[Overview]
<p>Blastoise is one of the few bulky Water-types that has access to Rapid Spin. Blastoise's base 100 Defense and base 105 Special Defense allow him to take hits very well all around and check Ground-type Pokemon such as Rhyperior. Its typing is pretty simple; pure Water-typing, excellent for tanking foes thanks to a few useful resistances and a mere two weaknesses. Blastoise also has an excellent support movepool consisting of moves such as Foresight, Yawn, Toxic, Roar, and Dragon Tail. With all of these assets combined, it shouldn't be hard to fit Blastoise in your team.</p>
[Set]
name: Utility
move 1: Rapid Spin
move 2: Scald
move 3: Toxic / Foresight
move 4: Roar / Dragon Tail
item: Leftovers
ability: Torrent
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Rapid Spin allows Blastoise to spin away entry hazards such as Stealth Rock and Spikes, which can greatly damage the tortoise's teammates. Scald is the STAB move of choice, giving Blastoise a chance to burn the opponent, making it much easier for him to take physical hits. Foresight allows Blastoise to spin away entry hazards against Ghost-types, who would otherwise block your attempts to use Rapid Spin. However, Chandelure and Mismagius are common sights, and both can take advantage of Foresight and set up a Substitute or proceed to hurt Blastoise with Energy Ball or Thunderbolt respectively. Foresight is most effectively used when one can predict a Ghost switching into Blastoise.Toxic is generally the superior option as it allows Blastoise to cripple opposing bulky Water-types, such as Milotic, Swampert and other Blastoise on the switch as well as nailing other spinners such as Hitmontop and the aforementioned Ghost-types. The last slot features both Roar and Dragon Tail; Roar is the primary option due to its reliability. Though Magic Bounce and Taunt render it useless, Roar can phaze away Pokemon behind a Substitute. Substitute is key move on offensive and defensive teams alike, and Blastoise is easy setup fodder for Pokemon such as Kingdra and Raikou if it lacks the ability to phaze. Keep in mind that Blastoise's Dragon Tail will fail even in breaking Kingdra's substitutes, despite the super effective damage.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The given EVs and nature give Blastoise as much physical bulk as possible. Although a Bold nature is preferred, a Calm nature can be used as well in conjunction with Scald. Blastoise already has an excellent Special Defense stat, meaning Blastoise prefers to be hit from the special side. If you opt for a Calm nature, an alternate spread of 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD is recommended. Haze removes all stat modifications, allowing Blastoise to stop set-up sweepers and Baton Pass teams. Roar is generally the better option over Haze unless the opponent has Xatu. Grass-type Pokemon work very well with Blastoise, resisting both ofits weaknesses. Roserade is a perfect teammate, sporting a 4x resistance to Grass-type attacks, a 2x resistance to Electric-type attacks, and access to Spikes and Toxic Spikes. Hazard support is always useful for a phaze support Pokemon like Blastoise, as it will effectively allow Blastoise to spread damage and Poison. On a stall oriented team, Umbreon's ability to heal status with Heal Bell and pass Wish is greatly appreciated by Blastoise, as it has no means of healing itself outside of Rest.</p>
<p>Blastoise gets the ability Rain Dish from the Dream World. This ability is useless outside of Rain Dance, so Torrent should be the ability used on all sets. However, Rain Dish on a Rain Dance support set could prove quite useful, recovering 1/16th of Blastoise's HP each turn, allowing it to stay alive longer and, of course, supportits team with Rain Dance support longer. With Rain Dish, Blastoise is an excellent check to Rain Dance teams as well; backed up byits natural bulk, Rain Dish, and resistance tothe enemy team's STAB Water-type attacks, it will be hard for them to take Blastoise down.