[OVERVIEW]
As the premier answer to some of the tier's most feared physical attackers and offense in general, Swampert is truly a leviathan of ADV OU. Defensively, Swampert's solid bulk and resistances to Rock and Steel allow it to answer Tyranitar, Metagross, and Aerodactyl; its access to Ice Beam allows it to counter physical Salamence and Flygon; and its immunity to Electric allows it to stop Electric-types like Zapdos and Jolteon that run Hidden Power Ice. Furthermore, Swampert's immunity to sand and access to Refresh and Roar give it both longevity and the ability to check setup sweepers on balanced and defensive teams, especially in conjunction with Protect to scout offensive Pokemon and gain passive healing from Leftovers. Swampert's defensive prominence is such that it has encouraged both Electric-types and mixed attackers to run Hidden Power Grass as a standard move for the sole purpose of beating it, a testament to its ubiquity and value. Offensively, Swampert's durability and solid Special Attack, as well as Torrent, give it the ability to fire off strong Hydro Pumps at defensive cores, and it can wield Earthquake and Focus Punch to dismantle Blissey, the tier's answer to special moves. Swampert can also run a Substitute + Endeavor set, whose potent Hydro Pump and immunity to sand make it a threatening wallbreaker or cleaner. On offensive sets, the characteristics that make Swampert's defense so stifling can be used to develop momentum and exploit mismatches and free turns with ease. Despite all this, Swampert struggles to break through the tier's other bulky Water-types, Milotic and Suicune, and it is walled cold by Celebi, which can outright use it as setup fodder. Furthermore, Spikes and attackers running Hidden Power Grass threaten to take huge chunks out of Swampert's HP, and its lack of recovery outside of Leftovers can make it difficult for it to last throughout a game.
[SET]
name: Standard Defensive
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Protect
move 4: Hydro Pump / Roar / Refresh
item: Leftovers
ability: Torrent
nature: Relaxed
evs: 248 HP / 216 Def / 44 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
This set is Swampert's bread and butter, maximizing its ability to act as a team's defensive backbone against the tier's physical behemoths. Ice Beam and Earthquake are both attacks with a defensive purpose; Ice Beam covers Salamence and Flygon, as well as 2HKOing Aerodactyl, while Earthquake beats Tyranitar and Metagross. Protect is the primary ingredient to this set's longevity; while Swampert has only Rest for instant recovery, it is immune to sand and carries Leftovers, so it can use Protect to heal by constant increments for free and work around attempts to wear it down. Hydro Pump is an offensive move meant primarily to cover Skarmory and Gengar and deny them the ability to switch in for free. Hydro Pump also does higher damage than Earthquake or Ice Beam against Tyranitar and Aerodactyl, OHKOing the latter with 36 Special Attack EVs and OHKOing both if Torrent is activated, which can mean avoiding a sweep in close games. However, a more defensive Swampert has other options to use:(space)Roar keeps defensive setup sweepers like Suicune, Snorlax, and Jirachi from setting up for free and racks up Spikes damage against grounded Pokemon, while Refresh allows Swampert to shrug off poison and burn, keeping it from being worn down by status.
The given spread maximize Swampert's ability to take hits—248 HP EVs and 44 Special Defense EVs guarantee that Swampert survives Hidden Power Grass from Modest Zapdos from full, while the rest of the EVs go into Defense. As an alternative, 36 Special Attack EVs guarantee that Swampert's Hydro Pump will OHKO uninvested Aerodactyl. Running 96 Special Attack EVs with a Quiet nature threatens higher damage against Skarmory and Gengar, which certain teams may desire. Overall, Swampert's EVs can be reallocated in a variety of ways depending on priorities.
This Swampert generally serves as the first line of defense against physical threats early-game, yet it requires an element of caution as well. Protect should be used early-game to scout for Hidden Power Grass from Tyranitar, Zapdos, or Salamence as well as a potential Explosion from Metagross, and a player should be willing to use pivots and double switches to protect Swampert from being hit by these. Damage rolls are important for identifying a Choice Band attacker. When given free turns, Hydro Pump is usually the best move to use, or Roar if dropping Hydro Pump. If lacking Refresh, be wary of taking Toxic from Skarmory or Zapdos so Swampert can check Dragon Dance Tyranitar, Dragon Dance Salamence, and Choice Band Aerodactyl late-game. Protect gains value mid- and late-game for regaining health so a sustained physical assault doesn't wear your Swampert down, though the player should be wary of overusing the move and giving up free turns.
Team Options
=========
Swampert works well as a standalone wall, but it requires certain support to function at its best. In particular, Swampert wants switch-ins that can pressure Suicune, Milotic, and Celebi, all of which it struggles to touch, as well as a counter to Hidden Power Grass Electric-types and mixed attackers in general. Celebi and Flygon counter Hidden Power Grass Electric-types while appreciating Swampert's ability to deal with Hidden Power Ice Electric-types, while Blissey's ability to stonewall special attackers complements Swampert beautifully. Faster Pokemon such as Gengar, Starmie, and Jolteon can be used as one-time switch-ins against mixed attackers to force them out and make Swampert's life easier. Zapdos can check both Metagross and mixed Salamence while heavily pressuring Skarmory and defensive Water-types, which Swampert appreciates immensely. In a similar vein, Moltres's ability to cover Swampert against Metagross and destroy Celebi is extremely valuable.
