Are some Pokemon stronger than others for Defensive play?
Yes! They usually have high Defense, Speed, or Special Defense Stats. Ideally, they have over 80 stat points. It also depends on how many types the Pokémon is resistant to.
Many of these Pokémon are great for online Double Battles and Tera Raids since this article will focus primarily on strong Supporting Pokémon and Pokémon who can contribute with attacks with strong defensive effects.
15. Talonflame
Talonflame stats:
- 78 HP
- 81 Attack
- 71 Defense
- 74 Special Attack
- 69 Special Defense
- 126 Speed
Talonflame is a Fire and Flying-Type Pokémon.
Fletchling evolves into a Fletchinder at Level 17.
Fletchinder evolves into Talonflame at Level 35.
Where to find Fletchling:
Fletchling lives around the Poco Path Lighthouse.
Analysis:
Talonflame is skilled in a variety of Flying and Fire-Type Special Defense moves. Its best defense overall is its Speed and Evasiveness, dodging incoming attacks. It can challenge a battle using moves Sunny Day, Tailwind, and Defog. Using Agility can boost its Speed stat even more. Will O Wisp is a move that can give a target a burn and cause it to lose a little HP over time.
Gale Wings is its best Ability which gives priority to Flying-Type moves as a Defensive Pokémon. With Talonflame, you can almost defeat half of Scarlet and Violet’s main story.
Advice:
Talonflame is a great Pokémon to find and evolve early game since there are many Pokémon weak to Fire-Type moves.
Talonflame’s useful in these stages of the game:
- Cortando Gym
- Artazon Gym
- Medali gym
- Lurking Steel Titan
- Quaking Earth Titan
- Glaseado Gym
- Team Star Fighting Crew
- Tem Star Poison Crew
- Elite 4’s 2’nd battle with Poppy
- Elite 4’s last battle with Geeta
Talonflame is great in Double Battles, as its high evasiveness will make it hard to hit. It can use Tailwind, doubling the speed of all Pokémon in the user's party for 4 turns. The move Roost is highly useful, gaining HP during Double Battles.
Talonflame can be both defensive and offensive in Tera Raids. A Flying Tera Type calls for more Defense moves and keeps its immunity to Ground-Types.
Talonflame’s Strengths:
Talonflame is Strong against:
-Steel
-Bug
-Grass
-Fighting
-Immune to Ground-Types
Best Tera Type = Flying. Strong against:
-Bug
-Fighting
-Grass
-Ground and (Bug, Fighting, Grass)
- Don’t undermine Talonflame’s stats, its Speed (126) can grow stronger with moves like Agility. It will increase the likelihood of evading incoming attacks. Lead with powerful Flying-Type moves like Fly or Brave Bird and Fire-Type moves like Flame Charge and Flare Blitz.
- Prioritize using Egg Moves such as Defog, lowering the target's Evasion by one stage and removing entry hazards and barriers on both sides of the field.
14. Sensu Style Oricorio
Sensu Style Oricorio Stats:
- 75 HP
- 70 Attack
- 70 Defense
- 98 Special Attack
- 70 Special Defense
- 93 Speed
Sensu Style Oricorio is a Ghost and Flying-Type Pokémon.
Where to find Sensu Style Oricorio:
Find any form of Oricorio around Mesagoza South or the outskirts of Artazon.
Then, use Purple Nectar on any Oricorio to turn it into Sensu Style Oricorio.
The Delibird near the Casscarafa North Poké Center has Purple Nectar costing $300.
Analysis:
Sensu Style Oricorio is an underrated Defensive Pokémon that can learn Bug, Flying, Normal, Psychic, Fairy, and Dark-Type defense moves. Known for Dance moves, Feather Dance lowers the target’s Attack stat by 2 stages, and Egg Move Quiver Dances increases Oricorio’s Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed by 1 stage each.
Go in for the best defensive Egg Move in Double Battles, Attract, infatuating the opponent of the opposite sex of Oricorio.
It’s best known for its unique Ability, Dancer, which copies a specific Dance move used by the opponent. Dancer causes the ability-bearer to use that same move immediately afterward. They can still perform a selected move after the copied dance move.
Advice:
You can catch Sensu Style Oricorio early game, shortly after you defeat the Casscarafa Gym. You'll be near a Delibird that sells Purple Nectar.
Sensu Style Oricorio may be a great Pokémon when facing the Montenverna Gym, specializing in Ghost-Type Pokémon.
It's best during Post Game events:
- Academy Ace Tournament
- Kitakami (Teal Mask DLC)
- Blueberry Academy (Indigo Disc DLC)
Sensu Style Oricorio is a great choice for Double Battles. It can punish opponents by copying their Swords Dance. Sensu Style Revelation Dance is a Ghost-Type attack dealing 90 damage. Roost and Helping Hand are other great moves for a supporting Pokémon as Oricorio can heal and boost your 2'nd Pokémon's overall power.
You could also follow up with Charm to harshly lower the opponent's Attack by 2 stages and may use moves like Safeguard to protect your team from status conditions.
Sensu Style Oricorio’s Strengths:
Sensu Style Oricorio is strong against:
-Ghost
-Psychic
-Bug
-Fighting
-Grass
-Immune to Fighting, Normal, and Ground-Types
Best Tera Type = Dark. Strong against:
-Ghost
-Dark
-Immune to Psychic
2’nd Best Tera Type = Flying. Strong against:
-Fighting
-Bug
-Grass
-Immune to Ground-Types
- Sensu Style Oricorio stats are the most balanced in this list. It’s an extremely versatile Pokémon that can use Attract, Safeguard, Calm Mind, Substitute, Protect, and Sleep Talk.
