[SET]
name: Life Orb Attacker
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Protect
item: Life Orb
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hydro Pump, when backed by the power boosts from a Life Orb and the rain, puts a large dent in anything that doesn't resist it. Giga Drain hits many common Pokemon that resist Water such as Rotom-W and Keldeo while also healing up any residual damage racked up from Life Orb recoil. Ice Beam provides good coverage against Dragon-types such as Latios and Hydreigon that would wall Ludicolo otherwise. Protect lets Ludicolo stall out field conditions, shield itself from damage, and give teammates room to work.
Set Details
========
Life Orb increases Ludicolo's damage output to very respectable levels, making it a powerful special attacker when supported by the rain. Its Special Attack is maximized to hit as hard as possible, and the Speed investment allows it to Speed tie with Pokemon such as Adamant Bisharp and Adamant Breloom outside of the rain and outspeed the vast majority of the metagame while inside it. A Timid nature is unneeded to outspeed any additional threats, making Modest the superior choice to boost Ludicolo's offensive potential as much as possible. Swift Swim allows Ludicolo to take advantage of the rain by doubling its Speed.
Usage Tips
========
Ludicolo is best used while in the rain, so try to avoid sending it in unless the rain is up. Hydro Pump is Ludicolo's most powerful attack under the rain and should be used as much as possible. While Protect usually would not get a special mention, most opponents will assume Ludicolo is an Assault Vest variant if it has not taken Life Orb recoil and may be caught off guard by the usage of Protect. Similarly, opponents might play around a potential Fake Out if Ludicolo's set has not been revealed yet.
Team Options
========
Politoed and Rain Dance users such as Thundurus are mandatory partners for this set, as they provide the rain it requires to function properly. Talonflame beats opposing Grass-types such as Ferrothorn and Amoonguss that Ludicolo may have trouble breaking through, while Ludicolo beats one of its main checks, Mega Diancie. Pokemon that beat Flying-types like Talonflame such as Landorus-T, Terrakion, and Mega Diancie are great partners for Ludicolo, with a special mention to Mega Diancie because of its ability to get past Dragon-types that Ludicolo would have to rely on Ice Beam to damage heavily. Fighting-types such as Terrakion and Conkeldurr prey on the most common defensive checks to Ludicolo, Ferrothorn and Kyurem-B.
name: Life Orb Attacker
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Protect
item: Life Orb
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hydro Pump, when backed by the power boosts from a Life Orb and the rain, puts a large dent in anything that doesn't resist it. Giga Drain hits many common Pokemon that resist Water such as Rotom-W and Keldeo while also healing up any residual damage racked up from Life Orb recoil. Ice Beam provides good coverage against Dragon-types such as Latios and Hydreigon that would wall Ludicolo otherwise. Protect lets Ludicolo stall out field conditions, shield itself from damage, and give teammates room to work.
Set Details
========
Life Orb increases Ludicolo's damage output to very respectable levels, making it a powerful special attacker when supported by the rain. Its Special Attack is maximized to hit as hard as possible, and the Speed investment allows it to Speed tie with Pokemon such as Adamant Bisharp and Adamant Breloom outside of the rain and outspeed the vast majority of the metagame while inside it. A Timid nature is unneeded to outspeed any additional threats, making Modest the superior choice to boost Ludicolo's offensive potential as much as possible. Swift Swim allows Ludicolo to take advantage of the rain by doubling its Speed.
Usage Tips
========
Ludicolo is best used while in the rain, so try to avoid sending it in unless the rain is up. Hydro Pump is Ludicolo's most powerful attack under the rain and should be used as much as possible. While Protect usually would not get a special mention, most opponents will assume Ludicolo is an Assault Vest variant if it has not taken Life Orb recoil and may be caught off guard by the usage of Protect. Similarly, opponents might play around a potential Fake Out if Ludicolo's set has not been revealed yet.
Team Options
========
Politoed and Rain Dance users such as Thundurus are mandatory partners for this set, as they provide the rain it requires to function properly. Talonflame beats opposing Grass-types such as Ferrothorn and Amoonguss that Ludicolo may have trouble breaking through, while Ludicolo beats one of its main checks, Mega Diancie. Pokemon that beat Flying-types like Talonflame such as Landorus-T, Terrakion, and Mega Diancie are great partners for Ludicolo, with a special mention to Mega Diancie because of its ability to get past Dragon-types that Ludicolo would have to rely on Ice Beam to damage heavily. Fighting-types such as Terrakion and Conkeldurr prey on the most common defensive checks to Ludicolo, Ferrothorn and Kyurem-B.
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