Floatzel

[trc]

[OVERVIEW]

• Floatzel is one of the premier offensive Pokemon in the tier.
• It is high offensive stats, great Speed by PU standards, and very expansive coverage.
• Floatzel's main sets are the common Choice Specs / Life Orb special attacker set, and the Choice Band set, both of which function as wallbreakers and cleaners.
• It can also function successfully as a Bulk Up boost passer, or a Choice Scarf user which can lure unsuspecting Pokemon, specifically Zebstrika.
• Water-types rule the PU metagame as most Water resists can easily be beaten with other available moves.
• Floatzel just misses out on the defining Speed tier of Zebstrika's 364.
• Floatzel's bulk isn't exceptional, and it often finds itself losing to what it can't KO or the faster Pokemon in the tier, specifically Choice Scarf users and the aforementioned Zebstrika.
• Occasionally Floatzel's power can be underwhelming, with Floatzel often being a little bit too weak to get the job done against a lot of common Pokemon; it works well late-game after these Pokemon have succumbed to residual damage.

[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Hidden Power [Electric]
move 4: Surf / Switcheroo / Baton Pass
item: Choice Specs / Life Orb
ability: Water Veil
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

• Hydro Pump is Floatzel's strong STAB move of choice.
• Ice Beam gives great coverage with Hydro Pump, covering the Grass-types which resist Floatzel's Water-type moves, such as Tangela, Jumpluff, and the ubiquitous Roselia. While it doesn't 2HKO Roselia without some prior damage, it forces enough damage on it to force it to use Synthesis, preventing it from setting up hazards and allowing you to switch in something to take advantage of it.
• Hidden Power Electric covers the few Pokemon that resist Floatzel's other two moves: Water-types. This includes Politoed, Lapras, and Pelipper (which does not take sufficient damage from Ice Beam).
• The final slot depends on personal preference. Surf provides an accurate STAB option in order to safely KO Pokemon in a late-game scenario: no one wants to miss a Hydro Pump against a last Pokemon Ninetales and get KOed in return by Energy Ball.
• Switcheroo is used with Choice Specs only; it enables Floatzel to cripple some of its sturdier counters, such as Clefairy.
• Baton Pass can be used simply to provide momentum on predicted switches, but its application is very limited and it isn't worth it for most teams.

Set Details
========

• The EVs are to be expected for a speedy special sweeper, maximum Special Attack and Speed investment is used here.
• A Jolly nature is used because Floatzel's high Speed is one of its greatest assets; there is no point in being outsped by Raichu, Rapidash, and only tying with Jumpluff and other Floatzel.
• Water Veil, while having much less merit on this set than physical variations, is still beneficial occasionally to prevent burn damage.

Usage Tips
========

Describe how to use the Pokemon in question.

Team Options
========

Describe some teammates that would be a good idea to pair with this Pokemon.

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Waterfall
move 2: Ice Punch
move 3: Aqua Jet
move 4: Return / Switcheroo / Iron Tail
item: Choice Band
ability: Water Veil
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

• This set is either used a standalone attacker on teams that want ways of breaking down defensive teams, teams that want a fast strong attacker, or as a lure for certain Pokemon like Clefairy that can beat Specs Floatzel. It can definitely be used outside of luring though, it is strong in its own right. CB Waterfall doesn't miss and is stronger than Specs Surf, if you're wanting a reliable attacker that won't miss.
• Waterfall is the move Floatzel will be using most when it cleans late-game after its checks have been weakened / lured by other moves. Hits standard fare 'mons weak to Water like Rapidash, while being the general 'strong' move to use against neutral Pokemon.
• Ice Punch is for most Grass-types such as Gogoat, Simisage, and most especially Roselia, which likes to switch in on special Floatzel.
• Aqua Jet is very nice as special Floatzel doesn't have priority but CB can use Aqua Jet as tool to revenge weakened faster Pokemon such as Zebstrika, Scarf Chatot, and other Pokemon offense struggles with.
• Last move is entirely based on what counters you:
• Return 2HKOes Politoed, one of Floatzel's main and most common counters.
  
• Iron Tail 2HKOes SpD Avalugg, though Low Kick can also be used for more accuracy. Iron Tail also beats physically defensive Clefairy though.
• Switcheroo cripples Tangela as well as Floatzel's other counters somewhat, though Tangela is the one that is crippled by Switcheroo that isn't also crippled by another move.
• Crunch 2HKOes Gourgeist-XL after some prior.
• Pursuit is usable as well to force damage on some of the Pokemon that want to switch from Floatzel. There aren't many Pursuit users in PU so it's usable, though its application is limited.

Set Details
========

• Max Attack and Speed as this set aims to be a fast physical attacker, Jolly nature is used for this reason.
• Choice Band is the item this set is built around.
• Water Veil gives a handy immunity to Scald burns as well as your opponent choking by using Will-o-Wisp on you.

Usage Tips
========

• This Floatzel will typically be used in a way where it uses the move it has to lure in a check on something it forces out, weakening / KOing it and paving the way for it to sweep with Waterfall later in the game.
• The same applies when using this just to lure Pokemon such as Clefairy, Roselia, Grumpig, Licklicky, and Politoed; even after it has lured these Pokemon it can still be used as a late-game sweeper.
• This Pokemon is really simple to use.
• Use Aqua Jet vs lead Golem to beat Custap variants. Floatzel is a really good lead in most cases anyway. Aqua Jet can be used to revenge kill faster setup sweepers.

Team Options
========

• Double Water-types takes advantage of lured Roselia / Clefairy / Politoed so Simipour is a prime partner; obviously pack Electric- and Grass-type checks to cover weaknesses (Piloswine + Roselia core oo), Clefairy also kind of works as a Stealth Rocker on these teams if not using Piloswine or Metang which is not often used on Floatzel teams.
• Pokemon that setup on the Pokemon that you don't have the coverage for. If not using Crunch, Roselia is great again as it sets Spikes on Gourgeist formes. It also switches into Clefairy and Politoed. Basically Roselia is the best Pokemon. It even switches into Politoed if you aren't running Return.
• Gunk Shot Linoone, Knock Off Purugly, or other Tangela lures work nicely for Floatzel to clean easier.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

List some options for the Pokemon user that are plausible but not always recommended due to either being not consistent enough or too outclassed by other Pokemon in the metagame.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Insert Threat Here**: Describe why the Pokemon is a threat.

 

[Magnemite]

Likevi said before Return should be the first slash in the last slot

 

[Magnemite]

hi this has been in wip way too long, please do this soon

 

[Anty]

trc

For cb i really dont see why iron tail is slashed. Avalugg and ph def clef arent relevant enough for it to be worth using, esp as it has other moves that beat the two (low kick and switcheroo).

Also for the specs set i dont think that surf should be the first slash in the last slot as most teams are prepared for specs floatzel, and switcheroo beats some of its counters and bp is nice for momentum. Taunt and aqua jet are also alright options for the last moveslot if running LO (maybe a move mention)

 

[Anty]

trc

i dont mind if you work on most of this later, but CB is a priority so i will happily let that go through qc if you want to take longer to do complete the rest of the revamp

 

[Magnemite]

rip