Non-Standard Rain Dance Team (OU)

boredomisbliss

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Scizor, you rock.

The original intent of this team was something that could utilize a Swords Dance Scizor. I used the SD version before I used the CB version and i must say i like the SD version better, much more sweeping potential.
Originally I was making a team that had a heatran to take the fire hits, and then gyarados to take ground hits, jolteon to take electric hits WHATEVER. IT DIDN'T WORK. So instead I went with a different approach.
Rain Dance said:
Summons rain for 5 turns. If the user is holding the item Damp Rock, it lasts for 8 turns instead. While in effect, it increases the damage of Water-type moves by 50%, and causes Fire-type moves to do half damage.
Click to expand...
So it turns scizor's only weakness into a x2 weakness. Cool.

There was also an old pokefriend that I will regret seeing gone, so I decided to use that as well. It doesn't directly benefit from rain dance, but its something thats so completely unexpected that it will work. (and it has)

So this was the inspiration, enjoy.


Overview

And... Someone TBA

Closer Look
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Jirachi@Damp Rock
Serene Grace
252 HP/4 Def/252 Spe
Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
Rain Dance
Thunder
Stealth Rock
U-Turn

Why is it here?
For a rain lead, I was choosing between Azelf and Bronzong. Bronzong was much tougher, but was slower and more susceptible to taunt. So I chose Azelf and found that it was too weak without sash. But still, metagross was the only person (with meteor mash) who could properly KO azelf, and I could Rain Dance first.
But when I was thinking about a hail team I thought of Serene Grace Jirachi with its 60% freeze rate with blizzard (wow wtf? o_O) and I realized thunder could do the same thing in rain. Jirachi is great, it provides the resistance of Bronzong with the (relative) speed of azelf. With rain dance and its natural bulk it can cover fire weaknesses, which is great.
Strategy
Most people think this is a scarf jirachi, with good reason. First turn I set up stealth rock, which makes them think I'm stuck on rocks. Either way I rain dance, and get a mini-sweep started with thunder if I can, using the 60% paralysis along the way. U-turn for if there is a switch coming, or a safe switch to any of the next sweepers.
EVs
252 HP for maximum bulk, 252 Spe with Timid to get my rain out as fast as possible.

Vs Common Leads

Metagross
Metagross can't hope to KO before I get my rocks and Rain out. It will expect trick most likely, so it will not explode, because then there are no rocks.

Azelf
Taunt is annoying, but anticipating scarf+iron head it will probably try to set up its own rocks as fast as possible. Fire blast is annoying, so I rain dance first.

Jirachi
This is a toss up, I SR, then rain dance and hope for the paralysis probably, though the other might U-turn.

Swampert
It expects trick, so it will probably set up rocks. Either way swampert cannot hope to kill jirachi before rain comes out.

Aerodactyl
It will expect double iron head, so it will most likely set up rocks or switch. Either way I use rain dance before it can figure out what I am doing and taunt.

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Kindra@Leftovers
Swift Swim
180 HP/252 Atk/76 Spe
Jolly (+Atk, - SpA)
Rain Dance
Dragon Dance
Waterfall
Outrage
Why is it here?
Ok, on this team I wanted two different RD sweepers, a special based one and a physical based one. For Physical based I was looking at either Kabutops or Kingdra. I don't like Kabutops and kingra only has one weakness anyways, and its not completely dead without the rain.
Strategy
This is the double dance set from smogon, and it works very well. With swift swim this thing is faster than pretty much everything, and with a dragon dance, not only does it outpace other swift swimmers with its now blinding 675 speed, but it gets an attack raise to its already big attack. Waterfall is the main attack here, as in STAB+Rain+DD it hits for 3.375 normal damage, which means that it hits hard even when its resisted. The flinch rate, though small, its great with the enormous speed. Outrage is the secondary STAB attack.
Kingdra also provides the secondary rain dance, as even with damp rock we cannot expect the rain to last forever, unless kyogre suddenly goes OU.
EVs
Maximum attack, speed to outpace scarf base 100s after rain dance. The rest is in HP for bulkiness, and leftovers provides longevity.


