Dancing 'zone

[Prplcheez]

This is my fairly crappy, thrown-together-in-30-minutes Rain team.

PRIORITIES: Kingdra and Manaphy are the biggest problems right now. The rest of the team seems fine as is, but Kingdra and Manaphy are dragging me down because I don't have the right builds on them yet. I would like to keep Kingdra, but Manaphy can go.

Team at a glance

Team in depth

@Leftovers
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP, 120 Def, 136 SPDef
Nature: Sassy (+SPDef, -Spe)
IVs: 0 Spe
Moves:
Hypnosis
Protect
Hydro Pump
Toxic

DrizzleToed is, of course, a standard in any rain team that doesn't suck. Acts as a defensive lead to set up rain, hopefully being slower than other weather starters with a negative nature and 0 IVs. Hypnosis can cripple a sweeper that is unable to OHKO Politoed or tries to set up on it, Protect is used for scouting moves and movesets, Hydro Pump is used as STAB, and Toxic is used for secondary status or for crippling tanky pokemon who can afford to be put to sleep.

@Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 4 HP, 252 Atk, 252 Spe
Nature: Jolly (+Spe, -SPAtk)
Moves:
Dragon Dance
Outrage
Waterfall
Bounce

Kingdra in what is basically its standard physical Swift Swim set. Dragon Dance for boosting against things that I force a switch on, Outrage and Waterfall are for powerful dual-STAB, and Bounce is for coverage against those nasty grass types that so plague my team. I know Bounce isn't the greatest move (in fact, it's pretty terrible), but I can't figure out anything to replace it with.

@Life Orb
Ability: Hydration
EVs: 4 HP, 252 SPAtk, 252 Spe
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
Moves:
Tail Glow
Surf
Ice Beam
Rest

Pretty standard Tail Glow Manaphy, at least in concept (I didn't bother to look up the proper build when I did this, so it's more than likely entirely wrong). Tail Glow to get extreme boosts, Rest to recover health, Hydration to break out of Rest and other statuses, Surf for STAB, and Ice Beam for coverage. Sweeps extremely well when it gets a chance to set up, but it's easy to revenge and dies to anything that survives a hit. I'm considering replacing Manaphy entirely rather than just changing the build. Possibly a Swords Dance Toxicroak? Suggestions would be nice.

@Balloon
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 4 HP, 252 SPAtk, 252 Spe
Nature: Modest (+SPAtk, -Atk)
IVs: 31 HP, 31 Atk, 30 Def, 30 SPAtk, 30 SPDef, 30 Spe
Moves:
Rain Dance
Thunder
Flash Cannon
Hidden Power Fighting

Magnezone is an extraordinarily powerful attacker under rain. He can take a hit like nothing else and hit back with the most powerful Thunder in the game (not counting outside boosts). Magnezone can even switch in on most super effective attacks and strike back for a 100% accurate OHKO. My Magnezone uses Balloon for protection against its crippling 4x Ground weakness. It has Modest and 252 SPAtk EVs to support its already ungodly Special Attack stat, bringing it up to a grand total of 393 Special Attack. Rain Dance allows me to set up even if Politoed goes down, a much needed feature that many teams still don't have. Flash Cannon is secondary STAB, and Hidden Power Fighting allows Magnezone to take down most of the Pokemon that wall it. Unfortunately, I can't effectively use the standard HP Fighting because this is a rain team and it would be pointless.

@Choice Scarf
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP, 252 SPAtk, 252 Spe
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
Moves:
Rapid Spin
Hydro Pump
Thunder
Ice Beam

This build for Starmie randomly popped into the back of my head when I realized this team needed a Rapid Spinner, and I decided to try it out. So far, it's worked beautifully. Off of a blazing 541 Speed stat, Starmie outspeeds just short of everything in the game. Starmie can either come in to revenge with its immensely powerful STAB Hydro Pump or to spin away hazards. Thunder and Ice Beam are for coverage.

@Focus Sash
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 4 HP, 252 SPAtk, 252 Spe
Nature: Modest (+SPAtk, -Atk)
Moves:
Shell Smash
Hydro Pump
AncientPower
Ice Beam

Omastar is absolutely, undoubtedly the star of my team (please excuse the bad pun). When I first started playing Gen V, I used a Focus Sashed Shell Smash Cloyster with Skill Link as my lead in every single team, and I went 6-0 in almost every game. I rarely face off against anyone who has a priority attacker left by the time Omastar comes out, and with 836 speed and 722 Special Attack after a single Shell Smash, there is almost nothing in the game that can stop him.

Thanks for reading. Suggestions to fix my team and rating on an x/10 scale would be nice.

 

[KidX]

Hi,

To start there are some problems with your team.
First off try this set for kingdra:

Kingdra @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Naughty / Naive
EV's: 252 Atk / 24 SpA / 232 Spe
Moves:

~ Dragon Dance
~ Waterfall
~ Outrage
~ Ice Beam / Hydro Pump

This allows for a bit more versatile kingdra.

