Overview
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Overall, Politoed makes for a great support Pokemon due to its movepool and ability Drizzle; however, a lot of VGC players know to bring Grass- and Electric-type coverage to deal with Politoed, which slightly damages its role in VGC 2015.
Support
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name: Support
move 1: Scald
move 2: Icy Wind / Ice Beam
move 3: Helping Hand / Encore / Perish Song
move 4: Protect
ability: Drizzle
item: Sitrus Berry
evs: 252 HP / 76 Def / 76 SpA / 100 SpD / 4 Spe
nature: Calm
Moves
========
Scald is Politoed's main STAB move, as it allows for a chance to burn the opponent's Pokemon. With Icy Wind, Politoed can lower the Speed of foes by one stage; however, Ice Beam is more powerful overall. With Helping Hand, Politoed can easily boost the power of the move that its teammate is using to easily KO various Pokemon. Encore helps Politoed lock foes into status moves such as Protect. Perish Song is used to guarantee a win condition if the opponent is down to their last two Pokemon. Protect is used for scouting out moves that can potentially harm Politoed.
Set Details
========
With the EVs put into HP and Defense, Politoed can survive Mega Mawile's Play Rough. The Special Attack EVs allow Politoed to OHKO 4 HP / 0 SpD Landorus-T with an Ice Beam or rain-boosted Scald. The rest of the EVs are dumped into Special Defense to make it less likely for Politoed to get OHKOed. Politoed can also use Leftovers or Wacan Berry if a different Pokemon on the team has a Sitrus Berry already.
Usage Tips
========
Despite the common thought of needing a handful of teammates that are supported by rain when using Politoed, this is not recommended, as it makes the entire team dependent on rain, so if another weather condition starts, the team becomes mostly useless. Rain isn't something to be dependent on; it should be thought more as a helpful boost. This means Politoed should not be used as the center of a rain team, but instead to provide support. Try to challenge Mega Charizard Y's Drought with Politoed's Drizzle.
Team Options
========
Ludicolo is Politoed's go-to partner, as it has a more useful offensive typing than other Swift Swim users such as Kingdra. To add on to that, Ludicolo's Fake Out is very useful. While Kingdra is still a good teammate for Politoed, the lack of Dragon Gem makes it less powerful than in previous years. Talonflame works well with Politoed and Ludicolo, despite its Fire-type moves being weakened in the rain. This is a pretty good core to build around. Mega Swampert works too, but then there needs to be another Pokemon with Grass-type coverage on the team to take care of Rotom-W. Strong Electric-types such as Mega Manectric, Raikou, and Thundurus-T like to abuse Politoed's rain for 100% accurate Thunders. Steel-types also benefit from Politoed and its Drizzle because the rain weakens Fire-type moves. Metagross, Mawile, and especially Ferrothorn love this. Politoed can't bust through Water- and Grass-types that well, so Grass- or Electric-types and Bug-, Poison-, Flying-, or Ice-types synergize well with Politoed, respectively. If Politoed runs Perish Song Mega Gengar or Gothitelle is a mandatory partner if a PerishTrap team is being used.
Choice Scarf
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name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Scald / Surf
move 4: Hidden Power Grass / Rain Dance / Encore
ability: Drizzle
item: Choice Scarf
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Timid
Moves
========
Hydro Pump is the hardest-hitting attack of this set. Ice Beam is used for coverage against Flying- and Grass-types. Scald is used as a compromise between power and accuracy; however, Surf is an alternative, as it is a stronger spread STAB move, despite the lack of a secondary effect. Hidden Power Grass is used for coverage against Rotom-W. Rain Dance is used for refreshing the rain for the team if Charizard Mega Evolves, or Mega Charizard Y switches in. Encore is used so that Politoed can quickly lock the foe into a status move.
Set Details
========
A Timid nature with maximum Speed and Choice Scarf allows Politoed to outspeed and OHKO 0 HP Jolly Mega Salamence with Ice Beam. Using the given Speed investment allows Politoed to outspeed every Pokemon up to base 130 Speed, such as the rare Crobat.
Usage Tips
========
When using this variant of Politoed, don't let it take too many hits, as it has no reliable recovery. Try to snipe Pokemon with Hydro Pump and Ice Beam so that the opposing threats are taken out faster.