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Ludicolo@Life Orb
Swift Swim
116 HP/252 SpA/136 Spe
Modest (+SpA/-Atk)
Surf
Ice Beam
Energy Ball
Hidden Power (Electric)
Why is it here?
This is the second half of the rain dance sweeping set. Between special attackers, I had between Lucidolo and Omastar to choose. Partially because I don't like these fossils at all, but more because of Ludicolo's great special moveset, I chose this thing.
Strategy
This is the special sweeping half of the rain dance duo. This ludicolo is meant to be as offensive as possible with the ability to change moves. With 4 different moves nothing can't be hit at least neutral. This thing is not meant to live in the same way kingdra is, so leftovers was foregone for life orb. Another option I had was petaya, but getting down to proper range might have been difficult. So life orb lets it hit as hard as possible. The main move here is surf, as STAB+Rain means it hits 2.25 times as hard.
EVs
First thing was speed. With 136 Speed EVs this thing reaches 210 Speed, which is enough to outrun scarf heatran. Special attack+Modest maximizes this things special attack, as 90 really is far from impressive. The rest is put into HP.


Celebi@Damp Rock
Natual Cure
252 HP/252 Def/4 Spe
Bold (+Def/-Atk)
Rain Dance
Recover
Heal Bell
Leech Seed
Why is it here?
I needed a third rain dancer. However, it also had to support the team as well as be able to force switches. Sleep is deadly to my team so I decided a cleric was good for the support role. Leech Seed can help force switches or heal my team, so that is another great support aspect.
Strategy
This is my third rain dancer. The rain helps cover the fire weakness, which is nice. Leech seed helps to force switches, while recover allows celebi to keep coming back again and again. Heal Bell is critical on my team, since any sleep or paralysis or burn can cripple any chance I have of sweeping.
EVs
This yields maximum bulk on the physical side.

​

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Scizor@Life Orb
Technician
248 HP/36 Atk/224 Spe
Adamant (+Atk/-Spe)
Swords Dance
Bullet Punch
Brick Break
Roost
Why is this here?
Why isn't this here? This is the whole reason I made this a rain dance team in the first place. This is a damage calculation I found surprising:
359 Atk vs 196 Def & 343 HP (120 Base Power): 472 - 564 (137.61% - 164.43%)
Timid Heatran Fire Blast vs this Scizor under rain. Ok it's still a clean clean KO, but only ~150%? This is about the most powerful fire move in the game and it does this much? Take out the STAB, theres chance not to OHKO, and not everything has 130 base special attack anyways. So theres not much OHKOing this from the special side. On the physical side, attacks are weaker and scizor is more defensive.
Strategy
As alluded to, utilize the rain to get as many swords dances as I feel safe doing, then proceed to sweep with bullet punch. Even without the rain this is amazing, and can serve as a backup sweeper. Theres also a multitude of things this can set up on, including hippowdon which will ruin the day with sandstorm, and this thing can clean OHKO t-tar with brick break or swords danced bullet punch. So neither sand streamer is a problem. Roost increases longevity.

EVs
248 HP for maxiumum bulkiness, 224 Spe to outrun adamant tyranitar and modest magnezone. The rest is in attack.




And the last one is...




















HERACROSS??? WTF?

Heracross@Salac Berry
Guts
4 Def/252 Atk/252 Spe
Adamant (+Atk/-SpA)
Swords Dance/Bulk Up
Substitute
Reversal
Shadow Claw

Why is this here?
Like I alluded to earlier, this doesnt directly benefit from rain dance, though it still works in it. Since its raining, that means there is no sandstorm or hail right?
I was also disappointed to find that this might go UU, I loved scarf heracross =(. Oh well a last chance to salvage this.
Strategy
We are all familiar with sub-salac sets, just as we were all accustomed to saying, "well tyranitar and hippowdon beat this without trying". Both tyranitar and hippowdon wouldnt stand a chance against my team, so that is not a problem. Heracross has the chance to sub to reversaling levels, and then proceed to sweep.
Fighting+Ghost provide unparalelled perfect coverate, while Substitute is my preferred option over endure, since I control it and it handles status. It is however, unable to get me to reversal levels if it takes entry hazard damge, only reaching 100 power. There are stat ups if I can afford them, as then my attack gets astronomical.
Swords Dance is more pure power, but bulk up can provide some defense.

