Introduction
This is my offensive Drizzle squad that has been my go-to team for the past three months, which is the longest I've ever stuck with a single team in BW. I usually use balanced or defensive teams, so this made a nice change from that routine, and helped me discover that offensive teams are also enjoyable to use. I've used it in a few tournaments, and it's been effective; it also peaked #1 on the ladder with a 1602 rating under the name "Art of Ruin". I'm posting this because it's got some flaws that I could use help with, and I am also trying to raise offensive rain awareness so people will try another playstyle outside of those stupid Sandstorm Volt-Turn teams. If that happens, I will be happy because this metagame has alot of viable options and should not be as stale as it is. When building this team, I wanted to try something different other than the disgustingly overused Tyranitar + Landorus + Scizor + Rotom-W + 2 fillers team that was extremely popular at the time; I also wanted something that could easily defeat these teams, as they were absolutely everywhere. So I looked for something that was uncommon yet effective, and stumbled upon Tornadus. This team is built to abuse the incredible power of its Specs Hurricane, one of the most powerful attacks in the metagame. Drizzle support is mandatory so that the move's mediocre accuracy doesn't let it down; Politoed is necessary for this role, and seeing as this was shaping up to be an offensive team, I chose a Choice Specs set for its sheer destructive power.
Tornadus may be strong, but his Stealth Rock weakness cuts down the amount of times he can switch in, and makes him more vulnerable to priority attacks. Drizzle teams usually run Tentacruel as their Rapid Spinner, but I felt that he was too defensive for this team, so I chose to run Starmie, who in addition to spinning could function as a potent offensive threat.
Speaking of hazards, I could use some of my own. Ferrothorn was a perfect choice, since it has access to Stealth Rock + Spikes, and gets a ton of opportunities to set up hazards with its excellent typing.
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I wasn't sure what to do here, since I had no prior experience with offensive rain. I was watching some Battle Royale matches, and in Smith vs. Iconic, the latter was using an offensive rain team of his own, with an interesting choice in Azumarill. I decided to add it to my team to see how it did.
Finally, I added a Choice Band Dragonite simply because I felt like using one.
This version of the team did well, peaking in the high 1400s under the alt "Bodom Beach Terror", but I felt it could be improved. I tried finding a problem with it from my team rater point of view, and CB Azumarill + CB Dragonite was just screaming redundancy. Azumarill was definitely the MVP of the whole team, so I wasn't going to change anything about him, but that didn't mean I had to drop Dragonite; I began exploring some other options for it. I settled on the offensive mixed rain abuse set [Hurricane | Thunder | Aqua Tail | ExtremeSpeed]. While it wasn't the biggest difference, I gradually got more and more comfortable with the team, and I got my alt "Death-less" to a 1505 rating, good for #10 on the leaderboard. While Dragonite's new set wasn't bad by any means, it was too hit-or-miss; either it completely thrashed the opponent or it did nothing, and the latter happened too much for my liking. I also found that the team struggled with Calm Mind Latias. So, I did what 30% of OU players do with their teams nowadays: I added a Scizor, the standard Choice Band set. Not only did it fix my CM Latias weakness, but it naturally fit in with the rest of the team - it appreciated the reduction of its fire weakness, and Starmie's Rapid Spin support let it U-turn in and out of battle as much as it pleased.
I stuck with this version of the team the most, as it finally felt comfortable in nearly every aspect, and this allowed me to place three accounts in the top 20 at the same time [Art of Ruin @ #8 - 1500 | No Commands @ #16 - 1464 | p fly 4 a white guy @ #18 - 1460]. However, I recently made two changes that, although subtle, were extremely helpful. After noticing how annoying Gastrodon could be to this team if it managed to land a Scald burn on Ferrothorn, I changed Politoed's item to Leftovers, so I could change moves on Gastro after it switched in and HP Grass it to oblivion, lessening the need for prediction. Lefties were also a bit more helpful in winning weather wars and preventing me from becoming set-up fodder in general, although I do miss the sheer power of Specs. The second change I made to the team was changing Scizor to a Scarf variant. While it lacks the power and bulk of the CB set, its extra speed had amazing utility in checking fast special attackers. And with these final changes, I got to #1. Ladies and gentlemen, I present:
The knowledge that seeking the favor of another means the murder of self.
