Battle Moveset

A Good Moveset for Banette would have to be this:

Attacks:

Shadow Ball
Thunder Wave/Will-o-Wisp
Knock Off
Destiny Bond/Taunt/Snatch/Skill Swap/Spite

Items Attached:

Salac Berry OR
Leftovers

Preferred Nature:

Jolly

Strategy Using Banette

Banette is one of those Pokémon who got messed up when it comes to move pool versus stats. It gets a great attack stat but a tiny physical move pool. Banette's main redeeming features is it's wide array of moves that can heavily cripple an opponent. Knock Off is pretty much the top reason to be using this Pokémon, since Knock Off will seriously cripple the majority of Pokémon (a Blissey without Leftovers is not a pretty sight). Pick a status attack to help make up for it's terrible stats as well as cripple something else (Thunder Wave cripples fast Pokémon, Will-o-Wisp cripples physically offensive Pokémon) and pick your final move based on preference.

- Destiny Bond with Salac is always great when pulled off successfully, although Salac Berries tend to telegraph that a Destiny Bond is on it's way.
- Taunt, when predicted correctly, can be a game breaking move. It also allows you to destroy stuff that has no way of touching Banette (Fighting and Normal moves only) or force a switch. It also buys you free switches when you're sure of what move is on it's way and have the security of knowing that something non-offensive and potentially crippling won't hit your switch in.
- Snatch is another potentially game-breaking move that Banette gets and is another "Use with prediction or don't use at all!" move. With Banette throwing status attacks around a cleric will be encouraged to use Aromatherapy/Heal Bell, Snatch it and rid your team of statuses. When you feel you're opponent may try to heal itself, Snatch and take that Recover for your own. This also works with Banette's Attack stat, being able to steal Dragon Dances and so on.
- Skill Swap is a rather overlooked option but it's nice and simple to execute, simply dump Insomnia on a Pokémon with Rest and prevent them from kicking it off until they switch out, or even steal and ability from your opponent that is a necessity (Ninjask's Speed Boost, Medicham's Pure Power, etc).
- Spite is another overlooked option, but it can be very handy for wasting the PP on moves with limited PP (Aromatherapy/Heal Bell, Softboiled, Ice Beam among other things).

There are obviously other filler options that could be fitted in, such as a secondary physical move (Hidden Power or Return), one of it's decent Special moves (Thunderbolt and Psychic do fine with it's decent Special attack stat), Mimic or Substitute, but the above moves are probably better choices if you can use them correctly.

Banette's use will mostly be in the Underused environment, a place where it's trait will be of use since Sleep moves run rampant. Thing's likely to Sleep Powder/Spore/Hypnosis are free switch ins for Banette, as well as the many Choice Banders who use Return/Cross Chop as their core move. It's also in this environment where it can wreak serious havoc with status attacks when there's a serious lack of effective clerics (clerics are few and many of them are too overpowered for OU while many just can't cleric effectively, Vileplume will be your main enemy). Banette's physical prowess is also felt stronger in UU where it won't be totally shut down by the likes of Skarmory, Metagross and Tyranitar.

EV Corner:

EVs: 128 HP / 170 Atk / 212 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)

Banette is one of many Pokémon who don't have one definitive EV setting. It all depends on the set mostly. This distribution has enough speed to outrun Pokémon from the Base Speed 70 category (without the +Speed natures) however when using Thunder Wave you may wish to reconsider you're speed distribution and put more focus on your defences. With Salac you may want some more Speed so that you can outrun more Pokémon with the boost while with Leftovers you may want some more HP for improved recover. With Snatch you may want to edit your EVs to take into account possible stolen boosts while with Skill Swap you may want to be able to outrun certain Pokemon you're positive that you'll encounter and Skill Swap.

Other Optional Sets:

Banette @ Liechi/Salac Berry/Leftovers
Trait: Insomnia
EVs: 130 HP / 248 Atk / 132 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Shadow Ball
- Psych Up
- Hidden Power [Fighting]/Return/Body Slam
- Will-o-Wisp/Thunder Wave/Imprison/Endure

Another "Thief"-style set. Psych Up something, status it to give you the advantage one on one and then sweep. Imprison could be given a try to lock Hidden Power and Shadow Ball and Endure could be given a try to get a berry active to give you the edge one on one.

Banette @ Leftovers
Trait: Insomnia
EVs: 204 HP / 54 Spd / 252 SAtk
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Calm Mind
- Thunderbolt
- Psychic
- Thunder Wave/Will-o-Wisp/Destiny Bond/Taunt

This set is best left to Misdreavus, however Banette still has the move pool for it. Calm Mind up and then sweep. Thunder Wave helps make up for a lack of Speed, Will-o-Wisp helps you cover physical defence, Destiny Bond can take something out at the last minute and Taunt prevents things from Hazing you're Calm Minds.

Strategy Against Banette

The moment Banette is in play you should be expecting it's first move to be either a status attack or Knock Off (unless it switched into something weak to Ghost attacks in which case expect a Shadow Ball). Substitute blocks both Knock Off and Status attacks however smart Banette users would never switch it into something that obviously carries Sub, however it's something to keep in mind for things that don't usually carry it. You're only other option (besides using Muk or Swalot) is to switch something in that won't be crippled too badly by a status or loss of item, in other words you'll probably end up sacrificing something. Thing's on their last limbs do just fine. Also Pokémon who were given their item as a filler (Leftovers) do well for taking the Knock Off, since they'll probably feel the least loss out of your team.

As of taking down Banette, nothing beats offence. Banette's defences and HP are below average and it doesn't carry too many resistances (although it has two immunities) so the majority of STABed or boosted attacks will KO it, be weary of Destiny Bond however

Contest Moveset

A good Contest Moveset for Banette would have to be this for the Smart Contest best with Calm, Gentle, Careful, Sassy Nature:

Attacks:

Calm mind
Psychic
Shadow Ball
Thunder Wave

Items Attached:

Green Scarf

Strategy Using Banette

If you do the attacks in this following order you should have very few problems; 1st - Calm mind, 2nd - Psychic, 3rd - Calm mind, 4th - Psychic/Shadow ball, 5th - Shadow ball/Thunderwave

Locations in Games

Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald Evolve Shuppet (Ruby), Sky Pillar (Sapphire/Emerald) Colosseum Trade from RSE Fire Red/Leaf Green Trade from RSE

Animé Appearences

Banette has had a few Animé Appearences. In them, they were used by Harley in his Grand Festival Campaign against May Episode 399: Fierce Fighting! Grand Festival (2)! Episode 400: Decisive Battle! Grand Festival (3)!