[Top 10] Pokemon Scarlet Violet Best False Swipe Pokemon (Ranked)

Updated:

01 Sep 2024

What is False Swipe?

False Swipe is a Normal-Type move where the Pokémon always leaves at least 1 HP onto the opponent. The move deals 40 damage. It’s ineffective against Ghost-Types.

False Swipe is specifically designed for catching Pokémon, with three key objectives in mind:

1. Your Pokémon’s Type (for resisting the target’s attacks)

2. Your Pokémon’s Attack or Special Attack

3. Using unique Moves like Sing or Agility or Abilities such as Effect Spore poisoning or causing paralysis or sleep when the target makes physical contact.

You’re not trying to knock out wild Pokémon when catching them. If False Swipe fails to deliver, use semi-effective moves that won’t knock out the wild Pokémon.

Here’s the materials to make the False Swipe TM:

400 League Points
3 Kricketot Shells
3 Chewtle Claws

10. Zangoose (Good)

Zangoose goes against a tough Bisharp.

Zangoose is a Normal-Type Pokémon who doesn’t evolve.

Where to find Zangoose:

Zangoose lives around the Watchtower around South Providence Area 5.

Analysis:

With the TM move Fury Swipes, Zangoose has great Attack stats (115) and has multiple moves that can help catch a Pokémon. Its Ability, Immunity, prevents the Pokémon from getting poisoned.

Zangoose's Strengths:

Zangoose is strong against most Poison-Types.
Normal Pokémon can counter most types but aren’t as strong because they’re weak to Fighting and have no effect on Ghost-Types.
Plan to catch Poison Pokémon with Zangoose because of its Immunity Ability.
Zangooes’s HP may not be great with 73 base HP, but it can face most types. If you need to Terastalize Zangoose in the middle of catching Pokémon, you may consider a Steel-Tera-Type which keeps the Poison immunity and adds more type resistance:
- Steel
- Fairy
- Bug
- Dragon
- Rock
- Ice
- Flying
- Psychic
- Normal
- Grass
After using False Swipe, use moves like Agility to avoid the target’s attacks. Use Leer to lower the target’s Defense by 1 stage.
Also, Zangoose can learn the moves Detect and Protect. The moves are directly similar, preventing attacks targeted at the user from striking for the duration of the turn. Detect is a Fighting-Type version of Protect, only useful against type-attacks:
- Dark
- Ice
- Normal
- Rock
- Steel

Zangoose stats:

73 HP
115 Attack
60 Defense
60 Special Attack
60 Special Defense
90 Speed

9. Sneasel / Weavile (Good)

Gothorita can’t affect Sneasel with Psychic-Moves!

Sneasel is a Dark and Ice Pokémon that evolves into Weavile.

Where to find Sneasel:

Sneasel lives around Glaseado Mountain.

How to evolve it to Weavile:

You will need a Razor Claw. During nighttime, give Sneasel the Razor Claw as a Held Item. Level it up using Exp. Candy or Rare Candy and it should evolve into Weavile.

Analysis:

With the TM move Fury Swipes, Sneasel has great Speed to evade the catching Pokémon’s attacks. Weavile can increase its Speed stats more by using its move Agility. Its best Ability, Pressure, causes the target to expend more PP to use their moves.

Weavile’s Strengths:

Sneasel / Weavile is immune to Psychic, so you can plan on catching Psychic Pokémon.
Weavile’s HP may not be great with 70 base HP, but its resistance to Ghost, Ice, and Dark is useful when catching that category.
After using False Swipe, use moves like Agility to avoid the target’s attacks. Use Leer to lower the target’s Defense by 1 stage.
Also, Weavile can learn Taunt, which prevents the target from using Status-category moves for three turns.

Weavile stats:

70 HP
120 Attack
65 Defense
45 Special Attack
85 Special Defense
125 Speed

8. Jolteon (Good)

Jolteon can swim?!

Jolteon is an Electric-Type Pokémon. When you use a Thunder Stone on an Evee, it evolves into Jolteon.

