Pincurchin - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

Pincurchin Movesets in Other Games
SV	SWSH

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

Pincurchin - Related Guides
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Pincurchin

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Pincurchin
Abilities
Lightning Rod	Draws in all Electric-type moves to up Special Attack.
Electric Surge (Hidden)	The Pokemon creates an Electric Terrain when it enters a battle.

Pincurchin 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

Best Nature for Pincurchin

What are Natures?

How to Learn Pincurchin's Egg Moves

Singles Movesets for Pincurchin

Sweep Setup Moveset & Best Build

This build focuses on setting the battle up for the sweepers in your team. Use Memento and Toxic Spikes to support the other Pokemon in your team, so your sweepers can easily set-up on their own.

As for which sweepers to use, we suggest using Pokemon like Hawlucha, Drifblim, or Slurpuff as they have the Unburden ability and moves that buff up their stats. Combined with the Electric Seed item and support from Pincurchin, these Pokemon can serve as excellent sweepers in your team.

Other Viable Moves

Trick Room Attacker Moveset & Best Build

This build takes advatange of Pincurchin's extremely low speed and high attack by turning it into a physical attacker under Trick Room conditions. You can also attack with a powered-up Zing Zap since Electric Surge sets up an Electric Terrain when Pincurchin enters the battle.

Other Viable Moves

How to Use Pincurchin Effectively

Can Set Up Electric Terrain

Pincurchin's Electric Surge ability creates the Electric Terrain field effect when it enters battle. Take advntage of the terrain, which boosts Electric-type attacks and prevents Pokemon from falling asleep.

Attacker or Support

Pincurchin's HP and speed are low, but its terrain-changing ability and high attack make it an effective attacker or supporter. Pincurchin alone is not enough to make full use of its ability, but a team with attackers and defenders that can also take advntage of Pincurchin's Electric Terrain are.

Counters for Pincurchin

Weakness

Counter with Ground-type Pokemon

Pincurchin only has one typing which is Electric. Take note, however, that it can use Hydro Pump, so regular Ground-types still face a dangerous foe. It is recommended to use Ground-type Pokemon that can resist this Water-type move.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Gastrodon	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・It's Ground-typing prevents Pincurchin from attacking it. ・Has high defenses. Moveset & Best Build for Gastrodon
Quagsire	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・It's Ground-typing prevents Pincurchin from attacking it. ・Has high defenses. Moveset & Best Build for Quagsire
Swampert	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Can use Yawn or Stealth Rock when facing Pincurchin. ・Has high physical and special defense. Moveset & Best Build for Swampert
Garchomp	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Water-type moves do 1x damage. ・Can be a quick attacker with a variety of moves. Moveset & Best Build for Garchomp
Excadrill	Ranking: ★★★ ・Can cause a lot of damage with Earthquake. ・Vulnerable against Max Geyser. Moveset & Best Build for Excadrill

Setup Terrains

Electric Terrain caused by Electric Surge will power-up Pincurchin's attacks, especially Rising Voltage. Take away this advantage by setting up another terrain.

Pokemon	Description
Rillaboom	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Has type advantage against Rillaboom. ・Has a large movepool. Moveset & Best Build for Rillaboom
Tapu Lele	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Replace Electric Terrain with Psychic Terrain through its Ability. Moveset & Best Build for Tapu Lele

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