GP: Mr. Uncompetitive / The Dutch Plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
Water
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Kingdra's access to Swift Swim and a strong STAB move in Hydro Pump makes it one of the best wallbreakers and sweepers under rain, heavily denting most Pokemon in combination with its STAB Draco Meteor. Although this STAB combination is resisted by many Pokemon, Kingdra's access to Ice Beam helps out in letting it hit threats like Tapu Bulu and Cradily. Kingdra has pretty decent bulk and a neutrality to Electric- and Grass-type attacks, which helps given the fact that it needs to continuously switch in throughout a match. While Kingdra can outspeed the entire unboosted metagame in rain, its Speed is underwhelming outside of it. Additionally, without rain boosting its Water-type STAB moves, Kingdra's Special Attack is unimpressive. Therefore, it requires specific team support that limits Kingdra to rain teams.
[SET]
name: Rain Sweeper (Water)
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Draco Meteor
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Surf / Scald
item: Choice Specs
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Hydro Pump is an insanely strong STAB move under rain that lets Kingdra 2HKO most Pokemon, including those that resist it, such as Rotom-W, Latios, and Slowbro. Draco Meteor lets Kingdra muscle past Pokemon that don't take much from Hydro Pump, such as Mega Venusaur and Lanturn. Ice Beam gives Kingdra a reliable tool against Dragon teams, notably hitting Mega Altaria, while also letting it hit certain Grass-type threats, like Tapu Bulu and Cradily, hard. While Hydro Pump is used to wallbreak, Surf lets Kingdra clean up weakened teams reliably thanks to its higher accuracy and PP. Alternatively, Scald can be used to try to cripple common switch-ins, like Ferrothorn, at the cost of a little power.
Set Details
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Maximum investment is made in Speed, which, alongside Swift Swim, lets Kingdra outspeed the entire unboosted metagame under rain. 252 EVs are put into Special Attack with a Modest nature to let Kingdra hit as hard as possible. Choice Specs patches up Kingdra's average Special Attack and lets it wallbreak more easily under rain. 4 EVs are placed in Special Defense to prevent Download users, like Porygon2 and Porygon-Z, from getting a Special Attack boost.
Usage Tips
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Kingdra should primarily be used in rain. Bring it in as often as possible early-game to wallbreak with a strong rain- and Choice Specs-boosted Hydro Pump. Under rain, Hydro Pump is strong enough to 2HKO even targets that resist it and normally don't take much damage, like Mega Venusaur after Stealth Rock damage. Therefore, try to keep the rain turns in mind to make the most use out of them. Kingdra can often be used to take out its own checks early-game and clean up with Surf or Scald later on. That being said, don't let it take too much chip damage from status or entry hazards, since it needs to switch in regularly. Therefore, try to bring it into play through Pelipper's slow U-turn or Politoed's Eject Button. Definitely keep Kingdra away from paralysis, as it prevents it from doing either of its jobs: sweeping and wallbreaking. While a paralyzed Kingdra can outspeed certain slower walls in the rain, it can't wallbreak efficiently between Hydro Pump's shaky accuracy and the chance to be fully paralyzed. For the most part, Kingdra shouldn't be used outside of rain, since its Special Attack and Speed are nothing to write home about. However, Choice Specs-boosted Draco Meteor is still pretty strong and can still be used to wallbreak without rain. Should Draco Meteor be used in rain, be wary that using it forces Kingdra to switch out and waste rain turns due to the Special Attack drop.
Team Options
========
Since Kingdra absolutely requires rain support, rain setters like Pelipper and Politoed are great partners. Pelipper is notable for being able to check Grass-types like Mega Venusaur. Both of these Pokemon can also bring Kingdra into play safely through U-turn and Eject Button, respectively. Wallbreakers like Tail Glow Manaphy, Azumarill, Supersonic Skystrike Gyarados, and Keldeo can take care of checks to Kingdra, like Chansey, letting Kingdra clean up easily. Greninja's access to Protean and a fantastic movepool lets it customize its moveset to beat checks to Kingdra. For example, Greninja can take care of Mega Venusaur with Extrasensory and Mantine with Hidden Power Electric. Cleaners like Mega Sharpedo, Mega Swampert, and Kabutops appreciate Kingdra's wallbreaking abilities. Swampert and Seismitoad provide Electric immunities and can also set Stealth Rock, which makes wallbreaking easier. Toxapex can wear down the opposing team with Toxic Spikes while also acting as a reliable pivot into priority moves for Kingdra. Lanturn's ability Volt Absorb lets it act as a fantastic check to Alolan Raichu. Lanturn can also cure any status condition with Heal Bell and bring Kingdra in safely through Volt Switch.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Water
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Kingdra doesn't have any viable options outside of the main set.
Checks and Counters
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Water
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**Chansey**: Chansey completely walls Kingdra and can KO it with Seismic Toss or cripple it with status.
**Walls**: Specially defensive Pokemon like Cradily, Ferrothorn, and Assault Vest Araquanid can switch into Kingdra and whittle it down or take it out with Toxic, Leech Seed, and Mirror Coat, respectively. Mega Venusaur is notable for being able to switch into Hydro Pump and Ice Beam, thanks to Thick Fat, and beat Kingdra one-on-one. It can't switch into Draco Meteor or Hydro Pump in rain after Stealth Rock damage, however.
**Defensive Water-types**: Most defensive Water-types, such as Toxapex and Mantine, resist Hydro Pump and can comfortably switch into Draco Meteor. Certain Water-types that are immune to or resist Dragon, like Tapu Fini and Empoleon, are great switch-ins as well.
**Residual Damage**: Since Kingdra needs to come into play often, letting it accumulate too much chip damage can lead to it being picked off through priority moves.
**Trace**: Trace users like Mega Alakazam and Gardevoir can copy Swift Swim, outspeed Kingdra, and KO it easily.
**Paralysis**: Paralysis halves Kingdra's Speed, which means it can no longer sweep.
**Alolan Raichu**: Under Electric Terrain, Alolan Raichu can easily outspeed Kingdra and KO it with a boosted Thunderbolt.
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