VGC Rain, Thunder and... Dragons?!

[MattRMorgan]

This here is a team I've been playing around with on Showdown recently. I want to start playing Pokemon competitively but, without a Ditto Friend Safari, it can be difficult to prepare good Pokemon - if anyone has one or has a method to breed high IV Pokemon then please let me know :D

Politoed @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 76 Def / 76 SpA / 100 SpD / 4 Spd
Calm Nature
- Scald
- Icy Wind
- Helping Hand
- Protect

Politoed is here for one big reason: to bring the rain! It also provides a large amount of support that is lacking throughout the rest of the team. Without a Tailwind user, it's Icy Wind can be used for speed control. Helping Hand gets the stronger attackers even stronger and Protect keeps Politoed in the battle just a little bit longer.

Ludicolo @ Assault Vest
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 HP / 188 Def / 68 SpA
Modest Nature
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Giga Drain
- Fake Out

Ludicolo is the one Pokemon that really takes advantage of the rain in this team thanks to Swift Swim. It makes taking large chunks of health from Bulky Water types easier as it usually hits first and can help take out a range of Pokemon (or at least deal damage to them). Scald and Giga Drain are both STABs that can prove useful in the long-run by potentially burning and healing Ludi respectively.

Thundurus @ Life Orb
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Thunder
- Thunder Wave
- Taunt
- Hidden Power (Ice)

This is a pretty standard set for a Thundurus bar the inclusion of Thunder over Thunderbolt. For me, the extra damage it provides can sometimes be vital and, when under rain, it has 100% so is a real damage dealer. Thundurus, here, is mosty being used as a sweeper but also does well as a support. Thunder Wave and Taunt can help to stop other Pokemon in their tracks and provide assistance in the late game (particularly, Thunder Wave).

Salamence @ Salamencite
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hyper Voice
- Dragon Pulse
- Protect
- Flamethrower

Salamence is, I believe, the biggest surprise for opponents. Given that this is a rain team, many predict the next Pokemon (Swampert) to be the Mega, but it in fact the Dragon who wished to fly. Intimidate is a staple component in any team so I prefer Special Salamence as it is not affected by this ability. It's own Intimidate can also do wonders against the likes of Landorus-T and other Physical brutes. Hyper Voice, under Aerilate, can do wonders against loads of Pokemon; Dragon Pulse provides a STAB bonus and Flamethrower provides coverage against (the rarely used) Ice-types and Aegislash (who proved an issue for this team).

Swampert @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
- Ice Punch
- Wide Guard

My Sylveon protector! Wide Guard helps with a lot of Pokemon including Hyper Voice users and the pesky Icy Wind-ers. With Speed Control through Icy Wind become more popular through Milotic and, in some cases Gengar, Wide Guard provides protection from that. Waterfall and Earthquake provide STAB bonuses with the latter potentially flinching its target while Ice Punch provides nice coverage against Grass-types such as Amoonguss and other Dragons.

Landorus-T @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Superpower
- Stone Edge

Landorus-T is probably the most used Pokemon in VGC. Like with Salamence, Intimidate can be really useful to deter physical based attackers leading while spread moves such as Rock Slide do good damage and provide the chance of flinching an opponent. Landorus' Earthquake is also a viable ption when using this team as many are bulky enough to take the hit or take 1/2 damage or no damage from it.

Thanks for reading. And if you have any suggestions for improvements, please let me know. (Also, if you've got a Ditto Friend Safari's or know of one, I'd be eternally grateful!)

Import

Ludicolo (M) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Swift Swim
Level: 50
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 188 Def / 68 SpA
Modest Nature
- Scald
- Giga Drain
- Ice Beam
- Fake Out

Politoed @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Drizzle
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 76 Def / 76 SpA / 100 SpD / 4 Spe
Calm Nature
- Scald
- Icy Wind
- Helping Hand
- Protect

Thundurus @ Life Orb
Ability: Prankster
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Thunder
- Taunt
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Thunder Wave

Salamence @ Salamencite
Ability: Intimidate
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Dragon Pulse
- Hyper Voice
- Protect
- Flamethrower

Swampert @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Waterfall
- Ice Punch
- Earthquake
- Wide Guard

Landorus-Therian (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Superpower
- Rock Slide
- Stone Edge

 

[TheHoodedGamer]

Nice team you have here! I definitely would be suprised by a Special MegaMence and I feel that it would work well. But there are a few nitpicks I need to make. First, give Politoed and Mega Salemence 0 Atk IVs and Thundurus 0 Atk IVs and 30 Def IVs. 0 Atk IVs in your special attackers makes confusion and Foul Play less damage towards you and 30 Def IVs with 0 Atk IVs in Thundurus gives you Hidden Power Ice. Also, I suggest you use Knock Off over Stone Edge on Landoge. This allows you to take away items which is a great utility while giving you a Dark offensive attack.