Politoed | Modest Nature
Ability: Drizzle | Item: Leftovers
EVs: 136 HP | 56 Def | 252 SpA | 64 Spe
Moveset: Scald | Ice Beam | Hidden Power Grass | Perish Song
Who would've thought a formerly NU Pokemon would become one of the most important pieces of the BW OU metagame? Politoed's zero-to-hero story is really inspiring and all, but I'll just tell you what he does for my team. With Drizzle active, every member of the team benefits in some way - Ferrothorn and Scizor's fire weaknesses are halved; Starmie and Azumarill's Water-type attacks become frighteningly powerful; and Tornadus's Hurricane never misses. Toed does quite well on his own, though; when he was a Choice Specs set, I used him to break down Sandstorm teams' water resists, doing over 50% to Celebi and Rotom-W with Hydro Pump, so that Azumarill could clean up late-game. However, I needed the ability to switch attacks because Gastrodon is a bitch, so I sadly traded in my stylish glasses for some Leftovers. Fortunately, even with 50% less power, I still nab the 2HKO on that stupid slug with HP Grass. Lefties are also pretty good in helping me go the distance in weather wars. With this set, Toed can't exactly beat the crap out of everything, but he still hits pretty hard with his respectable 305 SpA stat. Hydro Pump was changed to Scald because with the item change, I wasn't in a kill-everything-in-sight mentality anymore, so I figured I could sacrifice some power for accuracy and burning stuff. Last but not least, Toed's Perish Song will put an end to any Baton Pass shenanigans, whether it's a dedicated team or just some Screens + SmashPass bullshit.
I've been considering Expert Belt, so that I could bluff a choice item and put a little extra oomph behind my super effective attacks - I imagine this would be helpful against CB / Scarf Tyranitar who switch in on my "choiced" Ice Beam, try to Pursuit me, and end up eating a Hydro Pump [which I would probably go back to, to further the choice bluff].
This is the resolution, the end of all progress; the death of evolution, it bleeds all life away.
Ferrothorn | Sassy Nature
Ability: Iron Barbs | Item: Leftovers
EVs: 224 HP | 32 Def | 252 SpD
Moveset: Stealth Rock | Spikes | Gyro Ball | Power Whip
I wish Game Freak hadn't felt the need to give this mon an English name...Nattorei is cool! But anyways, Ferrothorn sets up hazards, which make my hard hitters really hard to switch into, since none of their counters are immune to Spikes. I don't pack a spin-blocker, because the focus of the team is on hitting my opponent's Pokemon with repeated powerfulattacks, and extra hazards make scoring KOs much easier - but they're a bonus, not a necessity. Ferro is also my sponge for Rotom-W's Volt Switch; I don't mind switching in and out of the Volt-Turn chain because the more Rotom itself switches in and out, the weaker it becomes, thanks to Stealth Rock, and the easier it becomes to pick off with Azumarill late-game. The bog standard Sandstorm Volt-Turn teams I despise so much will always lead with this washing machine on the first turn once they see I've got a Politoed in team preview, so I get some quick hazards at the beginning of the match. I've experimented with Bulldoze, and hitting Magnezone was really cool, but losing Gyro Ball means that I can't touch DD Dragonite, and losing Power Whip means I'm walled by Rotom-W / Gyarados. So, I'll generally double switch and surprise the Zone with Scarf Scizor's Superpower [HP Fire won't KO under rain], leaving my opponent without their Ferro killer and leaving me with a happy face.
I'm considering Bulldoze over one of my two attacking moves because Magnezone is that much of a bitch. I'd probably drop Gyro Ball since I have Dragonite / Haxorus / Salamence checked in different ways, and Bulldoze screws with Haxorus anyway.
Silence speeds the path to the streams of solace that run so few and narrow.
Scizor | Jolly Nature
Ability: Technician | Item: Choice Scarf
EVs: 8 HP | 252 Atk | 248 Spe
Moveset: U-turn | Bullet Punch | Superpower | Pursuit
Mister super fantastic fun time here is absurdly popular and it is disgusting. However, I needed a second steel, and more importantly, a CM Latias counter, so I threw him on. The standard Choice Band set was here for awhile; it did alright, but I tried Scarf on a whim when I recalled how it had performed well on a previous team, and I have been quite pleased with the results. It can check Lati@s and Celebi regardless of its own health, which the CB set cannot do. The extra speed is also helpful in surprise killing Magnezone who try to trap my Ferrothorn. Bullet Punch is still a great attack, even with a Jolly nature and no CB, although I suppose Iron Head is worth testing since it has more power with an additional flinch rate at the cost of priority. As for the retarded red bug's EV spread, I ran 224 Spe on my previous ScarfZor teams so I could outpace ScarfTar, but beating Alakazam is crucial now that it's OU, so I threw on 248 EVs since that's all I need and if I face another Scarf Scizor, they'll be faster, so I can get the second U-turn off, which will give me switch advantage. 8 HP EVs totally make a difference in how this guy takes hits.
