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

Inteleon - Related Guides
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle	Gigantamax Inteleon

Basic Information for Inteleon

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Inteleon
Abilities
Torrent	Powers up Water-type moves in a pinch.
Sniper (Hidden)	Powers up moves if they become critical hits.

Inteleon 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

HP	Attack	Defense	Sp. Atk	Sp. Def	Speed
70	85	65	125	65	120

Best Nature for Inteleon

Best Natures
Timid +(Spd, -Atk)

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Inteleon

Special Attacker Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
EV Spread	Sp.Atk. 252 / Def. 4 / Spd. 252
Final Stat Values	HP 145 / Atk. 94 / Def. 85 / Sp.Atk. 177 / Sp.Def. 86 / Spd. 189
Ability	Torrent
Held Item	Mystic Water
Moveset	・ Hydro Pump ・ Air Slash ・ Ice Beam ・ Substitute

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

To make Inteleon's Ability Torrent activate, this set uses Endure to survive a hit with 1 HP. Mystic Water is chosen for the Held Item because it can power up Water-type moves to 120% of their normal power. These two boosts can stack to bring Inteleon's damage to approximately 180% its normal value. When Dynamaxed, Air Slash will change into Max Airstream, boosting its Speed and allowing it to put relentless pressure on the opponent.

Alternate Move Choices

Surf	Great STAB move with high accuracy. Substitute for Hydro Pump.
Scald	Another great STAB move that has a chance for burn. You can replace Hydro Pump with this move.
Dark Pulse	A good coverage move. Has a chance to make the opposing Pokemon flinch.
Hydro Cannon	An alternate choice for Hydro Cannon. Skips the recovery turn, but its low accuracy can cause problems.
Endure	You can use this move to consume a Dynamax turn from your opponent. Replace Substitute with this move.

Sniper + Focus Sash Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Naive (+Spd, -SpDef)
EV Spread	Sp.Atk. 252 / Spd. 252 / HP 4
Final Stat Values	HP 146 / Atk. 105 / Def. 85 / Sp.Atk. 177 / Sp.Def. 76 / Spd. 189
Ability	Sniper
Held Item	Focus Sash
Moveset	・Substitute ・Snipe Shot ・Air Slash ・Ice Beam

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

Inteleon's new Hidden Ability Sniper allows it to deal 2.25x damage instead of the normal 1.5x when scoring a critical hit. By using Focus Energy to raise its Critical Hit rate by two stages, and using attacks with a one-stage boost in Critical Hit rate, it can achieve a 100% chance of landing a Critical Hit. As Critical Hits ignore boosts to an opponent's stats, it can bypass moves like Calm Mind and Cosmic Power to deal heavy damage to defensive foes.

After boosting with Focus Energy, moves without a one-stage Critical Hit boost will still have a high chance of landing one, so you can use other moves like Ice Beam on opponents who absorb Water moves.

How to Get Sniper Inteleon

A free Sobble with the Sniper Ability is available via Pokemon HOME. Learn how to get all three Galar Starters with Hidden Abilities and transfer them to Pokemon Sword and Shield with our guide below:
How to Get & Transfer Hidden Ability Starters from Pokemon HOME

Other Viable Moves

Sucker Punch	A Dark-type priority move. It has higher priority than moves like Quick Attack and Aqua Jet, so it will allow you to finish the job after an opponent survives with a Focus Sash or Sturdy.
Dark Pulse	A Special Dark-type move. Brings flinching into the equation.
U-turn	Allows you to switch out to a more advantaged teammate, while also finishing off an opponent holding on with Focus Sash or Sturdy.
Hydro Cannon	A strong STAB move but has low accuracy. If you choose, you can use this instead of Snipe Shot.
Focus Energy	Focus Energy boosts Inteleon's Sniper ability as it allows for a higher chance of critically hitting the opposing Pokemon.

How to Use Inteleon Effectively

An ace attacker who makes the opponent sweat

Inteleon takes advantage of its high Base Speed to fulfill the role of an ace attacker. If you choose to Dynamax, its move Max Geyser can change the weather to rain, further powering up its Water-type moves.

Counters for Inteleon

Weakness

Absorb its Water attacks with a Water-immune Ability

Inteleon's singular Water typing is both its greatest strength and its greatest weakness. Its Ability to use powerful Water moves with STAB makes its Hydro Pump fearsome, but excessive reliance on these moves renders it immobile against foes with an Ability granting Water immunity. Pokemon such as Lapras and Quagsire with Water Absorb can leave Inteleon without a viable reaction.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Lapras	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Has the Ability Water Absorb ・High defensive stats ・Can deal super-effective damage with Freeze-Dry Moveset & Best Build for Lapras
Gastrodon	Ranking: ★★★★☆ ・Has the Ability Storm Drain ・Has a high Special Defense Moveset & Best Build for Gastrodon

Use an advantageous type matchup

Using a type with a resistance to Water, Grass or Electric, can give a huge advantage when fighting Inteleon. The likes of Ferrothorn and Wash Rotom are guaranteed to handle Inteleon with little blowback.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Ferrothorn	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Has a highly effective type matchup ・Can use Leech Seed and Protect to stall out Inteleon's Dynamax Moveset & Best Build for Ferrothorn
Wash Rotom	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Has a highly effective type matchup ・Can Paralyze Inteleon to limit its movement Moveset & Best Build for Wash Rotom

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 New Pokemon

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	Flapple	Coalossal
Centiskorch	Arctozolt	Zarude
Galarian Weezing	Eternatus	Indeedee (Female)
Sandaconda	Zamazenta

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 New Pokemon

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	Flapple	Coalossal
Centiskorch	Arctozolt	Zarude
Galarian Weezing	Eternatus	Indeedee (Female)
Sandaconda	Zamazenta