- As a Dark Tera Type, the move Taunt prevents the target from using Status-category moves for three turns. The move Flatter confuses the target and raises its Special Attack by one stage.
Here’s a list of all the dances that Orocorio can copy from the opponent:
- Feather Dance = lowers the target's Attack by two stages.
- Fiery Dance = deals 80 damage, raises user's Special Attack by one stage.
- Dragon Dance = raises the user's Attack and Speed by one stage each.
- Swords Dance = increases Attack
- Petal Dance = inflicts 120 damage for 2-3 turns and becomes confused.
- Lunar Dance= The user faints but the next Pokémon released is fully healed.
- Revelation Dance= inflicts 90 damage + Oricorio’s Type
- Quiver Dance= raises Special Attack, Special Defense and Speed by one stage
- Teeter Dance= causes all adjacent Pokémon to become confused
13. Ampharos
Ampharos stats:
- 90 HP
- 75 Attack
- 85 Defense
- 115 Special Attack
- 90 Special Defense
- 55 Speed
Ampharos is an Electric Type Pokémon. It has 2 evolutions.
As a Mareep, it evolves into Flaaffy around Level 15.
Flaaffy evolves to Ampharos around Level 30.
Where to find Mareep in Paldea:
Mareep lives around Cortondo East in the olive orchards.
Analysis:
Ampharos is skilled in many Electric-Type Special Defense moves, and Special Attack moves. It can turn the tides of double battle when using moves like Light Screen, Cotton Guard, and Confuse Ray as its best moveset.
It can learn Helping Hand and may use powerful moves like Thunder.
It has the Static Ability, and may paralyze opponents who make direct contact.
Advice:
You can catch Mareep early game. Its Electric-Moves are great against the Casscarafa Gym and the Open Sky Titan.
If you evolve it as you play, Ampharos is a great Level 30 Pokémon choice when getting used to the online mechanics of Double Battle and Tera Raids.
Ampharos’s Strengths:
Ampharos is strong against:
- Flying
- Water
Best Tera Type = Psychic. Strong against:
- Fighting
- Poison
- Other Psychic Types
- Water and Flying Types can’t do a lot of damage towards Psychic Types
- Water Pokémon are one of the most overpowered Pokémon and require less work to catch them. You may need to achieve Miraidion's Swim Ability. There are Strong Flying-Types in Scarlet and Violet, but catching them requires a lot of hard work.
- For example, to Catch Rayquaza, you must complete the Indigo Disc DLC. Choose Ampharos to counter Regulation G online battles to get an edge on Rayquaza.
- Ampharos' stats are fairly decent, as 90 Special Defense is more important than 85 Defense. Many of its Special Defense moves, like Electric Terrain, will boost its Electric Type moves by 50%, and any grounded Pokémon won't be able to sleep.
- Eerie Impulse is an essential Special Defense move, lowering the target's Special Attack by 2 stages. Ampharos can use moves like Reflect to protect themselves and their teammates from physical Attacks.
12. Clodsire
Clodsire has an urge to fight this trainer!
Clodsire stats:
- 130 HP
- 75 Attack
- 60 Defense
- 45 Special Attack
- 100 Defense
- 20 Speed
Clodsire is a Poison and Ground-Type Pokémon.
A Wooper evolves into Clodsire at level 20.
Its 2’nd form is Quagsire, as a Water and Ground-Type.
Where to find Wooper:
Find Wooper in Paldea’s ponds within South Province Area 4 and South Province Area 6.
Another reliable way to find Water and Ground-Type Wooper is in Kitakami near the Bus Stop.
Analysis:
Clodsire is skilled in many Ground-Type and Poison-Type Special Defense moves. It can learn a unique Ghost-Type Egg Move, Curse, increasing its Attack and Defense stats by 1 stage each. Clodsire can put opponents to sleep with Yawn or use Toxic Spikes to poison opposing Pokémon entering battle.
Its best Ability is Water Absorb so Water-Types can’t penetrate its Ground-Type. Water Absorb heals 1⁄4 of its maximum HP when hit by a Water-Type Attack.
Advice:
Clodsire’s a solid choice for double battles when you need a Supporting Pokémon to start with the move Toxic Spikes and use Helping Hand 2’nd. Clodsire can also learn Spikes, which has a similar mechanic without the poison. Make your opponent sleep by using Yawn.
Clodsire’s perfect against Electric, Fire, Grass, and Fairy Tera Raids as it can use Ground-Type moves against Electric and Fire-Type Pokémon. It can poison Fairy and Grass-Types. During Water Tera Raids, Clodsire should emphasize its Poison-Type moves.
Clodsire’s Strengths:
Clodsire is strong against:
-Electric
-Fire
-Poison
-Rock
-Steel
-Fairy
-Grass
Best Tera Type = Ground. Strong against:
-Electric
-Fire
-Poison
-Rock
-Steel
2’nd Best Tera Type = Water. Strong against:
-Fire
-Rock
-Ground
-Boosted defense against other Water-Types
- Water, Grass, Fire, and Electric Pokémon are common in the game's early stages. Clodsire is a great choice to tackle those types.
- Clodsire’s stats may look lacking at a glance, but it can do a lot with its base Special Defense (100) and high base HP (130). It can learn Amnesia when evolving, as the move increases the user's Special Defense by two stages.
- Essential Egg Moves for Clogsire are Curse and Acid Spray. Curse will make Clodisre last through a battle, boosting its Defense and Attack stats by 1 stage each. Acid Spray inflicts 40 Damage and lowers the target's Special Defense by two stages.
11. Altaria
Altaria stats:
- 75 HP
- 70 Attack
- 90 Defense
- 70 Special Attack
- 105 Special Defense
- 80 Speed
Altaria is a Dragon and Flying Pokémon.
