Bidoof Movesets & Competitive Sets

Moves Curse in tandem with Simple allows Bidoof to reach a respectable 24 Attack and 22 Defense with a single turn of setup. Return is a powerful and reliable STAB attack that is also Bidoof's most powerful attack, and Quick Attack is a STAB priority move that helps mitigate Curse's Speed drop. Aqua Tail hits Pawniard neutrally as well as Rock-types such as Archen super effectively and provides the best overall coverage alongside Bidoof's STAB attacks. Thief hits Ghost-types super effectively and can steal the foe's item, which can be useful after Bidoof consumes its Berry Juice or loses its Eviolite to Knock Off. Set Details The given EV spread and nature optimize Bidoof's special bulk, with the remaining EVs used to slightly increase its other stats. Simple is Bidoof's biggest niche, allowing it to boost its Attack and Defense twice as fast as other bulky boosting sweepers such as Timburr. Berry Juice gives Bidoof increased longevity and synergizes well with Thief, while Eviolite provides a significant increase to Bidoof's bulk. Usage Tips Bidoof is most effective when it is saved until late-game; even when boosted, it is not particularly powerful, and it needs the opposing team to be worn down in order to sweep effectively. Bidoof has the easiest time setting up versus slow, bulky physical attackers such as Snubbull and Munchlax. When facing such Pokemon, use Return to hit them harder; when facing frailer but stronger Pokemon such as Elekid, use Quick Attack to work around Bidoof's low Speed. If Bidoof is running Thief, use it to hit Ghost-types such as Gastly and Pumpkaboo-Super and to steal items after Bidoof's Berry Juice has been consumed or its Eviolite Knocked Off. Team Options Gothita can trap and eliminate the Fighting-types that would otherwise completely shut Bidoof down. In a similar vein, Fighting-type checks such as Spritzee also make great teammates. Fire-types such as Ponyta and Larvesta check Pokemon such as Ferroseed and Pumpkaboo-Super which otherwise wall Bidoof. Entry hazard setters, particularly Spikes users such as Dwebble, are also good teammates, as the chip damage that entry hazards provide make it easier for Bidoof to get KOs. Finally, strong attackers such as Corphish and Gastly can wear down the opponent's team for Bidoof so that it has an easier time sweeping.

The purpose of this set is to take advantage of Simple to receive +2 Attack and Defense from a single Curse. Return is the main STAB move on the set. Aqua Tail is used for coverage, only missing out on Frillish, Lileep, and Ferroseed. Unfortunately, due to Simple, Curse reduces Bidoof's Speed by two stages. Bidoof has access to STAB Quick Attack, though, mitigating the Speed drops somewhat. The given EVs maximize Bidoof's HP, so when combined with Eviolite, it will be able to take hits. The rest maximize Attack and give it a boost in Defense, allowing it to reach an impressive 28 Attack and 22 Defense after a single Curse. This set appreciates entry hazard support, as it wears down the opponent's team and makes it significantly easier to acquire boosts. Likewise, because of the popularity of Fighting-type Pokemon, it is recommended to run dual screen support. That way, Bidoof will have a much easier time setting up. Unfortunately, it is rather hard to set up with Curse when Pokemon such as Mienfoo, Riolu, Croagunk, and Timburr are so common. These Pokemon threaten Bidoof with their super effective STAB attacks, forcing it out before it can boost. Likewise, Ferroseed, Frillish, and Lileep are able to take on this set, as they resist or are immune to every move it carries. Accordingly, this set appreciates partners that are able to take care of these Pokemon. Mixed Houndour, for example, is able to OHKO Ferroseed with Fire Blast and 2HKO Frillish with Crunch. Special Snover, with Blizzard, Giga Drain, and Hidden Power Fire, is also able to take out these Pokemon. Fighting-type Pokemon such as Mienfoo and Croagunk make good partners as well, as they can check Ferroseed, Lileep, and opposing Fighting-type Pokemon that give Bidoof a difficult time. Choice Scarf Flying-type Pokemon such as Taillow threaten Fighting-type Pokemon with Brave Bird. Gastly and Abra make good partners for the same reason. Gastly can also take care of Slowpoke, which doesn't take much from this set due to its high Defense. Special attackers that are immune to or resist Quick Attack, such as Gastly and Drifloon, also give this set problems, as they can outspeed and kill Bidoof. Partners, such as Stunky, that can take care of Ghost-type Pokemon are helpful to deal with these threats.

