Pokemon Sword and Shield

Eiscue - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

Eiscue.png

This is a strategy guide for using Eiscue 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 Eiscue, as well as its strengths and weak points.

Eiscue - Related Guides
Pokemon SWSH - Eiscue Evolution and LearnsetEvolution and Learnset Pokemon SWSH - Eiscue Best BuildBuild for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Eiscue

Types and Abilities

Pokemon Type 1 Type 2
Pokemon Sword and Shield - Ice Type
Abilities
Ice Face The Pokémon's ice head can take a physical attack as a substitute, but the attack also changes the Pokémon's appearance. The ice will be restored when it hails.

Eiscue Weaknesses and Resistances

Type
Takes 4x damage
-
Takes 2x damage
Pokemon Fire Image Pokemon Fighting Image Pokemon Rock Image Pokemon Steel Image
Takes 0.5x damage
Pokemon Ice Image
Takes 1/4x damage
-
Takes 0x damage
-

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

HP Attack Defense Sp. Atk Sp. Def Speed
75 80 110 65 90 50

Best Nature for Eiscue

Best Natures
Jolly
(+Spd, -SpAtk)
Adamant
(+Atk, -SpAtk)

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Eiscue

Belly Drum Attacker Moveset & Best Build

Nature Jolly (+Spd, -SpAtk)
EV Spread Atk. 252 / Sp. Def. 4 / Spd. 252
Final Stat Values HP 150 / Atk. 132 / Def. 130 / Sp. Def. 111 / Spd. 112
Ability Ice Face
Held Item Sitrus Berry
Moveset Belly Drum
Icicle Spear
Head Smash
Zen Headbutt

Belly Drum Attacker Eiscue.png

With its ability Ice Face, it's guaranteed to get in at least one move against Physical attackers. This set uses this opportunity to set it up as an attacker. While absorbing the first hit with no damage, it can use Belly Drum to maximize its Attack, then using the Speed boost it receives in its Noice Face form, smash the opponent first for massive damage.

Other Viable Moves

Icicle Crash An Ice-type move option. Doesn't have the damage uncertainty of Icicle Spear, and able to cause flinching, but loses Icicle Spear's ability to break through Focus Sash, Sturdy and Disguise.
Liquidation A Water-type option to use against Fire and Rock-types. When Dynamaxed, using Max Hailstorm → Max Geyser → Max Hailstorm will allow you to regenerate Ice Face a second time.
Waterfall A Water-type option. Has 5 less Power than Liquidation, but can cause flinching.

Wall-Building Supporter Moveset & Best Build

Nature Jolly (+Spd, -SpAtk)
EV Spread HP 4 / Atk. 252 / Spd. 252
Final Stat Values HP 151 / Atk. 132 / Def. 130 / Sp.Def. 110 / Spd. 112
Ability Ice Face
Held Item Light Clay
Moveset Hail
Aurora Veil
Icy Wind
Head Smash

Wall-Building Supporter Eiscue.png

This set takes advantage of Ice Face and its potential to use any Physical opponent as an opportunity to set up. When sending it out against a Physical opponent, use Hail to rejuvenate its Ice Face, then put up an Aurora Veil.

After using Aurora Veil, Head Smash will hit the opponent hard, with the Ice Face absorbing the recoil damage and breaking in the process. On the other hand, when dealing with a fast opponent, Icy Wind can also be a great option for setting up its teammates to outspeed the foe.

Other Viable Moves

Double-Edge An alternate choice for Head Smash with higher accuracy, but ineffective against Ghost types.
Soak A team support option, for if one of your ace hitters is effective against Water.

How to Use Eiscue Effectively

An Ability to counter any Physical opponent

The Ice Face Ability is both Eiscue's central gimmick, and the core of its battle strategy. By taking one Physical hit with no damage, then switching into its fast Noice Face form to outspeed, Eiscue can be formidable against Physical attackers without having to worry about the type of move the opponent will use.

In essence, Eiscue receives a free turn to act without fear of damage, so it's how you decide to use that turn that determines its effectiveness.

Counters for Eiscue

Eiscue
Weakness Pokemon Fire Image Pokemon Fighting Image Pokemon Rock Image Pokemon Steel Image

Hit its weak point with a Special attacker

Although it's a beast against Physical attackers, Eiscue can't use its Ability's advantages against a Special attacker, and will stay trapped in its sluggish Ice Face form. Before it can pull off a Belly Drum, slam it without a powerful Special move.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon Description
Pokemon SWSH - Nihilego ImageNihilego Ranking: ★★★★★
・Can one-shot Eiscue with Meteor Beam.
・Use this to tick Beast Boost.
Moveset & Best Build for Nihilego
Pokemon SWSH - Magnezone ImageMagnezone Ranking: ★★★★★
・Can one-shot Eiscue with Flash Cannon.
・Resists most of Eiscue's moves.
Moveset & Best Build for Magnezone
Pokemon SWSH - Heatran ImageHeatran Ranking: ★★★★★
・Can one-shot Eiscue with Flash Cannon.
Moveset & Best Build for Heatran
Pokemon SWSH - Heat Rotom ImageHeat Rotom Ranking: ★★★★★
・Can survive its Water and Rock-type moves before Belly Drum.
・Deals super-effective damage with Fire-type moves.
Moveset & Best Build for Heat Rotom
Pokemon SWSH - Duraludon ImageDuraludon Ranking: ★★★★★
・Its high Defense lets it weather hits.
・Deals super-effective damage with Steel-type Moves.
Moveset & Best Build for Duraludon
Pokemon SWSH - Volcarona ImageVolcarona Ranking: ★★★★
・Can one-shot Eiscue with Flamethrower.
・Use Volt Switch to pull out of the fight.
Moveset & Best Build for Volcarona
Pokemon SWSH - Charizard ImageCharizard Ranking:★★★★
・Deals super-effective damage with Fire-type moves.
Cannot survive a hit from Head Smash.
Moveset & Best Build for Charizard

Use an attacker which can bypass its Ability

Although Ice Face is an extremely powerful Ability, there are some unique techniques to counter it, such as the Ability Mold Breaker, which ignores opponents' Abilities, and multi-hit attacks like Icicle Spear, which can break through Ice Face with the first hit and continue to deal damage.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon Description
Pokemon SWSH - Excadrill ImageExcadrill Ranking:★★★★
・Its Ability Mold Breaker allows it to hit through Ice Face super effectively.
・Mold Breaker is revealed on sending it out, so save it for when you have a good idea what other Pokemon your opponent has.
Moveset & Best Build for Excadrill
Pokemon SWSH - Cloyster ImageCloyster Ranking:★★★★
・Can strike five times without fail on multi-hit attacks with its Ability Skill Link, allowing it to break through Ice Face and hit four more times.
Moveset & Best Build for Cloyster

Related Links

Pokemon Sword and Shield - Best Builds for Ranked Battle

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Pokemon SWSH - Tier ListTier List Pokemon SWSH - Best BuildsBest Builds Pokemon Sword and Shield - Ranked Battle Series 10 Contenders.pngSeries 10 List of Contenders
Pokemon SWSH - Doubles Tier ListDoubles Tier List Pokemon SWSH - Competitive Team BuildingTeam Building Pokemon SWSH - Rental TeamsRental Teams

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Comment

1 arthursdlabout 4 years

"Head Smash will hit the opponent hard, with the Ice Face absorbing the recoil damage and breaking in the process." For the love of god, please fix this. Ice Face does NOT absorb the recoil damage and does NOT break after a Head Smash.

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