Introduction: Well, this happens to be the second time I'm typing this (Firefox inexplicably crashed the first time), so I'll get straight to the point. Meta-game is screwed up, didn't see much point in going for a high position on the LeaderBoard when everyone's just abusing the most broken Pokemon as possible. So, I decided to just screw around and test as much as I wanted before Suspect starts up. Seeing as Suspect has already begun, and I can already see people calling for Politoed's (or rather, Drizzle's) blood, I figured I'd post this team now. Oh, and I figured I'd say this here, just in case anyone actually reads this part:
Pokemon Online's ranking system is completely retarded. I've had battles that would be +0, -20 variation. That's a terrible system, and it needs to be replaced as soon as possible. And no, that is not an invitation to bombard me with "then YOU fix it" replies.
Genosekuto @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Download
Nature: Hasty (+Spe, -Def)
EVs: 4 Atk | 252 SpA | 252 Spe
- Bug Buzz
- U-turn
- Ice Beam
- Thunder
Choice Scarf Genosekuto is such a hard-stop to so many Weather inducing Pokemon. Here are some calcs that show just how good Genosekuto is against all Weather Pokemon:
+1 Bug Buzz vs Tyranitar (252/252 EVs, +Nature): 50.4 ~ 59.4% (Sandstorm)
+1 Ice Beam vs Hippowdon (252/252 EVs, +Nature): 58.5 ~ 69%
+0 Bug Buzz vs Abomasnow (252/252 EVs, +Nature): 57.8 ~ 68.7%
+0 Thunder vs Politoed (252/252 EVs, +Nature): 46.8 ~ 55.2% (Rain)
As you can see, pretty much every important Weather starter is 2HKOed by Genosekuto, even with the bulkiest Special Defense spread available. And, seeing as most of those Pokemon don't actually use Special bulk, most of them would be OHKOed by one of Genosekuto's attacks. Bug Buzz/Thunder/Ice Beam provides impeccable coverage that's resisted by nothing, while U-turn is still a great scouting attack. Another good thing about Genosekuto is that, in Heavy Rain, its weakness to Fire-type attacks is mitigated slightly. Now, that's not a GREAT thing, but paired up with its useful resistances (11/17), it can switch in a few times with its decent defenses. Flamethrower is obviously passed up on this set because it won't be doing jack in the Rain, and most of the Pokemon I'd hit with Flamethrower don't especially like Thunder (bar Nattorei, which is 3HKOed by +1 Bug Buzz).
- Scarfed U-turn to break the Focus Sash, then go to Breloom (if my opponent doesn't have Shadow Tag Shandera), or just Scarfed Bug Buzz.
- Scarfed U-turn to Politoed, finish it off with Hydro Pump or Ice Beam. They'll either have set up Stealth Rock (not too bad), or have used Fire Blast (perfect).
- +1 Ice Beam to KO, not really a problem here.
- U-turn out for some good damage on whatever they switch in (it's unlikely they'll just leave Tyranitar in).
- U-turn out, still not a problem yet.
- They'll either use Stealth Rock or Fire Blast. Same situation as Azelf, U-turn out (to break the Balloon/Focus Sash should they have one), Politoed takes a Fire Blast with minimal damage, Hydro Pump.
- Scarfed Thunder will 2HKO at +0, and I don't think anything less than Scarf Hydro Pump will OHKO me back. I could also U-turn out (does more than 50% at +1) to Politoed/Toxicroak.
Politoed @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Drizzle
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 4 HP | 252 SpA | 252 Spe
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Focus Blast
- Hidden Power [Electric]
In previous Generations, having a Politoed was pretty much a joke. Its stats weren't great, and it didn't do anything that really stood out from any other bulky Water-type from Gen II and up. Gen V rolls around, and Politoed finally finds a niche in the OU enviorment in Drizzle. With Drizzle summoning up Heavy Rain, Rain Dance teams no longer have to carry Pokemon to set up Rain, freeing up slots for sweepers and other Pokemon to counter opposing Weather teams. Timid, Choice Scarf, and 252 Speed EVs lets Politoed hit 193, enough to out-run +Spe Shaymin-S without a Choice Scarf of its own. With a Choice Scarf, after Tyranitar's been dealt with, Politoed can Revenge Doryuuzu by switching in, changing the Weather back to Rain, and OHKOing with Hydro Pump. Politoed is completely needed if running a Rain team, so I doubt this frog is going anywhere (except maybe back to NU, should Drizzle be banned.) I recently removed Hypnosis in favor of Hidden Power [Electric], to hit Gyarados.
