http://www.serebii.net/pokedex-bw/141.shtml
[Overview]
<p>In the last generation, Kabutops was known as one of the most fearsome OU rain sweepers, with its impressive base 115 Attack stat and base 80 Speed doubled by Swift Swim. Its Water- and Rock-type STAB attacks are resisted by very few Pokemon. Those who do resist it, such as Empoleon or Ferrothorn, are destroyed by Low Kick. Kabutops can also easily take advantage of other Drizzle teams, so you do not have to worry about keeping the rain up manually.<p>
<p>Kabutops does have its downfalls, though. It greatly suffers from the dreaded four moveslot syndrome, and no matter what moves it chooses, there will always be a counter to Kabutops. Rain must also be generated via Rain Dance, due to the fact that the Drizzle + Swift Swim combo has been banned, which can be hard. Despite this, Kabutops is an excellent Pokemon and should be considered when creating a rain team.</p>
[SET]
name: Rain Sweeper
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Aqua Jet / Low Kick
item: Life Orb
nature: Adamant
ability: Swift Swim
evs: 40 HP / 252 Atk / 216 Spe
[Set Comments]
<p>Kabutops can easily double its already impressive base 115 Attack with a single Swords Dance. In conjunction with Swift Swim's Speed boost, this makes Kabutops immensely difficult to counter. Waterfall becomes insanely powerful in the rain, having a Base Power of 180. It also has a nifty (though small) chance of flinching the foe, which is great if the opponent somehow survives Waterfall. Stone Edge is its secondary STAB attack, and hurts any cheeky Grass-, Dragon-, or Water-type Pokemon trying to switch in. The last moveslot depends on which Pokemon your team has trouble with. Aqua Jet should be the primary move, because it can hit priority users before they hit back with Mach Punch or Bullet Punch. However, Low Kick does severe damage to Empoleon and Ferrothorn, two Pokemon which rain teams have difficulty countering.</p>
[Additional Comments]
<p>In conjunction with Swift Swim, 216 EVs in Speed will allow Kabutops to outspeed neutral-natured, base 100 Pokemon wielding a Choice Scarf. Attack is maximized so that it can cause mayhem, and the remaining EVs are invested into HP for bulk. Life Orb should be the primary choice, as it adds to Kabutops's monstrous strength. However, if Prankster Pokemon, such as Whimsicott, are troubling your team, you may find Lum Berry to be a viable option. A Jolly nature may be used to outspeed Choice Scarf Terrakion if you are not running Aqua Jet, although the lack of power will become noticeable.</p>
<p>It is crucial that the rain does not run out. Having two to three Pokemon who summon Rain manually can fix this problem. Scizor, Bronzong, and Jirachi are good candidates, as they not only benefit from having their Fire-type weakness reduced, but can also counter Tyranitar and Abomasnow, two despised weather-changers. Zapdos resists Kabutops's weakness to Grass- and Fighting-type attacks, and is immune to Ground-type moves. Tornadus and Thundurus are also great choices, as their ability grants Rain Dance +1 priority. In addition, these Pokemon enjoy having a 100% accurate STAB Hurricane and Thunder to use, respectively.</p>
<p>Like every Pokemon in the metagame, Kabutops likes the support of entry hazards. Forretress and Ferrothorn can set up Spikes and / or Stealth Rock, and benefit from having their 4x weakness to Fire-type attacks reduced. Kabutops is best used as a late-game sweeper, so it appreciates powerful rain sweepers, such as Kingdra, Ludicolo, and Omastar, weakening the foe's team. Ferrothorn and Empoleon can be problematic if Kabutops uses Aqua Jet. Scizor and Azumarill both learn Superpower to counter them (Azumarill should be aware of Power Whip), and a Thunder user, such as Latios, Thundurus or Zapdos, can dispose of Empoleon. Breloom and Celebi are two major threats to Kabutops. Scizor can use its Bug-type STAB moves to scare out Celebi, or trap it with Pursuit. Tornadus can easily handle Breloom and Virizion with STAB Hurricane. Weather changers are a huge threat to Kabutops. Once again, Scizor is a fantastic Pokemon to use due to its ability to check Tyranitar and Abomasnow. Hippowdon is not too hard to handle, as special attackers such as Gorebyss and Kingdra can quickly wear it down with Hydro Pump. Ninetales is slightly more annoying, as Drought makes it neutral to Water-type attacks. Latias and Latios can shrug off its attacks and hammer away at it with their STAB Draco Meteors.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Waterfall
