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Rain Dance!

Cerulean21

Time Traveller
Well, after the summer holidays (which have been unspeakably rainy), i Thought I made a Rain Dance team. The success of it is average at a win rate of approximately 60% on Shoddy. This actually is a Wifi team (I alwas test them before breeding) so Hidden Powers and legendaries with good natures are not easily found. Anyway here it is:

The Team:

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Jirachi @ Damp Rock
Sassy
252 HP, 80 Def, 176 SpDef
Ability: Serene Grace
- Rain Dance
- Water Pulse
- Thunder
- Wish

My lead (though not the best one). Jirachi will set up Rain Dance for me and a good rain dancer it is. This little guy also serves as my Special wall. Rain Dance removes his only special weakness (Earthpower is unspeakably rare and I would let this guy in against Heatran anyway) and with its many resistances (most importantly Ice, Dragon (Draco Meteor), Grass and Psychic (4x)) as well as a Toxin immunity, this guy will be hard to kill with Special attacks. Wish support is also handy to have though without U-Turn or protect (as well as Impish and a boatload of Defence EVs) this is a lot harder to pull off but Thunder alone makes this little guy far too vulnerable for Ground types. Anyway. Jirachi actually was the reason I made this Team in the first place (he has great IVs in Special Attack and HP (both 31) but crap in Attack (a straight 0) and with a sassy nature it's hard to find a proper way to use it, but this actually works pretty well, even if it means that he's not as sturdy as the Jirachis I usually use on Shoddy)

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Floatzel @ Choice Band
Adamant
72 HP, 252 Atk, 64 Def, 104 SpDef, 16 Spd
Ability: Swift Swim
- Waterfall
- Ice Fang
- Brick Break
- Crunch

In Rain, this thing becomes monsterous. Waterfall when boosted by Rain, deals massive damage on everything that doesn't resist it (see the calcs below). In Rain, Floatzel becomes nearly unstoppable for teams that do not have Starmie somewhere (or Garchomp for a revenge kill (Chomp can't switch into Waterfall since it's a 2HKO and Floatzel is faster thanks to Swift Swim). Therefore, Waterfall will be the main form of Attack as in Rain, Floatzel can 2HKO the majority of physical Walls. The others are mostly fillers that can come in handy should there be no Rain active. .Brick Break is handy for TTar who summons up a Sandstorm when entering the field thus eliminating the rain, whilst Ice Fang OHKOs the Dragons and Crunch is mainly for Starmie who otherwise resists all of Flotzels attacks (though Starmie does make an excellent Counter due to its ability to survive Crunch most of the time and OHKO floatzel back with Thunderbolt.


Waterfall (under Rain) against
CB Metagross: (Adamant, 252 HP, 12 Def) 61-72%
Hippowdon:: (Impish, 252 HP, 252 Def) 86-101%
Gliscor: (Impish, 252 HP, 252 Def) 98-115% (88% chance to OHKO any form of prior damage means Gliscor loses) (Ice Fang only does 71-84%)
Bronzong: (Impish, 252 HP, 252 Def) 54-63%
Skarmory: (Impish, 252 HP, 252 Def) 48-56%
Blissey: (Bold, 252 HP, 252 Def) 71-83% (BB only does 59-69%)
Tyranitar: (Adamant, 252 HP) 128-151%
Gengar: (Modest/Timid, 4 HP) 161-189%
Swampert: (Relaxed, 240 HP, 212 Def) 56-66%
Lucario: (Adamant/Modest, 4 HP) 133-156%
Weavile: (Jolly, 40 HP) 136-160%
Heatran: (Modest, 40 HP) 160-188% ; (Modest, 252 HP, 96 Def) 126-148%
Garchomp: 63-73%

Ice Fang against
Garchomp: (Jolly, 4 HP) 118-139%
Dragonite: (Adamant, 76 HP) 123-145%

Brick Break against
Tyranitar: (Adamant, 252 HP) 107-126%
Lucario: (Adamant/Modest) 111-130%
Weavile: (Jolly, 40 HP) 227-268%

Crunch against
Starmie (resists everything else): (Timid, 236 HP) 89-105%

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Lapras @ Leftovers
Bold
252 HP, 252 Def, 6 SpDef
Ability: Water Absorb
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
- Rest
- Sleep Talk

One of the Stars in this Team. Lapras is majorly underrated. Whilst her Ice Typing does her no favours on the defencive side (aside from getting a whopping 4x Ice resist, which, coppled with Water absorb, makes her a decent switch in for Bulky Waters who often run that Water/Ice Combo (HP [Electric] is not that common in Wifi)), it gives her major advantages on the offencive side, as unlike her fellow waters, she does not need any EV investments in Special Attack to OHKO Garchomp and the like with Ice Beam. The calcs below show that she is also a very decent switch in to many physical threats. RestTalk make her unbelievebly sturdy and she can also easily switch in on Suicune as Ice Beam (the only thing that can even touch Lapras) will do about 14-16% after 6 (!) Calm Minds. Lapras does also get walled by Suicune in return (thunder won't do all that much) and Pressure stalled, but luckily for me, Suicune is rare in Wifi^^. There is a major issue though, which is Lapras' Stealth Rock weakness. Ok, now here the calcs to show how much potential she has:

Garchomp: (6 HP/252 Atk, Jolly) A Swords Danced Outrage does 70-82%, 91-107% if it's carrying Life Orb (which is not very common with Outrage), a SDed Earthquake does 58-69%, 76-90% with Life Orb whilst Lapras OHKOs with Ice Beam due to having STAB (something that sets her apart from most Water types).
Gyarados: (212 HP, 12 Atk, Adamant, holding Leftovers) Without Stone Edge, the only thing Gyarados has to hurt Lapras is Earthquake which does 26-30% after a single Dragon Dance and 34-40% after two. (Stone Edge does 52-61% after a DD) whilst Lapras herself does 80-94% with Thunder.
DDMence: (120 HP, 252 Atk, Adamant) After a DD Dragon Claw does 40-47% if Mence is holding Leftovers, 52-61% with Life Orb. Lapras OHKOes with Ice Beam
MixMence: (120 Atk, 252 SpAtk, Mild/Rash, holding Life Orb): Brick Break does 36-42%, Dragon Claw does 29-34%, Draco Meteor does 59-70% (SpecsMence does 69-81% btw). Lapras OHKOes with Ice Beam
Dragonite: (176 HP, 252 Atk, Adamant, holding Lum Berry) A DDed Outrage does 39-47%, again Lapras OHKOes with Ice Beam
Dugtrio: (6 HP, 252 Atk, Jolly, holding Life Orb) Stone Edge does 37-44%, 74-88% if it's a critical hit and I don't believe that I have to tell you what Ice Beam does
Hippowdon: (252 HP, 40 SpDef, Impish, holding Leftovers) Earthquake does 21-25%, Lapas is faster and does 64-76% with Ice Beam in return.
Gliscor: (252 HP, 6 SpDef, Impish, holding Leftovers) Gliscors EQ does 19-22%, Ice Beam is an OHKO (165-182%)

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Lucario @ Life Orb
Jolly
6 HP, 252 Atk, 252 Spd
Ability: Inner Focus
- Swords Dance
- Close Combat
- Crunch
- Extremespeed

Lucario is a bit of a problem child. He has the potential to be devastating once in a while (which he is), though I have problems switching him in against anything not named Blissey (majorly due to Luke's overall frailness and his key weaknesses which include Fighting and Ground. I'm considering to replace him with either Hariyama or Hitmontop (since a Spinner would be highly needed on this Team). Otherwise, there isn't much to say about SD Luke. Old Standart and Standart for a good reason.

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Ludicolo @ Leftovers
Calm
252 HP, 76 Def, 180 SpDef
Ability: Rain Dish
- Rain Dance
- Surf
- Leech Seed
- Toxic

This thing is one of the most annoying Pokemon (for the opponent of course) this side of StallRein. With Leftovers, Rain Dish and Leech Seed, Ludicolo restores 25% of its HP at the end of every turn. In Rain, Ludicolo makes an excellent counter to Heatran since Rain Dance buys him a Fire resist and boosts Surf whilst he also resists Earthpower and Heatrans other STAB move. Thanks to his Steel resistence, he also makes a good switch in for Metagross as he can then try to wear that monster down with Leech Seed and boosted Surfs. Ludicolo (and Rain Dish) are majorly underrated. This thing has Stopped many teams and they had to surrender up to 4 Pokémon to bring that weard Duck creature down. Toxic makes him even more annoying which is why it's there over Ice Beam/Grass Knot. He also can take on Tyranitar somewhat as Rain Dance will remove the SpDef boost of said monster whilst making him vulnerable to Ludicolos boosted Surfs. The 76 EVs in SpAtk are not needed since Ludi is not carrying Ice Beam (for Mence) which means they can be shifted to Defence for a little more bulk.

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Dragonite @ Choice Scarf
Lonely
252 Atk, 80 SpAtk, 176 Spd
Ability: Inner Focus
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Ice Beam
- Thunder

My Revenge killer. Dragon/Ground and BoltBeam let him hit many things hart and for supereffective damage (namely Dragon, Poison, Steel, Rock, Electric, Grass, Ground, Water, Flying, Fire). Choice Scarf is a big surprise as most people expect a DDnite and they look kinda puzzled when Dragonite starts to outrun their Garchomp and Salamence. Stealth Rock is a bog issue here though as it limits the number of time which he can switch in. Unlike other Scarfers, Dragonite still packs quite a punch thanks to his sky rocking Attack Stat and a powerful STAB move.

Issues

The major issue on this Team is Stealth Rock as two Pokemon (Dragonite and Lapras) that have to hop in and out a lot are weak to it.
Taunt (makes me go crazy)
Metagross
Infernape


Possible changes (I thought of...)
Change Lucario for Starmie (solves the SR and Ape problem)
Change Lapras to Cressy (though Chomp 2HKOs her as well, but unlike Lapras, she's unable to OHKO chomp). However, resistence to fighting and no weak to Stealth Rock makes her actually quite attractive...

Threat List

Garchomp: Lapras can switch in and threaten with Ice Beam (as pointed out above, it can actually even kill it). Floatzel (in Rain) and Dragonite can revenge kill
Gengar: Jirachi might be my best bet. It's neutral (or resistant) to all of Gengars attacks and can threaten it with Thunder's 60% paralysis rate. A Choice Specs Gengar can do 41-49% with Shadow Ball to this Jirachi.
Gyarados: If it runs Earthquake over Stone Edge, Lapras easily beats it, if it runs Stone Edge over Earthquake, Jirachi can Thunder it.
Lucario: Floatzel outruns it (in Rain) and can threaten it with Brick Break. Dragonite can revenge kill with EQ.
Blissey: Lucario will force it out and thus gets a nice chance for a dance. CB Waterfall from Floatzel under Rain will also hurt (2HKO).
Bronzong: Ludicolo doesn't take much from Earthquake. If Lapras absorbed the Sleep, Ludicolo can just wear it down (unless Bronzong has Rest) with Leech Seed and boosted Surfs. Floatzel's Waterfall under Rain conditions will 2HKO
Deoxys-e: Jirachis Parafusion will be a great help here.
Metagross: No counter, really. Ludicolo resists Meteor Mash and Earthquake and again can try to wear it down by sapping his health and Surf him.
Infernape: Ludicolo, probably. Floatzel survives an unboosted Fire Attack, outruns hit (as Rain Dance should be active) and kills it with Waterfall. Dragonite can Revenge kill with Earthquake (or Outrage for that matter)
Salamence: Lapras. Dragonite and Floatzel will revenge kill.
Tyranitar: This is rather tricky. Lucario can switch in on Stone Edge or Crunch and force it out, Ludicolo does rather well when it get's to dance (Rain Dance removes TTars SpDef boost which means he will be at the mercy of Surf)
Heatran: Very tricky if Rain isn't active. If it is, Ludicolo does actually great as it resists both STAB attacks (under Rain that is) as well as Earth power and has enough SpDef to survive Dragon Pulse / HP [Ice] whilst having boosted Surfs to KO it.
Starmie: Can't do much to Ludicolo as he resists Surf and is neutral to Thunderbolt, whilst having Toxic and Leech seed to wear it down or force it out.
Azelf: Jirachi resists Psychic (4x) and Grass Knot and takes neutral damage from Flamethrower (if Rain is active). Otherwise, Dragonite can Revenge Kill, same goes for Floatzel
Gliscor: Lapras. Dragonite can switch in on an Earthquake and Ice Beam it to the edge of the universe
Forretress: Like with Bronzong, Ludicolo will have to Stall it out.
Weavile: Floatzel can switch in on a CBed Ice Shard and BB it. Weavile also won't like eating a CBed, Rain boosted, STAB Waterfall
Swampert: Ludicolo will scare the hell out of it thanks to Water and ground resistence, neutrality to Ice and most importantly: Toxic (which Swamperts hate)
Vaporeon: Can't do anything to Ludicolo, and will run from Toxic and Leech Seed
Skarmory: Jirachi. Lapras does also rather well. Boosted Surfs are not Skarm's friends either and Draginites Thunder will put a quick end to the Steel bird

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That's it. Thanks for the reading and please rate along. Suggestions are highly welcome.
 
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