Intro:
I have been using this Rain Dance team for 2 months now and I think it's time to retire it because people are starting to counter Rain too much in UU. Don't let that intimidate you from trying this team out though, it's still very capable of tearing through teams without any hesitation. I came back to Smogon after a 3 month break and had a ~950ish rating. This team (almost single handedly), brought my rating up to 1510 and I hit 50th on the Ladder as of this posts date. I'm not saying this team is perfect, there are some counters out there that are hard to deal with and i'll explain those later. You'll also note that this rain dance team plays my favorite style: Suicide.
I have been using this Rain Dance team for 2 months now and I think it's time to retire it because people are starting to counter Rain too much in UU. Don't let that intimidate you from trying this team out though, it's still very capable of tearing through teams without any hesitation. I came back to Smogon after a 3 month break and had a ~950ish rating. This team (almost single handedly), brought my rating up to 1510 and I hit 50th on the Ladder as of this posts date. I'm not saying this team is perfect, there are some counters out there that are hard to deal with and i'll explain those later. You'll also note that this rain dance team plays my favorite style: Suicide.
The Team
Closer Look:
My Lead:
Electrode @ Damp Rock
Ability: Static
EV's: 6 HP, 252 ATK, 252 SPE
Nature: Naive (+Spe, -SpD)
- Explosion
- Rain Dance
- Taunt
- Thunder
Even though everyone knows that Electrode usually means Rain Dance, he does he still manages to get his job done. Having Base 140 Spe means he's outspeeding everything that isn't scarfed and even then he outspeeds neutral natured 252 Spe 87 base Spe scarfers on down. The crappy thing is that Max/Max scarfed Roserade just barely beats my lead. Taunt covers any poke you feel will try to status / set up or SR. Rain Dance gets the 8 turn rain chain going. Explosion puts a huge dent into anything not Steel or Rock typed. Thunder is a 100% STAB in Rain, but doesn't see much use other then breaking a sub or hitting a weakened water or flyer. Most people expect you to Rain Dance and Explode right away, I prefer to Rain Dance and switch to one of my Swift Swimmers that can take a hit so electrode can live to fight another day.
Defensive Wall / Rain Dancer:
Claydol @ Damp Rock
Ability: Levitate
EV's: 252 HP, 6 ATK, 252 DEF
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
- Explosion
- Rain Dance
- Rapid Spin
- Stealth Rocks
This guy comes in on all those nasty pokes who like to Earthquake and ruin Electrodes fun. His move set should be pretty self explanatory, but I'm sure you noticed that he lacks an attack that doesn't auto-kill him. Frankly, Claydol only gets to switch in once during a match. He comes in after I sacrifice whatever poke was in last after the 8 turns of rain was finished. He is exclusively Rain Dancing and Exploding. This poke can be easily replaced for any Rain Dancing poke, but I am fond of having both Levitate and Explosion. Claydol does occasionally start my 8 turn rain chain if my opponets poke has a ground move = I auto switch out of electrode.
Physical Sweeper #1:
Kabutops @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EV's: 194 HP, 252 ATK, 64 SPE
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
- Waterfall
- Stone Edge
- Aqua Jet
- Swords Dance
My first of 2 physical sweepers, Kabutops after a swords dance in rain, can 1hko about 95% of pokes. Those that survive are things like Max/Max Regirock, Registeel, Slowbro, basically things that are made to soak up damage. There is no poke that isn't 2hko'd by Kabutops after 1 SD (atleast from what I have encountered). A Aqua Jet after Swords Dance is hitting for stupid amounts of damage and 1hko's all of your common Fire pokes even after rain has ended. Stone Edge is for STAB and coverage, but I try not to let luck decide my matches as much as possible. His EV spread is to outspeed scarfed Roserade and 1hko it with Stone Edge.
Physical Sweeper #2:
Qwilfish @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EV's: 234 HP, 252 ATK, 24 SPE
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
- Waterfall
- Poison Jab
- Explosion
- Substitute / Rain Dance
My second physical sweeper and less powerful than Kabutops. He still has little problem sweeping after some damage has been done to soften up pokes. If I have SR up from Claydol, this guy become much more dangerous. His typical game consists of revenge killing something with waterfall and exploding for another quick 1hko. He sucks up T-Spikes with his typing and kills those pesky grass types that think they can come in for fun. Substitute is there to scout for switches or to play mind games with pokes that like to protect off my explosions. Usually if I have to bring this guy out, it means I'm having trouble with a SpD poke. Qwilfish is my last resort poke.
