Samurott: Physical or Special Moveset?

Question

I want to know as I just traded for a Dewott but I do not know if it should be physical or special but I am thinking physical as it has no good special moves even if its special attack is more. Please suggest a nature and item along with a moveset.

Answer 1

Well, Samurott can run both, but physical set for in-game, special or physical for Showdown (depending on what your team needs).

Samurott @ Life Orb
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 Sp. Atk, 252 Speed, 4 HP
Nature: Timid
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- HP Grass
- Surf/ Scald

Samurott relies on Hidden Power as part of its moveset, so it's kinda hard to get the right type in game. If you really want to run a special set in game, go for Grass Knot. That's the only special move that gives coverage.

Samurott @ Lum Berry
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 Atk, 252 Speed, 4 HP
Nature: Jolly
- Swords Dance
- Aqua Jet
- Waterfall
- Megahorn

No Life Orb for this set because if you get burnt your ruined. I actually run X-Scissor on my Physical Samurott because of Megahorn's low PP & accuracy, but competitively I'd recommend Megahorn.

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I would suggest a physical set over special, however, because of two reasons:
i. boosting move - Swords Dance. Samurott cannot learn Calm Mind/ Nasty Plot.
ii. +1 STAB priority, Aqua Jet. Samurott is slow even with speed EVs, so Aqua Jet is a really nice move.

Comments

But aqua jet is not really that strong and what about aqua tail?

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Won't the life orb keep on taking our HP and there is no healing move.

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Samurott is meant to sweep as fast & as much as possible before it faints. For the special set, it has no boosting move and therefore needs Life Orb.

And Aqua Tail is not a good move. 90% accuracy, compared to Waterfall which has 100% accuracy and a 30% chance to flinch. Also Aqua Jet is a brilliant move to clean up stragglers, i.e. Pokemon with just a few HP left, so that Samurott doesn't need to take a hit if they're faster than it.

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OK thanks but I was really thinking razor shell over waterfall as it can lower target's defense and I think I might put X-scissor in because of the accuracy risk but still thanks again.

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Razor Shell isn't worth it imo; 95% accuracy and 75 base power, okay yes it has a 50% chance of lowering defence, but what if it doesn't/ if it misses? Waterfall is better, at 80 base power, 100% accuracy and added bonus of 30% chance flinching. It also has more PP than Razor Shell.

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Don't you think Dig is a better move than aqua jet. Having 2 STABs isn't that great and Dig can deal w/ ground types.

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While I do agree that 2 STABs are unnecessary, Dig is useless in competitive since it gives the opposing player an extra turn to switch out or take advantage in other ways.

Answer 2

Samurott can run both, actually. It's great mixed offenses work well. Here's the moveset for both.

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Physical:

Samurott (M) @ Lum Berry
Trait: Torrent
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Aqua Jet
- Razor Shell
- Megahorn

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Special:

Samurott (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Torrent
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Surf

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Answer 3

Samurott is a balanced Pokemon so do half of your moves physical and half special
Special moves
Hydro pump
Ice beam
Physical
Megahorn
Razorshell/waterfall/aqua tail.