[RATE MY TEAM] VGC 2015 Rain Team.

[Bad Guy]

I have been trying to build a doubles Rain Dance team. I'm looking for improvements, and a sixth member. I'm not sure if I should have a Pokemon with Stealth Rock, just to stop Talonflame and Mega Charizard.

Mega Swampert @Swampertite
Ability: Torrent -> Swift Swim
EVs: 108 HP/252 Attack/148 Speed
Nature: Lonely
Moves:
- Waterfall
- Ice Punch
- Earthquake
- Protect
Mega Swampert is my main Pokemon, it will be one of my leading Pokemon. Swampert needs the rain. Ice Punch is there to take out Landorus.

Ludicolo @Assault Vest
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 HP/84 Defense/148 Special Attack/4 Special Defense/20 Speed
Nature: Modest
Moves:
- Giga Drain
- Ice Beam
- Scald
- Fake Out
Ludicolo is here to take bulky water Pokemon, who may get in the way of Swampert. Ludicolo is nice with Fake Out.

Politoed @Damp Rock
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP/112 Defense/20 Special Attack/112 Special Defense/12 Speed
Nature: Modest
Moves:
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Encore
- Protect
Politoed is used to get the rain out there. The Damp Rock is helpful, since it increases the duration of Drizzle.

Noivern @Leftovers
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 4 HP/252 Special Attack/252 Speed
Nature: Mild
Moves:
- Draco Meteor
- Tailwind
- Roost
- Hurricane
Tailwind is useful if I can't set up the rain. Draco Meteor will also help against Mega Salamence, and Hurricane has a 30% of confusion.

Toxicroak @Black Sludge
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 76 HP/252 Attack/180 Speed
Nature: Adamant
Moves:
- Protect
- Drain Punch
- Poison Jab
- Fake Out
Toxicroak is good to take out fairy types. Dry Skin is helpful since this a full rain team.

[terrorkid94]

Why is Swampert Lonely and Noivern Mild

[Bad Guy]

(May 23, 2015, 08:31 AM)terrorkid94 Wrote: Why is Swampert Lonely and Noivern Mild

I didn't know what nature to give Swampert, and I thought mild would be good for Noivern. If you think I should change anything tell me.

[GiMYz]

Hey Bad Guy. Mmm.. this team relies a lot (maybe too much) on rain, which means you will have problems in weather wars against M-CharY and Tyranitar, so i'm going to suggest you something which can work even outside the rain.

#I like that M-Swampert EV spread, because it outspeeds 20 EV Suicune by 1 point without rain and it outspeeds Scarf Adamant Land-T in rain. I don't know if it's a mistake but you should use an Adamant nature.

#Ludicolo is another great check to Scarf Land-T, but you need to outspeed it.

Ludicolo @ Assault Vest
Ability: Swift Swim
Level: 50
EVs: 132 HP / 84 Def / 148 SpA / 4 SpD / 140 Spe
Modest Nature
- Giga Drain
- Ice Beam
- Scald
- Fake Out

You still have some bulk, while you can outspeed Land-T and OHKO it with Ice Beam

#Damp Rock is fine in this team, but as i said you shouldn't rely too much on rain and in weather wars the Damp Rock won't help you as much as a Sitrus Berry, which is the perfect item for a bulky Politoed if you want to switch him in and out of battle if you need to. Encore is not useful if Politoed doesn't work in a Perish Trap team, so you may want to run Helping Hand or Icy Wind, you can decide.

Politoed @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Water Absorb
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 108 Def / 44 SpA / 92 SpD / 12 Spe
Calm Nature
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Icy Wind / Helping Hand
- Protect

As much bulk as possible with a Calm nature, with enough SpA to have a 75% chance to OHKO Land-T with Scald under Rain (or a 68% chance to OHKO with Ice Beam anyway). It also survives a Jolly Double-Edge from M-Kang, just in case.

252 Atk Parental Bond Mega Kangaskhan Double-Edge vs. 252 HP / 108 Def Politoed: 164-196 (83.2 - 99.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Sitrus Berry recovery

#Noivern is the first member i would change, because it won't add a great coverage and it's useless against mirror rain matches, M-Chary and Tyranitar teams. Zapdos has the same role as Tailwind user but it has more bulk and an additional Electric coverage which might help you against M-CharY and other bulky water types (Ludicolo may not be enough).