Due to its lack of immediate offense, Swampert appreciates Spikes and sand support to punish more defensive teams that it can be deadweight versus. Both Skarmory and Tyranitar cover Snorlax, a major physical threat that Swampert doesn't beat on its own, and can back it up against physical threats in general. In addition, Swampert lacking Hydro Pump struggles against Skarmory, Forretress, and Gengar, so it appreciates Magneton and Pursuit Tyranitar's support, and even with Hydro Pump it tends to appreciate Skarmory and Gengar's removal from the game. Lastly, Salamence and Metagross make phenomenal partners for Swampert; Salamence can weaken physical attackers with Intimidate and tempt the opponent to use Rock Slide so Swampert can easily switch in, while Metagross serves as a backup Rock-type answer and check to physical attackers. Both Pokemon also provide the instant offense that this Swampert lacks, which helps to round out a team.
[SET]
name: Surf Defensive
move 1: Surf
move 2: Toxic / Roar
move 3: Protect
move 4: Refresh / Roar
item: Leftovers
ability: Torrent
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 204 Def / 44 SpD / 12 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
This set constitutes a variant on the above defensive set that sacrifices self-sufficiency for certain utilities and a more intuitive playstyle. STAB Surf allows Swampert to cover the metagame in a similar way that Hydro Pump does, allowing it to guarantee neutral damage on switch-ins like Skarmory and Gengar. Toxic complements Surf, targeting Water-resistant Pokemon like Celebi, Suicune, and Salamence and passive
Pokemon like Blissey, keeping them from staying in with impunity. Protect can be used to rack up Toxic damage against aggressive attackers like Salamence and stay healthy in slugfests against Blissey, as well as letting Swampert heal up through Leftovers recovery.
Refresh completes this set utility-wise, making it impossible to wear down via status. Roar usually fits better on teams that need a phazer, as denying free setup to Dragon Dance Salamence and defensive Calm Mind Jirachi can be quite important considering that this set forgoes Earthquake and Ice Beam. The choice between these moves comes down to team-based necessity. The given EVs maximize Defense while letting Swampert outspeed uninvested Tyranitar and Quiet Metagross and guaranteeing survival against Hidden Power Grass from Modest Zapdos. Note that forgoing Earthquake allows Swampert to run a Bold nature to outrun standard defensive Swampert.
Team Options
=========
Forgoing Earthquake and Ice Beam means that Choice Band Metagross and Dragon Dance Salamence pose great threats to this particular Swampert set, as its lack of a super effective attack grants them more turns to attack and more chances to potentially break through. Skarmory's support helps cover both of these Pokemon, while setting Spikes to help compensate for Swampert's lack of instant offense and punish grounded Pokemon like Milotic, Suicune, Celebi, and Snorlax that would otherwise switch in for comparatively free. Tyranitar's sand also inconveniences these Pokemon, and it can cover Swampert's back against Pokemon like Gengar, Jirachi, Snorlax, and physical Salamence. As Surf does less damage to Skarmory than Hydro Pump does, Magneton support is much appreciated with this Swampert to prevent Skarmory from freely laying Spikes down. It also helps that Magneton brutalizes Milotic while removing weakened Metagross, both of which this Swampert struggles against. Lastly, a consistent switch-in to Celebi, such as Salamence, Moltres, or Aerodactyl, generally partners well with this Swampert. Moltres in particular can destroy Skarmory and check Metagross, both of which this Swampert appreciates
[SET]
name: Standard Offensive
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Earthquake / Hidden Power Grass
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Focus Punch
item: Leftovers
ability: Torrent
nature: Rash
evs: 108 Def / 252 SpA / 148 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
As a contrast to the above sets, this is an offensive Swampert set that relies on its mixed attacking power to break common defensive archetypes and punish some of its standard checks. Hydro Pump threatens to 2HKO or 3HKO virtually any Pokemon that doesn't resist it. Focus Punch works to get a guaranteed hit on predicted switches and, more importantly, prevents Blissey from freely recovering with Soft-Boiled, which keeps it from being a reliable check. Ice Beam primarily nails specially defensive Zapdos as well as Salamence and Grass-types. Earthquake gives Swampert mixed attacking coverage, which helps wear down Blissey, pressues specially defensive Jirachi, and guarantees the KO on Tyranitar and Metagross at certain ranges rather than risking a Hydro Pump miss. However, as all these Pokemon are covered to some extent by Hydro Pump and Focus Punch, Hidden Power Grass can be used in the fourth slot on more offensive teams, where luring in and removing opposing Swampert and clobbering Cloyster might be higher priorities.
