Competitive Information for Lapras [X/Y]
Water / Ice
Abilities:
This Pokemon has its status cured at the end of each turn if Rain Dance is active.
This Pokemon cannot be struck by a critical hit.
This Pokemon heals 1/4 of its max HP when hit by Water moves; Water immunity.

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Note: Pokemon with the Water Absorb ability are immune to Water attacks.
Movesets for Singles
Looking for a competitive moveset for Lapras? 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!
Prepare for battle with Lapras, an incredible Pokémon boasting Water and Ice attributes. Lapras is a common Pokémon to see in the XY metagame. It is weak to Electric, Fighting, Grass, and Rock-typed attacks. Want to master Lapras's movesets? Dive into our detailed strategies below!
Item: Expert Belt / Choice Band
Ability: Water Absorb
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Aqua Tail / Waterfall
- Outrage
- Avalanche / Iron Head
- Drill Run
When it comes to single battles, Lapras shines as a renowned Physical Sweeper. The intention of this moveset is to crush rivals using lethal physical power. Expert Belt boosts the damage of Lapras's super effective moves by 20%. Choice Band will increase the damage of Lapras's physical moves by 1.5x at the cost of locking you into the first move you pick. With Water Absorb, Lapras heals 1/4 of its max hp when hit by water moves; water immunity. Avalanche or Iron Head are added to provide additional threat coverage.
◆ Waterfall is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (20% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Outrage is a physical 120-base power Dragon-type move (lasts 2-3 turns. Confuses your Lapras afterwards).
◆ Avalanche is a physical STAB-boosted 60-base power Ice-type move (power doubles if Lapras is damaged by the target).
◆ Iron Head is a physical 80-base power Steel-type move (30% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Drill Run is a physical 80-base power Ground-type move (high critical hit ratio).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/iaa83
Item: Life Orb / Choice Specs
Ability: Water Absorb
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Ice Beam / Frost Breath
- Surf / Brine
- Thunderbolt
- Signal Beam / Hyper Voice
Lapras thrives as a spectacular Special Sweeper perfect for single battles. It's goal is to take down the opponent's team with intense special power. Choice Specs will increase the damage of Lapras's special moves by 1.5x but will lock you into the first move you pick. Life Orb boosts the power of Lapras's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Water Absorb, Lapras heals 1/4 of its max hp when hit by water moves; water immunity. Signal Beam was added to provide additional threat coverage.
◆ Frost Breath is a special STAB-boosted 60-base power Ice-type move (always results in a critical hit).
◆ Surf is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Water-type move (hits adjacent pokemon. Double damage on dive).
◆ Brine is a special STAB-boosted 65-base power Water-type move (power doubles if the target's hp is 50% or less).
◆ Thunderbolt is a special 90-base power Electric-type move (10% chance to paralyze the target).
◆ Signal Beam is a special 75-base power Bug-type move (10% chance to confuse the target).
◆ Hyper Voice is a special 90-base power Normal-type move (no additional effect. Hits adjacent foes).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/iba83
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Shell Armor
Nature: Docile
EVs: 32 Hp / 225 Atk / 225 SpA / 28 Spe
Moveset:
- Drill Run
- Dragon Pulse
- Outrage
- Psychic
Lapras makes an a fabulous Mixed Sweeper in single battles. Leftovers are always a great recovery option to ensure Lapras last longer regaining it's vitality every turn. With Shell Armor, Lapras cannot be struck by a critical hit.
◆ Dragon Pulse is a special 85-base power Dragon-type move that deals a mighty amount of damage.
◆ Outrage is a physical 120-base power Dragon-type move (lasts 2-3 turns. Confuses your Lapras afterwards).
◆ Psychic is a special 90-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/ica83
Item: Assault Vest
Ability: Water Absorb
Nature: Calm (+SpD, -Atk)
EVs: 252 Hp / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Moveset:
- Frost Breath
- Water Pulse / Hydro Pump
- Psychic / Dragon Pulse
- Thunderbolt / Ancient Power
Lapras makes an an incredible Special Wall in single battles. It is designed to take a good amount of hits from special attacks while dealing some decent damage. With Water Absorb, Lapras heals 1/4 of its max hp when hit by water moves; water immunity. With a Assault Vest equipped to it, Lapras's sp. Def is 1.5x, but it can only select damaging moves.
