Basculin

[Reliking]

ALSO IT KILLS VICTINI EASILY

Basculin

70 HP /92 Att /65 Def /80 SpA /55 SpD /98 Spe
Water
Reckless/Adaptability/Rock Head*/Mold Breaker

*Blue form only


Notable Moves

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Aqua Jet
Double Edge
Flail
Thrash
Taunt
Protect
Frustration/Return
Substitute
Waterfall

Decent Attack and Speed, horrid defenses, and a pretty shallow movepool. The saving grace for this Bass is definitely its choices of ability; three very solid choices. Reckless increases the damage done by double edge. Rock Head gets rid of the recoil. Adaptability increases STAB from x1.5 to x2.0. Not bad at all.

But which ability is the right one?
Rock Head adds bulkiness, Reckless causes mass damage(Both from Double Edge, Basculin's only reliable recoil move). Adaptability increases the STAB bonuses of all of Basculin's water attacks. Rock head makes our dear bass completely outclassed by Relicanth, who, with the same ability, can throw Head Smashes out with mass power. Reckless really limits this fish's staying power, as although it does extra damage, recoil is also increased. Adaptability is extremely reliable, increasing Aqua Tail/Jet's power.

Anti-Lead
Basculin@Life Orb (Adaptability/Reckless)
4 HP/252 Att/252 Spe
-Taunt
-Aqua Tail
-Aqua Jet
-Double Edge/Thrash

This set did me quite well, as it managed to beat many leads. However, it dies. Fast. Especially with Reckless as an ability. I found that having partners who could absorb grass and electric attacks were vital; Rotom and Celebi are impossible to beat unless you hit them with a double edge on the switch. I used Sap Sipper Bouffalant and Motor Drive Electvire as partners, as Basculin seems to draw in those attacks very easily. (If thrash is used, obviously adaptability should be used)

Where is Politoad? I need him.
Basculin@Choice Band (Adaptability)
4 HP/ 252 Att/ 252 Spe
-Aqua Jet
-Aqua Tail
-Thrash
-Flail

^Fail movepool=fail moveset. Aqua jet is the main thing here, because its amazing, boosted by Adaptability and then rain. Aqua Tail can take out bulkier, slower stuff. Thrash is for anything that resists water. Flail is just there as a filler. Just make sure to have spin support, you'll be switching every 5 minutes.

 

[jas61292]

I've used Basculin before, and it really is not that bad. The main problem it runs into is with it's unfortunate speed. 98 is nice, but there are so many 100s out there that it really hurts its viability. Adaptability, imo, is the only reason to use Basulin. Thanks to Adaptability, it's water moves hit like they are coming off a base stat of around 140, which is pretty impressive. If you can get some rain going then he really has some awesome power, which is backed nicely by Aqua Jet to make up for the lackluster speed. Unfortunately, that's about all that is special about it. As far as I am concerned, If you are not utilizing Adaptability with Basculin, you probably should be using another Pokemon.

 

[Tomahawk]

basculin would be okay if drizzle was in uu

Now its not. Killing victini outside of sun teams is kill though, but they switch out anyways

 

[LonelyNess]

Individual Pokemon threads are reserved for notable Pokemon in the metagame, or those Pokemon that can arguably perform a niche in the metagame that no other Pokemon can perform (i.e. not every Pokemon deserves its own thread).

Basculin is not one of those Pokemon...