I would also like some damage calculations and Replays so I can see how your team works if that wouldn't be any trouble.

 

[MattRMorgan]

Nice team you have here! I definitely would be suprised by a Special MegaMence and I feel that it would work well. But there are a few nitpicks I need to make. First, give Politoed and Mega Salemence 0 Atk IVs and Thundurus 0 Atk IVs and 30 Def IVs. 0 Atk IVs in your special attackers makes confusion and Foul Play less damage towards you and 30 Def IVs with 0 Atk IVs in Thundurus gives you Hidden Power Ice. Also, I suggest you use Knock Off over Stone Edge on Landoge. This allows you to take away items which is a great utility while giving you a Dark offensive attack.

I would also like some damage calculations and Replays so I can see how your team works if that wouldn't be any trouble.

Thanks. And sure, I'll get some replays for you as soon as I can. Stone Edge has proved useful for me with this Landorus but I will try Knock Off for sure

 

[letterman4]

I dunno but maybe Damp Rock instead of Sitrus Berry for Politoed? It lets rain stay on the field longer. Also, your team looks pretty weak to Ice types (3/6 weak 3/6 neutral). Icy Wind and Ice Beam (as coverage) are pretty common. I suggest a slow Aegislash > Swampert for Wide Guard, help against Trick Room, provide that nice sneaky King's Shield once in a while, and priority in Shadow Sneak. I suggest this set:

Aegislash @ Leftovers
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Shadow Sneak
- Wide Guard
- King's Shield
- Iron Head

 

[TheHoodedGamer]

I dunno but maybe Damp Rock instead of Sitrus Berry for Politoed? It lets rain stay on the field longer. Also, your team looks pretty weak to Ice types (3/6 weak 3/6 neutral). Icy Wind and Ice Beam (as coverage) are pretty common. I suggest a slow Aegislash > Swampert for Wide Guard, help against Trick Room, provide that nice sneaky King's Shield once in a while, and priority in Shadow Sneak. I suggest this set:

Aegislash @ Leftovers
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Shadow Sneak
- Wide Guard
- King's Shield
- Iron Head

Physical Aegislash isn't good anymore. If he would use Aegislash, than a Special Aegislash should be used.
Here is the set:

Aegislash @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Stance Change
Level: 50
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 100 SpA / 156 SpD
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Spe / 0 Atk
- Flash Cannon
- Shadow Ball
- Wide Guard
- King's Shield

 

[MattRMorgan]

Thanks for the suggestions. The reason I chose Swampert over Aegislash is because it confuses a lot of people. Many expect Mega Swampert as it is a rain team but Mega Salamence (and a special one at that) really confuses my opponents as it wouldn't be expected. But are many Ice-type Pokemon actually used in VGC? I know that many Water-types use Ice Beam, Icy Wind etc. so would Aegislash really be useful other than to use Wide Guard instead of Swampert?

 

[MattRMorgan]

Physical Aegislash isn't good anymore. If he would use Aegislash, than a Special Aegislash should be used.
Here is the set:

Aegislash @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Stance Change
Level: 50
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 100 SpA / 156 SpD
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Spe / 0 Atk
- Flash Cannon
- Shadow Ball
- Wide Guard
- King's Shield

I've been using this Aegislash and it has been working better than the Swampert, so thanks for the suggestions. However, I feel like it isn;t very offensive before the Weakness Policy is activated. Could I change around the EVs or are those the best for this set?

 

[TheHoodedGamer]

I've been using this Aegislash and it has been working better than the Swampert, so thanks for the suggestions. However, I feel like it isn;t very offensive before the Weakness Policy is activated. Could I change around the EVs or are those the best for this set?

It's the one I use and it works amazing. It almost always gets hit by a SE move before it hits anyways.