Turtwig Movesets & Competitive Sets

Moves Stealth Rock is an incredibly useful move that punishes the opponent for switching. Synthesis reliably heals Turtwig, letting it stay healthy to switch into threats and set Stealth Rock multiple times if need be. Bullet Seed is a mandatory STAB move and can break through Focus Sashes and Sturdy. Superpower deals with Steel-types that switch in, OHKOing Pawniard and Magnemite after Stealth Rock and dealing a large amount of damage to Ferroseed and Porygon. However, the Attack and Defense drops severely weaken Turtwig afterwards and may force it to switch out. Crunch can also be used as a coverage option to hit Drifloon hard and threaten Gastly on the switch. Set Details An Eviolite coupled with the given EVs and a Careful nature gives Turtwig respectable 22 / 24 / 24 bulk, which allows it to switch into resisted hits repeatedly. The Speed EVs let Turtwig hit 10 Speed, which allows it to outspeed Pokemon like Spritzee and bulky Tirtouga and Speed tie with Timburr, defensive Porygon, and Hippopotas. Overgrow can punish the foe with stronger Grass-type attacks if Turtwig is weakened. Usage Tips Set up Stealth Rock as quickly as possible, as it is more effective the more the foe switches in on it. Use Synthesis when needed, but be wary of its low PP, as it is your only way of healing Turtwig. Once Turtwig's role is done, it can happily switch into resisted hits from Pokemon like Chinchou and Drilbur. Be wary of using Superpower unnecessarily, as it will significantly weaken Turtwig both offensively and defensively and potentially force it to switch. Also, be wary of switching into Scald, as Turtwig hates getting burned. Team Options Vullaby is a very good teammate, as it can switch into and defeat Foongus, which defeats Turtwig. In return, Turtwig can check Electric-types such as Chinchou and Magnemite for Vullaby. Turtwig helps Pokemon that appreciate entry hazards up such as Carvanha and Abra to OHKO certain Pokemon due to Stealth Rock's chip damage. Pokemon that want a good switch-in to Water-types, like Fire-types such as Ponyta, also appreciate Turtwig. Poison-types such as Croagunk and Skrelp are good partners because they can switch into Poison-type moves aimed at Turtwig. In return, Turtwig can take resisted Ground-type moves. Steel-types such as Magnemite also appreciate Turtwig switching into Ground-type attacks and can switch into Flying- and, situationally, Poison-types for Turtwig. Electric-types like Magnemite and Chinchou also beat Flying-types with their Electric-type STAB moves. These also appreciate Turtwig shielding them from Ground-type moves. Water-types can switch into Fire- and Ice-type attacks, although some, like Tirtouga, can't afford to switch into Will-O-Wisp. Chinchou and Shellder are good partners due to them also defeating Flying-types with their other coverage moves. Staryu, Skrelp, Tirtouga, and Omanyte all appreciate Turtwig's defensive typing and bulk, which let it switch into many of their threats. RestTalk Skrelp in particular is a great option, as Turtwig takes out Ground-types for it while Skrelp deals extremely well with Fire-types. Munchlax is another option, as it deals with Drifloon and Ponyta for Turtwig.

With its unique ability to set up both dual screens and Stealth Rock, Turtwig is capable of being an effective team supporter. The goal of this set is to set up dual screens, and then to set up Stealth Rock. Though this will cost one turn of dual screens, this ensures that faster enemies will have a more difficult time taking Turtwig down before it lays down its entry hazard. The last slot is reserved for Turtwig's one offensive move, to prevent it from being shut down by Taunt. Seed Bomb is Turtwig's only decent STAB move on the physical side, but Hidden Power Fire is useful to deal with Cottonee. If Turtwig has Hidden Power Fire, a Bold or Calm nature is a better option because without Seed Bomb, Turtwig has no use for its Attack stat. Eviolite is an option over Light Clay to give Turtwig more bulk, but it comes with the disadvantage of reducing the Reflect and Light Screen's duration. Turtwig can also make use of Hidden Power Ice to hit Dragon- and Flying-types, including Gligar. Cottonee is perhaps the biggest threat to this set because it can come in at any time and stop Turtwig in its tracks with priority Taunt and Toxic, or even with Hidden Power Fire. Snover makes an excellent teammate in this department to scare away Cottonee, but Cottonee isn't as common as it used to be. Brick Break users are problematic, but the most common one, Pawniard, can be countered with a strong Fighting-type such as Mienfoo or Timburr. Sweepers like Clamperl also make good partners, as under dual screens and with Stealth Rock in play they can be very frightening.