Where to find Evee:

Evee lives around Cortondo West. Eat a sandwich to increase your chances because sometimes it can be hard to spawn Evee.

Normal-Type Sandwich:

Recipe #1:

1 order of Tofu
1 Salty Hebra Mystica
1 Sour Hebra Mystica

Recipe #2:

1 order of Cucumber
1 order of Pickle
3 orders of Tofu
Any 2 Hebra Mystica without Sweet and Sour

Analysis:

With the TM move Fury Swipes, Jolteon has great Speed stats (130) and has a few moves that can help catch a Pokémon. Its Ability, Quick Feet, raises the ability-bearer's Speed by 50% when inflicted by a major status ailment.

Jolteon’s Strengths

Jolteon is strong against:
- Water
- Flying
Jolteon may not have great base HP (65), but it has strong base Special Attack stats (110). In case False Swipes fail, it can use moves like Thunder Fang, dealing 65 Damage and may paralyze the target.
After using False Swipe successfully, use moves like Thunder Wave to paralyze the target so they can’t make another move. Catch the Water or Flying Type.
Other useful moves for Jolteon are Charm and Sand Attack. Charm lowers the target’s Attack by 2 stages. Sand Attack lowers the target’s Accuracy by 1 stage.

Jolteon’s stats:

65 HP
65 Attack
60 Defense
110 Special Attack
95 Special Defense
130 Speed

7. Shroomish / Breloom (Great)

Early Bird gets the worm, Breloom gets it!

Breloom is an underrated and unique Grass and Fighting-Type Pokémon. Shroomish evolves into Breloom around level 23.

Where to find Shroomish:

Shroomish lives around Medali West plains.

Analysis:

With the TM move Fury Swipes, Breloom has great Attack stats (130) and has multiple moves that can help catch a Pokémon. Its best Ability, Effect Spore, may poison or cause paralysis or sleep when the target physically contacts Breloom.

Breloom’s Strengths:

Breloom is strong against:
- Ground
- Rock
- Water
- Dark
- Normal
- Steel
Breloom has balanced stats and great Attack stats (130). In case False Swipes fail, it can use moves like Absorb, Mega Drain, or Force Palm to deal damage. Lead with poison moves such as Toxic or Poison Powder.
After using False Swipe successfully, use moves like Stun Spore to paralyze the target. If the target is powerful use moves like Charm, Fake Tears, Protect, or Substitute.
Fake Tears decrease the target’s Special Defense by 2 stages. Substitute acts like a shield, preventing all attacks reaching Breloom.

Breloom’s stats:

60 HP
130 Attack
80 Defense
60 Special Attack
60 Special Defense
70 Speed

6. Kingambit (Great)

Geodude fails to bow to Kingambit!

Kingambit is a Dark and Steel Pokémon. A Pawniard evolves into a Bisharp. A Bisharp evolves into Kingambit.

Where to find Bisharp:

Pawniard and Bisharp are common to find around the North Providence Area 2 Poké Center. Click on this link on how to evolve Bisharp to Kingambit. It undergoes a specific process.

Analysis:

With the TM move Fury Swipes, Kingambit has great HP (100), Attack (135), and Defense (120) Stats. Its most useful Ability for catching Pokémon is Pressure, causing the target to expend more PP to use their moves.

Kingambit’s Strengths:

Kingambit is strong against:
- Ghost
- Psychic
- Fairy
- Ice
- Rock
If False Swipes fail, Kingambit can use moves like Night Slash, dealing 70 damage and reaching a critical hit ratio.
After using False Swipe successfully, use moves like Metal Sound, Scary Face, Torment, Leer, Iron Defense, and Protect.
Metal Sound lowers the target’s Defense by 2 stages. Scary Face lowers the target’s Speed by 2 stages.
When Kingambit uses Torment, the opponent cannot use the same move in a row. Iron Defense increases Kingambit’s Defense by 2 stages.

