Martin
A monoid in the category of endofunctors
[OVERVIEW]
Ludicolo is a monster under rain due to its access to Swift Swim, great offensive typing, and decent Special Attack stat. It helps rain teams break bulky Water-types, such as Vaporeon, Seismitoad, and Lanturn, which can otherwise be thorns in their side. It has decent special bulk in conjunction with good typing, which gives it a 4x resistance to Water-type attacks and allows it to switch into Steelix without much fear, allowing it to act as a soft check to and potentially set up Rain Dance on a range of Pokemon including Slowbro, Choice Scarf Rotom-C, Lilligant, Samurott, and the aforementioned Steelix. However, its mediocre Speed stat outside of rain combined with its physical frailty restrict what it can safely set up on while making it vulnerable to teams with multiple priority users. In addition, it wears itself down very quickly with Life Orb when it has no Giga Drain targets to use for healing. Furthermore, its typing leaves it very susceptible to being taken advantage of by Snow Warning users, most notably positive-Speed natured or Choice Scarf variants of Vanilluxe.
[SET]
name: Swift Swim
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Rain Dance / Surf
item: Life Orb
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
ivs: 29 HP
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hydro Pump is exceptionally strong when rain is active, 2HKOing defensive behemoths like specially defensive Golbat and even pressuring Pokemon that resist Water-type attacks. Giga Drain covers Water-types like Slowbro, Seismitoad, and Vaporeon and alleviates Life Orb recoil. Ice Beam gives Ludicolo a way to hit Grass-types like Sceptile and Vileplume super effectively. Rain Dance allows Ludicolo to set up independently of its teammates, relieving pressure from secondary setters or allowing it to function as a standalone sweeper, but Surf is an alternative option on dedicated Rain Dance teams that exchanges a noticeable amount of power for accuracy, which is very useful versus frail offense builds and makes it significantly more spammable than Hydro Pump.
Set Details
========
Swift Swim allows Ludicolo to pose as a fearsome threat versus offensive teams by doubling its Speed stat when rain is active, and maximum Speed investment is important to prevent the majority of Choice Scarf users in the tier from outrunning Ludicolo while said field condition is active. Maximum Special Attack investment is used alongside a Modest nature to ensure that Ludicolo hits as hard as possible. A Timid nature is also an option to outrun Pokemon with base Speed stats of 105 or greater either when they are holding Choice Scarf or when Sticky Web is present on Ludicolo's side of the field; however, Ludicolo's Special Attack stat leaves a lot to be desired without the boost from a Modest nature, and the scenarios where a Timid nature is helpful are rare enough that it isn't usually worth the trade-off. Life Orb is the item of choice to increase Ludicolo's firepower. The listed HP IVs minimize Life Orb recoil, and 0 Attack IVs aim to minimize the damage Ludicolo takes from Foul Play and confusion.
Usage Tips
========
If Ludicolo is paired with alternative Rain Dance users, try to ensure that Rain Dance is active before sending Ludicolo out onto the field. On non-rain teams, ensure that checks such as Vileplume are weakened sufficiently before you attempt to sweep. Only set up if you know that Ludicolo can survive the turn unless the aim is to sacrifice Ludicolo as it sets up Rain Dance for a teammate. As a general rule of thumb, try to set up on special attackers that can't significantly dent Ludicolo, such as unboosted Lilligant, -2 Special Attack Sceptile, and Choice Scarf Rotom-C. Passive Pokemon and other Pokemon that Slowbro forces out, including Slowbro and Steelix, also make for good setup targets, although you should be wary of Thunder Wave from the former. On teams that aren't dedicated Rain Dance builds, aim to play conservatively early- and mid-game to prevent Ludicolo from being worn down. If the foe is in KO range and the opponent is unlikely to switch out, attempt to KO the foe and then switch out so that Ludicolo can clean up later in the match.
