[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 8 onwards
**Price Range**: 11-10 points
**Overview**: Basculegion isn't your typical Water type. It is a strong offensive role piece that can easily take over a game with the combination of its STAB typing's and abilities. Despite its pretty shallow move pool of Water and Ghost type STABs, it carries the standard Water type Pokémon coverage move of Ice Beam for more neutral exchanges. Additionally, it boasts three amazing abilities in Swift Swim, Adaptability, and Mold Breaker that give it the edge in the roles of a powerful breaker, a solid speed control, and a niche defensive gimmick. Basculegion has two main forms, Male and Female, to take into consideration, and despite both of them having similar stats, the distribution of those stats plays a defining role in each forms’ effectiveness and viability.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Rain Sweeper**: Basculegion has the ability Swift Swim allowing it to give itself 2x speed in the rain, making it a potent breaker and cleaner in one. With a 78-base speed, it can double its speed to be faster than both Booster Energy Iron Valiant and Roaring Moon when the rain is active if it has a speed boosting nature (Timid/Jolly). If it is an offensive stat boosting nature (Adamant/Modest), it can be faster than Pokémon with base 105 speed at +1 or with a Choice Scarf. Rain boosted Water type moves from this Pokémon can output significant amounts of damage making it a difficult Pokémon to go up against if there aren’t enough defensive and offensive checks on your team for it. The Male form can get the best use out of Wave Crash and Flip Turn in the rain, while the Female form can get the best use of Hydro Pump and Surf in the rain.
**Wallbreaker**: Outside of rain, this Pokémon gets great mileage out of Adaptability, boosting its already strong STABs in Wave Crash, Hydro Pump, Shadow Ball, etc., making it very difficult to switch into. Agility + Weakness Policy sets are also quite potent, considering this Pokémon has adequate defensive bulk primarily stemming from its massive 120 HP stat making up for its middling 65 Defense and 75 Special Defense. Mold Breaker sets also make it so Water Absorb Pokémon like Quaqsire and Clodsire are not capable of pivoting into its aforementioned Water type moves.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Wave Crash, Liquidation, Hydro Pump, Surf, Aqua Jet, Flip Turn, Shadow Ball, Hex, Phantom Force
**Setup Moves**: Agility, Rain Dance
**Utility Moves**: Substitute, Rest, Sleep Talk, Endeavor
**Coverage**: Ice Beam, Icy Wind, Head Smash, Zen Headbutt, Crunch, Outrage, Psychic Fangs
Niche Moves
========
**Pain Split**: Due to this Pokémon's base HP being 120 it can reliably Pain Split at low health and gain a significant amount of HP back. It isn't the most reliable for recovery just because this Pokémon is mainly for dishing out damage but on defensive sets it can be used if need be.
**Scale Shot**: Very difficult to fit as a move in itself but if you really wanted to pick off a low HP Pokémon and get the speed boost in very specific scenarios then it can be used but I wouldn't recommend it as Agility is much better.
Common Items
========
**Damage-boosting items**: Typically, Basculegion carries items such as Life Orb, Mystic Water, Spell Tag, Weakness Policy as a way to boost its damage output. Swift Swim sets generally like to use Life Orb or Mystic Water to take advantage of the rain being up. While Weakness Policy tends to be on Agility sets to help sweep if positioned well. Choiced items paired with Adaptability makes it a really strong nuke into most team's Male sets appreciate Choice Band while Female sets appreciate Choice Specs.
**Choice Scarf**: Choice Scarf with Flip Turn makes it a really good pivot and a revenge Pokémon on your team while also maintaining good speed control.
Niche Items
========
**Colbur Berry**: Colbur Berry allows it to take Knock Off and Sucker Punch from Pokémon that'd usually threaten it out.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: This item can be used on bulkier versions of Basculegion due to its good defensive typing and still have good damage output while maintaining momentum with Flip Turn not typically seen, but on Hazard heavy teams it can be used.
