[OVERVIEW]
Blastoise is the most reliable spinner in the RU tier. With a solid pure Water typing, good defenses, and access to Foresight, Blastoise is bound to successfully use Rapid Spin multiple times during matches. It has favorable matchups against many common entry hazard setters in RU, such as Mega Steelix, Rhyperior, and Bronzong, which not only can grant it opportunities to switch-in, but also allows it to remove the source of the entry hazards while also removing entry hazards themselves. Blastoise's typing is also favorable for taking physical attacks, and it has pretty good physical bulk when fully invested. Howerver, Blastoise's lack of reliable recovery and vulnerability to status ailments constantly threaten to shorten its lifespan. RU also has plenty of bulky Water-types to choose from, such as Slowking, Alomomola, and Seismitoad, so Blastoise has a hard time fitting onto teams that don't specifically need Rapid Spin support. While the threat of Scald burns and a respectable base 85 Special Attack make it tricky for most Pokemon to switch into it, Grass-types such as Tangrowth, Venusaur, and Virizion have next to no issues switching into Blastoise and threatening its team with their powerful attacks. While Blastoise is almost always used exclusively as a spinner, it does the job well and won't let you down.
[SET]
name: Bulky Spinner
move 1: Scald
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Protect / Foresight
item: Leftovers
ability: Torrent
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Blastoise's standard set in RU takes advantage of its good defensive typing and access to Rapid Spin to support its team. Scald is Blastoise's STAB move of choice, as the 30% chance to burn the foe is useful in deterring most physical attackers from trying to take advantage of it. Rapid Spin is Blastoise's main niche, and its solid bulk means it can find multiple chances to get rid of entry hazards for your team. Toxic allows Blastoise to put defensive Pokemon on a timer, which can help offensive teammates push past them. This is especially useful for crippling Uxie and Seismitoad, as they are common Stealth Rock users that Blastoise has a hard time wearing down otherwise. Protect is the preferred choice in the last slot, allowing Blastoise to gain extra passive recovery, scout for moves from powerful Choiced item users, and stall for burn or poison damage. Foresight is an option if your team absolutely needs Blastoise to use Rapid Spin in the face of Ghost-types. However, Ghost-types are not very common in RU, and one of the most common ones, Rotom, beats Blastoise anyway. Roar is an option to prevent the likes of Calm Mind Sigilyph and Substitute users in general from setting up on Blastoise. This is best used with Spikes support, but Blastoise's main job is to ensure entry hazards are off its side of the field. Refresh can rid Blastoise of otherwise crippling status ailments, which can let it spin with impunity against the likes of Alomomola and Uxie. Ice Beam is an option if you want Blastoise to punish Torterra for trying to switch into it or set up Stealth Rock. However, it has a relatively low damage output against other targets due to the lack of Special Attack investment on this set.
Set Details
========
The EV spread maximizes Blastoise's physical bulk, giving it the best possible matchups against entry hazard users in RU. Leftovers is the only item worth considering, as Blastoise lacks reliable recovery of any sort outside of this. While a specially defensive EV spread is can be used, Blastoise's typing doesn't let it beat notable special attackers with the investment, making it a poor option. Torrent is used over Rain Dish, as rain teams are incredibly rare in RU and Blastoise is one of the faster defensive Pokemon in the tier, thus allowing it to use a stronger Scald against most other defensive Pokemon in the tier when it's low on health.
Usage Tips
========
Perhaps the best tip is to make sure your team needs Rapid Spin support before choosing to put Blastoise on your team, as outside of Rapid Spin, it doesn't have much over other bulky Water-types in RU. Blastoise can handle the likes of Mega Steelix, Rhyperior, Bronzong, and most other entry hazard users in RU, so try to switch it into them to prevent them from having a huge impact with their entry hazards. As Blastoise is a Water-type, it has the typical decent matchup against most Fire-types. Make sure Blastoise isn't exposed to status ailments or Knock Off, as Leftovers is the only source of recovery it has. Blastoise has a very poor matchup against most Grass-types, so make sure it has backup against them. If you're in doubt, click Scald. That 30% burn chance is enough to make most Pokemon think twice about trying to switch into Blastoise, especially physical attackers. Catch defensive Pokemon switching in with Toxic. This is especially nice if Blastoise is generally an "easy" switch-in for the defensive Pokemon that is holding back your wincon from pushing through the opponent's team. When running Protect, it's never a bad move to use if you suspect that the foe is holding a Choice item. In the process, it also provides Blastoise extra Leftovers recovery and can possibly stall for a turn of burn or poison damage as well. If Foresight is being used, make sure to catch Ghost-types with it as they switch into Blastoise trying to block Rapid Spin.
