Floatzel Movesets & Competitive Sets

Moves Bulk Up lets Floatzel hit harder and take one or two more hits than it normally could. Ice Punch in tandem with Icium Z allows Floatzel to use a one-time attack on Pokemon that would survive Ice Punch such as Rotom-S and Leafeon. Taunt can be used to prevent other potential Taunt users from stopping Floatzel from setting up as well as block Toxic and Thunder Wave that would otherwise cripple Floatzel. Aqua Jet helps to revenge kill threats faster than Floatzel such as Choice Scarf Electivire and Zebstrika after some chip damage. It also can knock out Choice Scarf Rapidash if it's near half of its HP. Low Kick is a great coverage option over Taunt that gives Pokemon such as Komala and Lickilicky a very hard time, especially after a Bulk Up boost or two. Set Details Water Veil grants Floatzel immunity from burns, which is important considering this set is a physical wallbreaker. Floatzel's EVs and a Jolly nature maximize its Speed and allow it to hit as hard as possible physically. Ice Punch becomes Subzero Slammer with Icium Z, and at +1, it lets Floatzel OHKO Silvally-Dragon and Leafeon. Alternatively, Fightinium Z can be used to turn Low Kick into All-Out Pummeling, which at +1 lets Floatzel OHKO Komala, Lickilicky, and Bouffalant while also acting as nice coverage for Silvally-Water. Usage Tips Since Floatzel is frail, switching it into any attack is not wise; therefore, it should normally be brought in via a slow U-turn or Volt Switch. This provides Floatzel with momentum, allowing it to set up Bulk Up or attack for free as well as boost on Pokemon that it forces out such as Golem and Altaria. Floatzel is also a great revenge killer if Aqua Jet is chosen over Low Kick or Taunt. If running Taunt, Floatzel has a better matchup against stall teams. Floatzel can handle physically frail Pokemon with this set and should capitalize on this. Such targets include Komala, Life Orb Kadabra, Simisear, and Kecleon. Given that Water Veil prevents burns, this set is an ideal counter to most Mareanie, with Taunt being able to cripple it and force it to use Scald. Team Options U-turn and Volt Switch users such as Komala, Silvally-Fighting, Electivire, and Rotom-S can bring Floatzel in safely. Entry hazards end up being a problem in addition to Floatzel's less-than-ideal bulk. A partner that can get rid of them such as Altaria, Silvally-Dragon, or Sandslash works well here. Conversely, having entry hazards on the opposing side is also helpful to give Floatzel an easier time dealing with the opposition. Entry hazard-setting partners include Golem, Bronzor, Crustle, and Mareanie. While burns won't be an issue for Floatzel, paralysis and poison cripple it. Thus, having a cleric on the team such as Granbull or Lickilicky certainly would be a good idea. Faster Pokemon like Choice Scarf Electivire and Zebstrika derail any chance Floatzel has of being a threat. Therefore, having a partner like Choice Scarf Rapidash or physically defensive Golem certainly helps it out. Gourgeist-XL is also a problem for Floatzel, even with Icium Z. Combusken or Simisear can form a Water / Fire core with Floatzel and help it deal with this particular threat. Opposing Water-types like Swanna and Silvally-Water wall this set completely, so Electric- or Grass-types such as Electivire and Leafeon can help in this regard.

Moves Ice Beam allows Floatzel to hit the Grass- and Dragon-types such as Gourgeist-XL, Bellossom, Silvally-Dragon, and Hakamo-o that Hydro Pump can't hit well. Focus Blast hits Pokemon like Lickilicky, Kecleon, Bouffalant, and Silvally-Water. Switcheroo allows Floatzel to cripple an unsuspecting physical attacker or passive foe such as Komala or Bronzor. Set Details The EV spread of 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe and a Timid nature utilize Floatzel's great Speed tier while maximizing its special attacking power. Water Veil is the default ability here, but Swift Swim could be better if used under rain, in which case Floatzel is going to be hard to outspeed. Usage Tips Floatzel is very frail and needs to be brought in safely in order for it to inflict a large amount of damage, preferably through a teammate's U-turn, Volt Switch, or Parting Shot. Floatzel should be looking to use Hydro Pump as often as possible. However, it should nail incoming Grass- and Dragon-types with Ice Beam and use Focus Blast on specially bulky switch-ins such as Lickilicky. Switcheroo is a great tool for crippling bulky Water-type attackers, particularly Mareanie, which Floatzel can't break through it normally. Being Choice-locked into the wrong move can be bad, as it allows the opponent to bring in a Pokemon such as Huntail to set up with moves such as Shell Smash. Due to this, using a super effective or neutral move is best. Being Choice-locked also makes Floatzel a lot easier to play around and forces it to switch out, so making predictions or double switching into a teammate can be necessary. Team Options Since Floatzel hates Electric-type moves from the likes of Electivire and Zebstrika, having a check to them like Golem helps it out. Like all Choice item users, this Floatzel does not appreciate entry hazards, so removers such as Komala, Sandslash, Altaria, and Silvally-Dragon are strongly recommended. Entry hazards on the opponent's side, however, are much appreciated so as to let Floatzel sweep more easily. Good entry hazard setters for Floatzel include Golem, Crustle, and Bronzor. If Floatzel becomes paralyzed or poisoned, its chances of doing serious damage take a blow. Therefore, having a cleric like Granbull or Lickilicky definitely helps. It is also a good idea to have a partner to absorb status moves such as Machoke or Muk. The latter can also absorb Toxic Spikes should they be on the field. Machoke can also deal with Bronzor and remove Mareanie's Eviolite with Knock Off, while Muk checks Grass-types such as Shiinotic. Pivots like Silvally-Fighting, Rotom-S, Zebstrika, and Electivire that can bring in Floatzel safely are greatly appreciated. Setup sweepers like Crustle that appreciate Floatzel's ability to revenge kill and wear down the opposing team pair nicely with it.

