Overview
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In NU, not only is Floatzel the only fully evolved Pokemon in NU that can use Bulk Up and Baton Pass, its ability to use Switcheroo is also unique among pure Water-types in NU. With a great base 115 Speed, Floatzel finds itself being is the only NU Water-type to outspeed every unboosted Fire-type in NU. With the ability Water Veil, Floatzel has no concerns of having its Attack lowered by a burn. Although Floatzel is a good Water-type in NU with some solid niches, it does still face serious competition from its bulkier Water-type rival, Feraligatr. Floatzel just doesn't have the defensive stats it needs to boost its stats as easily.
Bulk Up
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name: Bulk Up
move 1: Bulk Up
move 2: Baton Pass
move 3: Waterfall
move 4: Taunt / Ice Punch
ability: Water Veil
item: Leftovers
evs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Spe
nature: Jolly
Moves
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The move Bulk Up not only raises Floatzel's already impressive Attack stat, (remove comma) but also heightens its Defense as well, allowing it to take physical hits more easily. Baton Pass is also key for this set to function as it allows Floatzel to pass off its boosts to a teammate or quickly pass away, keeping momentum on your side. Waterfall is Floatzel's most reliable STAB move of choice as it is the most reliable with its decent power and flinch chance. This set finds Taunt being a very effective tool to can consistently lure in and use Taunt on several defensive Pokemon including Audino, Seismitoad, Qwilfish, Steelix, and Ferroseed without Bullet Seed. With the use of Taunt, Floatzel is able to effectively prevent opposing Pokemon from phazing it out. Bulk Up Floatzel's lack of offensive investment means it is at risk of being setup fodder itself, so Taunt is useful for stopping Feraligatr, Slurpuff, Gorebyss, Lilligant, Klinklang, and even hazard setters like such as Omastar and Crustle. Ice Punch is another viable option which allows Floatzel to hit common Grass-types in the tier that would stop it from setting up otherwise, such as Vileplume and Lilligant. However, as this Floatzel doesn't have the investment necessary to make Ice Punch that worthwhile, most (most Floatzel? Most Floatzel users?) prefer Taunt.
Set Details
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With max HP investment, Floatzel can set up Bulk Up on bulky offensive foes such as Kangaskhan and Feraligatr with more than enough health remaining. The lack of Attack investment is made up for by Floatzel's utility of Bulk Up, which allows Floatzel to requires only one boost to be on par with a Pokemon with base 119 Attack. You may opt for 252 HP / 40 Def / 216 Spe as an alternate spread for Bulk Up Floatzel. This lets Floatzel still outspeed Archeops and Tauros, but with the extra EVs in Defense +1 Floatzel now takes roughly ~ (remove tilde) 4-5% less damage from physical attacks. As Floatzel has no recovery, this can be the difference between using Bulk Up once or and using Bulk Up twice. The more viable ability is Water Veil as it prevents Floatzel from being burnt, allowing it to avoid the residual damage and Attack drop. Swift Swim can be effectively used on a Rain Dance team, but it clearly isn't as useful on this set. Leftovers is the natural item on this set, as Floatzel more than appreciates the low but helpful HP recovery after every turn. With a Jolly nature, Floatzel is able to outspeed common threats in nearby Speed tiers, such as Pyroar, Mismagius, Archeops, and Cryogonal.
Usage Tips
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Taunting when your opponent is forced to switch into a defensive Pokemon is always a safe play. They may predict you and make a risky move, but it never hurts to play safe unless you're at a high risk of losing. Remember that just because you may have access to Ice-type coverage in Ice Punch, this does not mean it's safe going against things like Grass-types such as Vileplume. They can take the hit and take Floatzel out in return. Feel free to use Baton Pass when your opponent is going to make an obvious switch so that you can keep up momentum. You can Bulk Up on the predicted switch as well and Baton Pass afterwards, taking little to no damage, but watch out for if they have something Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Rotom and Sceptile that can outspeed and OHKO Floatzel before you'll have it has the chance to Pass afterwards like Choice Scarf Rotom or Sceptile. Remember that you're able to set up on non-Clear Smog Weezing and other burners Pokemon that carry Will-O-Wisp, like including Seismitoad and Spiritomb. Floatzel has no recovery so be wary of leaving it in against Pokemon that run carry super effective attacks. If setting its teammates up Baton Passing its boosts to a teammate goes wrong, remember that Floatzel isn't useless. It can still be reserved for a late-game sweep due to its great Speed and ability to boost its own stats with Bulk Up.
