RaikouLover finally makes a Raikou Team!

[RaikouLover]

Well, I'm back! With a new team to abuse the brokenness of the beast that is Raikou. This team I plan to make for wi-fi, and am currently using on shoddy for testing purposes. I had the help of Train Man, and would like the help of the rest of smogon before making this team final!

At a Glance:

*The Star:*

Yup, my trademark pokemon. The strategy is around freeing up Raikou for a sweep. Simple enough.

So on with the team!


The Lead:

Yanmega [Mach 5] @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Tinted Lens
Nature: Rash
EVs: 40 Attack / 216 Speed / 252 Special Attack
*Bug Buzz
*Air Slash
*Hypnosis
*U-Turn

Standard Yanmega set, but with a scarf and tinted lens for lategame sweeping abuse. I found this to be more effective than your standard leading Yanmega, because it can get a surprise hypnosis off, or immediately U-turn to a counter, without having to waste a moveslot for protect, or rely on a focus sash. It outspeeds scarf Porygon Z, and the remaining EVs were dumped into attack to make U-turn "hurt" a little. It is fun U-turning to Dugtrio on turn 1, and traping and killing those annoying heatrans, Blisseys, etc, right of the bat! After theyre gone, Bug Buz with tinted lens will just smash through everything.

The Punching Bag:

Snorlax [Fat Bastard] @ Leftovers
Ability: Thick Fat
Nature: Impish
EVs: 140 HP / 116 Attack / 252 Defense
*Body Slam
*Whirlwind
*Rest
*Sleep Talk

Wierd set and EVs, but it's been so successful to me that I can't change it. Monstrous 496 / 251 / 256 Defenses, and can handle status absorption, phazing, and walling all in one. Most Snorlaxes don't run defense EVs, because it is "too low," but this thing is a lot bulkier than Vaporeon, with higher HP AND Defense. This fatso lives through Garchomp's +2 outrage and Infernape Close Combats and lives to tell the tale. He can't touch ghosts, but Gengar hasn't given me many problems. Train Man dubs him "snorhax" because Body Slam always seems to para when it needs to.


Pure Utility:

Forretress [Grenade] @ Shed Shell
Ability: Sturdy
Nature: Relaxed
EVs: 252 HP / 160 Attack / 96 Defense
*Gyro Ball
*Toxic Spikes
*Rapid Spin
*Zap Cannon

Forry is the definition of utility. Provides spin support, and rapes Gengar switch ins predicting rapid spin. Toxic Spikes is a very important part of a Raikou team, which is why it is here instead of Stealth Rock or spikes. Why? Two layers allows Raikou to beat Blissey one-on-one, if he gets stuck in that positon. Zap Cannon is here for additional Gyarados coverage, as my team had a slight Gyarados weakness (but what team doesn't?).


Blissey's Pimp

Dugtrio [Whack-A-Mole] @ Choice Band
Ability: Arena Trap
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Attack / 252 Speed
*Earthquake
*Stone-Edge
*Sucker Punch
*Pursuit

Dugtrio is such a big help for being able to trap and eliminate the fat bitch. Jolly nature falls just short of 2HKO at full health, but by that time blissey is so weakened that even raikou can finish her off. And if, toxic spikes are out, it's kind of a moot point anyway. I refuse to switch to adamant, as losing to Infernape is embarrassing. I neglected Aerial Ace, as Gyarados and Yanmega handle fighting pokemon fine. Pursuit is a curious option, and allows me to switch in dugtrio against Scarfed Azelfs and Gengars that T-bolt Yanmega or Gyarados, and fuck them as they switch out. I love it!


The bulky dancer:

Gyarados [Sea Serpent] @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 148 HP / 176 Defense / 184 Speed
*Waterfall
*Stone-Edge
*Dragon Dance
*Taunt

Typical bulky Gyarados, with a better EV spread IMO. I went to the next lefties number down, erased those pitiful 16 Attack EVs (wtf does that accomplish?) and put them into speed to hit 244, for Tyranitar and Breloom before dragon dance, and Starmie and Azelf after. The 176 Defense keeps his bulky style, giving him 238 Defense. Nothing else to say really.


