Ludicolo is a strong rain attacker, firing off powerful Water-type attacks in order to punch holes in the enemy team. It has access to Fake Out, which is a useful move for disrupting opposing strategies, and under rain, Ludicolo is the fastest Fake Out user in the metagame. Immunity to powder moves can be handy, making Ludicolo unaffected by Spore and Rage Powder, which allows it to get around Amoonguss, an annoyance to rain teams. Ludicolo has Grass-type STAB coverage and can deal with traditional rain checks such as Rotom-W and Tapu Fini. However, Ludicolo lacks useful resistances, has mediocre bulk, and falls easily to more powerful attacks. Additionally, it is very dependent on rain, thus being limiting towards teambuilding.
[SET]
name: Rain Attacker
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Giga Drain / Energy Ball
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Protect / Fake Out
item: Life Orb
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hydro Pump functions as Ludicolo's primary STAB move, dealing significant damage under rain to neutral targets. Giga Drain can hit Pokemon that resist Water-type moves such as Tapu Fini and Rotom-W. Energy Ball can be used for more power, but usually the healing from Giga Drain is more useful. Ice Beam can be used to hit common Pokemon that resist Ludicolo's STAB moves such as Mega Salamence and Amoonguss. Protect allows Ludicolo to stall out field conditions and shield itself from damage. Fake Out is able to prevent an opposing Pokemon from doing anything for a turn, allowing a partner to KO them or use a setup move.
Set Details
========
Ludicolo's Special Attack EVs are maximized to allow it to hit as hard as possible, and its Speed EVs are also maximized so it can outspeed as many Pokemon as possible both in and out of rain, notably outspeeding Choice Scarf Landorus and Choice Scarf Tapu Lele under rain. A Modest nature is used to boost its Special Attack even further, but Timid is always an option to outspeed Choice Scarf Genesect and Choice Scarf Victini. Life Orb boosts Ludicolo's moves, making it a fearsome special attacker under rain. Waterium Z can be held to give Ludicolo a powerful one-time STAB attack. Swift Swim is used to double Ludicolo's Speed under rain.
Usage Tips
========
Ludicolo works best under rain thanks to Swift Swim, so avoid sending it out when rain isn't up. It is best used to punch holes in the enemy team early-game. If your opponent doesn't have a weather setter such as Tyranitar or Mega Charizard Y, Ludicolo can be a perfect lead to pressure the opposing team. If they have a weather setter, consider removing it first before sending in Ludicolo. Hydro Pump is Ludicolo's most powerful attack, especially under rain, so use it as often as possible to deal maximum damage. Ludicolo typically works best when it switches in on fairly weak resisted attacks such as Tapu Fini's Muddy Water. It can also work well as a late-game cleaner if you are able to clear its checks and set up rain, so consider saving Ludicolo and a rain setter if you see a chance to use it for this.
Team Options
========
Ludicolo needs a partner to set up rain, so either Pelipper or Politoed is necessary. Ludicolo also benefits from another rain attacker that can help wear down its checks, such as Kingdra or Mega Swampert. Because it relies heavily on rain, running a check for opposing weather setters is always a good idea. Pokemon that set weather such as Tyranitar, Alolan Ninetales, and Mega Charizard Y are beaten by Pokemon such as Landorus-T, Mega Scizor, and Tapu Koko. Fighting-types, such as Marshadow, can help deal with defensive checks to Ludicolo such as Ferrothorn, Kyurem-B, and Snorlax. A check to opposing speed control is useful, such as a Taunt user like Tapu Lele or Tapu Koko for Trick Room and your own Tailwind user such as Pelipper to deal with opposing Tailwind.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Focus Blast can be used to hit Kyurem-B, Tyranitar, and Ferrothorn, and Fightinium Z can give it a power boost and offset Focus Blast's poor accuracy. An Assault Vest set can be run to give Ludicolo more bulk and help it tank more special hits. Scald can be used over Hydro Pump, but it loses out on a lot of power.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Opposing Weather**: Abomasnow can counter Ludicolo and set up hail, which removes the advantages of rain. Mega Charizard Y can do this as well by setting up sun, weakening Ludicolo's main STAB moves.
**Bulky Attackers**: Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, Snorlax, and Kyurem-B can all easily tank a hit from Ludicolo and either set up on it or deal a lot of damage to it.
