Competitive Information for Meowth [Sword/Shield]
Normal
Abilities:
If this Pokemon has no item, it finds one used by an adjacent Pokemon this turn.
This Pokemon's moves of 60 power or less have 1.5x power, including Struggle.
While this Pokemon is active, it prevents opposing Pokemon from using their Berries.
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Movesets for Singles
Looking for a competitive moveset for Meowth? These builds are optimized for Sword/Shield Single Battles. The movesets and EVs are designed to maximize damage against common opponents and threats in the Sword/Shield metagame. Check out the expert movesets below to boost your battle performance and dominate your opponents!
Meet Meowth, the spectacular Pokémon of Normal types! Meowth is not a Pokémon anyone usually expects to see on the battlefield. The LC tier (Little Cup) is where it shines. Its only type-related weakness is Fighting. Want to master Meowth's movesets? Dive into our detailed strategies below!
Item: Focus Sash / Choice Band
Ability: Technician
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Double-Edge / Slash
- Foul Play / Knock Off
- Shadow Claw
- Play Rough
Dominating single battles, Meowth is popular Physical Sweeper. It's primary goal is to overwhelm foes with devastating physical power. Focus Sash helps protect Meowth from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Choice Band will increase the damage of Meowth's physical moves by 1.5x at the cost of locking you into the first move you pick. With Technician, Meowth's moves of 60 or less power get boosted by 1.5x power.
◆ Slash is a physical STAB-boosted 70-base power Normal-type move (high critical hit ratio).
◆ Foul Play is a physical 95-base power Dark-type move (uses target's attack stat in damage calculation).
◆ Knock Off is a physical 65-base power Dark-type move (1.5x damage if foe holds an item; Note: This will also remove that item).
◆ Shadow Claw is a physical 70-base power Ghost-type move (high critical hit ratio).
◆ Play Rough is a physical 90-base power Fairy-type move (10% chance to lower the target's attack by 1 stage).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/maa34
Item: Focus Sash / Throat Spray
Ability: Technician
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Round / Hyper Voice
- Petal Dance
- Foul Play / Dark Pulse
- Thunderbolt
Ready for single battles? Meowth is a stunning Special Sweeper. It's goal is to crush rivals using devastating special power. Throat Spray activates when a Pokemon uses a sound-based move (in this case Round or Hyper Voice) and boosts Meowth's special attack stat by 2 stages. Focus Sash helps protect Meowth from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. With Technician, Meowth's moves of 60 or less power get boosted by 1.5x power.
◆ Hyper Voice is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Normal-type move (no additional effect. Hits adjacent foes).
◆ Petal Dance is a special 120-base power Grass-type move (lasts 2-3 turns. Confuses your Meowth afterwards).
◆ Foul Play is a physical 95-base power Dark-type move (uses target's attack stat in damage calculation).
◆ Dark Pulse is a special 80-base power Dark-type move (20% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Thunderbolt is a special 90-base power Electric-type move (10% chance to paralyze the target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/mba34
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Technician
Nature: Brave (+Atk, -Spe)
EVs: 160 Hp / 252 Def / 95 SpD
Moveset:
- Knock Off
- Fake Out
- Thief
- Screech
Prepare for single battles with Meowth as an exquisite Double Wall. It is designed to have enough defenses and bulk to take both physical and special hits. Life Orb boosts the power of Meowth's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Technician, Meowth's moves of 60 or less power get boosted by 1.5x power. In this case it would boosts Fake Out and Thief.
◆ Fake Out is a physical STAB-boosted priority-increased 40-base power Normal-type move (hits first. First turn out only. 100% flinch chance).
◆ Thief is a physical 60-base power Dark-type move (if your Meowth has no item, it steals the target's).
◆ Screech is a status move (lowers the target's defense by 2 stages).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/mca34
Movesets for Doubles
Need a strong doubles moveset for Meowth? These builds are perfect for VGC (Pokémon Video Game Championship) and other competitive Sword/Shield Double Battles. The VGC is the ultimate test of strategy and skill, and these movesets and EVs are designed to excel against multiple opponents at once while providing essential support to your team. Dominate the Sword/Shield metagame with these expert-crafted setups!
Item: Focus Sash / Choice Band
Ability: Technician
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Double-Edge / Slash
- Foul Play / Knock Off
- Shadow Claw
- Play Rough
Dominating double battles, Meowth is a magnificent Physical Sweeper. This moveset was constructed to crush rivals using formidable physical attacks. Focus Sash helps protect Meowth from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Choice Band will increase the damage of Meowth's physical moves by 1.5x at the cost of locking you into the first move you pick. With Technician, Meowth's moves of 60 or less power get boosted by 1.5x power.
◆ Slash is a physical STAB-boosted 70-base power Normal-type move (high critical hit ratio).
◆ Foul Play is a physical 95-base power Dark-type move (uses target's attack stat in damage calculation).
◆ Knock Off is a physical 65-base power Dark-type move (1.5x damage if foe holds an item; Note: This will also remove that item).
◆ Shadow Claw is a physical 70-base power Ghost-type move (high critical hit ratio).
◆ Play Rough is a physical 90-base power Fairy-type move (10% chance to lower the target's attack by 1 stage).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/naa34
Item: Focus Sash / Throat Spray
Ability: Technician
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Hyper Voice / Round
- Icy Wind
- Petal Dance
- Foul Play / Dark Pulse
Ready for double battles? Meowth is a noteworthy Special Sweeper. It's primary goal is to crush rivals using powerful special attacks. Throat Spray activates when a Pokemon uses a sound-based move (in this case Hyper Voice or Round) and raises Meowth's special attack stat by 2 stages. Focus Sash helps protect Meowth from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. With Technician, Meowth's moves of 60 or less power get boosted by 1.5x power. In this case it would boosts Round and Icy Wind.
◆ Round is a special STAB-boosted 60-base power Normal-type move (power doubles if others used round this turn).
◆ Icy Wind is a special 55-base power Ice-type move (100% chance to lower the foes speed by 1 stage).
◆ Petal Dance is a special 120-base power Grass-type move (lasts 2-3 turns. Confuses your Meowth afterwards).
◆ Foul Play is a physical 95-base power Dark-type move (uses target's attack stat in damage calculation).
◆ Dark Pulse is a special 80-base power Dark-type move (20% chance to make the target flinch).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/nba34
Movepool
Want to know what moves Meowth can learn? Check out the full list of moves available in the Pokemon Sword/Shield generation.
Sort and organize the learnset by type, category, accuracy, and power. Moves in bold get the same-type attack bonus (STAB) when used by Meowth.
Damage Modifiers:
Combo List
These are a list of several common move combinations Meowth can perform in Sword/Shield. 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 SS Move and Ability Combos for Meowth
- Moves: Swagger + Foul play
- Moves: Swagger + Psych up
- Moves: Swagger + Screech
- Moves: Rain dance + Thunder
- Moves: Endure + Flail
- Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
- Moves: Rest + Snore
- Move: Swagger + Item: Mirror Herb
- Move: Assurance + Item: Rocky Helmet
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Item: Blunder Policy + Move: Zap Cannon
- Moves boosted by Technician: Icy Wind (BP: 55), Aerial Ace (BP: 60), Shock Wave (BP: 60), Swift (BP: 60), Assurance (BP: 60), Bite (BP: 60), Covet (BP: 60), Echoed Voice (BP: 40), Fake Out (BP: 40), Feint (BP: 30), Mud-Slap (BP: 20), Pay Day (BP: 40), Payback (BP: 50), Round (BP: 60), Scratch (BP: 40), Snore (BP: 50), Thief (BP: 60), Water Gun (BP: 40), Water Pulse (BP: 60), Fury Swipes (BP: 18), Cut (BP: 50)
- Moves with Priority: Detect, Endure, Protect, Fake Out, Feint
- Moves that inflict status: Hypnosis, Toxic
Moves that boost Meowth's stats
- Amnesia
- Curse
- Defense Curl
- Hone Claws
- Nasty Plot
- Skull Bash
- Work Up
Most notable and possible best moves for Meowth
- Fake Out
- Knock Off
- Protect
- Rest
- Taunt
- Toxic
- U-turn
Common Effort Values for Meowth in Sword and Shield
- Adamant Nature ( 0/252/0/0/0/252 )
- Modest Nature ( 0/0/0/252/0/252 )
- Jolly Nature ( 0/252/0/0/0/252 )
- Timid Nature ( 0/0/0/252/0/252 )
- Bold Nature ( 252/0/252/0/0/4 )
- Calm Nature ( 252/0/0/0/252/4 )
- Relaxed Nature ( 252/0/88/0/168/0 )
- Sassy Nature ( 252/0/4/0/252/0 )
- Optimize Meowth's Defensive EV-spread for Pokemon Sword and Shield
Usage Data
Explore the latest analytical usage data for this Pokémon from various VGC and online competitions. We use this data to develop our strategies and movesets. The data is categorized by competition and skill level: top-ranking trainers, mid-level players, and entry-level players.
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