What is a good moveset for Salazzle?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Salazzle, 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.

Salazzle Pokedex and learnset for reference.

Answer 1

Salazzle @ Focus Sash
Ability: Oblivious
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Flamethrower
- Dragon Pulse
- Sludge Bomb

My Salazzle has never left my party, ever, for real! I've had like 50 online encounters and she ALWAYS SAVES ME, never lost a battle with this Salazzle.
Salazzle is insanely fast, so first I use Nasty Plot! then if an Earthquake/Strong-enough-Psychic move hits you, you'll be left with 1 HP. This is when the fun starts

Comments

Marill, Azumarill, Carbink, Diance, Primarina, and Tapu Fini would beg to differ.

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Heatran would like to have a word with you

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I removed a comment chain which went off-topic. @Night Child, your original comment was removed because it wasn't constructive. Gatekeeping Pokemon playstyles doesn't contribute to discussion about Salazzle movesets, and was obviously rousing enough to derail the thread.
If you want to talk about this more, please do so on my wall. Don't re-post messages we have removed, and don't tell us how to do our job please.

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great set!

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I use this exact set except I use the corrosion ability

Answer 2

Salazzle (F) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Corrosion
EVs: 248 HP / 8 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Toxic
- Disable
- Flamethrower

Corrosion allows you to Poison everything. Basically bring Salazzle into a Pokemon it threatens, and Sub up. You're free to Toxic anything it comes in, and Disable the move they used against the Sub, and Sub again. Flamethrower is there over other moves for offensive pressure in case of a random Taunt.

Answer 3

Salazzle @ Choice Specs / Life Orb
Ability: Oblivious
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Flamethrower / Fire Blast
- Sludge Wave / Sludge Bomb
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Dragon Pulse

You can replace either Hidden Power [Ice] or Dragon Pulse with Nasty Plot. While Corrosion seems like a great ability, you are not going to use Toxic or Sludge Bomb on a Celesteela or Toxapex with this set. So Oblivious was the better choice. Hidden Power [Ice] is needed to nail some Ground-types, while Dragon Pulse is needed to deal with some Dragons. Nasty Plot may be hard to set, but it still do a great job since Salazzle can force a switch against a Pokémon that it checks. The others are just STAB. Choice Specs with the EV spread is gonna aid her with sweeping, making her a better suit for a Special Sweeper. Though Timid nature and Max Speed can allow her to outspeed majority of the attackers, some of them might be faster and can be carrying a Scarf. So it's advised to keep away from them as they might use Ground-type moves which can OHKO Salazzle. Life Orb is needed if you are running Nasty Plot.

Comments

I have a question. If Celesteela and Toxapex are normally so hard to kill, wouldn't it be beneficial to carry Corrosion Toxic specifically to whittle them down? I know that Celesteela gets draining moves and Toxapex gets Regenerator, but is there any situation where using Toxic on a Celesteela/Toxapex would aid in defeating them? Especially when paired with hazards? I'm not a competitive player, so I may be overlooking something major, but I'm curious as to IF there is a scenario where using Toxic to KO one of those two is worth sacrificing Salazzle.

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It's worth sacrificing Salazzle to take them on since Salazzle has Low bulk and great speed. Using Toxic on them would be useful because of Corrosion, In my opinion.

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Sludge Wave is better 100% of the time because it has more base power and avoids bulletproof immunity

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Not quite Rapty. Yes, Sludge Wave, has higher base power, than Sludge bomb, but it has a much lower percentage to poison. Considering the above set, is using Salazzle's lesser ability, I'd run Sludge Bomb, as it has a 30% Chance to poison, instead of the 10% vcance, Sludge Wave has.

I run a Toxic/Corrosion Salazzle on Pokémon Showdown, and I run Sludge Wave, because Toxic is my main way to poison something, so I don't care, about the fact there is only a 10% Chance to poison.

