Hello Nugget Bridgers, my name is Keewan. Let me introduce my self! I am a competitive VGC player living in Korea and I like rain teams and blitz tactics. I really hate SMEARGLE and Sand Veil Garchomp (they have turned my nationals into turmoil twice)! Today I will introduce my rain team which I used in the Asia Cup Korean Qualifier and the Asia Cup itself.
Introduction
When the sixth generation was released, many people assumed that the rain archetype would not see the same glory they had in the fifth generation and would instead see their end because of Mega Charizard Y, Mega Tyranitar, and Fairy type Pokémon whose moves threaten standard rain teams. I thought the same way at that time. However, unexpectedly, even though rain teams can’t quite match up to their power in the fifth generation, it turns out they’re still quite effective. Needless to say, rain didn’t get many benefits with Pokémon X and Y. Mega Charizard Y, Mega Tyranitar, Fairy types, and Freeze Dry are all worries. However, VGC ’14 metagame gave Kingdra a chance to come back.
First of all, let’s think about the ability Intimidate. More players are picking Pokémon with the Intimidate ability to counter Mega-Kangaskhan and Mega-Mawile. However, that doesn’t affect Kingdra because it can attack easily with its Muddy Water regardless of whether or not it’s intimidated. Kingdra doesn’t even mega evolve, but it deals pain to many Pokémon just like any mega evolution! What that means is it can pair up with any powerful Mega Pokémon such as Mega Kangaskan, Mega Mawile, Mega Manectric, Mega Gengar etc. Also, the evironment of VGC 2014 (which doesn’t have many defensive Pokémon) makes the Muddy Water beatdown stretegy more effective. With that in mind, I thought about building an offensive rain team for sixth generation.
Team Building Process
Above all, I decided to use Kingdra, Politoed, Talonflame as the core of the team. I considered a lot when deciding which Pokémon to use. Wonsoek Jang (KrelCROC), the 2012 Korean National Champion, gave me the idea of using Mega Venasaur. It can be a good counter-measure against opponents’ rain teams. However, it is weak against Mega Kangaskan and Talonflame which are really popular in this metagame. So as a result, I decided to use Rocky Helmet Amoongus rather than Mega Venasaur and I put Mega-Manectric in the team to be stronger against physical attackers. After that, I chose Bisharp for the last slot. Bisharp turns opponents’ Intimidate Pokémon into friends that give it attack boosts. I thought a rain team’s best strength was the blitz tactics, so I built the most offensive rain team ever.
Anyway, there were some more problems left. Mega Charizard Y and Mega Tyranitar were the worst threats. To help with this, I had the bright idea of using Eject Button Politoed with Manectric’s Voltswitch! This idea helped me to achieve several things. I was ranked in 1st place in the Special Rating Battles in Season 2 and I qualified for Asia Cup 2014 by taking first in the Korea Representative Selection Tournament 
So, I thought this team was not so bad, and I decided to introduce it to you all.
The Team
Kingdra @Choice Specs
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest Nature
- Dragon Pulse
- Sleep Talk
- Muddy Water
- Draco Meteor
I think I don’t have to explain much about this Kingdra. To OHKO Tyranitar in the rain, I had to maximize its Special Attack. Along with Politoed, Kingdra was my most picked Pokémon during the matches. Needless to say, Kingdra is a sweeper. Most of the less bulky Pokémon were knocked out by Modest STAB Muddy Water boosted by Choice Specs and rainy weather. Even though there are some accuracy problem with Kingdra’s moves, Kingdra is really a magnificent Pokemon. Sleep Talk is the countermeasure against really irritating Smeargle and Amoongus.
Politoed @Eject Button
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 228 HP / 172 Def / 108 Sp.Def
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Hypnosis
- Protect
Politoed’s role is really crucial and it can maintain weather for only 5 turns now, so I gave EVs to make it as bulky as possible. I had to consider deeply, “Which move should I choose between Hypnotize and Encore?” I used to use Encore Politoed in fifth gen. However, sixth gen’s Encore Politoed is not as strong as it was in fifth gen so I chose Hypnotize which is able to limit the foe’s active turns. The item Eject button has great synergy with Manectric’s Volt Switch and Talonflame’s U-Turn. Eject Button Politoed was one of the impetuses for me to build a rain team again.
Manectric @Manectrite
Trait: Lightiningrod
EVs: 12 HP /244 Sp.Atk /252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Protect
- Hidden Power Ice
- Volt Switch
- Thunder
Honestly, Mega Manectric is not really stronger than other Mega Pokémon like Kangaskan, Mawile and Charizard. However this fact never means that we can underestimate Mega Manectric. It is the one of the most appropriate Mega Pokémon for a rain team. Even though Manectric has not so great Special Attack and bulk, its ability Intimidate and the move Volt Switch can cover up those weaknesses. Because there aren’t as many Scizor and Ferrothorn in the meta game, I decided to use Thunder instead of a Fire type move. The synergy of Intimidate and Volt switch can be a disaster to the good stuff teams which are accompanied by Kangaskan and Mawile. Also, Volt Switch has great synergy with Eject Button Politoed.
Talonflame @Life Orb
Ability: Gale Wings
Evs: 36 HP/ 252 Atk/ 220 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Protect
- U-Turn
- Flare Blitz
- Brave Bird
Talonflame is also an appropriate Pokémon to cover a rain team’s weakness. It can OHKO Amoongus, Ferrothorn, fragile Gardevoir, Hariyama, and Abomasnow. Together with Kingdra’s Muddy Water, it can knock out lots of Pokémon.
Bisharp @Focus Sash
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 4 HP/ 252 Atk/ 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Protect
- Sucker Punch
- Night Slash
- Iron Head
I had to find a Pokémon which can easily break down Wide Guard Aegislash and Pokémon that have Intimidate. Bisharp was the perfect Pokemon to satisfy those conditions. It also has the move Iron Head which can OHKO opponents’ bulkless Gardevoir
Amoongus @Rocky Helmet
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP/ 252 Der/ 4 Sp.Def
Relaxed Nature
- Protect
- Rage Powder
- Spore
- Giga Drain
The main role of Amoongus is to be a countermeasure against Trick Room teams, Rotom-W, and protecting the team’s ace Kingdra with Rage Powder support. It also supports the team with Spore. Although Sejun Park said Effect Spore is better in the VGC 2014 ruleset, I chose the Regenerator ability because there I switch very often with this team. To counter strong physical Pokémon, I decided to give it Rocky Helmet and chose the Relaxed Nature.
Sorry that there is no warstory 
It was really hard for me to write it.
Thanks for reading!
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