[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 4 onwards
**Price Range**: 10-12 points
**Overview**: Blastoise is typically used as either a defensive entry hazard remover or a Shell Smash sweeper. Its defensive sets use its excellent defensive typing and access to great utility moves such as Rapid Spin and Flip Turn to enable its teammates. The Shell Smash set also makes good use of Blastoise's natural bulk to easily set up and win late-game with strong Water-type STAB moves and a few coverage options. Blastoise can be drafted on a variety of teams due to its ability to fill these roles combined with its relatively low price point. However, it struggles against Water-types, especially when using Shell Smash, and its damage output is very lacking even when boosted.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Defensive Utility**: Blastoise's solid bulk allows it to take hits from a myriad of offensive threats, notably offensive Water- and Fire-types. Rapid Spin gives Blastoise a lot of value as a utility Pokemon. Flip Turn is also excellent because Blastoise can switch in to take a hit then slowly pivot to bring in a more powerful teammate safely. It gets several other solid support moves, including Yawn and Haze, that can disrupt opposing setup sweepers. The main downside is its lack of longevity, since it does not have reliable healing options and can be chipped down over time.
**Shell Smash Sweeper**: Blastoise functions differently from other Shell Smash sweepers in that it has a lot of bulk to set up a Shell Smash but some of the worst offensive stats to take advantage of it. This often means that Blastoise either needs more foes weakened or more Shell Smash uses than other sweepers to win. This set can also utilize Terastallization quite well to overcome its lack of raw damage. In fact, without Terastallization, it is impossible for Blastoise to break through most bulky Water-types.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Surf, Hydro Pump, Wave Crash, Liquidation
**Setup Moves**: Shell Smash
**Utility Moves**: Rapid Spin, Flip Turn, Yawn, Haze, Roar, Rest, Sleep Talk
**Coverage**: Ice Beam, Aura Sphere, Dark Pulse, Flash Cannon, Focus Blast, Dragon Pulse, Earthquake, Rock Slide, Crunch, Ice Spinner, Zen Headbutt
Niche Moves
========
**Aqua Jet**: This is a decent option to get a little extra chip damage before Blastoise faints, especially against an expected Sturdy or Focus Sash user. It can also get surprise KOs against low HP foes.
**Iron Defense + Body Press**: Body Press can provide meaningful chip damage on defensive sets and is most often paired with Iron Defense to deal significant damage with a Pokemon that becomes tricky to KO.
**Mirror Coat**: This option can deal a surprising amount of damage, most notably in matchups where a foe such as Rotom-W uses Volt Switch or any other decent special move.
**Water Spout**: Blastoise can do significant damage with Water Spout in the right matchup, which is especially effective with a Choice Scarf or a damage-boosting item.
Common Items
========
**Leftovers**: This is a common item for Blastoise, making up for its lack of reliable recovery. This is best in slower-paced matchups where Blastoise acts as a defensive counter to foes.
**Sitrus Berry**: This item also helps Blastoise recover HP, helping more in fast-paced matchups where Blastoise will only switch in a couple of times.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: This item aids Blastoise's Rapid Spin sets, as it has to switch in with entry hazards up to remove them. It also allows Blastoise to pivot safely even if it can't remove hazards right away.
**White Herb**: This is the most common item on Shell Smash sets to mitigate the Defense and Special Defense drops, ensuring Blastoise isn't weak to revenge killers with priority moves.
Niche Items
========
**Choice Items**: Using Water Spout while holding a Choice Scarf is an interesting strategy against teams with middling switch-ins to Water-type moves. Choice Specs can accomplish a similar goal, netting more KOs but requiring better positioning or slower foes.
**Rocky Helmet**: Free chip damage on physical attackers can be crucial in certain matchups, allowing teammates to secure revenge kills or even sweep later in the match.
**Mystic Water**: This can occasionally be a good item on Shell Smash sets to KO foes that would otherwise hang on with low HP.
**Lum Berry / Mental Herb**: These are additional options for a Shell Smash set to get past obstacles such as Thunder Wave and Encore, respectively.
**Chesto Berry**: This can be a useful choice on Blastoise alongside Rest. It removes the need for Sleep Talk and preserves momentum by expediting sleep turns.
Tera
========
Blastoise is a solid option as a secondary Tera Captain. Tera Grass and Electric give it the coverage needed to hit bulky Water-types on Shell Smash sets. In matchups where Shell Smash is not as good, Blastoise can also opt for defensive Tera types like Tera Steel and Fairy to more effectively remove entry hazards and disrupt foes, and its bulk allows it to effectively check most Pokemon by using Tera. Tera Water can also be used in niche scenarios to deal more damage with STAB moves, especially if Blastoise uses Water Spout. However, Blastoise can function well defensively without Terastallization, and many high-price Pokemon can utilize Tera more effectively, so it doesn't always need it.
Draft Strategy
========
Blastoise fits onto a variety of drafts, though it is not a Pokemon that should be drafted around. It is typically drafted for its defensive and utility roles, and its Shell Smash sets can also work if the matchup is good. It should not be expected to carry a draft offensively. The options below are good to consider, but at the end of the day, Blastoise is very flexible and typically supports a team more than the team will support it back.
**Fast Wallbreakers**: Blastoise's ability to switch in and then pivot out with Flip Turn allows a lot of powerful offensive Pokemon to attack more without worrying about being KOed on the switch in. Some examples include Sneasler, Chi-Yu, Latios, Darkrai, Urshifu-S, and Kyurem.
**Defensive Synergy**: It can often be good to form a defensive core using Blastoise and other teammates that complement its typing. Pokemon such as Rillaboom, Galarian Slowking, Archaludon, and Sinistcha pair nicely with Blastoise.
**Entry Hazard Setting**: Entry hazards can accrue meaningful chip damage for a late-game Shell Smash sweep. Also, Blastoise's proficiency as a spinner allows it to control the hazard game to support other teammates. A few notable hazard setters include Garchomp, Landorus-T, Ting-Lu, and Mew.
Checks and Counters
========
**Disruption**: Opponents will frequently bring responses to Shell Smash Blastoise to prevent a sweep. This can include priority moves to revenge kill, status effects such as paralysis to cut its Speed, and Mirror Herb to copy its boosts. Pokemon such as Comfey, Raging Bolt, and Rillaboom can use strong priority moves to KO a low HP Blastoise even after a Shell Smash. Also, Pokemon with Prankster can use priority status moves such as Thunder Wave and Encore to stop a Blastoise sweep. Blastoise can sometimes avoid disruption with various items such as Lum Berry and Mental Herb, though its user needs to correctly predict and prepare for the disruption to accomplish this.
**Defensive Water-types**: These can often counter Shell Smash Blastoise if it does not have access to Terastallization. Using Tera to hit these Pokemon super effectively helps remove them. If Blastoise is using a defensive set, Water-types can often create a stalemate unless they have super effective coverage or the ability to inflict status effects reliably, in which case a teammate may need to break through them.
**Powerful Grass- and Electric-types**: Blastoise has excellent bulk, but a super effective STAB hit from a powerful Grass- or Electric-type can do significant damage to it and threaten its defensive sets effectively. Pokemon such as Zarude, Meowscarada, and Raging Bolt can check Blastoise well. In these situations, Blastoise should just use Flip Turn to pivot out to a check.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/streetcredcookie.304744/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/olivia.620359/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
**Draft Order**: Round 4 onwards
**Price Range**: 10-12 points
**Overview**: Blastoise is typically used as either a defensive entry hazard remover or a Shell Smash sweeper. Its defensive sets use its excellent defensive typing and access to great utility moves such as Rapid Spin and Flip Turn to enable its teammates. The Shell Smash set also makes good use of Blastoise's natural bulk to easily set up and win late-game with strong Water-type STAB moves and a few coverage options. Blastoise can be drafted on a variety of teams due to its ability to fill these roles combined with its relatively low price point. However, it struggles against Water-types, especially when using Shell Smash, and its damage output is very lacking even when boosted.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Defensive Utility**: Blastoise's solid bulk allows it to take hits from a myriad of offensive threats, notably offensive Water- and Fire-types. Rapid Spin gives Blastoise a lot of value as a utility Pokemon. Flip Turn is also excellent because Blastoise can switch in to take a hit then slowly pivot to bring in a more powerful teammate safely. It gets several other solid support moves, including Yawn and Haze, that can disrupt opposing setup sweepers. The main downside is its lack of longevity, since it does not have reliable healing options and can be chipped down over time.
**Shell Smash Sweeper**: Blastoise functions differently from other Shell Smash sweepers in that it has a lot of bulk to set up a Shell Smash but some of the worst offensive stats to take advantage of it. This often means that Blastoise either needs more foes weakened or more Shell Smash uses than other sweepers to win. This set can also utilize Terastallization quite well to overcome its lack of raw damage. In fact, without Terastallization, it is impossible for Blastoise to break through most bulky Water-types.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Surf, Hydro Pump, Wave Crash, Liquidation
**Setup Moves**: Shell Smash
**Utility Moves**: Rapid Spin, Flip Turn, Yawn, Haze, Roar, Rest, Sleep Talk
**Coverage**: Ice Beam, Aura Sphere, Dark Pulse, Flash Cannon, Focus Blast, Dragon Pulse, Earthquake, Rock Slide, Crunch, Ice Spinner, Zen Headbutt
Niche Moves
========
**Aqua Jet**: This is a decent option to get a little extra chip damage before Blastoise faints, especially against an expected Sturdy or Focus Sash user. It can also get surprise KOs against low HP foes.
**Iron Defense + Body Press**: Body Press can provide meaningful chip damage on defensive sets and is most often paired with Iron Defense to deal significant damage with a Pokemon that becomes tricky to KO.
