The main focus of this team is to clear the field of all of Raikou or Suicunes threats so that they can come in on a move they resist to set up their CM.
Azelf @ Focus Sash
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Zen Headbutt
- Explosion
- Taunt
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Lead Azelf primary aim is to set up SR. Other than that, it doesn’t have too much to do. EVs were put into Atk instead of SpA to give a more powerful explosion while still getting powerful physical stab with Zen Headbutt which takes out leads like Roserade who can set up toxic spikes to put a serious dent in Raikous sweep. Taunt prevents them from setting up or incapacitating Azelf, then SR and Zen Headbutt. It can take a would be OHKO with Focus Sash to ensure it gets SR up and then Explode if the damage is too serious.
Choice Scarf Jirachi stuffs this set up, making Azelf useless by flinching it and stopping the SR set up that I need for Raikou to get in those OHKOs that it needs to sweep. Switching to SpA and sticking Fir Blast on could potentially help with leads like Jirachi and still take out the occasional Roserade before it can set up. Fake Out Infernape is also annoying, but he’s not much of a threat with Starmie, Suicune and Raikou. Lead Tyranitar OHKOs Azelf with Pursuit, no matter what, although Azelf should still be able to get SR in play. Aerodactyl can cause a bit of a problem with taunt as it outspeeds Azelf and I can’t bring Suicune in to set up on it for the same reason. This leaves Gengar to clean up the mess with Tbolt until I can find a spot to bring Azelf back in safely to set up SR. This usually means on an EQ which will only be directed at Raikou, Starmie or maybe Suicune. If Raikou is already in play SR really needs to be in already, so it’s safer to bring Gengar in for a sweep if he’s still in play. Azelf easily has the most limited role on the team and the least synergy, but it fulfils its role and is necessary, if not irreplaceable.
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Raikou @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 4 HP/2 Def/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Shadow Ball
- Substitute
- Calm Mind
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Substitute first turn and either set up Calm Minds, or, in the case of a ground type such as Flygon, Dugtrio, or another fast Earthquake user being switched in, switch to Gengar to absorb (read: float daintily above) and sweep with Ice Beam. Some of Raikous biggest threats who can easily wall Raikou, notably Celebi and Hippowdon, are taken out by Scizor and Gengar respectively.
Forretress wasn’t placed on this team due to sharing a 4x Weakness to fire with Scizor which is lethal on the same team. Instead Starmie was chosen as a more reliable Spinner to swap in to Toxic Spikes as it is able to switch in, Spin away and then cure itself as it switches out. Tentacruel was another option, being able to set up another entry hazard with toxic spikes. But SR is the only real entry hazard needed to give Raikou and Suicune their sweeps.
Since this set is countered by many of the same Pokemon who counter the Offensive Booster, similar partners are recommended. However, since this Raikou is setting up over a number of turns rather than one, Toxic Spikes as a support option are usable. Roserade is likely the best option for this role due to its greater offensive presence, but Forretress is undeniably the most reliable Toxic Spiker in the game. Tentacruel is also a decent choice, but it is often disappointed by its typing.
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Suicune @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 SDef
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Calm Mind
- Rest
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Functions similarly to Raikou but doesn’t rely so heavily on having scouted out all the threats. Also not as vulnerable to entry hazards as rest can heal status effects after a few Calm Minds leave Suicune to sleep safely only to wake up to sweep them out or continue setting up. Suicune is also considerably slower then Raikou so, while it can bulk it out and take more damage, it ultimately has a hard time hitting before the opponent. However, its moveset covers pretty much all its weaknesses. Suicune is only resisted by other waters as its surf/icebeam moves cover nearly all bases. HP Grass over Rest would also take care of waters who can stall just as well as suicune can stall them at the cost of longevity and resistance to toxic spikes who can significantly shorten Suicunes lifespan if Starmie has been taken out.