Kingdra @ Choice Specs
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 HP | 252 SpA | 252 Spe
- Hydro Pump
- Draco Meteor
- Dragon Pulse
- Surf
I took Manaphy off the team for Kingdra, and I still think it was the right thing to do. Manaphy was just too slow, and it always ended up lagging behind the rest of the team. Kingdra's been sweeping ever since I put it onto my team, completely turning games around. After some advice from SJCrew, I changed Life Orb back to Choice Specs, and it's been working much better than before, to the point where I don't even understand why I was running Life Orb in the past. Water/Dragon coverage is all that's needed, since anything that's being hit by STAB Rain Specs Hydro Pump isn't going to be having fun at all. Best set in the current meta-game for Rain teams.
Breloom @ Meadow Plate
Ability: Technician
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 120 HP | 252 Atk | 136 Spe
- Spore
- Swords Dance
- Bullet Seed
- Mach Punch
My favorite Dream World Pokemon so far. Technician Breloom is my all-important Sandstorm check/counter. Breloom beats both Sandstorm set-up Pokemon, checks Doryuuzu and Terakion with Mach Punch, and resists Randorosu's QuakeEdge combination. At least two of those Pokemon are always going to be on a Sand team. Breloom always deals with Burungeru (though it obviously dislikes being Burned), Nattorei (Spore + Swords Dance + Mach Punch), and is just a good counter to a lot of teams in the current meta-game of Dream World. Spore is a given on any Breloom set, and Technician is boosting Mach Punch along with STAB. Bullet Seed got a buff this Generation, boosting its base power up to 25. With just two hits of Bullet Seed, it's just about as strong as a regular Seed Bomb. Of course, Seed Bomb can't break through Substitute, or have a chance at hitting three (at which point Bullet Seed becomes stronger) or more times. Can't wait until Breloom is finally able to set foot in Standard OU. I changed from Leftovers to Meadow Plate, since I wanted the extra boost in power, but none of the recoil.
Ludicolo @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 HP | 252 SpA | 252 Spe
- Hydro Pump
- Giga Drain
- Ice Beam
- Focus Blast
Ludicolo is practically a given if you're looking for a strong, Special-based Rain sweeper. Giga Drain also got a buff this Generation, up to 75 base power. That helps quite a bit, recovering HP lost due to random Priority and Life Orb, prolonging Ludicolo's sweep. Hydro Pump is 2x STAB, Ice Beam and Focus Blast for coverage. Focus Blast is especially useful, since it can nail Nattorei, once of Rain's biggest problems. Modest nature because Ludicolo needs all the power it can get, and its defenses aren't so terrible that it can't take a hit should it get out-sped.
Toxicroak @ Life Orb
Ability: Dry Skin
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Atk | 4 Def | 252 Spe
- Swords Dance
- Substitute
- Sucker Punch
- Drain Punch
Holy hell, why are you you so good in OU now!? Removing Gliscor was so much better for this team. Toxicroak causes just as many problems for Sandstorm teams as Tyranitar can't switch in without risking a Drain Punch, and Hippowdon doesn't exactly enjoy +2 Drain Punch (50.2% - 59.3%), seeing as even if it Roars away Toxicroak, every other Pokemon on my team has an attack that will OHKO it. Substitute protects Toxicroak from unkind Status such as Paralysis or Burn, neither of which it likes. Substitute + Life Orb is usually a bad idea since you're losing health at an astonishing rate, but Dry Skin is healing up more than what Life Orb gives out as recoil. Drain Punch is also helping Toxicroak to live a bit longer, and with the boost to 75 Base Power, it's a pretty strong STAB attack. Sucker Punch bypasses Toxicroak's mediocre Speed stat and beats things like Lati@s to the punch (if you pardon the little pun I throw in there). Toxicroak has some problems with SubSplit Gengar, but supposing I have a Substitute up, and now you take damage from hitting a Substitute, I can out-last it if I play my cards right.
