So I haven't played Pokemon (competitvely or the games) since Gen 5, but I've decided to get back into it recently. I decided to get back into the groove with Gen 5 OU before learning about what I missed in the meantime, so I dusted off my old rain team I had before I left.
After playing a bit I realize that the main issue is probably having 3 water types on the team, and a lack of good ways to deal with opposing Electric-types. So I'm looking to make some changes to the roster.
Politoed @ Leftovers
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Protect
- Perish Song
- Toxic
This is the standard defensive Politoed set, aimed at keeping itself alive and annoying opponents. Scald is a good attacking option in the rain with a chance to burn. Protect is useful for scouting as well as stalling with Toxic. Perish Song has been useful for dealing with set-up sweepers and other troublesome opponents.
Tentacruel @ Black Sludge
Ability: Rain Dish
EVs: 252 HP / 72 Def / 184 Spe
Timid Nature
- Scald
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic
- Protect
Another defensively orientated water type Pokemon. Tentacruel has been useful for Rapid Spin support and stalls excellently using Toxic and Protect. However, with the number of Water-types on the team, I'm thinking of replacing it with another Pokemon. I also used Hydration Vaporeon in this slot before, but that doesn't fix the issue with Water-types on the team.
Keldeo @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Justified
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Surf
- Hydro Pump
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Secret Sword
My third Water-type Pokemon. An excellent revenge-killer, and can also sweep late-game with it's STAB moves. Hidden Power Ice is used for dealing with Dragon-types, while Secret Sword hits Steel-types. Again, although it does it's job well, I've been thinking of swapping out for a different revenge-killer in order to make the team more balanced.
Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 48 Def / 208 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Spikes
- Stealth Rock
- Power Whip
- Gyro Ball
Ferrothorn is my hazard setter and physical wall. I run both Spikes and Stealth Rock, as I don't have room for Stealth Rock on my team elsewhere. Power Whip can be good against opposing Water-types. Gyro Ball does pretty good damage against frailer, faster Pokemon.
Dragonite @ Life Orb
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Agility
- Hurricane
- Thunder
- Aqua Tail
This is an offensively orientated set meant to take advantage of the rain with Hurricane, Thunder, and Aqua Tail. Agility lets Dragonite deal with some of the faster Pokemon in OU. While this set can be useful, I'm considering switching to another set or another Pokemon as I feel I could have a more useful move than Agility on Dragonite.
Jirachi @ Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 108 Def / 148 Spe
Timid Nature
- Substitute
- Calm Mind
- Thunder
- Psyshock
A SubCM set that takes advantage of the rain with Thunder. I have Psyshock as the second attacking move to deal with Specially Defensive Pokemon. It is also good against opposing fighting types. Jirachi's Steel typing also useful for switching into certain attacking moves.
As mentioned before, this team really needs a way to deal with opposing Electric types. Magnezone especially gives me trouble, since I have two Steel-types as well. I'm thinking of swapping out either Tentacruel or Keldeo to have less water-types on the team. Another issue is Dragon-types, as Keldeo's HP Ice is pretty much the only consistent option for dealing with them. There are probably other issues, but I'd like to get some feedback before continuing on the ladder.
Thanks for reading, and I really appreciate any advice people have to give.
After playing a bit I realize that the main issue is probably having 3 water types on the team, and a lack of good ways to deal with opposing Electric-types. So I'm looking to make some changes to the roster.
Politoed @ Leftovers
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Protect
- Perish Song
- Toxic
This is the standard defensive Politoed set, aimed at keeping itself alive and annoying opponents. Scald is a good attacking option in the rain with a chance to burn. Protect is useful for scouting as well as stalling with Toxic. Perish Song has been useful for dealing with set-up sweepers and other troublesome opponents.
Tentacruel @ Black Sludge
Ability: Rain Dish
EVs: 252 HP / 72 Def / 184 Spe
Timid Nature
- Scald
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic
- Protect
Another defensively orientated water type Pokemon. Tentacruel has been useful for Rapid Spin support and stalls excellently using Toxic and Protect. However, with the number of Water-types on the team, I'm thinking of replacing it with another Pokemon. I also used Hydration Vaporeon in this slot before, but that doesn't fix the issue with Water-types on the team.
Keldeo @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Justified
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Surf
- Hydro Pump
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Secret Sword
My third Water-type Pokemon. An excellent revenge-killer, and can also sweep late-game with it's STAB moves. Hidden Power Ice is used for dealing with Dragon-types, while Secret Sword hits Steel-types. Again, although it does it's job well, I've been thinking of swapping out for a different revenge-killer in order to make the team more balanced.
Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 48 Def / 208 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Spikes
- Stealth Rock
- Power Whip
- Gyro Ball
Ferrothorn is my hazard setter and physical wall. I run both Spikes and Stealth Rock, as I don't have room for Stealth Rock on my team elsewhere. Power Whip can be good against opposing Water-types. Gyro Ball does pretty good damage against frailer, faster Pokemon.
Dragonite @ Life Orb
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Agility
- Hurricane
- Thunder
- Aqua Tail
This is an offensively orientated set meant to take advantage of the rain with Hurricane, Thunder, and Aqua Tail. Agility lets Dragonite deal with some of the faster Pokemon in OU. While this set can be useful, I'm considering switching to another set or another Pokemon as I feel I could have a more useful move than Agility on Dragonite.
Jirachi @ Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 108 Def / 148 Spe
Timid Nature
- Substitute
- Calm Mind
- Thunder
- Psyshock
A SubCM set that takes advantage of the rain with Thunder. I have Psyshock as the second attacking move to deal with Specially Defensive Pokemon. It is also good against opposing fighting types. Jirachi's Steel typing also useful for switching into certain attacking moves.
As mentioned before, this team really needs a way to deal with opposing Electric types. Magnezone especially gives me trouble, since I have two Steel-types as well. I'm thinking of swapping out either Tentacruel or Keldeo to have less water-types on the team. Another issue is Dragon-types, as Keldeo's HP Ice is pretty much the only consistent option for dealing with them. There are probably other issues, but I'd like to get some feedback before continuing on the ladder.
Thanks for reading, and I really appreciate any advice people have to give.