Kilowattrel, the Frigatebird Pokémon. Kilowattrel inflates its throat sac to amplify its electricity. By riding the wind, this Pokémon can fly over 430 miles in a day. It uses its throat sac to store electricity generated by its wings. There's hardly any oil in its feathers, so it is a poor swimmer.
Overview
The arguable Gen 9 early bird Pokémon, Kilowattrel is a stark departure from previous feathered friends, in its comparative late availability, emphasis as a special attacker and unique typing. Flying Electric is a rare and fantastic type combination, with good coverage and resistances with few weaknesses in return. The offensive profile of Flying and Electric is further improved by access to Competitive, pushing Kilowattrel’s usable Special Attack to dangerous levels, actively punishing Intimidate and especially the oft Flying typed Defog users. However, Kilowattrel’s true value lies in its Speed. Base 125 Speed is incredibly swift, with even Pokémon known for their speed like Greninja, Inteleon and Meowscarada falling short, allowing Kilowattrel to make the most of not only its offenses, but its support options as well, especially in Speed control with Thunder Wave as well as being one of the few viable Singles users of Tailwind thanks to its Wind Power ability giving Kilowattrel a Charge boost in Tailwind, for a discounted special Shift Gears.
What is not impressive is Kilowattrel’s defenses. Base 60 defenses are pitiful, and with poor HP, Kilowattrel can’t take hits well at all. Weakness to Stealth Rocks only exasperates this issue, leaving Kilowattrel weak to opposing priority that bypasses its fantastic speed. In addition to poor defenses, Kilowattrel’s offense is also marred by poor coverage. Having nothing to boast outside of STABs besides the conditional Tera Blast and Weather Ball leaves Kilowattrel struggling against opposing Electric types who can hit it neutrally if Killowattrel is not running Volt Absorb as well as Flying resistant Ground types. Furthermore, Kilowattrel’s Special Attack is unimpressive without a Competitive boost and its best attacking options are marred by poor accuracy outside of Rain, which Kilowattrel can’t even set up on its own, leaving it wanting for power against spongier targets. As Kilowattrel is the epitome of a fast and frail attacker, entirely reliant on its speed and avoiding the few targets that outright wall it.
Positives
Base 125 Speed is incredible, with few Pokémon able to outspeed Kilowattrel.
Flying Electric is an incredible typing with good offensive coverage and resistances with only two weaknesses to show for it.
105 Special Attack is quite usable, with Competitive (and rarely Windpower) able to pick up the slack.
Negatives
70/60/60 defenses are quite pitiful, greatly limiting Kilowattrel’s defensive utility and making priority a serious issue.
Only conditional coverage outside of STABs leaves Kilowattrel hard walled by many Electric types as well as type combinations that resist both.
Movesets
Flyers on the Storm
-Thunder
-Hurricane
-Weather Ball
-Volt Switch
Ability: Volt Absorb
Item: Heavy-Duty Boots
EVs and Nature:
4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
Kilowattrel makes an incredible compliment to Rain teams, providing potent Flying and Electric offense in a single slot, handling the Grass and Water types that such teams can struggle against, and with Volt Absorb can even pivot into Electric attacks that threaten its rain abusing teammates. Killowattrel in return gets access to its strongest STABs and fantastic coverage in Weather Ball to address its power issues. Thunder’s Electric STAB and brutal Paralysis chance is great in applying pressure, even if a non-Electric resist pivots in. Hurricane is more reliable with no immunities to pivot in safely, but the Confusion rider isn’t as impactful as Thunder’s Paralysis, though the wide neutral coverage and handling Grass types such as Chesnaught, Amoonguss, and Hisuian Lilligant is invaluable. Weather Ball gives Kilowattrel the coverage it so badly needs, especially against Ground types immune to its Electric STAB like Rhyperior, and Krookodile while giving a powerful neutral option against opposing Electric types that would wall Kilowattrel otherwise. Volt Switch retains utility in and out of rain, allowing Kilowattrel to reposition while chipping the opponent, placing even more pressure on the opponent while maintaining positioning. This is especially ideal with a Drizzle user, allowing Kilowattrel to pivot out and immediately reestablish Rain.
Tera Types:
Kilowattrel gets an absurd amount of mileage out of its typing, and the hit and run style its high speed and Volt Switch/U-Turn enables means that switching is often better than a defensive Tera. However, Kilowattrel’s lacking power and poor base coverage have it enjoy a good amount of mileage out of offensive Tera Types while Volt Absorb does offer unique synergies with defensive Teras. Tera Electric is a strong option, super charging Kilowattrel’s primary STAB as well as its stronger pivoting move, allowing Kilowattrel to rip off up to a third on targets as bulky as Deoxys-Defense, making it that much easier for Kilowattrel’s partner to threaten a KO. With Tera Electric Thunder, Kilowattrel solidly 2HKOs targets as bulky as Reuniclus and Bronzong, greatly limiting safe switch ins. Tera Water synergizes incredibly with a Rain Boosted Weather Ball, allowing for insane damage while only being weak to Grass thanks to Volt Absorb, though it does prevent Kilowattrel from pivoting into Grass attacks as well as deprive it of a Ground immunity. Tera Steel is recommended as a Defensive Tera, granting Kilowattrel vital resistances to priority moves such as Extreme Speed, Ice Shard, and Accelrock, covering one of Kilowattrel’s biggest weaknesses.
