It's been a while since I've played. The team is pretty basic when it comes to Rain offence. But I'm having trouble filling in the defensive holes. Maybe I'm just rusty. I'm hoping the fine people here can tell me where I went wrong.
Swampert @ Swampertite
Ability: Damp
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
- Ice Punch
- Stone Edge / Hammer Arm
M-Swampert was always the main draw for me when it came to rain teams. Max Atk and Spe to just absolutely abuse M-Swampert in rain. Waterfall becomes a nightmare to tank in rain. Denting anything that doesn't resist it. Earthquake is another high powered stab that's almost as spammable, hitting would be check like Toxapex hard. Ice Punch adds another layer of coverage. Hitting most notably Landorus as well as Grass and Dragon types for a good chunk of damage. I've been torn between Stone Edge and Hammer Arm for coverage. Stone Edge hits Zapdos harder than Ice Punch, and Volcarona without the burn Chance. But Hammer Arm 2HKO's Ferrothorn on the switch. Both are a neutral option against Rotom-W. I might opt in Hammer Arm after more testing. I'd like help choosing if anyone knows better.
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Pelipper @ Damp Rock
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 248 HP / 32 Def / 228 SpD
Bold Nature
- Scald
- U-turn
- Roost
- Defog
Defensive Utility Pelipper has been working very well for me so far. Scald under rain hit's reasonably hard. The an added %30 burn chance is just a bonus. U-turn allows quick in and outs to set up rain while keeping momentum. Besides Pelipper itself, no one else on the team is really weak to entry hazards. Defog support is still appreciated though. Roost, something Politoad wishes it had, keeps Pelipper healthy throughout the match to set up rain. One of it's biggest draws, besides being nearly an all in one for rain, was being able to safely switch into M-Charizard-Y and reset the weather. That has been a huge help in the weather wars since M-Char-Y can obliterate most of the pokemon on my team by itself with the right coverage.
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Kingdra @ Choice Specs
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Surf
- Draco Meteor
- Ice Beam
Max SpA and Spe to ensure I'm hitting first and hard. Hydro Pump+Specs+Rain dents most pokemon. Most notably Ferrothorn. Making safe switch-ins near impossible. Surf is a safer option if the opponent is already weakened and the risk of missing Hydro Pump isn't worth it. Draco Meteor is a nice coverage option. Hitting almost as hard as Hydro Pump while also hitting a few key pokemon super effectively. Ice Beam rounds out the coverage, hitting things like Tangrowth decently hard.
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Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SpD
Impish Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Stealth Rock
- Leech Seed
- Power Whip
- Gyro Ball
Stealth Rock is an extremely important tool. The amount of switches this team forces means that SR damage will likely rack up fast. Making it easier for the rest of the team to sweep with their rain boosted stabs. Leech Seed offers recovery as well as a way to annoy. Not many people wanna stay in on Leech Seed. Power Whip and Leech Seed on this set pairs very well with Bulu. Grassy Surge boost the power of Power Whip to ludicrous levels, while also offering increased healing potential for Ferro and the rest of the team. Gyro Ball is a nice second stab option that hits pokemon like Kyurem-B hard.
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Tapu Bulu @ Leftovers
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Horn Leech
- Superpower
- Stone Edge / Zen Headbutt
I'm honestly unsure what set to run. I went with a more bulky spread that way Bulu last more throughout the match. Sword dance makes it so Bulu hits absurdly hard. Lowering the amount of pokemon willing to switch in. Horn Leech is a good stab that doubles as a way to heal of damage. Superpower hits the more than obvious counter e.g. Ferrothorn and Heatran. Stone Edge hits most pokemon that resist Bulu's stab for decent damage if not outright killing them. Zen Headbutt is another option I was considering for Venusaur. But I can't find another use for it besides that. I'd really like help on picking a set. Bulu functions very well on the team. I'm just unsure how to get the most of it.
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Heatran @ Grassium Z
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Magma Storm
- Earth Power
- Toxic / Taunt
- Solar Beam
My last ditch effort to help and patch some of the team's bigger problems. Max Spa so Heatran is still able to hit it's targets hard while under rain. Max Spe because it's what Smogon suggests. Magma Storm hits hard as well as traps opposing 'mons. Earth Power for opposing Heatran as well as A-Marowak. Toxic for anything that might resist Heatran's attacks. Taunt has been useful as well. Hard to decide which works better. Solar Beam+Grassium Z for would be checks e.g. Rotom-W.
Team Building Process
With 150 base attack and blazing speed under rain, M-Swampert hits like a truck immediately out of the gate. A staple at this point if you're going with rain offence.
The new premier rain setter in SM OU. Pelipper functions great supportively. Clearing away hazards with defog, burning targets with scald, Setting up rain and u-turning out. It's support for rain teams can't be overlooked. A must for any rain team.
Another powerhouse under rain. Doing what M-Swampert does. But on the special side. With Immediate power and speed under rain, many pokemon have a hard time switching into Specs Kingdra and not getting 2HKO'ed. Obvious staple.
While being one of the worst pokemon to face against while using rain offence. Ferrothorn paradoxically is one of the best pokemon to also have on your team for rain offence. Offering great utility as well as defensive synergy, Ferrothorn covers a lot of rain's defensive problems. Just not all of them.
This is where I wanted to try something different. Though I can't %100 tell if this is what I'm looking for. Bulu does function well and has good synergy with the rest of the team. But I'm honestly not sure if I'm running the wrong set, or if Bulu just isn't as good in rain as I thought it'd be.