Toxicroak is great against Stall teams because it can come in on Burungeru Boil Over, Chansey/Blissey Toxic, and Nattorei Power Whip.
Conclusion: Other Rain teams are my personal enemy, except for maybe Rain Stall. Sun teams can give me problems, but they're rare, and Ninetales can't take many STAB Hydro Pumps from Politoed, even when switching in and changing the Weather. I recently removed a Toxic Orb Gliscor to make room for Swords Dance Toxicroak.
Pokemon Online's ranking system is completely retarded. I've had battles that would be +0, -20 variation. That's a terrible system, and it needs to be replaced as soon as possible. And no, that is not an invitation to bombard me with "then YOU fix it" replies.
Team at a Glance
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Genosekuto @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Download
Nature: Hasty (+Spe, -Def)
EVs: 4 Atk | 252 SpA | 252 Spe
Choice Scarf Genosekuto is such a hard-stop to so many Weather inducing Pokemon. Here are some calcs that show just how good Genosekuto is against all Weather Pokemon:
+1 Bug Buzz vs Tyranitar (252/252 EVs, +Nature): 50.4 ~ 59.4% (Sandstorm)
+1 Ice Beam vs Hippowdon (252/252 EVs, +Nature): 58.5 ~ 69%
+0 Bug Buzz vs Abomasnow (252/252 EVs, +Nature): 57.8 ~ 68.7%
+0 Thunder vs Politoed (252/252 EVs, +Nature): 46.8 ~ 55.2% (Rain)
As you can see, pretty much every important Weather starter is 2HKOed by Genosekuto, even with the bulkiest Special Defense spread available. And, seeing as most of those Pokemon don't actually use Special bulk, most of them would be OHKOed by one of Genosekuto's attacks. Bug Buzz/Thunder/Ice Beam provides impeccable coverage that's resisted by nothing, while U-turn is still a great scouting attack. Another good thing about Genosekuto is that, in Heavy Rain, its weakness to Fire-type attacks is mitigated slightly. Now, that's not a GREAT thing, but paired up with its useful resistances (11/17), it can switch in a few times with its decent defenses. Flamethrower is obviously passed up on this set because it won't be doing jack in the Rain, and most of the Pokemon I'd hit with Flamethrower don't especially like Thunder (bar Nattorei, which is 3HKOed by +1 Bug Buzz).
Politoed @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Drizzle
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 4 HP | 252 SpA | 252 Spe
In previous Generations, having a Politoed was pretty much a joke. Its stats weren't great, and it didn't do anything that really stood out from any other bulky Water-type from Gen II and up. Gen V rolls around, and Politoed finally finds a niche in the OU enviorment in Drizzle. With Drizzle summoning up Heavy Rain, Rain Dance teams no longer have to carry Pokemon to set up Rain, freeing up slots for sweepers and other Pokemon to counter opposing Weather teams. Timid, Choice Scarf, and 252 Speed EVs lets Politoed hit 193, enough to out-run +Spe Shaymin-S without a Choice Scarf of its own. With a Choice Scarf, after Tyranitar's been dealt with, Politoed can Revenge Doryuuzu by switching in, changing the Weather back to Rain, and OHKOing with Hydro Pump. Politoed is completely needed if running a Rain team, so I doubt this frog is going anywhere (except maybe back to NU, should Drizzle be banned.) I recently removed Hypnosis in favor of Hidden Power [Electric], to hit Gyarados.
