Approved by kokoloko
(Notable) Effects of the Rain:
-The Base Power of Water-type moves is increased by 50 % while the Base Power of Fire-type moves is decreased by 50 %
- Hurricane and Thunder have 100 % accuracy
- Weather Ball becomes a 150 Base Power Water-Typ move
- Synthesis, Moonlight and Morning Sun recover 25% of the user's HP
- Pokemon with the Ability Swift Swim have their Speed doubled
- Pokemon with the ability Hydration have all status healed during the rain
- Pokemon with Dry Skin gain 12.5% HP per turn
- Pokemon with Rain Dish gain 6.25% HP per turn
Overview:
Rain has always been a very threatening because there are a lot of Pokemon that benefit from it. With a Metagame filled with many Fire-typs and pokemon that are weak to that typ, Rain can weaken those threats and make Fire weak pokemon more viable.
But the main threats of Rain Teams are the powerful and fast Water Typ who get their STAB boosted and even their speed, in case they have Swift Swim as an ability.
Though, Hippowdon and Abomasnow can summon Sand and Hail by simple switch-ins, the Rain has a lot of allies which can take on those threats.
Rain Summoner (Damp Rock):
A weather summoner should be able to get out the weather as reliable as possible. The lack of reliable recovery and passive recovery might be lost, but bringing out the weather and asure a safe switch-in of a Rain Abuser is far more important than that. In case of fearing the need to bring up the Rain again, even with more than one Rain Summoner, a Wishpasser can be added to keep it and the other team mates healthy.
Liepard
Typing: Dark
Notable Abilities: Prankster
Stats: 62 / 88 / 50 / 88 / 50 / 108
Uxie
Typing: Psychic
Notable Abilities: Levitate
Stats: 75 / 75 / 130 / 75 / 130 / 95
Bronzong
Typing: Steel/Psychic
Notable Abilities: Levitate/Heat Proof
Stats: 67 / 86 / 116 / 79/ 116 / 33
Tornadus
Typing: Flying
Notable Abilities: Prankster
Stats: 79 / 125 / 70 / 115 / 80 / 111
Sableye
Typing: Dark/Ghost
Notable Abilities: Prankster
Stats: 50 / 75 / 75 / 65 / 65 / 50
Swift Swimmer:
Kingdra
Typing: Water/Dragon
Notable Abilities: Swift Swim
Stats: 75 / 95 / 95 / 95 / 95 / 85
Omastar
Typing: Rock/Water
Notable Abilities: Swift Swim
Stats: 70 / 60 / 125 / 115 / 70 / 55
Kabutops
Typing: Rock/Water
Notable Abilities: Swift Swim
Stats: 60 / 115 / 105 / 65 / 70 / 80
Gorebyss
Typing: Water
Notable Abilities: Swift Swim
Stats: 55 / 84 / 105 / 114 / 75 / 52
Huntail
Typing: Water
Notable Abilities: Swift Swim
Stats: 55 / 104 / 105 / 94 / 75 / 52
Ludicolo
Typing: Water/Grass
Notable Abilities: Swift Swim/Rain Dish
Stats: 80 / 70 / 70 / 90 / 100 / 70
Seismitoad
Typing: Water/Ground
Notable Abilities: Swift Swim/Water Absorb (HA)
Stats: 105 / 95 / 75 / 85 / 75 / 78
Floatzel
Typing: Water
Notable Abilities: Swift Swim
Stats: 86 / 105 / 55 / 85 / 50 / 115
Water Typs:
Starmie
Typing: Water/Psychic
Notable Ability: Natural Cure
Stats: 60 / 75 / 85 / 100 / 85 / 115
Suicune
Typing: Water
Notable Abilities: Pressure
Stats: 100 / 75 / 115 / 90 / 115 / 85
Swampert
Typing: Water/Ground
Notable Abilities: Torrent
Stats: 100 / 110 / 90 / 86 / 90 / 60
Gastrodon
Typing: Water/Ground
Notable Abilities: Storm Drain
Stats: 111 / 83 / 68 / 92 / 82 / 39
Lapras
Typing: Water/Ice
Notable Abilities: Water Absorb/Hydration (HA)
Stats: 130 / 85 / 80 / 85 / 95 / 60
It has the same abilities as Vaporeon but with worth special offense and the famous bad ice typing. But Lapras still has a few advantages over Vaporeon. Offensively speaking, Lapras can run a number of powerful attacking sets thanks to boosting moves like Curse and Dragon Dance. Lapras has priority in Ice Shards, allowing it to check Dragons relativly easy. But on the special side, Lapras is blessed with something better than just its infamous BoltBeam set, Freeze Dry. With this move combined with Water STAB, Lapras has the best two move coverage in the game, which is just resisted by Thick Fat Ice/Water Typs, Shedinja and Jynx. In other words, with Freeze Dry and Hydro Pump/Surf it hits almost the entire meta game for neutral damage, allowing to run a simple RestTalk set and under the Rain just run it with rest and save a moveslot for something like AncientPower.