Moves Hydro Pump is Floatzel's strongest special STAB move that allows it to OHKO threats such as Pinsir. Ice Beam is Floatzel's best way to hit the Grass- and Dragon-types in the tier such as Gourgeist-XL, Altaria, and Silvally-Dragon. Hidden Power Electric lets Floatzel hit its biggest competition in Swanna while also hitting the other Water-types in the tier such as opposing Floatzel, Poliwrath, Mareanie, Silvally-Water, and Simipour. Focus Blast is a great coverage move that hits Pokemon such as Assault Vest Komala, Lickilicky, and Kecleon, all of which can easily tank whatever else Floatzel throws at them. With Aqua Jet, Floatzel can revenge kill Pokemon faster than it such as Combusken and Ninjask. Set Details A Naive nature combined with an EV spread of 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe allows Floatzel to outspeed Raichu, Zebstrika, and Jumpluff and hit hard. Swift Swim is preferred over Water Veil, since it gives Floatzel a better matchup against Z-Rain Dance Swanna, whereas Water Veil is useless on a set based around mostly special attacks. Usage Tips Since Floatzel's bulk is not the best and it can easily be worn down, bringing it in via a slow U-turn or Volt Switch is a smart idea. Furthermore, Floatzel must be wary of getting chipped down over time from entry hazards. Thanks to Aqua Jet, revenge killing is also a great use of Floatzel's skills. Not only can it revenge kill faster Pokemon, but it can also take out some setup sweepers such as Combusken, Crustle, and Simisear. Utilizing Floatzel's great Speed tier to take down Pokemon like Rapidash, Silvally-Dragon, and Simipour with its coverage moves is also a good idea. Floatzel can also beat Pokemon that have poor Special Defense stats such as Granbull, Mawile, and Avalugg. Team Options Since this set can easily have trouble with Bronzor, having an answer to it such as Choice Band Komala and Simisear is beneficial. As mentioned before, Floatzel's bulk is less than ideal and leaves it susceptible to being OHKOed by Sucker Punch from the likes of Golem, Kecleon, and even Pawniard. Thus, it appreciates having a partner to deal with them like Silvally-Fighting, Combusken, or Machoke. Coming in on Stealth Rock and Spikes can wear Floatzel down quickly, so entry hazard control from a teammate such as Komala, Altaria, or Rotom-S will be essential to keep it going. Having entry hazards of your own is also a good idea, since Floatzel's Special Attack is not the best. Great entry hazard-setting partners include Golem, Bronzor, Sandslash, and Mawile. Wish or Healing Wish support from the likes of Lickilicky and Mr. Mime can give Floatzel a second chance at potentially sweeping. Pokemon faster than Floatzel like Choice Scarf Electivire and Zebstrika can ruin its chances of doing serious damage, so teammates like Golem, Sandslash, and Silvally-Dragon can help by dealing with these threats for Floatzel. Pokemon such as Rapidash and Gourgeist-XL appreciate Floatzel dealing with Ground- and Fire-types, so they make for good teammates and can even form a nice Grass / Fire / Water core.

