Competitive Information for Barbaracle [X/Y]
Rock / Water
Abilities:
Movesets for Singles
What is a good competitive moveset for Barbaracle? These builds have been optimized for Pokemon competing in X/Y 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 X/Y generation metagame.
Barbaracle is an outstanding Rock and Water-typed Pokemon. Barbaracle are common Pokemon to see in the XY metagame. This Pokemon deserves to see more play in the meta. Barbaracle is weak to Electric, Fighting, Grass, and Ground-typed attacks.
Item: Rindo Berry / Life Orb
Ability: Tough Claws
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Superpower
- Razor Shell
- Poison Jab / Return
- Shadow Claw
Physical Sweeper Barbaracle (Tough Claws)
Barbaracle is an awesome Physical Sweeper. It's primary goal is to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Life Orb boosts the power of Barbaracle's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Tough Claws, Barbaracle's contact moves have their power multiplied by 1.3. Poison Jab was added to provide additional threat coverage.
♦ Razor Shell is a physical STAB-boosted 75-base power Water-type move (50% chance to lower the target's defense by 1 stage).
♦ Poison Jab is a physical 80-base power Poison-type move (30% chance to poison the target).
♦ Return is a physical 0-base power Normal-type move (max 102 power at maximum happiness).
♦ Shadow Claw is a physical 70-base power Ghost-type move (high critical hit ratio).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/gs10a2b1
Item: Scope Lens / Rindo Berry
Ability: Sniper
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Shadow Claw
- Razor Shell / Earthquake
- Night Slash
- Superpower
Physical Sweeper Barbaracle (Sniper)
Barbaracle is an extraordinary Physical Sweeper. It's goal is to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Scope Lens/Razor Claw increases Barbaracle critical hit ratio by 1 stage and combined with Barbaracle's Sniper ability will increase the amount of damage done by those critial hits. With Sniper, if Barbaracle strikes with a critical hit the damage is multiplied by 1.5. Razor Shell or Earthquake are added to provide additional threat coverage.
♦ Razor Shell is a physical STAB-boosted 75-base power Water-type move (50% chance to lower the target's defense by 1 stage).
♦ Earthquake is a physical 100-base power Ground-type move (hits adjacent pokemon).
♦ Night Slash is a physical 70-base power Dark-type move (high critical hit ratio).
♦ Superpower is a physical 120-base power Fighting-type move (lowers your Barbaracle's attack and defense by 1 stage).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/gs11a2b1
Item: White Herb
Ability: Tough Claws
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Razor Shell
- Shell Smash
- Stone Edge
- Cross Chop
Barbaracle Physical Sweeper (Barnacles)
Barbaracle is a fabulous Physical Sweeper. It's purpose is to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. White Herb will reset Barbaracle's negative stat changes once (specifically for when it uses Shell Smash). With Tough Claws, Barbaracle's contact moves have their power multiplied by 1.3.
♦ Shell Smash is a status move (lowers def, spd by 1 stage; raises atk, spa, spe by 2 stages).
♦ Stone Edge is a physical STAB-boosted 100-base power Rock-type move (high critical hit ratio).
♦ Cross Chop is a physical 100-base power Fighting-type move (high critical hit ratio).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/gs12a2b1
Item: White Herb
Ability: Tough Claws
Nature: Impish (+Def, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Moveset:
- Razor Shell
- Shell Smash
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
Barbaracle Physical Tank (Edgequake Barnaclehead)
Barbaracle is a phenomenal Physical Tank. This moveset attempts to take a nice amount of physical hits while dealing some decent damage. White Herb will reset Barbaracle's negative stat changes once (specifically for when it uses Shell Smash). With Tough Claws, Barbaracle's contact moves have their power multiplied by 1.3.
♦ Shell Smash is a status move (lowers def, spd by 1 stage; raises atk, spa, spe by 2 stages).
♦ Stone Edge is a physical STAB-boosted 100-base power Rock-type move (high critical hit ratio).
♦ Earthquake is a physical 100-base power Ground-type move (hits adjacent pokemon).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/gs13a2b1
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Sniper
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 224 Atk / 172 Def / 112 Spe
Moveset:
- Shell Smash
- Rock Slide
- Dig
- Earthquake
Barbaracle Physical Sweeper (Barbaric Barnacle)
Barbaracle is a stupendous Physical Sweeper. It is primarily designed to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Life Orb boosts the power of Barbaracle's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Sniper, if Barbaracle strikes with a critical hit the damage is multiplied by 1.5.
♦ Rock Slide is a physical STAB-boosted 75-base power Rock-type move (30% chance to flinch the foes).
♦ Dig is a physical 80-base power Ground-type move (digs underground turn 1, strikes turn 2).
♦ Earthquake is a physical 100-base power Ground-type move (hits adjacent pokemon).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/gs14a2b1
Item: White Herb
Ability: Pickpocket
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Def
Moveset:
- Razor Shell / Brick Break
- Shell Smash
- Fling / Stone Edge
- Thief / Dragon Claw
Barbaracle Physical Tank (Thiefing Barbarian)
Barbaracle is a wonderful Physical Tank. It attempts to take a substantial amount of physical hits while dealing some decent damage. White Herb will reset Barbaracle's negative stat changes once (specifically for when it uses Shell Smash). With Pickpocket, if Barbaracle has no item it steals the item off a pokemon making contact with it. I believe this barbaracle should get his shell smash off first which will activate white herb (using it) and so can use thief if the opponent is a special attacker or use a move and get hit activating pickpocket to steal their items, then use fling to discard them if it hinders your barbaracle.
♦ Brick Break is a physical 75-base power Fighting-type move (destroys screens, unless the target is immune).