The Gloryhound:

Raikou [Sabertooth] @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Timid
EVs: 60 HP / 252 Speed / 196 Special Attack
*Thunderbolt
*Hidden Power [Ice]
*Substitute
*Calm Mind

We all know how devastating raikou is to an unprepared team. It's also fun to sweep entire teams that lose their blissey early on. As mentioned, with 2 layers of Toxic Spikes, if poor Raikou is pinned up against Blissey (non-Aroma), he will win and proceed to sweep the other team. Not much else to say really. 60 HP hits the first lefties number, and the rest were dumped into special attack.


Well, there's the Raikou Team. Most Raikou teams are quite similar, because the strategy is effective. Destroy Blissey at all costs, and have fun running through the opponent with the best "BL" sweeper there is.

 

[Purple Jesus]

I don't like pursuit on Dugtrio even though I understand what angle you are getting at, I think trapping and killing CB Heracross would be worth it for Aerial Ace alone since you have the coverage to take it on (Rock/Bug/Fighting resists) but no surefire counter by definition. The team has a slight SDance Lucario weakness (I say slight since not many run Stone Edge) and Gdos has to hope it isn't carrying Stone Edge essentially - but that is kind of like Heracross - if you don't carry gliscor you have a weakness to these guys typically. Standard gengars (Hypnosis/Focus Blast/TBolt/ShadowBall) will give you hell if the player uses him smartly and uses him before Raikou gets going.

The team is set up pretty solidly overall though. You have pretty solid garchomp coverage with forretress/gdos, you cover gdos with your own (to an extent) and forretress (just mentioning those since many people don't cover those very well). You have resistances placed pretty well. I keep trying to get to bed but I had too much caffeine and I keep coming back to rate some teams but Im starting to get tired of staring at your team and need another look another time, Ill try to look at it again tomorrow to see if I can come up with more threats that it might have trouble with. It seems a little too revenge kill orientated for my liking, but it looks like it can work.

 

[RaikouLover]

Thanks, DFA, I will test out the new EV spread.

On the point about SD Lucario. He doesn't give any of my teams problems, simply because I refuse to let him set up (even if Snorlax is out I just whirlwind him away lol). One thing to mention is... Yanmega survives E-Speed at +2, believe it or not. And after intimidate, Raikou does as well.

 

[Pulse]

IMO a Raikou team needs a back-up plan; more so than other teams focused on a certain sweep. There are so many things that can mess up a Raikou sweep, and from experience with a team I know that the biggest one is Sandstorm. On my Raikou team, I've been using a Sub SD Garchomp as a more or less insurance policy in case I end up against a SS team with all sorts of things that really ruin the focus of the team.

IMO you are overrating the presence of Blissey. First off, theres been an influx of non-SToss Blisseys on Shoddy, so that immediately lowers the need for Dugtrio. Secondly, although it can be tricky, you should be able to find a more conductive Pokémon for that spot, perhaps a Lucario. Of course, it can't switch in on Blissey all the time, but neither can Dugtrio (WishBliss/Ice Beam).

What I'm trying to say is that you have bigger things to worry about with Raikou. I'd ditch Dugtrio for a back-up sweeper and possibly find something that can focus more on taking out faster-than-Raikou Physical threats and priority move abusers. A Lucario could set up a Swords Dance or two, and with Gyarados much attacking power, you don't have a very solid answer for him.

Regardless, solid team. Major props for using Raikou, fellow Raikou Lover. :P

 

[Perfection]

Well, I'm back! With a new team to abuse the brokenness of the beast that is Raikou. This team I plan to make for wi-fi, and am currently using on shoddy for testing purposes. I had the help of Train Man, and would like the help of the rest of smogon before making this team final!

At a Glance:

*The Star:*

Yup, my trademark pokemon. The strategy is around freeing up Raikou for a sweep. Simple enough.

So on with the team!


The Lead:

Yanmega [Mach 5] @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Tinted Lens
Nature: Rash
EVs: 40 Attack / 216 Speed / 252 Special Attack
*Bug Buzz
*Air Slash
*Hypnosis
*U-Turn

Standard Yanmega set, but with a scarf and tinted lens for lategame sweeping abuse. I found this to be more effective than your standard leading Yanmega, because it can get a surprise hypnosis off, or immediately U-turn to a counter, without having to waste a moveslot for protect, or rely on a focus sash. It outspeeds scarf Porygon Z, and the remaining EVs were dumped into attack to make U-turn "hurt" a little. It is fun U-turning to Dugtrio on turn 1, and traping and killing those annoying heatrans, Blisseys, etc, right of the bat! After theyre gone, Bug Buz with tinted lens will just smash through everything.

