All of these starters have their own competitive use, and none of them is really better competitively. Tierwise, Empoleon, Swampert, and Blastoise are all in UU, Feraligatr in RU, while poor Samurott resides in NU. I'll give an overview of all the 5 Pokemon.
Blastoise:
79 / 83 / 100 / 85 / 105 / 78
Blastoise has a pretty sturdy role in UU. It primarily acts as a team's Rapid Spinner, due to it learning Rapid Spin. It's also a pretty sturdy wall, boasting base 79 HP, 100 Defense, and 105 Special Defense, it is quite sturdy indeed. It is usually used as a physical wall due to it carrying Scald, a STAB move that offers a 30% chance to burn, which turns Blastoise into a great physical wall. Some specially defensive variants exist, however. Phazing is also common, as it carries Roar and Dragon Tail. The former is preferred due to it phazing away Substitutes as well, while some people (cough Josh cough) prefer the latter because it does damage. In OU, it usually abuses the rain with Rain Dish, healing 1/8 of Blastoise's HP.
Moveset:
Physically Defensive
Blastoise (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Rapid Spin
- Roar / Dragon Tail
Feraligatr:
85 / 105 / 100 / 79 / 83 / 78
If only this guy's Dream World ability was released. Sigh, but it's not. It has this great 105 base attack, but it's speed is..a lame 78 base. Feraligatr are usually seen running two sets: the Dragon Dance set, and the Swords Dance set. Dragon Dance sets boost Feraligatr's ability to revenge kill as well as patching up it's pitiful Speed. Swords Dance variants give Feraligatr raw power, but it fails to outspeed things that threaten it. STAB Aqua Jet does somewhat patch up the problem. Feraligatr isn't really too good, due to the speed, mainly.
Moveset:
Swords Dance:
Feraligatr (F) @ Life Orb
Trait: Torrent
EVs: 104 HP / 252 Atk / 152 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Aqua Jet
- Waterfall
- Return / Crunch
Dragon Dance:
Feraligatr (F) @ Life Orb
Trait: Torrent
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Ice Punch
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
Swampert:
100 / 110 / 90 / 85 / 90 / 60
Ah, Swampert. One of the bulky waters. Boasting an immunity to Electric, and having a single Grass weakness, it is pretty good typewise. It has pretty decent defenses: 100 base HP, and 90 in both defenses. It usually runs a tank set with Stealth Rock, which can help out teammates by landing some vital KOs. It can also phaze, backed with it's bulk and access to Roar, building up on Hazard damage. Swampert is no slouch offensively either: it's base 110 Attack stat hits hard, especially with it's STABs and access to Ice Punch. Choice Band variants are seen, and Curse sets with Avalanche are used, as Avalanche doubles in power when Swampert is last, and Curse lowers Speed.
Moveset:
Tank:
Swampert (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Torrent
EVs: 240 HP / 252 Atk / 16 Def
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
- Roar / Ice Punch / Toxic
Choice Band:
Swampert (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Torrent
EVs: 80 HP / 252 Atk / 176 Def
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Ice Punch
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
- Superpower / Stone Edge
Curse:
Swampert (M) @ Leftovers / Rindo Berry
Trait: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Brave Nature (+Atk, -Spd)
- Curse
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
- Avalanche
Empoleon:
84 / 86 / 88 / 111 / 101 / 60
Empoleon's Steel typing grants in many resistances. Empoleon is primarily used as a Special wall in UU, due to it's better Special bulk. It's often seen setting hazards down in the form of Stealth Rock, and crippling through burning with Scald, and phazing with Roar, racking up hazard damage. Empoleon might be running SubPetaya set, which consists of Substituting and using Agility. When the Sub usage hits 25% of your HP, Petaya Berry activates, which gives Empoleon a Special Attack boost, making it deadly. Also, some variants of Empoleon might run an Agility set.
Moveset:
Specially Defensive:
Empoleon (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Stealth Rock
- Roar
SubPetaya:
Empoleon (F) @ Petaya Berry
Trait: Torrent
EVs: 12 HP / 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 240 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Agility
- Scald
- Ice Beam
Agility:
Empoleon (F) @ Life Orb
Trait: Torrent
EVs: 40 HP / 252 SAtk / 24 SDef / 192 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Agility
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Grass Knot
Samurott:
95 / 100 / 85 / 108 / 70 / 70
Samurott sits in the lowest tier: NU. Doesn't mean it's necessarily worthless. it has very impressive base 100 Attack and 108 SAtk. It's Speed it quite low, however. Most Samurott run a Swords Dance set, while others run a simple Special Life Orb set.
Moveset:
Swords Dance:
Samurott (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Torrent
EVs: 112 HP / 252 Atk / 144 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Aqua Jet
- Waterfall
- X-Scissor
Special Attacker:
Samurott (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Torrent
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump / Surf
- Ice Beam
- Grass Knot
- Taunt
In conclusion, all of these starters play different roles in the metagame, and have different strengths and weaknesses. If one had to stand out, I would I use Swampert and Empoleon, due to their offensive and defensive capabilities.
All movesets are credit to Smogon.
