Alomomola

Using Alomomola in a Playthrough

Alomomola is a single-stage pure Water Pokemon with an enormous base 165 HP stat, base 80 Defense, and only base 40 Special Attack and 45 Special Defense. Its role is therefore almost entirely defensive and supportive: Wish, Protect, Scald in generations where available, Aqua Jet, Knock Off, Flip Turn in modern games, Helping Hand, and other support moves let it heal teammates, spread burns, scout, and pivot. Regenerator is by far its strongest single-battle ability because switching out restores one-third of maximum HP, while Hydration cures status each turn in rain and Healer can cure an ally's status in doubles. Wish is particularly powerful because the amount healed is based on Alomomola's enormous HP, allowing it to restore large portions of a teammate's health. Pure Water leaves only Electric and Grass weaknesses and resists Fire, Water, Ice, and Steel, but the extremely low Special Defense means even neutral special attacks can be much more dangerous than its HP bar suggests. Bold or Impish are natural for physical walling, while a specially defensive nature can partially compensate for its weak Special Defense.

Alomomola in Competitive Pokémon

Alomomola has had one of the most dramatic long-term rises of any relatively unchanged Generation V Pokemon. In BW it was an NU defensive pivot already valued for its enormous base 165 HP, Wish, and Regenerator, making it one of the best Wish passers in the game and an effective answer to many physical attackers. By SM it had become a major UU wall, where Regenerator let it repeatedly pivot into physical threats, pass enormous Wishes, spread burns with Scald, and use Protect or Knock Off to support stall and balance teams. In Scarlet and Violet it rose even further and is currently an OU Pokemon, with Regenerator plus Flip Turn giving it an exceptionally efficient slow-pivot role; it can absorb a hit, bring a teammate in safely, and recover one-third of its own HP in the process. Modern Assault Vest variants can even patch its historically terrible Special Defense, while Wish sets remain some of the strongest team-healing options available. Its main limitation has always been passivity: base 40 Special Attack and 75 Attack give opponents opportunities to set up unless Alomomola can burn them, remove items, or pivot into a stronger teammate.

Alomomola in Nuzlockes

Alomomola is an outstanding Nuzlocke support Pokemon because its enormous HP creates huge Wishes for both itself and teammates, while Regenerator restores health simply by switching. Pure Water typing has only Electric and Grass weaknesses, and base 80 Defense plus 165 HP allows it to absorb many physical neutral attacks with a very large margin. The weakness is special damage: base 45 Special Defense is poor enough that powerful neutral special attacks can still take huge chunks of health despite the massive HP total. Wish also heals on the following turn rather than immediately, so protecting or switching correctly is important when Alomomola itself is already low. Bold or Impish are especially safe for physical walling, and a slow Flip Turn in later games can move a fragile teammate into battle without exposing that teammate to the incoming attack.

Alomomola lives in the open sea and has a special membrane or mucus covering its body that can heal wounds. When it finds an injured or weakened Pokemon floating in the water, it gently holds the victim in its fins, treats the injuries, and carries it back toward shore. Later Pokédex accounts suggest the behavior may be partly self-protective: predators attracted to an injured Pokemon could also threaten Alomomola if the victim remained nearby. Smaller Water-type Pokemon frequently gather around it, and fishermen historically brought Alomomola on long voyages because its healing ability could reduce the need for doctors or medicine.