Pokemon Sword and Shield

Buzzwole - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

Buzzwole - Movesets and Counters.png
This is a strategy guide for using Buzzwole 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 Buzzwole, as well as its strengths and weak points.

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

Basic Information for Buzzwole

Types and Abilities

Pokemon Type 1 Type 2
Pokemon Sword and Shield - Bug Type Pokemon Sword and Shield - Fighting Type
Abilities
Beast Boost The Pokemon boosts its most proficient stat each time it knocks out a Pokemon.

Buzzwole Weaknesses and Resistances

Type
Takes 4x damage
Pokemon Flying Image
Takes 2x damage
Pokemon Fire Image Pokemon Psychic Image Pokemon Fairy Image
Takes 0.5x damage
Pokemon Grass Image Pokemon Fighting Image Pokemon Ground Image Pokemon Bug Image Pokemon Dark Image
Takes 1/4x damage
-
Takes 0x damage
-

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

HP Attack Defense Sp. Atk Sp. Def Speed
107 139 139 53 53 79

Best Nature for Buzzwole

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

Singles Movesets for Buzzwole

Bulk Up Moveset & Best Build

Bulk Up Buzzwole.png

Nature Impish (+Def, -Sp.Atk)
EV Spread HP 252 / Def 144 / Spd 112
Final Stat Values HP 214 / Atk 159 / Def 194 / Sp.Def 73 / Spd 113
Ability Beast Boost
Held Item Leftovers
Lum Berry
Moveset Bulk Up
Drain Punch
Lunge
Ice Punch

Great HP and Physical Defense, as well as reliable healing, make Buzzwole an effective Bulk Up sweeper in both Singles and Doubles.

About Buzzwole's Moves

Bulk Up boosts Buzzwole's Attack and Defense by one stage. Drain Punch is its main STAB and recovery move, while Lunge is its secondary STAB that lowers the target's Attack stat.

Ice Punch is its last move, and is mostly for coverage so that Buzzwole can hit Flying, Ground, and Dragon-types.

About Buzzwole's EV Spread

We're using a modified Bulk Up spread, focusing more on Buzzwole's defenses. Full HP investment and 144 Defense EVs make it as physically bulky as possible, while the remaining 112 EVs are placed in Speed so that it can outrun defensive Pokemon.

About Buzzwole's Ability

Beast Boost is Buzzwole's only ability, raising its highest stat every time it knocks out an opposing Pokemon.

With an Impish Nature and the given EVs, Buzzwole has an effective 194 Defense stat at Level 50. This means every time it knocks out an opposing Pokemon, it's Defense stat increases by one stage.

About Buzzwole's Held Item

We're giving Buzzwole Leftovers for this build to provide it passive healing. Alternatively, you can also give it Lum Berry to protect it from status from Will-O-Wisp or Toxic.

Other Viable Moves

Iron Head An alternative to Ice Punch that allows Buzzwole to hit Fairy-types back.
Leech Life A stronger, Bug-type version of Drain Punch but has lower move coverage.

Choice Scarf Moveset & Best Build

Choice Scarf Buzzwole.png

Nature Jolly (+Spd, -Sp.Atk)
EV Spread Atk 252 / Sp.Def 4 / Spd 252
Final Stat Values HP 182 / Atk 191 / Def 159 / Sp.Def 74 / Spd 144
Ability Beast Boost
Held Item Choice Scarf
Moveset Leech Life
Close Combat
Stone Edge
Earthquake

Buzzwole can surprise its usual counters and checks expecting a bulky set with a Choice Scarf build, turning it into a surprisingly fast but bulky revenge killer.

About Buzzwole's Moves

Leech Life is its main Bug-type STAB and is also it's main recovery move. Close Combat is its strongest STAB, but lowers both of Buzzwole's defenses.

Its remaining two moves, Stone Edge and Earthquake, offer great neutral coverage - forming the "EdgeQuake" combo common in many physical attackers.

About Buzzwole's EV Spread

We're using a standard physical attacking set with full investment in Attack and Speed, with the remaining 4 EVs placed in Special Defense.

About Buzzwole's Ability

Beast Boost is Buzzwole's only ability, raising its highest stat every time it knocks out an opposing Pokemon.