Team Options
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The best team members for Floatzel in a set such as this are good Baton Pass recipients, or in this case, which is almost any physically offensive Pokemon. Kangaskhan and even Floatzel's rival itself, Feraligatr, (remove comma) are good options. Kangaskhan and Feraligatr are both blessed with great bulk and Attack, allowing the additional stat boosts to maximize their already high potential. Klinklang is another very effective team member that would appreciate the boosts as it uses the bulk to set up on its own, and isn't affected by Clear Smog. It also helps to have a entry hazard setter to go with Floatzel, like Omastar or Crustle. Hazards are key for setup sweepers because they like to be able to take out threats without taking any unnecessary damage. With hazards, 2HKOs and close OHKOs turn into guaranteed OHKOs.
Choice Band
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name: Choice Band
move 1: Waterfall
move 2: Ice Punch
move 3: Return
move 4: Switcheroo / Aqua Jet
ability: Water Veil
item: Choice Band
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
nature: Jolly
Moves
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Waterfall is the STAB move of choice for Floatzel in any set as it's the Floatzel's most reliable STAB move as far as accuracy and Base Power goes. Ice Punch is the main coverage move any purely offensive Floatzel should run as it has respectable power and decently handles its Floatzel's Grass-type weakness. Return is a great neutral attack for Floatzel to run as it hits hard and is able to take on hits opposing Water-types, (comma) which wall it Floatzel otherwise. Switcheroo is what really sets Floatzel apart from the bulkier physical Water-type, (comma) Feraligatr. The move allows Floatzel to give the Choice Band to physical walls and good defensive Pokemon in general like such as Audino, crippling them. An alternative to Switcheroo is good reliable priority in Aqua Jet. Although Floatzel is already fast, Aqua Jet gives it the ability to move before faster threats such as Choice Scarf Rotom that can OHKO it like Choice Scarf Rotom. While Aqua Jet doesn't OHKO Rotom, it can still be used to revenge kill Rotom if Rotom it is heavily damaged already. There is the option to use Baton Pass as well if you really want to be able to keep momentum constantly, but Floatzel would rather have Switcheroo or Aqua Jet.
Set Details
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Fully investing in Attack and Speed definitely allows this set to be used most effectively. With full Attack investment, Floatzel is able to successfully 2HKO common bulky Grass-types such as Vileplume. Running Full investment in Floatzel's Speed stat and running a Jolly nature allow it to outspeed threats such as Archeops and Pyroar, (comma) which can both could outspeed and heavily damage it Floatzel if it's running ran an Adamant nature. The item Choice Band is what makes this set function as it's what boosts Floatzel's Attack stat and helps cripples walls with Switcheroo. As it does cripple those sorts of Pokemon, it also comes with a downside for Floatzel. The Choice Band prevents Floatzel from switching moves, and that can be a huge pain for Floatzel as it would definitely appreciate the ability to switch from Waterfall to Ice Punch for coverage at will. (I really hope anyone reading this analysis knows what Choice Band does :u)
Usage Tips
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Although Floatzel shouldn't stay in on a Vileplume, holding a Choice Band does allow it to 2HKO a Vileplume, meaning it can use Ice Punch on the switch-in and still keep momentum by being free to stay in and fire off another Ice Punch. If your opponent has a Water-type Pokemon that commonly carries runs Water Absorb, it can be is a good idea to avoid sending in your Floatzel until that Pokemon is gone, (comma) as its presence will require unnecessary predicting on your part. Be careful when you decide to Switcheroo away your Floatzel's Choice Band, as you may not have the opportunity to get it back, it is key in turning many 3HKOs and 4HKOs into 2HKOs, and Floatzel will miss the good chances of OHKOing Rhydon and Aurorus. There are some key OHKOs you will miss without the Choice Band such as a good chance of KOing Rhydon and an always guaranteed OHKO on Aurorus. You may not have the opportunity to get the Choice Band back so use Switcheroo with caution. Choice Banded Floatzel is great at being the role of a revenge killer. With its high base Speed, this e Band set can function similarly to a Choice Scarf Pokemon but with a lot more power.
