Ekans Movesets & Competitive Sets

Moves Coil boosts Ekans's Attack, Defense, and accuracy, allowing it to sweep weakened teams. STAB Gunk Shot dents anything that doesn't resist it. After a Coil boost, Gunk Shot is 100% accurate and can OHKO frail Pokemon and 2HKO bulky Pokemon like Mienfoo and Staryu. Earthquake is used to hit Steel-types that are immune to Gunk Shot such as Ferroseed, Magnemite, and Pawniard, as well as Rock-types that resist Gunk Shot like Tirtouga and Onix. Sucker Punch gives Ekans priority and hits Gastly and Abra hard as well as faster weakened foes like Doduo. Glare is an alternative that can cripple faster threats, including Ground-types, allowing Ekans to set up on them; however, Sucker Punch is too valuable for hitting Pokemon like Gastly, Frillish, and Abra. Set Details The given EV spread gives Ekans 22 / 12 / 16 bulk, letting it take several decently powerful neutral hits while hitting a Defense number that allows it to efficiently boost with Coil. Intimidate drops the foe's Attack, allowing Ekans to force switches and have an easier time setting up. The given bulk along with Intimidate allows Ekans to take hits like offensive Vullaby's Brave Bird and Ponyta's Flare Blitz. Shed Skin can also be run to get rid of annoying status ailments that can deter Ekans's sweeps. Berry Juice gives Ekans more longevity and can heal it to full HP after it takes a hit when sweeping. A Careful nature is used to increase Ekans's special bulk because Coil already boosts Defense. Usage Tips It is best for Ekans to be used as a mid- or late-game sweeper when its checks have been weakened or removed, such as fast, powerful attackers like Carvanha and bulky Steel- and Ground-types like Ferroseed and Mudbray. Ekans can be switched into neutral and resisted physical attacks thanks to Intimidate, but it should not switch into powerful attacks like Life Orb Pawniard's Knock Off and Magnemite's Thunderbolt. Be careful against Diglett, as it can trap Ekans and OHKO it with Earthquake, and it has a faster Sucker Punch. Also be wary against Pawniard, as if Ekans is running Intimidate, its switch into Pawniard will give it a +1 Attack boost due to Defiant. Ekans can be switched into common Fighting-types like Mienfoo and Timburr thanks to Intimidate as well as into Fairy-types like Spritzee and Cottonee due to its Poison typing. It can then proceed to set up a Coil or use Glare on a predicted switch. Gunk Shot should be used conservatively due to its low PP until all Steel-types are removed, in which case it can use it liberally when sweeping. Earthquake should be used to hit Steel-types like Pawniard when sweeping. Sucker Punch should be used to KO Gastly and Abra as well as hit faster Pokemon before Ekans goes down. Glare can be used before setting up, as the paralysis will make it easier for Ekans to sweep. Team Options Fighting-types such as Mienfoo, Scraggy, and Timburr appreciate Ekans's ability to handle Fairy-types, while they can weaken Steel-types for Ekans in return. Other Steel-type answers such as Diglett, Ponyta, and Mudbray can further pressure Steel-types and allow Ekans to have an easier time sweeping late-game. Water-types like Staryu and Carvanha can defeat Ground-types for Ekans, while it can check Grass-types for them in return. Ekans values Wish support from the likes of Spritzee, as Ekans can be worn down over the course of the match by switching into moves with Intimidate. In return, Ekans can take the Poison-type moves aimed at Spritzee. Ekans functions much better with Sticky Web support, as it will be able to threaten a wider range of foes; good Sticky Web users are Spinarak and Surskit. Knock Off users like Pawniard and Alolan Grimer can get rid of Eviolite on bulkier foes, allowing Ekans to take them out more easily when sweeping.

