Yo Smogon, this is my first RMT here. This teams is a Rain Dance-based team for the NuU enviroment that was born yesterday. It's meant for both Shoddy and Wifi, originally it was just being tested for Wifi, but after my rating started actually doing something (rather then some silly test teams) I decided to actually work the ladder a bit. So go ahead and give me advice, I'd be open to switching team members, but I want to maintain the basic structure of the team. The one problem I think I have is a lack of another rain abuser or rain utility pokemon. Let me know what you guys think! I thought it was very cool that it was almost a mono-Johto team!
Changes in bold.
The version you guys see below is version 4: RegiRain
LEAD:
Crobat - Jolly - Inner Focus w/Damp Rock
120 Hp/ 136 Attack/ 252 Speed
Taunt
Rain Dance
Brave Bird
Roost
The closest thing NuU can offer as a "perfect lead". Generally I always lead off with Taunt, except in a situation were I will obviously be attacked, like Ambipom. Interestingly enough, I don't always set up Rain Dance on my first turns with Crobat. If I Taunt and disable something like a Froslass or enemy Crobat, I immediately switch Steelix to get the Rocks up before I set up Rain Dance and start the sweep. This is often important because Stealth Rocks punishes opponents who think they can stall out my Rain Dance. Also Brave Bird > U-turn, as it allows Crobat to function as an excellent revenge killer.
RAIN SWEEPERS:
Qwilfish - Adamant - Swift Swim w/Life Orb
160 Hp/252 Attack/96 Speed
Waterfall
Explosion
Poison Jab
Taunt
Qwilfish is a very underrated Rain Dance sweeper. I actually had some kid write "Lol Qwilfish" before it finished off two of his pokemon with a Waterfall followed by an Explosion. In a perfect situation, after Crobat sets up Rain Dance, Qwilfish is the first sweeper I bring in, mainly because of Uxie and Mespirit, who at full health, effectively wall Ludicolo. If it's a tough situation for Ludicolo, like the Pixies, Clefable or Chansey, I'll usually explode. This generally opens the door for Ludicolo to sweep through the majority of my opponents team. However, Qwilfish is generally underestimated by opponents which at times will allow him to Swords Dance, allowing him to sweep through opposing teams with Waterfall and Poison Jab. Another bonus of Qwilfish is that it's a grounded Poison who can absorb the T-Spikes, which helps Ludicolo sweep (The rest of my team doesn't give a fuck about them.)
I haven't completely given up on SD Qwilfish, but I'm now in love with the Taunt version. I've learned to hate status with this fast paced rain team, especially Thunder Wave. Incoming Clefables and Milotics are shut down and then 2hko'd while they can do little back.
Ludicolo - Modest - Swift Swim w/Life Orb
4 Defense/ 252 Special Attack/ 252 Speed
Surf
Grass Knot
Ice Beam
Rain Dance
Very standard special Ludicolo sweeper. I'm very pleased with this guy, he usually nets 2 kills minimum per match. He's the focus of what I'm setting up Rain Dance for. Really I don't see me changing anything here, even though one interesting thought popped into my head regarding my Manetric problem, Hidden Power Ground. But If I did that I would want to put Rain Dance on another pokemon, the only spot I could possibly fit it is on Qwilfish over Swords Dance, but I don't think he's bulky enough to handle that job.
I doubt it, but should I consider a different special-based rain sweeper like Omastar? Just something to think about, even though generally Ludicolo has been very successful.
Kabutops - Adamant - Swift Swim w/Life Orb
48 Hp/252 Attack/208 Speed
Swords Dance
Waterfall
Stone Edge
Aerial Ace
The last move is a toss up because the both let me beat Clefable, but Sub is definitely better for fucking up Shaymin. I'll test both. The 208 Speed is to outpace Timid Scarf Typhlosion (not sure if the standard is Modest or Timid...).
At the suggestion of Imran, I realized that Azumarril was really just slowing my team down, when I should have been keeping the offensive pressure up. Kabutops helps me do that. It's also a great switch in to Typhlosion's Eruption with it's X4 resistance. I like the flow of the team a lot more with Kabutops.
