Pokemon X and Y Moveset Guide

This guide will help you decide on the best moveset for your Pokemon based on its role.

Now that you know how basic stats and super training works from my first guide, and stat distribution from my second guide, I will give you an example of each moveset for each role. I can also give you some strategies for each role. Just to recap, the roles are, leads, sweepers, walls, tanks, and support. My examples will be from Pokemon I have trained so far.

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Setting up with Leads

Leads can do different things so it depends on the type you want. Set-up leads want moves like Spikes or Stealth Rock to use entry hazards, or moves like Agility and Swords Dance to pass on to another Pokémon with Baton Pass.

I usually use Greninja as my lead. It has Surf, Dark Pulse, Spikes, and Taunt. It has a high Speed and Special Attack so it can get Taunt off to stop other leads from setting up entry hazards, then set up Spikes. It can also just defeat the Pokémon and sweep if the matchup is in his favor.

I also use Ninjask. It has Agility, Swords Dance, Protect, and Baton Pass. It has a very high speed so if it can survive one attack, you will be able to get either a Swords Dance or Agility off, then use Baton Pass to pass on the boost to a Sweeper.

Rampage with a Sweeper

Sweepers have a simple role: defeat as many Pokémon as they can before fainting. They will want to have great type coverage to handle any situation so you don’t have to switch and waste a turn.

I use Charizard as a Physical Sweeper. It has the Charizardite X, so it has a high attack after mega evolution. It has Earthquake, Dragon Claw, Flare Blitz, and Fly. Flare Blitz is strong enough to take out most Pokémon that aren’t resistant to Fire. Earthquake can take out other Fire and Rock types that can be a problem. Dragon Claw for Dragons and Fly for Fighting.

Don’t let the enemy get through your Wall

Wall have a high Defense or Special Defense and HP and just soak up damage. Their purpose is to stall Sweepers. Sylveon makes for a decent Special Wall. It has a great Special Defense and it can learn Light Screen to raise it even higher. I gave mine Draining Kiss to do damage and heal it at the same time, Light Screen, Misty Terrain to stop status effects, and Moonblast to take out Dragons, Dark, and Fighting.

Take damage, then dish it back out

Tanks have a unique role. They can take a decent amount of damage and deal a good deal as well. Aegislash is a great tank in Pokémon X. It has a very high Attack, Special Attack, Defense, and Special Defense. The reason for this is the ability Stance Change, which switches between Blade and Shield Forme.

Blade forme increases Attack and Special Attack by a huge amount, but lowers Defense and Special Defense by the same amount. Shield Forme does the opposite.

Aeigislash will always start in Shield Forme and any attack it uses will change it to Blade Forme. It has a unique move called King’s Shield. This will protect you from all damage that turn and if the enemy tries a move that makes direct contact, it will lower their Attack two levels. This is the only way to change back to Shield Forme and it works every other turn. Mine has King’s Shield, Sacred Sword for Normal and Dark types, Iron Head and Shadow Claw for the attack boost because it is a Steel/Ghost type.

Behind every strong Pokémon is a strong support

Support can range from healing, setting up Screens, or Rapid Spinning away entry hazards.

Dragonite is a good healer to use on your team. A good moveset would be, Heal Bell to rid your team of status effects, Roost to heal itself, Thunder Wave or Toxic to inflict your own status effects, and either Dragon Claw or Flamethrower to attack.

Starmie is a good Rapid Spinner because of its decent speed. Teach it Rapid Spin to get rid of any entry hazards, Surf and Thunderbolt to deal some damage, and Recover to heal yourself and stay alive as long as you can.

Mr. Mime can be used as a Dual Screener. Reflect and Light Screen to raise Defense and Special Defense for your team, Substitute to protect you while setting them up, and Baton Pass to pass it on to someone.

These are just some examples for each role and they vary depending on the Pokémon. Were these tips helpful? Do you have any other questions about a particular Pokémon? Let me know in the comments.

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Author
Synzer
After gaming for 25 years, Synzer leveraged his vast knowledge of RPGs and MMOs into a job as a games journalist, covering the games he loves. Five years later, he's still writing about Kingdom Hearts, Pokemon, and Knights of the Old Republic. Synzer has a bachelor's degree in English and creative writing. You can see him in action on his YouTube channel (https://bit.ly/2F97BrR) and Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/synzergaming).