Kingambit’s stats:

100 HP
135 Attack
120 Defense
60 Special Attack
85 Special Defense
50 Speed

5. Scizor (Great)

Espartha disturbs Scizor, enjoying the night sky.

Scizor is a Bug and Steel-Type Pokémon.

Where to find Scizor:

Scizor is in the Indigo Disc DLC. Find it roaming around in the Canyon Biome.

Analysis:

With the TM move Fury Swipes, Scizor has great Attack (130) and Defense (100) stats. Its best Ability, Technician, increases the power of moves, usually base power 60 or below, by 50%.

Scizor’s Strengths:

Scizor is strong against:
- Psychic
- Grass
- Dark
- Fairy
-Ice
-Rock
In case False Swipes fail, Scizor can use various moves, such as Quick Attack, Wing Attack, Metal Claw, X-Scissor, Double Hit, and Slash.
After using False Swipe successfully, use moves like Iron Defense and Agility to buff Scizor’s Defense and Evasiveness. Scary Face and Protect are great moves too.
Scary Face lowers the Target’s Speed by 2 stages.
In case the battle goes for too long, allow Scizor to use moves like Defog, an egg move, to lower the target's Evasion by one stage and remove entry hazards and barriers on both sides of the field.

Scizor’s stats:

70 HP
130 Attack
100 Defense
55 Special Attack
80 Special Defense
65 Speed

4. Ceruledge (Awesome)

Gardevoir and Ceruledge fight on the highest peak of Paldea.

Ceruledge is a Ghost and Fire-Type Pokémon. Use Malicious Armor on Charcadet to evolve it into a Ceruledge.

Where to find Charcadet:

There is a specific location nearby the Mesagoza East Poké Center.

Where to find Auspicious and Malicious Armor:

There are specific NPC’s to talk to depending on which game you have.

Auspicious Armor is in Pokémon Scarlet.

Malicious Armor is in Pokémon Violet.

Keep in mind that you can always make trades online.

Analysis:

With the TM move Fury Swipes, Ceruledge has awesome Attack (125) and Special Defense (100). Its best Ability is Weak Armor. When a physical move hits Ceruledge, its Defense drops one stage, but its Speed increases by one stage.

Ceruledge’s Strengths:

Ceruledge is strong against:
-Psychic
-Ghost
-Bug
-Grass
-Ice
-Steel
In case False Swipes fail, Ceruledge can use a diversity of moves. It can leave the target with a burn, with moves like Ember, Fire Spin, and Will O Wisp.
The move Night Shade deals damage only equal to the target’s level. Clear Smog removes all the target’s stat changes.
Other alternatives to deal slight damage are Psycho Cut, Bitter Blade, Lava Plume, and Incinerate. Shadow Claw is the best-balanced move, dealing 70 Damage, and can reach a critical hit ratio.
After using False Swipe successfully, use moves like Confuse Ray to leave the target confused. Lead in with a catch.
If the battle goes on too long, use Disable and Spite. These 2 are egg moves. Disable prevents the target from using the move it used before. The effect of Spite forces the target’s last move to lose 2-5 PP.
Other good moves to use are Taunt, Iron Defense, Substitute, Reflect, and Light Screen. Taunt prevents the target from using Status-category moves for three turns.
Reflect reduces damage from physical Attacks as Light Screen reduces damage from Special Attacks.

Ceruledge’s stats:

75 HP
125 Attack
80 Defense
60 Special Attack
100 Special Defense
85 Speed

3. Zacian (Awesome)

Zacian's signature move makes it in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet!

Zacian’s signature move makes it in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

Crowned Sword Zacian is a Fairy and Steel-Type. Hero of Many Battles Zacian is a Fairy-Type.

Where to find Zacian:

Unfortunately, Zacian isn’t in the wild in Paldea, Kitakami, or Blueberry Academy’s Terarium.

If you have Pokémon Sword and Shield or Pokémon Go, transfer your Zacian into Pokémon Violet. Alternatively, trade with other players online.

Here’s how to change Zacian’s form.

