Community POTW #14

[knuckles1299]

I still think it's beyond stupid that drizzle/swift swim is banned. Sandstorm is much more broken.
Politoed @ leftovers
Nature: Calm: Sp.D+/ Atk-
EV's: Def 252/Sp.D 252/ HP 6
-Boil Over (Scald)
- Substitute
- Toxic
- Encore
It's funny I've sweeped an entire team with this once XD. But Boil Over is useful for the burn (hax lol) also so taunt doesn't rape you. Substitute is useful for stalling, his defenses allow him to support a substitute generally for more than one turn. Toxic to widdle down your opponent. And Encore to piss the hell out of spikers and set up pokemon. Tentacruel is your biggest threat but nobody uses him anymore.
-

[TheAwesomeOne]

Politoed@Choice Scarf
Drizzle
Timid
252 SpA, 4 SpD, 252 Spe
-Surf
-Ice Beam
-Hidden Power[Grass/Electric]
-Psychic/Focus Blast
Same as Specs set. No differences but the EV's and Nature.

[Kraleck]

Triple Threat
Battle Type: Triple
Position: Side
Partners: Center - Manectric (Lightningrod), Other Side - Something with Discharge

Politoed (Drizzle)
Bold - 252 Sp.Atk, 129 to both defenses
Scald, Mud Bomb, Psychic/Hidden Power (Rock, Flying, or Dark), Ice Beam

Opposing Thunder will get sucked in by Manectric. Scald will lower the Attack of anything it Burns (that isn't KO'd from STAB + Rain), Ice Beam to complement the STAB of Manectric, Mud Bomb for any Electrics stupid enough to stay in (and anything you may need to lower the accuracy of). Psychic for variety.

[Wadeledge]

^
Yep, but Drizzle is only common on Politoed.
And of coarse, Kyogre.

So because it's slightly more common now it's banned? That makes no sense, is Drought/Chlorophyll banned too? How about Snow Warning/Ice Body? Sandstream/Sand Rush?

That's so stupid, it completely neuters the ability! If all that you're going to be able to do with it is boost your own Surf, you may as well run Water Absorb instead because of risk of Thunder!

[TheAwesomeOne]

I have no idea why Drizzle+Swift Swim is banned, I would like to know the answer as well.

[Serebii]

This pokemon is gonna be a lot less useful now that drizzleSwim is banned.

It's only banned by Smogon. Smogon isn't scripture

[Aerodact]

Yeah, this one's not bad... Suffers from very average stats but he can pull through with high special defence and HP. It's his new ability which obviously makes him worth the money.

Late Game Sweeper
Politoed @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Waterfall
- Ice Punch / Earthquake
- Belly Drum
- Protect

OK, so this is an ... interesting set which I don't really like... but hear me out. This is a darn good special sponge which can set up a Belly Drum happily against a Special-Based pokemon. It then has the joy of sweeping with its moves: Waterfall for stab, Ice Punch against dragons or grass, but perhaps earthquake to stop it being walled by water pokemon? Protect & Leftovers is there if needed to boost his health as he has quite fragile speed. It's also not too bad to switch him out after Belly Drum as against a water move he can absorb 1/4 of his health back again switching in.

Dreaded Drizzle..
Politoed @ Leftovers
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SAtk / 252 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Scald
- Encore
- Substitute
- Toxic

This set works a treat and has to be THE BEST set for a rain dancing team (so long as you know how to use it). Boil Over is needed for a stab and the risk of taunt. Encore can force a switch or allow you to switch more easily - which is mostly what this guy will be doing to keep the rain up. Substitute helps you wall toxic and Leftovers helps for obvious reasons.

It's Chilly Outside
Politoed @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Psychic / Focus Blast / Hidden Power (Ground)
- Psychic / Focus Blast / Hidden Power (Ground)

Obvious enough? You could use a Choice Specs if you wanted but with Drizzle, you get that extra 1.5 boost on Surf anyway.

I'll leave the other sets to everyone else...
Meanwhile... Doubles Partners:

Scizor - Fire weakness reduced and can take out many of the things a Politoed can't.
Jynx - With Dry Skin a Surfing Drizzling Politoed pairs quite nicely with this extra threat. You could choice scarf them both: Jynx with Lovely Kiss and Politoed with Surf to just exterminate :P
And any swift swimmers etc

Counters...
Electric types which are fast like Jolteon are perfect.

[TheAwesomeOne]

Politoed@Life Orb/Leftovers
Drizzle
Adamant/Jolly
4 HP, 252 Att, 252 Spe
-Belly Drum
-Waterfall
-Earthquake/Brick Break
-Ice Punch
Belly Drum raises your low Attack to good levels. Waterfall is a good Physical STAB. Earthquake is for Electric, Rocks and Steels that resist Water. Brick Break is just an option. Ice Punch is to cover Grass, Dragons and Flying types. Politoed has decent Speed, so Jolly may be worth consideration. Adamant for more power.



