|
-
Torrent
- Boosts power of Water-type moves by 50% when at 1/3 HP or less.
-
Shell Armor
- Prevents critical hits.
|
Level 5 Statistics (see level 5, 50, 100)
|
Min- |
Min |
Max |
Max+ |
| HP |
95
|
- |
26 |
29 |
- |
| Atk |
100
|
14 |
16 |
19 |
20 |
| Def |
85
|
13 |
15 |
18 |
19 |
| SpA |
108
|
15 |
17 |
20 |
22 |
| SpD |
70
|
11 |
13 |
16 |
17 |
| Spe |
70
|
11 |
13 |
16 |
17 |
Overview
Samurott has always been one of the most powerful Pokemon in BW NU. However, shifts in the metagame have added to its role quite significantly. During the early days of the tier Samurott was almost exclusively a boosting physical attacker; nowadays it maintains that same role but is also an incredibly threatening special attacker. The Swords Dance set is just as amazing as ever, beating physical walls such as Tangela, as well as having STAB priority in Aqua Jet. The special attacker set is great because of its ability to attack right off the bat with a monstrous STAB Hydro Pump, which comes off of Samurott's higher attacking stat. The SubSalac set is a new set created in BW2, and allows Samurott to be a deadly cleaner from the special side. It also has quite impressive bulk for an offensive Pokemon; 95 / 85 / 70 defenses are nothing to laugh at, and Samurott is significantly bulkier than other sweepers in the tier. Samurott isn't even slow; base 70 Speed is fast enough to outrun nearly every defensive threat in the metagame, as well as many offensive ones. For all these reasons and more, Samurott is one of the most defining Pokemon of the NU metagame; truly a force to be reckoned with.
This set has always been one of the best sweepers in the tier due to the sheer power it has. Swords Dance launches Samurott's Attack sky high, reaching 598 after a boost! Waterfall is a strong STAB attack, hitting anything that doesn't resist it quite hard. Priority is always great, STAB priority is even better. Aqua Jet is exactly what Samurott needs to be so effective; hitting frail Pokemon that could otherwise defeat it such as Electrode, Zebstrika, and Zangoose. Megahorn is used to hit Pokemon that resist Water-type attacks, particularly Grass-types such as Ludicolo and Tangela, though it is also useful for hitting Psychic-types like Musharna and Beheeyem harder than Waterfall.
Team Options & Additional Comments >>>
Jolly is the preferred nature since it allows Samurott to Speed tie with Timid Ludicolo, which would otherwise defeat this set with ease. Jolly is also handy for outspeeding many Pokemon that sit in Speed tiers close to Samurott such as Jolly Fraxure. Adamant can be used for the increase in power, but the drop in Speed is quite significant. Life Orb significantly increases Samurott's power, but Lum Berry eases set up as status is one of the best ways to check Samurott. Encore or Taunt can be used to aid setup, but the loss of Aqua Jet really limits Samurott's offensive ability. Aqua Tail is slightly more powerful than Waterfall, but the drop in accuracy makes it less valuable. Leftovers can be used for passive recovery, but don't offer the same utility the other items do. Mystic Water can be used to boost Waterfall and Aqua Jet's power, but Samurott appreciates Megahorn being boosted as well so it is not quite as effective. An EV spread of 112 HP / 252 Atk / 144 Spe with an Adamant nature can be used in order to outpace 0 Speed Misdreavus, but the loss in Speed means that Samurott will lose to many more threats.
Samurott struggles heavily against Vileplume; Pokemon such as Magmar and Charizard are able to take on the mushroom with ease, making them great partners. Samurott also struggles against Alomomola, so Pokemon such as Exeggutor and Regice are good teammates because of their ability to defeat it. Essentially, the Regenerator core ruins Samurott's days, so any teammates that will defeat them are perfect for Samurott. Ludicolo has great synergy with Samurott and can make a great sweeping partner for it. Samurott struggles against faster Water-types such as Simipour, so Grass-types, such as Serperior and Vileplume, make good teammates in order to handle them. Flying-types such as Swellow and Braviary, will help alleviate the weakness to Vileplume, as well as defeating fast Grass-types that can outspeed and OHKO Samurott. Hazard support from Cacturne, Regirock, or Golem is very handy for Samurott, as it allows it to gain KOs against Piloswine and Tangela.
Unlike the Swords Dance set, the special attacker is a threat right off the bat. Unknown to some, Samurott's Special Attack is eight points higher than its Attack stat, meaning that this set is actually quite powerful. Hydro Pump is strong, 120 Base Power, boosted to 180 with STAB, is nothing to laugh at; if it isn't resisted, it is doing a lot of damage. If 80% accuracy is a bit too low Surf is an option, though it is a lot weaker in comparison and won't do enough damage most of the time until Torrent is activated. Ice Beam offers great coverage with Hydro Pump, hitting Grass-types super effectively as well as Dragon-types, both of which resist Water-type attacks. Hidden Power Grass or Hidden Power Electric are used to hit the few things that Hydro Pump and Ice Beam do not. Hidden Power Grass hits Seismitoad, while Hidden Power Electric hits Mantine. Aqua Jet is used to deal the last bit of damage to the opponent, as even with a negative nature it is strong enough to finish off threats that just survive Hydro Pump. Taunt is handy against more defensive teams, as it prevents them from inflicting Samurott with a potentially fatal status or recovering off damage.
