Stakataka - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

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

Stakataka - Related Guides
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Stakataka

Types and Abilities

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

Stakataka 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 Stakataka

Singles Movesets for Stakataka

Stealth Rock Lead Moveset & Best Build

Stakataka's massive defenses make it a great lead entry hazard setter with Stealth Rock.

About Stakataka's Moves

Stealth Rock sets up pointed stones that provide great chip damage to the opposing team. Gyro Ball is Stakataka's main STAB move and will often hit the maximum of 150 Base Power due to the Rampart Pokemon's low speed stat.

Rock Blast is its secondary STAB. While weak, it can hit multiple times, allowing Stakataka to threaten opposing leads that use Focus Sash such as Thundurus.

Protect is its last move. Since Stakataka lacks a viable recovery move, Protect ensures it gets some residual recovery from its held item.

About Stakataka's EV Spread

We're using a specially defensive EV spread with full investment in HP and Special Defense, with the remaining 4 EVs placed in Defense.

Stakataka already has a naturally high defense, so boosting its Special Defense ensures it can survive special attacks as well.

About Stakataka's Ability

Stakataka's only ability is Beast Boost, which increases Stakataka's highest stat when it knocks out an enemy.

Even with a Sassy Nature, Stakataka's Defense stat is still its highest. If it manages to knock out an opposing Pokemon, it will get a +1 Defense Boost.

About Stakataka's Held Item

We're giving Stakataka Leftovers. As it lacks any reliable recovery move, the residual healing this held item provides is invaluable at keeping the Rampart Pokemon healthy throughout the battle.

Other Viable Moves

Doubles Movesets for Stakataka

Doubles Offensive Trick Room Moveset & Best Build

Stakataka is a formidable sweeper under Trick Room, effectively becoming a fast and bulky sweeper once the move orders are reversed.

About Stakataka's Moves

Trick Room reverses the move order, making slower Pokemon move first instead of faster Pokemon. With an effective 16 Speed at Level 50, there are only a few Pokemon that can outspeed Stakataka under the effects of Trick Room.

Heavy Slam is Stakataka's main STAB, and deals significant damage against lighter Pokemon. Stone Edge is its secondary STAB move and has great neutral coverage with its other move, Earthquake.

About Stakataka's EV Spread

We're using a basic physical attacking EV Spread with full investment in HP and Attack, and the remaining 4 EVs placed in Defense.

About Stakataka's Ability

Stakataka's only ability is Beast Boost, which increases Stakataka's highest stat when it knocks out an enemy.

Even with a BRave Nature, Stakataka's Defense stat is still its highest. If it manages to knock out an opposing Pokemon, it will get a +1 Defense Boost.

About Stakataka's Held Item

Sitrus Berry provides immediate healing as opposed to the gradual healing Leftovers provides, making it the better option in Doubles.

Sitrus Berry vs Leftovers

Other Viable Moves

How to Use Stakataka Effectively

A Fast, Bulky Trick Room Sweeper

Stakataka is an effective sweeper under Trick Room, with its naturally high defenses letting it safely set up Trick Room. Despite this, it's best used in Doubles so that it has adequate support as even with its great defenses, there are Pokemon that can knock it out in one hit.

How to Build a Team with Stakataka

Both Defensive and Offensive variants of Stakataka faces very stiff competition from bulkier entry hazard setters and trick room sweepers with better move coverage.

It does have a small niche in Doubles as its great mixed bulk allows it to withstand both physical and special attacks better than other Trick Room sweepers.

Doubles Trick Room Sweeper

Stakataka is a good choice for Trick Room setter in Doubles. Even with little defensive EV investment, Stakataka still has enough bulk to withstand attacks from both its physical and special side.

Team Options for Stakataka

Doubles Team
Pokemon	Indeedee	Stakataka
Ability	Psychic Surge	Beast Boost
Held Item	Focus Sash	Sitrus Berry
Nature	Sassy	Brave
EV Spread	HP 252 / Def 212 / Sp.Def 44	HP 252 / Atk 252 / Def 4
Moveset	・Follow Me ・Helping Hand ・Expanding Force ・Protect	・Trick Room ・Heavy Slam ・Stone Edge ・Earthquake

Indeedee (Female) is a great partner for Stakataka. Not only does it provide Redirection support with Follow Me, it also instantly sets up Psychic Terrain with its ability. This protects Stakaka from Prankster-boosted Taunt from Whimsicott and Grimmsnarl.

Stakataka, in turn, sets up Trick Room which benefits the slow Indeedee as it can then provide some chip damage with Expanding Force.

Counters for Stakataka

Weakness

Counter it with a Fighting-Type

Despite its massive bulk, Stakataka can be worn down by Fighting-types.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Conkeldurr	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Takes little damage from Stakataka's Attacks ・Bulk Up variants can eventually overpower Stakataka with Drain Punch Moveset & Best Build for Conkeldurr
Pheromosa	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Special Attacking Phermosa easily KOs Stakataka with Focus Blast Moveset & Best Build for Pheromosa

Oustall it with a Defensive Pokemon

Lack of recovery outside of Leftovers means Stakataka is easily outstalled by other defensive Pokemon - especially those that have Leech Seed.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Celesteela	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Takes little damage from all of Stakataka's Attacks ・Outstalls Stakataka with Leech Seed Moveset & Best Build for Celesteela
Ferrothorn	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Takes little damage from all of Stakataka's Attacks, even Body Press ・Outstalls Stakataka with Leech Seed Moveset & Best Build for Ferrothorn

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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