Introduction

You only get four move slots. That's it so every move has to have its place!

A good moveset matches what your Pokémon is actually good at - its stats, its typing, its role on your team. It should target threats you expect to see and balance damage, coverage, and utility.

This guide covers the core concepts: STAB, coverage, setup moves, and common competitive archetypes. I'll use examples from standard competitive play, but the principles apply whether you're doing casual battles or grinding the Battle Tower.

For casual play, you can get away with looser sets. Competitive play rewards having a clear purpose for every slot.

---

Moveset Fundamentals

Again, four moves. That's what you've got to work with, and every slot has an opportunity cost.

Most competitive sets include at least one reliable STAB move. The rest goes to coverage, recovery, setup, or utility depending on what the Pokémon is supposed to do.

Match moves to role. Sweepers can focus on damage output. Walls need recovery and status moves. Pivots mix offensive pressure with support tools.

Accuracy matters more than you'd think. A 100 Base Power move with 90% accuracy usually beats a 120 Base Power move with 70% accuracy. Missing loses momentum and wastes turns - that can cost you games.

Bottom line: every move should contribute to your team's plan.

---

STAB Moves

STAB stands for Same Type Attack Bonus. When a Pokémon uses a move that matches its type, it gets a 1.5× damage boost.

A Water type using Surf gets the boost. That same Pokémon using Thunderbolt doesn't.

Most competitive sets run at least one STAB move. Dual types can run two - Gyarados often uses Waterfall and Bounce for dual STAB coverage.

Physical attackers use physical STAB. Special attackers use special STAB. Match the move category to whichever offensive stat is higher. Simple stuff, but people mess this up.

STAB moves are your damage foundation. Coverage fills the gaps.

---

Coverage Moves

Coverage moves hit types that resist your STAB. Without them, one wall can shut down your entire set.

A Water type struggles against Grass. Ice Beam hits Grass super effectively and patches that weakness.

Think about what resists your STAB, then add something that pressures those switch-ins. Dragon types often run Fire Blast or Earthquake to deal with Steel types that wall Dragon moves.

You want to hit most threats for at least neutral damage. Two or three well-chosen coverage moves handle a huge chunk of the type chart.

Avoid redundancy. Thunderbolt and Thunder fill the same role on most sets - pick one and free up the slot for something else.

Test your set against common defensive Pokémon. If one wall stops all four moves, your coverage needs work.

---

Setup Moves

Setup moves raise your stats during battle. They turn strong attackers into win conditions.

Swords Dance raises Attack by two stages (doubles it). Calm Mind raises Special Attack and Special Defense by one stage each (1.5×). Dragon Dance raises Attack and Speed by one stage.

Setup requires safe turns. Switch into something you threaten, force it out, then boost as they switch. If you can't find that opening, you can't set up.

Bulk helps. Pokémon with decent defenses survive the turn they boost. Fragile attackers risk dying before they get to use their boost.

Most sets use one setup move. Some run two, like Substitute plus Dragon Dance or Calm Mind plus Iron Defense. Extra boosts means less room for coverage though.

Speed boosts are huge. Dragon Dance or Rock Polish lets slower Pokémon outspeed common threats after one turn.

Watch out for status and priority attacks - they stop a lot of sweeps. Plan for them before you commit.

---

Recovery and Utility

Recovery keeps defensive Pokémon healthy. Roost, Recover, and Softboiled restore 50% HP. Wish heals whoever switches in next.

Walls need recovery to switch into attacks multiple times per game. Offensive Pokémon rarely dedicate a slot to healing unless they have solid bulk.

Status moves cripple threats. Thunder Wave cuts Speed and can cause full paralysis. Will-O-Wisp halves Attack and adds burn chip. Toxic wears down bulky targets over time.

Phazing moves like Roar force switches. They remove stat boosts and rack up hazard damage.

Entry hazards punish switching. Spikes deal 12.5% with one layer, 16.67% with two, and 25% with three. Toxic Spikes poison grounded Pokémon switching in.

