Competitive Information for Tentacool [Sword/Shield]
Water / Poison
Abilities:
Prevents other Pokemon from lowering this Pokemon's stat stages.
This Pokemon damages those draining HP from it for as much as they would heal.
If Rain Dance is active, this Pokemon heals 1/16 of its max HP each turn.
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Movesets for Singles
Looking for a competitive moveset for Tentacool? 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!
Unleash the power of Tentacool, a rad Pokémon with Water and Poison typing. Tentacool is not a Pokémon anyone usually expects to see on the battlefield. In the LC tier (Little Cup), it's a fierce competitor. It is weak to Electric, Ground, and Psychic-typed attacks. Curious about Tentacool's movesets? Check our suggestions listed below!
Item: Shell Bell / Life Orb
Ability: Clear Body
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Cross Poison / Poison Jab
- Waterfall / Dive
- Double-Edge / Facade
- Knock Off / Thief
Tentacool is an extraordinary Physical Sweeper for single battles. It is primarily designed to take down the opponent's team with potent physical power. Life Orb boosts the power of Tentacool'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 Tentacool recover from the recoil damage it may take from Double-Edge. With Clear Body, prevents other pokemon from lowering Tentacool's stat stages. Facade's damage doubles when the user has a status affliction.
◆ Poison Jab is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Poison-type move (30% chance to poison the target).
◆ Waterfall is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (20% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Dive is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (dives underwater turn 1, strikes turn 2).
◆ Double-Edge is a physical 120-base power Normal-type move (has 33% recoil).
◆ Facade is a physical 70-base power Normal-type move (power doubles if Tentacool is burn/poison/paralyzed).
◆ 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).
◆ Thief is a physical 60-base power Dark-type move (if your Tentacool has no item, it steals the target's).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/maa48
Item: Life Orb / Choice Specs
Ability: Clear Body
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Sludge Wave / Sludge Bomb
- Surf / Scald
- Ice Beam / Aurora Beam
- Dazzling Gleam
Tentacool is a spectacular Special Sweeper for single battles. It is primarily designed to take down the opponent's team with overwhelming special attacks. Choice Specs will increase the damage of Tentacool's special moves by 1.5x but will lock you into the first move you pick. Life Orb boosts the power of Tentacool's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Clear Body, prevents other pokemon from lowering Tentacool's stat stages.
◆ Sludge Bomb is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Poison-type move (30% chance to poison the target).
◆ Surf is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Water-type move (hits adjacent pokemon. Double damage on dive).
◆ 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).
◆ Aurora Beam is a special 65-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to lower the target's attack by 1 stage).
◆ Dazzling Gleam is a special 80-base power Fairy-type move (no additional effect. Hits adjacent foes).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/mba48
Movesets for Doubles
Need a strong doubles moveset for Tentacool? 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: Shell Bell / Life Orb
Ability: Clear Body
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Cross Poison / Poison Jab
- Waterfall / Dive
- Double-Edge / Headbutt
- Knock Off / Brutal Swing
Tentacool is an astounding Physical Sweeper for double battles. It's primary goal is to take down the opponent's team with overwhelming physical moves. Life Orb boosts the power of Tentacool'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 Tentacool recover from the recoil damage it may take from Double-Edge. With Clear Body, prevents other pokemon from lowering Tentacool's stat stages.
◆ Poison Jab is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Poison-type move (30% chance to poison the target).
◆ Waterfall is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (20% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Dive is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (dives underwater turn 1, strikes turn 2).
◆ Double-Edge is a physical 120-base power Normal-type move (has 33% recoil).
◆ Headbutt is a physical 70-base power Normal-type move (30% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ 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).
◆ Brutal Swing is a physical 60-base power Dark-type move (no additional effect. Hits adjacent pokemon).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/naa48
Item: Life Orb / Choice Specs
Ability: Clear Body
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Sludge Wave / Sludge Bomb
- Surf / Scald
- Dazzling Gleam
- Icy Wind / Ice Beam
Tentacool is a renowned Special Sweeper for double battles. It was designed to take down the opponent's team with devastating special power. Choice Specs will increase the damage of Tentacool's special moves by 1.5x but will lock you into the first move you pick. Life Orb boosts the power of Tentacool's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Clear Body, prevents other pokemon from lowering Tentacool's stat stages.
◆ Sludge Bomb is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Poison-type move (30% chance to poison the target).
◆ Surf is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Water-type move (hits adjacent pokemon. Double damage on dive).
◆ Scald is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (30% chance to burn the target. Thaws target).
◆ Dazzling Gleam is a special 80-base power Fairy-type move (no additional effect. Hits adjacent foes).
◆ 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).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/nba48
Movepool
Want to know what moves Tentacool 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 Tentacool.
Damage Modifiers:
Combo List
These are a list of several common move combinations Tentacool 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 Tentacool
- Moves: Swagger + Screech
- Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
- Moves: Rest + Snore
- Move: Swagger + Item: Mirror Herb
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Moves with Priority: Endure, Magic Coat, Protect
- Moves that inflict status (and combo with the move Hex): Scald, Toxic
Moves that boost Tentacool's stats
- Acid Armor
- Acupressure
- Curse
- Rapid Spin
- Skull Bash
- Swords Dance
Most notable and possible best moves for Tentacool
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Knock Off
- Protect
- Rapid Spin
- Reflect
- Rest
- Scald
- Toxic
Common Effort Values for Tentacool 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 Tentacool'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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