Special Sweeper #1:
Ludicolo @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EV's: 6 HP / 252 SPE / 252 SpA
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
- Grass Knot
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Rain Dance / HP of your choice
It's rediculous how powerful Ludicolo under rain is, so much so, that I am testing him out as a stand alone Rain Dancer on other teams. He can sweep entire teams by himself and his fantastic typing. Grass Knot > Energy Ball for those bulky waters that love to switch in. I find Ludi more often than not facing off to opposing Registeel and getting t-waved while he 3hko's back. It's worth the trade as Registeel is just a complete annoyance for any team. Life Orb is nessesary for many 1 and 2hko's and it's a shame because I would love to use a lum berry. I haven't tried the offensive Ludicolo with Swords Dance yet, but that is a very possible option for anyone who doesn't like having 2 special sweepers since Chansey is descently commong now.
Special Sweeper #2:
Omastar @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EV's: 6 HP, 252 SPE, 252 SpA
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- HP Grass
- Earth Power / Spikes
No denying that Omastar is the best sweeper on this team. His base 115 SpA is crazy in conjuntion with rain and STAB Surf. Being able to predict a switch and get 1 or 2 layers of spikes down can make opponets cry uncle and quit automatically. The Earth Power can be an option for Toxicroak if you find youself having trouble with him. In the 2 months I've been playing with this team, STAB Surf has always 2hko'd Registeel, even though it's possible for Registeel to add more SpD and make it a 3hko. There's not much that can survive omastar except Chansey (the fat redhead step child of that Whore Blissey) and the occasional bulky Milotic or be revenge killed by a really Bulky Roserade while taking like ~90% in return.
Threats:
It's hard to talk about threats when my team is consisted of complete suicide sweepers / exploders. Some things come to mind though. Bug / Flying eats this team alive and I've considered changing Claydol just because of Yanmega and it's annoying speed boosting. Other than that, fake-out,t-wave,protect, water absorbers and other Swift Swimmers that stall out my 8 rain turns are about the only things I fear. I know I have 4 ground weaknesses and 2 fighting weaknesses, but about the only poke that can use one of those moves and survive is Registeel and Bulky Regirocks.
Closing Thoughts:
This team is the most fun I've ever had playing pokemon. I even started Emerald back over so I could make a Swift Swim team. Being able to win battles in as little as 7 moves through brute force is very exciting. I wish Ambipom would go back to BL, that would solve much of the flinch stalling I find people doing to this team. I also wish there was a NFE poke that had the Drizzle ability as it would solve 75% of my threats. It may not be a perfect team, but it has been a team that I have a great feel for and that has led me to the UU Top 50. Feel free to try it out and play around with it. I'd also love to hear any comments or concerns for changes that you think would help solidify this team even more. Thanks for reading and don't forget to comment ^_^.
Closer Look:
My Lead:
Electrode @ Damp Rock
Ability: Static
EV's: 6 HP, 252 ATK, 252 SPE
Nature: Naive (+Spe, -SpD)
- Explosion
- Rain Dance
- Taunt
- Thunder
Even though everyone knows that Electrode usually means Rain Dance, he does he still manages to get his job done. Having Base 140 Spe means he's outspeeding everything that isn't scarfed and even then he outspeeds neutral natured 252 Spe 87 base Spe scarfers on down. The crappy thing is that Max/Max scarfed Roserade just barely beats my lead. Taunt covers any poke you feel will try to status / set up or SR. Rain Dance gets the 8 turn rain chain going. Explosion puts a huge dent into anything not Steel or Rock typed. Thunder is a 100% STAB in Rain, but doesn't see much use other then breaking a sub or hitting a weakened water or flyer. Most people expect you to Rain Dance and Explode right away, I prefer to Rain Dance and switch to one of my Swift Swimmers that can take a hit so electrode can live to fight another day.
Defensive Wall / Rain Dancer:
Claydol @ Damp Rock
Ability: Levitate
EV's: 252 HP, 6 ATK, 252 DEF
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
- Explosion
- Rain Dance
- Rapid Spin
- Stealth Rocks
This guy comes in on all those nasty pokes who like to Earthquake and ruin Electrodes fun. His move set should be pretty self explanatory, but I'm sure you noticed that he lacks an attack that doesn't auto-kill him. Frankly, Claydol only gets to switch in once during a match. He comes in after I sacrifice whatever poke was in last after the 8 turns of rain was finished. He is exclusively Rain Dancing and Exploding. This poke can be easily replaced for any Rain Dancing poke, but I am fond of having both Levitate and Explosion. Claydol does occasionally start my 8 turn rain chain if my opponets poke has a ground move = I auto switch out of electrode.
