Hang 20 (Rain team)

[Run with scizors]

I've always wanted to make a successful rain team, but I've never been able to, mostly because I can never figure synergy out. I'm good at using rain abusers, but they always tend to die because I can't find them the right support. Luckily, when I tried it in doubles, I had much better luck. The goal with this team is to get Kingdra or Ludicolo in, somebody else in, and surf to victory, hence the name "Hang 20". Bare with me as this is my first RMT.

Team​

Politoed @ Water Gem
Trait: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 200 Def / 56 SDef
Relaxed (+Def, -Spd)
-Surf
-Protect
-Icy Wind
-Helping Hand​

How can you have a rain team with out the toed? EVs (like on all other pokemon on this team) are straight off Smogon. It's slow to under speed other weathers. I generally use Icy wind first to slow the other team so Jynx can outrun everything (especially after her sash broke and she has 1 HP). Surf is the next used move because it helps most of the team. Protect is just a filler. Helping hand is only used if Surf doesn't make sense and the the team is already slow, or, I want to be sure something dies. I didn't know what to do about the item so I just slapped a Gem on.

Jynx @ Focus Sash
Trait: Dry Skin
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 SDef
Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
-Fake Out
-Lovely Kiss
-Ice Beam
-Protect
​

Jynx is a beast and deserves to be at the bottom of UU. On this doubles team, she is basically a Hitmontop. It's her responsibility to stop the most threatening opponent, while Politoed uses icy wind. After that, Jynx will either kill something, put a major threat to sleep, or protect if it seems like everybody will gang up on her. Jynx is only problem is her non existent defense, and that's where the Sash comes in.

Kingdra @ Life Orb
Trait: Swift Swim
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest (+SAtk, -Atk)
-Surf
-Dragon Pulse
-Ice Beam
-Protect
​

Kingdra is the other star of the team because of its super strong offence, able to outspeed everything, good defensive typing and surf. Dragon Pulse for 2nd stab but is usually reserved for other Kingdra, and Ice Beam has good coverage. Protect is usually just a filler. Life Orb to make him even more lethal.

Gastodon @ Rindo Berry
Trait: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / SDef 4
Bold (+Def, -Atk)
-Surf
-Ice Beam
-Earth Power
-Recover​

Gastrodon is a tank. It can take hits like nobody on this team can, and can dish them out after being hit by a couple of Surfs. Earth Power for stab and recover to keep him going. Rindo Berry is rarely (if ever) used so i'd like to switch it, I just don't know what to.
​

Ludicolo @ Life Orb
Trait: Swift Swim
EVs: 180 HP / 252 SAtk / 72 Spd
Modest (+SAtk, -Atk)
-Surf
-Giga Drain
-Ice Beam
-Fake Out
​

Ludicolo is Kingdra's happy/party animal twin. Basically plays the same as Kingdra with the exception of a little better coverage. Fake Out is just to buy a turn.

Toxicroak @ Black Sludge
Trait: Dry Skin
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spd
Adamant (+Atk, -SAtk)
-Fake Out
-Drain Punch
-Sucker Punch
-Protect
​

Toxicroak is Jynx's physical, more defensive, worse twin. This is the only spot I could see myself changing but I can't think of anything better that works with surf. Drain Punch does some damage but not much. Sucker Punch is really only used as a move before he dies. Toxicroak needs help hitting ghosts as everything besides Gengar (which isn't a threat) doesn't use attacks very much. Toxicroak also hates Gastrodon, and the only thing my team has against that is Ludicolo. Toxicroak does live forever seeing as he gets almost half of his health back each turn.

This team is super simple, as already stated. Set up rain, have Jynx kill trick roomers or any other major threat, let a swift swimmer and something else in and destroy everything with surf. Surf is great for my team as it only deals not very effective damage to the team members it doesn't help. This team is ridiculously easy to use as everybody has a partner that does the same thing it does and all I have to do is send in something that isn't weak against the opponent (Send in Kingdra to fight Scizor, instead of Ludicolo). Toxicroak is the only one who doesn't fully pull his weight and Politoed needs a new item so please help with that. Any other suggestions are greatly appreciated as well.

​

 

[Eyedol]

I've always wanted to make a successful rain team, but I've never been able to, mostly because I can never figure synergy out. I'm good at using rain abusers, but they always tend to die because I can't find them the right support. Luckily, when I tried it in doubles, I had much better luck. The goal with this team is to get Kingdra or Ludicolo in, somebody else in, and surf to victory, hence the name "Hang 20". Bare with me as this is my first RMT.