With a Jolly Nature and the given EVs, Buzzwole has an effective 191 Attack stat at Level 50. This means every time it knocks out an opposing Pokemon, it's Attack stat increases by one stage.

About Buzzwole's Held Item

Choice Scarf increases Buzzwole's Speed by 50%, but restricts it to using only the initial move it used during its turn.

Other Viable Moves

Iron Head You can replace Stone Edge or Earthquake with Iron Head so that it can hit Fairy-types.

How to Use Buzzwole Effectively

A Resilient Bulk Up Sweeper

Buzzwole's great HP and physical defense make it a tough Bulk Up sweeper and is a good alternative to Conkeldurr in balanced teams. In Singles, it's best sent out late in the battle after you've taken care of its checks and counters.

How to Build a Team with Buzzwole

Buzzwole faces some competition from its fellow Ultra Beast, Pheromosa, but has a niche in more defensive-oriented teams as a bulky sweeper.

Use it as a Bulk Up Sweeper

Buzzwole is easy to fit in defensive oriented teams that require an offensive Pokemon. Even with no Attack investment, this Ultra Beast can still hit hard after a Bulk Up boost.

Example Build Team

Lead Dynamax Defensive Pivot Special Sweeper
Pokemon SWSH - Buzzwole ImageBuzzwole Pokemon SWSH - Zapdos ImageZapdos Pokemon SWSH - Nidoking ImageNidoking

Buzzwole makes an excellent lead Dynamax Pokemon, although it should ideally use Bulk Up first so that it can improve its bulkiness. What makes Buzzwole a great Dynamax lead is that it can continue threatening opposing Pokemon after Dynamax since it can simply recover lost HP with Drain Punch.

Zapdos is a great defensive pivot and partner for Buzzwole as it resists Flying-type moves that Buzzwole is very weak against. It can also help its teamate by spreading paralysis using Discharge, which helps with Buzzwole's low speed.

Nidoking rounds off this team, filling the role of a fast and powerful special attacker. It provides great neutral coverage and can threaten Fairy-types with its Poison-type STAB.

How to Build a Defensive Team

Counters for Buzzwole

Buzzwole
Weakness Pokemon Flying Image Pokemon Fire Image Pokemon Psychic Image Pokemon Fairy Image

Check it with a Fairy-type

Outside of Iron Head, Buzzwole struggles against Fairy-types. Faster Fairy Pokemon, in particular, easily forces the Swollen Pokemon to switch or risk getting KO'd by their super effective attacks.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon Description
Pokemon SWSH - Tapu Lele ImageTapu Lele Ranking: ★★★★★
・Easily outspeeds Defensive Variants
・Easily KOs Buzzwole with Psychic or Moonblast

Moveset & Best Build for Tapu Lele
Pokemon SWSH - Clefable ImageClefable Ranking: ★★★★★
・Physically Defensive variants can survive Offensive Buzzwole's Iron Head
・Boasts reliable recovery and Moonblast to threaten Buzzwole

Moveset & Best Build for Clefable

Related Links

Pokemon Sword and Shield - Best Builds for Ranked Battle

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Pokemon SWSH - Tier ListTier List Pokemon SWSH - Best BuildsBest Builds Pokemon Sword and Shield - Ranked Battle Series 10 Contenders.pngSeries 10 List of Contenders
Pokemon SWSH - Doubles Tier ListDoubles Tier List Pokemon SWSH - Competitive Team BuildingTeam Building Pokemon SWSH - Rental TeamsRental Teams

