Rate my Rain Dance team.

[Myrmikoopa]

The Song of Storms!

A Quick Look

This is my first RMT on Smogon. I've done a couple on Gamefaqs and I have been lurking for a couple years. I've also been playing a on of Shoddy and this team has been my best one so far.

The idea of my team is simple, set up some rain and sweep. Swift swim is an amazing ability, it allows you to out speed and over power most of your opponents while not being as frail as most fast sweepers. Rain serves two purposes, to raise the speed of my Pokemon and to raise the power of mater type attacks, which is a great type that few resist.

Electrode @ Damp Rock
Ability: Static
EVs: 252 Atk/240 Spd/16 SAtk
Hasty nature (+Spd, -Def)
- Thunder
- Explosion
- Rain Dance
- Taunt


Electrode has been the best lead I've ever had. He's faster than any other lead so Rain Dance is never a problem. If i think they are gonna set up SR I taunt, if they have EQ I RD. If i get Rain up I usually Thunder till I die. The beauty if this poke is that I really don't care if it dies as long as there is rain since if I die first turn, it is just more time my main pokes can use rain before I whip out Ludicolo.


Against common leads...

Azelf- I usually taunt because I can survive a Flamethrower and Rain Dance the next turn then Explode if I'm not dead.

Metagross- Guessing game, I usually play it safe and RD first turn incase of EQ then I Thunder for as much damage as possible.

Aerodactyl- RD>dead>Kingdra

Ninjask- Thunder (they always protect)>Taunt through the sub>RD>Explode (Maybe Thunder)

I assume you get the picture, I usually play it safe if I feel like I will get tricked or EQ'ed. I always Explode Charizards since they usually have Belly Drum, but they are rare so it doesn't really matter.
---

Kabutops (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 Atk/252 Spd/4 Def
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Waterfall
- Stone Edge
- Swords Dance
- X-Scissor

I love this guy. Most people say he has bad typing but it is just what my team needs. After SD he can pretty much kill any thing that isn't a penguin. X-Scissor is for Starmie and Celebi who likes to come in and T-Wave everything, I need a SD to OHKO though. Stone Edge OHKO's Gyra, Mence and Dragonite and usually Zapdos even with out an SD. Waterfall deals massive damage to everything else. This guy can even make short work of Forretress, Skarmory and Blissy.

Kabutops can almost always switch in on Gyarados and kill it before he gets a second DD.

He usually comes out toward the end of the game when I know something can't come in and revenge kill it. He out speeds a ScarfGar who usually thinks it can come in and focus Blast.

I went with lefties because even with his poor defensive typing he has enough stats to take a hit or two so that means if I can't sang the OHKO I can still KO it or it gives me time to SD then he is an absolute monster.
---

Kingdra (M) @ Wide Lens
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 192 Atk/76 Spd/240 SAtk
Naughty nature (+Atk, -SDef)
- Hydro Pump
- Rain Dance
- Draco Meteor
- Waterfall

Wow is thing a good sweeper. Hydro Pump does roughly 80% to Metagross at full health and pretty much flat out KO's any thing that doesn't resist it or has excellent SPD. Draco Meteor OHKO's other dragons but leaves me with only waterfall. Waterfall is for after DM when people think I will switch out and leaves me with enough power to snag a kill or two.

I usually use Kingdra right after Electrode since its' mixed very few things can safely switch in.

Kingdra doesn't lik Gyarados as there isn't much he can do against him.
---

Lanturn (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 40 HP/80 Spd/136 SAtk/252 SDef
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Confuse Ray
- Discharge
- Surf
- Ice Beam

My secret weapon. This guy is so good. OHKO's most dragons that aren't Latias. Can take special hits very well. and Most importantly switch in on T-Blolts and T-Waves people love spamming against me. Nothing like coming in on a Thunderbolt and Parafusing them back. If Blissy doesn't have Toxic or Seismic Toss Lanturn can out stall it as it resists BoltBeam and Flamethrower. Confuse Ray has been a huge part of my success since it can cause a switch or if they stay in there is a good chance they will end up paralyzed too. This guy usually can scare off a Gyarados too and confuse the next pokemon.

