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 Guides
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
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 Lapras

What are Natures?

How to Learn Lapras's Egg Moves

Singles Movesets for Lapras

Weakness Policy Moveset & Best Build

By switching in on a super-effective move, this set gets offensive boosts thanks to Weakness Policy. When partnered with Lapras' generous bulk, this Pokemon becomes a great all-rounder who can take damage and deal it back.

About Lapras's Moves

Freeze-Dry and Sparkling Aria serve as Lapras' main STAB-Moves. It's interesting to note that the combination of these two moves offer perfect neutral coverage because of Freeze-Dry's unique effect.

When Gigantamaxed, Freeze-Dry becomes G-Max Resonance, a damage dealing move which also has the added effects of Aurora Veil. This is another reason why Lapras can be so hard to take down.

Sheer Cold and Thunder round out Lapras' moveset by offering stronger damaging moves. Sheer Cold can be unreliable, but will OHKO any opponent if it hits. Thunder, on the other hand, has great synergy with Max Geyser since Thunder will be 100% accurate in the rain.

About Lapras's EV Spread

We're maxing out our Sp.Atk to maximize the damage that Lapras will deal out, while also making sure to balance out its bulk by investing in Defense.

About Lapras's Ability

Shell Armor protects Lapras from critical hits. This gives the opponents an even more difficult time to take Lapras out without overcoming its defenses.

About Lapras's Held Item

Weakness Policy gives Lapras the offensive stat boosts it needs to deal more damage.

Other Viable Moves

Light Clay Moveset & Best Build

About Lapras's Moves

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.

About Lapras's EV Spread

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.

About Lapras's Held Item

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.

Other Viable Moves

How to Use Lapras Effectively

A defensive Pokemon effective against Special attackers

With Lapras' 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.

G-Max Resonance's Outstanding Utility

G-Max Resonance provides so much in one move. Not only does it deal damage, but it also provides the effects of Aurora Veil without the need for Hail. This provides immense defensive boons to Lapras' team that hyper offense teams will struggle to power through.

Use Freeze-Dry Against Bulky Waters

Freeze-Dry's unique type effectiveness gives Lapras a unique tool against other bulky water types. Notably, Lapras' Freeze-Dry allows it to take out Dracovish, Gyarados, and Quagsire with a 4x effective move. This makes Lapras a good Pokemon to partner with Offensive Pokemon such as Zacian who would greatly appreciate getting Quagsire out of the way.

How to Build a Team with Lapras

Wall Builder for an Offense Team

Example Offensive Team

Physical Sweeper	Special Sweeper	Wall Builder
Zacian	Zapdos	Lapras

Zacian's unprecedented levels of Physical Offense allows this team to shred through opponents easily, but its teammates can handle those who may try to stand in it's way.

Lapras can use Freeze-Dry deal with Pokemon who commonly outspeed Zacian such as Landorus (Therian Form), and Kyogre. Its Water-type moves also help it against Fire-types such as Ho-Oh.

Most importantly, Lapras can take care of Quagsire who often ignores Zacian's boosts thanks to Unaware.

Zapdos works as a great teammate who can also spread paralysis to the enemy team to cripple their offenses. It can also be effective against other common threats or walls in the metagame such as Rillaboom and Ferrothorn.

Learn How to Build an Offensive Team

Counters for Lapras

Weakness

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
Cinderace	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Libero Cinderace with STAB High Jump Kick can take Lapras out. ・Since Libero Cinderace's type switches a lot, it'll be harder for Lapras to counterattack with a supereffective move. Moveset & Best Build for Cinderace
Zacian	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Behemoth Blade offers a super effective STAB move against Lapras which can be even more deadly once Lapras has Gigantamaxed. ・Resists Lapras' Ice-type moves. Moveset & Best Build for Zacian
Nihilego	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Meteor Beam deals significant damage against Lapras. ・Its high Special Defense allows it to take Lapras' special attacks with ease. Moveset & Best Build for Nihilego
Rillaboom	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Choice Banded variants can deal significant priority damage with Grassy Glide. Moveset & Best Build for Rillaboom
Regieleki	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Life Orb / Choice Specs Regieleki can deal significant damage thanks to Transistor-boosted STAB Electric-type attacks. Moveset & Best Build for Regieleki
Wash Rotom	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Can use Electric-type attacks to dent Lapras' defenses. ・Can Trick Choice items onto Lapras to cripple move selection. ・Has to be careful of Freeze-Dry. Moveset & Best Build for Wash Rotom

Stall Out Aurora Veil

Lapras may be able to reduce damage thanks to G-Max Resonance, but that damage reduction doesn't last long. It would be best to stall out the turns then take Lapras out near the end of the duration of Aurora Veil. This ensures that the rest of it's team won't benefit from the increased defenses.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Necrozma (Dusk Mane)	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Resists Lapras' Ice-type attacks. ・Psychic Fangs removes the effects of Aurora Veil. Moveset & Best Build for Necrozma (Dusk Mane)
Ferrothorn	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Can stall out turns with Leech Seed and Protect. ・Can get unlucky and die to Sheer Cold. Moveset & Best Build for Ferrothorn
Mimikyu	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Disguise can earn extra turns. Moveset & Best Build for Mimikyu
Sylveon	Ranking: ★★★★ ・High Special Defense will make it difficult for Lapras to take it out. ・ Can also stall out turns by putting Lapras to sleep with Yawn. ・ Has access to Mystical Fire which can lower Lapras' Special Attack Moveset & Best Build for Sylveon

Related Links

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Tier List		Best Builds		Series 8 Tier List 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