The Punching Bag:

Snorlax [Fat Bastard] @ Leftovers
Ability: Thick Fat
Nature: Impish
EVs: 140 HP / 116 Attack / 252 Defense
*Body Slam
*Whirlwind
*Rest
*Sleep Talk

Wierd set and EVs, but it's been so successful to me that I can't change it. Monstrous 496 / 251 / 256 Defenses, and can handle status absorption, phazing, and walling all in one. Most Snorlaxes don't run defense EVs, because it is "too low," but this thing is a lot bulkier than Vaporeon, with higher HP AND Defense. This fatso lives through Garchomp's +2 outrage and Infernape Close Combats and lives to tell the tale. He can't touch ghosts, but Gengar hasn't given me many problems. Train Man dubs him "snorhax" because Body Slam always seems to para when it needs to.


Pure Utility:

Forretress [Grenade] @ Shed Shell
Ability: Sturdy
Nature: Relaxed
EVs: 252 HP / 160 Attack / 96 Defense
*Gyro Ball
*Toxic Spikes
*Rapid Spin
*Zap Cannon

Forry is the definition of utility. Provides spin support, and rapes Gengar switch ins predicting rapid spin. Toxic Spikes is a very important part of a Raikou team, which is why it is here instead of Stealth Rock or spikes. Why? Two layers allows Raikou to beat Blissey one-on-one, if he gets stuck in that positon. Zap Cannon is here for additional Gyarados coverage, as my team had a slight Gyarados weakness (but what team doesn't?).


Blissey's Pimp

Dugtrio [Whack-A-Mole] @ Choice Band
Ability: Arena Trap
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Attack / 252 Speed
*Earthquake
*Stone-Edge
*Sucker Punch
*Pursuit

Dugtrio is such a big help for being able to trap and eliminate the fat bitch. Jolly nature falls just short of 2HKO at full health, but by that time blissey is so weakened that even raikou can finish her off. And if, toxic spikes are out, it's kind of a moot point anyway. I refuse to switch to adamant, as losing to Infernape is embarrassing. I neglected Aerial Ace, as Gyarados and Yanmega handle fighting pokemon fine. Pursuit is a curious option, and allows me to switch in dugtrio against Scarfed Azelfs and Gengars that T-bolt Yanmega or Gyarados, and fuck them as they switch out. I love it!


The bulky dancer:

Gyarados [Sea Serpent] @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 148 HP / 176 Defense / 184 Speed
*Waterfall
*Stone-Edge
*Dragon Dance
*Taunt

Typical bulky Gyarados, with a better EV spread IMO. I went to the next lefties number down, erased those pitiful 16 Attack EVs (wtf does that accomplish?) and put them into speed to hit 244, for Tyranitar and Breloom before dragon dance, and Starmie and Azelf after. The 176 Defense keeps his bulky style, giving him 238 Defense. Nothing else to say really.


The Gloryhound:

Raikou [Sabertooth] @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Timid
EVs: 60 HP / 252 Speed / 196 Special Attack
*Thunderbolt
*Hidden Power [Ice]
*Substitute
*Calm Mind

We all know how devastating raikou is to an unprepared team. It's also fun to sweep entire teams that lose their blissey early on. As mentioned, with 2 layers of Toxic Spikes, if poor Raikou is pinned up against Blissey (non-Aroma), he will win and proceed to sweep the other team. Not much else to say really. 60 HP hits the first lefties number, and the rest were dumped into special attack.


Well, there's the Raikou Team. Most Raikou teams are quite similar, because the strategy is effective. Destroy Blissey at all costs, and have fun running through the opponent with the best "BL" sweeper there is.

I find it saves HP EVs to simply lower Raikou's HP to a leftovers # through the use of lowering its HP EVs. I realize it may affect HP Ice but u may be able to find a HP Ice even after doing so (play around with the Def/Attack IVS), and it is just something to note for your future teams where HP isn't used on certain pokemon (Like getting Ninjask HP at 257 for 5 Substitutes).