This is also a good Starmie counter.

Usually don't use this guy till the very end where he can take out who ever Kabutops couldn't kill.
---

Ludicolo (M) @ Damp Rock
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 204 HP/104 Spd/76 SAtk/124 SDef
Calm nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Surf
- Rain Dance
- Ice Beam
- Energy Ball

Second Rain Dancer. Pretty bulky and has enough bulk to take a couple hits with it's stats and great typing. The Pineapple also can snag a kill or two on anything that underestimates as it can perform a mini-special sweep but I feel that this poke is more suited to support and only attack when needed more than sweep

The other thing Ludi does is counter Vaporeon who thinks he's untouchable against my water-filled team.

All in all a pretty reliable poke who also supplies me with my much needed ice move.
---

Muk (M) @ Damp Rock
Ability: Sticky Hold
EVs: 252 HP/252 Atk/4 Def
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Explosion
- Mean Look
- Rain Dance
- Poison Jab

Muk?!? Muk is invaluable to my team for three reason, Blissy, Vaporeon and Celebi. These are the three biggest threats to my team. This spot used to be a filler but I needed something to hurt all three but not scare them off right away and be able to take a hit or to so I can kamikaze them. Since he's pretty bulky I figure why not let him give me Rain Support while he's at it.

Though he looks like he doesn't belong he's the blob of goop keeping my team from falling apart.
---

I know my team relies heavily on Rain Dance but since four of my Pokemon know it, it isn't too difficult to keep going.

So there is my team, any and all advice is welcome.
​

 

[Myrmikoopa]

Threats....

THREAT LIST!​

RED=Big threat to my team.
PURLE=Bothersome to my team.
BLUE=No particular concern to my team.


Azelf: Never a real problem, most are leads which Electrode can easily handle. The sweeper variety are to frail to switch in usually.

Blissy: Waterfalls hurt it but not enough to be a sure fire counter, but this is where Muk steps in. Still a big fat pink blob of pain in the ass. Lanturn sucks up T-waves too.

Breloom: This guy can be annoying but he's not impossible. Kabutops get revenge kill in the rain with X-Scissor and Muk can kill it with out Explosion with it's resistance to Focus Punch.

Celebi: I hate the little seedy bastard. Usually just Explode it, but Kabutops can OHKO after SD but T-Wave really hurts my team.

Dugtrio: It's a ground type...lol

Electivire: I'm a part of the the Vire suck brigade but he can slow me down but rarely enough to stop me. He needs to switch in a Discharge. Kingdra, Ludicolo and Muk can take him out most of the time.

Empoleon: Hate him. Muk can't touch him. Ludicolo can take him most the time but not with out losing majority of his health. In the rain water gets double STAB so I usually have to hack away with water attacks as if they are neutral unSTAB attack...a poor strategy but he's not super common thankfully'

Flygon: Water is neutral which is usually all I need. I always have Ludi with ice beam and Lanturn if I'm REALLY desperate but he usually doesn't give me very many problems.

Gengar: Kabutops outspeeds in the rain and OHKO's with Waterfall

Gliscor: Water attacks...

Gyarados: Kabutops OHKO's with Stone Edge and I have Lanturn if needed. Note Kabutops can take an Outrage if Gyara takes out Kingdra.

Heatran: Water!

Heracross: Scarfed one's can stop me from setting up rain but worse comes to worse I have Muk and I usually can find a way to take him down with out Explosion.

Infernape: Water!

Jirachi: Trick is annoying but game breaking. The star is bulky but not impossible to take down.

Kingdra: I just hope mine is faster or they lack swift swim. Other wise it all rests on Ludicolo or my fallback, Muk.

Latias: Kingdra and Draco Meteor.

Lucario: Not a problem unless it gets a SD then Kabutops or Kingdra have to lose a chunk but it's still manageable since Kabutops is part rock with a good Def stat he can take an Extreme Speed and kill it with water fall. Most Lucario don't pack Mach Punch/ Vaccuum Wave so that is (almost) a non-issue.