move 2: Aqua Jet
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Superpower
item: Choice Band
nature: Adamant
ability: Swift Swim
evs: 32 HP / 252 Atk / 216 Spe
[Set Comments]
<p>One problem that Kabutops faces is setting up. Slapping a Choice Band on it can cure this problem, and enables it to act as a late-game cleaner. With a Choice Band, rain-boosted Waterfall still does considerable damage to anything that does not resist it. Stone Edge is ideal for hitting bulky Water-types. With Stealth Rock and an Adamant nature, it can OHKO 156 HP / 96 Def Gyarados (the standard bulkyGyara spread) even at -1 Attack, and has a chance of 2HKOing 252 HP / 252 Def Bold Suicune. Aqua Jet prevents other priority users from ruining Kabutops's day. Superpower is recommended in the final moveslot, as it can dismantle Ferrothorn and Empoleon. Superpower will also deal more damage to Breloom and Virizion than any of Kabutops's other attacks.</p>
[Additional Comments]
<p>Just like the Swords Dance set, the EVs allow Kabutops to outspeed neutral-natured Pokemon with base 100 Speed and a Choice Scarf. 252 EVs in Attack and an Adamant nature enable Kabutops to do the most damage possible, and the remaining EVs go to HP for some additional bulk.</p>
<p>Also, as with the previous set, Pokemon who summon rain manually are crucial. The best Pokemon to use would be those who either have defensive synergy with Kabutops or are able to take out its counters. Steel-type Pokemon like Jirachi, Magnezone, and Scizor can use their bulk and switch into attacks aimed at Kabutops. Those three Pokemon can also use U-turn or Volt Switch to scout the opponent's moves. This information is crucial to Kabutops because locking it into the wrong move can be disastrous. Tornadus, Thundurus, Zapdos, Latios, and Latias can use their powerful special attacks to break down physical walls that Kabutops hates. Mixed or special rain sweepers such as Kingdra, Ludicolo, Omastar, and Gorebyss are also recommended.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Like almost every other Water-type Pokemon in this generation, Kabutops learns Scald. However, its pitiful Special Attack stat prevents it from using the move. Kabutops can run a set with Endure / Flail / Aqua Jet, but it has better things to do. Besides, with priority being thrown everywhere, that set would become nothing but a gimmick. Defensive sets can opt to use Confuse Ray for fun, but relying on luck is generally not advisable. Rapid Spin is an option, although Excadrill, Starmie, and Tentacruel are probably better options for spinning away entry hazards. Kabutops can set up rain itself, but there are other Pokemon who can do this more easily.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>First of all, removing the rain suddenly makes Kabutops slower and weaker. Ninetales, Tyranitar, and Abomasnow can change the weather with their abilites, and all three can carry moves which are super effective. However, Kabutops also learns moves which can badly damage them (especially after a Swords Dance), so they must switch in carefully. Sun teams in particular are dangerous, because they can easily bring down an entire rain team if unaccounted for.</p>
<p>Kabutops does not like status at all. Tentacruel resists everything except for Stone Edge, and can lay down Toxic Spikes to shorten its life, or burn it with Scald. Will-O-Wisp from Jellicent or Thunder Wave from Celebi also ruin its day. Whimsicott deserves a special mention here, because it can cripple Kabutops with Stun Spore or Encore, and has priority while doing so.</p>
<p>Bulky Grass-types, such as Ferrothorn and Celebi, can shrug off a +2 Stone Edge and OHKO Kabutops with their powerful Grass-type moves. If not running Superpower / Low Kick, Empoleon, Virizion, and Breloom can wall Kabutops to no end. If Kabutops does not have Aqua Jet, Breloom and Conkeldurr can use Mach Punch to hurt it before it has the chance to attack. Finally, any Swift Swim Kabutops running an Adamant nature is in danger of being outsped by Choice Scarf Starmie, Mienshao, Gengar, and other threats.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Kabutops's Dream World ability is Weak Armor, which lowers its Defense but raises its Speed when hit by a physical attack. Weak Armor can be useful on a Focus Sash "lead" set carrying Stealth Rock. Other than that, though, Swift Swim and Battle Armor outclass it.</p>