This set attempts to play Turtwig as a defensive Stealth Rock lead. Utilizing this Turtwig is rather simple. This set easily equips Turtwig with the tools necessary to combat numerous opposing leads, assuming it is played correctly and with decent prediction. Turtwig needs Stealth Rock to destroy Focus Sashes and provide support for a team member trying to sweep. Protect is almost required to deal with Fake Out users, to scout, and to work against Explosions from the likes of Voltorb and Gastly, who are both common leads. Seed Bomb is Turtwig's most powerful STAB attack and primary means of causing damage. The fourth move is up for grabs, as Turtwig's coverage will be flawed either way. Crunch nails Gastly and Drifloon and is great for consistent, neutral coverage, whereas Superpower can be a surprise blow against certain leads that attempt to set up on you. The EVs provide Turtwig with strong durability and a free Speed point. Oran Berry adds extra bulk for Turtwig to take an extra hit or two and greatly increases this set's worth. Against Taunting leads, Turtwig should generally attack on the predicted Taunt, and save the ability to Protect for later. If the lead is, say, a Voltorb, one may save Turtwig from dying to an Explosion with a well-timed Protect instead of simply losing him and his potential Stealth Rock altogether. Against other bulky leads, unless Turtwig is capable of directly hurting them, it should just lay down use Stealth Rock and allow for a more directly threatening teammate to come in afterward. Keep in mind that Turtwig is not Superman, and that certain problem leads, like Houndour, are out there. Houndour, of course, is a threat to lead Turtwig and may be remedied by using a Houndour of your own with Flash Fire, or a Fire-type resist to take the attack. Chimchar, though uncommon, can also cause problems for Turtwig by using its Fire-type STAB. This can also be remedied by a Fire-type resist or immunity. Meowth also causes some problems, but all it can really do to hurt you is a super effective U-turn.

Although slow, bulky Choice Banders are rarely ideal in the Little Cup metagame, Turtwig is a fine choice for one nonetheless. Turtwig's stats and moves make it perfect for the job of a wallbreaker. Turtwig is slow, sturdy, strong, and blessed with an outstanding physical move pool for a Grass-type. Although bulky, it is still easily revenge killed. As such, Turtwig is best utilized as a team's wallbreaker; it hits just about anything hard if you predict correctly, and then goes down fighting. Considering the great coverage that its movepool provides, it is very capable of doing this effectively. Seed Bomb is a strong, reliable STAB attack for Turtwig to use as its main attack to rip holes with. The other moves help with coverage. Superpower hits just as hard as STAB Seed Bomb on a neutral hit and provides valuable Fighting coverage against Steel-types, while Crunch cripples any Ghost-types you'll encounter. In the fourth slot, Normal-type attacks provide excellent neutral coverage and Double-Edge is the stronger choice, and plays well with Turtwig's aforementioned role as team "wrecking ball." However, without STAB, the difference in power between Return and Double-Edge is rarely significant, but the recoil can be. The above EVs provide Turtwig with max Attack and HP, with the remaining EVs going into the only areas they can round out: Speed and Defense. As mentioned above, this Turtwig can be easily revenge killed due to its pitiful Speed and inability to change attacks. The revenge killer will usually resist your Turtwig's attacks and threaten with a super-effective attack of its own. All you can do is predict that attack and switch out to a Pokemon with resistances to Turtwig's weaknesses. One example of a Pokemon with these resistances includes Munchlax, which effectively resists Fire- and Ice- type attacks thanks to Thick Fat. Fire-types like Magby, Houndour, and Cyndaquil also have great synergy with Turtwig, since they cover each others' most glaring weaknesses. All of these Pokemon can switch in on an Ice-, Fire-, or Bug-type attack aimed at Turtwig and threaten your opponent. Bronzor also makes a good partner with Turtwig, with resistances to Ice and Flying and an immunity to Poison.

Turtwig is the only Grass-type Pokemon capable of learning Reflect, Light Screen, and Stealth Rock, allowing it to fill a valuable niche as a supporter. The goal is to bring Turtwig in on something that it resists, and set up both Stealth Rock and the dual screens. Crunch allows Turtwig to hit Ghosts for super effective damage and Bronzor for neutral damage if you already have something to set Stealth Rock up. The given EVs are the same as on the Lead set, and for the same reasons; bulk is essential, and little else is useful anyway. Turtwig's role here is to set up in order for other Pokemon to sweep. Mantyke makes excellent use of screens, notably Reflect, and is resistant to Fire and neutral to Ice. Drifloon greatly appreciates screens, as it allows them to set up Calm Minds for a sweep. Gligar also benefits from screens greatly, going from bulky to nearly impenetrable. There are plenty of other setup sweepers in Little Cup to use in tandem with Turtwig, but the ones mentioned are the most notable.

Turtwig's low Speed makes it very dangerous with proper Trick Room support, as it reaches a sluggish 7 Speed minimum. This set is built to abuse Trick Room by turning Turtwig into a speedy, offensive Juggernaut while Trick Room is active. By using a mixed set, Turtwig is able to take advantage of its well-rounded coverage when using both physical and special moves, as well as its freedom to invest in both of its offenses. Many things are hit either super effective or for a strong neutral hit by this set's offenses. Life Orb is a must on this set in order for Turtwig to hit as hard as possible. Seed Bomb is a strong and reliable STAB and is Turtwig's main move on this set. Earth Power is one of Turtwig's two special attacks and hits Steels that could cause harm to this Turtwig. Hidden Power Fire allows Turtwig to hit opposing Grass-types for super effective damage as well as Bronzor who would otherwise wall this set. Crunch, in the final slot, hits Ghosts such as Drifloon, Shuppet, and Gastly and has excellent neutral coverage. Having a good Pokemon to set up Trick Room is essential for optimal use of this set. Without Trick Room, this set pales in comparison to the Choice Band set, as it hits softer, is even slower, and is frailer. Some Pokemon who can help Turtwig out immensely by setting up Trick Room include Slowpoke, who resists both Fire- and Ice-type attacks and Bronzor who resists every one of Turtwig's weaknesses but Fire.