Rate my 2020 VGC Ranked Battles Team Please (Rain-Based) - Help!

Question

Been thinking of rain teams for a while now. I guess it's time to kill my curiosity. Please tell me where I need to work on~

My rain setter: Pelipper @ Damp Rock/Focus Sash (Please help me with this one)
Evs: 20 speed, 252+ sp.Atk, 96 def., 140 HP
Ability: Drizzle
Hydro Pump
Hurricane
U-turn
Roost? Wide Guard? Protect? Ice Beam? (Also need some guidance with my last moveslot... Not Tailwind because you'll see later)
Firstly, not Politoed. I see Pelipper as a slightly tanky offensive threat. With this set, it can murder a lot of mons...
252+ SpA Pelipper Hurricane vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Venusaur: 168-198 (108.3 - 127.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Pelipper Hydro Pump vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Cinderace in Rain: 314-372 (202.5 - 240%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Pelipper Hurricane vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Rillaboom: 222-264 (126.8 - 150.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Pelipper Hydro Pump vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Torkoal in Rain: 330-390 (187.5 - 221.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Pelipper Hydro Pump vs. 248 HP / 200+ SpD Incineroar in Rain: 204-242 (101.4 - 120.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Pelipper Hydro Pump vs. 176 HP / 76 SpD Solid Rock Rhyperior in Rain: 531-624 (250.4 - 294.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Pelipper Hydro Pump vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Tyranitar in Rain: 252-296 (144 - 169.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO

20 speed to outspeed 60 base-speed mons who try to outspeed each-other. (Pelipper is 65 base-speed).

Rain-sweep: Kingdra @ Life Orb
EVs: 16 speed, 240 HP, 252+ sp.Atk
Hydro Pump
Draco meteor
Flash Cannon
Hurricane

Before you start screaming, "16 Speed?", You have to understand that in the rain+16 speed, it would just be able to outspeed Jolly Dragapult (252 speed), which is quite enough to outspeed nearly everything.
The set is extremely self-explanatory. Dynamax, Hydro Pump - STAB + High Base Power, Draco Meteor - STAB + High Base Power (I guess you could call this coverage), Flash Cannon - Coverage for fairies - mainly Togekiss, Hurricane - Max Airstream if I wanted to boost my speed or after dynamax, hurricane becomes no-miss and also becomes coverage for grass types. I hope most of you will agree with this set.

Now here is the reason why I have been resisting investing too much in speed:
BRONZONG @ LAGGING TAIL/LEFTOVERS
EVs: 0spe, 252 HP, 144 def+., 92 sp.def, 20 attack
Ability: Levitate
Trick Room
Gyro Ball/Iron Head
Ally Switch
Zen Headutt

Bronzong is a rare one. However, its Natural bulk greatly appeals to me, especially in the rain. He has a million resistances and with rain, fire types become less lethal. Trick Room is for my late game switch up to completely throw the opponent off, if they've been setting tailwind with whimsicott, that would turn against them this turn. Additionally, that is also why I didn't put tailwind on Pelipper. Gyro Ball because it can dish out some decent damage. Not sure if that should switch to Iron Head because of better reliability... You tell me!
Ally Switch is to change the game around. By getting say, Kingdra another turn to hit hard, it could potentially turn the tables around for me, taking out one of their lead mons. Zen Headbutt is to make sure I can take out something if Gyro Ball isn't very effective. Weird one, but I'd like to see how it goes.

Amoongus @Black Sludge
252 HP, 176 def., 80 sp.def
Ability: Regenerator
Giga Drain
Clear Smog
Rage Powder
Spores

The common set. However, this fungi got me out of LOTS OF sticky situations. Whimsicott+Terrakion is a big duo in VGC and by using Clear Smog, I have been able to get away on numerous occasions. Additionally, this has also countered Snorlax with Belly Drum, something which nearly everyone needs to watch out for because Dynamax+Snorlax = never OHKO.
Giga Drain is for reliable recovery + Regenerator which can allow some HP regain. Rage Powder to rescue my Kingdra and Spores to put threats to sleep. He also becomes lethal in Trick Room, being nearly the fastest thing around.

Wishi-washi @ Sitrus Berry
EVs: 252 HP, 252 Attack, 4 def., 0IV speed
Liquidation
Earthquake
Ice Beam
Protect/Not too sure.

Wishi-Washi school form becomes a monster, having 140 Base Attack and special attack. It is a shame that its movepool is extremely shallow, not having access to reliable coverage. However, paired up with trick room, it can become a monster. By curing its low-speed issue, its only issue would be in its abysmal HP. However his defenses are solid and thus, makes it around a 2HKO.
Not sure whether to run special or physical... Will need help with this one but..
Liquidation for stab (Waterfall maybe?)
Earthquake for coverage against electric types, can be used because I can switch into Bronzong or Pelipper for it to not deal any damage to my ally, ice beam also for coverage (grass types --> Rillaboom) and protect for stalling.

Urshifu (Rapid Strike) @ Choice Band
EVs: 252+ atk, 244 HP, 8 speed
Surging Strikes
Close Combat
Aerial ace
Iron Head

Also my late game sweeper, typically using Surging strikes for sweep with the rain for tons of damage. Close Combat is for STAB and the other two is for coverage (which I don't think I will use).