Heatran blanket checks a lot of the team's more problematic counters. The biggest one being Ferrothorn. Though fire and water don't generally mix well, he's proven himself time and time again in rain.
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With 150 base attack and blazing speed under rain, M-Swampert hits like a truck immediately out of the gate. A staple at this point if you're going with rain offence.
The new premier rain setter in SM OU. Pelipper functions great supportively. Clearing away hazards with defog, burning targets with scald, Setting up rain and u-turning out. It's support for rain teams can't be overlooked. A must for any rain team.
Another powerhouse under rain. Doing what M-Swampert does. But on the special side. With Immediate power and speed under rain, many pokemon have a hard time switching into Specs Kingdra and not getting 2HKO'ed. Obvious staple.
While being one of the worst pokemon to face against while using rain offence. Ferrothorn paradoxically is one of the best pokemon to also have on your team for rain offence. Offering great utility as well as defensive synergy, Ferrothorn covers a lot of rain's defensive problems. Just not all of them.
This is where I wanted to try something different. Though I can't %100 tell if this is what I'm looking for. Bulu does function well and has good synergy with the rest of the team. But I'm honestly not sure if I'm running the wrong set, or if Bulu just isn't as good in rain as I thought it'd be.
Heatran blanket checks a lot of the team's more problematic counters. The biggest one being Ferrothorn. Though fire and water don't generally mix well, he's proven himself time and time again in rain.
---
Swampert @ Swampertite
Ability: Damp
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
- Ice Punch
- Stone Edge / Hammer Arm
M-Swampert was always the main draw for me when it came to rain teams. Max Atk and Spe to just absolutely abuse M-Swampert in rain. Waterfall becomes a nightmare to tank in rain. Denting anything that doesn't resist it. Earthquake is another high powered stab that's almost as spammable, hitting would be check like Toxapex hard. Ice Punch adds another layer of coverage. Hitting most notably Landorus as well as Grass and Dragon types for a good chunk of damage. I've been torn between Stone Edge and Hammer Arm for coverage. Stone Edge hits Zapdos harder than Ice Punch, and Volcarona without the burn Chance. But Hammer Arm 2HKO's Ferrothorn on the switch. Both are a neutral option against Rotom-W. I might opt in Hammer Arm after more testing. I'd like help choosing if anyone knows better.
---
Pelipper @ Damp Rock
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 248 HP / 32 Def / 228 SpD
Bold Nature
- Scald
- U-turn
- Roost
- Defog
Defensive Utility Pelipper has been working very well for me so far. Scald under rain hit's reasonably hard. The an added %30 burn chance is just a bonus. U-turn allows quick in and outs to set up rain while keeping momentum. Besides Pelipper itself, no one else on the team is really weak to entry hazards. Defog support is still appreciated though. Roost, something Politoad wishes it had, keeps Pelipper healthy throughout the match to set up rain. One of it's biggest draws, besides being nearly an all in one for rain, was being able to safely switch into M-Charizard-Y and reset the weather. That has been a huge help in the weather wars since M-Char-Y can obliterate most of the pokemon on my team by itself with the right coverage.
---
Kingdra @ Choice Specs
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Surf
- Draco Meteor
- Ice Beam
Max SpA and Spe to ensure I'm hitting first and hard. Hydro Pump+Specs+Rain dents most pokemon. Most notably Ferrothorn. Making safe switch-ins near impossible. Surf is a safer option if the opponent is already weakened and the risk of missing Hydro Pump isn't worth it. Draco Meteor is a nice coverage option. Hitting almost as hard as Hydro Pump while also hitting a few key pokemon super effectively. Ice Beam rounds out the coverage, hitting things like Tangrowth decently hard.
---
Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SpD
Impish Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Stealth Rock
- Leech Seed
- Power Whip
- Gyro Ball
Stealth Rock is an extremely important tool. The amount of switches this team forces means that SR damage will likely rack up fast. Making it easier for the rest of the team to sweep with their rain boosted stabs. Leech Seed offers recovery as well as a way to annoy. Not many people wanna stay in on Leech Seed. Power Whip and Leech Seed on this set pairs very well with Bulu. Grassy Surge boost the power of Power Whip to ludicrous levels, while also offering increased healing potential for Ferro and the rest of the team. Gyro Ball is a nice second stab option that hits pokemon like Kyurem-B hard.
---
Tapu Bulu @ Leftovers
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Horn Leech
- Superpower
- Stone Edge / Zen Headbutt
I'm honestly unsure what set to run. I went with a more bulky spread that way Bulu last more throughout the match. Sword dance makes it so Bulu hits absurdly hard. Lowering the amount of pokemon willing to switch in. Horn Leech is a good stab that doubles as a way to heal of damage. Superpower hits the more than obvious counter e.g. Ferrothorn and Heatran. Stone Edge hits most pokemon that resist Bulu's stab for decent damage if not outright killing them. Zen Headbutt is another option I was considering for Venusaur. But I can't find another use for it besides that. I'd really like help on picking a set. Bulu functions very well on the team. I'm just unsure how to get the most of it.
---
Heatran @ Grassium Z
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Magma Storm
- Earth Power
- Toxic / Taunt
- Solar Beam
My last ditch effort to help and patch some of the team's bigger problems. Max Spa so Heatran is still able to hit it's targets hard while under rain. Max Spe because it's what Smogon suggests. Magma Storm hits hard as well as traps opposing 'mons. Earth Power for opposing Heatran as well as A-Marowak. Toxic for anything that might resist Heatran's attacks. Taunt has been useful as well. Hard to decide which works better. Solar Beam+Grassium Z for would be checks e.g. Rotom-W.
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