Machamp: 2HKO by most the team, confusion kind of sucks but I have never been stopped by one.

Magnezone: Kingdra OHKO's with Hydro Pump.

Mamoswine: Water attacks.

Metagross: Kingdra 2HKO's and resists Bullet Punch.

Ninjask: Taunt then attack till it Baton Passes.

Porygon-Z: Not bulky enough.

Rhyperior: He's ground and Rock type!

Roserade: Most are leads and the ones that aren't are X-Scissored.

Rotom-A: Neutral to water, and just frail enough to get taken out before it can be a real problem.

Salamence: Kabutops

Scizor: Hydro Pump/Surf and most my team resists Bullet Punch

Snorlax: Hack away with Kabutops or Explode with Muk

Starmie: Lanturn stops the sea star and Kabutops can X-Scissor it.

Suicune: Can't really damage Ludicolo so Energy Ball like it's going out of style or Lanturn Parafuse it to slow its' recovery.

Togekiss: Lanturn can take it one on one.

Tyranitar: A pain more so than a threat. Re-Rain Dance and kill it.

Weavile: OHKO with a water move.

Yanmega: Usually Explode it because it is a definate pain, thankfully they are rare and usually leads.

Zapdos: Stone Edge with Tops or Kingdra can Hydro Pump but it's risky. Zapdos seems to rarely hinder me though.


If anyone sees a flaw or would like more descriptions please ask!

 

[Snorlaxe]

lolz is Electrode like the only lead on Rain Dance teams? I think its funny how everyone uses him xD...um your team looks pretty A-Okay. If three Rain Dancers is enough to you then its fine with me. For Muk, why not try Gunk Shot over Poison Jab? I know it sounds ass, but the accuracy loss isnt a big deal on a fatty like Muk, and the change in raw power can really make a huge difference.

RAWR SO SEXY
Ludicolo doesnt seem to be doing much for you...and TWave seems to really fuck up your team pretty bad. I have an answer to your Thunder Wave problem.............................................

Blissey (f) @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 Def / 80 SpA / 178 SpD
Modest nature (+Special Attack, -Attack)
- Aromatherapy
- Ice Beam
- Softboiled
- Thunder Wave

At first she doesn't look like she belongs on a rain team, but she can actually be a huge asset. With Cleric Blissey, you can make status your bitch. Cure your whole teams status with Aromatherapy, while dishing out your own status with TWave. Ice Beam can score great damage against things that are weak to it; if you want to use Rain Dance over Ice Beam (for three rain starters), just take the EVs out of attack, put them in Special Defense, and change the nature to Bold. Try it out! :D

 

[.//enigma]

I just quickly glanced at the team because I am running short on time, but here is one change I want to make. Kabutops should have a different EV spread:

52 HP / 252 ATK / 204 Spe

204 Speed brings you up to 247 with 31 IVs. In Rain, you can outspeed +1, +Natured, Base 100's. That's probably as fast as you'll need to go, so you would rather put some bulk into HP and use less speed.

 

[Myrmikoopa]

Thanks for the advice, I'll try out the Blissy tonight.

I'm also thinking about making Ludicolo more of a sweeper....maybe...

I love the Cleric idea but I think without Ludicolo I would have a pretty large bulky water weekness, especially Swampert. I'll give it a shot though, I already have at least ten versions of the team, what's one more.

And yes, Electrode is the only lead for Rain Dance teams lol.

Thanks for the new EV spread for Kabutops!

 

[.//enigma]

That's funny, I was just about to tell you to turn Ludicolo into offensive, Rain Dance, LO. You are taking away some of the bulk, but it can still take some hits, and hit hard in return.

