Rain Dance Team

[Mifune]

Hey, this is my first competitive team, and I'm heavily relying on Smogon because I don't understand everything yet. xD.

So, here's my Rain Dance Team, I'm open to almost all suggestions

Ambipom @ Damp Rock
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 HP / 200 Def / 56 Spe
Nature: Jolly
- Baton Pass
- Agility
- Double Hit
- Rain Dance

Ludicolo @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 60 HP / 252 SpA / 196 Spe
Nature: Modest
- Surf
- Energy Ball
- Ice Beam
- Rain Dance

Electivire @ Expert Belt
Ability: Motor Drive
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Nature: Adamant
- ThunderPunch
- Ice Punch
- Cross Chop
- Thunder

Kingdra @ Damp Rock
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 180 HP / 252 Atk / 76 Spe
Nature: Adament
- Rain Dance
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Outrage

Starmie @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 136 HP / 156 Def / 216 Spe
Nature: Timid
- Thunder
- Rain Dance
- Surf
- Recover

Kabutops @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 172 Atk / 252 SpA / 84 Spe
Nature: Rash
- Surf
- Aqua Tail
- Stone Edge
- X-Scissor

 

[hiphiphippo]

ok, so i think ludicolo and luxray are great choices
as for the others, i don't think you should have 5 water types on your team even if it is a raindance team. you also need a lead
for a lead, ambipom might work

also, i'm assuming this is OU so you could replace floatzel with something that has a similar role but is stronger, like kingdra

for luxray, if you wanna keep your 30% chance of paralyzing, you should just have discharge rather than spark. it's basically a stronger version of spark
instead of t-bolt, you should have thunder since rain gives thunder 100% accuracy

also, i think too many of your pokemon are life orbed
you can use expert belt or something else, but it's up to you

 

[Mifune]

ok, so i think ludicolo and luxray are great choices
as for the others, i don't think you should have 5 water types on your team even if it is a raindance team. you also need a lead
for a lead, ambipom might work

Lol, Luxray and Ludicolo were the ones I was most certain in, the rest I wasn't sure about.

also, i'm assuming this is OU so you could replace floatzel with something that has a similar role but is stronger

Okay, so Floatzel out. -nods-

for luxray, if you wanna keep your 30% chance of paralyzing, you should just have discharge rather than spark. it's basically a stronger version of spark
instead of t-bolt, you should have thunder since rain gives thunder 100% accuracy

I...totally forgot that Rain Dance gave Thunder 100% accuracy. Thanks. XD.

also, i think too many of your pokemon are life orbed
you can use expert belt or something else, but it's up to you

Yeah, I was feeling the same too...thanks again.

 

[hiphiphippo]

glad i could help ^-^

idk if you saw my edit, but you could replace floatzel with kingdra

and if you decide to include ambipom, i'm just gonna point out that it can also learn rain dance xD

 

[Mifune]

I didn't see your edit, but I still replaced Floatzel with Kingdra. XD.

Oh, I didn't see that. Lol.

 

[hiphiphippo]

nice improvements ^-^

i noticed rapid spin on starmie just now
i don't think you necessarily need that since stealth rocks don't really pose as a major threat to any of your pokes
you could change it to surf or something

EDIT: maybe have damp rock on ambipom rather than kingdra

 

[wolf]

Why use Rain Dish instead of Swift Swim if Ludi is a sweeper? And, Stealth Rock would be good to have somewhere on the team so you can still weaken Gyara, Mence, etc. if the rain ends. It also helps score KOs (i.e. guaranteeing that Surf will faint CB Scizor, which is has a pretty big chance of surviving). A bulky supporter could replace Ambipom or Luxray, both being pretty poor honestly. Zong or Jirachi (fit SR > U-turn or Wish) would fit best in your team. Remember though, using Jirachi leaves you with a slightly bigger Dragon weakness since it's vulnerable to EQ.

Lux is outclassed by Vire tbh, stronger moves, better Speed, and such, the only thing it doesn't have is Intimidate. And even then, Jolt or Raikou performs better than Vire imo, but really depends on you I guess. Lum Berry, Life Orb, or maybe Leftovers should be used instead of Damp Rock for Kingdra personally, it usually won't be supporting the rest of the team, more like itself so it could use something that lets it possibly set up another DD or extra power. Though, I think you should give mixed Kingdra a try.

Thunder > Thunderbolt on Starmie (the only issue is if the rain ends), and Surf > Rapid Spin because your team doesn't have much problems with SR (and Toxicroak absorbs TSpikes). Plus, having STAB, the ability to beat Scizor and Tar, and checking Gyara is much more useful imo. I would suggest something that is more reliable at checking Gyara, but Starmie helps with Infernape whenever rain leaves. Poison Jab or Ice Punch > SD on Toxicroak, assuming that was a typo lol.

 

[GrifSpark]

For a rain-dance team, a Manaphy is an epic team member (It's rare, so Phione will work). It has an ability called "Hydration" which removes all status ailments when it is raining, even self-inflicted ones, making rest an epic move, fully healing the Pokemon without the sleeping drawback.

And Kindra's a good choice, it's Dragon-type bonus means the only move super-effective against it are dragon moves, it also has the highest combined stats of all non-legendry Pokemon.

 

[Hessian]

Starmie doesn't look like it's doing too much here beyond merely spinning; if you are intent on having a spinner then maybe have something that can set up as well (maybe Forry running a typical set like Tspikes, Explosion, Gyro ball, Rapid Spin). Otherwise, another rain member that works well is Bronzong, who is quite solid and capable of setting up dual screens.

Also, why is Ambipom holding Lum? He's quite a fast poke and since it looks like the main priority on him is to get rain up, I think he'd be better off with a damp rock. In addition, he seems to be more suited to the lead spot because of his quickness (might consider moving those defence EVs to speed). You should be able to set up while also preventing yourself from getting taunted. That said... Aero stops you cold. What's your plan with dealing with a standard lead Aero?

Oh, and Ludicolo definitely wants Swift Swim over Rain Dish. In the rain, you'll be able to outspeed neutral nature +1 base 100s and that's quite crucial considering you're running him as a sweeper.

 

[JojoX2]

@Grifspark Manaphy is Uber and Phione is weak. They won´t help.

@Team If this is OU, Luxray is definitely not the thing to use. It may have Intimidate, but other than that, it´s no good(no good physical STAB + poor Speed). I don´t know which role he should play, but as far as Thunder abuse goes, Electivire would do great, as its Motor Drive would be really helpful. Jolteon is also great in that concern and both could block electric attacks, Wolflare said it, basically.

Choice Band is not THAT helpful on SD Groak ;) Change that for Life Orb, if you really want to use him.

Also, I don´t think Ludicolo makes a good Lead(especially with Rain Dish). Bronzong or Crobat can set up rain pretty well and Crobat can even taunt other leads.

Starmie really needs other moves. Put Surf over Spin(you won´t need it) and Thunder over Thunderbolt. Starmie shouldn´t be without a reliable STAB move.

 

[Pokemafia]

I'm using Kyogre-Abilities maes it constantly rain, along with a Raindish Ludicolo, I use a rain dish one:

Spoiler:

Name Item Ability Nature
Uber Support
Leftovers Rain Dish Calm
Moveset EVs
~ Leech Seed
~ Protect
~ Grass Knot
~ Ice Beam / Toxic
252 HP / 40 Def / 216 SpD
Ludicolo may seem like a mediocre Pokémon for use in Ubers at first glance, but surprisingly it has its own niche in the metagame, courtesy of Leech Seed, Protect, and Rain Dish.

Due to the Uber metagame generally being specially based, Ludicolo can come in on many Pokémon with its very acceptable Special Defense stat. Ludicolo will take a maximum of 38% damage from a Choice Scarf Kyogre's Thunder, which is quickly made less worrying by the accumulation of Rain Dish and Leftovers, together granting Ludicolo 12.5% health back per turn in the rain. Ludicolo can then Leech Seed for at least another 11% health return, meaning Ludicolo can outstall Kyogre with Protect.

Leech Seed is made all the more useful in Ubers due to many Pokémon in the tier having gargantuan HP, meaning Ludicolo will often find itself healing 25% of its health per turn with Protect. Protect also helps against Choice users, allowing Ludicolo to scout the incoming attack.

Grass Knot will 2HKO Groudon and offensive Kyogre, while also being a very reliable attack versus Palkia, Darkrai, and Mewtwo. Ice Beam hits Rayquaza who may feel like Dragon Dancing or using Swords Dance expecting a switch, and will be promptly OHKOed after Stealth Rock damage, provided it doesn't invest heavily in HP. Ice Beam also helps against Garchomp, and to an extent, Dialga.

However, Toxic is a secondary option for the fourth slot. This often allows Ludicolo to specifically beat Lugia, provided it does not carry Toxic itself. However, this means that many Uber Pokémon will cause more immediate problems for the set, such as Giratina, or Latias carrying Refresh or Safeguard. Dialga will have a much easier time as it is not affected by Toxic, and Grass Knot will not do huge amounts of damage. Finally, it becomes much easier for Rayquaza and Garchomp to wreak havoc for a few turns before Toxic damage would finish them off.

Maximum HP provides overall defensive ability, while 216 Special Defense EVs provide a bonus point. The rest of the EVs go into Defense, allowing Ludicolo to take hits like Darkrai's non-boosted Focus Punch much easier.

-From Smogon.

 

[Mifune]

Updated team, Replaced Luxray with Electivire, and Toxicroak with Kabutops, and made Ambipom my lead.


Switched out a couple moves too.

You guys have been a great help. :]. If you guys could help me out a bit more I'd be even more grateful.

 

[Ninja Caterpie]

For a rain-dance team, a Manaphy is an epic team member (It's rare, so Phione will work). It has an ability called "Hydration" which removes all status ailments when it is raining, even self-inflicted ones, making rest an epic move, fully healing the Pokemon without the sleeping drawback.

Manaphy's a uber and, if you haven't noticed, this is an OU team.

And Kindra's a good choice, it's Dragon-type bonus means the only move super-effective against it are dragon moves, it also has the highest combined stats of all non-legendry Pokemon.

Last time I checked, Slaking isn't legendary. Neither is Metagross, Garchomp, Dragonite, Tyranitar, Salamence, Arcanine, Togekiss, Magmortar, Blissey, Electivire, Gyarados, Snorlax or Milotic which all have equal or higher BSTs.

OT: Just a question, but why does Ambipom run SWIFT of all things? Ambipom has a horrible Sp. Att and Swift does nothing for it. If you want an attack, go with Double Hit or Fake Out as a lead.

 

[Insane85]

I'm using Kyogre-Abilities maes it constantly rain, along with a Raindish Ludicolo, I use a rain dish one:

Kyogre is uber, this team is not uber.

Kingdra is a fantastic choice, it's arguably the best swift swimmer there is. It can tear teams to shreds when going well.

 

[myrrh25]

And Kindra's a good choice, it's Dragon-type bonus means the only move super-effective against it are dragon moves, it also has the highest combined stats of all non-legendry Pokemon.

Wrong, Kingdra is outclassed stat-wise by quite a few non-legendaries, Slaking being the best example at 670 base stat.