Lapras - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle | Pokemon Sword and Shield

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

Lapras - Related Articles
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle	Gigantamax Lapras

Basic Information for Lapras

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Lapras
Abilities
Shell Armor	The Pokemon is protected against critical hits.
Water Absorb	Restores HP if hit by an Water-type move.
Hydration (Hidden)	Heals status problem if it is raining.

Type Defenses

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

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

Best Nature for Lapras

What are Natures?

How to Learn Lapras's Egg Moves

Strategies for Lapras

Assault Vest Special Attacker Moveset & Best Build

These values are from base stats and ideal EVs, excluding external factors.

With its high Base HP and Special Defense together with the boost from Assault Vest, it's able to weather attacks, and by pushing its Special Attack EVs to the max, together with high EVs in HP, it's able to both hit hard and survive multiple hits. The remaining EVs are spent in Defense to ensure it can survive two hits from Excadrill's Earthquake. It also has EVs in Special Defense to allow it to survive two Thunderbolts from one of the Rotom variations like Wash Rotom.

About its Nature

For this moveset, we recommend using a Nature which boosts its Special Attack without compromising its constitution, either decreasing its Speed with the Quiet Nature or its Attack with the Modest Nature. When you want to squeeze a little extra power out of Ice Shard, use the Quiet Nature with 4 EVs in Attack, and when accepting a damage drop from Ice Shard or dropping it from the moveset, use the Modest Nature with 4 EVs in Speed.

Other Viable Moves

Strategies for Gigantamax Lapras

Light Clay Moveset & Best Build

Gigantamax Lapras's unique move, G-Max Resonance, reduces the damage received for five turns. This combines with Lapras's already high defensive stats to make it a veritable tank who can stay in the battle for a long time. Additionally, G-Max Resonance allows you to use Aurora Veil without the need for hail. While Light Clay is held, Aurora Veil can last for up to 8 turns, providing heavy protection for your team after having Lapras has left the battlefield.

Because you can only Dynamax/Gigantamax one Pokemon per battle, the rest of your team should be built to last without Dynamaxing/Gigantamaxing.

How to Get Gigantamax Pokemon

EV Distribution

In order to maximize Attack power, Special Attack has the maximum number of EVs. Speed EVs are set to allow it to outspeed a Tyranitar with 12 EVs in Speed. The HP EVs are set to the 16n-1 value to allow it to take reduced damage from status effects and weather. The remaining EVs are placed in Defense to cover its low base Defense.

Gigantamax Lapras's G-Max Move

Other Viable Moves

How to Use Lapras Effectively

A defensive Pokemon effective against Special attackers

With Lapras's high Base HP and Special Defense, simply by placing a few EVs in HP, it can withstand most of the super-effective secondary moves used to handle Pokemon of its types. As its Attack and Special Attack are also nothing to scoff at, it can both bear the brunt of enemy attacks while dishing out its own.

Counters for Lapras

Blow it out of the water with high Attack

Although Lapras has high defensive stats overall, its Attack and Special Attack are not particularly high, so it can be overwhelmed by a Pokemon that deals consistently high damage. When attacking its weak spots, it becomes a simple task to take it out.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Conkeldurr	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Can deal super effective damage with Fighting-type attacks ・Its high HP allows it to survive attacks ・If using the Ability Guts, Sparkling Aura will heal its Burn and remove its Attack boost Moveset & Best Build for Conkeldurr
Mow Rotom	Ranking: ★★★★☆ ・Can knock out in one hit with Leaf Storm when holding Choice Specs , and still has a high chance of doing so even if Lapras has max EVs in HP ・Weak to Ice-type attacks Moveset & Best Build for Mow Rotom
Tyranitar	Ranking: ★★★★☆ ・Its Special Defense boost from Sandstorm lets it survive Special attacks easily ・Can deal super-effective damage with Rock-type attacks Moveset & Best Build for Tyranitar
Ferrothorn	Ranking: ★★★★☆ ・Can take reduced damage from most of Lapras's moves ・Can deal super-effective damage with Grass-type attacks Moveset & Best Build for Ferrothorn
Galarian Darmanitan	Ranking: ★★★☆☆ ・Can win in a battle of blows ・Doesn't have high defensive stats itself, but has a chance of withstanding Lapras's Water attacks Moveset & Best Build for Galarian Darmanitan

Related Links

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Movesets & Best Builds for New Pokemon
Dragapult	Galarian Corsola	Toxtricity
Galarian Darmanitan	Corviknight	Dracovish
Grimmsnarl	Rillaboom	Duraludon
Cinderace	Alcremie	Dracozolt
Hatterene	Eiscue	Inteleon
Pincurchin	Frosmoth	Zacian
Sirfetch'd

Movesets & Best Builds for Returning Pokemon
Mimikyu	Wash Rotom	Gyarados
Ferrothorn	Aegislash	Excadrill
Tyranitar	Hydreigon	Heat Rotom
Arcanine	Mamoswine	Toxapex
Togekiss	Cloyster	Durant
Gigantamax Snorlax	Snorlax	Gigantamax Charizard
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

List Of Battle Articles
Tier List	Best Builds	Best Teams