Rain Dance Doubles Help

R

redterror117

Dragon Tamer
Member
So I wanted to start building my own team after playing in a local video game tournament. I had to borrow a friend's Pokemon, since my own team was far from finished (trying to get started building a team at 4:30 am because of a 16 hour-straight work day is not recommended @-@)

Anyways, a friend of mine helped me to come up with a basic team, following the use of Rain Dance. I know Smogon and Pokebeach has their own ban lists, but because this is for local play only (where the only banned Pokemon are Legendaries, and banned move is Sky Drop), I want to focus on this first before running through a variation for use here.

Right now, I already know that the hardest person to beat runs a Mega Garchomp, Tyranitar (with Air Balloon), Togekiss, Talonflame (with Tailwind), Volcarona, and one other Pokemon (which I can't remember).

Our tournaments are currently doubles, with 4 Pokemon per player.

Anyways here's what I've got right now:

Politoed (Life Orb)
Nature: Modest
Ability: Drizzle
EVs 252 Speed / 252 SpA / 4 HP
Moves: Ice Beam / Hidden Power (Grass) / Surf / Perish Song

With its hidden ability Drizzle, Politoed will always be sent out first to initiate rain. Surf acts as a STAB move powered by the weather, while Ice Beam allows coverage against Grass and Flying types. The Hidden Power also helps deal with opposing Water Pokemon who might also take advantage of the weather condition. I'm not 100% keen on keeping Perish Song, but if I know that my partner Pokemon will get knocked out that turn, I can at least set up Perish Song, which will force a switch later in the match, if not kill off the others outright.


Toxicroak (Black Sludge)
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 244 HP/ 12 Spd / 252 Atk
Moves: Sucker Punch / Poison Jab / Cross Chop / Substitute

While not gaining STAB from the weather, Toxicroak does seem to work well with this team because of Dry Skin. Not only does it recover health from its ability, it'll also recover HP if hit by Water moves, meaning that I can run Surf without any negative consequence (and even with positive results). Black Sludge exists for additional healing.
As for moves, Sucker Punch helps to take a swing against Ghost Pokemon as a super-effective attack. Poison Jab again helps deal with Grass Pokemon, as well as Fairy Pokemon, who might cause trouble for my wall below. Substitute works really well on Toxicroak, again because of the multiple healing sources, and Cross Chop allows for a super-effective STAB against quite a few types.


Goodra (Leftovers)
Nature: Serious/Quirky/Bashful/Docile/Hardy
Ability: Hydration
EVs: 200 HP / 252 SpD / 52 Spd
Moves: Rest/Outrage/Rain Dance/Thunder

One of my possible leads alongside Politoed, along with Blastoise. Goodra was made for the rain as a wall, especially with what I've got on him. Essentially with Hydration, he instantly recovers from confusion from Outrage (for STAB), and will immediately wake up from Rest. Rain Dance is on him in case I'm facing an opponent who also runs a weather team, and Thunder ignores accuracy checks when in the rain. Since he runs a physical and special attack, I decided to pick a neutral nature for him.


Greninja (Shell Bell)
Nature: Timid
Ability: Protean
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SpA / 4 HP
Moves: Spikes / Extrasensory / Mat Block / Surf

While Greninja doesn't exactly benefit from the rain at times, his ability does allow him to be flexible as he always gains STAB with Protean. I might switch out Spikes with Grass Knot, but the reason the attack is on him is for a quick switch into a Ground type after using Surf, as he otherwise becomes susceptible to Thunder (which again will never miss in the rain). Meant to outspeed most of the competition, he runs Mat Block in place of Protect, which (so long as he isn't outsped), will protect the team from everything but priority attacks. Extrasensory is there to deal with Fighting types, as I don't have much to use against them.


Blastoise (Blastoisenite)
Nature: Quiet
Ability: Rain Dish
EVs: 252 SpA / 128 Def / 128 SpD
Moves: Water Pulse/ Protect / Dark Pulse / Aura Sphere

Blastoise is the second option as a lead apart from Goodra, and can dish out an overpowered STAB attack right off the bat. Assuming that rain is in effect, and he's in his Mega form, Blastoise's Water Pulse jumps from base power 60, to base power 200, thanks to Mega Blastoise's ability, STAB, and weather. Not to mention that it has the chance to confuse if it doesn't kill. Dark Pulse and Aura exist to take advantage of Blastoise's ability, while Protect exists as a stall.


The sixth slot in my team, which I'm not 100% sure whether or not I want to keep:
Scizor (Focus Sash)
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 HP / 4 Spd
Moves: Bullet Punch / Swords Dance / Protect / Roost

Scizor is one of the only Pokemon in the team that doesn't gain any direct benefit from rain, but his only weakness (Fire) does get its attack power cut in the rain. Not to mention that with the amount of Water support, Scizor might get enough protection to last.

Anyways, Bullet Punch is Scizor's main attack, gaining boosts from STAB and Technician, while Swords Dance buffs its attack. Roost and Protect help to stall because of his heightened HP.
 
A friend of mine has a great Rain Team on him, and I've learned some things about that team from playing against him. You should try Dragonite out with Hurricane, and have Rain Dance on it as a secondary user in case you go in a weather battle. Dragonite is very bulky as well, and Multiscale just helps it be even more so. Hurricane hits everytime in the rain, much like Thunder, and has great power with it. Speaking of Thunder, Jolteon would also make a great Pokemon to use on this team. I'd switch out Scizor for Jolteon and Goodra for Dragonite, but that is just an opinion of mine. My friend runs an Aegislash on his team as well, which is an interesting choice, but it hasn't been a bad thing from what I have seen so far.
 