♦ Shell Smash is a status move (lowers def, spd by 1 stage; raises atk, spa, spe by 2 stages).
♦ Fling is a physical 0-base power Dark-type move (flings your Barbaracle's item at the target. power varies).
♦ Stone Edge is a physical STAB-boosted 100-base power Rock-type move (high critical hit ratio).
♦ Thief is a physical 60-base power Dark-type move (if your Barbaracle has no item, it steals the target's).
♦ Dragon Claw is a physical 80-base power Dragon-type move that deals a large amount of damage.
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/gs15a2b1
Item: White Herb
Ability: Pickpocket
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Razor Shell
- Shell Smash
- Cross Chop
- Thief / Stone Edge
Barbaracle Physical Sweeper (Smash That!*)
Barbaracle is an outstanding Physical Sweeper. It's primary goal is to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. White Herb will reset Barbaracle's negative stat changes once (specifically for when it uses Shell Smash). With Pickpocket, if Barbaracle has no item it steals the item off a pokemon making contact with it.
♦ Shell Smash is a status move (lowers def, spd by 1 stage; raises atk, spa, spe by 2 stages).
♦ Cross Chop is a physical 100-base power Fighting-type move (high critical hit ratio).
♦ Thief is a physical 60-base power Dark-type move (if your Barbaracle has no item, it steals the target's).
♦ Stone Edge is a physical STAB-boosted 100-base power Rock-type move (high critical hit ratio).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/gs16a2b1
Movesets for Doubles
What is a good doubles moveset for Barbaracle? These builds have been optimized for X/Y 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 X/Y generation metagame.
Item: Rindo Berry / Life Orb
Ability: Tough Claws
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Rock Slide
- Superpower
- Earthquake
- Razor Shell
Doubles Physical Sweeper Barbaracle (Tough Claws)
Barbaracle is a remarkable Physical Sweeper. It attempts to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Life Orb boosts the power of Barbaracle's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Tough Claws, Barbaracle's contact moves have their power multiplied by 1.3.
♦ Superpower is a physical 120-base power Fighting-type move (lowers your Barbaracle's attack and defense by 1 stage).
♦ Earthquake is a physical 100-base power Ground-type move (hits adjacent pokemon).
♦ Razor Shell is a physical STAB-boosted 75-base power Water-type move (50% chance to lower the target's defense by 1 stage).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/gd10a2b1
Item: Scope Lens / Rindo Berry
Ability: Sniper
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
- Shadow Claw
- Razor Shell / Slash
Doubles Physical Sweeper Barbaracle (Sniper)
Barbaracle is a stupendous Physical Sweeper. It was designed to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Scope Lens/Razor Claw increases Barbaracle critical hit ratio by 1 stage and combined with Barbaracle's Sniper ability will increase the amount of damage done by those critial hits. With Sniper, if Barbaracle strikes with a critical hit the damage is multiplied by 1.5. Razor Shell was added to provide additional threat coverage.
♦ Earthquake is a physical 100-base power Ground-type move (hits adjacent pokemon).
♦ Shadow Claw is a physical 70-base power Ghost-type move (high critical hit ratio).
♦ Razor Shell is a physical STAB-boosted 75-base power Water-type move (50% chance to lower the target's defense by 1 stage).
♦ Slash is a physical 70-base power Normal-type move (high critical hit ratio).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/gd11a2b1
Movepool
Wondering what moves can Barbaracle 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 Barbaracle can perform in X/Y. 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 XY Move and Ability Combos for Barbaracle
- Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
- Moves: Rest + Snore
- Ability: Sniper + Item: Scope lens
- Move: Swagger + Item: Mirror Herb
- Move: Fling + Item: King's Rock
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Move: Endeavor + Item: Focus Sash
- Ability: Sniper + High Crit Move: Night Slash
- Ability: Sniper + High Crit Move: Shadow Claw
- Ability: Sniper + High Crit Move: Slash
- Ability: Sniper + High Crit Move: Cross Chop
- Ability: Sniper + High Crit Move: Stone Edge
- Contact moves boosted by Tough Claws: Aerial Ace, Brick Break, Dig, Dragon Claw, Endeavor, Facade, False Swipe, Frustration, Grass Knot, Infestation, Low Kick, Night Slash, Payback, Poison Jab, Power-Up Punch, Return, Rock Smash, Scratch, Shadow Claw, Skull Bash, Slash, Strength, Superpower, Thief, Razor Shell, X-Scissor, Cross Chop, Fury Swipes, Clamp, Dual Chop, Giga Impact, Cut, Fury Cutter
- Moves with Priority: Helping Hand, Protect
- Moves that Break Screens: Brick Break
- Moves that inflict status: Scald, Toxic
Moves that boost Barbaracle's stats
- Ancient Power
- Bulk Up
- Hone Claws
- Iron Defense
- Power-Up Punch
- Rock Polish
- Shell Smash
- Skull Bash
- Swords Dance
- Withdraw
Most notable and possible best moves for Barbaracle
- Earthquake
- Ice Beam
- Protect
- Rest
- Scald
- Stealth Rock
- Taunt
- Toxic
Common Effort Values for Barbaracle in X and Y
- Adamant Nature ( 0/252/0/0/0/252 )
- Modest Nature ( 0/0/0/252/0/252 )
- Optimize Barbaracle's EV spread for Pokemon X and Y
Related Videos
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Here are the best movesets for Barbaracle. Top rated Barbaracle X/Y movesets. You can find Barbaracle builds X/Y. Barbaracle movesets X/Y are listed here. VGC Barbaracle Competitive Movesets can be found here. Find various EV spreads, find the best nature for Barbaracle in X/Y along with competitive movesets. Basic info and Movesets for evolution