[OVERVIEW]
* Ludicolo is the premier rain sweeper of VGC 2018, having just enough Speed and Special Attack to become a potent threat under gloomy skies.
*It also has above average coverage for a Water-type, being among the few to hit Tapu Fini hard thanks to its Grass-type STAB.
* Fake Out is an excellent selling point as well, since under the rain, few Pokemon can offer a faster flinch than Ludicolo.
* It even has a good Special Defense stat that makes Ludicolo trickier to KO than expected for Special Attackers.
* However, Ludicolo has a poor Defense stat that makes it easy to revenge for bulky physical attackers.
* Ludicolo is highly reliant on rain to function. Without it, it's hard to justify it over bulkier offensive Water-types such as Tapu Fini
[SET]
name: Rain Sweeper
move 1: Hydro Pump / Scald
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Energy Ball / Giga Drain
move 4: Fake Out / Protect
item: Waterium Z / Assault Vest
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Modest
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
* Hydro Pump is extremely powerful in the rain, especially when used with Waterium Z. Hydro Vortex coming from Ludicolo in the rain is capable of OHKOing bulky offensive threats such as Mega Kangaskhan and Mega Metagross.
*Although it doesn't take advantage of Waterium Z nearly as well, Scald is a more reliable option than Hydro Pump overall, and it's burn chance can come in handy, especially when carrying Assault Vest.
* Ice Beam gives Ludicolo a way to OHKO Mega Salamence, Garchomp, and non Assault Vest Landorus-T regardless of the weather, in addition to hitting Naganadel and Hydreigon hard. It's also Ludicolo's only way of dealing reasonable damage to Grass-types such as Tapu Bulu and Amoonguss.
* Energy Ball is Ludicolo's most consistently powerful Grass-type STAB, notably 2HKOing maximum HP Tapu Fini. However, Giga Drain is a reasonable alternative for the healing it gives Ludicolo, at the cost of power.
* Fake Out is an incredible option for flinching foes on Ludicolo's first turn out as long as Psychic Terrain isn't up. However, Protect is a reasonable alternative for dodging powerful attacks.
* Waterium Z gives Ludicolo a one time chance to drown most Pokemon that don't resist Water-type attacks, especially if using Hydro Pump.
* Assault Vest takes advantage of Ludicolo's good Special Defense stat, letting it survive surprising attacks. If using Assault Vest, a bulkier spread of 92 HP / 4 Def / 124 SpA / 124 SpD / 164 Spe can be considered. This spread still has enough Special Attack to OHKO Mega Salamence with Ice Beam, and it can survive some powerful attacks, such as Kartana's Leaf Blade, Tapu Lele's Shattered Psyche, and Jolly Mega Kangaskhan's Double-Edge.
* Another EV spread to consider for Assault Vest Ludicolo is 204 HP / 20 Def / 124 SpA / 76 SpD / 84 Spe. This still allows Ludicolo to outspeed base 130 Speed Pokemon such as Tapu Koko and Mega Gengar, in exchange for much more bulk. For example, Life Orb Tapu Koko will fail to 2HKO this Ludicolo with Thunderbolt, and it even survives Modest Tapu Lele's Shattered Psyche.
* Life Orb gives Ludicolo a consistent power boost at the cost of its health. Most notably, this lets Ice Beam OHKO Naganadel and fast Assault Vest Landorus-T, and lets Scald OHKO Nihilego in the rain. However, the recoil makes Ludicolo easy to wear down.
* Swift Swim and a Modest nature are required for Ludicolo to blast through most Pokemon. Maximum Special Attack and Speed is fine if using Waterium Z or Life Orb to maximize damage output.
* A Timid nature can be used to outspeed Jolly Choice Scarf Kartana, Modest Choice Scarf Naganadel, and Timid Choice Scarf Blacephalon, but this does result in a significant power loss.
* Since Ludicolo is a rain sweeper, rain setters are a required teammate. Pelipper is a great choice since it hits Amoonguss and Tapu Bulu hard, and is able to set up Tailwind to deal with fast Choice Scarf users.
* Politoed is a reasonable option due to its support movepool and having enough Speed to use a Choice Scarf. Politoed can also run Focus Blast and Fightinium Z to deal severe damage to Ferrothorn, a common problem for rain teams.
* Putting Rain Dance on Pokemon such as Gothitelle or Cresselia can be an effective way to surprise opposing weather setters, though it should be a back up option rather than the main way of setting up rain.
* Ludicolo teams will need a way to deal with Mega Charizard Y and to a lesser extent, Torkoal, since the sun cripples Ludicolo's offensive capabilities. Preparing for Tyranitar and Alolan Ninetales can be a good idea too.
* Ludicolo especially hates Trick Room due to its reliance on Swift Swim. Taunt users such as Tapu Koko and Tapu Lele can be useful, or even having a Trick Room user of your own such as Cresselia can help for resetting Trick Room.
* Prepare for bulky Grass-types Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, Tapu Bulu, and Amoonguss, and since they are able to survive Ludicolo's assaults with little issue and hit it hard. Ferrothorn is especially troubling since it isn't weak to Pelipper's Hurricane.