252 Special Attack EVs with a Rash nature maximize Swampert's damage output, while the Speed investment allows it to outrun Adamant Claydol as well as Blissey, specially defensive Skarmory, and slower variants of Metagross and Tyranitar. The rest of the EVs go into Defense as opposed to HP to maximize Swampert's ability to take physical hits, which this spread takes noticeably worse than usual. 28 Attack EVs ensure that a Focus Punch followed by an Earthquake from Swampert will always KO Blissey from full with sand up, thereby ensuring that using Focus Punch against Blissey on the switch will pay off. Bulkier spreads are of course possible, as is maximizing Speed for the purpose of outrunning Jolly Marowak and negative-natured Wish + Protect Jirachi.
This set is meant to be played aggressively, relying on Swampert's natural ability to force switches and Hydro Pump's damage output for offensive momentum. It's generally better to bring this Swampert in on predicted switches and resisted moves like Rock Slide than to take massive damage from Choice Band Metagross or mixed Tyranitar. The player should be willing to trade Swampert's health for potential KOs or preserve it so it can hold off an expected Dragon Dance Tyranitar or Aerodactyl in the back. Prediction is key when using this Swampert. Keep in mind that despite the offensive spread, this Swampert cannot break through Milotic, Rest Suicune, or Celebi without significant luck, and thus it should always avoid those matchups. As always, be wary of Hidden Power Grass, as the lack of HP investment leaves Swampert vulnerable to being outright KOed.
Team Options
========
Metagross is absolutely integral as a partner, as this Swampert cannot be relied on defensively and thus requires the support of a backup Rock-type check and check to physical attackers. Metagross and Swampert together form a dual status pivot core against Blissey; Metagross is immune to Toxic, and Swampert is immune to Thunder Wave. Thus, they exert massive pressure on it for an offensive team while playing around potential status attempts. Metagross tends to appreciate Swampert's targeting of Skarmory and opposing Swampert while threatening to use Explosion on Milotic and Suicune and thereby open up Swampert as a threat. Salamence draws Rock Slides that give Swampert an opportunity to switch in, and its Intimidate cushions physical blows for Swampert to come in on, while it appreciates the offense this set brings. Salamencepairs extremely well with both Metagross and Jirachi as well, providing offense and an immunity to Earthquake. Offensive Celebi and Zapdos threaten to blow through Milotic, Rest Suicune, and Recover Starmie, all of which this Swampert struggles to touch. Furthermore, they can potentially Baton Pass Calm Mind or Agility boosts to Swampert, making it much more of an offensive threat. Hidden Power Grass Swampert particularly appreciates these boosts, as at +1 or +2, it can push through Milotic and Suicune on its own.
As always, Spikes are helpful to punish Grass-types and bulky Water-types, which tend to switch into Hydro Pump with impunity. Skarmory and Cloyster can also back Swampert up against physical attackers that threaten it. Lastly, faster Pokemon like Starmie and Jolteon appreciate this Swampert's wallbreaking capabilities while threatening mixed attackers like Salamence that can give it trouble.
[SET]
name: Substitute + Salac Berry
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Endeavor
move 3: Hydro Pump / Surf
move 4: Roar / Ice Beam
item: Salac Berry
ability: Torrent
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Substitute + Salac Berry Swampert is, if anything, an even more all-in approach to offensive Swampert. This set relies on many of Swampert's useful characteristics: Torrent, an immunity to sand, and access to Endeavor, which make it a frightening sweeper.
Substitute lets Swampert reduce its HP to active Torrent and its Berry, while Endeavor capitalizes on that loss of HP to beat defensive Pokemon. Hydro Pump is the usual Water-type STAB attack, which does frightening damage when boosted by Torrent, but Surf's accuracy is appreciated on certain teams, particularly with Magneton support to nullify Skarmory. Roar constitutes a surprisingly innovative option for a fourth move, capitalizing on Endeavor. As many potential answers to this set—Milotic, Celebi, and Blissey,—have instant recovery moves and can thus stall out Endeavor, Roar's negative priority guarantees them to be forced out and puts your opponent into an uncomfortable situation. If they switch back to their counter as you use Endeavor, they've lost their counter; if they leave whatever Roar forced in to take a Hydro Pump, they're a Pokemon down. In addition, Roar provides defensive utility in denying Calm Mind users such as Suicune, Celebi, and Jirachi, which tend to threaten the teams this Swampert usually finds itself on.
Ice Beam is an option to cover Celebi and drops Salamence, the latter of which might be important for a team to cover, but the fact that both of Ice Beam's targets are affected by sand and technically covered by Endeavor is another mark in favor of Roar's viability. Swagger constitutes an additional option, as the confusion chance forces a similar coinflip for the opponent, but unlike Roar it has no utility and can potentially backfire.
The EVs are fairly straightforward: maximum Special Attack and Speed with a Timid nature. Note that even after the Salac Berry boost, Swampert is outrun by Starmie, Jolly Dugtrio, Aerodactyl, and Jolteon. This Swampert is fairly intuitive as far as play goes—use Substitute when given free turns, use Hydro Pump against passive Pokemon or phazers, and start using Endeavor once Salac Berry activates. Generally, one should try to bring this set in on Pokemon such as Tyranitar, Metagross, and Salamence, as their hits will force Swampert into Salac Berry range quicker and reverse an attacker's momentum.
