[RATE MY TEAM] PDrizzle and His Homies

[MARSxVenom]

Welcome to my second RMT session. This was my first attempt at a rain team a while back, and I decided to come back to it lately and make a few adjustments. This team is most likely still going go be undergoing changes as i see fit, so leave any advice you may have to help me out.



PDrizzle (Politoed) @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 76 Def / 76 SpA / 100 SpD / 4 Spe
Calm Nature
- Scald
- Helping Hand
- Icy Wind
- Protect

You can't really have a rain team without rain can you? Politoed is a staple for every rain team due to its amazing abilty Drizzle. EV's for this went mainly into HP with some extra investments into its defenses. A slight amount of Spatk EV's were put in there just to add a little extra power to scald, with the leftover EV's in speed. Scald is great for a defensive water type, with a 30% chance (so the game says ) to burn your opponent. Icy Wind is a great utility move to slow down opposing pokemon and deal somewhat ok spread damage. Helping Hand is also a great utility move to use to help ensure KO's on healthy opposing pokemon. And finally we have protect because this is VGC, and when is protect a bad move.
Damage Calcs:
76 SpA Politoed Scald vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Landorus-T in Rain: 168-198 (101.8 - 120%) -- guaranteed OHKO
76 SpA Politoed Scald vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Terrakion in Rain: 152-180 (91 - 107.7%) -- 43.8% chance to OHKO
76 SpA Politoed Scald vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Heatran in Rain: 132-156 (79 - 93.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

252 SpA Thundurus Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 100+ SpD Politoed: 126-150 (63.9 - 76.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Aerilate Mega Salamence Double-Edge vs. 252 HP / 76 Def Politoed: 165-195 (83.7 - 98.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Parental Bond Mega Kangaskhan Double-Edge vs. 252 HP / 76 Def Politoed: 173-205 (87.8 - 104%) -- 14.1% chance to OHKO


Crimson (Scizor) @ Scizorite
Ability: Light Metal----->Technician
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 140 Atk / 52 Def / 60 SpD / 4 Spe (Revamped EV set as suggested by rogue )
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- Knock Off
- Bug Bite
- Protect

Scizor is one of my favorite pokemon (definitely my favorite from gen 2) and I really wanted to make a VGC team around him. The given EV spread gives you the needed damage to 2HKO most mons you would need to while maintaining bulk to survive threatening moves like heat wave from heatran while in the rain. Light Metal is the ability of choice before going mega to help with moves like low kick dealing less damage if you were to switch in to it. Bullet Punch is great priority that is boosted by both Technician and STAB to deal great damage. Knock off is a good utility move to remove items from mons while dealing good damage. Bug Bite is scizors strongest move getting a Technician and STAB boost. Protect is there to help scizor last longer and pick up KO's on mons while he is safe.
Damage Calcs:
140+ Atk Technician Mega Scizor Bug Bite vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Cresselia: 114-134 (50.2 - 59%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
140+ Atk Technician Mega Scizor Bullet Punch vs. 92 HP / 116 Def Sylveon: 140-168 (76.9 - 92.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
140+ Atk Technician Mega Scizor Bullet Punch vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Terrakion: 128-152 (76.6 - 91%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
140+ Atk Technician Mega Scizor Bullet Punch vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Terrakion: 128-152 (76.6 - 91%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252+ Atk Life Orb Talonflame Flare Blitz vs. 252 HP / 52 Def Mega Scizor in Rain: 156-187 (88.1 - 105.6%) -- 31.3% chance to OHKO
44+ SpA Mega Charizard Y Heat Wave vs. 252 HP / 60 SpD Mega Scizor in Rain: 124-148 (70 - 83.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Heatran Heat Wave vs. 252 HP / 60 SpD Mega Scizor in Rain: 124-148 (70 - 83.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Aerilate Mega Salamence Double-Edge vs. 252 HP / 52 Def Mega Scizor: 103-123 (58.1 - 69.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO



DuckFace (Ludicolo) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Swift Swim
Level: 50
EVs: 164 HP / 140 Def / 92 SpA / 4 SpD / 108 Spe
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Giga Drain
- Fake Out

Ludicolo is my favorite companion to use with Politoed as a strong rain mon, especially with an Assault Vest. having the Swift Swim ability enables it to outspeed the majority of the unboosted meta game with the given EV spread. This set focuses more on physical bulk with a chunk of Spatk investment, since Special Defense boosted by Assault Vest. Scald is my move of choice (hydro pump is not for me, lol) to be boosted by the rain to deal great damage. Ice Beam is a great coverage move that allows it to hit dragon types such as M-Salamence or Garchomp. Giga Drain is its secondary stab that allows it to hit other water types for excellent damage. Fake Out is a great utility move in VGC that allows you to shut down a pokemon after you switch in.
Damage Calc:
92+ SpA Ludicolo Helping Hand Giga Drain vs. 252 HP / 148+ SpD Rotom-W: 108-128 (68.7 - 81.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Sitrus Berry recovery
92+ SpA Ludicolo Helping Hand Scald vs. 132 HP / 12 SpD Heatran in Rain: 216-254 (118 - 138.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO
92+ SpA Ludicolo Helping Hand Scald vs. 252 HP / 20 SpD Mega Charizard Y in Rain: 200-236 (108.1 - 127.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO

60 SpA Mega Venusaur Sludge Bomb vs. 164 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Ludicolo: 84-102 (47.7 - 57.9%) -- 91.4% chance to 2HKO
252 Atk Terrakion Close Combat vs. 164 HP / 140 Def Ludicolo: 114-135 (64.7 - 76.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Parental Bond Mega Kangaskhan Double-Edge vs. 164 HP / 140 Def Ludicolo: 168-199 (95.4 - 113%) -- 82% chance to OHKO


Meow (Landorus-Therian) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
Level: 50
EVs: 116 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def / 4 SpD / 132 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Rock Slide
- Superpower
- Earthquake
- U-turn

Landorus-T is a great pokemon in the meta game while holding the Choice scarf, being able to fire off a fast Rock Slide while also having a powerful STAB Earthquake. U-Turn is great for coming in and leaving to preserve its amazing Intimidate ability for later in the match. Superpower rounds out its coverage to hit pokemon like Kangaskhan for massive damage. The given EV spread for my Landorus allows it to outspeed max speed greninja and add more bulk to it. In my opinion, the only other noticeable mon to outspeed would be M-Manectric which would require near full investment into the speed stat.
Damage Calcs:
252+ Atk Landorus-T Rock Slide vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Mega Charizard Y: 184-220 (99.4 - 118.9%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO
252+ Atk Landorus-T Superpower vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Mega Kangaskhan: 164-194 (90.6 - 107.1%) -- 43.8% chance to OHKO
252+ Atk Landorus-T Rock Slide vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Mega Salamence: 62-74 (36.2 - 43.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

-1 252 Atk Mega Lopunny Ice Punch vs. 116 HP / 4 Def Landorus-T: 132-156 (73.7 - 87.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
-1 252 Atk Parental Bond Mega Kangaskhan Double-Edge vs. 116 HP / 4 Def Landorus-T: 110-132 (61.4 - 73.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
-1 252 Atk Aerilate Mega Salamence Double-Edge vs. 116 HP / 4 Def Landorus-T: 105-124 (58.6 - 69.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO



Nolan (Terrakion) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Rock Slide
- Taunt
- Protect

I took a bit of a different path with this Terrakion set, using Taunt over other moves. I didn't have much of a counter to pokemon like Cresselia or Smeargle other than trying to KO them and this was a great alternative i found to fit (although Thundrus may end up replacing my next pokemon, which would open up this move slot). Close Combat is a very strong STAB move that deals with M-Kangaskhan specifically, but deals great damage to many other pokemon. Focus Sash works great with Close Combat since you can always take atleast one hit even after the defense drops. STAB Rock Slide from Terrakion does really good damage while also giving the bonus flinch chance. Protect is there to prevent mons from picking off terrakion with priority moves after his sash is broken, while also protecting from fake out breaking the sash.
Damage Calc:
252 Atk Terrakion Close Combat vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Mega Kangaskhan: 204-242 (112.7 - 133.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 Atk Terrakion Rock Slide vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Mega Salamence: 78-92 (45.6 - 53.8%) -- 30.9% chance to 2HKO
252 Atk Terrakion Rock Slide vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Mega Charizard Y: 232-276 (125.4 - 149.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO



BarsxDraco (Latios) (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 60 HP / 252 Atk / 196 Spe
Timid Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Psychic
- Ice Beam
- Protect

Latios is underrated in the VGC meta game in my opinion, being able to deal extreme damage to anything with a Life Orb boosted Draco Meteor. Psychic is a great move to deal with common fighting types as well as the ever so bulky M-Venusaur. Ice Beam is a coverage move that allows Latios to hit dragons hard without the Spatk drop. Protect is great for stopping Bisharp's sucker punch and letting your partner KO it, while also providing extra protection. The given EV spread gives latios a good fighting chance against scarfed Hydreigon and Gengar (Shoutout to the one and only Rogue [AKA ganonjerk ] for this spread)
Damage Calcs:
252 SpA Life Orb Latios Draco Meteor vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Mega Kangaskhan: 144-172 (79.5 - 95%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Latios Psychic vs. 180 HP / 132+ SpD Mega Venusaur: 140-166 (78.6 - 93.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Latios Ice Beam vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Mega Salamence: 291-348 (170.1 - 203.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Latios Ice Beam vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Garchomp: 302-359 (165 - 196.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO

252 SpA Gengar Shadow Ball vs. 60 HP / 0 SpD Latios: 128-152 (78.5 - 93.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Hydreigon Dark Pulse vs. 60 HP / 0 SpD Latios: 134-162 (82.2 - 99.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Hydreigon Dragon Pulse vs. 60 HP / 0 SpD Latios: 144-170 (88.3 - 104.2%) -- 25% chance to OHKO

So far My record is 5-3 with this team, I've done a lot more thinking on it than I have been practicing, but I still wanted to share it. This team focuses around rain+M-Scizor which is a very interesting combo and doesn't get as much love as it could. This is definitely a more offensive team, but that fits me really well.

So there you have it, my first attempt at a rain team. Any feedback is greatly appreciated and will definitely be considered. I may be posting another RMT in the near future, featuring my M-Lopunny team I really like right now, so stay tuned for that.

[Rogue]

This is a great team! I'm trying my best to break it, but you basically have answer for just about everything. The team is very well built, and the only mons I can see giving you some annoyance are Sylveon and Bisharp really. But nothing a helping hand bullet punch or double target can't fix. Bisharp is another small annoyance, but Terrakion is sashed, you could always fake it out with ludi and bop it with landorus, or just burn it in general with scald.

I really like your call on Taunt Terrakion here as well. Great call! Your team also reaches an important self-benchmark of mine: You have a way to hit every single type in the game supper-effectively. So kudos for that!

My only real suggestion here is maybe changing the EV's on Scizor slightly. I've never used mega scizor, but you're hitting a lot of 2HKO's here that are close to OHKO's. Meaning you can lower your attack a little to still get those 2HKO's, and you can push a little bit more in bulk. Just a suggestion; I've never used mega scizor seriously so I could just be a big dumb dumb here. Anywho, great team again!

