Oathkeeper
"Wait!" he says, do I look like a waiter?
[OVERVIEW]
Floatzel establishes itself as one of the best Water-types in the ZU metagame due to its great attacking stats, excellent Speed tier, two decent abilities, access to wide coverage with Ice- and Fighting-type moves, and ability to run physical, special, and mixed sets effectively. Floatzel's Speed is easily its best feature, outspeeding most of the unboosted metagame. This trait also cements it as a niche revenge killer for Pokemon like Komala and Golem. Floatzel also gets blessed with a STAB priority move in Aqua Jet. This allows it to potentially revenge kill Pokemon that can outspeed it like +2 Combusken. Floatzel does see some competition from other offensive Water-types in the tier such as Swanna, which can avoid grounded entry hazards, clear them away with Defog at the same time, and deal with Poliwrath and Gourgeist-XL with its secondary STAB move. While Floatzel's HP is decent, its overall bulk is not. With a measly base 55 Defense and 50 Special Defense, it is vulnerable to getting knocked out by priority moves like Sucker Punch. Spamming its STAB moves is not easy to do given how many checks there are to Water-type moves like Shiftry, Gourgeist-XL, Silvally-Water, and Silvally-Dragon. While it may be fast, Floatzel is outsped by Choice Scarf Electivire and Silvally, which are able to OHKO Floatzel with their respective STAB moves. It even gets outsped and OHKOed by fast unboosted Pokemon like Zebstrika and Electrode.
[SET]
name: Mixed Attacker
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Hidden Power Electric / Focus Blast
move 4: Aqua Jet
item: Life Orb
ability: Swift Swim / Water Veil
nature: Naive
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
ivs: 29 HP
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hydro Pump is Floatzel's strongest special STAB move that allows it to OHKO threats such as Pinsir. Ice Beam is Floatzel's best way to hit the Grass- and Dragon-types in the tier such as Gourgeist-XL, Shiftry, Altaria, and Silvally-Dragon. Hidden Power Electric lets Floatzel hit its biggest competition in Swanna while also hitting the other Water-types in the tier such as opposing Floatzel, Poliwrath, Mareanie, Silvally-Water, and Simipour. Focus Blast is a great coverage move that hits Pokemon such as Assault Vest Komala, Lickilicky, and Kecleon, all of which can easily tank whatever else Floatzel throws at them. With Aqua Jet, Floatzel can revenge kill Pokemon faster than it such as Combusken and Ninjask.
Set Details
========
A Naive nature combined with an EV spread of 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe allows Floatzel to outspeed Raichu, Zebstrika, and Jumpluff and hit hard. Swift Swim is preferred over Water Veil, since it gives Floatzel a better matchup against Z-Rain Dance Swanna, whereas Water Veil is useless on a set based around mostly special attacks.
Usage Tips
========
Since Floatzel's bulk is not the best and it can easily be worn down, bringing it in via a slow U-turn or Volt Switch is a smart idea. Furthermore, Floatzel must be wary of getting chipped down over time from entry hazards. Thanks to Aqua Jet, revenge killing is also a great use of Floatzel's skills. Not only can it revenge kill faster Pokemon, but it can also take out some setup sweepers such as Combusken, Crustle, and Simisear. Utilizing Floatzel's great Speed tier to take down Pokemon like Rapidash, Silvally-Dragon, and Simipour with its coverage moves is also a good idea. Floatzel can also beat Pokemon that have poor Special Defense stats such as Granbull, Mawile, and Avalugg.
Team Options
========
Since this set can easily have trouble with Bronzor, having an answer to it such as Choice Band Komala, Shiftry, or Simisear is beneficial. As mentioned before, Floatzel's bulk is less than ideal and leaves it susceptible to being OHKOed by Sucker Punch from the likes of Shiftry, Golem, Kecleon, and even Pawniard. Thus, it appreciates having a partner to deal with them like Silvally-Fighting, Combusken, or Machoke. Coming in on Stealth Rock and Spikes can wear Floatzel down quickly, so entry hazard control from a teammate such as Komala, Altaria, or Rotom-S will be essential to keep it going. Having entry hazards of your own is also a good idea, since Floatzel's Special Attack is not the best. Great entry hazard-setting partners include Golem, Bronzor, Sandslash, and Mawile. Wish or Healing Wish support from the likes of Lickilicky and Mr. Mime can give Floatzel a second chance at potentially sweeping. Pokemon faster than Floatzel like Choice Scarf Electivire and Zebstrika can ruin its chances of doing serious damage, so teammates like Golem, Sandslash, and Silvally-Dragon can help by dealing with these threats for Floatzel. Pokemon such as Rapidash and Gourgeist-XL appreciate Floatzel dealing with Ground- and Fire-types, so they make for good teammates and can even form a nice Grass / Fire / Water core.
