uploaded by zard
QC [3/3]
GP [2/2]
[OVERVIEW]
Thanks to its great Speed stat, Floatzel is able to outspeed almost the whole unboosted metagame and, in conjunction with its offensive stats, is able to pressure many offensive Pokemon such as Pyroar, Golurk, Archeops, and Passimian. Floatzel has access to a combination of almost unresisted coverage moves, which makes it one of the best offensive Water-types in the tier. It also has access to Taunt, which lets it annoy bulkier team builds. Swift Swim also gives it good matchup versus Pokemon like Kabutops in rain. However, Floatzel is not bulky and will be KOed by priority moves very easily, and, despite its very good Speed stat, it can still get outsped and revenge killed by common Choice Scarf users such as Primeape and Pyroar.
[SET]
name: Specially Offensive
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Hidden Power Grass / Taunt
move 4: Focus Blast
item: Life Orb
ability: Swift Swim / Water Veil
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hydro Pump is Floatzel's main STAB move, hitting everything that isn't immune or doesn't resist it relatively hard. Ice Beam hits Grass-types such as Lilligant, Shiftry, and Lurantis that Floatzel otherwise lets come in for free. Hidden Power Grass hits Gastrodon, which would otherwise wall Floatzel; it also chips Lanturn and Poliwrath. Taunt can be used if being walled by Gastrodon isn't a concern. Focus Blast rounds off Floatzel's moveset quite nicely, as it is able to hit Pokemon like Ferroseed, Cradily, and Abomasnow, which Floatzel would otherwise struggle against. Surf is also an option over Hydro Pump for its superior accuracy; however, Hydro Pump is still preferred due to its higher Base Power.
Set Details
========
252 Special Attack EVs maximize Floatzel's cleaning capabilities. 252 Speed EVs with a Timid nature make Floatzel as fast as possible to outspeed Pokemon such as Alolan Raichu and Archeops. Life Orb further enhances Floatzel's damage output to hit even harder. Swift Swim gives Floatzel a good matchup against rain; Water Veil can be used if you don't want Floatzel to be chipped by burn damage.
Usage Tips
========
Floatzel should be brought in by double switching or with slow VoltTurn support so that it doesn't have to take a hit, as it has very lackluster bulk. Floatzel functions as a great late-game cleaner due to its great Speed tier. Floatzel should be used to revenge kill common threats such as Pyroar, Archeops, and Magmortar. Whenever Floatzel is up against Pokemon such as Musharna, Sableye, or Ferroseed it can use Taunt to prevent Musharna from setting up, Sableye from recovering or spreading status, and Ferroseed from getting up hazards.
Team Options
========
Magmortar is a great teammate because it can weaken Lanturn while also resisting Grass and breaking through Pokemon like Ferroseed and Poliwrath and it really appreciates the removal of Fire-types. Ferroseed resists both Grass- and Electric-type attacks for Floatzel while supporting it with Stealth Rock and/or Spikes; in return, Floatzel pressures Fire-types such as Magmortar and Pyroar for Ferroseed. Offensive Grass-types such as Abomasnow, Lilligant, and Shiftry all appreciate Floatzel's ability to pressure their checks, such as Magmortar, Pyroar, and Turtonator. Archeops, while not having any useful resistances for Floatzel, can break through bulkier Grass-types like Lurantis as well as set up Stealth Rock, which greatly aids Floatzel in wallbreaking. Floatzel appreciates slow VoltTurn support to come in without having to take a hit; Pokemon like Mesprit, Lanturn, and Togedemaru can fill this role, and the latter two also provide an electric immunity. Eelektross is another good Volt Switch user, and it can also weaken Lanturn with Giga Drain and beat Ferroseed with Flamethrower.
[SET]
name: Bulk Up
move 1: Bulk Up
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Low Kick
move 4: Aqua Jet / Ice Punch
item: Fightinium Z
ability: Water Veil
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Bulk Up boosts Floatzel's Attack and Defense stats to great levels. Waterfall is Floatzel's best physical STAB move, which hits very hard when boosted. Low Kick hits most Steel-types and Cradily, which would otherwise wall this set. Aqua Jet is used to clean up late-game if your opponent still has a weakened Choice Scarf user or a priority user. Ice Punch can be used to hit Lilligant without using Floatzel's Z-Move; it also hits Gourgeist-XL, which is immune to Floatzel's Z-Move and a bigger concern than Choice Scarf users.
