This is the first team I’ve created a rain team from scratch myself, though I have been looking into various teams and constructing other teams for a while now . I’d like to ask for advice for this team: I’ve tried to strongly base it around the weather rain, through using rain based abilities (Hydration/Rain Dish/Swift Swim/Dry Skin), and giving boosted damage to the water sweepers. In my eyes, this is what weather teams are all about, and so far in OU Suspect test it has proved effective, though I’m not sure where to improve. However, most of the justification for my sets comes from the Battledex, and I’m attempting to make them fit together for maximum coverage.
Pudding (Goodra) (F) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Hydration
EVs: 240 HP / 252 SpA / 16 Spe
Modest Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Fire Blast
- Sludge Wave
- Thunder
With assault vest and Hydration, Goodra works as an amazing bulky special attacker. It can easily take hits and deal a significant amount of damage. Draco Meteor tears holes in nearly anything, with huge damage thanks to STAB. Fire Blast fills in as coverage, allowing it to super-effectively hit the otherwise resisted steel type. Thunder hits undoubtedly in the rain, notably hitting water & flying types effectively. 16 Speed EVs are used to outspeed Azumarill.
ButterGoods (Azumarill) (F) @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Huge Power
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 228 HP / 252 Atk / 12 Def / 12 SpD / 4 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Aqua Jet
- Belly Drum
- Play Rough
- Knock Off
Belly Drum is used for boosting Azumarill's Attack to ridiculous levels. Aqua Jet is incredibly useful after a belly drum, as it allows Azumarill to ignore it’s low speed and hit faster sweepers, being STAB boosted, as well as finishing off weakened opponents. Play Rough is it’s main means of dealing damage, where Azumarill is able to either outspeed or at least take a hit, and provides at least neutral coverage with the rest of the set. Knock Off gives Azumarill the ability to consistently OHKO opponents (after belly drum), and at least removes items where OHKO does not occur.
The particular EV spread is taken from the Battledex: “maximizes Azumarill's Attack and overall bulk whilst also giving an even HP stat at level 50; this is important, as it puts it into Sitrus Berry's activation range after Belly Drum is used. “ The 4 speed EV investment allows Azumarill to outspeed uninvested Scizor, Tyranitar, Abomasnow, and Clefable.
RoidRage (Swampert) (M) @ Swampertite
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Power-up Punch/Rain Dance
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
- Ice Punch
Swift Swim gives Swampert incredible speed in rain, allowing it to outspeed many in the tier. Waterfall is the main STAB move, and hits incredibly hard after the rain boost. Earthquake is the secondary STAB move, and enables Swampert to hit hard outside of rain. Ice punch provides excellent coverage, allowing it to hit a host of opponents that resist it’s STAB combination. Power-up punch lets Swampert get a decent damage boost while still finishing off weakened pokes. Stealth rock is under consideration because of a lack of entry hazards (asides from Toxic Spikes) but still not tested.
Fetish? (Tentacruel) (M) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Rain Dish
EVs: 248 HP / 244 SpD / 16 Spe
Careful Nature
- Rain Dance
- Toxic Spikes
- Rapid Spin
- Magic Coat
Tentacruel often functions as the lead. Rain Dish synergises excellently with Black Sludge to give Tentacruel great recovery under rain. Toxic spikes lets Tentacruel set up for the rest of the team, while Magic Coat has proved useful time and time again for reflecting pesky entry hazards or status conditions. Rain dance lets Tentacruel function as a secondary rain setter, and can get the momentum going for the team. Rapid Spin allows Tenacruel to dust off stray entry hazards.
HypnoToed (Politoed) (F) @ Damp Rock
Ability: Drizzle
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Encore
- Rest
- Ice Beam
The primary rain setter. Scald is the obvious choice for nice STAB, chance to burn and boosted under rain. Encore prevents opponents from setting up on Politoed, and enables switch ins more effectively. Rest keeps Politoed alive long enough to continually set the weather. Ice beam provides nice coverage against Dragon and Grass, where needed. Damp rock is essential for ensuring max duration of rain.
Toxicroak (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Gunk Shot
- Drain Punch
- Sucker Punch
- Swords Dance
Dry Skin alleviates Toxicroak’s Life Orb HP loss, and enables Toxicroak to absorb water moves. The fire damage boost is entirely alleviated under rain as well. The major threat to Toxic Croak is sun, but even under sun, Toxicroak is able to get off a Sucker Punch before going down. Gunk Shot provides significant STAB damage, and along with Swords Dance allows it to sweep effectively. Drain Punch is there if Toxicroak suffers too harshly under sun, and again alleviates the effects entirely. Sucker Punch prevents revenge killing and hits opponents who would otherwise outspeed.
