What is a good moveset for Kabutops?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Kabutops, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for its pre-evolutions, if any, 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 detail, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Kabutops Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Answer 1

Kabutops (M) @ Choice Band

Role: Rain Abuse Sweeper

Trait: Swift Swim

EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd

Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)

• Stone Edge
• X-Scissor
• Waterfall
• Night Slash / Superpower

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Stone Edge and Waterfall are STAB, good power. Nice coverage.
Night Slash and X-Scissor are Coverage.

Answer 2

Gen V

Kabutops (M) @ Life Orb

Trait: Swift Swim

EVs: 252 Atk / 156 Def / 100 Spd

Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)

• Aqua Jet
• Stone Edge
• X-Scissor
• Swords Dance

Swift Swim sweeper. Aqua Jet is going to be powerful for a priority attack, thanks to Rain boost (if you aren't using this guy in the Rain, you're wasting potential) Life Orb, and Swords Dance, as well as STAB. Stone Edge also gets STAB. X-Scissor provides type coverage. Your EVs give you enough Speed, especially with Swift Swim and you using Aqua Jet most of the time. Full Attack, and a good amount of bulk so you can survive hits.

Comments

Splash plate is gonna be better most likely.

Answer 3

A new thing I thought up (might be fualty).

Kabutops@Weakness Policy

Ability:Weak Armour
EVs: 252 Atk, 252 Spd
Nature: Adamant/Jolly
-Endure
-Aqua Jet
-Night Slash
-Flail

First use Endure, get hit by a super effective, survive with 1hp, activate Weakness Policy and Flail of everything. Night Slash for Ghosts and Aqua Jet for STAB priority. Fails if they don't hit with super effective, they get a 2nd hit, or they resist.

Answer 4

This Pokemon is monstrous in rain. And with a little boost in attack and speed, it goes a long way.

Kabutops @ Choice Band
Nature: Jolly
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 HP

• Stone Edge
• Liquidation
• Aqua Jet
• Superpower/X-Scissor

This set is for use in rain because of its Swift Swim ability. Stone Edge is for powerful STAB. Liquidation is also for STAB. Aqua Jet is for priority and STAB. Superpower is just for high damage, but X-Scissor is for Grass coverage.

But that's not all, I have another set.

Kabutops @ Focus Sash/Life Orb
Nature: Jolly
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 HP

• Swords Dance
• Stone Edge
• Liquidation
• Superpower/Knock Off/X-Scissor

This set is also best used in rain for a boost in water attacks and Swift Swim. Swords Dance is good as a set up move. Stone Edge is powerful STAB. Liquidation is boosted in rain and is STAB. The last option is up to you, as all three can work well. Superpower is just a filler for power, Knock Off is for getting rid of items, and yet again X-Scissor is for coverage against Grass types.

Pokemon Showdown Damage Calculations:

252 Atk Choice Band Kabutops Superpower vs. 244 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Chansey: 476-562 (67.8 - 80%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252 Atk Choice Band Kabutops Liquidation vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Skarmory in Rain: 163-193 (48.9 - 57.9%) -- 96.9% chance to 2HKO

+2 252 Atk Life Orb Kabutops Liquidation vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Skarmory in Rain: 282-333 (84.6 - 100%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO

+2 252 Atk Life Orb Kabutops Liquidation vs. 244 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Chansey in Rain: 656-773 (93.4 - 110.1%) -- 62.5% chance to OHKO

Comments

Nice. Definitly outclassed by many other pokemon, but I can appreciate giving the underdog some love :)

Answer 5

Kabutops (M) @ Focus Sash
Trait: Swift Swim
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Stone Edge
- X-Scissor
- Swords Dance
- Waterfall

Answer 6

KABUTOPS --@-- LEFTOVERS or MUSCLE BAND
IMPISH nature, ability: WEAK ARMOR
EVS: 252 ATK, 196 SPEED, 60 HP

-- WATERFALL
-- STONE EDGE
-- SWORDS DANCE
-- NIGHT SLASH

he's got some physical bulk between impish and hp evs, so he can set up swords dance. on the same turn weak armor should activate if your opponent hits you, giving him a NICE speed boost!!
then you have dual stab with waterfall and stone edge ( aqua tail and rock slide are replacements if you wish ) with night slash as my favorite coverage move =)

Answer 7

Kabutops actually works as a great Choice Scarf Rapid Spinner.

