Sylveon - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

Sylveon Movesets in Other Games
SV	SWSH

This is a strategy guide for using Sylveon in competitive play for the games Pokemon Sword and Shield. Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, Builds, and Held Items to use with Sylveon, as well as its strengths and weak points.

Sylveon - Related Guides
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Sylveon

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Sylveon
Abilities
Cute Charm	Contact with the Pokemon may cause infatuation.
Pixilate (Hidden)	Turns Normal-type moves into Fairy-type moves.

Sylveon Weaknesses and Resistances

	Type
Takes 4x damage	-
Takes 2x damage
Takes 0.5x damage
Takes 1/4x damage	-
Takes 0x damage

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

Best Nature for Sylveon

What are Natures?

How to Learn Sylveon's Egg Moves

Singles Movesets for Sylveon

Special Attacker Moveset & Best Build

With its Ability Pixilate, Sylveon is able to use Hyper Voice as a Fairy-type move with STAB and a 20% power boost, allowing this set to hit hard with high damage. As this build is based around blasting away with Hyper Voice, the other move slots can be used for counter moves against Pokemon who resist Fairy-type attacks.

The Speed EVs on this build are arranged so as to outspeed a Tyranitar with either 0 or 4 Speed EVs.

Other Viable Moves

Assault Vest Moveset & Best Build

Although this resembles the moveset above, the Assault Vest allows Sylveon to take advantage of its high Special Defense. Instead of wasting Sylveon's power against a disadvantageous opponent, this set allows Sylveon to switch in and out freely, and seize opportunities to lay into foes with good old reliable Hyper Voice.

This is the moveset to go for when using a switch-heavy battle strategy. When a Physical attacker comes in, switch out Sylveon and wait for your chance to use it effectively.

Other Viable Moves

Counters for Sylveon

Weakness

Aim for a one-hit KO with a Physical attack

Although its Special Defense is spectacular, Sylveon suffers from a middling Defense, allowing any capable Physical attacker to swiftly take it out.

There are a number of powerful, fast Steel type attackers this generation who are up to the task. However, as Sylveon learns the Fire-type move Mystical Fire, if you're not careful to take it out in one blow, you might find your own Pokemon on the end of a one-hit KO.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Cinderace	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Deal Super-Effective damage with Iron Head ・Resist Sylveon's Fairy-type attacks. Cinderace Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle
Metagross	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Deal Super-Effective damage with Steel-type moves. ・Outspeeds Sylveon. Metagross Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle
Excadrill	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Its high Speed allows it to swing first with a Steel-type dinger ・Its high Attack allows it to generally take out Sylveon in one hit Excadrill Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle
Durant	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Can aim for a one-hit KO with Max Steelspike ・Its 4x weakness to Fire makes it vulnerable to being KO'd by Mystical Fire Durant Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle
Aegislash	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Can deal high damage with Steel-type moves ・Able to withstand damage from Mystical Fire while in Shield Forme Aegislash Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

Force it into a disadvantageous type matchup

As Sylveon doesn't have much to speak of in the way of move type variety, it's a simple matter of pitting it up against a foe who can take its hits.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Bronzong	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Its ability Heatproof allows it to handle almost all of Sylveon's move with reduced damage・ Can deal high damage with Steel-type Physical damage
Toxapex	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Can take almost all of Sylveon's attacks with reduced damage ・Cannot deal much damage with attacks, so must rely on status moves to deal damage Toxapex Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle
Heat Rotom	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Its typing and high Defensive stats let it absorb Sylveon's attacks easily ・As it mostly uses Special Attacks, can be hard for it to deal damage to Sylveon Heat Rotom Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

Related Links

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Tier List		Best Builds		Series 10 List of Contenders
Doubles Tier List		Team Building		Rental Teams

Best Builds for Returning Pokemon

Movesets & Best Builds for Returning Pokemon
Mimikyu	Wash Rotom	Gyarados
Ferrothorn	Aegislash	Excadrill
Tyranitar	Hydreigon	Heat Rotom
Arcanine	Mamoswine	Toxapex
Togekiss	Cloyster	Durant
Snorlax	Charizard	Sylveon
Lucario	Hippowdon	Umbreon
Conkeldurr	Quagsire	Gastrodon
Lapras	Whimsicott	Rhyperior
Goodra	Haxorus	Glaceon
Mow Rotom	Type: Null	Gengar
Milotic	Gardevoir	Flygon
Chandelure	Lanturn	Torkoal
Bisharp	Seismitoad	Silvally
Butterfree	Primarina	Incineroar
Blastoise	Decidueye	Venusaur
Darmanitan	Alolan Ninetales	Gothitelle
Crawdaunt	Clefable	Reuniclus
Kommo-o	Terrakion	Cobalion
Virizion	Noivern	Fan Rotom
Toxicroak	Pelipper	Jellicent
Celebi	Clefairy	Hitmontop
Diggersby	Ditto	Raichu
Hawlucha	Shiftry	Tsareena
Ludicolo