Best Strongest Water Type Pokemon Moves

Let's talk about the strongest Water Type Pokemon Moves of all time! The fact that STAB is a universally accepted phrase that we use in connection with Pokémon may sound a little strange, when you think about it. Sure, it stands for the Same Type Attack Bonus, but it still seems like we’re talking about stabbing Pokémon. So there you are! And onwards - our ranking of the best water moves in Pokémon...

23. Water Gun

This gem may be here for sentimentality - if you were a Blastoise main back in the day, you might remember this move fondly! It only has a power of 40, but that was considered pretty good at that point in the original Red & Blue games and counted as the first pretty decent move your Squirtle learned; it may have single-handedly carried you through Brock’s gym if you had it at that point! It charges up water and then squirts it at the opponent, pushing foes away but does not deal damage. They were simpler times back then but they were good times!

22. Water Sport

A really good decisive move when used in the right situations, Water Sport reduces the base power of fire type moves by 50% on both sides in battle. It doesn't sound like much on its own but when used cumulatively it's really handy to have and is especially useful in particular doubles matchups.

21. Liquidation

A physical attack with an accuracy of 100 and a power of 85, Liquidation is a nice, strong move introduced in Generation 7 that is pretty decent but often gets overshadowed by the higher echelon of water type moves, so scores a lower place on this list. Poor Liquidation, not even its 20% chance to lower your opponent’s defense can save it from semi-obscurity.

20. Whirlpool

This is a move that really made more sense as you got older and grasped the concept that every single little bit helps and adds up to a big bit. Whirlpool is a move that inflicts damage on the first turn then traps the opponent in the vortex, causing them to lose 1⁄8 of their maximum HP after each turn. All you have to do is look at the popularity of moves like Leech Seed to understand the potential that something like Whirlpool should have. Unfortunately, rather than restoring health like Leech Seed (check out the Best Grass Type Pokemon Moves here!) it just does damage, which makes it a less impactful move in the ranks of such strong and powerful other Water Type moves.

19. Brine

A power 65 special attack with 100 accuracy, Brine is possibly the most straightforward attacking water type move with an additional effect. However, if your opponent’s HP is less than 50%, its power doubles to 130. In most situations, it pretty much means that it can OHKO any Pokémon that’s already at half health. With some tactical gameplay, any Pokémon can OHKO a half-HP enemy, meaning that there might not be as much use for Brine in the grand scheme of things.

18. Water Spout

This move could be best described as doing the opposite of Brine! Instead of increasing in power if your opponent is already injured, this move does more damage the higher the HP of your opponent. When in combat and your competitor is at full health, it will deal a staggering 150 damage, which is incredibly impressive, especially coming from a 100 accuracy special move. However, it uses the equation 150 x CurrentHP / MaxHP to scale your damage down as your opponent loses HP in pretty dramatic fashion.

17. Withdraw

Withdraw is a simple move that does what it says on the tin. One of the simplest Pokemon moves as well as the easiest Water Type Move to deal, all it will do is increase your Pokémon’s defense by one stage. It has none of the thrills or frills that a lot of the fancier water type moves have but is nice, simple, predictable and effective, which is my kind of move. Plus it's the quiet ones you have to watch!

16. Surf

Possibly the most popular water type move ever, it carries an attacking power of 90 along with an accuracy of 100. It’s literally impossible for you to have finished a Pokémon game without using it, so could very well be the most used water move statistically of all time. Plus it’s also unique in that it was an HM that was actually useful in battle. For a 15PP special move back in the day, that was enough to carry you through the League. There’s also the fact that it hits every Pokémon on the field in doubles, meaning it also finds some play in competitive.

15. Aqua Ring

One of the prettiest Pokemon moves that grants a permanent veil of water around your side of the field in order to restore 1/16 of your Pokémon’s max health every turn. This effect will also apply to and heal any Pokémon you switch in, regardless of its typing, making it incredibly useful and one of the coolest water type moves to behold; it is particularly popular among a lot of stall-based teams. It's also worth noting that If the user is holding a Big Root, Aqua Ring restores 30% more HP each turn - approximately 1⁄12 of its maximum.

14. Aqua Jet

Aqua Jet inflicts damage. It has a priority of +1, so is used before all moves that do not have increased priority. Basically it is a STAB quick attack for water types. Anyone looking for a Quick Attack water-type, you’ve found it.

13. Snipe Shot

Introduced in Generation 8, Snipe Shot is known as Inteleon's signature move that essentially turns him in to a sniper, it’s a special move that carries 100 accuracy, though only has 80 power, but has a very high critical hit chance. It can also bypass moves such as Follow Me and Storm Drain, hitting the proper target each time.

12. Scald

Scald is a special move that does 80 damage with 100 accuracy and sees more competitive use than pretty much every other water type move in existence, namely due to its ability of 30% of burning your target. This makes it infinitely superior to other powerful 100 accuracy water moves that would otherwise take its place. Championships have been won and lost based on whether or not Scald got a burn off, it truly is absolutely formidable when used well and can really change up the game and turn it around.

11. Hydro Pump

A special move with 110 attack, Hydro Pump may be considered to be the best water type move by many a player and is incredibly powerful, however, it only carries 5PP and an accuracy of 80. It also doesn’t have any special effects. It does deal a humungous amount of damage but always ends up as that finnicky move that just doesn't work when you want it to! For many, it just disappoints too many a time, so I feel I must place it lower down out of vengence, but it deserves a spot near the top for the sheer amount of damage it deals.

