Tentacruel, The Jellyfish Pokémon. Normally, it has 80 poisonous tentacles. The longer one has been alive, the fewer tentacles it will have. Although these Pokémon are rare, when a large outbreak of them occurs, all fish Pokémon disappear from the surrounding sea.
Overview
Tentacruel has been a niche pokemon for most of it's competitive life, never sitting quite in OU but finding its way onto teams with it's nice poison typing, decent bulk, and access to Rapid Spin making it a nice choice as a hazard remover.
Positives
+80/65/120 bulk is pretty nice
+Poison typing allows it to avoid Toxic a major problem for tanky pokemon as well as remove Toxic Spikes
+Access to Black Sludge which messes with Trick Users
Negatives
-65 defense isn't that good
-It's abilities don't synergize to well outside of Rain Dish which is weather dependent
-Lack of a recovery move really hurts
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Abilities
Clear Body - Stats dropping abilities have no effect - literally useless on Tentacruel
Liquid Ooze - Healing moves such as Giga Drain damage the user instead of healing - A niche ability but can really mess with some pokemon such as Tangrowth and Ferrothorn that tend to lean on Giga Drain and Leech Seed respectfully
Hidden Ability (Available)
Rain Dish - While it's raining heals 1/16th of your maximum health per turn - Tentacruel's best ability hands down but with the weather nerf it's gotten hard to make full use of
Movesets
Release the Kraken
-Rapid Spin
-Scald
-Protect
-Toxic/Toxic Spikes
Item Attached: Black Sludge
Ability: Rain Dish
EVs and Nature:
248 HP/252 def/8sp def
Bold Nature
Tentacruel’s primary role is to remove entry hazards, so Rapid Spin is a must have. This synergizes well with its own hazards Toxic Spikes allowing status upon switches. Toxic Spikes is stackable, poison on one layer which is more suited for offensive teams while two layers applies Toxic which is better for stall or tanky teams. Scald is a nice secondary hazard and stab move with a 30% burn chance which helps relieve pressure on its subpar defensive stat. Toxic is viable over Toxic Spikes for more control as well so you can burn specific targets.
Other Options & Partners
Rain Dance - With Rain Dish Tentacruel really benefits from the rain and is and OK manuel inducer with the Damp Rock but has to compete with Tornadus who has Prankster and offensive pressure
Giga Drain - Tentacruel’s only recovery move bar Rest, viable but hard and awkward to use in a set
Reflect Type - While a strong move Tentacruel doesn't benefit as much as other pokemon, looking at Starmie, but is an option
Icy Wind - A really nice support move but only helps into offensive teams
Politoed/Pelipper - Both achieve the same effect, rain. Rain Dish is huge for Tentacruel and makes it a major tank but the synergy ends there but it can't be understated
Weavile - Weavile loves the poison support of Toxic Spikes and can Pursuit trap psychic types that Tentacruel draws in while Tentacruel can easily get in on the fighting types Weavile draws in. Krookodile fits this role as well.
Hydreigon - Similar to Weavile but Hydreigon pressures everything with its massive coverage and offensive stats while Keldeo is shut down by Tentacruel
VGC, Double, & Triple Battle Options
Tentacruel saw a good amount of early-season usage in VGC 2017 due to the rise of the fairy-type Tapus. Unfortunately for the squid, its effectiveness has greatly diminished. Tapu Koko, Tapu Lele, and Garchomp are just too common and threatening for Tentacruel to consistently fulfill its role. Without any need for Rapid Spin, and the lack of effectiveness of Toxic Spikes, Tentacruel is rare in high-level doubles play.
Nyeah Squidward
-Sludge Bomb
-Scald
-Ice Beam
-Protect
Item Attached: Wiki Berry
Ability: Clear Body
EVs and Nature:
156 HP / 236 SpA / 116 Spe
Modest Nature
Tentacruel finds itself in a bit of a difficult area regarding what it can outspeed, live, or KO, but this set accomplishes a balance of everything well...assuming it has some support. 156 EVs in HP allow Tentacruel to survive a Timid Life Orb Tapu Koko's Thunderbolt and a Modest Tapu Lele's Psychic, assuming they are not in their respective terrains. Tentacruel can also easily live an Earthquake from an Intimidated Garchomp. 236 special attack EVs with a Modest nature help Tentacruel OHKO Tapu Koko with Sludge Bomb and Garchomp with Ice Beam, while still achieving 2HKOs on most Tapu Lele and Tapu Fini with Sludge Bomb. 116 speed EVs allows Tentacruel to outspeed as much as it can, including Pokemon like Timid Pelipper, Adamant Gyarados, Adamant Braviary, and bulky Tapu Lele. Wiki Berry (or any other berry that will recover 50% health and not cause confusion) greatly increases Tentacruel's longevity. Clear Body allows Tentacruel to ignore special attack drops from Snarl or speed drops from Icy Wind.
Sludge Bomb is Tentacruel's strongest STAB move, and does very well in a format with so many fairy types. Scald is its most consistent water-STAB, and the chance to burn is always great. Ice Beam provides good coverage alongside Scald, while Protect is the best move in doubles, keeping Tentacruel safe from super-effective attacks or letting it stall out an opponent's speed control.
Other Options & Team Ideas
-Liquid Ooze is still a good option to help counter Celesteela or Tapu Bulu, punishing them for using Leech Seed or other moves that recover health. Rain Dish is not completely useless since it provides recovery in the rain, but is generally inferior since Tentacruel can already wall the cores of rain teams fairly well.
-Assault Vest makes Tentacruel very bulky and able to absorb attacks from Tapu Koko or Tapu Lele better, even in their respective terrains.
-Choice Scarf has seen some surprising usage for the surprise OHKO on Koko and Garchomp before they can attack, but is probably not worth it otherwise. The poison Z move can also be quite scary, as Acid Downpour can OHKO both Tapu Lele and Tapu Fini.
-Hidden Power Fire is tough to fit on sets needing Protect, but threatens Kartana, especially if you outspeed it.
-Hydro Pump and Muddy Water are other water STAB options, but both have less than perfect accuracy. Hydro Pump is stronger than Scald, however, and Muddy Water can damage both opponents and potentially lower accuracy.
-Sludge Wave and Surf are both spread attacks with perfect accuracy, but will hit Tentacruel's teammate, so adding an immunity, such as a steel type for Sludge Wave or Storm Drain Gastrodon for Surf, is a necessity.
-Dazzling Gleam is not particularly strong or noteworthy, but does spread damage and provides fairy-type coverage should the team need it.
-Haze is great for resetting boosts from a Snorlax or Eevee.
-Toxic can wear down bulky threats like Porygon2 or Gastrodon.
-Knock Off is a good tech to get rid of berries or Eviolite on your opponent's Pokemon.
-Acid Spray does chip damage, but also greatly lowers the target's special attack, which can be useful for a teammate's follow-up attack.
-Mirror Coat is risky but can surprise an opponent with returning big damage, especially on the Assault Vest set.
-Giga Drain and Icy Wind are not VGC 2017 legal, as they are only accessible through the ORAS move tutors, but both are good options. Giga Drain provides strong grass-type coverage and recovery, while Icy Wind is good speed control.
-Lightningrod users such as Togedemaru and Alolan Marowak can keep Tentacruel safe from Tapu Koko (unless it carries Discharge, but it still will not be able to OHKO Tentacruel with it).
-Tapu Bulu's Grassy Terrain weakens Earthquake damage against Tentacruel, eliminates the terrains of Tapu Koko and Tapu Lele, and gives Tentacruel a bit of recovery every turn as well.
-Pokemon with Intimidate like Arcanine can increase Tentacruel's mediocre physical bulk.
-Tailwind or other speed control to allow Tentacruel to attack before Tapu Koko and Garchomp can be important.
-Alolan Ninetales and Pheromosa with Ice Beam can handle most Garchomp for Tentacruel.
-Any team in need of a Tapu Fini counter can rely on Tentacruel to wear it down.
-Tentacruel is a decent rain counter to soak up attacks from Golduck and Pelipper for a few turns.
Countering Tentacruel
Latias - Outside of Toxic Tentacruel can't touch Latias while it just decimates Tentacruel with Psyshock.
Nidoking/Nidoqueen - Note checks, Tentacruel fears OHKOs from a Life Orb boosted Earth Power or being chunked by Life Orb Thunder Punch. Both Nidos also absorb Toxic Spikes because they are poison typing.
Slowbro/Slowking - Similar to Latias, Slowbro and Slowing can take all of Tentacruel's moveset and KO it back again bar Toxic. These become more dragged out cause tank matches.
Gengar - While Scald hurts, Gengar negates Rapid Spin, absorbs Toxic Spikes, and pressures it back with Thunderbolt or Psychic. Gengar also can heal with Pain Split allowin it to outlast Tentacruel most of the time.
Locations in Games
Red/Blue/Yellow:
Evolve Tentacool (Red/Blue)
Route 19, 20, 21 (Yellow)
Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Abandoned Ship
FireRed/LeafGreen:
One Island, Five Island, Bond Bridge, Five Isle Meadow, Green Path, Icefall Cave Floor 1, Kindle Road, Memorial Pillar, Outcast Island, Resort Gorgeous, Tanoby Ruins, Trainer Tower, Treasure Beach
Colosseum/XD:
Trade from Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald/FireRed/LeafGreen
Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Routes 205-South, 213, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 226 & 230, Fuego Ironworks, Iron Mountain, Canalave City, Sunyshore City, Pastoria City, Pokémon League, Valley Windworks (Diamond/Pearl)
Route 205 South, Route 212 South, Route 213, Route 218, Route 219, Route 220, Route 221, Route 222, Route 223, Route 224, Route 226, Route 230, Pastoria City, Canalave City, Sunyshore City, Valley Windworks, Fuego Ironworks, Iron Island, Pokemon League (Platinum)
HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Route 12, Route 13, Route 19, Route 20, Route 21, Route 26, Route 27, Route 32, Route 40, Route 41, Route 47, New Bark Town, Cherrygrove City, Olivine City, Cianwood City, Union Cave, Whirl Islands, Pallet Town, Vermillion City, Cinnabar Island
Black/White:
Transfer from Generation IV
Black 2/White 2:
Transfer from Generation IV
X/Y:
Evolve Tentacool
Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Route 124, Route 125, Route 126, Route 127, Route 128, Route 129, Route 130, Route 131, Route 132, Route 133, Route 134, Ever Grande City, Pacifidlog Town, Seafloor Cavern, Shoal Cave
Sun/Moon:
Poni Wilds
Animé Appearences