Ludicolo @ Life Orb
Swift Swim
Modest Nature (+SpA, -Atk)
252 SpA / 252 Spe
~ Rain Dance
~ Surf / Hydro Pump
~ Energy Ball / Grass Knot
~ Ice Beam

 

[Snorlaxe]

Yeah...looking back on what I said, I still think that you should go for status-is-my-best-friend-and-lover Blissey, but dont take off Ludicolo. The above post has shown me he is valuable (claps for enigma!)...i dont really know who u should take off. since I havent played against this team, I can't really say, but you should be able to make that desicion if necessary...good luck :D

 

[EspyJoel]

Hi, I have a lot of experience with using RD teams so will help out a bit, firstly do not use that Blissey mentioned earlier as it doesn't fit in on a RD team due to it not providing rain support, sweeping, etc and although Thunder Wave is annoying it can be played around.

First thing I see is your Kingdra, you need to use Life Orb as the power is required to get the OHKOs and 2HKOs mentioned in the analysis, at the moment you won't be able to do enough to deal with Blissey.

At the moment you have a massive fighting/ground weakness I therefore suggest Rotom-W over Lanturn as it still makes a great counter to Gyarados while having immunities to fighting, ground and normal and although it doesn't have that electric immunity it has a resistance which is fine, here's the set:

Rotom-W@Damp Rock ¦ Levitate
Modest/Timid ¦ 252HP/4Def/252Spd
Rain Dance/Hydro Pump/Shadow Ball/Thunder

Gives you another RD set upper which is invaluable on a RD team. It can take advantage of both a boosted Hydro Pump and a 100% accurate Thunder in the rain while Shadow Ball is mainly for Celebi who walls it otherwise. Modest nature is preferred for the power but if you want more speed so your faster than Adamant Lucario who can be a major pain.

If you don't want to change Lanturn then I suggest you at least change Confuse Ray for Rain Dance and give it Damp Rock as an extra rder will be very helpful.

Ludicolo should be changed to a more offensive sweeper and non-Blissey teams will have major trouble with it. Here's the set:

Ludicolo@Life Orb ¦ Swift Swim
Modest ¦ 60HP/196Spd/252SAtk
Rain Dance/Ice Beam/Grass Knot or Energy Ball/Surf

196Spd EVs reach 225Spd outspeeding +1 neutral natured base 100s in the rain while 252SAtk EVs for power and rest in HP to help take hits. Rain Dance, Ice Beam and Surf are self explanatory, don't use Hydro Pump as the extra power isn't worth the accuracy loss on Ludicolo. Grass Knot is preferred as the grass move for the ability to 2HKO Gyarados and do more to most waters but if Vaporeon is really annoying you then you can use Energy Ball.

Since I have added another rain dancer you can change Rain Dance for Signal Beam on Kingdra to OHKO Celebi who you say is a major pain.

On Kabutops you may want to give it a bit more speed as scarf Gengars/Latias', etc are annoying to your team, I therefore suggest this spread with a Jolly nature:84HP/252Atk/172Spd, this reaches 263Spd before rain and in the rain outspeeds Timid CS Latias/Gengar. You also may want to consider Brick Break to hit Empoleon if you use Signal Beam on Kingdra as in your threat list you say Empoleon is a pain.

Lastly Stealth Rocks are integral to a RD team as they allow Kingdra with Life Orb in the rain to OHKO or possibly OHKO Zapdos, Scizor, Metagross, Machamp, Rotom-A and others with Hydro Pump as well as generally helping out and breaking sashes, I therefore suggest changing Electrode to a lead who can set up SR. Here are a few good options for fast leads who can set up SR:

Azelf@Damp Rock or Focus Sash¦ Levitate
Jolly ¦ 220HP/36Atk/252Spd
Stealth Rock/Rain Dance/U-turn/Explosion

A quick lead which can set up both SR and RD, Damp Rock means you can get 8 turns of rain but the safer option id Focus Sash, you may want to try out both and see whats best. U-turn is for scouting or a bad lead matchup while Explosion can be used as a last resort to get a sweeper in unharmed.

or

Uxie@Choice Scarf ¦ Levitate
Bold ¦ 252HP/104Def/152Spd
Trick/Stealth Rock/Rain Dance/Memento

HP and Def EVs give it bulk while 152Spd EVs reaches 264Spd meaning with a Scarf it faster than even Aerodactyl. Trick cripples most leads then from there you can set up SR and RD. Memento is a great move as it can help one of your sweepers set up as when Uxie is low and unlikely to survive much longer, you sacrifice Uxie by Memento and reduce your opponents Atk and SAtk by 2 making it easier for Kabutops or Qwilfish if you use it to set up.

