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Pokemon Sword and Shield
Best Arcanine Team for Ranked Battle
★ Tier List / Doubles Tier List / Movesets / Rental Teams
✬ Pokemon HOME Dex Completion Shiny Rewards:
┗ Meloetta | Manaphy | Enamorus | Keldeo | Meltan
☆ Competitive Battle Guide
This is a strategy guide and complete explanation of an Arcanine-focused team for the games Pokemon Sword and Shield. Read on for tips on how to use this team in competitive play, with recommended movesets & best builds for each Pokemon.
List of Contents
Team Summary and Rental Code
| Pokemon |
 Arcanine
|
 Hydreigon
|
|---|---|---|
 Tyranitar
|
 Corviknight
|
|
 Mow Rotom
|
 Mimikyu
|
|
| Team Code | 0000 0003 G23B R0 | |
| @Winday77 | ||
| YouTube | Channel Battle Switch | |
| Words from the Trainer | Considering how recently the game came out, I'd say this battle set is close to finished – and I'm happy it could feature my favorite Pokemon, Arcanine. Don't let anyone forget Arcanine's legacy as the original Legendary Pokemon! | |
How to Use the Team Effectively
Arcanine serves as the key player
This party was able to reach the #1 spot of the Master Ball tier of Ranked Battle thanks to the team-crafting ability of Japanese player @Winday77. Born from one player's love of a Pokemon and drive to use it in competitive battle, this team places Arcanine firmly in the lead position.
In addition to a rare Arcanine focus, this team also features a number of surprising aspects, such as a Pressure Corviknight, a Special Attack-using Tyranitar, and a stall-ready Mimikyu. Read on for insights about this team that might give you new insights to the metagame as a whole.
Moveset & Best Build for Each Pokemon
Assault Vest Arcanine
Arcanine - Best Build for Ranked Battle
| Nature | Adamant (+Atk, -SpAtk) |
|---|---|
| EV Spread | HP 204 / Atk. 164 / Def. 140 |
| Ability | Intimidate |
| Held Item | Assault Vest |
| Moveset | ・Flare Blitz ・Extreme Speed ・Play Rough ・Close Combat |
Arcanine uses its Ability Intimidate to lower the opponent's Attack stat by one stage. Thanks to that, Arcanine is able to survive Gyarados' Max Geyser even at the maximum random number value. And with the Close Combat, it's able to deal heavy damage to the everpresent threat Tyranitar, making this set capable both offensively and defensively.
Nasty Plot Hydreigon
Hydreigon - Best Build for Ranked Battle
| Nature | Timid (+Spd, -Atk) |
|---|---|
| EV Spread | Sp.Atk. 252 / Spd. 252 / HP 4 |
| Ability | Levitate |
| Held Item | Aguav Berry |
| Moveset | ・Dark Pulse ・Flash Cannon ・Nasty Plot ・Substitute |
Hydreigon is one of the Pokemon with Base Stats in the 600's classified as a pseudo-Legendary. It's already a formidable fighter based on its stats alone, but its ability to choose between Nasty Plot and Substitute based on its opponent's moves is another of its primary strengths.
With its stats refined to maximize Speed, as long as the opponent isn't holding a Choice Scarf, it can outspeed speed demons like Mimikyu, Galarian Darmanitan, and Excadrill.
Two words: Dynamax Tyranitar
Tyranitar - Best Build for Ranked Battle
| Nature | Brave (+Atk, -Spd) |
|---|---|
| EV Spread | HP 236 / Def. 212 / Atk. 60 |
| Ability | Sand Stream |
| Held Item | Weakness Policy |
| Moveset | ・Stone Edge ・Iron Head ・Flamethrower ・Crunch |
As Tyranitar holds the honor of the Dynamax slot in the party, it's been fitted with a moveset and build intended primarily for Dynamaxing. The Dynamax provides it with an HP boost, allowing its Weakness Policy to come into effect more easily. The two-stage Attack and Special Attack boost provided by Weakness Policy will allow it to really start throwing its weight around.
