[OVERVIEW]
* Kingdra is one of the best rain sweepers available thanks to its good offensive typing and access to spread Muddy Water, both of which also help to distinguish itself from Ludicolo.
* Kingdra's solid Water / Dragon typing also leaves it with few weaknesses, though its mediocre bulk makes it vulnerable to strong neutral hits.
* Ordinarily uncommon support options, such as Disable and Quash, give Kingdra the flexibility to support its team when necessary.
* Kingdra's STAB moves are resisted by common threats, most notably Tapu Fini and Ferrothorn.
* Kingdra is highly reliant on rain due to its middling Speed and lackluster damage output outside of rain, which causes a loss of momentum if the opponent activates other weather or gains a Speed advantage from Tailwind or Trick Room.
[SET]
name: Rain Sweeper
move 1: Muddy Water
move 2: Draco Meteor / Ice Beam
move 3: Hydro Pump / Rain Dance
move 4: Protect
item: Waterium Z / Life Orb
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
* Muddy Water is a powerful STAB spread move under rain that also has a decent chance to lower the accuracy of its targets. Generally, this move will be spammed until a foe is put into KO range of another move.
* Draco Meteor serves as a secondary STAB move to hit Water-resistant foes and beat Dragon-types, such as opposing Kingdra and Mega Salamence.
* Ice Beam can be used to KO Dragon- and Grass-types without worrying about Misty Terrain or the Special Attack drop from Draco Meteor, although running this leaves Kingdra walled by bulky Water-types.
* Hydro Pump is valuable as a strong single-target STAB attack, finishing off targets that Muddy Water can't KO and letting Kingdra bypass Wide Guard Celesteela and Aegislash, which otherwise wall it.
* Rain Dance allows Kingdra to set up independently, improving momentum by making it unnecessary to switch your weather setter in and out to maintain field presence.
* Protect can be used to shield Kingdra while its partner removes a threat, punishes double targets, and scouts a foe’s actions.
* The given EV spread and nature allow Kingdra to hit as hard and as fast as possible, with the four Special Defense EVs ensuring Download users like Porygon2 don't receive a Special Attack boost.
* Waterium Z enables the use of Hydro Vortex, which is notable in providing a perfectly accurate Water-type move as much as in providing a strong one. Alternatively, Life Orb gives Kingdra a more consistent damage boost.
* If your opponent doesn't have weather setters, such as Tyranitar and Mega Charizard Y, Kingdra makes a perfect lead to punch holes early in the opposing team. If they have a setter, consider removing it before sending out Kingdra.
* Partners with the Drizzle ability are required to activate Swift Swim. Pelipper grants Tailwind and the ability to hit Grass-types, while Politoed offers Helping Hand support and more bulk.
* Since Kingdra relies heavily on its Speed advantage, running Taunt on at least one teammate to stop Tailwind and Trick Room is recommended.
* Running Pokemon with strong Fire- and Electric-type moves, such as Incineroar and Tapu Koko, respectively, is encouraged to avoid Ferrothorn and Celesteela late-game, as they largely wall Kingdra's attacks.
* Mega Gengar is a good teammate, as it's able to use Shadow Tag to trap and remove Grass-types, bulky Water-types, and opposing weather setters, making it easier for Kingdra to sweep.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Heliodor, 355886], [Carbonific, 233942]]
- Quality checked by: [[Jio, 22788], [Carbonific, 233942]]
- Grammar checked by: [[A Cake Wearing A Hat, 388157]]
* Kingdra is one of the best rain sweepers available thanks to its good offensive typing and access to spread Muddy Water, both of which also help to distinguish itself from Ludicolo.
* Kingdra's solid Water / Dragon typing also leaves it with few weaknesses, though its mediocre bulk makes it vulnerable to strong neutral hits.
* Ordinarily uncommon support options, such as Disable and Quash, give Kingdra the flexibility to support its team when necessary.
* Kingdra's STAB moves are resisted by common threats, most notably Tapu Fini and Ferrothorn.
* Kingdra is highly reliant on rain due to its middling Speed and lackluster damage output outside of rain, which causes a loss of momentum if the opponent activates other weather or gains a Speed advantage from Tailwind or Trick Room.
[SET]
name: Rain Sweeper
move 1: Muddy Water
move 2: Draco Meteor / Ice Beam
move 3: Hydro Pump / Rain Dance
move 4: Protect
item: Waterium Z / Life Orb
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
* Muddy Water is a powerful STAB spread move under rain that also has a decent chance to lower the accuracy of its targets. Generally, this move will be spammed until a foe is put into KO range of another move.
* Draco Meteor serves as a secondary STAB move to hit Water-resistant foes and beat Dragon-types, such as opposing Kingdra and Mega Salamence.
* Ice Beam can be used to KO Dragon- and Grass-types without worrying about Misty Terrain or the Special Attack drop from Draco Meteor, although running this leaves Kingdra walled by bulky Water-types.
* Hydro Pump is valuable as a strong single-target STAB attack, finishing off targets that Muddy Water can't KO and letting Kingdra bypass Wide Guard Celesteela and Aegislash, which otherwise wall it.
* Rain Dance allows Kingdra to set up independently, improving momentum by making it unnecessary to switch your weather setter in and out to maintain field presence.
* Protect can be used to shield Kingdra while its partner removes a threat, punishes double targets, and scouts a foe’s actions.
* The given EV spread and nature allow Kingdra to hit as hard and as fast as possible, with the four Special Defense EVs ensuring Download users like Porygon2 don't receive a Special Attack boost.
* Waterium Z enables the use of Hydro Vortex, which is notable in providing a perfectly accurate Water-type move as much as in providing a strong one. Alternatively, Life Orb gives Kingdra a more consistent damage boost.
* If your opponent doesn't have weather setters, such as Tyranitar and Mega Charizard Y, Kingdra makes a perfect lead to punch holes early in the opposing team. If they have a setter, consider removing it before sending out Kingdra.
* Partners with the Drizzle ability are required to activate Swift Swim. Pelipper grants Tailwind and the ability to hit Grass-types, while Politoed offers Helping Hand support and more bulk.
* Since Kingdra relies heavily on its Speed advantage, running Taunt on at least one teammate to stop Tailwind and Trick Room is recommended.
* Running Pokemon with strong Fire- and Electric-type moves, such as Incineroar and Tapu Koko, respectively, is encouraged to avoid Ferrothorn and Celesteela late-game, as they largely wall Kingdra's attacks.
* Mega Gengar is a good teammate, as it's able to use Shadow Tag to trap and remove Grass-types, bulky Water-types, and opposing weather setters, making it easier for Kingdra to sweep.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Heliodor, 355886], [Carbonific, 233942]]
- Quality checked by: [[Jio, 22788], [Carbonific, 233942]]
- Grammar checked by: [[A Cake Wearing A Hat, 388157]]
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