Optimizing Rain Teams: VGC Archaludon & Volcarona Builds

ملخص

In the Pokémon Champions | VGC Battles & Tournaments server, members are deep-diving into competitive rain team optimization. This discussion focuses on specific EV benchmarks for Archaludon and Volcarona to counter common threats like Mega Charizard Y and Rillaboom. It provides valuable insights for players looking to refine their competitive builds and improve their performance in VGC tournaments.

smartgrove-78 OP

https://pokepast.es/665268d17d7b7dd4

what are some benchmarks i need on this team

smartgrove-78 OP

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smartgrove-78 OP

this is incin spread

smartgrove-78 OP

Archaludon

HP hits magic leftovers number
Lives fakeout + Closecombat max adamant sneasler
Lives 4 hyper voices from mega mence max modest
32+ SpA Salamence-Mega Draco Meteor vs. 28 HP / 20 SpD Archaludon: 132-156 (68.3 - 80.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
outspeeds majority sylveon sets (112 speed), Speed tie 23.9% of tyranitar sets, 25% of mega meganiums, max speed neutral base swampert,
Under tailwind I outspeed all scarf rotoms, scarf basculegion, max+ Dragapult, mega greninja, etc etc and anything slower

smartgrove-78 OP

and arch spread

smartgrove-78 OP

i dont remember what meganium evs do

smartgrove-78 OP

I FOUND WHAT MEGANIUMS EVS DO

smartgrove-78 OP

holy shi

smartgrove-78 OP

https://pokepast.es/335f223fd9fc8c60

smartgrove-78 OP
ironcactus-73

hi

smartgrove-78 OP

Volcarona @ Rocky Helmet Ability: Flame Body Level: 50 EVs: 31 HP / 15 Def / 19 SpA / 1 SpD Modest Nature - Hurricane - Struggle Bug - Fiery Dance - Rage Powder

smartgrove-78 OP

This is my rain team 😭

ironcactus-73

oof

ironcactus-73

aincent power

@ironcactus-73 aincent power
smartgrove-78 OP

Zard-y answer

ironcactus-73

he gets so many good moves tho

ironcactus-73

its a waste of

smartgrove-78 OP

Coz rilla zardy sini i need to bring meganium

smartgrove-78 OP

Over mega pert

@smartgrove-78 Coz rilla zardy sini i need to bring meganium
ironcactus-73

idc about him

ironcactus-73

use dazzling gleam

ironcactus-73

or maybe synthesis

@ironcactus-73 or maybe synthesis
smartgrove-78 OP

Considered this

smartgrove-78 OP

But i never really used it

ironcactus-73

btw can i change alot?

smartgrove-78 OP

So idk

smartgrove-78 OP

Go for it

ironcactus-73

swampert is cooked fish

ironcactus-73

im sry

smartgrove-78 OP

Idk how much ill take on board since im alr comfortable with this and confident in it but ill definitely consider it

ironcactus-73

rillaboom to strong

smartgrove-78 OP

I mean i have peli arch and volc

ironcactus-73

zard y isnt common rn

smartgrove-78 OP

So rilla aint that much of an issue

ironcactus-73

one if my counters for zard y was incin whimsicott and pelliper

ironcactus-73

i tailwind and parting shot

ironcactus-73

and i had lum berry for protection against venasaur

@ironcactus-73 i tailwind and parting shot
ironcactus-73

into pelliper

ironcactus-73

zard y is strong but he cant do much in rain

smartgrove-78 OP

Highkey zardy mega mence is where ive been struggling the most

ironcactus-73

an older counter i used was just lycanroc dusk

ironcactus-73

prioriy oneshot

smartgrove-78 OP

Tru

ironcactus-73

and hes genuinely so good

smartgrove-78 OP

How effective will raindance be in OTS

ironcactus-73

with aash

ironcactus-73

close combat

smartgrove-78 OP

I feel like its fucky mindgames calling 50/50s

@smartgrove-78 How effective will raindance be in OTS
ironcactus-73

ots?

smartgrove-78 OP

Open teamsheet

ironcactus-73

idk

smartgrove-78 OP

Coz this is for regionals 😭

smartgrove-78 OP

Sneasler rilla i need to figure out my line for

ironcactus-73

politoed

ironcactus-73

very good

smartgrove-78 OP

Over peli?

