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Rain/Water Team

Xanidos

Xanidos

It all started with Gen IV for me. I was looking to build a team that could handle anything. With versatility and flow that did not need to change direction, but blast through any problem that got in the way. With the arrival of Spiritomb and its prefect type combination and rather decent stats, I started looking into typing more than I had in the past. I wanted something that was powerful, versatile, had numbers, and verity. I found water. The first thing that jumped out in my face was that Water matches up with every other type of Pokemon except Fire. This fact gives us water types that can defend against waters weaknesses, and I liked that. Rain Dance was a move in Gen III that I never would have considered using. I did not know anything about it other than it made Fire weaker. When I learned all about Rain Dance and its many many benefits, I knew water type was the right choice for me. So the purpose of this team is to quickly sweep my opponents by taking advantage of the rain's boost to water moves giving me 100% boost with out items.

Jolteon @ Damp Rock
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs:Spe 252, SpA: 252, Hp: 6
Nature: Timid
- Thunder
- Rain Dance
- Protect
- Volt Switch

*With Jolteon's high speed, as one of two lead pokemon I will make it rain quickly. Then, depending on the types my opponent has, I will take advantage of thunder's now 100% acc, or Volt Switch out for later Rain Dancing as needed. Jolteon is really here for two reasons and two reasons only, quick rain and Thunder use against other water types.*

Kingdra @ Choice Specs
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs:Spe 252, SpA: 252, Hp: 6
Nature: Timid
- Surf
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Dragon Pulse

*Kingdra is my ace card. I have him for all the obvious reasons. Swift Swim to make him the lead attacker. Stab on the Water type moves. Water/Dragon to eliminate all weaknesses but Dragon. With the only weakness to Dragon, I have Ice Beam and Dragon Pulse to take out any opposing Dragons that could otherwise hinder progression through the team. He is two of two leading into a double battle.*

Suicune @ Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
EVs:Def 252, SpD: 252, SpA: 6
Nature: Timid
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Calm Mind
- Bite

*Suicune is my "jack of all trades" in this team. Surf for causing max damage to the field while heaing my water absorbers. Ice beam if by off chance Kingdra didn't finish off the dragons or a late Grass type pops up. Calm Mind upon entry to increase Suicune's longevity and sheer striking force. I have Bite to kill the pesky Shedinja as well as causing flinching if trick room is played. Finally, Life Orb to increase power even more giving Suicune a hopeful oh-ko on anything not strong against water types.*

Vaporeon @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs:SpA 252, SpD: 252, Hp: 6
Nature: Calm
- Surf
- Hydro Pump
- Rain Dance
- Rest

*Vaporeon is my Wall. With Water Absorb and Leftovers to heal every turn and rest to bring health back from a devastating blow, Vaporeon should last the rest of the battle. Should Vaporeon need to come out, nothing short of a 1 hit k-o can take it out before it takes its opponents out with Stab/Rain boost. Rain dance here is an insurance should the battle drag longer than planned.*

Seismitoad @ Scope Lens
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs:Spe 252, SpA: 252, Hp: 6
Nature: Jolly
- Surf
- Sludge Wave
- Grass Knot
- Earthquake

*Seismitoad is my secondary Electric wall/sweeper should we come into contact with more than one. Strong attacker with Swift Swim to attack hard and fast. Sludge Wave for any DOT damage. Grass Knot for opposing Water types. Seismitoad was picked over Swampert's only slightly higher stats due strickly to Swift Swim.*

Politoed @ Mystic Water
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs:SpA 252, SpD: 252, Hp: 6
Nature: Modest
- Surf
- Scald
- Protect
- Perish Song

*Politoed is holding mystic water to boost power. Using Scald to chance burn for DOT damage. Is healed with another Surfer on the Field (great in combination with Vaporeon to heal each other while killing opponents. Gave it Protect/Perish song should I actually find a Pokemon that I have a problem with and need a quick fix.*
 
Anyone have any thoughts on this teams solidity? I've played over wi-fi and only team's I had problems with were uber teams.
 
At a glance, i'd say Vaporeon is much better with Hydration rather than Water Absorb.

At the end of every turn, Vaporeon is healed of status as long as it is raining. This means you can use rest and wake up the same turn you use it. It also means Vaporeon can absorb any status effects thrown at it. Seeing as how you don't have heal bell or aromatherapy (which aren't extremely important), have something to soak up status effects is useful. And with a monstrous Hydro Pump backing it up, Vaporeon can soak status and damage and then hit back hard.

I'd say you should make a change on its moveset as well. Two water moves are not necessary. IMO, you should keep Hydro Pump. Surf is reliable yes, but sometimes it doesn't have the extra damage to get the job done.

Or, you could ditch both Hydro Pump and Surf for Scald. It gives a 30% chance to inflict burn and deals a decent 80 base damage as well.