Moves Waterfall is Floatzel's most reliable attack, and it is used most often to clean late-game once the foes that resist it have been KOed or weakened. Ice Punch is for Grass-types such as Gogoat, Simisage, and especially Roselia, which like to switch in on special Floatzel. Aqua Jet is a tool to revenge kill weakened, faster Pokemon such as Zebstrika, Choice Scarf Chatot, and other Pokemon offense struggles with. The last move is entirely based on team support options. Return 2HKOes Politoed and Lumineon, which otherwise completely wall Floatzel. Switcheroo cripples Tangela as well as Floatzel's other counters somewhat, though Tangela is the main one that is crippled by only Switcheroo. Pursuit is usable as well to force damage on some of the Pokemon that want to switch from Floatzel, although it has very limited use, as Floatzel generally does not force out Pokemon weak to Dark. Set Details A Choice Band and maximum Attack investment keep Floatzel hitting hard, while maximum Speed investment allows it to outspeed as much as possible when cleaning. Water Veil gives a handy immunity to Scald burns as well as the ability to switch into predicted Will-O-Wisps. Usage Tips This Floatzel will typically be used to lure whichever Pokemon is crippled or KOed by the move it carries in the last slot, such as Politoed for Return variants, before sweeping late-game. The same applies when using this just to lure Pokemon such as Clefairy, Roselia, and Grumpig, which are all good switch-ins to special Floatzel variants but are KOed by physical sets. Use Aqua Jet against lead Golem to beat both Custap Berry and Sucker Punch variants. Floatzel should also be preserved when facing a problematic setup sweeper to act as a final line of defense with Aqua Jet. Team Options A secondary Water-type such as Simipour goes well with Floatzel, as it forces in and can cripple or KO most Water checks, although the shared weakness forces the team to prepare more for Grass- and Electric-types. Depending on which move it carries, Floatzel needs checks to the Pokemon it fails to cover, such as Roselia to set Spikes on Politoed or Tangela. Pawniard, Knock Off Purugly, or other Tangela lures work nicely for Floatzel to clean more easily.

Moves Hydro Pump is Floatzel's STAB move of choice. Ice Beam gives great coverage with Hydro Pump, covering the Grass-types that resist Floatzel's Water-type moves, such as Tangela, Jumpluff, and the ubiquitous Roselia, although it falls just short of the 2HKO on defensive variants. Hidden Power Electric covers the few Pokemon that resist Floatzel's other two moves, most notably Water-types. These include Swanna, Politoed, and Lapras, which take very little from Ice Beam. The final slot depends on personal preference. Surf provides an accurate STAB option in order to safely KO Pokemon in a late-game scenario. Switcheroo is to be used with Choice Specs only; it enables Floatzel to cripple some of its sturdier counters, such as Clefairy. Focus Blast can be run to 2HKO Assault Vest Bouffalant on the switch, as well as netting the OHKO on Stoutland and doing more damage to Lapras. Taunt can be used to cripple walls such as Clefairy trying to recover health or cripple Floatzel with status. Finally, Ice Punch can be run on Life Orb sets with a Naive nature in order to lure and 2HKO Roselia. Set Details Maximum Special Attack and Speed investment is used to allow Floatzel to wallbreak and clean up more efficiently. A Timid nature allows Floatzel to outspeed a plethora of barely slower attackers thanks to its excellent base Speed, including Jumpluff and Rapidash. Water Veil, while having much less merit on this set than physical variations, is still beneficial occasionally to prevent burn damage. Life Orb is generally the preferred item, as it allows Floatzel to switch up moves and opens up options such as Ice Punch and Taunt, but Choice Specs is also run to increase Floatzel's power and allow it to effectively use Switcheroo. Usage Tips Keep bringing Floatzel in a lot, as it pressures opposing teams a ton and can easily rack up KOs with repeated attacks. If facing a team with a Pokemon immune to Water such as Politoed, avoid locking Floatzel into a Water-type attack if possible. Floatzel is generally used to revenge kill slower threats, which constitute most of the metagame, while making it hard for the opponent to try to preserve those threats. Team Options Floatzel will generally be run on more offensive teams that need a strong attacker as well as extra speed control to fare better versus opposing offense teams. Pokemon that can check Zebstrika, Electrode, and Ninjask are useful, as they are the only unboosted threats capable of outspeeding and KOing Floatzel. Stunfisk is the most notable example that checks all three. Setup sweepers such as Fraxure that can struggle with bulkier teams appreciate Floatzel's ability to cripple opposing walls to more easily sweep late-game. Both Stealth Rock setters such as Probopass and Spikes setters such as Roselia can help wear down Floatzel switch-ins such as Bouffalant more quickly. Pokemon such as Arbok and Dodrio that can pressure Roselia are greatly appreciated, as Floatzel can have a lot of trouble breaking past specially defensive variants.