ironcactus-73

yeah

ironcactus-73

ik tailwind

ironcactus-73

but

@ironcactus-73 ik tailwind
smartgrove-78 OP

I lose wide guard for psyspam

ironcactus-73

politoed tanks

smartgrove-78 OP

Tailwind eh

smartgrove-78 OP

Psyspam i akways have issues

@smartgrove-78 I lose wide guard for psyspam
ironcactus-73

oh

smartgrove-78 OP

Not even this team

smartgrove-78 OP

Like since SV i have struggled 😭😭

ironcactus-73

id add incineroar

ironcactus-73

lol

smartgrove-78 OP

So poli incin

ironcactus-73

wait

smartgrove-78 OP

Over volc and peli

ironcactus-73

mmmmmm

ironcactus-73

id drop swampert

ironcactus-73

sry rillas too popular

smartgrove-78 OP

🥀🥀

smartgrove-78 OP

Rilla aint even bad for me thoooo

smartgrove-78 OP

I just bring meganiun

smartgrove-78 OP

And volc

ironcactus-73

yeah but if ur bringing mega meganium

ironcactus-73

y bring a pokemon without an item

smartgrove-78 OP

Base pert under tw still cleans up well

smartgrove-78 OP

With wave crash

ironcactus-73

oت

smartgrove-78 OP

But usually my 4 is peli arch meganium volc

smartgrove-78 OP

If its like massive rilla centered

ironcactus-73

mmmmm

ironcactus-73

i just like psychic politoed

smartgrove-78 OP

Tru

smartgrove-78 OP

Idk im like tossing between incin volc ans what 4 moves

smartgrove-78 OP

Coz my incin set rn is blitz cc throatchop parting

smartgrove-78 OP

Chople

smartgrove-78 OP

Itd be in the google doc up the top

smartgrove-78 OP

I havent updated it since i made the volc change last night

ironcactus-73

close combat?

@ironcactus-73 close combat?
smartgrove-78 OP

Yea

ironcactus-73

wow

ironcactus-73

interesting

ironcactus-73

but ok

smartgrove-78 OP

Helps secure the kill on arch with meganium

ironcactus-73

but no fake out

ironcactus-73

sad

@ironcactus-73 but no fake out
smartgrove-78 OP

Yea so the 5 i have is fakeout blitz cc chop pshot

smartgrove-78 OP

I dropped fakeout for chop

smartgrove-78 OP

Like 3 days ago

smartgrove-78 OP

For mega gardr psyspam

ironcactus-73

wow

smartgrove-78 OP

Like whatever that 6th mon is

smartgrove-78 OP

Both have 4ms

smartgrove-78 OP

And it hurts

ironcactus-73

cc seems less valuable tho

smartgrove-78 OP

Icl im more sold on volc rn over incin

smartgrove-78 OP

And the 5 is hurricane fiery sbug rsge and prot

smartgrove-78 OP

I want prot

smartgrove-78 OP

But i need sbug hurri

smartgrove-78 OP

Fiery for froslass

smartgrove-78 OP

And rage for sneasler rilla

smartgrove-78 OP

So prot is more a luxury i dont get 😭😭

ironcactus-73

y hurricane

smartgrove-78 OP

Sneasler rilla sini

smartgrove-78 OP

Scov

smartgrove-78 OP

More consistent than fiery into rilla and sini since rain

ironcactus-73

im a bit surprised u dont have sash on pelliper

@ironcactus-73 im a bit surprised u dont have sash on pelliper
smartgrove-78 OP

Considered it

smartgrove-78 OP

But damp rock has lwk saved so many games

smartgrove-78 OP

Plus not much ohkos peli

smartgrove-78 OP

And he can always have it broken with fajeout

smartgrove-78 OP

Figured that damp rock was better value long term

smartgrove-78 OP

In a perfect world he gets sitrus

smartgrove-78 OP

But clef needs it morr

ironcactus-73

y do u struggle with currently

smartgrove-78 OP

The team, rilla sneasler, and froslass
Personally, perish trap and psyspam

smartgrove-78 OP

Havent seen too many mega mence but i think im decent into it

smartgrove-78 OP

Mence zardy can be dicey but i have specific lines

ironcactus-73

u struggle against rillaboom?

smartgrove-78 OP

And mence floette i havent seen

@ironcactus-73 u struggle against rillaboom?
smartgrove-78 OP

Rilla + sneasler

smartgrove-78 OP

At least pre volc

ironcactus-73

wow

ironcactus-73

ok

smartgrove-78 OP

I havent run into one since adding volc

smartgrove-78 OP

Wait no

ironcactus-73

so

smartgrove-78 OP

I ran into 1

smartgrove-78 OP

But it had acro

ironcactus-73

what about now

smartgrove-78 OP

😭

smartgrove-78 OP

If its sneasler with acro i hard lose

smartgrove-78 OP

But only 3 were at baltimore

smartgrove-78 OP

And 5% on ladders

ironcactus-73

who much do u bring swampert

smartgrove-78 OP

50/50 usually

smartgrove-78 OP

If he has a good matchup bar rilla i still consider if meganium doesnt

smartgrove-78 OP

But he is my go to

ironcactus-73

u basically said everything is important

smartgrove-78 OP

Yea 😭

ironcactus-73

and archaludon is generally so good

ironcactus-73

so if i had to choose

ironcactus-73

id drop clefable

@ironcactus-73 id drop clefable
smartgrove-78 OP

Mega raptor balance :/

ironcactus-73

mmmmm

smartgrove-78 OP

Like its just moves now i think

smartgrove-78 OP

I cant change any mons coz everything has a purpose

smartgrove-78 OP

I was considering ice punch over hh?

ironcactus-73

no

ironcactus-73

maybe over earthquake

smartgrove-78 OP

I lose good spread damage if i drop eq is the only thing

@smartgrove-78 Mega raptor balance :/
ironcactus-73

doesnt sylveon just mog?

