QC: Arikado / EonX / atomicllamas
GP: P Squared / Muk
[OVERVIEW]
Ludicolo finds its niche in the tier as a rain sweeper alongside Kabutops and Omastar, due to its ability Swift Swim. Ludicolo possesses outstanding coverage with its Water- and Grass-type STAB moves and Ice Beam, making it very difficult to switch into. However, even with a Swift Swim boost, Ludicolo is outsped by common Pokemon if it runs a Modest nature, such as Choice Scarf Delphox, Choice Scarf Durant, Choice Scarf Flygon, and Unburden Hitmonlee, all of which can deal solid damage to it. Strong priority moves such as Fletchinder's Acrobatics and Shiftry's Sucker Punch can take Ludicolo down as well. Ludicolo is also severely hindered by status, as paralysis cripples its Speed, while burns and poison can weaken it quickly in combination with Life Orb damage.
[SET]
name: Swift Swim Sweeper
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Rain Dance
item: Life Orb
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hydro Pump gains a STAB boost and generally deals the most damage to foes, but it can't be relied on due to its shaky accuracy. Surf is a more reliable option over Hydro Pump, although it lacks a lot of power, while Scald can burn and cripple physical attackers, at the cost of even more power. Giga Drain gains a STAB boost, can take on Water-types, and offers a bit of recovery, which works well with Life Orb. Ice Beam takes on opposing Grass-types and Dragon-types, forming perfect coverage with Ludicolo's Grass- and Water-type STAB moves. Rain Dance allows Ludicolo to activate Swift Swim so that it can attempt to clean an opposing team.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack and Speed EVs paired with a Modest nature allow Ludicolo to hit as hard as it can while still outspeeding all it needs to under rain. A Timid nature can be used to outspeed Choice Scarf Delphox, Choice Scarf Durant, Choice Scarf Flygon, and Unburden Hitmonlee. Life Orb raises Ludicolo's damage output but at the cost of HP. Swift Swim allows Ludicolo to become a dangerous threat under rain, allowing it to outpace Pokemon it normally wouldn't.
Usage Tips
========
Ludicolo does best under rain and should be used under it if attempting to clean an opposing team. Attempt to keep Ludicolo away from status, as status can either shorten its longevity or compromise its Speed. Ludicolo should be brought in with slow momentum moves, such as Volt Switch from Eelektross and U-turn from Pelipper.
Team Options
========
Rain Dance users, such as Liepard, Bronzong, Uxie, and Volbeat, can set up rain for Ludicolo so that it doesn't have to set it for itself. In particular, Liepard and Volbeat have Prankster to set up rain with priority. Bronzong and Uxie can set up Stealth Rock and Rain Dance, with the former using Explosion and the latter using Memento to give Ludicolo a free switch in after both are set up. Other rain abusers, such as Omastar, Kabutops, and Seismitoad, can work well with Ludicolo to break down an opposing team. Slow momentum users, such as Pelipper and Eelektross, can allow Ludicolo to enter the field without taking damage. Memento and Healing Wish support from Spiritomb and Mespirit, respectively, can either weaken the foe's offensive presence or heal Ludicolo and remove its status. Rock-types such as Tyrantrum, Kabutops, and Omastar can take on Flying- and Bug-types for Ludicolo, while Ludicolo can take on Grass- and Water-types for them in return. Electric-types such as Eelektross, Rotom-C, and Jolteon can take on Flying-types for Ludicolo, as well as pivot to it with Volt Switch.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Choice Specs can be used over Life Orb to deal more damage, with the drawback of locking Ludicolo into a move and disabling it from using Rain Dance on its own. Assault Vest might seem like a plausible item due to Ludicolo's stat distribution, but it loses out on the power of Life Orb and the utility from Rain Dance. A Swords Dance set can be used to catch foes off-guard, although it is only made remotely viable due to its surprise factor and is weak until it gets a boost. Ludicolo can run a defensively based SubSeed set with Rain Dish, recovering almost a quarter of its health per turn, but due to rain being limited, using such a set isn't a good idea. Focus Blast can be used to take on Ferroseed, but that is its only target. Energy Ball can be used over Giga Drain for more damage at the cost of recovery, but it doesn't gain any notable KOs.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Special Walls**: Amoonguss and Registeel can easily take Ludicolo's attacks, with the former being able to retaliate with its Poison-type STAB moves and the latter crippling it with Thunder Wave. Similarly, Aromatisse can stall out rain turns with a combination of Wish and Protect, although it has to look out for a rain-boosted Hydro Pump.
**Strong Priority**: Priority moves such as Fletchinder's Acrobatics and Spiritomb's and Shiftry's Sucker Punch can deal solid damage to Ludicolo, with the former OHKOing it and the latter 2HKOing it.
**Status**: Ludicolo despises all status problems, as they can all cripple it in their own ways. Paralysis from Pokemon such as Druddigon, Registeel, and Uxie can compromise its speed, while Toxic from Togetic or Bronzong can weaken it quicker. Druddigon in particular can either deal massive damage to Ludicolo or paralyze it and take its STAB moves well.
**Flying-types**: Fletchinder can outpace and OHKO Ludicolo with Gale Wings Acrobatics. Other Flying-types such as Sigilyph and Braviary can outpace Ludicolo if rain is not up, but they fear an Ice Beam.
**Virizion**: Virizion, with its high natural special bulk, takes very little damage from Ludicolo's STAB moves, while it loses around three-fifths of its health from Ice Beam. In return, Virizion can deal massive damage to Ludicolo with its Fighting-type STAB moves. This situation often ends with both of the Pokemon being KOed, or with one being severely weakened.
