Pelipper - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

Pelipper Movesets in Other Games
SV	SWSH

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

Pelipper - Related Guides
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Pelipper

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Pelipper
Abilities
Keen Eye	Prevents other Pokemon from lowering accuracy.
Drizzle	The Pokemon makes it rain when it enters a battle.
Rain Dish (Hidden)	The Pokemon gradually regains HP in rain.

Pelipper 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 Pelipper

Singles Moveset for Pelipper

Defensive Rain Setter Moveset & Best Build

Since getting Drizzle in Generation VI, Pelipper has served as the premiere rain setter for Rain teams thanks to its great bulk, reliable recovery, and access to many support moves.

About Pelipper's Moves

Scald allows Pelipper to threaten physical attackers with a burn and hits hard coming from its respectable base 95 Special Attack, while U-Turn allows it to quickly pivot to another Pokemon without wasting a turn.

Roost is Pelipper's main mode of recovery that removes Flying-type on the turn it's used. This can work to your advantage or disadvantage as it makes Pelipper weak to Grass-type moves, but also allows it to better handle Electric-type moves.

Knock Off is Pelipper's final support moveand allows it to threaten opposing walls such as Chansey and Porygon2 who rely on items such as Eviolite.

About Pelipper's EV Spread

We're using a standard defensive EV spread with full investment in HP and Defense that allow Pelipper to withstand physical hits better. The remaining 4 EVs are allocated to Special Defense to give its mediocre Special Defense a slight boost.

About Pelipper's Ability

Drizzle is Pelipper's best ability. It sets up rain for exactly five turns.

About Pelipper's Held Item

We're giving Pelipper the Damp Rock item. This extends Drizzle's effect to eight turns instead of five.

Other Viable Moves

Doubles Moveset for Pelipper

Doubles Tailwind Support Moveset & Best Build

This Pelipper functions as a more offense-oriented speed lead in Doubles, while still sporting some great group utility with its other moves.

About Pelipper's Moves

Tailwind is Pelipper's most important move, doubling it and its teammates speed for 4 turns. Hurricane is its main STAB move and has perfect accuracy in Rain. It also has a 30% chance to confuse the target.

U-Turn allows Pelipper to quickly pivot from the battle and into a teammate that can take advantage of Rain. It's final move, Soak, allows it to counter opposing Weather Setters like Tyranitar - turning them into a Water-type Pokemon so that they can't take advantage of the Special Defense boost from Sandstorm.

About Pelipper's EV Spread

We're using a more offense-oriented EV spread with full investment in Special Attack and Speed. The remaining 4 EVs are allocated to Defense to boost its natural bulkiness

About Pelipper's Ability

Drizzle is Pelipper's best ability. It sets up rain for exactly five turns.

About Pelipper's Held Item

Pelipper faces stiff competition from faster Tailwind setters like Noivern. With Choice Scarf and a Timid Nature, Pelipper can set up Tailwind first before the opposing speed lead!

Other Viable Moves

How to Use Pelipper Effectively

Rain Dance Support

Although Pelipper can fill the role of both an offensive and defensive-oriented Pokemon, it's main role is that of a Rain setter. As such, it's vital to keep it healthy throughout the match so that it can set up Rain again when it runs out the first time.

How to Build a Team with Pelipper

Rain Dance Lead

Pelipper is an integral part of Rain Teams and fills the role of the Rain Dance Lead. Since battles last more turns in Singles, Pelipper leads in that battle format are often played defensively as its ability to immediately set up Rain is integral to the rest of the team.

Check out our guide below to learn more about leads in Weather Teams.
How to Build a Weather Team

A Speed Lead in Doubles

In Doubles, Pelipper most attractive traits are its ability to use Tailwind in conjunction with Rain Dance. Matches in Doubles often last lest turns, so Pelippers used in this battle format are played more aggressively.

Access to U-Turn also makes Pelipper a good partner to Weakness Policy Pokemon weak to Bug-type moves, such as Alakazam and Starmie; with the latter taking advantage of the Water-type boost from Pelipper's Drizzle ability.

Check out our guide below to learn how to build a Doubles Team.
How to Build a Doubles Team

Counters for Pelipper

Weakness

Use a Slower Weather Setter

When two weather setters are sent out at the same time, the slower Pokemon's weather-inducing ability activates last. This means their weather stays at the end of the turn.

Pelipper has a moderately high base speed that's significantly higher than other weather setters, so it often loses the weather matchup to slower weather setters.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Tyranitar	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Can set up Stealth Rock once Pelipper switches out ・Gets a 50% Special Defense boost under the effects of Sandstorm Moveset & Best Build for Tyranitar
Hippowdon	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Can set up Stealth Rock once Pelipper switches out ・Boasts reliable recovery in Slack Off and can phaze opposing Pokemon with Whirlwind Moveset & Best Build for Hippowdon

Use Priority Leads

Even with Choice Scarf, Pelipper loses against speed leads that have priority-boosted Tailwind.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Whimsicott	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Boasts Prankster-boosted Tailwind ・Can Paralyze Pelipper with Stun Spore Moveset & Best Build for Whimsicott
Talonflame	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Boasts Gale Wings-boosted Tailwind ・Can cripple Pelipper's teammates with Will-o-Wisp Moveset & Best Build for Talonflame

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 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
Hawlucha	Shiftry	Tsareena
Ludicolo