Set Details
========
252 Attack EVs paired with 252 Speed EVs and a Jolly Nature maximize Floatzel's capabilities to sweep. Water Veil prevents Floatzel from being burned by the likes of Sableye, which would otherwise cripple Floatzel. Fightinium Z in conjunction with Low Kick allows Floatzel to OHKO Ferroseed at +1; it also does good damage to Lanturn.
Usage Tips
========
Floatzel should be used as a late-game sweeper because it will struggle to get kills without the opposing team being weakened. You should always be wary about using Floatzel's Z-Move as soon as you reveal Bulk Up because your opponent can easily pivot around it. Only bring Floatzel in when it's safe to set up with Bulk Up or to revenge kill. Aqua Jet can be used to revenge kill weakened Choice Scarf users; it also gets around Sucker Punch users. Bulk Up allows Floatzel to take more priority moves such as Mach Punch and Sucker Punch. Bluffing your Floatzel set by switching twice in a row early-game can be helpful when actually starting to set up.
Team Options
========
Ferroseed is a really good partner because it can spread Leech Seed and set up Spikes and Stealth Rock, which Floatzel really appreciates; in return, Floatzel pressures Magmortar and Pyroar. In return, Floatzel pressures Fire-types such as Magmortar and Pyroar. Pokemon such as Pyroar, Archeops, Magmortar, and Abomasnow are all capable of breaking through Grass-types that this set cannot break after using its Z-move. Pokemon that appreciate Ferroseed removed such as Kangaskhan, Stoutland, Abomasnow, Mushara, and Carracosta all appreciate Floatzel as a partner, as it can lure in and KO Ferroseed for them. Floatzel really appreciates slow VoltTurn support, which allows it to avoid taking a hit. Pokemon such as Pyroar, Carracosta, and Alolan Raichu that appreciate special walls gone such as Type: Null and Clefairy appreciate this Floatzel set a lot.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A set with Choice Specs and Switcheroo can also be used to cripple specially defensive walls. After trading Choice Specs, however, Floatzel is fairly weak. A Life Orb specially oriented Floatzel set with Aqua Jet over Hidden Power Grass or Taunt is an option if Choice Scarf Pyroar is a big problem for your team. A Modest set with Choice Scarf is also an option, as it's able to outspeed almost the whole unboosted metagame bar Ninjask with Speed Boost, Choice Scarf Alolan Raichu, and Choice Scarf Pyroar. A Bulk Up set utilizing Groundium Z and Dig for Lanturn can be used but is generally less useful than Fightinium Z. A Floatzel set utilizing Choice Band can be used; however, pivoting around this is relatively easy. Waterium Z is also an option to nuke anything that doesn't resist Water at +1, but it's mostly outclassed by Fightinium Z. Substitute and Focus Punch with Fightinium Z can also be used to have a chance to OHKO Lanturn at +1 with All-Out Pummeling, but it leaves Floatzel with a worse move after using it's Z-Move because it can have a hard time keeping its Substitute intact.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Water-types**: Bulky Water-types, especially specially defensive ones that are able to eat Hidden Power Grass such as Qwilfish, Poliwrath, and Ludicolo, can give Floatzel a hard time. Lanturn is also able take on special sets even if they carry Hidden Power Grass and can retaliate with Volt Switch.
**Electric-types**: Faster Electric-types such as Electrode, Zebstrika, Choice Scarf Alolan Raichu, and Choice Scarf Manectric all outspeed and OHKO Floatzel with their STAB moves, though they must be wary of Aqua Jet when weakened. Eelektross is also a very good switch-in.
**Bulky Pokemon**: Bulky Pokemon like Clefairy, Cradily, Ferroseed, Type: Null, and Munchlax are all able to eat Floatzel's attacks but must be wary of the physical set.
**Priority Moves**: Floatzel's bulk is very lackluster, which makes it very easy to chip with moves such as Mach Punch and Sucker Punch from user such as Skuntank, Absol, Hitmonchan, and Gurdurr because the chip damage racks up rather fast.
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