Team Options
========
Ludicolo fits best on offensive teams, and it doesn't always need to be used on dedicated Rain Dance builds. Uxie and Liepard are excellent dedicated Rain Dance users, whereas other Swift Swim users like Qwilfish, Kabutops, and Omastar share checks with Ludicolo, helping to wear down bulky Grass-types while appreciating Ludicolo's ability to take on opposing Water-types. Pokemon that can take on bulky Grass-types, such as Braviary, Toxicroak, and Swift Swim Qwilfish, can help to remove them in order to clear the way for a Ludicolo sweep. Stealth Rock users like Uxie, Piloswine, Steelix, Mesprit, and Rhydon help to chip away at the opposing team so that Ludicolo can clean up later. The same goes for Spikes and Toxic Spikes users like Qwilfsh, Garbodor, Omastar, and Accelgor. Hail checks like Cryogonal are useful due to the threat that Vanilluxe poses to both Ludicolo and Rain Dance teams in general. Grounded Poison-types like Qwilfish and Garbodor are useful for their ability to absorb Toxic Spikes, which can wear Ludicolo and its teammates down throughout the match. Special wallbreakers like Meloetta and Sceptile are useful to help weaken special walls for Ludicolo, as are Toxicroak lures like Zen Headbutt Virizion and Zen Headbutt Sawk.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Energy Ball 2HKOes Assault Vest Slowking, which is useful for preventing it from using Dragon Tail or Future Sight before healing the damage off with Regenerator. Energy Ball also has a chance to OHKO Qwilfish with maximum HP investment, which means that Ludicolo can prevent Qwilfish from using Spikes, Toxic Spikes, or Thunder Wave versus it, and Energy Ball additionally OHKOes unboosted Slowbro from full health, protecting Ludicolo from a potential Thunder Wave. Scald is an alternative to Surf that Ludicolo can use to spread burns, but the greater immediate damage output of Surf is more useful when sweeping. A Swords Dance set can be used to catch special blanket checks off-guard, but the unboosted power drop is very noticeable, as it relies largely on surprise value, which is lost after Ludicolo uses Swords Dance, and it is generally outclassed by Qwilfish and Kabutops. Focus Blast is an option that allows Ludicolo to beat Ferroseed, but the move doesn't target any other Pokemon and Ferroseed is very rare. Hydro Vortex, Bloom Doom, and Subzero Slammer are all options to provide one-time nukes, with Hydro Vortex having a little under a 50% chance to OHKO specially defensive variants of Golbat after Stealth Rock and Subzero Slammer having a little over a 50% chance to OHKO Toxicroak after Stealth Rock and one layer of Spikes, but the power drop on all other attacks combined with Ludicolo's underwhelming Special Attack stat means this is not ideal most of the time.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Toxicroak**: This Pokemon is immune to Hydro Pump, resists Giga Drain, only takes a little over 50% of its maximum HP from Ice Beam, heals using the rain with its ability Dry Skin, and OHKOes Ludicolo with STAB Gunk Shot or Sludge Wave.
**Snow Warning Users**: These Pokemon overwrite Ludicolo's rain. Choice Scarf Vanilluxe outruns Ludicolo and OHKOes it with Freeze-Dry. Abomasnow resists Ludicolo's STAB combination and takes very little from Ice Beam. Aurorus doesn't pose any threat to Ludicolo due to being slower even under hail and risking being OHKOed by Hydro Pump or Surf, but it can cause headaches for Ludicolo if it relies on a partner to set up Rain Dance.
**Bulky Grass-types**: Maximum HP Vileplume only takes around 60-70% from Ice Beam, resists Ludicolo's STAB combination, and severely dents Ludicolo in return with Sludge Bomb. Whimsicott can't take an Ice Beam, but it can come in on Rain Dance or either STAB move and lock Ludicolo into its choice with Encore. Virizion can take an Ice Beam from full health and can severely dent Ludicolo in return with Close Combat.
**Specially Bulky Pokemon**: Specially defensive Golbat only takes around 50% from Hydro Pump in the rain and dents Ludicolo very heavily in return with Brave Bird.
