Community POTW #98

[MatchMaster]

Floatzel might seem like a fairly decent Pokemon on paper, but when you start to see other offensive water-types, they generally do what Floatzel does better. This is what places Floatzel in NU. Floatzel does however, have the exact traits it needs to run a Choice Band set: Decent attack, high speed, and an okay move pool. It can also run a boasting set fairly well. Floatzel does have its problems though; it has low defenses, meaning it will have a hard time switching in, and powerful priority will ruin it.

Abilities
Swift Swim: Allows you to outpace everything in the NU tier, but with the ban of Drizzle below OU and Swift Swim + Drizzle in OU, it'll have to have Rain Dance support.
Water Veil: Fairly decent, as Floatzel is primarily a physical attacker, and Floatzel already has great speed, but I generally prefer Swift Swim.

Choice Band
Item:Choice Band
Nature: Jolly / Adamant
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
- Waterfall
- Ice Punch / Return
- Crunch / Brick Break
- Aqua Jet / Switcheroo

This is the most common and effective Floatzel set. Waterfall should be used as primary STAB and works well with Floatzel's high speed as the 20% flinch chance can come in handy. Ice Punch allows it to hit Altaria, Druddigon, and and Dragon- and Grass- types. Return gets better overall neutral coverage though. Crunch is mainly for Misdreavus and the numerous Psychic-types in NU, while Brick Break hits Steel-types for more damage. Aqua Jet is in the last slot to get past some of the priority users Floatzel loathes, such as Absol, while Switcheroo can cripple a wall.

[Kraleck]

Floatzel does have its problems though; it has low defenses, meaning it will have a hard time switching in, and powerful priority will ruin it.

Glass Cannon, thy name is Floatzel. If Floatzel hasn't poured more than 6 EVs into HP (very likely due to its Base Attack and Speed) and with Max Attack and Attack-Up Natures, the following Pokemon are quite lethal without Item boosts:
-Technician-Breloom, and Iron Fist- or Guts-Conkeldurr can 2KO with Mach Punch
-Absol and Cacturne can rip a sizeable hole with Sucker Punch
-Even the lowly Sableye can 2KO with Sucker Punch
-Ambi-Technician can deal a minimum of 50% of Floatzel's HP with Fake Out and a very sizeable chunk with Covet (also note that Ambi' Speed-ties Floatzel, so there's some risk)

[deoxysdude94]

oh! a possible title for a moveset!

swiper no swiping!

oh, darn, I'm an idiot...

[rc52]

I hate him, he's such a weasel
- Waterfall
- Crunch
- Ice Beam
- Hidden Power [Electric] / [Grass]
Item Attached: Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs and Nature:
216 Atk / 252 SAtk / 40 Spd
Rash Nature (+SAtk, -SDef)

This is a mixed set Floatzel set can run, which takes into consideration Floatzel's Special Attack, which, while not great, isn't bad either. Waterfall hits stupid hard in rain. Crunch makes dealing with Jellicent, Slowking and whatnot easier. Ice Beam takes care of Grass types who wall Floatzel. Hidden Power is its last move, but the choice of type depends on what you want to kill. HP Electric dents Skarmory, Gyarados and other things while providing awesome coverage with Ice Beam. HP Grass kills some other stuff and whatever can take your STAB Waterfall. In either case, both types can handle Water-types, which will be the main switch-in against Floatzel.

[jeffdavid102]

I had a lot of success with this in UU.

Floatzel @ Flame Orb
Ability: Aqua Veil
EVs: 252 attack 252 speed 4 hp
Nature:Jolly
Waterfall
Brick Break/Ice Punch
Crunch
Switcheroo

Stat-wise, Floatzel is the physical equivalent to Starmie, but is often forgotten about because Water's physical moves aren't as strong as its special moves. However, Floatzel has access to two things Starmie does not, Water Veil and Switcheroo.

