Introduction
Seaking has been a largely overlooked Pokemon for good reason, a poor movepool, bad stats, and mediocre monotyping leave much
to be desired. However in the March 2024 meta of 35 pokes, it's unique trait in Swift Swim as well as access to Megahorn skyrocket it's viability to a respectable amount.
Calcs
+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Seaking Waterfall vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Neutralizing Gas Weezing-Galar in Rain: 282-333 (84.4 - 99.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Black Sludge recovery
75% chance to OHKO with Stealth Rocks up
+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Seaking Waterfall vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Swampert: 227-269 (56.1 - 66.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
Overview
252 ATK with adamant nature is to maximize damage output, 76 Spe outspeeds Timid Ribombee while under rain, 152 HP are left overs into bulk while taking the least damage possible from Life Orb, and 28 SpD are left overs that couldn't go into HP for minimum Life Orb recoil. Swords Dance is easy set up, Waterfall is your spammable stab, and Megahorn hits Leafon, Cacturne, Farigiraf, and Mesprit. Knock Off hits Mesprit & Farigiraf while being decent into everything, while Drill run can be a solid choice instead to hit Grafaiai. Substitute is another solid option to punish Sucker Punch Cacturne and Weezing-Galar trying to Will-o-Wisp you. Protect is a niche option to punish Banded Cacturne and First Impression Sirfetch'd. Lastly Flip Turn is solid on Choice Banded sets that drop set up.
For items Life Orb is great for the extra damage and letting you pick off worn down defensive switch ins, however it comes at the cost of draining your HP which can be detrimental when dealing with priority. Lum Berry covers mons trying to status Seaking while it sets up, and burn from Weezing-Galar & Magmortar. Clear Amulet covers for Scrafty's Intimidate, Galvantula/Ribombee's Sticky Web, and Grafaiai's Parting Shot. Choice Band turns seaking into an immediate threat without needing to set up Swords Dance, and lets you drop Swords Dance in favor of Flip Turn to grant your fellow wall breakers some momentum.
Checks & Counters
Cacturne can come in on Waterfall or SD and threaten Sucker Punch on Seaking, while Sirfetch'd threatens Choice Band First Impression. As mentioned before, Weezing-Galar and Swampert can take hazardless +2 Life Orb Rain boosted Waterfall and threaten Seaking back. Water immune pokemon like Water Absorb Cacturne & Politoed, and Storm Drain Tatsugiri can really give Seaking a hard time, and stall Rain turns.
Written By Essence