Alomomola
Typing: Water
Notable Abilities: Hydration/Regenerator (HA)
Stats: 150 / 75 / 80 / 40 / 45 / 65
Jellycent
Typing: Water/Ghost
Notable Abilities: Water Absorb
Stats: 100 / 60 / 70 / 85 / 105 / 60
Empoleon
Typing: Water/Steel
Notable Abilities: Torrent
Stats: 84 / 86 / 88 / 111 / 100 / 60
(Mega-)Blastoise
Typing: Water
Notable Abilities: Rain Dish (HA) -> Mega Launcher (ME)
Stats (Base): 79 / 83 / 100 / 85 / 105 / 78
Stats (Mega): 79 / 103 / 120 / 135 / 115 / 78
Lanturn
Typing: Water/Electric
Notable Abilities: Voltabsorb
Stats: 125 / 58 / 58 / 76 / 76 / 67
Tentacruel
Typing: Water/Poison
Notable Ability: Liquid Ooze/Rain Dish (HA)
Stats: 80 / 70 / 65 / 80 / 120 / 100
Non-Water Typ Supporters:
Dugtrio
Typing: Ground
Notable Abilities: Arena Trap
Stats: 35 / 80 / 50 / 50 / 70 / 125
Azelf
Typing: Psychic
Notable Abilities: Levitate
Stats: 72 / 125 / 70 / 125 / 70 / 115
Celebi
Typing: Psychic/Grass
Notable Abilities: Natural Cure
Stats: 100 / 100 / 100 / 100 / 100 / 100
Mew
Typing: Psychic
Notable Abilities: Synchronize
Stats: 100 / 100 / 100 / 100 / 100 / 100
Jirachi
Typing: Psychic/Steel
Notable Abilities: Serene Grace
Stats: 100 / 100 / 100 / 100 / 100 / 100
Parasect
Typing: Bug/Grass
Notable Abilities: Dry Skin
Stats: 60 / 95 / 80 / 60 / 80 / 30
Trevenant
Typing: Ghost/Grass
Notable Abilities: Harvest (HA)
Stats: 85 / 110 / 76 / 65 / 82 / 56
Forretress
Typing: Bug/Steel
Notable Ability: Sturdy/Overcoat (HA)
Stats: 75 / 90 / 140 / 60 / 60 / 40
Non-Water Typ Sweeper/Offensive Threats:
Metagross
Typing: Steel/Psychic
Notable Abilities: Clear Body
Stats: 80 / 135 / 130 / 95 / 90 / 70
Toxicroak
Typing: Poison/Fighting
Notable Abilities: Dry Skin
Stats: 83 / 106 / 65 / 86 / 65 / 85
Tangrowth
Typing: Grass
Notable Abilities: Regenerator (HA)
Stats: 100 / 100 / 125 / 110 / 50 / 50
Virizion
Typing: Grass/Fighting
Notable Abilities: Justified
Stats: 91 / 90 / 72 / 90 / 129 / 108
Rotom-C
Typing: Electric/Grass
Notable Abilities: Levitate
Stats: 50 / 65 / 107 / 105 / 107 / 86
Jolteon
Typing: Electric
Notable Abilities: Voltabsorb
Stats: 65 / 65 / 60 / 110 / 95 / 130
Raikou
Typing: Electric
Notable Abilities: Pressure
Stats: 90 / 85 / 75 / 115 / 100 / 115
Heliolisk
Typing: Normal/Electric
Notable Abilities: Dry Skin
Stats: 62 / 55 / 52 / 109 / 94 / 109
Mega-Ampharos
Typing: Electric -> Electric/Dragon (ME)
Notable Abilities: Statik -> Mold Breaker (ME)
Stats (Base): 90 / 75 / 85 / 115 / 90 / 55
Stats (Mega): 90 / 95 / 105 / 165 / 110 / 45
Heracross
Typing: Bug/Fighting
Notable Abilities: Guts/Moxie (HA)
Stats: 80 / 125 / 75 / 40 / 95 / 80
Escavalier
Typing: Bug/Steel
Notable Abilities: Overcoat (HA)
Stats: 50 / 135 / 105 / 60 / 105 / 20
Cobalion
Typing: Steel/Fighting
Notable Abilities: Justified
Stats: 91 / 90 / 129 / 90 / 72 / 108
Moltres
Typing: Fire/Flying
Notable Abilities: Pressure
Stats: 90 / 100 / 90 / 125 / 85 / 90
Vivillon
Typing: Bug/Flying
Notable Abilities: Compoundeyes
Stats: 80 / 52 / 50 / 90 / 50 / 89
Conclusion
A lot of pokemon benefit from the Rain. While Water Typs get insane boosts, Grass, Steel and Bug Typs benefit losing the Fire weakness which increases their viability. Electric and Flying typs can rely on a move that is usually not reliable at all, making them more threatening than they need to be.
What are your thoughts on Rain Teams in UU? Are they less viable because of Sand and Hail being easier to summon or is it still a threat like last Generation?
(Notable) Effects of the Rain:
-The Base Power of Water-type moves is increased by 50 % while the Base Power of Fire-type moves is decreased by 50 %
- Hurricane and Thunder have 100 % accuracy
- Weather Ball becomes a 150 Base Power Water-Typ move
- Synthesis, Moonlight and Morning Sun recover 25% of the user's HP
- Pokemon with the Ability Swift Swim have their Speed doubled
- Pokemon with the ability Hydration have all status healed during the rain
- Pokemon with Dry Skin gain 12.5% HP per turn
- Pokemon with Rain Dish gain 6.25% HP per turn
Overview:
Rain has always been a very threatening because there are a lot of Pokemon that benefit from it. With a Metagame filled with many Fire-typs and pokemon that are weak to that typ, Rain can weaken those threats and make Fire weak pokemon more viable.
But the main threats of Rain Teams are the powerful and fast Water Typ who get their STAB boosted and even their speed, in case they have Swift Swim as an ability.
Though, Hippowdon and Abomasnow can summon Sand and Hail by simple switch-ins, the Rain has a lot of allies which can take on those threats.
Rain Summoner (Damp Rock):
A weather summoner should be able to get out the weather as reliable as possible. The lack of reliable recovery and passive recovery might be lost, but bringing out the weather and asure a safe switch-in of a Rain Abuser is far more important than that. In case of fearing the need to bring up the Rain again, even with more than one Rain Summoner, a Wishpasser can be added to keep it and the other team mates healthy.