Also for Manaphy try out this spread: 252 Hp / 4 Sp.Atk / 252 Spe and use calm mind over tail glow, I have found this set to be really effective at staying in for long periods of time and just demolishing the opponent. I have literally 6-0 a team with CM manaphy its bulky plus it can eat status like nothing.

Next on Magnezone, the reason why other people don't need another rain dancer is because they manage to keep politoed alive, you should try to do the same because with rain dance you waste a moveslot on magnezone. So replace rain dance and use sub with lefties.

For Starmie, I love starmie to start, but I don't think you know how to use it properly. First off replace ice beam on starmie for trick, so starmie cannot be locked in rapid spin and allow the other team free setup.

Also if you do want to replace manaphy I would suggest a Ludicolo as your replacement, preferably a specs ludicolo because in the rain, it's a beast.

Another thing, you need a poke that can set up entry hazards to give your team an easier time sweeping because by the looks of it, you are using a pretty offensive rain team.

Good Luck

 

[enomis]

Hi.From one glance, ur team has a devastating grass/lightning weakness... 5 of your pokemon do not resist grass/lightning and are weak to it..So i would suggest replacing manaphy(which you want to replace with either ludicolo or nattorei) Personally, i prefer a choice band nattorei set as it deals out significant damage.One example would be as follows:
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Power Whip
move 2: Gyro Ball
move 3: Leech Seed / Spikes
move 4: Explosion / Level Ground / Payback
item: Choice Band
nature: Brave
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
ivs: 0 Spe

Furthermore you could replace magnezone with zapdos or jolteon. Both of these have volt absorb/lightning rod which could absorb lightning attack and increase their spA.

If you like, you could replace kingdra with a choice specs set which hit and run.But this way, your team would be too special attack focused and do not have a physical attack sweeper.

Also, you could consider to change your manaphy to this build:
Manaphy @ Leftovers
Trait: Hydration
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Calm Mind
- Boil Over
- Ice Beam
- Rest

This build allows you to raise your special def which increasing your sweeper ability and allows manaphy to be more bulky.

 

[Prplcheez]

Hi,

To start there are some problems with your team.

I know that, that's why I posted this.

Next on Magnezone, the reason why other people don't need another rain dancer is because they manage to keep politoed alive, you should try to do the same because with rain dance you waste a moveslot on magnezone. So replace rain dance and use sub with lefties.

So what if you're facing a sand team with Hippowdon and Tyranitar? There's really not much chance of Politoed outliving both of them even with good prediction, a skill which I unfortunately lack. A secondary rain dancer is, in my eyes, the most important part of the team besides Politoed itself. Also, Magnezone's Balloon is what keeps him alive. Replacing it with leftovers isn't gonna save me from a STAB Earthquake from really anything.

For Starmie, I love starmie to start, but I don't think you know how to use it properly. First off replace ice beam on starmie for trick, so starmie cannot be locked in rapid spin and allow the other team free setup.

As I stated in the OP, Starmie has been working wonders for my team. I run Choice Scarf because I want the speed, not because I want to cripple an enemy pokemon. That's what Politoed is for.

Also if you do want to replace manaphy I would suggest a Ludicolo as your replacement, preferably a specs ludicolo because in the rain, it's a beast.

I'll definitely find a build and try this out.

Another thing, you need a poke that can set up entry hazards to give your team an easier time sweeping because by the looks of it, you are using a pretty offensive rain team.

Or maybe I could replace Manaphy with Tentacruel instead and free up a moveslot on Politoed by taking out Toxic?

 

[KidX]

If you were to run tentacruel then I would say use a toxic spiker set

 

[His Eminence Lord Poppington II]

Manaphy is ridiculously strong right now, just run a Wacan berry offensive timid spread with tail glow / surf / rest / ice beam or grass knot. Don't use bulky calm mind, tail glow's + 3 supersedes all this bulky slow set up stuff.

Have a lightning rod zapdos to absorb electric attacks, have a nattorei to absorb grass attacks.

Bulky / offensive zapdos is up to you, but try and keep it alive so all sets should have roost, volt change is also great for scouting.

Nattorei run a standard spiking set, since it's quite integral for rain teams protect / leech seed is quite efficient at keeping it alive / scouting for moves, and in rain it can survive weaker fire moves, i.e. hidden power fire's from whatever. Final moveslot run power whip / gyro ball for basic stab or even stealth rock if you don't have another user, but you run the risk of becoming taunt bait.

So basically replace magnezone with zapdos - you don't need a steel trapper and zapdos has better defensive typing + can completely absorb electric attacks and has reliable recovery.

Replace starmie with nattorei as manaphy / kingdra / omastar is enough to sweep a team.

