Pokémon Rate My Team
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Hey everyone. I am making one of my first competitive teams. It is a rain team, and I plan on playing in the VGC format (on Battlespot doubles). I am asking for help, suggestions, or comments on my team.

Politoed @ Damp Rock
Ability: Drizzle
Nature: Bold
EVs: 252 HP / 140 Def / 76 SpA / 36 SpD / 4 Speed
Scald
Icy Wind / Ice Beam
Helping Hand
Protect

Defense rain setter. The EVs and nature increase its physical and special bulk. 76 Special attack EVs secure a OHKO on 4 HP / 0 SpD Landorus-T. Scald is main STAB. Icy Wind is better for support but Ice beam is for more power. Not sure about which one to do. Helping hand is an awesome support option for its teammates. Protect is the stable VGC move. Damp rock increases the amount of rain turns.

Thundurus-I @ Life Orb
Ability: Prankster
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Speed
Thunder
Focus Blast
Thunder Wave
Protect

Fast and powerful thundurus. Thunder is main STAB and perfectly accurate in rain, Focus Blast is nice coverage as it covers his two weaknesses along with Ferrothorn, who is a pain for rain teams. Thunder wave utilizes prankster to shut down faster threats who then can be killed by a partner, and it shuts down potential swift swim users. Life orb maximizes damage, and Timid nature makes Thundurus as fast as possible. Protect is a given.

Scizor @ Leftovers
Ability: Technician
Nature: Careful
EVs: 244 HP / 52 Att / 68 Def / 140 SpD
Bullet Punch
Bug Bite
Roost
Protect

Bulky Scizor. EVs and nature increase both physical and special bulk. The rest of the EVs are put into attack for more power. Roost is reliable recovery and keeps scizor healthy in conjunction with leftovers. Bullet Punch and Bug Bite are technician-boosted STAB moves, and Bullet Punch has priority. Protect obviously.

Toxicroak @ Black Sludge
Ability: Dry Skin
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Att / 4 Speed
Gunk Shot
Drain Punch
Sucker Punch
Protect

This set revolves around recovery. Black sludge, dry skin recovery, and drain punch all keep Toxicroak around for a while. Gunk shot is main STAB. Drain punch is secondary stab with recovery. Sucker punch is for priority and coverage on psychic types. EVs and nature maximize its bulk and power.

Gardevoir @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Telepathy
Nature: Timid / Modest
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Speed
Moonblast
Psychic
Shadow Ball
Hidden Power (Ground)

I’m not too sure about this one. I want a strong special attacker and something fast but idk if this is too good. Feel free to change this set a lot or even change the pokemon. Moonblast and Psychic are STABs, shadow ball is coverage against ghost types, and hidden power ground is coverage on steel-type pokemon such as Heatran. EVs maximize power and speed, not sure about the nature. Choice scarf allows Gardevoir to revenge kill maybe? Telepathy is for avoiding Earthquakes from my next pokemon because it lacks protect.
Swampert @ Swampertite
Ability: Swift Swim (Torrent before Mega Evolving)
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 108 HP / 252 Att / 148 Speed
Waterfall
Earthquake
Ice Punch
Protect

The king of this set. With swift swim and EV investment, Swampert outspeeds everything up to positive natured based 145s like Mega Sceptile. With 252 Attack EVs and an Adamant Nature, this thing hits like a truck. Waterfall and Earthquake are strong STAB attacks, and Waterfall is even more powerful in rain. Ice punch is coverage on grass types. Protect because yeah

Again, I ask for recommendations and suggestions for this team. I know it's not perfect, but I feel like I have a good start. Thank you!

by
Wait… you posted this same team on Nugget Bridge.

1 Answer

0 votes

I'm dong this on the fly, but here aresome changs that will most certainly improve your Rain team. Changes will be in bold.


Politoed
Politoed@ Sitrus Berry
Bold | Drizzle
252 HP / 140 Def / 76 SpA / 36 SpD / 4 Spe
- Scald
- Icy Wind
- Helping Hand
- Protect

Sitrus is better than Damp Rock because it lets you survive opposing Pokémon's attacks better. Poli will likely be a priority threat because the opposition will want to cut off your team's support ASAP, and the extra HP can go a long way. Ice Beam over Icy Wind to let you nail Landorus and Salamence.


