Hail

[jesusfreak94]

Don't you just love my creative title?

Anyways, hello Serebii! Boy, it's been a long time since I've posted an RMT, and I'm proud to bring you this Hail team today. Funny story behind this team. Some friends and I tried to make a little league of our own, and the E4 teams were weather based. I applied for the Hail spot with this team, unaware that someone else had already taken the spot. But then I though, "Eh, what the heck? I'll just use this team for fun!" So here I am! I'm not so good with Hail teams, I'll be honest, and I've only made a few. This is actually my first attempt at a 5th Gen Hail team. Anyhow, onto the team itself!

Spoiler: Team Building Process

The first step for making my Hail team was to run…well…

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Yep, Snowy. Kinda obvious. The next step was to find some Pokemon that could also function well in Hail without overloading my team with Ice types. I needed something that could offer some useful resistances, starting with covering Abomasnow's weaknesses. I decided to use a Pokemon that was a good choice in 4th Gen Hail, could cover 5 of Snow's 7 weaknesses, and could support its team with Toxic Spikes and Rapid Spin. And that its…

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Tentacruel. Toxic Spikes are great for a stall oriented team like this one, and Tentacruel's resistances are nice. Next I chose a Pokemon that I've always wanted to try on a Hail team since 5th Gen started, and he covers Tentacruel and Abomasnow fairly well. He is…

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Rotom-F. STAB BoltBeam is awesome for sweeping, so I decided to make him a Scarfed variant. That way I would have a way to outspeed and kill a threatening sweeper. My next choice was a Pokemon that automatically stuck out as a good Hail candidate for its immunity to all passive damage, and its resistance to Psychic moves helps Tentacruel a lot. Meet…

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Reuniclus, with Magic Guard. Almost done, just patching up some holes. The most obvious was a lack of a Rock resist which, from past experience, can be very dangerous. I chose a Pokemon that could resist Rock and offer a little extra support, as well as still be able to heal itself in the Hail. Here's…

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Ferrothorn. Don't ya just wanna hug him? I felt Ferrothorn's long list of resistances and Spikes support would prove invaluable. Lastly, I decided on a Pokemon that is very underrated and fun to use, and it would add a couple more useful resistances and immunities. I chose…

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Mandibuzz. This girl acts as another Ground immunity and a Psychic immunity, resister to Dark, Grass, and Ghost attacks, phazer, and staller all in one. Overcoat also works nicely to protect her from Hail. As such, my team is finished for the moment.

Abomasnow@Leftovers
Timid
Snow Warning
EVs: 252 SpA, 252 Spe, 4 HP
Moves:
-Blizzard
-Leech Seed
-Substitute
-Protect

Abomasnow's job is obvious: he sets up Hail. There was not question that he was going to be on the team, but the set puzzled me. As I haven't run an Abomasnow set in 5th Gen, I didn't know what to pick. I do suspect that Abomasnow would make a decent SubSeeder, and the set might let him survive longer to set up Hail again if need be. Basic SubSeed set, with Blizzard acting as the primary offensive move. I'm also considering a Scarf set here, if anyone recommends that.
Synergy: Fire-Tentacruel
Flying-Rotom-F
Fighting-Tentacruel, Reuniclus
Poison-Tentacruel, Ferrothorn
Rock-Ferrothorn
Steel-Ferrothorn, Tentacruel
Bug-Tentacruel

Tentacruel@Leftovers
Calm
Liquid Ooze
EVs: 252 HP, 120 Def, 136 SpD
Moves:
-Toxic Spikes
-Rapid Spin
-Scald
-Blizzard/Giga Drain

Tentacruel's resistances make him a good partner to help cover Abomasnow, and he's an excellent team player as well. Toxic Spikes is greatly appreciated by a stall oriented team like this one. Rapid Spin helps to protect my team from entry hazards, especially since 3 of my members are weak to Stealth Rock. Scald is a great STAB move for a defensive Pokemon, but the fourth move is tricky. Blizzard always works well in Hail, but Giga Drain is more useful with its power boost, helps against bulky waters, and heals back some damage with every use.
Synergy: Psychic-Ferrothorn, Reuniclus, Mandibuzz
Ground-Mandibuzz, Rotom-F
Electric-Ferrothorn, Rotom-F, Abomasnow

Rotom-F@Choice Scarf
Modest
Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA, 252 Spe, 4 HP
Moves:
-Blizzard
-Thunderbolt
-HP Ground
-Trick