This set enables Floatzel to have a 100% accurate Will-o-wisp for a turn, crippling walls, and physical sweepers, especially Breloom/Gliscor if you use it in OU. Floatzel itself also benefits from the opponent's burn due to its relatively weak defenses. Once you've effectively tricked your flame orb, it's time to do some damage. Floatzel's base 115 speed may allow it to take advantage of Waterfall's secondary flinching effect. Brick Break can take out Screens from Uxie and Cresselia, as well as dent Steel types. Ice punch takes out Grass types and Crunch provides more coverage and doesn't make it Jellicent-bait in OU.

Also, since this isn't a common set for Floatzel, it can be bluffed as a Choiced or Expert Belt set until you're ready to use Switcheroo. It's worked brilliantly for me mainly because no one is prepared for Floatzel to be used as a semi-support set.

As I said earlier, Starmie can do the same thing as Floatzel with the combo of Natural Cure and Trick. So, Starmie can almost do that better by being able to Trick the opponents either Status orb(still probably flame orb to beat Pursuit users)

[thatjeremykid]

Drown you in pain:

Swift Swimmer even without rain:
Floatzel @ Choice Scarf
Jolly/Adamant
Swift Swim
252 Atk/252 Spe/4 SpD
-Switcheroo
-Bulk Up/Agility
-Waterfall
-Crunch

Mess up a wall by giving it a scarf, use the boosting move of choice and hit hard with a great STAB move and Crunch for coverage.

^Use a boosting move on a choice set?

[Furret Master]

Overview:

Yay for Floatzel! He is in one of my four absolute favorite Pokemon families (can you guess what they might be?). Floatzel is a really cool Pokemon, as his family not only has a cool design, but he also has the right stats that he needs to be powerful. Base 105 Attack and 115 Speed allow him to be a deadly physical sweeper, while a base 85 Sp. Attack means that he can use some special moves if needed and still put out some power. Floatzel is also one of the fastest Pokemon who gets a weather-based ability that doubles Speed (in his case, Swift Swim). This means that he is very likely to hit first in the rain.
Sadly, like the rest of my favorites, Floatzel has been throw into the NU tier, and it isn't completely difficult to see why that is. First, while he sports a decent base 85 HP, 55/50 in defenses means that it doesn't take much to KO Floatzel. Secondly, Swift Swim cannot be used with Drizzle outside of Ubers, at which point he faces stiff competition with other Pokemon that either have a better movepool or typing. This still should not discourage anyone from using Floatzel, however, because a well-played Floatzel can and will destroy the opponent's Pokemon.

Abilities:

Swift Swim: The Pokemon's Speed stat is doubled while the weather is rainy. This makes Floatzel go from fast to ridiculously fast. This ability should only be used on dedicated rain teams, but this does allow Floatzel to be very strong.
Water Veil: The Pokemon cannot have BURN condition. This is generally a better option for Floatzel that are not on rain teams. This also prevents a nasty Attack drop and loss of HP from Burn. Not the greatest ability, but it gives Floatzel a usable ability outside of rain.

Movesets:

Choice Band
-Waterfall
-Ice Punch/ Return
-Crunch
-Aqua Jet
Item:Choice Band
Ability:Swift Swim/ Water Veil
Nature: Adamant, Jolly
EVs:4 HP, 252 Attack, 252 Speed

A fairly straightforward set, and one that allows Floatzel to threaten teams with an Attack boost from Choice Band. Waterfall is a great STAB move, and Floatzel's Speed allows the flinch chance to be viable. Ice Punch grants super-effective hits on Grass-types that threaten Floatzel, but Return has better coverage with Waterfall and has more base power at maximum friendship. Crunch is mostly there for coverage, but it is useful against Pokemon like Misdreavus. Aqua Jet is a priority move, which is extremely helpful and helps patch up Floatzel's low defenses, as it makes it very difficult for the opponent to KO Floatzel before it can attack.

The EVs are simple, as they maximize Floatzel's Attack and Speed. The ability and nature are tied together. The best option is to run Floatzel on a rain team with Swift Swim and an Adamant nature, as this maximizes both of Floatzel's important stats. If you are not running him on a rain team, however, Water Veil and a Jolly nature are the safest options. This is weaker than the Swift Swim variety, but it can still function.

