Buizel Movesets & Competitive Sets

The objective of this set is to use Buizel's high Speed to threaten opponents while preventing Grass-types from countering it due to Subzero Slammer. However, it is easily checked by common bulky foes such as Mienfoo and Spritzee. Staryu's access to coverage moves such as Thunderbolt and Psychic make it a better offensive threat, while it can also support its team by removing entry hazards with Rapid Spin.

Moves Aqua Tail is Buizel's strongest physical STAB attack, but only has 90% accuracy. Waterfall is often preferred for its reliable 100% accuracy, but comes with a noticeable drop in power. Ice Punch hits Grass- and Dragon-types super effectively, most notably 2HKOing Foongus and Cottonee. Brick Break punishes Pawniard, Ferroseed, and Porygon, but just falls short of 2HKOing Ferroseed. This option is best run in tandem with Spikes support. Alternatively, Pursuit allows Buizel to revenge kill Gastly without fail. Aqua Jet provides valuable priority, allowing Buizel to pick off weakened foes such as Abra. Set Details Life Orb raises Buizel's damage output dramatically and makes it a threatening attacker. The given EVs maximize Attack and Speed, with the remainder put into Special Defense, as it is the only remaining stat that can be boosted with 36 EVs. A Jolly nature maximizes Speed, allowing you to outspeed dangerous Pokemon such as Gastly and tie with others such as Abra. Usage Tips Buizel's high speed and access to priority makes it a fantastic revenge killer. Buizel has very poor bulk with Life Orb and should not be switched into any remotely strong attack; this further emphasizes its role as a revenge killer. Buizel can be switched in on Will-O-Wisp thanks to Water Veil, but is open to punishment from common Pokemon that carry the move, such as Ponyta's Wild Charge. Additionally, be aware that Buizel has no real way to beat Water-types, and is actually at a disadvantage against common ones such as Chinchou. As such, staying in on Water-types is not advised. Team Options Buizel can't get around Water-types, so a Grass-type teammate such as Foongus or Ferroseed is valuable. These two in particular can switch in on common Water-type Pokemon such as Chinchou and support Buizel with entry hazards and Spore, respectively. Grass-types also cover Buizel's only two weaknesses, Electric and Grass. Electric-type Pokemon are very threatening to Buizel, and the most common one, Chinchou, threatens Buizel both offensively and defensively. This makes Pokemon immune to Electric-type attacks, such as Chinchou and Hippopotas, great teammates for Buizel. Buizel generally needs help to get around Porygon, Ferroseed, and other bulky Pokemon, so a Fighting-type wallbreaker such as Pancham is a great teammate. Any teammate that values the removal of Gastly can benefit from Buizel's presence if it is running Pursuit. Cottonee is an especially nice teammate, as it fears Gastly and also beats Water-types for Buizel.

Aqua Tail, Buizel's strongest physical STAB attack, can 2HKO many more Pokemon than Waterfall, namely Timburr and bulky Mienfoo. Aqua Jet gives Buizel a STAB priority attack that can revenge kill most Pokemon, but Buizel must watch out for Lileep and its ability, Storm Drain, as it will often switch in to absorb the attack. Return has the ability to 2HKO Eviolite Staryu, but comes up short against Eviolite Chinchou at full HP. Buizel running a Jolly nature can 2HKO Ferroseed with Hidden Power Fire without a Life Orb. If you decide not to use Hidden Power Fire, it frees up 36 EVs that could go into Buizel's lacking Special Defense stat. A Swords Dance pass is very appreciated, as it makes Buizel a much bigger threat. Iron Tail can be used to 2HKO Lileep, in which case the rest of the EVs should be placed in Special Defense, but it has poor accuracy and cannot be used with Water Veil. Brick Break, unfortunately, is unable to 2HKO Lileep and Ferroseed at full health. Ice Punch does not 2HKO most Eviolite Grass-types, such as Foongus, Cottonee, and Lileep, and is also illegal with Water Veil. The EV spread maximizes Buizel's Speed and Attack, but unfortunately cannot use the remaining EVs. Buizel with maximum Speed is able to outspeed non-Choice Scarf Gastly. Snover is a good partner, as it resists Electric- and Grass-type attacks aimed at Buizel, can 2HKO Lileep, and can OHKO Foongus and Cottonee after Stealth Rock and hail damage. Chinchou hard-counters this set if Buizel is not running Hidden Power Grass thanks to Chinchou's typing and STAB Thunderbolt. If a Choice Scarf Snover switches into a Waterfall or Aqua Jet, it can easily OHKO Buizel with a STAB Giga Drain or Energy Ball.

Waterfall can now 2HKO Timburr and bulky Mienfoo with the boost from the Choice Band, but Aqua Tail's extra power is always appreciated as both Fighting-types have Drain Punch. Return 3HKOs Chinchou, even the RestTalk set, which usually only has Scald as its attacking move. Buizel must watch out for Thunder Wave, though. Brick Break usually 2HKOs Eviolite Ferroseed and Lileep. Switcheroo can cripple counters to Buizel, such as Slowpoke, Lileep, Staryu, and Chinchou, all of which are special sweepers. It will even beat Timburr and Mienfoo, as it can lock them into an undesired move and take away their Eviolite. Ice Punch, although illegal with Water Veil, can now 2HKO Lileep, Foongus, and non-Cotton Guard Cottonee, although Buizel must watch out for Giga Drain. Magnemite is a good partner, as it resists Electric- and Grass-type attacks aimed at Buizel, while countering bulky Water-types not named Chinchou. Chinchou can absorb Electric-type attacks and can counter bulky Water-types as well. Snover still counters this set with a STAB Giga Drain.