Team Options
=========
This Swampert is completely unreliable defensively and must be paired with other offensive checks to physical attackers so its team won't be overwhelmed. Metagross's support is virtually obligatory to check Tyranitar and Aerodactyl, as well as Dragon Dance Salamence should this set not run Ice Beam. In addition, Metagross's Choice Band-boosted Earthquake utterly destroys Thunderbolt + Ice Punch Jirachi, which this Swampert cannot check without Roar and cannot beat outright. Magneton's support is surprisingly helpful, as it offers an additional Rock-type resistance while trapping Skarmory, whose Spikes and Whirlwind can interfere with Swampert's attempts to sweep, and allows Swampert to use the more accurate Surf with fewer risks.
This Swampert tends to target defensive cores and thereby open them up for offensive Pokemon; Zapdos and Suicune appreciate Swampert removing Celebi and Blissey, while Metagross and Dragon Dance Salamence appreciate the removal of opposing Suicune and Milotic as well as Skarmory being weakened. Offensive Suicune is an interesting partner for this Swampert set, as it can also serve as a one-off check to physical threats and backs up Swampert while exerting massive pressure on Pokemon such as Skarmory and Snorlax. These two form a double Water-type core that can ground a team offensively and defensively. Lastly, sand is a helpful complement to Swampert's offense to finish off defensive Pokemon weakened by Endeavor. Dragon Dance Tyranitar also tends to appreciate this Swampert's ability to break defensive cores and open up sweeping opportunities. As an alternate option, however, Pursuit Tyranitar can remove Gengar, which can be quite the annoyance to Swampert with its immunity to Endeavor, and it can run Ice Beam to cover Roar variants against Dragon Dance Salamence.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Curse Swampert is a threatening sweeper with longevity through Rest, but the ubiquity of Ground-immune Pokemon and mixed attackers running Hidden Power Grass tends to hamper its sweeping prospects. An all-physical or even Choice Band Swampert would do better at pushing through defensive Water-types and could potentially lure in Celebi and KO it with Hidden Power Bug, but it would be required to drop Hydro Pump and thus require Magneton and Pursuit Tyranitar to avoid becoming bait for Skarmory and Gengar. In a similar vein, a Substitute + Focus Punch set similar to non-Salac Berry offensive Swampert could work, brutalizing Blissey and Snorlax much harder at the cost of requiring the same support an all-physical Swampert would and struggling even more against other Water-types.
Checks and Counters
===================
Grass-types are the biggest threats to Swampert, as they hit it super effectively and target its only weakness. Celebi's natural defenses and access to Recover render Swampert almost deadweight, as it can come in repeatedly for free and create free turns, while Swampert can do little to dissuade it short of freezing it with Ice Beam. Venusaur, while lacking recovery, can still come in on Surfs and Hydro Pumps and threaten to land Sleep Powder on something. Opposing Water-types also give Swampert trouble, as they resist Hydro Pump, have the bulk to take Earthquakes, and can usually win the slugfests. Milotic and Rest Suicune are the primary examples of this, although Recover Starmie also deserves a mention. Cloyster, while not having recovery, can set Spikes against Swampert with impunity or threaten to use Explosion on it. Specially defensive Skarmory threatens to poison
Swampert with Toxic and lay down Spikes against it, cutting into its longevity, and with its heavy Special Defense investment, it can shrug off Swampert's Hydro Pumps. Heracross is an interesting example of a check, as it resists Earthquake and Focus Punch while having the natural bulk to switch into Hydro Pump once, and the sheer physical threat it poses can force Swampert to retreat rather than take a STAB Megahorn. However, Heracross lacks recovery and is worn down quickly by sand and Spikes, so it prefers to come in on pivots wherever possible. Gyarados's primary niche is its ability to handle defensive Water-types in a way that Tyranitar and Salamence cannot; it can potentially run Taunt to shut down Swampert's utility options and threatens to set up Dragon Dance while shrugging off resisted Surfs and weak Ice Beams. However, it has poor longevity and is more of an exploiter than a counter.