Remember there are 31 max HP IVs, so you can easily get a Leftovers magic #.

Other than that I may suggest a way of blocking Rapid Spin? But it's not necessary.

Also I am slightly concerned about Infernape... super effective vs Yanmega/Snorlax/Forretress (Yanmega does have Air Slash though).

Watch out for Skarmary/Bronzong as they resist alot of your attacks. Also I am concerned about EQs. your 2 EQ immune pokemon are weak to SRock, Yanmega being 4x weak.

You may need a Pokemon that resists EQ and offers support to your team without having a SR weakness.

Maybe Leafeon:

Wish/Roar
BPass
SDance
Leaf Blade

over Snorlax

Lets face it: You have 2 Fire Weaknesses, and 2 Pokemon that either resist (Raikou) or are immune to Electric (Dugtrio). Perhaps a Vaporeon can help...

Wish
Ice Beam
Baton pass
Acid Armor (for Dragons)

Any water attacks directed at Dugtrio (Trapping an Aqua jet Azumarill for Example) will aid Vaporeon, and save your Dugtrio.

She also handles Dragons which you may need help with... (SpecsMence will Hit your team hard).

 

[RaikouLover]

Originally Posted by Fat qcvtunm

Also I am slightly concerned about Infernape... super effective vs Yanmega/Snorlax/Forretress (Yanmega does have Air Slash though).

Watch out for Skarmary/Bronzong as they resist alot of your attacks. Also I am concerned about EQs. your 2 EQ immune pokemon are weak to SRock, Yanmega being 4x weak.

You may need a Pokemon that resists EQ and offers support to your team without having a SR weakness.

I'm not too worried about infernape, as yanmega outspeeds and KOs with Air Slash, Dugtrio outspeeds, traps, and KOs with Earthquake, and Raikou will beat him one-on-one 9 times out of 10.

Skarm and Bronzong haven't been unbreakable. Yanmega 2HKOs Skarm, Gyarados pwns it with taunt and Raikou makes skarm shit its pants. Bronzong is the defensive jack of all trades, but makes set up fodder for Gyarados, and Yanmega can put it to sleep as well.

I just don't see how I should fear earthquakes when I have only one weakness and two immunities, with a spinner to go along with it.

Originally Posted by Fat qctvunm

Lets face it: You have 2 Fire Weaknesses, and 2 Pokemon that either resist (Raikou) or are immune to Electric (Dugtrio). Perhaps a Vaporeon can help...

2 Fire Weaknesses and 2 Fire Resists doesnt constitute a major fire weakness...

Originally Posted by Fat Pulse

IMO a Raikou team needs a back-up plan; more so than other teams focused on a certain sweep. There are so many things that can mess up a Raikou sweep, and from experience with a team I know that the biggest one is Sandstorm. On my Raikou team, I've been using a Sub SD Garchomp as a more or less insurance policy in case I end up against a SS team with all sorts of things that really ruin the focus of the team.

IMO you are overrating the presence of Blissey. First off, theres been an influx of non-SToss Blisseys on Shoddy, so that immediately lowers the need for Dugtrio. Secondly, although it can be tricky, you should be able to find a more conductive Pokémon for that spot, perhaps a Lucario. Of course, it can't switch in on Blissey all the time, but neither can Dugtrio (WishBliss/Ice Beam).

I understand what you mean about a back up plan. Gyarados is a "back up" sweeper if you will, capable of rampaging through a team if needed. Yanmega with Tinted Lens is also perfectly capable of sweeping if Raikou bites the dust early, which doesn't happen often, as he is stashed in the back until the late game.

I don't see how I am overrating the presence of the third most used pokemon on the ladder, and the most used special wall and defensive pokemon in general in the game. Whether Bliss is Seismic Toss or not, Dugtrio is a reliable way to trap and eliminate her for good. Lucario can use the fact that she flees to get a free swords dance but what happens if the opponent has Gliscor as well (who happens to be the new combo, Bliss + Glis)? I am effectively walled and Raikou nor Lucario can sweep.

Thanks for the comments guys

 

[Lee]

My only reccomendation would be to hike Dugtrio up to Adamant in order to ensure Blissey bites the dust.

