QC:
GP:
[OVERVIEW]
[SET]
name: Rain Dance
move 1: Rain Dance
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Giga Drain
move 4: Ice Beam
item: Life Orb
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Set Details
========
Usage Tips
========
Team Options
========
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Checks and Counters
===================
**Specially Bulky Pokemon**: Bulky Pokemon capable of taking a hit from Ludicolo are free to status or KO it, as it generally relies on KOing everything once under rain to be effective. Notable examples include Mega Audino, Hariyama, Vileplume, and Ferroseed. However, all of Ludicolo's bulkier checks outside of Cryogonal and Articuno are vulnerable to being worn down by Spikes
**Faster Pokemon**: Choice Scarf Scyther, Pyroar, and Tauros are all faster even after Swift Swim, and can KO just slightly weakened Ludicolo, which it normally will be from setting up and Life Orb damage.
**Paralysis**: If paralyzed, Ludicolo is rendered ineffective as a sweeper and easily KOd by slower Pokemon it can normally deal with easily.
**Priority**: Thanks to Ludicolo's mediocre physical bulk, strong priority users such as Shiftry, Skuntank, and Zangoose can all revenge kill it once its been weakened, and in forcing it out also make it unable to abuse its rain turns, forcing it to set up again later.
GP:
[OVERVIEW]
- Very threatening sweeper with strong attacks + nice coverage and good speed under rain
- Decent special bulk and a solid set of resistances (including a useful 4x one to water) allow it to fairly reliably set up rain
- Also fits well with partnering swift swimmers, either on full or semi rain teams
- Faces lots of competition, samurott is also a strong water sweeper w/priority and bulk, floatzel has better immediate speed, carracosta and barbaracle are much stronger after a shell smash
- Weak to a ton of common types, so is often hard pressed to ever set up or get KOs if faced with a poor team matchup
[SET]
name: Rain Dance
move 1: Rain Dance
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Giga Drain
move 4: Ice Beam
item: Life Orb
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Rain Dance doubles speed to sweep while boosting Hydro Pump's damage
- Hydro Pump is strongest STAB, especially under rain when it can do dumb things like 2hko AV hariyama
- Giga Drain is secondary Grass STAB and helps recover off damage taken while setting up or from Life Orb
- Ice Beam is its best coverage move for hitting opposing Grass-types like Vileplume and cacturne, as well as Flying-types such as Scyther
Set Details
========
- Max speed with swift swim let it outspeed as much as possible while under rain, as well as before
- Max special attack + modest + Life orb let it hit as hard as possible so minimum wallbreaking support is needed
Usage Tips
========
- Ludicolo can set rain versus weaker attackers such as Lanturn or ones that it forces out such as Quagsire
- Although it can threaten out and set up on Ground and Fire types like Rhydon and Magmortar on paper, beware of foes staying in on the predicted Rain Dance and KOing or doing significant damage to Ludicolo, especially megahorn rhydon
- Ludicolo can simply function as a strong wallbreaker without the need to set up if it is impractical at the time
- Avoid setting up if they have deterrents such as Encore Prankster Liepard, Fake Out Hariyama, Snow Warning Aurorus, strong priority users such as Shiftry, or faster Choice Scarf users like Scyther and Pyroar waiting in the back
Team Options
========
- Other Swift Swimmers such as Kabutops can go with Ludicolo, either on a dedicated rain team or simply to abuse left over Rain turns
- If Ludicolo is run on a full rain team, other rain setters such as Liepard and Volbeat are also useful, especially since they can set rain up for a longer duration of turns with Damp Rock
- Special wallbreakers like Jynx and Specs Swellow can wear down the bulkier Pokemon capable of taking hits from Ludicolo like Mega Audino and Hariyama
- Spikes support from Garbodor or Roselia helps to wear down bulky grounded Pokemon like Roselia for Ludicolo, Stealth Rock is also nice to wear down foes
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
- If Ludicolo is used on a full rain team and rain dance is not needed on it, it can run any number of options in the final slot, however even on full rain having it as a backup setter is recommended
- Focus Blast kills Ferroseed but drops coverage for most grasses
- Encore can help mess with defensive Pokemon and Fake Out Hariyama
- A Timid nature allows it to outspeed Choice Scarf users that would normally beat it under rain
- Energy Ball is slightly stronger than Giga Drain, but the extra recovery is generally more useful
- Substitute + Leech Seed annoyer sets can be run but are generally outclassed by Gourgeist-Small thanks to its better speed and typing
- Despite access to Swords Dance and excellent physical coverage, physical sets are not recommended due to Ludicolo's lower base attack and weaker coverage moves
Checks and Counters
===================
**Specially Bulky Pokemon**: Bulky Pokemon capable of taking a hit from Ludicolo are free to status or KO it, as it generally relies on KOing everything once under rain to be effective. Notable examples include Mega Audino, Hariyama, Vileplume, and Ferroseed. However, all of Ludicolo's bulkier checks outside of Cryogonal and Articuno are vulnerable to being worn down by Spikes
**Faster Pokemon**: Choice Scarf Scyther, Pyroar, and Tauros are all faster even after Swift Swim, and can KO just slightly weakened Ludicolo, which it normally will be from setting up and Life Orb damage.
**Paralysis**: If paralyzed, Ludicolo is rendered ineffective as a sweeper and easily KOd by slower Pokemon it can normally deal with easily.
**Priority**: Thanks to Ludicolo's mediocre physical bulk, strong priority users such as Shiftry, Skuntank, and Zangoose can all revenge kill it once its been weakened, and in forcing it out also make it unable to abuse its rain turns, forcing it to set up again later.
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