What is a good moveset for Banette?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Banette, 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.

Banette Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Answer 1

Gen 7 RU
Banette @ Banettite
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 252 Atk / 20 SpD / 232 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature

• Gunk Shot
• Knock Off
• Will-O-Wisp
• Destiny Bond

Gunk Shot is Mega Banette's most powerful move. It comes with the benefit of hitting tier staple Virizion very hard, and it also smacks the popular Shaymin, Florges, Gardevoir, and Mega Sceptile. Knock Off is a better move than STAB Shadow Claw, the power difference is small, and it still hits Necrozma, Metagross, and the Slow twins hard. Knock Off forms a good combination with Gunk Shot as the Dark resistant Fairy types of the tier lose their item on the switch and then get smashed by Gunk Shot. Destiny Bond to KO an enemy, getting rid of deadly sweepers like Nasty Plot Salazzle, Swords Dance Virizion, Swords Dance Mega Abomasnow, Dragon Dance Flygon, and many others. Destiny Bond also pairs extremely well with Knock Off since if Destiny Bond is used and M-Banette survives, the enemy will be forced to switch unless they want to sacrifice their sweeper, and Knock Off will brutally cripple switch-ins. Will-O-Wisp to burn stuff.

Comments

I like this. 1+

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Thanks lol

Answer 2

Banette @ Focus Sash
Ability: Insomnia
EVs: 252 Atk
Brave Nature
- Shadow Claw
- Sucker Punch / Return / Taunt
- Destiny Bond
- Trick Room

Shadow Claw is STAB and hits hard coming off of Banette's solid attack stat.
Sucker Punch is priority, if someone wants to mess with Banette. It also hits Normal types for neutral damage. Return gives some neutral coverage and has a decent 102 Base Power.
Taunt prevents opponents from being up to shenanigans like trying to Toxic Banette.
Destiny Bond takes down the opponent, and works well with Trick Room.
Trick Room takes advantage of low speed and helps Banette move first.
Banette's teammates should preferably benefit from Trick Room, and a spinner is greatly recommended to make sure the Sash works.

Comments

Not sure I agree with both a Dark type and Ghost type attack, considering they have the exact same coverage, except for Dark being able to hit Normal and Ghost not resisted by Fighting.

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i see your point, but sucker punch is good as you can come on and finish of maybe a stat powered up sweepers before you set up trick room and it can hit normal types.

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Why I said not sure. Priority makes up for redundant cverage.

Answer 3

Banette @ Leftovers
Ability: Cursed Body
EVs: 6 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Cotton Guard
- Calm Mind
- Thunderbolt / Hidden Power [Fighting]
- Shadow Ball / Night Shade

Cotton-guard boost that pathetic Defense to amazing levels. Calm-mind boost that pathetic S.Defense and S.Attack. Thunderbolt or HP(Fighting) for coverage. Shadow-ball for STAB or Night-shade if you do not think you are going to get enough boosts to do a lot of damage or want to be able to hurt those high S.Defense and low HP Pokemon more.

Note: Will-o-Wisp is also a decent option on this set.

Answer 4

Banette @ Banettite
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Substitute
- Disable
- Pain Split / Taunt
- Shadow Claw / Night Shade / Foul Play

I know that Banette won't be able to get Pain Split or Foul Play until Pokebank is open, but this set is still useful for once it does. Mega Banette is the only Pokemon to have the ability Prankster along with being able to learn Disable, and therefore should be feared. Do keep in mind that Prankster only takes effect the turn after Mega Evolution.

The point of this moveset is to set up a Substitute as early as possible, then Disable the opposing Pokemon as soon as they use their move of choice to try and break your Substitute. Pain Split can be used to restore HP if multiple Subs are needed, though Taunt can be used to keep entry hazards from being set up. The last move can be one of the offensive moves of your choice, with Night Shade and Foul Play seeming more useful; although Shadow Claw is still viable, since even with no investment, Mega Banette's attack is higher than its HP. You can also swap the offensive move for a status-inflicting move, but this is not suggested.