Kabutops @ Choice Scarf
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 HP
Jolly Nature
-Rapid Spin
-Knock Off
-Waterfall
-Stone Edge

Scarf makes Kabutops frighteningly fast. Any ability can be used, that's why there's no Ability slot. I run Weak Armor for the speed boost to outspeed other Scarfers. Rapid Spin is Rapid Spin, Waterfall and Stone Edge are nice STAB, and Knock Off punishes Ghosts who think they can switch in on you. Be sure to predict well, though.

Comments

Kabutops doesn't learn Earthquake.

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I forgot I even added a moveset for this, haha. I was surprised to learn that. Thanks for correcting me.

Answer 8

Double/Triple Battle

Kabutops (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Weak Armor
EVs: 252 Atk / 216 Def / 40 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Rock Slide
- Aerial Ace
- Waterfall
- Brick Break

Use a classic DT strategy of using Fury Swipes to activate Weak Armor. Then sweep!!! Rock Slide is STAB that hits multiple foes. Waterfall is STAB. Aerial Ace can hit any foe in a Triple Battle. Brick Break is dual screen breaking coverage.

Answer 9

Kabutops @ Damp Rock (Extends Rain Dance)
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Def / 4 Spe
Adamant Nature (ATK+/SP. ATK -)
- Rain Dance (Makes use of Swift Swim)
- Swords Dance (Sharply boosts Attack stat)
- Waterfall (Nice physical STAB, can flinch as well)
- Stone Edge (STAB, good critical hit ratio)

Answer 10

Gen 5 or 6 (5 is better for rain)

Ruler o' all thing (Kabutops) (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Aqua Jet
- Stone Edge
- Waterfall

In rain, this thing is practically unstoppable. It gets Swift Swim, which makes it's speed skyrocket. Also, if it sets up a Swords Dance, it's Attack is super high as well. Waterfall + Stone Edge for Stab, and Aqua Jet for priority incase you fear you are gonna get outsped.

Answer 11

Role: Fast physical sweeper

Kabutops @ Focus Sash
Ability: Weak Armor (More Speed once hit)
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
- Swords Dance (Boosts Attack, does well with Weak Armor)
- Waterfall (For STAB and possible flinch)
- Aqua Jet (For priority)
- Rock Slide / Stone Edge (Coverage and STAB)

Answer 12

Gen 8 RU
Kabutops @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Stone Edge
- Liquidation
- Aqua Jet
- Swords Dance

To be used in rain. Stone Edge is STAB. Liquidation is also STAB and can lower the opponent's defense. Aqua Jet is priority STAB. Swords Dance to boost your attack.

Answer 13

Gen 8 ZU

Kabutops @ Focus Sash
Ability: Weak Armor
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Aqua Tail
- Stone Edge
- Knock Off
- Hone Claws

Answer 14

Gen 8 NU/PU/ZU

Kabutops @ Focus Sash
Ability: Weak Armor
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Liquidation
- Knock Off
- Rapid Spin

A Hyper Offense lead you can use in lower tiers and can be used if you don't want to use Aerodactyl if you decide to use it in NU. Stealth Rock is for setting an entry hazard. Liquidation is strong water STAB. Knock Off is for coverage and removing items from opposing Pokemon. Rapid Spin is for clearing away hazards which is very important for Hyper Offense Pokemon such as Focus Sash Salazzle, as they prefer to not have entry hazards on their side.