name: Offensive Tank
move 1: Scald / Hydro Pump
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Synthesis
item: Life Orb / Leftovers
ability: Rain Dish
nature: Modest
evs: 160 HP / 252 SpA / 96 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set focuses on Ludicolo's 4x resistance to Water-type moves, which allows it to be brought in safely against most Water-types in RU. With its above average base 90 Special Attack and access to a recovery move in form of Synthesis, it can act as a good check to Pokemon such as Omastar, Lanturn, and other Ludicolo. Ludicolo can also use Synthesis to heal recoil damage caused by Life Orb, if it is chosen as Ludicolo's item. Also, unlike the Rain Special Attacker, this Ludicolo set requires less team support, and can be used on nearly any team that struggles with the previously mentioned Water-types. Life Orb is the preferred item for this set, since it gives Ludicolo a considerable power boost, but Leftovers is also an option if the recoil damage from Life Orb is unappreciated. Giga Drain and Scald are used as Ludicolo's STAB moves; both are reliable, and the latter also has the chance to burn the opponent's Pokemon. However, Hydro Pump can be used over Scald for additional raw power, but it forfeits Scald's accuracy. Ice Beam rounds out Ludicolo's coverage, hitting the Grass- and Dragon-types that resist its STAB moves. Synthesis is used to heal Ludicolo, giving it more longevity. However, even with Synthesis to heal it, Ludicolo shouldn't be played as a defensive Pokemon, since most strong STAB moves, such as Sharpedo's Crunch or Rotom's Thunderbolt, will still deal huge amounts of damage to it.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Rain Dish is the superior ability on this set, as rain is only seen on dedicated Rain Dance teams, and the opponent's Swift Swim sweepers are most likely going to outrun Swift Swim Ludicolo anyways, since its Speed isn't fully invested. As such, recovery from Rain Dish is usually better. However, Swift Swim can be used on Ludicolo if you decide to run 252 Speed EVs or something close to that. This isn't a good idea though, since the loss in bulk is considerable. Also, 96 Speed EVs are enough for this set's purpose, allowing Ludicolo to outrun all Adamant Aggron and anything slower than that. Surf is an option over Scald or Hydro Pump, but it's completely outclassed by both, since it doesn't gain any important KOs over Scald, which has the added chance to burn the opponent's Pokemon. If more power is really desired, Hydro Pump is usually the superior option, though it has imperfect accuracy. If Ferroseed is a nuisance, either Hidden Power Fire or Focus Blast should be considered as an option over Ice Beam, but even without those moves, Ludicolo can easily beat Ferroseed one on one, making them an inferior option to Ice Beam.</p>
<p>Pokemon such as Clefable or Munchlax can easily defeat Ludicolo, as they don't take too much damage from its STAB moves and can overcome Scald's burns with Magic Guard and Heal Bell in Clefable's case, or simply use Rest to heal them off in Munchlax's case. Offensive teams usually have a harder time against Ludicolo due to its amazing coverage. Also, offensive teams have a more difficult time fitting one of the previously mentioned Pokemon on the team and so have to rely on either revenge killing Ludicolo or proper prediction, which is risky and might not always work. Pokemon that have good synergy with Ludicolo and benefit from its ability to defeat most Water-types in RU, such as Regirock and Moltres, are good partners for it. Last but not least, Ludicolo likes to have strong Fighting-type Pokemon such as Hariyama and Hitmonlee by its side, since they can easily take down most of the Pokemon with high Special Defense that bother Ludicolo while benefiting from its ability to counter Slowking, most teams' answer to the previously mentioned Fighting-types.</p>
move 1: Scald / Hydro Pump
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Synthesis
item: Life Orb / Leftovers
ability: Rain Dish
nature: Modest
evs: 160 HP / 252 SpA / 96 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set focuses on Ludicolo's 4x resistance to Water-type moves, which allows it to be brought in safely against most Water-types in RU. With its above average base 90 Special Attack and access to a recovery move in form of Synthesis, it can act as a good check to Pokemon such as Omastar, Lanturn, and other Ludicolo. Ludicolo can also use Synthesis to heal recoil damage caused by Life Orb, if it is chosen as Ludicolo's item. Also, unlike the Rain Special Attacker, this Ludicolo set requires less team support, and can be used on nearly any team that struggles with the previously mentioned Water-types. Life Orb is the preferred item for this set, since it gives Ludicolo a considerable power boost, but Leftovers is also an option if the recoil damage from Life Orb is unappreciated. Giga Drain and Scald are used as Ludicolo's STAB moves; both are reliable, and the latter also has the chance to burn the opponent's Pokemon. However, Hydro Pump can be used over Scald for additional raw power, but it forfeits Scald's accuracy. Ice Beam rounds out Ludicolo's coverage, hitting the Grass- and Dragon-types that resist its STAB moves. Synthesis is used to heal Ludicolo, giving it more longevity. However, even with Synthesis to heal it, Ludicolo shouldn't be played as a defensive Pokemon, since most strong STAB moves, such as Sharpedo's Crunch or Rotom's Thunderbolt, will still deal huge amounts of damage to it.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Rain Dish is the superior ability on this set, as rain is only seen on dedicated Rain Dance teams, and the opponent's Swift Swim sweepers are most likely going to outrun Swift Swim Ludicolo anyways, since its Speed isn't fully invested. As such, recovery from Rain Dish is usually better. However, Swift Swim can be used on Ludicolo if you decide to run 252 Speed EVs or something close to that. This isn't a good idea though, since the loss in bulk is considerable. Also, 96 Speed EVs are enough for this set's purpose, allowing Ludicolo to outrun all Adamant Aggron and anything slower than that. Surf is an option over Scald or Hydro Pump, but it's completely outclassed by both, since it doesn't gain any important KOs over Scald, which has the added chance to burn the opponent's Pokemon. If more power is really desired, Hydro Pump is usually the superior option, though it has imperfect accuracy. If Ferroseed is a nuisance, either Hidden Power Fire or Focus Blast should be considered as an option over Ice Beam, but even without those moves, Ludicolo can easily beat Ferroseed one on one, making them an inferior option to Ice Beam.</p>
<p>Pokemon such as Clefable or Munchlax can easily defeat Ludicolo, as they don't take too much damage from its STAB moves and can overcome Scald's burns with Magic Guard and Heal Bell in Clefable's case, or simply use Rest to heal them off in Munchlax's case. Offensive teams usually have a harder time against Ludicolo due to its amazing coverage. Also, offensive teams have a more difficult time fitting one of the previously mentioned Pokemon on the team and so have to rely on either revenge killing Ludicolo or proper prediction, which is risky and might not always work. Pokemon that have good synergy with Ludicolo and benefit from its ability to defeat most Water-types in RU, such as Regirock and Moltres, are good partners for it. Last but not least, Ludicolo likes to have strong Fighting-type Pokemon such as Hariyama and Hitmonlee by its side, since they can easily take down most of the Pokemon with high Special Defense that bother Ludicolo while benefiting from its ability to counter Slowking, most teams' answer to the previously mentioned Fighting-types.</p>
