Ludicolo #272
Let's face it, this guy is just plain sexy.
80 HP / 70 Atk / 70 Def / 90 SpAtk / 100 SpDef / 70 Spd / 480 Total
2x Weakness: Flying, Poison, Bug
1/2x Weakness: Ground, Steel
1/4x Weakness: Water
Flying and Bug are pretty popular, but I think a +Def-natured Ludicolo could stand up to some of the most-used Flying/Bug moves, i.e. Aerial Ace, Megahorn, maybe even Brave Bird.
Abilities:
Swift Swim: When Rain Dance is in effect, Ludicolo's Speed is doubled
Rain Dish: When Rain Dance is in effect, Ludicolo recovers 1/16th of it's max hitpoints
Physical Movepool:
Razor Leaf
Rock Climb
Waterfall
Rock Smash
Strength
Natural Gift
Giga Impact
Drain Punch
Fling
Thief
Secret Power
Brick Break
Facade
Return
Frustration
Bullet Seed
Focus Punch
Astonish
Fake Out
Fury Swipes
Zen Headbutt
Special Movepool:
Absorb/Mega Drain/Giga Drain
Uproar
Hydro Pump
Water Pulse
Hidden Power
Ice Beam
Blizzard
Solar Beam
Energy Ball
Grass Knot
Surf
Support Movepool:
Synthesis
Leech Seed
Tickle
Sweet Scent
Substitute
Swagger
Rest / Sleep Talk
Captivate
Endure
Rain Dance/ Sunny Day/ Hail
Toxic
Protect
I think this guy has some pretty great defenses with decent special attack and speed. With his awesome abilities and great movepool (plus his cool-factor), I'm surprised we don't see this guy more often.
Survival Set
Ludicolo @Leftovers
Bold (+Def, - Atk) – Rain Dish
EVs: 252 SpDef / 252 HP / 6 Def
Move 1 : Leech Seed
Move 2 : Synthesis / Protect / Toxic
Move 3 : Rain Dance
Move 4 : Energy Ball / Giga Drain / Astonish / Hydro Pump / Surf
Rain Dance activates Rain Dish, which (with leftovers) is restoring 1/8th of your HP every turn, PLUS Leech Seed. With Rain Dance activated, I believe Synthesis only restores a max of 1/3rd Ludicolo's max HP...which is still pretty decent, but you might want the all-powerful Protect over it, or Toxic to further annoy.
Quite a few choices for your last slot here: Energy Ball is 120 BP with STAB...Giga Drain hits 90 BP with STAB, and is added healing to make Ludicolo even more annoying...Astonish is a very weak 30 physical BP ghost attack, but with 100% accuracy and a 30% chance for flinching...adding that flinch to the rest of Ludicolo's moveset could be pretty damn annoying. Assuming Rain Dance multiplies Water's BP by 1.5 (I'm pretty sure this is true, please correct me if i'm wrong), Hydro Pump will be sitting at 240 BP, but with that annoying 80% accuracy and 5 PP...Surf, on the other hand, jumps up to 190 BP, with a solid 100% accuracy and 15 PP.
Obviously your opponent is really going to want to get rid of your Rain Dance since it's helping your Ludicolo so much, but good luck switching in any rock/ground type pokemon to use Sandstorm when Ludicolo's got that boosted Hydro Pump or Surf.
Special Attacker
Ludicolo @Leftovers / Wisdom Glasses
Modest (+SAtk, -Atk) – Swift Swim
EVs: 252 SpAtk / 252 HP / 6 Spd
Move 1 : Rain Dance
Move 2 : Energy Ball
Move 3 : Surf
Move 4 : Ice Beam
Rain Dance for that nice speed boost, Energy Ball / Surf for STAB, and Ice Beam to take care of flyers, though I think something like Hidden Power Fire/Psychic could be equally effective for covering bug / poison weakness.
So yeah, discuss Ludicolo, I’d like to see some other creative movesets or just general comments :D