Competitive Information for Basculin [X/Y]


Water
Abilities:
This Pokemon's same-type attack bonus (STAB) is 2 instead of 1.5.
This Pokemon's moves and their effects ignore the Abilities of other Pokemon.
This Pokemon's attacks with recoil or crash damage have 1.2x power; not Struggle.


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Movesets for Singles
Looking for a competitive moveset for Basculin? These builds are optimized for X/Y Single Battles. The movesets and EVs are designed to maximize damage against common opponents and threats in the X/Y metagame. Check out the expert movesets below to boost your battle performance and dominate your opponents!
Get ready to meet Basculin, the impressive Water-typed Pokémon! Basculin is a common Pokémon to see in the XY metagame. Its only type-related weaknesses are Electric and Grass. Curious about Basculin's movesets? Check our suggestions listed below!
Item: Focus Sash / Choice Band
Ability: Reckless
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Double-Edge / Return
- Aqua Tail / Waterfall
- Superpower / Revenge
- Crunch / Bite
Basculin stands out as a phenomenal Physical Sweeper in single battles. This approach seeks to crush rivals using heavy-hitting physical power. Focus Sash helps protect Basculin from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Choice Band will increase the damage of Basculin's physical moves by 1.5x at the cost of locking you into the first move you pick. With Reckless, Basculin's attacks with recoil or crash damage have 1.2x power; not struggle.
◆ Return is a physical 0-base power Normal-type move (max 102 power at maximum happiness).
◆ 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).
◆ Superpower is a physical 120-base power Fighting-type move (lowers your Basculin's attack and defense by 1 stage).
◆ Revenge is a physical 60-base power Fighting-type move (power doubles if Basculin is damaged by the target).
◆ Crunch is a physical 80-base power Dark-type move (20% chance to lower the target's defense by 1 stage).
◆ Bite is a physical 60-base power Dark-type move (30% chance to make the target flinch).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/iaa226
Item: Focus Sash / Choice Specs
Ability: Reckless
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Surf / Scald
- Ice Beam / Icy Wind
- Round / Snore
- Mud Shot
For those intense single battles, Basculin is a first-rate Special Sweeper. It's goal is to take down the opponent's team with destructive special moves. Focus Sash helps protect Basculin from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Choice Specs will increase the damage of Basculin's special moves by 1.5x but will lock you into the first move you pick. With Reckless, Basculin's attacks with recoil or crash damage have 1.2x power; not struggle.
◆ 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).
◆ Icy Wind is a special 55-base power Ice-type move (100% chance to lower the foes speed by 1 stage).
◆ 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 (Basculin must be asleep. 30% chance to flinch target).
◆ Mud Shot is a special 55-base power Ground-type move (100% chance to lower the target's speed by 1 stage).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/iba226
Item: Focus Sash
Ability: Mold Breaker
Nature: Naughty (+Atk, -SpD)
EVs: 210 Hp / 210 Atk / 60 SpD / 30 Spe
Moveset:
- Aqua Jet
- Revenge / Aqua Tail
- Return
- Waterfall
Basculin makes an an interesting Physical Tank in single battles. It's purpose is to withstand physical attacks and hit back effectively. Focus Sash helps protect Basculin from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. With Mold Breaker, Basculin's moves and their effects ignore the abilities of other pokemon.
◆ Revenge is a physical 60-base power Fighting-type move (power doubles if Basculin is damaged by the target).
◆ Aqua Tail is a physical STAB-boosted 90-base power Water-type move that deals a substantial amount of damage.
◆ Return is a physical 0-base power Normal-type move (max 102 power at maximum happiness).
◆ Waterfall is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (20% chance to make the target flinch).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/ica226
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Adaptability
Nature: Naughty (+Atk, -SpD)
EVs: 252 Hp / 252 Atk / 4 Spe
Moveset:
- Aqua Jet
- Zen Headbutt
- Return
- Substitute
For those intense single battles, Basculin is an exceptional Physical Tank. It tries to take a large amount of physical hits while dealing some decent damage. Life Orb boosts the power of Basculin's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Adaptability, Basculin's same-type attack bonus (stab) is 2 instead of 1.5.
◆ Zen Headbutt is a physical 80-base power Psychic-type move (20% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Return is a physical 0-base power Normal-type move (max 102 power at maximum happiness).
◆ Substitute is a status move (Basculin takes 1/4 its max hp to put in a substitute).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/ida226
Movesets for Doubles
Need a strong doubles moveset for Basculin? These builds are perfect for VGC (Pokémon Video Game Championship) and other competitive X/Y 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 X/Y metagame with these expert-crafted setups!
Item: Focus Sash / Choice Band
Ability: Reckless
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Double-Edge / Return
- Aqua Tail / Waterfall
- Superpower / Revenge
- Crunch / Bite
When it comes to double battles, Basculin shines as a noteworthy Physical Sweeper. This configuration strives to take down the opponent's team with potent physical moves. Focus Sash helps protect Basculin from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Choice Band will increase the damage of Basculin's physical moves by 1.5x at the cost of locking you into the first move you pick. With Reckless, Basculin's attacks with recoil or crash damage have 1.2x power; not struggle.
◆ Return is a physical 0-base power Normal-type move (max 102 power at maximum happiness).
◆ 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).
◆ Superpower is a physical 120-base power Fighting-type move (lowers your Basculin's attack and defense by 1 stage).
◆ Revenge is a physical 60-base power Fighting-type move (power doubles if Basculin is damaged by the target).
◆ Crunch is a physical 80-base power Dark-type move (20% chance to lower the target's defense by 1 stage).
◆ Bite is a physical 60-base power Dark-type move (30% chance to make the target flinch).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/jaa226
Item: Focus Sash / Choice Specs
Ability: Reckless
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Surf / Scald
- Icy Wind / Ice Beam
- Round / Snore
- Mud Shot
When it comes to double battles, Basculin shines as popular Special Sweeper. This strategy is built to take down the opponent's team with potent special power. Focus Sash helps protect Basculin from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Choice Specs will increase the damage of Basculin's special moves by 1.5x but will lock you into the first move you pick. With Reckless, Basculin's attacks with recoil or crash damage have 1.2x power; not struggle.
◆ Scald is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (30% chance to burn the target. Thaws target).
◆ 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).
◆ 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 (Basculin must be asleep. 30% chance to flinch target).
◆ Mud Shot is a special 55-base power Ground-type move (100% chance to lower the target's speed by 1 stage).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/jba226
Movepool
Want to know what moves Basculin can learn? Check out the full list of moves available in the Pokemon X/Y 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 Basculin.
Damage Modifiers:
Combo List
These are a list of several common move combinations Basculin 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 Basculin
- Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
- Moves: Rest + Snore
- Move: Swagger + Item: Mirror Herb
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Move: Endeavor + Item: Focus Sash
- Recoil moves boosted by Reckless: Double-Edge, Take Down
- Moves with Priority: Protect, Aqua Jet
- Moves that inflict status: Scald, Toxic
Moves that boost Basculin's stats
- Agility
- Rage
Most notable and possible best moves for Basculin
- Ice Beam
- Protect
- Rest
- Scald
- Taunt
- Toxic
Common Effort Values for Basculin in X and Y
- 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 Basculin's Defensive EV-spread for Pokemon X and Y
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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Here are the best movesets for Basculin. Top rated Basculin X/Y movesets. You can find Basculin builds X/Y. Basculin movesets X/Y are listed here. VGC Basculin Competitive Movesets can be found here. Find various EV spreads, find the best nature for Basculin in X/Y along with competitive movesets. Basic info and Movesets for evolution