This is my first competitive team, and I have spent a long time researching everything. In the end I came down to theses pokemon, the only second thoughts I'm having are switching in keldeo for Suicune. Other than that I'm happy with this team, yet I've never tried it out.
Politoed
@Leftovers
-Drizzle
252hp 252 def 4spa Bold
Surf, toxic/hypnosis, perish song, protect
I know many people prefer scald over surf, and I get it, but not when your in the rain. With the rain boost and stab surf reaches 213.75 base power opposed to scalds 180. Secondly, I was wondering about using hypnosis over toxic since I plan on setting up toxic spikes with tentacruel (which would prevent scald from burning). If my toxic spikes stayed on the field there would be little need for toxic, besides flying and levitating guys, but hypnosis could hit scizor and ferrothorn who are immune to toxic and toxic spikes. Anyways as for Politoed, I like the defensive one, he is good at stalling them out, but I can't help wonder if the offense version (not the choice specs or scarf one) is better.
Tentacruel
@Black Sludge
-Rain Dish
252hp 236def 20speed
Toxic Spikes, protect, scald, rapid spin
Tentacruel is sometimes my lead over Politoed since that is predictable, and he mainly sets up toxic spikes, rapid spins if necessary, recovers, and switches out for later use. I put scald on him because without toxic spikes inflicting status since tentacruel sets them up and they don't take effect until a switch, scald could possibly spread some status.
Dragonite
@Life Orb
-Multiscale
252atk 100sp atk 156hp
Outrage, hurricane, roost, dragon dance
Although this isn't a smogon set I like this set, it provides good coverage with two good stab moves, the latter being 100% accurate in the rain. I thought about earthquake over hurricane, but with just 100evs invested in special attack hurricane is a lot more powerful and can be used for steel types and when I don't want to be locked into outrage. The first turn I usually set up, guaranteed that multiscale stops any OHKO, and roost can make further use of multiscale.
Scizor
@Choice Band
-Technician
252atk 248hp 8sp d
U-turn, bullet punch, superpower, bugbite
I don't think there is much to be explained here, as this is a standard scizor set and we all know that his only weakness is weakened by rain. However, i should explain why I'm using bugbite. I chose bugbite over pursuit for two reasons: one, I can't predict switch outs too well, and two, bugbite becomes scizors most powerful attack when a pokemon is high on hp and just need to go away. Bugbite also does lots of damage to grass types who threaten my team and allow scizor to stay in without switching out like u-turn.
Latios
-Life Orb
-levitate
252sp atk 252speed 4hp timid
Draco meteor, surf, thunder, recover
I know some people may criticize me for having two dragons, but hear me out. Latios fits really well into this team. It resists electric and grass, two big threats on a rain team. Secondly it is fast, unlike a lot of my other pokemon. And finally Draco meteor is ridiculously powerful with life orb and stab, and there is no need for dragon pulse because surf acts like a pseudo stab in the rain, it is even more powerful than dragon pusle (I think I can't remember if dragon pusle has a 90 or 95 base power). Thunder gives me good coverage for water and flying types, and recover rounds of the set healing off recoil and other damage.
I took your advice about pursuit over bugbite, and as for the keldo thing I was about to when I came up with what I think a better alternative in vaporean.
Vaporean
@Life Orb
-Hydration
252sp atk 100hp 156 def (Modest)
Hyrdopump
Ice Beam
Hidden Power Grass
Rest
In the rain hydropump is insanely powerful, coupled with a 110 sp atk completely invested and a life orb. Hydropump plows through pokemon, even those who resists it. I have ice beam to hit dragons and grass types who resist hydropump, hp grass for other water types, especially common threats such as gastrodon and swampert. Finally I have rest to heal off any damage and hydration prevents sleep from rest. It also blocks any other statuses capable of crippling vaporean.
(Edit: Vaporean > Suicune)
And that's my team. What do you guys think? I could really use some feedback because I'm new to this stuff and I'm ready to try anything, hope you like my team!
Politoed
@Leftovers
-Drizzle
252hp 252 def 4spa Bold
Surf, toxic/hypnosis, perish song, protect
I know many people prefer scald over surf, and I get it, but not when your in the rain. With the rain boost and stab surf reaches 213.75 base power opposed to scalds 180. Secondly, I was wondering about using hypnosis over toxic since I plan on setting up toxic spikes with tentacruel (which would prevent scald from burning). If my toxic spikes stayed on the field there would be little need for toxic, besides flying and levitating guys, but hypnosis could hit scizor and ferrothorn who are immune to toxic and toxic spikes. Anyways as for Politoed, I like the defensive one, he is good at stalling them out, but I can't help wonder if the offense version (not the choice specs or scarf one) is better.
Tentacruel
@Black Sludge
-Rain Dish
252hp 236def 20speed
Toxic Spikes, protect, scald, rapid spin
Tentacruel is sometimes my lead over Politoed since that is predictable, and he mainly sets up toxic spikes, rapid spins if necessary, recovers, and switches out for later use. I put scald on him because without toxic spikes inflicting status since tentacruel sets them up and they don't take effect until a switch, scald could possibly spread some status.
Dragonite
@Life Orb
-Multiscale
252atk 100sp atk 156hp
Outrage, hurricane, roost, dragon dance
Although this isn't a smogon set I like this set, it provides good coverage with two good stab moves, the latter being 100% accurate in the rain. I thought about earthquake over hurricane, but with just 100evs invested in special attack hurricane is a lot more powerful and can be used for steel types and when I don't want to be locked into outrage. The first turn I usually set up, guaranteed that multiscale stops any OHKO, and roost can make further use of multiscale.
Scizor
@Choice Band
-Technician
252atk 248hp 8sp d
U-turn, bullet punch, superpower, bugbite
I don't think there is much to be explained here, as this is a standard scizor set and we all know that his only weakness is weakened by rain. However, i should explain why I'm using bugbite. I chose bugbite over pursuit for two reasons: one, I can't predict switch outs too well, and two, bugbite becomes scizors most powerful attack when a pokemon is high on hp and just need to go away. Bugbite also does lots of damage to grass types who threaten my team and allow scizor to stay in without switching out like u-turn.
Latios
-Life Orb
-levitate
252sp atk 252speed 4hp timid
Draco meteor, surf, thunder, recover
I know some people may criticize me for having two dragons, but hear me out. Latios fits really well into this team. It resists electric and grass, two big threats on a rain team. Secondly it is fast, unlike a lot of my other pokemon. And finally Draco meteor is ridiculously powerful with life orb and stab, and there is no need for dragon pulse because surf acts like a pseudo stab in the rain, it is even more powerful than dragon pusle (I think I can't remember if dragon pusle has a 90 or 95 base power). Thunder gives me good coverage for water and flying types, and recover rounds of the set healing off recoil and other damage.
I took your advice about pursuit over bugbite, and as for the keldo thing I was about to when I came up with what I think a better alternative in vaporean.
Vaporean
@Life Orb
-Hydration
252sp atk 100hp 156 def (Modest)
Hyrdopump
Ice Beam
Hidden Power Grass
Rest
In the rain hydropump is insanely powerful, coupled with a 110 sp atk completely invested and a life orb. Hydropump plows through pokemon, even those who resists it. I have ice beam to hit dragons and grass types who resist hydropump, hp grass for other water types, especially common threats such as gastrodon and swampert. Finally I have rest to heal off any damage and hydration prevents sleep from rest. It also blocks any other statuses capable of crippling vaporean.
(Edit: Vaporean > Suicune)
And that's my team. What do you guys think? I could really use some feedback because I'm new to this stuff and I'm ready to try anything, hope you like my team!
