lol i have one and a half sets done right now, the reason i am posting it right now is to get advice right away before i get ahead of myself.
electrode is gonna be something that may be hard to write for because he focuses solely around rain dance most of the time. so before i really get going on this, i have some questions for you guys
1. Does Lead Electrode have any merit compared to RD Trode? (Leadtrode is HP Ground / Screech / Thunderbolt / Explosion)
2. Could an offensive set (Explosion / Thunderbolt / HP Ground or Grass / Sucker Punch) be viable or any variations of that?
3. How in depth should I go on for Rain Dance sweepers?
i ask these because i would like to test all possible ideas you guys come up with and so i can hear reasoning now on why a set or move works / does not work so we can avoid arguments later and also i can just test the best workable sets and can skip the junk.
again i figure this is a good way to make sure the sets are the best they can be right after i post them so we can avoid any disagreements later and it can be perfect asap.
http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/electrode
[SET]
name: Rain Dance
move 1: Rain Dance
move 2: Explosion
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Thunder
item: Damp Rock
ability: Soundproof
nature: Hasty
evs: 252 Atk / 208 Spe / 48 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With an absolutely incredible base Speed of 140 and a quick escape attack in Explosion, Electrode can take the title of the best Rain Dance lead in UU. Rain Dance is very beneficial to many sweepers in UU so it is a priority to get Rain Dance up if you plan on using this Electrode.</p>
<p>Obviously, you won't be able to use a Rain Dance set without Rain Dance, but the other attacks are as valuable in keeping your team safe and taking full advantage of the rain. Explosion is a great follow-up attack, OHKOing many other leads or switch-ins to Electrode and sending out a Rain Dance sweeper without the fear of an attack. Taunt is also very valuable on Electrode, allowing it to prevent the use of the move Stealth Rock, as well as other weather moves the opponent may use, which may allow your sweepers more time to attack. Thunder is mostly a filler move but is great for scoring quick kills lategame if Electrode remains alive. Thunder also takes out Drifblim who is immune to Explosion. As an added bonus, Thunder can also kill Poliwrath, who will absorb Water-type attacks with Water Absorb or block Explosion with Damp, and Golduck, who also sports the ability Damp, as well as the ability Cloud Nine, an ability which stops weather effects.</p>
<p>208 Speed EVs and a Hasty nature will allow Electrode to outspeed Pokemon with a base Speed of 85 that use a Choice Scarf. However, if these Pokemon opt for a Speed boosting nature, Electrode will not be faster. 252 Attack EVs power up Explosion, allowing Electrode to kill much of UU without a problem.</p>
<p>This set is to always be partnered with other Pokemon who use Rain Dance to more effectively sweep such as Ludicolo and Kabutops. Although Rain Dance itself does not have many weaknesses, Electrode does, the main ones being faster Pokemon who can shut Electrode down, such as Choice Scarf Roserade who can Sleep Powder Electrode before Electrode can Rain Dance. It may be helpful to pair Electrode alongside a Honchkrow with Insomnia as well as your other Rain Dance sweepers. This way, Honchkrow can absorb any sleep moves directed at Electrode and Pursuit the Pokemon to give Electrode another chance.</p>
[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Explosion
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Hidden Power Water / Hidden Power Ice
item: Life Orb
ability: Soundproof
nature: Hasty
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS}
<p>Although Electrode is generally used as a Rain Dance lead, a Life Orb set can be used quite effectively for two reasons, the element of surprise and a Base Speed of 140. A common reason players tend to using a Life Orb Electrode is because Electrode's movepool isn't as diverse as many common sweepers, however, Thunderbolt and Hidden Power can provide decent coverage, with Explosion allowing you to go out with a boom.</p>
<p>Thunderbolt is a very dangerous attack, considering only 11 Pokemon in UU are resistant or immune to it. This wide coverage of Thunderbolt should make it your primary attacking option. Since a neutral STAB Thunderbolt will do more damage than a Super effective Hidden Power, the Hidden Power that you decide to use should be used rather sparsely, and should be saved for situations where the damage output would be immediately higher than Thunderbolt. This is the reason Hidden Power Water is listed as the main option, able to cause some serious damage to Ground-types immune to Thunderbolt, such as Steelix and Claydol. Hidden Power Ice can be used over Hidden Power Water to still hit most Ground- and opposing Grass-types, however you will no longer be able to hit Steelix, one of Electrode's most common switch-ins, for Super effective damage.</p>