Team Options
========
Ludicolo works well with this Politoed set, as it can help with dual offensive coverage. Talonflame works well too, as with its ability Gale Wing it can KO most Grass-types that Politoed cannot, or KO Grass-types while Politoed is KOing the Grass-type's teammate. Kingdra is a good teammate for Politoed, though the lack of Dragon Gem makes it less powerful than previous years in VGC. Mega Swampert can be used with Politoed because of its immunity to Electric-type moves. Despite all of the viable team options for Politoed, its teams shouldn't be dependent on rain, because if Politoed faints, there won't be any rain to take advantage of. Ferrothorn and other Steel-types are good teammates for Politoed because the rain that Politoed summons temporarily nerfs the power of Fire-type moves, making it easier for the Steel-types to set up. Mega Manectric and Thundurus or Thundurus-T work well too because of their access to Thunder, which is 100% accurate in rain, making it easier to KO some Pokemon that threaten Politoed.
Other Options
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An alternative to Choice Scarf is Choice Specs, but even though the latter makes all of Politoed's moves stronger, it means Politoed loses the Speed it needs in order to outspeed a plethora of Pokemon. Other offensive sets aren't terrible, especially with moves such as Trick Room. Maximum Special Attack is an alternative so that all of the Hydro Pumps used in the rain hurt the foe a lot more, and other coverage moves such as Psychic and Focus Blast are useful. Hidden Power Electric can be used to check other Water-types; however, it is less viable due to the amount of Pokemon that resist or are immune to Electric-type moves. Eject Button can be used as an alternative to Leftovers if Politoed is being used solely for rain. This would help with momentum and with free switch-ins while also allowing Politoed to act as a meatshield.
Checks & Counters
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**Electric-types**: Electric-types such as Rotom-W and Mega Manectric can easily counter Politoed due to Drizzle making Thunder 100% accurate; however, most Politoed teams have Ludicolo too so that it can switch in to take the Thunder that was originally intended for Politoed.
**Opposing Ludicolo**: Swift Swim Ludicolo can easily KO Politoed. Even when Politoed has a Choice Scarf, Ludicolo still outspeeds it, and Ludicolo can use a Grass-type move to take out Politoed. However, Talonflame are commonly used as teammates to Politoed, meaning that Politoed always has a priority Flying-type STAB move on its side.
**Thundurus**: Powerful Electric-type attacks from Thundurus and Thundurus-T are great against Politoed, but unless the opponent has a Pokemon that resists Water on their team, such as Rotom-W or Rotom-C, Politoed's Water-type attacks are going to hurt.
########
Overall, Politoed makes for a great support Pokemon due to its movepool and ability Drizzle; however, a lot of VGC players know to bring Grass- and Electric-type coverage to deal with Politoed, which slightly damages its role in VGC 2015.
Support
########
name: Support
move 1: Scald
move 2: Icy Wind / Ice Beam
move 3: Helping Hand / Encore / Perish Song
move 4: Protect
ability: Drizzle
item: Sitrus Berry
evs: 252 HP / 76 Def / 76 SpA / 100 SpD / 4 Spe
nature: Calm
Moves
========
Scald is Politoed's main STAB move, as it allows for a chance to burn the opponent's Pokemon. With Icy Wind, Politoed can lower the Speed of foes by one stage; however, Ice Beam is more powerful overall. With Helping Hand, Politoed can easily boost the power of the move that its teammate is using to easily KO various Pokemon. Encore helps Politoed lock foes into status moves such as Protect. Perish Song is used to guarantee a win condition if the opponent is down to their last two Pokemon. Protect is used for scouting out moves that can potentially harm Politoed.
Set Details
========
With the EVs put into HP and Defense, Politoed can survive Mega Mawile's Play Rough. The Special Attack EVs allow Politoed to OHKO 4 HP / 0 SpD Landorus-T with an Ice Beam or rain-boosted Scald. The rest of the EVs are dumped into Special Defense to make it less likely for Politoed to get OHKOed. Politoed can also use Leftovers or Wacan Berry if a different Pokemon on the team has a Sitrus Berry already.
Usage Tips
========
Despite the common thought of needing a handful of teammates that are supported by rain when using Politoed, this is not recommended, as it makes the entire team dependent on rain, so if another weather condition starts, the team becomes mostly useless. Rain isn't something to be dependent on; it should be thought more as a helpful boost. This means Politoed should not be used as the center of a rain team, but instead to provide support. Try to challenge Mega Charizard Y's Drought with Politoed's Drizzle.