Swablu evolves into Altaria at Level 35.
Where to find Swablu and Altaria:
Swablu and Altaria live around the North Providence Area 1 Watchtower.
Analysis:
Altaria is skilled in many Dragon, Flying, Ice, Fairy, Normal, Grass, and Psychic Special Defense moves. Its best signature moves are Cotton Guard, Safeguard, and Sing. Cotton Guard increases Altaria's Defense stats by 3 stages. Safeguard protects Altaria's allies from status conditions. Sing puts opponents to Sleep.
Other cool Egg Moves are Defog, Feather Dance, Haze, Roost, and Tailwind.
Altaria's best Ability is Cloud Nine, suppressing all effects brought on by weather.
Advice:
Use Altaria to defeat Team Star's Fighting Crew. Many of their Pokémon are weak to Flying and Fairy moves. The False Dragon is weak to Fairy Type Attacks. Altaria is also a great choice to defeat the Elite 4 when facing Larry and Hassel.
Altaria's a perfect choice when facing Grass, Fighting, Bug, and Dragon Tera Raids. It should prioritize its Fairy-Type moves against Dragons. Feather Dance is a great move against Grass, Fighting, and Bug-Types as it lowers the target's Attack by two stages. Use Tailwind to double the speed of all Pokémon in Altaria's team for 4 turns.
In Online Battle, Altaria can be hard to take down when Cotton Guard maxes out Altaria's Defense stats. Altaria could use Will O Wisp to give the opponent a burn or boost its evasiveness with Agility.
Altaria’s Strengths:
Altaria is strong against:
-Dragon
-Grass
-Fighting
-Bug
Best Tera Type = Fairy. Strong against:
-Fighting
-Dark
-Dragon
-Dragon immunity
- Altaria’s stats are great when looking at its Defense (90) and Special Defense (105). It can boost its Defense stats more with Cotton Guard, increasing it by 3 stages. Helping Hand boosts the power of a teammate's move.
- Roost is an important Egg Move for Altaria, recovering half its max HP. Altaria should pay off its Defense moves with powerful attacks such Brave Bird, Moonblast, and Dragon Breath.
- Brave Bird deals 120 damage, but Altaria receives ⅓ recoil damage.
- Moonblast deals 95 damage and has a 30% chance of lowering the target's Special Attack by one stage.
- Dragon Breath deals 60 damage and has a 30% chance of paralyzing the target.
10. Slowbro
Slowbro stats:
- 95 HP
- 75 Attack
- 110 Defense
- 100 Special Attack
- 80 Special Defense
- 30 Speed
Slowbro is a Water and Psychic-Type Pokémon.
Slowpoke evolves into Slowbro at Level 37.
Where to find Slowpoke:
Slowpoke lives around Casseroya Lake Watchtower No. 1.
Analysis:
Slowbro is skilled in many Water, Psychic, and Normal-Type Special Defense moves. Slowbro's signature move, Disable, turns off an opponent's previous move for 8 turns. It can make opponents fall asleep and confuse them. It can max out its Defense stats with the move Withdraw.
Slowbro can heal its team with Heal Pulse and boost its Water-Type attacks with Rain Dance. Slowbro can learn Belly Drum and Block as Egg Moves. Belly Drum makes Slowpoke cut its HP in half, but its Attack increases to maximum. Block prevents opponent’s from fleeing or switching.
Slowpoke’s best Ability is Own Tempo, preventing Slowbro from becoming confused by the opponent’s moves.
Advice:
Slowbro is a must-have when you’re facing the Stony Cliff Titan and the Quaking Earth Titan. Slowbro is another recommended Pokémon fighting against Team Star's Fighting and Poison Crew. Slowpoke becomes more useful post-game when you’re participating in many Online Tera Raids.
Slowbro is an awesome Water and Psychic-Type Pokémon in Tera Raids. Fighting, Poison, Ground, Rock, and Fire Tera Raids are ideal to join. Max out Attack and Defense stats with Curse. Use Yawn to make the target sleep, or use Slack Off to recover 50% of Slowbro’s HP.
Psych Up copies the target’s stat changes. Either attack with Surf, dealing 90 damage, or Psychic, dealing 90 damage, lowering the target's Special Defense by one stage.
Slowbro’s Strengths:
Slowbro is strong against:
-Fire
-Ground
-Rock
-Fighting
-Poison
Best Tera Type= Psychic. Strong against:
-Poison
-Fighting
2’nd Best Tera Type = Water. Strong against:
-Fire
-Ground
-Rock
- Slowbro’s stats are great when looking at its HP (95), Defense (110), and Special Attack (100). Combining Withdraw with Surf is essential in any battle, boosting its Defense and dealing 90 Damage.
- Amnesia, Psychic Terrain, Heal Pulse, and Confusion/Psychic are great combinations when Slowpoke is a Psychic Tera Type full-time Supporting Pokémon. Amnesia raises the user's Special Defense by two stages.
- Psychic Terrain creates a low-lying psychic field lasting 5 turns, that prevents grounded Pokémon from being hit by high-priority moves. It also boosts Psychic Moves.
- Heal Pulse restores half of the target's maximum HP. It can be used on team-mates but not on itself.
- Confusion deals 50 damage and has a 10% chance confusing the target. Psychic deals 90 damage and has a 10% chance of lowering the target's Special Defense by one stage.
9. Vaporeon
Vaporeon stats:
- 130 HP
- 65 Attack
- 60 Defense
- 110 Special Attack
- 95 Special Defense
- 65 Speed
Vaporeon is a Water-Type Pokémon.
Use a Water Stone to evolve Evee into a Vaporeon.
