"The Frog and the Lillypad"
An ORAS Doubles Weather Team
Some of you may remember a number of weeks back I posted a doubles sun team that utilised Cherrim, Typhlosion and Mega Aerodactyl. It was decided that this team was competitively unviable, and after all the changes the team required, I decided it would be easier to go back to the drawing board. I looked at using rain instead, got over my allergy to using Legendary Pokemon, and this team was born. Designed to provide Mega Swampert with the best opportunities to sweep, whilst still being effective outside of rain. However, as testing progressed, it became clear that the true merit of the team is with the pairing of Politoed and Ludicolo,who are experts at what they do. See below some edits as the team has changed, but without further ado, here is the team!
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- THE TEAM -
The Rain Summoner
Politoed (M) @ Damp Rock
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Icy Wind
- Encore
- Protect
Politoed (M) @ Damp Rock
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Icy Wind
- Encore
- Protect
Truly the MVP of the team, Politoed has so many important roles on the team, it's hard to not find a use for it in every battle! Of course, Politoed's primary purpose is to keep up Rain for as long as possible in order to allow its more physically-inclined teammates to sweep effectively, but it is able to thrive in this role with a physically bulky spread and great support moves in Encore and Icy Wind. The first punishes setup sweepers, whilst the second supports allies either with a reduction in the enemy's speed. Scald is just super useful for improving Politoed's ability to take physical hits if the Burn goes off, and the residual damage - combined with rain-boosted STAB is still nothing to laugh at when the life-ebbing effects of Burn are added to that mix. Following advice, I replaced Helping Hand - which hadn't proved super useful - with Protect to improve survivability and scouting.
The Physical Swift Swimmer
Swampert (Mega) (M) @ Swampertite
Ability: Torrent / Swift Swim
EVs: 128 HP / 252 Atk / 128 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Protect
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
- Ice Punch
Swampert (Mega) (M) @ Swampertite
Ability: Torrent / Swift Swim
EVs: 128 HP / 252 Atk / 128 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Protect
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
- Ice Punch
My mega of choice and a very potent physical sweeper, Swampert usually comes in late-game to clean up the playing field. With high base attack and decent coverage, there isn't much that Swampert can't come in on and hit hard with one of its STAB moves: Earthquake is always a powerful option to bring to the table, but STAB Waterfall in rain is nothing to sneer at, and the flinch chance is always welcome! The EV spread helps Swampert hit hard, take a hit in return and outspeed some common threats, and Protect allows for a free mega evolution.
The Special Swift Swimmer
Ludicolo (M) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 104 HP / 252 Atk / 152 Spe
Modest Nature
- Fake Out
- Hydro Pump
- Giga Drain
- Ice Beam
Ludicolo (M) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 104 HP / 252 Atk / 152 Spe
Modest Nature
- Fake Out
- Hydro Pump
- Giga Drain
- Ice Beam
Replacing Breloom is Ludicolo, who has already proved invaluable. When paired with Politoed (with which it leads in most of my games), Ludicolo has got the ability to punch huge dents in opposing teams, and the Assault Vest it carries helps it tank hits in return much better. This is a fairly standard set for a rain team; Swift Swim and just enough EV's in speed to outspeed common threats, whilst packing a huge punch with Modest Max - SpA. Fake Out is obviously extremely useful, and under rain Ludicolo packs one of the more speedy Fake Outs in the game. The remaining moves provide coverage in the form of ICe Beam to take down flying types that aren't Talonflame, whilst Giga Drain provides recovery and Hydro Pump; power. As a side note, this is fast becoming my most dependable team member, making up 50% of the Frog and the Lillypad combo.
The Revenge Killer
Thundurus-T (M) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunder
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Focus Blast
- Volt Switch
Thundurus-T is powerful. Under rain, Thunder gets perfect accuracy and a high-base power move such as this, coming from a Specs STAB base 145 SpA max-SpA Pokemon spells doom for any pokemon that don't resist it or aren't flat-out immune. Focus Blast lets Thundurus-T wreck the Steel and Rock Types that resist its other moves, whilst Hidden Power Ice nails Dragons and straight-up OHKO's offensive Landorus-T every time. Volt Switch provides much-needed momentum, though even with a timid nature and maximum investment in speed, Thundurus-T is not as quick without the Scarf, but the damage output is too noticeable to ever pass up again! As noted above, HP Ice is preferred as I plan on using this team in the Cartridge game, as well. It has excellent utility, and beats a number of threats.Thundurus-T (M) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunder
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Focus Blast
- Volt Switch
The Grass and Trick Room Check
Talonflame (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Naughty Nature
- Protect
- Brave Bird
- Overheat
- Taunt
Talonflame uses a Naughty nature and Overheat to surprise physically bulky steel types, especially Ferrothorn, with an OHKO (even under rain if 4X Super Effective) whilst taking no damage in return other than Life Orb recoil. Taunt has replaced Tailwind to help beat Trick Room teams and Calm Mind Creselia, who is a pain in this team's arse otherwise, whilst Brave Bird is powerful priority STAB and Protect allows for scouting and surviving predicted hits. Talonflame is a very useful member of the team, and has helped swing games left right and centre.Talonflame (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Naughty Nature
- Protect
- Brave Bird
- Overheat
- Taunt
The Substitute Sweeper
Aegislash (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA Def / 4 SpD
Modest Nature
- King's Shield
- Flash Cannon
- Shadow Ball
- Substitute
Aegislash is still a hero; often the last man standing, behind its Substitute. On the advice of a few people, I changed the spread to Modest 252 HP/252 SpA, since a combination of Leftovers + Substitute + King's Shield makes Aegislash very durable. Substitute is the most potent move on this set, as even though Shadow Ball and Flash Cannon hit like a Tungsten shell, Substitute allows Aegislash to beat out opponents it should normally struggle with, like Landorus-T and opposing Aegislash, in relative safety. If you can predict a switch and get up that Substitute, it's "Goodnight, Vienna" for a lot of opponents!Aegislash (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA Def / 4 SpD
Modest Nature
- King's Shield
- Flash Cannon
- Shadow Ball
- Substitute
- CONCLUSION -
So the latest iteration of the team is proving its worth already, and once my abilities to predict improve a little more (not that they are terrible now, mind) I know it will just get better and better. Ludicolo and Politoed make an excellent lead pairing, and have swept teams on their own quite comfortably, whilst Talonflame helps keep Cresselia (and Trick Room) in check. Aegislash is unsurprisingly effective in its role, whilst Thunderus-T makes for a great Revenge Killer and Volt-Switcher. The weakest link would be Swampert, who often finds it difficult to get in and mega evolve without losing momentum via Protect, but it has won games in its own right too, so I'm unsure about replacing it. However, the team now ha a new name thanks to the surprise MVP's - the Frog and the Lillypad!
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