In a different vein, Swampert's towering status over the metagame almost mandates the heavy use of Hidden Power Grass, and Swampert must always be wary of its specter. Gengar, Zapdos, and Salamence all threaten to land Hidden Power Grass while being able to switch in on predicted Earthquakes, and even a Tyranitar or Jolteon may reveal it to blow through a weakened Swampert. Furthermore, Swampert's heavy reliance on Protect for recovery and scouting can allow a skilled player room to create free switches and bring in offensive threats for free, so while none of these Pokemon are switch-ins, the threat they pose must be accounted for by the Swampert's player.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Lord Ninjax, 200040]]
- Quality checked by: [[vapicuno, 5454 ], [BKC, 52012]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Rabia, 336703], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
As the premier answer to some of the tier's most feared physical attackers and offense in general, Swampert is truly a leviathan of ADV OU. Defensively, Swampert's solid bulk and resistances to Rock and Steel allow it to answer Tyranitar, Metagross, and Aerodactyl; its access to Ice Beam allows it to counter physical Salamence and Flygon; and its immunity to Electric allows it to stop Electric-types like Zapdos and Jolteon that run Hidden Power Ice. Furthermore, Swampert's immunity to sand and access to Refresh and Roar give it both longevity and the ability to check setup sweepers on balanced and defensive teams, especially in conjunction with Protect to scout offensive Pokemon and gain passive healing from Leftovers. Swampert's defensive prominence is such that it has encouraged both Electric-types and mixed attackers to run Hidden Power Grass as a standard move for the sole purpose of beating it, a testament to its ubiquity and value. Offensively, Swampert's durability and solid Special Attack, as well as Torrent, give it the ability to fire off strong Hydro Pumps at defensive cores, and it can wield Earthquake and Focus Punch to dismantle Blissey, the tier's answer to special moves. Swampert can also run a Substitute + Endeavor set, whose potent Hydro Pump and immunity to sand make it a threatening wallbreaker or cleaner. On offensive sets, the characteristics that make Swampert's defense so stifling can be used to develop momentum and exploit mismatches and free turns with ease. Despite all this, Swampert struggles to break through the tier's other bulky Water-types, Milotic and Suicune, and it is walled cold by Celebi, which can outright use it as setup fodder. Furthermore, Spikes and attackers running Hidden Power Grass threaten to take huge chunks out of Swampert's HP, and its lack of recovery outside of Leftovers can make it difficult for it to last throughout a game.
[SET]
name: Standard Defensive
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Protect
move 4: Hydro Pump / Roar / Refresh
item: Leftovers
ability: Torrent
nature: Relaxed
evs: 248 HP / 216 Def / 44 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
This set is Swampert's bread and butter, maximizing its ability to act as a team's defensive backbone against the tier's physical behemoths. Ice Beam and Earthquake are both attacks with a defensive purpose; Ice Beam covers Salamence and Flygon, as well as 2HKOing Aerodactyl, while Earthquake beats Tyranitar and Metagross. Protect is the primary ingredient to this set's longevity; while Swampert has only Rest for instant recovery, it is immune to sand and carries Leftovers, so it can use Protect to heal by constant increments for free and work around attempts to wear it down. Hydro Pump is an offensive move meant primarily to cover Skarmory and Gengar and deny them the ability to switch in for free. Hydro Pump also does higher damage than Earthquake or Ice Beam against Tyranitar and Aerodactyl, OHKOing the latter with 36 Special Attack EVs and OHKOing both if Torrent is activated, which can mean avoiding a sweep in close games. However, a more defensive Swampert has other options to use:(space)Roar keeps defensive setup sweepers like Suicune, Snorlax, and Jirachi from setting up for free and racks up Spikes damage against grounded Pokemon, while Refresh allows Swampert to shrug off poison and burn, keeping it from being worn down by status.
The given spread maximize Swampert's ability to take hits—248 HP EVs and 44 Special Defense EVs guarantee that Swampert survives Hidden Power Grass from Modest Zapdos from full, while the rest of the EVs go into Defense. As an alternative, 36 Special Attack EVs guarantee that Swampert's Hydro Pump will OHKO uninvested Aerodactyl. Running 96 Special Attack EVs with a Quiet nature threatens higher damage against Skarmory and Gengar, which certain teams may desire. Overall, Swampert's EVs can be reallocated in a variety of ways depending on priorities.
This Swampert generally serves as the first line of defense against physical threats early-game, yet it requires an element of caution as well. Protect should be used early-game to scout for Hidden Power Grass from Tyranitar, Zapdos, or Salamence as well as a potential Explosion from Metagross, and a player should be willing to use pivots and double switches to protect Swampert from being hit by these. Damage rolls are important for identifying a Choice Band attacker. When given free turns, Hydro Pump is usually the best move to use, or Roar if dropping Hydro Pump. If lacking Refresh, be wary of taking Toxic from Skarmory or Zapdos so Swampert can check Dragon Dance Tyranitar, Dragon Dance Salamence, and Choice Band Aerodactyl late-game. Protect gains value mid- and late-game for regaining health so a sustained physical assault doesn't wear your Swampert down, though the player should be wary of overusing the move and giving up free turns.
Team Options
=========
Swampert works well as a standalone wall, but it requires certain support to function at its best. In particular, Swampert wants switch-ins that can pressure Suicune, Milotic, and Celebi, all of which it struggles to touch, as well as a counter to Hidden Power Grass Electric-types and mixed attackers in general. Celebi and Flygon counter Hidden Power Grass Electric-types while appreciating Swampert's ability to deal with Hidden Power Ice Electric-types, while Blissey's ability to stonewall special attackers complements Swampert beautifully. Faster Pokemon such as Gengar, Starmie, and Jolteon can be used as one-time switch-ins against mixed attackers to force them out and make Swampert's life easier. Zapdos can check both Metagross and mixed Salamence while heavily pressuring Skarmory and defensive Water-types, which Swampert appreciates immensely. In a similar vein, Moltres's ability to cover Swampert against Metagross and destroy Celebi is extremely valuable.
