Numel Movesets & Competitive Sets

Moves Flame Charge is a vital move, as it doubles Numel's Speed stat thanks to Simple while dealing some chip damage, allowing it to outspeed the majority of the metagame. Fire Blast is a powerful STAB move that is able to OHKO Foongus after Stealth Rock before a boost, and after a Growth boost, only Fire-resistant Pokemon and very bulky Pokemon like Spritzee aren't OHKOed by it. Earth Power provides great and accurate neutral coverage with Fire Blast and nails Rock-, Electric-, and Fire-types such as Onix, Elekid, and Ponyta while giving Numel a way to damage Water-types, though it needs a boost from Growth or Groundium Z to do serious damage to them. Growth is used to double Numel's Special Attack stat, giving Numel some much-needed firepower for non-Groundium Z sets and, when combined with a Flame Charge boost, making Numel a terrifying sweeper. If you're running Groundium Z, Stealth Rock is a nice option, as the Special Attack boost from Growth isn't really needed, allowing Numel to set entry hazards if they aren't on the field already. Set Details Simple is mandatory for this set to function, since it doubles all the stat increases from Flame Charge and Growth. Maximum Special Attack investment with a Modest nature is used to make Numel deal as much damage as possible. 236 Speed EVs are used so that Numel outspeeds 17 Speed Choice Scarf users after a Flame Charge, with the remaining EVs going into HP to boost it by one point. Eviolite is used to give Numel more bulk so it can more easily tank attacks and set up on more Pokemon, while Berry Juice provides recovery Numel much desires to set up on Pokemon it walls. Groundium Z transforms Earth Powerinto a 175-Base Power Tectonic Rage that lets Numel nuke a threat when performing a sweep; for example, it is capable of OHKOing defensive Staryu after Stealth Rock damage and dealing significant damage to bulky Pokemon like Spritzee. A Timid nature could be run to outspeed Choice Scarf Doduo and Gastly, which could otherwise revenge kill Numel after a Flame Charge boost, but the loss of power isn't very favorable. Usage Tips Numel functions as a late-game sweeper, so it is best to remove any checks and counters, especially Aqua Jet users like Corphish and Tirtouga, before sending Numel in. It should also be switched in on Pokemon it threatens out or Pokemon that can't do much damage to it, like Ferroseed, Magnemite, and Pumpkaboo-XL, to let Numel more easily set up with Flame Charge or Growthor get Stealth Rock up. Flame Charge should generally be used before Growth, as Numel is quite slow before a boost and will likely be outsped and KOed by a switch-in otherwise. Groundium Z sets can work as a lure to Staryu wanting to switch in and trying to remove entry hazards and check Numel, OHKOing them after Stealth Rock damage. It is also useful for taking out a very bulky Pokemon such as Spritzee or Timburr during a sweep. On sets that lack Groundium Z, Numel should tank a hit to set up either Growth or Flame Charge, as it wants both boosts to be able to safely sweep. Team Options Grass-types such as Foongus and Snivy can deal with the Water- and Ground-types that otherwise check Numel. Even if Numel decides to run Stealth Rock, entry hazard support from Onix, Dwebble, or Ferroseed is still appreciated, as it means Numel doesn't have to risk setting up Stealth Rock itself, giving it an easier time sweeping. Ferroseed is an especially great partner for Numel, as its Grass typing lets it come in on common Water-types and set up entry hazards on them. Knock Off users like Mienfoo, Timburr, and Vullaby soften up bulkier Pokemon like Spritzee and opposing Vullaby, making it easier for Numel to break through them. Mienfoo can even lure in Pokemon Numel beats, such as Pumpkaboo-XL and Foongus, and pivot Numel in with U-turn, making it a great teammate. Memento users such as Diglett and Cottonee lower the foe's offenses while safely bringing Numel in, providing it with more setup opportunities. Staryu makes for a great partner, as it can deal with Water- and Ground-types with its coverage moves and is able to remove Sticky Web, which otherwise halves Numel's Speed, thus requiring an extra turn of setup. It is also able to lure in Ferroseed and Pumpkaboo-XL, Pokemon that Numel can set up on. Alolan Vulpix provides Numel with much-needed bulk and survivability via Aurora Veil support, making it a lot easier for Numel to set up.

Moves Lava Plume and Earth Power function as Numel's STAB moves and allow it to threaten Grass-, Electric-, and Steel-types. Lava Plume has higher PP and a high chance to burn the opposing Pokemon, while Fire Blast can be used for additional power at the cost of accuracy. Numel can chip away at opposing Pokemon's health and potentially break their Focus Sash by setting up Stealth Rock. Ancient Power hits Archen and Mantyke, which resist Numel's STAB attacks, while Will-O-Wisp allows Numel to handle physical attackers more consistently and wear down opposing walls and switch-ins. Set Details This set maximizes Numel's Special Attack to allow it to hit hard while still taking attacks well. The remaining EVs are funneled into Numel's HP and Defense to give it better mixed bulk and allow it to switch into strong special attackers. Oblivious ensures Numel can always set up Stealth Rock, but if Ancient Power is used, Simple is a good option on the off chance Numel receives a boost. Usage Tips Numel is a great switch-in to common Pokemon in the metagame, such as Foongus, Magnemite, and Ferroseed, as they all fear its STAB attacks. Numel also makes for a great counter to Ponyta, as Numel resists its STAB moves. Set up entry hazards or use Will-O-Wisp on switches to burn incoming counters, although Numel must be cautious of burning Guts users such as Timburr. Team Options Spritzee's Wish support is an absolute necessity to Numel, as it provides a form of recovery and allows Numel to beat Poison-, Fire-, and Steel-types that give Spritzee trouble throughout the match. Bulky Grass-types such as Pumpkaboo, Ferroseed, and Chespin are needed to cover up Numel's glaring weakness to Water- and Ground-types. Pumpkaboo has the added benefit of being able to spinblock, keeping Numel's Stealth Rock on the field. Numel's typing allows it to switch into the Fire-types that Grass-types cannot beat, forming a good defensive core. Water-type Pokemon such as Chinchou and Staryu function well with Numel as well, as Chinchou resists and beats opposing Water-types, while Staryu is a good switch-in to common Ground-types such as Drilbur and Archen. Chinchou and Staryu are both weak to Grass-types, making Numel a nice switch-in.

Moves Earth Power and Fire Blast are Numel's two STAB attacks, and Flame Charge allows Numel to boost its Speed by two stages. Growth raises Numel's attacking stats by two stages, making it an imposing sweeper to face once it sets up. Set Details This set's purpose is to quickly set up multiple boosts and sweep the opponent's weakened team late in the game. 236 EVs allow Numel to hit 13 Speed and outspeed the entirety of the unboosted LC metagame after one Flame Charge, as well as outpace common 17 Speed Choice Scarf users such as Drilbur and Chinchou. A Modest nature, 236 Special Attack EVs, and a Life Orb give Numel maximum damage output. The remaining EVs are placed into Numel's HP for additional bulk. Usage Tips Without Eviolite, Numel is quite frail and consequentially cannot set up on strong attackers. It is best to set up boosts against defensive Pokemon that cannot hurt Numel, such as Ferroseed. Prioritize raising speed, as without the boost Numel is open to being revenge killed. Team Options Numel appreciates sun support from Vulpix, as it provides ample opportunities to set up with sun-boosted Flame Charge and doubles Growth's effect, raising both Numel's Attack and Special Attack by 4 stages. Chlorophyll users can also be paired with Numel and Vulpix to beat the Water- and Grass-types that prevent Numel from sweeping. Stealth Rock setters such as Dwebble and Onix help Numel beat the Flying-types that wall it such as Archen and Mantyke. Chinchou can also beat Archen and Mantyke. Numel also appreciates the pivot support that Volt Switch provides, allowing Numel the opportunity to switch in on Grass-types and set up. Ferroseed partners well with Numel, reliably beating Water- and Ground-types while having the ability to provide the entry hazard support Numel requires. Lileep also makes for a great partner, as it can wall Archen and Mantyke and switch into Water-types thanks to Storm Drain.

Numel's unique Fire / Ground typing makes it a fantastic counter to many Steel-, Grass-, and Electric-types in Little Cup. This includes Magnemite, Pawniard, Foongus, Shroomish, Ferroseed, and many more. Unfortunately, Rest is the only recovery move Numel has access to, so Rest and Sleep Talk are mandatory. This allows it to sponge any status moves from the aforementioned Grass-types without fear. Lava Plume is the third move on this set, as it is Numel's most reliable STAB and can potentially cripple physical attackers with a burn. Due to Simple, Stockpile gives Numel a +2 boost to both defenses, allowing it to sweep late-game once all Water and Ground types have been removed. The defense boosts also allow Numel to become a situational check to many threats such as Timburr, which could otherwise set up on Numel. If Stockpile is deemed unnecessary for your team, Earth Power is also a good option in the final slot. This makes Numel a good counter to Fire-types and can also surprise Chinchou or Tirtouga that may try to switch in. The EVs, nature, and item for this set are fairly standard and maximize Numel's defensive potential. Curse is another option in the final slot in conjunction with a physical move instead of Lava Plume, but Numel's Special Defense isn't good enough to pull off a sweep. The only other notable move for this set is Toxic, which could help Numel stall out threats. If you're feeling particularly gutsy, you can drop Sleep Talk in favor of another move, but running Rest without Sleep Talk usually isn't a good idea. Numel appreciates teammates that can take on Water- or Ground-types. Lileep is a fantastic partner, as it is immune to any Water-type attacks aimed at Numel whilst Numel can take on the Steel-types that Lileep hates. Other Grass-types such as Ferroseed and Shroomish also make good partners for the same reasons. Heal Bell support is useful when using Numel, allowing it to Rest and switch out without the worry of being worn down. Chinchou makes a great partner for this reason and in return, Numel can take on the Grass-types that Chinchou struggles against. Tentacool is another good choice for a teammate thanks to its access to Toxic Spikes, which can help Numel stall out opponents with Stockpile and Rest. Finally, Numel is a good choice for sand teams, as it helps against Grass-types and can use the residual damage from the sandstorm to stall out opponents; however, Numel compounds the Water-type weakness that many sand teams already have.

The idea of this set is fairly straightforward. Numel can use Flame Charge to finish off a weakened opponent and then use the +2 Speed boost to attempt to sweep the opposing team. After a single Flame Charge, Numel reaches 26 Speed, which is enough to outspeed 17 Speed Choice Scarf users such as Mienfoo or Chinchou. When boosted by a Life Orb, Fire Blast is a very powerful move that can deal serious damage to most Pokemon, with a chance to OHKO Eviolite Mienfoo and Sandshrew. Earth Power is a much more reliable STAB move in terms of accuracy and can be used to hit Chinchou and Tentacool super effectively. In the last slot, Hidden Power Electric is the best option, as it is Numel's best way of getting past Staryu, Mantyke, and Archen. Life Orb is the only item that can be used on this set, as otherwise, Numel is far too weak. The nature can be changed to Timid if you want to outspeed 18 Speed Choice Scarf users and Adamant Sandshrew, but Numel needs all the power it can get. Numel's movepool is rather shallow, so it doesn't have a lot of other options, but Ancient Power is an interesting choice over Hidden Power Electric. It can hit Flying-types such as Archen and potentially give Numel a +2 stat boost in every stat, which would give the opponent a tough challenge in taking it down. Hidden Power Grass can be used over Hidden Power Electric if you're particularly worried about Wooper, but in general, Hidden Power Electric is the better choice. Numel needs a lot of support to be able to sweep with this set. Firstly, entry hazard support is very useful to allow Numel to net some extra KOs. For example, Stealth Rock allows Numel to OHKO RestTalk Chinchou 93% of the time, a layer of Spikes and Stealth Rock allow it to OHKO Staryu 93% of the time, and two layers of Spikes and Stealth Rock allow it to OHKO Tentacool 100% of the time. Ferroseed and Lileep are both strong candidates for this role, as their Grass-typing helps deal with Water- and Ground-types. Water-types such as Staryu make for good teammates, as they often lure in Pokemon that Numel can set up on, such as Magnemite and Ferroseed. Knock Off support is useful, as Numel finds it difficult to break through more bulky Pokemon. Mienfoo is a good candidate for this role, as it can help to wear down Porygon, Lickitung and Lileep, which could otherwise take a hit from Numel. Finally, wallbreakers, such as Life Orb Misdreavus, can really help in weakening the opposing team for Numel to sweep.

Numel is not the fastest Pokemon around, but it reaches 14 Speed, meaning that with a Choice Scarf, it will outspeed every Pokemon in the tier who are not holding a Choice Scarf themselves. Overheat is its most powerful STAB attack, and it should be used early-game to hurt and scout your opponent's switch-ins, even those who resist it. Fire Blast provides consistency, and is very useful for sweeping late-game when most of the opposing Pokemon are at low health. Earth Power provides secondary STAB, and hits Rock-type Pokemon that resist Fire Blast super effectively. Finally, Hidden Power Electric allows Numel to hit Mantyke for super effective damage, and also provides good general coverage alongside the other moves. Flamethrower is an option over Fire Blast which exchanges power for accuracy, though the power drop is very noticeable and can often be disastrous for Numel. Simple is not used in this set because Numel is not taking advantage of it with stat boosts, and it results in -4 Special Attack each time Overheat is used. The EV spread maximizes Numel's Special Attack and Speed, with an extra 4 EVs in Special Attack to counter Hidden Power Electric's imperfect IV for it. Bulky special walls such as Munchlax will enjoy switching into Numel, and either damage it hard with Pursuit, or hit its switch-in hard with a STAB Return. Therefore, a powerful Fighting-type would benefit Numel. A good example is Choice Scarf Mankey, being able to scout with U-turn, as well as OHKOing Munchlax with Close Combat. Mantyke is a good teammate and has great synergy with Numel; Mantyke absorbs any Ground- and Water-type attacks aimed at Numel, while Numel is immune to Electric-type attacks which may be aimed at Mantyke. Mantyke and Numel are also great offensive wallbreaking partners. Gligar is also a great teammate, thanks to its ability to set up Stealth Rock, as well as scout the opponent's team with U-turn. Finally, Wynaut allows Numel to come in easier as Encore will force the opponent to repeat moves that do not threaten Numel in the slightest.

With a Quiet nature and 3 Speed IVs, Numel hits 7 Speed, outspeeding almost every Pokemon in the tier under Trick Room. Fire Blast is its main STAB attack, and will hurt any Pokemon who does not resist it or not named Munchlax. Overheat is an even more powerful and accurate option, and is useful if you don't plan on keeping Numel in for too long. Earthquake is another powerful STAB move, and it gets great coverage alongside Fire Blast, resisted only by Mantyke and Wingull in the tier, both of which are weak to Hidden Power Electric hits. Finally, Return offers good neutral coverage, and hits most Pokemon who resist Fire Blast. The EV spread maximizes Numel's Attack and Special Attack, with its HP and Defense stats increased by one extra point. Slowpoke has good synergy with Numel, and can also set up Trick Room, making it an ideal teammate. Slowpoke also has access to Slack Off, allowing it to set up Trick Room multiple times throughout the battle. Bronzor is also a good teammate, having the bulk to set up Trick Room as well as Stealth Rock. Eevee is a good sweeping partner, because after Numel has heavily weakened the opponent's core, Eevee will be able to come in and sweep with STAB Return or Quick Attack. Howl may be used instead of Hidden Power Electric, because once set up, Numel is very hard to stop, and the power boost can be very useful to ensure the KO on bulky threats, especially Munchlax. Checks and Counters Numel is quite frail, so any Pokemon with a somewhat decent offensive stat can take on Numel. Pokemon such as Chinchou and Mantyke can easily switch into anything but Earth Power or Hidden Power Electric respectively, and begin firing off powerful STAB Hydro Pump. Water-types with Aqua Jet can easily come in on a Fire-type attack and take out Numel before it can attack. Gligar can easily switch in on a Ground-type attack, outspeed Numel, and OHKO it with Earthquake.