EVs
Simple. Max attack max speed.



Any and all rates are appreciated ^^.
​
 
Standard text=easy
Italic=Medium
Bold=Hard

Azelf- Azelf leads fear the double iron head, so it will probably stealth rock as soon as possible. Since I rain dance first turn azelf cannot KO me without using explosion, thus giving me a free switch in.

Breloom- Celebi is my all-round counter. Leech seed fails on celebi and it can use heal bell to cover spore. Celebi cannot hit back however.

Celebi- Scizor destroys celebi since hidden power fire does not KO in rain. Heracross does as well to a lesser extent.

Dugtrio- Dugtrio is incapable of revenge killing any of my pokes, since they are all faster, pack a priority, or resist STAB EQ.

Electivire- Electivire doesn't have much to use the speed boost with, except jirachi and ludicolo. Either way, it is outsped by kingdra who can set up on electivire.

Empoleon- There isnt much I can do against him, it resists Kingdras STAB moves and after it gets an agility it can use the rain against me. However, it gets walled by either celebi or kingdra depending on whether it opted for grass knot or ice beam.

Flygon- Kingdra outspeeds in rain, and scizor can set up on the outrage. Heracross resists earthquake and can use that to set up its salac berry. Ludicolo resists earthquake and can hit back with ice beam.

Gengar- Gengar is outrun by my pokes under rain, and scizor can hit it with bullet punch or force it out if it thinks im CBd.

Gliscor- Gliscor is destroyed by my entire team, except heracross.

Gyarados- Ludicolo outruns adamant gyarados if it has 1 DD, and celebi can sit and leech seed, though it cannot hit back.

Heatran- Rain nullifies its precious STAB fire blast. =)

Heracross- Outrun by my rain pokes and scizor can kill with BP.

Infernape- Rain nullifiies its stab fire moves, and kingdra and ludicolo can both hit back with water moves.

Jirachi- Really not much I can do, except outrun it and hit it =/

Kingdra- it can utilize swift swim against me, which makes for trouble

Latias- Scizor can use it as setup

Lucario- My team outruns it, kingdra can use waterfall ludicolo can surf, Celebi is bulky enough to take its CC and extremespeed

Machamp- This is problems, I have trouble taking down the bulkiest versions, especially resttalk

Magnezone- I have 2 steels, and scizor can outrun modest magnezone, jirachi can u-turn its way out.

Mamoswine- Scizor destroys with BP, ludicolo and kingdra hit with stab water moves

Metagross- Most of my team handles its stab steel moves, and jirachi can take down leads with thunder+paralysis

Ninjask- Trouble. this thing can get in probably 2 swords dances and a lot of speed boosts. if i get lucky jirachi can paralyze the recipient with thunder as it comes in though.

Porygon-Z- outrun by most of my team, scizor and heracross can handle it

Rhyperior- Rain+x4 super effective+STAB=oww

Roserade- problems as it can stop the rain very early. my team resists its stab moves however and rain nullifies hidden power fire.

Rotom-A- my team has problems dealing with a lot of the versions. celebi can wall non-charge beam versions, though it cannot break the sub. scizor doesnt want to take WoW, heracross could and use guts though. kingdra dislikes WoW. However, rotom may be brought down by brute force.

Salamence- Ludicolo can ice beam, scizor can bullet punch. rain lets scizor survive one fire blast.

Snorlax- setup bait for scizor, and kingdra can utilize waterfall to great effect

Starmie- Starmie takes over 50% from +2 bullet punch, but otherwise kingdra and ludicolo can KO. heracross outruns after salac and can use shadow claw.

Suicune- Problems, but leech seed can wear it down fast unless its a resttalk version, in which kingra can take surf like a man and set up.

Togekiss- Scizor can BP, and togekiss cant use flinch hax when its outrun by my team.