Due to its lack of immediate offense, Swampert appreciates Spikes and sand support to punish more defensive teams that it can be deadweight versus. Both Skarmory and Tyranitar cover Snorlax, a major physical threat that Swampert doesn't beat on its own, and can back it up against physical threats in general. In addition, Swampert lacking Hydro Pump struggles against Skarmory, Forretress, and Gengar, so it appreciates Magneton and Pursuit Tyranitar's support, and even with Hydro Pump it tends to appreciate Skarmory and Gengar's removal from the game. Lastly, Salamence and Metagross make phenomenal partners for Swampert; Salamence can weaken physical attackers with Intimidate and tempt the opponent to use Rock Slide so Swampert can easily switch in, while Metagross serves as a backup Rock-type answer and check to physical attackers. Both Pokemon also provide the instant offense that this Swampert lacks, which helps to round out a team.
[SET]
name: Surf Defensive
move 1: Surf
move 2: Toxic / Roar
move 3: Protect
move 4: Refresh / Roar
item: Leftovers
ability: Torrent
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 204 Def / 44 SpD / 12 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
This set constitutes a variant on the above defensive set that sacrifices self-sufficiency for certain utilities and a more intuitive playstyle. STAB Surf allows Swampert to cover the metagame in a similar way that Hydro Pump does, allowing it to guarantee neutral damage on switch-ins like Skarmory and Gengar. Toxic complements Surf, targeting Water-resistant Pokemon like Celebi, Suicune, and Salamence and passive
Pokemon like Blissey, keeping them from staying in with impunity. Protect can be used to rack up Toxic damage against aggressive attackers like Salamence and stay healthy in slugfests against Blissey, as well as letting Swampert heal up through Leftovers recovery.
Refresh completes this set utility-wise, making it impossible to wear down via status. Roar usually fits better on teams that need a phazer, as denying free setup to Dragon Dance Salamence and defensive Calm Mind Jirachi can be quite important considering that this set forgoes Earthquake and Ice Beam. The choice between these moves comes down to team-based necessity. The given EVs maximize Defense while letting Swampert outspeed uninvested Tyranitar and Quiet Metagross and guaranteeing survival against Hidden Power Grass from Modest Zapdos. Note that forgoing Earthquake allows Swampert to run a Bold nature to outrun standard defensive Swampert.
Team Options
=========
Forgoing Earthquake and Ice Beam means that Choice Band Metagross and Dragon Dance Salamence pose great threats to this particular Swampert set, as its lack of a super effective attack grants them more turns to attack and more chances to potentially break through. Skarmory's support helps cover both of these Pokemon, while setting Spikes to help compensate for Swampert's lack of instant offense and punish grounded Pokemon like Milotic, Suicune, Celebi, and Snorlax that would otherwise switch in for comparatively free. Tyranitar's sand also inconveniences these Pokemon, and it can cover Swampert's back against Pokemon like Gengar, Jirachi, Snorlax, and physical Salamence. As Surf does less damage to Skarmory than Hydro Pump does, Magneton support is much appreciated with this Swampert to prevent Skarmory from freely laying Spikes down. It also helps that Magneton brutalizes Milotic while removing weakened Metagross, both of which this Swampert struggles against. Lastly, a consistent switch-in to Celebi, such as Salamence, Moltres, or Aerodactyl, generally partners well with this Swampert. Moltres in particular can destroy Skarmory and check Metagross, both of which this Swampert appreciates
[SET]
name: Standard Offensive
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Earthquake / Hidden Power Grass
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Focus Punch
item: Leftovers
ability: Torrent
nature: Rash
evs: 108 Def / 252 SpA / 148 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
As a contrast to the above sets, this is an offensive Swampert set that relies on its mixed attacking power to break common defensive archetypes and punish some of its standard checks. Hydro Pump threatens to 2HKO or 3HKO virtually any Pokemon that doesn't resist it. Focus Punch works to get a guaranteed hit on predicted switches and, more importantly, prevents Blissey from freely recovering with Soft-Boiled, which keeps it from being a reliable check. Ice Beam primarily nails specially defensive Zapdos as well as Salamence and Grass-types. Earthquake gives Swampert mixed attacking coverage, which helps wear down Blissey, pressues specially defensive Jirachi, and guarantees the KO on Tyranitar and Metagross at certain ranges rather than risking a Hydro Pump miss. However, as all these Pokemon are covered to some extent by Hydro Pump and Focus Punch, Hidden Power Grass can be used in the fourth slot on more offensive teams, where luring in and removing opposing Swampert and clobbering Cloyster might be higher priorities.