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In theory, being able to badly Poison Celesteela and Toxapex would be a great advantage. ... But then that theory starts to fall apart when you realize Salazzle is incredibly frail, and unless you're specifically using a Focus Sash, it will only be able to use Toxic once before being obliterated by pretty much any decently powerful Move.

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Yes, I know it's frail, however, Toxic is there to poison on a switch, or stay in against Celesteela, or Toxapex, neither of which can even 2hko it, let alone pose a threat.

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Also, if you saw my post below, I AM using a Focus Sash set.

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Wait, SCP is right. You might wanna change that.

@SCP Good call.

Answer 4

Salazzle @ Focus Sash
Ability: Corrosion
Evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Fire Blast
- Sludge Wave
- Encore
- Toxic

I use this exact set on Showdown!. The idea with this set is maximizing on predictions, and crippling those pesky Steel- and Poison-types. Encore is for locking a Pokemon into a move that you don't care about, like a stat boosting move, a Substitute, etc, also allowing you to Toxic when they switch out. Most players will make the switch then to protect their sweeper. This allows you to fire out STAB, or Toxic to cripple when you predict well. Great for gaining momentum, and also allowing Toxic to build up damage. The other two are just STAB. I prefer power over accuracy, and a reduced chance to poison (30% Chance with Sludge Bomb, vs a 10% Chance with Sludge Wave) isn't an issue because of Toxic/Corrosion.

I chose Corrosion over Oblivious because- baring a Prankster with Taunt- almost no Taunt user outspeeds Salazzle under normal circumstances (No stat changes/Sticky Web/Paralysis). Obviously Paralysis, Sticky Web, etc. could pose a problem, but you never have a one Pokémon team, so you use your other team members to support.

Answer 5

Salazzle @ Focus Sash
Ability: Corrosion / Oblivious
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest / Timid Nature
- Fire Blast
- Sludge Bomb / Sludge Wave
- Dragon Pulse / Toxic
- Nasty Plot

Move #1: Fire STAB
Move #2: Poison STAB. Sludge Wave packs a higher punch than Sludge Bomb, but it also hurts your ally in doubles. I suggest using Wave in singles and Bomb in Doubles.
Move #3: Your 3rd slot will either be a crippling move or an extra attacking move. If you're running Corrosion, use Toxic. If you're running Oblivious, run Dragon Pulse.
Move #4: Lethal stat-boosting move.

Answer 6

Gen 8 NU

Salazzle (F) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Corrosion
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Overheat
- Sludge Bomb / Sludge Wave
- Dragon Pulse
- Flamethrower

A Choice Specs Salazzle if you feel like using one in Gen 8 NU. Overheat is for powerful fire STAB and should be used early or mid game, whereas Flamethrower is for an accurate fire STAB that is used late game. Sludge Bomb is for poison STAB with a 30% chance to poison, while Sludge Wave can be used for more power. Dragon Pulse is used for coverage against Pokemon like Dragalge and Guzzlord. Xatu is a great partner for this set, as Xatu can prevent hazards from coming on your side, and it beats some Pokemon Salazzle struggles with, such as Diancie, Heatproof Bronzong, and Mudsdale.

Answer 7

Salazzle@focus sash
Type: fire/poison
Ability: corrosion
Nature: timid(spe+/atk-)
EVS: 252 spe, 252 atk.
Moves:
Flamethrower
Nasty plot
Toxic
Sludge wave/Sludge bomb
Okay, so if your wondering, I got this moveset from verlisify. So the idea is corrosion is easy to obtain and will cripple those steel/poison types with toxic, they won't survive it. Then you nasty plot into flamethrower, killing all the steel types (watch out Steven!) the either sludge wave or sludge bomb, both are brilliant.
Don't bother with toxic spikes because the idea is to cripple steel AND poison types! If a poison type comes in then bye bye toxic spikes! Oblivious is a sorta good ability but won't complement the ability that is only available to this line of evolution. Also the combos with toxipex!(the god poison type) you toxic a metagross then switch in with merciless, all critical hits! And focus sash so that earthquake don't one hit Ko!

