Parasect Movesets & Competitive Sets

Moves Spore allows Parasect to cripple an opposing foe with perfect accuracy. Synthesis is a reliable recovery move that allows Parasect to stay healthy during the match. Seed Bomb prevents Parasect from being Taunt bait and hits Water-types, such as Floatzel and Swanna, and Ground-types, such as Stunfisk. Knock Off allows Parasect to remove items from Pokemon, such as Eviolite from Tangela and Monferno. Set Details This EV spread maximizes Parasect's physical bulk and minimizes the damage it takes from Stealth Rock. Dry Skin allows Parasect to absorb a Water-type attack when switching in and restore HP. Leftovers provides passive recovery and allows Parasect to stay healthy during the match. A specially defensive spread is an option in order for Parasect to make use of its typing and check special attackers such as Raichu and Floatzel more easily. Usage Tips Parasect should switch in on predicted Electric-, Ground-, and Fighting-type attacks from Pokemon such as Raichu and Stunfisk, but it must be wary of their coverage moves. If Stealth Rock is up, Parasect should be wary of switching in, as the damage can bring it down to 2HKO or OHKO range. Parasect also cannot reliably switch in on special attacks, except for a predicted Water-type attack from Pokemon such as Floatzel. Parasect should try to go for Spore most of the time, but it must be wary of Pokemon that can absorb Spore, such as Roselia and Zebstrika; if you predict such a Pokemon to switch in or if Parasect has just used Spore, Parasect should use Knock Off. Team Options Parasect only fits on defensive teams due to its passivity. Defoggers and spinners such as Pelipper, Vibrava, and Armaldo are able to remove entry hazards that normally trouble Parasect, such as Stealth Rock. Rock-types such as Golem appreciate Parasect's ability to take Water-type attacks while in return they can take Fire- and Flying-type attacks. Grumpig is a good partner, as it is able to take Fire- and Ice-type attacks aimed at Parasect and act as a special wall, while Parasect is able to take physical attacks. Water-types such as Swanna and Floatzel are able to handle Fire-types, for Parasect. Fire-types such as Rapidash and Monferno can help Parasect to take on Ice- and Steel-types. Zebstrika is able to take on Jumpluff, which walls and sets up on Parasect.

Parasect's main job is to put an enemy Pokemon to sleep with Spore. That way, a partner sweeper has an easier time setting up. Leech Seed helps because it grants Parasect and its teammates healing opportunities. Seed Bomb hits the Pokemon Parasect can switch in on, such as Golurk, Choice Band Sawk, Support Seismitoad, and Alomomola, quite hard. X-Scissor can catch the Sap Sipper Pokemon that try to switch into Spore, such as Sawsbuck, as well as Grass-type Pokemon switching in on a predicted Leech Seed. However, Protect can also be used in that spot to scout for Pokemon with Choice items and all of the super effective attacks that Parasect attracts. Good examples of partners for Parasect that can set up on sleeping foes are Shell Smash Carracosta and Shift Gear Klang, both of which synergize well with Parasect. Charizard also deserves a mention as an offensive partner, as Parasect can switch in on the Water-types that Charizard brings in. Fighting-types such as Choice Band Sawk can partner with it as well, eliminating Rock-types that can hurt it. Defensively, Rock- and Steel-types, such as Regirock and Metang, are the best partners, as they can handle all of Parasect's weaknesses. To additionally support these partners, Aromatherapy is an option on Parasect, as most clerics, such as Audino and Lickilicky, have a Fighting-type weakness while Parasect does not, so it might fit on a team better.

With access to two useful status-inducing moves, a slew of handy resistances, reliable recovery, and respectable defensive stats, Parasect can act as a superb status spreader. Parasect can switch into many common Pokemon, such as Milotic, with ease, which gives him plenty of opportunities to switch in and spread status. Though Parasect's numerous weaknesses can cripple him in this regard, the opponent cannot switch in Pokemon who can target Parasect's weaknesses easily due to the threat of Spore and Stun Spore. Spore is this set's main selling point, forcing the opponent to be constantly wary of switching Pokemon into Parasect haphazardly. It should be noted that Parasect may not wish to use Spore immediately; though it may seem tempting to do so, the constant threat of Spore will pose a psychological threat against the opponent, and you may wish to scout the opposing team for any Sleep Talkers before using up Parasect's precious Spore. Stun Spore allows Parasect to act as an effective paralysis spreader, and, since Stun Spore's paralysis is only negated by Pokemon with the Limber ability, Parasect is almost guaranteed to paralyze an opposing Pokemon once he gets in safely. Stun Spore is also the safer option to use immediately, since it can catch a threatening Pokemon like Arcanine on the switch. Synthesis gives Parasect a means of reliable recovery, and further adds to Parasect's nice bulk. Finally, Seed Bomb rounds off the set by providing a reliable STAB move that still hits fairly hard off of Parasect's respectable Attack stat, despite the lack of EV investment. However, X-Scissor can be used over Seed Bomb to hit Grass-, Psychic-, and Dark-types harder, though Seed Bomb's better type coverage means that it is generally the better option. The EVs of this set go towards increasing Parasect's special bulk. This is because many of Parasect's resistances, such as those against Water-, Electric-, and Grass-type attacks, are more commonly seen as special attacks, which makes investing in Special Defense more worthwhile than investing in Defense. For example, a specially defensive Parasect takes relatively little damage from Milotic's Ice Beam, which allows him to switch into Milotic with ease; it also allows him to survive some strong super effective attacks, such as Life Orb Venusaur's Sludge Bomb. Also, despite being specially-based, Parasect can still take Choice Band Close Combats and Earthquakes when need be. However, a physically defensive spread isn't a terrible option, as it does allow Parasect to check Pokemon like Dragon Dance Feraligatr. This set has numerous options that can be used over the suggested ones. While Dry Skin is usually the better ability, Effect Spore can be useful to allow Parasect to spread status by simply switching into a contact move. The immunity to Water-type attacks that Dry Skin provides is generally too useful to pass up, however. Knock Off can be used in Stun Spore's stead to remove opposing Pokemon's items, but the paralysis offered by Stun Spore is generally more useful. Finally, Aromatherapy is a useful option to cure Parasect and his teammates of status, but it's difficult to find a place for it on this set. Since this Parasect can act as a very effective status-- in particular, paralysis -- spreader, slow, powerful Pokemon work well with him. Rhyperior is perhaps the best of these, as he resists all of Parasect's weaknesses except for Ice-type attacks, and in exchange, Parasect resists Rhyperior's nasty weaknesses to Water-, Grass-, Ground-, and Fighting-type moves. However, Aggron, Hariyama, Azumarill, and Ursaring are all good choices as well, though they unfortunately don't have the almost perfect defensive synergy that Rhyperior and Parasect share. Defensively, bulky Water-types can be useful, since they resist Parasect's weaknesses to Fire- and Ice-type attacks, and the combination of Water- and Grass-type Pokemon is a fairly decent defensive tandem. Milotic, Blastoise, and Lanturn are great bulky Water-types who can also complement Parasect in other ways. Since Parasect is very prone to status, having a cleric on your team can be useful; Clefable, Chansey, and Lanturn are great Pokemon to fulfill this role. Due to his Stealth Rock weakness, Parasect appreciates Rapid Spin support, as Stealth Rock will cause some attacks that would otherwise be manageable to 2HKO or OHKO him, and is generally extremely annoying for Parasect to deal with. Hitmontop, Blastoise, and Donphan are all excellent Rapid Spinners, since they can all deal with spinblockers who may attempt to halt their attempts to Rapid Spin.

This set attempts to use Parasect's good base 95 Attack in the form of a bulky attacker. Spore is the main option on this set, as it's Parasect's main weapon against his counters. Seed Bomb and X-Scissor have decent coverage together, and are both boosted by STAB. Pursuit is a great attack to use alongside Spore; since Spore tends to force switches, Pursuit can smack the Pokemon who switch out for decent damage. Parasect can also use it to trap unsuspecting Ghost- and Psychic-type Pokemon. Brick Break is a usable option over either of Parasect's STAB moves, since it hits the Steel-types who wall both of his STABs for respectable damage. However, Parasect probably still won't be able to break through the majority of Steel-types of UU, so it isn't recommended. Synthesis is a decent option over Pursuit to give Parasect a form of reliable recovery, and it complements either item choice well. Life Orb gives Parasect's attacks more sting, but it comes at the cost of reduced longevity. However, with Dry Skin (and possibly Synthesis) to make up for it, Life Orb is a decent option, though Leftovers is always the safer choice. Maximum Attack EVs and an Adamant nature are used, as Parasect needs all the power it can get. To give you an idea of how weak Parasect can be, even with max Attack, Parasect isn't guaranteed to 2HKO a full-HP Milotic with Seed Bomb without Life Orb (factoring in Milotic's Leftovers). Due to this, Parasect really can't afford to sacrifice any of his investment in Attack. While you may feel tempted to invest the remaining EVs into Speed, it's really not worth it. Parasect is so slow that a heavy amount of investment is required to outspeed even slow, defensive Pokemon such as Registeel and Chansey, and, even then, it's hardly worth it since Parasect will rarely be able to muster a 2HKO on the aforementioned Pokemon. As such, the remaining EVs are placed into HP to boost Parasect's respectable bulk. In addition to the numerous options that are presented on this set, there are a couple of other interesting choices that can be used. Return is Parasect's strongest option against Flying- and Fire-types, and it prevents Parasect from being utterly walled by the likes of Moltres and Blaziken. Stun Spore can be used over one of this set's coverage moves to slow down opposing Pokemon so that Parasect can actually outspeed them, but sacrificing coverage isn't good for this set, as this set relies on type coverage to deal damage due to Parasect's mediocre Attack stat. Aromatherapy is an option alongside Synthesis to create a self-reliant and fairly bulky mono-attacker. However, as stated before, sacrificing coverage really hurts Parasect in the long run. Lastly, Choice Band is a decent item choice, but Parasect really despises being locked into one of his heavily resisted STAB moves (or Spore, for that matter). Since this Parasect's main prey are Water-, Grass-, and Ground-type Pokemon, Pokemon that have issues with these types complement this set well. Rhyperior, Aggron, and Blaziken are great examples of Pokemon who lure these types of Pokemon in, and they all pack resistances to some of Parasect's weaknesses. They're also all able to deal with bulky Steel-types, whom Parasect despises. In return, Parasect is able to take out Pokemon such as Lanturn and Donphan, whom the aforementioned powerhouses have issues with.

A support-oriented Parasect. Puts something to Sleep, heals the team of status, and takes on Choice Banded Ground / Fighting attacks. Hidden Power Bug is good for decent damage all around thanks to STAB, but Hidden Power Rock hits the omnipresent Choice Band Birds, Pidgeot and Murkrow. Only use Hidden Power Rock in NU, Hidden Power Bug is superior in UU.

Because people expect Spore, you might not want to use that right away. For instance, if they have Murkrow, you've just given them a free switch to come in and use Choice Banded Drill Peck on your team; the same goes for Sludge Bomb Ariados. For this reason, it's generally best to open with Swords Dance if you predict a Sleep Talker, or Hidden Power Rock if you predict one of those two. Hidden Power Rock is a good opener if you have no idea what to do, because the common switches into Parasect are weak to it. Hidden Power Ground can do something to Mawile and maybe Sudowoodo, but Sudowoodo has STAB on Rock Slide, so you can't stay in on it. Once again, only use Hidden Power Rock in NU, Hidden Power Bug and Ground are superior in UU.

This set's main power is that it can kill its main counters through surprise. For instance, Mawile will take quite a bit of damage from Hidden Power Fire, and Sudowoodo is 2-3HKOed by Giga Drain. If you use Hidden Power Ice, you can still hit Murkrow and Pidgeot on the switch super effective, so they'll likely think you're using Hidden Power Rock. For this reason, Growth and Sunny Day should generally be used later on in the match (and also because you need to make sure they don't have any guys that can OHKO Parasect). This is inferior to Pokemon like Vileplume in UU; the accuracy of Spore over Sleep Powder does not make up for the worse stats and ability.

This Parasect attempts to sweep with Swords Dance. It will usually be about as useful as the first set (put something to sleep with Spore). Losing Stun Spore means you have less of a guarantee of long-lasting damage, though, so it's a bit riskier.

OK, for this set to work, you have to switch into something that won't KO Parasect in one hit, or two hits if you plan on getting hit on the switch. Spore whatever you want... and this is where Parasect's usefulness pretty much ends. Use Stun Spore to paralyze whatever comes in next. After this, just attack away. If you used Stun Spore, you should have the Speed advantage, so enjoy that while it lasts. Giga Drain can dent Rhydon, Quagsire, and Golem, if they decide to switch in that is.

Good luck staying alive long enough to set this up. Spore might be able to buy you a free turn or two, and maybe they'll bring in a Steel-type expecting a physical attacking Parasect. Hidden Power Fire covers Steel- and Bug-types, whereas Ice covers Flying-types (especially Dragonite, should you use Parasect in OU). Both hit enemy Grass-types. You could use Hidden Power Rock for the inevitable Fire-type switch-in. Hidden Power Rock is a better choice than the special Hidden Power Fire because you will not be hitting them after using a Growth (when you use Growth, they just switched in, are faster than you, and OHKO), meaning you'll have to whittle them down on switches. With Hidden Power Rock, you can use Parasect's superior Attack stat. This also lets you hit Flying-types on the switch. The only advantage of Hidden Power Water is if you have paralysis support, or are using Parasect in OU for some reason and need to hit Steelix harder.