Overview
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Once outshone by Kingdra, Ludicolo is now the go-to Swift Swim user thanks to its amazing coverage. Ludicolo is also is 4x resistant to Water-type moves and neutral to Ice-, Electric-, and Grass-type moves. These traits are useful on non-rain teams too, as Ludicolo can provide Fake Out support and help the team against special attackers and rain teams when using Assault Vest; however, its Defense is low and it can't take strong physical attacks.
Assault Vest
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name: Assault Vest
move 1: Scald / Hydro Pump
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Fake Out
ability: Swift Swim
item: Assault Vest
evs: 252 HP / 188 Def / 68 SpA
nature: Modest
Moves
========
This set combines great coverage moves and bulk for long-lasting effectiveness. Scald deals decent damage and boasts a chance to burn, but Hydro Pump, with its higher damage output, is more favorable in rain.
Giga Drain complements Ludicolo's Water typing nicely, and trumps opposing Water-types, especially Rotom-W and Suicune. Ice Beam hits opposing Grass- and Dragon-types for super effective damage. Fake Out support gives Ludicolo's teammates some breathing room for the turn.
Set Details
========
Assaut Vest lets Ludicolo sponge hits from Water-types such as Rotom-W and put more pressure on special attackers such as Zapdos. To put Ludicolo's bulk in perspective, with maximum HP and no Special Defense investment, Rotom-W's Thunderbolt is a 4HKO. Swift Swim is preferred when using or playing against rain.
252 HP / 188 Def / 68 SpA lets Ludicolo always survive Double-Edge from Jolly Mega Kangaskhan. If running a Life Orb, a more offensive spread is recommended. 52 HP / 252 SpA / 204 Spe allows Ludicolo to outspeed Adamant Scarf Garchomp.
Usage Tips
========
Ludicolo should come in on a special attack that it can tank, give Fake Out support, hit what it can, and run away when a big hit is coming. Assault Vest makes Ludicolo a nice switch in for special attacks.
Team Options
========
Politoed is Ludicolo's partner in crime, as the two of them don't share weaknesses and do form a very solid rain core together; however, Ludicolo by itself can be a great answer to rain and doesn't need rain support to be effective. Talonflame is another good partner for Ludicolo, as it can take care of Mega Venusaur and Amoonguss. Ludicolo pairs reasonably well with teammates that are weak to Water-type moves and want a switch-in, such as Heatran, Rotom-H, and Landorus-T — which can all threaten Talonflame.
Life Orb
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name: Life Orb
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Fake Out / Protect
ability: Swift Swim
item: Life Orb
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Modest
Moves
========
This set trades inherit special bulkiness for more power. Hydro Pump provides maximum damage, and Giga Drain hits Water-types and restores some HP. Ice Beam rounds out the coverage. Fake Out support gives Ludicolo's teammates some breathing room for the turn. Protect can also be used, as Ludicolo is so frail.
Set Details
========
Simple, super offensive EVs allow for maximum damage output, and the Speed EVs cause a Speed tie with maximum Speed Adamant Bisharp outside of rain. You can lower the Speed investment to increase bulk if you find it unneeded with a Swift Swim boost.
Usage Tips
========
This set can't take hits like the Assault Vest set can. Don't make it take too many hits and don't use this one without a Politoed on your team because it's too slow without rain.
Team Options
========
Politoed can set up rain to activate Swift Swim and boost Water-type moves as well. Talonflame and Ludicolo together have great coverage and deal nicely with what the other has trouble with. A teammate to cover Ludicolo's few weaknesses, such as to Flying-type attacks is appreciated. Mega Manetric and Rotom-H make for good partners for this role.
Other Options
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Energy Ball is more powerful than Giga Drain but lacks recovery benefits. Rain Dance dissipates Mega CharizardY's Drought. If you're using Ludicolo without Politoed and not finding much use with Swift Swim, Own Tempo gives protection against Swagger users.
Checks & Counters
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**Flying-type Moves**: Attacks from the likes of Flying-types such as Mega Salamence's Return, Double-Edge, Hyper Voice in addition to Talonflame's Brave Bird destroy Ludicolo.
**Strong Physical Attacks**: Attacks from Mega Kangaskhan or Mega Mawile are devastating because Ludicolo's Defense is pretty average. Its attacking prowess is also pretty average. If the opponent has a Pokemon with reasonable special bulk, it can usually trade favorably with Ludicolo.