(repeat as necessary)
Tera
========
Basculegion can afford to be a Tera captain. On Male variants it can be used to give it a better Ghost STAB rather than running Phantom Force and just making it a better nuke in the rain Tera'ing its Water STAB moves as well. Additionally, giving it coverage like Tera Fighting, Electric, and Grass make it so it has good coverage all around, so it's not entirely walled by Pokémon like Milotic and Zarude. Mold Breaker variants can also use the extra Water STAB so it can break through Pokémon like Gastrodon, and Quaqsire without any worry. Do note though that if you're running Adaptability and you do Tera it only gives out the STAB boost to Tera Blast and it gives away, you're original STAB boost in Water/Ghost moves.
Draft Strategy
========
Outside of Rain Basculegion finds itself on offensive teams that appreciates the versatility. It can also be used on balanced teams where it can be used as the main breaker.
**Rain**: Basculegion thrives on Rain teams due to it having Swift Swim making it a reliable revenge killer and sweeper. Generally, you'll see Basculegion be paired with Pokémon like Pelipper, Zapdos, and other Swift Swim users to help it.
**Others**: Due to Basculegion generally being a late round pick, it can be drafted as an additional offensive piece due to its versatility, and negatively, its lack of role compression for your team. However, it can become an immediate threat with the help of entry hazard stacking, which you can see on typical Hyper-Offensive and Balanced structured teams. It also likes being with Fighting type Pokémon like Iron Valiant and Great Tusk to facilitate around and weaken usual counters, like Dark type Pokémon.
(repeat as necessary)
Checks and Counters
========
**Bulky Waters**: Due to Basculegion's lack of coverage (besides Tera) it is ultimately walled by bulky Water Pokémon with recovery like Milotic, Toxapex, and Alomomola.
**Faster Pokémon**: Basculegion isn't the fastest Pokémon in the format due to it having base 78 speed, so it finds itself pretty vulnerable to higher top tier Pokémon. For example, includes Pokémon like Chien-Pao, Meowscarada, Dragapult, Greninja, Darkrai.
**Grass Pokémon**: Typically, bulky Grass or even offensive Grass type Pokémon give Basculegion trouble. As mentioned, before it doesn't have the best move pool while yes it does have Ice Beam most grass types can switch in pretty well to soak the hit up and threaten it with a KO so be sure to pack good Flying Pokémon or Fire type Pokémon.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user1.100000
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user2.200000
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.300000
Grammar checked by:
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**Draft Order**: Round 8 onwards
**Price Range**: 11-10 points
**Overview**: Basculegion isn't your typical Water type. It is a strong offensive role piece that can easily take over a game with the combination of its STAB typing's and abilities. Despite its pretty shallow move pool of Water and Ghost type STABs, it carries the standard Water type Pokémon coverage move of Ice Beam for more neutral exchanges. Additionally, it boasts three amazing abilities in Swift Swim, Adaptability, and Mold Breaker that give it the edge in the roles of a powerful breaker, a solid speed control, and a niche defensive gimmick. Basculegion has two main forms, Male and Female, to take into consideration, and despite both of them having similar stats, the distribution of those stats plays a defining role in each forms’ effectiveness and viability.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Rain Sweeper**: Basculegion has the ability Swift Swim allowing it to give itself 2x speed in the rain, making it a potent breaker and cleaner in one. With a 78-base speed, it can double its speed to be faster than both Booster Energy Iron Valiant and Roaring Moon when the rain is active if it has a speed boosting nature (Timid/Jolly). If it is an offensive stat boosting nature (Adamant/Modest), it can be faster than Pokémon with base 105 speed at +1 or with a Choice Scarf. Rain boosted Water type moves from this Pokémon can output significant amounts of damage making it a difficult Pokémon to go up against if there aren’t enough defensive and offensive checks on your team for it. The Male form can get the best use out of Wave Crash and Flip Turn in the rain, while the Female form can get the best use of Hydro Pump and Surf in the rain.
**Wallbreaker**: Outside of rain, this Pokémon gets great mileage out of Adaptability, boosting its already strong STABs in Wave Crash, Hydro Pump, Shadow Ball, etc., making it very difficult to switch into. Agility + Weakness Policy sets are also quite potent, considering this Pokémon has adequate defensive bulk primarily stemming from its massive 120 HP stat making up for its middling 65 Defense and 75 Special Defense. Mold Breaker sets also make it so Water Absorb Pokémon like Quaqsire and Clodsire are not capable of pivoting into its aforementioned Water type moves.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Wave Crash, Liquidation, Hydro Pump, Surf, Aqua Jet, Flip Turn, Shadow Ball, Hex, Phantom Force
**Setup Moves**: Agility, Rain Dance
**Utility Moves**: Substitute, Rest, Sleep Talk, Endeavor
**Coverage**: Ice Beam, Icy Wind, Head Smash, Zen Headbutt, Crunch, Outrage, Psychic Fangs
Niche Moves
========
**Pain Split**: Due to this Pokémon's base HP being 120 it can reliably Pain Split at low health and gain a significant amount of HP back. It isn't the most reliable for recovery just because this Pokémon is mainly for dishing out damage but on defensive sets it can be used if need be.
