Pokemon Sword and Shield

Swampert - Movesets & Best Build for Ranked Battle

Swampert - Movesets and Counters.png

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

Swampert - Related Guides
Pokemon SWSH - Swampert Evolution and LearnsetEvolution and Learnset Pokemon SWSH - Swampert Best BuildBuild for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Swampert

Types and Abilities

Pokemon Type 1 Type 2
Pokemon Sword and Shield - Water Type Pokemon Sword and Shield - Ground Type
Abilities
Torrent Powers up Water-type moves in a pinch.
Damp (Hidden) Prevents the use of self-destructing moves.

Swampert Weaknesses and Resistances

Type
Takes 4x damage
Pokemon Grass Image
Takes 2x damage
-
Takes 0.5x damage
Pokemon Fire Image Pokemon Poison Image Pokemon Rock Image Pokemon Steel Image
Takes 1/4x damage
-
Takes 0x damage
Pokemon Electric Image

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

HP Attack Defense Sp. Atk Sp. Def Speed
100 110 90 85 90 60

Best Nature for Swampert

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

Singles Movesets for Swampert

Yawn + Stealth Rock Moveset & Best Build

Yawn + Stealth Rock.png

Nature Impish (+Def, -Sp.Atk)
EV Spread HP 252 / Def 220 / Sp.Def 36
Final Stat Values HP 207 / Atk 130 / Def 156 / Sp.Def 115 / Spd 80
Ability Torrent
Damp
Held Item Sitrus Berry
Rindo Berry
Moveset Flip Turn
Earthquake
Yawn
Stealth Rock

Swampert is a good defensive Pokemon, boasting key resistances to common attacking types such as Rock, Electric, Steel, Fire, and Poison-types. This makes it a great defensive lead for a team that needs a reliable entry hazard setter.

About Swampert's Moves

Stealth Rock sets up entry hazards for your team, helping them net important KOs thanks to chip damage. Yawn allows it to phaze opposing Pokemon, forcing them to switch and get residual damage from Stealth Rock or risk falling asleep.

Earthquake is its main STAB move while Flip Turn allows it to quickly pivot to a teammate if it's facing a Pokemon it can't counter.

About Swampert's EV Spread

We're using a standard defensive set with full investment in HP and 220 Defense EVs. The remaining 36 EVs are placed in Special Defense to round off its bulk.

About Swampert's Ability

Torrent is the preferred Ability for this Swampert. When its HP drops down to 1/3 of its maximum health, it gets a 50% Attack or Special Attack boost when using a Water-type move.

Damp is another good Ability that prevents the moves Self-Destruct, Explosion, and Misty Explosion. It also prevents the effects of the Ability Aftermath.

About Swampert's Held Item

Swampert can use Sitrus Berry that heals it a good amount once its HP gets cut in half or Rindo Berry so that it can better resist Grass-type moves.

Other Viable Moves

Ice Punch
Ice Beam
A good alternative move that allows Swampert to hit Landorus and Garchomp. Ice Beam is an alternative if you prefer using a speed reducing nature.
Whirlpool Allows Swampert to trap opposing Pokemon. Works well with Yawn.
Rock Tomb A good support move that lowers the opponent's speed.

How to Use Swampert Effectively

Use it as a Lead Support Pokemon

Swampert is a great lead support Pokemon thanks its great dual-typing, which gives it a lot of resistances and only one weakness. It's one of the few lead defensive Pokemon that can use the Stealth Rock + Yawn strategy, making it an invaluable Pokempn for teams lacking in a bulky lead.

Quickly Pivot with Flip Turn

What sets Swampert apart from other entry hazard setters is Flip Turn, which allows it to quickly pivot from the battle once it's done setting up with Stealth Rock or phasing with Yawn. Swampert's naturally high physical attack also means that Flip Turn deals good damage even without investment,

How to Build a Team with Swampert

Use it as an Entry Hazard Setter

Swampert faces some competition from stronger bulky attackers, but it has a niche as an entry hazard setter and even phaser thanks to its resists.

Team Options for Swampert

Pokemon SWSH - Swampert ImageSwampert Pokemon SWSH - Dragonite ImageDragonite Pokemon SWSH - Cresselia ImageCresselia Pokemon SWSH - Heatran ImageHeatran Pokemon SWSH - Volcarona ImageVolcarona Pokemon SWSH - Galarian Moltres ImageGalarian Moltres
Lead Entry Hazard Setter Weakness Policy Sweeper Defensive Pivot Special Wall Special Sweeper Choice Scarf Sweeper

Swampert makes a great defensive lead and plays an important role in setting up Stealth Rock for the rest of its team.

Check out our full article below to learn how to build a defensive team.
How to Build a Defensive Team

Counters for Swampert

Swampert
Weakness Pokemon Grass Image

Counter it with Tapu Fini

Pokemon Description
Pokemon SWSH - Tapu Fini ImageTapu Fini Ranking: ★★★★★
Moveset & Best Build for Rillaboom

Tapu Fini is the best counter to Swampert as its Misty Surge ability sets up Misty Terrain, which prevents status moves such as Yawn from working. Tapu Fini needs to be aware of other terrain setters though, but in a one-on-one match, Swampert can't do much against it.

Use Grass-type Moves

Swampert's typing leaves it with only a weakness to Grass-types. It's best to use a Pokemon that has a Grass-type coverage move to surprise Swampert with a KO.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon Description
Pokemon SWSH - Heatran ImageHeatran Ranking: ★★★★★
・Easily KOs Swampert with Solar Beam

Moveset & Best Build for Heatran
Pokemon SWSH - Nihilego ImageNihilego Ranking: ★★★★
・Can deal a significant amount of damage to Swampert with Grass Knot

Moveset & Best Build for Nihilego
Pokemon SWSH - Tapu Koko ImageTapu Koko Ranking: ★★★
・Can deal a significant amount of damage to Swampert with Grass Knot

Moveset & Best Build for Tapu Koko

Related Links

Pokemon Sword and Shield - Best Builds for Ranked Battle

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

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