Analysis
Swellow returns from the depths of SM RU to serve as a stupendous source of breaking power and natural speed control in the May 2025 metagame. Its blazing 125 speed allows it to outspeed everything but Barraskewda. Choice Specs is Swellow’s make-or-break, immediately boosting Boomburst, Swellow’s best attack, to nuclear levels, allowing it to muscle past switch-ins such as Goodra and Assault Vest Tangrowth. Scrappy is mandatory on Choice Specs sets due to the prevalence of Cofagrigus, and Heat Wave allows Swellow to hit Skarmory, which is one of the few Pokémon in the tier resistant to Boomburst. U-Turn allows Swellow to pivot out of bad matchups such as Empoleon while Hurricane provides excellent coverage into Tangrowth and Venusaur. Guts Attacker and Mixed sets exist for Swellow, but they are significantly more niche.
Swellow fits best on bulky offense and balance teams in which its immediate speed and power are highly appreciated. Swellow has a difficult time switching in because it is so frail, so it highly appreciates pivots like Empoleon, Lokix, and Mienshao to help get it in safely. Hazard control is also appreciated on Swellow teams, making pokemon like Hitmontop and Empoleon excellent partners to Swellow. Hitmontop is able to hit Swellow’s defensive checks such as Empoleon and SpDef invested Goodra hard with Close Combat and Triple Axel respectively while clearing hazards with Rapid Spin, while Empoleon, with access to Defog and Flip Turn, provides both hazard control and a pivot in one slot.
Written by Sunstar090
Quality checked by AlfrexFrostStaff & Typhon
Grammar checked by Typhon