Hail is my favorite weather and when used correctly it is the best in weather vs weather match ups.
@ Leftovers
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 40 Speed / 216 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Body Slam
- Wish
- Protect
- Iron Head
Jirachi is such a dick. This set is great at spreading Paralysis and countering things like Latias and Reuniclus. Wish is mostly used for healing itself but in a pinch it can support Abomasnow by switching in on random ground moves. 40 speed outruns Jolly Tyranitar with the rest of the EVs focused on taking random Draco Meteors. It also usually beats Togekiss in hax vs hax wars which is hilarious when kids whine about their 'kiss being flinched to death by the thing they just Paralyzed.
@ Leftovers
Trait: Magnet Pull
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Charge Beam
- Substitute
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Thunderbolt
If you use a Jirachi, Scizor, Nattorei, Scarf Heatran or Bronzong without Earthquake you are probably going to lose at least two Pokemon to Magnezone. The first who is beat by Sub Charge Beam, the next who is usually OHKOed by +4 or so Thunderbolt / HP Ice (Blissey is 2HKOed at +4 and takes enough damage at +3 where she will probably die anyway). Magnezone also gets rid of the steels that slow down Outrages / Blizzards / Iron Heads. Particularly Skarmory WHO I HATE.
(M) @ Choice Specs
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Draco Meteor
- Surf / Grass Knot
- Psyshock
- Trick
Latios checks a TON of things I hate to face such as stall, fighting types (Infernape / Conkledurr), Fire types (Heatran mostly) and it gives me yet another way to take advantage of Magnezone killing steels. Even though it by no means is a counter, Latios helps a little against Excadrill and Landlos. Because Magnezone is hunting Steels I was able to drop HP Fire allowing me to usually outrun other Latios. Grass Knot it an option to 2HKO all Tyranitar but I guess Surf is better in pretty much every other situation.
(M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Sand Veil
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Aqua Tail / Double Chop
Scarfchomp patches up pretty much all weaknesses a team can have to anything. Outrage and Earthquake are obvious but the other two moves are my personal preference. Rock Slide OHKOs Volcarona who for whatever reason always assumes its faster than me but also gets a solid hit on Gyarados / Salamence without Outraging. I guess Stone Edge could work but I would rather not risk it in the few moments I need a Rock move on Garchomp. Then again Stone Edge does enough damage to remove Gyarados, Salamence, Defensive Volcarona, Thunderus and Zapdos without using Outrage. Aqua Tail is cool for when the opponent has something like a Tyranitar out and Gliscor / Balloon Heatran / Hippowdon. Instead of playing the risky prediction game I can just Aqua Tail and usually kill something (or at least hurt it and make it waste a turn Roosting). I might drop Rock Slide for Fire Blast but Aqua Tail is too useful to remove. Double Chop helps reduce prediction and let Garchomp counter Substitute Gengar and Breloom.
I may drop this for a Scarf Landorus to reduce the fighting weakness I have (particularly to counter Scrafty and Conkledurr), even though I'll be very fire weak.
(M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Snow Warning
EVs: 4 Defense / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Blizzard
- Giga Drain
- Focus Blast
- Ice Shard
Abomasnow is the anti-metagame Pokemon. In my opinion the way to use Hail isn't as a team theme but as a disruption mechanism. Its not used to boost my Pokemon, only to screw over opposing weather teams. If they have sand blowing who cares? But if its snowing they're most likely trying their hardest to get the sand back. Hes a great check to a TON of stuff so as long as I'm not stupid enough to switch it in on something like HP fire or Stone Edge Abomasnow generally lasts the whole game. Ice Shard looks dumb but it does like 60% to a Salamence and Dragonite. I know HP Fire kills Scizor but I don't care, if I can predict a switch in I can just double switch or attempt to do some damage with Blizzard. Abomasnow is usually sent out as a last resort because Hail cripples Magnezone and because hes best saved as a late game sweeper / random check against stuff.
(M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Rivalry
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Outrage
- Brick Break
- Earthquake
- Dual Chop
It has 147 base attack right? Wrong, its actually has 196 base attack because most of the time it gets a rivalry boost. Even when against a female Pokemon Haxorus has a decent 98 base Attack, more than enough to 2HKO a Blissey or something. Haxorus is my stall breaker because it can muscle through virtually all defensive Pokemon. Even Impish Skarmory can be 2HKOed if it drops to about 80%. Many Ferrothorn are outright 2HKOed by Outrage (and almost always 2HKOed by EQ). Brick Break OHKOs Balloon Heatran and all Tyranitar. Dual Chop OHKOs most frail Focus Sash leads like Infernape, Azelf, Aerodactyl and even Thunderus even though "90% accuracy" feels more like 60% a lot of the time. It also makes that poofy headed grass thing go die in a hole.
Jirachi is my lead on "team preview" (to lure out stuff like Politoed and Heatran) but Haxorus is my actual lead probably 90% of the time.
Volcarona 6-0s if Garchomp dies or Stone Edge misses. Gyarados also is a problem though it has trouble KOing everything here. Excadrill sweeps if Abomasnow dies and they can get sand back. If I had to drop a Pokemon it would be Haxorus but the replacement can't be weak to Stealth Rock, Fire, Fighting, Ground and it has to be able to hit hard physically / take advantage of Magnezone killing steels. A bulky Choice Band Flygon could work I guess.