Thundurus
Thundurus@ Expert Belt
Timid | Prankster
4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Thunder Wave
- Protect

Expert Belt over Life Orb because the next team member needs it more. Thunder is a poor move, since it becomes completely unreliable outside of Rain. Thunderbolt is much better and more consistent. Focus Blast is also awful in Doubles, where missing an attack can often cost you the game. One of the main purposes of offensive Thundurus is to get some crucial OHKOs with HP Ice, which is why all but pure support Thundy carry it.


Virizion
Virizion@ Life Orb
Jolly | Justified
4 HP / 252 Spa / 252 Spe
- Close Combat
- Leaf Blade
- Stone Edge
- Protect

Scizor is okay for Rain, but not particularely for this team. Virizion helps you check Charizard Y, a major threat to Rain teams, with Stone Edge. Your team also struggles a bit with bulky Waters like Lapras, Jellicent, and Rotom, which Virizion's Leaf Blade counters nicely. Close Combat checks Ferrothorn, a huge weakness in this team, Kangaskhan, Terrakion, Hydreigon, and Heatran. Protect needs no introduction. Virizion also gives you a Spore and Rage Powder immunity.


Gengar
Gengar@ Focus Sash
Timid | Levitate
4 Hp / 252 Spa / 252 Spe
- Sludge Bomb
- Will-o-Wisp
- Protect
- Shadow Ball / Trick Room

Toxicroak isn't seen at all in VGC because of its frailty, weakness to Burns / Intimidate, and the fact that many other Pokémon do its job better. Gengar is a good Fairy check with Sludge Bomb, and also helps your team against Trick Room setters, which I'll discuss later. Gengar outspeeds and 2HKOs most Fairies and Grass-types with Sludge Bomb, and almost guarantees it with Focus Sash. Will-o-Wisp improves the teams general bulk as well as crippling threats like Kang and Landorus. Protect is Protect. Finally, based on your prediction skills, you could use Shadow Ball to check Trick Room setters like Chandelure, Cresselia, and Jellicent, or you can reverse their Trick Room with your own, letting you gain back the upper hand.


Gardevoir
Gardevoir@ Choice Scarf
Modest | Telepathy
4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
- Moonblast
- Psychic
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power [Fire]

Not much to change here, only HP Fire over HP Ground to nail Ferrothorn, Escavalier and Scizor.


Swampert
Swampert@ Swampertite
Adamant | Damp
108 HP / 208 Atk / 148 Spe
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
- Ice Punch
- Protect

Swampert's awesome, bruh. I would suggest having Damp as a pre-Mega ability to save you from the occasional Exploding Landorus or Glalie.


Alternatively, you could try using Scarfed Hydreigon over Gardevoir. It helps trim down your Ghost weakness, as well as offering decent Fire coverage against Ferrothorn. Hydreaigon is also still immune to Swampert's Earthquake.
Hydreigon
Hydreigon@ Choice Scarf
Timid | Levitate
4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
- Draco Meteor
- Dark Pulse
- Earth Power
- Fire Blast / Flamethrower


I like this team! It has a good foundation and synergy. I hope that these changes are able to improve your game. I would suggest watching out for stuff like Will-o-Wisps and Intimidates, as Swampert is severely crippled by them. Good luck!

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edited by
Thank you very much! I was at one point considering a scarfed hydreigon as well, but if i have it, thundurus, and virizion like you recommended, I will have three pokemon weak to ice. Also, would leftovers be an ok item on politoed over sitrus? im considering putting sitrus on a bulkier thundurus because my thundurus has HP water :/
The Ice weakness was something I hadn't thought about. However, most Ice attacks will actually be coming to you from non-Ice-type Pokémon. For example, Water-types blasting Ice Beam will have to take hits from Virizion and Thundy. Lefties is okay for Politoed, but alternately you could run something like Eject Button to keep your Rain setter safe. Sitrus would work well on bulky Thundurus. Speaking of which, I would highly recommend getting an HP Ice Thundurus.
You could switch Telepathy on Gardevoir to Trace, unless you find yourself often pairing her with Swampert. It lets you trace cool abilities like Defiant, Intimidat, Adaptability, Levitate, Flash Fire and… Parental Bond >:)