Liepard
Typing: Dark
Notable Abilities: Prankster
Stats: 62 / 88 / 50 / 88 / 50 / 108
Thanks the Prankster Ability, Liepard is able to immidiatly bring out the Rain. While being frail, they can support the team with moves like Encore, Taunt and Thunderwave. While Liepard has the good Dark Typing which is really useful defensivly. U-Turn allows it to gain momentum and Fault Play can be used as an offensive move, to deal a good amount of damage, without investing in attack at all.
Uxie
Typing: Psychic
Notable Abilities: Levitate
Stats: 75 / 75 / 130 / 75 / 130 / 95
Uxie is a good addition to Sun and Trick Room Teams thanks to its great bulk and supporting movepool. So why not use it as a Rain Dancer as well? Aside from great defensive stats, it has respectible 95 speed to even get the sun out faster.
Uxie can use Dual Screen, Thunder Wave, Yawn to force switches or support the team with Stealth Rocks.
Uxie has access to U-Turn to switch safely in a Water-type or a Swift Swimmer, but can use Memento to make sure that it is a guarantied safe switch at all.
Uxie can use Dual Screen, Thunder Wave, Yawn to force switches or support the team with Stealth Rocks.
Uxie has access to U-Turn to switch safely in a Water-type or a Swift Swimmer, but can use Memento to make sure that it is a guarantied safe switch at all.
Bronzong
Typing: Steel/Psychic
Notable Abilities: Levitate/Heat Proof
Stats: 67 / 86 / 116 / 79/ 116 / 33
Bronzong is one of the most reliable Rain Dancers because it tanks almost anything. Though, it is now weak to Ghost and Dark Typing, it can work around its other two weaknesses with either ability and with Rain, Fire Weakness is non-existent. It can set up Stealth Rock and/or Dual Screens or it can cripple opposing Pokemon with Thunder Wave. Explosion is a good move to safely bring in a Swift Swimmer.
Tornadus
Typing: Flying
Notable Abilities: Prankster
Stats: 79 / 125 / 70 / 115 / 80 / 111
Unlike the other Rain Summoner, Tornadus can not only support the team or just make sure to switch in a Rain Abuser, but he himself can abuse the Rain. Tornadus has great mixed offense and is already really fast, even without his Pranster ability. Hurricane in Rain hits always and even the bulkiest Pokemon doesn't want to get confused by it. Great coverage for its special attack are Hidden Power Ice, Focus Blast and Heat Wave (just for hitting outside the rain or for something with four times weakness like Abomasnow) and for its physical side it has Superpower, U-Turn (for scouting) and the fearsome Knock Off. Tornadus' movepool is a great addition to Rain Teams because of offensive and supportive options being able to deal with auto-weather summoners like Abomasnow (Heat Wave, Focus Blast or Superpower) or Hippowdon (Grass Knot). The only thing, that makes one consider to use the other Rain Dancers is using Tornadus-T as an offensive Pokemon on the team instead.
Sableye
Typing: Dark/Ghost
Notable Abilities: Prankster
Stats: 50 / 75 / 75 / 65 / 65 / 50
While it does have Prankster and access to Rain Dance, Sableye can be considered inferiour to other Rain Summoner, because of not having something to safely bring in a Rain Abuser and bad overall stats. However, Sableye has reliable recovery and Will-O-Wisp to increase its bulk. Sableye is more effective for Rain Teams that rely their Rain Summoner to be alive like Rain Stall.
Swift Swimmer:
Kingdra
Typing: Water/Dragon
Notable Abilities: Swift Swim
Stats: 75 / 95 / 95 / 95 / 95 / 85
It can be argued if Kingdra is or is not the King of Swift Swimmers. It has great offenses and bulk, but the main thing using it over other Swift Swimmers is the great 85 base speed. Though, it is not the fastes threat under the rain, Kingdra is insanely threatening under rain. It checks opposing Swift Swimmer with double resistants agains Water and won't be checked by Grass-Typs that easiely. Kingdra's offensive movepool seems not really impressive but it gains STAB from both sides, making it a great mixed attacker. Kingdra can even abuse Dragon Dance to even boost speed and attack even further, allowing to play it with less investment into speed and add those evs into bulk instead. Kingdra can even summon the Rain reliablily for itself or for the team, when it plays a dedicated special attacking set for instands. Kingdra is difficult to counter and even check under Rain, why it is almost a must to run it.
Omastar
Typing: Rock/Water
Notable Abilities: Swift Swim
Stats: 70 / 60 / 125 / 115 / 70 / 55
One of the slower Swift Swimmer, one would wonder why to use this thing. Omastar has impressive sweeping capabilities thanks to having access to the boosting move Shell Smash which increases offenses and speed immensive. +2 Hydro Pump under Rain is more than impressive but it doesn't end there. Omastar comes with a large selection of special moves like Ice Beam, Icy Wind, Earth Power, STAB AncientPower, Hidden Power and Scald. Omastar won't take much advantage of its physical attack, but it still can run Knock Off to remove items from opposing Pokemon.
Kabutops
Typing: Rock/Water
Notable Abilities: Swift Swim
Stats: 60 / 115 / 105 / 65 / 70 / 80
Kabutops acts as a physical counterpart to Omastar. Though, it doesn't have Shell Smash, Kabutops prefers using the Rain to boost its speed and Swords Dance to boost its attack. Kabutops has access to STAB priority in Aqua Jet and very powerful other STAB moves like Stone Edge, Rock Slide or Rain Boosted Waterfall. While that sounds impressive already, Kabutops has access to Knock Off to remove items, Brick Break, X-Scissor, Rapid Spin (when no space of a Defogger is found), and when it needs to, Superpower.
Gorebyss
Typing: Water
Notable Abilities: Swift Swim
Stats: 55 / 84 / 105 / 114 / 75 / 52
Gorebyss is the slowest viable swift swimmer alongside with Huntail. Gorebyss is more specially orientated. Gorebyss has a lot of boosting moves, but as Rain Abuser using the most important boosting move is important, which is Shell Smash. Though, it competes on a team slot with Omastar who is faster, hits harder, has better coverage and better offensive typing, Gorebyss shines by having access to Baton Pass, allowing it to pass the boost to another Pokemon.