Team Options
========
As Blastoise is most vulnerable to Grass-types, it appreciates any teammates that matches up well against them. Roselia is very notable because it can not only set up Spikes but also utilize Natural Cure to absorb status moves aimed at Blastoise. Venusaur and Amoonguss also generally fare well against Grass-types. Venusaur is more aggressive and has a powerful STAB Sludge Bomb to threaten most Grass-types, while Amoonguss can utilize Spore to incapacitate a dangerous Pokemon on the opposing team. All three of these choices can also absorb Toxic Spikes to lessen pressure on Blastoise to get rid of entry hazards. While they have to be more wary of coverage options or secondary STAB moves, Fire-types can more aggressively remove Grass-types from play. Houndoom and Emboar are powerful options that appreciate Rapid Spin support and have no issues with getting rid of most Grass-types. Wish and cleric support is nice if it can be afforded, as Blastoise lacks reliable recovery and is vulnerable to all status ailments. Aromatisse provides both and is a stronger choice with Blastoise than Alomomola due to Alomomola having a redundant defensive typing with Blastoise. Togetic and Diancie have great mixed bulk and are able to easily fit Heal Bell into purely defensive sets, although Togetic isn't very good with Wish. Diancie, Aromatisse, and Togetic also attract Mega Steelix like a magnet, and Blastoise is able to beat it reliably due to its decent weight and a resistance to Steel. Any offensive Pokemon that appreciates Rapid Spin support can be used with Blastoise to varying degrees. The most notable are Fletchinder, Aerodactyl, Mega Glalie, and the previously mentioned Fire-types. Choice item users, such as Tyrantrum, Meloetta, and Aggron appreciate Rapid Spin so that they can be more aggressive with switching in.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Easily the most notable alternative option on Blastoise is a more offensive EV spread for bulky offense teams. Such a set should consist of Hydro Pump, Ice Beam, Rapid Spin, and an extra utility option, such as Dark Pulse or Foresight. This set makes Blastoise play more aggressively with its passable base 85 Special Attack. Blastoise can attempt to utilize Choice Specs and Choice Scarf sets with the powerful Water Spout. However, Choice Specs sets are too slow to utilize this, while it generally doesn't have enough power with Choice Scarf. The combination of Rest and Sleep Talk is the only form of recovery Blastoise has access to. However, its unreliability makes it an inferior option compared to Wish support, which can be easily provided. Dragon Tail is an option over Roar if you're concerned about Taunt users, but Blastoise's generally low damage output invites Substitute users more often. Haze can allow Blastoise to stop "last Pokemon" setup sweepers, such as Substitute + Bulk Up Braviary, but the move is inferior to Roar and Dragon Tail otherwise.
Checks and Counters
===================
Not many Pokemon directly "counter" Blastoise, as its job is to use Rapid Spin and it has Foresight to nullify Ghost-types. However, taking advantage of it is a completely different story:
**Grass-types**: Even with Ice Beam, most Grass-types, such as Virizion, Amoonguss, and Venusaur, can switch into Blastoise freely and do as they please. It's even worse if Blastoise lacks Ice Beam, which it will most of the time.
**Ghost-types**: If not running Foresight, Ghost-types prevent Blastoise from spinning. Rotom is the most notable Ghost-type as it threatens Blastoise with Electric-type moves —even if it's caught with Foresight upon switching in. Jellicent and Gourgeist-XL are also noteworthy options, but they can't deter Blastoise as easily if it has Foresight.
**Status Ailments**: Blastoise lacks reliable recovery and is vulnerable to Toxic poison and burn. Toxic Spikes users can make Blastoise suffer from poison just to get rid of the entry hazard if it lacks a grounded Poison-type partner. Ghost-types can punish its Rapid Spin with Toxic or Will-O-Wisp, while anything neutral to Scald and indifferent to a burn can generally stay in to afflict Blastoise with a status ailment.
**Strong Attackers**: With no reliable recovery, anything that can hit Blastoise for high damage can at least check it and make it think twice about using Rapid Spin. Electric-types, such as Manectric, Rotom-C, and Eelektross are especially notable due to their super effective STAB moves, as are powerful Pokemon that can hit Blastoise neutrally, such as Tyrantrum, Durant, Meloetta, and Absol. Keep in mind that most of the Pokemon that fall under this category don't exactly like Scald burns.
**Water-types**: If all else fails, you can throw out your own Water-type against Blastoise. While they typically can't do much back themselves, they can at least absorb a possible Scald burn and threaten Blastoise out with their own Toxic or Scald burn. Samurott and Slowking are notable for being able to use Blastoise as setup fodder or outright deal heavy damage with a Life Orb-boosted Grass Knot and a Choice Specs-boosted Psychic, respectively.
