Surskit Movesets & Competitive Sets

Surskit can Baton Pass effectively due to its high Speed. The main goal of this set is to Baton Pass an Agility or two to a slower sweeper. Substitute is another move that Surskit can Baton Pass to another Pokemon, and can be used to block status. Since the first three moves can be prevented by Taunt, the move in the last moveslot is STAB Hydro Pump, which gives Surskit an attacking option. Hydro Pump hits opposing Ground-, Fire-, and Rock-type Pokemon hard, even without any Special Attack investment. In order to survive longer, the EV spread used buffs up Surskit's defenses. A Calm nature further increases Surskit's Special Defense to ensure better survivability against special attackers. Eviolite allows Surskit to survive one or two hits, while Oran Berry allows Surskit to recover and set up more Substitutes. This set works better in the rain because Surskit will become faster, forcing the opponent to make a switch. Once Surskit sets up Agility and Substitute, they can be Baton Passed to slower teammates such as Cubone, Litwick, and Solosis. As for teammates, Flying-type resists such as Aron can greatly help Surskit.

With astounding Speed and good Special Attack, Surskit has all the tools required to be a deadly special sweeper. This set's effectiveness rises greatly when used in the rain. Hydro Pump is a great STAB move that can hurt almost anything, while Signal Beam is another STAB move that has a chance to confuse the enemy. Hidden Power Fire and Hidden Power Fighting both counter Steel-types that might try to wall Surskit. If you plan on using Surskit in the rain, Hidden Power Fighting must be used. Last but not least, Giga Drain hits almost any Water-type hard. The EV spread maximizes Surskit's Special Attack and Speed, while slightly buffing Surskit's Defense and Special Defense. The IV spread makes Hidden Power Fire legal, and decreases the amount of Life Orb recoil taken, allowing Surskit to stay in battle longer. A second IV spread, 19 HP / 30 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe, can be used for Hidden Power Fighting, decreasing Life Orb recoil taken as well. Speaking of Life Orb, Surskit's moves increase in power significantly, sometimes ensuring a kill. Faster Flying-type Pokemon can easily OHKO Surskit due to its bad defenses, making Nosepass a great partner. Pokemon that are also able to summon rain make good teammates, as they allow Surskit to become much faster due to its ability, Swift Swim.

This is the best set Surskit has to offer, despite being a touch outclassed by Omanyte. The general idea is that you bring Surskit in while it's raining, and proceed to hit as many things as possible. Hydro Pump is the main method of attack, mainly because Surskit needs power and doesn't learn Surf. Hidden Power Electric puts an end to Mantyke that think they can switch in, and STAB Hydro Pump in the rain hits Chinchou just as hard as a super effective Hidden Power Grass would. Psybeam is the weakest attack, and is mainly used as a coverage move against Croagunk, who is immune to Water and doesn't get hit very hard by Hidden Power Electric. Signal Beam is really just a filler move, but it can be useful as a secondary STAB. Quick Attack is a nice option to give Surskit a priority move in the rain. If getting another Pokemon to set up Rain Dance isn't an option, you can always drop Signal Beam and replace it with Rain Dance. Aipom, Bronzor, Mantyke, Meowth, and Voltorb all work extremely well alongside this Surskit. Aipom, Meowth, and Voltorb have the Speed needed in order to set up a quick Rain Dance, and the offensive ability to take something to the grave in the process. Bronzor and Mantyke are two rather bulky Pokemon, and said bulk allows them to take hits with ease, and still manage to set up Rain Dance.

You may think Surskit is a Pokemon who is only good in the rain, but that is not entirely the case. Surskit can effectively Baton Pass an Agility to your slower, heavy-hitting sweepers, and allow them to outpace everything but priority attacks. Hydro Pump is for powerful STAB, so you're not totally useless on your own. The final move and the item are up to personal preference. Endure can be combined with a Pinch Berry, such as a Petaya or Liechi Berry, to pass something other than just Speed. Substitute can do the same, but also allows you to pass a Substitute in order to ensure that the pass goes through. Ice Beam, although giving Surskit inferior coverage as opposed to Hidden Power Electric, prevents Dragon Dance Dratini and Bagon from setting up. Oran Berry can provide a little more bulk, though Surskit is hard-pressed to survive most attacks. Focus Sash can help ensure the pass, though Stealth Rock makes it harder to use unless Surskit is leading. Cubone and Porygon make two effective partners for this set. If Surskit decides to only pass a Speed boost, Cubone can make the most of the added Speed. If Surskit chooses to pass both Special Attack and Speed, then a Special Attacking tank such as Porygon would make the best option to pass to. You could even start a chain of Baton Passing, and pass to a Pokemon such as Gligar, who then can stat up on Attack and pass to a sweeper.