Swift Swim
Speed doubles in rain.
Heals status effects in rain.
Water Absorb
Type Tier
Water LC
Level 50 Statistics (see level 5, 50, 100)
Min- Min Max Max+
- 125 157 -
63 70 102 112
54 60 92 101
63 70 102 112
54 60 92 101
75 84 116 127
  • Little Cup


Tympole doesn't seem like much at first glance: it doesn't have a large movepool, and its base stats are all pretty poor. However, it becomes a dangerous offensive threat in the rain, reaching over 30 Speed—one of the few Pokemon in Little Cup to hit over 30 Speed in the rain even with a neutral nature, setting it apart from other similar sweepers. Despite the fact that it doesn't have typical moves for a Water-type (such as Ice Beam), it gets others that easily make up for them. Overall, Tympole isn't to be underestimated, as it can make unprepared teams pay heavily.

Name Item Ability Nature

Swift Swim Sweeper

Life Orb Swift Swim Modest
Moveset EVs
~ Hydro Pump / Surf
~ Sludge Wave
~ Earth Power
~ Hidden Power Electric / Rain Dance
36 Def / 200 SpA / 244 Spe

This set takes advantage of Tympole's decent coverage, giving it the best chance of pulling off a sweep. Hydro Pump is its strongest STAB attack and has an incredible amount of power in the rain, enabling Tympole to hit a wide range of threats very heavily. However, Surf is an alternative if accuracy is an issue. Sludge Wave smacks the Grass-types who resist Hydro Pump, and easily OHKOes Snover—something not every Swift Swim sweeper can boast—as it switches in to end the rain. Earth Power gives Tympole more coverage, allowing it to easily KO both Croagunk and Chinchou, two threats to rain teams. There are two options for the last moveslot. Hidden Power Electric is Tympole's most powerful option against other Water-types, destroying Mantyke for instance, who can take its other attacks with ease. On the other hand, Rain Dance allows Tympole to sweep on its own instead of relying upon team support, and also helps it maintain its Speed boost even as weather changers, such as Snover, switch in.

Team Options & Additional Comments >>>

Other Options

Tympole has few other options it can use, as its movepool is small. Hyper Voice can be used for its high Base Power, but it lacks the coverage offered by Tympole's other moves. Tympole can also utilize Hydration by running a support set in the rain with options such as Toxic, Rest, and Aqua Ring, with either Leftovers or Eviolite as the item, but rain is not permanent in Little Cup. Muddy Water can be used to lower the opponent's accuracy and has the same Base Power as Surf, but its accuracy is imperfect, making it a poor option. Tympole also gets Confuse Ray, but confusion is a very unreliable status condition. Tympole also has a decent base 50 Attack stat, but it has no physical options to work with.

Checks and Counters

Munchlax takes all of Tympole's attacks with ease thanks to its huge Special Defense, and can severely weaken it with Return. Ferroseed doesn't take much from Earth Power and laughs at Tympole's other moves, and can set up entry hazards or KO Tympole with Bullet Seed or Seed Bomb. Choice Scarf Snover takes away the rain that Tympole relies on and can KO it with Giga Drain, but Snover must be wary of Sludge Wave as it switches in. Chinchou can revenge kill Tympole with Thunderbolt, but can't switch in directly, as it will be KOed by Earth Power. Due to its weak defensive stats, Tympole will also take a large amount of damage from priority attacks, meaning that users of those attacks, such as Croagunk, can finish off Tympole with ease.