Comments

nice moveset I'm gonna test it as this is one of many bannete moveset with its stone :)

Answer 5

Banette @ Banettite
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Adamant Nature
• Rest
• Sleep Talk
• Shadow Claw
• Gunk Shot

Step 1:Sleep. You should be able to sponge a hit with 252 HP EVs. Step 2:Sleep Talk. Sleep Talk is status, prankster gives it priority. Launch off priority gunk shots and STAB shadow claws, at the risk of sleep talk selecting Rest or you wake up. If you are still alive when you wake up, rest again, heal yourself.

Comments

Rest only puts you to sleep for 2 turns so you don't have to worry about that

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Oh, right

Answer 6

Bannete @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 252 HP / 128 Def / 128 SpD
Impish Nature
• Trick
• Disable
• Thunder Wave
• Knock Off

Trick them a scarf, then disable their attack. They’ll likely switch out to avoid having to struggle, so use thunder wave so the Pokémon coming in gets paralyzed. Then use knock off to get rid of their item. This effectively cripples two of their Pokémon, unless if the Pokémon does good with a scarf

Answer 7

Banette @ Life Orb
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Adamant Nature
- Trick Room
- Shadow Claw
- Knock Off
- Pain Split

• Trick Room-Banette has bad speed so this will help with dat
• Shadow Claw-The best stab move banette can get
• Knock Off-useful w/ the Frisk ability
• Pain Split-Decent recovery move

Alternatively, you may choose not to run a Trick Set. That should look something like this

Shadow Sneak-Priority STAB
Sucker Punch- Only way for Banette to deal w/ ghosts
Will-O-Wisp-Reduces damage Banette will take
for the last move be creative. I really don't know

Comments

While not a bad set, your description of Sucker Punch is just wrong. Only way to deal with Ghosts? No. Ghost is Super Effective against Ghost, hence options like Shadow Claw, or Shadow Sneak. Most of the fast ghosts are frail, and the slow ones bulky, so both are valid options.

Answer 8

Cancturne countered;

Wrath (Banette) (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Insomnia
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Shadow Claw
- Gunk Shot
- Sucker Punch
- Will-O-Wisp

If someone with a Cacturne feels safe to set up a Swords Dance, hit them with Gunk Shot. Obviously, a Cacturne has a sash, so then as they Sucker Punch, so do you. Done!

Will-O-Wisp or Shadow Claw for Golurk leads, and Gunk Shot is just a nice and powerful move. A very situational Banette, but when you find the right moment, it can be very lethal.

Answer 9

Banette @ Banettite
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 252 Atk / 128 Def / 128 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Destiny Bond
- Sucker Punch
- Shadow Claw
- Substitute

Mega Banette has incredible capabilities. With a base 165 attack he can hit harder than Slaking. However, he is frail, meaning a STAB sucker punch could be the end of him. So, this set takes alot of practice, and you need good predicting skills. Use substitute to be able to take a boosted hit. Sucker Punch is a good priority move, but Shadow Claw is there for a reliable physical move. When your substitute ends, this is where it's time to sacrifice yourself, so since you're basically gonna faint anyways, why not use Destiny Bond? With Prankster, it has increased priority, so you can get the sacrifice in before they attack you. When they do happen to attack you, you will faint, but they will come down with you. Like getting pushed off an arena in a sumo contest, and dragging the opponent off with you, I guess.

Comments

Thanks for this handy moveset!

