This team is, or at least tries to be, centered around Dugtrio. I've always loved the trapping abilities like Shadow Tag and Arena Trap, and I don't enjoy using Wobbuffett so I went with Dugtrio. Since Dugtrio performs particularly well on rain teams, I decided to make a rain team for him. This team is also very good at keeping rain up.
At a glance
The team
Politoed (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
0 Speed IVs
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Scald
- Protect
- Perish Song
- Toxic
The obvious (and only) available OU rain lead, and oddly enough, one half of my defensive core.
Lets start from top to bottom. Female due to every single thing using Attract being female. Lefties because defensive. 252 HP and 252 Def to complement my specially defensive Ferrothorn 0 Speed IVs and Relaxed to be slower than Ttar, Hippo and Abomasnow to get weather up (unless they're set up similarly). Moveset is standard and obvious. Scald to burn things, Toxic + Protect to rack up residual damage, and Perish Song for pseudo phazing and for a neat little trick with Dugtrio that I'll show later.
Team synergy:
Weakens fire for Ferrothorn
Provides Dry Skin healing for Toxicroak
Powers up Starmie's Surf and gives it a 100% accurate Thunder.
Gives Tornadus a 100% accurate Hurricane
Can Perish trap threats with Dugtrio
Toxicroak (M) @ Black Sludge
Trait: Dry Skin
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Substitute
- Bulk Up
- Drain Punch
- Sucker Punch
The much needed physical attacker of the team. Mainly used for Blissey and Ferrothorn which my team struggles against otherwise. It also provides powerful priority, a handy fighting resistance, immunity to water moves and wallbreaking capabilities with Sub + Bulk up.
Adamant + EVs to hit as hard as possible while maintaining bulk. Speed is unnecessary since I'm usually switching into walls and slower things. Standard moveset to further increase survivability.
Tried to talk up this thing as much as possible, but it seems like the weak link of my team, and, due to Dugtrio, mostly unnecessary outside of taking out Blissey and Ferrothorn.
Team synergy:
Provides Fighting resistance for Ferrothorn
Takes out Blissey and Ferrothorn for Tornadus and Starmie
Tornadus (M) @ Choice Specs
Trait: Prankster
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Rain Dance
- Hurricane
- Tailwind
- U-turn
This thing hits like a damn truck. With specs it has the ability to 2HKO almost anything that doesn't resist it with Hurricane. The main special attacker of the team. It can net 1HKOs on Gliscors and Scizors at full health, without hazards. Timid over Modest so I can still outspeed unscarfed base 110s and below.
Hurricane is obviously the main move of the set, which I end up using 90% of the time. U-turn is there because Jirachi, Heatran and Tyranitar are all common switch-ins, and U-turning into Dugtrio almost certainly means death for them, making it easier for Tornadus to sweep. Rain Dance is for the off-chance that Politoed dies before another weather inducer and the opposing weather inducer is also dead. Tailwind to aid against set-up sweepers.
Team synergy:
Can lure and U-turn Jirachi, Heatran and Tyranitar for Dugtrio
Rain Dance support if Politoed dies.
Ground immunity for Toxicroak
Fighting resistance for Ferrothorn
Bug (U-turn) resistance for Starmie
Ferrothorn (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
Sassy Nature (+SDef, -Spd)
- Power Whip
- Stealth Rock
- Leech Seed
- Protect
The special half of the defensive core, and a staple for rain teams, imo. Provides crucial resistances to electric, grass and water moves and Stealth Rock support (Mainly for Dragonite). >.> Power Whip to hit problematic Pokemon like Rotom-W and Gastrodon, also Swampert and Quagsire. Leech Seed + Protect for pseudo recovery, switches, and locking choiced Pokemon into moves.
Team synergy:
Electric resist for Politoed, Tornadus and Starmie
Water resist for Dugtrio
Psychic resist for Toxicroak
Provides Stealth Rock and can provide Leech Seed support for..the whole team
Can Protect on choiced users to provide for easier switches, which is welcomed on an offensive team
Starmie @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunder
- Ice Beam
- Rapid Spin
- Surf
Scarf Starmie wuuuuut? With Rapid Spin!? AND NO TRICK!?
