Tentacruel, The Jellyfish Pokémon. It extends its 80 tentacles to form an encircling poisonous net that is difficult to escape. It alerts others to danger by stridently flashing the red orbs on its head. In battle, it extends all 80 of its tentacles to entrap its opponent inside a poisonous net. It has tentacles that can be freely elongated and shortened at will. It ensnares prey with its tentacles and weakens the prey by dosing it with a harsh toxin. It can catch up to 80 prey at the same time.

Overview

Hello Mr Niche! Tentacruel went from UU and being mostly used as a sweeper of sorts in 3rd gen to a premier special sponge and spinner in 4th. Toxic Spikes being introduced gave Tentacruel a great support move and really gave it a reason for existence. Literally there's only one Tentacruel set you'll ever see, because it is without a doubt the best set it can run. At least, it is if you want to go down the support route. Offensively, Tentacruel has the standard Water movepool and the standard Poison movepool, be it special or physical. You won't see an offensive Tentacruel very often though. Support will be the most common set.

Abilities

Clear Body: you're immune to stat downs. Not useful unless you're running Swords Dance.
Liquid Ooze: in a world of Whimsicotts, Ferrothorns, and an improved Giga Drain, Liquid Ooze is greatly improved and is very useful this generation. It causes draining moves to deal damage to the opponent.
Rain Dish: with rain being so common, Rain Dish is a very usable ability in general on Tentacruel. However, it can potentially do nothing at all, so I'd only use it if you are running a rain team yourself.

Movesets

Cruel to be kind

- Toxic Spikes
- Rapid Spin
- Scald
- Ice Beam
Item Attached: Black Sludge
Ability: Liquid Ooze / Rain Dish
EVs and Nature:
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spd or 252 HP / 240 SDef / 16 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk) or Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)

Toxic Spikes can be a very dangerous entry hazard, as it ruins things like Blissey, bulky Waters, stuff that can normally stall everything out as the last Pokémon on the team. Not when it is poisoned however. Rapid Spin clears your field of Spikes and Stealth Rock (Toxic Spikes is cleared as soon as Tentacruel touches the field). Scald can burn which makes up for Tentacruel's horrific Defence… it's also fairly strong. Ice Beam partners well with your Water STAB, especially for smacking around Grass Pokémon.

Swords Dance

- Swords Dance
- Waterfall
- Poison Jab / Return / Toxic Spikes / Rapid Spin
- Poison Jab / Return / Toxic Spikes / Rapid Spin
Item Attached: Life Orb
Ability: Clear Body / Liquid Ooze / Rain Dish
EVs and Nature:
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk) / Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)

Swords Dance doubles your Attack, making you sort of dangerous. Waterfall is your most reliable STAB move, and it can flinch… cute. Poison Jab is another STAB move that hits fairly hard, but it is sadly a horrid offensive type. Return partners almost perfectly with Waterfall, getting neutral hits on everything but… I think Empoleon, Dialga, Jellicent and Shedinja. I think that's right. Toxic Spikes can help you take down a bulky wall or just give Tentacruel a support move. Rapid Spin clears the field of scum hazards, but don't expect it to do much damage. Seriously.

SpecialCruel

- Surf / Scald / Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Toxic Spikes / Giga Drain / Rapid Spin / Sludge Wave / Hidden Power [Fire]
- Toxic Spikes / Giga Drain / Rapid Spin / Sludge Wave / Hidden Power [Fire]
Item Attached: Life Orb
Ability: Liquid Ooze / Rain Dish
EVs and Nature:
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk) / Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)

Surf is the 101 go to reliable-yet-strong move. No added effects, 95 power, 100 accuracy, good type, it's an amazing move. Scald is less powerful but has a 30% chance to burn, which can be really handy. Hydro Pump smashes holes in everything, but you have to deal with the low PP and less than perfect accuracy. Ice Beam partners brilliantly with your Water move, and it's brilliant in general. Toxic Spikes sets up an entry hazard, Giga Drain is an alternate attack if you wanted a way of dealing with Water Pokémon. Rapid Spin is another support move you can opt for. Sludge Wave gets STAB and hits brutally hard. Hidden Power [Fire] means Ferrothorn is no longer an instant win against Tentacruel.

EVs & Natures

Support
Max HP is needed, as Tentacruel isn't the strongest in that department. Now, you can either go for incredibly bulky in terms of Defence, or be a pure special sponge. Defence protects you against random Waterfalls and Fighting moves, and as you already have high Special Defence, it's a great plan. However, if you want a more dedicated Tentacruel that you want to take Draco Meteors and other power moves, I'd go for a lot of Special Defence.

Offensive
Max the offensive stat you are using out, then max Speed. Put the 4 in whatever… I went for Special Defence. Simple stuff.

Other Options

Acupressure, Confuse Ray, Haze, Knock Off, Magic Coat, Mirror Coat, Venoshock
Acupressure ups a random stat by 2, which can be incredible if you get lucky.
Confuse Ray forces switches or deals free damage, but it's so easy to cure, it isn't worth the move slot.
Haze removes stat gains which is cool.
Knock Off removes the opponent's item, which can demolish their strategy.
Magic Coat reflects status and what not. Pretty cool.
Mirror Coat reflects special attack damage back at the opponent. So, if they hit you with a Draco Meteor for 300 damage, you'd send it back at them for twice the power, so 600. It's a sweet move.
Venoshock has a horrifying base power against poisoned targets. 130 base power WITHOUT STAB against a poisoned target, It's a shame there are so many Pokémon immune or resistant to Poison.