Substitute is gone because after a SD, Stone Edge okhos Shaymin, and Waterfall ohkos even Bold 252/252 Clefable. Aerial Ace is now in the fourth slot because it ohkos Poliwrath and Toxicroak, who resist Water + Rock. Quagsire resists that combo as well, but my other Swift Swimmers deal with Quag well.
SUPPORT:
Registeel - Impish - Clear Body w/Damp Rock
252 Hp/56 Defense/200 Special Defense
Rain Dance
Iron Head
Explosion
Stealth Rock
I actually think this set could work out quite nicely because like I've stated above, I often find myself switching to Registeel right after Crobat Taunts the opponent, and then setting up SR and switching back to Crobat to get rain going. Now I can do this without switching. Either of the three attacking options look solid.
CLEANER:
Staraptor - Jolly - Intimidate w/Life Orb
4 Hp/ 252 Attack/ 252 Speed
Return
Roost
Close Combat
Brave Bird
Originally this was another support pokemon. I've tried an Psych Up Umbreon to beat Calm Minders, but then I just wasn't encountering enough of them to justify using Umbreon. The second supporter was a Bold Rotom that could set up more rain if necessary and spread a little status. However I often found that if I blew my rainy load to early, without taking out enough of the opposing team's members I had to stall out and hope. Not anymore though. It's been said a thousand times before but CBRaptor tears through teams in a big way. I almost exclusively use Return. Some highlights include 2HKO's on Claydols and Gligars who think they are going to take a Brave Bird. Truth of the matter is I almost never use Brave Bird. Close Combat is very useful for the Steels. It may be suspect-material, but it's a great addition to the team. I switched Choice Band with Life Orb because it helps Staraptor accomplish his cleaning role better.
However, I would be willingly to try out other cleaner/support option if you guys have any good ideas. Having only two rain dancers can be a problem and sometimes Qwilfish gets left out to dry, thankfully though his base 85 speed renders him still useful.
Team problems/threats:
Medicham - Especially Focus Sash lead versions. It usually goes something like this...Rain Dance (Crobat is dead), Qwilfish attacks (Qwilfish is dead), Ludicolo attacks finally killing Medicham. This is partially for my own personal reference because this team has no real way to deal with this guy. It's really only the leads, because non-lead versions are usually choiced and get swept up in the rain. I've had especially retarded experiences were I end up losing Crobat, Registeel and Ludicolo without ever setting up rain or finishing off Medicham. So if someone has a solution other then this let me know, but I know it's probably not going to happen without changing a team member and I'm really not willing to do that. One option that strikes me is to run Aqua Jet.
Staraptor - Usually lead versions hurt me the most because they can ohko Crobat, so I really have a choice of attacking or setting up Rain Dance. I usually try and do as much damage as possible to lead off with, often sacrificing Crobat. However, I'm beginning to think the best solution here would be to switch to and sacrifice Staraptor, just to get that early game intimidate drop. I don't know, I really need help with this one. Against smart opponents, I'll usually have to deal with Staraptor coming in multiple times to Intimidate Kabutops and Qwilfish. It's really annoying. Seriously 4 of the 8 losses the current version of this team have suffered came from the same team and 3 more of those losses from a Medicham leading team.
