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

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

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Basic Information for Blastoise

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Blastoise
Abilities
Torrent	Powers up Water-type moves in a pinch.
Rain Dish (Hidden)	The Pokemon gradually regains HP in rain.

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 Blastoise

What are Natures?

Strategies for Blastoise

Shell Smash Special Attacker Moveset & Best Build

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

This strategy focuses on Sp. Atk. and Speed, both of which can be sharply raised by the move Shell Smash. Focus Band lends support, allowing it to definitively survive at least one attack even after the defensive drops of Shell Smash. This will cause its Ability Torrent to activate, making its Water-type moves even more fearsome.

When compared to a Cloyster with a similar attacking style, this build has the advantage of using Special instead of Physical attacks, so its damage output won't be affected by the Burn status. Blastoise also has a higher Speed, and after using Shell Smash, it's able to outspeed a Hydreigon with a Choice Scarf, a feat Cloyster cannot accomplish.

Alternate Move Choices

Choice Scarf Moveset & Best Build

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

To overcome Blastoise's low Speed stat, a Choice Scarf can be used to boost its Speed by 50%. The EVs of this build are stacked to allow it to attack first, even against the fastest possible Dragapult build.

Also, using the move Water Spout early on is a powerful strategy. Although the move's power depends on the user's current HP, the move's power is fixed at 150 when the Pokemon is Dynamaxed. You can then Surf in its place after Dynamax ends and its HP is dropped.

Alternate Move Choices

How to Use Blastoise Effectively

Use Shell Smash at the Start of Battle

Shell Smash will sharply raise the user's Attack, Sp. Atk, and Speed stats. With a wide variation of moves both Physical and Special, you can focus on whichever suits your party best, and keep opponents guessing.

Even if Blastoise takes damage before or after using Shell Smash, this can allow its ability, Torrent, to activate and power up its Water-type moves.

An attacker that can also defend

As it has higher than average defensive stats in both Physical and Special Defense, it can handle itself when fists are flying. And with only two weaknesses in Electric and Grass, it's hard to pull out a trump card against it.

Blastoise can use a variety of moves, both attacking and supportive, allowing it to play multiple potential roles in a party.

Counters for Blastoise

Use a type-advantageous Pokemon

We recommend using Pokemon that are strong against Water-types such as Electric and Grass-type Pokemon. Unless it uses Shell Smash, weakening its own defenses, it can be hard to get solid damage on Blastoise without a type advantage.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Wash Rotom	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Has a higher speed than Blastoise and can hit super effectively ・Its Ability Levitate makes it immune to Earthquake, Blastoise's only Ground-type move Moveset & Best Build for Wash Rotom
Ferrothorn	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Extremely powerful defense ・Can defeat Blastoise with a single Power Whip if it has no defensive EVs Moveset & Best Build for Ferrothorn

Defend with a Water-resistant Pokemon

A defensive Pokemon with a Water typing can handle Blastoise's Water moves effectively. Tanks like Milotic and Toxapex can use Haze to undo the effects of Shell Smash and level the playing field.

Some Pokemon can nullify the effects of Water attacks, allowing them to switch out onto Blastoise unharmed if you get a good read.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Milotic	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Extremely powerful defense ・Can take down Blastoise with set damage from Wrap and self-healing with Recover Moveset & Best Build for Milotic
Toxapex	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Extremely powerful defense ・Can poison Blastoise and spam Protect for the win ・Can heal itself with Recover ・Must watch out for Blastoise with Earthquake Moveset & Best Build for Toxapex
Lapras	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Its Ability Water Absorb nullifies Water moves ・Its STAB Freeze-Dry hits the weak spot Moveset & Best Build for Lapras

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
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

List Of Battle Articles
Tier List	Best Builds	Best Teams