Hope this helps and good luck with the team :)

 

[Blackhawk11]

Wow. Going over your team I noticed a few things that I would change. Let me say this first though. I'm going to tell you based on what you have in the RMT currently, possibly seconding others' opinions in the process. So here goes:

First, the lead. I really don't like Electrode as a lead because all it does is set up rain and then go bye-bye. I would go with Uxie, but not with the Scarf set Joel gave you, I always use a simple Damp Rock set to get things moving right from the start. Here's what I usually use:

Uxie @ Damp Rock
Impish | 252 HP/180 Def/76 Spd
Rain Dance/Stealth Rock/Reflect or Memento/U-turn

It's a much more defensively sound lead and guarantees getting SR and RD up as long as the foe isn't a taunter. The Speed outspeeds Jolly TTar and the Defense will usually allow you to survive a Crunch, so you can set up two things (SR and RD) on it without worrying about an OHKO.

Next up, Tops. Get Aqua Jet into his moveset for X-Scissor, especially if you end up with Signal Beam on Kingdra (which I will address next). Having a priority move is amazing, and after a SD, Tops will be unstoppable (provided it's raining).

Ah, the mighty Kingdra; when I saw this set I almost threw up (no offense). MixDra and I are enemies, mainly because I find that a straight-up Special sweeping Dra is much better, but possibly not better for your team, which is packed full of SAtk users. I guess if you like MixDra, then keep it, but change it's item to Life Orb or Mystic Water, preferably LO. On a sole SAtk user, use Surf/Signal Beam/Dragon Pulse/Yawn, Substitute, or Rain Dance.

Lanturn looks alright, and I read that you like it, so I'll let it be.

Ludicolo. I threw up again when I saw this things EVs. Ludicolo is a sweeper at heart. That dancing sombrero thing is a beast of a special attacker when he's under the rain, and I'm not quite sure why Kingdra is the only Pokemon people feel is neccessary for a rain team, since Ludicolo is a bit better IMO. You should give him a more offensive EV spread, the one .//Enigma mentioned looks alright, but you don't need that much speed. Just enough to bring you to 225 Spd (outrunning Adamant DDMence after one DD in the rain) should be good, which would be 228 EVs I believe.

Muk. Honestly, I can't really say much about it, since I have never used one, but here's what I noticed. I'm not sure what Mean Look does for him, besides preventing a switch out of Explosion. I think that Shadow Sneak might be a good replacement as it will hit faster Pokemon for some damage, potentially KOing a weakened opponent before you take damage.

It's a great team, especially for using two Pokemon that I've never seen used before (Muk and Lanturn), and I wish you luck using it. One last word of advice on the team in general: having two Damp Rock RD users is certainly enough, as long as you have a few other non-Damp Rock RDers in the mix. Even if you don't make Ludicolo offensive, at least give him Lefties or something instead of Damp Rock.

 

[Styx]

It's a great team, especially for using two Pokemon that I've never seen used before (Muk and Lanturn), and I wish you luck using it. One last word of advice on the team in general: having two Damp Rock RD users is certainly enough, as long as you have a few other non-Damp Rock RDers in the mix. Even if you don't make Ludicolo offensive, at least give him Lefties or something instead of Damp Rock.

you must not of played a lot of Red blue gold silver emerald because Lanturn was on of the most annoying Pokemon in its time... But anyways im off subject

Black hawk is right about the Kabutops it definitely needs aqua jet to insure kills if the rain stops.. what i would do with him is pull him out on a wall sub then just get as many Sworddances until you can start Firing away

besides that i like it but i dont no how well it will do agaisnt OU teams that use Tiers.. =( but good luck and hoped that suggestion helped