Red Rain: A Rain Dance RMT

[philipe_xx]

"I'm standing, standing in the red, red rain."
- The White Stripes

This is my first attempt at a rain dance team, before this my only other weather team was a sandstorm team, so I'd like some advice for improvement.


Quick Overview:

Crobat @ Damp Rock
Jolly / Inner Focus
104 HP/152 Atk/252 Spe
Rain Dance
Taunt
Brave Bird
U-Turn

Pretty straight-forward, a fast starter who can taunt/set up RD before they can get a move off. The only starters I've seen that are faster don't really give me much trouble because, Ninjask can't really do anything serious until after a few swords dances that he can't do after taunt, and Jolteon is no threat with an Electivire switch in.

Kingdra @ Lum Berry
Lonely / Swift Swim
252 Atk/240 SpA/16 Spe
Rain Dance
Waterfall
Hydro Pump
Outrage

My switch hitter, he can take on switch-ins who assume he's a mono-attacker with the opposite attack. The speed EVs allow him, in rain, to outrun anything not scarfed except Ninjask.

Scizor @ Leftovers
Adament / Technician
252 HP/80 Atk/176 SpD
Rain Dance
Roost
Bullet Punch
Brick Break

A bulkier Scizor then normal, but he still has enough power to take out Tyranitar, which is his main job. The SpD allows him to take a HP fire that isn't at full power and a few other fire attacks.

Kabutops @ Life Orb
Jolly / Swift Swim
56 HP/252 Atk/200 Spe
Swords Dance
X-Scissor
Aqua Tail
Stone Edge

My main physical sweeper, he can come in on many situations with his already decent defense and can usually get a SD off which pushes his attack upwards of 650 with a speed of over 500 in the rain. I've considered switching A-Tail for Aqua Jet to take out other priority move users.

Electivire @ Expert Belt
Adament / Motor Drive
4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
ThunderPunch
Earthquake
Fire Punch
Ice Punch

He's the "do-all" counter for my team. He can counter almost anyone that counters my team. And if I can get him in on an electric than I can effectively sweep with him. But I can also bring him in on a grass, and my combination of moves allows me to hit almost everything for super effective damage which explains the Expert Belt.

Ludicolo @ Damp Rock
Modest / Swift Swim
80 Def/252 SpA/40 SpD/136 Spe
Grass Knot
Surf
Rain Dance
Ice Beam

Even though his SpA isn't that much higher than Kingdra, he's my main special sweeper because he has much better type coverage. The defense allows him to take a hit necessary to get RD out and then hopefully take them out.


Well, there you have it. My first RD team. So go nuts, I want any and all recommendations for bettering my team, good or bad, but preferably good.

 

[Ashitaka]

Electivire should probably replace Fire Punch for Cross Chop, because its weakened in the rain.

 

[FinnRagetti]

Switch thunderpunch with thunder. Larger power + 100% accuracy in rain is nice

 

[Myrmikoopa]

I run a similar RD team and from experience Electrode is the best lead. Faster than every other common lead with out a scarf (watch out for Jirachi).

Jolly on Kabutops isn't really needed since and Adamant gives you a couple more OHKO's which tops needs. I would also recommend Waterfall since it has more accuracy and the rare flinch can be a life saver.

I run Draco Meteor on my Kingdra since it's rare that I would use a Dragon type attack more than once in a row and you still have a double STAB Waterfall to fall back on, but if it works for your team I would leave it. Wide Lens is an option too if you want Hydro Pump to be a little more reliable.

I would put either Cross Chops or Brick Break on Vire over Fire Punch since rain weekends it. It will also be X2 on Bliss, who will give Vire plenty of switch ins if knows T-Wave.

If Vaporeon gives you a lot of trouble you could switch Grass Knot for Energy Balll.

All in all a fairly good team, Rain Dance teams are tons of fun.

 

[Ulver]

I would give Kingdra draco meteor over outrage or give him both moves and get rid of rain dance.
Reason: More power and flexibility, you can do good with the rain dancers you have.

I would give Scizor a damp rock because he makes an excellent rain dancer.

I would give Ludicolo a life orb and just make him a pure sweeper since he fits that roll a lot better. I would also give him hydro pump because I think the 20% times he will miss is not as important as the 20%+ times the extra power will score a OHKO over a 2HKO.

I would consider giving Electivire a mixed set and then giving him thunder over thunderbolt as the mixed set is probably better anyways and thunder will give you a powerful attack all things considered. Then you could consider giving him a life orb because he'll have an excellent neutral coverage move at that point.

This is just me but I feel like hypnosis on Crobat would be an excellent move to have. You could potentially come into a serious threat later in the game and sleep it using Crobat's amazing speed.

And if you do these things then in my opinion you will have a good team which mainly only asks for stealth rock and a little more rain dance. I suppose you might keep rain dance on Kingdra afterall but you'll probably have to do testing to see how much rain dance your team needs. Including stealth rock on your team will require serious rebuilding. If Blissey comes into Ludicolo you can send out Electivire and absorb the likely thunderwave so that is the reason I don't recommend focus punch on Ludicolo.

