Pokémon Legends Arceus: Best Team with Oshawott

In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, your starter choice sets the stage for your team construction as much as it has in previous iterations of the series. In Hisui, which, in timeline, sets the stage for the previous generation starters, you are given the choice between a Water-, Grass-, and Fire-type Pokémon that are not native to the region.

If you chose Oshawott, the eventual Unovan Water-type starter, then you may find it a bit more difficult to round out your team as Water-types are tied with Flying-types for most in the game. Below, you will find the best Pokémon in Arceus team if you chose Oshawott as your starter. To begin, it’s good to get an overview of Oshawott’s final evolution, Hisuian Samurott.

What is Hisuian Samurott?

Unlike its future Unovan form, Hisuian Samurott is a Water- and Dark-type Pokémon. Hisuian Samurott’s Base Stat Total is 528. It is an offensive Pokemon with Attack and Special Attack at 108 and HP at 90. It has good Speed at 85, Defense at 80, and Special Defense at 65. Its fairly well-balanced, and also the strongest non-Legendary Dark-type and places fifth among Water-types in Arceus.

Samurott is weak to Electric, Grass, Fighting, Bug, and Fairy. Offensively, its typing is super effective against Fire, Ground, Rock, Psychic, and Ghost.

Oshawott will evolve into Dewott at level 17. Dewott then evolves into Hisuian Samurott at level 36.

The best Pokémon for an Oshawott-led team

There are a few important notes to keep in mind when putting a team together. One, there are many Water-type Pokémon in Arceus, as noted above. Two, while a Water-type team sounds cool in theory, too many of them do not have any counters to its Electric weakness, so type diversity is key. Three, it’s best to try and cover as many weaknesses as possible, if not negating some along the way. Four, as such, try and have no more than one type on your team, so avoid having two Water-type or two Ground-type Pokémon. Lastly, these lists will seek to avoid as many overlaps as possible.

Legendary and Mythical Pokémon will not be included in this list as most aren’t available until the post-game. Cyndaquil, Rowlet, and their evolutions will also not be considered. Rather, this will focus on numbers ten (Bidoof) through 224 (Lucario) in the Hisui Pokédex.

1. Hisuian Goodra (Base Stats Total: 600)

Hisuian Goodra also placed on the list for best team if you chose Cyndaquil for good reason: its high stats and few weaknesses! Also, here’s a spoiler: Hisuian Goodra also tops the list for a Rowlet-led team.

The Dragon- and Steel-type pseudo-Legendary (Base Stats Total of 600, three-stage evolutionary line, and 1.25 million experience at level 100), Hisuian Goodra takes the spot over Garchomp because of the latter holding more weaknesses and crucially, a double weakness to Ice. An interesting note is that five of the seven Dragon-type pseudo-Legendary Pokémon hold double weaknesses based on their secondary type.

Hisuian Goodra has a 150 in Special Defense and 100 in Defense. Its offense is no slouch either as it has a 110 in Special Attack and 100 in Attack. It has an 80 in HP and 60 in Speed.

Hisuian Goodra is weak to Ground and Fighting. It has resistances to Normal, Flying, Rock, Bug, Steel, Water, Electric, and Psychic with a double resistance to Grass. It is immune to Poison thanks to its secondary Steel-type. Offensively, it’s super effective against Dragon, Ice, Rock, and Fairy.

Goodra learns Acid Spray, Water Pulse, Dragon Pulse, and Hydro Pump. Through move tutors, it can learn Flamethrower, Thunderbolt, Iron Tail, Water Pulse, and Ice Beam.

Hisuian Goodra can be found at Ancient Quarry. If you want to evolve one from a Goomy, Goomy can be found at Ancient Quarry and Holm of Trials. To evolve Sliggoo (Goomy’s evolved form) into Goodra, it has to be at least level 50 and raining in the overworld to trigger.

2. Hisuian Arcanine (Base Stats Total: 555)

Hisuian Arcanine carries the same Base Stats Total as its eventual Kantonian descendant, but it has a secondary typing and its stats are distributed a little differently. It’s also one of the strongest non-Legendary Pokémon in the game.

The Fire- and Rock-type Hisuian Arcanine’s Attack is 115, with HP at 95, Special Attack at 95, and Speed at 90. While it excels in Attack, it’s still well-rounded as its two defensive stats are both 80.

Hisuian Arcanine has weaknesses to Fighting, Rock, and double weaknesses to Water and Ground. Offensively, Hisuian Arcanine is super effective against Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel, and Flying.

It learns mainly physical attacks like Crunch, Fire Fang, Rock Slide, and Flare Blitz. It can also learn Flamethrower, Stone Edge, and Outrage, among others.

To obtain an Arcanine, you need to evolve a Hisuian Growlithe. Hisuian Growlithe can be found at Veilstone Cape and Windbreak Stand. Evolve Growlithe using a Fire Stone.

3. Ursaluna (Base Stats Total: 550)

While Ursaluna serves as a ride Pokémon, you can still obtain the Hisuian exclusive and add the Peat Pokémon to your squad.

The Normal- and Ground-type Ursaluna is all about physical attacks with a 140 in Attack, 130 in HP, and 105 in Defense. It does have good Defense at 80, but its Speed is 50 and Special Attack 45. While slow, its high defensive stats should keep it in the battle to unleash powerful physical attacks.