With its massive Speed and access to Taunt, Floatzel makes an excellent Baton Pass user. What sets it apart from Scyther, however, is its higher Speed, and absence of a nasty weakness to Ice-type moves and Stealth Rock. Bulk Up and Agility are used to aid Floatzel's teammates in sweeping--Bulk Up raises its Attack and Defense, which is good for physical sweepers, while Agility is helpful for slow, powerful sweepers, such as Bouffalant and Entei. Taunt will stop any phazer that attempts to erase Floatzel's stat boosts, and it stops any opponent that attempts to set up alongside Floatzel. Waterfall is mainly a filler, but it gives Floatzel something to do should it be the last Pokemon on your team. 216 Speed EVs ensure Floatzel is fast enough to outrun base 110 Speed Pokemon such as Archeops. Maximum HP investment provides extra bulk, while the remaining EVs are placed in Defense. If you desire more power, the additional EVs can be placed in Attack, giving Waterfall more of a kick. Water Veil is the preferred ability, as a burned Floatzel will be drained of its health, and it won't survive long enough to pass its boosts. Swift Swim is usable, however, as it allows Floatzel to function on a Rain Dance team. Aqua Tail can be used over Waterfall if you prefer the extra power, but its lower accuracy may be an issue. Pokemon that can receive Floatzel's stat boosts are obvious choices for teammates. Aggron appreciates an Attack boost from Bulk Up, Sawsbuck and Bouffalant appreciate a Speed boost, and Gallade can take advantage of a Defense boost, giving it more opportunities to switch in. Tangrowth is a more obscure option, but it appreciates both Speed and Attack boosts, and it can switch into Floatzel's weaknesses. Finally, Floatzel can be used as part of a dedicated Baton Pass team--Mawile, Gorebyss, and Drifblim are all suitable teammates if you decide to go down that route.

Thanks to its high Speed and usable Attack stats, Floatzel is an ideal candidate for a Choice Band set. The idea is to switch into a weak or resisted move, then proceed with Switcheroo or an attacking move to cripple or deal huge damage to the opponent, respectively. Waterfall is used for reliable STAB, and it receives a helpful power boost in the rain. Return provides excellent neutral coverage alongside Waterfall, but Ice Beam will OHKO Tangrowth, Floatzel's biggest enemy. Crunch is mainly a filler, though it allows Floatzel to hit Water-types should it use Ice Beam in the second slot, and it deals more damage to the likes of Slowking and Uxie outside of rain. Switcheroo is the main reason to use Floatzel over Feraligatr, as it allows Floatzel to cripple a wall, such as Slowking, Uxie, or Crustle. Floatzel can utilize both of its abilities on this set, as both of them have their own merits. Swift Swim can be used alongside a Rain Dance partner, making Floatzel one of the fastest Pokemon in the tier, while Water Veil blocks any attempt to burn Floatzel. Water Veil works excellently alongside Switcheroo as it completely shuts down Spiritomb, one of Floatzel's biggest counters. It also beats common Scald users, such as Slowking. Pokemon that can set up entry hazards are helpful, as they weaken the opponent into Floatzel's KO range. Ferroseed is an excellent choice, as it can switch into Floatzel's weaknesses, and has access to Spikes, Stealth Rock, Leech Seed, and Thunder Wave. Uxie is another good choice, as it can switch in easily thanks to its great defenses, and proceed with a combination of Stealth Rock, U-turn, and Thunder Wave. Scolipede can set up Toxic Spikes, which are helpful to cripple physical walls; however, be careful when using Toxic Spikes, as a Guts user may take advantage of them. As always, carry a spinblocker to keep these hazards on the field. A way to break through physical walls is helpful. Absol is a good example; Superpower hits Aggron 4x super effectively, Night Slash and Sucker Punch will dent Slowking and Uxie, and the occasional Psycho Cut will decimate Throh.