Where to find Evee:
Evee lives in Cortondo West. Check all over Cortondo’s plains to spawn it.
Analysis:
Vaporeon is skilled in many Water and Normal Special Defense moves, such as Rain Dance and Helping Hand, which are its best ones. It can try to leave opponents confused with Water Pulse.
Vaporeon can learn Ghost, Poison, Fighting, Fairy, and Psychic Special Defense moves. Acid Armor is highly useful, raising Vaporeon's Defense by 2 stages. Powerful Egg Moves are Curse, Detect, and Tickle.
Vaporeon's best Ability is Water Absorb, regaining ¼ HP every turn when hit by a Water-Type Attack.
Advice:
Vaporeon is a superb Pokémon to catch early game. As a note, you must beat the 3'rd Gym, Levencia, to unlock the Water Stone. Its Water-Type Attacks and Defense are helpful against the Quaking Earth Titan, False Dragon Titan, Casscarafa Gym, Alfornada Gym, most of the Team Star's crew, and post-game battles.
Vaporeon is commonly used in both Online Battles and Tera Raids because many players can get creative with Vaporeon. There are bountiful Vaporeon combinations.
A Vaporeon Online Battle build may focus on keeping moves like Rain Dance, Aqua Ring, Liquidation, and Helping Hand. Rain Dance will increase both the uses of Aqua Ring and Liquidation. Aqua Ring restores 1/16 HP after the end of every turn. Liquidation inflicts 85 Damage and lowers the opponent's Defense stats by 1 stage.
Vaporeon should join Fire, Ground, Rock, Tera Raids. It should also join Water hybrid Tera Raids such as Water/Poison and Water/Fighting Tera Raids. This is to make use of Vaporeon's Water Absorb Ability.
Vaporeon can contribute as a powerful Support Pokémon using Acid Armor, Curse, and Calm Mind to make the move Stored Power more powerful. The more the user's stats are boosted, the greater the move's power.
Vaporeon’s Strengths:
Vaporeon is strong against:
-Fire
-Ground
-Rock
Best Tera Type = Water. Strong against:
-Fire
-Ground
-Rock
-Boost its Water Defense moves against Water hybrid types
2’nd best Tera Type = Psychic. Strong against:
-Fighting
-Poison
- Vaporeon’s stats are fantastic when looking at its powerful HP (130), Special Defense (95), and Special Attack (110). Vaporeon is a spectacular Pokémon that balances Defense and Attacks using moves such as Fake Tears, Tickle, Curse, and Surf.
- Fake Tears lowers the target's Special Defense by two stages. Tickle lowers the target's Attack and Defense by one stage each.
- Curse increases Vaporeon’s Attack and Defense stat by 1 stage each. Surf deals 90 damage and in Double Battles it hits all adjacent Pokémon.
8. Venusaur
Venusaur stats:
- 80 HP
- 82 Attack
- 83 Defense
- 100 Special Attack
- 100 Special Defense
- 80 Speed
Venusaur is a Grass and Poison-Type Pokémon.
Bulbasaur evolves into an Ivysaur at Level 16.
Ivysaur evolves into a Venusaur at Level 32.
Where to get Bulbasaur:
If you have Pokémon Go, transfer your Bulbasaur / Ivysaur / Venusaur through Pokémon Home into Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. This is the best way to get the Pokémon early if you admire Venusaur.
In the Indigo DLC, upgrade the Coastal Biome to spawn Bulbasaur.
Analysis:
Venusaur is skilled in many Grass, Poison, and Normal Special Defense Moves. Its signature moves are Leech Seed and Growth. Leech Seed drains 1/16 of the opponent’s HP every turn, and heals Venusaur or the Pokémon in place of Venusaur. Growth increases Venusaur’s Attack and Special Attack.
Venusaur can create many status conditions, such as poisoning or hypnotizing them with Poison Powder and Sleep Powder. Venusaur can drain their HP. Draining moves act as a combined offense and defense move.
Venusaur’s best Ability is Overgrow, powering up Grass-Type moves by 50% when its HP falls below a third of its maximum.
Advice:
Venusuar is a Grass-Type Pokémon. Grass-types are signature Pokémon that can play both offense and defense because of their powerful, draining moves, status condition moves, and Evasiveness stats.
Venusaur may be useful in the game's early stages, defeating the Stoney Cliff Titan and Cassacarafa Gym. It can assist in defeating the Quaking Earth Titan, Medali Gym, and Team Star’s Fairy Crew.
Venusaur can be a great Pokémon during Online Battles and counter powerful Regulation G's Water, Ground, and Fairy Pokémon. Examples may be Kyogre, Groudon, Landorus, Zacian, and Regirock. An ideal build would be Sweet Scent, Giga Drain, Leech Seed, and Worry Seed.
Sweet Scent lowers the target's Evasion by one stage. Worry Seed changes the target’s Ability to Insomnia, preventing Pokémon from using Rest.
Venusaur is an ideal Pokémon when facing Rock, Water, Ground, and Fairy Tera Raids, depending on whether it stays a Grass or Poison Tera Type. Poison and Sleep Powder can be great moves to slow down the target’s HP or prevent them from making another move. An ideal build for Venusaur's Poison Tera Type would be Amnesia, Helping Hand, Acid Spray, and Poison Powder.
Amnesia raises the user's Special Defense by two stages. Acid Spray inflicts 40 damage and lowers the target's Special Defense by two stages. Poison Powder causes the target to become poisoned and lose 1⁄8 of their maximum HP each turn.