Analysis:

With the TM move Fury Swipes, Zacian has great HP (92), Attack (120), Defense (115), Special Defense (115), and Speed (138). Its Ability, Intrepid Sword, boosts Attack when entering battle. This can make False Swipe more successful.

Zacian’s Strengths

Hero of Many Battles Zacian is strong against:
- Dragon
-Dark
-Fighting
Crowned Sword Zacian is strong against:
-Dragon
-Dark
-Fighting
-Fairy
-Ice
-Rock
If False Swipes fail, Zacian can use many of its Fire, Thunder, and Ice Fang moves to leave the target burned, paralyzed, or frozen. Psychic Fangs destroy Light Screens and Reflect.
After using False Swipe successfully, use moves like Noble Roar to lower the target’s Attack and Special Attack by 1 stage. Use Agility to boost Zacian’s evasiveness if necessary, and use Protect.
Other useful moves are Iron Defense, Substitute, and Flash Canon. Flash Canon lowers the target’s Special Defense by 1 stage.

Zacian’s stats:

92 HP
120 Attack
115 Defense
80 Special Attack
115 Special Defense
138 Speed

2. Gallade (Awesome)

Gallade just can’t deal with these uncivilized baboons.

Gallade is a Psychic and Fighting Pokémon.

Where to find Gallade:

Gallade lives around the North East of Paldea, such as around the Zapapico West location.

Analysis:

With the TM move Fury Swipes, Gallade has great Attack (125) and Special Defense (115) stats. Its best Ability, Justified, raises the ability-bearer's Attack by one stage when hit by a

Dark-Type move.

Gallade’s Strengths:

Gallade is strong against:
-Dark
-Ice
-Normal
-Rock
-Steel
-Fighting
-Poison
If False Swipes fail, Gallade can use various moves, such as Aqua Cutter, Confusion, Draining Kiss, Leafblade, Psychic, and Sacred Sword.
After using False Swipe successfully, use moves like Hypnosis to make the target fall asleep instantly for 3 turns. Lead with catching it.
If the battle goes too long use moves like Imprison, preventing the opponent from using any moves that Gallade knows. Charm, Agility, Protect, and Confuse Ray are great moves to increase your chances of catching the wild Pokémon.
If you think you will fail to catch the target, use Heal Pulse to heal half of the target’s HP again. Use it twice. You may need to switch a Pokémon that knows the move “Block” such as Garganacl. It ensures the wild Pokémon can’t flee. Swap in Gallade again and restart False Swipe.

Gallade’s stats:

68 HP
125 Attack
65 Defense
65 Special Attack
115 Special Defense
80 Speed

1. Iron Valiant (Awesome)

Iron Valiant and Beartic fight over the last snow cone!

Iron Valiant is a Fairy and Fighting Type Pokémon.

Where to catch Iron Valiant:

It’s outside Research Station No. 3. You’re going to want a Fairy like Blissey to use the move Sing on Iron Valiant to catch it.

Analysis:

With the TM move Fury Swipes, Iron Valiant has awesome stats with 130 Attack, 120 Special Attack, and 116 Speed. Its Ability, Quark Drive, raises the highest stat on Electric Terrain, or if holding Booster Energy. You want to catch powerful Dragon, Ice, or Steel Pokémon with Iron Valiant.

Iron Valiant’s Strengths:

Iron Valiant is strong against:
- Fighting
-Dark
-Dragon
-Ice
-Normal
-Rock
If False Swipes fail, use moves like Dazzling Gleam, dealing 80 Damage. Alternatively, Psycho Cut, Night Slash, Aura Sphere, and Magical Leaf are great alternatives.
Spirit Break deals 75 Damage and lowers the target’s Special Attack by 1 stage.
After using False Swipe successfully, use Hypnosis to make the target instantly sleep for 3 turns. Lead in with a catch.
If the battle goes on for too long, use moves like Disable to disable the target’s previous move for 8 turns. Use either Hypnosis again or use Confuse Ray to confuse the target.

Iron Valiant’s stats: