So, as we all know, weather teams lost their "umph" after Gen VI limited the weather. Still, there have been numerous people that have tried to incorporate them into the 6th Generation, some very successfully. With this team, I was trying to make up for the weaknesses of Rain Teams. Most people have been messing around with Rain since ORAS introduced a Bulky Swift Swim: Mega Swampert. I didn't want to use that, rather account for the weaknesses that Rain teams usually have (IE, lack of coverage, too much weakness to Grass and Electric). So I put together a team that would not rely solely on the rain, but could abuse it just as much as any other weather team. Here it is.
Manectric @ Manectite (Lightning Rod/Intimidate)
Nature: Timid
EVs: 252 Spc Atk/ 252 Spe/ 4 Spc Def
-Thunder
-Volt Switch
-Hidden Power Ice
-Overheat
Manectric seemed like an ideal Mega for this team. His strong STAB base 135 Thunder (100% acc in the rain) seemed like a really good way to deal with other bulky Water-types like Gyarados without allowing them to abuse the rain. It also serves as a Lightning Rod for electric attacks coming in before the Mega Evolution, either punishing or discouraging the move Thunderbolt from being used against my Water types. Testing with Manectric as an offensive pivot/revenge killer has been wonderful. Definitely would recommend it for any rain team looking for speed and coverage.
Politoed @ Damp Rock (Drizzle)
Nature: Modest
EVs: 252 HP/ 252 Spc Atk/ 4 Spc Def
-Scald
-Ice Beam
-Psychic
-Hypnosis
So Politoed is definitely a staple on ANY Rain team (pseudo or otherwise). The Drizzle ability and relatively decent bulk speaks for itself. It is a good way to deal with Heatran and cancel out the sun from a Charizard Y. Keeping it alive can provide several benefits until the end. The random sleep with Hypnosis can punish opponents who try to make a switch against it (most often, they'll run if Politoed enters in against a Garchomp/Landorus-T/Gliscor). It provides more than just rain, but its purpose is pretty self-explanatory. 100% necessary (in my opinion).
Kingdra @ Sea Incense (Swift Swim)
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 252 Atk/ 252 Spe/ 4 HP
-Dragon Dance
-Outrage
-Waterfall
-Iron Head
Kingdra has also been a pretty popular stable on most Rain teams. Although, I took a twist on it (from the norm). Most people will run a Focus Energy/Critical Meteor set and rely fully on the rain to provide its speed. The problem I found testing that build is just that: it relied primarily on Rain to be active otherwise it would be easily outrun by Garchomp and then nailed down by Dragon Claw/Outrage. This build that I have chosen can serve as a Swift Swim abuser, come in and revenge kill, but still be a stand-alone sweeper with Dragon Dance even outside of rain. The Sea Incense + Rain Waterfall will OHKO almost anything that is weak to Water, making it the hardest hit on my team. Also, Iron Head provides an out to Fairies like Togekiss/Sylveon that would ordinarily trouble Rain teams.
Toxicroak @ Life Orb (Dry Skin)
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk/ 252 Spe/ 4 Def
-Fake Out
-Cross Chop
-Gunk Shot
-Knock Off
Toxicroak, while normally subpar, has done outstanding work on this team. The Life Orb damage is almost irrelevant thanks to Dry Skin healing 1/4 health after each turn, making him an ideal speedy sweeper. The Fake Out gives him a lead-off option, while the Gunk Shot/Cross Chop make him useful as a Wall Breaker. Knock Off+Cross Chop takes care of ANY Chansey and Porygon 2 Evio Wall. Never before this team would I have considered Toxicroak much use, but he's put in so much work taking care of walls and cleaning up at the end of games, I don't think I could possibly replace it.
Gliscor @ Toxic Orb (Poison Heal)
Nature: Impish
EVs: 248 HP/ 252 Def/ 8 Atk
-Knock Off
-Earthquake
-Roost
When looking at all my resistances to Ice and Water, Gliscor seemed to me the perfect dedicated Physical Wall. He can switch in to almost anything, while the rest of the team makes up for his defectiveness against Gyarados, Weavile, and other Water/Ice types. Performing the best at Toxic stalling, while getting rid of annoying items, and providing a key role in the STAB EQ, Gliscor takes care of some pretty key hitters that could damage my team.
Sylveon @ Leftovers (Pixilate)
Nature: Calm
EVs: 248 HP/ 252 Spc Def/ 8 Spc Atk
-Hyper Voice
-Wish
-Protect
-Heal Bell
Sylveon is a personal favorite of mine, and I was really determined to fit it into this team, and it has not disappointed. It's provided a critical role of luring and healing: in other words, it'll heal all my team members, performing a cleric duty; then it will lure Pokemon like Scizor/Heatran/Magnezone/Bisharp into a switch trap into either Gliscor or Manectric to take an EQ/Overheat. It's unusual ability to draw Pokemon in has been the downfall of many enemies (as a lot of teams base themselves around powerful Steel-types, or at least abuse them.