Physical Sweeper #1:
Kabutops @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EV's: 194 HP, 252 ATK, 64 SPE
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
- Waterfall
- Stone Edge
- Aqua Jet
- Swords Dance
My first of 2 physical sweepers, Kabutops after a swords dance in rain, can 1hko about 95% of pokes. Those that survive are things like Max/Max Regirock, Registeel, Slowbro, basically things that are made to soak up damage. There is no poke that isn't 2hko'd by Kabutops after 1 SD (atleast from what I have encountered). A Aqua Jet after Swords Dance is hitting for stupid amounts of damage and 1hko's all of your common Fire pokes even after rain has ended. Stone Edge is for STAB and coverage, but I try not to let luck decide my matches as much as possible. His EV spread is to outspeed scarfed Roserade and 1hko it with Stone Edge.
Physical Sweeper #2:
Qwilfish @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EV's: 234 HP, 252 ATK, 24 SPE
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
- Waterfall
- Poison Jab
- Explosion
- Substitute / Rain Dance
My second physical sweeper and less powerful than Kabutops. He still has little problem sweeping after some damage has been done to soften up pokes. If I have SR up from Claydol, this guy become much more dangerous. His typical game consists of revenge killing something with waterfall and exploding for another quick 1hko. He sucks up T-Spikes with his typing and kills those pesky grass types that think they can come in for fun. Substitute is there to scout for switches or to play mind games with pokes that like to protect off my explosions. Usually if I have to bring this guy out, it means I'm having trouble with a SpD poke. Qwilfish is my last resort poke.
Special Sweeper #1:
Ludicolo @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EV's: 6 HP / 252 SPE / 252 SpA
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
- Grass Knot
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Rain Dance / HP of your choice
It's rediculous how powerful Ludicolo under rain is, so much so, that I am testing him out as a stand alone Rain Dancer on other teams. He can sweep entire teams by himself and his fantastic typing. Grass Knot > Energy Ball for those bulky waters that love to switch in. I find Ludi more often than not facing off to opposing Registeel and getting t-waved while he 3hko's back. It's worth the trade as Registeel is just a complete annoyance for any team. Life Orb is nessesary for many 1 and 2hko's and it's a shame because I would love to use a lum berry. I haven't tried the offensive Ludicolo with Swords Dance yet, but that is a very possible option for anyone who doesn't like having 2 special sweepers since Chansey is descently commong now.
Special Sweeper #2:
Omastar @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EV's: 6 HP, 252 SPE, 252 SpA
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- HP Grass
- Earth Power / Spikes
No denying that Omastar is the best sweeper on this team. His base 115 SpA is crazy in conjuntion with rain and STAB Surf. Being able to predict a switch and get 1 or 2 layers of spikes down can make opponets cry uncle and quit automatically. The Earth Power can be an option for Toxicroak if you find youself having trouble with him. In the 2 months I've been playing with this team, STAB Surf has always 2hko'd Registeel, even though it's possible for Registeel to add more SpD and make it a 3hko. There's not much that can survive omastar except Chansey (the fat redhead step child of that Whore Blissey) and the occasional bulky Milotic or be revenge killed by a really Bulky Roserade while taking like ~90% in return.
Threats:
It's hard to talk about threats when my team is consisted of complete suicide sweepers / exploders. Some things come to mind though. Bug / Flying eats this team alive and I've considered changing Claydol just because of Yanmega and it's annoying speed boosting. Other than that, fake-out,t-wave,protect, water absorbers and other Swift Swimmers that stall out my 8 rain turns are about the only things I fear. I know I have 4 ground weaknesses and 2 fighting weaknesses, but about the only poke that can use one of those moves and survive is Registeel and Bulky Regirocks.
Closing Thoughts:
This team is the most fun I've ever had playing pokemon. I even started Emerald back over so I could make a Swift Swim team. Being able to win battles in as little as 7 moves through brute force is very exciting. I wish Ambipom would go back to BL, that would solve much of the flinch stalling I find people doing to this team. I also wish there was a NFE poke that had the Drizzle ability as it would solve 75% of my threats. It may not be a perfect team, but it has been a team that I have a great feel for and that has led me to the UU Top 50. Feel free to try it out and play around with it. I'd also love to hear any comments or concerns for changes that you think would help solidify this team even more. Thanks for reading and don't forget to comment ^_^.