[MARSxVenom]

(Jul 13, 2015, 06:49 PM)Rogue Wrote: This is a great team! I'm trying my best to break it, but you basically have answer for just about everything. The team is very well built, and the only mons I can see giving you some annoyance are Sylveon and Bisharp really. But nothing a helping hand bullet punch or double target can't fix. Bisharp is another small annoyance, but Terrakion is sashed, you could always fake it out with ludi and bop it with landorus, or just burn it in general with scald.

I really like your call on Taunt Terrakion here as well. Great call! Your team also reaches an important self-benchmark of mine: You have a way to hit every single type in the game supper-effectively. So kudos for that!

My only real suggestion here is maybe changing the EV's on Scizor slightly. I've never used mega scizor, but you're hitting a lot of 2HKO's here that are close to OHKO's. Meaning you can lower your attack a little to still get those 2HKO's, and you can push a little bit more in bulk. Just a suggestion; I've never used mega scizor seriously so I could just be a big dumb dumb here. Anywho, great team again!

That's a deep on my part, I don't know why I didn't think of changing some stuff since I was getting 2HKO on lots of stuff. This is why I put stuff on here, to cover up my stupidity. Thanks for the compliments by the way, I really like this team and the mons on it.

[GiMYz]

I would give a chance to the first build of this topic http://pokemonforever.com/Thread-VGC-VGC...l-Attacker because a Sword Dance set helps you to get the necessary OHKOs on Fairies (your team can't take Hyper Voices except for AV Ludicolo and Scizor) and you can also setup against any Intimidate or burns.

The rest of your team is incredibly strong at protecting M-Scizor from its threats (i can think about Rotom-Heat and Heatwave Zapdos as the only mons with a Fire move able to face this team thanks to their bulk, but they still suffer from Rock Slide and Ice Beam/Scald too, as any other Fire type).

The only problem is that Ludicolo is your only reliable answer to bulky Water types (Milotic, Suicuine and Politoed). These mons can hit Terrakion, Lando-T and Latios really hard, they can burn M-Scizor with Scald and Politoed can't really touch them. That's why Thunderbolt instead of Ice Beam on Latios can be an option. A Life Orb Thunderbolt should deal about 50% damage to every bulky water type (i've used 252HP / 4 SpD Milotic as a benchmark) , which is more or less the same damage of a Draco Meteor, but you won't get the SpAtk drop after the attack.

[Pokeventurer]

Hi, first of all I would say that this is quite a nice RMT post with every capability of your mons listed above, which cleared any confusions that may come into my mind. The EV spreads are very well developed which I ask for in many RMTs of my own. I personally noticed some of the following points, these may just be me but I would suggest these for the team, plz let me know if you tried and rejected for the team and for what reasons:

Speed control: I don’t see a team like this very often at all but here I though of an idea with the team. You are running speed control politoed with icy wind, in my opinion is a loose slot. Replacing the tailwind on latias for it’s ice beam and giving politoed the ice beam for icy wind. The reason that you are running bulkier and potentially slower than other usual 252/252/4 sets you may encounter on lando-t, scizor and politoed itself tailwind can be an awesome addition to the overall team, where the slot for defeating dragons will be replaced and done well by your rain duo.

Threats and your answers: maybe I did missed some tactics for your team but what are your answers to mon’s like miranga berry milotic which can hit everything super effective apart from scizor and rain mode (if carries ice beam) and you did had the icy wind on politoed too.

Landorus: after you run tailwind now and since you are bulky and can survive many attacks running CB may be worth giving a test, and also replacing superpower for knock off, as terrakion is there to OHKO any kangs that come your way and CB for lando, whereas this charizard y benchmark will be covered up by terrakion too as it easily outspeeds.