Team Options
========
Ludicolo is Politoed's go-to partner, as it has a more useful offensive typing than other Swift Swim users such as Kingdra. To add on to that, Ludicolo's Fake Out is very useful. While Kingdra is still a good teammate for Politoed, the lack of Dragon Gem makes it less powerful than in previous years. Talonflame works well with Politoed and Ludicolo, despite its Fire-type moves being weakened in the rain. This is a pretty good core to build around. Mega Swampert works too, but then there needs to be another Pokemon with Grass-type coverage on the team to take care of Rotom-W. Strong Electric-types such as Mega Manectric, Raikou, and Thundurus-T like to abuse Politoed's rain for 100% accurate Thunders. Steel-types also benefit from Politoed and its Drizzle because the rain weakens Fire-type moves. Metagross, Mawile, and especially Ferrothorn love this. Politoed can't bust through Water- and Grass-types that well, so Grass- or Electric-types and Bug-, Poison-, Flying-, or Ice-types synergize well with Politoed, respectively. If Politoed runs Perish Song Mega Gengar or Gothitelle is a mandatory partner if a PerishTrap team is being used.
Choice Scarf
########
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Scald / Surf
move 4: Hidden Power Grass / Rain Dance / Encore
ability: Drizzle
item: Choice Scarf
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Timid
Moves
========
Hydro Pump is the hardest-hitting attack of this set. Ice Beam is used for coverage against Flying- and Grass-types. Scald is used as a compromise between power and accuracy; however, Surf is an alternative, as it is a stronger spread STAB move, despite the lack of a secondary effect. Hidden Power Grass is used for coverage against Rotom-W. Rain Dance is used for refreshing the rain for the team if Charizard Mega Evolves, or Mega Charizard Y switches in. Encore is used so that Politoed can quickly lock the foe into a status move.
Set Details
========
A Timid nature with maximum Speed and Choice Scarf allows Politoed to outspeed and OHKO 0 HP Jolly Mega Salamence with Ice Beam. Using the given Speed investment allows Politoed to outspeed every Pokemon up to base 130 Speed, such as the rare Crobat.
Usage Tips
========
When using this variant of Politoed, don't let it take too many hits, as it has no reliable recovery. Try to snipe Pokemon with Hydro Pump and Ice Beam so that the opposing threats are taken out faster.
Team Options
========
Ludicolo works well with this Politoed set, as it can help with dual offensive coverage. Talonflame works well too, as with its ability Gale Wing it can KO most Grass-types that Politoed cannot, or KO Grass-types while Politoed is KOing the Grass-type's teammate. Kingdra is a good teammate for Politoed, though the lack of Dragon Gem makes it less powerful than previous years in VGC. Mega Swampert can be used with Politoed because of its immunity to Electric-type moves. Despite all of the viable team options for Politoed, its teams shouldn't be dependent on rain, because if Politoed faints, there won't be any rain to take advantage of. Ferrothorn and other Steel-types are good teammates for Politoed because the rain that Politoed summons temporarily nerfs the power of Fire-type moves, making it easier for the Steel-types to set up. Mega Manectric and Thundurus or Thundurus-T work well too because of their access to Thunder, which is 100% accurate in rain, making it easier to KO some Pokemon that threaten Politoed.
Other Options
########
An alternative to Choice Scarf is Choice Specs, but even though the latter makes all of Politoed's moves stronger, it means Politoed loses the Speed it needs in order to outspeed a plethora of Pokemon. Other offensive sets aren't terrible, especially with moves such as Trick Room. Maximum Special Attack is an alternative so that all of the Hydro Pumps used in the rain hurt the foe a lot more, and other coverage moves such as Psychic and Focus Blast are useful. Hidden Power Electric can be used to check other Water-types; however, it is less viable due to the amount of Pokemon that resist or are immune to Electric-type moves. Eject Button can be used as an alternative to Leftovers if Politoed is being used solely for rain. This would help with momentum and with free switch-ins while also allowing Politoed to act as a meatshield.
Checks & Counters
########
**Electric-types**: Electric-types such as Rotom-W and Mega Manectric can easily counter Politoed due to Drizzle making Thunder 100% accurate; however, most Politoed teams have Ludicolo too so that it can switch in to take the Thunder that was originally intended for Politoed.
**Opposing Ludicolo**: Swift Swim Ludicolo can easily KO Politoed. Even when Politoed has a Choice Scarf, Ludicolo still outspeeds it, and Ludicolo can use a Grass-type move to take out Politoed. However, Talonflame are commonly used as teammates to Politoed, meaning that Politoed always has a priority Flying-type STAB move on its side.
**Thundurus**: Powerful Electric-type attacks from Thundurus and Thundurus-T are great against Politoed, but unless the opponent has a Pokemon that resists Water on their team, such as Rotom-W or Rotom-C, Politoed's Water-type attacks are going to hurt.
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