Moves Besides Snivy, Ekans is the only Pokemon in Little Cup that can use Coil, which boosts its Attack, Defense, and accuracy in one turn. Gunk Shot's accuracy was buffed this generation, which puts it at 100% accuracy after one Coil boost. Earthquake smacks Steel-types such as Pawniard and Magnemite, which would otherwise wall Ekans's STAB moves with their Poison-type immunities. Sucker Punch hits Gastly and Psychic-types hard, but common moves such as Substitute and Will-O-Wisp can circumvent this. As such, Bite can be used instead. Glare can also be used in the last slot to cripple faster threats, hitting Ground- and Grass-types with 100% accuracy. Set Details The given EV spread grants Ekans 22 / 12 / 16 bulk, which is further boosted by Eviolite. Intimidate can force switches and Shed Skin removes bothersome status ailments such as paralysis and burn. Berry Juice is used to sustain Ekans's longevity, as it will be switching in and out throughout the match to make good use of Intimidate. Eviolite can be used instead for the added defenses and ability to contend against Pawniard, a common Ekans switch-in. A Careful nature is preferred to increase Ekans's special bulk, as Coil only affects Ekans's Defense stat. Usage Tips Ekans can easily switch into a Fighting-type move and Intimidate the foe, then proceed to use Coil as the opposing Pokemon switches out or attempts to hit Ekans. An attacking move can also be used to nail a switch-in for solid damage, so make sure you are selecting your move accordingly. Team Options Ekans's ability to take out Fairy-types is a valuable asset to the plethora of Fighting-types in the tier, such as Mienfoo and Scraggy. Water-types such as Staryu and Slowpoke can defeat Ground-types, which can cause some problems for Ekans and prevent it from boosting with Coil. Wish support from Pokemon such as Lickitung and Spritzee is very beneficial, and Ekans can take Fighting- and Poison-type moves aimed at these Wish passers, respectively.

Coil was given to Ekans this generation, and there is no reason not to use it. Coil is a boosting move that raises the user's Attack, Defense, and accuracy, which is perfect on Ekans, a physically-based Pokemon with low Defense and an inaccurate, powerful STAB move in Gunk Shot. Gunk Shot is recommended as Ekans's main STAB move due to its monstrous power and high accuracy when paired with Coil; after a single use of Coil, Gunk Shot's accuracy will be around 93%, easily making it reliable. Poison Jab is an alternative to Gunk Shot if you like the immediate higher accuracy and PP, but Ekans probably won't be around long enough to use Gunk Shot more than 8 times anyway, and if you're not using Coil then you're not achieving the goal of this set. Sucker Punch is used mostly for priority and the ability to beat Gastly. Gunk Shot will do at least 27% to Gastly, always breaking its Substitute. This means with good prediction, Ekans has no hard time with Gastly thanks to Sucker Punch, especially as it resists Sludge Bomb and has Shed Skin to render Hypnosis close to useless. Sucker Punch can also make Ekans a revenge killer in desperate measures or OHKO frail Psychic-types such as Abra before they can attack it. Rest and Earthquake are both useful moves for the last slot. Rest will heal Ekans, so it is usually the better choice, and Shed Skin works in harmony with Rest to wake Ekans up. If your team has Wish support, however, you may want to go with Earthquake. Earthquake allows Ekans to beat opposing Poison-types without Levitate, namely Croagunk, which resists Ekans's other two moves. You can use Poison Fang or another Poison-type move over Gunk Shot if you don't trust its accuracy even after the accuracy boost provided by Coil. Bulldoze is available in the last slot if you wish to lower your opponent's Speed; note that using Coil or Rest on a switch will almost always give better results, though. Ekans has access to some very obscure, situational moves such as Seed Bomb, Rock Slide, and even Wrap. These should almost never be used over the moves listed in the set, but if your team has more use for them, it's an exception. Good teammates for Ekans are Pokemon that can defeat Ground- and Psychic-types. Frillish is a perfect candidate; both of its STAB moves are super effective on Ekans's weaknesses. Frillish can also somewhat take care of Gastly so long as it is not behind a Substitute. It will, however, lose the majority of its health from a Shadow Ball, and Life Orb or Choice Specs variants will beat Frillish. Cottonee can come in on Ground-type moves and use Encore, and it can lock Gastly into Substitute to boot. On top of this, Ekans can take Poison-type moves aimed at Cottonee with ease. Leech Seed support will also be useful to constantly heal Ekans, especially if it isn't running Rest.

