What it does
Liquidation is a Water-type physical contact move with solid Base Power and a chance to lower the target's Defense by one stage on hit.
One stage of Defense drop means the target takes 1.5× physical damage going forward — until they switch out. If you keep hitting the same target physically, every subsequent strike benefits from that weakness. For physical attackers running high attack investment, a triggered drop can shift a 'probably a KO over two hits' into a clean one-shot.
The drop is a chance effect — it doesn't fire every time. Treat the move as a reliable high-power Water physical move that occasionally makes your life better, not as a setup sequence that depends on the drop triggering. The primary value is consistent Water STAB; the defense drop is the bonus.
Water covers Fire, Rock, and Ground types well. Against Water or Grass targets, look for a different move.
Who runs it
Araquanid (93%) almost always carries this. Water Bubble doubles the damage of Water-type moves, making Liquidation hit extremely hard against anything weak to Water. Under that ability, this becomes one of the hardest-hitting single-target physical moves available.
Azumarill (29%) has Huge Power, doubling its effective Attack. Liquidation backed by that multiplier is its main high-power physical option, alongside Aqua Jet for priority finishes.
Beartic (35%) uses Liquidation as Water-type coverage alongside its Ice moves — covering targets that Ice doesn't hit effectively.
Basculegion (23%) is an offensive Water-type and Liquidation is a natural STAB choice for physical sets.
Sharpedo (18%) has extreme Speed and uses Liquidation for Water STAB — it hits before most targets can respond and the defense drop sets up follow-up damage cleanly.
Simipour (9%) and Toxapex (10%) use it at lower frequencies but both can carry it for Water physical output.
How to use it
The basic conditions for Liquidation to earn its slot: the target has a Water weakness, or your user has an ability that boosts Water moves (Water Bubble), or you need Water coverage and this is the best physical option available. Against Water or Grass targets, the typing works against you — have a backup plan.
In doubles, this is single-target. Point it at the bigger threat or the target where Water super effectiveness matters most. Helping Hand from a partner amplifies this hit significantly — boosted Liquidation from an Araquanid or Huge Power Azumarill can clean up targets that would otherwise require two turns.
If the defense drop triggers, any physical follow-up — yours or your partner's — benefits from it. That synergy with a second physical attacker on your side makes the drop more valuable than it looks in isolation.
Contact mechanics: Rocky Helmet deals chip damage back to you, and Flame Body can burn you. Calculate those costs if you know the opponent has them.
Tips & strategy
Water Bubble makes this move genuinely scary on Araquanid. If you're facing one that carries Liquidation, treat it as a priority threat — letting it freely click this move into Water-weak targets is a fast game loss.
Don't build a turn plan that requires the defense drop to trigger. Probability effects are real but not guaranteed. Use the drop as a 'great if it happens' bonus, not as step 2 of a predetermined sequence.
Rain boosts Water-type moves' damage. In rain weather, Liquidation hits harder — if your team includes a rain setter, this move gets stronger as part of that package.