a work in progress

[phalanx]

threw this together last night a few minor tweaks are probably needed, havn't tested it on the teams i was contantly facing yesterday (thats just typical of my luck at the moment), but having thoughts on those pokes i have come up with this, this is very much a work in progress as a few of the pokes might still need tinkering but this the base.

at a glance
​

Bronzong@light clay
Ability - Levitate
Relaxed
252hp/152atk/8def/96spdef
0 speed IV

- Light screen
- Rain dance
- Reflect
- Gyro ball

deul screen zong, one of the pokes i might need to mess with, anyway i have included this for its bulk and the fact a few of my pokes are frail and could use the screens to do some damage, comes with gyroball too so i can hit some pokemon if need be, also makes a nice heatran lure.

Ludicolo@damp rock
Ability -Swift swim
Modest
104hp/252spa/152speed

- rain dance
- surf
- Ice beam
- Grass knot

a slighly differant take on the EV spread for special attacking ludicolo as i require it to outspeed scarftran when i have rain up, with the 104 speed it only has 202 speed (404 in rain) with this spread it has 214 (428 in rain) which puts it faster then scarftran and puts it in and around other scarfers

Kabutops@Life orb
Ability -Swift swim
Adamant
200hp/252atk/56speed

- aerial ace
- stone edge
- waterfall
- x-scissor

might repleace aerial ace with brick break other then that this pokemon is built to cut through the common pokes i have encountered in the metagame (celebi heatran and zapdos, the moves for each is obvious) this is my main metagame destroyer and works as a counter counter to celebi (lures it out with its grass 4x weakness then nails celebis 4x bug weakness with x-scissor)

floatzal@damp rock
Ability- swift swim
Adamant
4hp/252atk/252speed

- Aqua jet
- Crunch
- Ice fang
- Waterfall

physical sweeper more for late then early, runs aqua jet to take advantage of switching scarfers and other prioity users in on any of floatzal attacks have something to think about

Kingdra@scope lens
Ability - swift swim
Adamant
4hp/252attack/252speed

-Dragon Dance
-Outrage
-Return
-Waterfall

late game sweeper with Dragon Dance and Outrage, or just another rain abuser, main role is late game with outrage when anything with resists to it are gone, this can take advantage of the screens to get a couple of dragon dances rather then one.

Lanturn@Leftovers
Ability Volt Absorb
Calm
40hp/136spa/252spdef/80speed

-Thunder
-Confuse Ray
-Surf
-Ice beam

due to the rise in the use of thunder wave i thought i needed something to switch in on electrical attacks, i feel this is the best option as Elective while getting a speed boost doesn't really fit in with the team as much, this is a variant of the parafusion Lanturn used to interupt rather then sweep itself, i chose thunder over Twave to take advantage of the boosted rain accuracy on the damage.


threats.

most threats to rain have been neutralised and is part of the reason some of the pokes have been chosen.
electric.
Ludicolo = neutral
Bronzong = Neutral
Kingdra = Neutral
Lanturn = Immune
grass.
Bronzong = resist
Ludicolo = neutral
Kingdra = Neutral.

that is the typing as a whole covered in terms of resistance now to cover whatcan kill common metagame threats

Heatran.
Heatran is not going to be killing much here, Ludicolo is built to outspeed due to its neutrality and earth power is 3HKO on lanturn, only problems might be kabutops fraility to earth power and bronzongs fire weakness

Zapdos
Lanturn can deal with zapdos' electrical attacks and fire attack making it a prime switch in, in terms of sweeping Kabutops Movepool contains STAB stone edge. also have ice fang on floatzal and ice beam on lanturn/ludicolo making it a minimal threat

Scizor
this will contain the largest threat due to fraility of floatzal and kabutops, due to bullet punch outspeeding is not useful on this, this is part of the reason i pack screens, kabutops can survive and kill it, floatzal can hit it on a predicted switch in and finish with aqua jet.

Celebi
has been appearing a bit in the past few days with thunderwave, giving me something for lanturn to switch in and heal off and ice beam back, and is also a prime target for kabutops who can x-scissor it away

Tyranitar
with a water weakness it isn't going to get much action against this other then interupting the rain, it isn't switching in on much in this team without being punished heavily for doing so.
I have gone for more physical sweepers as a consiquence of the metgame as a whole, blissey is poping up more often then not so that could be a problem.

Salamence
a fair bit of ice in this team means it won't establish a stranglehold on the game especially as to outspeed anything in the rain it will need to dance.

Shaymin-s
even though i see it less, the threat from this is again minimal due to pokemon outspeeding in the rain as well as decent ice coverage.

