So I've been using this team for a few weeks, and I am very satisfied, although I think it could use more. While I'm personally a bigger fan of sand, I often resort to rain to use sets I like, and for this one that's Rain Volcarona. I often see team weak to Volcarona and wanted to play off of that, and built around it.
The name of the team and the nicknames come from a recent anime I watched, called A Certain Magical Index. Each nickname is the sorcery name of a magician in the anime, and each has a meaning, which is quoted within their summaries.
Teambuilding Process
The basis of the team. I started with the standard offensive rain set, with Fire Blast to burn up Steel-types, who often give rain teams headaches.
One of my favorite offensive cores, Starmie/Volc is very basic: Starmie spins and threatens Volcarona's threats, and Volcarona gets rid of pesky Grass-types for Starmie. Starmie also hits spinblockers hard.
Of course, since I planned to use Rain Volcarona, Politoed was required. It also helps out Starmie by providing extra power on Hydro Pump and improving Thunder's accuracy.
One of the most basic things I need on any team is a way to set up rocks. Although I typically default to a bulky setter for reliability, I decided to use Terrakion, whose threat of insane power with majestic coverage makes it easy to set them up on the switch. With an extra slot, it can run Taunt or SD, so I chose SD to scare my opponent even more.
My default partner to Terrakion is Latias, every time. Latias has literally never failed me before, and it supports Terrakion very well. Since I'm on an offensive Latias kick, I use LO+3 attacks.
I notice no Steel-types, and because I desperately need a defensive pivot to join Politoed, I go with Ferrothorn for T-wave support and Spikes.
I feel like there's a few flaws on this team but can't pick them out. I go for help, and Imanalt is the only one to give suggestions. He tells me to use bulky Volc and replace Latias with Scarf Latios, and to also replace Ferro. Since I still want a Steel-type, I choose Band Scizor.
In-Depth
Fortis931
@ Leftovers
Trait: Flame Body
EVs: 240 HP / 216 Def / 52 Spd
Bold Nature
Roost | Quiver Dance | Hurricane | Bug Buzz
I prove why my name is the strongest here.
Volcarona, a beautiful moth blessed with the power over flames, the natural enemy of any other moth. It is the center of this team, and it shows that fire isn’t all it can play with.
Roost - Since this is the bulky Volcarona set, Roost is required to ensure it lasts longer, especially since it prefers to get two boosts rather than only a single boost off QD.
Hurricane - Although not STAB, this is the primary move for a Volcarona in the rain. With decent neutral coverage, Volcarona will be blowing away Fighting-types, as well as Grass-types neutral to Bug Buzz.
Bug Buzz - The single STAB. It can take care of Psychic types, especially Celebi, who is a pain for Rain teams (have to watch out for those T-wave sets, though).
Basis104
@ Expert Belt
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
Ice Beam | Rapid Spin | Hydro Pump | Thunder
The one who carries the basis.
Forming an offensive core with Volcarona, Starmie not only spins away annoying hazards, but it displays an array of elemental attacks that little can resist.
Intimus115
@ Focus Sash
Trait: Justified
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
Close Combat | Stealth Rock | Stone Edge | Swords Dance
I offer everything to my lost friend.
Terrakion walks into the rain to put up some sneaky stones to ease some KOs. Whether it’s throwing rocks or beating down the opposition with its great martial arts, Terrakion is ready to help its fellows out.
Honos628
@ Choice Scarf
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
Surf | Trick | Draco Meteor | Psyshock
My honor is for the world.
Latios speeds around the field taking down whatever killed its comrades, whether by dropping meteors or by choking them with its psychic power.
Fallere825
@ Leftovers
Trait: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SAtk
Bold Nature
Encore | Toxic | Scald | Ice Beam
The backstabbing blade.
Politoed brings on the rain, but also offers a little more support to ensure it's not deadweight once the rain is up for good.
Toxic - Toxic is to keep opposing bulky monsters at bay, so that they cannot annoy the power hitters too much.
Encore - Politoed loves to clap, and it's no surprise that it would clap for even its opponent. This is where Politoed "backstabs", as it encourages its target to go on as it switches over to a member to take advantage of the move lock.
Salvare000
@ Choice Band
Trait: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spd
Adamant Nature
Bullet Punch | Pursuit | Superpower | U-turn
Be the salvation of those who cannot be saved.
