In the Beginning, There Were Two:
...and they were like dragons, the both of them. And together they ruled the seas and the skies. But the God of Thunder, the Father Arceus, grew jealous of their power. He threatened them with His golden bolts of lightning, and He sent scarved dragons to chase them out of His skies.
...and so the Two sought refuge among the creatures of the earth. In the forests, among the trees, the Gyarados and the Kingdra were safe from lightning; and in exchange, they protected the earth from fire. Together the Four became one, and they sent offerings of rain to the God of Thunder that they may soften His wrath.
...and for thirty days the rain fell from the skies, until at last the Father Arceus was pleased, and He smiled upon them. Relieved of His jealousy, he offered them great gifts from above: a golden quiver, with which to hold His arrows, and a shining star to change the seas.
The goal of this team, largely, was to be a swift swim rain team (i.e. no politoed). Kingdra and Gyarados paved the way for the team. After countless modifications and frustrations, I finally hit upon some beautiful, beautiful synergy. Every team member benefits from the rain somehow, and yet the team can certainly survive in clear or even hostile skies. At first glance the stacked fire and electric weaknesses may seem careless: but in fact I have ample resistances to balance it out. This team is cohesive, and more dangerous than it might appear.
Starmie @ Damp Rock
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunder Wave
- Rain Dance
- Hydro Pump
- Rapid Spin
Role: Rain Summoner / Lure / Utility
Damp Rock, for rain longevity. Starmie can almost always get the rain to fall, and then proceed to blast off massively powered Hydro Pumps. But it's largely a utility pokemon: paralysis and rain summoning are its modus operandi.
Rapid Spin, too, because Gyarados loves that.
Although I generally use Starmie as a lead, it can also be used as an electric lure midgame. This, too, helps Gyarados later on.
Gyarados (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Moxie
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Taunt
- Bounce
Role: Boosting Sweeper
That beautiful potential for 6-0 Gyarados sweeps is why this team exists. Moxie is so much more useful for me over Intimidate - it's like the gift that keeps on giving. Rain support is to get those first one or two OHKOs with waterfall; then, even if the rain stops, this guy generally has enough momentum to keep sweeping so long as it's got at least one DD. And there's ample opportunity for Gyarados to set up, especially in conjunction with taunt.
Kingdra (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Swift Swim
EVs: 88 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 164 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Rain Dance
- Waterfall
- Outrage
Role: Boosting Rain Sweeper
My first obsession. I had it as a rain dance lead for a long, long time, but switching Kingdra in to a 4x fire or water resist when it's already raining is so much more effective. It's also not terribly hard to set up once or twice, given its natural bulk and typing; however, it just doesn't hit as hard as I want it to unless I can properly set up. I'm glad, at last, that I've found a set that works: and I'm all for double dancing. Swift Swim Kingdra ftw!
Breloom (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Seed
- Mach Punch
- Swords Dance
- Spore
Role: Boosting Sweeper / Revenge Killer
Has amazing synergy with Gyarados. Electric? Rocks? Please. Technician Mach Punch after one SD wreaks crazy havoc; Spore allows for easier set-up; and the team's paralysis support ensures that bullet seed won't be outpaced.
He's also an excellent Ferrothorn/Rotom-W counter; and in the rain, fire becomes so much less threatening.
Ferrothorn (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SDef
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Leech Seed
- Power Whip
- Stealth Rock
- Thunder Wave
Role: Defensive Lineman
Essentially my only defense. Gyarados is bulky and Kingdra's got great resists, but this is the only pokemon with a recovery move and it's leech seed at that. That said, Stealth Rock is crucial for breaking sashes which could otherwise stop Gyarados; Thunder Wave gives Breloom that much needed speed advantage. Paralysis is arguably my favorite form of status, and in the rain it's like poetry.
Ferrothorn, too, has perfect synergy with both Gyarados and Starmie, who will gladly absorb fire and fighting attacks. And the added electric resist on Ferrothorn's part is near-invaluable.
Jolteon (M) @ Choice Specs
Trait: Volt Absorb
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Volt Switch
- Thunder
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Shadow Ball
Role: ThunderSponge / Scout
Resident ThunderSponge. Rarely sees battle outside of a few volt switches, but when he hits he hits hard. Has been a rather good check for enemy Rotom-Ws, which would otherwise be a major obstacle for Gyarados.
- x -
This team has been a lot of fun (and struggle) to make, and, now, play. This is my first RMT in fact, and I hope to get some serious pointers as to how to tighten it up even further.
The greatest threats to my team are fast, usually choice-scarfed dragons that resist water and retaliate hard with Outrage or Draco Meteor, etc. Paralysis support thoroughly helps, here, but I'm wondering if I should implement more bulk / recovery to the team.
Status inducers can also cripple my three physical sweepers. Will-o-Wisp is brutal. I try to have Jolteon and Starmie absorb the burns, but they only have so much longevity. I guess I just have to be careful and predict well, for the most part.
Thank you all for reading my silly backstory and rantings and I thoroughly appreciate any comments/criticism.
