Tympole Movesets & Competitive Sets

Moves Hydro Pump hits hard, especially under rain, though Scald can be used if you're concerned about Hydro Pump missing. Sludge Bomb hits Grass- and Fairy-types that Hydro Pump misses, such as Snover, Cottonee, and Spritzee, harder than Hydro Pump and has a 30% chance to poison the target. Earth Power allows Tympole to get around Pokemon that rain teams generally struggle with, such as Chinchou, Croagunk, and Pawniard; however, only Berry Juice Chinchou is OHKOed. Rain Dance can be used to support the team or let Tympole sweep on its own. Set Details A Modest nature maximizes Tympole's Special Attack while hitting 28 Speed in rain and 14 Speed outside of rain. EV The remaining EVs are put into bulk to help against priority attacks. Life Orb maximizes power and Swift Swim gives Tympole great Speed in the rain. Usage Tips Bring Tympole in early-game to set up rain and weaken the threats to your other rain sweepers. After their checks are gone, rain sweepers such as Omanyte and Mantyke have a chance to sweep. Team Options Damp Rock Voltorb can serve as a suicide rain setter, letting Tympole come in and sweep for 7 turns. Fighting-types, such as Pancham, Mienfoo, Timburr, and Croagunk, can pick off Munchlax, Ferroseed, and Lileep and cripple walls such as Slowpoke via Knock Off. Pancham also supports Tympole through the use of Parting Shot. Riolu and Purrloin have access priority Rain Dance, which can be useful in a pinch. Other Swift Swim sweepers such as Omanyte, Mantyke, and Horsea can form an offensive core with Tympole; Omanyte specifically can lure in Lileep and hit it with an Ice Beam. Tympole can lure in Chinchou and hit it with Earth Power in order to clear up a sweep for Mantyke and other Swift Swim sweepers. Grass-types such as Cottonee, Pumpkaboo, Foongus, Chespin, and Ferroseed cover Tympole's weaknesses. Ferroseed and Chespin provide great typing synergy with Tympole and can set up Spikes to weaken targets, such as Berry Juice Chinchou, so Tympole can KO them more easily. Foongus has access to Rain Dance and Regenerator, allowing it to consistently set up rain throughout the match while still acting as a decent pivot with Damp Rock.

This set takes advantage of Tympole's decent coverage, giving it the best chance of pulling off a sweep. Hydro Pump is its strongest STAB attack and has an incredible amount of power in the rain, enabling Tympole to hit a wide range of threats very heavily. However, Surf is an alternative if accuracy is an issue. Sludge Wave smacks the Grass-types that resist Hydro Pump, and easily OHKOes Snover—something not every Swift Swim sweeper can boast—as it switches in to end the rain. Earth Power gives Tympole more coverage, allowing it to easily KO both Croagunk and Chinchou, two threats to rain teams. There are two options for the last moveslot. Hidden Power Electric is Tympole's most powerful option against other Water-types, destroying Mantyke for instance, which can take its other attacks with ease. On the other hand, Rain Dance allows Tympole to sweep on its own instead of relying upon team support, and also helps it maintain its Speed boost even as weather changers, such as Snover, switch in. Since Tympole already reaches more than 30 Speed in the rain, a Timid nature won't be of much use. As such, due to Tympole's weak offensive stats, a Modest nature and a Life Orb are used to maximize the power of Tympole's attacks. Tympole needs Rain Dance support from its teammates to sweep most of the time, as it will otherwise have trouble outspeeding faster threats. Bronzor makes a great choice, as its bulk allows it to set up both Rain Dance and Stealth Rock with ease. Voltorb, although frail, can set up Rain Dance reliably with its high Speed, and allow Tympole to switch in safely with Explosion. Other Rain Dance sweepers, such as Kabuto and Omanyte, can weaken the opponent's team and clear the way for Tympole to sweep, but both share its weaknesses.