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Gengar (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Shadow Ball
- Thunderbolt
- Focus Blast
- Trick
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Gengar fills out the role of spinblocker making sure that SR stays in play to allow Raikou and Suicune to get those OHKOs with less set up time. Gengar has Thunderbolt to deal massive damage to the waters that try to stall Suicune while Focus Blast and trick help deals with Blissey who can be an utter nightmare for Raikou and suicune and can also ruin an enemy setting up and give Raikou or Blissey a chance to swap in without damage to start setting up. Shadow Ball gives Gengar his STAB coverage and kills Starmie after switching in to stop Rapid Spin. Trick ruins Blissey, setting it up for Focus Blast Spam while explosion allows it to revenge kill after taking some damage in the later game while also dealing with Blissey. I think this set is more viable as it still allows Gengar to come back in later to sweep again.
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Scizor (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP/252 Atk/8 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- U-turn
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
- Pursuit
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Scizor is an amazing Scout and Tank with Choice Band. STAB U-Turn allows Scizor to scout amazingly well, and STAB priority Bullet Punch with Technician is just lethal. Scizor can take out Tyranitar and even Salamence after SR and prior damage. Pursuit is lethal on a predicted switch which are often forced as Scizor switches in and out so often. One of the Pokemon it can usefully KO is Blissey, a MAJOR wall for both Suicune and Raikou. Superpower allows Scizor to OHKO two of its counters, Magnezone and Heatran who can both be a major pain in the ass for Raikou. Scizor loves SR on its team, but hates it on its own side as it switches in and out so often. For this reason Gengar and Starmie are Scizors best friends. Scizor greatly helps Raikou as his incredible scouting ability allow me to predict their counters and control the field.
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Starmie @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 136 HP / 156 Def / 216 Spe
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Rapid Spin
- Surf
- Thunderbolt
- Recover
---
Starmie is mainly in play to prevent entry hazards from wearing down Scizor while scouting and to rid the field of toxic spikes to keep Raikou in play for longer. Starmie plays this role beautifully, especially with Natural Cure ridding it of burdensome Toxic status. Thunderbolt allows Starmie to take down the counters to Suicune while still walling the Bulk Waters that Suicune could previously only stall against and is especially helpful against Gyarados.
Surf provides Starmie with a nice STAB attack which can take down opponents for SE damage while Starmie Recovers off damage before being hit again.
Starmie and Scizor work together fantastically. Starmie spins away hazards that would bother Scizor while Scizor soaks up attacks that would KO Starmie. Starmie is also normally super effective against pokemon that would threaten Raikou.
Azelf @ Focus Sash
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Zen Headbutt
- Explosion
- Taunt
---
Lead Azelf primary aim is to set up SR. Other than that, it doesn’t have too much to do. EVs were put into Atk instead of SpA to give a more powerful explosion while still getting powerful physical stab with Zen Headbutt which takes out leads like Roserade who can set up toxic spikes to put a serious dent in Raikous sweep. Taunt prevents them from setting up or incapacitating Azelf, then SR and Zen Headbutt. It can take a would be OHKO with Focus Sash to ensure it gets SR up and then Explode if the damage is too serious.
Choice Scarf Jirachi stuffs this set up, making Azelf useless by flinching it and stopping the SR set up that I need for Raikou to get in those OHKOs that it needs to sweep. Switching to SpA and sticking Fir Blast on could potentially help with leads like Jirachi and still take out the occasional Roserade before it can set up. Fake Out Infernape is also annoying, but he’s not much of a threat with Starmie, Suicune and Raikou. Lead Tyranitar OHKOs Azelf with Pursuit, no matter what, although Azelf should still be able to get SR in play. Aerodactyl can cause a bit of a problem with taunt as it outspeeds Azelf and I can’t bring Suicune in to set up on it for the same reason. This leaves Gengar to clean up the mess with Tbolt until I can find a spot to bring Azelf back in safely to set up SR. This usually means on an EQ which will only be directed at Raikou, Starmie or maybe Suicune. If Raikou is already in play SR really needs to be in already, so it’s safer to bring Gengar in for a sweep if he’s still in play. Azelf easily has the most limited role on the team and the least synergy, but it fulfils its role and is necessary, if not irreplaceable.
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Raikou @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 4 HP/2 Def/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Shadow Ball
- Substitute
- Calm Mind
---
Substitute first turn and either set up Calm Minds, or, in the case of a ground type such as Flygon, Dugtrio, or another fast Earthquake user being switched in, switch to Gengar to absorb (read: float daintily above) and sweep with Ice Beam. Some of Raikous biggest threats who can easily wall Raikou, notably Celebi and Hippowdon, are taken out by Scizor and Gengar respectively.