Bulk Up Utility
-Waterfall
-Crunch
-Bulk Up
-Baton Pass
Item:Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim/ Water Veil
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 252 Attack, 4 Defense, 252 Speed

Floatzel does not get a great assortment of stat-boosting moves, but it can use Bulk Up to increase both Attack and Defense, which can make him powerful and give him a bit of a cushion against physical attacks. Waterfall and Crunch are chosen for the same reasons as before. Baton Pass is useful for giving the Bulk Up boosts to a teammate, plus Floatzel's high Speed makes Baton Pass a great escape tool to deal with threats that might switch in.

The nature is exclusively Jolly for the Speed boost, since Floatzel can boost his Attack with Bulk Up. The EVs are similar to before, but the extra EVs go to further boost Floatzel's Defense.

Mixed Sweeper
-Waterfall
-Ice Beam
-Hidden Power [Grass]
-Crunch
Item:Life Orb
Ability:Swift Swim/ Water Veil
Nature: Rash/ Naughty
EVs: 240 Attack, 252 Sp. Attack, 16 Speed

While Floatzel's base Sp. Attack is only 85, this set attempts to give Floatzel the flexibility to take down a variety of Pokemon, including the physical walls that usually give Floatzel trouble. Waterfall remains constant to dish out damage. Ice Beam takes on bulky Grass-types like Tangela, while Hidden Power [Grass] hits Alomomola and bulky Water/Ground types for severe damage. Crunch rounds out the set by taking on bulky Ghost and Psychic-types.

The nature chosen either boosts Floatzel's Sp. Attack (Rash nature) or Attack (Naughty nature). Rash is usually the best option, as it gives Floatzel the Sp. Attack boost that he needs. The EVs are shifted to his attack stats while giving him a slight boost to Speed.

Counters:

This is both hard and easy at the same time. Floatzel is incredibly fast, especially in the rain and with Aqua Jet. However, some revenge killers can take on Floatzel with little trouble. Absol is one of the deadliest, as Sucker Punch hits Floatzel first, and it usually hits since Floatzel almost always uses an attack move. Another way to deal with Floatzel is through Paralysis, as a Floatzel without Speed with not be able to attack right away, thus exposing its low defenses. Finally, bulky and powerful Pokemon that are resistant to Water-type moves can sponge a hit and KO Floatzel right back.

Final Comments:

Floatzel is a really awesome Pokemon that can be difficult to deal with if it is played right. It might be outclassed by many Pokemon, but can still be useful. Plus, I love Floatzel no matter what, and in the end, isn't that what matters? Maybe not, but it does not take away from Floatzel's advantages.

[Moonlight_Tails]

I'm not a competitive Battler but from what I'm reading this is pretty much the same as what I run on Floatzel In Game

Aqua Jet
Crunch/Brick Break/Low Kick
Ice Punch
Waterfall

Swift Swim/Water Veil
Adamant/Jolly

Not as Powerful as Feraligatr but it gets the job done IMO. I love it.

[OceanicLanturn]

Floating in the deep (Choice Band Floatzel)
Floatzel @ Choice Band
Ability: Water Veil / Swift Swim
Nature: Adamant / Jolly
EV: 252 atk / 252 spe / 4 def
- Aqua Jet / Waterfall
- Brick Break
- Ice Punch
- Crunch
Floatzel can be used like a psuedo-Azumarill... I guess. Aqua Jet has nifty priority, but it's rather low in damage. Waterfall is high in the damage apartment, and can hit Golem and Regirock. Brick Break may be weak, but it's Floatzel's only usable physical fighting move (the other is Rock Smash, which is totally horrendous, but it stills do a good damage to normal types. Ice Punch takes care of Swellow and flying types, and Exeggcutor. Crunch murders ghost types and psychic types that lurk in NU.

Weaseling Floatzel's way (Baton Pass Floatzel)
Floatzel @ Leftover / Focus Sash
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Jolly
EV: 252 spe / 252 hp / 4 def
- Agility
- Baton Pass
- Bulk Up
- Aqua Ring / Waterfall / Ice Punch
Floatzel is so frail that it's not funny. But it gets Baton Pass, a great move. Anyways, Agility to set up or Bulk Up is another choice. If you somehow manage to get to the second turn without sash being broken, try baton pass or another boost. Waterfall / Ice Punch are moves in cause you get taunted, which isn't very hard.

