Rate my team and grab an umbrella.

[lithropop]

I've just decided to get serious about competitive battling, any thoughts on my team? I know it isn't Gen V, but I feel like a rain-team is a really great format to start with, and could be just what I need to boost my confidence.

Politoed @ Damp Rock
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SAtk
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Substitute
- Psychic
- Ice Beam

Politoed: forever the meat of my rain team; While he's primarily here to set-up Drizzle, I really wanted him to have some utility usage, as well. The goal here is play him more like a tank, than a special sweeper; investing in his defense and HP, while adding just a scant few points to his already respectable SAtk. Substitute is there to wall out any Tbolt or Thunder pokes that could turn my rain against me, and keep the rain going.

Volcarona @ Air Balloon
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Quiver Dance
- Hurricane
- Roost
- Fiery Dance

Don't look at me like that. Volcarona serves two functions here: playing the Special sweeper game, but also psyching out the competition. Volcarona isn't commonly seen in the rain, but it isn't unheard of. Keeping her in my pocket until needed is exactly the way that I play this. Drizzle and a string of water pokes should scare back TTars and Grass pokes, but just in case-- it pays to have the Hurricane buff on hand. Fiery dance is around to help relieve me of any Scizor or Ferrothorn problems

Goodra @ Rock Helmet
Ability: Hydration
EVs: 8 HP / 252 Def / 248 SpD
Bold Nature
- Toxic
- Infestation
- Rest
- Dragon Pulse

It's a trap! Goodra can hit hard, but is ultimately here as a Trapping-Tank. Goodra's bulky Def and Sdef stats make it a hard one to take out, and the Assault Vest definitely doesn't hurt, either. But with Rest + Hydration, it's just downright mean. Toxic is there to pad its lack of damage-dealing moves, but stalling normally does the job, here.

Azumarill @ Leftovers
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 244 HP / 252 Atk / 12 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Belly Drum
- Aqua Jet
- Play Rough
- Protect

Don't fix it, if it ain't broken. This is your quintessential competitive Azumarill. Sure, the Belly Drum penalty sucks, but the sitrus berry almost makes it like it never happened. Aqua Jet helps with my team's overall weakness to priority, but I'm counting on Azumarril's high HP tank and boosted power to survive a hit, before doling out some major damage. Superpower is mostly just there as a last-resort, so I'm open to a smarter slot option.

Manectric @ Manectite
Ability: Lightningrod
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Thunder
- Flamethrower
- Rain Dance
- Ice Fang

I really dig Manectric; he was always one of my favorite sleeper agents in Gen 4; I originally had an HP Fire Galvantula in this spot, but decided on Manectric for his wider move pool, and better coverage options. He's got the trappings of a great all-around sweeper: he's quick, but hits hard from a distance. Truth be told, I've put him here as a means to disrupt dragon and electric progress, his ability also makes him a really smart Rain Dancer, just in case Politoed sh*ts the bed early.


Garchomp @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Rough Skin
Jolly Nature
-Dragon Claw
-Earthquake
-Iron Head
-Stone Edge

Garchomp is my revenge-killer, and does my late-game dirty work. His resistance to electricity, and neutral damage to water attacks make him yet another unexpected threat. Garchomp is a common response to rain teams, so I'd like to wield one, myself. He's a fast and heavy physical sweeper.

 

[Odd Sponge Out]

Which meta is this for?

 

[Fireflame]

Your team is good. The rain allows your Pokémon to do work when it is up. In my opinion, I really don't think rain teams are good in this generation. Abilities like Drizzle and Drought don't set up permanent rain anymore. Also, I don't know what tier this is, so I can't help you with other Pokémon, just the Pokémon you have. However, I will still give you a rate.

Politoed:

Your Politoed needs some work. In your description, you said you did not want Politoed to be a special sweeper, and that you wanted it to serve as utility. However, your moves that you have on it make it a special sweeper, even though your EVs are invested in bulk. Get rid of Psychic. Psychic does virtually nothing to help this team. Replace it with Perish Song. Perish Song is a great addition to this team because of your Goodra. Your Goodra knows Infestation, which makes the enemy unable to flee. Therefore, use Infestation on a Pokémon, switch into Politoed, and then use Perish Song. They can't switch out and they will die in a few turns. Just be sure for YOU to switch out.

Protect > Substitute
Another thing that is wrong with your Politoed is Substitute. I quote from you: "Substitute is there to wall out any Tbolt or Thunder pokes that could turn my rain against me, and keep the rain going." You don't use Substitute to block incoming super effective damage. So, replace it with Protect. This does what you want to do with Substitute but better. This is what I would recommend:

Politoed: Damp Rock

Ability: Drizzle
Bold Nature
EVs: 252 HP, 252 Def, 4 SpA
-Scald
-Ice Beam
-Protect
-Perish Song

Volcarona:

Your Volcarona is OK. But you don't need Air Balloon on it. There's no point because Ground type moves do neutral damage to it. Replace it with either Life Orb or Lum Berry. These are the best items for Volcarona. Also, Fiery Dance is not an effective move because its power gets reduced by the rain. I honestly don't know if you should have Volcarona on a rain team, but that decision is up to you. Also, consider the move Bug Buzz. It is a great move on Volcarona and it will not get powered down by the rain.

Goodra:

Your Goodra is amazing for what you want it to do. I suggest you keep Infestation because it pairs extremely nicely when you give Politoed Perish Song.

Azumarill:

Just like your Goodra, your Azumarill is fine. But you explain that you like the Sitrus Berry recovery but you have Leftovers on him. I don't understand that. Also, consider the moves Waterfall and Ice Punch. These can be good moves to teach Azumarill if you want to switch it up.

Manectric:

Your Manectric is fine as well for what you want him to do. Consider the move Thunderbolt over Thunder because Thunder is pretty shaky when there's no rain. Ice Fang might not be the best option for a special sweeper. Therefore, consider the moves Signal Beam and Volt Switch. Signal Beam can be a good coverage move for Psychic and Dark types, but Volt Switch can help you gain momentum and get switch initiative.

Garchomp:

Your Garchomp is fine. However, Aqua Tail is a better option than Iron Head. This is because when you have the rain up, Aqua Tail acts as a pseudo-STAB.

Well, there's my rate. All and all, I think the team is good.