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.

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

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
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
79	83	100	85	105	78

Best Nature for Blastoise

Best Natures
Modest (+Sp.Atk, -Atk)	Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
Impish (+Def, -Sp.Atk)

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Blastoise

Dynamax Shell Smash Special Attacker Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Modest (+Sp.Atk, -Atk)
EV Spread	HP 4 / Sp.Atk 252 / Spd 252
Final Stat Values	HP 155 / Def 120 / Sp.Atk 150 / Sp.Def 125 / Spd 130
Ability	Torrent
Held Item	White Herb Life Orb Focus Sash
Moveset	・Shell Smash ・Ice Beam ・Hydro Cannon ・Flash Cannon

Blastoise makes an effective Dynamax sweeper thanks to access to one of the best boosting moves in the game, as well great Max Moves courtest of its high base power attacks.

About Blastoise's Moves

Shell Smash is the crux of this set, boosting Blastoise' Attack, Special Attack, and Speed by 2 stages at the cost of lowering both of its Defense and Sp.Defense by 2 stages.This move also becomes Max Guard during Dynamax.

Ice Beam is its main coverage moves and allows Blastoise to hit Grass, Flying, and Dragon-types that are very common in the current metagame.

Hydro Cannon is its main STAB move and is best used during Dynamax to remove the recharge after successfully using the move, becoming Max Geyser.

Alternatively, you can Gigantamax Blastoise instead, with its Hydro Cannon becoming G-Max Cannonade. While this move doesn't generate Rain, it damages non Water-type Pokemon for 4 turns at the end of every turn instead.

Rounding off its coverage is Flash Cannon, which allows Blastoise to hit Fairy-types for super effective damage. It also has a 10% chance to lower the opponent's Special Defense stat.

About Blastoise's EV Spread

We're using a simple EV spread with full investment in Sp.Atk and Speed so that Blastoise can hit as hard and as fast as possible. The remaining 4 EVs are placed in HP to round off its bulk.

About Blastoise's Ability

Torrent is the preferred Ability for this Blastoise build. When Blastoise's HP drops to 1/3 of its maximum HP, it's Physical and Special Water-type moves increase in power by 50%.

About Blastoise's Held Item

Blastoise has several options for held item.

White Herb reverses Blastoise's negative stat stages, essentially removing the Defense and Sp.Defense drop from Shell Smash while still getting the Attack and Sp.Atk Boost.

Life Orb boosts the power of Blastoise's moves by 30% at the cost of recoil damage.

Focus Sash lets Blastoise survive a super effective hit and guarantees that it can get a Shell Smash boost on its turn.

Other Viable Moves

Hydro Pump	A weaker but more reliable Water-type STAB that Blastoise can use outside of Dynamax.
Dark Pulse	Becomes Max Darkness during Dynamax, which lowers the opposing team's Special Defense by 1 stage.
Hyper Beam	Becomes Max Strike during Dynamax, which lowers the opposing team's Speed by 1 stage.
Blizzard	A stronger Ice-type coverage move. When used during Dynamax, it becomes Max Hailstorm and generates Hail for 5 turns.
Focus Blast	A very powerful special Fighting-type move but has low accuracy. Useful for hitting Steel-types like Ferrothorn.
Terrain Pulse	A niche move that gets a power boost and changes type depending on the current terrain on the field.
Surf	A weaker but more reliable Water-type STAB with 100% accuracy.
Scald	A weaker Water-type STAB but has a 30% chance to inflict a burn.

Choice Scarf Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
EV Spread	HP 4 / Sp.Atk 252 / Spd 252
Final Stat Values	HP 155 / Def 120 / Sp.Atk 137 / Sp.Def 125 / Spd 143
Ability	Torrent
Held Item	Choice Scarf
Moveset	・Water Spout ・Surf ・Ice Beam ・Dark Pulse

Blastoise makes an effective Choice Scarf and is capable of using high-powered Water Spouts to heavily damage or outright KO frailer opponents.

About Blastoise's Moves

Water Spout is its strongest move, boasting a 150 Base Power when Blastoise is at full health. Thanks to the Speed boost it gets from Choice Scarf, it can outrun even Timid or Jolly Dragapult!

Surf is a weaker but more reliable Water-type STAB for late-game matches and if Blastoise has already suffered some damage. Ice Beam is its main coverage move, hitting Grass, Flying, and Dragon-types for super effective damage.

Dark Pulse is its last coverage move, hitting Psychic and Ghost-types for super effecitve damage. It also has a 20% chance to cause flinching, which works well in conjunction with Choice Scarf.