Little Cup:
Buize it... and Buize out (special Buizel)
Buizel @ Life Orb
Nature: Modest / Timid
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 sp.atk / 252 spe / 4 def
- Ice Beam
- Scald / Surf
- Toxic
- Hidden Power (Ground)
Ice Beam takes care of grass types. Scald has a nifty burn chance, but Buizel isn't very bulky either. Surf has higher power, and well... dunno if Buizel can last that long. Toxic is poisoning... which can act as a help / last resort. Hidden Power Ground deals with Chinochou and other electric types, who will stop it dead in the track.

[Ilan]

Floatzel is sadly a case of really good pokemon with a lot of waisted potential! Good attack and speed, means that this is mainly a physical sweeper, the movepool though ruin this job because it lacks a good set of coverage moves which means it is walled by a lot of pokemon. It's ability swift swim makes it the fastest pokemon in the game, but also this ability is doomed by an unforgiving rule: "Drizzle and swift swim are illeagal!!". Ok great, now you have to set up rain dance to work! These two major assets are flawed to an extent bu does not necessarily means that floatzel is bad! it is still fast even without rain and can hit reasonably strong! This only means that this pokemon will just be in NU without any hope of breaking out!
Floatzel's other ability is also nifty as it will prevent floatzel from loosing the only thing he is good at! Good if you are planning on using floatzel without rain support!
Floatzel will be surprising if you manage to pass some attack boosts to it! Try that! Ninjask is the best at that job! Screens help as well but not as much!
All in all, try floazel, it's not that bad! Just support it well and try to "sweep".

Why people ignore it.. floatzel have base 115 speed.. swift swim is not THAT nessessary it only outrun scarfers.. but he is really fast..

Choice Band set is probably the best set cause it is kinda frail but fast so use mainly that life orb is second.

[Kraleck]

^Use a boosting move on a choice set?

The boosting Move is only used after Switcheroo. Don't nitpick the one aspect without seeing the full picture...

Why people ignore it.. floatzel have base 115 speed.. swift swim is not THAT nessessary it only outrun scarfers.. but he is really fast..

Choice Band set is probably the best set cause it is kinda frail but fast so use mainly that life orb is second.

Jolteon, Electrode, Sceptile, Zebtrika, and Whimsicott beg to differ on your Swift Swim opinion...

[Ilan]

The boosting Move is only used after Switcheroo. Don't nitpick the one aspect without seeing the full picture...



Jolteon, Electrode, Sceptile, Zebtrika, and Whimsicott beg to differ on your Swift Swim opinion...

I know but he is still really fast he can hit all those on the switch I think that jolteon can't take 2 choice band rain boosted aqua jets (OU) whimsicot barely uses his speed, zebstrika is barely used even in NU,elerode can't switch in sure there are lots of pokemons faster than floatzel but people say "oh no he can't use swift swim,he is useless" which is far from true...
You know you are overly specific lets say NU: only zebstrika and electrode are NU in those you mentioned and those two can't switch in.

[your boss]

You all took the sets so I'll explain the abilities our NU has and counters.

Swift Swim: Good ability, but with 115 Speed it isn't necessary most of the time.

Water Veil: Preventing from being burned is nice and maybe a better ability to choose in my opinion.

Counters: Alomomola is a great counter as it can take anything the weasel throws at him and Toxic Floatzel unless it gets enough Bulk Ups.

[Patri25]

Fast and Furious
Floatzel@Life Orb
Ability:Swift Swim
Nature:Adamant
Ev´s: 252HP 252Att
Moves:
-Aqua Jet
-Ice Punch
-Bulk Up
-Crunch

[Zachmac]

They call it a weasle, but it's clearly a river otter...

And about swift swim set...that thing already has 115 speed. Rain support is a waste of time. Even if it's for a swift swim based team, you're better off using something else, since it lacks any decent offensive stat boosting move. Leave Bulk Up for tanks like Conkeldurr and Throw.