Team​

Politoed @ Water Gem
Trait: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 200 Def / 56 SDef
Relaxed (+Def, -Spd)
-Surf
-Protect
-Icy Wind
-Helping Hand​

How can you have a rain team with out the toed? EVs (like on all other pokemon on this team) are straight off Smogon. It's slow to under speed other weathers. I generally use Icy wind first to slow the other team so Jynx can outrun everything (especially after her sash broke and she has 1 HP). Surf is the next used move because it helps most of the team. Protect is just a filler. Helping hand is only used if Surf doesn't make sense and the the team is already slow, or, I want to be sure something dies. I didn't know what to do about the item so I just slapped a Gem on.

Jynx @ Focus Sash
Trait: Dry Skin
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 SDef
Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
-Fake Out
-Lovely Kiss
-Ice Beam
-Protect
​

Jynx is a beast and deserves to be at the bottom of UU. On this doubles team, she is basically a Hitmontop. It's her responsibility to stop the most threatening opponent, while Politoed uses icy wind. After that, Jynx will either kill something, put a major threat to sleep, or protect if it seems like everybody will gang up on her. Jynx is only problem is her non existent defense, and that's where the Sash comes in.

Kingdra @ Life Orb
Trait: Swift Swim
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest (+SAtk, -Atk)
-Surf
-Dragon Pulse
-Ice Beam
-Protect
​

Kingdra is the other star of the team because of its super strong offence, able to outspeed everything, good defensive typing and surf. Dragon Pulse for 2nd stab but is usually reserved for other Kingdra, and Ice Beam has good coverage. Protect is usually just a filler. Life Orb to make him even more lethal.

Gastodon @ Rindo Berry
Trait: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / SDef 4
Bold (+Def, -Atk)
-Surf
-Ice Beam
-Earth Power
-Recover​

Gastrodon is a tank. It can take hits like nobody on this team can, and can dish them out after being hit by a couple of Surfs. Earth Power for stab and recover to keep him going. Rindo Berry is rarely (if ever) used so i'd like to switch it, I just don't know what to.
​

Ludicolo @ Life Orb
Trait: Swift Swim
EVs: 180 HP / 252 SAtk / 72 Spd
Modest (+SAtk, -Atk)
-Surf
-Giga Drain
-Ice Beam
-Fake Out
​

Ludicolo is Kingdra's happy/party animal twin. Basically plays the same as Kingdra with the exception of a little better coverage. Fake Out is just to buy a turn.

Toxicroak @ Black Sludge
Trait: Dry Skin
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spd
Adamant (+Atk, -SAtk)
-Fake Out
-Drain Punch
-Sucker Punch
-Protect
​

Toxicroak is Jynx's physical, more defensive, worse twin. This is the only spot I could see myself changing but I can't think of anything better that works with surf. Drain Punch does some damage but not much. Sucker Punch is really only used as a move before he dies. Toxicroak needs help hitting ghosts as everything besides Gengar (which isn't a threat) doesn't use attacks very much. Toxicroak also hates Gastrodon, and the only thing my team has against that is Ludicolo. Toxicroak does live forever seeing as he gets almost half of his health back each turn.

This team is super simple, as already stated. Set up rain, have Jynx kill trick roomers or any other major threat, let a swift swimmer and something else in and destroy everything with surf. Surf is great for my team as it only deals not very effective damage to the team members it doesn't help. This team is ridiculously easy to use as everybody has a partner that does the same thing it does and all I have to do is send in something that isn't weak against the opponent (Send in Kingdra to fight Scizor, instead of Ludicolo). Toxicroak is the only one who doesn't fully pull his weight and Politoed needs a new item so please help with that. Any other suggestions are greatly appreciated as well.

​

You have a good start to a rain team - here are some additional options that could add some variety.