Forretress wasn’t placed on this team due to sharing a 4x Weakness to fire with Scizor which is lethal on the same team. Instead Starmie was chosen as a more reliable Spinner to swap in to Toxic Spikes as it is able to switch in, Spin away and then cure itself as it switches out. Tentacruel was another option, being able to set up another entry hazard with toxic spikes. But SR is the only real entry hazard needed to give Raikou and Suicune their sweeps.
Since this set is countered by many of the same Pokemon who counter the Offensive Booster, similar partners are recommended. However, since this Raikou is setting up over a number of turns rather than one, Toxic Spikes as a support option are usable. Roserade is likely the best option for this role due to its greater offensive presence, but Forretress is undeniably the most reliable Toxic Spiker in the game. Tentacruel is also a decent choice, but it is often disappointed by its typing.
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Suicune @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 SDef
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Calm Mind
- Rest
---
Functions similarly to Raikou but doesn’t rely so heavily on having scouted out all the threats. Also not as vulnerable to entry hazards as rest can heal status effects after a few Calm Minds leave Suicune to sleep safely only to wake up to sweep them out or continue setting up. Suicune is also considerably slower then Raikou so, while it can bulk it out and take more damage, it ultimately has a hard time hitting before the opponent. However, its moveset covers pretty much all its weaknesses. Suicune is only resisted by other waters as its surf/icebeam moves cover nearly all bases. HP Grass over Rest would also take care of waters who can stall just as well as suicune can stall them at the cost of longevity and resistance to toxic spikes who can significantly shorten Suicunes lifespan if Starmie has been taken out.
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Gengar (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Shadow Ball
- Thunderbolt
- Focus Blast
- Trick
---
Gengar fills out the role of spinblocker making sure that SR stays in play to allow Raikou and Suicune to get those OHKOs with less set up time. Gengar has Thunderbolt to deal massive damage to the waters that try to stall Suicune while Focus Blast and trick help deals with Blissey who can be an utter nightmare for Raikou and suicune and can also ruin an enemy setting up and give Raikou or Blissey a chance to swap in without damage to start setting up. Shadow Ball gives Gengar his STAB coverage and kills Starmie after switching in to stop Rapid Spin. Trick ruins Blissey, setting it up for Focus Blast Spam while explosion allows it to revenge kill after taking some damage in the later game while also dealing with Blissey. I think this set is more viable as it still allows Gengar to come back in later to sweep again.
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Scizor (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP/252 Atk/8 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- U-turn
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
- Pursuit
---
Scizor is an amazing Scout and Tank with Choice Band. STAB U-Turn allows Scizor to scout amazingly well, and STAB priority Bullet Punch with Technician is just lethal. Scizor can take out Tyranitar and even Salamence after SR and prior damage. Pursuit is lethal on a predicted switch which are often forced as Scizor switches in and out so often. One of the Pokemon it can usefully KO is Blissey, a MAJOR wall for both Suicune and Raikou. Superpower allows Scizor to OHKO two of its counters, Magnezone and Heatran who can both be a major pain in the ass for Raikou. Scizor loves SR on its team, but hates it on its own side as it switches in and out so often. For this reason Gengar and Starmie are Scizors best friends. Scizor greatly helps Raikou as his incredible scouting ability allow me to predict their counters and control the field.
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Starmie @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 136 HP / 156 Def / 216 Spe
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Rapid Spin
- Surf
- Thunderbolt
- Recover
---
Starmie is mainly in play to prevent entry hazards from wearing down Scizor while scouting and to rid the field of toxic spikes to keep Raikou in play for longer. Starmie plays this role beautifully, especially with Natural Cure ridding it of burdensome Toxic status. Thunderbolt allows Starmie to take down the counters to Suicune while still walling the Bulk Waters that Suicune could previously only stall against and is especially helpful against Gyarados.
Surf provides Starmie with a nice STAB attack which can take down opponents for SE damage while Starmie Recovers off damage before being hit again.
Starmie and Scizor work together fantastically. Starmie spins away hazards that would bother Scizor while Scizor soaks up attacks that would KO Starmie. Starmie is also normally super effective against pokemon that would threaten Raikou.
