Eelektross Movesets & Competitive Sets

With this set, Eelektross utilizes its bulk and lack of weaknesses to take advantage of Coil and become an offensive and defensive threat. Despite Thunder Punch's low Base Power, it is a great STAB move as it doesn't have recoil like Wild Charge does. Drain Punch works well in conjunction with Thunder Punch because it gives Eelektross extra coverage against Pokemon such as Lanturn, Rotom-F, and Ferroseed, which are all immune or resistant, and allows it to recover HP. Substitute is a great option because with Eelektross's great bulk, its Substitute can survive a hit from defensive Pokemon such as Slowking, Lanturn, and Tangrowth. In addition, Substitute lets Eelektross avoid status and set up Coil boosts with greater ease. Max HP and Special Defense with a Careful nature are crucial, because without maximum investment Eelektross's Substitute cannot survive a hit from the Pokemon mentioned above and Coil boosts Defense anyways. Zap Cannon can be an alternative to Thunder Punch as it hits almost as hard, makes good use of Coil's accuracy boost, and always paralyzes the opponent, but with it, Eelektross can easily get PP stalled and lose to Calm Mind sweepers such as Uxie and Spiritomb. Furthermore, Zap Cannon has horrible accuracy before the Coil boost, and its power doesn't get increased by Coil, making it the inferior option overall. Dragon Tail is an acceptable option over Substitute because it forces out threats; if you choose that option, be sure to pair Eelektross with entry hazard setters such as Ferroseed and Crustle. Aqua Tail can be used as another attacking option, as it can hit bulky Fire- and Ground-types, such as Golurk and Camerupt (the former of which is immune to both of Eelektross's other attacking moves), much harder. Eelektross is walled by defensive Pokemon such as Rotom, Amoonguss, and Golurk. Pokemon that carry appropriate coverage to check these Pokemon, including Entei, Rotom-C, and Moltres, make great teammates. Both Entei and Moltres also help against Lilligant, which can cripple and set up on Eelektross with Sleep Powder and Quiver Dance. Finally, Eelektross appreciates Heal Bell and Wish support from Pokemon such as Clefable and Alomomola as there are many Pokemon that can status it before it sets up a Substitute.

Eelektross is an excellent offensive pivot thanks to its decent Special Attack, good bulk, and amazing coverage. Volt Switch grants it the ability to scout while still hitting relatively hard. What differentiates Eelektross from other Volt Switch users is its coverage. Flamethrower roasts Grass-types, such as Ferroseed, Rotom-C, and Lilligant, that resist its STAB moves, and Giga Drain takes care of any Pokemon with an Electric immunity such as Lanturn, Golurk, and Rhydon. Thunderbolt is an alternate STAB move, allowing Eelektross to deal more damage to foes like Slowking, Mandibuzz, and Poliwrath and giving it a more useful move in situations when you do not want to switch out. An alternate EV spread of 94 HP / 252 SpA / 162 Spe can be used to outspeed uninvested base 70s, such as specially defensive Magneton and Roselia, and still hit as hard as possible. However, Eelektross loses a great amount of bulk if using this EV spread. Leftovers is the preferred choice because it allows Eelektross to switch up moves and regain crucial HP; however, Choice Specs provides more power and gives Eelektross a chance to 2HKO walls such as Uxie, Spiritomb, and Cryogonal. Life Orb could be used as a sort of middle ground between Choice Specs and Leftovers, but the recoil counteracts Eelektross's main draw over other Electric-types: decent bulk and its lack of weaknesses. Speaking of items, Expert Belt can be used as it does not cause any recoil and Eelektross hits most of the tier for super effective damage. However, Eelektross appreciates the additional healing from Leftovers or the additional power from Choice Specs more, and it cannot hit many of its counters for super effective damage. Eelektross's fourth moveslot is very adaptable and can be changed for the benefit of your team. Superpower can replace Thunderbolt as it can 2HKO Normal-types such as Bouffalant, Clefable, and Lickilicky as well as OHKO Cryogonal, though a Mild nature should be used if running it. Acid Spray can be used over Volt Switch, as it acts as a pseudo-Nasty Plot and can prove very useful because Eelektross's other moves already provide neutral coverage. As Eelektross forces many switches, entry hazard support from teammates such as Smeargle, Omastar, Scolipede, and Crustle is recommended to put pressure on the opponent's team. Paralysis support from Pokemon such as Uxie, Slowking, and Druddigon is recommended to mitigate Eelektross's horrendous Speed. Frail Pokemon such as Zangoose and Durant appreciate Eelektross's slow Volt Switch because it provides a free switch-in and activates the former's Toxic Orb. The only Pokemon in RU that resists all of Eelektross's moves is Druddigon, so powerful Steel-types such as Aggron and Escavalier that can tank hits from Druddigon and strike back with their STABs make for good teammates. Samurott and Omastar are also great partners, as they can both strike Druddigon hard with Ice Beam, as well as lure Water- and Electric-types. Jynx OHKOes Druddigon that don't invest in Special Defense with Ice Beam as well, although it needs Stealth Rock to guarantee the KO if unboosted. Eelektross also fits very well on VoltTurn teams, so Pokemon such as Braviary, Rotom-C, and Mesprit are solid partners.