About Blastoise's EV Spread

We're using a simple EV spread with full investment in Sp.Atk and Speed so that Blastoise can hit as hard and as fast as possible. The remaining 4 EVs are placed in HP to round off its bulk.

About Blastoise's Ability

Torrent is the preferred Ability for this Blastoise build. When Blastoise's HP drops to 1/3 of its maximum HP, it's Physical and Special Water-type moves increase in power by 50%.

About Blastoise's Held Item

This build relies on Choice Scarf to ensure Blastoise can fire off strong Water Spouts. This item boosts Blastoise's Speed by 50% at the cost of being restricted to using only the initial move it used.

Other Viable Moves

Dragpn Pulse	A niche move that's best used during Dynamax where it becomes Max Wyrmwind, lowering the opposing team's Attack by 1 stage.
Aura Sphere	A Fighting-type special move that can hits Ferrothorn for super effective damage. Becomes Max Knuckle during Dynamax, boosting the team's Attack by 1 stage.
Flash Cannon	A Steel-type special move that hits Fairy-types for super effective damage. Becomes Max Steelspike during Dynamax, boosting the team's Defense by 1 stage.

Doubles Movesets for Blastoise

Doubles Support Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Impish (+Def, -Sp,Atk)
EV Spread	HP 252 / Def 132 / Sp.Def 120 / Spd 4
Final Stat Values	HP 186 / Atk 103 / Def 150 / Sp.Def 140 / Spd 99
Ability	Rain Dish
Held Item	Sitrus Berry
Moveset	・Fake Out ・Flip Turn ・Life Dew ・Helping Hand

Blastoise's great mixed defense and solid Water-typing make it a great support Pokemon in Doubles, with Flip Turn giving it extra utility over other support Pokemon - essentially letting it function as a Defensive Pivot.

About Blastoise's Moves

Fake Out has increased priority and causes the target to flinch, letting Blastoise scout moves and potentially break an opposing Pokemon's Focus Sash. Flip Turn is its pivoting move, dealing damage before switching out.

Blastoise' last two moves are for supporting it's teammate.

Life Dew heals Blastoise and its teammate by 25% of their max HP, ensuring that they both stay healthy during prolonged matches. Meanwhile, Helping Hand allows it to boost its teammate's next move by 50%.

About Blastoise's EV Spread

We're using a mixed defensive EV spread with full investment in HP and 132 Def EVs and 120 Sp.Def EVs, with the remaining 4 EVs invested in Speed.

About Blastoise's Ability

This support build benefits from Rain Dish, which heals Blastoise 1/16 of its Max HP at the end of every turn when Rain Dance or Drizzle is in effect.

About Blastoise's Held Item

We're using Sitrus Berry as it provides greater healing than Leftovers in Doubles.

Check out our article below to learn more about Sitrus Berries and Leftovers in Doubles.

Sitrus Berry vs Leftovers in Doubles

Other Viable Moves

Yawn	Can replace Flip Turn and allows Blastoise to phaze opposing setup sweepers.
Body Press	A Fighting-type coverage move that uses Blastoise' Defense stat to calculate damage. This move lets Blastoise hit Ferrothorn for super effective damage.

How to Use Blastoise Effectively

Use Shell Smash at the Start of the Battle

Blastoise is one of the few bulky attackers that have Shell Smash, so it's important that you use this boosting move at the start of the battle so that you can deal as much damage as possible to the opposing team.

Since this boosting move also increases Attack, your opponent may second guess your Blastoise and may struggle to switch into the right defensive Pokemon.

A Bulky Attacker

Blastoise has great mixed bulk and its Mono Water-typing gives it only two weakness - Grass and Electric.

Even with little to no defensive EV investment, Blastoise can withstand weaker attacks and stay in matches between opponents longer. It can also run defensive and supportive sets, allowing it to fill multiple roles in a party.

How to Build a Team with Blastoise

Blastoise great bulk and ability to run offensive and support builds make it a versatile Pokemon. While it faces stiff competition from stronger Water-types, it has a niche in more balanced teams - especially those that make use of a Grass-Fire-Water Core.

A Dynamax Lead for Hyper Offense Teams

Access to Shell Smash and great natural bulk make Blastoise a great Dynamax or Gigantamax Lead for offensive teams. It's best used with Grass and Fire-types as these three cover each others weaknesses and gaps in coverage.

Example Grass-Fire-Water Offensive Team

Lead Dynamax	Offensive Pivot	Physical Attacker
Blastoise	Incineroar	Rillaboom

Blastoise fills the role of both lead and special attacked for this Grass-Fire-Water Team, with Incineroar filling the role of an Offensive Pivot while Rillaboom is a straightforward physical attacker.

