Swoobat
PvE Analysis
Swoobat is basically a weaker Xatu with a better moveset pool. However, a decent pool does not make it viable in basically any way. It doesn't hit hard enough, and is too frail to have any genuine utility in the PvE meta. If you want a Flying/Psychic Type, go check out Lugia, which itself is not great in most cases.
Best PvE Offensive Moveset
- Air Slash and Fly is Swoobat's best single-type moveset.
- Confusion and Psychic go together to make Swoobat's mose potent Psychic Type attacking moveset.
- Confusion and Fly may not share a type, but they both have STAB on Swoobat and can be paired for its highest possible damage output against Fighting Types.
- Air Slash and Fly
- Aerial Ace is okay, but Fly is better.
- Future Sight is inferior to Psychic.
- Psychic Fangs is only for PvP.
Best PvE Defensive Moveset
Confusion + Aerial Ace | Best |
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- Confusion is great on defense, and should be the move of choice.
- Air Slash is usable, but generally inferior.
- Aerial Ace is a 3-bar move with a different typing from Swoobat's fast move, making it the move of choice.
- Psychic hits fairly hard and is 2-bar, so it's decent as well.
- Future Sight and Fly are bad choices, as Swoobat is likely to faint before using them. Stick with Psychic.
- Psychic Fangs deals noticeably less damage, and is largely meant for PvP.
PvP Analysis
Confusion + Psychic Fangs and Fly | Best |
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Confusion is a great move in general, and Swoobat's Fast Move of choice. It deals solid damage while charging energy at a decent rate.
Psychic Fangs is Swoobat's cheapest Attack and can quickly rack up Defense drops, which in turn allows Confusion's damage to become oppressive over time. Fly is a powerful, moderate costing STAB move that punishes opponents who don't shield against Swoobat expecting to take a weak Psychic Fangs. Aerial Ace is cheaper than Fly, but it deals much less damage and is not recommended. Psychic is not recommended.
Great League | 2.5 / 5 |
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The addition of Psychic Fangs following the Sept 2022 update gives Swoobat more consistency thanks to its low energy cost, and allows Swoobat to ramp up damage as more Psychic Fang debuffs stack up. This strategy only works when the opponent is switch-locked, and Swoobat can attempt to force the opponent to give up switch advantage otherwise. Unfortunately Swoobat still has no answer to common Steel and Dark Pokemon, which is a major setback. With the addition of Fly following the June 2024 update, Swoobat can deal more damage through Fly, but it's still not great by any stretch of imagination. | |
Ultra League | 0 / 5 |
Swoobat doesn't even come close to the CP cap of Ultra League. | |
Master League | 0 / 5 |
Food for literally everything. |