**Mirror Coat**: This option can deal a surprising amount of damage, most notably in matchups where a foe such as Rotom-W uses Volt Switch or any other decent special move.
**Water Spout**: Blastoise can do significant damage with Water Spout in the right matchup, which is especially effective with a Choice Scarf or a damage-boosting item.
Common Items
========
**Leftovers**: This is a common item for Blastoise, making up for its lack of reliable recovery. This is best in slower-paced matchups where Blastoise acts as a defensive counter to foes.
**Sitrus Berry**: This item also helps Blastoise recover HP, helping more in fast-paced matchups where Blastoise will only switch in a couple of times.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: This item aids Blastoise's Rapid Spin sets, as it has to switch in with entry hazards up to remove them. It also allows Blastoise to pivot safely even if it can't remove hazards right away.
**White Herb**: This is the most common item on Shell Smash sets to mitigate the Defense and Special Defense drops, ensuring Blastoise isn't weak to revenge killers with priority moves.
Niche Items
========
**Choice Items**: Using Water Spout while holding a Choice Scarf is an interesting strategy against teams with middling switch-ins to Water-type moves. Choice Specs can accomplish a similar goal, netting more KOs but requiring better positioning or slower foes.
**Rocky Helmet**: Free chip damage on physical attackers can be crucial in certain matchups, allowing teammates to secure revenge kills or even sweep later in the match.
**Mystic Water**: This can occasionally be a good item on Shell Smash sets to KO foes that would otherwise hang on with low HP.
**Lum Berry / Mental Herb**: These are additional options for a Shell Smash set to get past obstacles such as Thunder Wave and Encore, respectively.
**Chesto Berry**: This can be a useful choice on Blastoise alongside Rest. It removes the need for Sleep Talk and preserves momentum by expediting sleep turns.
Tera
========
Blastoise is a solid option as a secondary Tera Captain. Tera Grass and Electric give it the coverage needed to hit bulky Water-types on Shell Smash sets. In matchups where Shell Smash is not as good, Blastoise can also opt for defensive Tera types like Tera Steel and Fairy to more effectively remove entry hazards and disrupt foes, and its bulk allows it to effectively check most Pokemon by using Tera. Tera Water can also be used in niche scenarios to deal more damage with STAB moves, especially if Blastoise uses Water Spout. However, Blastoise can function well defensively without Terastallization, and many high-price Pokemon can utilize Tera more effectively, so it doesn't always need it.
Draft Strategy
========
Blastoise fits onto a variety of drafts, though it is not a Pokemon that should be drafted around. It is typically drafted for its defensive and utility roles, and its Shell Smash sets can also work if the matchup is good. It should not be expected to carry a draft offensively. The options below are good to consider, but at the end of the day, Blastoise is very flexible and typically supports a team more than the team will support it back.
**Fast Wallbreakers**: Blastoise's ability to switch in and then pivot out with Flip Turn allows a lot of powerful offensive Pokemon to attack more without worrying about being KOed on the switch in. Some examples include Sneasler, Chi-Yu, Latios, Darkrai, Urshifu-S, and Kyurem.
**Defensive Synergy**: It can often be good to form a defensive core using Blastoise and other teammates that complement its typing. Pokemon such as Rillaboom, Galarian Slowking, Archaludon, and Sinistcha pair nicely with Blastoise.
**Entry Hazard Setting**: Entry hazards can accrue meaningful chip damage for a late-game Shell Smash sweep. Also, Blastoise's proficiency as a spinner allows it to control the hazard game to support other teammates. A few notable hazard setters include Garchomp, Landorus-T, Ting-Lu, and Mew.
Checks and Counters
========
**Disruption**: Opponents will frequently bring responses to Shell Smash Blastoise to prevent a sweep. This can include priority moves to revenge kill, status effects such as paralysis to cut its Speed, and Mirror Herb to copy its boosts. Pokemon such as Comfey, Raging Bolt, and Rillaboom can use strong priority moves to KO a low HP Blastoise even after a Shell Smash. Also, Pokemon with Prankster can use priority status moves such as Thunder Wave and Encore to stop a Blastoise sweep. Blastoise can sometimes avoid disruption with various items such as Lum Berry and Mental Herb, though its user needs to correctly predict and prepare for the disruption to accomplish this.
**Defensive Water-types**: These can often counter Shell Smash Blastoise if it does not have access to Terastallization. Using Tera to hit these Pokemon super effectively helps remove them. If Blastoise is using a defensive set, Water-types can often create a stalemate unless they have super effective coverage or the ability to inflict status effects reliably, in which case a teammate may need to break through them.
**Powerful Grass- and Electric-types**: Blastoise has excellent bulk, but a super effective STAB hit from a powerful Grass- or Electric-type can do significant damage to it and threaten its defensive sets effectively. Pokemon such as Zarude, Meowscarada, and Raging Bolt can check Blastoise well. In these situations, Blastoise should just use Flip Turn to pivot out to a check.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/streetcredcookie.304744/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/olivia.620359/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
Last edited:
