Ok, this has a lot of the elements of the standard OU Rain teams. I've had this team for a while now, and tweaked a few things here and there, but I wanted to get a good review of it. It's been working out great for me so far, but any suggestions on how to improve it would be great.
Anyway, the point of this team is simple; Bring the Rain, the Bring the Pain. Jirachi and Bronzong aid in bringing in the rain, while Ludicolo, Kingdra, and Quilfish bring the pain. This team is really fast-paced, and can OHKO many times when coupled with Stealth Rock-support.
Anyway, the point of this team is simple; Bring the Rain, the Bring the Pain. Jirachi and Bronzong aid in bringing in the rain, while Ludicolo, Kingdra, and Quilfish bring the pain. This team is really fast-paced, and can OHKO many times when coupled with Stealth Rock-support.
AT A GLANCE:
THE TEAM:
Jirachi [Navi] @ Damp Rock
Ability: Serene Grace
EV: HP 252 / Def 4 / Spd 252
Nature: Timid [- Atk, + Spd
Moves: Rain Dance, Thunder, Stealth Rock, U-Turn
I used to have Azelf in this lead slot, but it couldn't take as many hits as I would have liked. I tried using Jirachi and, with it's Steel typing, it made life a tad easier. Sets up Rain and Stealth Rocks exellently, while Thunder is useful and adding paralysis to the mix [100% accuracy + Serene Grace boosting the paralysis chance is magical]. U-turn is there to get out if need be so Jirachi can live to bring the rain again.
Dugtrio [Richter] @ Choice Band
Ability: Arena Trap
EV: HP 20 / Atk 252 / Spd 232
Nature: Adamant [+ Atk, - Sp.atk
Moves: Earthquake, Pursuit, Stone Edge, Sucker Punch
This little guy has saved my butt on more then one occation, and seems quite essential in this team. Switching into a Blissey's Thunder Wave or trapping a Tyranitar helps knock out some of the pokemon that can really upset this team's dynamic. Choice Band brings his attack up to 426, which means his moves can pack a decent punch. Earthquake for massive STAB, Pursuit is there to get the Gengars when/if they flee, Stone Edge for flyers and the like, and Sucker Punch to get priority. Sucker Punch is probably the move I use most often, especially when Dugtrio is my last guy left.
Bronzong [Alexander] @ Damp Rock
Ability: Levitate
EV: HP 252 / Def 128 / Sp.Def 128
Nature: Relaxed [+ Def, - Spd]
Moves: Rain Dance, Stealth Rock, Explosion, Confuse Ray
Very similar to Jirachi; another pokemon used to set up long-term rain. Spread the EVs around for defences so Bronzong can take a bunch of hits [Defence ends up at 330, Sp. Defence at 300]. Simple procedure: set the rain up, go boom. If rocks aren't up and it's midgame or so, I try to set those up too. Confuse Ray is sort of a filler move, but it does help get a free switch if I'm switching out for one of the sweepers below.
The only problem I have with my Rain-setter-uppers is that they're both steel, which means if rain is gone and I'm trying to set it, fire attacks don't get reduced and these guys get fried.
Ludicolo [Ranchito] @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EV: HP 32 / Def 8 / Spd 216 / Sp.atk 252
Nature: Modest [- Atk, + Sp.atk]
Moves: Rain Dance, Surf, Ice Beam, Energy Ball
Ah, Ludicolo. How you sweep so. This guy is usually the first to come out after the rain starts to pour, and has been the pokemon on the field that has gotten me my 8 or 9 turn wins. EVs seem typical to me: Sp.Atk is 306, when combined with Life Orb can get nasty. I didn't max out speed since swift swim can usually take care of that department. Surf for STAB and massive damage, Ice Beam to cover the dragons and grasses like Roserade and Celebi, and Energy Ball to help against other waters like Milotic, Swampert, and the like. I gave all of my sweepers Rain Dance as well, just in case the rain goes away.
Kingdra [Tsunami] @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EV: HP 72 / Spd 188 / Sp.atk 248
Nature: Modest [- Atk, + Sp.atk]
Moves: Rain Dance, Surf, Signal Beam, Dragon Pulse
Kingdra provides a similar role to Ludicolo; special sweeping. Defence is much better then Ludicolo's, and Special Defence in nice too, which means can take a hit, set up the Rain, and go to town MUCH better then Ludicolo. Speed and Special Attack are higher than Ludicolo's, but coverage is different. Surf for massive damage, Signal Beam for psychics [mainly Celebi], and Dragon Pulse for another STAB and to cover more dragons and those who are immune to surf [like Vaporeon].
Quilfish [Triton] @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EV: Atk 252 / Def 4 / Spd 252
Nature: Adamant [+ atk, - sp.atk]
Moves: Rain Dance, Poison Jab, Waterfall, Explosion
My boy. This guy has the biggest physical fist I have ever seen in a Rain Dance team, and it's easy to see why. Stats may be shabby on there own, but with Rain going and a Life Orb in hand, this pokemon ends up dishing out the pain. Attack is at 317. Factor in the Life Orb boost and STAB and that's one deadly fish. Speed is the highest of the sweepers: 269. Rain Dance for aforementioned reasons, Poison Jab and Watefall for STAB, and Explosion as a last precaution. Quilfish is awesome at sucking up the toxic spikes, which would cripple the life of the sweepers when piled on to Life Orb recoil. Explosion also helps get rid of Vaporeon, who is one of the biggest threats to frustrating this team.
