[overview]
**Draft order**: Round 2 onwards
**Price range**: 14-15 points
**Overview**: At a first glance, a base 85 Speed wallbreaker with weaknesses to Fighting- and Fairy-type moves doesn't seem all that great. However, Hisuian Samurott sets itself apart from other wallbreakers and other support Pokemon by being able to be both, simultaneously, with just one move: its signature Ceaseless Edge. Hisuian Samurott is able to fire off powerful STAB-boosted Dark-type attacks while also setting up layers of Spikes on the opponent's side, leading to it being one of, if not the most, reliable entry hazard setters in the format. When coupled with its expansive offensive movepool, as well as its solid utility options, Hisuian Samurott ends up being an incredibly strong round 2 pairing with many top tier threats.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Wallbreaker**: With the help of an array of different Attack-boosting items, Hisuian Samurott is able to punch holes through opposing teams, thanks to its powerful, Sharpness-boosted STAB combination of Razor Shell and Ceaseless Edge. It's also able to heighten its Attack further with Swords Dance, as well as cripple opposing walls thanks to Taunt and Encore.
**Sacrificial lead**: In matchups where getting Spikes up above all else is the goal, Hisuian Samurott is reliably able to Ceaseless Edge. Typically, this is seen on more offensive team compositions and is heavily reliant on either Focus Sash or Choice Scarf to pull this off.
**Revenge killer**: Hisuian Samurott is reliably able to revenge kill in two distinct manners. It can either use a Choice Scarf to outspeed opposing threats and hit them hard, or it can pick off weaker foes with its strong STAB priority moves.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB moves**: Razor Shell, Aqua Cutter, Aqua Jet, Hydro Pump, Ceaseless Edge. Knock Off, Sucker Punch
**Setup moves**: Swords Dance
**Utility moves**: Flip Turn, Taunt, Encore, Substitute
**Coverage**: Drill Run, Sacred Sword, Smart Strike, X-Scissor, Ice Beam, Vacuum Wave
Niche Moves
========
**Brick Break**: Brick Break allows Hisuian Samurott to remove Reflect and Light Screen from the field, trading the immediate power of Sacred Sword to enable its other move to hit hard on successive turns.
**Air Slash/Aerial Ace**: Hisuian Samurott doesn't have a bad Special Attack stat by any means, and it can utilize it well thanks to a Sharpness-boosted Air Slash, which can help break through the likes of Quaquaval, Urshifu-R, and Slither Wing. Aerial Ace can achieve a similar role against Pokemon with equal defensive stats, such as Keldeo.
**Upper Hand**: On Swords Dance sets, it allows Hisuian Samurott to be able to flinch common priority users and then KO them the turn after with one of its STAB attacks. The most notable use cases are against Kingambit and Ursaluna-B, although it functions well against any slower priority users that can otherwise live a singular +2 attack.
**Rain Dance**: While usually outclassed by Swords Dance, it can be a strong option against sun-based teams, weakening them while also boosting the power of Hisuian Samurott’s Water-type attacks.
Common Items
========
**Mystic Water/Black Glasses**: Either of these items can be used to boost Hisuian Samurott’s already strong STAB moves even further, allowing it to wallbreak more effectively, as well as pick off frailer offensive threats thanks to the boost to its fantastic STAB Sucker Punch and Aqua Jet.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Just as with any other Pokemon that has to switch in multiples times through a game, Hisuian Samurott appreciates the longevity it gains from an entry hazards immunity.
**Choice Scarf**: At the expense of locking it into one move, a Choice Scarf turns Hisuian Samurott into both a powerful revenge killer as well as a strong cleaner. This is all while still giving it access to its amazing utility options of Ceaseless Edge and Knock Off.
**Assault Vest**: In matchups where a team can fail to safely switch in to the likes of Chi-Yu or even slower threats like offensive Galarian Slowking, Hisuian Samurott is able to utilize Assault Vest and its respectable natural bulk to act as a makeshift tank.
