Wugtrio, the Garden Eel Pokémon. It has a vicious temperament, contrary to what its appearance may suggest. It wraps its long bodies around prey, then drags the prey into its den. A variety of fish Pokémon, Wugtrio was once considered to be a regional form of Dugtrio.

Overview

A fascinating example of convergent evolution, where two otherwise completely unrelated animals develop identical traits, Wugtrio is quite the amusing reimagining of Dugtrio. Sporting the same base stats as Dugtrio, Wugtrio has a bit going for it. Base 120 Speed is excellent, even after generations of power creep, getting the jump on many already fast Pokémon like Dodrio, Lycanroc and Whimsicott, ensuring Wugtrio is normally moving first in most confrontations. Wugtrio can use this speed to good effect, making use of its acceptable Attack to threaten a wide range of foes especially with Wugtrio’s signature Triple Dive, effectively being a base 90 Power STAB multi-hit attack, enabling Wugtrio to burst through Sturdy and Focus targets, further limiting what can safely handle it.

That is at least the dream. For while Wugtrio gets Dugtrio’s base stats, it gets nothing of what makes Dugtrio threatening. Dugtrio’s menace comes from Arena Trap pinning and removing an already compromised Pokémon that is often a key piece of the opponent’s back bone, making it one of the best revenge killers in the game. Wugtrio cannot pin the opponents in the same way, exposing its base 100 Attack for how underwhelming it is when opponents can safely switch into a Water resist. For while Wugtrio gets good coverage, it doesn’t get any move that directly addresses Water resistant foes. This lack of power becomes incredibly concerning when looking at Wugtrio’s defenses. Base 35 HP is one of the lowest possessed by any fully evolved Pokémon and with a horrid base 50 Defense and still below average base 70 Special Defense means Wugtrio struggles to survive any hit. Even the normally excellent Water typing is a further curse for Wugtrio, who not only would greatly prefer the immunity to Electric that Ground provides and now must compete with the sea of other Water types for a slot. Wugtrio even loses out on the Stealth Rock that it could at least reliably set with its excellent speed. While Wugtrio is a watery whimsy of a one-time favorite but wishes it was a bit closer to its original inspiration.
Positives
Base 120 Speed is fantastic, outspeeding many already fast Pokémon.

Negatives
35/50/70 defenses are atrocious, giving Wugtrio no defensive utility and struggling to survive a single blow from all but the most passive of walls.
Base 100 Attack is not sufficient considering such bulk, as Wugtrio struggles to get the knockouts it needs to stay alive.
Shallow movepool with no direct answer to Water resists and next to no utility.

Movesets

Triple Trouble

-Triple Dive
-Aqua Jet
-Throat Chop
-Tera Blast
Ability: Thick Fat
Item: Choice Band
EVs and Nature:
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature

With Choice Band to address its lacking attack, Wugtrio can put its speed to good use as a revenge killer, removing weakened targets and opening the way for its teammates. Triple Dive is Wugtrio’s best option for damage, slightly out damaging Liquidation if it hits all three times, perfect for dealing with somewhat healthy targets. Aqua Jet is pure clean up duty, removing targets hanging on by a Focus Sash or Sturdy, and with Wugtrio’s incredible base speed it is difficult to out-prioritize. Throat Chop provides some needed coverage into select Water resistant targets like Veluza and Exeggutor. With how shallow Wugtrio’s movepool is, Tera Blast is an unfortunate necessity to get past opposing Grass, Dragon or Water types depending on the Tera type.

Tera Types:
While Water is normally a good type, Wugtrio is so starved for coverage, it will often need to Terastalize to remove softened targets that resist its primary STAB. Tera Ice is by far the most preferred, handling both Grass and Dragon types and the poor defensive profile of the typing means little with Wugtrio’s amazing speed and abysmal defenses. However, that leaves Wugtrio walled against opposing Water types. Tera Electric and Grass can both handle water types, with the former being preferred due to less redundant coverage, but both are resisted by Grass and Dragon, playing Wugtrio in a situation where it cannot cover all the resists for its Water STAB. Tera Fairy can break the difference, being great against Dragons while neutral to Water and Grass types and having good coverage in general.