<p>Taunt and Explosion work very well together, especially when trying to break through a stringent stall team, being able to Taunt to stop Spikes, Stealth Rock, Toxic Spikes, and most importantly recovery moves. Afterwards, Electrode can attack using Thunderbolt and the Hidden Power of choice when necessary, before finally using Explosion on something that is too tough to take down, such as Chansey or Shaymin. The fast Speed of Electrode helps this strategy out a lot, giving Electrode the fastest Taunt in UU, allowing you to ensure an Explosion, without the fear of a sudden Protect or Detect. Electrode does make a fine Life Orb sweeper, and therefore, Explosion should remain as a last resort move of sorts.</p>
<p>Electrode will most likely not be taking hits with its paper-thin defenses, however, since Thunderbolt is very handy against Water-types and considering that most Water-types use special-orientated moves, using a Hasty nature rather than a Naive nature could prove to be beneficial if you hope to switch Electrode in on a special attack and then attempt to sweep. It is important to realize that this tactic should only be used in desperate situations, and that Electrode would be much safer off switching in after a kill or switching in on something with very weak moves.</p>
<p>This Electrode works well in conjunction with other strong sweepers such as Blaziken and Honchkrow, both of whom can eliminate Grass-types and the potent Steel-types who can attempt to wall this set. It is also handy to use Electrode with Light Screen and Reflect, mostly because the ever-looming threat of priority attacks, that can destroy Electrode and its paper-thin defenses. Blaziken and Honchkrow also help deal with priority users, both boasting their own priority attacks in the form of Vacuum Wave and Sucker Punch, respectively.</p>
<p>Most Pokemon benefit from the extra support of Spikes and Stealth Rock, however, Electrode absolutely needs them. Without Spikes and Stealth Rock, Electrode may not be able to OHKO many Pokemon. A case of this can be found with Blaziken, who will only take 76% maximum damage from Thunderbolt. However, with Thunderbolt being used on a Blaziken who has taken prior Stealth Rock and Spikes damage once, it turns into a OHKO.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>As mentioned before, Electrode truly shines when used in conjunction with fast sweepers, with it be the ones that abuse Rain Dance, or those that clear the field for Life Orb Electrode. Everything that can be used to support the playing field should also generally be used, whether it be used by Electrode itself or a teammate. Examples include Stealth Rock and Spikes, which can give Electrode and the Pokemon it supports an easier time sweeping, as well as Light Screen and Reflect, which give Electrode a bit of defense.</p>
<p>Offensively, the best Pokemon to use with Electrode are usually strong attackers that can decimate teams such as Honchkrow, Blaziken, and Moltres. This gives Electrode a much clearer field to work with, as well as giving Electrode some much needed support against Pokemon like Chansey and Clefable.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>A Choice Specs set works surprisingly well, using every viable attack that Electrode has, such as Signal Beam and Hidden Power. However, Electrode usually enjoys the freedom of attacks when using a sweeping set, which is why Life Orb is usually the preferred option. Likewise, you could attach a Choice Band to Electrode to power up Explosion and perhaps Sucker Punch, however it doesn't help Electrode's other attacks at all, and is therefore mostly useless.</p>
<p>Don't bother with Gyro Ball, ever. Some people assume that in a Trick Room, Electrode's actual speed will be reversed, powering up Gyro Ball. However, the Speed is not reversed, and Gyro Ball will do measly damage to anything it hits.</p>
<p>With the constant talk of how Light Screen and Reflect are truly helpful to Electrode, it may be a bit of surprise to see that Electrode can actually learn Light Screen himself. Unfortunately, it's extremely difficult to find a slot for Light Screen on any of Electrode's set, and should be used on something else.</p>
<p>Charge Beam looks helpful on a Life Orb set, powering up Electrode's Special Attack, but unfortunately, it doesn't provide much immediate power as Thunderbolt does, and with very low defensive stats, Electrode won't have enough time to make full use of it. Sucker Punch was mentioned earlier on the possible Choice Band set, but in most cases, Electrode is always going to be outspeeding opposing Pokemon, making it useless. It is neat to use if you are extremely weak to other priority users though, however those Pokemon will usually take very little damage from Sucker Punch.</p>
<p>Static is an alternate ability that can paralyze an opposing Pokemon 30% of the time, as long as they hit Electrode with a contact move. This is highly situational though, and therefore, Soundproof is much more useful, blocking out moves such as Roar, Perish Song, and the very dangerous Bug Buzz from Yanmega.</p>