Venusaur’s Strengths:
Venusaur is strong against:
-Water
-Rock
-Ground
-Fairy
-Grass
Best Tera Type = Poison. Strong against:
-Fairy
-Grass
-Resist Grass hybrid Pokémon
-Pairs better with Venusaur’s Overgrow Ability
Venusaur’s 2’nd best Tera Type is Grass which is strong against:
-Water
-Rock
-Ground
-Resist Grass hybrid Pokémon
-Paris better with Venusaur’s Chlorophyll Ability
- Venusaur has amazing stats when looking at its Special Attack (100) and Special Defense (100). You can get creative with its build as a Grass and Poison Tera Type. It can learn Curse as a TM. An example of a Grass Tera Type build for Tera Raids are Grassy Terrain, Grass Pledge, Sunny Day, and Synthesis.
- Grassy Terrain creates a low-lying grassy field lasting 5 turns that restores the HP of grounded Pokémon each turn, by 1⁄16 of their maximum HP. The power of Grass-Type moves increases by 50%. Earthquake, Magnitude, and Bulldoze halve in power.
- Grass Pledge deals damage at base power of 80. If a teammate uses Fire Pledge or Water Pledge in the same turn, the moves combine into one attack of base power 160 and added effects appear.
- Sunny Day causes bright sunlight that lasts for 5 turns boosting Fire-Type and Solar-Type moves.
- Synthesis recovers some of Venusaur’s HP. Amount varies with the weather.
7. Chansey
Chancey’s base stats:
- 250 HP
- 5 Attack
- 5 Defense
- 35 Special Attack
- 105 Special Defense
- 50 Speed
Chancey is a Normal-Type Pokémon.
Happiny evolves into a Chancey when you use an Oval Stone on it during the Daytime.
Chansey evolves into a Blissey if you develop high friendship levels with it and naturally level it up.
Chansey is the best evolution because of how Eviolite works.
Eviolite is a mysterious evolutionary lump. When held, it raises the Defense and Sp. Def of a Pokémon that can still evolve.
Where to find Happiny:
Happiny lives in South Province Area 5.
Where to find Chansey:
Chansey lives nearby the North Province Area 3 Lighthouse.
Analysis:
In terms of Supporting Pokémon with the best HP in Scarlet and Violet, Chansey is second to none. However, Chansey must hold an Eviolite to boost its overall moves it knows. It can learn many Normal, Dark, Fairy, and Psychic Special Defense Moves. It can heal its team and even put opponents to sleep.
As a full-time Supporting Pokémon, it should keep the move Defense Curl to last long in battle. Keep moves such as Heal Pulse, Helping Hand, and Light Screen / Reflect. Heal Bell is an important Egg Move, healing the user's party's status conditions.
Its best Ability is Healer, where Chansey may cure the status conditions of the Pokémon’s allies at the end of each turn.
Advice:
Chansey is not particularly useful in Paldea’s overall story. It becomes your best friend in Blueberry Academy if you need a reliable Supporting Pokémon in Double Battles!
Chansey plays the same moveset in Double Battles and in Tera Raids since it is a Normal Pokémon. If it is a Fairy Tera Type, it will be immune to Dragon-Types. Other recommended combinations are Defense Curl, Heal Pulse, Helping Hand, and Metronome.
Defense Curl increases Chansey’s Defense by one stage. Heal Pulse restores half of the target's maximum HP. Helping Hand boosts an ally’s overall powers.
Metronome uses a random move chosen from nearly all existing moves, even if the user cannot normally learn it.
Moves like Healing Wish are only useful in Online Battle, where Chansey faints and the next Pokémon released is fully healed.
Chansey’s Strengths:
Chansey is Immune to Ghost-Types.
Chansey is strong against:
-Almost every type besides Ghost and Fighting, dealing only neutral damage
Best Tera Type = Fairy. Strong against:
-Fighting
-Dark
-Dragon
-Immune to Dragon
- Chansey is an interesting Pokémon with Tera Type flexibility and assists in any Tera Raids as a full-time Supporting Pokémon.
- Chansey has excellent stats when looking at its HP (250) and Special Defense (105). One of its best combinations is a Life Dew focus build. Allow Chansey to learn Life Dew, Light Screen or Reflect, Charm, and Echoed Voice. Protect, Defense Curl, Soft Boiled, and Sing are great alternatives.
- Life Dew recovers up to 25% of the user's and its teammate's maximum HP. Light Screen reduces damage from Special Moves for 5 turns as Reflect reduces physical damage.
- Charm lowers the target's Attack by two stages. Echoed Voice deals 40 damage and increases by 40 each turn if used by any Pokémon on the field, up to a maximum base power of 200.
- Sing puts the target to sleep for 3 turns. Soft Boiled recovers half of Chansey’s max HP.
6. Garganacl
Garganacl Stats:
- 100 HP
- 100 Attack
- 130 Defense
- 45 Special Attack
- 90 Special Defense
- 35 Speed
Garganacl is a Rock-Type Pokémon.
Nacli evolves into a Naclstak around Level 24.
Naclstak evolves into Garganacl around Level 38.
Where to find Garganacl:
While you can find Nacli early in the game, catch Garganacl later to save time leveling up Pokémon. Garganacl lives in Paldea, Area 0. It likes to roam outside around Research Station No. 3.
Analysis:
Garganacl is skilled in many Rock, Ground, Normal, and Steel-type moves. It's a unique Rock-Type Pokémon that can learn Curse, boosting its Attack and Defense stats by 1 stage each. It can craft many creative barriers such as Wide Guard, Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Block.
Block is one of the most powerful defensive abilities during Online Battles, where opponents cannot flee or switch. Wide Guard protects the user's teammates from all multi-target moves for the duration of the turn.
Garganacl’s best Ability is Clear Body, preventing other Pokémon’s moves or Abilities from lowering the Pokémon’s stats.