Scizor: as Rouge suggested above that there are a lot of 2HKO’s scizor scores with such EV investments so you may really wanna elevate the offensive EV’s. my suggestion should be that you give a try to once replace the knock off on it for swords dance, where lando-t packs the dark coverage now. I have been against a lot of swords dance scizor, and they own the game because of the very reason of setting up and then OHKO anything that comes their way. Ludicolo’s fake out can be a gateway leading you to set-up the purpose. And so now the 2HKO’s will be OHKO’s

According to my suggestion the team should be like:


PDrizzle (Politoed) @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 76 Def / 76 SpA / 100 SpD / 4 Spe
Calm Nature
- Scald
- Helping Hand
- Ice Beam
- Protect


Crimson (Scizor) @ Scizorite
Ability: Light Metal----->Technician
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 140 Atk / 52 Def / 60 SpD / 4 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- Swords Dance
- Bug Bite
- Protect


DuckFace (Ludicolo) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Swift Swim
Level: 50
EVs: 164 HP / 140 Def / 92 SpA / 4 SpD / 108 Spe
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Giga Drain
- Fake Out


Meow (Landorus-Therian) @ Choice Band
Ability: Intimidate
Level: 50
EVs: 116 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def / 4 SpD / 132 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Rock Slide
- Knock off
- Earthquake
- U-turn


Nolan (Terrakion) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Rock Slide
- Taunt
- Protect


BarsxDraco (Latios) (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 60 HP / 252 Atk / 196 Spe
Timid Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Psychic
- Tailwind
- Protect

In the end I would again say that this team is extremely well built and I can’t pull out a faulty slot. Hope my suggestions helped you in some way.

[Marcusube]

Pretty solid team here Mars. The only issues I'm seeing is your matchups with bulky water types, as GMX said, and Ghost types, particularly Gengar and Aegislash.

Try testing out Encore on Politoed. It allows you to catch those Pokemon in the base 70 or below speed group (Trick Room Territory) and lock them into moves like Protect or Trick Room. I do see Helping Hand working but this is just a suggestion in case any problems occur in matchups.

I would recommend using a Swords Dance set on Mega Scizor to give it more of an offensive impact on the field. With Swords Dance, you pick up more kills on Pokemon such as Sylveon, Aegislash, Landorus and even Kangaskhan. Also in the case you get burnt, you have Swords Dance as an option to kind of get a "second wind"

Lastly, I agree with GMX in running Thunderbolt over Ice Beam for those bulky water types. Well maybe not Thunderbolt, but Energy Ball. It's really a matter of preference. Thunderbolt is nice because it can hit Steel types for at least neutral damage but Energy Ball is a hard check to bulky Water types

[MARSxVenom]

Thank you GMX, Marc, and pokeventurer for the advice, I'll look into changing this team up later some and come back with an updated post. Also, pokeventurer, you recommended CB lando, but do you think an assault vest lando could work as well? I know CB lando has been becoming more used lately, but I've always loved the idea of AV lando.

[Pokeventurer]

(Jul 14, 2015, 10:47 AM)MARSxVenom Wrote: Thank you GMX, Marc, and pokeventurer for the advice, I'll look into changing this team up later some and come back with an updated post. Also, pokeventurer, you recommended CB lando, but do you think an assault vest lando could work as well? I know CB lando has been becoming more used lately, but I've always loved the idea of AV lando.

i didn't though of the idea by the way and the following calcs i did, are convincing regarding running rain mirror match, however the AV slot if replaced i would recommend you to run a life orb or expert belt then on ludi to pick up some extra damage on bulky waters as GMX said were a problem, also putting energy ball which would add to it another item choice for ludi then be sitrus berry so youcan invest less EVs in def while still be able to survive the double edge from kang and invest the extra's into the sp.atk :

252+ SpA Politoed Ice Beam vs. 116 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Landorus-T: 140-168 (78.2 - 93.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Ludicolo Ice Beam vs. 116 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Landorus-T: 140-168 (78.2 - 93.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Milotic Ice Beam vs. 116 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Landorus-T: 564-664 (315 - 370.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO (surely something you need to watch out for)

you should consider it and give this thing a try atleast, however this would be kinda too much bulk for a single team i think.