Priority moves act before normal moves. Aqua Jet and Ice Shard let slower Pokémon pick off weakened threats.

Utility is about timing. Use recovery on expected weak hits. Spread status onto key threats, not random stuff.

---

Common Moveset Archetypes

Physical Sweeper

Physical sweepers rely on Attack and Speed. They pressure teams with boosted or raw damage.

Template:

• STAB physical move (Waterfall, Close Combat, etc.)
• Coverage move (Ice Punch, Earthquake)
• Secondary coverage or priority
• Setup move (Swords Dance or Dragon Dance)

Example - Feraligatr:

• Waterfall
• Ice Punch
• Crunch
• Dragon Dance

After one Dragon Dance, Feraligatr outspeeds a lot of threats and hits way harder.

---

Special Sweeper

Special sweepers deal damage through Special Attack. They want strong, accurate moves.

Some run four attacks for immediate pressure. Others use Calm Mind to boost first.

Template:

• STAB special move (Surf, Psychic)
• Coverage move
• Secondary coverage
• Setup or fourth attack

Example - Alakazam:

• Psychic
• Shadow Ball
• Focus Blast
• Calm Mind

Calm Mind increases both power and special bulk, which gives you more opportunities to boost.

---

Mixed Attacker

Mixed attackers use both offensive stats. They break walls that only invest in one defensive stat.

Template:

• Physical STAB
• Special STAB or coverage
• Additional coverage
• Utility or fourth attack

Example - Nidoking:

• Earthquake
• Sludge Bomb
• Thunderbolt
• Ice Beam

This set threatens both physical and special walls. Wide coverage means nothing gets to sit comfortably.

---

Bulky Setup Sweeper

Bulky setup sweepers combine defenses with stat boosts. They set up mid-game and clean late-game.

Template:

• STAB move
• Coverage move
• Setup move (Calm Mind, Curse)
• Recovery (Rest, Roost)

Example - Suicune:

• Scald
• Ice Beam
• Calm Mind
• Rest

Suicune takes hits, boosts up, then wins long games through sheer staying power.

---

Support

Support Pokémon shape battles through hazards and status rather than direct damage.

Template:

• Entry hazard
• Phazing move or status
• Recovery
• Attack or second hazard

Example - Skarmory:

• Spikes
• Toxic
• Roost
• Drill Peck

Sets hazards, stays healthy, and has enough offensive presence to not be complete setup fodder.

---

Defensive Wall

Defensive walls absorb repeated hits. They win through longevity and wearing opponents down.

Template:

• Consistent damage (Seismic Toss, Scald)
• Recovery
• Status move
• Protect or second status

Example - Blissey:

• Seismic Toss
• Softboiled
• Thunder Wave
• Toxic

Blissey checks most special attackers and spreads status while being nearly impossible to kill on the special side.

---

Choice Scarf

Choice Scarf boosts Speed by 1.5× but locks you into one move. These Pokémon revenge kill faster threats.

Template:

• STAB move
• Coverage move
• Secondary coverage
• Third coverage or Trick

Example - Heracross:

• Megahorn
• Close Combat
• Stone Edge
• Earthquake

The Speed boost lets Heracross outrun threats it normally couldn't touch.

---

Choice Band

Choice Band boosts Attack by 1.5× but locks you into one move. Immediate pressure without setup turns.

Template:

• STAB move
• Coverage move
• Secondary coverage
• Fourth coverage or Trick

Example - Tyranitar:

• Stone Edge
• Crunch
• Earthquake
• Fire Punch

This breaks defensive cores right away. No setup needed, just raw power.

---

Choice Specs

Choice Specs boosts Special Attack by 1.5× but locks you into one move. Heavy damage from turn one.

Template:

• STAB move
• Coverage move
• Secondary coverage
• Fourth coverage or Trick

Example - Starmie:

• Surf
• Psychic
• Ice Beam
• Thunderbolt

Strong immediate damage forces switches and creates momentum for your team.