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Blastoise has a few alternatives to its moveset. A set consisting of Rapid Spin / Scald / Rest / Sleep Talk could be used, as Rest is Blastoise's only way of recovery. This allows Blastoise to come in more frequently and supportits team longer with spin support.ResTalk unfortunately comes with many problems, as a lack of Toxic, Foresight, and phazing makes Blastoise much less threatening, and at greater risk to become setup fodder. The sleep mechanics in BW only make that risk greater. Blastoise could run a viable Choice Specs or Choice Scarf set. If a Choice Specs set is chosen, Blastoise should use a Timid nature with an EV spread of 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe. If a Choice Scarf set is chosen, use a Modest nature instead and maintain the same EV spread. Water Spout / Hydro Pump / Ice Beam / Hidden Power Electric is recommended on a Choice set. Blastoise does a lot of damage with Water Spout, especially with Choice Specs equipped, and can act as a revenge killer with a Choice Scarf equipped. This set is extremely surprising as well, and can net a KO just from the surprise factor. Aqua Jet is an option, but since Blastoise usually runs a Bold nature, it will do a pitiful damage to anything that isn't weak to Water-type attacks.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Although it is hard to stop Blastoise from spinning, Grass-types can switch in with impunity and threatenit with their super effective attacks, especially those with the ability Natural Cure to rid them of a possible burn from Scald or poison from Toxic. This includes the likes of Roserade (who is even immune to Toxic) and Shaymin, which have a great Special Defense stat and can take any of Blastoise's attacks with ease. Even on the off chance that Blastoise runs Ice Beam, without significant offensive EV investment and a boosting item, Blastoise will fail to do significant damage to these Grass-type defensive behemoths. Raikou's impressive Special Bulk shrugs off Scald with ease, and it can set up Calm Minds or destroy Blastoise outright with its STAB Electric-type attacks. Zapdos is also bulky enough to shrug off Blastoise's attacks, and while it can't setup much, it will similarly destroy Blastoise with Thunderbolt. Heracross takes little from Blastoise's attacks and wouldn't mind being burnt, as its offensive abilities become truly terrifying once Guts is activated.</p>
<p>Blastoise is one of the few bulky Water-types that has access to Rapid Spin. Blastoise's base 100 Defense and base 105 Special Defense allow him to take hits very well all around and check Ground-type Pokemon such as Rhyperior. Its typing is pretty simple; pure Water-typing, excellent for tanking foes thanks to a few useful resistances and a mere two weaknesses. Blastoise also has an excellent support movepool consisting of moves such as Foresight, Yawn, Toxic, Roar, and Dragon Tail. With all of these assets combined, it shouldn't be hard to fit Blastoise in your team.</p>
[Set]
name: Utility
move 1: Rapid Spin
move 2: Scald
move 3: Toxic / Foresight
move 4: Roar / Dragon Tail
item: Leftovers
ability: Torrent
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Rapid Spin allows Blastoise to spin away entry hazards such as Stealth Rock and Spikes, which can greatly damage the tortoise's teammates. Scald is the STAB move of choice, giving Blastoise a chance to burn the opponent, making it much easier for him to take physical hits. Foresight allows Blastoise to spin away entry hazards against Ghost-types, who would otherwise block your attempts to use Rapid Spin. However, Chandelure and Mismagius are common sights, and both can take advantage of Foresight and set up a Substitute or proceed to hurt Blastoise with Energy Ball or Thunderbolt respectively. Foresight is most effectively used when one can predict a Ghost switching into Blastoise.Toxic is generally the superior option as it allows Blastoise to cripple opposing bulky Water-types, such as Milotic, Swampert and other Blastoise on the switch as well as nailing other spinners such as Hitmontop and the aforementioned Ghost-types. The last slot features both Roar and Dragon Tail; Roar is the primary option due to its reliability. Though Magic Bounce and Taunt render it useless, Roar can phaze away Pokemon behind a Substitute. Substitute is key move on offensive and defensive teams alike, and Blastoise is easy setup fodder for Pokemon such as Kingdra and Raikou if it lacks the ability to phaze. Keep in mind that Blastoise's Dragon Tail will fail even in breaking Kingdra's substitutes, despite the super effective damage.