Overview
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• Better-than-average speed
• Decent Attack
• Fantastic Abilitiy (Adaptability)
• Access to priority with Aqua Jet
• Makes a good revenge-killer and cleaning up late-game
• Niche over other Water-types: Has STAB priority with Aqua Jet in tandem with Adaptablility
• Defenses are pretty awful
• Can be easily out-speed by anything base 100 or higher
• Can be easily KO'd by even resisted moves
RED PHISH BLUE PHISH (Mixed Attacker)
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RED PHISH BLUE PHISH (Mixed Attacker)
move 1: Aqua Jet
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Zen Headbutt / Superpower
move 4: Ice Beam
ability: Adaptability
item: Life Orb
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Naive
Moves
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• Waterfall main STAB, boosted to 160 after Adaptability. Also flinch chance is good.
• Aqua Jet gives him great priority and STAB boost to 80 Base Power.
• Zen Headbutt hit threats like Poliwrath and Roselia who would normally resist Basculin's moves.
• Superpower hits the Normal- and Ice- types such as Avalugg and hard and hit Carracosta harder
• Ice Beam 2HKO's common switch-in's such as Tangela and Gourgeist
Set Details
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• Nature should be Naive, as most of the pokes that try to revenge-kill Basculin are physical
• Life Orb doesn't force Basculin into a move and gives him a solid power boost.
• Always go max Speed and Attack.
Usage Tips
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• Basculin can hardly take even a resisted move. If possibly, always try to go for a clean switch in.
• Aqua Jet is nifty for revenge killing the likes of Ninetails and other sweepers.
• Try to predict obvious switches such as Tangela and Ice Beam it on the switch.
• Watch out for Water Absorbers and Storm Drainers, namely Poliwrath, and Lapras. Try to avoid using Water attacks as they can get a free switch in plus health recovery to boot. Although Basculin cannot 2HKO Poliwrath unless it runs Zen Headbutt.
• Also stay away from opponents who attempt to use Thunder Wave or Will-o-Wisp, as status can severely cripple Basculin.
Team Options
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• Grass types such as Roselia, and Tangela can remove those pesky Water-types and allow Basculin to spam Waterfall and Aqua Jet with glee.
• Hazard Setters such as Piloswine are useful if you want to ensure KO's. After Stealth Rock, Basculin can 2HKO Gourgeist, almost always 2HKO Poliwrath, and always OHKO Ninetails.
• Fire- or Flying-types such as Togetic and Ninetails are also recommended as Basculin can easily be walled by physically defensive Grass-types
• Ground-Types such as Marowak (and again Piloswine) can take out speedy Electric-types that destroy Basculin.
• Electric-types such as Raichu and Rotom-F remove the likes of Pelipper
• Set up sweepers such as Nasty Plot Ninetails and SD Leafeon appreciate Basculin's wall-breaking abilities.
Other Options
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• A Choice Band could be used to get a more powerful Attack, but locking Basculin into a move is a risky deal.
• Hidden Power Electric could be used on a Special Attacking Basculin to hit the Water-Flying or plain Water-types that would normally shut Basculin down.
• Choice Scarf is an option if you're willing to sacrifice speed over power.
• Taunt could be an option if not running a choice item as you can eliminate status and hazard users.
Checks & Counters
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**Pelipper** This mon is the perfect counter to Basculin. All of Basculin's physical moves won't even put a dent in the pelican. Even Ice Beam can only 3HKO after Stealth Rock, which Pelipper can just Roost off the damage. Scald can burn Basculin, crippling it severely. Also Pelipper can Defog any entry hazards that help Basculin ensure those KO's.
**Bulky Grass Types**: Pokemon such as Tangela, Roselia, Gourgeist, and can wall nearly every attack Basculin throws. Although he can 2HKO with Ice Beam, if the switch isn't predicted, he can easily be paralyzed or burned, crippling Basculin drastically. Plus the opponent could just retaliate back with Grass-type STAB, dealing massive damage.
**Electric-Types**: Fast Electric-type such as the likes of Electrode and Raichu can outspeed and KO with their super-effective STAB, although Aqua Jet can KO if they are at low health.
**Water-Types**: The likes of Poliwrath, Politoad, and Prinplup completely shut out Basculin. However, Zen Headbutt can do some serious damage to Poliwrath so prediction of switches is crucial. To boot, more powerful water types such as Kingler and Carracosta can easily switch into a Basculin using a NVE move and easily set up.
**Faster Pokémon** Mon's like Tauros, and Sneasel can easily outspeed Basculin, KO if not at full health, and in most cases, can take an Aqua Jet if at high health.
**Status** Paralysis forces Basculin to use the less-powerful Aqua Jet and the fact that 1/2 of the time he does nothing also is crippling. Plus paralysis makes him much easier to revenge kill. Getting burned also is horrible for Basculin as his attacks will now hardly put a dent in his opponents.
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