252 Special Attack EVs with a Rash nature maximize Swampert's damage output, while the Speed investment allows it to outrun Adamant Claydol as well as Blissey, specially defensive Skarmory, and slower variants of Metagross and Tyranitar. The rest of the EVs go into Defense as opposed to HP to maximize Swampert's ability to take physical hits, which this spread takes noticeably worse than usual. 28 Attack EVs ensure that a Focus Punch followed by an Earthquake from Swampert will always KO Blissey from full with sand up, thereby ensuring that using Focus Punch against Blissey on the switch will pay off. Bulkier spreads are of course possible, as is maximizing Speed for the purpose of outrunning Jolly Marowak and negative-natured Wish + Protect Jirachi.
This set is meant to be played aggressively, relying on Swampert's natural ability to force switches and Hydro Pump's damage output for offensive momentum. It's generally better to bring this Swampert in on predicted switches and resisted moves like Rock Slide than to take massive damage from Choice Band Metagross or mixed Tyranitar. The player should be willing to trade Swampert's health for potential KOs or preserve it so it can hold off an expected Dragon Dance Tyranitar or Aerodactyl in the back. Prediction is key when using this Swampert. Keep in mind that despite the offensive spread, this Swampert cannot break through Milotic, Rest Suicune, or Celebi without significant luck, and thus it should always avoid those matchups. As always, be wary of Hidden Power Grass, as the lack of HP investment leaves Swampert vulnerable to being outright KOed.
Team Options
========
Metagross is absolutely integral as a partner, as this Swampert cannot be relied on defensively and thus requires the support of a backup Rock-type check and check to physical attackers. Metagross and Swampert together form a dual status pivot core against Blissey; Metagross is immune to Toxic, and Swampert is immune to Thunder Wave. Thus, they exert massive pressure on it for an offensive team while playing around potential status attempts. Metagross tends to appreciate Swampert's targeting of Skarmory and opposing Swampert while threatening to use Explosion on Milotic and Suicune and thereby open up Swampert as a threat. Salamence draws Rock Slides that give Swampert an opportunity to switch in, and its Intimidate cushions physical blows for Swampert to come in on, while it appreciates the offense this set brings. Salamencepairs extremely well with both Metagross and Jirachi as well, providing offense and an immunity to Earthquake. Offensive Celebi and Zapdos threaten to blow through Milotic, Rest Suicune, and Recover Starmie, all of which this Swampert struggles to touch. Furthermore, they can potentially Baton Pass Calm Mind or Agility boosts to Swampert, making it much more of an offensive threat. Hidden Power Grass Swampert particularly appreciates these boosts, as at +1 or +2, it can push through Milotic and Suicune on its own.
As always, Spikes are helpful to punish Grass-types and bulky Water-types, which tend to switch into Hydro Pump with impunity. Skarmory and Cloyster can also back Swampert up against physical attackers that threaten it. Lastly, faster Pokemon like Starmie and Jolteon appreciate this Swampert's wallbreaking capabilities while threatening mixed attackers like Salamence that can give it trouble.
[SET]
name: Substitute + Salac Berry
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Endeavor
move 3: Hydro Pump / Surf
move 4: Roar / Ice Beam
item: Salac Berry
ability: Torrent
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Substitute + Salac Berry Swampert is, if anything, an even more all-in approach to offensive Swampert. This set relies on many of Swampert's useful characteristics: Torrent, an immunity to sand, and access to Endeavor, which make it a frightening sweeper.
Substitute lets Swampert reduce its HP to active Torrent and its Berry, while Endeavor capitalizes on that loss of HP to beat defensive Pokemon. Hydro Pump is the usual Water-type STAB attack, which does frightening damage when boosted by Torrent, but Surf's accuracy is appreciated on certain teams, particularly with Magneton support to nullify Skarmory. Roar constitutes a surprisingly innovative option for a fourth move, capitalizing on Endeavor. As many potential answers to this set—Milotic, Celebi, and Blissey,—have instant recovery moves and can thus stall out Endeavor, Roar's negative priority guarantees them to be forced out and puts your opponent into an uncomfortable situation. If they switch back to their counter as you use Endeavor, they've lost their counter; if they leave whatever Roar forced in to take a Hydro Pump, they're a Pokemon down. In addition, Roar provides defensive utility in denying Calm Mind users such as Suicune, Celebi, and Jirachi, which tend to threaten the teams this Swampert usually finds itself on.
Ice Beam is an option to cover Celebi and drops Salamence, the latter of which might be important for a team to cover, but the fact that both of Ice Beam's targets are affected by sand and technically covered by Endeavor is another mark in favor of Roar's viability. Swagger constitutes an additional option, as the confusion chance forces a similar coinflip for the opponent, but unlike Roar it has no utility and can potentially backfire.
The EVs are fairly straightforward: maximum Special Attack and Speed with a Timid nature. Note that even after the Salac Berry boost, Swampert is outrun by Starmie, Jolly Dugtrio, Aerodactyl, and Jolteon. This Swampert is fairly intuitive as far as play goes—use Substitute when given free turns, use Hydro Pump against passive Pokemon or phazers, and start using Endeavor once Salac Berry activates. Generally, one should try to bring this set in on Pokemon such as Tyranitar, Metagross, and Salamence, as their hits will force Swampert into Salac Berry range quicker and reverse an attacker's momentum.