I had considered Dragonite before, but I know my opponent runs Rock Slide with two Pokemon, which might cause some trouble with Dragonite being a flying type. I can definately keep him as a secondary option against other opponents though. So apart from Hurricane and Rain Dance, what else would work with him (as he's more of a physical attacker than a special)?

As for Jolteon, I could see going for Thunder, Thunder Wave or Toxic, maybe Volt Switch (if I know my opponent's going to Earthquake), and either Light Screen or Protect
 
On the Jolteon, I would go Thunder, Volt Switch, Shadow Ball for coverage, and Rain Dance for the weather battle again. If not Rain Dance, I would personally pick Protect.

For a Dragonite, he could do both roles (Special and Physical Attacker) quite well, but you are right in the fact it has more Attack than anything else. What else could work though...maybe Dragon Tail if you see a Pokemon you don't want to be fighting? Do damage and force a switch? Sounds good to me lol! Roost is a move to think about as well for reusing Multiscale, or throw that healing responsibility to a Slowbro with Heal Pulse to make Dragonite have more attacking options. So maybe this moveset: Hurricane, Rain Dance, Dragon Tail, and Thunder Punch if you want to focus Physical (Thunder if not).
 
I'd probably be more prone to take advantange of his physical stats. Otherwise I'd stick with Goodra, who also does both.

I did also read an interesting strategy with Trick Room awhile back. Since it switches the priority of attacks, Dragon Tail becomes priority, and so sweeping through with priority every turn would force the opponent's Pokemon to constantly lose turns. It'd be something I could try, considering that most Water Pokemon had mediocre Speed, and focus more on defense. I know my friend has a Pokemon that blocks out Trick Room Pokemon (it's got Imprison and Trick Room), so I'd need to find a Pokemon I could put it on without the strategy being obvious.
 
Priority stays the same in Trick Room. It is only Speed that doesn't stay the same. Quick Attack will still go before the slowest Pokemon in Trick Room if they aren't using a move with an equal or higher priority.
 
King Arceus said:
Priority stays the same in Trick Room. It is only Speed that doesn't stay the same. Quick Attack will still go before the slowest Pokemon in Trick Room if they aren't using a move with an equal or higher priority.
Click to expand...

Ill have to reread the info on the move then. The video I watched specified a Bronzong / Goodra combo which used Trick Room and Dragon Tail, but there were no corrections in the comments.
 
No spinner? And why Blastoise? Would you consider Starmie? Has a large move pool you could abuse and Rapid Spin, hazards could hurt any team not running a spinner or Defog.
 
Sleep Talk is used to get Dragon Tail while you are asleep. Sleep Talk does not have negative priority which is why it works. The problem with this is that it is luck reliant that you get the move you want.
 
Alright, thanks for the clarification Arceus

PokeChimpo - I could replace Aura Sphere for Rapid Spin. As for Blastoise over Starmie, its because it gives me an option for a Mega Evolution. Not to mention I've been having to deal with a lot of Shadow Sneak lately (which would likely one-shot Starmie for being Psychic)
 
redterror117 said:
Alright, thanks for the clarification Arceus

PokeChimpo - I could replace Aura Sphere for Rapid Spin. As for Blastoise over Starmie, its because it gives me an option for a Mega Evolution. Not to mention I've been having to deal with a lot of Shadow Sneak lately (which would likely one-shot Starmie for being Psychic)
Click to expand...

Very true, you could do that. Starmie has great speed though and adds more of a move set to your already well rounded team.

Another Pokemon I suggest (This is all for the undecided 6th spot) is Rotom-W? or Rotom-C? Either one on this team would be swell, Rotom-C as a nice little niche? Plus you'd have a counter for other rain teams, would stop them right in there tracks.
 
What kind of moves would I run with Starmie then? Again like Dragonite, I can always train one up, then switch between the two to see how they work, but then i'd be lacking the Mega Evolution

Rotom is interesting as it gives me multiple choices. Unfortunately the moves that I would have run with it (Electroweb and Snatch) are only available in Gen V, and I probably wont be able to breed them over in X and Y, so I wouldn't really know what to do with it other than Leaf Storm on a Mow form
 
I have taken a look at your Scizor, and with the past experiences that I have had with it, only one attacking move might not be the smartest idea. I am building a Sandstorm Team, and this is what I have for Scizor:

Scizor @ Scizorite
Adamant
252 Atk, 48 SpD, 204 HP
Ability: Technician
-Bullet Punch
-Swords Dance
-X-Scissor / U-Turn
-Pursuit / Substitute / Protect

This would have you running 2 Mega - Evolutions, so you may want to change the item. Bullet Punch is it's best move hands down with Technician and STAB. X-Scissor / U-Turn for a STAB, or something else if needs be. Swords Dance makes its scary Atk horrific, and the last slot is for what you want to run. Pursuit, in the right scenarios (I'm lookin' at you, Perish Song) is a devastating move, as it deals before the switch-out happens. The other two are if you think that Pursuit wouldn't work enough to be worth the move-slot.
 
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