**Priority Users**: Sneasel, Life Orb Hitmonlee, and Absol all have access to powerful priority moves that prey on Ludicolo's low Defense stat, allowing them to eliminate it if it's reasonably weakened.
**Sticky Web**: While Sticky Web is on Ludicolo's side of the field, Pokemon with base 105 Speed are capable of Speed tying with Ludicolo in the rain, which severely hurts its matchup versus offensive teams that use it as an anti-Choice Scarf tool and allows Pokemon such as Sceptile, Accelgor, Sneasel, Tauros, Cinccino, and Virizion to pose as major threats to Ludicolo.
[OVERVIEW]
* It is a monster under rain due to access to Swift Swim, great offensive typing, and decent Special Attack stat.
* It helps rain teams break bulky Water-types, such as Vaporeon, Seismitoad, and Lanturn, that can otherwise be thorns in their side.
* It has decent special bulk in conjunction with good typing, which gives it a 4x resistance to Water-type attacks and allows it to switch into Steelix without much fear, allowing it to soft check and potentially set up Rain Dance vs a range of Pokemon including Slowbro, Choice Scarf Rotom-C, Lilligant, Samurott, and the aforementioned Steelix.
* Mediocre Speed stat outside of rain combined with physical frailty restricts what it can safely set up on while making it vulnerable to teams which stack priority users
* Wears itself down quickly with Life Orb if it has no Giga Drain targets.
* Very susceptible to being taken advantage of by Snow Warning users like Choice Scarf Vanilluxe.
[SET]
name: Swift Swim
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Rain Dance / Surf
item: Life Orb
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
ivs: 29 HP / 0 Atk
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Hydro Pump is a nuke in the rain, 2HKOing defensive behemoths like specially defensive Golbat and even making Pokemon which resist Water-type attacks break a sweat.
* Giga Drain is secondary STAB; covers Water-types and helps allevaiate LO recoil
* Ice Beam targets Grass-types.
* Rain Dance allows it to set up independent of teammates.
* If paired with partner rain setters, Surf is also an option which exchanges a noticeable amount of power for accuracy, which is useful versus reasonably frail offense builds.
Set Details
========
* Swift Swim allows Ludicolo to pose as a fearsome threat versus offensive teams by doubling its speed under rain.
* Maximum Speed investment is important to prevent the majority of scarfers outrunning Ludicolo while rain is active.
* Max Special Attack investment and a Modest nature are used to allow Ludicolo to hit as hard as possible.
* The listed HP IVs minimise Life Orb recoil, while the Atk IVs minimise confusion and Foul Play damage.
* Timid is an option to outrun Choice Scarf users with base speeds of more than 105, such as Cinccino and Tauros, as well as Pokemon like Sceptile, Virizion, Sneasel, and Accelgor if Sticky Web is on the field. However, Ludicolo's Special Attack stat leaves a lot to be desired if you forgo Modest, and as such it isn't usually worth the trade-off.
* Life Orb bolsters Ludicolo's firepower substantially without locking it into any attacks.
Usage Tips
========
* If paired with alternative Rain Dance users, try your best to ensure that rain is up before sending Ludicolo out.
* On non-rain teams, ensure that checks such as Vileplume are weakened sufficiently before sending Ludicolo out to clean up.
* Only set up if you know that Ludicolo can survive the turn unless you are sacrificing it to bring a teammate in safely on the first turn after Rain Dance goes up.
* Aim to set up on special attackers that can't significantly dent Ludicolo, such as unboosted Lilligant, -2 Sceptile, and Choice Scarf Rotom-C. Passive Pokemon and other Pokemon that Ludicolo forces out, such as Slowbro and Steelix, also make for good setup targets, but be wary of Thunder Wave from the former.
* On non-rain teams, play conservatively early- and mid-game to prevent Ludicolo getting worn down.
* If there are any available KOs and the opponent is unlikely to switch out, take it and then come back to clean up later on in the match.
