I FINALLY DID IT
* Kingdra is arguably the best Swift Swim user in OU, as it can serve as both an effective wallbreaker and a sweeper.
* Additionally, Kingdra boasts a solid STAB combination.
* Solid typing allows it to tank Water- and Fire-type attacks with ease.
* Mediocre bulk renders it susceptible to being worn down and put in range of priority easily.
* It will consistently perform underwhelmingly without rain support.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Surf
move 2: Draco Meteor
move 3: Hydro Pump
move 4: Ice Beam / Hidden Power Electric
item: Choice Specs
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Surf is Kingdra's most spammable STAB move, capable of weakening its switch-ins on offense quite easily by virtue of its sheer power under rain.
* Draco Meteor provides strong general coverage that can be used to weaken bulkier Water-resistant Pokemon that are susceptible to it.
* Hydro Pump is a secondary Water-type STAB move that provides sometimes necessary extra power.
* Ice Beam targets bulky Grass-types like Amoonguss, Assault Vest Tangrowth, and Mega Venusaur prior to its Mega Evolution.
* Hidden Power Electric muscles past Mantine, which can otherwise wall Kingdra relatively easily.
* Scald is an option over Surf—Scald trades a slight difference in Base Power for the chance to burn the target.
Set Details
========
* Maximum Special Attack investment with a Modest nature ensures Kingdra hits as hard as possible.
* 252 Speed EVs let Kingdra outpace the entire unboosted metagame under rain.
* Choice Specs further bolsters Kingdra's wallbreaking potential, allowing it to more effectively wear down its checks.
* Swift Swim doubles its Speed in rain, making it incredibly difficult to effectively revenge kill.
Usage Tips
========
* Kingdra should be used early- and mid-game as a wallbreaker to soften up the opposition as much as possible for late-game.
* Pokemon resistant to Water-type attacks that lack recovery can be easily worn down simply by continually bombarding them with rain-boosted Surfs and Hydro Pumps, or one can opt to predict switches into these Pokemon and hit them with a Choice Specs-boosted Draco Meteor.
* Due to its typing, Kingdra can effectively pivot into Fire- and Water-type attacks should it need to.
* Ideally bring Kingdra in while rain is still up to maximize its capabilities.
* VoltTurn support helps immensely, as it allows Kingdra to be brought into battle unscathed. This helps keep Kingdra out of range of powerful priority, which can greatly increase the odds of sweeping with rain-boosted Surfs.
Team Options
========
* Pelipper is Kingdra's only truly mandatory teammate, as it is the most effective rain setter in OU—it additionally provides U-turn support to help bring Kingdra in.
* Additional rain sweepers aid Kingdra by breaking down their shared checks and counters; Kabutops, for example, can pressure the likes of Ferrothorn with Low Kick and other Water-resistant Pokemon by simply repeatedly attacking.
* Not only can Life Orb Tornadus-T exploit rain with its powerful Hurricanes, but it is capable of threatening Grass-types that prevent Kingdra from freely using its Water-type STAB moves. Tornadus-T can also break past Chansey with the combination of Knock Off and Superpower and in general is a more consistent way of beating balance and stall, which tend to pack Water-resistant Pokemon with recovery, such as Toxapex and Mantine.
* Setup sweepers, such as Mega Scizor and Mega Pinsir, appreciate Kingdra's wallbreaking abilities. Mega Scizor additionally helps Kingdra deal with Mega Alakazam, which can Trace Swift Swim and outpace Kingdra under rain.
* Checks to strong priority users like Bisharp and Breloom are needed, as they are capable of threatening Kingdra under rain—Mega Scizor is generally a solid addition to rain teams for its ability to check a sizable portion of the metagame, including Bisharp, while Tornadus-T, Latios, or Latias is capable of checking Breloom.
* Ferrothorn and Tapu Koko fit alongside Kingdra, as they're both capable of checking Azumarill and Tapu Fini, which Kingdra will struggle to break past.
* Buzzwole is capable of threatening Ferrothorn, which resists Kingdra's STAB moves. Additionally, Buzzwole is capable of surprising Tapu Fini, Mantine, and Toxapex with a Life Orb- or Choice Band-boosted Thunder Punch.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* A mixed set of Surf / Hydro Pump / Draco Meteor / Outrage with a Life Orb can allow Kingdra to break through its more specially defensive checks, but it then becomes more susceptible to wear and requires Kingdra to commit to Outrage should it want to hit physically.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ferrothorn**: Ferrothorn resists Kingdra's STAB moves and possesses more than enough bulk to comfortably switch into it. Due to its lack of reliable recovery, however, Ferrothorn can be muscled past due to Kingdra's sheer damage output under rain.
**Bulky Water-types**: Specially defensive Gastrodon, Slowking, Toxapex, and Mantine are all capable of walling Kingdra by virtue of their raw bulk and typing and can stall out rain turns freely. Azumarill and Tapu Fini, while lacking in recovery, resist Kingdra's STAB moves and can threaten it with their Fairy-type STAB moves.
**Chansey**: Thanks to its phenomenal special bulk and access to a recovery move, Chansey is free to switch into Kingdra and either wear it down with Seismic Toss or stall out rain turns with Soft-Boiled.
**Revenge Killers Outside of Rain**: Due to Kingdra's mediocre Speed outside of rain, it can be easily outpaced by a sizable portion of the metagame. Notable, commonly found threats would include Latios, Latias, Garchomp, and Tapu Lele.
**Mega Alakazam**: Because of its ability, Trace, Mega Alakazam can copy Kingdra's Swift Swim ability and outpace it under rain. Note that Mega Alakazam can only decently threaten Kingdra once it's in range of Psychic.
**Priority Users**: While Kingdra is not directly weak to any forms of priority, strong users of it, such as Bisharp, are capable of threatening Kingdra in rain should it be within KO range.
**Sun, Sand, and Hail Setters**: While not capable of comfortably switching into Kingdra itself, the likes of Tyranitar, Hippowdon, Alolan Ninetales, and Mega Charizard Y are all able to disrupt rain by setting their own weather condition. Alolan Ninetales is particularly threatening, as it can threaten to KO Kingdra with Freeze-Dry.
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