[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Flip Turn
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Toxic
item: Choice Specs
ability: Adaptability
nature: Naive
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
As a result of deadly Adaptability-boosted STAB moves, great Speed tier, and unpredictability between special and physical sets, Basculin is a premier special wallbreaker. However, it's incredibly frail, so it has to be cautious of revenge killers like Kangaskhan, Cinccino, and Gourgeist-S. Flip Turn allows Basculin to chip switch-ins and checks like Audino and Wishiwashi while keeping momentum. Ice Beam deals with some Water-resistant foes like Tangela and Altaria. Toxic cripples foes like Jellicent and Wishiwashi.
Basculin typically fits on offensive and balance teams looking for an immediate special wallbreaker with a solid Speed tier. Choice Specs Basculin provides great support for physical wallbreakers like Kangaskhan and Sawk that have trouble with physical walls. In return, they can deal with special walls like Wishiwashi and Audino, which Basculin struggles to break through. Defensive pivots such as Uxie and Articuno can take hits for Basculin and bring it safely on the field with U-turn, while Basculin helps them with its pivoting. This works very well in tandem with entry hazard support from the likes of Ferrothorn and Garbodor, as it allows Basculin to OHKO targets like Cofagrigus and Gurdurr. Partners like Ninetales and Frosmoth cover Grass-types like Tangela, while teammates like Thwackey and Rotom handle Water-types like Wishiwashi.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Liquidation
move 2: Flip Turn
move 3: Aqua Jet
move 4: Superpower / Psychic Fangs
item: Choice Band
ability: Adaptability
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Band Basculin takes advantage of its respectable Speed tier and Adaptability to tear through Pokemon that normally absorb its special attacks, like Audino and Articuno. Flip Turn chips checks such as Altaria, Ferroseed, and Tangela while keeping momentum. Aqua Jet helps Basculin revenge kill weakened, faster foes such as Cinccino and Ninetales. Superpower allows Basculin to break through Ferroseed, which can sponge the rest of its attacks well. Alternatively, Psychic Fangs can be used to provide coverage against Qwilfish and Poliwrath, which can similarly handle the rest of Basculin's attacks well.
Basculin pairs well with special attackers such as Alcremie, Frosmoth, Ninetales, and Rotom, as it can take down special walls like Audino that its teammates struggle with and also lure in physical walls and use Flip Turn. Defensive pivots like Uxie, Alolan Persian, and Articuno let Basculin safely enter the field and can take hits for it. Offensive pivots such as Silvally-Ground, and Cinccino similarly allow Basculin to safely enter the field by threatening or KOing foes. Basculin pairs nicely with Pokemon that can threaten Water-types such as Rotom, Thwackey, and Manectric. Frosmoth, Rapidash, and Ninetales take care of Grass-types, with Frosmoth notably also checking one of the biggest threats to Basculin in Altaria.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Flip Turn
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Toxic
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Adaptability
nature: Naive
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Scarf Basculin is a great choice for teams that want a very hard hitting revenge killer and pivot. Flip Turn chips switch-ins such as Ferroseed and Clefairy while providing momentum. Ice Beam is great coverage against Pokemon like Altaria and Tangela, which can normally switch into its Water-type attacks. Toxic cripples checks like Jellicent and Wishiwashi.
Choice Scarf Basculin is usually found on offense and balance teams looking for a revenge killer. VoltTurn cores love having Basculin on their team, as it enables these cores with Flip Turn while bulkier pivots like Alolan Persian and Uxie can help Basculin switch in easily. Teammates such as Centiskorch and Skuntank serve as answers to bulky Grass-types like Tangela. Thwackey and Rotom check Water-types that sponge Basculin's attacks and are additional offensive pivots that keep momentum. Lastly, entry hazard removers like Altaria and Rotom-S clear entry hazards that wear down Basculin as it pivots.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
============
Surf is more accurate than Hydro Pump, but its lower power makes it less favorable than Hydro Pump. Mystic Water bluffs a Choice item and lures in foes like Ninetales and Altaria, allowing Basculin to potentially revenge kill them with Aqua Jet or Ice Beam. However, the extra power or Speed from Choice items are more beneficial. A physical Choice Scarf seems reasonable, but Hydro Pump's power makes special Choice Scarf sets better.
Checks and Counters
==================
**Water-types**: Water-types like Wishiwashi, Jellicent, and Poliwrath easily handle Basculin's STAB moves. However, they must be wary of Toxic. Qwilfish does a great job at tanking Basculin's physical attacks, but it cannot deal with Choice Specs sets.
**Grass-types**: Grass-types such as Tangela, Appletun, and Eldegoss can switch into Basculin's Water type attacks, but they must be careful of Ice Beam. Ferroseed absorbs both Water-type attacks and Ice Beam but has to be wary of Superpower.
**Faster Attackers**: Faster foes like Cinccino and Manectric are able to revenge kill Basculin, but they have to watch out for Choice Scarf Basculin or Aqua Jet.
**Priority Users**: Priority users such as Thwackey and Kangaskhan easily remove Basculin due to its poor bulk.
**Special Walls**: Special walls like Audino and Articuno can PP stall Hydro Pump, but they are 2HKOed by it. Clefairy handles Choice Specs Basculin well, but all of these Pokemon have to watch out for Choice Band Basculin.