The users of Coil are few and far between, and even less common are those that can use the move well. Fortunately, Eelektross just so happens to be one of the best. After a few Coils, Eelektross will not only become a threat offensively, but a pain to break on the defensive side too. Thunder Punch, while disappointing in Base Power, is the key STAB move here. Wild Charge boasts more power, but its recoil runs counter to the more conservative nature of the set. Drain Punch is incredibly useful, aiding coverage and providing some much needed healing while proving useful against Pokemon such as Cobalion, Snorlax, Umbreon, and Registeel. Dragon Tail is handy in that it repels attempts to phaze Eelektross via Roar or Whirlwind while also doubling as a phazing method of your own should the need arise. Aqua Tail should not be written off, however, as it allows Eelektross to hold its own against Ground-types, such as Gligar, Rhyperior, and Claydol, while also beating Rotom-H whose auspicious typing grants it the ability to otherwise wall Eelektross with ease. Regardless of which fourth move you decide to choose, the icing on the cake is that the imperfect accuracy of both moves is patched up after just one use of Coil. An Adamant nature and the given EVs maximize Eelektross's ability to sponge special hits as it attempts to boost its physical defenses while providing the offensive kick to start dealing serious damage after just one Coil. As this set aims to stick around for a while and accumulate boosts, Leftovers is a perfect fit. Paralysis support is always helpful for Eelektross, but what this set really dislikes is status, namely Toxic and burns, so a way to either handle or sponge status is required to get the most out of it. Togekiss is a fine teammate in this regard, being able to support with Heal Bell, while Eelektross can weather Electric-type attacks aimed at Togekiss. Umbreon can also Heal Bell, and it can also pass Eelektross Wishes to restore lost HP. Roserade and Shaymin both have access to Aromatherapy to help Eelektross out as well. Roserade gets a particularly strong mention for its ability to also provide hazards that Eelektross can take advantage of. Taking a more offensive slant, Swords Dance Heracross is a fantastic partner, absorbing status that Eelektross attracts and benefiting from it thanks to Guts. Swords Dance Heracross is also able to overcome Gligar, which this Eelektross has difficulties with, while Eelektross deals with Flying-types, such as Zapdos and Crobat, which Heracross detests. Darmanitan also teams up well offensively with Eelektross. Darmanitan's immense offensive power can be used to smash through the opposition, while Eelektross can switch in on Earthquakes thrown Darmanitan's way and can bait out and injure counters, such as Rhyperior, with a boosted Aqua Tail while using its STAB Electric-type moves to keep Water-types at bay.