Blastoise is the most reliable spinner in the RU tier. With a solid pure Water typing, good defenses, and access to Foresight, Blastoise is bound to successfully use Rapid Spin multiple times during matches. It has favorable matchups against many common entry hazard setters in RU, such as Mega Steelix, Rhyperior, and Bronzong, which not only can grant it opportunities to switch-in, but also allows it to remove the source of the entry hazards while also removing entry hazards themselves. Blastoise's typing is also favorable for taking physical attacks, and it has pretty good physical bulk when fully invested. Howerver, Blastoise's lack of reliable recovery and vulnerability to status ailments constantly threaten to shorten its lifespan. RU also has plenty of bulky Water-types to choose from, such as Slowking, Alomomola, and Seismitoad, so Blastoise has a hard time fitting onto teams that don't specifically need Rapid Spin support. While the threat of Scald burns and a respectable base 85 Special Attack make it tricky for most Pokemon to switch into it, Grass-types such as Tangrowth, Venusaur, and Virizion have next to no issues switching into Blastoise and threatening its team with their powerful attacks. While Blastoise is almost always used exclusively as a spinner, it does the job well and won't let you down.
[SET]
name: Bulky Spinner
move 1: Scald
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Protect / Foresight
item: Leftovers
ability: Torrent
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Blastoise's standard set in RU takes advantage of its good defensive typing and access to Rapid Spin to support its team. Scald is Blastoise's STAB move of choice, as the 30% chance to burn the foe is useful in deterring most physical attackers from trying to take advantage of it. Rapid Spin is Blastoise's main niche, and its solid bulk means it can find multiple chances to get rid of entry hazards for your team. Toxic allows Blastoise to put defensive Pokemon on a timer, which can help offensive teammates push past them. This is especially useful for crippling Uxie and Seismitoad, as they are common Stealth Rock users that Blastoise has a hard time wearing down otherwise. Protect is the preferred choice in the last slot, allowing Blastoise to gain extra passive recovery, scout for moves from powerful Choiced item users, and stall for burn or poison damage. Foresight is an option if your team absolutely needs Blastoise to use Rapid Spin in the face of Ghost-types. However, Ghost-types are not very common in RU, and one of the most common ones, Rotom, beats Blastoise anyway. Roar is an option to prevent the likes of Calm Mind Sigilyph and Substitute users in general from setting up on Blastoise. This is best used with Spikes support, but Blastoise's main job is to ensure entry hazards are off its side of the field. Refresh can rid Blastoise of otherwise crippling status ailments, which can let it spin with impunity against the likes of Alomomola and Uxie. Ice Beam is an option if you want Blastoise to punish Torterra for trying to switch into it or set up Stealth Rock. However, it has a relatively low damage output against other targets due to the lack of Special Attack investment on this set.
Set Details
========
The EV spread maximizes Blastoise's physical bulk, giving it the best possible matchups against entry hazard users in RU. Leftovers is the only item worth considering, as Blastoise lacks reliable recovery of any sort outside of this. While a specially defensive EV spread is can be used, Blastoise's typing doesn't let it beat notable special attackers with the investment, making it a poor option. Torrent is used over Rain Dish, as rain teams are incredibly rare in RU and Blastoise is one of the faster defensive Pokemon in the tier, thus allowing it to use a stronger Scald against most other defensive Pokemon in the tier when it's low on health.
Usage Tips
========
Perhaps the best tip is to make sure your team needs Rapid Spin support before choosing to put Blastoise on your team, as outside of Rapid Spin, it doesn't have much over other bulky Water-types in RU. Blastoise can handle the likes of Mega Steelix, Rhyperior, Bronzong, and most other entry hazard users in RU, so try to switch it into them to prevent them from having a huge impact with their entry hazards. As Blastoise is a Water-type, it has the typical decent matchup against most Fire-types. Make sure Blastoise isn't exposed to status ailments or Knock Off, as Leftovers is the only source of recovery it has. Blastoise has a very poor matchup against most Grass-types, so make sure it has backup against them. If you're in doubt, click Scald. That 30% burn chance is enough to make most Pokemon think twice about trying to switch into Blastoise, especially physical attackers. Catch defensive Pokemon switching in with Toxic. This is especially nice if Blastoise is generally an "easy" switch-in for the defensive Pokemon that is holding back your wincon from pushing through the opponent's team. When running Protect, it's never a bad move to use if you suspect that the foe is holding a Choice item. In the process, it also provides Blastoise extra Leftovers recovery and can possibly stall for a turn of burn or poison damage as well. If Foresight is being used, make sure to catch Ghost-types with it as they switch into Blastoise trying to block Rapid Spin.