Flygon
this thing has been poping up everywhere and does need dealing with, again this is covered by all the ice attacks

other thoughts.
was thinking about other alternatives for this these are listed below

tentacruel - spikes or toxic spikes, and bulk but weak to ground (scarf tran)

electivire - absorbing Electric attacks to boost speeds then using this to sweep, opted out of this due to fraility and weakness to ground scarf tran not a problem if electric has hit it of course but things like flygon will have a field day

Blastoise - Counter and Mirror coat is a nice option and it also spins, didn't feel i need it as i have no major problems with stealth rock

Gastrodon - Counter and Mirror coat again, as well as bulk, didn't think it was worthwhile using it for those 2 moves and i didn't want 2 4x grass weakness in my team, especially as gastrodon will be absorbing Twaves from things like celebi.

Jolteon - nice speed, Absorbs electric, just too frail to work here

Flygon - another electric absorber and could be used as a work around for Ttar weather change, i dont think it would fit in here however, its a good option if i do need it.

Swampert - bulky and has rocks, wheather the gamble on this is worthwhile (4x grass weak) as an electric absorber and stealth rocks user.

now thoughts on what i use currently

differant zong sets (hypnosis over a screen, EQ over gyroball, heatproof etc)
floatzal item change
replace thunder with Twave on lanturn

 

[HotPocket]

I can't see how Bronzong is a Heatran "lure" as he lures Heatran in, but then what? Try replacing Gyro Ball with Earthquake if you want successfully hurt the Heatran.

Bronzong is trying hard to do two things that he really doesn't have room for. Go pure Rain Dance 'Zong with Rain Dance, Hypnosis, Stealth Rock and Explosion / Earthquake with Damp Rock or Lum Berry.

Your team seems good as far as resistances go, but how about coverage? It looks like much of your team can have a hard time with stall teams as your attacks are rather obvious. I think that you should also have a win condition besides Rain Dance as Bronzong won't necessarily last too long as leads are brutal and Ludicolo can survive a few hits but consistent hard hits. Having a SDLuke on this team can really help you in general with pretty much every fast threat in the game. You can even go dual priority to take out Gengar.

 

[Fatal Edge]

I'll beat Raikoulover to the punch by saying Quilfish>Kabutops.

Anyway in an offensive metagame like Platinum I highly doubt you will be able to set up dual screens AND Rain Dance. +You don't have Stealth Rock for your abusers.

So I would go with this:

Azelf @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EV's: 40 Atk / 252 SAtk / 216 Spd
Naive Nature(+Spd, -SDef)
- Stealth Rock
- Trick
- Explosion
- Fire Blast/HP Ground/Psychic/Grass Knot

I really just threw HP Ground in the mix to defeat Azelf's #1 counter which is Heatran but on a team with all of these water types it isn't necessary.

Go with Engergy Ball over Grass Knot on Ludicolo. It hits Vaporeon much harder than Grass Knot and gives stability instead of varying powers.

Also your not fooling Celebi with Kabutops any time soon... Most people can expect X-Scissor.

------

Actually I'm really disappointed in the effort... no offense. But Damp Rock on a Floatzel without rain dance is just...

Kingdra doesn't need Dragon dance. I would go with a specs set with signal beam if you wanna catch Celebi off guard and Electivire>Lanturn. I'm really not seeing how Lanturn fits in at all. All it does is ParaFusion which is just wasting turns of rain.

Hope that helps.

 

[phalanx]

well the idea of the heatran lure bronzong was to force it in then bring in one of my waters.
lanturn is there for parafusion, gives more set up time after rain is gone, but i am looking for alternatives its a bit odd there, lanturn is bulkier then vire but vire is a strong contender.

i might have to go specs kingdra theni can make that add some rain and sweep itself (thats why damp rock was on floatzal, i was planning on rain setup for it orgionally), but i dont really want to go special heavy unless it is needed.
it has definatly give me some things to think about if i did plump for special attacking kingdra, i would have to use vire to make sure i have enough physical sweepers.

how did i forget energy ball? i'll change that

 

[Allanon]

Try this Qwilfish out, instead of Kabutops

Qwilfish @ Life Orb
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 252 Atk / 227 Spe / 29 Hp
Ability: Poison Point
~ Waterfall
~ Poison Jab
~ Rain Dance
~ Explode

It also clears toxic spikes, that your team doesnt need/want.

 

[mintyfresh7]

threw this together last night a few minor tweaks are probably needed, havn't tested it on the teams i was contantly facing yesterday (thats just typical of my luck at the moment), but having thoughts on those pokes i have come up with this, this is very much a work in progress as a few of the pokes might still need tinkering but this the base.

at a glance​

Bronzong@ damprock
Ability - Levitate
Relaxed
252hp/152atk/8def/96spdef
0 speed IV

- Hypnosis
- Rain dance
-Stealth Rock
- Explosion

Bronzong won't have three turns to set up, and Taunt leads will wreck your rd/screens set. So, this is what I find the most effective set on A raindance zong. Gets the rocks up, Rain Dances, Explodes on other threats to your team. This will definitley serve you some good. Damp Rock to start a nice long rain.