Answer 10

Banette
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 255 Atk / 255 Def
- Shadow Claw
- Trick Room
- Sucker Punch
- Trick / Thief

Itemless Set

Shadow claw is STAB and has higher chance of being critical, Trick room is to make it quick, Sucker punch is for when you use Trick room thinking that your opponent was quicker than you, but then is slower, Thief combined with frisk is really good, but I think Trick is better because you can steal the opponent's item and exchange it for a Toxic orb, for example

Answer 11

Banette @ Banettite
Ability: Insomnia / Frisk / Cursed Body
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk
Adamant Nature
- Sucker Punch
- Taunt / Shadow Sneak
- Will-O-Wisp
- Shadow Claw

this mega evolution has a bunch of useful priority and a massive attack stat, and covers everything except for dark types, which aren't very common anyway, due to the high frequency of fighting moves

Answer 12

Gen VI

Peeves (Banette) (M) @ Banettite
Ability: Insomnia
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Brave Nature
- Destiny Bond
- Will-O-Wisp
- Payback
- Shadow Sneak

Mega-Evolve right away (as you would). No need for a Trick Room setup because of the Mega-Evo's ability Prankster (plus Shadow Sneak +1 Priority anyway). Payback to give bonus to lower speed (and lack of Trick Room), Will-O-Wisp to deal hax and lower opponent's attack, and, the gem of this set, Destiny Bond. If you know you're going down (low HP, or Mega-Tyranitar just showed up) Destiny Bond it up. +1 Priority thanks to Prankster and you revenge-kill at the same time.

Comments

I like the set (and the name too), recently i was think in a mega bannete, and make a moveset, coincidently, the EV and nature are the same i select, but my set is a trick room set based.
but this is really good, maybe test it, if my plans didn't work.

Answer 13

Banette @ Razor Fang
Ability: Cursed Body
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Will-O-Wisp
- Sucker Punch / Shadow Sneak
- Gunk Shot
- Shadow Claw

Ok, this is a troll set for Banette, who can make VERY good use of it. Cursed Body is so that when it is attacked, that move has a 30% chance of being Disabled. Razor Fang gives all of its moves a 10% Flinch chance, which is useful (occasionally). And then WoW is to give them damage while all of their moves are Disabled and they get flinched and can't move. Shadow Sneak/Sucker Punch is for some much needed priority, as Banette's speed is so low that it makes Bronzong look like a marathon runner(no legs lol XD). Gunk Shot is a 30% chance of poison, which adds to the trolls if it's a Fire-type trying to switch in to ruin your day with its WoW resistance. Plus, it's 120 Base Power. Why not? And then Shadow Claw is for the major STAB, it also has a high critical hit rate. I love trolling with this set. It makes so many people rage quit. Have fun with it!
-MankeyToTheFace

Answer 14

Troll Mega Banette

Banette @ Banettite
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature
- Thunder Wave
- Confuse Ray
- Curse
- Pain Split

I've been using this set to great success in RU. Thunder Wave and Confuse Ray is classic ParaFuse, and Curse is a nice little thing I added on. Pain Split helps you recover after Curse, and often allows you to fire off another one after the previously Cursed Pokemon switches out.

Answer 15

Role: physical sweeper with OP attack and mediocre defensive stats

Banette @ Focus Sash / Banettite
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 252 Def / 252 SpD / 4 Spe
Timid / Adamant Nature
- Phantom Force / Feint Attack / Shadow Ball
- Hex / Shadow Claw
- Will-O-Wisp / Foul Play
- Shadow Sneak

• Phantom Force: dodge attacks and hit hard( 90 base damage ), STAB, good with benette's high attack. Replace with faint atack or shadow ball playing below gen. 6( shadow ball has good damage and STAB, faint atack works well with banette's high attack, while having perfect accuracy.
• Hex/ shadow claw:STAB, if paired with will-o-wisp, does devastating damage. Shadow claw uses benette's high attack plus good damage, STAB
• Will-o-wisp/ foul play: burns opponents and works good with hex. Foul play makes use of banette's high attack, and also uses the opponents attack. Also gives a none ghost move to use
• Shadow sneak: priority, even though base power is low, when paired with STAB and benette's high attack, packs a punch with priority, which is really good( the punch isn't super big, but it still hurts )

If your afraid of being taken out, replace one of the moves with destiny bond. This might surprise most people because benette is usually an offensive Pokemon

