AQUArmada!
Often when I see a new idea I like, such as a new core, a creative moveset, or the like, it inspires the creation of a new team. By this point I had tested variations of Specially Defensive Salamence, with this team having a new one, and I also wanted to take Copycat Lucario for a spin, as well as the Tailwind + LO Kyurem-B combo. The other team members fell into place as a result.
Team building process:
I wanted to utilize a Copycat Lucario and Fighting Gem Politoed for surprise factor (i.e. sending LO Latios’s Draco Meteor right back at it) and to get the same power as Specs Focus Blast (once) for Ferrothorn while bluffing a choice item, respectively.
I had recently read about a Prankster Whimsicott Tailwind + LO Kyurem-B combination designed by another user, and wanted to test it. However, rather than Whimsicott, I used an original set, Specially Defensive Rain Salamence. I’m upset that Hydro Pump and Wish are illegal together.
I also wished to utilize Toxic Spikes, and Tentacruel came out as a clear winner, with double recovery under rain, setting my desired hazard, and spinning, which is very important since only 1 team member has recovery outside of Rain Dish/Leftovers/Black Sludge.
I also really wanted Stealth Rocks, as well as a reliable counter to Terrakion. Golurk gave me both in one shell, with great attacking power and confusion hax. Golurk also comes as a surprise to many since it is only NU.
As suggested by Rosez66, Me First replaced Copycat on Lucario to amplify the concept of "revenge killing," particularly against dragon-types. Zen Headbutt was replaced by Earth Power on Kyurem-B for better coverage, particularly against Magnezone, which many rain teams struggle with (of course, Golurk destroys it if it can switch in safely, but this can still help).
In this next phase, all the team members stayed the same, but two movesets received changes to prefer residual damage from burns rather than poison. It helps my team tackle physical hits better, and many Pokemon in the metagame are immune to Toxic Spikes (Salamence, Metagross, Jirachi, Tentacruel, Dragonite, Gliscor, etc.). Also, Politoed's Fighting Gem was replaced with Leftovers. This is the phase currently being tested.
Here is the team:
Politoed (M) @ Leftovers(used to be a Fighting Gem)
Trait: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SAtk / 4 Def
Modest Nature
- Focus Blast
- Scald (used to be Surf)
- Perish Song
- Protect
The rain-bringer itself, it’s Politoed! Politoed is a crucial part of my team, but not just for bringing rain. It can hit Ferrothorn with a Fighting Gem-boosted Focus Blast on the switch-in, which makes up for the absence of Choice Specs. Scald is used as a decent-powered STAB with a nice burn chance. Perish Song acts as a failsafe against set-up sweepers, and Protect stalls out these turns. This is part of why having entry hazards is so important. The EVs seem ideal considering Politoed is a semi-offensive semi-defensive Pokemon.
Salamence (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 252 SDef / 248 HP / 8 SAtk
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dragon Pulse
- Hydro Pump
- Roost
- Tailwind
This is likely my favorite Pokemon on the team, because with the EV spread and ability, Salamence tanks hits incredibly well, better than most opponents check. Not including switches to remove Intimidate’s effect, it is almost impossible to OHKO Salamence with an unboosted move that is not a STAB Ice-type move. Generally Hidden Power Ice will come up short. Salamence can then Tailwind, Roost (bringing the 4x Ice weakness temporarily to a 2x weakness), and cycle through it until somebody is forced out (usually the opponent). Dragon Pulse was chosen as a STAB, and Hydro Pump was chosen as a coverage move as it gets a significant boost in rain. The combination was put together to avoid the need to go mixed, and most Salamence are physical anyway.
Salamence is also my Tailwind setter for Kyurem-B, that combo I mentioned earlier. Quite frankly, this rarely goes as planned, and Salamence more often uses Tailwind for itself rather than its teammates, but when needed, the Tailwind boost is much appreciated by Kyurem-B (and Golurk to a lesser extent).
NOTE: Wish is illegal with Hydro Pump; otherwise Wish would probably replace Roost.
Kyurem-Black @ Life Orb
Trait: Teravolt
EVs: 252 Atk / 104 HP / 16 SAtk / 136 Spd
Naughty Nature
- Fusion Bolt
- Outrage
- Ice Beam
- Earth Power (used to be Zen Headbutt)
Kyurem-B is my cleaner, having fantastic offensive power and coverage, and, when backed by Tailwind, becomes extremely fast as well. Fusion Bolt and Outrage are the two main moves, with the best power, destroying many opponents immediately if I predict correctly. Ice Beam is a secondary STAB that, in lieu of a viable physical Ice-type move, hits many physically defensive Pokemon very hard, especially Gliscor and Landorus-T. The progenitor of this set used HP Fire in the last slot, but I left that behind since this is a rain team (in my opinion, however, it is best outside of rain). I am testing Earth Power over Zen Headbutt since it has better coverage, particularly against Magnezone (it expects Outrage, and dies on the switch-in).
Tentacruel (M) @ Black Sludge
Trait: Rain Dish
EVs: 240 Def / 252 HP / 16 Spd
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Knock Off(used to be Toxic Spikes)
- Rapid Spin
- Scald (used to be Venoshock)
- Magic Coat
Tentacruel takes most non-super effective special attacks without much trouble, as its special bulk is supreme. Knock Off and Magic Coat provide more defensive options that are very annoying, but be warned that Magic Coat takes very good prediction to use correctly, and is something I am still practicing. Still, bouncing back hazards (especially Spikes) is such a good feeling, as well as lead Breloom. I love seeing the sleep inducer fall asleep itself! Rapid Spin removes hazards from my side of the field, very important for Kyurem-B. Scald on Tentacruel gives me another Pokemon to spread burns, helpful since Tentacruel and Lucario are both fairly frail on the physical side, and this team LOVES residual damage.
Lucario (M) @ Choice Scarf (originally a Life Orb)
Trait: Justified
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 SDef
Hasty Nature
- Ice Punch
- Cross Chop
- Bullet Punch
- Me First(originally Copycat)
This is an extremely unusual Lucario set, as Draco Meteors and Outrages and so forth are bounced right back at the opponent! I got the idea when another Smogon member proposed a Copycat set in “The Next Best Thing” for Samurott, and I am not utilizing it in a different animal. Bullet Punch is my source of priority, Cross Chop is STAB, and Ice Punch is for coverage against all the Pokemon weak to it in the tier (Dragons are everywhere after all). Copycat is the surprise factor of the set, returning attacks at the opponent’s surprise. Most of the time this is a Dragon-type move (Draco Meteor mostly) or an entry hazard, but the uses are as close to endless as it gets in Pokemon. Originally Lucario held a Life Orb, but it was too slow and frail to return attacks without it.
Golurk @ Leftovers
Trait: No Guard
EVs: 252 Atk / 8 HP / 248 Def
Adamant Nature
- DynamicPunch
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Shadow Punch
Golurk is likely the most surprising member of the team, as it is in NU. However, it sets Stealth Rock up against many physically-based Pokemon, and its three-move coverage is incredible, including two powerful STABs from a Base 124 attack. Confusion is a major plus, giving me an easier time with checks and opposing weather starters. I could move more EVs to HP, but really, I don’t intend for Golurk to absorb special attacks, only physical ones. Golurk also destroys all standard Terrakion without much trouble, switching in on either STAB, or X-Scissor.
This team has gone through a good deal of testing, inquiry, revisions, wins, and losses, from Kyurem-B sweeps to Ferrothorn-Tentacruel stall wars. Please give me your feedback so this team can keep on frustrating and surprising opponents!
Often when I see a new idea I like, such as a new core, a creative moveset, or the like, it inspires the creation of a new team. By this point I had tested variations of Specially Defensive Salamence, with this team having a new one, and I also wanted to take Copycat Lucario for a spin, as well as the Tailwind + LO Kyurem-B combo. The other team members fell into place as a result.
Team building process:
I wanted to utilize a Copycat Lucario and Fighting Gem Politoed for surprise factor (i.e. sending LO Latios’s Draco Meteor right back at it) and to get the same power as Specs Focus Blast (once) for Ferrothorn while bluffing a choice item, respectively.
I had recently read about a Prankster Whimsicott Tailwind + LO Kyurem-B combination designed by another user, and wanted to test it. However, rather than Whimsicott, I used an original set, Specially Defensive Rain Salamence. I’m upset that Hydro Pump and Wish are illegal together.
I also wished to utilize Toxic Spikes, and Tentacruel came out as a clear winner, with double recovery under rain, setting my desired hazard, and spinning, which is very important since only 1 team member has recovery outside of Rain Dish/Leftovers/Black Sludge.
I also really wanted Stealth Rocks, as well as a reliable counter to Terrakion. Golurk gave me both in one shell, with great attacking power and confusion hax. Golurk also comes as a surprise to many since it is only NU.
As suggested by Rosez66, Me First replaced Copycat on Lucario to amplify the concept of "revenge killing," particularly against dragon-types. Zen Headbutt was replaced by Earth Power on Kyurem-B for better coverage, particularly against Magnezone, which many rain teams struggle with (of course, Golurk destroys it if it can switch in safely, but this can still help).
In this next phase, all the team members stayed the same, but two movesets received changes to prefer residual damage from burns rather than poison. It helps my team tackle physical hits better, and many Pokemon in the metagame are immune to Toxic Spikes (Salamence, Metagross, Jirachi, Tentacruel, Dragonite, Gliscor, etc.). Also, Politoed's Fighting Gem was replaced with Leftovers. This is the phase currently being tested.
Here is the team:
Politoed (M) @ Leftovers(used to be a Fighting Gem)
Trait: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SAtk / 4 Def
Modest Nature
- Focus Blast
- Scald (used to be Surf)
- Perish Song
- Protect
The rain-bringer itself, it’s Politoed! Politoed is a crucial part of my team, but not just for bringing rain. It can hit Ferrothorn with a Fighting Gem-boosted Focus Blast on the switch-in, which makes up for the absence of Choice Specs. Scald is used as a decent-powered STAB with a nice burn chance. Perish Song acts as a failsafe against set-up sweepers, and Protect stalls out these turns. This is part of why having entry hazards is so important. The EVs seem ideal considering Politoed is a semi-offensive semi-defensive Pokemon.