Previous team members:
- Standard Steelix
- SD Qwilfish
- Resttalk Azumarril
- Crappy support options
How the team plays:
This is generally a very fast paced team. Crobat usually Taunts, sets up Rain Dance, then attempts to kill itself/dent the opposing team with Brave Bird, eventually killing itself and sneaking in Ludicolo or Qwilfish without harm. If I get an opportunity to get Steelix in and set up SR before the Rain Dancing I will. I generally don't have much trouble with opposing Weather teams, as Abomasnow has to decide weather it wants to stay in and die to Crobat or switching out and let me set up Rain Dance. I usually go to Qwilfish to nail Aboma with a Poision Jab when it inevitably switches back in to hurt my Rain. Against Sunny Day teams I usually just sacrifice something then switch in Crobat who sets up Rain Dance and takes a resisted fire attack. My current issue is that I'm very very hesitant to switch in Qwilfish right after Rain Dance is set up, because for starters, it just isn't that Bulky and secondly, Ludicolo really rips through teams that aren't prepared so he rather have the 5 + turns of rain that Crobat set up. The team also could potentially benefit from a priority move, and another pokemon to set up rain. I considered changing Azumarril's moveset to include Aqua Jet and Rain Dance, but I have a really hard time giving up the offensive and defensive power that the current set affords. The other thing that is nice about this team is that Toxic Spikes really do nothing to me, and just by viture of Taunt on Crobat I keep a lot of entry hazzards off the field.
Thanks for taking the time to review the team everyone! Btw I've been playing under Boomerthecat on Shoddy for those of you who may have played me.
Notes to self: ALWAYS RAIN DANCE AGAINST MEDICHAM LEADS.
Record for current incarnation of this team (V.4 Registeel), Shoddy: 80 - 30
1/29: 1427
1/30: 1483
1/31: DNP
2/1: 1463 (11-9 coupled with not playing for a day)
2/2: (Hitmonlee testing period) 1 - 3
Fuck yes my current Conservative Estimate Rating is nearly 1500. It's currently 1483, so I should reach 1500 and the top 50 on the UU leaderboard soon. I'm a little bummed now because at one point my record for this team was 44 - 4, then I stayed up all night playing like the exact same teams that totally walled me, just so I could get to 1500 quickly. But then I took like 8 losses from two teams, it sucked much. Yay! Just took over the 50th spot on the UU leaderboard, temporarily, but still I'm very happy I did that in like two days.
Ugh my success has really hit a wall lately, since going 44 - 4, I've only been 23 - 18. I don't know exactly why this has happened, I don't seem to be playing differently, but people seem to finding a way to stall out my rain, and really effectively wall my team. Perhaps I'm playing to lazily and sacrificing to much because it worked so well in the beginning of this team's run.
Hmmm well with the suspect period beginning in a few days I think it's time to build a non-rain team to get a better feel for what we'll be voting on, at 80 - 30, this team was a huge success! Thanks Smogon for making my first RMT experience awesome!
Changes in bold.
The version you guys see below is version 4: RegiRain
LEAD:
Crobat - Jolly - Inner Focus w/Damp Rock
120 Hp/ 136 Attack/ 252 Speed
Taunt
Rain Dance
Brave Bird
Roost
The closest thing NuU can offer as a "perfect lead". Generally I always lead off with Taunt, except in a situation were I will obviously be attacked, like Ambipom. Interestingly enough, I don't always set up Rain Dance on my first turns with Crobat. If I Taunt and disable something like a Froslass or enemy Crobat, I immediately switch Steelix to get the Rocks up before I set up Rain Dance and start the sweep. This is often important because Stealth Rocks punishes opponents who think they can stall out my Rain Dance. Also Brave Bird > U-turn, as it allows Crobat to function as an excellent revenge killer.
RAIN SWEEPERS:
Qwilfish - Adamant - Swift Swim w/Life Orb
160 Hp/252 Attack/96 Speed
Waterfall
Explosion
Poison Jab
Taunt
Qwilfish is a very underrated Rain Dance sweeper. I actually had some kid write "Lol Qwilfish" before it finished off two of his pokemon with a Waterfall followed by an Explosion. In a perfect situation, after Crobat sets up Rain Dance, Qwilfish is the first sweeper I bring in, mainly because of Uxie and Mespirit, who at full health, effectively wall Ludicolo. If it's a tough situation for Ludicolo, like the Pixies, Clefable or Chansey, I'll usually explode. This generally opens the door for Ludicolo to sweep through the majority of my opponents team. However, Qwilfish is generally underestimated by opponents which at times will allow him to Swords Dance, allowing him to sweep through opposing teams with Waterfall and Poison Jab. Another bonus of Qwilfish is that it's a grounded Poison who can absorb the T-Spikes, which helps Ludicolo sweep (The rest of my team doesn't give a fuck about them.)