smartgrove-78 OP

I need prot for zardy

@ironcactus-73 doesnt sylveon just mog?
smartgrove-78 OP

Ehh?

smartgrove-78 OP

Unaware is always useful

ironcactus-73

still

ironcactus-73

sylveons really strong

ironcactus-73

and it can also help against sneasler

ironcactus-73

i gave it psychic once

ironcactus-73

and made it tank dire claw

smartgrove-78 OP

Tru

smartgrove-78 OP

Can it live a +2 bb?

ironcactus-73

bb?

smartgrove-78 OP

Bravebird

smartgrove-78 OP

From mega raptir

ironcactus-73

ill see

smartgrove-78 OP

Aigh

smartgrove-78 OP

Ive never used sylve before outside of early m-a 6 mon round team 😭😭

ironcactus-73

no

ironcactus-73

it cant

smartgrove-78 OP

Hm

smartgrove-78 OP

Maybe idk

ironcactus-73

ur not using sash

ironcactus-73

so how about worry seed whimsicott

smartgrove-78 OP

Play the 50/50 on thr speed tie

ironcactus-73

and drop clefable for a wide guard guy

smartgrove-78 OP

Ill look into it, any siggestions?

@smartgrove-78 Play the 50/50 on thr speed tie
ironcactus-73

but regardless after a close combat he either dies or switches out

smartgrove-78 OP

Tru

smartgrove-78 OP

So youd run something like poli sylv meganium arch mpert wide guard?

ironcactus-73

i didnt drop volcarona

smartgrove-78 OP

Oh

smartgrove-78 OP

Poli sylv meganium arch volc

ironcactus-73

or swampert

ironcactus-73

were running out of apace it seems

smartgrove-78 OP

Yea 😭😭

smartgrove-78 OP

I dont think the mons can change

ironcactus-73

whimsicott instead of oelliper

ironcactus-73

and drop clefable for wide guard

@smartgrove-78 I dont think the mons can change
ironcactus-73

yeah u made them interconnected

@ironcactus-73 yeah u made them interconnected
smartgrove-78 OP

Yea 😭😭

ironcactus-73

u dont have anything effective against fairy

ironcactus-73

so maybe aegislash for wide guard

ironcactus-73

idk

@ironcactus-73 and drop clefable for wide guard
smartgrove-78 OP

Hear me out...

smartgrove-78 OP

We keep mpert

ironcactus-73

i dont think u wanna change this team

ironcactus-73

u just wanna make it stringer without changing anything

@ironcactus-73 u just wanna make it stringer without changing anything
smartgrove-78 OP

Yea p.much

@ironcactus-73 i dont think u wanna change this team
smartgrove-78 OP

I said mpert coz it gets wide guard 😭😭

@smartgrove-78 Yea p.much
ironcactus-73

just give swampert sap sipper

ironcactus-73

job done

smartgrove-78 OP

Real

@ironcactus-73 just give swampert sap sipper
smartgrove-78 OP

Give it kelp rider or sum

smartgrove-78 OP

Swuft swim + sap sipper

smartgrove-78 OP

😂😂😂

ironcactus-73

wow

ironcactus-73

so now were just dreaming

ironcactus-73

ill just say

ironcactus-73

i think glaceon is really good rn

smartgrove-78 OP

Ooo

@ironcactus-73 so now were just dreaming
smartgrove-78 OP

Yessir

@smartgrove-78 Ooo
ironcactus-73

oneshots 2 of ur pokemon

ironcactus-73

and salemence

ironcactus-73

and garchomp with icy wind

smartgrove-78 OP

I would bringvolc arch clef meganium

smartgrove-78 OP

Depending

ironcactus-73

thats y they bring sneasler lycanroc

ironcactus-73

oneshot both turn one

smartgrove-78 OP

Tru

ironcactus-73

lol

smartgrove-78 OP

I might make a snow team for my next event

smartgrove-78 OP

Either next GC or regionals

@smartgrove-78 Tru
ironcactus-73

hes an insane coverage mon

smartgrove-78 OP

With glaceon

@ironcactus-73 hes an insane coverage mon
ironcactus-73

lycanroc

smartgrove-78 OP

Deoending on the format

ironcactus-73

he gets psychic fangs

ironcactus-73

so he can one shot incin sneasler volcarona charizard

ironcactus-73

maybe even kingambit

ironcactus-73

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ironcactus-73

geez

ironcactus-73

he cant reliably one shot incin tho

smartgrove-78 OP

Youre making me want to build a snow team now

smartgrove-78 OP

And take that into 😭😭

@smartgrove-78 And take that into 😭😭
merrykitten-85

Have you submitted team yet ?

smartgrove-78 OP

ye3a

merrykitten-85

Same

merrykitten-85

Scary lol

smartgrove-78 OP

was it the one you were playing on stream earlier?

merrykitten-85

It is

merrykitten-85

lol

smartgrove-78 OP

fuck yea

merrykitten-85

Depending who you were watching me battle I was getting my ass kicked

merrykitten-85

Been battling some worlds players haha

smartgrove-78 OP

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merrykitten-85

Ah yeah laddering I was going ok

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