Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (SV)

Azelf Movesets and Best Builds

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This is a guide to movesets and best builds for using Azelf 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 Azelf, as well as its strengths and weakness.

Azelf - Related Guides
Pokemon SV - Azelf Evolution and LearnsetEvolution and Learnset Pokemon SV - Azelf MovesetMoveset for Ranked Battle Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (SV) - Azelf Tera Raid Builds IconTera Raid Build

Azelf Base Stats, Type, Ability and Weakness

Nat. Dex #482 Type
Azelf ImageAzelf
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Psychic Icon
Abilities
Levitate
Weak to:
(2x)
Pokemon Bug Type Icon Pokemon Ghost Type Icon Pokemon Dark Type Icon
Damaged Normally
By:
(1x)
Pokemon Normal Type Icon Pokemon Fire Type Icon Pokemon Water Type Icon Pokemon Grass Type Icon Pokemon Electric Type Icon Pokemon Ice Type Icon Pokemon Poison Type Icon Pokemon Ground Type Icon Pokemon Flying Type Icon Pokemon Rock Type Icon Pokemon Dragon Type Icon Pokemon Steel Type Icon Pokemon Fairy Type Icon
Resists: (0.5x)
Pokemon Fighting Type Icon Pokemon Psychic Type Icon

What is Type Effectiveness?

Ability Name Description
Levitate The user is immune to Ground-type moves and cannot be damaged by Spikes.

Base Stats

Base Stats
Lv. 50 Stats
Stat Value Rank
HP
75
317
Atk
125
59
Def
70
384
SpAtk
125
53
SpDef
70
376
Speed
115
52
Total
580
83
Explanation of Pokemon Stats
Stat Max 0Nat 0EV -Nat Min
HP 182 182 150 150 135
Atk 194 177 145 130 117
Def 134 122 90 81 67
SpAtk 194 177 145 130 117
SpDef 134 122 90 81 67
Spd 183 167 135 121 108
  • Max: Max IVs & EVs and a stat-boosting Nature
  • 0Nat: Max IVs & EVs and a neutral Nature
  • 0EV: Max IVs, 0 EVs, and a neutral Nature
  • -Nat: Max IVs, 0 EVs, and a stat-reducing Nature
  • Min: 0 IVs & EVs, and a stat-reducing Nature
Introduction to EVs, IVs, and Natures

Best Nature for Azelf

Best Natures
Adamant
(+Atk, -Sp.Atk)
Timid
(+Spe, -Sp. Atk)

What are Natures?

Doubles Moveset for Azelf

Build Name Recommendation
Choice Band Azelf ★★★★

Choice band Azelf Moveset & Best Build

Nature Adamant (+Atk, -Sp.Atk)
EV Spread 252 Atk / 4 Sp. Def / 252 Spe
Final Stat Values 150 HP / 194 Atk / 90 Def / 91 Sp. Def / 167 Spe
Ability Levitate
Tera Type Pokemon Normal Type Icon
Held Item Choice Band
Moveset Zen Headbutt
Explosion
Drain Punch
Trick

Summary

Pokeball IconGreat Speed stat and solid Attack stat.

Pokeball IconCan deal modest damage with its Choice Band set.
Pokeball IconTera Normal Choice Band Explosion can KO most Pokemon.

Ability and Held Item

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Azelf Image
Ability Held Item
Levitate Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Choice Band ImageChoice Band

Azelf's best Ability is Levitate, which is its only Ability. Choice Band can let Azelf hit as hard as possible on the physical side.

Moves Breakdown

Zen Headbutt Explosion
Drain Punch Trick

Zen Headbutt is Azelf's main STAB Move and is its most reliable STAB option.

Explosion with Tera Normal can reliably deal upwards of 80% to most relevant bulky Pokemon such as Cresselia, Ursaluna, and Amoonguss

Drain Punch can keep Azelf healthy, and is good for damaging Fighting-weak opponents such as Kingambit and Tyranitar, who may attempt to wall Azelf because of its Psychic typing.

Trick can lock a Pokemon into a disadvantageous Move. This is a great disruption option for opposing Pokemon that have set up Moves like Swords Dance or Trick Room, severly limiting their usefulness in a match.

Best Tera Type: Normal

Normal Tera Type Matchup
Weak to:
(2x)
Pokemon Fighting Type Icon
Damaged Normally
By:
(1x)
Pokemon Normal Type Icon Pokemon Fire Type Icon Pokemon Water Type Icon Pokemon Grass Type Icon Pokemon Electric Type Icon Pokemon Ice Type Icon Pokemon Poison Type Icon Pokemon Ground Type Icon Pokemon Flying Type Icon Pokemon Psychic Type Icon Pokemon Bug Type Icon Pokemon Rock Type Icon Pokemon Dragon Type Icon Pokemon Dark Type Icon Pokemon Steel Type Icon Pokemon Fairy Type Icon
Immune to: (0x)
Pokemon Ghost Type Icon

Because Azelf is not a tanky Pokemon, we make use of Terastallization offensively instead of defensively. Normal Tera is for boosting the power of Explosion.

Best Normal Type Pokemon for Ranked Battle

EV Spread Explanation

Azelf's EV spread for this build leans on making it a fast Physical Attacker with 252 Attack and 252 Speed EVs. 4 EVs are put into its Special Defense to round out its bulk.

Other Viable Moves

Play Rough Play Rough may be a good offensive choice, especially if your team needs the Fairy-type coverage.
U-turn U-Turn can get Azelf out of the active position. This is a great move for breaking Focus Sash on the likes of Chien-Pao.

Key Damage Calculations

Defense Icon Pokemon SVDamage Dealt by Azelf
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Amoonguss Image 70 Def
Defensive EV Investment:
236 HP, 156 Def
Item: Wiki Berry
Tera Type: Pokemon Normal Type Icon
Choice Band Explosion
253 ~ 298 (115.5 ~ 136%)
Guaranteed OHKO
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Ursaluna Image 105 Def
Defensive EV Investment:
252 HP
Item: Flame Orb
Tera Type: Pokemon Normal Type Icon
Choice Band Explosion
246 ~ 289 (103.7 ~ 121.9%)
Guaranteed OHKO
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Cresselia Image 110 Def
Defensive EV Investment:
252 HP, 180 Def
Item: Mental Herb
Tera Type: Pokemon Normal Type Icon
Choice Band Explosion
201 ~ 237 (88.5 ~ 104.4%)
25% Chance to OHKO

How to Use Azelf Effectively

Use Azelf's Fast Offense

Azelf has a more than respectable 115 Base Speed, which makes it a solid offensive Pokemon. Its Base 125 Attack and Special Attack lets Azelf be Physically Offensive, or Specially Offensive depending on what its team needs.

A fast Tera Normal Choice Band Explosion is not something opponents can ignore, and will be very powerful especially in best of one formats like on Battle Stadium's Ranked Ladder.

How to Build a Team with Azelf

Azelf is best slotted into teams with good defensive switch options and bulky Pokemon. Ghost-types are also appreciated so that Azelf can freely use Explosion alongside them without the threat of damaging its teammate.

Sample Doubles Team

Support Physical Attacker
Azelf ImageAzelf Gholdengo ImageGholdengo
Physical Attacker Physical Attacker
Corviknight ImageCorviknight Landorus (Therian Forme) ImageLandorus (Therian Forme)

Azelf can benefit from having bulkier teammates that can switch in for it when necessary. Redirection and support are also greatly appreciated when playing Azelf.

Gholdengo is immune to Azelf's Explosion, and can threaten good damage with Make it Rain. Landorus can offer its offensive capabilities, with Azelf being immune to Earthquake thanks to its Levitate.

Corviknight can work as a late-game win condition, after the rest of its offensive teammates have run the opponent out of ways for them to deal with Corviknight.

Counters for Azelf

Use Dark and Steel-types

Physical Azelf will struggle to deal meaningful damage to Dark and Steel-types, with Dark-types being immune to Zen Headbutt, and Steel-types resisting both Zen Headbutt and Explosion. Additionally, Ghost-types are also immune to Explosion, invalidating Azelf's gimmick completely.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon Description
Chi-Yu ImageChi-Yu Ranking: ★★★★★
・Can force Azelf to Tera or deal sizeable damage with Dark Pulse.
・Can KO Azelf with Beads of Ruin Overheat.
・Can wall Zen Headbutt because of its immunity from its Dark typing.
▶️Chi-Yu Best Movesets
Gholdengo ImageGholdengo Ranking: ★★★★
・Resists Zen Headbutt and is immune to Explosion.
▶️Gholdengo Best Movesets](/games/Pokemon-Scarlet-Violet/archives/398262)
Kingambit ImageKingambit Ranking: ★★★★
・Is immune to Zen Headbutt and resists Explosion.
・Can force Azelf to Tera or outright KO it with Kowtow Cleave.
▶️Kingambit Best Movesets

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