GP: P Squared / Muk
[OVERVIEW]
Ludicolo finds its niche in the tier as a rain sweeper alongside Kabutops and Omastar, due to its ability Swift Swim. Ludicolo possesses outstanding coverage with its Water- and Grass-type STAB moves and Ice Beam, making it very difficult to switch into. However, even with a Swift Swim boost, Ludicolo is outsped by common Pokemon if it runs a Modest nature, such as Choice Scarf Delphox, Choice Scarf Durant, Choice Scarf Flygon, and Unburden Hitmonlee, all of which can deal solid damage to it. Strong priority moves such as Fletchinder's Acrobatics and Shiftry's Sucker Punch can take Ludicolo down as well. Ludicolo is also severely hindered by status, as paralysis cripples its Speed, while burns and poison can weaken it quickly in combination with Life Orb damage.
[SET]
name: Swift Swim Sweeper
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Rain Dance
item: Life Orb
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hydro Pump gains a STAB boost and generally deals the most damage to foes, but it can't be relied on due to its shaky accuracy. Surf is a more reliable option over Hydro Pump, although it lacks a lot of power, while Scald can burn and cripple physical attackers, at the cost of even more power. Giga Drain gains a STAB boost, can take on Water-types, and offers a bit of recovery, which works well with Life Orb. Ice Beam takes on opposing Grass-types and Dragon-types, forming perfect coverage with Ludicolo's Grass- and Water-type STAB moves. Rain Dance allows Ludicolo to activate Swift Swim so that it can attempt to clean an opposing team.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack and Speed EVs paired with a Modest nature allow Ludicolo to hit as hard as it can while still outspeeding all it needs to under rain. A Timid nature can be used to outspeed Choice Scarf Delphox, Choice Scarf Durant, Choice Scarf Flygon, and Unburden Hitmonlee. Life Orb raises Ludicolo's damage output but at the cost of HP. Swift Swim allows Ludicolo to become a dangerous threat under rain, allowing it to outpace Pokemon it normally wouldn't.
Usage Tips
========
Ludicolo does best under rain and should be used under it if attempting to clean an opposing team. Attempt to keep Ludicolo away from status, as status can either shorten its longevity or compromise its Speed. Ludicolo should be brought in with slow momentum moves, such as Volt Switch from Eelektross and U-turn from Pelipper.
Team Options
========
Rain Dance users, such as Liepard, Bronzong, Uxie, and Volbeat, can set up rain for Ludicolo so that it doesn't have to set it for itself. In particular, Liepard and Volbeat have Prankster to set up rain with priority. Bronzong and Uxie can set up Stealth Rock and Rain Dance, with the former using Explosion and the latter using Memento to give Ludicolo a free switch in after both are set up. Other rain abusers, such as Omastar, Kabutops, and Seismitoad, can work well with Ludicolo to break down an opposing team. Slow momentum users, such as Pelipper and Eelektross, can allow Ludicolo to enter the field without taking damage. Memento and Healing Wish support from Spiritomb and Mespirit, respectively, can either weaken the foe's offensive presence or heal Ludicolo and remove its status. Rock-types such as Tyrantrum, Kabutops, and Omastar can take on Flying- and Bug-types for Ludicolo, while Ludicolo can take on Grass- and Water-types for them in return. Electric-types such as Eelektross, Rotom-C, and Jolteon can take on Flying-types for Ludicolo, as well as pivot to it with Volt Switch.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Choice Specs can be used over Life Orb to deal more damage, with the drawback of locking Ludicolo into a move and disabling it from using Rain Dance on its own. Assault Vest might seem like a plausible item due to Ludicolo's stat distribution, but it loses out on the power of Life Orb and the utility from Rain Dance. A Swords Dance set can be used to catch foes off-guard, although it is only made remotely viable due to its surprise factor and is weak until it gets a boost. Ludicolo can run a defensively based SubSeed set with Rain Dish, recovering almost a quarter of its health per turn, but due to rain being limited, using such a set isn't a good idea. Focus Blast can be used to take on Ferroseed, but that is its only target. Energy Ball can be used over Giga Drain for more damage at the cost of recovery, but it doesn't gain any notable KOs.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Special Walls**: Amoonguss and Registeel can easily take Ludicolo's attacks, with the former being able to retaliate with its Poison-type STAB moves and the latter crippling it with Thunder Wave. Similarly, Aromatisse can stall out rain turns with a combination of Wish and Protect, although it has to look out for a rain-boosted Hydro Pump.
**Strong Priority**: Priority moves such as Fletchinder's Acrobatics and Spiritomb's and Shiftry's Sucker Punch can deal solid damage to Ludicolo, with the former OHKOing it and the latter 2HKOing it.
**Status**: Ludicolo despises all status problems, as they can all cripple it in their own ways. Paralysis from Pokemon such as Druddigon, Registeel, and Uxie can compromise its speed, while Toxic from Togetic or Bronzong can weaken it quicker. Druddigon in particular can either deal massive damage to Ludicolo or paralyze it and take its STAB moves well.
**Flying-types**: Fletchinder can outpace and OHKO Ludicolo with Gale Wings Acrobatics. Other Flying-types such as Sigilyph and Braviary can outpace Ludicolo if rain is not up, but they fear an Ice Beam.
**Virizion**: Virizion, with its high natural special bulk, takes very little damage from Ludicolo's STAB moves, while it loses around three-fifths of its health from Ice Beam. In return, Virizion can deal massive damage to Ludicolo with its Fighting-type STAB moves. This situation often ends with both of the Pokemon being KOed, or with one being severely weakened.
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