Ludicolo @ Life Orb
Ability -Swift swim
Modest
104hp/252spa/152speed

- rain dance
- surf
- Ice beam
- Energy Ball

a slighly differant take on the EV spread for special attacking ludicolo as i require it to outspeed scarftran when i have rain up, with the 104 speed it only has 202 speed (404 in rain) with this spread it has 214 (428 in rain) which puts it faster then scarftran and puts it in and around other scarfers

Damp Rock not necessary with Zong holding one. Your going to want the extra power life orb gives you. With this set up, Ludicolo netted me about 2 kills per game. So deadly. Energy Ball is for Vaporeon, for Grass Knot does not do the job. Energy Ball also 2HKOs everything that grassknot does, so theres no reason not to use it. Water/Ice/Grass is excellent coverage, so you shouldn't be scrambling for an attack.

Kabutops@Life orb
Ability -Swift swim
Adamant
200hp/252atk/56speed

- aerial ace
- stone edge
- waterfall
- x-scissor

might repleace aerial ace with brick break other then that this pokemon is built to cut through the common pokes i have encountered in the metagame (celebi heatran and zapdos, the moves for each is obvious) this is my main metagame destroyer and works as a counter counter to celebi (lures it out with its grass 4x weakness then nails celebis 4x bug weakness with x-scissor)
IF your sticking with Kabutops, Brick Break over Aerial Ace definitley, for Fighting is an excellent attacking type in todays metagame. fight/rock/water/bug is excellent coverage.

Like previously stated, Quilfish > Kabutops . run 252 attk/252 speed and a Rain Dance/ Water Fall/ Poison Jab / Explosion and youll be all set.

Floatzel @ Focus Sash- why would he hold damp rock?
swift swim
Adamant
4hp/252atk/252speed

- Bulk Up
- Crunch
- Ice Punch
- Waterfall

physical sweeper more for late then early, runs aqua jet to take advantage of switching scarfers and other prioity users in on any of floatzal attacks have something to think about

In the rain, you shouldnt have to worry about scarfers TBH. If your feeling unsure, use a Jolly nature. Ice Punch is more powerful and more accurate than Icefang. Bulk Up replaces Aqua Jet so you can power up on the switch and sweep with more attacking power. In the rain, Aqua Jet is largely useless for you outspeed pretty much everything.

Kingdra@scope lens
Ability - swift swim
Adamant
4hp/252attack/252speed

-Dragon Dance
-Outrage
-Return /Substitute
-Waterfall

late game sweeper with Dragon Dance and Outrage, or just another rain abuser, main role is late game with outrage when anything with resists to it are gone, this can take advantage of the screens to get a couple of dragon dances rather then one.
Ive been running a sub DD Leftovers Kingdra and its been working fantastic for me. Sub on the switch/ something that cant break it and proceed to DD up until it breaks, then sweep / sub again and repeat the process. Late game, I find opponents have trouble countering Kingdra, allowing it to get 2 or even more DDs in and end the game early.

Lanturn@Leftovers
Ability Volt Absorb
Calm
40hp/136spa/252spdef/80speed

-Thunder
-Confuse Ray
-Surf
-Ice beam

due to the rise in the use of thunder wave i thought i needed something to switch in on electrical attacks, i feel this is the best option as Elective while getting a speed boost doesn't really fit in with the team as much, this is a variant of the parafusion Lanturn used to interupt rather then sweep itself, i chose thunder over Twave to take advantage of the boosted rain accuracy on the damage.

Nice choice: this causes a lot of problems to many teams. Switch in on an electric attack intended for one of your waters, you know. Good.


threats.

most threats to rain have been neutralised and is part of the reason some of the pokes have been chosen.
electric.
Ludicolo = neutral
Bronzong = Neutral
Kingdra = Neutral
Lanturn = Immune
grass.
Bronzong = resist
Ludicolo = neutral
Kingdra = Neutral.

that is the typing as a whole covered in terms of resistance now to cover whatcan kill common metagame threats

Heatran.
Heatran is not going to be killing much here, Ludicolo is built to outspeed due to its neutrality and earth power is 3HKO on lanturn, only problems might be kabutops fraility to earth power and bronzongs fire weakness

Zapdos
Lanturn can deal with zapdos' electrical attacks and fire attack making it a prime switch in, in terms of sweeping Kabutops Movepool contains STAB stone edge. also have ice fang on floatzal and ice beam on lanturn/ludicolo making it a minimal threat

Scizor
this will contain the largest threat due to fraility of floatzal and kabutops, due to bullet punch outspeeding is not useful on this, this is part of the reason i pack screens, kabutops can survive and kill it, floatzal can hit it on a predicted switch in and finish with aqua jet.