Zapdos @ Safety Goggles
Ability: Pressure
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 116 Def / 20 SpA / 4 SpD / 116 Spe
Modest Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Tailwind
- Roost
- Hidden Power [Ice]

If you don't have a HP Ice Zapdos you can always ask in the Trading / Breeding section of this forum for it. Safety Googles works to have an additional Spore/Rage Powder immunity to Amoonguss and Breloom, which your opponent should bring to deal with M-Swampert most of the times. The bulk allows it to survive a Jolly Double-Edge from M-Kang and it you can use Roost to minimize Rock and Ice type damage (because it will lose the Flying type that round).

#For the last slot we absolutely need something to deal with M-Metagross, Fairy types and special walls such as Cresselia. I think that Bisharp might work in this team, because rain will help it for its weakness to Fire, and it can deal with the threats listed above.

Bisharp @ Focus Sash
Ability: Defiant
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Iron Head
- Knock Off
- Sucker Punch
- Protect

Tell me if you have any other suggestion or ideas!

[terrorkid94]

Adamant for swampert since your not using any special attacks

Timid for noivern if you want more speed modest for special attack

[GiMYz]

Ops i forgot one pokemon!

Well we still need something to deal with Ferrothorn and we can't hit M-Kang so hard so.. why not Blaziken? It can OHKO Ferrothorn and Scizor in rain, it can OHKO M-Kang and you can also run a fast Rock Slide.

Blaziken @ Life Orb
Ability: Speed Boost
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 48 Atk / 212 SpA / 244 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Overheat
- Superpower
- Rock Slide
- Protect

Outspeeds Scarf Adamant Land-T after a Speed Boost.

212 SpA Life Orb Blaziken Overheat vs. 252 HP / 52 SpD Ferrothorn in Rain: 208-250 (114.9 - 138.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO
48 Atk Life Orb Blaziken Superpower vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Mega Kangaskhan: 218-257 (120.4 - 141.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
48 Atk Life Orb Blaziken Rock Slide vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Mega Charizard Y: 161-192 (87 - 103.7%) -- 18.8% chance to OHKO

[Bad Guy]

(May 23, 2015, 08:51 AM)GMX Wrote: Ops i forgot one pokemon!

Well we still need something to deal with Ferrothorn and we can't hit M-Kang so hard so.. why not Blaziken? It can OHKO Ferrothorn and Scizor in rain, it can OHKO M-Kang and you can also run a fast Rock Slide.

Blaziken @ Life Orb
Ability: Speed Boost
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 48 Atk / 212 SpA / 244 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Overheat
- Superpower
- Rock Slide
- Protect

Outspeeds Scarf Adamant Land-T after a Speed Boost.

212 SpA Life Orb Blaziken Overheat vs. 252 HP / 52 SpD Ferrothorn in Rain: 208-250 (114.9 - 138.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO
48 Atk Life Orb Blaziken Superpower vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Mega Kangaskhan: 218-257 (120.4 - 141.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
48 Atk Life Orb Blaziken Rock Slide vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Mega Charizard Y: 161-192 (87 - 103.7%) -- 18.8% chance to OHKO

Thanks for your suggestions, I will try this team out. Should I still use Drizzle for Politoed, since I have nothing with Rain Dance?

[Black117]

(May 23, 2015, 10:15 AM)Bad Guy Wrote: Thanks for your suggestions, I will try this team out. Should I still use Drizzle for Politoed, since I have nothing with Rain Dance?

On the contrary, you do need Drizzle on Politoed since why else would you be using it after all? Then again I believe that was a mistake by GMX made while making the suggestions on Showdown so I'd recommend what he suggested.

[GiMYz]

Yes i forgot to put Drizzle instead of Water Absorb :D

[Bad Guy]

(May 23, 2015, 10:41 AM)GMX Wrote: Yes i forgot to put Drizzle instead of Water Absorb :D

Thanks!