Competitive Information for Squirtle [Sword/Shield]
Water
Abilities:
If Rain Dance is active, this Pokemon heals 1/16 of its max HP each turn.
At 1/3 or less of its max HP, this Pokemon's offensive stat is 1.5x with Water attacks.
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Movesets for Singles
Looking for a competitive moveset for Squirtle? 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!
Squirtle is here! This awesome Pokémon is Water-typed and ready to shine! Squirtle is not a Pokémon anyone usually expects to see on the battlefield. It often dominates battles in the LC tier (Little Cup). Its only type-related weaknesses are Electric and Grass. Discover Squirtle's movesets below and unleash its potential in battles!
Item: Life Orb / Choice Band
Ability: Rain Dish
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Hp / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Moveset:
- Aqua Tail / Waterfall
- Body Slam / Facade
- Brick Break
- Ice Punch
For single battles, Squirtle is an interesting Physical Sweeper. The purpose of this moveset is to crush rivals using devastating 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. Facade's damage doubles when the user has a status affliction.
◆ Waterfall is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (20% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Body Slam is a physical 85-base power Normal-type move (30% chance to paralyze the target).
◆ Facade is a physical 70-base power Normal-type move (power doubles if Squirtle is burn/poison/paralyzed).
◆ Brick Break is a physical 75-base power Fighting-type move (destroys screens, unless the target is immune).
◆ Ice Punch is a physical 75-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/maa7
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
Ready for single battles? Squirtle is a magnificent Special Sweeper. This moveset focuses to take down the opponent's team with forceful special moves. 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 mighty 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/mba7
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
In single battles, Squirtle is known as a decent Double Wall. It attempts to provide strong resistance against both physical and special moves. 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 immense 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/mca7
Movesets for Doubles
Need a strong doubles moveset for Squirtle? 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: Life Orb / Choice Band
Ability: Rain Dish
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Hp / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Moveset:
- Aqua Tail / Waterfall
- Body Slam / Facade
- Brick Break
- Ice Punch
Taking on double battles? Squirtle is a notable Physical Sweeper. It tries to take down the opponent's team with formidable 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. Facade's damage doubles when the user has a status affliction.
◆ Waterfall is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (20% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Body Slam is a physical 85-base power Normal-type move (30% chance to paralyze the target).
◆ Facade is a physical 70-base power Normal-type move (power doubles if Squirtle is burn/poison/paralyzed).
◆ Brick Break is a physical 75-base power Fighting-type move (destroys screens, unless the target is immune).
◆ Ice Punch is a physical 75-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/naa7
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
Squirtle proves to be a notable Special Sweeper for double battles. This moveset is tailored to overwhelm foes with heavy-hitting 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 substantial 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/nba7
Movepool
Want to know what moves Squirtle 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 Squirtle.
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: Endure + Flail
- Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
- Moves: Rest + Snore
- Moves: Yawn + Protect
- Ability: Torrent + Item: Focus sash
- Move: Fling + Item: King's Rock
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Moves with Priority: Endure, Helping Hand, Protect, Aqua Jet, Fake Out
- Moves that Break Screens: Brick Break
- Moves that inflict status: Yawn, Scald
Moves that boost Squirtle's stats
- Iron Defense
- Rapid Spin
- Shell Smash
- Skull Bash
- Withdraw
- Work Up
Most notable and possible best moves for Squirtle
- Fake Out
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Protect
- Rapid Spin
- Rest
- Scald
- 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 )
- 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 Squirtle'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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