Team Options
========
As Blastoise is most vulnerable to Grass-types, it appreciates any teammates that matches up well against them. Roselia is very notable because it can not only set up Spikes but also utilize Natural Cure to absorb status moves aimed at Blastoise. Venusaur and Amoonguss also generally fare well against Grass-types. Venusaur is more aggressive and has a powerful STAB Sludge Bomb to threaten most Grass-types, while Amoonguss can utilize Spore to incapacitate a dangerous Pokemon on the opposing team. All three of these choices can also absorb Toxic Spikes to lessen pressure on Blastoise to get rid of entry hazards. While they have to be more wary of coverage options or secondary STAB moves, Fire-types can more aggressively remove Grass-types from play. Houndoom and Emboar are powerful options that appreciate Rapid Spin support and have no issues with getting rid of most Grass-types. Wish and cleric support is nice if it can be afforded, as Blastoise lacks reliable recovery and is vulnerable to all status ailments. Aromatisse provides both and is a stronger choice with Blastoise than Alomomola due to Alomomola having a redundant defensive typing with Blastoise. Togetic and Diancie have great mixed bulk and are able to easily fit Heal Bell into purely defensive sets, although Togetic isn't very good with Wish. Diancie, Aromatisse, and Togetic also attract Mega Steelix like a magnet, and Blastoise is able to beat it reliably due to its decent weight and a resistance to Steel. Any offensive Pokemon that appreciates Rapid Spin support can be used with Blastoise to varying degrees. The most notable are Fletchinder, Aerodactyl, Mega Glalie, and the previously mentioned Fire-types. Choice item users, such as Tyrantrum, Meloetta, and Aggron appreciate Rapid Spin so that they can be more aggressive with switching in.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Easily the most notable alternative option on Blastoise is a more offensive EV spread for bulky offense teams. Such a set should consist of Hydro Pump, Ice Beam, Rapid Spin, and an extra utility option, such as Dark Pulse or Foresight. This set makes Blastoise play more aggressively with its passable base 85 Special Attack. Blastoise can attempt to utilize Choice Specs and Choice Scarf sets with the powerful Water Spout. However, Choice Specs sets are too slow to utilize this, while it generally doesn't have enough power with Choice Scarf. The combination of Rest and Sleep Talk is the only form of recovery Blastoise has access to. However, its unreliability makes it an inferior option compared to Wish support, which can be easily provided. Dragon Tail is an option over Roar if you're concerned about Taunt users, but Blastoise's generally low damage output invites Substitute users more often. Haze can allow Blastoise to stop "last Pokemon" setup sweepers, such as Substitute + Bulk Up Braviary, but the move is inferior to Roar and Dragon Tail otherwise.
Checks and Counters
===================
Not many Pokemon directly "counter" Blastoise, as its job is to use Rapid Spin and it has Foresight to nullify Ghost-types. However, taking advantage of it is a completely different story:
**Grass-types**: Even with Ice Beam, most Grass-types, such as Virizion, Amoonguss, and Venusaur, can switch into Blastoise freely and do as they please. It's even worse if Blastoise lacks Ice Beam, which it will most of the time.
**Ghost-types**: If not running Foresight, Ghost-types prevent Blastoise from spinning. Rotom is the most notable Ghost-type as it threatens Blastoise with Electric-type moves —even if it's caught with Foresight upon switching in. Jellicent and Gourgeist-XL are also noteworthy options, but they can't deter Blastoise as easily if it has Foresight.
**Status Ailments**: Blastoise lacks reliable recovery and is vulnerable to Toxic poison and burn. Toxic Spikes users can make Blastoise suffer from poison just to get rid of the entry hazard if it lacks a grounded Poison-type partner. Ghost-types can punish its Rapid Spin with Toxic or Will-O-Wisp, while anything neutral to Scald and indifferent to a burn can generally stay in to afflict Blastoise with a status ailment.
**Strong Attackers**: With no reliable recovery, anything that can hit Blastoise for high damage can at least check it and make it think twice about using Rapid Spin. Electric-types, such as Manectric, Rotom-C, and Eelektross are especially notable due to their super effective STAB moves, as are powerful Pokemon that can hit Blastoise neutrally, such as Tyrantrum, Durant, Meloetta, and Absol. Keep in mind that most of the Pokemon that fall under this category don't exactly like Scald burns.
**Water-types**: If all else fails, you can throw out your own Water-type against Blastoise. While they typically can't do much back themselves, they can at least absorb a possible Scald burn and threaten Blastoise out with their own Toxic or Scald burn. Samurott and Slowking are notable for being able to use Blastoise as setup fodder or outright deal heavy damage with a Life Orb-boosted Grass Knot and a Choice Specs-boosted Psychic, respectively.
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