Yes, it's a bit of a weird set. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Let me try to defend it a little so you don't think I've lost my mind.
First of all, Scarf timid Starmie outspeeds almost every common scarfer in the game. It's also capable of 1HKOing or at least denting most of them. It 1HKOs scarf Landorus, Terrakion, Haxorus, and the odd Scarf Gengar with Surf (Ice Beam for Haxorus). It 2HKOs scarf Latios with Ice Beam.
That's not all, though. It's also capable of outspeeding all common Dragon Dancers at +1 and 1HKOing the majority of them. This includes Dragonite (after rocks), Salamence and Gyarados.
What makes Scarfmie works is that no one ever expects it, and they stay in with the aforementioned Pokemon, only to experience a surprise 1HKO.
Of course though, there are some drawbacks to this thing. Like I said, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Starmie doesn't provide the best Rapid Spin support in the world with a choiced item, but Rapid Spin support is necessary to maximize Dugtrio's effectiveness. Since the only priority I have on this team can be unreliable sometimes (Sucker Punch), I figure a scarf user is necessary, especially for an offensive team. But I can't lose the Rapid Spin support either, so I'm kind of in a pickle. Suggestions?
Team synergy:
Rapid Spin support for Dugtrio and Tornadus
Revenge killing capabilities with a scarf.
Fighting resistance for Ferrothorn.
Dugtrio (F) @ Focus Sash
Trait: Arena Trap
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Protect
- Earthquake
- Sucker Punch
- Stone Edge
The reason for this team's existence. Oh boy, there's a lot to say about this thing...
Why do more people not use this? Put it on the right team, give it the proper support and it can be a monster. Especially with Focus Sash AND Arena Trap on the same set. EQ is the main STAB move to hit the majority of his targets for super effective damage, Sucker Punch is very situational to finish off weakened scarfers and hitting the odd Alakazam. Stone Edge is for Volcarona and to dent flying types once Dugtrio has outlived its usefulness.
The interesting move in Protect. I can't take credit for this trick, someone I battled used it on me and I thought it was genius.
- Get Politoed out (Preferably on the biggest threat to your team)
- Use Perish Song
- Switch to Dugtrio (make sure it's at full health)
- Use Protect to stall out a turn.
- His Perish Song count is at one, and he can't switch out. Switch into something to take the hit, or fodder Dugtrio. Enjoy the free kill!
Just to show how good Dugtrio can be with a sash, here's the things in OU that he can beat/revenge kill 1 on 1, assuming the sash is in tact.
At a glance
The team
Politoed (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
0 Speed IVs
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Scald
- Protect
- Perish Song
- Toxic
The obvious (and only) available OU rain lead, and oddly enough, one half of my defensive core.
Lets start from top to bottom. Female due to every single thing using Attract being female. Lefties because defensive. 252 HP and 252 Def to complement my specially defensive Ferrothorn 0 Speed IVs and Relaxed to be slower than Ttar, Hippo and Abomasnow to get weather up (unless they're set up similarly). Moveset is standard and obvious. Scald to burn things, Toxic + Protect to rack up residual damage, and Perish Song for pseudo phazing and for a neat little trick with Dugtrio that I'll show later.
Team synergy:
Weakens fire for Ferrothorn
Provides Dry Skin healing for Toxicroak
Powers up Starmie's Surf and gives it a 100% accurate Thunder.
Gives Tornadus a 100% accurate Hurricane
Can Perish trap threats with Dugtrio
Toxicroak (M) @ Black Sludge
Trait: Dry Skin
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Substitute
- Bulk Up
- Drain Punch
- Sucker Punch
The much needed physical attacker of the team. Mainly used for Blissey and Ferrothorn which my team struggles against otherwise. It also provides powerful priority, a handy fighting resistance, immunity to water moves and wallbreaking capabilities with Sub + Bulk up.
