Rain Dance Team

UltimoVenusaur

I haven't played this team yet. It's a theorymon team I'm creating from scratch. Please rate or else the Bidoof gets it.

101.png

Electrode @ Damp Rock
Hasty Nature, 252 Atk/80 SpAtk/176 Spd
- Taunt
- Thunder
- Rain Dance
- Explosion
Electrode sets up the initial Rain that allows my team to do its thing. Changed the hold item to Damp Rock since none of that other stuff is as important. Taunt is a first move for predictive purposes, like if I know my opponent is packing Earthquake. Thunder and Asplode become gravy.

230.png

Kingdra @ Life Orb
Lonely Nature, 252 Atk/180 SpAtk/76 Spd
Swift Swim
- Dragon Dance
- Outrage
- Waterfall
- Surf
Yeah, forget what I just wrote. Putting 76 EVs in Speed so I can outrun BulkyDos and Tyranitar even in the dry weather. ALSO, Surf as the Special attack of choice due to its boosted power in the rain (over DM) and PP/reliability (over HP).

272.png

Ludicolo @ Life Orb
Modest Nature, 168 HP/252 SpAtk/88 Spd
Swift Swim
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Grass Knot
- Rain Dance
Another great Swimmer, Ludicolo getting STAB on Grass Knot is key for picking off Waters coming in hoping to get the same Swim boosts you're taking advantage of. Ye Smogonites have convinced me that I need more Dancers, so here you go. Life Orb over Lefties now that Leech Seed is out. Also fixed the EV spread since I don't *need* to get to a Lefties checkpoint anymore.

459.png

Toxicroak @ Choice Band
Jolly Nature, 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Dry Skin
- Sucker Punch
- Earthquake
- Cross Chop
- Rock Slide
Taking some advice here, although I opt for the Choice Band set just to take advantage of water attacks on switch-ins. Also absorbs T-Spikes, which could be trouble for my team.

442.png

Bronzong @ Damp Rock
Sassy Nature, 252 HP/184 Def/72 SpDef
Levitate, 0 Speed IV
- Rain Dance
- Stealth Rock
- Gyro Ball
- Reflect/Light Screen
Rain recharger with a side of Stealth Rocks and a screen. I haven't decided which screen to go with. I need to see whether my team is more vulnerable to physical or special threats. Gyro Ball as the lone attack for all-purpose power.

141.png

Kabutops @ Damp Rock
Adamant Nature, 200 HP/252 Atk/56 Spd
Swift Swim
- Rain Dance
- Waterfall
- Aerial Ace
- Rock Slide
Another replacement. Swampie's nice, but I think that the people suggesting this are right and that this fits better.

Please rate. Don't be kind, be honest.

Just to note, this is posted both at Serebii and Smogon, so if you're wondering about what I'm talking about when I'm talking about rates you don't see... you know why.
 
Hey there.

OK, first thing I notice about your team is that it only has 2 rain dancers. You really need more than that to make an effective rain dance team. My one had 5 and I was still sometimes wishing my last pokemon had it too. Replace Leech Seed on Ludicolo for Rain Dance, and you may still be wanting to put Rain Dance on either Kingdra or Swampert.

I've always found that running Damp Rock on Electrode was more beneficial than Focus Sash, but that's just me. I prefer a longer downpour than being guaranteed to get an Explosion off, because in those 3 extra turns of rain you can easily make up for that one kill you missed with one of your Swift Swimmers. If you do choose to give Electrode Damp Rock, give it max HP as well to give it a decent chance of surviving most neutral hits.

Kingdra's good, a DDer will really help you against Blissey and Vaporeon. In the last slot I would definitely go with either Surf or Hydro Pump. In the rain, a 0 SpA LO Surf OHKOs Gliscor and does a minimum of 76% to Skarmory, so it is still extremely powerful (and the accuracy might make it more helpful than Hydro Pump in many situations). A Surf is more powerful than a Draco Meteor in the rain, so I think you should stick with Surf.

On Ludicolo, change the spread to 60HP, 252 SpA, 196 Spe, and give it a Life Orb. Like I already said, change its Leech Seed to Rain Dance. 196 Spe lets you outspeed a +1 Adamant Salamence in the rain and OHKO with Ice Beam. Change Grass Knot to Energy Ball to do better damage to Vaporeon, who otherwise pretty much walls this set. Ludicolo is very formidable in the rain with its Water/Ice/Grass combination - it can take out 3-4 foes by itself easily - and you should make the most of it by giving it all the offense it can get.

I would recommend against Electivire in the rain. I think a Swift Swimmer in that slot would benefit your team a lot more. However, if you do choose to keep him, that is a good set. Another pokemon you could always try out in its stead is a Qwilfish or Kabutops. Both of them are very strong physical attackers in the rain, but I would recommend Qwilfish for this team. It soaks up the Toxic Spikes which can plague a team like this, and its Explosion can be very helpful in getting rid of an annoying wall on the opponents team. I would consider the following set:

Qwilfish @ Life Orb
Adamant
4HP, 252 Atk, 252 Spe

- Waterfall
- Poison Jab
- Explosion
- Swords Dance

SD is just an afterthought on the set tbh, and isnt really needed for Qwilfish to do its thing. Water + Posion STAB attacks give excellent coverage, and that Explosion is great for when the rain is about to run out or you face something you can't take down with your other attacks.