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The given EVs and nature give Blastoise as much physical bulk as possible. Although a Bold nature is preferred, a Calm nature can be used as well in conjunction with Scald. Blastoise already has an excellent Special Defense stat, meaning Blastoise prefers to be hit from the special side. If you opt for a Calm nature, an alternate spread of 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD is recommended. Haze removes all stat modifications, allowing Blastoise to stop set-up sweepers and Baton Pass teams. Roar is generally the better option over Haze unless the opponent has Xatu. Grass-type Pokemon work very well with Blastoise, resisting both ofits weaknesses. Roserade is a perfect teammate, sporting a 4x resistance to Grass-type attacks, a 2x resistance to Electric-type attacks, and access to Spikes and Toxic Spikes. Hazard support is always useful for a phaze support Pokemon like Blastoise, as it will effectively allow Blastoise to spread damage and Poison. On a stall oriented team, Umbreon's ability to heal status with Heal Bell and pass Wish is greatly appreciated by Blastoise, as it has no means of healing itself outside of Rest.</p>
<p>Blastoise gets the ability Rain Dish from the Dream World. This ability is useless outside of Rain Dance, so Torrent should be the ability used on all sets. However, Rain Dish on a Rain Dance support set could prove quite useful, recovering 1/16th of Blastoise's HP each turn, allowing it to stay alive longer and, of course, supportits team with Rain Dance support longer. With Rain Dish, Blastoise is an excellent check to Rain Dance teams as well; backed up byits natural bulk, Rain Dish, and resistance tothe enemy team's STAB Water-type attacks, it will be hard for them to take Blastoise down.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Blastoise has a few alternatives to its moveset. A set consisting of Rapid Spin / Scald / Rest / Sleep Talk could be used, as Rest is Blastoise's only way of recovery. This allows Blastoise to come in more frequently and supportits team longer with spin support.ResTalk unfortunately comes with many problems, as a lack of Toxic, Foresight, and phazing makes Blastoise much less threatening, and at greater risk to become setup fodder. The sleep mechanics in BW only make that risk greater. Blastoise could run a viable Choice Specs or Choice Scarf set. If a Choice Specs set is chosen, Blastoise should use a Timid nature with an EV spread of 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe. If a Choice Scarf set is chosen, use a Modest nature instead and maintain the same EV spread. Water Spout / Hydro Pump / Ice Beam / Hidden Power Electric is recommended on a Choice set. Blastoise does a lot of damage with Water Spout, especially with Choice Specs equipped, and can act as a revenge killer with a Choice Scarf equipped. This set is extremely surprising as well, and can net a KO just from the surprise factor. Aqua Jet is an option, but since Blastoise usually runs a Bold nature, it will do a pitiful damage to anything that isn't weak to Water-type attacks.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Although it is hard to stop Blastoise from spinning, Grass-types can switch in with impunity and threatenit with their super effective attacks, especially those with the ability Natural Cure to rid them of a possible burn from Scald or poison from Toxic. This includes the likes of Roserade (who is even immune to Toxic) and Shaymin, which have a great Special Defense stat and can take any of Blastoise's attacks with ease. Even on the off chance that Blastoise runs Ice Beam, without significant offensive EV investment and a boosting item, Blastoise will fail to do significant damage to these Grass-type defensive behemoths. Raikou's impressive Special Bulk shrugs off Scald with ease, and it can set up Calm Minds or destroy Blastoise outright with its STAB Electric-type attacks. Zapdos is also bulky enough to shrug off Blastoise's attacks, and while it can't setup much, it will similarly destroy Blastoise with Thunderbolt. Heracross takes little from Blastoise's attacks and wouldn't mind being burnt, as its offensive abilities become truly terrifying once Guts is activated.</p>
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