Advice:
Garganacl is great to have when finishing the story’s true ending after the events of Area 0. Garganacl is strong against trainers Arven and Geeta in the Academy Ace Tournament. It can defeat some of Kitakami’s battles and defeat Crispin (Elite 4) in Blueberry Academy.
Garganacl is perfect for Double Battles and should use moves like Block to pester the opponent from switching Pokémon. Follow up with moves like Heavy Slam, Wide Guard, and Rock Polish to boost Garganacl’s evasiveness.
Garganacl should use moves like Curse, Recover, Wide Guard, and Stone Edge in Tera Raids. Recover restores up to 50% of the user's maximum HP. Stone Edge deals critical hit ratios.
Garganacl’s Strengths:
Garganacl is strong against:
-Bug
-Fire
-Flying
Ice
Best Tera Type = Rock. Strong against:
-Bug
-Fire
-Flying
-Ice
- Garganacl’s stats are amazing when looking at its Attack (100), HP (100), and Defense (130). Moves like Rock Polish increase Garganacl’s Speed by two stages. Garganacl can be aggressive and go for moves like Explosion when the opponent has a bulkier opponent.
- Essential defensive moves for Garganacl are Curse, Block, Stealth Rock, Recover, Iron Defense, and Helping Hand. Stealth Rock lays a trap of stones around the foe, which hurts Pokémon switching into the opposing field.
5. Kommo-O
Kommo-O stats:
- 75 HP
- 110 Attack
- 125 Defense
- 100 Special Attack
- 105 Special Defense
- 85 Speed
Kommo-O is a Dragon and Fighting-Type Pokémon.
Jangmo-O evolves into a Hakamo-O at Level 35.
Hakamo-O evolves into a Kommo-O at Level 45.
Where to find Jangmo-O in Kitakami:
Jangmo-O lives around the Paradise Barrens in the Teal Mask DLC.
Analysis:
Kommo-O is skilled in many Normal, Steel, Dragon, Rock, and Fighting-Type Special Defense moves. Unique moves like Clangorous Soul increase all of Kommo-O’s stats but lose some HP. Noble Roar lowers the target’s Attack and Special Attack Stats by 1 stage each. Kommo-O can create a Sandstorm during battle.
Kommo-O has 3 unique Abilities, Bulletproof, Soundproof, and Overcoat. All are equally fantastic choices. Bulletproof makes Kommo-O immune to ball and bomb moves.
Soundproof grants the Pokémon immunity to all sound-based moves, preventing all damage and effects. Overcoat makes the Pokémon immune to residual damage from weather conditions such as Hail and Sandstorm.
Overcoat may be the best Ability to remove Kommo-O’s weakness to Ice-Type damage.
Advice:
Kommo-O is a great Pokémon when completing the Kitakami story and attempting Blueberry Academy. After defeating all of Paldea's gyms, many Pokémon are weak to Dragon, Fighting, Dark, Ice, Psychic, and Fairy.
In online battles, Kommo-O can be both aggressive and defensive. Having Dragon Dance and Helping Hand together can create an interesting build. Dragon Dance increases Kommo-O’s Attack and Speed stats as Helping Hand boosts the power of a teammate's move.
Use Iron Defense to max out Kommo-O’s Defense stats. Belly Drum, an egg move, loses 50% of its max HP, but the Attack stat increases to its maximum.
In Tera Raids, Kommo-O should emphasize its Belly Drum move and combine Screech, Taunt, and Dragon Claw. Alternatively, Kommo-O can learn Drain Punch to deal 75 damage to the target and recover 50% of the HP drained. Screech lowers the target's Defense by 2 stages.
Kommo-o’s Strengths:
Kommo-O is strong against:
-Dragon
-Dark
-Ice
-Normal
-Rock
-Steel
Best Tera Type = Fighting. Strong against:
-Dark
-Ice
-Normal
-Rock
-Steel
-Paired well with the Bulletproof Ability
2’nd best Tera Type = Fairy. Strong against:
-Dragon
-Fighting
-Dark
-Dragon immunity
-Paired well with Overcoat Ability.
- Kommo-O’s stats are amazing when looking at its Attack (110), Defense (125), and Special Defense (105). Another powerful combination is Drain Punch, Protect, Screech, and Iron Defense.
- Protect prevents any attacks targeted at the user from striking, for the duration of the turn. Screech lowers the target's Defense by two stages. Iron Defense increases the user's Defense by two stages.
4. Toedscruel
Toedscruel stats:
- 80 HP
- 70 Attack
- 65 Defense
- 80 Special Attack
- 120 Special Defense
- 100 Speed
Toedscruel is a Ground and Grass-Type Pokémon.
As a Toedscool it evolves into Toedscruel at level 30.
Where to find Toedscool in Paldea:
Toedscool lives slightly north from Medali West.
Where to find Toedscool in Kitikami:
Toescool lives in the Timeless Woods, east of the small body of water.
Analysis:
Toedscruel is a "sleeping shark" when it comes to selecting defensive Pokémon. It's highly underrated and deserves more attention.
Toedscruel has a unique set of Special Defense Moves ranging from Grass, Normal, Ground, and Poison Moves. In Double Battles, it can hurt Pokémon switching into battle by using Spikes or Toxic Spikes. It can activate Trick Room and use a move called Reflect-Type. Reflect Type changes the user's type to match the type of the target.
Toedscruel's super talented with overall moves that can poison the target, confuse them, paralyze them, turn their attacks against them, and drain their HP. It can’t learn Helping Hand, but it also knows an Egg Move called Tickle, lowering the target's Attack and Defense by one stage each.
