Panpour

Using Panpour in a Playthrough

Panpour evolves into Simipour with a Water Stone, and in Black and White a Panpour is given at the Dreamyard if the player chose Snivy, specifically providing a Water-type answer to the Fire-type Striaton Gym matchup. Simipour has base 98 Attack, 98 Special Attack, and 101 Speed, letting it use physical Waterfall, special Surf or Scald, or mixed coverage such as Ice Beam, Crunch, Low Kick, Grass Knot, and Acrobatics depending on the game. Nasty Plot gives special sets a way to turn the otherwise merely good base 98 Special Attack into serious sweeping power. Gluttony causes Berries to activate at half HP rather than the normal quarter threshold, while the Hidden Ability Torrent strengthens Water attacks at low health. Because evolution requires a Water Stone, move timing can matter in older games where stone-evolved Pokemon learn fewer moves naturally, so it may be worthwhile to let Panpour learn desired attacks before evolving; Timid or Jolly preserve Simipour's excellent Speed, while Modest or Adamant increase damage.

Panpour in Competitive Pokémon

Simipour has remained a lower-tier offensive Pokemon, but its base 101 Speed and equal base 98 offenses give it more flexibility than many similarly ranked Water-types. BW competitive analyses describe it as capable of physical, special, or mixed offense, with Water STAB backed by Ice Beam, Grass Knot, Crunch, Low Kick, and other coverage, although its 75/63/63 bulk makes it easy to revenge kill. It faced heavy competition from stronger Water-types such as Samurott and Carracosta in Generation V, with Speed being the main characteristic that distinguished it. By SM, Smogon still placed Simipour in ZU but described it as one of the tier's stronger special wallbreakers because Nasty Plot, Hydro Pump, Ice Beam, Focus Blast, and base 101 Speed could overwhelm slower defensive teams. Its ceiling has always been limited by poor bulk, imperfectly accurate strongest attacks, and competition from Water-types with better raw power, defenses, or utility, but it is a legitimate fast lower-tier breaker rather than a completely unviable elemental monkey.

Panpour in Nuzlockes

Panpour is especially useful in Black and White when received alongside a Snivy starter because it is deliberately positioned to cover Snivy's difficult Fire-type Striaton matchup. Simipour's base 101 Speed helps it avoid damage by moving first, and Water typing leaves only Grass and Electric weaknesses while resisting Fire, Water, Ice, and Steel. Its defenses are poor enough that strong neutral attacks can still be dangerous, so the line is better used offensively than as a pivot. Waterfall, Surf, or Scald are safer than Hydro Pump when the extra power is unnecessary, and Gluttony can occasionally cause a healing Berry to activate early enough to prevent a death. Nasty Plot can create sweeps but costs a turn on a frail Pokemon, making straightforward attacks preferable when they already secure the knockout.

Panpour stores nutrient-rich water in the crest on its head. It can spray water from the tip of its tail to keep itself damp or to water plants, and it is normally found near natural water sources.