**Faster Attackers**: Pokemon such as Genesect and Victini can carry a Choice Scarf and outspeed Ludicolo in rain and KO it.
**Opposing Speed Control**: Opposing Trick Room and Tailwind can allow strong Pokemon to outspeed Ludicolo, preventing it from attacking safely.
[SET]
name: Rain Attacker
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Giga Drain / Energy Ball
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Protect / Fake Out
item: Life Orb
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hydro Pump functions as Ludicolo's primary STAB move, dealing significant damage under rain to neutral targets. Giga Drain can hit Pokemon that resist Water-type moves such as Tapu Fini and Rotom-W. Energy Ball can be used for more power, but usually the healing from Giga Drain is more useful. Ice Beam can be used to hit common Pokemon that resist Ludicolo's STAB moves such as Mega Salamence and Amoonguss. Protect allows Ludicolo to stall out field conditions and shield itself from damage. Fake Out is able to prevent an opposing Pokemon from doing anything for a turn, allowing a partner to KO them or use a setup move.
Set Details
========
Ludicolo's Special Attack EVs are maximized to allow it to hit as hard as possible, and its Speed EVs are also maximized so it can outspeed as many Pokemon as possible both in and out of rain, notably outspeeding Choice Scarf Landorus and Choice Scarf Tapu Lele under rain. A Modest nature is used to boost its Special Attack even further, but Timid is always an option to outspeed Choice Scarf Genesect and Choice Scarf Victini. Life Orb boosts Ludicolo's moves, making it a fearsome special attacker under rain. Waterium Z can be held to give Ludicolo a powerful one-time STAB attack. Swift Swim is used to double Ludicolo's Speed under rain.
Usage Tips
========
Ludicolo works best under rain thanks to Swift Swim, so avoid sending it out when rain isn't up. It is best used to punch holes in the enemy team early-game. If your opponent doesn't have a weather setter such as Tyranitar or Mega Charizard Y, Ludicolo can be a perfect lead to pressure the opposing team. If they have a weather setter, consider removing it first before sending in Ludicolo. Hydro Pump is Ludicolo's most powerful attack, especially under rain, so use it as often as possible to deal maximum damage. Ludicolo typically works best when it switches in on fairly weak resisted attacks such as Tapu Fini's Muddy Water. It can also work well as a late-game cleaner if you are able to clear its checks and set up rain, so consider saving Ludicolo and a rain setter if you see a chance to use it for this.
Team Options
========
Ludicolo needs a partner to set up rain, so either Pelipper or Politoed is necessary. Ludicolo also benefits from another rain attacker that can help wear down its checks, such as Kingdra or Mega Swampert. Because it relies heavily on rain, running a check for opposing weather setters is always a good idea. Pokemon that set weather such as Tyranitar, Alolan Ninetales, and Mega Charizard Y are beaten by Pokemon such as Landorus-T, Mega Scizor, and Tapu Koko. Fighting-types, such as Marshadow, can help deal with defensive checks to Ludicolo such as Ferrothorn, Kyurem-B, and Snorlax. A check to opposing speed control is useful, such as a Taunt user like Tapu Lele or Tapu Koko for Trick Room and your own Tailwind user such as Pelipper to deal with opposing Tailwind.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Focus Blast can be used to hit Kyurem-B, Tyranitar, and Ferrothorn, and Fightinium Z can give it a power boost and offset Focus Blast's poor accuracy. An Assault Vest set can be run to give Ludicolo more bulk and help it tank more special hits. Scald can be used over Hydro Pump, but it loses out on a lot of power.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Opposing Weather**: Abomasnow can counter Ludicolo and set up hail, which removes the advantages of rain. Mega Charizard Y can do this as well by setting up sun, weakening Ludicolo's main STAB moves.
**Bulky Attackers**: Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, Snorlax, and Kyurem-B can all easily tank a hit from Ludicolo and either set up on it or deal a lot of damage to it.
**Faster Attackers**: Pokemon such as Genesect and Victini can carry a Choice Scarf and outspeed Ludicolo in rain and KO it.
**Opposing Speed Control**: Opposing Trick Room and Tailwind can allow strong Pokemon to outspeed Ludicolo, preventing it from attacking safely.
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