Assuming you want to stall, soak damage, and inflict status/deal solid damage, i'd recommend running
Ice Beam
Hydro Pump/Scald
Rest
Rain Dance
 
First off why the heck are you putting on a choice specs on kingdra. Rain dance only lasts one turn and if you get put in a bad matchup it will cost a turn just too switch and another to switch back. give him either leftovers or life orb.



Vaporeon- go with the set the post before me suggested.



Seismitoad-Okay you got issues. You got a nature subtracting special attack but three out of the four attacks are special attacks. Change nature to Timid and change earthquake to earth power.

Suicune- ok really first off why the heck is bite in there??? he is a special sweeper and you just throw bite in? second no calm mind. again rain is only up there for 8 turns so you do not want to have to waste 5 turns of your rain switching to suicune and setting up calm mind. However because it is a suicune you have many options in move changes you have:
Signal Beam
Hidden Power of whatever type (except water and ice)
Extransensory
Aqua Ring
Protect(only if you have leftovers)


Finally completely throw out politoed. He normally is only on rain dance teams because of drizzle but since you dont have that you do not want him. Instead run a special ludicolo set here it is



Ludicolo
Leftovers
Timid
Swift Swim/Rain Dish
E.V.s: 252 Spa, 200 hp, 56 Spe
MOVESET:
Giga Drain
Hydro Pump
Ice Beam
Focus Blast/Hidden Power fighting
 
Specs Kingdra is OK, however, you should use Draco Meteor instead of Dragon Pulse. The reasoning is this: being locked into one move means that when you come in, the opponent is likely to switch into a counter. Thus, you will end up switching out anyways. Why not deal the most damage possible to the counter then? Also, the -2 drop will then be corrected when you switch out, so there is literally nothing to lose with Draco Meteor over Dragon Pulse. (You would want to use Dragon Pulse on something like a Calm Mind Latias so the your CMs don't get messed up by the -2.)


Next, you lack real grass resists. 3 are 2x weak, one is 4x weak, and Jolteon isn't that bulky. Politoed can be swapped out for Ferrothorn. Politoed really lacks anything outside of Drizzle. Ferrothorn will give you a grass resist as well as another electric resists. Use:

Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SDef Sassy
Stealth Rock
Leech Seed
Protect
Gyro Ball/Power Whip

or something. Hazards will help Kingdra blast through things.

Next, you need to try out some physical attackers, as Blissey/Chansey can essentially stop your entire team. Seismitoad really lacks offensive capabilities without boosting, so you can switch it out for something. You should test out some fighting types like Conkeldurr, Blaziken, Meinshao, etc for yourself (I'm not that good at suggesting stuff)
 
With such power like hydropump + stab + rain, a 1.5 boost isn't as signifigant and a simple 1.3 life orb boost is much better with the ability to choose moves. If anyone disagrees with me please bring up the calcs.
 
"Specs Kingdra is OK"
I dont intend to be rude but maybe i should restate my sentance. Rain dance has a limit. He only has two pokemon with rain dance. With turns coming into play you can not waste time switching just because a counter came in. You need more versatility so you can truly sweep. With specs Kingdra you ko one pokemon then prolly have to switch then once that is gone you switch back to kingdra which makes 2 and this goes on so kingdra has about 3 kos with this. However, if he didnt have choice specs he has more moves so he does not have to switch. He can cover a lot more WITHOUT choice specs. However i can respect the fact that more people prefer power over variety so it is up to you.
 
1. e4 d6 said:
With such power like hydropump + stab + rain, a 1.5 boost isn't as signifigant and a simple 1.3 life orb boost is much better with the ability to choose moves. If anyone disagrees with me please bring up the calcs.
Click to expand...






Thank you. I shall put that into power here it is:
Hydro pump base power 120
+ STAB=180
+Water=270

Now your two options
+1.5 boost=405
+1.3 Boost plus move variety=360



IMO i would take the 45 power deduction to be able to use all four moves.
 
People shouldn't doubt SpecsDra - in round two it was arguably the most potent threat on Rain teams - and partially led to the banning of SwSw+Drizzle. Basically, Kingdra doesn't need to be able to change moves to utterly destroy things with Specs, it can 3HKO SpDef Ferrothorn with Hydro Pump for god's sake, and outspeeds the whole metagame (Ferro can do no more to it than Seed or T-Wave it btw) - it simply has no counters, don't go debating its effectiveness as a set.

Now, the only question with SpecsDra on a team without Drizzle is whether you want to risk Rain going down and Kingdra not being able to sweep with DD, and if you want to risk them stalling out Rain turns with a Water Absorb mon/Ferro while you're locked in - and for this reason changing moves may be preferable. You will lose the 3HKO on Ferro though, as well as probably the 2HKO on other water resistant things, so it's up to you.
 
Wow, thanks everyone for the input, I guess since i never had any troubles with the team i never thought of this stuff. I'll be looking into all of the suggestions and doing some modifing :).
 
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