252 Jolly EQ vs 252/252 Bold Blissey = 45-53%
252 Adamant EQ vs 252/252 Bold Blissey = 49-58%

As you can see, Jolly will nearly never 2HKO after Leftovers, whereas Adamant has a much larger chance. That leads me to my next point: a weather changer. I'm sure you know how ineffective Raikou is in the sand. Dugtrio can trap Tyranitar thus opening the way up for a weather changer.

Jolly EQ vs 60/0 Tyranitar = 85-99%
Adamant EQ vs 60/0 Tyranitar = 93-100%

I'm not sure where to put it...Rain Dance seems to have the best overall effect on your team but your utility Poke doesn't learn it. Something to consider...I'd also go with the standard spread on Raikou. He really benefits from those Sp Def EVs.

erased those pitiful 16 Attack EVs (wtf does that accomplish?)

It gives you your first bonus EV point. 12 EVs = 317 whereas 16 = 319. It's not a big thing, but Jumpman thought of everything with that spread.

 

[blasphemy1]

Adamant and 16 Attack EVs accomplishes an extra bonus point....

Beat to the point....


Anyways, Zap Cannon on Forry is shit. Seriously, talk about pointless. Between the 50% accuracy and Waterfall's 20% flinch you are most likely dead, not to mention some Gyarados have Wacan Berries.

 

[RedSP]

nice team

The only thing I can think of is to put Pursuit or Crunch on Snorlax over Whirlwind so that Starmie and Gengar won't be as annoying to deal with.

 

[Pulse]

I don't see how I am overrating the presence of the third most used pokemon on the ladder, and the most used special wall and defensive pokemon in general in the game.

Devoting an entire moveslot to just one Pokémon isn't the best idea, especially considering there are plenty of other Pokémon that can easily take down Blissey, some even better than Dugtrio.

Whether Bliss is Seismic Toss or not, Dugtrio is a reliable way to trap and eliminate her for good. Lucario can use the fact that she flees to get a free swords dance but what happens if the opponent has Gliscor as well (who happens to be the new combo, Bliss + Glis)? I am effectively walled and Raikou nor Lucario can sweep.

Um, no. You'll be hard-pressed to find many Stone Edging Gliscors, so Gyarados can just set up, or you can go to Forretress to set up Toxic Spikes, and have Snorlax WW it away.

The only way I can see your team sweeping is with Raikou, but there are so many things that can go wrong. It's not like Gyarados does that well with Stealth Rock and SS running, so I wouldn't call that a reliable option at all.

 

[RaikouLover]

Thanks Lee, I think I will switch Dugtrio to Adamant. I hope I have enough Infernape coverage. But the simple fact that it does more to Tyranitar is important. I also don't see where I can put a weather changer though. Kingdra can always replace gyarados, but then I have Heracross problems. I hear weather is less used on wifi... is this true?

As for Gyarados' 16 Attack EVs, I just said it doesn't accomplish anything because there is little difference in the damage output with three higher attack points where as my spread hits magic speed and lefties numbers, while keeping the same defense.

Raikou's EV spread will always be debateable. Not sure what the special defense accomplishes, but the extra special attack is useful if he doesn't have time to fully set up (He doesn't need 4-6 CMs to win...).

I've had much success with this team so far, and Gyarados is very capable of pulling his weight as a sweeper.

 

[azntrumpet]

While you said you don't let SD Lucario set up I see plenty of oppurtunity.
Dugtrio locked into anything but EQ is set-up fodder. A Sleeping Snorlax only has a 33% chance to use Whirlwind. A smart Lucario user would CC you anyways in fear of EQ. Forretress has only a 50% chance of getting Luke. Gyrados is your only Pokemon that can switch in but can only do this a few times w/o reliable recovery as SR is almost always up when you're fighting SD Lucario. I'm not even sure that set/spread will even threaten it. There are other ways to set up Luke. (Wobbufet Encore switch is a personal favorite.) I don't see a way to cover this weaknesses without killing your strategy though.

Edit: SpecsShay also gives you trouble.

 

[Perfection]

I meant to say if you use Vaporeon, one of its weaknesses is electric, which wouldn't be a problem considering you have Dugtrio/Raikou. In fact, it may lure electric types in (like Magenzone) which can be a free switch-in for dugtrio.