**Altaria**: Altaria can endure physical attacks, take most special attacks, and can switch out to remove Toxic. However, it has to watch out for Ice Beam from special sets.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[hiss, 528055]]
- Quality checked by: [[Turthur, 369076], [S1nn0hC0nfirm3d, 231074]]
- Grammar checked by: [[DC, 449990]]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Flip Turn
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Toxic
item: Choice Specs
ability: Adaptability
nature: Naive
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
As a result of deadly Adaptability-boosted STAB moves, great Speed tier, and unpredictability between special and physical sets, Basculin is a premier special wallbreaker. However, it's incredibly frail, so it has to be cautious of revenge killers like Kangaskhan, Cinccino, and Gourgeist-S. Flip Turn allows Basculin to chip switch-ins and checks like Audino and Wishiwashi while keeping momentum. Ice Beam deals with some Water-resistant foes like Tangela and Altaria. Toxic cripples foes like Jellicent and Wishiwashi.
Basculin typically fits on offensive and balance teams looking for an immediate special wallbreaker with a solid Speed tier. Choice Specs Basculin provides great support for physical wallbreakers like Kangaskhan and Sawk that have trouble with physical walls. In return, they can deal with special walls like Wishiwashi and Audino, which Basculin struggles to break through. Defensive pivots such as Uxie and Articuno can take hits for Basculin and bring it safely on the field with U-turn, while Basculin helps them with its pivoting. This works very well in tandem with entry hazard support from the likes of Ferrothorn and Garbodor, as it allows Basculin to OHKO targets like Cofagrigus and Gurdurr. Partners like Ninetales and Frosmoth cover Grass-types like Tangela, while teammates like Thwackey and Rotom handle Water-types like Wishiwashi.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Liquidation
move 2: Flip Turn
move 3: Aqua Jet
move 4: Superpower / Psychic Fangs
item: Choice Band
ability: Adaptability
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Band Basculin takes advantage of its respectable Speed tier and Adaptability to tear through Pokemon that normally absorb its special attacks, like Audino and Articuno. Flip Turn chips checks such as Altaria, Ferroseed, and Tangela while keeping momentum. Aqua Jet helps Basculin revenge kill weakened, faster foes such as Cinccino and Ninetales. Superpower allows Basculin to break through Ferroseed, which can sponge the rest of its attacks well. Alternatively, Psychic Fangs can be used to provide coverage against Qwilfish and Poliwrath, which can similarly handle the rest of Basculin's attacks well.
Basculin pairs well with special attackers such as Alcremie, Frosmoth, Ninetales, and Rotom, as it can take down special walls like Audino that its teammates struggle with and also lure in physical walls and use Flip Turn. Defensive pivots like Uxie, Alolan Persian, and Articuno let Basculin safely enter the field and can take hits for it. Offensive pivots such as Silvally-Ground, and Cinccino similarly allow Basculin to safely enter the field by threatening or KOing foes. Basculin pairs nicely with Pokemon that can threaten Water-types such as Rotom, Thwackey, and Manectric. Frosmoth, Rapidash, and Ninetales take care of Grass-types, with Frosmoth notably also checking one of the biggest threats to Basculin in Altaria.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Flip Turn
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Toxic
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Adaptability
nature: Naive
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Scarf Basculin is a great choice for teams that want a very hard hitting revenge killer and pivot. Flip Turn chips switch-ins such as Ferroseed and Clefairy while providing momentum. Ice Beam is great coverage against Pokemon like Altaria and Tangela, which can normally switch into its Water-type attacks. Toxic cripples checks like Jellicent and Wishiwashi.
Choice Scarf Basculin is usually found on offense and balance teams looking for a revenge killer. VoltTurn cores love having Basculin on their team, as it enables these cores with Flip Turn while bulkier pivots like Alolan Persian and Uxie can help Basculin switch in easily. Teammates such as Centiskorch and Skuntank serve as answers to bulky Grass-types like Tangela. Thwackey and Rotom check Water-types that sponge Basculin's attacks and are additional offensive pivots that keep momentum. Lastly, entry hazard removers like Altaria and Rotom-S clear entry hazards that wear down Basculin as it pivots.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
============
Surf is more accurate than Hydro Pump, but its lower power makes it less favorable than Hydro Pump. Mystic Water bluffs a Choice item and lures in foes like Ninetales and Altaria, allowing Basculin to potentially revenge kill them with Aqua Jet or Ice Beam. However, the extra power or Speed from Choice items are more beneficial. A physical Choice Scarf seems reasonable, but Hydro Pump's power makes special Choice Scarf sets better.
Checks and Counters
==================
**Water-types**: Water-types like Wishiwashi, Jellicent, and Poliwrath easily handle Basculin's STAB moves. However, they must be wary of Toxic. Qwilfish does a great job at tanking Basculin's physical attacks, but it cannot deal with Choice Specs sets.
**Grass-types**: Grass-types such as Tangela, Appletun, and Eldegoss can switch into Basculin's Water type attacks, but they must be careful of Ice Beam. Ferroseed absorbs both Water-type attacks and Ice Beam but has to be wary of Superpower.
**Faster Attackers**: Faster foes like Cinccino and Manectric are able to revenge kill Basculin, but they have to watch out for Choice Scarf Basculin or Aqua Jet.
**Priority Users**: Priority users such as Thwackey and Kangaskhan easily remove Basculin due to its poor bulk.
**Special Walls**: Special walls like Audino and Articuno can PP stall Hydro Pump, but they are 2HKOed by it. Clefairy handles Choice Specs Basculin well, but all of these Pokemon have to watch out for Choice Band Basculin.
**Altaria**: Altaria can endure physical attacks, take most special attacks, and can switch out to remove Toxic. However, it has to watch out for Ice Beam from special sets.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[hiss, 528055]]
- Quality checked by: [[Turthur, 369076], [S1nn0hC0nfirm3d, 231074]]
- Grammar checked by: [[DC, 449990]]
Last edited: