Skrelp Movesets & Competitive Sets

Moves Sludge Wave and Hydro Pump are powerful STAB attacks that hit especially hard when boosted by Adaptability. Together they give Skrelp nearly perfect neutral coverage in the LC metagame. Skrelp has a choice of a Hidden Power to deal significant damage to one of the Pokemon that resist its STAB attacks. Hidden Power Fire is useful for Ferroseed, while Hidden Power Psychic is useful for Croagunk, as well as for other Poison-type Pokemon, including Mareanie, Tentacool, and other Skrelp. Thunderbolt is another option in this slot that hits the latter three for greater damage than Hidden Power Psychic. Toxic Spikes gives Skrelp a way to take advantage of the switches it forces by stacking Toxic Spikes to pressure opposing teams. Alternatively, Scald can be run as a Water-type STAB move that doesn't miss and can burn switch-ins to wear them down. Set Details Skrelp's EV spread maximizes its Special Attack while giving it enough bulk to survive an Earthquake from Drilbur or Focus Sash Diglett, or a Psychic from Focus Sash Abra. Adaptability allows Skrelp to hit as hard as possible with its STAB moves, especially with Special Attack investment. An Eviolite improves Skrelp's defenses, allowing it to take as many hits as possible while dealing damage. Usage Tips Skrelp can easily come in on the attacks that it resists, especially against Pokemon such as Spritzee and Timburr that cannot significantly damage it, and then begin to dish out damage against whatever comes in. Early-game, Skrelp can use Toxic Spikes or Scald to spread status and wear down the opposing team's checks and counters. Mid- or late-game, Skrelp can come in and break down the opposing team with powerful attacks. Be cautious when playing against teams using trappers, as these can easily come in after Skrelp gets a KO and remove it from the match. Also be careful about letting Skrelp take super effective, or even powerful neutral attacks, as despite its good defenses it is prone to getting worn down. Skrelp's Hidden Power should usually not be used except against Pokemon that resist both of Skrelp's STAB attacks because Adaptability gives Skrelp such a power boost on its STAB moves. Team Options Entry hazard support from the likes of Dwebble and Onix enhances Skrelp's wallbreaking potential and helps it take advantage of the switches it forces. Fighting-types, including Mienfoo and Timburr, appreciate Skrelp's ability to check Fairy-type Pokemon, can Knock Off opposing Pokemon's items to help Skrelp deal more damage, and can handle Ferroseed easily. Checks to Ground-type Pokemon are essential, making Grass-types such as Snivy, Pumpkaboo, and Ferroseed good partners. Flying-type Pokemon, including Vullaby and Archen, also work in this role to a degree. Pokemon that can take advantage of the fact that Skrelp brings in Diglett work well, including Snivy and Z-Trick-or-Treat Pumpkaboo. Pokemon that appreciate Skrelp's ability to come in on and pressure Fighting-type Pokemon are also good partners, including Normal-type attackers such as Doduo and Bunnelby and Steel- and Rock-type attackers such as Omanyte and Pawniard. Lastly, Skrelp forms a solid defensive core with both Lickitung and Spritzee, both of which can also use Wish to pass Skrelp HP boosts, giving it longevity it would not otherwise have.

Moves Rest is Skrelp's only form of recovery; it cures it of status and fully restores its health. Sleep Talk allows Skrelp to attack while asleep. Scald is boosted by Adaptability and has a high chance to burn the foe. Though Sludge Bomb can be used in place of it, Sludge Wave is used, as it has a lower chance of poisoning a foe that would be crippled more by a burn and is able to hit Chespin. Set Details Adaptability boosts the power of Skrelp's STAB moves. The HP and defensive investment in conjunction with Eviolite allow Skrelp to take many hits with ease. The Speed EVs increase Skrelp's Speed stat by one, allowing it to outspeed Spritzee and Hippopotas, and a Bold nature allows it to take physical moves better. Usage Tips Skrelp can be used as a status absorber thanks to Rest. It is a good mixed wall and can deal with Fighting- and Fairy-types, common Pokemon in LC, thanks to Adaptability. Team Options Thanks to its ability to KO Fairy-types with ease, Skrelp is a great partner to Fighting-types, such as Mienfoo and Timburr. Drilbur makes for a good partner thanks to its immunity to Electric-type moves and ability to set up Stealth Rock, as well as its ability to KO Croagunk, Skrelp's main counter. Pokemon that can easily take on Abra, such as Stunky and Pawniard, also make for good partners to Skrelp. Pokemon that are immune to Ground-type moves, such as Archen and Vullaby, are good partners; in particular, Vullaby is immune to two of Skrelp's weaknesses, Psychic and Ground, while Skrelp resists two of Vullaby's weaknesses, Fairy and Ice. Pokemon that resist or are immune to Electric-type moves, such as Drilbur and Pumpkaboo, are also good partners.

Moves Sludge Wave is the main STAB move, as it is very powerful and boosted by Adaptability. Sludge Bomb is also a viable alternative to Sludge Wave; however, while Sludge Bomb has a higher chance to inflict poison, it is often not worth using, because it cannot hit Chespin and might poison a Pokemon that would be crippled more by a burn. Hydro Pump, the most powerful STAB move on the set, is also boosted by Adaptability. Hidden Power Fire allows Skrelp to heavily damage Steel-types, which are immune to Poison-type moves; it is primarily used to KO Ferroseed, which resists both of Skrelp's STAB moves. Having Hidden Power Psychic allows Skrelp to OHKO Croagunk, which would otherwise counter Skrelp; it also hits other Skrelp for super effective damage. Scald is another 100% accurate STAB move, can be used when Hydro Pump's accuracy is not reliable, and has a 30% chance to burn the foe. Toxic Spikes can be used instead of Scald to provide chip damage that is useful for breaking Focus Sashes and Sturdy, wearing down walls, and putting a timer on opposing sweepers. Set Details The EV spread maximizes Skrelp's damage output while hitting Eviolite numbers. Adaptability boosts the power of Skrelp's STAB moves, and a Modest nature increases Skrelp's Special Attack. The Speed EVs allow Skrelp to outspeed Pokemon such as Spritzee and Hippopotas. Usage Tips Skrelp can easily switch into moves that it resists, thanks to its bulk. Scald should be used early-game to burn and wear down Skrelp's checks. Ferroseed and Croagunk should be hit on the switch, as they are not always OHKOed by any of Skrelp's moves. Team Options Sticky Web support lets Skrelp outspeed and KO Pokemon that would usually be faster than it. Hazard support can be useful to allow Skrelp to attain KOes more easily. Skrelp has good synergy with Fighting-types, such as Mienfoo and Timburr, as it can easily KO Fairy- and Poison-types, which are troublesome for them. Skrelp works well with Drilbur too, as Drilbur is immune to Electric-type moves, which Skrelp is weak to, can set Stealth Rock up, and can easily KO Croagunk, Skrelp's main counter. Pokemon that can deal with Abra, such as Stunky and Pawniard, are also good partners to Skrelp. Pokemon that are immune to Ground-type moves, such as Archen and Vullaby, and Pokemon that resist or are immune to Electric-type moves, such as Drilbur and Pumpkaboo, also make for good partners. Support Pokemon such as Spritzee, which has access to Wish and Aromatherapy, are also useful to allow Skrelp to stay healthy.