Pheromosa - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

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

Pheromosa - Related Guides
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Pheromosa

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Pheromosa
Abilities
Beast Boost	The Pokemon boosts its most proficient stat each time it knocks out a Pokemon.

Pheromosa 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 Pheromosa

Singles Movesets for Pheromosa

Physical Offensive Pivot Moveset & Best Build

Pheromosa remains the most effective mixed attacker in the metagame, and is one of the few physical attackers that don't fear Landorus. Although it's a glass cannon at best, it's a Pokemon that can easily sweep teams if left unchecked.

This build takes advantage of its high Speed to set it up as an attacker. With its new Tutor Move Triple Axel, it's able to break through Focus Sash to KO Landorus-Therian, and can even KO Dragonite with the Multiscale Ability.

About Pheromosa's EV Spread

It's best to go for the full 252 EVs in Speed to avoid being outsped by Dragapult, which falls shortly behind in base Speed.

About Pheromosa's Ability

Beast Boost increases Pheromosa's highest stat when it knocks out an enemy. With a Naive Nature, Pheromosa has an effective speed of 223 at Level 50. This means it gets a + 1 Speed increase every time it knocks out an enemy, making it more difficult to revenge kill as it gets more boosts.

About Pheromosa's Held Item

Life Orb boosts the power of Pheromosa's moves by 30% at the cost of some residual damage.

Other Viable Moves

Choice Scarf Moveset & Best Build

On top of an already sky-high base Speed of 151, it can push itself even higher with the Choice Scarf. This allows it to act as a counter for opponents which have boosted their Speed with Max Airstream.

It also allows it to handle opponents who specifically equip a Choice Scarf to handle Pheromosa by holding a Choice Scarf of its own, rendering those opponents' item choice moot.

How to Use Pheromosa Effectively

A Fast Glass Cannon

With its great mixed attacking stats and high speed, Pheromosa is meant to be played in Hyper Offense teams where it fills the role of an offensive pivot. It's low defenses holds it back a little, but with the right team support, it can sweep teams easily with its STAB and coverage moves.

How to Build a Team with Pheromosa

While Pheromosa is a terror in the Singles format, it's in Doubles where it can unleash its full potential when partnered with a teammate that can cover its main weakness - priority moves.

Team Options for Pheromosa

Doubles Team
Pokemon	Indeedee	Pheromosa
Ability	Psychic Surge	Beast Boost
Held Item	Focus Sash	Life Orb
Nature	Sassy	Naive
EV Spread	HP 252 / Def 212 / Sp.Def 44	Atk 252 / Sp.Atk 4 / Spd 252
Moveset	・Follow Me ・Helping Hand ・Expanding Force ・Protect	・U-Turn ・Close Combat ・Poison Jab ・Ice Beam

Indeedee (Female) instantly sets up Psychic Terrain with its ability, priority moves such as Dragonite's Extreme Speed or Gale Wings boosted Flying moves from Talonflame.

Although Pheromosa can be partnered with Tapu Lele as well, Indeedee provides vital redirection support with Follow Me.

How to Build a Doubles Team

Counters for Pheromosa

Weakness

Counter it with a Defensive Pokemon

Despite its offensive prowess, Pheromosa has trouble handling especially defensive Pokemon. These Pokemon can often retaliate with a move that can cripple or heavily damage it.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Aegislash	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Immune to Fighting-type Moves and Resists Bug-type Moves ・Can lower Pheromosa's Attack stat with King's Shield Moveset & Best Build for Aegislash
Gyarados	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Resists both of Pheromosa's STAB Moves ・Lowers Pheromosa's Attack stat with Intimidate and can potentially KO it with Waterfall Moveset & Best Build for Gyarados
Toxapex	Ranking: ★★★ ・Resists all of Pheromosa's attacks, even Drill Run ・Can cripple Pheromosa with a burn from Scald Moveset & Best Build for Toxapex
Jellicent	Ranking: ★★★ ・Immune to Pheromosa's Fighting STAB and resists all of its coverage moves ・Can cripple Pheromosa with Scald or threaten it with Night Shade Moveset & Best Build for Jellicent

Threaten it with Priority Moves

Pheromosa's low defenses means it's very susceptible to getting driven off or outright KO'd by a Pokemon with a priority move.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Azumarill	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Choice Band variants can KO Pheromosa with Aqua Jet ・Resists both of Pheromosa's STAB moves Moveset & Best Build for Azumarill
Mimikyu	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Can heavily damage Pheromosa with Shadow Sneak ・Immune to Fighting-type moves and resists Bug-type moves Moveset & Best Build for Mimikyu
Mamoswine	Ranking: ★★★ ・Choice Band variants can KO Pheromosa with Ice Shard ・Can set up Stealth Rock if it predicts a switch Moveset & Best Build for Mamoswine

Check it with a Faster Pokemon

Pheromosa's oppresing presence as an offensive pivot means it's often best checked with a Pokemon that can get a free switch into it. These checks can then threaten Pheromosa and potentially KO it if it decides to stay.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Regieleki	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Outspeeds Pheromosa with a Modest Nature ・Easily KOs it with Thunderbolt or Thunder Cage Moveset & Best Build for Regieleki
Garchomp	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Outspeeds Pheromosa with a Choice Scarf ・Easily KOs Pheromosa with Outrage Moveset & Best Build for Garchomp

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

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Movesets & Best Builds for The Crown Tundra Pokemon
Galarian Articuno	Galarian Zapdos	Galarian Moltres
Raikou	Entei	Suicune
Articuno	Zapdos	Moltres
Tornadus	Thundurus	Landorus
Tapu Koko	Tapu Lele	Tapu Bulu
Tapu Fini	Regieleki	Regidrago
Latios	Latias	Heatran
Cresselia	Glastrier	Spectrier
Nidoking	Swampert	Dragonite
Salamence	Garchomp	Metagross
Galarian Slowking	Nihilego	Naganadel
Pheromosa	Buzzwole	Celesteela
Kartana	Stakataka	Blaziken
Kyogre	Yveltal	Xerneas
Necrozma (Dusk Mane)	Calyrex (Shadow Rider)	Mewtwo
Calyrex (Ice Rider)	Dialga	Lugia
Black Kyurem	Zekrom	Ho-Oh
Rayquaza	Zygarde	Reshiram
White Kyurem	Groudon	Regirock
Palkia	Regigigas	Registeel
Regice	Giratina	Solgaleo
Lunala	Kyurem	Necrozma
Uxie	Mesprit	Azelf
Calyrex