Pudding (Goodra) (F) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Hydration
EVs: 240 HP / 252 SpA / 16 Spe
Modest Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Fire Blast
- Sludge Wave
- Thunder
With assault vest and Hydration, Goodra works as an amazing bulky special attacker. It can easily take hits and deal a significant amount of damage. Draco Meteor tears holes in nearly anything, with huge damage thanks to STAB. Fire Blast fills in as coverage, allowing it to super-effectively hit the otherwise resisted steel type. Thunder hits undoubtedly in the rain, notably hitting water & flying types effectively. 16 Speed EVs are used to outspeed Azumarill.
ButterGoods (Azumarill) (F) @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Huge Power
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 228 HP / 252 Atk / 12 Def / 12 SpD / 4 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Aqua Jet
- Belly Drum
- Play Rough
- Knock Off
Belly Drum is used for boosting Azumarill's Attack to ridiculous levels. Aqua Jet is incredibly useful after a belly drum, as it allows Azumarill to ignore it’s low speed and hit faster sweepers, being STAB boosted, as well as finishing off weakened opponents. Play Rough is it’s main means of dealing damage, where Azumarill is able to either outspeed or at least take a hit, and provides at least neutral coverage with the rest of the set. Knock Off gives Azumarill the ability to consistently OHKO opponents (after belly drum), and at least removes items where OHKO does not occur.
The particular EV spread is taken from the Battledex: “maximizes Azumarill's Attack and overall bulk whilst also giving an even HP stat at level 50; this is important, as it puts it into Sitrus Berry's activation range after Belly Drum is used. “ The 4 speed EV investment allows Azumarill to outspeed uninvested Scizor, Tyranitar, Abomasnow, and Clefable.
RoidRage (Swampert) (M) @ Swampertite
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Power-up Punch/Rain Dance
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
- Ice Punch
Swift Swim gives Swampert incredible speed in rain, allowing it to outspeed many in the tier. Waterfall is the main STAB move, and hits incredibly hard after the rain boost. Earthquake is the secondary STAB move, and enables Swampert to hit hard outside of rain. Ice punch provides excellent coverage, allowing it to hit a host of opponents that resist it’s STAB combination. Power-up punch lets Swampert get a decent damage boost while still finishing off weakened pokes. Stealth rock is under consideration because of a lack of entry hazards (asides from Toxic Spikes) but still not tested.
Fetish? (Tentacruel) (M) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Rain Dish
EVs: 248 HP / 244 SpD / 16 Spe
Careful Nature
- Rain Dance
- Toxic Spikes
- Rapid Spin
- Magic Coat
Tentacruel often functions as the lead. Rain Dish synergises excellently with Black Sludge to give Tentacruel great recovery under rain. Toxic spikes lets Tentacruel set up for the rest of the team, while Magic Coat has proved useful time and time again for reflecting pesky entry hazards or status conditions. Rain dance lets Tentacruel function as a secondary rain setter, and can get the momentum going for the team. Rapid Spin allows Tenacruel to dust off stray entry hazards.
HypnoToed (Politoed) (F) @ Damp Rock
Ability: Drizzle
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Encore
- Rest
- Ice Beam
The primary rain setter. Scald is the obvious choice for nice STAB, chance to burn and boosted under rain. Encore prevents opponents from setting up on Politoed, and enables switch ins more effectively. Rest keeps Politoed alive long enough to continually set the weather. Ice beam provides nice coverage against Dragon and Grass, where needed. Damp rock is essential for ensuring max duration of rain.
Toxicroak (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Gunk Shot
- Drain Punch
- Sucker Punch
- Swords Dance
Dry Skin alleviates Toxicroak’s Life Orb HP loss, and enables Toxicroak to absorb water moves. The fire damage boost is entirely alleviated under rain as well. The major threat to Toxic Croak is sun, but even under sun, Toxicroak is able to get off a Sucker Punch before going down. Gunk Shot provides significant STAB damage, and along with Swords Dance allows it to sweep effectively. Drain Punch is there if Toxicroak suffers too harshly under sun, and again alleviates the effects entirely. Sucker Punch prevents revenge killing and hits opponents who would otherwise outspeed.
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