Lightning Rod Zapdos and Hydration Lapras are good Partners.

[TheAwesomeOne]

Yeah, this one's not bad... Suffers from very average stats but he can pull through with high special defence and HP. It's his new ability which obviously makes him worth the money.

Late Game Sweeper
Politoed @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SDef-Why 4 Attack?
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Waterfall
- Ice Punch / Earthquake
- Belly Drum
- Protect

OK, so this is an ... interesting set which I don't really like... but hear me out. This is a darn good special sponge which can set up a Belly Drum happily against a Special-Based pokemon. It then has the joy of sweeping with its moves: Waterfall for stab, Ice Punch against dragons or grass, but perhaps earthquake to stop it being walled by water pokemon? Protect & Leftovers is there if needed to boost his health as he has quite fragile speed. It's also not too bad to switch him out after Belly Drum as against a water move he can absorb 1/4 of his health back again switching in.

Dreaded Drizzle..
Politoed @ Leftovers
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SDef-Why 4 Attack?
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Boil Over
- Encore
- Substitute
- Toxic

This set works a treat and has to be THE BEST set for a rain dancing team (so long as you know how to use it). Boil Over is needed for a stab and the risk of taunt. Encore can force a switch or allow you to switch more easily - which is mostly what this guy will be doing to keep the rain up. Substitute helps you wall toxic and Leftovers helps for obvious reasons.

It's Chilly Outside
Politoed @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Psychic / Focus Blast / Hidden Power (Ground)
- Psychic / Focus Blast / Hidden Power (Ground)

Obvious enough? You could use a Choice Specs if you wanted but with Drizzle, you get that extra 1.5 boost on Surf anyway.

I'll leave the other sets to everyone else...
Meanwhile... Doubles Partners:

Scizor - Fire weakness reduced and can take out many of the things a Politoed can't.
Jynx - With Dry Skin a Surfing Drizzling Politoed pairs quite nicely with this extra threat. You could choice scarf them both: Jynx with Lovely Kiss and Politoed with Surf to just exterminate :P
And any swift swimmers etc

Counters...
Electric types which are fast like Jolteon are perfect.

10charlimit

[windsong]

So because it's slightly more common now it's banned? That makes no sense, is Drought/Chlorophyll banned too? How about Snow Warning/Ice Body? Sandstream/Sand Rush?

That's so stupid, it completely neuters the ability! If all that you're going to be able to do with it is boost your own Surf, you may as well run Water Absorb instead because of risk of Thunder!

I have no idea why Drizzle+Swift Swim is banned, I would like to know the answer as well.

Drizzle + Swift Swim is significantly different from the other weathers + ability combinations. Sandstream + Sand Rush/Power is really good and all, but it has a grand total of two good sweepers, and frankly they can't really wear down each others' common counters that well, especially considering all those common counters have recovery options available. In addition, ground moves don't get boosted by Sandstorm. Drought + Chlorophyll is okay, but it suffers as well, because nothing with STAB fire moves has Chlorophyll. Hail...yeah, lol.

Rain on the other hand has a huge amount of sweepers available -- Kingdra, Gorybyss, Ludicolo, Omastar, Quilfish, and Kabutops, just to name a few. All of these Pokemon are capable of easily breaking down each others' counters -- Nattorei, for example, the most common answer to rain, is 3HKO'd by SpecsDra's Hydro Pump. In addition, all the water moves, most of which are STABbed, are boosted by 50%. That's a humongous increase. Finally, rain also has the added benefits of increasing Thunder and Hurricane to 100% accuracy, and makes steels neutral to Fire attacks.

tl;dr, PermaRain's better than the other weathers.

edit: and lol how is sand more broken

edit2: to make this post relevant to politoed, Scald/Rest/Hypnosis/FocusBlast is a pretty good set!!!

[TheAwesomeOne]

So Dry Skin Pokémon, Lightning Rod Pokémon and Hydration Pokémon are best partnered with Politoed.

[Zachmac]

Hypnosis should be on Scarf leads, so you can put the enemy to sleep, then safely swap out so it can come back if the enemy changes the weather effects.

Adaptability Basculin with a Scarfed Waterfall or Banded Aqua Jet is surprisingly good team mate, going to 240 or 120 power.

Specs Dragonite also works, with Hurricane,Thunder,Surf, and Ice Beam.

Or it could team up with a mix DD dragonite.

Now, if politoed only got U-turn or Volt change....

[Cowstep]

Politoad /w Muscle Band
Drizzle
Modest
-Earthquake
-Water Pulse/Surf
-Ice Beam
-Substitue

[Zachmac]

Politoad /w Muscle Band
Drizzle
Modest
-Earthquake
-Water Pulse/Surf
-Ice Beam
-Substitue

.....Modest with Earthquake and Muscle band aren't a very good combo...