This would cause a lot of potential Problems to this team. Maybe a revenge killer that can deal with scizor can replace floatzel. This would give you protection and get rid of other threats Plaguing your team.

Celebi
has been appearing a bit in the past few days with thunderwave, giving me something for lanturn to switch in and heal off and ice beam back, and is also a prime target for kabutops who can x-scissor it away

Tyranitar
with a water weakness it isn't going to get much action against this other then interupting the rain, it isn't switching in on much in this team without being punished heavily for doing so.
I have gone for more physical sweepers as a consiquence of the metgame as a whole, blissey is poping up more often then not so that could be a problem.

Salamence
a fair bit of ice in this team means it won't establish a stranglehold on the game especially as to outspeed anything in the rain it will need to dance.

Shaymin-s
even though i see it less, the threat from this is again minimal due to pokemon outspeeding in the rain as well as decent ice coverage.

Flygon
this thing has been poping up everywhere and does need dealing with, again this is covered by all the ice attacks

other thoughts.
was thinking about other alternatives for this these are listed below

tentacruel - spikes or toxic spikes, and bulk but weak to ground (scarf tran)

electivire - absorbing Electric attacks to boost speeds then using this to sweep, opted out of this due to fraility and weakness to ground scarf tran not a problem if electric has hit it of course but things like flygon will have a field day

Blastoise - Counter and Mirror coat is a nice option and it also spins, didn't feel i need it as i have no major problems with stealth rock

Gastrodon - Counter and Mirror coat again, as well as bulk, didn't think it was worthwhile using it for those 2 moves and i didn't want 2 4x grass weakness in my team, especially as gastrodon will be absorbing Twaves from things like celebi.

Jolteon - nice speed, Absorbs electric, just too frail to work here

Flygon - another electric absorber and could be used as a work around for Ttar weather change, i dont think it would fit in here however, its a good option if i do need it.

Swampert - bulky and has rocks, wheather the gamble on this is worthwhile (4x grass weak) as an electric absorber and stealth rocks user.

now thoughts on what i use currently

differant zong sets (hypnosis over a screen, EQ over gyroball, heatproof etc)
floatzal item change
replace thunder with Twave on lanturn

 

[Fatal Edge]

I don't see Dugtrio taking a SD Bullet Punch from Scizor...

 

[Twisted Kneebar]

for kingdra why scope lens with no sniper? also you should put sub over return for better setting up as outrage+waterfall have the same coverage as return+waterfall except you keep STAB. also with swift swim you dont need 252 spd ev's because kingdras minimum is 206, with swift swim making it twice as much equaling 412 which is quick enough, dump the rest in hp for again easier setup

 

[mintyfresh7]

sorry about that. Fixed.

 

[SoT]

Ok well, first off I would like to say it's a decent attempt at a rain team. I myself and fond of them, and I have a few suggestions to make.

First off you really want your rain teams hitting hard, and hitting non stop. For your lead, I would probably suggest that you try running a RD Jolteon, since it keeps Volt Absorb, gets off a quick RD, can scare off other fast taunters (Aero) and can benefit in a way with a powered up Thunder. I would probably keep Bronzong for late game, as a pokemon to go to, once the Rain has stopped, or if you're threatened and need to switch.

As for the 4 attacking pokemon that you want to use, the best 4 I would say would be a SDLO Kabutops/LO Qwilfish/LO Ludicolo/LO Kingdra.

Kabutops and Qwilfish should be able to wreak Havok (lol) on the physical side of the Spectrum, and a Ludicolo and Sp. Kingdra should have no trouble at all clearing the way on the Sp. Side of the. I used an all Sp. Kingdra when I first used Team KingdraLover and it was one of the most dominating pokemon I have ever used; at late game it can completely tear up teams that are unprepared, which most are now adays.

I would Damp Rock Jolteon and Bronzong, and then throw Rain dance in there on Ludicolo, since it's the only of the attacking core who can really sacrifice a moveslot for Rain Dance.

I hope you take the advice into consideration and I hope I helped. I tried bringing this team into a very threatening offensive team, sorry if you weren't looking for this kind of team. Well Good luck, and I'll check back in the thread in a bit.

(Hi Phal!)

 

[phalanx]

ahh some interesting things to think about, might have to go with that, never thought of jolteon as a lead and might be something to think about, kabutops has to stay due to type coverage, which leaves floatzal to be replaced by qwilfish, something i will have to look at.