Huntail
Typing: Water
Notable Abilities: Swift Swim
Stats: 55 / 104 / 105 / 94 / 75 / 52
Huntail is with Gorebyss the slowest viable swift swimmer. It competes against Kaputops on a team slot, but like Gorebyss against Omastar, Huntail has access to SmashPass allowing it to pass the insane boost to offense and speed to another team mate. However, Huntail does have better sweeping capabilities, because with decent special attack, it is able to go mixed. Huntail has access to great moves like Waterfall, Scald, Surf, Ice Beam, Sucker Punch, Crunch and Ice Fang.
Ludicolo
Typing: Water/Grass
Notable Abilities: Swift Swim/Rain Dish
Stats: 80 / 70 / 70 / 90 / 100 / 70
Ludicolo is blessed with great typing and coverage moves consisting Giga Drain, Scald, Surf, Hydro Pump, Focus Blast and Ice Beam. Ludicolo can even reliabily summon the Rain as well thanks to its good special bulk.
Aside form that, Ludicolo has another usable ability in Rain Dish making it difficult to take down form the special side, while the Rain is up. That allows it to run a pretty good SubSeeding set as well. When considering adding a team mate, Ludicolo is the one to consider first, thanks to its ability to fullfill multible roles from being a sweeper to an annoyer up to a Rain Summoner.
Aside form that, Ludicolo has another usable ability in Rain Dish making it difficult to take down form the special side, while the Rain is up. That allows it to run a pretty good SubSeeding set as well. When considering adding a team mate, Ludicolo is the one to consider first, thanks to its ability to fullfill multible roles from being a sweeper to an annoyer up to a Rain Summoner.
Seismitoad
Typing: Water/Ground
Notable Abilities: Swift Swim/Water Absorb (HA)
Stats: 105 / 95 / 75 / 85 / 75 / 78
Looking at its stats, its offenses look underwhelming compared to the others. However, Seismitoad has ever so useful Water/Ground Typing, which leaves it with only one weakness and great offensive typing. Seismitoad is forced to go special or mixed because of its limited offensive movepool which consist Scald, Hydro Pump, Surf, Earthpower, Earthquake, Drain Punch, Grass Knot, Ice Punch, Focus Blast and the always welcome Knock Off.
Seismitoed can even take a supporting role by giving up its Swift Swim ability for Water Absorb, to reliabily switch into opposing Electric or Water Typs and put up Stealth Rocks or use Toxic stalling opposing teams.
Seismitoed can even take a supporting role by giving up its Swift Swim ability for Water Absorb, to reliabily switch into opposing Electric or Water Typs and put up Stealth Rocks or use Toxic stalling opposing teams.
Floatzel
Typing: Water
Notable Abilities: Swift Swim
Stats: 86 / 105 / 55 / 85 / 50 / 115
The fastest Swift Swimmer has to be on the list. Thanks to a good base 105 Base Attack, Floatzel can dish out some hits. Aside from great coverage in Waterfall, Crunch, Brick Break and Ice Punch, it access to priority Aqua Jet, can trap Pokemon with Pursuit and great support moves Taunt. It is fast enough to set up the Rain by itself and start sweeping.
Water Typs:
Starmie
Typing: Water/Psychic
Notable Ability: Natural Cure
Stats: 60 / 75 / 85 / 100 / 85 / 115
Starmie is a newcomer to UU after five Generations of OU. With great speed and good special attack make Starmie a notable threat. One still would wonder, why not just use a powerful Swift Swimmer over Starmie?
Starmie has a vast amount of offensive and support moves, not relying much on the Rain that much. Moves like Scald, Hydro Pump and Ice Beam might seem not much impressive compare to others, but Starmie can even use Thunder under the Rain, Dazzling Gream (checking Dragons and Fighting typs instead of wasting two moveslots for Ice Beam or Psychic), Grass Knot, Rapid Spin and Psyshock. Starmie can run a pretty good 3 attack+recover Life-Orb set but work as a great offensive spinner as well.
Starmie can use its decent speed to set up Dual Screens as well as the Rain, but even cripple opposing pokemon with Thunderwave. Starmie can absorb status thanks to Natural Cure and heal up by a simple switch. Through this, Starmie can even take advantage of moves like Rest and remove sleep status by simply switching out.
It is no wonder, why it was in OU for so long and definitivly worth a team slot.
Starmie has a vast amount of offensive and support moves, not relying much on the Rain that much. Moves like Scald, Hydro Pump and Ice Beam might seem not much impressive compare to others, but Starmie can even use Thunder under the Rain, Dazzling Gream (checking Dragons and Fighting typs instead of wasting two moveslots for Ice Beam or Psychic), Grass Knot, Rapid Spin and Psyshock. Starmie can run a pretty good 3 attack+recover Life-Orb set but work as a great offensive spinner as well.
Starmie can use its decent speed to set up Dual Screens as well as the Rain, but even cripple opposing pokemon with Thunderwave. Starmie can absorb status thanks to Natural Cure and heal up by a simple switch. Through this, Starmie can even take advantage of moves like Rest and remove sleep status by simply switching out.
It is no wonder, why it was in OU for so long and definitivly worth a team slot.
Suicune
Typing: Water
Notable Abilities: Pressure
Stats: 100 / 75 / 115 / 90 / 115 / 85
Under Rain, Suicune can run a really good offensive Calm Mind set. With one boost and the power of the Rain, the sheer power of moves like Hydro Pump and Ice Beam can heal huge amount of damage. While Suicune run a defensive Calm Mind set as well, the disadvantage of using CroCune is, it needs to boost a lot to hit really hard, making the Rain Turns run out, before it can take advantage of it. But Suicune doesn't mind the rain being gone, because it can just boost and sweep the team, after the main obsticals are gone.