◆ Water Pulse is a special STAB-boosted 60-base power Water-type move (20% chance to confuse the target).
◆ Hydro Pump is a special STAB-boosted 110-base power Water-type move that deals a immense amount of damage.
◆ Psychic is a special 90-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
◆ Dragon Pulse is a special 85-base power Dragon-type move that deals a great amount of damage.
◆ Thunderbolt is a special 90-base power Electric-type move (10% chance to paralyze the target).
◆ Ancient Power is a special 60-base power Rock-type move (10% chance to raise all stats by 1 stage (not acc/eva)).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/ida83
Movesets for Doubles
Need a strong doubles moveset for Lapras? 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: Expert Belt / Choice Band
Ability: Water Absorb
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Aqua Tail / Waterfall
- Outrage
- Avalanche / Iron Head
- Drill Run / Bulldoze
Taking on double battles? Lapras is a spectacular Physical Sweeper. It tries to crush rivals using brute physical attacks. Expert Belt boosts the damage of Lapras's super effective moves by 20%. Choice Band will increase the damage of Lapras's physical moves by 1.5x at the cost of locking you into the first move you pick. With Water Absorb, Lapras heals 1/4 of its max hp when hit by water moves; water immunity. Avalanche or Iron Head are added to provide additional threat coverage.
◆ Waterfall is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (20% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Outrage is a physical 120-base power Dragon-type move (lasts 2-3 turns. Confuses your Lapras afterwards).
◆ Avalanche is a physical STAB-boosted 60-base power Ice-type move (power doubles if Lapras is damaged by the target).
◆ Iron Head is a physical 80-base power Steel-type move (30% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Drill Run is a physical 80-base power Ground-type move (high critical hit ratio).
◆ Bulldoze is a physical 60-base power Ground-type move (100% chance lower adjacent Pokemon speed by 1 stage).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/jaa83
Item: Life Orb / Choice Specs
Ability: Water Absorb
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Surf / Brine
- Hyper Voice
- Icy Wind / Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
In double battles, Lapras is known as an exceptional Special Sweeper. This moveset focuses to take down the opponent's team with intense special power. Choice Specs will increase the damage of Lapras's special moves by 1.5x but will lock you into the first move you pick. Life Orb boosts the power of Lapras's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Water Absorb, Lapras heals 1/4 of its max hp when hit by water moves; water immunity.
◆ Brine is a special STAB-boosted 65-base power Water-type move (power doubles if the target's hp is 50% or less).
◆ Hyper Voice is a special 90-base power Normal-type move (no additional effect. Hits adjacent foes).
◆ Icy Wind is a special STAB-boosted 55-base power Ice-type move (100% chance to lower the foes speed by 1 stage).
◆ Ice Beam is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
◆ Thunderbolt is a special 90-base power Electric-type move (10% chance to paralyze the target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/jba83
Movepool
Want to know what moves Lapras 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 Lapras.
Damage Modifiers:
Combo List
These are a list of several common move combinations Lapras 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 Lapras
- Moves: Safeguard + Outrage
- Moves: Rain dance + Thunder
- Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
- Moves: Rest + Snore
- Moves: Thunderbolt + Ice beam
- Moves: Perish song + Protect
- Moves: Whirlpool + Perish song
- Move: Swagger + Item: Mirror Herb
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Moves with Priority: Endure, Protect, Ice Shard
- Moves that inflict status: Toxic
Moves that boost Lapras's stats
- Ancient Power
- Curse
- Dragon Dance
Most notable and possible best moves for Lapras
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Protect
- Rest
- Toxic
Common Effort Values for Lapras 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 Lapras'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 Lapras. Top rated Lapras X/Y movesets. You can find Lapras builds X/Y. Lapras movesets X/Y are listed here. VGC Lapras Competitive Movesets can be found here. Find various EV spreads, find the best nature for Lapras in X/Y along with competitive movesets. Basic info and Movesets for evolution