Alright guys let me know what you think! I'm really open to suggestions, just keep it tame. I'll disregard any rude comments. Thanks!
Manectric @ Manectite (Lightning Rod/Intimidate)
Nature: Timid
EVs: 252 Spc Atk/ 252 Spe/ 4 Spc Def
-Thunder
-Volt Switch
-Hidden Power Ice
-Overheat
Manectric seemed like an ideal Mega for this team. His strong STAB base 135 Thunder (100% acc in the rain) seemed like a really good way to deal with other bulky Water-types like Gyarados without allowing them to abuse the rain. It also serves as a Lightning Rod for electric attacks coming in before the Mega Evolution, either punishing or discouraging the move Thunderbolt from being used against my Water types. Testing with Manectric as an offensive pivot/revenge killer has been wonderful. Definitely would recommend it for any rain team looking for speed and coverage.
Politoed @ Damp Rock (Drizzle)
Nature: Modest
EVs: 252 HP/ 252 Spc Atk/ 4 Spc Def
-Scald
-Ice Beam
-Psychic
-Hypnosis
So Politoed is definitely a staple on ANY Rain team (pseudo or otherwise). The Drizzle ability and relatively decent bulk speaks for itself. It is a good way to deal with Heatran and cancel out the sun from a Charizard Y. Keeping it alive can provide several benefits until the end. The random sleep with Hypnosis can punish opponents who try to make a switch against it (most often, they'll run if Politoed enters in against a Garchomp/Landorus-T/Gliscor). It provides more than just rain, but its purpose is pretty self-explanatory. 100% necessary (in my opinion).
Kingdra @ Sea Incense (Swift Swim)
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 252 Atk/ 252 Spe/ 4 HP
-Dragon Dance
-Outrage
-Waterfall
-Iron Head
Kingdra has also been a pretty popular stable on most Rain teams. Although, I took a twist on it (from the norm). Most people will run a Focus Energy/Critical Meteor set and rely fully on the rain to provide its speed. The problem I found testing that build is just that: it relied primarily on Rain to be active otherwise it would be easily outrun by Garchomp and then nailed down by Dragon Claw/Outrage. This build that I have chosen can serve as a Swift Swim abuser, come in and revenge kill, but still be a stand-alone sweeper with Dragon Dance even outside of rain. The Sea Incense + Rain Waterfall will OHKO almost anything that is weak to Water, making it the hardest hit on my team. Also, Iron Head provides an out to Fairies like Togekiss/Sylveon that would ordinarily trouble Rain teams.
Toxicroak @ Life Orb (Dry Skin)
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk/ 252 Spe/ 4 Def
-Fake Out
-Cross Chop
-Gunk Shot
-Knock Off
Toxicroak, while normally subpar, has done outstanding work on this team. The Life Orb damage is almost irrelevant thanks to Dry Skin healing 1/4 health after each turn, making him an ideal speedy sweeper. The Fake Out gives him a lead-off option, while the Gunk Shot/Cross Chop make him useful as a Wall Breaker. Knock Off+Cross Chop takes care of ANY Chansey and Porygon 2 Evio Wall. Never before this team would I have considered Toxicroak much use, but he's put in so much work taking care of walls and cleaning up at the end of games, I don't think I could possibly replace it.
Gliscor @ Toxic Orb (Poison Heal)
Nature: Impish
EVs: 248 HP/ 252 Def/ 8 Atk
-Knock Off
-Earthquake
-Roost
When looking at all my resistances to Ice and Water, Gliscor seemed to me the perfect dedicated Physical Wall. He can switch in to almost anything, while the rest of the team makes up for his defectiveness against Gyarados, Weavile, and other Water/Ice types. Performing the best at Toxic stalling, while getting rid of annoying items, and providing a key role in the STAB EQ, Gliscor takes care of some pretty key hitters that could damage my team.
Sylveon @ Leftovers (Pixilate)
Nature: Calm
EVs: 248 HP/ 252 Spc Def/ 8 Spc Atk
-Hyper Voice
-Wish
-Protect
-Heal Bell
Sylveon is a personal favorite of mine, and I was really determined to fit it into this team, and it has not disappointed. It's provided a critical role of luring and healing: in other words, it'll heal all my team members, performing a cleric duty; then it will lure Pokemon like Scizor/Heatran/Magnezone/Bisharp into a switch trap into either Gliscor or Manectric to take an EQ/Overheat. It's unusual ability to draw Pokemon in has been the downfall of many enemies (as a lot of teams base themselves around powerful Steel-types, or at least abuse them.
Alright guys let me know what you think! I'm really open to suggestions, just keep it tame. I'll disregard any rude comments. Thanks!