* Ludicolo is the premier rain sweeper of VGC 2018, having just enough Speed and Special Attack to become a potent threat under gloomy skies.
*It also has above average coverage for a Water-type, being among the few to hit Tapu Fini hard thanks to its Grass-type STAB.
* Fake Out is an excellent selling point as well, since under the rain, few Pokemon can offer a faster flinch than Ludicolo.
* It even has a good Special Defense stat that makes Ludicolo trickier to KO than expected for Special Attackers.
* However, Ludicolo has a poor Defense stat that makes it easy to revenge for bulky physical attackers.
* Ludicolo is highly reliant on rain to function. Without it, it's hard to justify it over bulkier offensive Water-types such as Tapu Fini
[SET]
name: Rain Sweeper
move 1: Hydro Pump / Scald
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Energy Ball / Giga Drain
move 4: Fake Out / Protect
item: Waterium Z / Assault Vest
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Modest
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
* Hydro Pump is extremely powerful in the rain, especially when used with Waterium Z. Hydro Vortex coming from Ludicolo in the rain is capable of OHKOing bulky offensive threats such as Mega Kangaskhan and Mega Metagross.
*Although it doesn't take advantage of Waterium Z nearly as well, Scald is a more reliable option than Hydro Pump overall, and it's burn chance can come in handy, especially when carrying Assault Vest.
* Ice Beam gives Ludicolo a way to OHKO Mega Salamence, Garchomp, and non Assault Vest Landorus-T regardless of the weather, in addition to hitting Naganadel and Hydreigon hard. It's also Ludicolo's only way of dealing reasonable damage to Grass-types such as Tapu Bulu and Amoonguss.
* Energy Ball is Ludicolo's most consistently powerful Grass-type STAB, notably 2HKOing maximum HP Tapu Fini. However, Giga Drain is a reasonable alternative for the healing it gives Ludicolo, at the cost of power.
* Fake Out is an incredible option for flinching foes on Ludicolo's first turn out as long as Psychic Terrain isn't up. However, Protect is a reasonable alternative for dodging powerful attacks.
* Waterium Z gives Ludicolo a one time chance to drown most Pokemon that don't resist Water-type attacks, especially if using Hydro Pump.
* Assault Vest takes advantage of Ludicolo's good Special Defense stat, letting it survive surprising attacks. If using Assault Vest, a bulkier spread of 92 HP / 4 Def / 124 SpA / 124 SpD / 164 Spe can be considered. This spread still has enough Special Attack to OHKO Mega Salamence with Ice Beam, and it can survive some powerful attacks, such as Kartana's Leaf Blade, Tapu Lele's Shattered Psyche, and Jolly Mega Kangaskhan's Double-Edge.
* Another EV spread to consider for Assault Vest Ludicolo is 204 HP / 20 Def / 124 SpA / 76 SpD / 84 Spe. This still allows Ludicolo to outspeed base 130 Speed Pokemon such as Tapu Koko and Mega Gengar, in exchange for much more bulk. For example, Life Orb Tapu Koko will fail to 2HKO this Ludicolo with Thunderbolt, and it even survives Modest Tapu Lele's Shattered Psyche.
* Life Orb gives Ludicolo a consistent power boost at the cost of its health. Most notably, this lets Ice Beam OHKO Naganadel and fast Assault Vest Landorus-T, and lets Scald OHKO Nihilego in the rain. However, the recoil makes Ludicolo easy to wear down.
* Swift Swim and a Modest nature are required for Ludicolo to blast through most Pokemon. Maximum Special Attack and Speed is fine if using Waterium Z or Life Orb to maximize damage output.
* A Timid nature can be used to outspeed Jolly Choice Scarf Kartana, Modest Choice Scarf Naganadel, and Timid Choice Scarf Blacephalon, but this does result in a significant power loss.
* Since Ludicolo is a rain sweeper, rain setters are a required teammate. Pelipper is a great choice since it hits Amoonguss and Tapu Bulu hard, and is able to set up Tailwind to deal with fast Choice Scarf users.
* Politoed is a reasonable option due to its support movepool and having enough Speed to use a Choice Scarf. Politoed can also run Focus Blast and Fightinium Z to deal severe damage to Ferrothorn, a common problem for rain teams.
* Putting Rain Dance on Pokemon such as Gothitelle or Cresselia can be an effective way to surprise opposing weather setters, though it should be a back up option rather than the main way of setting up rain.
* Ludicolo teams will need a way to deal with Mega Charizard Y and to a lesser extent, Torkoal, since the sun cripples Ludicolo's offensive capabilities. Preparing for Tyranitar and Alolan Ninetales can be a good idea too.
* Ludicolo especially hates Trick Room due to its reliance on Swift Swim. Taunt users such as Tapu Koko and Tapu Lele can be useful, or even having a Trick Room user of your own such as Cresselia can help for resetting Trick Room.
* Prepare for bulky Grass-types Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, Tapu Bulu, and Amoonguss, and since they are able to survive Ludicolo's assaults with little issue and hit it hard. Ferrothorn is especially troubling since it isn't weak to Pelipper's Hurricane.
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