Comments

Never take advice from Verlisify. Never. He's got to be one of the worst competitive players around.

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Who is Verlisify? Sorry for not knowing this...

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Verlisify is a Pokemon YouTuber who causes a lot of ridiculous drama and makes some pretty bad sets. He's infamous for being known as the "Keemstar" of the Pokemon Community.

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Sludge Wave is better 100% of the time because it has more base power and avoids bulletproof immunity

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True but it hits your allies when playing doubles. Otherwise not a prob

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And where, KipKip, does it specifically say or imply that this is a Doubles set?

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@Kipkip You could get your ally to use a move that avoid Sludge Wave like Protect.

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That's true too, Orange. I'm just saying

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I don't see what's wrong with this set, does it only have down votes because it's from Verlis?

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@Shiny Hunter Luna  Yes, that is the only thing that I can gather. Personally, I would replace Toxic with HP (Ice) and I have Sludge Bomb instead of Sludge Wave. However, TechnoVamp99 gave people the option which is also nice. The only other advice I would give TechnoVamp99 is NEVER take any advice from Verlisify or anyone else like that. Take advice from the more humble people. I helped him/her out with an up vote because it wasn't right to do that. I've seen worse builds with higher votes.

Answer 8

Salazzle @ Air Balloon
Ability: Corrosion
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Flamethrower
- Toxic
- Venoshock
- Dragon Pulse

Flamethower has good power and is STAB. Because of Corrosion, everything can be Toxiced, which will power up Venoshock. Dragon Pulse is decent coverage.

Comments

Dragon Pulse is not STAB

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I think they meant that Venoshock is STAB

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The only probkem with this set us that salazzle usually wont live long enough to set that up, especiallu with no evs in bulk

Answer 9

Salazzle @ Firium Z
Ability: Oblivious
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Overheat
- Fire Blast / Dragon Pulse
- Sludge Wave
- Fake Out

I can't be the only one who thinks Salazzle (an offensive Pokemon) should've gotten Merciless (an offensive Ability), and Toxapex (a defensive Pokemon) should've gotten Corrosion (an Ability that'd work better on a bulky Pokemon), right?

But, onto the Moveset. Oblivious is used because, well, you're not going to use Sludge Wave on most Poison-type just for a 10% chance to Poison them. Overheat + Firium Z + STAB = a freakin' powerful Inferno Overdrive. Sludge Wave is your Poison STAB, Fire Blast is an extra Fire STAB that doesn't lower your stats, while Dragon Pulse can be coverage, and Fake Out is Fake Out.

Comments

I don't think overheat and firium z is needed, I can agree that that will cause massive damage, BUT some sweepers could be faster and OHKO her since salazzles have low health, or that sweeper could be a bulky ground or rock type like tyranitar which is highly over used. You could switch overheat with something more preferable as z moves can be used once and the item could be a choice scarf or focus sash or life orb having more use.

Answer 10

Gen 7 Volcarona

Salazzle @ Wise Glasses
Ability: Corrosion
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Flamethower
- Sludge Wave
- Dragon Pulse

Nasty Plot greatly increases her Special Attack, bringing it to 706 if you're using a Modest Nature. This will be REALLY useful since Salazzle is fast, so you will completely WRECK your opponents.

Flamethrower is a strong, accurate move with a chance to burn. Salazzle's Defenses are mediocre, so a burn would be helpful. Flamethrower is also the best Fire-type move Salazzle learns, so it is a pretty obvious choice.

Sludge Wave (Salazzle is more offensive. if the effect was a badly poison, I would go with sludge bomb. but since it is re

Dragon Pulse is coverage. I know it is only super effective against itself, but it deals normal effective damage to most types. The types that resist it, Steel and Fairy, you can hit with Flamethrower and Sludge Wave respectively, and it also deals normal damage to Rock-types, which resist both STAB. Normal effective coverage moves are awesome when your preferred offensive stat is high.

I've been swept by this many times and also swept with this many times. Special sweepers are great!

Answer 11

Salazzle@Leftovers
Trait: Corrosion
Nature: Timid (+Speed, -Attack) or Modest (+Sp. Attack, -Attack)
EVs: 252 Speed, 252 Sp. Attack, 4 HP
Role: Special Sweeper

Moves:

• Toxic
• Venoshock
• Flamethrower
• Venom Drench

Answer 12

Gen 8 NU

Salazzle (F) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Corrosion
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Toxic
- Substitute
- Flamethrower
- Protect

This SubToxic set utilizes Salazzle's high base speed stat and Ability to poison opposing Pokemon in Gen 8 NU. Toxic with Corrosion allows Salazzle to even poison Steel- and Poison-types who would otherwise be immune to the poison. Substitute and Protect lets Salazzle scout opposing Pokemon and takes advantage of the switches Salazzle forces. Protect also gives Salazzle a free turn of Black Sludge recovery. Flamethrower is used for a consistent Fire STAB should Salazzle need to deal damage.

Answer 13

Saladdle (Salazzle) (F) @ Miracle Seed
Ability: Oblivious
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature (-Atk +Spe)
IVs: 30HP 30SpA
- Sludge Wave (Stab)
- Flamethrower (Stab)
- Hidden Power [Grass] (84BP with Miracle Seed and covers most weaknesses)
- Foul Play (Covers Psychic weakness and deals physical damage)

Comments

With most Psychic types having low Attack stats, I don't think Foul Play would be a good move here, so I think something like Nasty Plot or a Special move would be better if you can take advantage of a switch. Why Miracle Seed over Life Orb?

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I don't like using Life Orb when my Pokémon has no recovery move.

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Sweepers don't really care about that. Also, you could use something like a Wise Glasses that boosts all the three moves, instead of HP Grass only. Still, Life Orb is the best thing for sweepers as they don't care about bulk.

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Wise Glasses? Ew.

Answer 14

Salazzle @ Focus Sash
Ability: Corrosion
Evs: 252 SpA, 252 Spe, 4 Hp
Timid Nature
Moveset:
Nasty Plot
Fire Blast / Flamethrower
Dragon Pulse
Sludge Bomb / Sludge Wave

Explanation:
Item: I use focus sash so Salazzle can use Nasty Plot first, then after taking a hit and surviving with Sash, you can attack.
Ability: I use Corrosion in case I run into a poison type, so Sludge Bomb has a chance to poison. I find oblivious useless because 1. No one uses attract and 2. Most people won't think to taunt a Salazzle.

Answer 15

Gen 8 SS NU Nasty Plot + Endeavor

Salazzle (F) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Oblivious
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Overheat / Fire Blast / Flamethrower
- Sludge Bomb / Sludge Wave
- Endeavor

This is the Nasty Plot set Salazzle currently uses on HO teams. For those wondering why Endeavor is the last move slot over Dragon Pulse, let me explain: 1.) Endeavor makes opposing Pokemon's HP become equal to the users HP. Because Salazzle has a Focus Sash, this can allow Salazzle to wear down its checks such as Vaporeon, Snorlax, Stakataka, Mantine, and Gastrodon easily. With Kabutops being used as the HO Lead over Aerodactyl, you can guarantee you don't have hazards on your side since Kabutops does a much better job at keeping hazards off of your side. 2.) Guzzlord has been getting less usage lately, so there's no need to really use Dragon Pulse, as Dragalge is banned from NU. The rest of the set is pretty standard. Nasty Plot is used to boost your Special Attack so your attacks can do more damage. The STAB moves you use is up to your preference. Overheat, despite having the -2 Special Attack drop, allows you to get past opposing Pokemon such as Mudsdale easily. Fire Blast can be used for the KO on Mudsdale if you don't want the -2 Special Attack drop. Flamethrower is used as a consistent fire move, as the other fire moves don't have 100% accuracy. Sludge Bomb is used for a posion STAB with a 30% chance to poison, while Sludge Wave can be used for slighty more power.