This set is designed to wipe out Floatzel's number one nemesis: Tangrowth. With Ice Beam, Floatzel can take on Dragon-, Grass-, and Flying-types, and it will always OHKO enemy Tangrowth. This set is outclassed by Omastar and Gorebyss as a whole, but Floatzel has higher Speed and only has two weaknesses, while Omastar has four. Waterfall provides reliable physical STAB, and it deals a lot of damage when the weather is rainy. Brick Break hits Steel-types, and Crunch can be used to hit Ghost-types super effectively--note that Waterfall will deal more damage to Ghost-types in the rain. Rain Dance speaks for itself, and Hidden Power Grass can OHKO Omastar and Quagsire. While this set lacks the raw power of other sweepers in the tier, Floatzel's surprise value and unpredictability make it effective. The EVs on this set are fairly specialized: the Speed EVs enable Floatzel to outrun Timid Rotom outside of rain, maximum Special Attack EVs are used to raise Floatzel's lower attacking stat, and the remaining EVs are placed in Attack, giving Waterfall and Brick Break more power. Surf can be used in the last slot to deal more damage to Sandslash, Steelix, and Pokemon with lower Special Defense, and it's surprisingly powerful in the rain. Taunt is another option to shut down walls such as Clefable, but it isn't great on an offensive set. Support from entry hazards is helpful, as they make it easier to weaken and KO threatening Pokemon--not to mention they work great with Floatzel's ability to force switches. Ferroseed can set up Spikes and Stealth Rock, and it can also switch into Grass- and Electric-type moves aimed at Floatzel. Sandslash is another good choice, as it sports a useful Electric-type immunity and can support its teammates with Rapid Spin. If you choose Hidden Power Grass in the last slot, it's recommended that you partner Floatzel with a teammate that can set up Rain Dance. Defensive Pokemon, such as Uxie, are great choices as they are difficult to KO, and therefore can set up rain multiple times. Furthermore, if you decide to use Rain Dance in the last slot, Water-types completely wall this set. Using a Grass- or Electric-type, such as Lilligant, Sceptile, or Galvantula, is recommended to power your way through opposing Water-types; in addition, they can switch into one or more of Floatzel's weaknesses. Alternatively, Clefable can take on most Grass- and Water-types, as the majority of them are special attackers. Due to Floatzel's frailty, most priority moves will severely weaken it. A wall such as Uxie can switch into most common priority moves, and it doesn't have to fear Sucker Punch either, as it can cripple physical attackers with Thunder Wave or Yawn. Aggron is another decent choice, as it can switch into Extreme Speed, and takes a pittance from Sucker Punch. Ground-types also make good teammates, especially since Choice Scarf Rotom and Timid Galvantula are pretty common.

Floatzel lacks Swords Dance; however, having Bulk Up still gives Floatzel the Attack boost that it needs. After using Bulk Up, Floatzel will obtain 417 Attack and 237 Defense. Once Floatzel has used Bulk Up once or twice, it should follow up by attacking. Waterfall provides reliable STAB, dealing significant damage to the many Fire-, Rock-, and Ground-types in the UU metagame. Ice Punch picks off Grass-types, as well as hitting Altaria hard. Return pairs well with Waterfall and offers good coverage while hitting the many bulky Water-types who resist the Water + Ice combination. Brick Break and Crunch are the main other options for this set. Crunch will hit Ghost- and Psychic-types harder than any move, which is especially important for Slowbro who resists Water-type moves. Brick Break, however, hits Lapras hard, since Lapras resists Water- and Ice-type moves. Brick Break also hits most Steel-, Dark-, and Normal-types harder than any other move. Aqua Jet is a minor option but does allow you to hit priority users before they hit you, as well as hitting faster Choice Scarf users, like Dugtrio and Swellow. Life Orb makes Floatzel more like a kamikaze weasel. It gives Floatzel the necessary boost to its acceptable Attack stat. Leftovers is a fine option if you feel that Floatzel can survive a couple of hits after using Bulk Up or if sandstorm and hail are a concern. Jolly nature with the Speed EVs outpace Timid Mismagius and Jolly Scyther. Max Attack is used to make Floatzel hits as hard as possible, while the HP EVs give Floatzel 319 HP, a Life Orb number. The leftover EVs are placed in Defense since Floatzel is using Bulk Up. You can use an Adamant nature should you prefer more power, but generally the extra Speed is more beneficial. Rain Support can be used with this set from the likes of Lanturn, Registeel, and others, but it's generally better to stick to just pure attacking in the rain. Bulky Water-types utilizing special moves give this set problems as they can take Floatzel's hits well provided it doesn't have too many boosts, while hitting its unboosted Special Defense stat. Milotic, Slowbro, and Lapras are among the best counters. Milotic has Hidden Power Grass to badly hurt Floatzel, while Lapras has Thunderbolt and Slowbro can hit the weasel with Psychic or Grass Knot. They all have the defenses to take a few hits as well. Grass-types can do well against the aforementioned Pokemon as their powerful Grass-type moves will scare them off. Venusaur is one of the best as it has high Special Defense to take Ice Beams and Psychics. Ludicolo is one of the best possible partners; with its high Special Defense, 4x resistance to Surf, and only being hit neutrally by Thunderbolt, Hidden Power Grass, and Psychic, it can scare them off whether it be through the SubSeed tactic or just its powerful Grass-type moves. Powerful Electric-types such as Rotom are other good partners; although they often have trouble switching in, once they are in they can scare those bulky Water-types off with a powerful STAB Thunderbolt. Lanturn is probably the best Electric-type to counter the aforementioned Pokemon as its high Special Defense lets it take even super effective special attacks with relative ease, while its STAB Thunderbolt will send them running. Calm Minders such as Espeon and Mismagius can set up against these bulky Water-types while Mismagius has Substitute to block status, and Espeon's ability Synchronize means if they inflict Espeon with status, they will also be inflicted. Tangrowth can take Floatzel's hits while incapacitating it with Sleep Powder. Therefore, a powerful special sweeper is needed to deal with it. Ludicolo has Ice Beam to hurt Tangrowth, and even has Substitute to block Sleep Powder. Powerful Fire-types are probably the best counters to Tangrowth. Moltres can do very well as it's resistant or immune to most of Tangrowth's attacks, while hitting back with a powerful Flamethrower. Its Stealth Rock weakness does hurt, but if you can keep Stealth Rock off the field, it can do very well. Other Fire-types such as Blaziken and Houndoom have a harder time getting in, but once in, they will scare off Tangrowth. When using this Floatzel on your team, you need some way to deal with Sceptile since it is faster than Floatzel and can hit it with a powerful Leaf Storm, and even Aqua Jet won't save you. Moltres can do well against Sceptile barring the odd Rock- or Electric-type moves. Swellow is faster than Sceptile, and can take it out with Brave Bird, but its fragility means it can only revenge as it can't risk switching in. Altaria is another good counter with its resistance to Grass-type moves and super effective attacks to force Sceptile out, but it has to be wary of Hidden Power Ice.

Floatzel is one of the few Pokemon who can Baton Pass Bulk Up boosts. The weasel's high Speed and access to Taunt help this set successfully pass the boosts. Since Whirlwind, Roar, and Perish Song are common ways to prevent Pokemon from Baton Passing boosts, Taunt helps patch that problem. It can also make certain offensively weak Pokemon setup bait. Waterfall is used as the sole attack since it's Floatzel's most reliable Water-type move, and Floatzel is not meant to be a sweeper with this set. Therefore, another attack isn't needed. A Jolly nature and 176 Speed EVs allows Floatzel to outspeed Timid Mismagius and Jolly Scyther while Floatzel's Defense is maximized so it can take hits as best as possible with the rest placed in HP. Floatzel doesn't need Attack EVs on this set as it's not meant to be a sweeper; it's meant to be a team supporter. Floatzel should only retaliate when it feels that it is absolutely necessary to. Otherwise, Floatzel should simply use Baton Pass to escape from harm. Leftovers is the preferred item as free recovery can help Floatzel last longer. This set has a lot of trouble with certain phazers, such as Raikou, who Floatzel can't risk Taunting, due to their ability to OHKO Floatzel; therefore, pairing this with a Pokemon with either Soundproof or Suction Cups is highly recommended to prevent your boosts from being eliminated. Mr. Mime can add Calm Mind boosts should you need them while its Soundproof ability can help your team not lose its boosts because of Roar. Cradily and Octillery can make use of their Suction Cup abilities to stop the phazing, and with the right amount of boosts, they make good Baton Pass receivers. Exploud has Soundproof and with the ability to use both physical and special attacks, it can make a good Baton Pass receiver as well. Bulky Water-types cause this set problems as they take Waterfall easily while being able to take Floatzel out with Hidden Power Grass or other moves; however, Floatzel can just Baton Pass away. Therefore, Venusaur and physical Ludicolo can make nice partners to scare off these bulky Water-types with STAB Grass-type moves and also take advantage of Bulk Up boosts. Sceptile can cause this set a lot of problems as it resists Waterfall, is faster than Floatzel, and can easily take it out with Leaf Storm. Moltres can deal with Sceptile provided you remove Stealth Rock, which makes it a good partner. Scyther can Baton Pass Agility boosts to help out your team or just take advantage of the Bulk Up boosts so it can make a nice partner to Floatzel as well.

The ingredients to Choice Band are rather simple: a good movepool, acceptable Attack, and high Speed. You may lose the versatility of switching attacks, but the Attack boost is welcomed. While Floatzel has an impressive Speed stat, its Attack is mediocre compared to the likes of Absol and Hitmonlee, but that higher Speed can come in use at times, as well as its powerful STAB Waterfall. Waterfall is Floatzel's main attack to hit the many Ground-, Rock-, and Fire-types in UU, while Ice Punch falls close behind in hitting the many Grass-types. Ice Punch also hits Altaria hard. Return gives reliable damage; however, use a coverage move or priority here if you want. Crunch damages Slowbro and Rotom, Aqua Jet provides useful priority and makes Sucker Punch from Absol and others fail, while Brick Break isn't exactly a necessary option; however, it hits most Normal-, Steel-, and Dark-types harder than any other attack. Another option is Pursuit to trap fleeing Pokemon, such as Mismagius who is OHKOed by a Jolly Choice Band Waterfall after Stealth Rock damage, so will unlikely risk staying in. Adamant isn't a horrible option. It sacrifices Floatzel's Speed (361 to 329) for more power (463 to 508). Fortunately, Floatzel will still outpace positive Speed base 100s by a single point. The increase of power is welcome as it gives you a chance of 2HKOing max HP / max Defense Bold Slowbro with Crunch, assuming Stealth Rock is up; however, it will be outpaced by Timid Mismagius. Because Mismagius is a common threat, the loss of power may be worth the extra Speed provided by Jolly. This particular Floatzel has a lot of trouble with bulky Water-types, as even with the Attack boost, it won't be damaging them enough as they can recover off the damage. They also can switch in easily on Waterfall; therefore, having someone to counter them is a good idea. Grass-types such as Venusaur and Ludicolo can scare off these bulky Water-types with their STAB Grass-type attacks. Powerful Electric-types such as Rotom and offensive Lanturn variants can do very well against the bulky Water-types, while strong Fire-types such as Houndoom, Blaziken, and Moltres will scare off Tangrowth and also Venusaur who takes most attacks from Floatzel easily. These Fire-types can also deal with Registeel who may come in to Thunder Wave Floatzel; however, most Pokemon don't like Thunder Wave, so the Fire-types will need a Lum Berry or predict Registeel coming in. Faster Choice Scarf users can also cause this set problems. Choice Scarf Rotom and Mismagius are some examples as although they can't easily switch in, once in they will be able to take Floatzel out with Thunderbolt. Registeel can make a nice partner to Floatzel to take many of the special moves aimed at Floatzel, paralyze faster enemies with Thunder Wave, and it can also deal with Sceptile who sometimes causes this set problems. Toxicroak can cause this set problems as Dry Skin means it is immune to Water-type attacks. Therefore, a bulky Poison-type such as Weezing, Muk, or Nidoqueen can do well against most sets, although Muk has to watch out for Earthquake while Nidoqueen has to watch out for Earthquake and Ice Punch. Arcanine, Moltres, and Altaria are other good partners, and can do very well against Toxicroak, although they have to be wary of Stone Edge, and Ice Punch as well in the case of Altaria.

Floatzel is a surprisingly good mixed sweeper thanks to decent offensive stats and Rain Dance. This set works just like any other Rain Dance sweeper: find a turn to Rain Dance and start inflicting pain. Surf is the primary STAB here, and hits some of the physically defensive Pokemon who think they can take Floatzel's hits easily. Waterfall is the second move to hit Chansey, Clefable, and others hard. Ice Beam is used in the last slot to hit the many Grass-types of UU, while also OHKOing Altaria. As for other options, Toxic, Hidden Power Grass, Hidden Power Electric, Crunch, Brick Break, Return, and Aqua Jet are the best. Toxic is Floatzel's best attempt at crippling bulky Water-types, as most of them can shrug off Floatzel's other attacks. Hidden Power Grass allows it to take out Quagsire and Gastrodon while also hitting the many Water-types in UU, but Hidden Power Electric also hits most Water-types and gives a harder hit on Mantine and Qwilfish. Generally, Hidden Power Grass is better though as Quagsire and Gastrodon are more common than Mantine and Qwilfish. Crunch hits Slowbro harder than any other move while also hitting Psychic- and Ghost-types. Brick Break strikes most Normal-, Dark-, and Steel-types much harder compared to the other attacks. Return doesn't hit anything super effectively but does offer good coverage alongside Water-type moves. However, most of these Pokemon have high defenses and can thus shrug off these attacks. Aqua Jet's priority may be useful, but usually that's better left for all physical sets. With these EVs, Floatzel hits an amazing 540 Speed in the rain, and 270 Speed to beat neutral Toxicroak even without rain. Its Special Attack is then maximized since that's the main stat it's using, with the rest put in Attack. Life Orb is the item of choice for the power boost, but Mystic Water is a good alternative as there's no recoil. However, the loss of power in Floatzel's other attacks may hurt. Damp Rock will allow it to set up eight turns of rain, but usually the cost of losing power isn't worth it. Rain Dance support is needed for this set to function properly as it may not always be able to set up Rain Dance. Claydol, Rotom, and Lanturn can take Electric-type moves aimed at it and set up Rain Dance, while Claydol can set up Stealth Rock and Rapid Spin away hazards to help Floatzel and your team out. Registeel, Muk, and Altaria can take the Grass-type moves aimed at Floatzel, while setting up Rain Dance. Altaria can also support it with Heal Bell, while Muk can absorb the Toxic Spikes it hates, and Registeel can set up Stealth Rock. Uxie is another good Rain Dance supporter who can also set up Stealth Rock. Bulky Water-types completely laugh at this set, barring the odd Hidden Power Grass or Toxic, and even Hidden Power Grass usually doesn't do enough to most. Powerful Electric-types such as Rotom can make good partners although boosted Water-type moves from the aforementioned Pokemon may hurt, but otherwise it can do well. Rotom can also set up Rain Dance to support Floatzel and its team. Lanturn is perhaps the best Electric-type partner as its high Special Defense and resistance to most of the moves commonly used by bulky Water-types means it can switch in and scare them off with a powerful Thunder, which, thanks to Rain Dance, has 100% accuracy. Toxicroak will often try and switch in, but Muk can usually deal with it, while also being able to set up Rain Dance and absorb Toxic Spikes. Dugtrio can trap and OHKO Toxicroak, but has to watch out for it using Nasty Plot on the switch, as after a boost, Toxicroak will OHKO Dugtrio with Vacuum Wave.