EVs and Items:
As with many frail attackers, max Speed and Special Attack are heavily recommended as one will not get much payout for investing in Kilowattrel’s defenses. Speed is especially paramount given how much of Kilowattrel’s niche is outspeeding already fast Pokémon. While the power drop is unfortunate, outrunning Cyclizar, Maushold, and Noivern can mean the difference between Kilowattrel knocking out a target or being knocked out in turn. The power boost from Modest does have some merit, guaranteeing OHKOs on Slowbro, Hisuian Zoroark, and Tsareena, while allowing for OHKOs on Empoleon as well as enabling a likely 2HKO on Gastrodon, Jirachi and both Ninetails (discounting Thunder’s and Hurricane’s poor accuracy if they switch in), while still allowing Kilowattrel to outrun base 108s like Terrakion. As Kilowattrel does pivot a lot, Heavy-Duty Boots is recommended as the item so that it can come in repeatedly without fear of Stealth Rocks. If unconcerned about hazards, Life Orb provides a hearty power boost to all Kilowattrels STABs, though the chip damage can be concerning if Stealth Rocks is established. Magnet is a strong option if running Volt Switch, giving Kilowattrel more bite to its pivoting while securing more knockouts with its main STAB while being more economical with Kilowattrel’s health than Life Orb.
Partners:
:
This Kilowattrel is meant to Flourish on Rain teams with most of its moves being empowered by Rain. As such passive setters such as Politoed and Pelipper are of vital importance to Kilowattrel, generating momentum without having to sacrifice a turn. Other Rain abusers like Basculegion, Floatzel, Barraskewda, all love Kilowattrel for the same reasons as touched upon before; with Kilowattrel’s STABs and Volt Absorb handling most of the biggest headaches for Water types in general, removing their few checks and allowing them to run rampant. Kilowattrel in turn adores the anti-Rock and Ground support they provide, removing safe switch-ins to Kilowattrel’s own STABs, especially Hippowdon and Ninetales whose weather changing effects cause Kilowattrel to struggle.
Ironically Weather Ball Kilowattrel remains a strong pick on other weather teams. While this requires swapping out Thunder for Thunderbolt, most other weather teams struggle against Water types, as Sandstorm teams are threatened offensively, Snow teams can struggle to break through without Freeze Dry and both in the case of Sun teams. Kilowattrel checking such threats can enable their own offense and Kilowattrel is so starved for coverage that any Weather Ball is a great improvement.
Ground types are powerful allies for Kilowattrel in general given how its STABs are walled by opposing Electric types, especially if Kilowattrel isn’t running Volt Absorb and is vulnerable to opposing Electric STABs. Krookodile, Mamoswine and Rhyperior are all solid switch ins to most Electric types and can help setup Stealth Rocks to further Kilowattrel’s own offense. Kilowattrel threatening Water and Grass types in return goes a long way in enabling them by keeping such threats off their backs.
Other Options:
U-Turn is a weaker alternative to Volt Switch but isn’t stopped by Ground types or the many Electric Immune abilities attached to opposing Electric types, allowing far more reliable pivoting.
Thunderbolt is a great consistency option over Thunder so Kilowattrel has a reliable STAB outside of Rain.
Roost is great if running Life Orb, making Kilowattrel more resistant to being grinded down by its own item.
Doubles and VGC Options
Kilowattrel’s fantastic speed and unique set of attributes has allowed it to carve out a niche in lower powered doubles formats. Being a Flying Electric type with Competitive allows Kilowattrel to threaten popular Grass-Fire-Water cores anchored by Fire typed Intimidate users such as Arcanine, Paldean-Tauros and Incineroar, a fantastic trait to have given how common such team compositions are. Offense isn’t all Kilowattrel is bringing to the table either, its fantastic speed enabling excellent Speed control as the fastest non-Priority user of Tailwind and Thunder Wave as well as ruining opposing Special Attackers with Eerie Impulse. Kilowattrel’s synergy with Rain also deserves mention, having both STABs improved by Rain along with Weather Ball for badly needed coverage makes Kilowattrel a strong pick for such teams. Or it would, if not for overlapping with Pelipper, who is by far the preferred Tailwind setter for Rain teams thanks to also being the preferred Drizzle user as well as Archauldon providing strong Electric coverage with its Electro Shot. The same is true for many of Kilowattrel’s other niches. It means little being the fastest non Priority setter of Tailwind when Prankster and Gale Wing setters like Murkrow, Whimsicott and Talonflame are available, all offering more varied support than Kilowattrel. Offensively threatening Grass-Fire-Water cores means little when most Dragon types do a fair job defensively while being strong options in general. Kilowattrel’s frailty also makes it incredibly volatile where a misplay can have it removed without fanfare having failed to contribute.