Since it's partnered with a Fire-type Pokemon, it's best to Gigantamax Blastoise so that its Water-type moves becomes G-Max Cannonade and doesn't set up rain that can lower Incineroar's Fire-type moves.

Incineroar functions as an offensive pivot and deters Grass-types that can easily switch into Blastoise's moves.

Rillaboom on the other hand helps round off the gaps in coverage by providing strong, physical Grass-type moves. It also sets up Grassy Terrain with its Grassy Surge Ability, which is very useful for pure offensive teams since it recovers the team's HP at the end of every turn.

How to Build an Offensive Team | Best Hyper Offense Team

A Special Attacker for Rain Teams

Blastoise is also a great choice for special attacker in Rain Teams since it can heavily damage the opposing team with high-powered Water Spouts.

Example Rain Team

Lead Weather Setter	Choice Scarf	Offensive Pivot
Pelipper	Blastoise	Tornadus (Therian Forme)

This balanced Rain Team relies on Pelipper to set up Rain Dance with its Drizzle Ability, with Blastoise filling the role of a Special Sweeper while Tornadus functions as an offensive pivot.

Blastoise works well with Tornadus as the latter helps deter Grass-types that can withstand even boosted Water Spouts.

Both Pokemon benefit from Pelipper's Rain, with Blastoise's Water Spouts getting a power boost while Tornadus' Hurricane gets 100% accuracy.

How to Build a Weather Team

A Bulky Support Pokemon in Doubles

Access to utility moves such as Fake Out, Helping Hand, and Life Dew - on top of its great mixed defenses, make Blastoise a great support Pokemon in Doubles and is easy to fit into many types of teams.

Example Balanced Doubles Team

Physical Attacker	Devensive Pivot / Support
Dragonite	Blastoise
Special Sweeper	Follow Me Redirection Support
Gengar	Togekiss

In this sample team, we partner Blastoise with Dragonite who benefits from its Life Dew to keep it healthy and ensure that its Multiscale Ability stays active throughout the match.

Blastoise can also scout the opposing team using Fake Out, or boost Dragonite's power with Helping Hand. Since Double Battles are very fast paced, Dragonite often doesn't have a chance to boost with Dragon Dance, so the 50% boost from Helping Hand goes a long way!

Gengar and Togekiss are the backup sweeper and redirection support for this team respectively. Gengar also benefits from Blastoise's Life Dew since its Poison-typing lets it freely switch into Fairy-types that target Salamence.

Meanwhile, Blastoise can use Flip Turn to quickly pivot to Togekiss if Dragonite requires redirection support.
How to Build a Doubles Team

Counters for Blastoise

Weakness

Overpower it With Super Effective Attacks

Although Blastoise has natural bulk, Pokemon that have a type advantage against it can easily force it out of the battle or even outright KO it if it tries to switch in.

Fortunately (and unfortunately for Blastoise), many top-ranking Pokemon in the current metagame are Grass and Electric-types.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Rillaboom	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Easily KO's Blastoise with Grassy Glide ・Grassy Glide gets an accuracy boost in Grassy Terrain, allowing Rillaboom to outrun boosted or Choice Scarf Blastoise Moveset & Best Build for Rillaboom
Kartana	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Easily KOs Blastoise with Max Overgrowth using Leaf Blade ・Can force Blastoise to switch out, allowing it to set up with Swords Dance Moveset & Best Build for Kartana
Zapdos	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Faster than Blastoise and can threaten with Thunderbolt or Discharge ・Can pivot out of the battle using Volt Switch Moveset & Best Build for Zapdos
Ferrothorn	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Boasts great mixed bulk ・Can threaten and heavily damage Blastoise with Power Whip Moveset & Best Build for Ferrothorn
Wash Rotom	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Faster than Blastoise and can threaten it with its Thunderbolt ・Immune to Earthquake thanks to its Levitate Ability Moveset & Best Build for Wash Rotom

Fight Water with Water

Let Blastoise face fellow Water-type Pokemon so that it attacks will do low damage, or in some cases completely nullify it.

Additionally, using Haze will neutralize any stat changes done ny Shell Smash.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Toxapex	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Very high durability. ・Defeat Blastoise by poisoning it and let it take constant damage. ・Use Recover to heal. ・Blastoise can learn Earthquake so watch out. Moveset & Best Build for Toxapex
Lapras	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Lapras' Water Absorb makes all Water-type attacks by Blastoise useless. ・Use Freeze-Dry to defeat Blastoise. Moveset & Best Build for Lapras
Milotic	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Very high durability. ・Can defeat Blastoise with Wrap and let it take constant damage. ・Use Recover to heal. Moveset & Best Build for Milotic

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