Adamant + EVs to hit as hard as possible while maintaining bulk. Speed is unnecessary since I'm usually switching into walls and slower things. Standard moveset to further increase survivability.
Tried to talk up this thing as much as possible, but it seems like the weak link of my team, and, due to Dugtrio, mostly unnecessary outside of taking out Blissey and Ferrothorn.
Team synergy:
Provides Fighting resistance for Ferrothorn
Takes out Blissey and Ferrothorn for Tornadus and Starmie
Tornadus (M) @ Choice Specs
Trait: Prankster
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Rain Dance
- Hurricane
- Tailwind
- U-turn
This thing hits like a damn truck. With specs it has the ability to 2HKO almost anything that doesn't resist it with Hurricane. The main special attacker of the team. It can net 1HKOs on Gliscors and Scizors at full health, without hazards. Timid over Modest so I can still outspeed unscarfed base 110s and below.
Hurricane is obviously the main move of the set, which I end up using 90% of the time. U-turn is there because Jirachi, Heatran and Tyranitar are all common switch-ins, and U-turning into Dugtrio almost certainly means death for them, making it easier for Tornadus to sweep. Rain Dance is for the off-chance that Politoed dies before another weather inducer and the opposing weather inducer is also dead. Tailwind to aid against set-up sweepers.
Team synergy:
Can lure and U-turn Jirachi, Heatran and Tyranitar for Dugtrio
Rain Dance support if Politoed dies.
Ground immunity for Toxicroak
Fighting resistance for Ferrothorn
Bug (U-turn) resistance for Starmie
Ferrothorn (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
Sassy Nature (+SDef, -Spd)
- Power Whip
- Stealth Rock
- Leech Seed
- Protect
The special half of the defensive core, and a staple for rain teams, imo. Provides crucial resistances to electric, grass and water moves and Stealth Rock support (Mainly for Dragonite). >.> Power Whip to hit problematic Pokemon like Rotom-W and Gastrodon, also Swampert and Quagsire. Leech Seed + Protect for pseudo recovery, switches, and locking choiced Pokemon into moves.
Team synergy:
Electric resist for Politoed, Tornadus and Starmie
Water resist for Dugtrio
Psychic resist for Toxicroak
Provides Stealth Rock and can provide Leech Seed support for..the whole team
Can Protect on choiced users to provide for easier switches, which is welcomed on an offensive team
Starmie @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunder
- Ice Beam
- Rapid Spin
- Surf
Scarf Starmie wuuuuut? With Rapid Spin!? AND NO TRICK!?
Yes, it's a bit of a weird set. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Let me try to defend it a little so you don't think I've lost my mind.
First of all, Scarf timid Starmie outspeeds almost every common scarfer in the game. It's also capable of 1HKOing or at least denting most of them. It 1HKOs scarf Landorus, Terrakion, Haxorus, and the odd Scarf Gengar with Surf (Ice Beam for Haxorus). It 2HKOs scarf Latios with Ice Beam.
That's not all, though. It's also capable of outspeeding all common Dragon Dancers at +1 and 1HKOing the majority of them. This includes Dragonite (after rocks), Salamence and Gyarados.
What makes Scarfmie works is that no one ever expects it, and they stay in with the aforementioned Pokemon, only to experience a surprise 1HKO.
Of course though, there are some drawbacks to this thing. Like I said, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Starmie doesn't provide the best Rapid Spin support in the world with a choiced item, but Rapid Spin support is necessary to maximize Dugtrio's effectiveness. Since the only priority I have on this team can be unreliable sometimes (Sucker Punch), I figure a scarf user is necessary, especially for an offensive team. But I can't lose the Rapid Spin support either, so I'm kind of in a pickle. Suggestions?
Team synergy:
Rapid Spin support for Dugtrio and Tornadus
Revenge killing capabilities with a scarf.
Fighting resistance for Ferrothorn.
