Swampert in the Pokémon Go Meta

Swampert

Trainers! Niantic has announced Mudkip as the star of the April 2022 Community Day Classic and it goes without saying that it is one of the best Community Day Classic events one could get!

The best CD (Community Day) events are usually associated with the pseudo legendaries but this Water/Ground starter from Gen 3 is undoubtedly one of the best mons in the meta. As such, this is an event you can absolutely salvage.

So how does this Pokémon fare in the meta? Where does it stand among other Water and Ground types? Will it remain a force to be reckoned with in PvP? And finally, how would powerful would Mega Swampert be?

But first, let’s check out some Swampert basics.

Typing, Strengths and Weaknesses

Swampert has an amazing type combination of Water/Ground, notably giving it only one weakness to the Grass.

Its set of resistances includes the following:

0.625x damage from
Electric
Fire
Poison
Rock
Steel

 

In addition to Swampert having excellent defensive typing, it packs quite a punch even in the offensive department.

The Ground type ties with the Fighting type to deal super-effective damage to the maximum number of Pokémon types (5). Furthermore, the Water has always proven itself useful in any meta. Overall, Swampert can deal super-effective damage to the Electric, Fire, Ground, Poison, Rock and Steel types. These are some of the most meta-defining types in the game.

In a nutshell, Swampert manages to leave an impact both offensively and defensively. 

Stats

Swampert has the following stats in Pokémon Go:

Swampert WaterGround
Max CP at Level 40 2974 | Max CP at Level 50 3362
ATK 208 DEF 175 HP 225
Weak to Strong Against
Grass Electric Fire Ground Rock Poison Steel

 

Swampert is respectfully bulky but its ATK isn’t as high you’d expect a formidable mon to have. It has got enviable typing, appreciable stats and all that’s left to make it shin(y)e is its moveset.

Well, that’s where the magic happens!

Moveset Analysis

Swampert learns the following moves in Pokémon Go:

Fast Moves Charged Moves
  • Water Gun Water
  • Mud Shot Ground
  • Hydro Cannon* Water
  • Surf Water
  • Muddy Water Water
  • Earthquake Ground
  • Sludge Wave Poison

*denotes a legacy move. Here it is the exclusive Community Day move for Swampert.

Let’s check out Swampert’s moves in PvP:

Fast move analysis

Fast move Damage Per Turn [DPT] Energy Per Turn [EPT] Cooldown
Water Gun 3.00 3.00 0.50 sec
Mud Shot 1.50 4.50 1.00 sec

 

Water Gun hinges on the basic cut-off [DPT/EPT] set for a good PvP fast move of [3.00/3.00]. So not good, not terrible… it’s definitely usable. However, when you look at its other fast move, you see why Water Gun might just pale in comparison.

Mud Shot is one of the best fast moves in the meta due to its exceptional energy generation. This move is responsible for making fellow Ground types like Groudon, Garchomp and Excadrill destructive forces in battles. And Swampert, despite having a significantly lower ATK stat than all the said mons, is no slouch! Mud Shot’s energy gains pair well with all of Swampert’s charged moves to make it a formidable Pokémon in its own right. So let’s check out its charges moves!

Charged move analysis

Charged move Damage Energy required
Hydro Cannon 80 40
Surf 65 40
Muddy Water 35 35
Earthquake 120 65
Sludge Wave 110 65

 

Hydro Cannon is an excellent move. Dishing out a cool 80 DMG for only 40 energy is awesome. As mentioned, Hydro Cannon paired with Mud Shot’s exceptional energy gains make Swampert a major threat.

Surf is good but straight out underwhelming when compared to Hydro Cannon.

Muddy Water is its cheapest charged move but when you can deal 30 more damage at just 5 more energy with Hydro Cannon, one can see why the Community Day exclusive move is the clear winner for being the best charged move for Swampert.

Earthquake and Sludge Wave are both viable options. While Earthquake is evergreen and works for all three PvP leagues, threatening the ever-rampant Steel types, Sludge Wave holds more ground (pun intended) in the lower leagues where the Fairy type is more prevalent.

Best moveset for each PvP league

Great League

Mud Shot + Hydro Cannon & Sludge Wave

Ultra League

Mud Shot + Hydro Cannon & Sludge Wave/Earthquake

Master League

Mud Shot + Hydro Cannon & Earthquake

PvP Verdict

Swampert holds the distinction of being one of those few Pokémon that is viable in all three PvP leagues. Hydro Cannon Swampert, with its excellent array of moves and lack of sufficient counters, is a red alert threat across the entire PvP meta. A spammy, hard-hitting mon blessed with an amazing type combination is a recipe for a meta-relevant PvP mon. 


Swampert in PvE

While Swampert has really good moves, it lacks the attacking prowess necessary to establish itself as a top-notch mon. That said, Swampert is still extremely viable.

As a Water type

Water Gun and Hydro Cannon deliver a better performance than its Ground pairing. However, Swampert is outclassed by its Water starter peers such as Greninja, Primarina and Inteleon as and when they receive Hydro Cannon in their individual Community Day events. Not to mention, Kyogre with Surf and eventually, Origin Pulse, totally whitewashes the meta.

As a Ground type

Earthquake is a 1-bar charged move and Swampert, in terms of Ground type performance is severely outclassed by the likes of stalwarts like Groudon, Garchomp, Landorus, Rhyperior and Excadrill.

PvE Verdict

Swampert is definitely an anchor as both a Water and a Ground type but there is a slew of better options that do Swampert’s job better.


Do you liek Mudkipz? Then you will liek murder: Mega Swampert

Mega Swampert looks like Swampert on steroids and that’s exactly what this fish brute is.

Max CP 4975
ATK 283 DEF 218 HP 225
Weak to Strong Against
Grass Electric Fire Ground Rock Poison Steel

https://db.pokemongohub.net/images/official/full/445_f2.png

https://db.pokemongohub.net/images/official/full/445_f2.png

As a Water type

Barring Ash Greninja with high DPS and wet tissue defenses, and Primal Kyogre for being beyond legendary, Mega Swampert is among the leading Water type monsters with excellent stats all across the board.

As a Ground type

Similar to its Water type performance, Mega Swampert is a menace as a Ground type as well. Surpassed only by the might of Primal Groudon and Mega Garchomp, Mega Swampert is among the premier Ground types to use.

Mega Verdict

An OP monster both as a Water type as well as a Ground type. You will definitely liek thizz.


Conclusion

Whether it’s Swampert and Shadow Swampert, or even the eventual Mega Swampert, this is one Pokémon that will always be a mainstay in the meta. Swampert is honestly a starter done right and deserves a spot in your battle line-up. Whether it’s the Classic Community Day or using an Elite Charged TM on an already evolved Shadow Swampert, it’s totally worth it!

Author & tags

MeteorAsh15
MeteorAsh15
My name is Niladri Sarkar. A Team Valor Trainer, I'm a Pokémon Battle Mechanics Specialist & a Dragon Master on Smogon's Pokémon Showdown where I particularly excel with Dragon types and Weather teams in Ubers / OU. I love to apply my vast knowledge and experience to the ever changing meta of Pokémon Go, specialising in DPS/TDO math, movesets, the Master League and Dragon types. Garchomp is my best Pokémon pal through and through.

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