Ursaluna is weak to Fighting. It is immune to Normal and Ghost, but Normal and Ghost cannot land attacks on each other without an identifying move like Odor Sleuth. As a secondary Ground-type, Ursaluna is weak to Ice, Grass, and Water, with the immunity to Electric attacks.

Ursaluna learns Bulldoze, Slash, High Horsepower, and Headlong Rush. It can also learn Fire Punch, Ice Punch, Thunder Punch, Rock Slide, and Shadow Claw, among others. It can cover several of its weaknesses.

You can obtain Ursaluna by evolving Teddiursa and Ursaring. You can find Teddiursa at Sonorous Path and Ursa’s Ring. To evolve into Ursaluna, use a Peat Block on Ursaring during a full moon.

4. Crobat (Base Stats Total: 535)

While not necessarily a conventional choice, Crobat makes this list for one specific reason: it’s your Grass-type assassin.

The Poison- and Flying-type Bat Pokemon Crobat is no slouch, either, as its Base Stats Total indicates. It is a speed fiend with a Speed of 130. Its other stats are within 20 points of each other with Attack at 90, HP at 85, Defense and Special Defense at 80, and Special Attack at 70. It’s decently well-rounded.

Crobat is weak to Electric, Ice, Psychic, and Rock. As a Flying-type, it is immune to Ground. Offensively, Crobat’s typing is super effective against Grass, Fighting, Bug, and Fairy.

Crobat learns Bite, Air Cutter, Cross Poison, and Air Slash. It can also learn Aerial Ace, Dark Pulse, Shadow Ball, Sludge Bomb, X-Scissor, and Zen Headbutt.

Crobat is located at Icebound Falls and Wayward Cave. If you want to evolve one from a Zubat and Golbat, Zubat is located in many places including Deertrack Patch, Nature’s Pantry, and The Heartwood. Golbat can be found at Wayward Cave, Bolderoll Slope, and Cloudpool Ridge, among others. Zubat evolves into Golbat at level 22 and then into Crobat with high friendship.

5. Dusknoir (Base Stats Total: 525)

The Gripper Pokémon Dusknoir can be a rare Ghost-type tank for your squad. That’s not the only place it upends the general layout for Ghost-types.

Dusknoir has high defensive stats with a 135 in Defense and Special Defense. It also has a high 100 in Attack. However, its other stats are middling at bet with Special Attack at 65 and Speed and HP at 45. Most Ghost-types favor special attacks, so Dusknoir having a high Attack stat is unusual.

Unfortunately, its learned move set favors special attacks like Hex, Dark Pulse, Shadow Ball, and Psychic. Still, it can learn physical attacks like Bulldoze, Fire Punch, Ice Punch, Thunder Punch, and Rock Slide. It can cover a lot of types with move tutors, particularly with the three Punch attacks.

Dusknoir is weak to Ghost and Dark. It is immune to Normal and Fighting unless a move like Foresight is used the turn prior, though the same applies for Ghost attacks against Normal and Fighting.

Dusknoir is located at Deadwood Haunt. If you want to evolve one from a Duskull, those can be found at Deadwood Haunt, Arena’s Approach, and Avalanche Slopes. To evolve into Dusknoir, use a Reaper Cloth on Dusclops.

6. Glaceon (Base Stats Total: 525)

As these lists have shown, an Eeveelution is always a solid choice to round out your team, particularly because of their pure typing and 525 Base Stats Total across all forms.

Glaceon, unlike Ursaluna and Dusknoir, focuses on special attacks. Its Special Attack is 130, Defense 110, and Special Defense 95. However, its HP and Speed is 65 and Attack 60.

Glaceon holds weaknesses to Fire, Fighting, Rock, and Steel. Offensively, Glaceon’s typing is super effective against Flying, Grass, Ground, and Dragon.

Glaceon learns Powder Snow, Swift, and Ice Beam in addition to status attacks like Baby-Doll Eyes and Calm Mind. It can also learn Hyper Beam, Shadow Ball, Iron Tail, and Water Pulse, which help cover a few weaknesses.

Glaceon can be found in Space-Time Distortions. To evolve one from an Eevee, Eevee can be found at Horseshoe Plains. However, it is very skittish and will flee at first sight, so be sneaky! You can evolve into Glaceon either by giving Eevee an Ice Stone or being near the Ice Rock in the Ice Cave.

7. Gallade (Base Stats Total: 518)

Gallade rounds out the selections by bringing a unique typing and good move set.

Gallade has Attack of 125 and Special Defense of 115. Its Speed is good at 80, but HP (68), Defense (65), and Special Attack (65) are low. Gallade favors physical attacks like most Fighting-types, but unlike most Psychic-types.

Gallade holds weaknesses to Flying, Ghost, and Fairy. Offensively, Gallade’s typing is super effective against Fighting, Poison, Normal, Ice, Rock, Dark, and Steel.

Gallade learns Slash, Psycho Cut, Leaf Blade, and Close Combat. It also learns status attacks like Swords Dance and Calm Mind. It can learn Rock Slide, Poison Jab, and Shadow Ball.

You can find Gallade at Snowpoint Temple. If you want to evolve from a Ralts, they can be found in the same location. However, to evolve one into Gallade, you need two things: a male Kirlia and a Dawn Stone. Use the Dawn Stone on your male Kirla to evolve it into Gallade.

Now you know which Pokémon help make the best team if you chose Oshawott as your starter. Which of the seven ill you choose to round out your team.