The Ultimate Guide: Building the Best Team Around Swampert in Pokémon GO

Swampert, the Water/Ground-type powerhouse, is a consistent force in Pokémon GO’s Great League. Its unique typing, access to powerful moves, and impressive bulk make it a popular choice for competitive battles. But what’s the best team to unleash Swampert’s full potential?

A truly optimal team isn’t static; it needs to consider the current meta, common threats, and strategic balance. However, a strong, well-rounded team that consistently performs well with Swampert as its core will usually include:

Lead: Noctowl
Safe Swap: Swampert
Closer: Galarian Stunfisk

This team composition provides excellent coverage, strong matchups against common meta picks, and synergy to capitalize on opponent weaknesses. Let’s dive deeper into why these choices make this the best starting point for building a strong team around Swampert.

Understanding the Core Components of a Swampert Team

To build the most effective team, we need to understand the role each Pokémon plays:

The Lead: Noctowl

Noctowl acts as the Lead in this team and is crucial to gain initial advantage in any matchup. With Wing Attack as its Fast Move and Shadow Ball and Psychic as its Charged Moves, it offers excellent versatility, dealing decent damage and having great typing against popular choices in the Great League. Noctowl can exert pressure early and often, and can make it very risky for opponents to not use shields early on. It sets up Swampert’s entry and can either safely go down in a bad matchup or get damage in if advantageous.

The Safe Swap: Swampert

Swampert is your Safe Swap. When your Lead faces a disadvantageous matchup, switching to Swampert allows you to apply considerable pressure with its Mud Shot and Hydro Cannon combination, while forcing your opponent to burn shields. This often puts you in control of the match, giving you a window to potentially sweep the opposing team. With Earthquake as a second Charge Move, Swampert also offers incredible coverage against common threats. Swampert’s bulk is considerable, which allows it to tank through unfavorable situations until a switch can be made.

The Closer: Galarian Stunfisk

Galarian Stunfisk is the Closer, bringing incredible bulk, defense, and devastating ground and electric attacks that many popular Pokémon in the Great League are vulnerable to. This Pokémon can sweep through teams that are weak against ground or electric, as well as pressure a variety of popular meta picks. Its combination of Mud Shot and Earthquake and Discharge gives it a versatile offensive threat, while its considerable bulk and unique typing allow it to absorb many hits that other pokémon might not be able to take, keeping it as a reliable closer.

Why This Team Works

This team composition capitalizes on synergy and coverage:

• Type Coverage: This team has excellent coverage against a variety of common types, as well as a strong defense against a multitude of different offensive moves.
• Strategic Advantage: Noctowl’s lead allows the team to dictate the start of most matches. Swampert’s ability to force switches and burn shields creates opportunities for Galarian Stunfisk to clean up.
• Resilience: All three Pokémon have significant bulk, allowing them to withstand considerable damage and remain in the battle.

Alternative Teammates for Swampert

While the above team is incredibly strong, other Pokémon can complement Swampert, offering their own advantages:

• Alolan Ninetales: A Fairy/Ice-type that provides excellent coverage against Dragon and Flying-types, countering threats that Swampert might struggle with.
• Scrafty: A Fighting/Dark-type that can cover common Normal-types as well as provide valuable shields in a pinch.
• Pidgeot: A Flying/Normal-type capable of dealing heavy damage to Grass-types, as well as providing fast-paced attacks.
• Altaria: A Dragon/Flying-type that provides powerful attacks and is strong against a variety of common meta threats.
• Toxapex: A Poison/Water-type known for its incredible bulk and ability to chip away at opponents with status effects.
• Gliscor: A Ground/Flying-type that can cover many meta picks and can offer great damage as well.

Swampert: The Star of the Show

Best PvP Build for Swampert

Swampert’s optimal PvP moveset is Mud Shot (Fast Move) and Hydro Cannon (Charged Move). This combo is its bread and butter, providing excellent energy generation and hard-hitting Water-type damage. You should also consider Earthquake as a second charged move for additional type coverage and high burst damage potential. Muddy Water can be used to bait shields, but it is not recommended for the majority of situations.

Getting Hydro Cannon

Hydro Cannon is a legacy move, obtained by evolving Mudkip to Marshtomp then Swampert during specific Community Day events, or by using an Elite Charged TM. Given Swampert’s potential with Hydro Cannon, this is considered to be one of the most valuable uses of an Elite Charged TM.

Swampert’s Strengths

• Excellent Stats: Swampert boasts high stamina and decent attack, allowing it to withstand punishment and deal considerable damage.
• Water/Ground Typing: This typing is a major asset, granting Swampert a resistance to Electric-type attacks and only a single 4x weakness to Grass-types.
• Powerful Movepool: The combination of Mud Shot and Hydro Cannon is devastating and widely considered one of the best move combinations in the game.

Swampert’s Weaknesses

Swampert’s main weakness is its 4x vulnerability to Grass-type attacks. Although it only has one weakness, that 4x damage can end battles quickly. It also lacks any real form of recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is Samurott better than Swampert?

No, Swampert is generally considered better than Samurott in the Great League. Swampert is a very tanky and hard hitting pokemon. Samurott is more of a glass cannon, having less defense and less attack.

2. What destroys Swampert?

Grass-type Pokémon with strong moves like Leaf Blade, Razor Leaf, or Vine Whip are Swampert’s biggest threat.

3. Does Swampert have a 4x weakness?

Yes, Swampert has a 4x weakness to Grass-type attacks due to its Water/Ground dual typing.

4. Who can beat Mudkip?

Strong Electric and Grass type Pokemon can beat Mudkip, with Shadow Porygon-Z and Mega Sceptile being considered some of the best counters.

5. Is Hydro Cannon a legacy move for Swampert?

Yes, Hydro Cannon is a legacy move obtained through specific events or Elite Charged TMs.

6. Is Mega Swampert worth it?

Yes, Mega Swampert is a powerful option with its Swift Swim ability in the rain and strong Water-type moves. However, it requires specific team support.

7. What is Swampert’s main weakness?

Swampert’s primary weakness is Grass-type attacks.

8. Why is Swampert so good in Pokémon GO?

Swampert is good in Pokémon GO due to its high stamina, strong movepool, and its Water/Ground typing, which give it a resistance to Electric-types and only a single weakness.

9. How powerful is Swampert?

Swampert is very powerful, with the ability to exert significant power in Pokemon GO.

10. Is Swampert the best starter?

Swampert is often considered one of the best starters due to its unique typing and effectiveness in battles.

11. Is Swampert a strong Pokémon?

Yes, Swampert is a very strong Pokémon with a high attack stat, a good defense, and great bulk, making it a tough opponent.

12. Is Mega Swampert soloable?

Yes, Mega Swampert is soloable with a team of strong Grass-type Pokemon.

13. What beats Larvitar?

Mega Swampert and Mega Sceptile are excellent counters to Larvitar due to their Water/Grass typing and powerful moves.

14. Is Garchomp or Swampert better?

This depends on the scenario. Swampert is tankier and has better type matchups in most scenarios, whereas Garchomp is more of an offensive threat but is more fragile.

15. Is Blaziken better than Swampert?

No, Swampert is generally better than Blaziken, as Blaziken has a 2x weakness to both Water and Ground type attacks.

Conclusion

Building the best team for Swampert requires understanding its strengths and weaknesses, as well as the current meta. By utilizing a well-balanced team with strong coverage, strategic leads, and reliable closers, you can maximize Swampert’s potential and achieve consistent success in the Great League. Remember to experiment with different combinations and find what works best for your personal playstyle and goals. With the information provided in this guide, you’re well on your way to creating a winning team centered around the formidable Swampert!