My Attempt at a Rain Dance Doubles Team

[Alex Bond 009]

So I decided to do my first ever Doubles Team and decided to make it Rain Dance themed. I don't know much about Doubles, I did read the Double Battle Primer, but I've already used this team in Netbattle Supremacy and it has worked alright for the most part. I know there's plenty of room for improvements, giving motive to my first RTM.

Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Calm
EVs: 112 HP/208 Spe/76 SpA/112 SpD
Item: Damp Rock
Attacks
- Rain Dance
- Leech Seed
- Protect
- Surf
Explanation: One of my two starters. Sets up a Rain Dance and Leech Seeds when needed.

Ability: Water Absorb
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 72 HP/252 Atk/184 Spe
Item: Choice Band
Attacks
- Earthquake
- Waterfall
- Focus Punch
- Ice Punch
Explanation: 2nd starter. Poliwrath is designed to eliminate one of the other team's starters first turn. Earthquake won't harm Ludicolo because of protect. Waterfall is STABed and gets the extra boost from Ludicolo's RD. Water Absorb allows it to recieve HP when hit by Ludicolo's Surf and from other potential water attacks.

Ability: Volt Absorb
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 HP/252 Spe/252 SpA
Item: Leftovers
Attacks
- Thunder
- Thunder Wave
- Hidden Power (ICE)
- Protect
Explanation: With Jolteon I can switch in on inevitable Electric attacks due to Volt Absorb. Thunder instead of Thunderbolt because of Rain Dance in effect. Hidden Power Ice to get rid of pesky Grass types. Protect in order to avoid STABed and powered-up Surfs, or just to avoid unwanted attacks.

Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Modest
EVs: 92 HP/164 Spe/252 SpA
Item: Leftovers
Attacks
- Rain Dance
- Surf
- Outrage
- Protect
Explanation: To be quite honest, I'm not really sure about this one. One of my back-up Rain Dancers. Outrage because of STAB and not many pkmn are resistant to Dragon-type moves. Protect to avoid damage from Surfs, Poliwrath's EQs, or unwanted attacks. I don't feel very comfortable with Kingdra.

Ability: Water Absorb
Nature: Bold
EVs: 188 HP/252 Def/68 Spe
Item: Leftovers
Attacks
- Rain Dance
- Surf
- Wish
- Protect
Explanation: The other Rain Dancer. Water Absorb takes hits from fellow Surfs. Wish as a recovering option. Protect to stall for recovery and avoid unwanted attacks. I feel like I can change it up a bit.

Ability: Pressure
Nature: Timid
EVs: 56 HP/252 Spe/200 SpA
Item: Leftovers
Attacks
- Surf
- Blizzard
- Calm Mind
- Protect
Explanation: I'm very uncomfortable with this move set, perhaps the entire Pokemon. I would like to keep it, but I'm willing to substitute it for any other ideas.

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OVERVIEW
Like I said, this team hasn't been that bad. In fact it's been pretty good. I really don't know where I'm going with Kingdra or Suicune so if I you have any ideas for those 2, they'll be greatly appreciated. I also used Protect on 5/6 of my Pokemon to avoid unwanted self-inflicted damage(main idea) but I've used it various times to simply avoid damage to a targeted Pokemon while the other sets-up/attacks.

 

[StarmanXL]

Only have enough concentration for a look-over and a few quick comments, but for your lead, have you considered using a more offensive Ludicolo and using Fake Out over Leech Seed or something and having your partner, whatever it is, set up Rain Dance, freeing up a slot for Energy Ball? It'll make it a lot easier to take down opposing RD teams, since they like to run Floatzel, Omastar, Kabutops, Quagsire, Politoed, Vaporeon, yada yada yada. Don't know what to change your partner too, but stuff like Crobat and Floatzel I guess could be good set ups. You could also consider running Toxicroak as your partner so she uses Fake Out while Ludicolo sets up RD freeing up space on your movesets.

Also, if Explosion really scares you, you could always make Poliwrath's ability Damp so you don't have to put Protect on every single thing (seriously that screws your coverage and usually isn't necessary). Oh, and consider Brick Break over Focus Punch so you can attack if you get hit and to break barriers or whatever.

Jolteon has no need for Thunderwave with Thunder, really, so nix it, probably for Shadow Ball since Shedinja walls your entire team right now.

On Kingdra, get rid of Outrage--it hits random opponents and will probably not be all that useful. In fact, I would probably just make it a full-special sweeper and leave Blissey and crap to Poliwrath. I would rather change Outrage to Dragon Pulse for that awesome STAB and probably replace Protect with Signal Beam or something to kill Ludicolo or whatever.

Honestly, I haven't seen Wish + Protect work very well in Doubles so you may wanna change up your Vaporeon but whatever. You could try another Swift Swim pokemon or Toxicroak or something, I dunno.

Suicune...yeah, I dunno really. You could drop it for Toxicroak I guess, but whatever, I really can't think straight right now and I need to study.