[TheAwesomeOne]

^
^
Muscle Band is just for Earthquake, and there is a -Attack Nature. Water Pulse doesn't deserve to be slashed, Substitute has no use with no Stalling, Stat boosts and Baton Passing. Please think before you post sets.
Don't think I am being harsh.

[The_Heir_of_Madness]

Can't Croak

Calm
252 hp 252 sp def 4 def
Item leftovers
Drizzle (of course)

Water Pulse
Hypnosis
Substitute
Protect

Put um to sleep sub out and try to confuse them, stall for hp when necessary

[CaptainCombusken]

DrizzleStatus/Drizzletoad
Modest; 252 SpAtk, 252 Speed, 4 HP
Drizzle @Damp Rock
- Surf
- Mud Bomb
- Toxic
- Hypnosis

The Drizzletoad I use. Toxic and Hypnosis are rather useful, with a couple of good attacking moves, one of which is able is reduce accuracy which is also useful.

The key with this Drizzletoad is to basically induce Sleep or Poison and then spam the attack that is best against that particular Pokemon. Aside from keeping it alive so it can counter other weather types and a little bit of attacking and general Status, this frog has not a lot of use, but is key to Rain dance teams.

What? A Toad that doesn't Drizzle?
Modest; 252 SpAtk, 252 Speed, 4 HP
Damp, Wise Glasses/Life orb
- Surf / Scald
- Ice Beam
- Focus Blast
- Psychic/Rest

Okay, a non-drizzling Politoed, useful for teams that want to use him but don't want any weather. Ice and Fighting moves provide excellent coverage when combined. Surf or Scald, whether you'd prefer more power or a possibility of a status. And finally, the last move depends on whether you're using Life Orb or Wise Glasses really, and how long you want the frog to hang around. If you'[re using Life Orb/Want the Frog to last a while, use Rest. If you want to have another good move, take Psychic.

Good Partners: Swift swin Floatzel, Dry Skin Toxicroak, Lightningrod Seaking (such a useful Pokemon with good attack), Rain Dish/Leftovers/Aqua Ring (stalling basically) Blastoise.

[BigGreen]

DrizzleStatus/Drizzletoad
Modest; 252 SpAtk, 252 Speed, 4 HP
Drizzle @Damp Rock
- Surf
- Mud Bomb
- Toxic
- Hypnosis

The Drizzletoad I use. Toxic and Hypnosis are rather useful, with a couple of good attacking moves, one of which is able is reduce accuracy which is also useful.

The key with this Drizzletoad is to basically induce Sleep or Poison and then spam the attack that is best against that particular Pokemon. Aside from keeping it alive so it can counter other weather types and a little bit of attacking and general Status, this frog has not a lot of use, but is key to Rain dance teams.

Not to be rude, but I don't think two major status' on one pokemon is a great idea. Second of all, drizzle causes endless rain, so you don't need the damp rock.

[Pokeman Man]

Partners
Bulky Blastoise and Tentacruel make great partners in the rain. Constant healing with Leftovers, Toxic and Protect for stalling. Bulky Hydration Pokemon like Vaporeon and Lapras are also great because it calls for a full instant recovery of status and HP. Dry Skin Toxicroak is also nice, since you can get free HP and not sacrifice an item for Leftovers. Other partners can basically be anything that blocks Grass and Electric. Magnezone, Ferrothorn, Rotom-Grass/Fire and Galvantula are good partners. Rotom-Water is also a great partner, picking up 100% accurate STAB Thunder, and STAB + Rain boosted Hydro Pump.

Countering Politoed
Anything that can resist all of it's moves are great. Magnezone, Ferrothorn, Rotom-Water, just watch out for whatever Hidden Power it may have. Steels that also block Toxic and Scald / Surf are great. Offensively owning it, Thunder. Just.. Thunder. STAB Thunder with 100% accuracy will murder Politoed. Rotom-Water, Electrode, Jolteon, fast Electrics, really. Ferrothorn's STAB Power Whip and Magnezone's STAB Thunder really kill it. Tentacruel is also a great counter, blocking Surf, Ice Beam, and Toxic. Just watch out for Psychic. It's not hard to take down, as long as you have the right Pokemon.

[Ghosts of the Forums]

Bog standard Politoed:
Politoed @Choice Scarf
Timid
Drizzle
EVs: 252 Sp.Atk, 252 Spd, 4 HP
-Surf/Scald
-Ice Beam/Psychic
-Focus Blast
-Hypnosis
Kind of the standard. Surf is STAB, but Scald has a 30% chance of burn which is nice. Ice Beam KOs Dragon-types, while Psychic hits Fighting-types hard. Hypnosis is used with Choice Scarf to put the opposing lead to sleep, then you switch out while your opponent does.