PO BW2 Rain Team

[JASP01]

Hello!

So as we all know-- or, at least, those of us who have played with the BW2 Pokemon, the metagame has changed a bit-- and now heavily favors Rain teams.

I made one with the new Pokemon, and started off poorly-- then started doing incredibly well... Only to be stumped a bit later. My team has good synergy; I just fear I'm lacking a bit of coverage.

I would like advise on what to replace-- movesets, items, or even entire Pokemon. However; I ask that, if possible, suggestions be made for Pokemon that can provide similar roles (unless it just wouldn't make sense for the new one.)

Anyhow; here's my team:

Politoed (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Drizzle
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Ice Beam
- Focus Blast
- Hydro Pump

So, obviously I need Politoed (well, unless I use a Swift Swimmer and a Damp Rock on a Rain Dance Poke', which I am not doing). There are multiple variants, but, I love playing offensively, so this is the set I like to use. Hits fast, and hits hard with Hydro Pump; lackluster on other moves but it does its job. I know Surf can be used instead; I have not had problems, even when missing-- at least specifically with Politoed.

Weavile (F) @ Life Orb
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 32 HP / 252 Atk / 224 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Ice Punch
- Night Slash
- Low Kick

When BW2 came out, I desperately needed something to counter the new Pokemon. Thundurus-T and Tornadus-T are seen everywhere now. The standard Swords Dance set is slower; I raised the speed to outpace maximum-Speed Tornadus by one point. I have seen many trainers attempt to KO it, only to use Ice Punch and beat them in return. I rarely get a chance to Swords Dance, but it is rarely needed; when it is needed, I can often get one off. One more utterly-amazing feature of Weavile-- surprisingly, most T-tars think that they can beat it. Until 1HKO'd by Low Kick.

Thundurus-T (M) @ Choice Specs
Trait: Volt Absorb
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Focus Blast
- Thunder
- Volt Switch
- Hidden Power [Ice]

As a Rain team, being susceptible to Electric-type moves (especially Thunder) can be worrisome. Getting a prediction wrong worries me with Jolteon, so I decided to now use Thundurus-T. Jolteon has higher speed; Thundurus-T hits harder. I use it mostly as a late-game sweeper, and to be immune to Electric/Ground.

Keldeo @ Leftovers
Trait: Justified
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Calm Mind
- Surf
- Secret Sword
- Hidden Power [Grass]

Simple explanation: I want a sweeper utilizing Water-type moves (for the Rain boost), and Keldeo is the strongest at it. Of course, Secret Sword also works wonders on T-tar. HP Grass is for those ever-annoying Gastrodons that have suddenly been appearing, though it takes a few Calm Minds to reliably take one down.

Tornadus-T (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Naive Nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Hurricane
- U-turn
- Substitute
- Focus Blast

I love Tornadus now. The moveset and the item might seem odd, so let me explain. I use this as an early-game sweeper (often), and also a scout at times, depending. Substitute, combined with its high Speed, lets me scout the opponent's move, before acting accordingly. Regenerator adds pressure with it, as it can make up the hit points lost by Substitute. It can also set up on a wall-- multiple times, I have (especially in the case of Ferrothorns), used Sub, attacked, once Sub is down, repeated. Leftovers might seem like an odd item on a sweeper (well, scout and early sweeper), but I have found Tornadus-T loves longetivity, and also... It can't 1HKO much reliably. There are a lot of Pokemon that it can 2HKO-- with or without Life Orb/Choice Specs, but not 1HKO. With leftovers, it can still net a lot of damage and KOs, but also stay in longer to wreak more havoc.

Jirachi @ Leftovers
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Thunder
- Water Pulse
- Calm Mind

After playing around with the new BW2 metagame, I quickly found out one thing that was able to consistently, no matter what, wreck my team. Dragons. Specifically, any Dragon that got a Dragon Dance off would wreck my team. Jirachi can take +1 Outrages, and cripple them in return. The Sub CM set works wonders too, as Jirachi has many resistances, and finds many chances to set up; it seems to work well with my team.



So.... That's my team so far. I put in a lot of thought, but... It just isn't working as I had hoped. I can win often, but not as often as I should, and I'm sort of stuck. Please, help... Thank you!

 

[Guest9378]

Rock Polish Landorus-T and DD Haxorus just go right through this team once they setup. I did a couple calcs and it looks like Adamant Landorus-T OHKOs all of your team members provided 2 layers of Spikes and SR is up. You could consider replacing Weavile with Mamoswine. It can setup SR which your team lacks and still hit the Kami trio and dragons. It also lacks the Rock type weakness that half your team already suffers from (although Tornadus does have Regenerator of course). Another Electric type immunity would also be beneficial considering half your team is weak to Electric attacks.

Spoiler: Mamoswine

Mamoswine @ Leftovers
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Nature: Jolly
- Stealth Rock
- Ice Shard
- Earthquake
- Icicle Crash / Superpower

I would also suggest using Psyshock or Flash Cannon in Jirachi over Water Pulse. With Water Pulse, Jirachi is completely walled by Gastrodon which you claim to be seeing quite often. Flash Cannon would mean only Magnezone would give your Jirachi trouble but considering every other one of your pokemon have a fighting type move, Magnezone is not much of a concern. Also use HP Ghost over HP Grass on Keldeo since Celebi and Latias will wall you endlessly.

 

[Shinluxray348]

i think you should replace keldeo for starmie. you need a spinner so spikes and rocks don't kill you every switch in. and starmie has blazing speed and in the rain he can be a huge threat.

 

[John Wallrein]

i think you should replace keldeo for starmie. you need a spinner so spikes and rocks don't kill you every switch in. and starmie has blazing speed and in the rain he can be a huge threat.

This is a good suggestion. You have 3 Pokemon weak to Stealth Rock's, two of which are carrying choice items, meaning they will switch in and out more often.

 

[JASP01]

The Mamoswine suggestion sounds amazing; I'll definitely try that-- and thanks for putting in the moveset as well!

I'll try out Starmie; that sounds like a good suggestion.

As for Rachi, I'll probably use Psyshock. I used a damage calculator against Physically Defensive Gastro with Psyshock, and Specially Defensive with Flash Cannon-- to prevent walling, and Psyshock does much, much, much more damage.