Its powerful Ability is Mycelium Might, where status moves go last but are not affected by the opponent's ability. This is highly valuable to have in Tera Raids!
Advice:
Toedscool is easy to find early when you finish the Medali Gym.
Use its confusion or paralysis moves to catch Pokémon, such as Stun Spore or Super Sonic.
Toedscreul’s Mycelium Might Ability is helpful in Tera Raids because the Tera Raid Target’s ability can affect many Pokémon’s abilities but can’t do it to Toedscruel.
For example, Toedscruel may bypass Azumarill’s Sap Sipper Ability (boosting Attack when hit by a Grass-Type Move). Toedscruel may use status moves like Spore to make Azumarill go to sleep and follow up with Grass-Type moves like Gigadrain without boosting Azumarill’s Attack. Also, Water is weak against Grass-Types.
Toedscruel Strengths:
Toedscruel is strong against:
-Water
-Rock
-Ground
-Electric
-Fire
-Poison
-Steel
Best Tera Type = Water. Strong against:
- Fire
- Ground
- Rock
- Water, Ice, and Steel Types can hardly penetrate Toedscruel’s Defense
- Water Pokémon are one of the most overpowered Pokémon and require less work to catch them. You may need to achieve Miraidion’s Swim Ability. Ground and Rock Types are common too, and are weak to super effective Grass-Type moves.
- For example, Toedscruel is great to have in all the in-game events, such as facing the False Titan, who is weak to Grass-Type moves. Toedscruel should be a great choice when facing the Elite 4, specifically Rika, Larry, and Geeta.
- Toedscruel’s stats are amazing when looking at its Special Defense (120) and Speed (100). It can learn many powerful Egg Moves such as Tickle, Acupressure, Leech Seed, Rage Powder, and Mirror Coat.
- Tickle lowers the target's Attack and Defense by one stage each. Acupressure increases a random stat by 2 stages. It will always choose a stat that is not already maximized.
- Leech Seed steals the target’s HP after every end of the turn. Rage Powder redirects all single-target moves used by opponents to itself, and it should be used in Double Battles.
- Mirror Coat is a unique move when Toedscruel gets hit by a Special Attack, it strikes back with double power.
3. Mimikyu
Mimikyu Stats:
- 55 HP
- 90 Attack
- 80 Defense
- 50 Special Attack
- 105 Special Defense
- 96 Speed
Mimikyu is a Fairy and Ghost-Type Pokémon.
It has no evolutions.
How to find Mimikyu:
Mimikyu lives around the East Province Area 2 Poké Center.
Analysis:
Fairy and Ghost-Type Pokémon are a growing category in the franchise and have 3 immunities to Normal, Fighting, and Dragon-Types.
Mimikyu is highly underrated and can learn many Ghost, Fairy, Normal, Dark, Psychic, and elemental Special Defense Moves. Its copy moves like Copycat will copy the opponent's last move used. Keep many Special Defense moves and keep Play Rough as a 90 Damage Attack, which also lowers the target's Attack stat by 1 stage.
Mimikyu has 1 Ability that is extremely useful, Disguise. Once per battle, the shroud that covers the Pokémon can protect Mimikyu from an attack. In addition, Normal and Fighting moves can't affect Mimikyu.
Advice:
Mimikyu is an excellent choice for Online Double Battles, but don't Terastalize Mimikyu. Regulation G allows the use of legendary Dragons, and Mimikyu can be unaffected by them.
Many players may choose Fighting or Normal Pokémon as a 2'nd Pokémon such as Bloodmoon Ursaluna. Mimikyu can be unaffected by Bloomon Ursaluna.
During Tera Raids, Mimikyu is best suited as a Steel Tera Type to build more resistance if desired. Mimikyu is already so powerful with 3 immunities, that Terastalizing it is optional to be successful at a Tera Raid. Keep moves like Play rough and egg move Curse. Get creative with moves such as Charm, Hone Claws, Shadow Ball, and Pain Split.
Mimikyu’s Strengths:
Mimikyu is strong against:
-Ghost
-Psychic
-Dark
-Fairy
-Fighting
-Dragon
-Immune to Dragon, Fighting, Normal
Best Tera Type = Steel. Strong against:
-Fairy
-Ice
-Rock
-Immune to Poison
2’nd Best Tera Type = Dark. Strong against:
-Ghost
-Psychic
-Prankster Users (Use Thief and Dark Pulse)
- Mimikyu’s stats are great when looking at its Special Defense (105) and Attack (90). While it can deliver powerful Attacks while being defensive, Curse is the most critical move to keep as a Ghost-Type Pokémon.
- Ghost-Type Pokémon use 50% of their maximum HP to place a curse on the target. The cursed Pokémon loses 25% of their maximum HP every turn. If the user has less than 50% HP remaining, they will faint but the curse still takes effect.
- Other useful moves are Trick Room, Trick, Confuse Ray, and Sleep Talk.
- Trick Room allows Slower Pokémon move first in the turn for 5 turns. Trick switches held items with the target.
- Confuse Ray confuses the opponent and may hurt itself in confusion. Sleep Talk allows Mimikyu to use a move when the opponent hypnotizes Mimikyu.
2. Gardevoir
Gardevoir stats:
- 68 HP
- 65 Attack
- 65 Defense
- 125 Special Attack
- 115 Special Defense
- 80 Speed
Gardevoir is a Fairy and Psychic Pokémon.
Where to find Raltz:
Raltz lives around Los Platos East.
How to evolve Raltz to Gardevoir:
Raltz evolves to Kirlia around Level 20.
Kirlia naturally evolves into Gardevoir at Level 30.
