B&W Rain Stall

[Skore]

Hi guys. I've lurked these forums long enough to finally absorb some of what's said here and I've decided to post my team that's seen some decent success on PO over the last week.

So the theme is nominally Rain-Stall, however it has some sweepers in there too for decisive action when needed, so without further ado:

Zapdos @ Light Clay
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Thunder
- Roost
- Volt Switch
- Light Screen

My lead, equipped with Light Clay to set up 7 turn screens and Volt Switch if I don't think I can get a screen off safely. Maybe I would be better to run a speed nature? I haven't noticed a lot of pokes outspeeding me so far though. I also get some late game sweeps out of him in the rain with some Thunder spam. Roost is for Regen but I'm open to suggestions as to a 4th move.

Forretress @ Leftovers
Relaxed with sturdy
248 HP / 176 Def / 84 SDef (0 speed IV's)
-spikes/toxic spikes
-stealth rock
-rapid spin
-volt switch/gyro ball

The first of my stallers. Only 2x weak to fire in the rain though he's much more useful as a physical tank. Set up Spikes, Rocks, Spin if needed. Pretty Standard. Works even better if Ludicolo has provided seeds. Also, the rare Trick room teams practically hand me free entry hazards if they lack the capability to KO him :) Also handy to be switched to if I think someone's about to throw a Toxic at my next poke...

Ludicolo (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Rain Dish
EVs: 252 HP / 40 Def / 216 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Leech Seed
- Protect
- Giga Drain
- Toxic

My BEAST of a tank. Rain Dish, Leech Seed and Leftovers makes for some serious HP regens per turn meaning that as long as it survives the big hits, it ain't going down. I've had great success using this against the likes of Latias' Draco Meteors etc.

Lucario (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Steadfast
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- ExtremeSpeed
- Close Combat
- Zen Headbutt

My Revenge Killer. Get in, get stuff dead, get out. ExtremeSpeed takes a lot of folks by surpise.

Politoed (M) @ Chesto Berry
Trait: Drizzle
EVs: 84 HP / 252 SAtk / 172 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Surf
- Focus Blast
- Ice Beam
- Rest

Wouldn't be raining without my Toed! I try and sneak him in after a Volt Switch to get the rain running asap as it makes my stallers more durable. He also gets some nice coverage with Focus Blast. I run surf as I prefer the reliability of it and it's boosted by rain. 1 less than accurate move is enough for me. Chesto/Rest usually catches people out and makes sure I can get Rain set up again if against an opponent's weather.

Sharpedo (F) @ Focus Sash
Trait: Speed Boost
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Protect
- Night Slash
- Waterfall
- Ice Fang

I love teams that let me use my favorite pokes! Focus sash for hanging on for that extra speed boost. Protect as a pseudo-boost move, 2 stab moves and Ice Fang for coverage, after 2 or 3 speed boosts there ain't no stopping him!


So that's my team members, but that's not all there is to a team, and this is where you guys come in.

Things I've noticed/Thoughts I've had:

I'm weak to Substitute users. They usually come in on one of my stallers and if I've managed to lose Lucario at that point it can be GG unless they misplay badly.

Zapdos vs Regenerator Mienshao? I've been toying with the idea as it could give me more similar switching options without wasting Attacking up-time with Roost, however I think Thunder in the rain is too good to pass on and it has won me a few matches with Zapdos monstrous Sp. Att behind it.

Entry Hazards, do I need more? I don't feel as if I do but I read a lot of war-stories about spikes, toxic spikes, AND stealth rock being up. What do you guys recommend.

All in all I've had some mega fun with this team and hopefully, with a bit of refining I can make it a beautiful thing.

Thanks for reading.

 

[PokeManiacBill]

You have only one check to Calm Mind Reuniclus, and I'm pretty sure it doesn't OHKO. (Sharpedo) (BTW, run Crunch on Sharpedo over Night slash)

Thus, I suggest running the infamous Choice Band Scizor over Lucario to counter Reuniclus.

(Scizor)
move 1: U-turn
move 2: Bullet Punch
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Pursuit / Quick Attack/ Bug Bite
item: Choice Band
nature: Adamant
ability: Technician
evs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spe

Oh yeah, and run Substitute over protect on Ludicolo. Everryone will be switching out, so getting free subs would be great.

I'm also wondering why getting Light Screen with Zapdos is good. It doesn't seem to help your team much.

Hope this helps ^^

 

[Skore]

You have only one check to Calm Mind Reuniclus, and I'm pretty sure it doesn't OHKO. (Sharpedo) (BTW, run Crunch on Sharpedo over Night slash)

Thus, I suggest running the infamous Choice Band Scizor over Lucario to counter Reuniclus.

(Scizor)
move 1: U-turn
move 2: Bullet Punch
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Pursuit / Quick Attack/ Bug Bite
item: Choice Band
nature: Adamant
ability: Technician
evs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spe

Oh yeah, and run Substitute over protect on Ludicolo. Everryone will be switching out, so getting free subs would be great.

I'm also wondering why getting Light Screen with Zapdos is good. It doesn't seem to help your team much.

Hope this helps ^^

Thanks for the tip, I'l be certain to try it out later tonight.

My only concern would be having 2 pokes that have a 4x fire weakness, though in rain this is less of an issue.

The reason I like my Light Screen from Zapdos is extra bulk for my Ferrothorn if I mispredict and eat a Focus Blast which is a very common move. Obviously the answer is "don't mispredict!" but if I never did that I'd be number 1 on a ladder somewhere :)

Ideally I would have gone for a flying stab in place of the screen but he doesn't get any good ones :(

I'll try Crunch on Sharpedo over Night Slash, though I've yet to run into a Reuniclus that my Ludicolo couldn't take! I'll try the sub seed tactic with him over protect and see how that works out.

 

[Rofellos]

Dont worry about the fire weakness with rain going on their moves are weaker anyways and scizor can certainly take care of himself, maybe you might want to give him roost instead of superpower though?

 

[Skore]

Ok I tried the Scizor thing and the Substitute thing with Ludicolo.

Neither of them worked for me. Scizor just felt too constrained with lesser coverage options than Lucario, and Extremespeed has won me a few matched from folks that obviously underestimated what Lucario is capable of.

The Sub thing, I don't know - I probably just am no using the move right but it seemed that I wasn't getting enough use out of the sub before it was popped and my net HP gain was lower overall causing me to have issues when trying to tank damage.

Incidentally, I am finding it hard to use Sharpedo effectively in my late game sweeps due to entry hazards. Can someone recommend a good spinner that would gel well with my team?

 

[iLLogic]

Alright I'm at work so bare with me, you can always try Forretress over Ferrothorn. Forretress can rapid spin, set up rocks or spikes and volt switch to a teammate safely. Also it may give your Zapados' light screen more of a meaning. Maybe try this:

Forretress@shed shell/leftovers
Relaxed with sturdy
248 HP / 176 Def / 84 SDef (0 speed IV's)
-spikes/toxic spikes
-stealth rock
-rapid spin
-volt switch/gyro ball

 

[Wreck]

you can always try Forretress over Ferrothorn. Forretress can rapid spin, set up rocks or spikes and volt switch to a teammate safely.

This- Especially in the rain you will have that safety.

+He has sturdy for those 'just in case's.

 

[Skore]

Hmm, I can definitely see the use of a Forretress. I'll give him a go and see how he works out. I like that he brings additional entry hazards for me to use.

Testing him now, it's about 50/50 the use I get out of him over Ferrothorn. Needs more play time.

 

[Skore]

Ok, I've gotten a much better feel for what Forretress can do for me and I like it.

He's now a permanent member of my team.