[SET]
name: Bulk Up
move 1: Bulk Up
move 2: Liquidation
move 3: Ice Punch
move 4: Taunt / Aqua Jet / Low Kick
item: Icium Z / Fightinium Z
ability: Water Veil
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Bulk Up lets Floatzel hit harder and take one or two more hits than it normally could. Ice Punch in tandem with Icium Z allows Floatzel to use a one-time attack on Pokemon that would survive Ice Punch such as Rotom-S and Leafeon. Taunt can be used to prevent other potential Taunt users from stopping Floatzel from setting up as well as block Toxic and Thunder Wave that would otherwise cripple Floatzel. Aqua Jet helps to revenge kill threats faster than Floatzel such as Choice Scarf Electivire and Zebstrika after some chip damage. It also can knock out Choice Scarf Rapidash if it's near half of its HP. Low Kick is a great coverage option over Taunt that gives Pokemon such as Komala and Lickilicky a very hard time, especially after a Bulk Up boost or two.
Set Details
========
Water Veil grants Floatzel immunity from burns, which is important considering this set is a physical wallbreaker. Floatzel's EVs and a Jolly nature maximize its Speed and allow it to hit as hard as possible physically. Ice Punch becomes Subzero Slammer with Icium Z, and at +1, it lets Floatzel OHKO Silvally-Dragon and Leafeon. Alternatively, Fightinium Z can be used to turn Low Kick into All-Out Pummeling, which at +1 lets Floatzel OHKO Komala, Lickilicky, and Bouffalant while also acting as nice coverage for Silvally-Water.
Usage Tips
========
Since Floatzel is frail, switching it into any attack is not wise; therefore, it should normally be brought in via a slow U-turn or Volt Switch. This provides Floatzel with momentum, allowing it to set up Bulk Up or attack for free as well as boost on Pokemon that it forces out such as Golem and Altaria. Floatzel is also a great revenge killer if Aqua Jet is chosen over Low Kick or Taunt. If running Taunt, Floatzel has a better matchup against stall teams. Floatzel can handle physically frail Pokemon with this set and should capitalize on this. Such targets include Komala, Life Orb Kadabra, Simisear, and Kecleon. Given that Water Veil prevents burns, this set is an ideal counter to most Mareanie, with Taunt being able to cripple it and force it to use Scald.
Team Options
========
U-turn and Volt Switch users such as Komala, Silvally-Fighting, Electivire, and Rotom-S can bring Floatzel in safely. Entry hazards end up being a problem in addition to Floatzel's less-than-ideal bulk. A partner that can get rid of them such as Altaria, Silvally-Dragon, or Sandslash works well here. Conversely, having entry hazards on the opposing side is also helpful to give Floatzel an easier time dealing with the opposition. Entry hazard-setting partners include Golem, Bronzor, Crustle, and Mareanie. While burns won't be an issue for Floatzel, paralysis and poison cripple it. Thus, having a cleric on the team such as Granbull or Lickilicky certainly would be a good idea. Faster Pokemon like Choice Scarf Electivire and Zebstrika derail any chance Floatzel has of being a threat. Therefore, having a partner like Choice Scarf Rapidash or physically defensive Golem certainly helps it out. Gourgeist-XL is also a problem for Floatzel, even with Icium Z. Combusken or Simisear can form a Water / Fire core with Floatzel and help it deal with this particular threat. Opposing Water-types like Swanna and Silvally-Water wall this set completely, so Electric- or Grass-types such as Electivire and Leafeon can help in this regard.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Switcheroo
item: Choice Specs
ability: Water Veil
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Ice Beam allows Floatzel to hit the Grass- and Dragon-types such as Gourgeist-XL, Bellossom, Silvally-Dragon, and Hakamo-o that Hydro Pump can't hit well. Focus Blast hits Pokemon like Lickilicky, Kecleon, Bouffalant, and Silvally-Water. Switcheroo allows Floatzel to cripple an unsuspecting physical attacker or passive foe such as Komala or Bronzor.