Best Builds for The Crown Tundra Pokemon

Movesets & Best Builds for The Crown Tundra Pokemon
Pokemon SWSH - Galarian Articuno Best BuildsGalarian Articuno Pokemon SWSH - Galarian Zapdos Best BuildsGalarian Zapdos Pokemon SWSH - Galarian Moltres Best BuildsGalarian Moltres
Pokemon SWSH - Raikou Best BuildsRaikou Pokemon SWSH - Entei Best BuildsEntei Pokemon SWSH - Suicune Best BuildsSuicune
Pokemon SWSH - Articuno Best BuildsArticuno Pokemon SWSH - Zapdos Best BuildsZapdos Pokemon SWSH - Moltres Best BuildsMoltres
Pokemon SWSH - Tornadus Best BuildsTornadus Pokemon SWSH - Thundurus Best BuildsThundurus Pokemon SWSH - Landorus Best BuildsLandorus
Pokemon SWSH - Tapu Koko Best BuildsTapu Koko Pokemon SWSH - Tapu Lele Best BuildsTapu Lele Pokemon SWSH - Tapu Bulu Best BuildsTapu Bulu
Pokemon SWSH - Tapu Fini Best BuildsTapu Fini Pokemon SWSH - Regieleki Best BuildsRegieleki Pokemon SWSH - Regidrago Best BuildsRegidrago
Pokemon SWSH - Latios Best BuildsLatios Pokemon SWSH - Latias Best BuildsLatias Pokemon SWSH - Heatran Best BuildsHeatran
Pokemon SWSH - Cresselia Best BuildsCresselia Pokemon SWSH - Glastrier Best BuildsGlastrier Pokemon SWSH - Spectrier Best BuildsSpectrier
Pokemon SWSH - Nidoking Best BuildsNidoking Pokemon SWSH - Swampert Best BuildsSwampert Pokemon SWSH - Dragonite Best BuildsDragonite
Pokemon SWSH - Salamence Best BuildsSalamence Pokemon SWSH - Garchomp Best BuildsGarchomp Pokemon SWSH - Metagross Best BuildsMetagross
Pokemon SWSH - Galarian Slowking Best BuildsGalarian Slowking Pokemon SWSH - Nihilego Best BuildsNihilego Pokemon SWSH - Naganadel Best BuildsNaganadel
Pokemon SWSH - Pheromosa Best BuildsPheromosa Pokemon SWSH - Buzzwole Best BuildsBuzzwole Pokemon SWSH - Celesteela Best BuildsCelesteela
Pokemon SWSH - Kartana Best BuildsKartana Pokemon SWSH - Stakataka Best BuildsStakataka Pokemon SWSH - Blaziken Best BuildsBlaziken
Pokemon SWSH - Kyogre Best BuildsKyogre Pokemon SWSH - Yveltal Best BuildsYveltal Pokemon SWSH - Xerneas Best BuildsXerneas
Pokemon SWSH - Necrozma (Dusk Mane) Best BuildsNecrozma (Dusk Mane) Pokemon SWSH - Calyrex (Shadow Rider) Best BuildsCalyrex (Shadow Rider) Pokemon SWSH - Mewtwo Best BuildsMewtwo
Pokemon SWSH - Calyrex (Ice Rider) Best BuildsCalyrex (Ice Rider) Pokemon SWSH - Dialga Best BuildsDialga Pokemon SWSH - Lugia Best BuildsLugia
Pokemon SWSH - Black Kyurem Best BuildsBlack Kyurem Pokemon SWSH - Zekrom Best BuildsZekrom Pokemon SWSH - Ho-Oh Best BuildsHo-Oh
Pokemon SWSH - Rayquaza Best BuildsRayquaza Pokemon SWSH - Zygarde Best BuildsZygarde Pokemon SWSH - Reshiram Best BuildsReshiram
Pokemon SWSH - White Kyurem Best BuildsWhite Kyurem Pokemon SWSH - Groudon Best BuildsGroudon Pokemon SWSH - Regirock Best BuildsRegirock
Pokemon SWSH - Palkia Best BuildsPalkia Pokemon SWSH - Regigigas Best BuildsRegigigas Pokemon SWSH - Registeel Best BuildsRegisteel
Pokemon SWSH - Regice Best BuildsRegice Pokemon SWSH - Giratina Best BuildsGiratina Pokemon SWSH - Solgaleo Best BuildsSolgaleo
Pokemon SWSH - Lunala Best BuildsLunala Pokemon SWSH - Kyurem Best BuildsKyurem Pokemon SWSH - Necrozma Best BuildsNecrozma
Pokemon SWSH - Uxie Best BuildsUxie Pokemon SWSH - Mesprit Best BuildsMesprit Pokemon SWSH - Azelf Best BuildsAzelf
Pokemon SWSH - Calyrex Best BuildsCalyrex

Author

    Walkthrough Menu

    All rights reserved