[EVs]
<p>On the Rain Dance set, 208 Speed EVs will allow Electrode to outspeed Choice Scarf Hitmonlee, the only real threat that can prevent Electrode from getting Rain Dance up. On the Life Orb set, it's best to simply maximize Speed and Special Attack, to get the jump on other Electrode, as well as any other Pokemon that design their EV spreads to specifically outrun Rain Dance Electrode. Life Orb will make up for the power lost in the Attack stat.</p>
[Opinion]
<p>Electrode may very well be the best Rain Dance lead in UU, and with Rain Dance being such a viable strategy in a metagame where weather use is rather limited, it makes Electrode a severe threat to watch out for. Electrode, boasting the fastest Taunt and Explosion in the game, other than Choice Scarfers, can put a halt to opposing teams trying to set up. Electrode also makes a swell revenge killer to Pokemon who may attempt to boost their Speed, such as Feraligatr and Altaria.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Since most Electrode will run a Rain Dance set, a weather changer or simply a strong Choice Scarfer can make short work of Electrode and its capabilities. Choice Scarf Roserade is a fine choice, being able to outspeed Electrode and use Sleep Powder before it can retaliate. Other Grass-types such as Shaymin and Sceptile are also fine answers to Electrode, resistant to Thunder(bolt) as well as Hidden Power Water. They also handle any of the Pokemon that benefit from Rain Dance reasonably well, although they must watch out for Ice Beam. Ludicolo is also a fine choice, boasting a rather high Special Defense, as well as using the Rain to its advantage.</p>
<p>Electrode is very frail and can also die to quick priority. Although priority may not be able to stop the Rain Dance Electrode from setting up, it will put a quick end to the Life Orb Electrode and whatever it attempts to accomplish. Some examples of these Pokemon are Hitmontop and Ambipom.</p>
<p>Like most Electric-type Pokemon, Electrode must be very wary of Ground-types such as Steelix and Claydol. The latter is especially dangerous, resisting Explosion alongside an immunity to Thunder(bolt). Other Ground-types such as Rhydon, Camerupt, Gastrodon, and Quagsire, while not as common, are just as troubling for Electrode.</p>
is there anything i can do to improve this or does it look good. Im a bit concerned about the team options and if i should go more indepth on the rain dance sweepers.
thanks for support guys.
electrode is gonna be something that may be hard to write for because he focuses solely around rain dance most of the time. so before i really get going on this, i have some questions for you guys
1. Does Lead Electrode have any merit compared to RD Trode? (Leadtrode is HP Ground / Screech / Thunderbolt / Explosion)
2. Could an offensive set (Explosion / Thunderbolt / HP Ground or Grass / Sucker Punch) be viable or any variations of that?
3. How in depth should I go on for Rain Dance sweepers?
i ask these because i would like to test all possible ideas you guys come up with and so i can hear reasoning now on why a set or move works / does not work so we can avoid arguments later and also i can just test the best workable sets and can skip the junk.
again i figure this is a good way to make sure the sets are the best they can be right after i post them so we can avoid any disagreements later and it can be perfect asap.
http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/electrode
[SET]
name: Rain Dance
move 1: Rain Dance
move 2: Explosion
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Thunder
item: Damp Rock
ability: Soundproof
nature: Hasty
evs: 252 Atk / 208 Spe / 48 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With an absolutely incredible base Speed of 140 and a quick escape attack in Explosion, Electrode can take the title of the best Rain Dance lead in UU. Rain Dance is very beneficial to many sweepers in UU so it is a priority to get Rain Dance up if you plan on using this Electrode.</p>
<p>Obviously, you won't be able to use a Rain Dance set without Rain Dance, but the other attacks are as valuable in keeping your team safe and taking full advantage of the rain. Explosion is a great follow-up attack, OHKOing many other leads or switch-ins to Electrode and sending out a Rain Dance sweeper without the fear of an attack. Taunt is also very valuable on Electrode, allowing it to prevent the use of the move Stealth Rock, as well as other weather moves the opponent may use, which may allow your sweepers more time to attack. Thunder is mostly a filler move but is great for scoring quick kills lategame if Electrode remains alive. Thunder also takes out Drifblim who is immune to Explosion. As an added bonus, Thunder can also kill Poliwrath, who will absorb Water-type attacks with Water Absorb or block Explosion with Damp, and Golduck, who also sports the ability Damp, as well as the ability Cloud Nine, an ability which stops weather effects.</p>
