Sobble: Water-type Lizard Pokémon

Learn how to best utilize Sobble, the Water-type starter in Pokémon Winds and Waves, including its Torrent and Sniper abilities.

Sobble, the Water-type Lizard Pokémon, is the third starter option in Pokémon Winds and Waves, offering a strategic advantage against Fire, Ground, and Rock-type Pokémon. Its ability, Torrent, mirrors the other starters, increasing the power of its Water-type moves by 50% when its HP falls below one-third. This can be a lifesaver when facing opponents like the Fire-type Gym Leader, Kabu of Motostoke. Sobble's base stats are more inclined towards Special Attack and Speed, making it a fast special attacker. Its early moves, such as Pound and Water Gun, provide a solid foundation for its special offensive capabilities. As Sobble evolves into Drizzile and then Inteleon, its Special Attack and Speed stats see substantial growth, solidifying its role as a swift special attacker. Inteleon's signature move, Snipe Shot, is a Water-type special attack with a base power of 80 that bypasses redirection effects, making it reliable for targeting opponents directly. When choosing Sobble, consider its type matchups. Its Water-typing is effective against early Fire-types and later Ground and Rock-types. However, it is weak to Grass and Electric-type Pokémon. Encounters with Electric-type Pokémon in areas like the Galar Mine No. 2 can be particularly challenging for a Sobble. To maximize Sobble's potential, focus on increasing its Special Attack and Speed. Items like Specialitamins can be helpful. Providing it with coverage moves is essential for dealing with its weaknesses. A Dark-type move like Dark Pulse or an Ice-type move like Ice Beam can offer much-needed versatility against Grass and Dragon-types, respectively. Sobble's Hidden Ability, Sniper, increases the critical hit damage of its attacks by 50%. This synergizes incredibly well with moves that have a high critical hit ratio, such as Focus Energy, which can be taught to Sobble. When combined, these can lead to devastating critical hits that can turn the tide of battle. This makes Inteleon a potent threat, capable of dealing massive damage with well-timed critical hits, especially in challenging battles where every bit of damage counts.