Tyranitar- Problematic as it brings the sand, however it takes big damage from kingdras stab waterfall, ludicolos attacks, and scizors +2 BP can OHKO

Yanmega- scizors BP can hurt it

Zapdos- thunderbolt could cause problems. celebi walls T-bolt+HP grass, ludicolo walls T-bolt+HPice and at worst 2HKOs with ice beam, tbolt+HP grass+heat wave is handled by kingdra and celebi to an extent



Defensive Threats:

Blissey- Kingdra tears it apart, scizor can KO with SD brick break, celebi can leech seed for lots of fun, heracross gives it pain behind a sub

bronzong- it cant really hurt celebi that much, or my two bugs, and my RD sweepers can use their STAB water attacks

celebi- scizor can handle it, though kingdras outrage can hit even defensive variants hard

cradily- rain means no sandstorm, and i can hit it with super effective steel or fighting moves from scizor (oh btw its setup bait =))

cresellia- non-CB scizor has a harder time, since it fears thunder wave, celebi can check but cant hit back, though cresellia might have problems with heracross once its behind a sub

crobat- my team outruns and beats it, since its fragile

donphan- stab water moves

drapion- i dont really have much, then again drapion isnt really a problem at all

dusknoir- setup bait for heracross

forretress- setup bait for heracross, and dies to ludicolos surf

gliscor- gets destroyed by water moves

latias- this ones tough... but depending on the version it will die to kingdras outrage, or might become setup bait for scizor, but ill need to scout its moveset

milotic- setup bait for heracross, and cant hurt celebi at all

porygon2- OK if this thing traces swift swim T_T but it can be setup bait for kingdra heracross or scizor

regirock- stab water moves, setup bait for scizor

registeel- cant hurt celebi, setup bait for heracross

skarmory- ludicolo is my best option, but besides seeding it there isnt really much

spiritomb- setup bait for heracross (though heracross will need a lot of bulk ups), cant touch celebi

vaporeon- OUCH, it will stall out the rain, but celebi can just sit there and leech seed it
 
With your Kingdra setup, you have 289 Atk.
Go with Adamant, 180 HP/164 Atk/164 Spd for 4 extra Atk and the same in everything else.
 
ditch the heracross for electivire
electivire has better speed and defenses and only 2 lower base attack

use the mixed set for STAB 100% thunder :D


Life orb-Adamant
36 Atk / 252 SpA / 220 Spe

~ Thunder
~ Flamethrower
~ Earthquake
~ Cross chop

also gives immunity to electric attacks
 
@aussy- electric doesnt hit any of my team super effective, so i am not going to be worrying about it, electivire also lacks the raw power of heracross and is much harder to set up than heracross is, heracross has also gotten me out of as much as a 2-5 deficit at times
 
Life orb-Adamant
36 Atk / 252 SpA / 220 Spe

~ Thunder
~ Flamethrower
~ Earthquake
~ Cross chop

also gives immunity to electric attacks
Click to expand...
Flamethrower under Rain ? :P Good luck. I would go with HP Grass just for Swampert. And still, I don't recommend it. Heracross has great boosting move in Swords Dance and STAB Reversal is kinda scary coming from such titanic attack. Electivire is pathethically easy to wall.

I guess setting up Heracross is the point of this team. In my opinion I don't think that you really need three rain dancers - you only have two rain dance pokemon and both of them are really bulky. Also Ludicolo doesn't need that HP Electric, when Celebi counters Gyarados 99% of time and bulky waters won't enjoy STAB Grass attacks from Ludicolo. So you may replace it for Rain Dance if you really need one more move. But if you'll change your mind, I think trying Focus Punch would be nice. With some prediction Focus Punch + Hydro Pump (unfortunately, Hydro Pump) is needed to beat Blissey one on one. Hydro Pump also OHKoes both Machamp and Metagross, so I think it's worth to consider it. Especially Machamp, as only Celebi can handle DynamicPunch here and confusion is still annoying. I think that Celebi would love to have one more attacking move after throwing out Rain Dance. Gliscor often switches on Celebi seeing Leech Seed, thinking that it's safe. HP Ice would easily surprise it helping your Heracross alot in later sweep. And Celebi survives Outrage from DDMence, just in case when it switches on battlefield after the end of rain. With Gliscor out of picture, Heracross is ready to have his fun ;).

This team is quite interesting and I like the idea of using Heracross in such rare way. I hope that helps a bit. And good luck with your team.
 
erm excuse me, but there seems to be a typo.
the star head flinchhaxer is named JIRACHI, not azelf. azelf is the blue thingy. it seems theyve been switched in this, am i the only one to notice it? so yeah. just sayin.
 
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