This is my first VGC team that I'm actually having a lot of success with- it got me from 1450s to 1620s so far (battle spot rating) , and I think I can get past 1700 with it without much effort. Also my first RMT, so if I did something wrong please let me know.
Politoed @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 252 SpA/4 spD/ 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Encore
- Ice Beam
- Scald
- Hydro Pump
Because it's the only aviable pokemon with Drizzle, Politoed is kind of a must-have in a rain team. That said, it consistently proves to be one of the strongest members of the team- It's natural bulk allows it to survive allmost any hit (although rarely more than one), and with the choice scarf it's capable of outspeeding just about anything. The Ice beam is very threatening to very common "anti-rain" leads, such as Landorus+Thundurus, and it also outspeeds and OHKOs MegaMence. Encore is a bit tricky to use, but it allowed me to shut down common fake outers such as mega Kangaskhan numerous times. Scald is the go-to move when the first two moves aren't very valuable, and Hydro Pump tends to just sit there in case I need that little bit of extra oomph (37.5% chance to OHKO max HP/0 spD assault vest lando in the rain).
Ludicolo @ Assault Vest
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 HP/188 Def/ 68 SpA
Modest Nature
- Fake Out
- Ice Beam
- Giga Drain
- Hydro Pump
Allmost every game, I open up with Politoed and Ludicolo. Because of Swift Swim, Ludicolo is faster than most things without any investment (including mega kanga, which is pretty useful when it comes to turn 1 fake outs). Assault Vest makes him nearly invincible to neutral special hits while the defensive investment lets him survive a physical hit or two. The moveset is capable of doing at least neutral damage to allmost anything (Hydro Pump in the rain is pretty strong even without real spA investment).
Talonflame @ Choice Band
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Brave Bird
- U-Turn
- Flare Blitz
- Will-o-wisp
Talonflame, ah, Talonflame. One of the most hated pokemon and for a good reason (although surprisingly, I have yet to encounter one on the other side of the field this season). This pokemon initially made it into the team because I needed something to hit on the physical side, but game after game it just proves an incredibly valuable asset. For some reason very few people actually attempt to protect the pokemon It's most likely to target, and with the Choice Band it actually hits hard enough to 2HKO just about anything that doesnt resist Flying (and OHKO when super effective). The other moves tend to just sit there, but from time to time they end up being useful. Will-o-wisp is there simply because of the free slot and the Steel Wing being too weak to actually do anything meaningful.
Zapdos @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP/252 SpA/4 Spe
Bold Nature
- Thunder
- Volt Switch
- Roost
- Hidden Power Ground
Zapdos is a pokemon that provides a good amount of offensive pressure while still hitting quite hard. Thunder makes good use of the rain, while HP Ground is there for Heatran and pokemon immune to Electric (who tend to be weak to Ground). His main weakness is his inability to hit Landorus with anything, but the team has so many other things to deal with him that it's usually meaningless.
Kangaskhan @ Kangaskhanite
Ability: Scrappy/Parental Bond
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Fake Out
- Return
- Sucker Punch
- Low Kick
This slot was initially occupied by a Volcarona, but I literally never needed her, so I swapped the bug for something more useful. Very much a standard set, I usually use him to pick up knockouts in the midgame after the rain duo weakens the opponent's leads.
Gardevoir-mega @ Gardevoirite
Ability: Trace/Pixiliate
EVs: 252 SpA/4 Def/252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hyper Voice
- Psyshock
- Focus Blast
- Protect
Mega Gardevoir was initially the only mega on the team, but ever since I reached about 1550 rating points she unfortunately seems to be underperforming (and will probably end up swapped out for a Sylveon). The current meta is full of things that don't really care about her STAB moves, and most things that do tend to die to the ice beams of the rain core anyway. Regardless, in some matchups she performs quite well and can be switched in on most moves targeted at other pokemon in the team.
Politoed @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 252 SpA/4 spD/ 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Encore
- Ice Beam
- Scald
- Hydro Pump
Because it's the only aviable pokemon with Drizzle, Politoed is kind of a must-have in a rain team. That said, it consistently proves to be one of the strongest members of the team- It's natural bulk allows it to survive allmost any hit (although rarely more than one), and with the choice scarf it's capable of outspeeding just about anything. The Ice beam is very threatening to very common "anti-rain" leads, such as Landorus+Thundurus, and it also outspeeds and OHKOs MegaMence. Encore is a bit tricky to use, but it allowed me to shut down common fake outers such as mega Kangaskhan numerous times. Scald is the go-to move when the first two moves aren't very valuable, and Hydro Pump tends to just sit there in case I need that little bit of extra oomph (37.5% chance to OHKO max HP/0 spD assault vest lando in the rain).
Ludicolo @ Assault Vest
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 HP/188 Def/ 68 SpA
Modest Nature
- Fake Out
- Ice Beam
- Giga Drain
- Hydro Pump
Allmost every game, I open up with Politoed and Ludicolo. Because of Swift Swim, Ludicolo is faster than most things without any investment (including mega kanga, which is pretty useful when it comes to turn 1 fake outs). Assault Vest makes him nearly invincible to neutral special hits while the defensive investment lets him survive a physical hit or two. The moveset is capable of doing at least neutral damage to allmost anything (Hydro Pump in the rain is pretty strong even without real spA investment).
Talonflame @ Choice Band
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Brave Bird
- U-Turn
- Flare Blitz
- Will-o-wisp
Talonflame, ah, Talonflame. One of the most hated pokemon and for a good reason (although surprisingly, I have yet to encounter one on the other side of the field this season). This pokemon initially made it into the team because I needed something to hit on the physical side, but game after game it just proves an incredibly valuable asset. For some reason very few people actually attempt to protect the pokemon It's most likely to target, and with the Choice Band it actually hits hard enough to 2HKO just about anything that doesnt resist Flying (and OHKO when super effective). The other moves tend to just sit there, but from time to time they end up being useful. Will-o-wisp is there simply because of the free slot and the Steel Wing being too weak to actually do anything meaningful.
Zapdos @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP/252 SpA/4 Spe
Bold Nature
- Thunder
- Volt Switch
- Roost
- Hidden Power Ground
Zapdos is a pokemon that provides a good amount of offensive pressure while still hitting quite hard. Thunder makes good use of the rain, while HP Ground is there for Heatran and pokemon immune to Electric (who tend to be weak to Ground). His main weakness is his inability to hit Landorus with anything, but the team has so many other things to deal with him that it's usually meaningless.
Kangaskhan @ Kangaskhanite
Ability: Scrappy/Parental Bond
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Fake Out
- Return
- Sucker Punch
- Low Kick
This slot was initially occupied by a Volcarona, but I literally never needed her, so I swapped the bug for something more useful. Very much a standard set, I usually use him to pick up knockouts in the midgame after the rain duo weakens the opponent's leads.
Gardevoir-mega @ Gardevoirite
Ability: Trace/Pixiliate
EVs: 252 SpA/4 Def/252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hyper Voice
- Psyshock
- Focus Blast
- Protect
Mega Gardevoir was initially the only mega on the team, but ever since I reached about 1550 rating points she unfortunately seems to be underperforming (and will probably end up swapped out for a Sylveon). The current meta is full of things that don't really care about her STAB moves, and most things that do tend to die to the ice beams of the rain core anyway. Regardless, in some matchups she performs quite well and can be switched in on most moves targeted at other pokemon in the team.
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