Weather versus Stealth Rocks.
Yes, stealth rocks also shares the same characteristics as Drizzle/Drought in the sense that it allows Pokemon ‘X’ to live ‘Y’ and for Pokemon ‘Y’ to kill ‘Z’, however the damage of stealth rocks is greatly limited in comparison to weather. Stealth Rocks only majorly effects 4 types – Fire, Ice, Bug and Flying (three of which’s pure typing isn’t used in the OU Metagame due to their inferiority and heavy SR damage.) For the remaining type in OU that is heavy affected (Flying) and for those who are of a minimal or neutral typing, the damage of stealth rocks is limited to a small amount which only occurs on switching. Weather on the other hand, majorly affects the damage done to the majority of Pokemon.
For Example:
Rotom –W Hydro Pump versus Conkeldurr Max HP NO Rain:
339 Atk vs 166 Def & 414 HP (120 Base Power): 262 - 310 (63.29% - 74.88%) – Avg 68.84% - 284hp
Rotom –W Hydro Pump versus Conkeldurr Max HP in Rain:
339 Atk vs 166 Def & 414 HP (180 Base Power): 394 - 465 (95.17% - 112.32%) – Avg 103.14% - 426hp
426hp – 284hp = 142hp
The difference between Rain and NO Rain is 142HP. SR damage is 25.875HP.
426hp – 284hp = 142hp / SR 25.875hp – 142 – 25.875 = 116.125hp
The difference between Rain damage and SR damage is 116.125HP.
The difference in damage is undeniably greater in rain than it is with SR, but since Conkeldurr is resistant to SR let’s look at a Flying type in OU that takes heavy SR damage.
Example 2:
Rotom –W Hydro Pump versus Thundurus NO Rain:
339 Atk vs 196 Def & 299 HP (120 Base Power): 223 - 264 (74.58% - 88.29%) – Avg 80.60% - 240hp
Rotom –W Hydro Pump versus Thundurus in Rain:
339 Atk vs 196 Def & 299 HP (180 Base Power): 334 - 394 (111.71% - 131.77%) – Avg 120.74% - 361hp
361hp – 240hp = 121 hp
The difference between Rain and NO Rain is 121HP. SR damage is 90.25HP.
361hp – 240hp = 121 hp / SR 90.25hp – 121 – 90.25 = 30.75hp
The difference between Rain damage and SR damage is 30.75HP.
The side effect of rain does 11.73% more damage to Thundurus than heavy SR damage.
Therefore it is clear (to me) that Drizzle has an overall negative impact on the Metagame. It favours only specific Pokemon by increasing or decreasing damage inputs, but yet whilst Drizzle is giving specific Pokemon some sort of tactical boost, it is also putting many others at a major disadvantage. Pokemon such as Conkeldurr, who are given no benefits what so ever by rain, will still be victimised by those that do.
Furthermore, from my results I have shown that Rain has a greater impact on those that are SR weak, than SR itself. For those who aren’t SR (i.e the majority of OU) the damage cause by the side effects of rain is of a much greater scale.
As I have said before, such favourability and statistical impact for such a large number of Pokemon should not be brought on just by sending a Pokemon out without even using a move. Additionally, to make matters worse, there is no effective way to get rid of Drizzle and all of its effects other than by inducing your own weather (*cough* weather wars) or through the use of ‘Cloud 9’.
Where do we draw the line?