Top candidates for using False Swipe

False Swipe is an awesome move to use during Shiny Hunting in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. While a few pocket monsters can learn it, that doesn’t mean they’re all good candidates. Ideally, the user of this move should have a relatively high attack stat and get a bit of a power boost.

For those who don’t know what False Swipe does, here’s a quick reminder:

• Type: Normal
• Basic power: 40
• Accuracy: 100
• PP: 40~64
• Repercussions: The attack can never knock out the opponent, guaranteeing that they will have at least 1 HP.

This move is extremely valuable when you are in a great hunt, as it can never KOKT an enemy. This means you don’t have to reset as often compared to strategies that don’t use this move.

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Best False Swipe Options in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: Shiny Hunting Guide

Here’s a short list of good candidates to learn False Swipe in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet:

• Persian
• Keychain
• Extinguishing
• All of them
• Gallade
• saying
• The Iron Valiant
• Dog-Fallen

A more detailed explanation of who to use for Shiny Hunting will be provided below. There will be two categories:

• Sleep triggers
• High attack options

There can be some overlap, meaning that anything with a high attack stat and a sleep move is often the best choice.

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Sleep triggers

The following candidates can use this move to put the opponent to sleep:

• Persian (Hypnosis)
• Breloom (Spore)
• Gallade (Hypnosis)
• Iron Valiant (Hypnosis)

Of the three options, Breloom is the best user. It has Spore, which is far more accurate than Hypnosis. The only time you’d want hypnosis instead of spores is if you’re fighting a grass type because they’re immune to powder moves.

Breloom also has 130 Base Attack and Technician, making it a powerful user of this move in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Sleep increases the probability of catching a wild pocket monster during a great hunt.

His combination of these attributes arguably makes Breloom the best False Swipe user of the entire generation.

Note: The sharpness ability does not affect the base power of False Swipe, contrary to popular belief. So, Gallade is not as strong as it seems.

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High attack

Here are some other candidates that rely on raw power:

• Extinguishing
• All of them
• saying
• Dog-Fallen

In terms of raw power, Zangoose is the strongest user of this move. However, this requires you to poison him first, ideally with a Toxic Orb. Slaking has a less powerful version that is still far stronger than most of its competitors. Unfortunately, his ability to miss is terrible.

Kingambit’s False Swipe is decent in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, though you have to knock five of your allies unconscious for it to be nearly as strong as other power users of the move. Chien-Pao is a decent option if:

• You don’t want to poison the user’s False Swipe like you would in Zangoose’s case
• You want to use something with a good ability, as opposed to Slaking
• You don’t have the desire for a passed out team like you would have in Kingambit’s case

Ultimately, these options aren’t as reliable as the Breloom because they lack sleep motion. Even so, some Pokemon Scarlet and Violet trainers may want to rely on it.