I've always been able to utilize rain more effectively than other weathers (OU and Ubers), although I'm not sure why. It could be Swift Swim in Ubers, and the large number of abusers in OU, but that's beside the point. And with that, I introduce to you my team.
And now, introducing my team.
@ Leftovers
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Scald
- Toxic
- Perish Song
- Protect
With the EV spread of Chansey in OU, Politoed maximises physical bulk. Scald is for the high chance of burning the opponent, Toxic is for when Scald just isn't that good an idea. Perish Song screws over Pokemon that set up, most notably DD Gyara leads. And Protect is for scouting moves and stalling for one more turn of Leftovers recovery.
@ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpD
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Stealth Rock
- Spikes
- Leech Seed
- Protect
Before you shout "Use an EV spread of 252/88/168", let me explain. My focus is Leech Seed, and therefore my HP depends more on the opponent than on me. Therefore, I do not need to invest in HP. Since I'm not running any attacks, a Bold Nature reduces damage from confusion (yes, Hurricane exists). Ferrothorn then proceeds to set up entry hazards. In Ferro vs. Ferro wars, I usually win unless they carry T-wave or have a Magnezone, because most of them lack a spinner, while Tentacruel can come in and spin everything away.
@ Black Sludge
Ability: Rain Dish
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spe
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic Spikes
- Scald
- Protect
Once again, I understand the argument about Black Sludge against Leftovers. I just like Black Sludge, so don't ask me to change it. The thing is, if they trick it from me, they will take at least one turn of damage, and the only thing that they can trick it back to with a negative effect to me is Thundurus-T, Ferrothorn and Politoed, since the other two pokemon are Banded or Tentacruel. And most of the time Politoed is useless crap anyway. Rapid Spin is the main reason I'm using it, along with T-Spikes. Scald is once again there for the burn rate. Protect is for scouting and stalling for an additional 1/8 of my HP restored.
@ Choice Band
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature (+Spe, -SpA)
- Ice Shard
- Icicle Crash
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
The first of the Choiced Pokemon. Mamoswine was supposed to be anti-meta, with the release of the genies and Techniloom expected to rise in usage, only to become the metagame itself. I had to run a Jolly Nature when I discovered that some Brelooms run Jolly, and I still OHKO Breloom anyway (with Ice Shard), despite the reduction in power. Icicle Crash is better than Icicle Spear due to higher base power on average (taking into account misses) and a handy flinch rate (not accounted for). Earthquake is its other STAB attack, while Stone Edge provides near perfect coverage.
@ Choice Band
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 212 HP / 252 Atk / 44 Spe
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Aqua Jet
- Waterfall
- Superpower
- Return
In the rain, Azumarill becomes the strongest priority user to ever exist. Heck, it even beats Arceus, since Arceus will use ESpeed, so Azumarill can stick to Waterfall. Except that Arceus is bulkier, but I won't be battling Arceus anyway. Anyway, a 90 BP +1 priority coming off a 654 Attack stat is going to seriously dent anything that doesn't resist it. Between Waterfall and Superpower, the things I don't hit are hit harder by Return than Ice Punch most of the time. The biggest problem is Jellicent, who is immune to everything but Ice Punch (unless you use Cursed Body, which isn't that bad, tbh), which 48HKOs Jellicent. Ice Punch only has 24 PP, btw. Azumarill was my idea, I didn't copy the others, but I noticed its usage has increased.
@ Choice Scarf
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature (+SpA, -Atk)
- Volt Switch
- Thunder
- Focus Blast
- HP Ice
I gave it a Modest Nature because it's already fast as hell with a Scarf, unless I'm facing opposing Scarfed pokemon, since I want it to hit as hard as possible. Volt Switch is for scouting switches, while STAB Thunder from a Special Attack stat of 427 hits hard, especially against Jellicent, who gives problems to many of my team members. HP Ice completes BoltBeam coverage, though not as well as Starmie, and Focus Blast is just there to hit Magnezone or something, since it's a free slot.
To summon rain, you need a toad.
I need a pokemon to set up entry hazards and one to spin them away. I disliked Forretress, so my choices were Ferrothorn (which I always spelt as 'Ferrothron') and Tentacruel (which works a lot better than Forretress in rain).
Now I needed Mamoswine to shout "Screw you!" at the genies and dragons.
I also wanted another strong priority user, and at first I went with Breloom. But it wasn't working out too well, and neither was Scizor. I then realised that Azumarill, like Scizor and Breloom, gets double-stab with priority (Technician/rain). Therefore, it was chosen.
Finally, I needed a pokemon that could abuse the perfect accuracy of Thunder and/or Hurricane. Dragonite's special attack is non-existant, Tornadus just increases my number of electric-weak pokemon to 4, but Thundurus-T is just perfect. Plus it means I have two pokemon immune to electric.