EVs and Items:
Standard attacker array of Max Speed and Max Attack are recommended here. Wugtrio’s base bulk is so atrocious that any defensive merit is a lost cause. The Speed boosting Jolly nature is recommended. While Wugtrio would honestly love the Attack boost from an Adamant, every target that can outspeed Wugtrio is another Pokémon that it cannot revenge knock out, further limiting its efficacy. It should be noted that even with Adamant, Wugtrio still outspeeds base 100 Speed Pokémon like Typhlosion, and Charizard, and Shaymin. However, by dropping down to Adamant, Wugtrio no longer outruns Lycanroc, Pyroar, Virizion, Froslass, and Alolan-Raichu, increasing the number of targets that can safely revenge KO Wugtrio. Choice Band is the namesake of the set and its immediate power is invaluable to Wugtrio who lacks the bulk to safely setup. The move locking effect matters little when this set is meant as a hit and run attacker.

Partners:
Answers for Water resists are vital for this set, as Wugtrio will often be locking itself into its Water STAB, making a free point of entry for them. Whimsicott, while having suspect bulk is a rather good pick, thanks to its Grass and Fairy STABs making quick work of most opposing Water and Dragon types. Venusaur is also solid, reliably threatening opposing Water and Grass types while having the bulk to switch into such attacks. Both Whimsicott and Venusaur being able to disrupt setup with Encore, Toxic or Sleep Powder enables one to claw back momentum from the forced switch. Vikavolt is another strong option thanks to its Electric and Bug STABs handling most Water and Grass types. All these Pokémon draw in Fire types like Charizard that Wugtrio can use for easy knockout fodder.

Other Options:
Memento is great if Wugtrio’s use is at its end and is unable to grab a knockout, instead setting up the opposing Pokémon as setup fodder for Wugtrio’s teammate. This enabling Wugtrio to dodge Rapid Spin, Mortal Spin or Defog is a nice bonus. Stomping Tantrum is decent coverage for Electric and Steel types, but the former are often frail enough to be threatened by Triple Dive, and the latter tend to be so bulky that non-STAB Stomping Tantrum is insufficient. Liquidation is a slightly weaker alternative to Triple Dive but is far more reliable given the lack of miss chance. Sucker Punch is an alternative priority move, trading reliability for slightly more power and non-STAB coverage.

Countering Wugtrio

While Wugtrio’s Speed is truly impressive, its lacking coverage and non-existent defenses give Wugtrio very clear outs both offensively and defensively. With how shallow Wugtrio’s movepool is, it must Terastalize to make up the difference but cannot cover for every possible resist. If running Tera Ice, Water types excel against Wugtrio with even offensive Clawitzer all but avoiding a 2HKO from Banded Throat Chop, to say nothing of bulkier Water types like Lapras, Lanturn, and Poliwrath. If running an anti-Water Tera like Electric or Grass, Grass and Dragon types can freely handle Wugtrio, such as Whimsicott, Virizion, Venusaur, Rotom-Mow, Shaymin, and Alolan-Exeggutor. If Terastalization has been expended before Wugtrio can use it, Wugtrio cannot answer any of these threats unless they have been significantly damaged. Offensively checking Wugtrio is trickier given its excellent speed and its access to priority means that such checks aren’t leaving unscathed. Jolteon for example easily outspeeds and OHKO’s Wugtrio, but loses half its health to Banded Sucker Punch or Aqua Jet. Sceptile Speed ties, and resists Aqua Jet, but still loses half to Banded Sucker Punch and any chip damage puts it into OHKO range from a neutral Terastalized Tera Blast. Whimsicott is the notable exception for natively outspeeding while resisting both forms of priority. Other Water and/or Dark resistant Scarf users like Passimian, Shaymin, Rotom-Mow, and Mabostiff do wonders in limiting the damage Wugtrio can cause.

Anime Appearences

Wugtrio has made several appearances in the anime. Most notably one found a ticket for Iono & Nidothing's meet and greet and another was used by Kufu during Terastal Training # -English Episode Name- -Jp. Episode Name- Pics 55 Showdown! The Paldea Elite Four! Showdown! The Paldea Elite Four! Pics 103 TBC Stay Ablaze, My Love for Nidothing! Pics