Eelektross's biggest selling point is its nearly flawless coverage, which makes it difficult to straight up wall, and this set aims to take full advantage of that. Thunderbolt is the STAB of choice here, powering through any non-defensive Pokemon that does not resist it. Flamethrower keeps Grass-types away, while roasting Bronzong hoping to sponge Thunderbolt. Giga Drain helps to stave off the likes of Rhyperior and Golurk, netting a clean 2HKO on both while OHKOing Swampert with ease, and the additional healing it provides adds to its usefulness. However, if you feel that Rhyperior is a real thorn in your side, Grass Knot is a great alternative as it will OHKO the standard tank set 100% of the time. The final move depends on which additional Pokemon you wish to take on with Eelektross. Superpower is the recommended choice as it allows Eelektross to heavily injure Snorlax, UU's premier special wall, while also dealing good damage to Umbreon, who, like Snorlax, does not fear any of the other moves on this set. Hidden Power Ice is definitely an option though, as it is Eelektross's best shot at reasonably damaging Nidoking and Nidoqueen as well as the rare Druddigon, and it OHKOes Flygon and Gligar, both of whom can otherwise tank or wall this set respectively. Effective execution of this moveset relies on both good timing and prediction, in particular when utilizing Superpower. Avoid using Superpower recklessly—instead, try to wear down counters first, then anticipate the right moment to strike. Life Orb is the preferred item as it suits the offensive nature of the set, providing useful boosts on neutral hits. Expert Belt allows for somewhat more longevity, but outside of super effective hits, the power is rather lackluster. The listed EVs are geared to maximize offense, while investing a little in bulk to improve Eelektross's ability to take hits and giving enough Speed to outrun defensive base 60 Speed Pokemon when running a Modest nature. Sets with Superpower should be run with a Quiet nature. Mild is an option if the Speed drop of Quiet is unfavorable, allowing Eelektross to outspeed defensive Pokemon such as Empoleon, Swampert, and Porygon2. While the Speed to outpace and strike Porygon2 with a Superpower first is appealing, the reduced Defense that comes with a Mild nature is a hindrance to an otherwise naturally bulky Pokemon such as Eelektross, and Porygon2 can still potentially beat Eelektross with good prediction. Eelektross suffers in the Speed department, so paralysis support is useful in turning it into an even bigger threat. Good inducers of paralysis and teammates for Eelektross include Togekiss and Slowbro. Togekiss can administer paralysis via Thunder Wave or Body Slam. Togekiss tends to struggle with Steel-types, which Eelektross can hit hard with a timely Flamethrower. Slowbro, on the other hand, can tank most physical attacks aimed at Eelektross while dishing out Thunder Waves when the opportunity arises. Slowbro can also set up Trick Room to support Eelektross on teams based around that strategy. As with most offensive Pokemon, Eelektross very much appreciates entry hazards. Qwilfish is a great teammate as it has access to Thunder Wave and Spikes, and it enjoys having Eelektross take Ground-type attacks aimed at it and maim the common Blastoise that otherwise Rapid Spins with ease on Qwilfish. Offensively, Pokemon that benefit from having special walls in pieces pair well with Eelektross. Raikou will appreciate the damage done and can use it to pave the way towards a sweep. Victini is another good candidate, as it desperately needs Snorlax out of the way in order to go to town, and a weakened Umbreon is always helpful for it. An alternative faster spread of 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe with a Hasty or Timid nature, depending on whether you are running Superpower or not (shift the 4 Attack EVs to Special Defense if running Timid), can be used in order to outspeed a number of key defensive walls such as Gligar and Suicune. Use only Life Orb with the faster spreads, as Expert Belt will not provide enough power. A spread of 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD with a 0 Speed IV should be used when running Eelektross on a Trick Room team.

While Eelektross's physically-based set is excellent, there are several good reasons to use a Special Attack-based set. Eelektross still achieves flawless coverage, and has access to STAB Discharge. Flamethrower and Hidden Power Ice round out coverage. Grass Knot is only necessary if Seismitoad becomes an issue. The Electric-type STAB move of choice is usually more powerful than Grass Knot, even against Jellicent. Sitrus Berry is very useful when facing Haxorus, Landorus, or Terrakion. Their main attacks might not grab the KO on Eelektross, and Sitrus Berry gives it the extra HP it needs for another turn or two of life. Running a Modest nature helps Eelektross work in and out of Trick Room. Discharge is the preferred option, but only if a teammate who isn't affected by the move, such as Landorus or Zebstrika, is present. Thunderbolt is preferred for a Trick Room team, because Discharge's paralysis rate helps out the other team. Musharna and other bulky Pokemon take negligible damage from Eelektross's attacks, so a powerful physical attacker is the best partner to this set. Landorus has a high base Speed, immunity to Discharge, and access to a STAB Earthquake that Eelektross is not affected by, making it a top-notch teammate. Golurk and Krookodile also fit perfectly with Eelektross. Golurk creates a slower version of the common double genie combo, while Krookodile provides Intimidate. Bisharp is another decent partner to Eelektross, as long as Eelektross does not run Discharge. Zebstrika can make decent use of the Special Attack boost Discharge gives it, but Thundurus generally does a better job.

Few Pokemon can attain the amount of KOs that Eelektross boasts. Flying Gem-boosted Acrobatics OHKOes Scrafty, Conkeldurr, and specially defensive Amoonguss. Wild Charge OHKOes most Jellicent and Tornadus, and does massive damage to everything else. Rock Slide is a coverage move for Fire-types and Landorus, if conserving the Flying Gem is important. The last moveslot is a toss-up between Protect and Crunch. Crunch gives more coverage against Ghost- and Psychic-type Pokemon such as Musharna and Golurk. The main downfall to Eelektross is its low base Speed. However, it has enough bulk to function in and out of Trick Room. An Adamant nature is preferred to outspeed neutral-natured Amoonguss. Dragon Claw is generally a poor choice without STAB to back it up, but it hits Haxorus and Hydreigon for super effective damage. Brick Break is an alternative to Rock Slide or Crunch that can break Light Screen and Reflect while maintaining coverage on Hydreigon. Brick Break also hits Bisharp and other Steel-types a lot harder than Eelektross's other moves. Due to the number of options Eelektross can choose from, it can fit relatively easily on most teams. Eelektross really appreciates the offensive power Hydreigon can bring to a team. Haxorus's ability, Mold Breaker, disregards Levitate. As a partner, Hydreigon can outspeed and OHKO non-Haban Berry versions of Haxorus. A Fake Out user is an excellent partner for Eelektross, keeping it at high health for an extra turn.

