Competitive Information for Basculin [Sun/Moon]
Water
Abilities:
Movesets for Singles
What is a good competitive moveset for Basculin? These builds have been optimized for Pokemon competing in Sun/Moon 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 Sun/Moon generation metagame.
Basculin is a phenomenal Water-typed Pokemon. It's super common to see Basculin show up as a Sun/Moon opponent. Basculin's only type-related weaknesses are Electric and Grass.
Item: Normalium Z / Focus Sash
Ability: Reckless
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Double-Edge / Return
- Liquidation / Aqua Tail
- Superpower / Revenge
- Crunch / Bite
Physical Sweeper Basculin (Reckless)
Basculin is a remarkable Physical Sweeper. The purpose of this moveset is to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Focus Sash helps protect Basculin from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. With Reckless, Basculin's attacks with recoil or crash damage have 1.2x power; not struggle.
♦ Return is a physical 0-base power Normal-type move (max 102 power at maximum happiness).
♦ Liquidation is a physical STAB-boosted 85-base power Water-type move (20% chance to lower the target's defense by 1 stage).
♦ Aqua Tail is a physical STAB-boosted 90-base power Water-type move that deals a decent amount of damage.
♦ 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/hs10a226
Item: Waterium Z / Focus Sash
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 an astounding Special Sweeper. It's goal 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. 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. thaws target).
♦ Ice Beam is a special 90-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 50-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/hs11a226
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 notable Physical Tank. It's designed to take a hefty 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 decent 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/hs12a226
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 attempts to take a good 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/hs13a226
Movesets for Doubles
What is a good doubles moveset for Basculin? These builds have been optimized for Sun/Moon 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 Sun/Moon generation metagame.
Item: Normalium Z / Focus Sash
Ability: Reckless
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Double-Edge / Return
- Liquidation / Aqua Tail
- Superpower / Revenge
- Crunch / Bite
Doubles Physical Sweeper Basculin (Reckless)
Basculin is a phenomenal Physical Sweeper. It's purpose is to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Focus Sash helps protect Basculin from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. With Reckless, Basculin's attacks with recoil or crash damage have 1.2x power; not struggle.
♦ Return is a physical 0-base power Normal-type move (max 102 power at maximum happiness).
♦ Liquidation is a physical STAB-boosted 85-base power Water-type move (20% chance to lower the target's defense by 1 stage).
♦ Aqua Tail is a physical STAB-boosted 90-base power Water-type move that deals a decent amount of damage.
♦ 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/hd10a226
Item: Waterium Z / Focus Sash
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 an awesome Special Sweeper. It's meant 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. 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. thaws 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 90-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 50-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/hd11a226
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 Sun/Moon. 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 SM 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, Head Smash, Take Down
- Moves with Priority: Protect, Aqua Jet
- Moves that inflict status: Scald, Toxic
Moves that boost Basculin's stats
- Agility
- Rage
Most notable and possible best moves for Basculin
- Head Smash
- Hidden Power
- Ice Beam
- Protect
- Rest
- Scald
- Taunt
- Toxic
Common Effort Values for Basculin in Sun and Moon
- Nature ( )
- Nature ( )
- Optimize Basculin's EV spread for Pokemon Sun and Moon
Related Videos
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Here are the best movesets for Basculin. Top rated Basculin Sun/Moon movesets. You can find Basculin builds Sun/Moon. Basculin movesets Sun/Moon are listed here. VGC Basculin Competitive Movesets can be found here. Find various EV spreads, find the best nature for Basculin in Sun/Moon along with competitive movesets. Basic info and Movesets for evolution