This set is excellent for Baton Passing boosts to a potential physical sweeper. Bulk Up provides not only boosts to Attack, but also to Defense, which can be essential in a Baton Pass chain. Agility provides boosts to Speed, which is mandatory in a Baton Pass team and useful if you only want to set up a sweeper. Waterfall is in the last spot so that Buizel can actually deal damage to the opposing Pokemon. In this set, Buizel reaches 19 Speed, outspeeding almost every non-scarfed Pokemon. With the given EVs and an Eviolite, Buizel will usually survive a Modest Chinchou's Thunderbolt at full HP, which means Buizel can get a single boost to Baton Pass, even against a Scarf Chinchou. The given EVs maximize Speed, raise Attack and Defense by one point, and Special Defense by two, averaging out its stats. Physical sweepers have a tough time against this set, as their attacks won't do nearly as much if Buizel uses Bulk Up a couple of times. Chinchou walls this set hard, as its Thunderbolt will do major damage to Buizel and Buizel can only strike back with a weak Waterfall. Again, Chinchou and Magnemite are good partners, as both resist Electric-type attacks.

The purpose of this set is to support the rest of the team with stat boosts. However, Buizel is capable of sweeping by itself after netting a couple of boosts. The first slot is what Buizel wants to pass - if the intended recipient needs Attack, then choose Bulk Up. If Speed is needed, then go with Agility. Baton Pass is absolutely essential for this set to work. In addition, Buizel can "dry pass" to scout for its switch-in. The third slot should complement Buizel's first move. If Bulk Up was chosen, then Aqua Jet is the desired move, allowing Buizel to strike first with a powerful blow. If Agility is being used, then Waterfall should be paired up with it, because Buizel appreciates the extra power. Return pairs well with either attacking move. Oran Berry gives Buizel extra longevity, which allows it to possibly get in a few more boosts before having to Baton Pass. The nature and Speed EVs allow Buizel to still tie other Pokemon in the 19 speed tier, while the remaining EVs maximize its ability to take hits. Stealth Rock support is nice, but not really necessary. Sandshrew and Phanpy can set it up and also take Electric-type attacks aimed at Buizel, though both of them share a Grass-type weakness with Buizel. Hippopotas can also set up Stealth Rock, but Buizel doesn't enjoy the sandstorm Hippopotas summons. However, if the sandstorm isn't a concern, Hippopotas partners well with Buizel. Rapid Spin support is more important to this set, as Buizel will be constantly switching in and out, looking for an opportunity to successfully boost then pass. Sandshrew is a prime example of this, and also sports an immunity to Electric. However, Sandshrew, like Hippopotas, also shares a Grass-type weakness with Buizel. A good recipient for this set is Elekid. It doesn't take much damage from most Electric-type attacks, and appreciates the extra Attack or Speed.

This is Buizel's primary sweeping set. With only a bit of support, this set can cut through unprepared teams like a hot knife through butter. As the set name implies, this set best works in the rain. Waterfall is Buizel's main means of attacking, with decent Base Power, STAB, and perfect accuracy. Aqua Jet allows Buizel to also function as a revenge killer outside of rain, picking off faster, weakened threats before they can attack. Return pairs well with the previous moves, as the combination of Water and Normal is unresisted in this metagame. Finally, what goes into the last moveslot boils down to what you want Buizel to hit harder. Bulk Up is the primary option, as Buizel appreciates the extra boost in power, but Ice Punch is a decent substitute because it hits Dragon-types such as Dratini and Bagon harder in the rain, even OHKOing the former. Outside of rain, Ice Punch hits Gligar harder than Waterfall, though it will only OHKO the defensive variants 50% of the time. Finally, Brick Break guarantees an OHKO on Carvanha, and outside the rain, does more damage to Pokemon weak to Fighting, such as Aron and Munchlax. A Life Orb is essential on this set, giving Buizel the extra power that it needs to sweep efficiently. The EVs maximize Buizel's Attack and Speed, and the remainder is used to give Buizel an extra point in Special Defense. This set loves Rain Dance support, because Buizel needs the extra power on its Water-type attacks the Speed increase for sweeping. Six turns of sweeping is generally enough for Buizel to tear holes in the opponent's team. Great Rain Dance supporters include, but are definitely not limited to: Voltorb, Bronzor, and Drifloon. This set also greatly appreciates Stealth Rock support, as it can turn numerous 2HKOs into OHKOs. For example, Buizel can OHKO Carvanha with Return if Stealth Rock is up, so it no longer has to rely on Brick Break for the guaranteed KO, though it should be noted that Buizel would be switching into Carvanha, not the opposite. In addition, with Stealth Rock on the field, Buizel 2HKOes Swift Swim Mantyke with the combination of Aqua Jet and Return. Though this set has great offensive potential, it still has flaws and solid counters. For one, Snover simultaneously resists Water-type attacks and puts an end to Buizel's rain. As long as Snover does not switch into Brick Break, it can OHKO Buizel with STAB Energy Ball. Mantyke can revenge kill this set with Hidden Power Electric. Mixed Priority Abuser Croagunk absorbs all Water-type attacks aimed at it, and can KO Buizel with Fake Out and Sucker Punch, but only guarantees itself an OHKO if Buizel has switched into Stealth Rock and taken at least one turn of Life Orb recoil damage. Munchlax can take on Snover any day of the week, and can easily revenge kill Mantyke. Bronzor is a great teammate for Buizel if Croagunk is a problem - it can take any attack that Croagunk can dish out and OHKO back with Psychic.