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.
THE TEAM:
Jirachi [Lust] @ Damp Rock
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP/176 Spd/80 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
Moves: Rain Dance, U-turn, Thunder, Doom Desire
I used to have an Azelf setting stuff up in this slot, but it just didn't seem sturdy enough. Jirachi with Thunder works wonder for some damage / paralysis support. Rain Dance for obvious reasons, Doom Desire for some future hits and U-turn to get out of there.
Azelf [Envy] @ Light Clay
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP/4 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
Moves: Reflect, - Light Screen, Explosion, Taunt
I have had numerous problems with this slot, and this is the guy I need help with most. I used to have a CB Dugtrio to help with T-wave Blisseys and T-tars, but Blisseys seem to be armed with toxic more and switching into a T-tar's Crunch was not cool at all. I tried a SD Scizor next, which was ok, but left me with such a harsh fire weakness it was brutal, especially if Rain wasn't up. While this guy is obviously more defensive minded than anything, the screens do help, especially as Life Orb damage drains.
Bronzong [Gluttony] @ 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.
Ludicolo [Pride] @ 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 used to come out first after the rain starts to pour, and has been the pokemon on the field that has gotten me my 8 or 9 turn wins. However, I recently gave Kingdra HP Electric instead of Rain Dance, so that changed things. 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.
Kingdra [Wrath] @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EV: HP 72 / Spd 188 / Sp.atk 248
Nature: Modest [- Atk, + Sp.atk]
Moves: Surf, Signal Beam, Dragon Pulse, HP Electric
Kingdra provides a similar role to Ludicolo; special sweeping. Defence is much better then Ludicolo's, and Special Defence in nice too. 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. HP Electric was a newer addition, and has helped greatly in terms of covering Gyrados as well as Vaporeon, both of who never expect it. It does lower my SP.Atk EV a tad, but Life Orb has seemed to cover that base ok.
Quilfish [Greed] @ 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...welll...whatever.
Improvements are always welcome, which is why I posted this team in the first place. It has brough me tons of wins already, but I know it could be better [especially if that Azelf slot gets filled with something magical]
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 [Lust] @ Damp Rock
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP/176 Spd/80 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
Moves: Rain Dance, U-turn, Thunder, Doom Desire
I used to have an Azelf setting stuff up in this slot, but it just didn't seem sturdy enough. Jirachi with Thunder works wonder for some damage / paralysis support. Rain Dance for obvious reasons, Doom Desire for some future hits and U-turn to get out of there.
Azelf [Envy] @ Light Clay
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP/4 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
Moves: Reflect, - Light Screen, Explosion, Taunt
I have had numerous problems with this slot, and this is the guy I need help with most. I used to have a CB Dugtrio to help with T-wave Blisseys and T-tars, but Blisseys seem to be armed with toxic more and switching into a T-tar's Crunch was not cool at all. I tried a SD Scizor next, which was ok, but left me with such a harsh fire weakness it was brutal, especially if Rain wasn't up. While this guy is obviously more defensive minded than anything, the screens do help, especially as Life Orb damage drains.
Bronzong [Gluttony] @ 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.
Ludicolo [Pride] @ 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 used to come out first after the rain starts to pour, and has been the pokemon on the field that has gotten me my 8 or 9 turn wins. However, I recently gave Kingdra HP Electric instead of Rain Dance, so that changed things. 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.
Kingdra [Wrath] @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EV: HP 72 / Spd 188 / Sp.atk 248
Nature: Modest [- Atk, + Sp.atk]
Moves: Surf, Signal Beam, Dragon Pulse, HP Electric
Kingdra provides a similar role to Ludicolo; special sweeping. Defence is much better then Ludicolo's, and Special Defence in nice too. 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. HP Electric was a newer addition, and has helped greatly in terms of covering Gyrados as well as Vaporeon, both of who never expect it. It does lower my SP.Atk EV a tad, but Life Orb has seemed to cover that base ok.
Quilfish [Greed] @ 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...welll...whatever.
Improvements are always welcome, which is why I posted this team in the first place. It has brough me tons of wins already, but I know it could be better [especially if that Azelf slot gets filled with something magical]
