While I'm usually partial to fire, I heard about two new Gen 8 Pokemon, being Barraskewda and Dracovish, with Swift Swim and Fishious Rend, respectively. Being a fan of monotype teams, I worked to design one that I think isn't terrible, but I'm open to what other people think. The idea is a partial rain team, while not entirely being rain. I've had times where I've faced Sand teams and it becomes a weather battle more than anything, and I'm trying to avoid an over reliance on rain. Any thoughts and ideas would be greatly appreciated.
First up is my usual lead, being Pelipper. Pelipper is set up to be the lead with Drizzle as my primary reason, along with its general bulkiness. It can take physical hits pretty well, which helps for switching back in when I want the Rain back up. It's the team's primary Rain set-up. He's got then Roost for HP recovery, Hurricane and Scald for two solid STAB moves, and U-Turn to help with switch-ins.
Pelipper @ Leftovers
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
- U-turn
- Hurricane
- Roost
- Scald
Next up is the Barraskewda, who gets a serious boost from the rain with its Swift Swim ability. Plus, I have it holding a band for added Attack, making it a pretty heavy physical attacker, and can outspeed a lot of stuff that isn't banded. It's got it's move choice mainly for coverage, depending on the team I'm facing, and has a solid STAB Liquidation. I was debating between Aqua Jet or Crunch, but decided on Crunch for the coverage, giving Barraskewda more utility.
Barraskewda @ Choice Band
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Liquidation
- Close Combat
- Psychic Fangs
- Crunch
The beast that is Dracovish is set up with a Scarf for extra speed, so I can try to outspend my opponents and use the raw power of Fishious Rend to decimate. Usually he either breaks walls, or revenge kills, and has other moves for coverage if he is needed.
Dracovish @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Strong Jaw
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Fishious Rend
- Crunch
- Ice Fang
- Outrage
A Rain Dancer, along with Toxic set-up, and then Earthquake to help keep away Electric types. He can be risky at times with his Grass weakness, so I gotta be a bit tricky with my opponent. However, if Rain is up his speed goes up, which helps him dish out STAB damage, plus is a good reserve in case Pelipper goes down, and I need rain again.
Seismitoad @ Leftovers
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Toxic
- Earthquake
- Liquidation
- Rain Dance
Rotom-Wash is a cheeky little Pokemon and I love him. The Choice Scarf and Trick combination can really help me out when I can predict my opponent's move and keep them trapped, plus I can remove their item if they are using it to stay alive longer. Taking advantage of the SpA with a STAB Hydro Pump and Will-O-Wisp for that burn to help cripple Physical Attackers and throw up a status. Plus, Volt Switch to hit certain pokemon hard, before getting out of there quick.
Rotom-Wash @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Trick
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Will-O-Wisp
Lapras is a bit of an odd choice for the team. Originally it was a Moxie Gyarados rocking Dragon Dance, but a lot of the team felt physical, and I wanted something a bit more awkward on the team, for more niche situations. A Lapras with Hydration to help take advantage of the rain, but with an moves made to make an opponent switch or properly annoy them. Perish Song, Substitute, and Protect are for staying alive to help pressure my opponent to make the switch. Then there is Ice Shard for a STAB Priority move for when they need a bit of a nudge.
Lapras @ Leftovers
Ability: Hydration
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Ice Shard
- Perish Song
- Protect
- Substitute
Feel free to give me notes on this! There are some combinations with this team that carries some risk and I'm hoping to increase the success in this team in any way possible.
First up is my usual lead, being Pelipper. Pelipper is set up to be the lead with Drizzle as my primary reason, along with its general bulkiness. It can take physical hits pretty well, which helps for switching back in when I want the Rain back up. It's the team's primary Rain set-up. He's got then Roost for HP recovery, Hurricane and Scald for two solid STAB moves, and U-Turn to help with switch-ins.
Pelipper @ Leftovers
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
- U-turn
- Hurricane
- Roost
- Scald
Next up is the Barraskewda, who gets a serious boost from the rain with its Swift Swim ability. Plus, I have it holding a band for added Attack, making it a pretty heavy physical attacker, and can outspeed a lot of stuff that isn't banded. It's got it's move choice mainly for coverage, depending on the team I'm facing, and has a solid STAB Liquidation. I was debating between Aqua Jet or Crunch, but decided on Crunch for the coverage, giving Barraskewda more utility.
Barraskewda @ Choice Band
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Liquidation
- Close Combat
- Psychic Fangs
- Crunch
The beast that is Dracovish is set up with a Scarf for extra speed, so I can try to outspend my opponents and use the raw power of Fishious Rend to decimate. Usually he either breaks walls, or revenge kills, and has other moves for coverage if he is needed.
Dracovish @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Strong Jaw
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Fishious Rend
- Crunch
- Ice Fang
- Outrage
A Rain Dancer, along with Toxic set-up, and then Earthquake to help keep away Electric types. He can be risky at times with his Grass weakness, so I gotta be a bit tricky with my opponent. However, if Rain is up his speed goes up, which helps him dish out STAB damage, plus is a good reserve in case Pelipper goes down, and I need rain again.
Seismitoad @ Leftovers
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Toxic
- Earthquake
- Liquidation
- Rain Dance
Rotom-Wash is a cheeky little Pokemon and I love him. The Choice Scarf and Trick combination can really help me out when I can predict my opponent's move and keep them trapped, plus I can remove their item if they are using it to stay alive longer. Taking advantage of the SpA with a STAB Hydro Pump and Will-O-Wisp for that burn to help cripple Physical Attackers and throw up a status. Plus, Volt Switch to hit certain pokemon hard, before getting out of there quick.
Rotom-Wash @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Trick
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Will-O-Wisp
Lapras is a bit of an odd choice for the team. Originally it was a Moxie Gyarados rocking Dragon Dance, but a lot of the team felt physical, and I wanted something a bit more awkward on the team, for more niche situations. A Lapras with Hydration to help take advantage of the rain, but with an moves made to make an opponent switch or properly annoy them. Perish Song, Substitute, and Protect are for staying alive to help pressure my opponent to make the switch. Then there is Ice Shard for a STAB Priority move for when they need a bit of a nudge.
Lapras @ Leftovers
Ability: Hydration
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Ice Shard
- Perish Song
- Protect
- Substitute
Feel free to give me notes on this! There are some combinations with this team that carries some risk and I'm hoping to increase the success in this team in any way possible.
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