...and they were like dragons, the both of them. And together they ruled the seas and the skies. But the God of Thunder, the Father Arceus, grew jealous of their power. He threatened them with His golden bolts of lightning, and He sent scarved dragons to chase them out of His skies.
...and so the Two sought refuge among the creatures of the earth. In the forests, among the trees, the Gyarados and the Kingdra were safe from lightning; and in exchange, they protected the earth from fire. Together the Four became one, and they sent offerings of rain to the God of Thunder that they may soften His wrath.
...and for thirty days the rain fell from the skies, until at last the Father Arceus was pleased, and He smiled upon them. Relieved of His jealousy, he offered them great gifts from above: a golden quiver, with which to hold His arrows, and a shining star to change the seas.
- x -
- x -
- x -
The goal of this team, largely, was to be a swift swim rain team (i.e. no politoed). Kingdra and Gyarados paved the way for the team. After countless modifications and frustrations, I finally hit upon some beautiful, beautiful synergy. Every team member benefits from the rain somehow, and yet the team can certainly survive in clear or even hostile skies. At first glance the stacked fire and electric weaknesses may seem careless: but in fact I have ample resistances to balance it out. This team is cohesive, and more dangerous than it might appear.
Starmie @ Damp Rock
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunder Wave
- Rain Dance
- Hydro Pump
- Rapid Spin
Role: Rain Summoner / Lure / Utility
Damp Rock, for rain longevity. Starmie can almost always get the rain to fall, and then proceed to blast off massively powered Hydro Pumps. But it's largely a utility pokemon: paralysis and rain summoning are its modus operandi.
Rapid Spin, too, because Gyarados loves that.
Although I generally use Starmie as a lead, it can also be used as an electric lure midgame. This, too, helps Gyarados later on.
Gyarados (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Moxie
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Taunt
- Bounce
Role: Boosting Sweeper
That beautiful potential for 6-0 Gyarados sweeps is why this team exists. Moxie is so much more useful for me over Intimidate - it's like the gift that keeps on giving. Rain support is to get those first one or two OHKOs with waterfall; then, even if the rain stops, this guy generally has enough momentum to keep sweeping so long as it's got at least one DD. And there's ample opportunity for Gyarados to set up, especially in conjunction with taunt.
Kingdra (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Swift Swim
EVs: 88 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 164 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Rain Dance
- Waterfall
- Outrage
Role: Boosting Rain Sweeper
My first obsession. I had it as a rain dance lead for a long, long time, but switching Kingdra in to a 4x fire or water resist when it's already raining is so much more effective. It's also not terribly hard to set up once or twice, given its natural bulk and typing; however, it just doesn't hit as hard as I want it to unless I can properly set up. I'm glad, at last, that I've found a set that works: and I'm all for double dancing. Swift Swim Kingdra ftw!
Breloom (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Seed
- Mach Punch
- Swords Dance
- Spore
Role: Boosting Sweeper / Revenge Killer
Has amazing synergy with Gyarados. Electric? Rocks? Please. Technician Mach Punch after one SD wreaks crazy havoc; Spore allows for easier set-up; and the team's paralysis support ensures that bullet seed won't be outpaced.
He's also an excellent Ferrothorn/Rotom-W counter; and in the rain, fire becomes so much less threatening.
Ferrothorn (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SDef
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Leech Seed
- Power Whip
- Stealth Rock
- Thunder Wave
Role: Defensive Lineman
Essentially my only defense. Gyarados is bulky and Kingdra's got great resists, but this is the only pokemon with a recovery move and it's leech seed at that. That said, Stealth Rock is crucial for breaking sashes which could otherwise stop Gyarados; Thunder Wave gives Breloom that much needed speed advantage. Paralysis is arguably my favorite form of status, and in the rain it's like poetry.
Ferrothorn, too, has perfect synergy with both Gyarados and Starmie, who will gladly absorb fire and fighting attacks. And the added electric resist on Ferrothorn's part is near-invaluable.
Jolteon (M) @ Choice Specs
Trait: Volt Absorb
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Volt Switch
- Thunder
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Shadow Ball
Role: ThunderSponge / Scout
Resident ThunderSponge. Rarely sees battle outside of a few volt switches, but when he hits he hits hard. Has been a rather good check for enemy Rotom-Ws, which would otherwise be a major obstacle for Gyarados.
- x -
This team has been a lot of fun (and struggle) to make, and, now, play. This is my first RMT in fact, and I hope to get some serious pointers as to how to tighten it up even further.
The greatest threats to my team are fast, usually choice-scarfed dragons that resist water and retaliate hard with Outrage or Draco Meteor, etc. Paralysis support thoroughly helps, here, but I'm wondering if I should implement more bulk / recovery to the team.
Status inducers can also cripple my three physical sweepers. Will-o-Wisp is brutal. I try to have Jolteon and Starmie absorb the burns, but they only have so much longevity. I guess I just have to be careful and predict well, for the most part.
Thank you all for reading my silly backstory and rantings and I thoroughly appreciate any comments/criticism.