Kingdra @ Choice Specs
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 HP | 252 SpA | 252 Spe
I took Manaphy off the team for Kingdra, and I still think it was the right thing to do. Manaphy was just too slow, and it always ended up lagging behind the rest of the team. Kingdra's been sweeping ever since I put it onto my team, completely turning games around. After some advice from SJCrew, I changed Life Orb back to Choice Specs, and it's been working much better than before, to the point where I don't even understand why I was running Life Orb in the past. Water/Dragon coverage is all that's needed, since anything that's being hit by STAB Rain Specs Hydro Pump isn't going to be having fun at all. Best set in the current meta-game for Rain teams.
Breloom @ Meadow Plate
Ability: Technician
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 120 HP | 252 Atk | 136 Spe
My favorite Dream World Pokemon so far. Technician Breloom is my all-important Sandstorm check/counter. Breloom beats both Sandstorm set-up Pokemon, checks Doryuuzu and Terakion with Mach Punch, and resists Randorosu's QuakeEdge combination. At least two of those Pokemon are always going to be on a Sand team. Breloom always deals with Burungeru (though it obviously dislikes being Burned), Nattorei (Spore + Swords Dance + Mach Punch), and is just a good counter to a lot of teams in the current meta-game of Dream World. Spore is a given on any Breloom set, and Technician is boosting Mach Punch along with STAB. Bullet Seed got a buff this Generation, boosting its base power up to 25. With just two hits of Bullet Seed, it's just about as strong as a regular Seed Bomb. Of course, Seed Bomb can't break through Substitute, or have a chance at hitting three (at which point Bullet Seed becomes stronger) or more times. Can't wait until Breloom is finally able to set foot in Standard OU. I changed from Leftovers to Meadow Plate, since I wanted the extra boost in power, but none of the recoil.
Ludicolo @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 HP | 252 SpA | 252 Spe
Ludicolo is practically a given if you're looking for a strong, Special-based Rain sweeper. Giga Drain also got a buff this Generation, up to 75 base power. That helps quite a bit, recovering HP lost due to random Priority and Life Orb, prolonging Ludicolo's sweep. Hydro Pump is 2x STAB, Ice Beam and Focus Blast for coverage. Focus Blast is especially useful, since it can nail Nattorei, once of Rain's biggest problems. Modest nature because Ludicolo needs all the power it can get, and its defenses aren't so terrible that it can't take a hit should it get out-sped.
Toxicroak @ Life Orb
Ability: Dry Skin
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Atk | 4 Def | 252 Spe
Holy hell, why are you you so good in OU now!? Removing Gliscor was so much better for this team. Toxicroak causes just as many problems for Sandstorm teams as Tyranitar can't switch in without risking a Drain Punch, and Hippowdon doesn't exactly enjoy +2 Drain Punch (50.2% - 59.3%), seeing as even if it Roars away Toxicroak, every other Pokemon on my team has an attack that will OHKO it. Substitute protects Toxicroak from unkind Status such as Paralysis or Burn, neither of which it likes. Substitute + Life Orb is usually a bad idea since you're losing health at an astonishing rate, but Dry Skin is healing up more than what Life Orb gives out as recoil. Drain Punch is also helping Toxicroak to live a bit longer, and with the boost to 75 Base Power, it's a pretty strong STAB attack. Sucker Punch bypasses Toxicroak's mediocre Speed stat and beats things like Lati@s to the punch (if you pardon the little pun I throw in there). Toxicroak has some problems with SubSplit Gengar, but supposing I have a Substitute up, and now you take damage from hitting a Substitute, I can out-last it if I play my cards right.
Toxicroak is great against Stall teams because it can come in on Burungeru Boil Over, Chansey/Blissey Toxic, and Nattorei Power Whip.
Conclusion: Other Rain teams are my personal enemy, except for maybe Rain Stall. Sun teams can give me problems, but they're rare, and Ninetales can't take many STAB Hydro Pumps from Politoed, even when switching in and changing the Weather. I recently removed a Toxic Orb Gliscor to make room for Swords Dance Toxicroak.
This is, without a single doubt, the highest ranked team I have ever used, and probably the best team I've made in a long time. I expect Drizzle to be banned soon anyways, but thank you to everyone that helped me make this team and took time out to give me advice on how to make it even better.
Final Glance
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