Hoped this helped:)

Answer 16

Banette (F) @ Banettite
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 6 Def
Adamant Nature
- Shadow Sneak
- Will-O-Wisp
- Destiny Bond
- Protect

Sad that my favorite Ghost-type got one of the worst Mega Evolutions. Anyways, Protect allows you to survive a turn and gives you a chance to actually use your Prankster Ability. Will-O-Wisp cripples physical attackers, and Shadow Sneak is Priority STAB that can hit pretty hard with that massive attack stat. You're sadly going to use Destiny Bond more than Shadow Sneak, as Mega Banette, much like regular Banette, can barely take a hit after a WoW. So, taking your opponent down with you is sadly your best option in most cases.

Answer 17

I know a perfect moveset for those who do not wish to use Mega-Banette, or already have a Mega.

Banette @ Focus Sash
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 252 Atk (other EVs could go wherever you think most necessary, but NOT in speed, or Special Attack)
Adamant Nature
- Thunder Wave
- Confuse Ray
- Attract
- Shadow Claw / Phantom Force / Shadow Sneak

Allow me to explain: You endure your opponent's first hit with the Focus Sash, and also use Thunder Wave. Thunder Wave will provide automatic priority, so you can use Confuse Ray, and if they're opposite gender to you, Attract. Then you finish off with your Ghost type move.

However, NEVER use this moveset against an Electric or Normal type Pokemon, or against Heliolisk basically. If you want to use Mega Banette, replace one of the Status moves with Protect or Substitute. I hope this helped. :) (Sorry if you get stuck battling Heliolisk of the same gender.)

Answer 18

"Item Stealer" Banette

Banette @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 104 Atk / 152 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly / Adamant Nature
- Trick
- Shadow Sneak
- Sucker Punch
- Rest

How to:
When you send out banette, it will frisk a Pokemon and trick allows you to get that item and while the opposing Pokemon got your toxic orb. In double battle, you can choose between 2 items. You might be thinking "WHAT ABOUT THE POISON!!" Simple... Rest. then you can make a good use of your item, If you might get a Dark or Ghost moves boosting (Spell Tag example) then you are lucky. And let the Pokemon you steal at enjoy the poison... Glad I bring the Rest in, for me Shadow Sneak, Sucker Punch, and Rest are already annoying, add that burn to make it more annoying. lol. if your banette happens to be running low health, quickly use rest. and when it wokes up, Try to run that Shadow sneak and sucker punch again, and the if your health low again use rest again, Then Repeat ;)

Answer 19

Banette @ Banettite
Ability: Frisk
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 60 Def / 196 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Shadow Claw
- Trick Room
- Destiny Bond
- Rain Dance

This is a banette I use in double battles. It's a very good set up Pokemon and sweeps well with ferrothorn and araquanid.

Answer 20

Mega Banette
(1):

Banette @ Banettite
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 252 Atk / 128 Def / 128 SpD
Brave Nature
- Trick
- Will-O-Wisp
- Hex
- Knock Off / Sucker Punch / Shadow sneak

• Trick: Work well with frisk, go first using Prankster
• Will-O-Wisp: work with Prankster after Mega evolve
• Hex: work with Will o wisp
• Knock Off / Sucker Punch / Shadow sneak: STAB, priority move/ Shadow claw for good damage

(2):

Banette @ Banettite
Ability: Insomnia
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Brave Nature
- Shadow Sneak
- Sucker Punch / Pursuit / Gunk Shot
- Shadow Claw
- Rest

• Shadow sneak: STAB, priority
• Sucker punch/ Pursuit/ Gunk shot: Deal with ghost weaknesses/ Predict switch out/ Grass, Fairy Killer
• Shadow claw: STAB, good damage, work with high base Atk, deal with ghost type
• Rest: Work with imnosia, heal back HP

Comments

For the second set, Rest fails if the user's ability is Insomnia.