Scizor backs up the team by beating up those dragons attempting to wreck its crew, as well as several other powerful Pokemon that are otherwise unbeatable.
Importable:
The name of the team and the nicknames come from a recent anime I watched, called A Certain Magical Index. Each nickname is the sorcery name of a magician in the anime, and each has a meaning, which is quoted within their summaries.
Teambuilding Process
The basis of the team. I started with the standard offensive rain set, with Fire Blast to burn up Steel-types, who often give rain teams headaches.
One of my favorite offensive cores, Starmie/Volc is very basic: Starmie spins and threatens Volcarona's threats, and Volcarona gets rid of pesky Grass-types for Starmie. Starmie also hits spinblockers hard.
Of course, since I planned to use Rain Volcarona, Politoed was required. It also helps out Starmie by providing extra power on Hydro Pump and improving Thunder's accuracy.
One of the most basic things I need on any team is a way to set up rocks. Although I typically default to a bulky setter for reliability, I decided to use Terrakion, whose threat of insane power with majestic coverage makes it easy to set them up on the switch. With an extra slot, it can run Taunt or SD, so I chose SD to scare my opponent even more.
My default partner to Terrakion is Latias, every time. Latias has literally never failed me before, and it supports Terrakion very well. Since I'm on an offensive Latias kick, I use LO+3 attacks.
I notice no Steel-types, and because I desperately need a defensive pivot to join Politoed, I go with Ferrothorn for T-wave support and Spikes.
I feel like there's a few flaws on this team but can't pick them out. I go for help, and Imanalt is the only one to give suggestions. He tells me to use bulky Volc and replace Latias with Scarf Latios, and to also replace Ferro. Since I still want a Steel-type, I choose Band Scizor.
In-Depth
Fortis931
@ Leftovers
Trait: Flame Body
EVs: 240 HP / 216 Def / 52 Spd
Bold Nature
Roost | Quiver Dance | Hurricane | Bug Buzz
I prove why my name is the strongest here.
Volcarona, a beautiful moth blessed with the power over flames, the natural enemy of any other moth. It is the center of this team, and it shows that fire isn’t all it can play with.
Moves
Quiver Dance - What any Volcarona will carry, since it's such a powerful set up. One is good to go most of the time, since at +1 it beats base 120, which includes opposing Starmie, Alakazam and Weavile (although Weavile can't really hurt it).
Roost - Since this is the bulky Volcarona set, Roost is required to ensure it lasts longer, especially since it prefers to get two boosts rather than only a single boost off QD.
Hurricane - Although not STAB, this is the primary move for a Volcarona in the rain. With decent neutral coverage, Volcarona will be blowing away Fighting-types, as well as Grass-types neutral to Bug Buzz.
Bug Buzz - The single STAB. It can take care of Psychic types, especially Celebi, who is a pain for Rain teams (have to watch out for those T-wave sets, though).
Basis104
@ Expert Belt
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
Ice Beam | Rapid Spin | Hydro Pump | Thunder
The one who carries the basis.
Forming an offensive core with Volcarona, Starmie not only spins away annoying hazards, but it displays an array of elemental attacks that little can resist.
Moves
Rapid Spin - Although not used as often as any of the other moves, Rapid Spin is the most important. It spins away SR which helps this team thrive, especially with a Sash+SR Terrakion and a Volcarona. However, the real problem lies in Toxic Spikes, which cripple Volcarona far more than any sharp stones will.
Hydro Pump - An extremely powerful STAB, even more so under rain. A lot of things will not enjoy switching into this powerful torrent.
Ice Beam - Since Dragons resist Starmie's primary STAB and don't mind Thunder, Ice Beam is here to send chills to ward them off. It's also a decent move to use against the often Grass-types switching in, as well as a more reliable move to KO Landorus and Gliscor with.
Thunder - Thunder creates a decent BoltBeam combo to go along with the powerful Water STAB in the rain. It 2HKOs your average Jellicent, and rain teams just love to have Thunder.
Hydro Pump - An extremely powerful STAB, even more so under rain. A lot of things will not enjoy switching into this powerful torrent.
Ice Beam - Since Dragons resist Starmie's primary STAB and don't mind Thunder, Ice Beam is here to send chills to ward them off. It's also a decent move to use against the often Grass-types switching in, as well as a more reliable move to KO Landorus and Gliscor with.