10. Splishy Splash

Despite the, well, splishy name, this weirdly named move deals 90 damage, is a special move, and has 100 accuracy, making it one of the most overpowered Pokemon Water Type moves. On top of that, it has a 30% chance to paralyze. Funnily this is a move that is exclusive to Pikachu, an Electric Type Pokemon; you would have thought that water and electricity don't mix, although it makes sense that one might fuel the other. This move is really essentially just a better Scald that’s exclusive to Pikachu, that is certainly much better than the original Splash move.

9. Muddy Water

A heavily debated move in the Pokemon community, Muddy Water is a little like a more powerful Scald that has a 30% to lower accuracy rather than burn. Its only qualm is that it only has an accuracy of 85. I fall on the side of the fence that argues it’s a superior movie as I feel it would be more helpful to lower my opponent’s accuracy than burn them. It truly is a matter of personal preference and could be rearranged differently, depending on one's own experiences. There's no denying that it gets a huge amount of attention, however, so definitely deserves a high place on this list!

8. Sparkling Aria

The signature move of Primarina, Sparkling Aria is a special move with a power of 90 and an accuracy of 100. It will also heal the target of its burn, if there is one. It truly is as beautiful as it sounds and had to belong so high up on this list due to its charm and originality, it’s one of the most beautiful Pokemon moves with its own unique sound effect, that is literally Primarina singing. It makes it such a special move to use and to witness in many a way!

7. Rain Dance

An exceptionally powerful move that could very possibly be ranked higher here as entire teams can be literally crafted around it. It appears as a heavy rain that falls for five turns, powering up Water-type moves and lowering the power of Fire-type moves. Like rain itself, it carries a whole range of different effects and abilities: 50% increase to the power of water type moves, 50% decrease to the power of Solar Beam and Solar Blade, Thunder and Hurricane ignore accuracy and Certain HP recovering moves less effective. Pokémon with particular abilities gain extra buffs for the duration of the move. There is so much you can accomplish with this move and it will take your whole team far in combat. One of the most notable and important Water Type moves out there, perfect for Pokemon Water teams!

6. Origin Pulse

Known as Kyogre’s signature move, Origin Pulse is a special attack move with 85 accuracy that deals 110 damage. Although it could be considered a little underwhelming compared to a lot of other legendary moves and there are no extra effects that come with it, the move does carry 10PP, which is pretty darn rare for a legendary signature move!

5. Flip Turn

Flip Turn is simply the Water-type version of the Bug-type move, U-turn, but that's precisely why it's so dangerous. Most Water-types don't have access to the amazing utility of U-turn, so giving them a STAB option to instantly retreat from battle while dealing damage is amazing. A solid amount of Pokemon can learn this move through Move Tutoring in the Isle of Armor, and it's an absolute must for physical attackers. Keldeo is a great example, as Flip Turn allows it to use its great Speed stat to safely switch out to a different party member.

4. Steam Eruption

Known as Volcanion’s legendary move and introduced in Generation 6, Steam Eruption is one of the most powerful water type moves of all time, incredibly powerful in fact, with 95 accuracy, a power output of 110, plus a 30% chance of inflicting burn on the target. It’s pretty much Scald on steroids, which is everything, but its only drawback is of course that only Volcanion can use it - it makes sense really due to Volcanion's dual Fire and Water typing, which enable it to wield such a move. Steam Eruption needs to be up there at the highest spot as it is just formidable in combat.

3. Bouncy Bubble

This name doesn't sound intimidating in the least, so it appears as a surprise that it is being ranked high up in this list. However, names are deceiving in this case. Bounce Bubble is a special move with 100 accuracy, 90 power, and 15PP, which sounds pretty good but we haven't scratched the surface yet - its main feature is to heal your Pokémon for 50% of the total damage you do with the move! There really hasn't been a move as overpowered as this in Pokémon history, let alone a water move. Only Eevee can learn this move in its Let’s Go title, and is known for its ability to heal you faster than your opponents can damage you. The fact that a move called Bouncy Bubble is the most powerful water type attack of all time might be a travesty, but at least it didn't get called Baddy Bad... a story for another time!

2. Hydro Cannon

A little like Hydro Pump on steroids, fans of the former will definitely love this one! Hydro Cannon seems just like a more powerful version of the move. It can inflict a whopping 150 combat power against opponents, with 90 accuracy, making it one of the most powerful and op Water Type moves in the game. It was introduced in the Generation 3 of the Pokemon main series games. Although extremely powerful in combat, it's probably not the most creative and original move out there, but in battle you're probably craving power and accuracy over originality at that point, so all is good with me. According to Pokemon Fire Red and Leaf Green's move description, "The foe is hit with a watery cannon. The user can't move on the next turn." Pokemon like Blastoise, Faraligatr, Swampert, and Empoleon are capable of learning this detrimental Water-type move.

1. Ocean Operetta

A damage-dealing Water-type Z-Move introduced in Generation VII, it is the exclusive Z-Move of Primarina and an upgraded version of its signature move, Sparkling Aria, so of course had to steal the top spot! With an enormous combat power of 195, the move inflicts purely Water-type damage and has no secondary effects. A majestic move that is an upgrade of Sparkling Aria, the only way that Primarina can summon this move is if it holds a Primarium Z. The trainer who commands the Pokemon must also have a Z-Ring or a Z-Power Ring.

If you liked this post definitely check out Best Strongest Fire Type Pokemon Moves, Best Water Type Pokemon Ranked, plus Best Water Type Pokemon Nicknames and What to Call your Azumarill - Water Fairy Type Pokemon Name ideas!