Double & Triple Battle Options

Tentacruel is really good in Doubles & Triples in being able to provide decent entry hazards while still being able to do decent damage. With Rain Dish, it is good in rain teams in Doubles & Triples and will be able to hold its own in battle far longer

Partners

Politoed is number 1, especially if you're using Rain Dish as it can now bring in permanent rain. If not, then simple Rain Dance users are key in making sure Tentacruel has the best support team-side

Countering Tentacruel

Dealing with Tentacruel is pretty easy, in all honesty. Grass types do really well, especially Ferrothorn. Taunt breaks down Tentacruel as it has to rely on its sort of lacklustre Special Attack. If you resist Water, you'll do well against Tentacruel. Oh, you have to be able to hurt it too. Earthquake is the best way to deal with it, so a fast quaker like Landourus works well (avoid Tentacruel's STABs). Gyarados, Salamence, Dragons in general do great as long as you stay away from Ice Beam. Pokémon with good special bulk like Jirachi do well as Tentacruel can't touch them. Steels in general do well in all honesty. Cobalion, Metagross, I can't be bothered to make a list. Ghosts stop you from Rapid Spinning. Xatu and Espeon bounce your Toxic Spikes back. Tentacruel is a great Pokémon who really improved in gen 4, not because of the moves it got, but because of everything else changing. It just fitted in perfectly. 5th gen brought it Rain Dish and infinite rain, which is positively brutal. Give it a try if you want some utility or a special sponge.

Locations in Games

Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Abandoned Ship Basement 1

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:
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

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 frm Diamond/Pearl/Platinum/HeartGold/SoulSilver
Evolve Tentacool from Dream World

Animé Appearences

Tentacruel has made a few appearances. Most of its appearances have been where a group of them have caused some trouble. # -English Episode Name- -Jp. Episode Name- Pics 19 Tentacool and Tentacruel Tentacool and Tentacruel Pics M1 Mewtwo Strikes Back Mewtwo's Counterattack Pics P1 Pikachu's Vacation Pikachu's Summer Vacation Pics 77 Round One - Begin! Pokémon League Opening! Match In Water Field! Pics 93 Bye Bye Psyduck Adios Psyduck, Hello Golduck Pics M2 The Power of One Revelation Lugia Pics 115 Viva Las Lapras Goodbye Lapras! Pics C4 Pikachu's Winter Vacation: Delibird's Dilemma Delibird's Present! Pics Pikachu's Winter Vacation: Snorlax Snowmen White Story! Pics S2 Mewtwo Returns Mewtwo! I am Here Pics 208 The Joy of Water Pokemon Nurse Joy That Hates Water Pokémon! Misty's Wrath Pics 212 Around the Whirlpool Whirl Islands! Reaching a New Challenge! Pics 218 Dueling Heroes Whirlpool Cup! Great Battle in the Water Colosseum! Pics 275 Gotta Catch Ya Later! Farewell...and then Setting Off! Pics C5 A Family That Battles Together, Stays Together!! Brock! Save Pewter Gym! Pics C6 Cerulean Blue Revenge Match at Cerulean Gym! Pics C18 The Search For A Legend Galloping Sky Legend - Richie & Moltres!! Pics 380 A Cacturne for the Worse Izabe Island Pokémon Contest! Beware the Rival! Pics 387 The Great Eight Fate! Sootopolis Gym! Juan, Artist of Water! (Part 1)! Pics 453 Grating Spaces Brock & Ash! Defend Pewter Gym in Tag Battle! Pics 559 One Team, Two Team, Red Team, Blue Team! The Final Showdown! Pokémon Triathlon! Pics M13 Zoroark - Master of Illusions Phantom Champion Zoroark Pics 658 The Brockster Is In Pokémon Doctor Brock Pics 804 Kalos, Where Dreams and Adventures Begin! We've Come to Kalos Region! Dreams and Adventures Begin! Pics M17 Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction The Cocoon of Destruction and Diancie Pics 948 Yo, Ho, Ho! Go, Popplio! Popplio, Do Your Balloonest! Pics 974 The Island Whisperer! Enter Olivia! Cry and Laugh, Island Queen!! Pics 985 Alola, Kanto An Alola! in Kanto! Brock & Misty! Pics 1001 Fighting Back The Tears! Don't Cry-de, Mareanie! Pics 1033 Securing the Future! Connect to the Future! The Legend of the Blinding One!! Pics 1069 Pikachu's Exciting Adventure! Pikachu's Exciting Expedition! Pics 1090 Enter Pikachu! Pikachu is Born!! Pics 1091 Legend? Go! Friends? Go! On Lugia They Go, Ash and Gho! Pics 1109 Dreams are Made of These! Go Towards Your Dream! Ash and Goh!! Pics 1125 Making Battles in the Sand! Crawl Out of the Sand Tomb, Ash and Goh! Pics 1225 These Could be the Start of Something Big! Ash and Goh! Setting Off Anew!! Pics 1232 Ride, Lapras, Ride! Riding on Lapras! Pics