Analysis:
Gardevoir is an overpowered Fairy and Psychic Pokémon that can learn myriads of Fairy and Psychic Special Defense moves. Gardevoir can confuse the target, hypnotize the target, heal itself and teammates, boost teammate's stats, use terrain moves, and activate Trick Room. Gardevoir’s immune to Dragon-Types.
Out of all Fairy and Psychic Pokémon, Gardevoir has much room for creativity. Special Defense moves such as Confuse Ray, Wish, Hypnosis, Confusion, Charm, and Healing Wish are fantastic examples.
Egg Move Memento is useful in both Online Battle and Tera Raids. Memento sharply lowers the opponent's Attack and Special Attack after Gardevoir Faints.
Synchronize, Trace, and Telepathy are powerful Abilities of Gardevoir. Trace is its best Ability, copying an opponent’s Ability.
Advice:
There’s no limit to Gardevoir. Its stats and move-flexibility are perfect for Online Single Battles, Online Double Battles, and Online Tera Raids. In Online Battles, many players will use Legendary Dragons in Regulation G. Gardevoir should act as an “Ace up your sleeve.” Use Gardevoir in tough Dragon Tera Raids and even in Mightiest Mark battles.
Gardevoir is awesome to have when completing the game’s story at any point of time. Gardevoir will become extremely useful when finishing the story of the Indigo Disc DLC such as where to find Rayquaza.
Gardevoir Strengths:
Gardevoir is strong Against:
-Dragon
-Immune to Dragon
-Dark
-Fighting
-Poison
Best Tera Type = Fairy. Strong against:
-Dragon
-Dark
-Fighting
-Immune to Dragon
- Gardevoir’s stats are superior when looking at its Special Attack (125) and Special Defense (115). Its Special Attacks are just as powerful as its Special Defense. Moves like Draining Kiss is an aggressive offensive and defensive move inflicting 50 damage and stealing the opponent’s HP to heal Gardevoir.
- One of the best deadly defensive combinations for Gardevoir is Light Screen (with Light Clay as a Held Item), Life Dew, Disable, and Draining Kiss. It’s merciless in Tera Raids and Online Battle.
- Light Clay extends the duration of Light Screen for 8 turns, reducing damage from Special Attacks by 50%. Life Dew recovers 25% of Gardevoir’s and its Ally’s max HP.
- The Egg Move, Disable, disables the opponent’s move it used previously. Strategically, the move must threaten Gardevoir’s typing and must not be a Dragon-Type move. It will make great evasive measures by not getting hit from super effective moves.
1. Mightiest Mark Blastoise
Mightiest Mark Blastoise stats:
- 301 HP
- 208 Attack
- 239 Defense
- 207 Special Attack
- 222 Special Defense
- 212 Speed
Mightiest Mark Blastoise is a Water Type Pokémon with a Steel Tera Type.
Squirtle evolves into Wartotle at level 16.
Wartotle evolves into Blastoise at level 36.
How to find Mightiest Mark Blastoise:
The event occurred on March 6 - 12, 2024. It may repeat again. Check on the official Scarlet and Violet events section.
How to find Squirtle:
There are 2 ways.
1. The easiest way is to transfer your Pokémon Go Squirtle into Pokémon Violet through Pokémon Home. Give it lots of Exp Points to evolve it and EV train it with Power Items.
2. The grindiest way to get Squirtle is in the Indigo Disc, where you have to contribute 3,000 BP to upgrade the Canyon Biome.
Analysis:
The Mightiest Mark Blastoise is a superior defensive Pokémon as it has a Steel Tera Type, resisting most Types, and is immune to Poison. You can change its moves.
The Mightiest Mark original moveset is:
- Flash Canon
- Aura Sphere
- Hydro Pump
- Iron Defense
It can learn Rain Dance to boost Water-Type moves for 5 turns. It can learn Haze, which resets stat changes. It can learn the most deadly Special Defense move, Roar. Roar forces the target to switch out of battle for another Pokémon during any battle. In the wild, Roar ends a battle with a single Pokémon.
Its best Ability is Rain Dish, recovering 1⁄16 of its maximum HP during rain, after each turn. Blastoise is the best Defensive Pokémon against overpowered physical Attackers, which is why it's #1.
Advice:
While you may have a Pokémon Go Blastoise during the early phases of the game, it can speedrun most of Scarlet and Violet's story in Paldea.
Mightiest Mark Blastoise can be a great Pokémon in Regulation G battles since Eternatus may be a popular choice. Eternatus is a Poison and Dragon Type, and Blastoise is immune to Poison and takes minimal damage to Dragon Types!
Blastoise is a great choice for Tera Raids. Join Poison, Dragon, Fairy, and Ice Tera Raids. A great build may be Iron Defense, Flash Canon, Sleep Talk, and Helping Hand. Sleep Talk allows Blastoise to activate one of its moves in case the opponent hypnotizes Blastoise.
Mightiest Mark Blastoise Strengths:
Blastoise is strong against:
-Fire
-Ground
-Rock
Best Tera Type = Steel. Strong against:
-Fairy
-Ice
-Rock
-Resists 14 Types, and immune to Poison-Types.
2’nd Best Tera Type = Ghost. Strong against:
-Ghost
-Dark
-Immune to Normal (Bloodmoon Ursaluna)
-Immune to Fighting (Urshifu)
- Mightiest Mark Blastoise's stats are fantastic, with lots of HP (301), Defense (239), and Special Defense (222). When Iron Defense is maxed out, Blastoise is hard to take down. Moves like Tail whip can lower the target’s Defense by 1 stage.
- Emphasize using Rain Dance to trigger Blastoise’s Rain Dish Ability and boost its Water-Type Attacks to give it aggressive defense.
Thanks for reading!
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