1) Predictable

• Your team is easy to use, but also easily predictable. It's clear you are using a rain team, and there isn't much you can do about it since Politoed is a clear indicator of that, but each of the other Pokémon are very common on rain teams and running standard movesets. Anyone you battle against will know exactly what they are preparing for and will choose their best counters.
• Maybe try an unusual moveset on one Pokémon, like a physical (or mixed) attacking Kingdra. Another option would be to give up some synergy and trade out one Pokémon for another that adds some versatility. For example, Conkeldurr doesn't benefit from Team Surf but is much more useful than Toxicroak.
• Here are some of the counters I expect people would select against you once they see your team. These would be things you could consider when trying to add some surprises to your team: Pranksters with Swagger & Paralyze (Thundurus), Bulky Special Defenders (Chansey), Opposing Storm Drain, Water Absorb, or Rain Dish users (Jellicent)

2) Keep the Rain going

• The team you have is extremely reliant on Rain. If your opponent can win the weather war then they really gain an advantage and almost certainly beat your team. Here are some tricks that could help your team keep the Rain going to ensure your weather advantage lasts.
• Switch Politoed's item to an Iron Ball. Politoed can never be as slow as Tyranitar, Abomasnow, or Hippowdon; unless you slow him down further with an Iron Ball. The other weather users are highly unlikely to use an Iron Ball of their own so you will catch most opponents completely by surprise when your Politoed “out-slows” them to set up Rain.
• Make sure Politoed can switch out of battle safely so you can set up Rain a second time without your other Pokémon taking too much damage in the process. That usually means you want to have someone to resist both Electric and Grass so you can switch into either attacks as necessary. Gastrodon already covers the Electric weakness but here are some other choices: Grass Pokémon are a good option - Amoongus and Breloom resist both Electric and Grass, Ferrothorn resists Electric but also has a 4x resistence to Grass AND has only a 2x weakness to Fire thanks to Rain. Dragon Pokémon might be even better – Latios/Latias resist both types, Salamence has 4x resistence to Grass, and Dragonite with Multiscale can switch in with 2x resistence to Electric and 8x! resistance to Grass while gaining boosts to Hurricane, Thunder, and Water attacks.
• You also want to make sure you can KO your opponent's weather user. Ninetales, Abomasnow, and Lickilicky are all likely to have Grass attacks, so Politoed will need some help. Even Tyranitar can be tough to kill in a Sandstorm. Physical Rock, Ground, and Fighting attacks are usually a good choice. You could use someone like Terrakion to provide those types or try one of the physical attacking Swift Swimmers like Armaldo.

3) Trick Room

• One of the common ways to beat a Rain team is to use Trick Room. Expect to see this often as people try to turn your speed against you. Make sure you have a counter for Trick Room or you will run into this over and over.
• Taunt is one of the better ways to avoid Trick Room. Right now Jynx and Toxicroak from your team could use it, and it might make sense on Jynx unless you would rather try to use Lovely Kiss to put them to sleep. If you decide to switch a team member, it might make sense to bring in a Taunt user.
• An alternative is to use Trick Room yourself to reverse the effect. Again, it would probably make sense to switch a team member if you had that in mind. Musharna might be a good choice since Telepathy would keep good synergy with Team Surf.
• Adding another slow Pokémon to pair with Gastrodon against Trick Room teams could discourage opponents. Some of the Pokémon I mentioned previously that could work here as well are Amoongus, Conkeldurr, and Ferrothorn.

Rain teams are always powerful and rely on similar (and effective!) strategies, maybe some of these suggestions can give your opponent a surprise that turns the tables for you.

I hope I was able to help somewhat, and good luck with your team. ^_^

 

[Run with scizors]

Thanks dude! Definitely using a Iron Ball. I'm going to swap croak with rest-talk Cradily @ Iron ball with Giga drain and Rock Slide. Grass stab, electric resist, works well with surf, under speeds everything, good SDef, physical, except maybe not Abamosnow, which Jynx can easily 2HKO. I feel like I should do more but I don't see what I could take away. I feel like I could take out Gastrodon because it's not a major surfer but i'm hesitant because it's the best at taking less damage than it puts out. I really appreciate the help!

 

[youngjake93]

If you are abusing Surf to its fullest, you might as well slap an Absorb Bulb on Kingdra and/or Ludicolo.
If Protect feels like filler on Kingdra, you could slap Rain Dance there instead.
Taunt could be a worthwhile addition, but Lovely Kiss works so it isn't so neccessary.
I would put Gastrodon to -speed with 0 IVs if TR ever gets overwhelming(which it looks like it could be).

That's about all I got for ya man

 

[Run with scizors]

Thanks so much dude! I kept playing with it and switched in a Keldeo Absorb bulb. I stuck an absorb bulb on toed (i'd rather outspeed gastrodon than underspeed weather)