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Battle's Tears (OU Rain Dance)

Endymion

Battle's Tears- Opening Thoughts
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This is my OU Rain team, and my very first RMT. (Really, one of my first posts, I'm a big time wall fly lurker.) I'm sure I'm not breaking any new ground here, but I did try to use some different guys for my support roles. An exceedingly offensively minded team (Save for Zong) for an exceedingly offensive metagame. So the things I'm right off the bat concerned with are: no real answer for Blissey or Empoleon in the context of Rain, (I don't want to shoehorn in a Fighting type if I don't have to) my choices for support, and maybe a couple moves here and there on a couple of guys... and oh yeah, no Earthquake.

Any changes to the team are in brilliant teacher's red.
The Starting Lineup:
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Azelf @ Damp Rock
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Spd / 4 Sp. Def
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Rain Dance
- Stealth Rocks
- Taunt
- Explosion

The support positions of my team was actually the part I had the hardest time figuring out. My opening game overall isn't all that great, but I figured Azelf would be a fast and powerful Rain Dancer to open things up. Flamethrower in the rain seems like a poor idea, but Modest Azelf still gets a OHKO on Scizor even in the rain.(No no no, I figured this was a bad idea, the suggested changes have been made, and *gasp* he looks like a lead now. I stink at leads.) This guy usually isn't around for too long, though that is probably a deficit on my part. I was also thinking Trick Uxie would be a decent lead as well, though no Damp Rock hurts. My general strategy with this guy is: If I can OHKO it, do so, if I can't, but think leaving him in won't make him burst into flames, set up Rain, and if the opposing lead looks like it could make confetti out of him, switch to probably Bronzong to get the Rain up.
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Kabutops (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Swift Swim
EVs: 32 HP / 252 Atk / 20 Def / 204 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Waterfall
- Stone Edge
- Aqua Jet

My primary (read: only) physical threat. Not too complicated a team member choice here, this guy hits really hard, as I'm writing this I just finished a battle wherein this guy almost made it back from a 4-1 deficit and only didn't because of a mistake on my part. It occurs to me that I could teach this guy Superpower, but I can't see replacing any of these moves. Playing this guy is fairly simple, I don't like bringing him in early game though, seems like a more clean-up sweeper to me. This guy handles Gyarados cleanly, unless Stone Edge misses. I try not to think about that.

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Jolteon (F) @ Choice Specs Trait: Volt Absorb
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 SDef
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunder
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Shadow Ball
- Signal Beam


Yeah, this guy seems like a much better idea in this slot. Electric attacks don't hurt quite as much as they did before. Switch in, and Choice someone into oblivion. Have to predict here, because this guy sends a pretty blatant *switch to ground* signal.


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Bronzong @ Damp Rock
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 80 Atk / 80 Def / 96 SDef
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Rain Dance
- Explosion
- Gyro Ball
- Reflect

The other support position I had trouble deciding on, I picked this fella because I don't have a Stealth Rocks user in the bunch and well, you know. (Azelf does the Stealth thing now, and so I could switch to Gyro Ball, and the changes to my EVs and nature reflect the new move addition. Defenses have also been evened out at the expense of some attack.) Thing is, as a Rain team, this guy seems like he bogs down my battles, slowing things down and such. Though that is also probably operator error. Reflect to help with the defenses, and explosion to deal with more hardy foes.
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Kingdra (F) @ Life Orb
Trait: Swift Swim
EVs: 200 Atk / 108 Spd / 200 SAtk
Naughty Nature (+Atk, -SDef)
- Signal Beam
- Waterfall
- Hydro Pump
- Draco Meteor

The all-star rain abuser (Save maybe Kyogre, but he's uber), stupid fast in the rain and all of those bonuses to it's water attacks wrecks things. I realize that two water moves seems like a bad idea, but that move wrecks most of the physically defensive Pokemon that try to switch in on him. Ice beam hasn't been as useful as I anticipated it being, so I might switch that out for moar Rain Dance. (Or I could switch it for Signal Beam, as suggested. Which I did. And it has done good things. Celebi loves switching into Kingdra, just to take between 80 and 100% damage. It's funny each time. I also gave him more speed.) Remember what I said about Surf with Ludicolo, yeah, that and then some with Hydro Pump. Faster and can deal enough damage to shatter other frail sweepers, OHKOs Lucario without fail.
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Rotom-W @ Damp Rock Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Spd / 252 SAtk
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Thunder
- Rain Dance
- Shadow Ball


Another new addition to the crew, Rotom-W has a lot of attacking options here. I decided to go full attack, like I sort of wanted to with Zapdos, excepting that it seems like a good idea with Rotom-W. The Levitate also means that he is an important ground check if the rain isn't out or Kabutops and Kingdra are incapacitated (Bad times).






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To conclude...

So that's it, this team has done fairly well in battle, and I'm sure with more user experience with the team it'll go better. Strangely, the one Pokemon who really gives me fits is Jolteon (Now on the team, hilariously enough.), those high power T-bolts hurt, other than that, most threats are out-sped as long as rain is out. Any suggestions or insight would be helpful. Thank you in advance for your time.

Ex-Teammates-
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Ludicolo (F) @ Life Orb
Trait: Swift Swim
EVs: 60 HP / 196 Spd / 252 SAtk
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Surf
- Grass Knot
- Ice Beam
- Rain Dance

A secondary special sweeper, and another fairly common choice for a Rain team, but for fantastic reasons. My only real Swampert check outside of a jacked up Kabutops or a Zong-splosion. Plus he's sneakily difficult to bring down, due of course to his strange uncommon typing. Bringing this guy in isn't all that difficult. I come in and turn on the hose. Surf does massive damage to most things that don't outright resist it.

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Zapdos @ Damp Rock
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 248 HP / 228 Def / 32 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Thunder
- Rain Dance
- Roost
- Hidden Power [Ice]

Ah, the one support position that I was fairly sure of. Zapdos seems like a natural match for rain. 100% accuracy Thunder makes my day. (See Azelf) I'm really really leaning towards making Zappy specially bulky as opposed to physically. Or maybe saying "screw it" and making him full offense. Due to all of the Ice moves I have, I might make Hidden Power Grass.
 
Well, to start I don't know much about rain teams, but I'll do my best to help.

First, you say you have no real answer to Bliss, but a +2 Waterfall or Stone edge can OHKO the standard maxHP/maxDef Bliss, not to mention you can set up on Bliss, so she isn't that big of a problem if you ask me. Also, a Waterfall in the rain from Kingdra can OHKO as well.

Next I would suggest changing Ludicolo to a Timid Specs Jolteon with and Ev spread of 252SpAtk/4SpDef/252Spe with Thunder, Hp Grass, Shadow Ball, and Signal Beam. This set can OHKO Empoleon with Thunder(something your Zapdos can't do) and it can OHKO all Swampert sets with Hp Grass, except the CursePert which it can 2HKO and maybe OHKO if rocks are down(although that is a VERY slim chance). Plus Jolteon adds an electric immunity, something your team lacked before. He also allows you to fair better vs. Celebi OHKOing any Celebi with signal beam, that might otherwise cause some problems to your team. Not to mention he can outspeed and OHKO any Gengar(Not outspeeding ScarfGar).

Hope I helped :)
 
Hi there. This looks like a fairly decent rain dance team.

I would suggest a few changes on your Azelf lead. With a Damp Rock as opposed to a focus sash you need HP EVs to ensure that you survive attacks. Therefore I would suggest 252hp 4def 252spe Jolly. Your moveset should include Stealth Rock, since it is important to set it up early to deal with problems like Gyarados. It also prevents constant switching to stall out your rain turns. I would then also suggest Taunt, since it can help protect you from stuff like lead Roserade, as well as preventing SR from opposing leads. Therefore the moveset should be Rain Dance/Stealth Rock/ Taunt/Explosion or U-turn.

Obviously if you put SR on Azelf, you don't need it on bronzong. There are any number of moves you could use instead, such as Light Screen, Hypnosis, Gyro ball and Earthquake. You could consider a more defensive spread to set up rain multiple times.

I would suggest a few changes on Kingdra. Mixed is definitely the way to go, but I fail to see the need for Ice beam. You may as well use Signal Beam, for Celebi, or HP electic, for Gyarados. Contrary to what the above person said, Kingdra should be able to tear through Blissey with relative ease in the rain. However, I think you should take some Evs out of the offensive stats and put them into speed. You really do not want to see your whole team swept by something like Scarf Flygon.

Similarly, you don't want to be swept by anything with an electric move, like a Specs Jolteon. Therefore you may want to consider a rain support Rotom-W in place of Zapdos, to provide an electric resistance. With an offensive spread, he can take advantage of the rain with both thunder and Hydro Pump. Swampert could also be an option over Bronzong in this respect.

Good luck
 
I'm not very good at competitive battling, however other alternatives to ice beam on kingdra and hp ice on zapdos should be considered. The ban of salamence into uber justifies this imo.
 
Yeah, most of the changes you guys suggested have been implemented with fairly good results. (So many Celebi have been Signal Beamed into oblivion. :) )

I really appreciate the help from everyone.
 
First,Change Jolteon To LO So It Doesnt Need To Switch OUT and IN.And Why Rotom When There Is Ludicolo The Beast In RAIN >_>..Just Use Energy Ball > Grass Knot For Ludicolo..He Can Resist Ground And Attack Also Set Up Rain.Its a Beast I Have Use It In EVERY Rain Dance Team Plus,Rotom Doesnt Counter Swamperts Etc.So Yeah Use Ludicolo > Rotom As It Abuse Rain Much MORE Then Ludi.Surf Does Destructive Damage In Rain.Use This Set For Ludicolo
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Ludicolo @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 Speed / 252 Sp.atk
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Surf
- Energy Ball
- Ice Beam
- Rain Dance

  • Use Light Screen > Gyro Ball On Bronzong: So Your Rain Abusers Can Survive a Hit From Special Attacks If It Fails To Kill The Desired Pokemon

  • Use Naive Nature > Naughty On Kingdra: So You Can Outspeed Scarf Users Like Flygon Etc.

  • You Could Use X-Scissor > Aqua Jet On Kabutops: Because Celebi Loves Twaving The Rain Abusers As He Will Switch In To Celebi And Starts Twaving

  • If You Put X-Scissor On Kabutops:,Replace Signal Beam With Rain Dance On Jolteon

  • Btw Draco Meteor Does Hurt Alot Of Pokemon That Doesnt Resist It
Hope I Helped


GL With The Team!
 
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