Floatzel is a fast Water-type Pokemon who can cause quite a bit of destruction in the rain. The rain acts similar to an Agility and a Howl (for Waterfall that is) boost, which is why little Speed investment is necessary. After the rain is set up, it's time for Floatzel to wreak havoc upon its opponents. Waterfall will be the main attack for Floatzel and hits incredibly hard in the rain. Ice Punch adds coverage while stopping Grass-types from absorbing the boosted Waterfall, as well as hitting Altaria hard. Return is your best weapon against opposing Water-types and complements Waterfall for nearly perfect coverage. It's also your strongest attack against Toxicroak, who will often come in to absorb Waterfall. Rain Dance is in the last slot as you can never have too many Rain Dance users on a Rain Dance team. Although Floatzel may seem outclassed by both Qwilfish and Kabutops due to their access to Swords Dance and moves with higher Base Power, Floatzel's higher Speed makes it a lot harder to revenge kill, and it can still deal some damage without the rain. Also, Floatzel can afford to invest less EVs in Speed and instead invest in HP to take hits better, whereas Qwilfish and Kabutops need all the Speed they can get. Floatzel has access to Ice Punch which gives it an easier time against Altaria, unlike Qwilfish, who has to rely on Poison Jab. Kabutops may have Stone Edge to take Altaria out, but its shaky accuracy can let it down at times. Life Orb is the best option for this set. Floatzel's rather lackluster Attack and low Base Power moves make Life Orb appealing, and without it Floatzel will have a much harder time against the bulkier physical walls such as Venusaur, Drapion, and Uxie. Damp Rock is a possible alternative though as it means you get more Rain Dance turns to abuse; however, the extra power of Life Orb is generally preferred. Max Attack is needed for Floatzel to hit as hard as possible, especially considering its lackluster Attack—it needs all the power it can get. 16 Speed EVs are best for our flotation sac friend. This gives 270 Speed before a Rain Dance, just enough to outpace Adamant Toxicroak. After the rain is present, Floatzel has enough Speed to outrun every common Choice Scarf user in UU. The HP EVs give Floatzel a little durability and offers less recoil from Life Orb. The rest of the EVs are allocated into Defense. This Floatzel should only be used on a Rain Dance team, and therefore Rain Dance support is required. Even though Floatzel may have Rain Dance, it can't rely on itself to always set it up. Claydol, Lanturn, and Rotom are all effective partners to Floatzel, taking the Electric-type moves it hates with ease, while setting up Rain Dance and also Stealth Rock in the case of Claydol. Lanturn can also do well against those annoying bulky Water-types. Altaria, Muk, and Registeel are great partners to take the Grass-type moves Floatzel hates while setting up Rain Dance to support Floatzel. Muk can also absorb the Toxic Spikes which hamper Floatzel, while Registeel can set up Stealth Rock and Altaria can cure Floatzel of status through Heal Bell. Bulky Water-types are the number one counters to Floatzel, and your team needs some way to deal with them. Ludicolo is an amazing partner, dealing with Milotic, Slowbro, and Quagsire with ease, and with Ice Beam, it can hit Tangrowth, whose high Defense means it can take Ice Punch from Floatzel easily. Omastar and Gorebyss are good partners as they can deal with many of the physically defensive Pokemon who Floatzel hates, such as Tangrowth and Quagsire. They also have Earth Power and Psychic, respectively, to take out Toxicroak who is immune to Water-type attacks due to Dry Skin. Registeel and Uxie can take a few attacks while being able to cripple Floatzel with Thunder Wave, but Lanturn can do well against Registeel who lack Earthquake. Omastar and Gorebyss with Hydro Pump have a very high chance to OHKO the standard 252 HP / 4 SpD Relaxed Uxie with the aid of Stealth Rock, and so can make nice partners to Floatzel.