Swampert
Typing: Water/Ground
Notable Abilities: Torrent
Stats: 100 / 110 / 90 / 86 / 90 / 60
Swampert is a great physical Tank who can increase its special bulk with Assult Vest. A great number of offensive moves like Ice Punch, Avalanche, Earthquake, Hammer Arm, Stone Edge, Waterfall but it can turn into a mixed tank using its rather inferious special attack as well with Ice Beam and Scald. A mixed thank allows Swampert to compete with other Water/Ground typs who can fullfill the same roles but better. However, a physical defensive set with Stealth Rock, Toxic and Scald is still a viable option for Swampert.
Gastrodon
Typing: Water/Ground
Notable Abilities: Storm Drain
Stats: 111 / 83 / 68 / 92 / 82 / 39
Gastrodon is a great Check and Counter to Water and Electric typs being immun to them thanks to typing and ability. Gastrodon is insanely bulky and can use both attacking stats, making it a great mixed tank. Though, it defense seems pityful, thanks to its high HP and access to Scald to spread burns, it can tank hits very well. Gastrodon gets a great selection of good moves like Toxic, Waterfall, Surf, Earthquake, Earthpower, Ice Beam, Stone Edge and has reliable recovery in Recover.
Lapras
Typing: Water/Ice
Notable Abilities: Water Absorb/Hydration (HA)
Stats: 130 / 85 / 80 / 85 / 95 / 60
Alomomola
Typing: Water
Notable Abilities: Hydration/Regenerator (HA)
Stats: 150 / 75 / 80 / 40 / 45 / 65
It doesn't have the best defenses or attacks but its large HP makes up for it. Alomomola has two great abilities in Hydration, making Rest a reliable recovery in Rain, and the ever so useful Regenerator, which heals 1/3 of your HP by just switching out. Thanks to the second highest HP in UU, right after Blissey, Alomomola is a great Wishpasser. It can cripple opposing pokemon with Scald or annoy them with Toxic instead. Alomomola has access to the ever so useful Knock Off, to remove opposing 'mon's items. It fights against Vaporeon for a spot who has better offensive presents and access to Heal Bell.
Jellycent
Typing: Water/Ghost
Notable Abilities: Water Absorb
Stats: 100 / 60 / 70 / 85 / 105 / 60
Great Bulk and great Special Attack makes Jellycent not only a great wall but even a great tank as well. Spinblocking got less relevant thanks to the addition of the move defog and the increase of Dark and Ghost Typ moves hurt its viability but the tier is still filled with a lot of viable spinners such as Forretress and Starmie. Jellycent can Counter or Check most opposing Water Typs thanks to Water Absorb and access to Energy Ball. Jellycent can cripple opposing pokemon with Will-O-Wisp, but running Scalt might be more benefical in addition to Toxic. Not to mention, it has reliable recovery in Recover. As a Ghost Typ, Jellycent can spam Shadow Ball with less to no worry, but Ice Beam to check Dragons might be more usefull.
Empoleon
Typing: Water/Steel
Notable Abilities: Torrent
Stats: 84 / 86 / 88 / 111 / 100 / 60
Empoleon has great typing, good bulk and good special offense. It can run a number of great sets namely acting as Defogger, Stealth Rocker or just a great Special Attacker.
(Mega-)Blastoise
Typing: Water
Notable Abilities: Rain Dish (HA) -> Mega Launcher (ME)
Stats (Base): 79 / 83 / 100 / 85 / 105 / 78
Stats (Mega): 79 / 103 / 120 / 135 / 115 / 78
Rain Dish gives Blastoise an extra recovery and last generation, Blastoise did a great job acting as a hazard remover. Now with competition of Defog users, one might reconsider to even use it. However, Blastoise gained a Mega-Evolution as well with better offensive and defensive stats. Mega-Blastoise is the only spinner that can remove hazards without fearing a Ghost switch in. For a good reason, because Blastoise has now access to Dark Pulse which gets boosted by Mega-Launcher. Water Pulse turns through that ability into a 90 base power Water moves which is now more reliable as Surf.
Lanturn
Typing: Water/Electric
Notable Abilities: Voltabsorb
Stats: 125 / 58 / 58 / 76 / 76 / 67
Great Typing and Ability makes it a great option for a Rain Team. Lanturn doesn't have the best offensive stats but it still can be threatening with rain boosted Hydro Pump and with STAB Thunder. It can support the team as a cleric. Though no reliable recovery holds it back, Lanturn does its job well enough. Access to Volt Switch, Scald and Thunder Wave are reason enough to add it into your team
Tentacruel
Typing: Water/Poison
Notable Ability: Liquid Ooze/Rain Dish (HA)
Stats: 80 / 70 / 65 / 80 / 120 / 100
Tentacruel came to the Waters of UU to become the Ruler of Rain Stall. Rain Dish makes it very difficult to take down in combination with Leftovers or Black Sludge and having access to Gigadrain, which allows it to check opposing Water Typs, but Luquid Ooze is a great alternative to annoy SubSeeders or pokemon that use absorbtions moves like Gigadrain. Tentacruel has good bulk, good speed, good defensive typing and access to Rapid Spin to remove entry hazards at the same time, able to set up Toxic Spikes.
It's movepool has more to offer than just that. With Scalt, it can increase its physical bulk by crippling opposing Pokemon and with Knock Off it can remove their items as well.
Like Vaporeon, it has access to Haze as well to remove status boosts.
Overall, Tentacruel is a great supportive pokemon to have in a Rain Team.
It's movepool has more to offer than just that. With Scalt, it can increase its physical bulk by crippling opposing Pokemon and with Knock Off it can remove their items as well.