I know this guy seems out of place, but he's mainly here to check whatever sweepers I might meet. Because of his powerful STAB BoltBeam, I figured he would be the one for the job. Blizzard and Thunderbolt are both very powerful, and HP Ground helps round out the coverage (although I have the feeling I might need HP Fire). Trick is a staple on ScarfRotom-A, and is no exception here. I'm also entertaining the idea of a bulkier set.
Synergy: Rock-Ferrothorn
Fighting-Reuniclus, Tentacruel
Fire-Tentacruel

Reuniclus@Leftovers
Bold
Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP, 252 Def, 4 SpA
Moves:
-Calm Mind
-Psychic
-Focus Blast
-Recover

Pretty standard defensive Reuniclus, actually. Magic Guard protects him from Hail and all other forms of passive damage. This guy is very hard to take down just with Magic Guard and recover, and Calm Mind only adds to the survival. I choose Psychic over Psycho Shock for STAB, mainly because I want to stop Conkeldurr more easily, and Focus Blast rounds out the coverage.
Synergy: Ghost-Mandibuzz, Ferrothorn
Dark-Mandibuzz, Ferrothorn
Bug-Tentacruel

Ferrothorn@Leftovers
Impish
Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP, 48 Def, 204 SpD
Moves:
-Leech Seed
-Spikes
-Thunder Wave
-Power Whip

My personal favorite Ferrothorn setup. Spikes is a very valuable entry hazard, and it works well in case Reuniclus or Rotom-F decide to sweep. Also makes excellent synergy with Mandibuzz's Whirlwind. Leech Seed and Power Whip are also staples on Ferrothorn. One adds to survival, one offers a little offensive power. Both do some damage. Thunder Wave can also help to stop some sweepers cold, so I prefer it over Gyro Ball.
Synergy: Fire-Tentacruel
Fighting-Tentacruel, Reuniclus

Mandibuzz@Leftovers
Careful
Overcoat
EVs: 252 HP, 108 Def, 148 SpD
Moves:
-Whirlwind
-Toxic
-Roost
-Knock Off

This is one very underrated bulky Pokemon. The synergy this girl offers is great, and Tentacruel and Reuniclus really appreciate it. Overcoat protects her from Hail too, which is nice. Between Toxic, Roost, and Knock Off, Mandibuzz can be a sturdy and annoying stalling force. Whirlwind also helps to shuffle out the opponent's team, expose more opponents to Toxic Spikes, eliminate boosts on sweepers, and rack up Spikes damage.
Synergy: Rock-Ferrothorn
Electric-Rotom-F, Ferrothorn
Ice-Tentacruel, Rotom-F

Well, that's my first Hail team of Generation 5! I know it probably has a lot of holes in it here and there, but I kinda like the look of it. I'll appreciate any and all advice on the team, except for one thing:

Do not tell me that Hail sucks.
I know that it isn't the most desirable of weathers. I know that Sand and Rain both outclass it for the most part, and arguably Sun as well. But this team was built around a Hail theme, and I'd like to keep it that way. I'm sure there are plenty of Hail veterans that will testify to the fact that Hail can be a real force if used correctly, and that's what I want to learn to do. So other than that, please rate away!​

 

[Mr.Karp]

I love the idea of Mandibuzz on a hail team but your set is absolutely shut down by Taunt users. Also, for Abomasnow, 2 things.

1. As your first poke send out something other then Abomasnow; That way you can kill other weather leads without letting them know you have 1 yourself.

2. Make him as slow as possible. The slower he is, the more chance of his Hail overriding other weather inducers' weather.

Other then that:

1. I would use Rocky Helmet on Ferrothorn for the extra damage.

2. Blizzard > Giga Drain on Tentacruel

3. Focus Sash on Abomasnow and forget Leech Seed/Sub. You shouldn't be keeping him in after you set up Hail.

P.S. : Hail doesn't suck. Rain Team may seem better, but because there are so many, most teams have some sort of counters for it. Same for Sandstorm. As for Sun, Chlorophyll users are Grass so Ice shuts 'em down.

 

[Blue Harvest]

I know that it isn't the most desirable of weathers. I know that Sand and Rain both outclass it for the most part, and arguably Sun as well.

I disagree. A well build Hail team will have little trouble against Sand and Hail, even doing ok against Sun. Hail is played differently than the other weathers.

-Rain capitalizes on +1.5x STAB and a fire damage reduction. It can abuse Thunder and Hurricane with their 30% special effect rates.

-Sand focuses on the 1.5 Sp def boost and the speed gained from Sand Throw / attack boost from Sand Power.

-Sun gets its power from insanely hard hitting Fire types and surprisingly difficult to wall Grass types. It takes advantage of water moves doing 50%.

-Hail.. Hail is different. When most people try to make a Hail team they think "Spam Blizzard, have few Pokemon affected by Hail and STALLREIN". This doesn't work because Hail in fact, does suck. All other weather starters besides Hippowdon can switch in on a Blizzard like its nothing meaning much of the time they will have their weather up. Hail themed offense is pretty much at an auto loss against other weather.

The best way to use Hail is not as a theme, but as a disruption weapon. Abomasnow can 1-2HKO all incoming weather users and with a Choice Scarf it checks an ENORMOUS amount of the metagame. But past that, your team should be adaptable enough to fight in all weather. The ability to bring Abomasnow in and screw up your opponent's weather strategy is invaluable. Abomasnow isn't there to keep your team running but to help regain the momentum.

Scarf Abomasnow / Scarf Garchomp / CM Psycho Shift Sigylph / Balloon Heatran / LO Latios / CB Scizor is what I used to run. It doesn't use any Hail based moves except Abomasnow's Blizzard but it was designed to function in any weather. Hail wasn't an offensive force or even a theme but was instead used as a support ability.




aaaanyway onto your team.. You are extremely Stealth Rock weak. Get rid of Mandibuzz and Rotom for.. well pretty much anything else. Maybe run something like Choice Band or Life Orb Haxorus to keep CM Reunicles from 6-0ing and maybe a Jellicent to give you a spin blocker of some sort.

I'll rate more when its.. no longer 5 AM..

 

[jesusfreak94]

Oh good, a couple of rates! Time for me to share my thoughts on your thoughts.

I love the idea of Mandibuzz on a hail team but your set is absolutely shut down by Taunt users. Also, for Abomasnow, 2 things.

I realize, but unfortunately Mandi has few other options. There's Brave Bird...but it's coming off a pitiful Base 65 Atk. :/

1. As your first poke send out something other then Abomasnow; That way you can kill other weather leads without letting them know you have 1 yourself.

2. Make him as slow as possible. The slower he is, the more chance of his Hail overriding other weather inducers' weather.

3. Focus Sash on Abomasnow and forget Leech Seed/Sub. You shouldn't be keeping him in after you set up Hail.

Abomasnow isn't always my lead, I like to keep him hidden like you mentioned. I just put him first cause...he's kind of a "duh" for a Hail team. That being said, lowering his speed and Sashing him will only really be worth it as a lead.

1. I would use Rocky Helmet on Ferrothorn for the extra damage.

I do like the Rocky Helmet, but I need Leftovers to keep Ferrothorn alive longer in Hail.

2. Blizzard > Giga Drain on Tentacruel

Sounds good.

aaaanyway onto your team.. You are extremely Stealth Rock weak. Get rid of Mandibuzz and Rotom for.. well pretty much anything else. Maybe run something like Choice Band or Life Orb Haxorus to keep CM Reunicles from 6-0ing and maybe a Jellicent to give you a spin blocker of some sort.

Yeah, Stealth Rock is devestating to this team. That's why I needed Rapid Spin Tentacruel so badly. Then shortly after making this team, I realized that Tentacruel was my TSpiker, spinner, Fire resist, primary Fighting resist...yeah, I rely too much on Tentacruel. Jellicent looks good, kinda matches resistances well with Tentacruel. I'll also experiment with the Haxorus idea for now, see what I'll need for a good check to Reuniclus. I'll try to make changes later. But knowing me, it could take a while.

Also, thanks for your insight into Hail teams! It kinda makes more sense now, a good way to use Hail. That said, perhaps I should take a more offensive approach to this? Also, I'm considering a Scarf Abomasnow set, perhaps with Wood Hammer/Blizzard/Earthquake/HP Fire. I'm stuck on EVs though.

Oh, and just for the record, I personally don't think Hail sucks or is really any worse than other weather. It's just...different. Apples and oranges. I only said that so that I wouldn't get a "ROFL, uze sun or rain. hail sux, lol." You know, those guys...

 

[thebassrocker]

Adding Swampert would add some bulkiness to your team, and somewhat help negate the stealth rock weakness. Alternatively, a bulky Salamence in place of Mandibuzz could run almost the same set. Additionally, it could provide some healing support with wish. try this out maybe?

Salamence@Leftovers
252 HP, split other EV's as you wish.
Dragon Tail
Protect/Flamethrower
Wish
Toxic

helps cover the bases almost as much as tentacruel, and could be used for healing. just a thought.