Suicune - Movesets & Best Build for Ranked Battle

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

Suicune - Related Guides
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Suicune

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Suicune
Abilities
Pressure	The Pokemon raises the foe's PP usage.
Inner Focus (Hidden)	The Pokemon is protected from flinching.

Suicune 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

HP	Attack	Defense	Sp. Atk	Sp. Def	Speed
100	75	115	90	115	85

Best Nature for Suicune

Best Natures
Timid (+Spd, -Atk)	Bold (+Def, -Atk)	Calm (+Sp.Def, -Atk)

Singles Movesets for Suicune

Substitute + Calm Mind Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
EV Spread	HP 252 / Sp.Def 40 / 216
Final Stat Values	HP 207 /Def 135 / Sp.Atk 110 / Sp.Def 140 / Spd 145
Ability	Pressure
Held Item	Leftovers
Moveset	・Substitute ・Calm Mind ・Scald ・Ice Beam

Suicune has a niche as a Calm Mind sweeper in Singles. Although it doesn't have an immediate offensive presence, it can clean up teams pretty well in the late game.

About Suicune's Moves

Substitute protects Suicune from status moves like Toxic and Yawn. Unlike other Substitute users, it's good HP stat means its substitutes won't break in one hit. Calm Mind boosts Suicune's Special Defense and Special Attack. The goal of this build is to get at least two or three Calm Mind boosts to effectively clean up the opposing team afterwards.

Scald is Suicune's main STAB move, and deals good damage after several Calm Mind boosts. It also has a 30% chance to burn the opponent, which conveniently patches up Suicune's great but uninvested defense stat.

Ice Beam is its main coverage moves and ensures Suicune can threaten Grass-types that will otherwise wall it.

About Suicune's EV Spread

We're using a modified EV spread with full investment in HP and 216 EVs into Speed. The remaining EVs are placed in Sp.Def since Suicune's Water typing attracts more special attacks.

Suicune's naturally high mixed defenses means it boasts great bulk even with little to no investment. This build ultimately relies on Calm Mind boosts and the attack cut from Scald's burn to improve its bulk.

About Suicune's Ability

We're using Pressure for this build. The opposing Pokemon loses 2 PP instead of 1 when facing off against Suicune.

About Suicune's Held Item

This Suicune build requires Leftovers to stay healthy throuhgout the late game, especially if it needs to use Substitute again.

Other Viable Moves

Protect	You can replace Ice Beam with Protect, allowing Suicune to stall opposing Pokemon with Pressure.
Mirror Coat	A niche move that you can use if you predict a special attack that Suicune can survive, potentially KOing the attacker afterwards.

CroCune Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Bold (+Def, -Atk)
EV Spread	HP 252 / Def 160 / Spd 96
Final Stat Values	HP 207 / 170 / Sp.Atk 110 / Sp.Def 135 / Spd 117
Ability	Pressure
Held Item	Leftovers
Moveset	・Calm Mind ・Rest ・Sleep Talk ・Scald

This build is based on a build popularized and made famous by Cromat, a prolific competitive player during Pokemon's Advance (Generation III) competitive battling scene who popularized Rest+Sleep Talk builds.

Although Cromat's legendary "CroCune" is no longer the unkillable Stallmon as it was in Generation III, it can still hold up against the current metagame's attackers.

About Suicune's Moves

Calm Mind boosts Suicune's Special Defense and Special Attack by one stage. Rest puts Suicune to sleep but restores all of its health and cures status, while Sleep Talk ensures it can still attack or boost with Calm Mind even when it's asleep.

It's main and only attacking move is Scald. This move has a nice 30% burn rate that can further boost Suicune's defense.

About Suicune's EV Spread

We're using a modified physicall defensive EV spread with full investment in HP and 160 EVs in Defense. The remaining EVs are placed in Speed so that it can outrun slower walls, such as Hippowdon and Toxapex.

About Suicune's Ability

We're using Pressure for this build. The opposing Pokemon loses 2 PP instead of 1 when facing off against Suicune.

About Suicune's Held Item

This Suicune build requires Leftovers to stay healthy throuhgout the late game, especially if it needs to use Substitute again.

Other Viable Moves

Surf	A good alternative to Scald and was the original move used in the classic CroCune set. While stronger, it lacks the 30% burn chance, which is ultimately more useful.

Life Orb Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Modest (+Spd, -Atk)
EV Spread	HP 252 / Sp.Def 40 / 216
Final Stat Values	HP 207 /Def 135 / Sp.Atk 110 / Sp.Def 140 / Spd 145
Ability	Pressure
Held Item	Life Orb
Moveset	・Air Slash ・Calm Mind ・Scald ・Ice Beam

This is a more offensive build for Suicune using Life Orb. Substitute is replaced by Air Slash for more coverage. Try and get a Calm Mind or two safely against Pokemon that are bound to switch out or Pokemon that want to stall using Protect or any other defensive move.