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 40 Speed / 216 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Body Slam
- Wish
- Protect
- Iron Head
Jirachi is such a dick. This set is great at spreading Paralysis and countering things like Latias and Reuniclus. Wish is mostly used for healing itself but in a pinch it can support Abomasnow by switching in on random ground moves. 40 speed outruns Jolly Tyranitar with the rest of the EVs focused on taking random Draco Meteors. It also usually beats Togekiss in hax vs hax wars which is hilarious when kids whine about their 'kiss being flinched to death by the thing they just Paralyzed.
Trait: Magnet Pull
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Charge Beam
- Substitute
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Thunderbolt
If you use a Jirachi, Scizor, Nattorei, Scarf Heatran or Bronzong without Earthquake you are probably going to lose at least two Pokemon to Magnezone. The first who is beat by Sub Charge Beam, the next who is usually OHKOed by +4 or so Thunderbolt / HP Ice (Blissey is 2HKOed at +4 and takes enough damage at +3 where she will probably die anyway). Magnezone also gets rid of the steels that slow down Outrages / Blizzards / Iron Heads. Particularly Skarmory WHO I HATE.
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Draco Meteor
- Surf / Grass Knot
- Psyshock
- Trick
Latios checks a TON of things I hate to face such as stall, fighting types (Infernape / Conkledurr), Fire types (Heatran mostly) and it gives me yet another way to take advantage of Magnezone killing steels. Even though it by no means is a counter, Latios helps a little against Excadrill and Landlos. Because Magnezone is hunting Steels I was able to drop HP Fire allowing me to usually outrun other Latios. Grass Knot it an option to 2HKO all Tyranitar but I guess Surf is better in pretty much every other situation.
Trait: Sand Veil
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Aqua Tail / Double Chop
Scarfchomp patches up pretty much all weaknesses a team can have to anything. Outrage and Earthquake are obvious but the other two moves are my personal preference. Rock Slide OHKOs Volcarona who for whatever reason always assumes its faster than me but also gets a solid hit on Gyarados / Salamence without Outraging. I guess Stone Edge could work but I would rather not risk it in the few moments I need a Rock move on Garchomp. Then again Stone Edge does enough damage to remove Gyarados, Salamence, Defensive Volcarona, Thunderus and Zapdos without using Outrage. Aqua Tail is cool for when the opponent has something like a Tyranitar out and Gliscor / Balloon Heatran / Hippowdon. Instead of playing the risky prediction game I can just Aqua Tail and usually kill something (or at least hurt it and make it waste a turn Roosting). I might drop Rock Slide for Fire Blast but Aqua Tail is too useful to remove. Double Chop helps reduce prediction and let Garchomp counter Substitute Gengar and Breloom.
I may drop this for a Scarf Landorus to reduce the fighting weakness I have (particularly to counter Scrafty and Conkledurr), even though I'll be very fire weak.
Trait: Snow Warning
EVs: 4 Defense / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Blizzard
- Giga Drain
- Focus Blast
- Ice Shard
Abomasnow is the anti-metagame Pokemon. In my opinion the way to use Hail isn't as a team theme but as a disruption mechanism. Its not used to boost my Pokemon, only to screw over opposing weather teams. If they have sand blowing who cares? But if its snowing they're most likely trying their hardest to get the sand back. Hes a great check to a TON of stuff so as long as I'm not stupid enough to switch it in on something like HP fire or Stone Edge Abomasnow generally lasts the whole game. Ice Shard looks dumb but it does like 60% to a Salamence and Dragonite. I know HP Fire kills Scizor but I don't care, if I can predict a switch in I can just double switch or attempt to do some damage with Blizzard. Abomasnow is usually sent out as a last resort because Hail cripples Magnezone and because hes best saved as a late game sweeper / random check against stuff.
Trait: Rivalry
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Outrage
- Brick Break
- Earthquake
- Dual Chop
It has 147 base attack right? Wrong, its actually has 196 base attack because most of the time it gets a rivalry boost. Even when against a female Pokemon Haxorus has a decent 98 base Attack, more than enough to 2HKO a Blissey or something. Haxorus is my stall breaker because it can muscle through virtually all defensive Pokemon. Even Impish Skarmory can be 2HKOed if it drops to about 80%. Many Ferrothorn are outright 2HKOed by Outrage (and almost always 2HKOed by EQ). Brick Break OHKOs Balloon Heatran and all Tyranitar. Dual Chop OHKOs most frail Focus Sash leads like Infernape, Azelf, Aerodactyl and even Thunderus even though "90% accuracy" feels more like 60% a lot of the time. It also makes that poofy headed grass thing go die in a hole.
Jirachi is my lead on "team preview" (to lure out stuff like Politoed and Heatran) but Haxorus is my actual lead probably 90% of the time.
Volcarona 6-0s if Garchomp dies or Stone Edge misses. Gyarados also is a problem though it has trouble KOing everything here. Excadrill sweeps if Abomasnow dies and they can get sand back. If I had to drop a Pokemon it would be Haxorus but the replacement can't be weak to Stealth Rock, Fire, Fighting, Ground and it has to be able to hit hard physically / take advantage of Magnezone killing steels. A bulky Choice Band Flygon could work I guess.