THE TEAM:
Jirachi [Navi] @ Damp Rock
Ability: Serene Grace
EV: HP 252 / Def 4 / Spd 252
Nature: Timid [- Atk, + Spd
Moves: Rain Dance, Thunder, Stealth Rock, U-Turn
I used to have Azelf in this lead slot, but it couldn't take as many hits as I would have liked. I tried using Jirachi and, with it's Steel typing, it made life a tad easier. Sets up Rain and Stealth Rocks exellently, while Thunder is useful and adding paralysis to the mix [100% accuracy + Serene Grace boosting the paralysis chance is magical]. U-turn is there to get out if need be so Jirachi can live to bring the rain again.
Dugtrio [Richter] @ Choice Band
Ability: Arena Trap
EV: HP 20 / Atk 252 / Spd 232
Nature: Adamant [+ Atk, - Sp.atk
Moves: Earthquake, Pursuit, Stone Edge, Sucker Punch
This little guy has saved my butt on more then one occation, and seems quite essential in this team. Switching into a Blissey's Thunder Wave or trapping a Tyranitar helps knock out some of the pokemon that can really upset this team's dynamic. Choice Band brings his attack up to 426, which means his moves can pack a decent punch. Earthquake for massive STAB, Pursuit is there to get the Gengars when/if they flee, Stone Edge for flyers and the like, and Sucker Punch to get priority. Sucker Punch is probably the move I use most often, especially when Dugtrio is my last guy left.
Bronzong [Alexander] @ Damp Rock
Ability: Levitate
EV: HP 252 / Def 128 / Sp.Def 128
Nature: Relaxed [+ Def, - Spd]
Moves: Rain Dance, Stealth Rock, Explosion, Confuse Ray
Very similar to Jirachi; another pokemon used to set up long-term rain. Spread the EVs around for defences so Bronzong can take a bunch of hits [Defence ends up at 330, Sp. Defence at 300]. Simple procedure: set the rain up, go boom. If rocks aren't up and it's midgame or so, I try to set those up too. Confuse Ray is sort of a filler move, but it does help get a free switch if I'm switching out for one of the sweepers below.
The only problem I have with my Rain-setter-uppers is that they're both steel, which means if rain is gone and I'm trying to set it, fire attacks don't get reduced and these guys get fried.
Ludicolo [Ranchito] @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EV: HP 32 / Def 8 / Spd 216 / Sp.atk 252
Nature: Modest [- Atk, + Sp.atk]
Moves: Rain Dance, Surf, Ice Beam, Energy Ball
Ah, Ludicolo. How you sweep so. This guy is usually the first to come out after the rain starts to pour, and has been the pokemon on the field that has gotten me my 8 or 9 turn wins. EVs seem typical to me: Sp.Atk is 306, when combined with Life Orb can get nasty. I didn't max out speed since swift swim can usually take care of that department. Surf for STAB and massive damage, Ice Beam to cover the dragons and grasses like Roserade and Celebi, and Energy Ball to help against other waters like Milotic, Swampert, and the like. I gave all of my sweepers Rain Dance as well, just in case the rain goes away.
Kingdra [Tsunami] @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EV: HP 72 / Spd 188 / Sp.atk 248
Nature: Modest [- Atk, + Sp.atk]
Moves: Rain Dance, Surf, Signal Beam, Dragon Pulse
Kingdra provides a similar role to Ludicolo; special sweeping. Defence is much better then Ludicolo's, and Special Defence in nice too, which means can take a hit, set up the Rain, and go to town MUCH better then Ludicolo. Speed and Special Attack are higher than Ludicolo's, but coverage is different. Surf for massive damage, Signal Beam for psychics [mainly Celebi], and Dragon Pulse for another STAB and to cover more dragons and those who are immune to surf [like Vaporeon].
Quilfish [Triton] @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EV: Atk 252 / Def 4 / Spd 252
Nature: Adamant [+ atk, - sp.atk]
Moves: Rain Dance, Poison Jab, Waterfall, Explosion
My boy. This guy has the biggest physical fist I have ever seen in a Rain Dance team, and it's easy to see why. Stats may be shabby on there own, but with Rain going and a Life Orb in hand, this pokemon ends up dishing out the pain. Attack is at 317. Factor in the Life Orb boost and STAB and that's one deadly fish. Speed is the highest of the sweepers: 269. Rain Dance for aforementioned reasons, Poison Jab and Watefall for STAB, and Explosion as a last precaution. Quilfish is awesome at sucking up the toxic spikes, which would cripple the life of the sweepers when piled on to Life Orb recoil. Explosion also helps get rid of Vaporeon, who is one of the biggest threats to frustrating this team.