The basic strategy of this set is to switch into something that fears Ekans such as Mienfoo, scare it with Intimidate, hit the switch-in with Switcheroo, hit the next switch-in with Glare, and use Swagger on it. This is probably the most annoying set in Little Cup; every single obscure move Ekans can learn combine to make it impossible to hit. Switcheroo is to put Ekans's Choice Scarf on an opposing wall. Because Ekans lures walls such as Slowpoke and Ferroseed, Switcheroo is extremely useful for crippling them. Afterward, depending on the opponent, it's best to use either Glare or Swagger. If the opponent is a fast Pokemon that can't harm Ekans, Glare will hit any switch-in, even Ground-types, assuming it hits. If it is a slow Pokemon such as Ferroseed which will probably try to set up anyway, Swagger is the best choice to hinder their setup. If the victim will outspeed Ekans with a Choice Scarf and be able to damage it easily, however, switching to a check is the best idea. Intimidate is the preferred ability as it causes switches, which is Ekans's lighter fluid so to speak. Ekans, believe it or not, is a phenomenal Mienfoo check. With the EVs and nature above, Choice Scarf Ekans will outspeed Mienfoo, lower its Attack stat with Intimidate, and give it a Choice Scarf. It can then proceed to wreak havoc with Glare and Swagger on switch-ins. The last slot is reserved for an attacking move so that Ekans isn't complete Taunt bait. Acid Spray is a useful STAB move which will cause even more switches, as it harshly lowers the foe's Special Defense. Giga Drain is an option over Acid Spray, however, as it gives Ekans some health back, which it greatly desires. It also hits Ground-types on the switch. In the last slot, you may use Protect or Substitute to stall out damage from Swagger (or poison damage if your team has Toxic Spikes). You can remove the Defense and Special Defense EVs to put 36 into Ekans's Special Attack, which will then hit 11, but this set is meant to be bulky and not offensive, so it's not recommended. The nature should be swapped to Jolly if one desires to use a physical move. Attract is an option if your team has Toxic Spikes, but it's very situational. Users of entry hazards are the best teammates for Ekans. As it will usually cause three to four switches a game, you will want to have as many entry hazards as possible. Omanyte, which has decent synergy with Ekans, has access to every form of entry hazard. Pineco also has access to all 3 entry hazards as well as Rapid Spin. Dwebble can use Stealth Rock and Spikes, and it can beat Psychic-types with Bug-type attacks. Stunky can get rid of Psychic-types using Pursuit, and it also beats Gastly, especially Lum Berry Stunky. Wynaut can trap and kill most Ground-type Pokemon that threaten Ekans.

This set takes advantage of Intimidate and the paralysis-inducing move, Glare. Using this set is rather simple: Come in on a physical attacker to try and force a switch because of Intimidate, and use Glare on whatever comes in. Unlike Thunder Wave, Glare paralyzes any Pokemon, regardless of its type; however, Glare has a shaky 75% accuracy, which can prove fatal if you miss. Poison Jab and Gunk Shot are Ekans's two best STAB moves, the former being more accurate but less powerful. Earthquake is used to hit Rock-, Poison-, and Steel-types besides Bronzor for super effective damage. The last move is a choice between Bite and Aqua Tail. Bite can be used to hit Ghost-types and also has a chance to create the deadly paraflinch combination. Aqua Tail is used to hit Ground-types, the most notable being Gligar, who resists Ekans's STAB moves and is immune to Earthquake. It also hits Bronzor for more damage than Bite. The EVs Ekans invests in all have a specific purpose. The 76 HP EVs and 4 Defense EVs allow for 21 HP and 11 Defense, respectively. This allows Ekans to never be 3HKOed by Scarf Machop's Dynamic Punch, making it a great switch in. 196 Attack EVs allow Ekans to reach max Attack with an Adamant nature. With 14 Speed, Ekans can outrun specific Pokemon, such as Phanpy, Duskull and Aron, and proceed to attack it if Glare misses on the switch. The 4 EVs in Special Defense add an extra stat point. This set loves having entry hazards up, since Intimidate often forces switches. Pineco is a great teammate because of this, since it can switch in on Ground-type moves and can set up both Stealth Rock and Spikes. Omanyte can also set up both Stealth Rock and Spikes, but it shares Ekans's Ground-type weakness, so Pineco is almost always the superior choice. However, with this set, be sure to not set up Toxic Spikes, as it gets in the way of Glare, since it prevents the foe from being paralyzed. This set is not designed to obliterate the foe, but to cripple him, so it doesn't need much help offensively. This allows Ekans to be a great aid to sweepers, especially slow ones, thanks to its ability to paralyze opponents. Slowpoke, Stunky and Carvanha are both great examples of Pokemon who appreciate paralysis support. They can all switch in on Psychic-type moves easily and start sweeping without the fear of being slower than the opponent. Munchlax can also take advantage of paralysis support, and can do huge damage with it. Aron, especially the powerful Choice Band set, makes great use of paralysis support, as it makes up for its lackluster Speed. Defensively, you are probably going to want the same teammates as the Choice set. Bronzor and Houndour continue to be great and Bronzor also benefits from the paralysis support, due to its low Speed. Just be sure you aren't running Gyro Ball, since paralysis will lower its power.