Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (SV)

Cobalion Movesets and Best Builds

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

Cobalion - Related Guides
Pokemon SV - Cobalion Evolution and LearnsetEvolution and Learnset Pokemon SV - Cobalion MovesetMoveset for Ranked Battle

Cobalion Base Stats, Type, Ability and Weakness

Nat. Dex #638 Type
Cobalion ImageCobalion
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Steel Icon Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Fighting Icon
Abilities
Justified
Weak to:
(2x)
Pokemon Fire Type Icon Pokemon Fighting Type Icon Pokemon Ground Type Icon
Damaged Normally
By:
(1x)
Pokemon Water Type Icon Pokemon Electric Type Icon Pokemon Flying Type Icon Pokemon Psychic Type Icon Pokemon Ghost Type Icon Pokemon Fairy Type Icon
Resists: (0.5x)
Pokemon Normal Type Icon Pokemon Grass Type Icon Pokemon Ice Type Icon Pokemon Dragon Type Icon Pokemon Dark Type Icon Pokemon Steel Type Icon
(0.25x)
Pokemon Bug Type Icon Pokemon Rock Type Icon
Immune to: (0x)
Pokemon Poison Type Icon

What is Type Effectiveness?

Ability Name Description
Justified The user's Attack is increased by one stage whenever it gets hit by Dark-type moves.

Base Stats

Base Stats
Lv. 50 Stats
Stat Value Rank
HP
91
162
Atk
90
286
Def
129
36
SpAtk
90
232
SpDef
72
368
Speed
108
89
Total
580
83
Explanation of Pokemon Stats
Stat Max 0Nat 0EV -Nat Min
HP 198 198 166 166 151
Atk 156 142 110 99 85
Def 199 181 149 134 120
SpAtk 156 142 110 99 85
SpDef 136 124 92 82 69
Spd 176 160 128 115 101
  • 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 Cobalion

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

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Cobalion

Build Name Recommendation
Assault Vest ★★★★

Assault Vest Moveset & Best Build

Nature Adamant (+Atk, -Sp. Atk)
EV Spread HP 252 / Atk 252 / Sp. Def 4
Final Stat Values HP 198 / Atk 156 / Def 149 / Sp. Def 93 / Spe 128
Ability Justified
Tera Type Pokemon Flying Type Icon
Held Item Assault Vest
Moveset Sacred Sword
Iron Head
Quick Attack
Volt Switch

Summary

Pokeball Icon Has a large amount of resistances.

Pokeball Icon Assault Vest helps boost its lower Sp. Def stat.

Pokeball Icon Can now Terastallize to deal with its common weaknesses.

Ability and Held Item

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Cobalion Image
Ability Held Item
Justified Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Assault Vest ImageAssault Vest

Cobalion's only ability is Justified. Unfortunately, this ability is useless in Singles Battles since the opponent will not use a Dark-type move into Cobalion.

The item chosen for this build is an Assault Vest. This boosts Cobalion's Sp. Def, helping it survive special attacks it normally wouldn't be able to.

Moves Breakdown

Sacred Sword Iron Head
Quick Attack Volt Switch

Sacred Sword is its best Fighting-type STAB move since it has no downsides and ignores the opponent's stat changes.

Iron Head is its best Steel-type STAB move that has a 30% chance to flinch the opponent.

Quick Attack is used to get an easy knockout on any low-health Pokemon.

Volt Switch lets Cobalion get out of any potentially bad matchups, while also doing some decent chip damage in the process.

Best Tera Type: Flying

Flying Tera Type Matchup
Weak to:
(2x)
Pokemon Electric Type Icon Pokemon Ice Type Icon Pokemon Rock Type Icon
Damaged Normally
By:
(1x)
Pokemon Normal Type Icon Pokemon Fire Type Icon Pokemon Water Type Icon Pokemon Poison Type Icon Pokemon Flying Type Icon Pokemon Psychic Type Icon Pokemon Ghost Type Icon Pokemon Dragon Type Icon Pokemon Dark Type Icon Pokemon Steel Type Icon Pokemon Fairy Type Icon
Resists: (0.5x)
Pokemon Grass Type Icon Pokemon Fighting Type Icon Pokemon Bug Type Icon
Immune to: (0x)
Pokemon Ground Type Icon

Flying is the best Tera Type for this build because it removes all of Cobalion's weaknesses. Also, Cobalion resists Flying's weaknesses except for Electric.

Alternatively, it could use a Stellar Tera Type as a more offensive option, but Cobalion would still prefer a more defensive Tera like Flying.

Best Flying (Tera) Type Pokemon for Ranked Battle

EV Spread and Nature

A full 252 EVs are placed in Cobalion's HP and Attack to make it as bulky as possible while still being able to hit hard. The extra 4 EVs are put into its Sp. Def to help round out its bulk.

An Adamant nature is preferred to maximize Cobalion's damage output, especially since it has a relatively low base Attack stat.

Other Viable Moves

Tera Blast A Flying Tera Blast can be a good coverage move, but it will need Cobalion to Terastallize to be effective.
Stone Edge Stone Edge is an amazing coverage move, but it is only 80% accurate.
Upper Hand Can be useful to help Cobalion deal with opponents targeting it with priority moves.
Close Combat Its strongest Fighting-type STAB move, but reduces Cobalion's defenses every time it's used.

Key Damage Calculations

Attack Icon Pokemon SVDamage Dealt by Cobalion
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Bloodmoon Ursaluna Image 113 HP|65 Def
Defensive EV Investment:
4 HP (Modest)
Item: Assault Vest
Sacred Sword
116 ~ 138 (61.3 ~ 73%)
Guaranteed 2HKO
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Flutter Mane Image 55 HP|55 Def
Defensive EV Investment:
4 HP (Timid)
Item: Booster Energy
Iron Head
188 ~ 224 (144.6 ~ 172.3%)
Guaranteed OHKO
Defense Icon Pokemon SVDamage Received by Cobalion
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Bloodmoon Ursaluna Image 135 Sp. Atk
Offensive EV Investment:
252 Sp. Atk (Modest)
Item: Assault Vest
Earth Power
152 ~ 180 (76.7 ~ 90.9%)
Guaranteed 2HKO
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Urshifu Rapid-Strike Style Image 130 Atk
Offensive EV Investment:
252 Atk (Jolly)
Item: Punching Glove
Close Combat
168 ~ 198 (84.8 ~ 100%)
6.3% Chance to OHKO
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Chi-Yu Image 135 Sp. Atk
Offensive EV Investment:
252 Sp. Atk (Timid)
Item: Choice Scarf
Flamethrower
200 ~ 236 (101 ~ 119.1%)
Guaranteed OHKO
Cobalion Tera: Pokemon Flying Type Icon
Overheat
144-169 (72.7 - 85.3%)
Guaranteed 2HKO

Game8's Competitive Damage Calculator

How to Use Cobalion Effectively

Weaken Your Opponents Before Sending Out Cobalion

While Cobalion may have decent HP and great Def and Sp. Def with an Assault Vest, it is still lacking in the damage department when compared to other bulky Assault Vest attackers.

Use your other Pokemon first to weaken the opponent so that Cobalion isn't at risk of getting KO'd if the opponent is left alive from one of its attacks.

How to Build a Team with Cobalion

Cobalion wants allies that can deal with its weaknesses so that it can better utilize its bulk to outlast its opponents.

Sample Singles Team

Offensive Lead Physical Attacker Special Attacker
Urshifu Rapid-Strike Style ImageUrshifu Rapid-Strike Style Cobalion ImageCobalion Flutter Mane ImageFlutter Mane

Urshifu and Flutter Mane are great allies for Cobalion since they can take care of its three weaknesses. They're also good into more passive Pokemon since they can set up with Swords Dance and Calm Mind respectively.

Once Cobalion's weaknesses have been dealt with, it can safely come in and use its many resistances to safely tank hits and KO the opponent in return.

Counters for Cobalion

Use Pokemon That Resist Cobalion's STAB Attacks

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon Description
Gholdengo ImageGholdengo Ranking: ★★★★★
・Is either immune or resists all of Cobalion's notable attacks.
・Can use Trick to lock Cobalion into a bad move.
▶️ Gholdengo Best Movesets
Zapdos ImageZapdos Ranking: ★★★★
・Threatens a lot of damage even without Sp. Atk investment.
・Punishes contact moves with Rocky Helmet and Static.
▶️ Zapdos Best Movesets
Ceruledge ImageCeruledge Ranking: ★★★★
・Can become even tankier with Bulk Up.
・Outsustains Cobalion with Bitter Blade.
▶️ Ceruledge Best Movesets

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Ranked Battle Regulation E: Rules and Banned Pokemon

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