I haven't completely given up on SD Qwilfish, but I'm now in love with the Taunt version. I've learned to hate status with this fast paced rain team, especially Thunder Wave. Incoming Clefables and Milotics are shut down and then 2hko'd while they can do little back.
Ludicolo - Modest - Swift Swim w/Life Orb
4 Defense/ 252 Special Attack/ 252 Speed
Surf
Grass Knot
Ice Beam
Rain Dance
Very standard special Ludicolo sweeper. I'm very pleased with this guy, he usually nets 2 kills minimum per match. He's the focus of what I'm setting up Rain Dance for. Really I don't see me changing anything here, even though one interesting thought popped into my head regarding my Manetric problem, Hidden Power Ground. But If I did that I would want to put Rain Dance on another pokemon, the only spot I could possibly fit it is on Qwilfish over Swords Dance, but I don't think he's bulky enough to handle that job.
I doubt it, but should I consider a different special-based rain sweeper like Omastar? Just something to think about, even though generally Ludicolo has been very successful.
Kabutops - Adamant - Swift Swim w/Life Orb
48 Hp/252 Attack/208 Speed
Swords Dance
Waterfall
Stone Edge
Aerial Ace
The last move is a toss up because the both let me beat Clefable, but Sub is definitely better for fucking up Shaymin. I'll test both. The 208 Speed is to outpace Timid Scarf Typhlosion (not sure if the standard is Modest or Timid...).
At the suggestion of Imran, I realized that Azumarril was really just slowing my team down, when I should have been keeping the offensive pressure up. Kabutops helps me do that. It's also a great switch in to Typhlosion's Eruption with it's X4 resistance. I like the flow of the team a lot more with Kabutops.
Substitute is gone because after a SD, Stone Edge okhos Shaymin, and Waterfall ohkos even Bold 252/252 Clefable. Aerial Ace is now in the fourth slot because it ohkos Poliwrath and Toxicroak, who resist Water + Rock. Quagsire resists that combo as well, but my other Swift Swimmers deal with Quag well.
SUPPORT:
Registeel - Impish - Clear Body w/Damp Rock
252 Hp/56 Defense/200 Special Defense
Rain Dance
Iron Head
Explosion
Stealth Rock
I actually think this set could work out quite nicely because like I've stated above, I often find myself switching to Registeel right after Crobat Taunts the opponent, and then setting up SR and switching back to Crobat to get rain going. Now I can do this without switching. Either of the three attacking options look solid.
CLEANER:
Staraptor - Jolly - Intimidate w/Life Orb
4 Hp/ 252 Attack/ 252 Speed
Return
Roost
Close Combat
Brave Bird
Originally this was another support pokemon. I've tried an Psych Up Umbreon to beat Calm Minders, but then I just wasn't encountering enough of them to justify using Umbreon. The second supporter was a Bold Rotom that could set up more rain if necessary and spread a little status. However I often found that if I blew my rainy load to early, without taking out enough of the opposing team's members I had to stall out and hope. Not anymore though. It's been said a thousand times before but CBRaptor tears through teams in a big way. I almost exclusively use Return. Some highlights include 2HKO's on Claydols and Gligars who think they are going to take a Brave Bird. Truth of the matter is I almost never use Brave Bird. Close Combat is very useful for the Steels. It may be suspect-material, but it's a great addition to the team. I switched Choice Band with Life Orb because it helps Staraptor accomplish his cleaning role better.
However, I would be willingly to try out other cleaner/support option if you guys have any good ideas. Having only two rain dancers can be a problem and sometimes Qwilfish gets left out to dry, thankfully though his base 85 speed renders him still useful.
