Hey everybody, I'm new to competitive battling and the Smogon community, and I came up with a rain team. I was just hoping to get some feedback regarding how I could change it for the better. Basically what happened was that I chose some of my favorite pokemon, made some general changes, and it's worked out so far. I've won about 20 games and lost 3 or 4, which I think is quite decent. Anyways, on to the team!
Politoed (M) @ Choice Specs
Trait: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SAtk
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Ice Beam
- Scald
This is of course the rain summoner, and it's here to hit extremely hard. I'm running a bulky offensive set as I wanted to surprise opponents, and I have to say it's been working really well. It OHKO's various leads which many people don't expect. Hydro pump is my main stab, along with scald for more reliability and of course that 30% burn chance ;) Ice beam is for dragons and trevenant mainly, and I run HP grass for the occasional gastrodon or quagsire.
Garchomp (M) @ Garchompite
Trait: Sand Veil
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Aqua Tail
- Outrage
- Stealth Rock
Another hard hitter. This is my dragon choice for the team, as well as stealth rocker. I'm not really quite sure about megachomp on this team, but it does hit hard with the standard earthquake and outrage. Aqua tail is nice to hit gliscors with in the rain, and generally hits quite hard when super effective. Not much else to say honestly, it's simply a cool pokemon that can definitely work well at times, although I find myself having difficulties with its speed stat at times.
Latios (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Psyshock
- Draco Meteor
- Defog
Mainly my defogger, but definitely hits hard with Draco Meteor. I chose thunderbolt over surf as I already have an abundance of pokemon with water moves imo, and it hits Gyarados hard, which can be a potential threat when the rain is up. Psyshock is mainly there as a secondary stab, with which I can hit fairies for some significant damage (namely clefable).
Talonflame (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Gale Wings
EVs: 200 HP / 252 Atk / 56 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- U-turn
- Roost
Mainly there for the priority Brave Bird, which decimates lots of pokemon. Flare Blitz on a rain team might seem contradictory, but it's evident that the rain won't be up all the time, and Brave Bird will still be my main move. U-turn is obviously for gaining offensive momentum and occasionally dealing solid damage. Roost on a CB poke might seem strange, but it works out really well at times when I'm in an advantageous situation in which I will force a switch, and ensures longevity.
Tornadus-T (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hurricane
- Focus Blast
- Taunt
- U-turn
Tornadus is here to abuse his powerful hurricane in the rain, which is absolutely beastly. The confusion chance also really comes in handy quite often! Focus blast is there for coverage mainly. Taunt is to prevent walls or status inflicters from setting up hazards or, well, inflicting statuses :') U-turn is obviously to maintain offensive momentum, yet again.
Kingdra (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Swift Swim
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Scald
- Draco Meteor
- Ice Beam
One of my favorite pokes ever, mainly the reason he's here. Additionally, Kingdra is a beast in the Rain, with Hydro Pump alongside Scald as its main stabs. Draco Meteor hits quite hard, but I only use it when my water or ice type attacks don't deal super effective damage, as obviously a hydro pump in the rain will deal way more damage when super effective or neutral! A very good late game sweeper, and blisteringly fast!
So that's the team! I hope you guys can provide me with some criticism (constructive of course), as it is my first competitive team. Honestly, it's just powerful pokemon that I threw together, and it worked out half decently to say the least. I realize the team most likely does not synergize too well, but if you'd like to test this to help exploit its weaknesses and provide options, here's the team!
Politoed (M) @ Choice Specs
Trait: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SAtk
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Ice Beam
- Scald
Garchomp (M) @ Garchompite
Trait: Sand Veil
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Aqua Tail
- Outrage
- Stealth Rock
Latios (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Psyshock
- Draco Meteor
- Defog
Talonflame (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Gale Wings
EVs: 200 HP / 252 Atk / 56 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- U-turn
- Roost
Tornadus-T (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hurricane
- Focus Blast
- Taunt
- U-turn
Kingdra (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Swift Swim
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Scald
- Draco Meteor
- Ice Beam
Politoed (M) @ Choice Specs
Trait: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SAtk
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Ice Beam
- Scald
This is of course the rain summoner, and it's here to hit extremely hard. I'm running a bulky offensive set as I wanted to surprise opponents, and I have to say it's been working really well. It OHKO's various leads which many people don't expect. Hydro pump is my main stab, along with scald for more reliability and of course that 30% burn chance ;) Ice beam is for dragons and trevenant mainly, and I run HP grass for the occasional gastrodon or quagsire.
Garchomp (M) @ Garchompite
Trait: Sand Veil
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Aqua Tail
- Outrage
- Stealth Rock
Another hard hitter. This is my dragon choice for the team, as well as stealth rocker. I'm not really quite sure about megachomp on this team, but it does hit hard with the standard earthquake and outrage. Aqua tail is nice to hit gliscors with in the rain, and generally hits quite hard when super effective. Not much else to say honestly, it's simply a cool pokemon that can definitely work well at times, although I find myself having difficulties with its speed stat at times.
Latios (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Psyshock
- Draco Meteor
- Defog
Mainly my defogger, but definitely hits hard with Draco Meteor. I chose thunderbolt over surf as I already have an abundance of pokemon with water moves imo, and it hits Gyarados hard, which can be a potential threat when the rain is up. Psyshock is mainly there as a secondary stab, with which I can hit fairies for some significant damage (namely clefable).
Talonflame (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Gale Wings
EVs: 200 HP / 252 Atk / 56 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- U-turn
- Roost
Mainly there for the priority Brave Bird, which decimates lots of pokemon. Flare Blitz on a rain team might seem contradictory, but it's evident that the rain won't be up all the time, and Brave Bird will still be my main move. U-turn is obviously for gaining offensive momentum and occasionally dealing solid damage. Roost on a CB poke might seem strange, but it works out really well at times when I'm in an advantageous situation in which I will force a switch, and ensures longevity.
Tornadus-T (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hurricane
- Focus Blast
- Taunt
- U-turn
Tornadus is here to abuse his powerful hurricane in the rain, which is absolutely beastly. The confusion chance also really comes in handy quite often! Focus blast is there for coverage mainly. Taunt is to prevent walls or status inflicters from setting up hazards or, well, inflicting statuses :') U-turn is obviously to maintain offensive momentum, yet again.
Kingdra (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Swift Swim
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Scald
- Draco Meteor
- Ice Beam
One of my favorite pokes ever, mainly the reason he's here. Additionally, Kingdra is a beast in the Rain, with Hydro Pump alongside Scald as its main stabs. Draco Meteor hits quite hard, but I only use it when my water or ice type attacks don't deal super effective damage, as obviously a hydro pump in the rain will deal way more damage when super effective or neutral! A very good late game sweeper, and blisteringly fast!
So that's the team! I hope you guys can provide me with some criticism (constructive of course), as it is my first competitive team. Honestly, it's just powerful pokemon that I threw together, and it worked out half decently to say the least. I realize the team most likely does not synergize too well, but if you'd like to test this to help exploit its weaknesses and provide options, here's the team!
Politoed (M) @ Choice Specs
Trait: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SAtk
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Ice Beam
- Scald
Garchomp (M) @ Garchompite
Trait: Sand Veil
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Aqua Tail
- Outrage
- Stealth Rock
Latios (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Psyshock
- Draco Meteor
- Defog
Talonflame (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Gale Wings
EVs: 200 HP / 252 Atk / 56 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- U-turn
- Roost
Tornadus-T (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hurricane
- Focus Blast
- Taunt
- U-turn
Kingdra (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Swift Swim
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Scald
- Draco Meteor
- Ice Beam
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