Team Options
========
* Fits best on offensive teams.
* Ludicolo doesn't always need to be used on a rain team; it is perfectly competent as a standalone sweeper.
* Uxie and Liepard set up Rain Dance for Ludicolo.
* Other Swimmers like Qwilfish, Kabutops, Omastar, and Golduck share checks, helping to wear down bulky Grass-types, appreciate Ludicolo's ability to take on Water-types, and also benefit from the rain.
* Pokemon which can take on bulky Grass-types, such as Braviary, Toxicroak, and Swift Swim Qwilfish, can help remove them to make way for a Ludicolo sweep.
* Stealth Rock users like Uxie, Steelix, and Rhydon help to chip away at the opposing team so that Ludicolo can clean up later. The same goes for Spikes users like Qwilfish, Garbodor, Omastar, and Accelgor.
* Hail checks like Cryogonal and Piloswine are useful due to the threat that Choice Scarf Vanilluxe poses to rain teams.
* Grounded Poison-types like Qwilfish and Garbodor are useful for absorbing Toxic Spikes, which can wear down Ludicolo and other rain attackers throughout the match.
* Special wallbreakers like Meloetta and Sigilyph to help weaken specially bulky Pokemon to make way for a Ludicolo sweep.
* Pokemon which can lure Toxicroak, such as Zen Headbutt Virizion and Zen Headbutt Sawk, are useful for removing it.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Energy Ball 2HKOes Assault Vest Slowking, which is useful for preventing the former using Dragon Tail or Future Sight and then healing off most damage with Regenerator, has a chance to OHKO max HP Qwilfish after Stealth Rock, stopping it setting down a layer of Spikes or Toxic Spikes against Ludicolo, and OHKOes unboosted Slowbro from full health.
* Scald can be used to spread burns, but the immediate damage of Surf is usually more useful.
* Swords Dance can catch special blanket checks off-guard, but the unboosted power drop is very noticeable and it is generally outclassed by Qwilfish and Kabutops.
* Focus Blast allows Ludicolo to KO Ferroseed, but Ferroseed is rare and the move doesn't target anything else.
* Hydro Vortex, Bloom Doom, and Subzero Slammer are options to provide one-time nukes, with the former having a little under a 50% chance to OHKO specially defensive variants of Golbat and with Subzero Slammer having a little over a 50% chance to OHKO Toxicroak with one layer of Spikes damage. However, the power drop on Ludicolo's other attacks isn't ideal due to it not being that strong, especially on its non-Water-type attacks.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Toxicroak**: This Pokemon is immune to Hydro Pump, resists Giga Drain, only takes a little over 50% of its max HP from Ice Beam, heals using the rain, and OHKOes with STAB Gunk Shot or Sludge Wave.
**Snow Warning users**: These Pokemon overwrite Ludicolo's rain. Choice Scarf Vanilluxe outruns Ludicolo and and OHKOes it with with Freeze Dry. Abomasnow resists both of Ludicolo's STABs and takes very little from Ice Beam. Aurorus doesn't pose any threat to Ludicolo, but it can cause headaches for it if it relies on a partner to set up Rain Dance.
**Bulky Grass-types**: Max HP Vileplume resists both of Ludicolo's STABs, only takes around 60-70% from Ice Beam, and severely dents it in return with Sludge Bomb. Whimsicott can't take an Ice Beam, but it can come in on Rain Dance or either STAB move and lock Ludicolo into it with Encore. Virizion can take an Ice Beam from full health and can severely dent Ludicolo in return with Close Combat.
**Specially Bulky Pokemon**: Specially defensive Golbat only takes around 50% from Hydro Pump in the rain and dents Ludicolo very heavily in return with Brave Bird.
**Priority Users**: Sneasel, Life Orb Hitmonlee, and Absol all have access to powerful priority moves which prey on Ludicolo's low Defense stat, allowing them to eliminate it if it's reasonably weakened.