Team Options & Additional Comments >>>
Megahorn is an option if Ludicolo is a threat; however, outside of Ludicolo it is useless. Grass Knot hits opposing Samurott and Seismitoad a little bit harder than Hidden Power Grass, but the difference is usually negligible. Rain Dance is a nifty move to have on rain teams, it boosts the power of Hydro Pump significantly as well as supporting Samurott's teammates. Samurott is fast enough to use Encore effectively and lock defensive Pokemon into nonthreatening attacks. Modest is an option in order to beat specially defensive Pokemon such as Lickilicky more easily; however, the loss of Speed means that neutral base 80s will outspeed Samurott. Hasty and Naive are options for the small boost of power for Aqua Jet or Megahorn, though it really detracts from Samurott's respectable bulk.
This set really struggles against specially defensive Pokemon such as Lapras, Regice, Lickilicky, as well as Mantine or Seismitoad depending on the choice of Hidden Power. Most of these Pokemon are weak to Fighting-type attacks, and Mantine, the only resistance in the group, has no physical bulk to speak of and is also dismantled by them. Because of this, Sawk and Golurk are great teammates for Samurott, as they can OHKO most of its counters easily. Physical sweepers work wonders with this set. It's a shame you can't run Swords Dance Samurott together with the special attacker, as they would be great teammates. Tauros and Zangoose work well with Samurott, as they can weaken special walls for Samurott, while Hydro Pump defeats Normal-type counters with ease. Other specially based Water-types, such as Ludicolo and Gorebyss, work well with Samurott as they can weaken each other's counters.
This set plays like the special attacker, but can sweep easier at the expense of wallbreaking ability. The objective is to use Substitute until the Salac Berry activates, allowing Samurott to be very fast as well as have Torrent-boosted Surfs to clean up. Surf is preferred because of the accuracy, though Hydro Pump has a lot more power even if it is less likely to pull off a sweep. Hidden Power Grass hits Water-types super effectively, while Hidden Power Electric does the same. The difference between the two is that Hidden Power Grass hits Seismitoad harder, while Hidden Power Electric hits Mantine and Swanna harder. Hidden Power Grass is preferred because Seismitoad is more common. Ice Beam allows Samurott to hit Grass-types such as Vileplume, as well as Dragon-types such as Altaria super effectively; without it, they would both wall this set with ease.
Team Options & Additional Comments >>>
Salac Berry is required to make this set work; without it, you are better running any other set. Timid allows Samurott to outspeed extra threats, such as Adamant Choice Scarf Braviary; Modest can be used if you don't mind the loss of Speed as it does allow Samurott to OHKO offensive Exeggutor with Ice Beam, as well as Eviolite Fraxure, both of which Timid usually misses out on.
This set plays like a weaker version of the special attacker set, so it struggles even more against special walls such as Lickilicky and Regice. Because of this, Fighting-types, such as Gurdurr and Sawk, are even more valuable because they can help Samurott set up as well as destroying its counters. Swellow is a good teammate because it can lure in Rock-types that Samurott can set up on easily. Anything that lures in Rock- or Ground-types are great teammates since they are easy to set up on for Samurott. Samurott is still slower than many standard Choice Scarf Pokemon at +1, such as Rotom-S, Rotom-F, and Zebstrika. Because of this, Ground-types do a good job at absorbing their Electric-type attacks; however, they must watch out for Rotom-F. Bulky Psychic-types, such as Gardevoir and Musharna, can be problems, so Skuntank is a good teammate because it can checkmate them. This Samurott needs a lot of hazard support in order to function, so Cacturne or Garbodor are very important in order to get an OHKO against Pokemon such as Bastiodon, Regirock, or Simipour.
Other Options
Most of Samurott's options have already been covered, but it does have a few more tricks up its sleeve. BW2 gave Samurott Superpower, which allows it to hit Ice-types like Lapras and Regice harder than any other move. Return is an option on the Swords Dance set to hit Pokemon such as Swanna harder, but offers no utility otherwise. Samurott has the movepool to pull off a decent support set; Dragon Tail, Knock Off, and Scald are all great moves, but Samurott is much better using its great offensive stats instead of its just solid defensive ones. Air Slash is a cool option that Samurott has, but outside of hitting Bug-types a bit harder, it is not useful. A mixed set is an option, but splitting EVs really lowers Samurott's offensive capabilities. Finally, Samurott can run a surprise Choice Scarf set, but it is quite weak and outside of surprise factor doesn't offer much over the other sets.
Checks and Counters
The only true counter to Samurott is Shedinja, as it can take all of its attacks due to Wonder Guard. Outside of Shedinja, all sets have their own unique counters. Physically defensive Pokemon, such as Shelgon, Relicanth, Vigoroth, Vileplume, and Alomomola, can take on the Swords Dance set with ease, though Alomomola needs Scald in order to cripple Samurott. Though not as bulky, Altaria, Frillish, and Ampharos also do a good job, as they either resist its attacks or can tank one and OHKO back. The special attacker has a different set of counters, Water Absorb Mantine or Seismitoad (depending on the choice of Hidden Power) do the best, while Lapras, Hypno, Regice, Articuno, and specially defensive Roselia all do very well against it. Gurdurr has the bulk and strength needed to take on both sets, but can not switch in on Hydro Pump. Ludicolo is a hard counter to any set without Megahorn, as it can KO with Giga Drain easily. Electric- and Grass-types that can outspeed and OHKO are good checks. In particular, Electrode, Electabuzz, Sawsbuck, and Serperior do well against Samurott. Samurott is very susceptible to status, so a well timed burn or paralysis can mean the end of the sea otter.
Unreleased
Shell Armor is an interesting ability for Samurott, as it allows Samurott to set up without fear of critical hits. Despite avoiding hax, it is not as useful as Torrent because it does not help offensively. The Swords Dance set loves Torrent because it allows Samurott to go out with a bang, making it nearly unstoppable offensively when low on health. The special attacker and SubSalac set need Torrent just as much, as without it they are just not as threatening. Although Shell Armor might appeal to the more conservative player, it is just not as useful as Torrent on Samurott.
