NU Spotlight: Samurott

By CrystalFalchion. Art by Bummer.
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Samurott by Bummer

Introduction

Samurott arrived on the scene in BW, and most of the higher tiers passed it up in favor of other Water-types: OU had Gyarados and Politoed, UU had Kingdra and Azumarill, and RU had Feraligatr and Omastar. That left Samurott in NU, where, despite facing stiff competition from other Water-types like Carracosta, it became one of the best Water-types in the tier. What was its secret? Some Water-types could run great physical sets; some could run great special sets. But Samurott could run both a physical and a special set. This made it virtually impossible to counter, as the sets had very few checks in common. You might switch in your Tangela expecting the physical set, only to see it get be KOed by Ice Beam. You might switch in your Ludicolo expecting the special set, only for it to be KOed by Megahorn. This unpredictability was what put it above its Water-type rivals, and it finished BW NU in S Rank of the viability rankings.

When XY rolled around, Samurott was once again relegated to NU, but it didn't have such an easy time. Feraligatr and Kabutops both arrived on the scene, with both Pokémon sporting higher Speed and Attack, and the former also having Dragon Dance and the latter having STAB Stone Edge. It fell to the newly created PU for a bit, but it quickly rose again.

Things started looking up in ORAS: Feraligatr's Hidden Ability, Sheer Force, got released, and it soon left for UU. While Samurott still faces competition with Kabutops, it has several advantages over the fossil: it has Megahorn and Ice Beam to hit bulky Grass-types hard, better bulk, a more useful ability, no 4x weaknesses, and the crucial ability to run both a physical set and a special set, making it an unpredictable foe. And as in BW NU, that unpredictability is what really sets it apart from its rivals: it makes countering it an absolute nightmare if its set hasn't been revealed yet, since what counters one set can easily be crushed by the other. This means that Samurott has very few guaranteed counters. Despite NU being full of Water-types, Samurott can easily stand out from the shoal.

Samurott's Qualities

Samurott has good base stats in most areas. With 100 / 108 attacking stats, Samurott can do a lot of damage with both physical and special moves, and with 95 / 85 / 70 bulk, it can take neutral hits quite well too. While base 70 Speed is nothing spectacular, it's still fast enough to outrun most walls, and Samurott also has STAB priority in Aqua Jet. While on the subject of moves, Samurott's movepool is pretty impressive. For physical options, it has the obligatory STAB move Waterfall (and Razor Shell and Aqua Tail if you prefer the secondary effect or power, respectively) and coverage options in Megahorn, Superpower, and Knock Off. As for special moves, it has the extremely powerful STAB Hydro Pump along with Ice Beam, and it even has a nice utility move in Taunt.

Samurott is also one of the few Pokémon that can use Torrent well. At below 33% health, its STAB moves become insanely powerful, able to KO even the bulkiest walls in the tier. Its pure Water typing is useful as well, giving it only two weaknesses as well as useful resistances to Ice- and Fire-type moves.

Playing with Samurott

Samurott

Here we have Samurott's physical set, designed to sweep late-game. It plays like most boosting sweepers: have it come in on a foe it can force out (slower Rock- and Ground-types like Rhydon and Regirock work well), set up a Swords Dance, and KO everything it can. In some situations you can also bluff the special set. Waterfall gets STAB and 2HKOes most foes that don't resist it at +2. Aqua Jet helps Samurott deal with fast, frail Pokémon like Haunter and Archeops. Megahorn KOes most of the Grass-types that resist Samurott's STAB moves like Ludicolo and Lilligant, although without a Rindo Berry, Samurott probably shouldn't be staying in on those Pokémon. If you'd like some more bulk, you could drop the Speed EVs down to 144 (enough to outrun maximum Speed Adamant Torterra) and put the other 112 in HP. If you're running a bulkier spread, you could also consider using a Rindo or Wacan Berry to let Samurott survive an otherwise fatal Grass- or Electric-type move.

This set is best played late-game, when the opponent's physical walls have been weakened or KOed.

Samurott

And here's Samurott's special set. While the physical set is best played as a late-game sweeper, this set is best used as an early- and mid-game wallbreaker, smashing holes in the opponent's team for its teammates to clean up later. Hydro Pump is the main move of this set, 2HKOing anything that doesn't resist it or isn't a special wall. Ice Beam hits the Grass- and Dragon-types that resist Hydro Pump hard, and Megahorn OHKOes Jynx and Ludicolo on the switch. The last slot is really up to you: Aqua Jet can pick off heavily weakened faster Pokémon, while Taunt renders weak walls helpless. You could also use Knock Off or Superpower on this set: Knock Off also removes items, making it particularly harmful to Eviolite users. Superpower 2HKOes specially defensive Ferroseed.

Playing Against Samurott

Overall, Samurott has very few hard counters due to how different its two sets are. Mantine and Poliwrath wall both sets well and can fish for burns with Scald; however, neither has reliable recovery and thus can be worn down. Ferroseed can handle anything the physical set has while crippling it with Thunder Wave, but the special set can muscle through it if it packs Taunt.

Weezing can take anything the physical set has and cripple it with Will-O-Wisp, although it loses to the special set. Vileplume resists Waterfall, can easily take a +2 Megahorn, and OHKOes Samurott with Giga Drain; again, though, the special set smashes it with Ice Beam. Quagsire walls the physical set easily, but Hydro Pump will 2HKO it.

Specially defensive Mega Audino isn't 2HKOed by Hydro Pump so long as Samurott's not in Torrent range and can stall it out, although Taunt will shut it down and the physical set can muscle through it. Cradily is immune to Hydro Pump and isn't 2HKOed by Ice Beam, although it has to watch out for Megahorn. Defensive Lanturn walls the special set and can take a +2 Megahorn.

Faster Grass- and Electric-types like Lilligant, Sawsbuck, Rotom-S, and Electivire can take a +2 Aqua Jet and KO Samurott with their STAB moves, but none can safely switch in.

You can get an idea of what set Samurott's running based on its teammates. If it's paired with fast cleaners like Tauros, chances are it's the special set. If it's paired with strong wallbreakers like Magmortar, chances are it's the physical set.

Fitting Samurott onto your team

The choice of teammates largely comes down to what set you're running. If you're running the physical set, strong wallbreakers are recommended to soften up the opponent's team. Vital Spirit Magmortar can KO Weezing, Vileplume, and Ferroseed (although it does have to watch out for Thunder Wave from the latter) with its STAB Fire Blast, and it is immune to Sleep Powder and Will-O-Wisp. Bouffalant can switch in on the Grass-type moves Samurott draws in thanks to Sap Sipper and fire off immensely powerful attacks. Choice Band Sawk and Toxic Orb Zangoose can also open up a few holes.

If you're running the special set, fast cleaners that can take advantage of the holes Samurott can create are good partners. Quiver Dance Lilligant and Rock Polish Torterra both appreciate Samurott's ability to lure in most bulky Grass-types and KO them with Ice Beam and Megahorn. Tauros can do much better when Weezing and Rhydon are out of the picture. Other offensive Water-types like Floatzel and Shell Smash Carracosta can be used to lure in and take out each other's checks.

Entry hazards are always appreciated. Ferroseed can set up Stealth Rock and Spikes and has great synergy with Samurott, resisting the Grass- and Electric-type moves it draws in while Samurott resists the Fire-type moves Ferroseed draws in. It can also cripple faster Pokémon with Thunder Wave.

Get out there!

Even though NU is full of Water-types, Samurott can justify its place on your team thanks to its power and unpredictability. If you're looking for a physical sweeper or special wallbreaker, Samurott is a top contender.

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