Competitive Information for Squirtle [Sword/Shield]
Water
Abilities:
Movesets for Singles
What is a good competitive moveset for Squirtle? These builds have been optimized for Pokemon competing in Sword/Shield 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 Sword/Shield generation metagame.
Squirtle is a pretty decent Water-typed Pokemon. Squirtle is not a Pokemon anyone usually expects sees on the battlefield. Squirtle can be quite a contender in the LC tier (Little Cup). Squirtle's only type-related weaknesses are Electric and Grass.
Item: Life Orb / Choice Band
Ability: Rain Dish
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Hp / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Moveset:
- Aqua Tail / Waterfall
- Outrage
- Ice Punch / Double-Edge
- Brick Break
Physical Sweeper Squirtle (Rain Dish)
Squirtle is a wonderful Physical Sweeper for single battles. It's purpose is to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Choice Band will increase the damage of Squirtle's physical moves by 1.5x at the cost of locking you into the first move you pick. Life Orb boosts the power of Squirtle's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Rain Dish, if rain dance is active Squirtle heals 1/16 of its max hp each turn. Ice Punch was added to provide additional threat coverage.
◆ Waterfall is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (20% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Outrage is a physical 120-base power Dragon-type move (lasts 2-3 turns. Confuses your Squirtle afterwards).
◆ Ice Punch is a physical 75-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
◆ Double-Edge is a physical 120-base power Normal-type move (has 33% recoil).
◆ Brick Break is a physical 75-base power Fighting-type move (destroys screens, unless the target is immune).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/is10a7
Item: Throat Spray / Life Orb
Ability: Rain Dish
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 252 Hp / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Weather Ball / Surf
- Ice Beam / Icy Wind
- Dragon Pulse
- Round / Snore
Special Sweeper Squirtle (Rain Dish)
Squirtle is an outstanding Special Sweeper for single battles. It's purpose is to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Throat Spray activates when a Pokemon uses a sound-based move (in this case Round or Snore) and boosts Squirtle's special attack stat by 2 stages. Life Orb boosts the power of Squirtle's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Rain Dish, if rain dance is active Squirtle heals 1/16 of its max hp each turn.
◆ Surf is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Water-type move (hits adjacent pokemon. Double damage on dive).
◆ 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).
◆ Dragon Pulse is a special 85-base power Dragon-type move that deals a large amount of damage.
◆ 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 (Squirtle must be asleep. 30% chance to flinch target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/is11a7
Item: Shell Bell
Ability: Rain Dish
Nature: Hardy
EVs: 80 Hp / 80 Atk / 92 Def / 88 SpA / 92 SpD / 76 Spe
Moveset:
- Zen Headbutt
- Gyro Ball
- Ice Beam / Blizzard
- Hydro Pump / Scald
Squirtle Double Wall (Save The Turtles)
Squirtle is an astounding Double Wall for single battles. It is designed to have enough defenses and bulk to take both physical and special hits. With Rain Dish, if rain dance is active Squirtle heals 1/16 of its max hp each turn.
◆ Gyro Ball is a physical 0-base power Steel-type move (more power the slower your Squirtle than the target).
◆ Ice Beam is a special 90-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
◆ Blizzard is a special 110-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze foes. Can't miss in hail).
◆ Hydro Pump is a special STAB-boosted 110-base power Water-type move that deals a huge amount of damage.
◆ Scald is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (30% chance to burn the target. Thaws target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/is12a7
Movesets for Doubles
What is a good doubles moveset for Squirtle? These builds have been optimized for Sword/Shield 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 Sword/Shield generation metagame.
Item: Life Orb / Choice Band
Ability: Rain Dish
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Hp / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Moveset:
- Rock Slide
- Aqua Tail / Waterfall
- Outrage
- Ice Punch / Double-Edge
Doubles Physical Sweeper Squirtle (Rain Dish)
Squirtle is a sensational Physical Sweeper for double battles. It's primary goal is to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Choice Band will increase the damage of Squirtle's physical moves by 1.5x at the cost of locking you into the first move you pick. Life Orb boosts the power of Squirtle's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Rain Dish, if rain dance is active Squirtle heals 1/16 of its max hp each turn. Ice Punch was added to provide additional threat coverage.
◆ Aqua Tail is a physical STAB-boosted 90-base power Water-type move that deals a hefty amount of damage.
◆ Waterfall is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (20% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Outrage is a physical 120-base power Dragon-type move (lasts 2-3 turns. Confuses your Squirtle afterwards).
◆ Ice Punch is a physical 75-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
◆ Double-Edge is a physical 120-base power Normal-type move (has 33% recoil).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/id10a7
Item: Throat Spray / Life Orb
Ability: Rain Dish
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 252 Hp / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Water Spout / Surf
- Icy Wind / Ice Beam
- Dragon Pulse
- Round / Snore
Doubles Special Sweeper Squirtle (Rain Dish)
Squirtle is an awesome Special Sweeper for double battles. It is meant to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Throat Spray activates when a Pokemon uses a sound-based move (in this case Round or Snore) and raises Squirtle's special attack stat by 2 stages. Life Orb boosts the power of Squirtle's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Rain Dish, if rain dance is active Squirtle heals 1/16 of its max hp each turn.
◆ Surf is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Water-type move (hits adjacent pokemon. Double damage on dive).
◆ 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).
◆ Dragon Pulse is a special 85-base power Dragon-type move that deals a great amount of damage.
◆ 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 (Squirtle must be asleep. 30% chance to flinch target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/id11a7
Movepool
Wondering what moves can Squirtle 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 Squirtle 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 Squirtle
- Moves: Defense curl + Rollout
- Moves: Endure + Flail
- Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
- Moves: Rest + Snore
- Moves: Yawn + Protect
- Ability: Torrent + Item: Focus sash
- Move: Swagger + Item: Mirror Herb
- Move: Fling + Item: King's Rock
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Item: Blunder Policy + Move: Dynamic Punch
- Moves with Priority: Endure, Protect, Fake Out, Follow Me, Helping Hand, Aqua Jet
- Moves that Break Screens: Brick Break
- Moves that inflict status: Toxic, Yawn, Scald
Moves that boost Squirtle's stats
- Curse
- Defense Curl
- Iron Defense
- Power-Up Punch
- Rapid Spin
- Shell Smash
- Skull Bash
- Withdraw
- Work Up
Most notable and possible best moves for Squirtle
- Fake Out
- Flip Turn
- Hydro Cannon
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Protect
- Rapid Spin
- Reflect
- Rest
- Scald
- Toxic
- Water Spout
Common Effort Values for Squirtle in Sword and Shield
- Adamant Nature ( 0/252/0/0/0/252 )
- Modest Nature ( 0/0/0/252/0/252 )
- Optimize Squirtle's EV spread for Pokemon Sword and Shield
Related Videos
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