<p>208 Speed EVs and a Hasty nature will allow Electrode to outspeed Pokemon with a base Speed of 85 that use a Choice Scarf. However, if these Pokemon opt for a Speed boosting nature, Electrode will not be faster. 252 Attack EVs power up Explosion, allowing Electrode to kill much of UU without a problem.</p>
<p>This set is to always be partnered with other Pokemon who use Rain Dance to more effectively sweep such as Ludicolo and Kabutops. Although Rain Dance itself does not have many weaknesses, Electrode does, the main ones being faster Pokemon who can shut Electrode down, such as Choice Scarf Roserade who can Sleep Powder Electrode before Electrode can Rain Dance. It may be helpful to pair Electrode alongside a Honchkrow with Insomnia as well as your other Rain Dance sweepers. This way, Honchkrow can absorb any sleep moves directed at Electrode and Pursuit the Pokemon to give Electrode another chance.</p>
[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Explosion
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Hidden Power Water / Hidden Power Ice
item: Life Orb
ability: Soundproof
nature: Hasty
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS}
<p>Although Electrode is generally used as a Rain Dance lead, a Life Orb set can be used quite effectively for two reasons, the element of surprise and a Base Speed of 140. A common reason players tend to using a Life Orb Electrode is because Electrode's movepool isn't as diverse as many common sweepers, however, Thunderbolt and Hidden Power can provide decent coverage, with Explosion allowing you to go out with a boom.</p>
<p>Thunderbolt is a very dangerous attack, considering only 11 Pokemon in UU are resistant or immune to it. This wide coverage of Thunderbolt should make it your primary attacking option. Since a neutral STAB Thunderbolt will do more damage than a Super effective Hidden Power, the Hidden Power that you decide to use should be used rather sparsely, and should be saved for situations where the damage output would be immediately higher than Thunderbolt. This is the reason Hidden Power Water is listed as the main option, able to cause some serious damage to Ground-types immune to Thunderbolt, such as Steelix and Claydol. Hidden Power Ice can be used over Hidden Power Water to still hit most Ground- and opposing Grass-types, however you will no longer be able to hit Steelix, one of Electrode's most common switch-ins, for Super effective damage.</p>
<p>Taunt and Explosion work very well together, especially when trying to break through a stringent stall team, being able to Taunt to stop Spikes, Stealth Rock, Toxic Spikes, and most importantly recovery moves. Afterwards, Electrode can attack using Thunderbolt and the Hidden Power of choice when necessary, before finally using Explosion on something that is too tough to take down, such as Chansey or Shaymin. The fast Speed of Electrode helps this strategy out a lot, giving Electrode the fastest Taunt in UU, allowing you to ensure an Explosion, without the fear of a sudden Protect or Detect. Electrode does make a fine Life Orb sweeper, and therefore, Explosion should remain as a last resort move of sorts.</p>
<p>Electrode will most likely not be taking hits with its paper-thin defenses, however, since Thunderbolt is very handy against Water-types and considering that most Water-types use special-orientated moves, using a Hasty nature rather than a Naive nature could prove to be beneficial if you hope to switch Electrode in on a special attack and then attempt to sweep. It is important to realize that this tactic should only be used in desperate situations, and that Electrode would be much safer off switching in after a kill or switching in on something with very weak moves.</p>
<p>This Electrode works well in conjunction with other strong sweepers such as Blaziken and Honchkrow, both of whom can eliminate Grass-types and the potent Steel-types who can attempt to wall this set. It is also handy to use Electrode with Light Screen and Reflect, mostly because the ever-looming threat of priority attacks, that can destroy Electrode and its paper-thin defenses. Blaziken and Honchkrow also help deal with priority users, both boasting their own priority attacks in the form of Vacuum Wave and Sucker Punch, respectively.</p>
<p>Most Pokemon benefit from the extra support of Spikes and Stealth Rock, however, Electrode absolutely needs them. Without Spikes and Stealth Rock, Electrode may not be able to OHKO many Pokemon. A case of this can be found with Blaziken, who will only take 76% maximum damage from Thunderbolt. However, with Thunderbolt being used on a Blaziken who has taken prior Stealth Rock and Spikes damage once, it turns into a OHKO.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>As mentioned before, Electrode truly shines when used in conjunction with fast sweepers, with it be the ones that abuse Rain Dance, or those that clear the field for Life Orb Electrode. Everything that can be used to support the playing field should also generally be used, whether it be used by Electrode itself or a teammate. Examples include Stealth Rock and Spikes, which can give Electrode and the Pokemon it supports an easier time sweeping, as well as Light Screen and Reflect, which give Electrode a bit of defense.</p>
<p>Offensively, the best Pokemon to use with Electrode are usually strong attackers that can decimate teams such as Honchkrow, Blaziken, and Moltres. This gives Electrode a much clearer field to work with, as well as giving Electrode some much needed support against Pokemon like Chansey and Clefable.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>A Choice Specs set works surprisingly well, using every viable attack that Electrode has, such as Signal Beam and Hidden Power. However, Electrode usually enjoys the freedom of attacks when using a sweeping set, which is why Life Orb is usually the preferred option. Likewise, you could attach a Choice Band to Electrode to power up Explosion and perhaps Sucker Punch, however it doesn't help Electrode's other attacks at all, and is therefore mostly useless.</p>
<p>Don't bother with Gyro Ball, ever. Some people assume that in a Trick Room, Electrode's actual speed will be reversed, powering up Gyro Ball. However, the Speed is not reversed, and Gyro Ball will do measly damage to anything it hits.</p>
<p>With the constant talk of how Light Screen and Reflect are truly helpful to Electrode, it may be a bit of surprise to see that Electrode can actually learn Light Screen himself. Unfortunately, it's extremely difficult to find a slot for Light Screen on any of Electrode's set, and should be used on something else.</p>
<p>Charge Beam looks helpful on a Life Orb set, powering up Electrode's Special Attack, but unfortunately, it doesn't provide much immediate power as Thunderbolt does, and with very low defensive stats, Electrode won't have enough time to make full use of it. Sucker Punch was mentioned earlier on the possible Choice Band set, but in most cases, Electrode is always going to be outspeeding opposing Pokemon, making it useless. It is neat to use if you are extremely weak to other priority users though, however those Pokemon will usually take very little damage from Sucker Punch.</p>
<p>Static is an alternate ability that can paralyze an opposing Pokemon 30% of the time, as long as they hit Electrode with a contact move. This is highly situational though, and therefore, Soundproof is much more useful, blocking out moves such as Roar, Perish Song, and the very dangerous Bug Buzz from Yanmega.</p>
[EVs]
<p>On the Rain Dance set, 208 Speed EVs will allow Electrode to outspeed Choice Scarf Hitmonlee, the only real threat that can prevent Electrode from getting Rain Dance up. On the Life Orb set, it's best to simply maximize Speed and Special Attack, to get the jump on other Electrode, as well as any other Pokemon that design their EV spreads to specifically outrun Rain Dance Electrode. Life Orb will make up for the power lost in the Attack stat.</p>
[Opinion]
<p>Electrode may very well be the best Rain Dance lead in UU, and with Rain Dance being such a viable strategy in a metagame where weather use is rather limited, it makes Electrode a severe threat to watch out for. Electrode, boasting the fastest Taunt and Explosion in the game, other than Choice Scarfers, can put a halt to opposing teams trying to set up. Electrode also makes a swell revenge killer to Pokemon who may attempt to boost their Speed, such as Feraligatr and Altaria.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Since most Electrode will run a Rain Dance set, a weather changer or simply a strong Choice Scarfer can make short work of Electrode and its capabilities. Choice Scarf Roserade is a fine choice, being able to outspeed Electrode and use Sleep Powder before it can retaliate. Other Grass-types such as Shaymin and Sceptile are also fine answers to Electrode, resistant to Thunder(bolt) as well as Hidden Power Water. They also handle any of the Pokemon that benefit from Rain Dance reasonably well, although they must watch out for Ice Beam. Ludicolo is also a fine choice, boasting a rather high Special Defense, as well as using the Rain to its advantage.</p>
<p>Electrode is very frail and can also die to quick priority. Although priority may not be able to stop the Rain Dance Electrode from setting up, it will put a quick end to the Life Orb Electrode and whatever it attempts to accomplish. Some examples of these Pokemon are Hitmontop and Ambipom.</p>
<p>Like most Electric-type Pokemon, Electrode must be very wary of Ground-types such as Steelix and Claydol. The latter is especially dangerous, resisting Explosion alongside an immunity to Thunder(bolt). Other Ground-types such as Rhydon, Camerupt, Gastrodon, and Quagsire, while not as common, are just as troubling for Electrode.</p>
is there anything i can do to improve this or does it look good. Im a bit concerned about the team options and if i should go more indepth on the rain dance sweepers.
thanks for support guys.
