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!
Say hello to Squirtle, a sensational Pokémon that excels with Water typing! Squirtle is not a Pokémon anyone usually expects to see on the battlefield. In the LC tier (Little Cup), it's a fierce competitor. Its only type-related weaknesses are Electric and Grass. Ready to elevate your game with Squirtle's movesets? They're right below!
Item: Shell Bell / Life Orb
Ability: Rain Dish
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Hp / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Moveset:
- Aqua Tail / Waterfall
- Double-Edge / Body Slam
- Outrage
- Ice Punch
In single battles, Squirtle's Physical Sweeper role is a prestigious. It was designed to overwhelm foes with destructive physical moves. 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. The Shell Bell item option is to help Squirtle recover from the recoil damage it may take from Double-Edge. With Rain Dish, if rain dance is active Squirtle heals 1/16 of its max hp each turn.
◆ Waterfall is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (20% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Double-Edge is a physical 120-base power Normal-type move (has 33% recoil).
◆ Body Slam is a physical 85-base power Normal-type move (30% chance to paralyze the target).
◆ 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).
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
Squirtle stands out as a stunning Special Sweeper in single battles. The main aim of this moveset is to overwhelm foes with overwhelming special moves. Throat Spray activates when a Pokemon uses a sound-based move (in this case Round or Snore) and strengthens 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/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
Dominating single battles, Squirtle is a top-notch Double Wall. This approach seeks 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 high 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:
- Rock Slide
- Aqua Tail / Waterfall
- Ice Punch / Double-Edge
- Outrage
In double battles, Squirtle's Physical Sweeper role is an exceptional. It was designed to overwhelm foes with potent 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 good amount of damage.
◆ Waterfall is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (20% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ 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).
◆ Outrage is a physical 120-base power Dragon-type move (lasts 2-3 turns. Confuses your Squirtle afterwards).
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
For those intense double battles, Squirtle is a phenomenal Special Sweeper. The objective of this moveset is to crush rivals using intense special power. 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/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: 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, Follow Me, Helping Hand, Protect, Aqua Jet, Fake Out
- Moves that Break Screens: Brick Break
- Moves that inflict status: Yawn, Scald, Toxic
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 )
- 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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