Answer 16

Gen 9 NU Utility

Salazzle (F) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Corrosion
Tera Type: Dark / Ground
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Flamethrower
- Sludge Bomb
- Protect / Knock Off / Toxic
- Encore / Toxic

The standard utility set Salazzle uses in NU. Flamethrower is used for a consistent Fire STAB. Sludge Bomb is Salazzle's strongest Poison STAB that has a 30% chance to poison opposing Pokemon. The 3rd and 4th slots are very flexible. Protect allows Salazzle to scout for choice locked Pokemon. Encore works well with Protect, as Salazzle can scout to see if the opponent uses something like Stealth Rock, Spikes, a setup move, etc, then lock them into that move with Encore. Knock Off lets Salazzle cripple its checks such as Piloswine, Golem/Alolan, Gligar, Golem, Coalossal, and Chansey by removing their items to make them less helpful as a Salazzle check. Toxic with Corrosion is nice to put opposing Pokemon as well as Poison- and Steel-types on a timer. Tera Dark lets Salazzle have a Psychic immunity, which is useful against Choice Locked Psychic Fangs Bruxish. Tera Ground can be used to resist rock moves.

Answer 17

Gen 9 NU Nasty Plot

Salazzle @ Heavy-Duty Boots / Focus Sash
Ability: Corrosion / Oblivious
Tera Type: Dark / Ground
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Fire Blast / Flamethrower
- Sludge Bomb
- Encore / Tera Blast / Toxic / Knock Off

This is the Nasty Plot set Salazzle uses in Gen 9 NU. Nasty Plot turns Salazzle into a scary breaker if its checks are weakened or knocked out. Fire Blast is a powerful Fire STAB that doesn't have the Special Attack drop like Overheat. Flamethrower can be used instead if you want a consistent Fire STAB. Sludge Bomb is Salazzle's strongest Poison STAB in Gen 9, and it comes with a 30% chance to poison. Encore lets Salazzle lock Pokemon into moves they don't want to be locked into, providing more opportunities for Salazzle to use Nasty Plot to boost its Special Attack.

The other options for the 4th slots are ways Salazzle can cripple or beat its checks. Tera Blast is used if you use Tera Ground, which allows Salazzle to hit Pokemon such as Coalossal, Qwilfish, Hisuian Qwilfish, Golem, Alolan Golem, and Lycanroc super effectively.

Toxic can be used to cripple Salazzle's checks such as Piloswine, Coalossal, and Golem/Alolan Golem. Corrosion Toxic can is useful against Qwilfish and Hisuian Qwilfish.

Knock Off can be used to remove the items from Salazzle's checks such as Coalossal, Gligar, Chansey, Piloswine, Hisuian Qwilfish, Golem, and Alolan Golem. By removing their items, Salazzle's checks are less effective at checking Salazzle.

Heavy-Duty Boots prevents Salazzle from being chipped by hazards. Focus Sash is an option if you use this on HO teams with a Suicide Lead Froslass. Tera Dark gives Salazzle a Psychic immunity, while Tera Ground lets Salazzle resist rock moves and have a move to beat some of its checks.

Answer 18

Gen 9
Salazzle (Terra Flying)@Leftovers
Ability: Corrosion
Ev: 252 speed 252 HP
Jolly Nature
-Toxic
-Encore
-Substitute
-Knock off (throw the opponent off an item-based strategy)/ Leech life (Recovery)

This can serve as a lead or a safe switch, with all speed investments it can outspeed anything except dragapult and is rendered useless against opponents immune to toxic. Toxic is to wear down your opponent, encore is to lock them into a setup or a switch, and if you terra you can lock them into an e-quake, letting you get off a free substitute. Take chunks off with knock off or leech life. With leftover recovery, you can get up plenty of subs and let toxic do all the work.