On Bronzong, change the attacks to Rain Dance, Stealth Rock, Reflect and Explosion. A rain team is all about fast paced offense, and you don't have time to be messing around with weak attacks such as Gyro Ball. Bronzong should only come in once in the game, recharge your rain, set up rocks, set up a screen, and then get totally out the way to let one of your Swift Swimmers in. If you add some Atk EVs (128), your Explosion has much more of a bite.

Your Swampert set is really nice, but it might be a bit too slow for a rain team. You're wasting a precious turn of rain whenever you set up Substitute, and Focus Punch isn't really all that appealing when you have Ground STAB. I think you should put a CB Swampert in that slot:

Swampert @ Choice Band
Adamant
252HP, 252 Atk, 4 Def

- Waterfall
- Earthquake
- Ice Punch
- Stone Edge

My friend has used this to great effect on rain teams. A CB Waterfall in the rain coming off of 110 Atk is very powerful, and it is all the more effective when you consider that your opponent won't be expecting such a devastating attack from something that is normally just a bulky tank. Swampert is still really bulky with this set, and it gives you that little bit extra power you might need to break through the opponent's defense.

All in all, this is not a bad rain team at all, one that I enjoyed rating =). I hope my suggestions helped, and good luck with your team.

LR.
 
I think you lack enough Rain. Seeing as auto-weather is all over the place these days, you will need to equip a lot of you Pokémon with it, so that you can constantly get the sweep. Also, since Electrode is an Exploder, and doesn't have the greatest defenses, you have only one Rain-inducer.
Also, only people that actually use a Rain-strategy will be using Thunder, meaning having Rain up won't "attract" Electric-moves. Which again, more or less, means that Electivire is pretty much useless.

For Kingdra, you rely way too heavily on rain being in play. What will you outspeed when the rain ends, or when Tyranitar enters?
Give it 76 Speed, and it gets 225. Then you are able to beat bulky Gyarados and Adamant Tyranitar, and you outrun base 100s after Dragon Dance and neutral natured Choice Scarf 100s after Rain Dance

To Ludicolo, I would take advantage over his annoying-abilities. Give him Substitute, Leech Seed, Toxic and/or Protect, and he will be pissing the opponent off. Swift Swim is still the preferred nature, since you can then Sub before they do anything, and just stall them out. You might want an attacking move in your last slot, since Grass-Pokés will otherwise wall you. Ice Beam, perhaps?
Altho, annoyercolo is my preference, if you think sweepercolo is the better, that's entirely up to you.

I would also go with Reflect on Bronzong, since Bronzong already has a Sassy Nature, and since Ludiclo has a better SpDef than Def, meaning with the added Defense, he can actually take quite the beating before going down.

I also do not like the SubPunching Swampert. I honestly think there are better options for that. I think Swampert, with his amazing defenses, safely can be switched to a supporter with Rain Dance. You can also give him Stealth Rock, freeing a slot on Bronzong, as Zong already has enough supportmoves, really.

Finally, to Electivire, As said, I think you should remove it. I think someone that can function without the rain is something you need. Since you also will face extreme issues agains Scizor, I think Zapdos is your thing.
Zapdos also gets powerful STAB Thunder, so it's still an amazing Pokémon in rain.
Something like:
Zapdos@Leftovers
[Timid]
252 HP / 160 Def / 96 Spe
-Thunder
-Roost
-Hidden Power Ice/Grass
-U-turn/Substitute
With the given Nature and EVs, you outspeed Adamant Lucario, and maximizes defenses with 252 HP, and 160 Def to wall Scizor more efficient. SubRoost is very annoying, especially with 100% Accurate Thunder, but U-Turn can scout and get some smart switches. Hidden Power comes down to wether you want to batter Salamence or Swampert, but since you have Ludicolo already, I think HP Ice is the better.
 
For this team, I would really suggest using Kabutops over Electivire. Tke the Rain Dance set:

Kabutops @Damp Rock
Swift Swim
Adamant
200 Hp/ 252 Atk/ 56 Spe
Rain Dance
Waterfall
Aerial Ace
Rock Slide

By using him, you gain another 8 turns of Rain, a counter to the Flying types that scare the dance out of Ludicolo, and another STAB water move.

If you do go with this pokemon, I would probably make your Kingdra's last move Surf, giving you more diversity in your attacking style. Besides, Surf is just too strong of a move to pass up on Kingdra.
 
if you don't find you're using gyro ball much, explosion is okay since you can get a free switch after rain to your sweeper, plus you can take out one poke, bar a ghost comes in. Outrage on Kingdra I'm don't think it's the right choice, since getting confused after outrage kinda stops Kingdra's sweep right there. I tend to go with Draco meteor over Outrage since it should do more on average to bulky waters than your other attacks. Ludicolo's Grass Knot should be Energy Ball, primarily because of Vaporeon, and it retains most if not all of the 2HKOs you originally had on those waters. Give Ludicolo at least 136 Spd or more, 136 I tend to go for since it outspeeds scarftran before he booms. Qwilfish i really think does better than Toxicroak since for one, he still absorbs those toxic spikes, has explosion, and can take advantage of rain as a sweeper would, increasing speed instead of restoring health. yeah i might come back and see if theres anything else since i gtg now.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top