Best Build for Brute Bonnet in Ranked Battles in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

Amoonguss is arguably the strongest Pokemon in the entire history of competitive Pokemon. That makes Brute Bonnet particularly threatening when it comes to ranked play in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet.

On paper, Brute Bonnet is one of the most threatening Pokemon in ranked Pokemon Scarlet & Violet. Spore is one of the most powerful moves in the game, but has largely only been available on statistically mediocre Pokemon. That’s not the case with Brute Bonnet, as the Pokemon has great stats to go alongside the 100%-accurate sleep move.

A few different builds have arisen for Brute Bonnet, allowing it to be a huge offensive threat or a frustrating support Pokemon. Here are the best builds for Brute Bonnet in ranked singles and doubles play.

Best Brute Bonnet Build for Singles Play

Brute Bonnet’s best set for singles play is a straightforward build focused on its bulk, high Attack stat, and access to Spore. There’s a bit of flexibility with both the moves and the preferred held item, with the build generally looking like this:

Ability: Quark Drive
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 252 HP, 252 Attack, 6 Defense
Tera Type: Fairy
Item: Leftovers, Loaded Dice, Booster Energy
Moves: Spore, Sucker Punch, Seed Bomb/Bullet Seed, Close Combat
Spore and Sucker Punch are great moves that Brute Bonnet should always know. The other two moves can be flexed to some degree.

In most cases, Booster Energy or Leftovers with Seed Bomb is the best option. Seed Bomb with a Booster Energy Attack boost is threatening against Dondozo, Garganacl, and Palafin, but Leftovers makes it even harder to get off the field.

If both of these are used by other Pokemon in the party, players can switch over to Loaded Dice and replace Seed Bomb with Bullet Seed, which boosts it to be a guaranteed 100 minimum damage attack.

Close Combat is likely the best fourth move. The ability to threaten Hydreigon, Roaring Moon, and any Pokemon that Terastallizes into steel type is important, though it could hypothetically Crunch, Rage Powder, or Protect.

Best Brute Bonnet Build for Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Doubles Play

Brute Bonnet can still be a viable offensive threat, but in doubles play it can also fit into a “more offensively threatening Amoonguss” niche. Amoonguss is still good and will retain a place in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet ranked play, but Brute Bonnet is a bulky Spore user with 127 base Attack.

Ability: Quark Drive
Nature: Careful
EVs: 252 HP, 90 Defense, 164 Sp. Defense, 4 Speed
Tera Type: Fairy
Item: Leftovers
Moves: Spore, Rage Powder, Sucker Punch, Seed Bomb
Spore and Rage Powder are the core moves for support Amoonguss builds, and that’s still a winning pair of moves with Brute Bonnet. Sucker Punch is a threatening priority move with a STAB boost, while Seed Bomb is the preferred fourth move and can hit many common threats for solid damage even without any offensive EV investment.

If you're interested in learning more about Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, check out our other guides on Pokemon, along with all potions, all special evolution conditions, secret gift codes, all held items, and more. Of course, you can also buy Pokemon Scarlet and Violet shiny and held items on PKMBuy.