Wishiwashi, The Small Fry Pokémon. When it’s in trouble, its eyes moisten and begin to shine. The shining light attracts its comrades, and they stand together against their enemies. It’s awfully weak and notably tasty, so everyone is always out to get it. As it happens, anyone trying to bully it receives a painful lesson. Weak Wishiwashi school together to concentrate their power. Their united force makes them the demon of the sea, feared near and far. At their appearance, even Gyarados will flee. When they team up to use Water Gun, its power exceeds that of Hydro Pump.
Overview
At first glance, Wishiwashi looks to be a powerhouse worth of OU status with 4 stats all breaking 130 base. However it falls into the area of Pokemon like Archeops where its held back but its ability, Schooling. This combined with Wishiwashis two other base stats of Speed and Health being 40 and 45 respectively makes it an unreliable pokemon as once Schooling stops working, Wishiwashi changes to Solo form and loses around 110 base on it's best stats.
Positives
Base Stats in School form - Wishiwashi has the highest offensive stats in NU, its special Attack being 10 points behind Kyogre. This when mixed with a Choice Spec allows Wishiwashi to threaten 2HKOes on the whole meta and with just enough moves to round out its coverage so nothing truly wants to take the hit.
Negatives
Support heavy - To truly make use of Wishiwashi a whole team needs to be built around it. Trick Room support is needed because 30 base Speed in School form is abysmal. Hazard control is needed as Wishiwashi can only switch into Stealth Rocks 6 times before it breaks Schooling, only 3 times with a single layer of Spikes and Rocks up and that's excluding chip damage from attacks it takes coming in. Lastly no recovery options means things like Wish or Healing Wish are great support but not as mandatory as other options.
Abilities
Schooling - While above Ľ health and level 20, Wishiwashi changes to School form on switch in or the end of the turn it healed back to above Ľ health. Below Ľ health it changes to Solo form on switch in or end of the turn. - A Pokemon that will never get a new ability, Schooling can be potent, 140 base stats are nothing to scoff at, especially in NU. Overall a neat gimmick based on fish's natural behavior but hinders the pokemon some.
Movesets
Choice Specs
-Hydro Pump
-Hidden Power Grass
-Ice Beam
-U Turn
Item Attached: Colbur Berry
Ability: Schooling
EVs and Nature:
252 HP/252 SpAtk/4SpDef
Quiet Nature
While Wishiwashi has a shallow movepool 80% the time its STAB Hydro Pump will do the job. Hidden Power Grass covers Water Pokemon such as Poliwrath with Water Absorb that don't care about Hydro Pump while Ice Beam does the same for Grass types, namely Cradily with Storm Drain. Finally U Turn let's Wishiwashi gain momentum while threatening Jynx with a OHKO who has Dry Skin to negate Hydro Pump. Basically just spam Hydro Pump unless theres a Pokemon that can absorb it for no damage.
Other Options
There aren't a lot of options to experiment with Wishiwashi due to it's small movepool. A Choice Band can be used but Wishiwashi lacks the coverage to truly make use of it as well as lacks Liquidation. Life Orb is an option but breaks Schooling faster and Expert Belt gives up to much power, same with Z Crystals to a lesser degree.
Possible Partners
Silvally - Not a great pokemon but a flexible one. This with its access to Defog and Parting Shot make it a star in the supporting role and can help make space for Wishiwashi to get in easily.
Trick Room setters - Slow speed and the ability to hit like a truck make Wishiwashi a prime Trick Room abuser. Sadly the setters in NU suffer from Pursuit being fairly common but Sableye can make a decent setter combined with it recovery and status options.
Countering Wishiwashi
Hazards/Status- Hazards are going to be the easiest way to handle Wishiwashi for reasons stated above. This just adds chip towards the Ľ health goal to break Schooling. Status, namely poison fall into this area as well for the same reason. Ironically enough, normal Poison is better than Toxic here due to Wishiwashi not staying on the field long making generic Poison deal more. [?IMG]
Locations in Games
Red/Blue/Yellow:
Not in game.
Gold/Silver/Crystal:
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:
Route 7, Route 8, Route 9, Route 13, Route 14, Route 15, Akala Outskirts, Brooklet Hill, Kala'e Bay, Melemele Sea, Secluded Shore
Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon:
Route 7, Route 8, Route 9, Route 13, Route 14, Route 15, Akala Outskirts, Brooklet Hill, Kala'e Bay, Melemele Sea
Let's Go, Pikachu!/Let's Go, Eevee!:
Not in game.
Animé Appearences