Salamence (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 252 SDef / 248 HP / 8 SAtk
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dragon Pulse
- Hydro Pump
- Roost
- Tailwind
This is likely my favorite Pokemon on the team, because with the EV spread and ability, Salamence tanks hits incredibly well, better than most opponents check. Not including switches to remove Intimidate’s effect, it is almost impossible to OHKO Salamence with an unboosted move that is not a STAB Ice-type move. Generally Hidden Power Ice will come up short. Salamence can then Tailwind, Roost (bringing the 4x Ice weakness temporarily to a 2x weakness), and cycle through it until somebody is forced out (usually the opponent). Dragon Pulse was chosen as a STAB, and Hydro Pump was chosen as a coverage move as it gets a significant boost in rain. The combination was put together to avoid the need to go mixed, and most Salamence are physical anyway.
Salamence is also my Tailwind setter for Kyurem-B, that combo I mentioned earlier. Quite frankly, this rarely goes as planned, and Salamence more often uses Tailwind for itself rather than its teammates, but when needed, the Tailwind boost is much appreciated by Kyurem-B (and Golurk to a lesser extent).
NOTE: Wish is illegal with Hydro Pump; otherwise Wish would probably replace Roost.
Kyurem-Black @ Life Orb
Trait: Teravolt
EVs: 252 Atk / 104 HP / 16 SAtk / 136 Spd
Naughty Nature
- Fusion Bolt
- Outrage
- Ice Beam
- Earth Power (used to be Zen Headbutt)
Kyurem-B is my cleaner, having fantastic offensive power and coverage, and, when backed by Tailwind, becomes extremely fast as well. Fusion Bolt and Outrage are the two main moves, with the best power, destroying many opponents immediately if I predict correctly. Ice Beam is a secondary STAB that, in lieu of a viable physical Ice-type move, hits many physically defensive Pokemon very hard, especially Gliscor and Landorus-T. The progenitor of this set used HP Fire in the last slot, but I left that behind since this is a rain team (in my opinion, however, it is best outside of rain). I am testing Earth Power over Zen Headbutt since it has better coverage, particularly against Magnezone (it expects Outrage, and dies on the switch-in).
Tentacruel (M) @ Black Sludge
Trait: Rain Dish
EVs: 240 Def / 252 HP / 16 Spd
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Knock Off(used to be Toxic Spikes)
- Rapid Spin
- Scald (used to be Venoshock)
- Magic Coat
Tentacruel takes most non-super effective special attacks without much trouble, as its special bulk is supreme. Knock Off and Magic Coat provide more defensive options that are very annoying, but be warned that Magic Coat takes very good prediction to use correctly, and is something I am still practicing. Still, bouncing back hazards (especially Spikes) is such a good feeling, as well as lead Breloom. I love seeing the sleep inducer fall asleep itself! Rapid Spin removes hazards from my side of the field, very important for Kyurem-B. Scald on Tentacruel gives me another Pokemon to spread burns, helpful since Tentacruel and Lucario are both fairly frail on the physical side, and this team LOVES residual damage.
Lucario (M) @ Choice Scarf (originally a Life Orb)
Trait: Justified
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 SDef
Hasty Nature
- Ice Punch
- Cross Chop
- Bullet Punch
- Me First(originally Copycat)
This is an extremely unusual Lucario set, as Draco Meteors and Outrages and so forth are bounced right back at the opponent! I got the idea when another Smogon member proposed a Copycat set in “The Next Best Thing” for Samurott, and I am not utilizing it in a different animal. Bullet Punch is my source of priority, Cross Chop is STAB, and Ice Punch is for coverage against all the Pokemon weak to it in the tier (Dragons are everywhere after all). Copycat is the surprise factor of the set, returning attacks at the opponent’s surprise. Most of the time this is a Dragon-type move (Draco Meteor mostly) or an entry hazard, but the uses are as close to endless as it gets in Pokemon. Originally Lucario held a Life Orb, but it was too slow and frail to return attacks without it.
Golurk @ Leftovers
Trait: No Guard
EVs: 252 Atk / 8 HP / 248 Def
Adamant Nature
- DynamicPunch
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Shadow Punch
Golurk is likely the most surprising member of the team, as it is in NU. However, it sets Stealth Rock up against many physically-based Pokemon, and its three-move coverage is incredible, including two powerful STABs from a Base 124 attack. Confusion is a major plus, giving me an easier time with checks and opposing weather starters. I could move more EVs to HP, but really, I don’t intend for Golurk to absorb special attacks, only physical ones. Golurk also destroys all standard Terrakion without much trouble, switching in on either STAB, or X-Scissor.
This team has gone through a good deal of testing, inquiry, revisions, wins, and losses, from Kyurem-B sweeps to Ferrothorn-Tentacruel stall wars. Please give me your feedback so this team can keep on frustrating and surprising opponents!
