[OVERVIEW]
* Kingdra's access to Swift Swim and access to spread Muddy Water make it one of the best sweepers on rain
* Its outspeed the entire unboosted metagame under rain
* Solid Water / Dragon typing leave it with few weaknesses, unfortunately, its mediocre bulk wont let it optimally takes advantage of its typing
* Its STAB coverage are resisted by many threats, most notably Tapu Fini and Ferrothorn
* Kingdra is highly reliant to rain due to it middling Speed and lackluster damage output outside of it, hence it loses momentum if opponent activate other weather or has speed advantage from Tailwind or Trick Room
[SET]
name: Rain Sweeper
move 1: Muddy Water
move 2: Hydro Pump / Rain Dance
move 3: Draco Meteor / Ice Beam
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 accuracy of each target it hits. Its generally a good idea to spam this move once Kingdra is in play and has the preferred field conditions up
* Hydro Pump is single-target STAB attack that nukes anything it hits, finish off target that arent in Muddy Water KO range and let Kingdra bypass Wide Guard from Celesteela and Aegislash which otherwise completely walls it
* Rain Dance allows Kingdra to set up independently, relieving pressure from secondary setters or allowing it to function as a standalone sweeper
* Draco Meteor is Kingdra's secondary STAB move that can hit Pokemon that resists Water-type attacks and beat opposing Dragon-types like opposing Kingdra and Mega Salamence. Though its need to be played carefully against Tapu Fini, as its Misty Terrain reduct Draco Meteor damage by half against grounded targets
* Ice Beam can be used to rob Dragon- and Water-types without worrying about Misty Terrain or the Special Attack drop from Draco Meteor. Yet running this will leave Kingdra completely walled by bulky Water-types
* Protect shields Kingdra while its partner removes a threat, punishes double targets, and scouts a foe’s actions
* The given EV spread allows Kingdra to hit as hard and fast as possible
* Modest provides power boost that Kingdra appeciate with it mediocre Special Attack since the additional Speed from Timid isnt actually useful
* Waterium Z boost Hydro Pump to 185-base power Hydro Vortex that is accurate and is also boosted by rain
* Life Orb give Kingdra consistant damage output while keeping the ability to switch moves
* Pokemons with Drizzle offer free rain with their ability. Pelipper provides Tailwind and ability to hit Grass-types while Politoed offer Helping Hand support and have more bulk than Pelipper
* Since Kingdra relies heavily on it Speed advantage, running Taunt on at least one of it teammates to stop Tailwind and Trick Rooom is a good idea
* Running Pokemon with strong Fighting- and Electric-types is encouraged to avoid Ferrothorn and Celesteela late-game stall, therefore Terrakion and Tapu Koko is good partner for Kingdra
* Mega Gengar is a good teammate as it able to traps annoying Grass-types, Bulky Waters, or opposing weather setter with Shadow Tag and get rid of them, making it easier for Kingdra to sweep
* If your opponent doesnt have weather setter such as Tyranitar or Mega Charizard Y, Kingdra can be a perfect lead to punch holes on opposing team. If they have a setter consider to remove them before sending out Kingdra or dont send it out at all
* Kingdra's access to Swift Swim and access to spread Muddy Water make it one of the best sweepers on rain
* Its outspeed the entire unboosted metagame under rain
* Solid Water / Dragon typing leave it with few weaknesses, unfortunately, its mediocre bulk wont let it optimally takes advantage of its typing
* Its STAB coverage are resisted by many threats, most notably Tapu Fini and Ferrothorn
* Kingdra is highly reliant to rain due to it middling Speed and lackluster damage output outside of it, hence it loses momentum if opponent activate other weather or has speed advantage from Tailwind or Trick Room
[SET]
name: Rain Sweeper
move 1: Muddy Water
move 2: Hydro Pump / Rain Dance
move 3: Draco Meteor / Ice Beam
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 accuracy of each target it hits. Its generally a good idea to spam this move once Kingdra is in play and has the preferred field conditions up
* Hydro Pump is single-target STAB attack that nukes anything it hits, finish off target that arent in Muddy Water KO range and let Kingdra bypass Wide Guard from Celesteela and Aegislash which otherwise completely walls it
* Rain Dance allows Kingdra to set up independently, relieving pressure from secondary setters or allowing it to function as a standalone sweeper
* Draco Meteor is Kingdra's secondary STAB move that can hit Pokemon that resists Water-type attacks and beat opposing Dragon-types like opposing Kingdra and Mega Salamence. Though its need to be played carefully against Tapu Fini, as its Misty Terrain reduct Draco Meteor damage by half against grounded targets
* Ice Beam can be used to rob Dragon- and Water-types without worrying about Misty Terrain or the Special Attack drop from Draco Meteor. Yet running this will leave Kingdra completely walled by bulky Water-types
* Protect shields Kingdra while its partner removes a threat, punishes double targets, and scouts a foe’s actions
* The given EV spread allows Kingdra to hit as hard and fast as possible
* Modest provides power boost that Kingdra appeciate with it mediocre Special Attack since the additional Speed from Timid isnt actually useful
* Waterium Z boost Hydro Pump to 185-base power Hydro Vortex that is accurate and is also boosted by rain
* Life Orb give Kingdra consistant damage output while keeping the ability to switch moves
* Pokemons with Drizzle offer free rain with their ability. Pelipper provides Tailwind and ability to hit Grass-types while Politoed offer Helping Hand support and have more bulk than Pelipper
* Since Kingdra relies heavily on it Speed advantage, running Taunt on at least one of it teammates to stop Tailwind and Trick Rooom is a good idea
* Running Pokemon with strong Fighting- and Electric-types is encouraged to avoid Ferrothorn and Celesteela late-game stall, therefore Terrakion and Tapu Koko is good partner for Kingdra
* Mega Gengar is a good teammate as it able to traps annoying Grass-types, Bulky Waters, or opposing weather setter with Shadow Tag and get rid of them, making it easier for Kingdra to sweep
* If your opponent doesnt have weather setter such as Tyranitar or Mega Charizard Y, Kingdra can be a perfect lead to punch holes on opposing team. If they have a setter consider to remove them before sending out Kingdra or dont send it out at all
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