Why must GameFreak do this to us? Give me more Rain Pokemon like Dragonite and Kabutops! But as Rain Pokemon go, Carracosta seems pretty good…
Behemoth of Bulk (Physical Tank)
Carracosta (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Solid Rock
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Aqua Jet
- Earthquake
- Toxic
- Curse
Even with Swift Swim, this Pokemon isn’t outspeeding anything. This is about the best you can do. Leftovers provides recovery, and Solid Rock helps sponge some Super Effective hits. EVs give us some bulk, but not a whole lot, as he’s still really weak to Special moves. Aqua Jet ensures that I’ll go first, even if I use Curse 6 times. Aqua Jet also has STAB, and is boosted in the Rain, a nice advantage. Earthquake is for godliness, and it covers Electric types. Toxic give the opponent some really bad passive damage, and Curse boosts my Physical stats.
And now, a Tank turned Sweeper, courtesy of Shell Smash!
Carracosta (M) @ Focus Sash
Trait: Swift Swim
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Hasty Nature (+Spd, -Def)
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Shell Smash
Now we’re talking! The Sash is for making sure that, even if I take a hit, I’ll survive! Swift Swim takes my Speed to a whole new level (a lot better than 179)! Hasty Nature gives me extra Speed, and it helps the Sash work. Waterfall is really good STAB, and boosted in the Rain, and a Flinch chance… Awesome! Earthquake is, like in the previous set, for godliness, and it covers Electric types. Rock Slide is more STAB, and it covers Flying types like Staraptor that can hit me Super Effective, but resist Earthquake. Finally, Shell Smash makes this set work. Shell Smash makes anything a Sweeper! If you set up two, you get even more smashing results!
Conclusion: I usually hate Unova Pokemon, but Carracosta is actually pretty good in the Rain.
Rating In The Rain - 7/10