[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Hydro Pump / Surf / Scald
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Focus Blast / Hydro Pump
move 4: Hidden Power Grass
item: Choice Specs
ability: Drizzle
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hydro Pump compensates for its shaky accuracy with incredible power in the rain, notably 2HKOing Bold Rotom-W. If a more reliable alternative is preferred, Surf or Scald can be used either in place of or alongside Hydro Pump. Surf's higher power can still 2HKO less sturdy Pokemon resistant to Water such as Keldeo and Slowbro, allowing it to be a very consistent midground attack. Scald's nasty burn chance allows Politoed to still spread status on usual targets such as Tentacruel and other Politoed while still being quite a powerful attack. Ice Beam primarily shatters Dragon-types such as Latios and Dragonite, but it also does great damage to Grass-types such as Celebi and the occasional Amoonguss. Focus Blast rips 60% off even the most specially bulky Ferrothorn, making Politoed one of the most effective lures for Ferrothorn available for rain teams; however, the commonly maligned accuracy makes this a riskier move than even Hydro Pump, which can still 3HKO Ferrothorn. Focus Blast also targets Kyurem-B and Abomasnow, which can be important to hit immediately. Hidden Power Grass is important coverage for the three most common Water-immune Pokemon, Jellicent, Gastrodon, and Seismitoad,though Politoed needs Stealth Rock to guarantee the 2HKO on maximum HP Jellicent.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack makes Politoed as powerful as possible, which is very important when it relies so heavily on barely 2HKOing Pokemon such as Jellicent with its coverage moves. Maximum Speed is used in order to reliably outrun the previously mentioned Jellicent as well as Pokemon around base 60 Speed such as Magnezone and Scizor. Modest is preferred for as much power as possible, though a Timid nature provides a notable jump in Speed for Pokemon such as Breloom, defensive Celebi, and neutral-natured Mamoswine and Dragonite.
Team Options
========
Politoed brings the tier-warping Drizzle and should always be found on dedicated rain teams, but the offensive nature and lack of longevity of this set mean that rain teams with Choice Specs Politoed should be aggressive and fast paced. Ferrothorn is an excellent defensive pivot for any rain team, checking Pokemon that rain struggles with such as Latios and Rotom-W while providing entry hazards. Ferrothorn with Lum or Rawst Berry is particularly appreciated by Choice Specs Politoed, as the ability to shrug off Will-O-Wisp or a Scald burn once is very valuable to any fast-paced team. Thundurus-T forms an extremely powerful core with Choice Specs Politoed, carrying the raw firepower between the two to break nearly any defensive core with correct prediction. They also appreciate each other's defensive traits. Thundurus-T's immunity to Electric and Ground helps in playing around Rotom-W and Protect Gliscor, while its resistances to Ferrothorn's STAB attacks, and access to Focus Blast is invaluable to rain and its eternal struggle against Ferrothorn. Politoed in turn can pivot into Tyranitar at least once and replace Sand Stream with Drizzle as well as use its resistance to Ice to switch into a Mamoswine targeting Thundurus-T. Latios is very versatile on any rain build, helping handle a slew of threats such as Keldeo, Thundurus-T, and Terrakion while most commonly either helping Politoed break down the opposition with a Choice Specs or revenge kill boosted sweepers like Dragonite and Volcarona with Choice Scarf. Choice Specs Politoed and rain more generally struggle with Spikes and the Psychic-types of the tier. Spinners users such as Starmie, Excadrill, and Tentacruel can clear hazards while bringing their own brand of wallbreaking or defensive utility. Starmie reaches a crucial Speed tier which alongside a powerful Hydro Pump and its coverage, helps combat hyper offensive teams and Latios. Excadrill's unique typing and access to Mold Breaker allow it to pivot around Electric-, Psychic-, and Dragon-types problematic to rain such as Rotom-W, Alakazam, and Latios, allowing the user to bait an easier move to resist or even outspeed and threaten the foe with Choice Scarf Earthquake. Tentacruel is similarly very good against hyper offensive teams just like Starmie, and it provides excellent longevity thanks to its great bulk and persistent healing with Rain Dish. Steel-types with a neutrality to Fighting, specifically Scizor and Jirachi, can flip the weakness to Psychic-types on its head and either provide speed control with a Choice Scarf or set up for a sweep. While both are infamous for their effectiveness with U-Turn, Scizor can more quickly and more reliably remove Psychic-types with a much more powerful U-turn or Pursuit, while Jirachi's enormous movepool allows it to revenge kill a wider range of threats or provide support through moves like Trick and Healing Wish.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/monai.482455/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/cow.654013/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/magialice.624724/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adorluigi.528364/