**Sticky Web**: While Sticky Web is on Ludicolo's side of the field, Pokemon with 105 Base Speed are capable of speed tying with Ludicolo in the rain, which severely hurts its matchup versus offensive teams which use it as an anti-Choice Scarf tool and allows Pokemon such as Sceptile, Accelgor, Sneasel, Tauros, Cinccino, and Virizion to pose as major threats to Ludicolo.
* It is a monster under rain due to access to Swift Swim, great offensive typing, and decent Special Attack stat.
* It helps rain teams break bulky Water-types, such as Vaporeon, Seismitoad, and Lanturn, that can otherwise be thorns in their side.
* It has decent special bulk in conjunction with good typing, which gives it a 4x resistance to Water-type attacks and allows it to switch into Steelix without much fear, allowing it to soft check and potentially set up Rain Dance vs a range of Pokemon including Slowbro, Choice Scarf Rotom-C, Lilligant, Samurott, and the aforementioned Steelix.
* Mediocre Speed stat outside of rain combined with physical frailty restricts what it can safely set up on while making it vulnerable to teams which stack priority users
* Wears itself down quickly with Life Orb if it has no Giga Drain targets.
* Very susceptible to being taken advantage of by Snow Warning users like Choice Scarf Vanilluxe.
[SET]
name: Swift Swim
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Rain Dance / Surf
item: Life Orb
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
ivs: 29 HP / 0 Atk
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Hydro Pump is a nuke in the rain, 2HKOing defensive behemoths like specially defensive Golbat and even making Pokemon which resist Water-type attacks break a sweat.
* Giga Drain is secondary STAB; covers Water-types and helps allevaiate LO recoil
* Ice Beam targets Grass-types.
* Rain Dance allows it to set up independent of teammates.
* If paired with partner rain setters, Surf is also an option which exchanges a noticeable amount of power for accuracy, which is useful versus reasonably frail offense builds.
Set Details
========
* Swift Swim allows Ludicolo to pose as a fearsome threat versus offensive teams by doubling its speed under rain.
* Maximum Speed investment is important to prevent the majority of scarfers outrunning Ludicolo while rain is active.
* Max Special Attack investment and a Modest nature are used to allow Ludicolo to hit as hard as possible.
* The listed HP IVs minimise Life Orb recoil, while the Atk IVs minimise confusion and Foul Play damage.
* Timid is an option to outrun Choice Scarf users with base speeds of more than 105, such as Cinccino and Tauros, as well as Pokemon like Sceptile, Virizion, Sneasel, and Accelgor if Sticky Web is on the field. However, Ludicolo's Special Attack stat leaves a lot to be desired if you forgo Modest, and as such it isn't usually worth the trade-off.
* Life Orb bolsters Ludicolo's firepower substantially without locking it into any attacks.
Usage Tips
========
* If paired with alternative Rain Dance users, try your best to ensure that rain is up before sending Ludicolo out.
* On non-rain teams, ensure that checks such as Vileplume are weakened sufficiently before sending Ludicolo out to clean up.
* Only set up if you know that Ludicolo can survive the turn unless you are sacrificing it to bring a teammate in safely on the first turn after Rain Dance goes up.
* Aim to set up on special attackers that can't significantly dent Ludicolo, such as unboosted Lilligant, -2 Sceptile, and Choice Scarf Rotom-C. Passive Pokemon and other Pokemon that Ludicolo forces out, such as Slowbro and Steelix, also make for good setup targets, but be wary of Thunder Wave from the former.
* On non-rain teams, play conservatively early- and mid-game to prevent Ludicolo getting worn down.
* If there are any available KOs and the opponent is unlikely to switch out, take it and then come back to clean up later on in the match.
Team Options
========
* Fits best on offensive teams.
* Ludicolo doesn't always need to be used on a rain team; it is perfectly competent as a standalone sweeper.
* Uxie and Liepard set up Rain Dance for Ludicolo.
* Other Swimmers like Qwilfish, Kabutops, Omastar, and Golduck share checks, helping to wear down bulky Grass-types, appreciate Ludicolo's ability to take on Water-types, and also benefit from the rain.
