Competitive Information for Squirtle [X/Y]
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 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!
Discover the strength of Squirtle, an awesome Pokémon known for its 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 / Return
- Ice Punch
- Brick Break
For single battles, Squirtle is pretty popular Physical Sweeper. This moveset design focuses to crush rivals using 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).
◆ Return is a physical 0-base power Normal-type move (max 102 power at maximum happiness).
◆ Ice Punch is a physical 75-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
◆ Brick Break is a physical 75-base power Fighting-type move (destroys screens, unless the target is immune).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/iaa7
Item: Life Orb / Choice Specs
Ability: Rain Dish
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 252 Hp / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Surf / Scald
- Ice Beam / Icy Wind
- Dragon Pulse
- Round / Snore
Squirtle excels as an awesome Special Sweeper during single battles. The main aim of this moveset is to crush rivals using potent special attacks. Choice Specs will increase the damage of Squirtle's special moves by 1.5x but will lock 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.
◆ 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).
◆ Dragon Pulse is a special 85-base power Dragon-type move that deals a hefty 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/iba7
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
Taking on single battles? Squirtle is an astounding Double Wall. This moveset is tailored 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 gigantic 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/ica7
Movesets for Doubles
Need a strong doubles moveset for Squirtle? 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: Shell Bell / Life Orb
Ability: Rain Dish
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Hp / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Moveset:
- Aqua Tail / Waterfall
- Double-Edge / Return
- Ice Punch
- Brick Break
For those intense double battles, Squirtle is a high-quality Physical Sweeper. The intention of this moveset is to take down the opponent's team with powerful physical attacks. 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).
◆ Return is a physical 0-base power Normal-type move (max 102 power at maximum happiness).
◆ Ice Punch is a physical 75-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
◆ Brick Break is a physical 75-base power Fighting-type move (destroys screens, unless the target is immune).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/jaa7
Item: Life Orb / Choice Specs
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
In double battles, Squirtle's Special Sweeper role is an astounding. The purpose of this moveset is to take down the opponent's team with formidable special attacks. Choice Specs will increase the damage of Squirtle's special moves by 1.5x but will lock 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.
◆ 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 mighty 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/jba7
Movepool
Want to know what moves Squirtle 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 Squirtle.
Damage Modifiers:
Combo List
These are a list of several common move combinations Squirtle 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 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, Protect, Aqua Jet, Fake Out
- Moves that Break Screens: Brick Break
- Moves that inflict status: Yawn, Scald, Toxic
Moves that boost Squirtle's stats
- Defense Curl
- Iron Defense
- Power-Up Punch
- Rapid Spin
- Skull Bash
- Withdraw
Most notable and possible best moves for Squirtle
- Fake Out
- Hydro Cannon
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Protect
- Rapid Spin
- Rest
- Scald
- Toxic
- Water Spout
Common Effort Values for Squirtle 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 Squirtle'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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