I am considering Scarf Metagross in this slot, since it retains Scizor's roles of 1). a second steel-type, 2). trapper, and 3). CM Latias counter, but Meta comes with the bonus of fixing my nasty Toxicroak weakness. Gaining Earthquake would make it much easier to deal with Jirachi. I would also be able to Trick and cripple opposing Ferrothorn. Losing U-turn is a relatively small price to pay for these benefits. Input on this idea in particular would be awesome.
Brooks that babble the sounds of torture.
Starmie | Timid Nature
Ability: Natural Cure | Item: Life Orb
EVs: 252 SpA | 4 Def | 252 Spe
Moveset: Hydro Pump | Ice Beam | Thunder | Rapid Spin
This thing is absolutely ridiculous with Drizzle active. Hydro Pump beats the living shit out of any non-grass/water-type, and if I've enough hazards up, even the resistance is not enough to save these unfortunate pocket monsters from a watery doom. Surf is for pussies. Rapid Spin is the main reason Starmie is on the team, as it allows the deadly Tornadus to switch in and out of battle as he pleases, unhindered by his crippling Stealth Rock weakness. Spinning also lets Scizor U-turn as much as he wants. BoltBeam is awesome not only because it hits everything, but also because no one expects Starmie to have both, since most sets run Recover / Psyshock and can only choose one coverage move. Life Orb as the item because I wanna kill stuff, although I guess Leftovers is a decent alternative because it would help to have longevity on my spinner, even if it is kind of limited.
You will one day rise to flood the banks of the chosen.
Tornadus | Timid Nature
Ability: Prankster | Item: Choice Specs
EVs: 252 SpA | 4 SpD | 252 Spe
Moveset: U-turn | Hurricane | Focus Blast | Tailwind
Tornadus excels at luring in Tyranitar and U-turning out into Politoed for an immediate weather advantage. Focus Blast's use is kind of limited but it's killed a few Tyranitars when Politoed was too weak to come in so it's pretty cool. Tailwind temporarily gives my team +2 Speed, which can be really helpful in revenging an out-of-hand Outraging Dragonite, and the Prankster ability means that Tornadobro will never fail in pulling it off.
But screw all that. When this powerhouse comes in, something is going to get fucking nuked. I win games by sending out this nig and clicking Hurricane. With Choice Specs attached, it's not only one of the most powerful attacks in the metagame, but it also has excellent coverage, and under Drizzle, it has perfect accuracy. A few half-assed examples of its strength: it 2HKOs Rotom-W and Ferrothorn, while OHKOing Latios and Scizor after SR. This monster is one of the most underrated mons in the metagame and should be getting way more usage.
This is the art of ruin.
Azumarill | Adamant Nature
Ability: Huge Power | Item: Choice Band
EVs: 252 HP | 252 Atk | 4 Def
Moveset: Aqua Jet | Waterfall | Ice Punch | Superpower
Even though it was Tornadus who the team was focused on, Azumarill has consistently proved he is the MVP. He absolutely smashes the common Volt-Turn team once the water resists have been brought down to 30% or so [not a hard task, considering my multiple hazards and other hard hitters - also, keep in mind that said water resists cannot switch into Azu without taking massive damage from a rain-boosted Waterfall], simply by clicking Aqua Jet. Azu revenges a ton of threats, including but not limited to Volcarona, Landorus, Terrakion, Shell Smash recipient Nidoking, and generally most Pokemon that don't resist water. Ice Punch and Superpower are generally filler since I'll generally be spamming rain-boosted Aqua Jets or Waterfalls while laughing at my fool of an opponent who thought it was safe to switch in because his Pokemon "resisted" the attack.
Conclusion
So that's my team. I am hoping that it will make rain offense a bit more popular, if only for the sake of having people try something other than typical Volt-Turn garbage. I've got a few weaknesses - namely, Swords Dance / Bulk Up Toxicroak and Calm Mind Jirachi - that I hope you guys can help me with. As I mentioned in Scizor's description, I'm considering Scarf Metagross in its place as it fixes both these issues while doing the same thing that Scizor did, so some feedback on that in particular would be great. Thanks for reading, threat list and importable below. Btw the shitty banner thing was made by me. Yes I know it's terrible.