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Hydro Pump / Surf / Scald
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Focus Blast / Hydro Pump
move 4: Hidden Power Grass
item: Choice Specs
ability: Drizzle
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hydro Pump compensates for its shaky accuracy with incredible power in the rain, notably 2HKOing Bold Rotom-W. If a more reliable alternative is preferred, Surf or Scald can be used either in place of or alongside Hydro Pump. Surf's higher power can still 2HKO less sturdy Pokemon resistant to Water such as Keldeo and Slowbro, allowing it to be a very consistent midground attack. Scald's nasty burn chance allows Politoed to still spread status on usual targets such as Tentacruel and other Politoed while still being quite a powerful attack. Ice Beam primarily shatters Dragon-types such as Latios and Dragonite, but it also does great damage to Grass-types such as Celebi and the occasional Amoonguss. Focus Blast rips 60% off even the most specially bulky Ferrothorn, making Politoed one of the most effective lures for Ferrothorn available for rain teams; however, the commonly maligned accuracy makes this a riskier move than even Hydro Pump, which can still 3HKO Ferrothorn. Focus Blast also targets Kyurem-B and Abomasnow, which can be important to hit immediately. Hidden Power Grass is important coverage for the three most common Water-immune Pokemon, Jellicent, Gastrodon, and Seismitoad,though Politoed needs Stealth Rock to guarantee the 2HKO on maximum HP Jellicent.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack makes Politoed as powerful as possible, which is very important when it relies so heavily on barely 2HKOing Pokemon such as Jellicent with its coverage moves. Maximum Speed is used in order to reliably outrun the previously mentioned Jellicent as well as Pokemon around base 60 Speed such as Magnezone and Scizor. Modest is preferred for as much power as possible, though a Timid nature provides a notable jump in Speed for Pokemon such as Breloom, defensive Celebi, and neutral-natured Mamoswine and Dragonite.
Team Options
========
Politoed brings the tier-warping Drizzle and should always be found on dedicated rain teams, but the offensive nature and lack of longevity of this set mean that rain teams with Choice Specs Politoed should be aggressive and fast paced. Ferrothorn is an excellent defensive pivot for any rain team, checking Pokemon that rain struggles with such as Latios and Rotom-W while providing entry hazards. Ferrothorn with Lum or Rawst Berry is particularly appreciated by Choice Specs Politoed, as the ability to shrug off Will-O-Wisp or a Scald burn once is very valuable to any fast-paced team. Thundurus-T forms an extremely powerful core with Choice Specs Politoed, carrying the raw firepower between the two to break nearly any defensive core with correct prediction. They also appreciate each other's defensive traits. Thundurus-T's immunity to Electric and Ground helps in playing around Rotom-W and Protect Gliscor, while its resistances to Ferrothorn's STAB attacks, and access to Focus Blast is invaluable to rain and its eternal struggle against Ferrothorn. Politoed in turn can pivot into Tyranitar at least once and replace Sand Stream with Drizzle as well as use its resistance to Ice to switch into a Mamoswine targeting Thundurus-T. Latios is very versatile on any rain build, helping handle a slew of threats such as Keldeo, Thundurus-T, and Terrakion while most commonly either helping Politoed break down the opposition with a Choice Specs or revenge kill boosted sweepers like Dragonite and Volcarona with Choice Scarf. Choice Specs Politoed and rain more generally struggle with Spikes and the Psychic-types of the tier. Spinners users such as Starmie, Excadrill, and Tentacruel can clear hazards while bringing their own brand of wallbreaking or defensive utility. Starmie reaches a crucial Speed tier which alongside a powerful Hydro Pump and its coverage, helps combat hyper offensive teams and Latios. Excadrill's unique typing and access to Mold Breaker allow it to pivot around Electric-, Psychic-, and Dragon-types problematic to rain such as Rotom-W, Alakazam, and Latios, allowing the user to bait an easier move to resist or even outspeed and threaten the foe with Choice Scarf Earthquake. Tentacruel is similarly very good against hyper offensive teams just like Starmie, and it provides excellent longevity thanks to its great bulk and persistent healing with Rain Dish. Steel-types with a neutrality to Fighting, specifically Scizor and Jirachi, can flip the weakness to Psychic-types on its head and either provide speed control with a Choice Scarf or set up for a sweep. While both are infamous for their effectiveness with U-Turn, Scizor can more quickly and more reliably remove Psychic-types with a much more powerful U-turn or Pursuit, while Jirachi's enormous movepool allows it to revenge kill a wider range of threats or provide support through moves like Trick and Healing Wish.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/monai.482455/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/cow.654013/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/magialice.624724/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adorluigi.528364/
Last edited:
