Primarina, The Soloist Pokémon. Its singing voice is its chief weapon in battle. This Pokémon’s Trainer must prioritize the daily maintenance of its vocal cords at all costs. It controls its water balloons with song. The melody is learned from others of its kind and is passed down from one generation to the next.
Overview
This week we're wrapping up our starter Pokémon coverage with last, but certainly not least, Primarina. Popplio's line definitely didn't start out as my favorite. I was a much bigger fan of Rowlet's design, and later Decidueye the Green Arrow. The more I chose Primarina in battle though, the more it slowly but surely, won me over. It's my favorite. It has a strong SpA stat with two great stabs in Hydro Pump and Moonblast, and with some Choice Specs it makes for a great wall breaker. Plus Water/Fairy is pretty solid defensively too and it has the special bulk to take some hits too. In game wise it has hands down the coolest Z-Move. Oceanic Operetta is ridiculously cool. It's basically the Spirit Bomb of Pokémon. You will probably see other Water/Fairy Types like Tapu Fini or Azumarill chosen more competitively though because they have a lot more options. Unlike Primarina, Azumarill can also function as a sweeper and not just a wall breaker thanks to Belly Drum and Tapu Fini is much better defensively while still sporting solid offenses. Plus when it enters the battle Tapu Fini automatically activates Misty Terrain. Primarina is very good at what it does though and I hope you all enjoy the rest of our Gen 7 coverage.
Positives
+ Water/Fairy is awesome typing both offensively and defensively
+ Base 126 SpA is pretty good, and it has great stabs like Moonblast and Hydro Pump to make full use of it.
+ Base 116 SpD means it can take some hits as well as dish them out.
+ Unique signature move in Sparkling Aria that hits through subs and the coolest of the starter Z-Moves Oceanic Operetta. While competitevely they're not always useful. It's always fun.
+ Very diverse movepool that gives it a lot of other options like Scald, Energy Ball, and Ice Beam.
Negatives
- Its Hidden Ability, Liquid Voice, is unavailable and not worth taking in singles. When it's available though it will probably see some action in VGC.
- While it does have a decent movepool it falls short against bulky grass types like and has to rely on Hidden Power Fire.
- Base 74 Def is far from impressive. Switch it out if you're able to because even Neutral hits will probably take it out if they're strong enough.
- Just like Incineroar it's stuck with that awful Base 60 speed tier. Which limits its options a lot.
- Has no reliable recovery options outside of Rest.
Abilities
Torrent: When HP is below 1/3rd its maximum, power of Water-type moves is increased by 50%. It's your only available ability, but even if it wasn't Liquid Voice isn't all that useful and Torrent while isn't amazing at least powers up your Hydro Pumps when you're weakened. Problem is if your HP is that low the odds of being getting another Hydro Pump off aren't great.
Hidden Ability (Not Available):
Liquid Voice: All sound-based moves become Water-type moves. Even if it was available it's largely useless in singles. Plus unlike similar abilities like Pixilate, which would have been better, it doesn't get a power boost.
Movesets
Queen of Atlantis
- Hydro Pump
- Moonblast
- Psychic
- Hidden Power Fire
Item Attached: Choice Specs
Ability: Torrent
EVs and Nature:
172 HP / 252 SpA / 84 Spe
Modest Nature
This is the spread I use. The EV investments allow Primarina to outspeed uninvested Base 70 walls while maximizing its offensive potential. Hydro Pump needs to be your STAB of choice. Its the most powerful attack available to you, and this set is all about breaking and bruising up all your opponent's mons. Moonblast is your secondary STAB, for taking out threats like Mega Gyrados and Latios when Pokebank is patched for 7th gen. Psychic is for all of those annoying Poison-Types that will inevitable try to switch in on you because they resist your STAB moves like Toxapex. Last but not least you have Hidden Power Fire because without we have no answer for bulky Grass and Steel types like Ferrothorn.
Other Options
- Scald: More reliable Water STAB move accuracy wise and has a chance to a chance to burn for an added bonus. It's a substantial drop in power though and Primarina's main purpose is to break walls. If you want to run a defensive set you're better off using Tapu Fini instead.
- Sparkling Aria: It hits through subs and takes out Zygarde more efficiently. Moonblast already takes care of that though, and Primarina really needs Hydro Pump.
- Ice Beam: It hits some things like Tornadus-T a little harder, but in general its other coverage moves are far superior.
- Energy Ball: This is a good option if you want to hit other Water Types like Tapu Fini harder.
- Waterium Z and Fairium Z: They'll give you stronger Water and Fairy STAB moves respectively while not locking you into a choice item. I get the appeal. Z-Moves are fun and not being choice locked would be great, but Primarina really needs the power from Choice Specs and there are better Z-Move users that could fill your team. If you're really worried about being choice locked I guess you could try an Expert Belt, but you'll still run the risk of losing too much power and not being able to break walls and nothing is worth that in my opinion.