Sandstorm Rider
-Weather Ball
-Air Slash
-Volt Switch
-Protect
Ability: Competitive
Item: Expert Belt
Tera Type: Ghost/Electric
EVs and Nature:
252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
Despite Kilowattrel looking like great Rain support, this particular set is meant to slot in with Sandstorm teams, given how such teams struggle against Intimidate and the Fire-Water-Grass core. Kilowattrel answers both concerns quite nicely, being an active detterent and punishment to Incineroar and the other Intimidating Fire types with Competitive, while the Sandstorm empowered Weather Ball ensures Kilowattrel gets the OHKO on any except Tauros-Blaze (who doesn't like +2 Air Slash) and Assault Vest users. Air Slash threatens Grass types like Rillaboom and Kilowattrel's insane base speed synergizes nicely with Air Slash's Flinch chance. Volt Switch is Electric coverage and fantastic for Kilowattrel to pivot out for its allies to take advantage of the Sand as well as maintain positioning. Protect is the best move in Doubles as well as denying Incineroar's and Rillaboom's Fake Out.
As this Kilowattrel's role is to eliminate troublesome targets, maximizing investment in Special Attack and Speed is only natural. Expert Belt is preferred as the item here, giving Kilowattrel a boost in eliminating its favored targets while allowing Kilowattrel to retain move flexibility. Life Orb is not recommended, given the recoil from that adds up incredibly quickly with Sandstorm's chip damage. Tera Ghost is recommended to prevent Incineroar and Rillaboom from Fake Out Cycling Kilowattrel until Sandstorm ends or just preemptively eliminate it as well as ward off Dragonite's Extreme Speed. Tera Electric is another strong option, boosting Volt Switch to appreciable levels, especially after a Competitive boost.
Preferred Partners:
As this set is meant to run with Sand teams, the sand duo of Tyranitar and Garchomp/Excadrill are a given. All of them love Kilowattrel punishing Intimidate users and threatening the Water and Grass types and Kilowattrel loves their Ground STAB/coverage threatening opposing Electric types that normally wall it while threatening Archaludon as well. Kilowattrel's Flying typing also enables Earthquake spam
Other Options:
Thunderbolt is a much stronger STAB option into opposing Water types and may be preferable over Volt Switch if the utility from pivoting doesn't appeal to you.
Tailwind is fantastic Speed control and always worth considering.
Thunderwave is targeted and more consistent speed control though the imperfect accuracy can be maddening.
Electroweb is an alternative mode of Speed control that also chips the opponent done (or do more than chip if Competitive was tripped)
Countering Kilowattrel
While Kilowattrel’s blistering Speed and great STAB combination make it troublesome to many Pokémon, its lacking coverage leaves Kilowattrel with no lack of counters.
If not running Weather Ball or Tera Blast, Electric types are regularly troublesome for Kilowattrel, resisting both of its STABs and ignoring any paralysis shenanigans Kilowattrel can try. Of all Electric types Bellibolt is easily the most troublesome, merely being 3HKO’d by even Weather Ball and can outlast Kilowattrel between Slack Off and Toxic, though Volt Absorb + Tera Steel can put a stop to that. Magnezone also fares well, tanking both STABs with incredible ease and threatening to 2HKO back even with a resisted Flash Cannon though it dislikes Rain and Sun Weather Ball. Rotom-Heat and Frost are other bulky Electric types that do well. Volt Absorb Kilowattrel also solidly counters opposing Kilowattrel without the ability, given Kilowattrel’s neutrality to Electric attacks. Iron Thorns is also notable thanks to its Rock STAB ensuring it doesn’t care about whether Kilowattrel is packing Volt Absorb at all though Rain Weather Ball is an issue. Other Electric types can work, though many Electric type’s relative frailty can enable Kilowattrel to muscle through.
Flying resistant and specially defensive Ground types also cause Kilowattrel no end of troubles, switching into its preferred STAB and often having the neutral coverage to threaten a KO in turn, though most of these fear a Rain or Snow empowered Weather Ball. Rhyperior is particularly nightmarish thanks to its Rock STAB guaranteeing a quick KO and forcing Kilowattrel to run. Gastrodon does well against Timid Kilowattrel, able to outlast Hurricanes with its Special Bulk while not fearing Weather Ball, though Modest Kilowattrel can 2HKO through Hurricane.
As with many other fast and frail Pokémon, Kilowattrel is reliant on its speed to excel, so outspeeding it with Choice Scarf users or bypassing it with priority are great ways to remove Kilowattrel quickly. Banded Lycanroc-Dusk, Banded Mamoswine, and Banded Tera Normal Lucario can all OHKO Kilowattrel and non- banded variants still threaten a OHKO after Stealth Rock damage.
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:
Not in game
Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon:
Not in game
Let's Go, Pikachu!/Let's Go, Eevee!:
Not in game
Sword/Shield:
Not in game
Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl:
Not in game
Legends: Arceus:
Not in game
Scarlet/Violet:
Casseroya Lake, East Paldean Sea, North Paldean Sea, North Province Area One, West Paldean Sea
Tera Raid Battles: 4 Star Raid Battles, 6 Star Raid Battles
Anime Appearences