Good luck.

 

[FalconPunch]

Nice Team! I really have nothing to add :O. Im warning you though if you don't enlarge those descriptions, your thread might be locked! :O

 

[EspyJoel]

Although your descriptions should be better since i know how new people can have trouble writing long desriptions for RD teams, i'll give it a rate.

Your Kingdra set is muddled up a bit, give it Life Orb over Lum Berry as it needs the power then Draco Meteor over Outrage as getting locked into Outrage wastes RD turns and you really need Draco Meteor for some of the OHKOs it can provide. Since i'm going to be suggesting RD in some other places drop RD on Kingdra for HP Electric as it will OHKO those common Gyarados' who love to switch into your water attacks.

Next I'll talk about Ludicolo since your EV spread isn't maximising its potential i sweeping, just use 60HP/216Spd/252SAtk as this gets the jump on +1 neutral base 100s like Flygon and Salamence. Also use Life Orb over Damp Rock as its role is a sweeper and it needs the power. Although I usually agree with Grass Knot over Energy Ball, on your team I feel you should use Energy Ball as with the change on Kingdra you can deal with Gyarados and I see Vaporeon being trouble.

Next onto Kabutops, Aqua Tail needs to be dropped for Waterfall as the consistent water attack is very helpful. As for the EV Spread if you stay Jolly use 84HP/252Atk/172Spd as this reaches 263Spd getting the jump on positive CS Gengar/Latias in the rain whule the extra buk will help a bit. Don't use Aqua Jet over Aqua Tail which will now be Waterfall as you need a powerful water attack while on this team X-Scissor is also necessary for Celebi.

However Toxic Spikes are coming more common and they completely ruin your team so you may want to consider SD Qwilfish over Kabutops as it will soak up TS upon entry, here's the set:

Qwilfish@Life Orb ¦ Swift Swim
Adamant ¦ 36HP/252Atk/220Spd
Swords Dance/Poison Jab/Waterfall/Explosion

EVs reach 263Spd outspeeding Timid CS Gengar/Latias in the rain. Life Orb is needed for the power. A SD Poison Jab will OHKO Celebi and Latias among others while Waterfall is a strong attack under the rain. Explosion is just deadly OHKOing pretty much anything after a SD, just watch out for ghosts and Protect. The main reason for this though is the ability to soak up TS upon entry a major hazard to your team.

On Scizor replace Brick Break for U-turn as a slow U-turn can help your sweepers in unscathed while picking up a bit of damage. Also, give it Damp Rock as you need the 8 turns of rain.

On a RD team you need Stealth Rock which is why I feel you should replace Crobat for a lead who can set up RD and SR. I'll go through a few good options for your lead.

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.

or

Jirachi@Damp Rock ¦ Serene Grace
Timid ¦ 252HP/176Spd/80SAtk
Wish/Stealth Rock/Rain Dance/Thunder

Provides invaluable Wish support while being able to set up both SR and RD. In the rain a 100% accurate and 60 paralysis rate Thunder will cause some havoc. Timid nature and 176Spd EVs reach 308Spd outrunning even Jolly Lucario a threat to RD teams late game. HP EVs give it a nice amount of bulk while the SAtk EVs are to increse Thunder's power.

Lastly, Electivire is not the best pokemon for a RD team as ye it can take advantage of boosted speed by Electric attacks but with all those Swampert, CS Flygon and other pokemon who destroy it around, you'll find it hard to sweep. I feel someone who could set up RD and then take advantage of it would help you out, Jolteon or Rotom-W are probably the best options, here are the sets:

Jolteon@Damp Rock ¦ Volt Absorb
Timid ¦ 4HP/252Spd/252SAtk
Rain Dance/HP Grass/Shadow Ball/Thunder

It still has the electric immunity of Electivire but is a better pokemon for a RD team due to its straight off higher speed and powerful STAB Thunder due to higher SAtk. HP Grass deals with those annoying Swampert while Shadow Ball for Rotom formes, Celebi and others and then Thunder is just incredibly powerful. Another option would be Rain Dance/HP Ice/Thunderbolt/Thunder which would mean you'd lose the ability to hurt Swampert and the rotom formes among others but have a relable electic attack for use outside the rain.

or

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

Gives you a very useful normal, ground and fighting immunities. An Explosion could really cause your team problems at the moment but this gives you a nice reliable switch in. EVs give a lot of bulk while maximising speed. Modest s preferred for the power but sometimes the extra speed may be helpful. Onto the moveset, RD means you have another RD set up which you need on a RD team. Shadow Ball hits Celebi and other Rotom formes among others. Hydro Pump is Rotom-W's signature move and in the rain is 180power which will hurt those many of the pokemon that resist Thunder.

Hope this helps and good luck with the team.