**Scale Shot**: Very difficult to fit as a move in itself but if you really wanted to pick off a low HP Pokémon and get the speed boost in very specific scenarios then it can be used but I wouldn't recommend it as Agility is much better.
Common Items
========
**Damage-boosting items**: Typically, Basculegion carries items such as Life Orb, Mystic Water, Spell Tag, Weakness Policy as a way to boost its damage output. Swift Swim sets generally like to use Life Orb or Mystic Water to take advantage of the rain being up. While Weakness Policy tends to be on Agility sets to help sweep if positioned well. Choiced items paired with Adaptability makes it a really strong nuke into most team's Male sets appreciate Choice Band while Female sets appreciate Choice Specs.
**Choice Scarf**: Choice Scarf with Flip Turn makes it a really good pivot and a revenge Pokémon on your team while also maintaining good speed control.
Niche Items
========
**Colbur Berry**: Colbur Berry allows it to take Knock Off and Sucker Punch from Pokémon that'd usually threaten it out.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: This item can be used on bulkier versions of Basculegion due to its good defensive typing and still have good damage output while maintaining momentum with Flip Turn not typically seen, but on Hazard heavy teams it can be used.
(repeat as necessary)
Tera
========
Basculegion can afford to be a Tera captain. On Male variants it can be used to give it a better Ghost STAB rather than running Phantom Force and just making it a better nuke in the rain Tera'ing its Water STAB moves as well. Additionally, giving it coverage like Tera Fighting, Electric, and Grass make it so it has good coverage all around, so it's not entirely walled by Pokémon like Milotic and Zarude. Mold Breaker variants can also use the extra Water STAB so it can break through Pokémon like Gastrodon, and Quaqsire without any worry. Do note though that if you're running Adaptability and you do Tera it only gives out the STAB boost to Tera Blast and it gives away, you're original STAB boost in Water/Ghost moves.
Draft Strategy
========
Outside of Rain Basculegion finds itself on offensive teams that appreciates the versatility. It can also be used on balanced teams where it can be used as the main breaker.
**Rain**: Basculegion thrives on Rain teams due to it having Swift Swim making it a reliable revenge killer and sweeper. Generally, you'll see Basculegion be paired with Pokémon like Pelipper, Zapdos, and other Swift Swim users to help it.
**Others**: Due to Basculegion generally being a late round pick, it can be drafted as an additional offensive piece due to its versatility, and negatively, its lack of role compression for your team. However, it can become an immediate threat with the help of entry hazard stacking, which you can see on typical Hyper-Offensive and Balanced structured teams. It also likes being with Fighting type Pokémon like Iron Valiant and Great Tusk to facilitate around and weaken usual counters, like Dark type Pokémon.
(repeat as necessary)
Checks and Counters
========
**Bulky Waters**: Due to Basculegion's lack of coverage (besides Tera) it is ultimately walled by bulky Water Pokémon with recovery like Milotic, Toxapex, and Alomomola.
**Faster Pokémon**: Basculegion isn't the fastest Pokémon in the format due to it having base 78 speed, so it finds itself pretty vulnerable to higher top tier Pokémon. For example, includes Pokémon like Chien-Pao, Meowscarada, Dragapult, Greninja, Darkrai.
**Grass Pokémon**: Typically, bulky Grass or even offensive Grass type Pokémon give Basculegion trouble. As mentioned, before it doesn't have the best move pool while yes it does have Ice Beam most grass types can switch in pretty well to soak the hit up and threaten it with a KO so be sure to pack good Flying Pokémon or Fire type Pokémon.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user1.100000
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user2.200000
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.300000
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.400000
Last edited:
