Competitive Information for Basculin [Black/White]
Water
Abilities:
Movesets for Singles
What is a good competitive moveset for Basculin? These builds have been optimized for Pokemon competing in Black/White Single Battles. The movesets and EVs have been specifically calibrated to deal the most amount of damage to the largest group of potentially common opponents and typing threats for the Black/White generation metagame.
Basculin is a notable Water-typed Pokemon. Basculin is a normal Pokemon to see in Generation 5. This Pokemon deserves to see more play in the meta. Basculin's only type-related weaknesses are Electric and Grass.
Item: Life Orb / Mystic Water
Ability: Adaptability
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Aqua Tail / Waterfall
- Double-Edge / Return
- Superpower / Revenge
- Crunch / Bite
Physical Sweeper Basculin (Adaptability)
Basculin is a phenomenal Physical Sweeper. It's primary goal is to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. White Herb will reset Basculin's negative stat changes once (specifically for when it uses Superpower). Focus Sash helps protect Basculin from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Life Orb boosts the power of Basculin's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Adaptability, Basculin's same-type attack bonus (stab) is 2 instead of 1.5.
♦ Waterfall is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (20% chance to flinch the target).
♦ Double-Edge is a physical 120-base power Normal-type move (has 33% recoil).
♦ Return is a physical 0-base power Normal-type move (max 102 power at maximum happiness).
♦ Superpower is a physical 120-base power Fighting-type move (lowers your Basculin's attack and defense by 1 stage).
♦ Revenge is a physical 60-base power Fighting-type move (power doubles if Basculin is damaged by the target).
♦ Crunch is a physical 80-base power Dark-type move (20% chance to lower the target's defense by 1 stage).
♦ Bite is a physical 60-base power Dark-type move (30% chance to flinch the target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/fs10a226
Item: Life Orb / Mystic Water
Ability: Adaptability
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Surf / Scald
- Ice Beam / Icy Wind
- Round / Snore
- Mud Shot
Special Sweeper Basculin (Adaptability)
Basculin is pretty popular Special Sweeper. It is designed to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Focus Sash helps protect Basculin from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Life Orb boosts the power of Basculin's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Adaptability, Basculin's same-type attack bonus (stab) is 2 instead of 1.5.
♦ Scald is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (30% chance to burn the target).
♦ Ice Beam is a special 95-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
♦ Icy Wind is a special 55-base power Ice-type move (100% chance to lower the foes speed by 1 stage).
♦ Round is a special 60-base power Normal-type move (power doubles if others used round this turn).
♦ Snore is a special 40-base power Normal-type move (Basculin must be asleep. 30% chance to flinch target).
♦ Mud Shot is a special 55-base power Ground-type move (100% chance to lower the target's speed by 1 stage).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/fs11a226
Item: Focus Sash
Ability: Mold Breaker
Nature: Naughty (+Atk, -SpD)
EVs: 210 Hp / 210 Atk / 60 SpD / 30 Spe
Moveset:
- Aqua Jet
- Revenge / Aqua Tail
- Return
- Waterfall
Basculin Physical Tank (Sturdy Bass)
Basculin is a stupendous Physical Tank. This moveset is designed to take a good amount of physical hits while dealing some decent damage. Focus Sash helps protect Basculin from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. With Mold Breaker, Basculin's moves and their effects ignore the abilities of other pokemon.
♦ Revenge is a physical 60-base power Fighting-type move (power doubles if Basculin is damaged by the target).
♦ Aqua Tail is a physical STAB-boosted 90-base power Water-type move that deals a hefty amount of damage.
♦ Return is a physical 0-base power Normal-type move (max 102 power at maximum happiness).
♦ Waterfall is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (20% chance to flinch the target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/fs12a226
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Adaptability
Nature: Naughty (+Atk, -SpD)
EVs: 252 Hp / 252 Atk / 4 Spe
Moveset:
- Aqua Jet
- Zen Headbutt
- Return
- Substitute
Basculin Physical Tank (Big Bass)
Basculin is a pretty decent Physical Tank. It's purpose is to take a substantial amount of physical hits while dealing some decent damage. Life Orb boosts the power of Basculin's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Adaptability, Basculin's same-type attack bonus (stab) is 2 instead of 1.5.
♦ Zen Headbutt is a physical 80-base power Psychic-type move (20% chance to flinch the target).
♦ Return is a physical 0-base power Normal-type move (max 102 power at maximum happiness).
♦ Substitute is a status move (Basculin takes 1/4 its max hp to put in a substitute).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/fs13a226
Movesets for Doubles
What is a good doubles moveset for Basculin? These builds have been optimized for Black/White Double Battles. They have movesets and EVs specifically calibrated to generally work best versus multiple Pokemon at once as well as helping to support other team members and allys in the Black/White generation metagame.
Item: Life Orb / Mystic Water
Ability: Adaptability
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Aqua Tail / Waterfall
- Double-Edge / Return
- Superpower / Revenge
- Crunch / Bite
Doubles Physical Sweeper Basculin (Adaptability)
Basculin is a sensational Physical Sweeper. It's primary goal is to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. White Herb will reset Basculin's negative stat changes once (specifically for when it uses Superpower). Focus Sash helps protect Basculin from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Life Orb boosts the power of Basculin's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Adaptability, Basculin's same-type attack bonus (stab) is 2 instead of 1.5.
♦ Waterfall is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (20% chance to flinch the target).
♦ Double-Edge is a physical 120-base power Normal-type move (has 33% recoil).
♦ Return is a physical 0-base power Normal-type move (max 102 power at maximum happiness).
♦ Superpower is a physical 120-base power Fighting-type move (lowers your Basculin's attack and defense by 1 stage).
♦ Revenge is a physical 60-base power Fighting-type move (power doubles if Basculin is damaged by the target).
♦ Crunch is a physical 80-base power Dark-type move (20% chance to lower the target's defense by 1 stage).
♦ Bite is a physical 60-base power Dark-type move (30% chance to flinch the target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/fd10a226
Item: Life Orb / Mystic Water
Ability: Adaptability
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Surf / Scald
- Icy Wind / Ice Beam
- Round / Snore
- Mud Shot
Doubles Special Sweeper Basculin (Adaptability)
Basculin is a decent Special Sweeper. The purpose of this moveset is to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Focus Sash helps protect Basculin from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Life Orb boosts the power of Basculin's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Adaptability, Basculin's same-type attack bonus (stab) is 2 instead of 1.5.
♦ Scald is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (30% chance to burn the target).
♦ Icy Wind is a special 55-base power Ice-type move (100% chance to lower the foes speed by 1 stage).
♦ Ice Beam is a special 95-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
♦ Round is a special 60-base power Normal-type move (power doubles if others used round this turn).
♦ Snore is a special 40-base power Normal-type move (Basculin must be asleep. 30% chance to flinch target).
♦ Mud Shot is a special 55-base power Ground-type move (100% chance to lower the target's speed by 1 stage).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/fd11a226
Movepool
Wondering what moves can Basculin learn? Here is the list of moves this Pokemon can learn in this selected generation.
Sort and organize the learnset by move type, category, accuracy, and power. Bolded moves will gain the same-type attack bonus (STAB) if this Pokemon uses them.
Damage Modifiers:
Combo List
These are a list of several common move combinations Basculin can perform in Black/White. Not every combo going to be game-changing, but some can be pretty fun to play with. Sometimes these can be easily overlooked or forgotten, hence why we find and list them here. Discover what items, abilities, and moves this Pokemon can use in combination with each other to gain a strategic advantage in competitive battles.
Competitive BW Move and Ability Combos for Basculin
- Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
- Moves: Rest + Snore
- Move: Swagger + Item: Mirror Herb
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Move: Endeavor + Item: Focus Sash
- Recoil moves boosted by Reckless: Double-Edge, Take Down
- Moves with Priority: Protect, Aqua Jet
- Moves that inflict status: Toxic, Scald
Moves that boost Basculin's stats
- Agility
- Rage
Most notable and possible best moves for Basculin
- Ice Beam
- Protect
- Rest
- Scald
- Taunt
- Toxic
Common Effort Values for Basculin in Black and White
- Nature ( )
- Nature ( )
- Optimize Basculin's EV spread for Pokemon Black and White
Related Videos
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Here are the best movesets for Basculin. Top rated Basculin Black/White movesets. You can find Basculin builds Black/White. Basculin movesets Black/White are listed here. VGC Basculin Competitive Movesets can be found here. Find various EV spreads, find the best nature for Basculin in Black/White along with competitive movesets. Basic info and Movesets for evolution