Punch is good against Dragon and Grass-types that may want to wall Palafin's Water-type offense. |
---|
Damage Dealt by Palafin |
|
---|---|
Item: Choice Specs | Wave Crash 165 ~ 195 (101.2 ~ 119.6%) Guaranteed OHKO |
Item: Clear Amulet | Jet Punch 168 ~ 198 (91.8 ~ 108.1%) 50% Chance to OHKO |
Item: Life Orb | Wave Crash 118 ~ 140 (73.2 ~ 86.9%) Guaranteed 2-Hit KO |
Item: Life Orb | Wave Crash 158 ~ 187 (98.1 ~ 116.1%) 87.5% Chance to OHKO |
Item: Leftovers | Wave Crash 105 ~ 124 (40.8 ~ 48.2%) Guaranteed 3-Hit KO After Leftovers Recovery |
Item: Leftovers | Wave Crash 141 ~ 166 (54.8 ~ 64.5%) Guaranteed 2-Hit KO After Leftovers Recovery |
Damage Received by Palafin |
|
Item: Leftovers | Wave Crash 72 ~ 86 (41.1 ~ 49.1%) Guaranteed 3-Hit KO |
Because Palafin has to switch out of the Active position, teammates who can take hits and either set up or switch back are good to have in the back. Grimmsnarl, who now has access to Parting Shot is a strong teammate for Palafin, as it can debuff an opponent's offense, while allowing Palafin to come in and comfortably take a hit.
Palafin's teammates have to be able to safely switch in. As mentioned, Grimmsnarl is a great example. Bulky Pokemon who can spread Status conditions are also great to have at the ready. Ideally, they should not share weaknesses.
Choice Scarf Palafin | Utility / Disruption | Bulky Utility |
---|---|---|
Palafin | Grimmsnarl | Clodsire |
Palafin can Flip Turn into Grimmsnarl early on in a match. Grimmsnarl can then follow up by using Parting Shot into the opponent's active Pokemon, allowing Palafin to safely come in uncontested in its Hero Form. Clodsire can serve as another switch-in option if expecting an Electric-type move.
Support / Redirection | Physical Attacker |
---|---|
Amoonguss | Palafin |
Physical Attacker | Support / Special Attacker |
Iron Hands | Pelipper |
Palafin becomes absurdly powerful in Rain, which boosts all of its Water-type Moves. With Water Tera and Mystic Water, Palafin is a force to behold. Pelipper is the most reliable Rain Setter available, thus making them natural partners.
Pelipper is able to set up Tailwind when needed.
Amoonguss, who also benefits from Rain reducing its Fire weakness, is there to put opponents to sleep with Spore, or protect its partner using its Rage Powder redirection.
Both Pelipper and Palafin have glaring weaknesses to Electric-type Attacks, which Iron Hands comfortably soaks up on switch in. Iron Hands can also help its team with Fake Out.
Palafin and Pelipper can also support Iron Hands with their positive matchups against Ground-type Pokemon.
While Palafin is a strong offensive force, it may struggle to deal meaningful damage to Pokemon who resist it. Steel-types or Bulky Water-types are great examples, although Steel-types may need to be wary of Palafin running Close Combat
Pokemon | Description |
---|---|
Azumarill | Ranking: ★★★★★
・Azumarill can handily take Palafin's Water-type offense, as well as any other trick it may have. ・Can comfortably set up Belly Drum or outperform Palafin's damage output with Play Rough ▶️Azumarill Best Movesets |
Magnezone | Ranking: ★★★★
・Magnezone can tank Palafin's moves except for Close Combat ・It can hit back with powerful super-effective Electric-type attacks. |
Movesets & Best Builds for Ranked Battle
New Indigo Disk Pokemon Builds |
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New Indigo Disk Pokemon Builds |
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Returning Indigo Disk Pokemon Builds |
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Blueberry Pokedex: List of All Indigo Disk Pokemon
All Teal Mask DLC Builds |
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Kitakami Pokedex: List of All Teal Mask DLC Pokemon
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Best Treasures of Ruin Builds for Ranked Battle and Raids
All Paradox Pokemon Builds |
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Paradox Pokemon Builds for Competitive Battles and Tera Raids
All Other Gen 9 Meta Pokemon Builds |
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Gen 9 Pokemon: All New Pokemon
All Gen 1~8 Meta Pokemon Builds |
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All Off-Meta Pokemon Builds |
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Competitive Team Building for Singles Ranked Battle
Banned/Restricted Builds |
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Palafin Movesets and Best Builds
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