Like Vaporeon, it has access to Haze as well to remove status boosts.
Overall, Tentacruel is a great supportive pokemon to have in a Rain Team.
Non-Water Typ Supporters:
Dugtrio
Typing: Ground
Notable Abilities: Arena Trap
Stats: 35 / 80 / 50 / 50 / 70 / 125
Dugtrio might sound insane at first, because it doesn't gain anything from the Rain. However, it can trap and kill most Electric Typs that are threatening Water Typs in the Rain Team.
Azelf
Typing: Psychic
Notable Abilities: Levitate
Stats: 72 / 125 / 70 / 125 / 70 / 115
Besides having great offensive stats and speed, Azelf's main purpose is to act as a suicide lead by setting up Stealth Rocks and allow a save switch in by exploding. However, U-Turn allows Azelf to switch out and come in later to try setting up rocks again, when needed.
Celebi
Typing: Psychic/Grass
Notable Abilities: Natural Cure
Stats: 100 / 100 / 100 / 100 / 100 / 100
It acts as a check to opposing Water and Electric Typs. Under Rain, because Fire weakness is removed, Celebi can fullfill its roles even more effectivly. Be it as a Cleric, SubSeeder, Booster, Baton Pass or just a all out attacker, makes Celebi a really threatening Pokemon. Dark and Ghost weakness unfortunatly holds it back
Mew
Typing: Psychic
Notable Abilities: Synchronize
Stats: 100 / 100 / 100 / 100 / 100 / 100
The most flexible Pokemon in the tier. Mew can do so much things like act as a Defogger, Screen Supporter, Cleric, Staller, Baton Passer etc. Mew makes a great addition to any team, even Rain Teams. Dark and Ghost weakness might hinder it, but since most of them are physical, Mew can cripple them with Will-O-Wisp, increasing its physical bulk. Mew can go offensively as well, besides a standart boosting and coverage set, it can use Rain Boosted Water Typ moves like Scald, Surf or Waterfall or it can just spam Thunder.
Jirachi
Typing: Psychic/Steel
Notable Abilities: Serene Grace
Stats: 100 / 100 / 100 / 100 / 100 / 100
Jirachi came down to UU with weakness to Ghost and Dark which are spammed everywhere. Though, it can still be a great addition to Rain Teams, having its weakness to Fire removed and being able to spam Thunder that will paralyse almost always thanks to its ability. Jirachi can run Water Pulse as well and a decent Calm Mind set to start sweeping. Defensivly on the other hand, Jirachi has access to Wish to keep the Team healthy. With Thunderwave it can cripple opposing teams or just support the own team with Dual Screens. Jirachi even access to Stealth Rocks and can scout with U-Turn or Protect.
Parasect
Typing: Bug/Grass
Notable Abilities: Dry Skin
Stats: 60 / 95 / 80 / 60 / 80 / 30
Outclassed by Amoonguss normally who has better typing and access to Spore as well, Parasect does shine in the Rain even more. Not only is the Fire Weakness halfed, Parasect can now abuse its ability to the fullest with Dry Skin. It can recover of its health every turn while it's raining, and Parasect can further health itself with Leech Seed and Leftovers. Since it has very low HP, Parasect can heal up a larger portion of HP, allowing it to Sub and heal up the HP for making it right back up. With it's good physical attack and access to Swords Dance, Parasect can take on opposing Water, Grass and Electric Typs, that threaten the team and take them down with STAB X-Scissor or Seed Bomb.
Trevenant
Typing: Ghost/Grass
Notable Abilities: Harvest (HA)
Stats: 85 / 110 / 76 / 65 / 82 / 56
Trevenant has overall great bulk and it can increase its weaker physical bulk by crippling opposing pokemon with Will-O-Wisp. With the increased amount of Rapid Spinner in the Tier, Trevelant can easiely act as a spin blocker. It can pull of a great SubSeed set which is more reliable thanks to the mentioned Will-O-Wisp and moves like Phantom Force which allows to stall the turns of Harvest. Unlike other Ghost Typs, Trevelant can pull of a really viable Curse set, which drains 1/4 of the opposing pokemon health by getting ride of 1/2 of Trevenant's maximum HP, allowing Sitrus Berry to heal 1/4 or its HP. When stall is not working out well, Trevenant can take advantage of its great physical attack and hit back really hard.
Forretress
Typing: Bug/Steel
Notable Ability: Sturdy/Overcoat (HA)
Stats: 75 / 90 / 140 / 60 / 60 / 40
Forretress has great physical bulk and access to three of four entry hazards, Stealth Rock, Toxic Spikes and Spikes. Forretress main purpose would be to remove Hazards from your side while putting some on opposing sides on the field. Forretress has access to Pain Split, which allows it to support the team more often. Its abilities are useful too. Sturdy can be used in case one need to get ride or out hazards on something that would otherwise one shot, but Overcoat is usually the ability to go for, because it gives Forretress immunity to Spore-Moves and Hail. Lastly, Forretress does hit really hard from its physical attack with Gyroball or Earthquake but it can use Volt Switch to gain momentum or a safe switch into a sweeper.
Non-Water Typ Sweeper/Offensive Threats:
Metagross
Typing: Steel/Psychic
Notable Abilities: Clear Body
Stats: 80 / 135 / 130 / 95 / 90 / 70
Like Jirachi and Bronzong, it got nerfed being threatened by Dark and Ghost Typ moves. Metagross is able to run a number of sets and use different items with each. Meteor Mash being a strong signatur move which boost sometimes its already high attack and access to a number of great coverage moves like Earthquake, Thunderpunch and Ice Punch makes it difficult to switch into it. Metagross has access to Stealth Rocks which it can use while having a offensive presents. Agility is an option to prepare for a sweep, however, increasing its bulk and just run Assult Vest to take Thunder and special Water Typ moves, is much more benefical. Ballon is a great item as well, since Metagross gains immunity to Ground, allowing it to switch-in without much fear.
Toxicroak
Typing: Poison/Fighting
Notable Abilities: Dry Skin
Stats: 83 / 106 / 65 / 86 / 65 / 85
Aside having immunity to Water Type moves, with Dry Skin, Toxicroak gets health back under the Rain. Toxicroak takes down Faries and Grass Typs that can threaten the team. Swords Dance boosts Toxicroak's attack stat allowing it to hit even harder. Aside from STAB Drain Punch and Poison Jab, it gains priority in Sucker Punch and has access to Earthquake and Ice Punch. Toxicroak has Nasty Plot to run a special set, but it is outdone by the physical set already.
Tangrowth
Typing: Grass
Notable Abilities: Regenerator (HA)
Stats: 100 / 100 / 125 / 110 / 50 / 50
The mixed Tank aka. Tangrowth can tank even with its pityful defenses special hits like nothing, thanks to the new intruduced item, Assult Vest. With Rain, Tangrowth is now allowing to check and even counter Fire Typs thanks to its great selection of coverage moves including AncientPower and Earthquake. Thats not all, because with both of its great attacking stats, allows Tangrowth to fully take advantage of any offensive move like Gigadrain, Power Whip, Focus Blast, Hidden Power Ice/Fire, Rock Slide and more. But one of the most dangerous moves it has is the access to Knock Off, making the opponent think twice, before switching in a counter.
Tangrowth is a great user of Assult Vest because of Regenerator to reliabily heal 1/3 of its health by just switching or use Gigadrain to heal up.
Tangrowth is a great user of Assult Vest because of Regenerator to reliabily heal 1/3 of its health by just switching or use Gigadrain to heal up.
Virizion
Typing: Grass/Fighting
Notable Abilities: Justified
Stats: 91 / 90 / 72 / 90 / 129 / 108
Virizion did not get has much attention than it deserved this generation. In OU Breloom took its spot as offensive Grass/Fighting Typ and now Chesnaught is trying to do the same. However, Virizion has still something going for it. Virizion can run a special, physical or a mixed set thanks to the boosting moves: Work Up, Calm Mind and Swords Dance. The special set takes advantage of Virizions overall bulk and boost it even further with Calm Mind while it hits with Giga Drain which health some of its HP and has the great Ice and Fighting coverage in Hidden Power Ice and Focus Blast.
The physical set is less bulky but hits way harder, since Virizion can switch into Dark Typ moves and get a free boost. Swords Dance rapidly increases the damage output by the high powered physical moves, Virizion has access to like Leafblade, Close Combat, Stone Edge and maybe Zen Head Butt or Aerial Ace. A Work Up set would combine the best out of both sets like Giga Drain, Hidden Power Ice and Close Combat. Virizion acts mostly as a check against Crawdaunt but still does Check other Water Typs as well.
The physical set is less bulky but hits way harder, since Virizion can switch into Dark Typ moves and get a free boost. Swords Dance rapidly increases the damage output by the high powered physical moves, Virizion has access to like Leafblade, Close Combat, Stone Edge and maybe Zen Head Butt or Aerial Ace. A Work Up set would combine the best out of both sets like Giga Drain, Hidden Power Ice and Close Combat. Virizion acts mostly as a check against Crawdaunt but still does Check other Water Typs as well.
Rotom-C
Typing: Electric/Grass
Notable Abilities: Levitate
Stats: 50 / 65 / 107 / 105 / 107 / 86
Rotom-C checks Electric and Water Typs. Physical attackers have no reason to switch in, because of Rotom having access to Will-O-Wisp. It takes down Gastrodon with Leaf Storm, that is threatening most team mates rather easiely and shut down Walls/Supporters with TrickScarf Set. Rotom can use Volt Switch to scout or just spam Thunder right away. Rotom can even use Pain Split as pseudo-recovery.
Jolteon
Typing: Electric
Notable Abilities: Voltabsorb
Stats: 65 / 65 / 60 / 110 / 95 / 130
Jolteon is fast and powerful. Under Rain it can spam Thunder without much worry. Unfortunalty, Jolteon's moveset is rather limited, but it still can work as a fast Rain Setter or go right away offensive with Hidden Power, Thunder, Volt Switch or Shadow Ball.
Raikou
Typing: Electric
Notable Abilities: Pressure
Stats: 90 / 85 / 75 / 115 / 100 / 115
Raikou seems inferious to Jolteon at first because of lower speed, but it does have higher special attack and bulk. Aside from running typical moves like Volt Switch, Thunder, Hidden Power Ice or Shadow Ball, Raikou has access to Aurasphere and Weather Ball. Under Rain, Weather Ball turns into a 150 Base Power Water Typ move, allowing Raikou to hit really hard with a Life Orb set. Unfortunatly Aurasphere and Weather Ball can only be played with Rash Nature Shiny Raikou, but that same pokemon has access to priority Extremespeed, so adding the remaining EVs to Attack can be useful.
Raikou can run a Calm Mind set, but adding Thunderbolt over Thunder is more suitable, instead of being almost helpless when the Rain turns run out. On that note, Substitute allows Raikou not being crippled by opposing pokemon
Raikou can run a Calm Mind set, but adding Thunderbolt over Thunder is more suitable, instead of being almost helpless when the Rain turns run out. On that note, Substitute allows Raikou not being crippled by opposing pokemon
Heliolisk
Typing: Normal/Electric
Notable Abilities: Dry Skin
Stats: 62 / 55 / 52 / 109 / 94 / 109
Heliolisk is almost made just to be used in weather with all its abilities. However, Dry Skin is even outside the Rain a really useful ability, adding immunity to Water Typ moves and allowing to check most of them easiely. Under Rain, Dry Skin heals a portion of Heliolisk health every turn. Looking at its stats, Speed and Special Attack are high, but seem to outclassed by other Electric Typs, however, the great number of coverage moves and access to Surf seperates them from the others. Aside from Volt Switch, it can scout with U-Turn as well, which hits every pokemon.
Heliolisk is a way to deal with opposing Rain Threats as thanks to its ability to switch-in easy on water moves and destroy them with STAB Thunder or Grass Knot and even deal with opposing Ground Typs with Rain Boosted Surf, while Hidden Power Ice can add more coverage, Focus Blast won't allow something like Magnezone to freely switch in.
Heliolisk is a way to deal with opposing Rain Threats as thanks to its ability to switch-in easy on water moves and destroy them with STAB Thunder or Grass Knot and even deal with opposing Ground Typs with Rain Boosted Surf, while Hidden Power Ice can add more coverage, Focus Blast won't allow something like Magnezone to freely switch in.
Mega-Ampharos
Typing: Electric -> Electric/Dragon (ME)
Notable Abilities: Statik -> Mold Breaker (ME)
Stats (Base): 90 / 75 / 85 / 115 / 90 / 55
Stats (Mega): 90 / 95 / 105 / 165 / 110 / 45
Being blessed with a Mega-Evolution and Dragon Typing, Ampharos becomes a great tank for any Rain Team. Mold Breaker allows it to hit anything that isn't Ground Typ with Thunder making it a good answer to the likes of Jolteon, that want to abuse that move to heal up their HP. From that immense Special Attacking stat, Ampharos can fire off Dragon Pulse and Focus Blast which are great coverage moves for Ampharos. Thanks to its low speed, which is normally an issue, Mega-Ampharos can safely switch out with Volt Switch, when it needs to. It even has access to Heal Bell, when a cleric is needed. Ampharos can even pull out a decent Agility set and outspeed relevant threats without scarf.
Heracross
Typing: Bug/Fighting
Notable Abilities: Guts/Moxie (HA)
Stats: 80 / 125 / 75 / 40 / 95 / 80
Heracross is a very reliable physical attacker. Guts allows it to absorb Burn and boost its attack instead of dropping it. While Moxie is an option as well, in a Metagame full of Burn flying around, that is a great option to have. Heracross checks opposing Grass Typs, who are threatening Rain Abusers. Besides STAB Megahorn, Heracross has the great Fighting Typ allowing it to go through anything that doesn't resist with Close Combat. Heracross has access to Knock Off to remove items, Stone Edge/Rock Blast, Bullet Seed against opposing Water Typs, Earthquake and Aerial Ace against other Heracross, Chesnaught or Virizion
Escavalier
Typing: Bug/Steel
Notable Abilities: Overcoat (HA)
Stats: 50 / 135 / 105 / 60 / 105 / 20
Under Rain Scizor was the number one used pokemon along side with Genesect while it was unbanned last generation. Escavalier is basicly the UU version of those two making it a great addition to Rain Teams. Overcoat makes it immun to Spore-like moves and Hail. It has access to STAB Megahorn and Iron Head and can boost its already high attack with Swords Dance. On the supporting side, Escavalier has great speed on both sides, making a Toxic Stall set an option. It has access to Pursuit to trap opposing 'mons and Knock Off to just remove their item.
Cobalion
Typing: Steel/Fighting
Notable Abilities: Justified
Stats: 91 / 90 / 129 / 90 / 72 / 108
Cobalion is one of few Steel Typs that can tank Dark Typ moves. With Justify, Cobalion can even switch into Knock Off getting a free attack boost. While it can run a Swords Dance set, Work Up or Calm Mind set, a mixed non-boosting set with Volt Switch is usually more useful to gain momentum. It has great coverage on both attacking sides, but taking advantage of physical or mixed set allows its ability not to go to waste.
Moltres
Typing: Fire/Flying
Notable Abilities: Pressure
Stats: 90 / 100 / 90 / 125 / 85 / 90
At first glace, one would question adding a Fire Typ into a Rain Team. Moltres has the purpose to check and counter Grass Typs. Along with that, Moltres has access to Hurricane which it can spam during the rain very reliably.
Aside that, Moltres has great bulk allowing it to spread burns with Will-O-Wisp and has access to reliable recovery in Roost, allowing it to act as a team supporter.
Moltres can even support the team with Rain Dance as well and even, like mentioned before, abuse it for itself.
Though it comes with a cost, being easier OHKOed in the Rain by Water Typs or Thunder, Moltres is still a notable threat to look out for.
Aside that, Moltres has great bulk allowing it to spread burns with Will-O-Wisp and has access to reliable recovery in Roost, allowing it to act as a team supporter.
Moltres can even support the team with Rain Dance as well and even, like mentioned before, abuse it for itself.
Though it comes with a cost, being easier OHKOed in the Rain by Water Typs or Thunder, Moltres is still a notable threat to look out for.
Vivillon
Typing: Bug/Flying
Notable Abilities: Compoundeyes
Stats: 80 / 52 / 50 / 90 / 50 / 89
Rain support allows Vivillon not only to spam reliabily Hurricane more often but its weakness to Fire gets removed. Vivillon should not be taken lightly, because with just a few Quiver Dances, it can destroy opposing teams with ease. Even when the rain is gone, Hurricane will hit its mark thanks to Compoundeyes ability. Besides checking or countering Grass Typs, Vivillon can spread sleep status to opposing pokemon with Sleep Powder or cripple fast threats with Stun Spore.
Conclusion
A lot of pokemon benefit from the Rain. While Water Typs get insane boosts, Grass, Steel and Bug Typs benefit losing the Fire weakness which increases their viability. Electric and Flying typs can rely on a move that is usually not reliable at all, making them more threatening than they need to be.
What are your thoughts on Rain Teams in UU? Are they less viable because of Sand and Hail being easier to summon or is it still a threat like last Generation?
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