Pelipper @ Damp Rock
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 248 HP / 232 Def / 28 SpA
Bold Nature
- Weather Ball
- Hurricane
- Roost
- U-turn
The obvious choice for a rain team. However, I can't always keep it alive for more than two or three rain resets, whether that's due to carelessness or not a good enough set or team. Hurricane and Weather Ball are damaging STABs however, Water and Flying coverage is already on this team, so I'm fine dropping them for something that helps it survive longer. The Damp Rock was the best item I could think of for Pelipper, but if Sitrus Berry or something else is better, I would agree. The SpA EVs mean that Weather Ball in the rain OHKOs max HP lead Landorus-T, which often predict Pelipper to Stealth Rock instead.
Archaludon @ Leftovers
Ability: Stamina
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Electro Shot
- Body Press
- Flash Cannon
- Dragon Pulse
Standard Archaludon set, often becoming a wincon all on its own if my opponent doesn't respect it, thanks to a combination of Electro Shot and Stamina making it unkillable and oneshotting everything in its path. Both Flash Cannon and Dragon Pulse cover Fairy, Ice and Dragon, all of which are have strong Special attackers in the meta.
Swampert-Mega @ Swampertite
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Liquidation
- Earthquake
- Flip Turn
- Bulk Up
Basic Swampert set too. Swift Swim + 150 Atk makes it both a powerful revenge killer, and a very good endgame cleaner. I think that I should have Ice Punch, but I'm not sure whether to swap Flip Turn or Bulk Up, as both have been useful in the past.
Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Protect
- Leech Seed
- Power Whip
I knew I needed an answer for Char Y, and who would have thought it, but this was the answer! Since Mega Evolution happens after switches, Protect means I can wait until after Charizard Mega Evolves to bring in Pelipper, and also stall more Leech Seed, or the last turn of rain so that Pelipper can come in again. Rain halves Ferrothorn's 4x Fire weakness, meaning it is one of the best walls and defensive pivots available to this team, and can force most physical attackers to switch out. The only problem is, none of the rest of my team want to take strong attacks, so Ferrothorn ends up switching into pretty much all of them, and, as a result, it takes too much damage too early into the battle, and can't support my team in the mid and late game.
Zapdos @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Static
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Defog
- Hurricane
- Thunder
- Rain Dance
My Defogger to get rid of Stealth Rocks set up, primarily for Pelipper. It does have anti-synergy with Ferrothorn Hurricane and Thunder are two incredibly powerful STABs that lose their only drawbacks in the rain, and can twoshot most of the meta. I didn't know the best EV spread for it, so I just ran max SpA. Rain Dance is just in case Pelipper goes down, but it feels clunky.
I need a second defensive pivot, for reasons explained earlier, but I'm not sure what it should be. B-B Z-Water Greninja was my original Pokemon, but it never fulfilled its role as a sweeper, often taking down only one Pokemon at best, then being walled or revenge KOed, when it managed to do something in the first place.
Torrent (Greninja-Bond) (M) @ Waterium Z
Ability: Battle Bond
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Dark Pulse
- Hydro Pump
- U-turn
- Water Shuriken