**Other Grass-types**: Ludicolo has problems with most checks to rain teams, such as Mega Venusaur and Ferrothorn.
########
Once outshone by Kingdra, Ludicolo is now the go-to Swift Swim user thanks to its amazing coverage. Ludicolo is also is 4x resistant to Water-type moves and neutral to Ice-, Electric-, and Grass-type moves. These traits are useful on non-rain teams too, as Ludicolo can provide Fake Out support and help the team against special attackers and rain teams when using Assault Vest; however, its Defense is low and it can't take strong physical attacks.
Assault Vest
########
name: Assault Vest
move 1: Scald / Hydro Pump
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Fake Out
ability: Swift Swim
item: Assault Vest
evs: 252 HP / 188 Def / 68 SpA
nature: Modest
Moves
========
This set combines great coverage moves and bulk for long-lasting effectiveness. Scald deals decent damage and boasts a chance to burn, but Hydro Pump, with its higher damage output, is more favorable in rain.
Giga Drain complements Ludicolo's Water typing nicely, and trumps opposing Water-types, especially Rotom-W and Suicune. Ice Beam hits opposing Grass- and Dragon-types for super effective damage. Fake Out support gives Ludicolo's teammates some breathing room for the turn.
Set Details
========
Assaut Vest lets Ludicolo sponge hits from Water-types such as Rotom-W and put more pressure on special attackers such as Zapdos. To put Ludicolo's bulk in perspective, with maximum HP and no Special Defense investment, Rotom-W's Thunderbolt is a 4HKO. Swift Swim is preferred when using or playing against rain.
252 HP / 188 Def / 68 SpA lets Ludicolo always survive Double-Edge from Jolly Mega Kangaskhan. If running a Life Orb, a more offensive spread is recommended. 52 HP / 252 SpA / 204 Spe allows Ludicolo to outspeed Adamant Scarf Garchomp.
Usage Tips
========
Ludicolo should come in on a special attack that it can tank, give Fake Out support, hit what it can, and run away when a big hit is coming. Assault Vest makes Ludicolo a nice switch in for special attacks.
Team Options
========
Politoed is Ludicolo's partner in crime, as the two of them don't share weaknesses and do form a very solid rain core together; however, Ludicolo by itself can be a great answer to rain and doesn't need rain support to be effective. Talonflame is another good partner for Ludicolo, as it can take care of Mega Venusaur and Amoonguss. Ludicolo pairs reasonably well with teammates that are weak to Water-type moves and want a switch-in, such as Heatran, Rotom-H, and Landorus-T — which can all threaten Talonflame.
Life Orb
########
name: Life Orb
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Fake Out / Protect
ability: Swift Swim
item: Life Orb
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Modest
Moves
========
This set trades inherit special bulkiness for more power. Hydro Pump provides maximum damage, and Giga Drain hits Water-types and restores some HP. Ice Beam rounds out the coverage. Fake Out support gives Ludicolo's teammates some breathing room for the turn. Protect can also be used, as Ludicolo is so frail.
Set Details
========
Simple, super offensive EVs allow for maximum damage output, and the Speed EVs cause a Speed tie with maximum Speed Adamant Bisharp outside of rain. You can lower the Speed investment to increase bulk if you find it unneeded with a Swift Swim boost.
Usage Tips
========
This set can't take hits like the Assault Vest set can. Don't make it take too many hits and don't use this one without a Politoed on your team because it's too slow without rain.
Team Options
========
Politoed can set up rain to activate Swift Swim and boost Water-type moves as well. Talonflame and Ludicolo together have great coverage and deal nicely with what the other has trouble with. A teammate to cover Ludicolo's few weaknesses, such as to Flying-type attacks is appreciated. Mega Manetric and Rotom-H make for good partners for this role.
Other Options
########
Energy Ball is more powerful than Giga Drain but lacks recovery benefits. Rain Dance dissipates Mega CharizardY's Drought. If you're using Ludicolo without Politoed and not finding much use with Swift Swim, Own Tempo gives protection against Swagger users.
Checks & Counters
########
**Flying-type Moves**: Attacks from the likes of Flying-types such as Mega Salamence's Return, Double-Edge, Hyper Voice in addition to Talonflame's Brave Bird destroy Ludicolo.
**Strong Physical Attacks**: Attacks from Mega Kangaskhan or Mega Mawile are devastating because Ludicolo's Defense is pretty average. Its attacking prowess is also pretty average. If the opponent has a Pokemon with reasonable special bulk, it can usually trade favorably with Ludicolo.
**Other Grass-types**: Ludicolo has problems with most checks to rain teams, such as Mega Venusaur and Ferrothorn.
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