Thanks to the overall coverage this set provides, it's easy for Eelektross to nail common VGC 2012 threats hard. STAB Thunderbolt coming off of base 105 Special Attack is nothing to laugh at, and it hits key Pokemon in VGC 2012, such as Politoed and Suicune, hard. Alternatively, Discharge can be used if Eelektross is being partnered with a Ground-type Pokemon or a Telepathy partner, as it is a great spread move thanks to a 30% paralysis rate, potentially crippling Pokemon for the match. Flamethrower gives Eelektross much-needed coverage, as it allows it to hit the Grass-type Pokemon that resist Electric-type attacks, such as Amoonguss; it also nails Steel- and Ice-type Pokemon such as Scizor, Metagross, and Abomasnow. Hidden Power Ice is to make sure Dragon-type Pokemon, such as Haxorus and Garchomp, don't completely wall Eelektross, as well as retaining coverage against Ground-type Pokemon. Finally, Protect ensures that Eelektross won't take unnecessary damage, while Grass Knot can be used to hit heavy Pokemon such as Tyranitar. The EVs are obvious, giving Eelektross maximum overall bulk as well as maximum attacking strength, making it a decent tank as well. An EV spread of 160 HP / 252 SpA / 96 Spe can be used to outspeed 0 Spe Jellicent and Tyranitar, giving Eelektross the opportunity to KO with Thunderbolt on Jellicent or Grass Knot on Tyranitar. However, Eelektross loses some much-needed bulk, so you need to take that into consideration when deciding on the EV spread. A Speed IV of 0 in tandem with a Quiet nature can make Eelektross an excellent Trick Room abuser coming off of a base Speed of 50. Sitrus Berry is the preferred item, allowing Eelektross gain lost HP mid-battle. A Modest nature helps Eelektross hit as hard as possible. Eelektross doesn't have perfect coverage, walled by threats such as Rotom-H and Tyranitar (if lacking Grass Knot); to solve this issue, Eelektross can be paired with Pokemon such as Terrakion, Landorus, and Garchomp, which can defeat those two Pokemon. Garchomp and Landorus are especially good, as they can also allow Eelektross to fire off Discharge at will. Water- and Ground-types such as Gastrodon and Swampert are great assets, providing added coverage, easy Discharge use thanks to typing, and support to Eelektross in the form of Storm Drain and Wide Guard, respectively. Because Eelektross is painfully slow, Pokemon such as Togekiss, Tornadus, and Thundurus make great partners with support moves such as Tailwind or Thunder Wave to help Eelektross outrun more of the threats on the field. Togekiss is especially good as it can provide Follow Me support.

This set was fairly well-known in VGC 2011 and widely effective; in this VGC season, however, with almost every other Pokemon to choose from, it can be done better by so many other Pokemon, such as Tyranitar and Scizor. However, that doesn't mean this set is bad at all. Eelektross's most powerful STAB move is Wild Charge, dealing heavy damage with the only drawback being recoil. Flying Gem Acrobatics is an excellent combination that hits extremely hard against Pokemon that are weak to it. Brick Break allows Eelektross to gain coverage on more Pokemon, including Tyranitar and Terrakion. Dragon Claw could also be used instead for coverage against Dragon-type Pokemon such as Garchomp and Salamence. Protect is a standard go-to move for VGC. The EV spread maximizes bulk on Eelektross as well as keeping Eelektross's damage output at a maximum with an Adamant nature. Like the special set, an alternative EV spread of 160 HP / 252 Atk / 96 Spe can be used to outspeed Pokemon such as 0 Spe Tyranitar and Jellicent. A Flying Gem is used in conjunction with Acrobatics to be used as a one-time shot to put dents in a variety of Pokemon. 0 Speed IVs, in conjunction with a Brave nature, can be used to allow Eelektross to function well under the influence of Trick Room. Bulky Rock- and Ground-types can easily take a Brick Break from Eelektross and some can even prevent the use of Wild Charge, such as Rhyperior or Marowak. To help with this, Eelektross can pair up with Water- and Ground-types such as Swampert and Gastrodon, which can use both of their STAB moves to get easy KOs on Rock- and Ground-types. Both can also pair with Eelektross to fire off Earthquakes at will thanks to Levitate. Grass-type Pokemon such as Venusaur and Ludicolo are also nice to have if your team abuses weather, as both can be very useful at taking out slow, bulky Rock- and Ground-types. Because Eelektross is painfully slow, Tailwind and Thunder Wave support are nice to have to help Eelektross outspeed and wreck the opposition.