VGC, Double, & Triple Battle Options
Primarina enters the VGC 2017 season with some good potential due to incredible special attack and special defense. With a great all-around dual-typing, as well as access to a variety of coverage moves, Primarina is built to be a strong bulky offensive attacker. It does face competition from other Pokemon though as a bulky water, especially Milotic. Milotic has similar special stats, but also has access to Recover and a great ability in Competitive to counter all the many Intimidate Pokemon present in the format. Primarina's hidden ability is not as useful as its fellow Alolan starters', and both of its abilities fall short of Competitive. While Liquid Voice brings back memories of Sylveon in VGC 2015 since it is really only useful for Hyper Voice, unfortunately it doesn't get the 20% boost in power like the "-ate" abilities. Tapu Fini also competes with Primarina since they are the same typing. Fini has better overall defenses and also has access to Calm Mind, but Primarina can get off more immediate damage thanks due to a much higher special attack stat.
Under the Sea
-Hyper Voice / Sparkling Aria / Scald
-Moonblast / Dazzling Gleam
-Energy Ball
-Ice Beam / Protect
Item Attached: Choice Specs / Primarium Z
Ability: Torrent (Liquid Voice when released if running Hyper Voice)
EVs and Nature:
252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA
Modest Nature
Primarina with a Choice Specs seeks to fulfill a role once filled by Sylveon in VGC 2015, though with the added bonus of water STAB. Primarium Z, however, allows for a one time attack to do huge damage, but it does require Sparkling Aria to be on the set. Max special attack with a Modest nature maximizes Primarina's highest stat, and 252 EVs in HP simply make it as bulky as possible. Primarina can be given a bit of speed as needed, though most of the time it will either rely on a teammate's speed control or having to take a hit. Liquid Voice is the preferred ability only if you choose to run Hyper Voice, otherwise it is useless and Torrent will be necessary.
Hyper Voice is Primarina's strongest spread move if combined with Liquid Voice. Sparkling Aria has the same base power, though it hits your teammate as well. It also cures burns, so that could benefit either you or your opponent. The main reason to run Sparkling Aria is to use Oceanic Operetta and get off huge damage. Scald is preferred over Hyper Voice until the Hidden Ability is released, and can also be used if you want to have a second water STAB attack on a set. Even though the burn status has been slightly nerfed in generation 7, halving an opponent's attack can win you games. Moonblast is Primarina's strongest fairy STAB move, though Dazzling Gleam also provides strong spread damage. Energy Ball and Ice Beam are both for coverage. Energy Ball is primarily for Gastrodon, which has quickly grown in usage on Celesteela teams, while Ice Beam hits grass types that resist your water moves. Protect is only viable on the set with the Z Crystal, but it is the best move in doubles to help Primarina stay alive or stall out opponents' speed control.
Other Options & Team Ideas
-Other boosting items such as Life Orb and Expert Belt can boost your damage output but still allow you to run Protect.
-The water or fairy Z moves can replace its signature one to get off huge damage with that great special attack stat, especially since Hydro Vortex won't require Sparkling Aria.
-Hydro Pump is stronger than Scald but of course does not have perfect accuracy.
-Psychic and Shadow Ball are two other coverage moves in Primarina's arsenal should the team need the coverage.
-Reflect and Light Screen can be used on a defensive support set to boost the team's overall bulk, as can Charm.
-Psych Up can be used on gimmicky teams to copy a teammate's boosts, especially Eevee's Extreme Evoboost.
-Perish Song isn't as useful without a Shadow Tag teammate to automatically trap an opponent, but it can be used to close out games if an opponent is down to his or her last 1-2 Pokemon or put Pokemon that set up on a timer.
-Pokemon immune to water attacks, such as Gastrodon with Storm Drain, work great next to Primarina with Sparkling Aria.
-Pokemon that resist water and are susceptible to burns can also be used next to Primarina. Tapu Bulu is one that comes to mind right away, as it heal off most, if not all, of the damage from Sparkling Aria thanks to Grassy Terrain and Horn Leech.
-Lightning Rod Pokemon can redirect electric attacks away from Primarina. Alolan Marowak does great with this since it can also hit grass type Pokemon super effectively with fire type moves.
-As with most attackers, Primarina appreciates multiple forms of speed control to deal with a variety of potential strategies, especially since its speed stat is in a dead zone that is slow, but too "fast" for a full blown Trick Room team.
Countering Primarina
Although Water/Fairy is a solid typing both offensively and defensively, it's not too difficult to get around. Xurkitree and Tapu Koko can come in and Revenge Kill Primarina very easily , but they will have a lot of trouble switching in. However its main worry in life right now though is Grass and Poison Types like Ferrothorn and Mega Venasaur too when it's available again. They are definitely threatened by its coverage moves , but they resist your STABs no problem and will quickly leave you with no choice but to switch out or leave it in a sacrifice to regain the momentum of the battle. It will also have a lot of trouble with Special Walls like Chansey. It really can't do anything at all against them. There's just no way of getting around that fact Not to mention its Base 74 Def isn't good at all , so it will have a lot of trouble taking even neutral hits from 'mons with a strong Atk stat. Especially if they are equipped with a Choice Band. You need switch Primarina out immediately if you're up against anything like that if you don't want to lose your wall breaker. There are many other ways because to counter our Primarina, but those are the main ones I would be on the lookout for. Good luck.
Locations in Games
Red/Blue/Yellow:
Not in game
Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Not in game
FireRed/LeafGreen:
Not in game
Colosseum/XD:
Not in game
Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Not in game
HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Not in game
Black/White:
Not in game
Black 2/White 2:
Not in game
X/Y:
Not in game
Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Not in game
Sun/Moon:
Evolve Brionne
Animé Appearences
