What is a good moveset for Palafin?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Palafin, 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.

Palafin Pokedex & learnset for reference.

Comments

Isn't Palafin Zero just Finizen with a heart on the chest but 142 BST stronger?

Answer 1

Palafin @ Leftovers
Ability: Zero to Hero
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Bulk Up
- Drain Punch
- Jet Punch
- Taunt

This Palafin set is a stallbreaker set that does good damage while having great sustain. Lefties gives more recovery, Bulk Up makes you stronger and more physically bulky. Drain Punch gives you a lot of recovery, which is nice for sustain. Jet Punch is priority and is strong, and Taunt disables support Pokemon. You could run Punching Glove to boost Jet Punch and Drain Punch's power. If you run Glove, you can run Ice Punch. Palafin's other coverage is decent, so you can use those. For tera types, you could run tera electric with Tera Blast to beat Corviknight or things that resist Water-Fighting. There are probably other tera types to use on this, so feel free to give some criticism.

Comments

Tera Water is really good, double stab Jet Punch is insane.

Answer 2

Palafin @ Life Orb
Ability: Zero to Hero
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 Atk / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Grass Knot
- Ice Punch
- Flip Turn / Jet Punch

This mixed LO Palafin set is made to surprise kill tanks who are expecting only physical attacks. Hydro Pump is really strong, and OHKOes Skeledirge, 2HKOes Corviknight not running Leftovers or specially bulky, and hits Ting-Lu. 4 SpA Life Orb Palafin-Hero Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Skeledirge: 413-486 (100.2 - 117.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO and SpA Life Orb Palafin-Hero Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Corviknight: 187-220 (46.7 - 55%) -- 63.7% chance to 2HKO. Grass Knot 2HKOes Dondozo and Grass Knot plus Hydro kills Garganacl. 4 SpA Life Orb Palafin-Hero Grass Knot (120 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Garganacl: 185-218 (45.7 - 53.9%) -- 43% chance to 2HKO and 4 SpA Life Orb Palafin-Hero Grass Knot (120 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Dondozo: 338-398 (67 - 78.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO. Ice Punch hits dragons for SE damage. Flip Turn allows you to pivot out and activate Zero to Hero. Jet Punch can replace Flip Turn and is strong priority.

You could run one of Palafin's other coverage moves, and for tera types water, grass, and ice are good. This set might need some tweaking, so feel free to give criticism. Note: Calcs are going to be changed to the current 252 EVs in SpA, I was originally running 252 Attack.

Answer 3

Palafin @ Choice Band
Ability: Zero to Hero
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Flip Turn
- Jet Punch
- Ice Punch

Along with tera-type water's double stab and then band and its insane stats in hero form, jet punch which is 60 bp becomes jaw-opening levels of power. Basically, spam jet punch until you die. Other moves also exist. In zero form just flip turn out then come back with jet punch/close combat/ice punch

Comments

I love this moveset! I went with adamant nature instead. Since the plan is to spam jet punch, you don't really need the speed.

Answer 4

Palafin
Ability: Zero to Hero
Tera Type: Fighting
252 Spe / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Adamant / Jolly
-Flip Turn
-Drain Punch
-Ice Punch / Iron Head
-Bulk Up

One of my favorite gen 9 Pokemon, Finizen recieves a ginormous stat boost after transforming because of its ability, Zero to Hero. Boost with Bulk Up and regain some HP with Drain Punch. Heal more after terestializing to Fighting type. Get out with Flip Turn. Ice Punch is good coverage with a chance to Freeze, while Iron Head has a 30% chance to flinch an opponent.

Answer 5

Gen 9 Ubers Physical Wallbreaker

Palafin @ Choice Band
Ability: Zero to Hero
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Flip Turn
- Jet Punch
- Ice Punch
- Drain Punch

The dolphin is here, and he’s going from Zero to Hero. Lead with Flip Turn to get the form switch, and in the closing moments, Jet Punch to oblivion. 628 Atk stat is quite usable, and priority is always nice. Ice Punch for coverage against those pesky Great Tusks and the twin Dons, if you can survive a hit, while Drain Punch is coverage and recovery.

Comments

"quite usable' lmao

---

*sarcastically* Not the best, but okay 628 Atk. A Blissey would be better.

Answer 6

I sorta wung this, hope its good lol
Palafin @ no item / Life Orb / Punching Glove
Ability: Zero to Hero
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Def / 4 HP
Tera Type: Ground / Water / Fighting / Flying
Adamant Nature
-Jet Punch because what's a Palafin without Jet Punch?
-Drain Punch reliable recovery boosted by a number of features and potentially some more.
-Tera Blast / Bulk Up choose TB only if you run T-Ground as it's meant to be an electric counter, otherwise Bulk Up.
-Acrobatics / Reversal Don't hold an item if you're using Acrobatics, which defeats grass, but if you get low enough, Reversal could also destroy, either can be boosted fairly by their respective T-Types.

A bit of a different Palafin, but it looks good from a glance! Feedback and oh my god this destroyed comments are both much appreciated!

Answer 7

Palafin @ Focus Sash
Ability: Zero to Hero
Tera Type: Water / Fighting
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Bulk Up
- Jet Punch
- Close Combat / Drain Punch
- Flip Turn

Here's the strat, you Flip Turn out to change into hero form. Then when you come back in you get a free Bulk Up because of the sash. If they don't attack, get another Bulk Up.
Jet Punch is a powerful STAB priority and Close Combat and Drain Punch are coverage for grass and dragon types. Drain Punch is for recovery. Tera Water for an extra powerful Jet Punch or Tera Fighting for another STAB.