Pokémon Masters EX: Best Hilbert & Samurott Sync Grid Builds

Hilbert and Samurott are great for physical teams with their Trainer move, but they also can raise other handy stats including Speed, Defense, and critical-hit rate. Some flexibility comes with their grid depending on what you need to shore up for allies, but Samurott is going to want someone to help restore his HP after using In This Together! 

They also happen to have Vigilance on their grid, which means their lucky skill opens up as well. Aqua Tail and Waterfall cost two bars on the move gauge, but their effects on opponents can make Samurott fit in as your secondary damage.

The best Hilbert and Samurott sync grid builds are Sync Level 2, Full Defense, and Nuisance (Aqua Tail and Waterfall).

Universal Upgrades

HP +10

Attack +15

Defense +5

Sp. Def +5

Speed +5

With such variation between builds, a lone Attack +5 tile is shared among all builds. Additionally, each build wants a different lucky skill.

Sync Grid Builds

Sync Level 2 Build

Total Sync Orb Cost: 750

Total Energy Used: 60

(Build Link)

Unique Upgrades:

HP +30

Attack +5

Defense +15

Sp. Def +10

Waterfall Power +4

Waterfall Move Gauge Refresh 3

X Speed All MP Refresh 2

In This Together! MP Refresh 2

In This Together! Shielded Squad 1

Vigilance

Recommended Lucky Skill:

Stoic 2

Lacking access to Waterfall’s Aggravation 1, Aqua Tail’s Defense Crush 2, and In This Together! Critical Squad 2, Samurott finds himself best suited to focusing on his defense. Vigilance prevents any attacks becoming critical-hits which bypass any defense boosting you might have done. In This Together! Shielded Squad 1 raises all allies Defense by +1 with each use. With its MP Refresh 2, you have a chance to be able to use the Trainer move more than twice.

Waterfall is the chosen move because of its ability to flinch opponents. It only gains +4 power but the Move Gauge Refresh 3 will help keep costs down on the move gauge. You can also speed up the charge rate with X Speed All MP Refresh 2 to raise each ally’s Speed beyond the +4 normally possible.

Since Vigilance is on Samurott’s grid, lucky skill choice opens up and Stoic 2 is the best option. While In This Together! will raise Defense +1, you want to use it when Samurott is at low health to raise the Attack of all allies the most. Samurott can’t help the team if he is knocked out.

Full Defense Build (Sync Level 3/5)

Total Sync Orb Cost: 750

Total Energy Used: 60

(Build Link)

Unique Upgrades:

Defense +10

Sp. Def +15

Aqua Tail Power +4

X Speed All MP Refresh 2

In This Together! Critical Squad 2

In This Together! Shielded Squad 1

Endurance

Vigilance

Recommended Lucky Skill:

Stoic 2

With this build, you can raise allies’ Speed, Defense, Attack and critical-hit rate. Endurance allows Samurott to endure the next hit that would reduce it to 0 HP, but only if he enters the battle with full health. Timing In This Together! when he is at 1 HP will give you the most benefit for raising Attack. When using the Trainer move, Critical Squad 2 will raise all ally critical-hit rates by +2 and Shielded Squad 1 will raise each ally’s Defense by +1.

With X Speed All MP Refresh 2, you have a chance of using it more than twice, but the build does not grab the MP Refresh for In This Together! For the lucky skill, you will want to pick up Stoic 2 to pick up more than +2 Defense since it will have a 30% chance of activating with each successful attack. Vigilance will also help keep Samurott’s health up by stopping any attacks against him from becoming critical hits.

Nuisance Build (Aqua Tail & Waterfall) (Sync Level 3/5)

Total Sync Orb Cost: 738/750

Total Energy Used: 59/60

(Build Link)

Unique Upgrades:

Aqua Tail Power +4

X Speed All MP Refresh 2

In This Together! Critical Squad 2

Vigilance

Aqua Tail Variation:

HP +10

Defense +10

Aqua Tail Move Gauge Refresh 3

Aqua Tail Defense Crush 2

Waterfall Variation:

Attack +5

Defense +5

Waterfall Power +8

Waterfall Aggravation 1

Recommended Lucky Skill:

Defense Crush 2, Stoic 2

These two variations are for when Samurott is being used more as a striker than a support. Both builds pick up In This Together! Critical Strike 2 to raise all allied sync pairs critical-hit rate by +2 with each use. Since critical-hit rate maxes at +3, two is all you need. Both pick up X Speed All MP Refresh 2 to possibly allow you to use it another time. Vigilance is almost always the lucky skill recommended for any sync pair because it is one of the best ways to take less damage from opponents. It stops successful attacks from becoming critical hits, which bypasses raised defenses and adds extra damage.

When choosing Aqua Tail as your primary attack, it gets a Move Gauge Refresh 3 and Defense Crush 2. Defense Crush 2 is also recommended for the lucky skill. Whenever Samurott’s attacks are successful, there is a chance that it will lower the opponent’s Defense by -1. Stacking them together results in an effective Defense Crush 4, meaning 50% of Samurott’s Aqua Tail attacks will lower Defense.

Waterfall gains +8 power but also gains Aggravation 1. Waterfall naturally has a 20% chance of flinching an opponent but each time the attack is successful it will have two chances of inflicting the flinching condition on the opponent. Since Samurott does not pick up Shielded Squad, picking Stoic 2 will give him a chance to raise his Defense by +1 with each successful attack.

James Chow

Hey! I am a competitive person who loves challenges. Games have always been an outlet where I can experience many different worlds and stories. This is why I love to play games and have been for a long time.

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