Team Options
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Running A bulky Pokemon with Heal Bell such as Audino, Uxie, or and Granbull is great support for Floatzel, as it will be able to remove paralysis or and poison which both badly cripple this set. Having a switch-in for Pokemon like such as Vileplume, Ferroseed, and Rotom is a great idea. These kinds of Pokemon will switch in commonly, (comma) and you should always be prepared with something a Pokemon such as Pyroar to take them on like Pyroar as it's able to always 2HKO or OHKO all three after hazards damage. As stated above about possibly needing hazards damage to OHKO threats, As Choice Band Floatzel may need entry hazards damage to OHKO threats, a Pokemon that can set hazards such as Omastar and Crustle is key for Banded Floatzel and its teammates. Floatzel's Waterfall OHKO chance against Rhydon goes from a 62% to a 94% after Stealth Rocks are is up, and from that to 100% after Stealth Rock and one layer of Spikes. Add just 1 layer of Spikes to that and it's always guaranteed. Good hazard stackers in NU include Omastar and Crustle. Fire- and Electric-types such as Magmortar and Electivire work great with Floatzel because they have the ability to break bulky Grass- and Water-types.
Other Options
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Having access to Swift Swim can makes Floatzel a great sweeper for a rain team. With great Attack and Speed, it can make use of a set like this, using rain-boosted Waterfalls faster than at a high Speed that overshadows the likes of Sceptile, Choice Scarf Rotom, and even Accelgor. A rain set also makes using an Adamant nature a lot more viable as Floatzel definitely has more than enough Speed. A specially offensive set is possible but finds that its main targets are not relevant. Running Choice Specs and Switcheroo isn't completely unviable, but finds losing its Specs after switching it away not a worthy trade when other special Water-types overshadow it: Ludicolo is able to set up Rain Dance, Simipour has access to Nasty Plot, and Gorebyss is able to has Shell Smash and Baton Pass. Floatzel's only real niche over these others is its Speed. Floatzel also has the option to run Switcheroo and Flame Orb with Water Veil. The ability Water Veil prevents the burn, but Floatzel still finds the surprise item switch outclassed by Lopunny as it has Klutz, which can hide allows Lopunny to Switcheroo away even more items. It Floatzel can run Agility on the Baton Pass set if you really want it to be a Combusken setting up for Xatu (What do Combusken and Xatu have to do with Agility + Baton Pass?), but it Agility definitely is definitely not as consistent as just using Bulk Up for a more broad variety of teammates.
Checks & Counters
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**Bulky Grass-types**: Vileplume is a thorn in Floatzel's side. The Bulk Up set can barely even 4HKO Vileplume with an Ice Punch, while the Choice Band set requires prediction and its Choice Band to does just over a 2HKO (does this mean it does a little more than a 2HKO, or a little less than a 2HKO?) and also requires predicting. If you've switched away the Band, then Floazel fails to even 3HKO it. Ferroseed can be crippled by switching away being given a Choice Band to them, but even then, Floatzel still fails to 4HKO it with Waterfall or Ice Punch, and keeps racking up Iron Barbs damage.
**Bulky-Water Types Bulky Water-types**: Pokemon like Bulky Water-types such as Seismitoad, Mantine, Lanturn, and Poliwrath are extremely irritating for Floatzel to have to deal with. They can all run Water Absorb, giving them a free switch on a predicted Waterfall. Lanturn not only gets not only a free switch in, (remove comma) but also is able to either use Volt Switch for free momentum or use a Water-type STAB move on the use Scald / Hydro Pump predicting a Ground-type switch-in to come in. Poliwrath absorbs the Floatzel's Water-type hits and is free to phaze Floatzel out.
**Faster Pokemon**: Sceptile and Choice Scarf Rotom outspeed and OHKO Floatzel, forcing it to hard switch and lose all its momentum.
**Paralysis**: Paralysis really hurts Floatzel as it heavily relies heavily on its high Speed to function. Threats Threatening Thunder Wave users include Uxie and Granbull, who which both have access to Thunder Wave and are both great at taking physical hits.
**Damaging Phazing Moves**: Dragon Tail, Circle Throw, and Clear Smog are all very good ways to get in Bulk Up Floatzel's way, as they are all able to bypass Taunt and remove Floatzel's stat changes. These are all attacking moves that either remove Floatzel's stat changes-or force it to switch out, all of which are able to function regardless of Taunt.