I need a pokemon to set up entry hazards and one to spin them away. I disliked Forretress, so my choices were Ferrothorn (which I always spelt as 'Ferrothron') and Tentacruel (which works a lot better than Forretress in rain).
Now I needed Mamoswine to shout "Screw you!" at the genies and dragons.
I also wanted another strong priority user, and at first I went with Breloom. But it wasn't working out too well, and neither was Scizor. I then realised that Azumarill, like Scizor and Breloom, gets double-stab with priority (Technician/rain). Therefore, it was chosen.
Finally, I needed a pokemon that could abuse the perfect accuracy of Thunder and/or Hurricane. Dragonite's special attack is non-existant, Tornadus just increases my number of electric-weak pokemon to 4, but Thundurus-T is just perfect. Plus it means I have two pokemon immune to electric.
And now, introducing my team.
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Scald
- Toxic
- Perish Song
- Protect
With the EV spread of Chansey in OU, Politoed maximises physical bulk. Scald is for the high chance of burning the opponent, Toxic is for when Scald just isn't that good an idea. Perish Song screws over Pokemon that set up, most notably DD Gyara leads. And Protect is for scouting moves and stalling for one more turn of Leftovers recovery.
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpD
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Stealth Rock
- Spikes
- Leech Seed
- Protect
Before you shout "Use an EV spread of 252/88/168", let me explain. My focus is Leech Seed, and therefore my HP depends more on the opponent than on me. Therefore, I do not need to invest in HP. Since I'm not running any attacks, a Bold Nature reduces damage from confusion (yes, Hurricane exists). Ferrothorn then proceeds to set up entry hazards. In Ferro vs. Ferro wars, I usually win unless they carry T-wave or have a Magnezone, because most of them lack a spinner, while Tentacruel can come in and spin everything away.
Ability: Rain Dish
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spe
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic Spikes
- Scald
- Protect
Once again, I understand the argument about Black Sludge against Leftovers. I just like Black Sludge, so don't ask me to change it. The thing is, if they trick it from me, they will take at least one turn of damage, and the only thing that they can trick it back to with a negative effect to me is Thundurus-T, Ferrothorn and Politoed, since the other two pokemon are Banded or Tentacruel. And most of the time Politoed is useless crap anyway. Rapid Spin is the main reason I'm using it, along with T-Spikes. Scald is once again there for the burn rate. Protect is for scouting and stalling for an additional 1/8 of my HP restored.
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature (+Spe, -SpA)
- Ice Shard
- Icicle Crash
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
The first of the Choiced Pokemon. Mamoswine was supposed to be anti-meta, with the release of the genies and Techniloom expected to rise in usage, only to become the metagame itself. I had to run a Jolly Nature when I discovered that some Brelooms run Jolly, and I still OHKO Breloom anyway (with Ice Shard), despite the reduction in power. Icicle Crash is better than Icicle Spear due to higher base power on average (taking into account misses) and a handy flinch rate (not accounted for). Earthquake is its other STAB attack, while Stone Edge provides near perfect coverage.
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 212 HP / 252 Atk / 44 Spe
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Aqua Jet
- Waterfall
- Superpower
- Return
In the rain, Azumarill becomes the strongest priority user to ever exist. Heck, it even beats Arceus, since Arceus will use ESpeed, so Azumarill can stick to Waterfall. Except that Arceus is bulkier, but I won't be battling Arceus anyway. Anyway, a 90 BP +1 priority coming off a 654 Attack stat is going to seriously dent anything that doesn't resist it. Between Waterfall and Superpower, the things I don't hit are hit harder by Return than Ice Punch most of the time. The biggest problem is Jellicent, who is immune to everything but Ice Punch (unless you use Cursed Body, which isn't that bad, tbh), which 48HKOs Jellicent. Ice Punch only has 24 PP, btw. Azumarill was my idea, I didn't copy the others, but I noticed its usage has increased.
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature (+SpA, -Atk)
- Volt Switch
- Thunder
- Focus Blast
- HP Ice
I gave it a Modest Nature because it's already fast as hell with a Scarf, unless I'm facing opposing Scarfed pokemon, since I want it to hit as hard as possible. Volt Switch is for scouting switches, while STAB Thunder from a Special Attack stat of 427 hits hard, especially against Jellicent, who gives problems to many of my team members. HP Ice completes BoltBeam coverage, though not as well as Starmie, and Focus Blast is just there to hit Magnezone or something, since it's a free slot.
I'm considering T-wave over Protect on Ferrothorn, to catch Magnezone on the switch. I'm also considering giving it a Rocky Helmet, but this isn't that important. Rocky Helmet just punishes stupid things that abuse Outrage, since in 3 turns, they'll take enough damage for my Leech Seed to kill in two turns. (7/8+1/8=1) Besides that, I can't think of anything else atm.
