What is a good moveset for Basculin?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Basculin, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for any of its pre-evolutions can also be shared on this thread.

Be sure to include full set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some explanation, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Basculin Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Answer 1

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This guy might be able to set up with his Focus Sash provided the opponent doesn't carry priority moves. Aqua Jet, combined with Adaptability, makes for a priority-80-Base power water attack. Aqua Tail also doubles, dropping in at 180 base power. With no defenses but a sash to keep you in the mix to set up speed, Agility will double up your speed to ensure your choice of Flail or other moves might hit first. I personally haven't used it but I intend to breed such a fish.

Basculin @ Focus Sash
Ability: Adaptibility
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Aqua Jet
- Aqua Tail
- Flail
- Agility

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Answer 2

Basculin @ Life Orb
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
• Liquidation
• Close Combat
• Psychic Fangs
• Flip Turn

• Liquidation (Strong Adaptability boosted STAB)
• Close Combat (Good coverage)
• Psychic Fangs (Good coverage)
• Flip Turn (To get out of a bad situation, Adaptability boosted STAB)

Answer 3

Gen 8 (SwSh)

Basculin @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Reckless
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Double-Edge
- Head Smash
- Liquidation
- Psychic Fangs / Flip Turn

With Reckless, Double-Edge becomes 144 base power and Head Smash becomes 180. Liquidation is STAB with a chance to lower the opponent's Defense, but you can also use Waterfall for the flinch chance, as you'll likely be going first (with the Choice Scarf factored in, it will have 442 Speed). Psychic Fangs is coverage, or you can use STAB Flip Turn to pivot.

Answer 4

The final moveset till we recieve some confirmation on a few things. The unfortunate thing is ending with this guy. I was going with the theory that every odd numbered generation we would get A Gyarados/Milotic type evolution line. Unfortunately, we get this guy instead.

Basculin
Ability: Rock Head
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Waterfall
- Double-Edge
- Crunch
- Final Gambit

Waterfall is STAB. Double-Edge is a powerful move with no recoil due to Rock Head. Crunch is general coverage. Final Gambit makes this guy do 300 some damage right off the bat and take down plenty of Pokemon in Neverused.

Answer 5

Basculin (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Final Gambit
- Aqua Jet
- Crunch
- Soak

Answer 6

Basculin-A (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Aqua Jet
- Crunch
- Return
- Agility

Answer 7

Basculin (F) @ Mystic Water
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Waterfall
- Aqua Jet
- Crunch
- Taunt

Crunch is coverage and a back up move, mainly.
Taunt is kind of unpredictable on this guy, so it's a nice touch. It's mainly there if you use this guy as a lead ( like me ) to avoid having your opponent set up hazards.
Waterfall is standard STAB with Mystic Water and Adaptability behind it to super charge it's power. Aqua Jet is his priority move for foes who can out speed him.

Answer 8

B/W2!
Basculin @ Life Orb / Focus Sash
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Waterfall / Aqua Jet
- Crunch
- Bounce
- Zen Headbutt / Superpower

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He got some useful move tutor moves this game. Waterfall is for powerful STAB, while Aqua Jet is good priority, both are boosted by his ability. Crunch is coverage. Bounce is coverage for Grass-types. Zen Headbutt is coverage while Superpower is very strong coverage though you can not use it repeatedly.

Answer 9

Role: NU Wall Breaker

Basculin @ Life Orb / Leftovers
Ability: Adaptability / Mold Breaker
EVs: 248 Atk / 8 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature

• Taunt
• Final Gambit / Superpower
• Waterfall / Aqua Jet
• Hidden Power [Electric] / Ice Beam

Explanation

Basculin does have a niche as a Stall Breaker. With access to Taunt and Final Gambit, it can easily defeat most walls.

Taunt + Final Gambit is always a nice combo for breaking through walls and works well with Leftovers. The problem is that if it wants to use attacks, the lack in power is considerable. Superpower is a nice alternative to Final Gambit for more coverage and has good power when combined with Life Orb.

Waterfall has great power and STAB. Aqua Jet would work better with Final Gambit because it can revenge kill with Aqua Jet and then take down a bulky wall (that switches in) with Final Gambit.

Hidden Power [Electric] has more situational uses, but it is alot more better with Seismitoad gone. It is meant to nail Water-types like Poliwrath, Samurott, Pelipper, and Prinplup (although you have to be careful around with Lanturn because it might have Volt Absorb). On the other hand, Ice Beam deals with Grass-types, such as Lilligant. Basculin also could work as a lure for physically bulky Water-types because most people are expecting a phsyical sweeper set and Water-types can wall Basculin.

Note: Adaptability should be used with Aqua Jet to boost its power, while Mold Breaker can be used with Hidden Power [Electric] / Waterfall just in case if there is a Water Absorb or a Volt Absorb Lanturn (or any other Pokemon with the same abilities).

Answer 10

Basculin @ Life Orb
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Waterfall (STAB)
- Superpower
- Crunch
- Zen Headbutt / Aqua Jet

• Waterfall (STAB)
• Superpower (coverage)
• Crunch (coverage)
• Zen Headbutt / Aqua Jet (coverage) / (STAB priority)

Answer 11

ZU Choice Band set

Basculin-Blue-Striped @ Choice Band
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 HP
Jolly Nature
- Aqua Jet
- Waterfall
- Head Smash
- Flip Turn

Though this set is slightly lacking in coverage, Basculins great ability combined with Choice Band is almost always going to do a fair amount of damage.

Answer 12

Basculin @ Choice Band
Ability: Adaptability
Tera Type: Ice
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Aqua Jet
- Wave Crash
- Ice Fang
- Liquidation

• Aqua Jet (80 BP priority move with adaptability)
• Wave Crash (240 BP Wave Crash with adaptability)
• Ice Fang (Grass cover, you can teras ice and have a 130 Bp Ice fang with adaptability)
• Liquidation (Water move if you don't want recoil)

Fun fact: Tera + adaptability same type only increase 2,25x move not 4x :)
but the other type increase 2x stab instead 1,5
Highlight:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pPlooV68DA&t=5s

Answer 13

Gen 9 NU Choice Band

Basculin @ Choice Band
Ability: Reckless
Tera Type: Rock
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Wave Crash
- Head Smash
- Psychic Fangs
- Aqua Jet

Well, Basculin gets Wave Crash in Gen 9, so here is a Choice Band set for Gen 9 NU if you feel like using Basculin. Wave Crash is a powerful Water STAB that gets boosted by Reckless since Wave Crash causes the user to take recoil damage. Paired with Choice Band, a Reckless Wave Crash from Basculin goes brrr. Head Smash is used for Reckless boosted coverage for Pokemon who resist/are immune to Water-type moves such as Goodra, Bruxish, Cacturne, Vaporeon, and Clawitzer. Head Smash is also useful for dealing super effective damage to Pokemon such as Drifblim. Psychic Fangs allows Basculin to OHKO Toxicroak trying to switch into a Wave Crash. Aqua Jet is used for priority that allows Basculin to revenge kill faster Pokemon. Tera Rock allows Basculin's Head Smash to deal more damage to Vaporeon.