Palpitoad

Using Palpitoad in a Playthrough

Tympole evolves into Water/Ground Palpitoad at level 25 and then into Seismitoad at level 36, giving the family one of the strongest defensive type combinations available during a Unova playthrough. Seismitoad has base 105 HP and balanced offenses; its Attack was base 85 in Generation V and increased to 95 from Generation VI onward, while Special Attack remains 85. Surf or Scald, Earthquake or Earth Power, Drain Punch, Sludge Wave, Rock coverage, Stealth Rock, and later Power Whip or Knock Off allow physical, special, mixed, and utility sets. Swift Swim doubles Speed in rain, Poison Touch can poison targets hit by contact moves, and the Hidden Ability Water Absorb grants complete Water immunity and restores one-quarter of maximum HP when hit by a Water attack. Water/Ground also grants an Electric immunity and leaves Grass as the line's only ordinary weakness, but that weakness deals quadruple damage. Modest or Adamant suit offensive approaches, while Bold or Impish can emphasize the excellent defensive typing and HP.

Palpitoad in Competitive Pokémon

Seismitoad debuted as a strong BW NU utility Pokemon rather than an OU star, using Water/Ground typing, 105 HP, Water Absorb, Stealth Rock, Scald, Earthquake or Earth Power, and respectable mixed offenses to function as a defensive pivot or rain attacker. Swift Swim also gave it an offensive route, while Water Absorb made it especially useful against opposing Water-types, but its lack of reliable recovery and crippling quadruple Grass weakness kept it from becoming an elite wall. Its Attack increased from 85 to 95 in Generation VI, and it continued to occupy useful NU and RU roles through later generations. Sword and Shield briefly elevated Seismitoad's importance much further: Water Absorb and its typing made it one of the most practical defensive answers to enormously powerful Water attacks in the early metagame, while Stealth Rock and utility prevented it from being a completely passive counterpick. Even after that environment changed, SS tiering settled Seismitoad in RU, where Water immunity, Electric immunity, Knock Off, Toxic, and Stealth Rock still provide valuable role compression.

Palpitoad in Nuzlockes

Seismitoad is one of the safer Water-types for Nuzlockes because Water/Ground has only a single type weakness, grants an Electric immunity, and base 105 HP provides substantial room for ordinary neutral hits. Water Absorb is the safest ability where available because it adds a second immunity and can actively heal Seismitoad when switched into a known Water attack. The entire defensive profile must be discarded against Grass coverage, however: Energy Ball, Giga Drain, Grass Knot, Leaf Blade, and similar moves deal quadruple damage and can kill from surprisingly high HP. Swift Swim can make Seismitoad very difficult to outspeed in rain, while Drain Punch can provide recovery for physical sets, but inaccurate coverage such as Power Whip should not be used when safer attacks already win. Bold, Impish, or other defensive natures can improve its margin further, but scouting Grass moves is more important than any nature choice.

Palpitoad is amphibious and captures prey with a long sticky tongue. The large bumps on its head can be vibrated to produce intense sounds, waves, and even earthquake-like tremors that weaken prey. Individuals with larger lumps can generate a wider range of sounds. Its ability to operate both in water and on land marks a major ecological transition from the fully aquatic Tympole stage.