Samurott

Using Samurott in a Playthrough

Oshawott evolves into Dewott at level 17 and Samurott at level 36, producing a pure Water final evolution with base 95 HP, 100 Attack, 108 Special Attack, and enough movepool breadth to function physically, specially, or as a mixed attacker. Surf or Hydro Pump, Razor Shell, Aqua Jet, Ice Beam, Grass Knot, Megahorn, Swords Dance, and other coverage make standard Samurott difficult to shut down with a single defensive answer, although base 70 Speed and 70 Special Defense keep it from being especially fast or bulky. Torrent is the ordinary ability, while the Hidden Ability Shell Armor completely prevents critical hits and is particularly valuable in story or Nuzlocke play; like the other Unova starter Hidden Abilities, Shell Armor Samurott was not officially distributed until Generation VI in 2015. In Hisui, Dewott evolves into Water/Dark Hisuian Samurott instead, gaining base 108 Attack and 85 Speed plus the signature Ceaseless Edge; in modern turn-based mechanics Ceaseless Edge both deals damage and sets Spikes, while the Hidden Ability Sharpness boosts slicing moves such as Ceaseless Edge, Razor Shell, Aqua Cutter, and Sacred Sword. Modest or Timid can suit special standard Samurott, Adamant or Jolly support physical sets, and Hisuian Samurott generally prefers physical investment because Sharpness and its signature Dark STAB reward that approach.

Samurott in Competitive Pokémon

Standard Samurott established itself as a strong BW NU Water-type because its 100 Attack and 108 Special Attack allowed physical Swords Dance, special, and mixed sets to punish very different counters. Smogon emphasized that unpredictability as its main advantage: Hydro Pump, Ice Beam, and Grass Knot could break common physical answers, while Swords Dance plus Aqua Jet and physical Water STAB threatened offensive teams and faster revenge killers. Samurott remained one of SM NU's better offensive Water-types for the same reason, although mediocre base 70 Speed and competition from faster or bulkier Water-types kept it from climbing into sustained upper-tier play. Hisuian Samurott completely changed the family's competitive ceiling in Generation IX and is currently an OU Pokemon, largely because Ceaseless Edge can attack while simultaneously setting Spikes; this bypasses much of the normal tempo cost of laying hazards and makes every successful attack advance both immediate and long-term pressure. Sharpness further boosts Ceaseless Edge and other slicing moves, while Knock Off, Aqua Jet, Sucker Punch, Flip Turn, and Sacred Sword give it additional utility, making Hisuian Samurott one of the most influential hazard setters introduced in modern OU.

Samurott in Nuzlockes

The Oshawott line is a dependable Nuzlocke starter because Water typing leaves only Grass and Electric weaknesses and the family evolves at the reasonable levels 17 and 36. Standard Samurott's mixed offenses allow the player to use whatever reliable Water and coverage moves the run provides, and Aqua Jet can safely finish weakened opponents before they retaliate. Shell Armor is one of the best possible Nuzlocke abilities when legitimately available because it removes critical hits entirely, eliminating a major source of unexpected deaths; in the original Black and White games, however, an ordinary starter will have Torrent instead. Hisuian Samurott gains several additional weaknesses from its Water/Dark typing but also receives a Psychic immunity, increased Speed, and a much more aggressive physical toolkit; Ceaseless Edge is useful because setting hazards no longer requires spending a completely passive turn. Razor Shell's imperfect accuracy and defense-drop variability should still be considered, and Sharpness boosts damage without creating recoil, making physical Hisuian Samurott safer than many other high-output attackers when the matchup is known.

Samurott fights with large shell blades called seamitars attached to its forelegs and can rise onto its hind limbs when drawing them. Its sword-drawing technique is based on iaijutsu: Samurott can draw, strike, and sheathe a seamitar in the time it takes an opponent to blink, and a single swing is said to be capable of felling a foe. It leads groups through strict discipline and can silence opponents with a glare or howl. Unlike its Hisuian counterpart, standard Samurott is generally characterized as a straightforward fighter that prefers honorable combat.