Set Details
========
The EV spread of 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe and a Timid nature utilize Floatzel's great Speed tier while maximizing its special attacking power. Water Veil is the default ability here, but Swift Swim could be better if used under rain, in which case Floatzel is going to be hard to outspeed.
Usage Tips
========
Floatzel is very frail and needs to be brought in safely in order for it to inflict a large amount of damage, preferably through a teammate's U-turn, Volt Switch, or Parting Shot. Floatzel should be looking to use Hydro Pump as often as possible. However, it should nail incoming Grass- and Dragon-types with Ice Beam and use Focus Blast on specially bulky switch-ins such as Lickilicky. Switcheroo is a great tool for crippling bulky Water-type attackers, particularly Mareanie, which Floatzel can't break through it normally. Being Choice-locked into the wrong move can be bad, as it allows the opponent to bring in a Pokemon such as Shiftry or Huntail to set up with moves such as Swords Dance and Shell Smash. Due to this, using a super effective or neutral move is best. Being Choice-locked also makes Floatzel a lot easier to play around and forces it to switch out, so making predictions or double switching into a teammate can be necessary.
Team Options
========
Since Floatzel hates Electric-type moves from the likes of Electivire and Zebstrika, having a check to them like Golem helps it out. Like all Choice item users, this Floatzel does not appreciate entry hazards, so removers such as Komala, Sandslash, Altaria, and Silvally-Dragon are strongly recommended. Entry hazards on the opponent's side, however, are much appreciated so as to let Floatzel sweep more easily. Good entry hazard setters for Floatzel include Golem, Crustle, and Bronzor. If Floatzel becomes paralyzed or poisoned, its chances of doing serious damage take a blow. Therefore, having a cleric like Granbull or Lickilicky definitely helps. It is also a good idea to have a partner to absorb status moves such as Machoke or Muk. The latter can also absorb Toxic Spikes should they be on the field. Machoke can also deal with Bronzor and remove Mareanie's Eviolite with Knock Off, while Muk checks Grass-types such as Shiinotic. Pivots like Silvally-Fighting, Rotom-S, Zebstrika, and Electivire that can bring in Floatzel safely are greatly appreciated. Setup sweepers like Shiftry and Crustle that appreciate Floatzel's ability to revenge kill and wear down the opposing team pair nicely with it.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Similarly to the Choice Specs set, a Choice Band set could work, especially considering Floatzel is immune to burns and its Attack is better than its Special Attack. A rain sweeper set could also work, but rain is not effective or common, and Floatzel is already fast enough naturally. Running a Modest Choice Scarf set could also work, but it's not necessary, since Floatzel will not hit hard enough and already outspeeds the Pokemon it wants to anyway.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Water-types**: Pokemon like Mareanie, Poliwrath, Silvally-Water, Pyukumuku, and Wishiwashi are nightmares for Floatzel regardless of its set and can easily come in on it.
**Faster Pokemon**: While they're in short supply, faster Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Electivire, Choice Scarf Sawsbuck, Electrode, Ninjask, and Zebstrika can all OHKO Floatzel with their respective STAB moves. However, they all need to be wary of Aqua Jet should they be weak enough to go down to one.
**Priority Moves**: Due to Floatzel's poor bulk, Sucker Punch from the likes of Shiftry or Pawniard can take a big chunk of its HP and reduce its lifespan.
**Bulky Pokemon**: Threats such as Gourgeist-XL, Lickilicky, and Muk can wall particular Floatzel sets.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Oathkeepre, 83980]]
- Quality checked by: [[5gen, 296755], [DurzaOffTopic, 357488], [BloodAce0107, 435539]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [Empress, 175616]]
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