* Pokemon which can take on bulky Grass-types, such as Braviary, Toxicroak, and Swift Swim Qwilfish, can help remove them to make way for a Ludicolo sweep.
* Stealth Rock users like Uxie, Steelix, and Rhydon help to chip away at the opposing team so that Ludicolo can clean up later. The same goes for Spikes users like Qwilfish, Garbodor, Omastar, and Accelgor.
* Hail checks like Cryogonal and Piloswine are useful due to the threat that Choice Scarf Vanilluxe poses to rain teams.
* Grounded Poison-types like Qwilfish and Garbodor are useful for absorbing Toxic Spikes, which can wear down Ludicolo and other rain attackers throughout the match.
* Special wallbreakers like Meloetta and Sigilyph to help weaken specially bulky Pokemon to make way for a Ludicolo sweep.
* Pokemon which can lure Toxicroak, such as Zen Headbutt Virizion and Zen Headbutt Sawk, are useful for removing it.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Energy Ball 2HKOes Assault Vest Slowking, which is useful for preventing the former using Dragon Tail or Future Sight and then healing off most damage with Regenerator, has a chance to OHKO max HP Qwilfish after Stealth Rock, stopping it setting down a layer of Spikes or Toxic Spikes against Ludicolo, and OHKOes unboosted Slowbro from full health.
* Scald can be used to spread burns, but the immediate damage of Surf is usually more useful.
* Swords Dance can catch special blanket checks off-guard, but the unboosted power drop is very noticeable and it is generally outclassed by Qwilfish and Kabutops.
* Focus Blast allows Ludicolo to KO Ferroseed, but Ferroseed is rare and the move doesn't target anything else.
* Hydro Vortex, Bloom Doom, and Subzero Slammer are options to provide one-time nukes, with the former having a little under a 50% chance to OHKO specially defensive variants of Golbat and with Subzero Slammer having a little over a 50% chance to OHKO Toxicroak with one layer of Spikes damage. However, the power drop on Ludicolo's other attacks isn't ideal due to it not being that strong, especially on its non-Water-type attacks.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Toxicroak**: This Pokemon is immune to Hydro Pump, resists Giga Drain, only takes a little over 50% of its max HP from Ice Beam, heals using the rain, and OHKOes with STAB Gunk Shot or Sludge Wave.
**Snow Warning users**: These Pokemon overwrite Ludicolo's rain. Choice Scarf Vanilluxe outruns Ludicolo and and OHKOes it with with Freeze Dry. Abomasnow resists both of Ludicolo's STABs and takes very little from Ice Beam. Aurorus doesn't pose any threat to Ludicolo, but it can cause headaches for it if it relies on a partner to set up Rain Dance.
**Bulky Grass-types**: Max HP Vileplume resists both of Ludicolo's STABs, only takes around 60-70% from Ice Beam, and severely dents it in return with Sludge Bomb. Whimsicott can't take an Ice Beam, but it can come in on Rain Dance or either STAB move and lock Ludicolo into it with Encore. Virizion can take an Ice Beam from full health and can severely dent Ludicolo in return with Close Combat.
**Specially Bulky Pokemon**: Specially defensive Golbat only takes around 50% from Hydro Pump in the rain and dents Ludicolo very heavily in return with Brave Bird.
**Priority Users**: Sneasel, Life Orb Hitmonlee, and Absol all have access to powerful priority moves which prey on Ludicolo's low Defense stat, allowing them to eliminate it if it's reasonably weakened.
**Sticky Web**: While Sticky Web is on Ludicolo's side of the field, Pokemon with 105 Base Speed are capable of speed tying with Ludicolo in the rain, which severely hurts its matchup versus offensive teams which use it as an anti-Choice Scarf tool and allows Pokemon such as Sceptile, Accelgor, Sneasel, Tauros, Cinccino, and Virizion to pose as major threats to Ludicolo.
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