This set utilizes Curse to its maximum potential to deal as much damage to the opponent as possible. With just one Curse, Bidoof gets to 30 Attack and 22 Defense, which are quite intimidating stats indeed. STAB Quick Attack is a must due to Curse lowering Bidoof's already-pitiful Speed, as its priority will remedy the Speed loss. While Return does not have priority, it is very strong after a Curse, and even Pokemon who resist it will be hit hard. The final slot should be Aqua Tail to hit Rock-type Pokemon for super effective damage and to strike Ghost-types neutrally; together, Normal- and Water-type moves also have perfect neutral coverage in Little Cup. The EVs maximize its HP and Attack, and the rest allow it to take physical hits a bit better. Bronzor can take some hits, even after a Curse, and possibly 2HKO Bidoof back with Psychic, so Magnemite is a good teammate for Bidoof to have as it can trap Bronzor and take it out with STAB Thunderbolt. Fast special attacking Ghost-types such as Gastly and Drifloon can be trouble for Bidoof with their Normal immunity, so having a Pursuit user such as Stunky can help trap and eliminate them for the rest of the match.

Thanks to Unaware, which bypasses an opponent's stat boosts, Bidoof can easily counter dangerous threats such as Swords Dance Gligar and Krabby, Dragon Dance Bagon and Dratini, and many others. Ice Beam covers Gligar and other Dragon-types, while Thunderbolt destroys Pokemon such as Agility Mantyke and Swords Dance Krabby. Quick Attack is useful to finish off Pokemon that can survive the first attack. Finally, Return gives Bidoof a strong STAB move to deal more damage to specially-defensive Pokemon. The EVs are all invested into bulk, because most stat-uppers take a ton of damage from Bidoof's attacks without investment anyway. For example, Thunderbolt deals 80% - 100% to 36 HP Krabby and 90.9% - 109.1% to 76 HP Mantyke; Ice Beam does 87% - 121.7% to 0 HP / 0 SpD Gligar, 57.1% - 76.2% to 28 HP / 36 SpD Dratini, and 66.7% - 85.7% to Bagon. In sum, a combination of Stealth Rock, super effective move, and Quick Attack will take all of those Pokemon out. Oran Berry allows Bidoof to replenish health and counter more threats, while a Relaxed nature allows it to take hits easier. Its EV spread maximizes HP and Defense, while boosting its Special Defense by one point.

This set focuses on boosting Bidoof's Special Attack, and hitting the opponents hard with powerful moves that offer a wide range of coverage. Charge Beam has a 70% (63% when factoring in accuracy) chance of boosting Bidoof's Special Attack from 14 to 28, more than enough to allow it to wreak havoc from there. Thunderbolt hits Mantyke and other Water-type Pokemon for good damage, Ice Beam defeats Dragon-type Pokemon such as Dratini, and Hidden Power Fighting allows it to hit Steel-types such as Magnemite for super effective damage. The EVs maximize Bidoof's HP and Special Attack stat, while giving it one Defense point. Oran Berry is the only suggested item because of Charge Beam's shakiness as it may not boost Bidoof's Special Attack or it could miss completely. Oran Berry will allow Bidoof to have more chances to set up. Once Bidoof has a boost, nothing can wall it; even 236 SpD Munchlax takes 53.3% - 66.7% from a boosted Hidden Power Fighting.

Thanks to Simple, Bidoof doubles all the stat boosts that it gets, including those Baton Passed to it, turning Bidoof into a terrifying Baton Pass receiver. Normal and Water get perfect neutral coverage, allowing Bidoof to hit every Pokemon extremely hard. Note that stat drops are doubled too, so Intimidate will lower Bidoof's Attack by two when Baton Passed. Therefore, Gligar is the perfect Baton Passer to Bidoof because of Hyper Cutter, which prevents Intimidate from taking effect, as well as having the bulk to set up. Gligar has access to both Swords Dance and Agility, and if each move if used once, Bidoof will have +4 Attack and +4 Speed upon receiving the Baton Pass, which allows it to easily sweep through many teams. Substitute allows Bidoof to scout for dangerous moves, and once it's behind a Substitute, Bidoof is almost impossible to take out. Return is a powerful STAB attack that can KO almost every Pokemon that does not resist or have an immunity to it. Quick Attack has priority, and allows Bidoof to finish off opposing priority users such as Croagunk, provided they've been weakened enough. Oran Berry is used so Bidoof has an easier time setting up a Substitute, and allows it to stay around longer. After one Swords Dance and Agility boost, Bidoof reaches 42 Attack and 39 Speed, and can easily demolish teams. The EV spread maximizes Attack and Speed, and boosts its HP and Defense stat by one point, allowing it to take hits more easily. Dual screen support is greatly appreciated, allowing Gligar to set up much more easily, while helping reduce the damage taken when Bidoof is sent in.