Best Nature for Barboach and Whiscash in Pokémon Legends: Arceus

The Water/Ground Type Pokémon had a lot of use as a Physical Attacker in previous games, thanks to its ability to use Dragon Dance. In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, however, it doesn't have any stat-raising moves and must rely solely on its Base stats, Learnset, and Movepool. With many powerful Physical and Special moves, it can be used as a mixed offensive threat. Natures that lower their Speed, like Brave and Quiet, or Neutral Natures like Quirky and Docile are the best options for Whiscash and Barboach.

Natures

Whiscash has very low Speed that wouldn't mind getting lowered further, but because it doesn't have great defensive stats, lowering it further can mean the opposing Pokémon will move twice. This won't be an issue for Pokémon that don't have more than double Whiscash's Speed, and Whiscash has access to many moves to guarantee super effective damage back.

Neutral Natures

Bashful, Docile, Hardy, Serious, and Quirky Natures all increase and decrease the same stat by 10 percent, making no change to a Pokémon's stats. Whiscash has many good Physical and Special moves, so lowering Attack in favor of Special Attack with a Modest Nature greatly reduces its effectiveness. Lowering either Defense or Special Defence isn't ideal for any Pokémon as it increases the potential of getting knocked out by the opponent. With neither the Attack nor Special Attack being lowered, Whiscash is free to run all of its coverage moves.

Aqua Tail and Earth Power are its strongest Same Type Attack Bonus or STAB moves. STAB moves increase the Power of the move by 50 percent, increasing Aqua Tail's Power from 85 to 127.5. Earth Power would also go from 80 Power to 120 Power because it is two Types. Aside from these moves, it can learn Ice Beam, Stone Edge, Zen Headbutt, or Aerial Ace. With Aqua Tail, Earth Power, Stone Edge, and Ice Beam, Whiscash have coverage for Fire, Rock, Steel, Ground, Flying, Grass, Bug, and Dragon Type Pokémon.

Related: Best Nature for Carnivine in Pokémon Legends: Arceus

Offensive Natures

Both Adamant and Modest Natures aren't a good fit for Whiscash in Pokémon Legends: Arceus because lowering either offensive stat would lower its damage potential. Adamant raises Attack by 10 percent while lowering Special Attack and Modest does the opposite.

Opting for either a Brave or Quiet Nature increases one of the offensive stats and only lowers Speed. Brave Nature increases Attack while lowering Speed, making moves like Aqua Tail, Zen Headbutt, and Stone Edge more powerful. This also makes it so Whiscash can still use its other coverage moves like Ice Beam and Earth Power. Conversely, Quiet Nature increases Special Attack and lowers Speed, making Earth Power and Ice Beam more powerful.

Defensive Natures

Despite having average Defense and Special Defense, Whiscash is a very bulky Pokémon. It has high HP and only has a single weakness, Grass. It has resistances to Poison, Steel, Rock, and Fire while being immune to Electric moves. While it isn't necessary to make it bulkier, raising its Defense while lowering its Speed with a Relaxed Nature or raising its Special Defense while lowering its Speed with a Sassy Nature is a safe option to ensure its longevity in battle. A super effective Grass move is still going to do a lot of damage considering it is four times weak to it, but every other move will be reduced with some extra bulk.

Whiscash's Stats and Moves

Whiscash is a severely underestimated Pokémon with a great Typing, large movepool, and decent bulk. It is able to deal super effective damage easily with diverse coverage for many Pokémon Types but will almost always be taking hits because of its low Speed.

Stats

• HP - 110
• Attack - 78
• Defense - 73
• Special Attack - 76
• Special Defense - 71
• Speed - 60

Related: Best Nature for Swinub, Piloswine, and Mamoswine in Pokemon Legends: Arceus

Learnset

• Mud-Slap - Special Ground move learned at Level 1 and Mastered at Level 10. 30 Power, 100 Accuracy, and 20 PP.
• Water Pulse - Special Water move learned at Level 6 and Mastered at Level 15. 60 Power, can never miss, and 20 PP.
• Mud Bomb - Special Ground move learned at Level 11 and Mastered at Level 10. 65 Power, 85 Accuracy, and 15 PP. The move causes the user to become Obscured, making it harder for moves to land against it.
• Rest - Status Psychic move learned at Level 18 and Mastered at Level 28. 10 PP. The Pokémon heals itself to full and removes any Status Condition it has. It then becomes Drowsy.
• Zen Headbutt - Physical Psychic move learned at Level 25 and Mastered at Level 35. 80 Power, 90 Accuracy, and 10 PP.
• Aqua Tail - Physical Water move learned at Level 34 and Mastered at Level 45. 85 Power, 90 Accuracy, and 10 PP.
• Earth Power - Special Ground move learned Level 43 and Mastered at Level 54. 80 Power, 100 Accuracy, and 10 PP. This move has a chance of lowering the target's defensive stats.

Learned From Zisu

• Rock Smash - Physical Fighting move with 40 Power, 100 Accuracy, and 20 PP. Has a chance of lowering the target's defensive stats.
• Bulldoze - Physical Ground move with 60 Power, 100 Accuracy, and 20 PP. Lowers the target's Speed.
• Aerial Ace - Physical Flying move with 60 Power, can never miss, and 20 PP.
• Rock Slide - Physical Rock move with 75 Power, 90 Accuracy, and 10 PP.
• Icy Wind - Special Ice move with 60 Power, 95 Accuracy, and 20 PP. Lowers the target's Speed.
• Giga Impact - Physical Normal move with 120 Power, 90 Accuracy, and 5 PP.
• Stone Edge - Physical Rock move with 100 Power, 80 Accuracy, and 5 PP. Has a high chance of being a critical hit.
• Hyper Beam - Special Normal move with 120 Power, 90 Accuracy, and 5 PP.
• Ice Beam - Special Ice move with 80 Power, 100 Accuracy, and 10 PP. Has a chance of inflicting the target with Frostbite.

For more Nature guides, check out Best Nature for Budew, Roselia, and Roserade in Pokemon Legends: Arceus on Pro Game Guides.