Dugtrio (F) @ Focus Sash
Trait: Arena Trap
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Protect
- Earthquake
- Sucker Punch
- Stone Edge
The reason for this team's existence. Oh boy, there's a lot to say about this thing...
Why do more people not use this? Put it on the right team, give it the proper support and it can be a monster. Especially with Focus Sash AND Arena Trap on the same set. EQ is the main STAB move to hit the majority of his targets for super effective damage, Sucker Punch is very situational to finish off weakened scarfers and hitting the odd Alakazam. Stone Edge is for Volcarona and to dent flying types once Dugtrio has outlived its usefulness.
The interesting move in Protect. I can't take credit for this trick, someone I battled used it on me and I thought it was genius.
- Get Politoed out (Preferably on the biggest threat to your team)
- Use Perish Song
- Switch to Dugtrio (make sure it's at full health)
- Use Protect to stall out a turn.
- His Perish Song count is at one, and he can't switch out. Switch into something to take the hit, or fodder Dugtrio. Enjoy the free kill!
Just to show how good Dugtrio can be with a sash, here's the things in OU that he can beat/revenge kill 1 on 1, assuming the sash is in tact.
(0 HP 0 Def) Alakazam - Has to revenge kill. EQ - 87.65% - 103.98% - 2HKO
(0 HP 0 Def) Espeon - Has to revenge kill. EQ - 65.68% - 77.86% - 2HKO
(252 HP 0 Def) Heatran - Can switch in on it. EQ - 116.58% - 138.34% - 1HKO. Even the bizarre 252 HP/252 Def variant is 1HKOed 56.25% of the time.
(0 HP 0 Def) Infernape - Can switch in on a non Mach Punch variant. EQ -107.51% - 126.96% - 1HKO
(252 HP 0 Def) Jirachi - Can come in on an electric move or Trick but better off revenge killing. EQ - 58.66% - 69.8% - 2HKO
(0 HP 0 Def) Jolteon - Can come in on an electric move but better off revenge killing, since it's outsped. EQ - 131.73% - 156.09% - 1HKO
(0 HP 0 Def) Lucario - Can come in on Swords Dance, otherwise needs to revenge kill because Extremespeed. EQ - 113.17% - 133.45% - 1HKO
(252 HP 0 Def) Magnezone - Can come in on anything. EQ - 122.09% - 144.77% - 1HKO
(252 HP 0 Def) Metagross - Has to revenge kill. EQ - 51.92% - 61.81% - Shaky 2HKO if leftovers.
(0 HP 0 Def) Ninetales - Can come in on anything. EQ - 104.53% - 123.34% - 1HKO
(0 HP 0 Def) Starmie - Has to revenge kill. Sucker Punch - 55.94% - 65.9% - 2HKO. EQ - 51.72% - 61.3% - 2HKO
(252 HP 252 Def) Tentacruel - Can come in on Toxic Spikes, otherwise has to revenge kill. EQ - 67.58% - 79.95% - 2HKO
(0 HP 0 Def) Terrakion - Can come in on any non scarf variant CC, otherwise has to revenge kill. EQ - 79.88% - 94.74% - 2HKO. EQ at -1 - 120.74% - 142.11% - 1HKO
(252 HP 0 Def) Tyranitar - Has to revenge kill. EQ - 54.21% - 63.86% - 2HKO.
252 HP 0 Def) Volcarona - Can come in on anything. Stone Edge - 120.86% - 142.25% - 1HKO.
And the best part is Ferrothorn lures most of these out. Who needs Choice Band?
Team synergy:
Perish traps with Politoed.
Beats most Ferrothorns counters.
Immunity to electric moves for Politoed, Tornadus and Starmie
Aids Politoed in winning weather wars.
Thanks for reading. Hope it wasn't tl;dr.
Team synergy:
Perish traps with Politoed.
Beats most Ferrothorns counters.
Immunity to electric moves for Politoed, Tornadus and Starmie
Aids Politoed in winning weather wars.
Thanks for reading. Hope it wasn't tl;dr.
