Pokemon Go Blastoise Best Moveset

Pokémon GO: Blastoise's Best Movesets – A Comprehensive Guide

Blastoise, the powerful Water-type starter from the Kanto region, remains a formidable Pokémon in Pokémon GO. Its impressive bulk and access to strong Water-type moves make it a valuable asset in raids, gyms, and even PvP battles. However, choosing the right moveset is crucial to maximizing its potential. This comprehensive guide will delve into the best movesets for Blastoise in Pokémon GO, considering various battle scenarios and PvP leagues. We'll explore the science behind move effectiveness and provide practical strategies for using Blastoise effectively.

Understanding Blastoise's Strengths and Weaknesses

Before diving into optimal movesets, understanding Blastoise's inherent strengths and weaknesses is vital. Blastoise excels in its high Defense and HP stats, making it a durable tank. Its Water-type moves deal super effective damage against Fire, Ground, and Rock-type Pokémon, all common threats in the game. However, Blastoise is vulnerable to Electric and Grass-type attacks. Knowing this helps strategize its use in battles and choosing moves to counter weaknesses or exploit enemy vulnerabilities.

Analyzing Blastoise's Movepool

Blastoise boasts a diverse movepool in Pokémon GO, including Charged and Fast attacks. Choosing the best combination depends heavily on your intended use – raids, gym battles, or PvP. Here's a breakdown of its most relevant moves:

Fast Attacks:

• Water Gun: A classic and reliable fast attack, offering consistent Water-type damage and energy generation.
• Bubble: While dealing less damage per use than Water Gun, Bubble has a chance to lower the opponent's attack, offering a strategic advantage in some matchups.

Charged Attacks:

• Hydro Pump: A powerful charged attack dealing substantial damage, making it ideal for quickly taking down opponents. However, its high energy cost means it takes longer to charge.
• Flash Cannon: This Steel-type charged attack allows Blastoise to cover its Grass-type weakness. While not as powerful as Hydro Pump against Water-type weaknesses, it offers crucial type coverage.
• Ice Beam: Another excellent charged attack providing type coverage against Dragon and Ground-type Pokémon, further expanding its versatility.
• Aqua Tail: A decent Water-type charged attack that's faster to charge than Hydro Pump. It’s a good option for frequent attacks but lacks the raw power of Hydro Pump.

Best Movesets for Different Battle Scenarios

The optimal moveset for Blastoise varies depending on the battle scenario. Let's examine the best choices for various situations:

1. Raids:

For raid battles, raw damage output is paramount. The best moveset for maximizing damage against a wide range of raid bosses is typically:

• Fast Attack: Water Gun
• Charged Attack: Hydro Pump

This combination delivers consistent energy generation with Water Gun and devastating damage with Hydro Pump. The high damage output is crucial for overcoming challenging raid bosses within the time limit.

2. Gyms:

Similar to raids, high damage is preferred in gym battles. While the specific optimal moveset might shift slightly depending on the defending Pokémon, the Water Gun/Hydro Pump combination remains an excellent choice for efficient takedowns.

• Fast Attack: Water Gun
• Charged Attack: Hydro Pump

3. Great League (PvP):

The Great League presents a different challenge, emphasizing strategic move selection and counter-picking. Blastoise's bulk allows it to withstand hits, but its moveset needs to carefully target common opponents. A strong contender in this league is:

• Fast Attack: Water Gun
• Charged Attack: Flash Cannon

This moveset provides excellent coverage. Water Gun offers consistent damage, while Flash Cannon allows Blastoise to deal significant damage to Grass and Steel types, often prevalent in the Great League. The combination provides a solid balance of offence and defence. Another option to consider, depending on your team composition, is replacing Flash Cannon with Ice Beam, which handles Ground and Dragon types effectively.

4. Ultra League (PvP):

In the Ultra League, the higher CP level of Pokémon requires a different approach. Blastoise's bulk still remains a significant asset, but facing stronger opponents demands careful consideration of moveset choices. While Hydro Pump's damage is tempting, the slower charge rate can be a disadvantage. Therefore:

• Fast Attack: Water Gun
• Charged Attack: Aqua Tail

This moveset emphasizes faster attacks to maintain pressure and control the pace of the battle. Aqua Tail offers a balance between damage and charge rate, enabling more frequent charged attacks. Flash Cannon or Ice Beam can still be considered depending on the meta and your opponent's team composition.

5. Master League (PvP):

The Master League presents the ultimate challenge, with high CP Pokémon potentially reaching their highest stats. In this league, Blastoise's raw bulk and potential are still very relevant, however it has a great disadvantage due to its weakness to common electric types. While it can hold its own, it might need additional support from teammates. The ideal moveset mirrors Ultra League due to the need for faster attacks.

• Fast Attack: Water Gun
• Charged Attack: Aqua Tail

The Science Behind Move Effectiveness: Type Matchups and STAB

Understanding type matchups and Same-Type Attack Bonus (STAB) is crucial to effectively using Blastoise. Water-type moves are super effective against Fire, Ground, and Rock types. STAB grants a 1.2x damage multiplier to moves that share the same type as the Pokémon, further enhancing the effectiveness of Water Gun and Blastoise's Water-type charged attacks.

Optimizing Blastoise with IVs and Power Ups

The Individual Values (IVs) of your Blastoise significantly impact its performance. Higher IVs translate to greater stats, boosting its attack, defense, and HP. Powering up your Blastoise with stardust and candies increases its CP, making it more powerful in battles. Prioritize powering up Blastoise with high IVs for maximum effectiveness.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Is Blastoise good in PvP?

A: Yes, Blastoise can be a very effective Pokémon in PvP, especially in the Great League where its bulk and access to powerful moves like Flash Cannon can surprise opponents. However, its performance depends on the selected moveset and skillful gameplay.

Q: Should I use Bubble or Water Gun as Blastoise's fast attack?

A: Water Gun generally offers better overall DPS (Damage Per Second). Bubble's attack debuff can be useful in specific situations, but the consistent damage of Water Gun usually outweighs the benefits of the debuff.

Q: How important is IVs for Blastoise?

A: IVs are important for any Pokémon, including Blastoise. Higher IVs result in a stronger Pokémon, leading to better performance in battles.

Q: Is there a "perfect" moveset for Blastoise?

A: There's no single "perfect" moveset. The best moveset depends heavily on the battle scenario – raids, gyms, or the specific PvP league.

Q: How do I get a good Blastoise?

A: You can obtain Blastoise by evolving Squirtle, a Kanto region starter Pokémon. Look out for Community Days, Special Research Tasks, or Raid Battles for a chance to catch Squirtle with higher IVs.

Conclusion

Blastoise, a classic and powerful Water-type Pokémon, remains a valuable asset in Pokémon GO. Choosing the appropriate moveset is key to maximizing its potential. Whether you're tackling raids, conquering gyms, or battling in PvP, selecting the right moveset will significantly impact your success. Remember to consider the battle scenario, understand type matchups, and optimize your Blastoise's IVs for optimal performance. With strategic planning and skillful gameplay, Blastoise can become a cornerstone of your Pokémon GO team. Happy battling!