Team Options
=========
This Swampert is completely unreliable defensively and must be paired with other offensive checks to physical attackers so its team won't be overwhelmed. Metagross's support is virtually obligatory to check Tyranitar and Aerodactyl, as well as Dragon Dance Salamence should this set not run Ice Beam. In addition, Metagross's Choice Band-boosted Earthquake utterly destroys Thunderbolt + Ice Punch Jirachi, which this Swampert cannot check without Roar and cannot beat outright. Magneton's support is surprisingly helpful, as it offers an additional Rock-type resistance while trapping Skarmory, whose Spikes and Whirlwind can interfere with Swampert's attempts to sweep, and allows Swampert to use the more accurate Surf with fewer risks.
This Swampert tends to target defensive cores and thereby open them up for offensive Pokemon; Zapdos and Suicune appreciate Swampert removing Celebi and Blissey, while Metagross and Dragon Dance Salamence appreciate the removal of opposing Suicune and Milotic as well as Skarmory being weakened. Offensive Suicune is an interesting partner for this Swampert set, as it can also serve as a one-off check to physical threats and backs up Swampert while exerting massive pressure on Pokemon such as Skarmory and Snorlax. These two form a double Water-type core that can ground a team offensively and defensively. Lastly, sand is a helpful complement to Swampert's offense to finish off defensive Pokemon weakened by Endeavor. Dragon Dance Tyranitar also tends to appreciate this Swampert's ability to break defensive cores and open up sweeping opportunities. As an alternate option, however, Pursuit Tyranitar can remove Gengar, which can be quite the annoyance to Swampert with its immunity to Endeavor, and it can run Ice Beam to cover Roar variants against Dragon Dance Salamence.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Curse Swampert is a threatening sweeper with longevity through Rest, but the ubiquity of Ground-immune Pokemon and mixed attackers running Hidden Power Grass tends to hamper its sweeping prospects. An all-physical or even Choice Band Swampert would do better at pushing through defensive Water-types and could potentially lure in Celebi and KO it with Hidden Power Bug, but it would be required to drop Hydro Pump and thus require Magneton and Pursuit Tyranitar to avoid becoming bait for Skarmory and Gengar. In a similar vein, a Substitute + Focus Punch set similar to non-Salac Berry offensive Swampert could work, brutalizing Blissey and Snorlax much harder at the cost of requiring the same support an all-physical Swampert would and struggling even more against other Water-types.
Checks and Counters
===================
Grass-types are the biggest threats to Swampert, as they hit it super effectively and target its only weakness. Celebi's natural defenses and access to Recover render Swampert almost deadweight, as it can come in repeatedly for free and create free turns, while Swampert can do little to dissuade it short of freezing it with Ice Beam. Venusaur, while lacking recovery, can still come in on Surfs and Hydro Pumps and threaten to land Sleep Powder on something. Opposing Water-types also give Swampert trouble, as they resist Hydro Pump, have the bulk to take Earthquakes, and can usually win the slugfests. Milotic and Rest Suicune are the primary examples of this, although Recover Starmie also deserves a mention. Cloyster, while not having recovery, can set Spikes against Swampert with impunity or threaten to use Explosion on it. Specially defensive Skarmory threatens to poison
Swampert with Toxic and lay down Spikes against it, cutting into its longevity, and with its heavy Special Defense investment, it can shrug off Swampert's Hydro Pumps. Heracross is an interesting example of a check, as it resists Earthquake and Focus Punch while having the natural bulk to switch into Hydro Pump once, and the sheer physical threat it poses can force Swampert to retreat rather than take a STAB Megahorn. However, Heracross lacks recovery and is worn down quickly by sand and Spikes, so it prefers to come in on pivots wherever possible. Gyarados's primary niche is its ability to handle defensive Water-types in a way that Tyranitar and Salamence cannot; it can potentially run Taunt to shut down Swampert's utility options and threatens to set up Dragon Dance while shrugging off resisted Surfs and weak Ice Beams. However, it has poor longevity and is more of an exploiter than a counter.
In a different vein, Swampert's towering status over the metagame almost mandates the heavy use of Hidden Power Grass, and Swampert must always be wary of its specter. Gengar, Zapdos, and Salamence all threaten to land Hidden Power Grass while being able to switch in on predicted Earthquakes, and even a Tyranitar or Jolteon may reveal it to blow through a weakened Swampert. Furthermore, Swampert's heavy reliance on Protect for recovery and scouting can allow a skilled player room to create free switches and bring in offensive threats for free, so while none of these Pokemon are switch-ins, the threat they pose must be accounted for by the Swampert's player.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Lord Ninjax, 200040]]
- Quality checked by: [[vapicuno, 5454 ], [BKC, 52012]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Rabia, 336703], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
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