Also for omastar's moveset, I understand you want to make use of his rock stab but ancient power is awful, too weak, low pp and low chance of the secondary effect occurring, run HP grass, or even HP fire specifically for nattorei, even in rain + 2 hp fire is a ohko.

 

[jynx KB]

Finally, someone thinking sense. There was a reason Politoed was NU. His stats can't handle along haul game, so I'm suprised Rain Dance isn't carried more often.

As for the team, I would indeed try and find a place for Tentacruel, but I don't know where. The Fighting Resist, and Liquid Ooze on those Roobushin Drain Punches are a fun surprise.

Nattorei, while a decent choice, doesn't blend as well. True in the rain its one main weakness is gone, but the team doesn't have a Spin Blocker, and your stratagy is more offensive then Stall. Still with Thunder Wave, and Spikes over Toxic Spikes to avoid conflicting, it may be your preferred option.

That being said, I must could be wrong, but I would recommend replacing Omastar with either Cloyster or Ludicolo.

Ludi's typing would help against electric and grass moves, and Cloyster can pull off the same coverage and attacks with better stats. This does lose you a Swift Swimmer though.

Ludicolo is more of a Special Attacker though, and I note a lack of Physical moves.

Cloyster fills the role, but again, without Swift Swim, so consider Kabutops, who can spin, opening a moveslot for Starmie in Trick or Psychic, and has monsterous Physical attack power in the Rain, not to mention a bonus in Stealth Rock. (come to think of it, that may be an option over Aincient Power on Omastar too)

As for Kingdra, if you are indeed including hazards with Tentacruel ect. consider Roar for abuse and scouting, or Ice Beam to take on Grass types

That didn't exactly give a fix, but I hope it at least gave you some options to consider.

 

[Prplcheez]

Nattorei, while a decent choice, doesn't blend as well. True in the rain its one main weakness is gone, but the team doesn't have a Spin Blocker, and your stratagy is more offensive then Stall. Still with Thunder Wave, and Spikes over Toxic Spikes to avoid conflicting, it may be your preferred option.

I might try Nattorei, but it isn't on my list of priorities.

That being said, I must could be wrong, but I would recommend replacing Omastar with either Cloyster or Ludicolo.

Ludi's typing would help against electric and grass moves, and Cloyster can pull off the same coverage and attacks with better stats. This does lose you a Swift Swimmer though.

Ludicolo is more of a Special Attacker though, and I note a lack of Physical moves.

Cloyster fills the role, but again, without Swift Swim, so consider Kabutops, who can spin, opening a moveslot for Starmie in Trick or Psychic, and has monsterous Physical attack power in the Rain, not to mention a bonus in Stealth Rock. (come to think of it, that may be an option over Aincient Power on Omastar too)

I doubt I'll be replacing Omastar anytime soon. As I said in the OP, he is absolutely the crux of my team at the moment. Anyway, I see Cloyster as a lead only. I prefer to have him come out on a pokemon that's most likely going to be running setup and will not be able to do significant damage to Cloyster, so leading is the best strategy for me. I will be trying out Ludicolo or Tentacruel in place of Manaphy. Come to think of it, I might even try Kabutops over Kingdra.

As for Kingdra, if you are indeed including hazards with Tentacruel ect. consider Roar for abuse and scouting, or Ice Beam to take on Grass types

Kingdra doesn't really seem bulky enough to use Roar effectively for me.

That didn't exactly give a fix, but I hope it at least gave you some options to consider.

Thanks.

So basically replace magnezone with zapdos - you don't need a steel trapper and zapdos has better defensive typing + can completely absorb electric attacks and has reliable recovery.

I don't really use Magnezone as a steel trapper. There aren't any steels who give me any real trouble. Magnet Pull is more utility than anything, as Magnezone doesn't have any amazing abilities. Magnezone serves primarily as a backup Rain Dancer, and secondarily as an Electric attacker, with, as previously mentioned, the single-handedly most powerful (no boosts) Thunder in the game.

 

[phoenix_master]

I don't really use Magnezone as a steel trapper. There aren't any steels who give me any real trouble. Magnet Pull is more utility than anything, as Magnezone doesn't have any amazing abilities. Magnezone serves primarily as a backup Rain Dancer, and secondarily as an Electric attacker, with, as previously mentioned, the single-handedly most powerful (no boosts) Thunder in the game.

And Zapdos does all of those things better. Trust me, he is much better.
I mean if you're not even using Zone as a steel trapper, Zapdos is just better in every way. You're even using Balloon on him, Zapdos is immune to ground from the get go, which would free up a slot for lefties on him.
And also Zone's special attack stat is only marginally higher than Zapdos.
So unless you want to keep the title of having the strongest (however minute that feat is), unboosted Thunder in the game on your team, I strongly suggest you switch him to Zapdos