Thunder - Thunder creates a decent BoltBeam combo to go along with the powerful Water STAB in the rain. It 2HKOs your average Jellicent, and rain teams just love to have Thunder.
Intimus115
@ Focus Sash
Trait: Justified
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
Close Combat | Stealth Rock | Stone Edge | Swords Dance
I offer everything to my lost friend.
Terrakion walks into the rain to put up some sneaky stones to ease some KOs. Whether it’s throwing rocks or beating down the opposition with its great martial arts, Terrakion is ready to help its fellows out.
Moves
Stealth Rock - Yet again, not even its greatest move, yet so much more essential. With Terrakion's intimidating presence, opponents often let up a free turn to use Stealth Rock, and then Terrakion's free to do what it does best: demolishing the opponent.
Close Combat - The main way to take down targets. This is what Heatran often fears, which offers a free SR. Among other things, there's Ferrothorn, Jirachi, Tyranitar, Mamoswine; Terrakion basically threatens a lot of other SR setters who must decide between dying or hitting Terrakion as it sets up SR without setting up their own.
Stone Edge - Terrakion's other STAB forms such fantastic coverage with it. Only about 3-4 Pokemon can actually reliably take both STABs, and fortunately those few aren't common at all.
Swords Dance - With one slot left, typically it's Taunt or Swords Dance. I couldn't think of many Pokemon I'd Taunt without risking the loss of Terrakion so I chose Swords Dance to persuade my opponent into believing it's a sweeping Terrakion, or perhaps sweep away regardless of whether they know its set or not.
Close Combat - The main way to take down targets. This is what Heatran often fears, which offers a free SR. Among other things, there's Ferrothorn, Jirachi, Tyranitar, Mamoswine; Terrakion basically threatens a lot of other SR setters who must decide between dying or hitting Terrakion as it sets up SR without setting up their own.
Stone Edge - Terrakion's other STAB forms such fantastic coverage with it. Only about 3-4 Pokemon can actually reliably take both STABs, and fortunately those few aren't common at all.
Swords Dance - With one slot left, typically it's Taunt or Swords Dance. I couldn't think of many Pokemon I'd Taunt without risking the loss of Terrakion so I chose Swords Dance to persuade my opponent into believing it's a sweeping Terrakion, or perhaps sweep away regardless of whether they know its set or not.
Honos628
@ Choice Scarf
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
Surf | Trick | Draco Meteor | Psyshock
My honor is for the world.
Latios speeds around the field taking down whatever killed its comrades, whether by dropping meteors or by choking them with its psychic power.
Moves
Draco Meteor - Anyone who sees a Latios knows the meteors are coming. This is the go-to attack, as few can take on its mighty power.
Surf - With a choice between HP Fire and Surf, of course you'll see Surf in the rain. Latios needs a way to deal with at least most Steel-types, as well as a weakened Tyranitar. Scizors who switch in attempting to kill Latios are very much at risk thanks to a rain-boosted Surf.
Psyshock - Latios usually uses only its first two moves, but it needs a third attack regardless. Psyshock is a decent alternative since it switches to the other defense. This makes Latios a good handler of Keldeo, who are big problems in the rain.
Trick - As a final move, Latios loves to be able to cripple the ever-so-bothersome walls that eat anything it throws at them; namely the fat pink blobs and Ferrothorn. This is a better move to use when faster threats have been eliminated.
Surf - With a choice between HP Fire and Surf, of course you'll see Surf in the rain. Latios needs a way to deal with at least most Steel-types, as well as a weakened Tyranitar. Scizors who switch in attempting to kill Latios are very much at risk thanks to a rain-boosted Surf.
Psyshock - Latios usually uses only its first two moves, but it needs a third attack regardless. Psyshock is a decent alternative since it switches to the other defense. This makes Latios a good handler of Keldeo, who are big problems in the rain.
Trick - As a final move, Latios loves to be able to cripple the ever-so-bothersome walls that eat anything it throws at them; namely the fat pink blobs and Ferrothorn. This is a better move to use when faster threats have been eliminated.
Fallere825
@ Leftovers
Trait: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SAtk
Bold Nature
Encore | Toxic | Scald | Ice Beam
The backstabbing blade.
Politoed brings on the rain, but also offers a little more support to ensure it's not deadweight once the rain is up for good.