Overall, I'm not too sure of my last two mons. I feel like they could be ALOT better.

As for other teams with weather, I can simply counter it by sending out Amoongus+Kingdra then switching Amoongus into Pelipper, causing rain and Kingdra to sweep with Swift Swim. I'm not expecting my opponent to hard read this in team preview and going for the risk.
More or less, please help me with my last two mons and any suggestions regarding my choices.

EDIT: Suggestions?
Hatterene for trick room sweep?
Politoed for second rain setter?
Rhyperior or Tyranitar to change the weather + Take advantage of trick room?
Dracovish with 0 speed in trick room for a MASSIVE Fishious Rend?

Comments

This might be closed due to not being a full team, so my suggestions are looking for a trick room sweeper or two, and a fighting and/or steel type would also be good.

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Get 2 trick room mons so u will surprise the enemy with a second trick room sweep and I do recommend dracovish.

Answer 1

Hi! This looks well built overall, your attention to detail with damage calcs and speed creeps are impressive. I just have a few suggestions.

First, I’ll stand by the fact that Politoed is much better than pelipper in doubles. Even though pelipper can dish out more damage, since Kingdra has hurricane it covers everything that Pelipper does. Politoed can offer helping hand to boost Kingdra’s damage output as it’s not the highest (Base 95), as well as for other teammates, icy wind for more speed control, and a strong endgame in perish song. There’s a reason why Politoed is Kingdra’s most popular teammate and Pelipper’s not even top ten... If you want to go super offensive, pelipper’s okay, but I’d really recommend Politoed. Focus sash would be better as battles don’t usually last log enough to benefit from extra rain turns. I’d also say that usually you want way more protect than you have on your team already, so I’d give it protect over roost and you can choose between protect and wide guard.

Pelipper @ Focus Sash
Ability: Drizzle
Level: 50
EVs: 140 HP / 96 Def / 252 SpA / 20 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Wide Guard
- Hurricane
- Protect

To cover your thought of having two rain setters, this this is almost definitely unnecessary as Kingdra can set its own rain as well.

Next, Kingdra. Smart EVing, but you’ll have to really watch out for tailwind and other Kingdra, as almost all of them run max-max. I have an idea on how to deal with that later on. I’d also say that I’d prefer protect over flash cannon as well.

Bronzong is interesting, it does seem strong in rain as well. It’s mostly a support Pokémon, though, so I’d run:

Bronzong @ Kasib Berry
Ability: Levitate
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 164 Def / 92 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Trick Room
- Body Press
- Ally Switch
- Bulldoze

Body Press allows you to fully invest in bulk, Kasib Berry’s isn’t for Dragapult, Bulldoze is for weakness policy proc on your trick room sweeper! Which should be:

Dragalgae! It has great synergy with Bronzong because of its immunities, and can deal with Togekiss, Dragapult and other Kingdra Teams. Vs. another Kingdra Team, I’d lead Bronzong + Dragalgae and protect + trick room. If they max dragon into dragalgae you’ll have a free weakness policy plus trick room, which you can then destroy Kingdra with. I’d use:

Dragalge @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Adaptability
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Sludge Wave
- Dragon Pulse
- Draco Meteor
- Protect

Wishiwashi is in theory strong, but has never been used, especially not now because of Rillaboom. Plus, you already have 4 water types so I’d take it off.

Next, Amoonguss. To be honest, clear smog doesn’t seem like the best way to handle beat up as Cobalion gets Max Airstream and +4 Terrakion will almost definitely OHKO anyways, and I’d always target Amoonguss because it’s so annoying. Since Hatterene is strong in trick room and beats Terrakion, I’d say that Indeedee-Female is the perfect fit as follow me will completely shut down Beat Up. Sash is to ensure that you redirect at least 2 attacks. (If you’re using pelipper, give it an iron ball/Sitrus berry/safety goggles.)

Indeedee-F (F) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Psychic Surge
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Serious Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Expanding Force
- Follow Me
- Helping Hand
- Protect

Finally, Indeedee’s partner in crime, Hatterene. Basic set, you can fool around with the item.

Hatterene-Gmax (F)
Ability: Magic Bounce
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Expanding Force
- Dazzling Gleam
- Trick Room
- Mystical Fire

Mystical Fire can be protect, but steel types will hurt this team so I like it.

This is a PokePaste of the Team with my edits. Things you can try are:

-Rhyperior over Dragalgae
-A different Trick Room Sweeper than Dragalgae + a late game cleaner like Urshifu/Rillaboom/Cinderace

EDIT: More things you can try are:
-Another Rain Abuser with Thunder. Good options are Jolteon, Magnezone and Heliolisk. (Dragalgae learns Thunder as well.)
Heliolisk could be interesting, with dry skin you could change Politoed’s scald to surf and heal back a lot every turn.

-More Physical Attackers: the entire team is special bar Bronzong, who isn’t much of an offensive threat. Kingdra could use a physical set but you’d have to give up max airstream. I’d say probably Rhyperior over Dragalgae is good as Hatterene handles Kingdra/Dragapult anyway.

I hope my suggestions help! :)