Pokémon: Burst Samurott
Type Given: Water
Ability: Purifying Salt
Stats
HP: 95 → 105 (+10)
Atk: 100 → 118 (+18)
Def: 85 → 85
SpA: 108 → 60 (-48)
SpD: 70 → 80 (+10)
Spe: 70 → 80 (+10)
Buffed Move: Razor Shell
Base Power: 75 → 90
Additional Effect: Target loses 1/8 of its HP every turn until it switches out
Description:
1) Flavour
Samurott's line is based on a sea otter, which is able to safely drink salt water thanks to its special kidneys. Hence, the choice of the ability: Purifying Salt. Moreover, the ability on Samurott can allude to misogi, which is a Japanese practice of ritual purification. Usually, you have to undergo some preeliminary ritual before you may stand under the waterfall, purifying your body. Samurais often partook in this ritual to cleanse their soul. Moreover, this was also useful to prepare the mind for training and to learn how to develop your own "energy centre". Against this background, Purifying Salt seemed like a perfect choice on Samurott!
2) Competitive
- Samurott can be used as a wallbreaker that is immune to status, which is pretty valuable on a physical attacker. Since it resists Water, it can switch into Scald without any problems. Many Water Pokémon also run Toxic, like Politoed or Tentacruel, so, that's one status less to worry about! Should a Pokémon survive, Samurott could still resort to Aqua Jet to take it out.
- BW's metagame seems to be centred around hazards and Sand. Therefore, Samurott's upgraded Razor Shell, which does additional residual damage, would fit there perfectly. The effect may seem strong but remember there's also Heatran's Magma Storm which is even stronger than that! Moreover, Storm Drain and Water Absorb Pokémon (like Gastrodon and Jellicent) are unaffected by Razor Shell's residual damage, just like how Flash Fire Pokémon are immune to Magma Storm!
- I wanted to emphasize the residual damage from Razor Shell because, in a way, it's kind of similar to Hisuain Samurott's Ceaseless Edge which sets Spikes. Depending on the context, they both deal extra damage. Moreover, I wanted to go away from a too offensive angle on Samurott because the competition would be very tough. Samurott has no reliable recovery, thus, it cannot switch very often in a game and is more limited to lategames. Furthermore, its physical movepool is kind of mediocre, and it would need to have a very high speed tier and Atk stat to be functional in the tier. And if you invest a lot into speed and offense, Samurott won't be able to stay long on the field and needs to be carefully maneuvred in a game. Add the many bulky and decently fast Pokémon in the metagame, and you have to put a lot of effort to justify Samurott on a team and make it work. What's more, samurais are skilled fighthers.
→ These are the reasons why I opted for a bulkier and more skill-rewarding approach on Samurott. This Pokémon has the flexibility to run a secondary typing of its choice to cover a team's needs and the bulk to be useful, especially with Leftovers and Purifying Salt. After all, not being worn down by status improves longevity. That said, Water/Steel covers Starmie and Latios, for instance. Water/Ground, on the other hand, turns Samurott into a useful check against Thundurus and Heatran. Water/Ghost walls Keldeo and spin blocks Starmie and Excadrill. On a team with hazards, potential Toxic, and Sand, Samurott and its upgraded Razor Shell would synergize very well with this team style. It also learns Knock Off, so, it can be even more useful.