**Focus Sash**: While it is exclusively seen on sacrificial lead sets, Focus Sash allows Hisuian Samurott to reliably get up Spikes against any kind of anti-HO lead. It sacrifices Hisuian Samurott's own damage output and longevity to allow teammates to have an easier time cleaning.
Niche Items
========
**Choice Band**: Choice Band is usually outclassed by Mystic Water or Black Glasses, but against slower balances, it can completely rip through an opponent's team with very little room for counterplay.
**Protective Pads**: Sadly, Ceaseless Edge is a contact move, and thus can activate Static or Flame Body. To avoid this, Protective Pads allows Hisuian Samurott to safely click Ceaseless Edge and Razor Shell with minimal drawback. It also provides Hisuian Samurott with an immunity to Rocky Helmet, a common form of counterplay against it.
**Resistance Berries**: Given that Hisuian Samurott has a solid defensive stat line, its able to use resistance Berries to act as a lure for many opposing threats. They can also be used on Swords Dance sets to safely set up.
**Life Orb/Expert Belt**: Both Life Orb and Expert Belt are usually inferior to the specific items that boost Hisuian Samurott's STAB types, as well as Choice Band, but they can occasionally help reach specific damage thresholds that are otherwise unreachable.
Tera
========
Hisuian Samurott should not normally be a Tera Captain. It tends to already have the coverage it needs, and in most scenarios, its teammates would end up benefiting more from Terastallization than it would. If you do make it a Tera Captain, the primary use should be Tera Ghost to prevent foes from being able to use Rapid Spin against it. It’s also able to offensively utilize Tera Water and Dark to further increase its STAB damage output, as well as use Tera Fairy to gain coverage against the likes of Urshifu-S and Dragonite. Defensively, a whole array of options from Tera Poison, Fairy, Fire, and Ground are all strong options to help alleviate weaknesses.
Draft Strategy
========
Hisuian Samurott pairs well with most round 1 picks, as they all tend to value the reliable entry hazard setting that it provides. It does struggle with its middling Speed tier and common weaknesses, and as such, its teammates should try to help it overcome this. The following roles are the ones you should seek out the most for teammates:
**Anti-entry hazard control**: Keeping hazards up on the opponent's side is one of the most crucial aims of Hisuian Samurott drafts. It allows them to get the most benefit out of its reliable ability to set Spikes. Gholdengo is the ultimate pairing for this, stopping both Rapid Spin and Defog, but Ghost-type Pokemon, such as Annihilape and Brambleghast, can also do the job against spinners. For Defog, faster Taunt users, such as Iron Bundle and Roaring Moon, are both good options.
**Speed control**: Hisuian Samurott's biggest drawback is by far its base 85 Speed. Having faster teammates that can both clean after it wallbreaks, as well as pivot into it, are valuable. It can fit into many archetypes, so good examples of these can range from your frailer Pokemon like Sneasler through to the bulkier kind like Tornadus-T.
**Fighting-type answers**: Of all of its defensive weaknesses, Fighting-type Pokemon are by far the most threatening. They either tend to be faster than it and can safely force it out or bulky enough shrug off most of its hits. Pokemon that are able to reliably revenge kill them, such as Iron Valiant and Enamorus, as well as Pokemon that can switch into them safely, such as Galarian Slowking and Zapdos, can make for great partners.
Checks and Counters
========
**Water- and Fighting-type Pokemon**: All 3 of Quaquaval, Urshifu-R, and Keldeo make for great Hisuain Samurott counters. They can all safely switch into it and force it out while also being able to generate momentum for the opponent thanks to U-turn and Flip Turn. Thankfully, it does have strong Flying-type coverage against these threats, but they do rely on predicting these checks switching in.
**Faster Pokemon**: As emphasized throughout, Hisuian Samurott is held back by its lackluster Speed tier and average bulk. It's forced out by the likes of Ogerpon-W, Sneasler, and Iron Valiant, all of which can safely threaten to OHKO it. They can also all use this forced switch out to set up and potentially wallbreak or even sweep.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/dartrix-joker.356084/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/vmnunes.613460/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ken.594478/
**Draft order**: Round 2 onwards
**Price range**: 14-15 points
**Overview**: At a first glance, a base 85 Speed wallbreaker with weaknesses to Fighting- and Fairy-type moves doesn't seem all that great. However, Hisuian Samurott sets itself apart from other wallbreakers and other support Pokemon by being able to be both, simultaneously, with just one move: its signature Ceaseless Edge. Hisuian Samurott is able to fire off powerful STAB-boosted Dark-type attacks while also setting up layers of Spikes on the opponent's side, leading to it being one of, if not the most, reliable entry hazard setters in the format. When coupled with its expansive offensive movepool, as well as its solid utility options, Hisuian Samurott ends up being an incredibly strong round 2 pairing with many top tier threats.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Wallbreaker**: With the help of an array of different Attack-boosting items, Hisuian Samurott is able to punch holes through opposing teams, thanks to its powerful, Sharpness-boosted STAB combination of Razor Shell and Ceaseless Edge. It's also able to heighten its Attack further with Swords Dance, as well as cripple opposing walls thanks to Taunt and Encore.
**Sacrificial lead**: In matchups where getting Spikes up above all else is the goal, Hisuian Samurott is reliably able to Ceaseless Edge. Typically, this is seen on more offensive team compositions and is heavily reliant on either Focus Sash or Choice Scarf to pull this off.
**Revenge killer**: Hisuian Samurott is reliably able to revenge kill in two distinct manners. It can either use a Choice Scarf to outspeed opposing threats and hit them hard, or it can pick off weaker foes with its strong STAB priority moves.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB moves**: Razor Shell, Aqua Cutter, Aqua Jet, Hydro Pump, Ceaseless Edge. Knock Off, Sucker Punch
**Setup moves**: Swords Dance
**Utility moves**: Flip Turn, Taunt, Encore, Substitute
**Coverage**: Drill Run, Sacred Sword, Smart Strike, X-Scissor, Ice Beam, Vacuum Wave
Niche Moves
========
**Brick Break**: Brick Break allows Hisuian Samurott to remove Reflect and Light Screen from the field, trading the immediate power of Sacred Sword to enable its other move to hit hard on successive turns.
**Air Slash/Aerial Ace**: Hisuian Samurott doesn't have a bad Special Attack stat by any means, and it can utilize it well thanks to a Sharpness-boosted Air Slash, which can help break through the likes of Quaquaval, Urshifu-R, and Slither Wing. Aerial Ace can achieve a similar role against Pokemon with equal defensive stats, such as Keldeo.
**Upper Hand**: On Swords Dance sets, it allows Hisuian Samurott to be able to flinch common priority users and then KO them the turn after with one of its STAB attacks. The most notable use cases are against Kingambit and Ursaluna-B, although it functions well against any slower priority users that can otherwise live a singular +2 attack.
**Rain Dance**: While usually outclassed by Swords Dance, it can be a strong option against sun-based teams, weakening them while also boosting the power of Hisuian Samurott’s Water-type attacks.
Common Items
========
**Mystic Water/Black Glasses**: Either of these items can be used to boost Hisuian Samurott’s already strong STAB moves even further, allowing it to wallbreak more effectively, as well as pick off frailer offensive threats thanks to the boost to its fantastic STAB Sucker Punch and Aqua Jet.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Just as with any other Pokemon that has to switch in multiples times through a game, Hisuian Samurott appreciates the longevity it gains from an entry hazards immunity.
**Choice Scarf**: At the expense of locking it into one move, a Choice Scarf turns Hisuian Samurott into both a powerful revenge killer as well as a strong cleaner. This is all while still giving it access to its amazing utility options of Ceaseless Edge and Knock Off.
**Assault Vest**: In matchups where a team can fail to safely switch in to the likes of Chi-Yu or even slower threats like offensive Galarian Slowking, Hisuian Samurott is able to utilize Assault Vest and its respectable natural bulk to act as a makeshift tank.