The Special Attack boost comes in handy to power up Flamethrower, allowing it to take out opponents strong in Physical Defense, such as Corviknight and Ferrothorn. This will come as a surprise to many opponents and allow you to turn the tide of battle.
Corviknight puts on the Pressure
Corviknight - Best Build for Ranked Battle
| Nature | Impish (+Def, -SpAtk) |
|---|---|
| EV Spread | HP 252 / Def. 236 / Spd. 20 |
| Ability | Pressure |
| Held Item | Leftovers |
| Moveset | ・Iron Head ・Bulk Up ・Substitute ・Roost |
Corviknight has a tendency to use the Ability Mirror Armor, but we'll be opting for Pressure here. This gives it the potential to wear down the PP of defensive Pokemon such as Toxapex, Umbreon, and Quagsire who are frequently switched in to take hits, giving the potential to handle these Pokemon in a unique and unexpected way.
Mow Rotom maintains the team balance
Mow Rotom - Best Build for Ranked Battle
| Nature | Modest (+SpAtk, -Atk) |
|---|---|
| EV Spread | HP 252 / Sp.Atk. 252 / Spd. 4 |
| Ability | Levitate |
| Held Item | Choice Specs |
| Moveset | ・Volt Switch ・Thunderbolt ・Leaf Storm ・Shadow Ball |
With its unique type comination of Grass and Electric, Mow Rotom has the ability to handle Water types, which would otherwise be able to wreak havoc on this team. Leaf Storm can cause quick problems for the opponent, and is outstanding as a counter for Wash Rotom.
Mimikyu can stall 3 turns against a Dynamax
Mimikyu - Best Build for Ranked Battle
| Nature | Jolly (+Spd, -SpAtk) |
|---|---|
| EV Spread | Atk. 252 / Spd. 252 / HP 4 |
| Ability | Disguise |
| Held Item | Life Orb |
| Moveset | ・Play Rough ・Shadow Sneak ・Phantom Force ・Swords Dance |
On its first turn, Mimikyu is protected by its Ability Disguise; on its second turn, it can use Phantom Force to stall another turn; on its third turn, it can typically outspeed, allowing it a third turn. As the effects of Dynamax last only three turns, this allows Mimikyu to definitely last through the length of an opponent's entire Dynamax, so long as it is not switched in to take an attack on its first turn.
Of course, Mimikyu is also a highly effective fighter on its own with its ability to set up Swords Dance on its first turn, allowing it the potential to Dynamax in its own right. Mimikyu holds its own on the team with its versatility alone.
Thoughts from the Game8 Team
Arcanine doesn't slack as a sweeper
|
Arcanine
|
After raising its Attack with Max Knuckle, Arcanine's Extreme Speed becomes a rare sweeping move with priority. With its already-high Base Stats followed up by Assault Vest's Special Defense boost, Arcanine was able to survive attacks even from a Dynamaxed opponent.
Corviknight's individual strength hasn't been lost
|
Corviknight
|
This team by @Winday77 uses Corviknight in a very different manner than the standard setup, with a unique one-attacking-move, Pressure build. Although it seems a bit unwieldy at first glance, Bulk Up affords it a lot of leeway to hold its own as a singular threat without relying on other team members.
Related Links
All Best Teams for Ranked Battle
All Ranked Battle Team Guides
| Best Teams for Ranked Battles | ||
|---|---|---|
 Best Durant Team |
Best Arcanine Team |
 World Top 3's Go-to Team |
 Best Standard Doubles Team |
 Series 8 Rain Team |
 Series 12 Standard Doubles Team |
 Series 12 Balanced Doubles Team |
 Series 12 Best Standard Singles Team |
 Series 12 Best Balanced Singles Team |
Competitive Ranked Battle Guides
| Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Tier List |
 Best Builds |
 Series 8 Tier List Contenders |
|||
 Doubles Tier List |
 Team Building |
 Rental Teams |
|||
Author
Best Arcanine Team for Ranked Battle
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Very Strong team, I reached top 2000 with it. But the higher ranks you get the more people you see with a offensive corvikknight and this Pokemon is a complett counter