Palafin
VGC Guide
Palafin has the highest non-restricted Water-type physical attack in VGC: Hero Form’s base 160 Attack is at the very top of the format. Zero to Hero only requires switching out once while an ally is present, transforming permanently — after which Wave Crash combined with Jet Punch priority makes it nearly impossible for opponents to build a defensive answer.
Zero to Hero: One Switch-Out for Permanent Transformation
Zero to Hero triggers when Palafin switches out (via move or player command) while at least one ally is alive on the field — Palafin then re-enters as Hero Form. Hero Form dramatically increases stats (Attack 69 → 160, with HP and Speed unchanged at 100). The transformation persists for the rest of the battle. Hero Form can only be triggered mid-battle; it cannot be pre-transformed outside of battle.
Wave Crash vs Jet Punch: Burst vs Priority
Wave Crash has 120 BP Water physical with 1/3 recoil but massive power. 160 Attack × 120 BP in rain near-guarantees OHKOs against most non-resistant targets. Jet Punch at priority +1 and 60 BP secures low-HP targets after Tailwind expires. Flip Turn simultaneously deals damage AND triggers Zero to Hero on the first turn, completing the transformation on the very first move.
EV Spreads
Team Partners
Incineroar’s Fake Out lets Palafin safely use Flip Turn on Turn 1 to complete Zero to Hero transformation without taking damage. Intimidate simultaneously lowers opponents’ Attack, making Hero Form’s re-entry even safer against physical threats.
Tornadus’ Tailwind raises Hero Form’s base 100 Speed to effective 200, outspeeding nearly everything unboosted. Combined with rain from Kyogre, Tailwind + rain turns Wave Crash into a field-clearing move that threatens every non-Water-resistant Pokémon.
Kyogre’s permanent rain boosts Wave Crash by ×1.5, reaching effective 180 BP (270 BP with Choice Band). Together they form rain’s most dangerous dual core: opponents must simultaneously handle 150 SpAtk Kyogre and 160 Attack Hero Palafin.
Grassy Terrain halves Ground-type move damage, protecting Hero Form from Earthquake spread. Rillaboom’s Grassy Glide priority combines with Palafin’s Jet Punch to form a double-priority suppression system that finishes off damaged targets.
How to Counter Palafin
Electric moves are 2× effective against Water types. Miraidon’s Discharge or Thunder hits Hero Palafin for massive damage, and Electric spread moves can simultaneously threaten Palafin and its rain partner on the field.
Grass moves (Thunderbolt, Petal Blizzard, etc.) hit Water types for 2× damage. Grass-type Pokémon can safely switch into Wave Crash and threaten Hero Form. Rillaboom’s Grassy Glide creates an uncomfortable matchup for Palafin-heavy rain teams.
Normal Form Palafin has only base 69 Attack — nearly no offensive threat. Eliminating it before Flip Turn triggers Zero to Hero completely prevents Hero Form from appearing. Fake Out disruption followed by a fast KO is the most reliable prevention strategy.
Hero Form’s output drops significantly without rain. Overriding rain with Sun (Koraidon) or Sandstorm removes the ×1.5 Water damage boost from Wave Crash, dramatically reducing its OHKO range and making Hero Form much more manageable defensively.