Team problems/threats:
Medicham - Especially Focus Sash lead versions. It usually goes something like this...Rain Dance (Crobat is dead), Qwilfish attacks (Qwilfish is dead), Ludicolo attacks finally killing Medicham. This is partially for my own personal reference because this team has no real way to deal with this guy. It's really only the leads, because non-lead versions are usually choiced and get swept up in the rain. I've had especially retarded experiences were I end up losing Crobat, Registeel and Ludicolo without ever setting up rain or finishing off Medicham. So if someone has a solution other then this let me know, but I know it's probably not going to happen without changing a team member and I'm really not willing to do that. One option that strikes me is to run Aqua Jet.
Staraptor - Usually lead versions hurt me the most because they can ohko Crobat, so I really have a choice of attacking or setting up Rain Dance. I usually try and do as much damage as possible to lead off with, often sacrificing Crobat. However, I'm beginning to think the best solution here would be to switch to and sacrifice Staraptor, just to get that early game intimidate drop. I don't know, I really need help with this one. Against smart opponents, I'll usually have to deal with Staraptor coming in multiple times to Intimidate Kabutops and Qwilfish. It's really annoying. Seriously 4 of the 8 losses the current version of this team have suffered came from the same team and 3 more of those losses from a Medicham leading team.
Previous team members:
- Standard Steelix
- SD Qwilfish
- Resttalk Azumarril
- Crappy support options
How the team plays:
This is generally a very fast paced team. Crobat usually Taunts, sets up Rain Dance, then attempts to kill itself/dent the opposing team with Brave Bird, eventually killing itself and sneaking in Ludicolo or Qwilfish without harm. If I get an opportunity to get Steelix in and set up SR before the Rain Dancing I will. I generally don't have much trouble with opposing Weather teams, as Abomasnow has to decide weather it wants to stay in and die to Crobat or switching out and let me set up Rain Dance. I usually go to Qwilfish to nail Aboma with a Poision Jab when it inevitably switches back in to hurt my Rain. Against Sunny Day teams I usually just sacrifice something then switch in Crobat who sets up Rain Dance and takes a resisted fire attack. My current issue is that I'm very very hesitant to switch in Qwilfish right after Rain Dance is set up, because for starters, it just isn't that Bulky and secondly, Ludicolo really rips through teams that aren't prepared so he rather have the 5 + turns of rain that Crobat set up. The team also could potentially benefit from a priority move, and another pokemon to set up rain. I considered changing Azumarril's moveset to include Aqua Jet and Rain Dance, but I have a really hard time giving up the offensive and defensive power that the current set affords. The other thing that is nice about this team is that Toxic Spikes really do nothing to me, and just by viture of Taunt on Crobat I keep a lot of entry hazzards off the field.
Thanks for taking the time to review the team everyone! Btw I've been playing under Boomerthecat on Shoddy for those of you who may have played me.
Notes to self: ALWAYS RAIN DANCE AGAINST MEDICHAM LEADS.
Record for current incarnation of this team (V.4 Registeel), Shoddy: 80 - 30
1/29: 1427
1/30: 1483
1/31: DNP
2/1: 1463 (11-9 coupled with not playing for a day)
2/2: (Hitmonlee testing period) 1 - 3
Fuck yes my current Conservative Estimate Rating is nearly 1500. It's currently 1483, so I should reach 1500 and the top 50 on the UU leaderboard soon. I'm a little bummed now because at one point my record for this team was 44 - 4, then I stayed up all night playing like the exact same teams that totally walled me, just so I could get to 1500 quickly. But then I took like 8 losses from two teams, it sucked much. Yay! Just took over the 50th spot on the UU leaderboard, temporarily, but still I'm very happy I did that in like two days.
Ugh my success has really hit a wall lately, since going 44 - 4, I've only been 23 - 18. I don't know exactly why this has happened, I don't seem to be playing differently, but people seem to finding a way to stall out my rain, and really effectively wall my team. Perhaps I'm playing to lazily and sacrificing to much because it worked so well in the beginning of this team's run.
Hmmm well with the suspect period beginning in a few days I think it's time to build a non-rain team to get a better feel for what we'll be voting on, at 80 - 30, this team was a huge success! Thanks Smogon for making my first RMT experience awesome!