**Focus Sash**: While it is exclusively seen on sacrificial lead sets, Focus Sash allows Hisuian Samurott to reliably get up Spikes against any kind of anti-HO lead. It sacrifices Hisuian Samurott's own damage output and longevity to allow teammates to have an easier time cleaning.
Niche Items
========
**Choice Band**: Choice Band is usually outclassed by Mystic Water or Black Glasses, but against slower balances, it can completely rip through an opponent's team with very little room for counterplay.
**Protective Pads**: Sadly, Ceaseless Edge is a contact move, and thus can activate Static or Flame Body. To avoid this, Protective Pads allows Hisuian Samurott to safely click Ceaseless Edge and Razor Shell with minimal drawback. It also provides Hisuian Samurott with an immunity to Rocky Helmet, a common form of counterplay against it.
**Resistance Berries**: Given that Hisuian Samurott has a solid defensive stat line, its able to use resistance Berries to act as a lure for many opposing threats. They can also be used on Swords Dance sets to safely set up.
**Life Orb/Expert Belt**: Both Life Orb and Expert Belt are usually inferior to the specific items that boost Hisuian Samurott's STAB types, as well as Choice Band, but they can occasionally help reach specific damage thresholds that are otherwise unreachable.
Tera
========
Hisuian Samurott should not normally be a Tera Captain. It tends to already have the coverage it needs, and in most scenarios, its teammates would end up benefiting more from Terastallization than it would. If you do make it a Tera Captain, the primary use should be Tera Ghost to prevent foes from being able to use Rapid Spin against it. It’s also able to offensively utilize Tera Water and Dark to further increase its STAB damage output, as well as use Tera Fairy to gain coverage against the likes of Urshifu-S and Dragonite. Defensively, a whole array of options from Tera Poison, Fairy, Fire, and Ground are all strong options to help alleviate weaknesses.
Draft Strategy
========
Hisuian Samurott pairs well with most round 1 picks, as they all tend to value the reliable entry hazard setting that it provides. It does struggle with its middling Speed tier and common weaknesses, and as such, its teammates should try to help it overcome this. The following roles are the ones you should seek out the most for teammates:
**Anti-entry hazard control**: Keeping hazards up on the opponent's side is one of the most crucial aims of Hisuian Samurott drafts. It allows them to get the most benefit out of its reliable ability to set Spikes. Gholdengo is the ultimate pairing for this, stopping both Rapid Spin and Defog, but Ghost-type Pokemon, such as Annihilape and Brambleghast, can also do the job against spinners. For Defog, faster Taunt users, such as Iron Bundle and Roaring Moon, are both good options.
**Speed control**: Hisuian Samurott's biggest drawback is by far its base 85 Speed. Having faster teammates that can both clean after it wallbreaks, as well as pivot into it, are valuable. It can fit into many archetypes, so good examples of these can range from your frailer Pokemon like Sneasler through to the bulkier kind like Tornadus-T.
**Fighting-type answers**: Of all of its defensive weaknesses, Fighting-type Pokemon are by far the most threatening. They either tend to be faster than it and can safely force it out or bulky enough shrug off most of its hits. Pokemon that are able to reliably revenge kill them, such as Iron Valiant and Enamorus, as well as Pokemon that can switch into them safely, such as Galarian Slowking and Zapdos, can make for great partners.
Checks and Counters
========
**Water- and Fighting-type Pokemon**: All 3 of Quaquaval, Urshifu-R, and Keldeo make for great Hisuain Samurott counters. They can all safely switch into it and force it out while also being able to generate momentum for the opponent thanks to U-turn and Flip Turn. Thankfully, it does have strong Flying-type coverage against these threats, but they do rely on predicting these checks switching in.
**Faster Pokemon**: As emphasized throughout, Hisuian Samurott is held back by its lackluster Speed tier and average bulk. It's forced out by the likes of Ogerpon-W, Sneasler, and Iron Valiant, all of which can safely threaten to OHKO it. They can also all use this forced switch out to set up and potentially wallbreak or even sweep.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/dartrix-joker.356084/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/vmnunes.613460/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ken.594478/
Last edited:
