Voltorb is a threatening lead option for rain teams thanks to its high Speed stat and access to Explosion. Rain Dance is almost always used first, setting up the rain for sweepers such as Seaking and Horsea. Once rain has been set up, Voltorb can use Explosion to safely get in rain sweepers like Horsea without wasting any more turns of rain. Thanks to Silk Scarf, Explosion OHKOes bulky Pokemon such as Gloom and Noctowl. Thunder 2HKOs Corsola, preventing it from tanking Explosion. Thunder can also pressure Protect users like Mightyena and Seaking, stopping them from absorbing Explosion with Protect. Taunt can stop opposing weather setters, notably Koffing, Tropius, Gloom, Ponyta. As an alternative option, Voltorb can use Hidden Power Water to threaten Ground-types like Onix and Rhyhorn, which would otherwise safely wall Voltorb. Voltorb takes full advantage of Static when against physical attackers such as Aipom, potentially hindering them for the whole game. A Naive nature is used over Hasty to keep Voltorb's attacks strong while also surviving Earthquake from sun sweeper Tropius. With the full Attack investment, Explosion OHKOes bulky foes such as Gloom.

Pokemon that benefit from rain, like Seaking, Wartortle, Horsea, and Lombre, are all great partners for Voltorb, as they all highly appreciate Voltorb as a rain setter that safely gets them in with Explosion. Even with Taunt at Voltorb's disposal, Tropius is still an issue, as it can take Voltorb's attacks and come back later to set sun. For this, rain sweepers that carry Ice-type coverage like Seaking help pin Tropius. Ice-type coverage also covers other Grass-types like Lileep. Rhyhorn and Onix can wall Voltorb if it lacks Hidden Power Water, though Voltorb's teammates cover for its inability to hit Ground-types.