Other Viable Moves

Pokemon Who Can Learn Hydro Pump (TR03)	A stronger Water-type STAB move but with less accuracy.
Pokemon Who Can Learn Sheer Cold	Similar to Hydro Pump, a stronger Ice-type coverage move in place of Ice Beam but with less accuracy.
Pokemon Who Can Learn Extreme Speed	A priority move you can use in a lot of different situations.

Doubles Movesets for Suicune

Doubles Support Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Calm (+Sp.Def, -Atk)
EV Spread	HP 252 / Def 40 / Sp.Atk 52 / Sp.Def 108 / Spd 56
Final Stat Values	HP 207 / Def 140 / Sp.Atk 117 / Sp.Def 108 / Spd 112
Ability	Inner Focus
Held Item	Sitrus Berry Wiki Berry
Moveset	・Tailwind ・Scald ・Ice Beam ・Helping Hand

Suicune sets itself apart from other Tailwind Leads with its better HP and mixed bulk, as well as access to other moves that can support its teammates.

About Suicune's Moves

Tailwind is Suicune's main support move, doubling the speed stat of it and its teammates for three turns. Scald and Ice Beam are its main attacking moves, with the former potentially burning threats while the latter hits Grass, Dragon, and Flying-types for super effective damage.

It's last move is Helping Hand, boosting its partner's next move by 50%. Since this move has +5 priority, even teammates that are naturally faster than Suicune will get the power boost!

About Suicune's EV Spread

Since Suicune needs to withstand both physical and special attacks (often during the same turn) in Doubles, we're using a mixed defensive EV spread.

Full HP investment, as well as 40 Defense EVs and 108 Special Defense EVs, make Suicune as bulky as possible.

We're also putting 52 Special Attack EVs to boost Suicune's great Special Attack stat. Finally, 56 Speed Evs ensure it can outrun slower walls. The Speed EVs also ensure that it has Suicune has an immediate 224 Speed after a Tailwind, which makes it significantly faster than most walls and even some sweepers.

About Suicune's Ability

We're using Inner Focus for this Suicune. This ability prevents it from flinching, which is very useful when it's facing off against an opposing lead with Fake Out.

About Suicune's Held Item

We're giving Suicune Sitrus Berry this time around as it provides immediate healing whereas Leftovers needs more turns to provide the same amount of healing. Wiki Berry is an alternative if you already have another Pokemon using Sitrus Berry.

To learn more about Sitrus Berries vs Leftovers in Doubles, check out our guide below.
Sitrus Berry vs Leftovers

Other Viable Moves

Icy Wind	A good alternative to Ice Beam. Although weaker, it lowers the opposing speed by one stage.
Roar	An alternative to Helping Hand that allows Suicune to phase opposing setup sweepers.

How to Use Suicune Effectively

Use it as a Rest Talker

Suicune is arguably the most famous "Bulky Water", and saw dominance in Generation III as an unbreakable and unstoppable wall that had the potential to sweep teams in the late game.

While it's no longer the best Bulky Water in the metagame, it still has a niche as one of the few effective "Rest Talkers" as popularized by Cromat's "CroCune" set. Despite this, it's best used in the late stages of the battle as a cleaner or a status absorber.

A Bulky Setup Sweeper

In the current metagame, Suicune functions more as a bulky late-game sweeper than an actual defensive Pokemon. To separate it from other and more effective Bulky Waters, it's best played as a setup sweeper that can withstand attacks instead of as an outright defensive wall.

How to Build a Team with Suicune

Suicune's niche as the metagame's Bulky Water has been overtaken by the likes of Toxapex and Jellicent, but it still has a niche as a support Pokemon in Doubles!

Lead Tailwind Support in Doubles

Suicune differs from other Tailwind supporters by being slower and bulkier. Although it may not always set up Tailwind first, it's not a one-trick pony either! Unlike other Tailwind setters, it can further support its team either with Helping Hand, Icy Wind, or as a phaser with Roar - forcing setup sweepers to switch out and lose their boosts.

Counters for Suicune

Weakness

Use Electric-Type Pokemon to counter

Suicune is weak against Electric-type Pokemon. Make sure you take advantage of this by using Pokemon that hit hard.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Tapu Koko	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Can use empowered Electric-type moves due to its ability. Tapu Koko - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle
Thundurus	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Can deal massive damage to Suicune with its high stat. ・Be wary of Ice-type moves however as it deals x2 damage to Thundurus Thundurus - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle
Zapdos	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Effectively the same Pokemon as Thundurus. It deals massive damage to Suicune using Electric-type moves. Moveset & Best Build for Whimsicott

Check it With a Pokemon that can use Taunt

Suicune is reliant on setting up with Calm Mind or using Rest and Sleep Talk to stall teams. Even the Doubles Support build primarily uses Status moves. All of these strategies are easily shut down by using Taunt, forcing Suicune to switch or risk becoming setup fodder.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Tapu Fini	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Use Taunt to try and disrupt Suicune's plans to Sub+Calm Mind Tapu Fini - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle
Thundurus	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Similar to Tafu FIni, try and use Taunt to prevent any Substitute and Calm Mind setup ・Be wary of Ice-type moves as it is super effective against Thundurus Thundurus - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

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 The Crown Tundra Pokemon

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