Even Armaldo is a better at it then this, and it doesn't even get STAB water!
252Atk Life Orb +1 Floatzel (+Atk) Waterfall in Rain vs 4HP/0Def Chansey (Neutral): 287% - 338% (1846 - 2173 HP). Guaranteed OHKO.
252Atk Life Orb +2 Armaldo (+Atk) Aqua Tail in Rain vs 4HP/0Def Chansey (Neutral): 325% - 382% (2087 - 2457 HP). Guaranteed OHKO.
...Plus it gets STABed coverage and the ability to take a hit.

The best way to use Floatzle is for it's speed, but not with swift swim...

oh! a possible title for a moveset!

swiper no swiping!

oh, darn, I'm an idiot...

That's a fox. Save it for Zoroark.

[Blue Harvest]

Flotazel has Bulk Up + Baton Pass + Taunt. It also has 115 base speed. It can run Choice Band + Switcheroo, Bulk Up pass, Bulk Up offense, Life Orb offense, mixed and probably some others. For a Pokemon that basically no one uses it has a lot of good options.

**** Swift Swim, use its burn veil or whatever it's called. Switching in on Scalds with zero fear is awesome.

[philzone]

Flotazel has Bulk Up + Baton Pass + Taunt. It also has 115 base speed. It can run Choice Band + Switcheroo, Bulk Up pass, Bulk Up offense, Life Orb offense, mixed and probably some others. For a Pokemon that basically no one uses it has a lot of good options.

**** Swift Swim, use its burn veil or whatever it's called. Switching in on Scalds with zero fear is awesome.

The ability is water veil. Baton pass means that it could chain some baton passes fron espeon and ninjask in OU.

[jesusfreak94]

If you're not running Rain, Water Veil is a nice ability for taking random Scalds, Fire attacks, and Will-O-Wisps without worrying about stupid burn hax, but Swift Swim on Floatzel is still pretty good. Floatzel is so fast that he can afford to run very little speed, while still outspeeding most notable threats. This lets him put a ton of investment into both offensive stats, which turns him into a dangerous mixed sweeper. In NU, just 32 EVs with a Rash nature will let you outspeed even Timid Scarf Zebstrika in the Rain, and even that's rare. You usually won't have to worry about many other Scarf Pokemon, even outside of NU.

Another cool thing about Floatzel is that you can run an Adamant nature and have equal power and one more speed point than a Jolly Staraptor, which is awesome. Of course, it might be worth running Jolly to speed tie Cinccino in NU, but that's still worth a mention.

[unknownunown]

-Waterfall/Aqua Tail
-Ice Punch
-Rain Dance/Crunch/Aqua Jet
-Rain Dance/Crunch/Aqua Jet
Swift Swim/Water Veil
EV's: 252 Atk, 252 Spd, 4 HP
Adamant or Jolly
Damp Rock/Muscle Band/Choice Band
Run Swift Swim and, with your awesome speed, Swift Swim and Rain, this goes crazy. If not, forget about Swift Swim, Rain Dance and Damp Rock and run Water Veil, Aqua Jet Crunch and Choice or Muscle Band, in which yo can't get a burn. STAB: Aqua Tail is a little stronger, but Waterfall has full accuracy, more PP and the possibility of causing the ooponent to flinch. Ice punch hits Dragons and Grass-Types. Well, then it gets harder. If this is your lead in a Rain Team or only Floatzel needs, well, Rain, you MUST run Rain Dance (and Damp Rock). If you run a Rain Team but this is not the Lead, you can still run Rain Dance to set it again if an opponent changes the weather or the Rain stops. But then, Crunch hits Shedinja and deals with other Water Types, and Aqua Jet gets STAB and Priority.

[LanceDragonov]

Floatzel is a classic case where a bad movepool ruins it's potential. Well, at least it is not Delibird.


Jetzel

Aqua Jet
Ice Punch
Brick Break
Pursuit

Nature: Brave

Item: Life Orb

EV's 252 HP 252 Attack 4 Spd

A Floatzel who can priority spam, but have a bit of coverage.

Aqua Jet for spamming

Ice Punch for flyers....not that theyre common anyway....

Brick Break for Tyranitar

Pursuit for switchers.........Even though Floatzel will never force a switch.

Counters:
Basically anything that can out-priority it, basically, since that is what makes it decent.