Moves
Ice Beam - Although Starmie has Ice Beam, it is not a great switch for DD users, which is where Politoed comes in. It does not appreciate +1 Outrages but at the very least, it can weaken a Dragonite without having to hope for a burn, so that Scizor may revenge kill.Scald - Your average bulky Water-type has Scald, since it's such a useful attack with a relatively high burn chance compared to its fire counterparts.
Toxic - Toxic is to keep opposing bulky monsters at bay, so that they cannot annoy the power hitters too much.
Encore - Politoed loves to clap, and it's no surprise that it would clap for even its opponent. This is where Politoed "backstabs", as it encourages its target to go on as it switches over to a member to take advantage of the move lock.
Salvare000
@ Choice Band
Trait: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spd
Adamant Nature
Bullet Punch | Pursuit | Superpower | U-turn
Be the salvation of those who cannot be saved.
Scizor backs up the team by beating up those dragons attempting to wreck its crew, as well as several other powerful Pokemon that are otherwise unbeatable.
Moves
Bullet Punch - The first move that brought Scizor to fame. With a Choice Band, BP hurts a load of Pokemon, especially speedy offensive Pokemon who are typically frail. Due to its infamy, the other three moves become more useful as the opponent attempts to avoid the incoming attack.
U-turn - The second move that rose Scizor to the top. U-turn is one of the most useful moves Gen IV brought, and Scizor is one of the few viable Bug-types that can use it, making it not only useful but very powerful. As the opponent expects Bullet Punch, they can be met with this and yet again, at a disadvantage.
Superpower - Although each of its STABs each have their merits, many things are not affected by either. Superpower complements each by smacking mainly Heatran switch-ins, although it can also catch a Roosting Skarmory. Keldeo must be wary of this move if it wants to switch into Scizor.
Pursuit - With its two powerful STABs, most Psychic-types would rather not stay in (as well as Gengar and -2 Latis). However, they risk themselves not because of U-turn gaining momentum, but Pursuit KOing them. They usually have to decide between being KO'd by Bullet Punch and doing nothing, or switching out and getting KO'd.
U-turn - The second move that rose Scizor to the top. U-turn is one of the most useful moves Gen IV brought, and Scizor is one of the few viable Bug-types that can use it, making it not only useful but very powerful. As the opponent expects Bullet Punch, they can be met with this and yet again, at a disadvantage.
Superpower - Although each of its STABs each have their merits, many things are not affected by either. Superpower complements each by smacking mainly Heatran switch-ins, although it can also catch a Roosting Skarmory. Keldeo must be wary of this move if it wants to switch into Scizor.
Pursuit - With its two powerful STABs, most Psychic-types would rather not stay in (as well as Gengar and -2 Latis). However, they risk themselves not because of U-turn gaining momentum, but Pursuit KOing them. They usually have to decide between being KO'd by Bullet Punch and doing nothing, or switching out and getting KO'd.
Conclusion
I have enjoyed this team very much, and will continue to use it until the meta shifts again. I personally don't mind if you use the team or even change it slightly to fit your tastes, but don't claim you made the team.Importable:
Fortis931 (Volcarona) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Flame Body
EVs: 240 HP / 216 Def / 52 Spd
Bold Nature
- Roost
- Quiver Dance
- Hurricane
- Bug Buzz
Basis104 (Starmie) @ Expert Belt
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Ice Beam
- Rapid Spin
- Hydro Pump
- Thunder
Intimus115 (Terrakion) @ Focus Sash
Trait: Justified
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge
- Swords Dance
Honos628 (Latios) (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Surf
- Trick
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock
Fallere825 (Politoed) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SAtk
Bold Nature
- Encore
- Toxic
- Scald
- Ice Beam
Salvare000 (Scizor) (F) @ Choice Band
Trait: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- Pursuit
- Superpower
- U-turn
Trait: Flame Body
EVs: 240 HP / 216 Def / 52 Spd
Bold Nature
- Roost
- Quiver Dance
- Hurricane
- Bug Buzz
Basis104 (Starmie) @ Expert Belt
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Ice Beam
- Rapid Spin
- Hydro Pump
- Thunder
Intimus115 (Terrakion) @ Focus Sash
Trait: Justified
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge
- Swords Dance
Honos628 (Latios) (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Surf
- Trick
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock
Fallere825 (Politoed) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SAtk
Bold Nature
- Encore
- Toxic
- Scald
- Ice Beam
Salvare000 (Scizor) (F) @ Choice Band
Trait: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- Pursuit
- Superpower
- U-turn
