In the Pokemon Video Game Championships (VGC), players can take advantage of the battlefield and weather conditions to get ahead in matches. Rain is a common weather condition in competitive play — albeit with pros and cons — and the right team can change the stakes for the better by using it.

Some players design their teams around weather conditions. Rain teams are competitive Pokemon teams with moves, types, or abilities that are affected by Rain. Players can benefit from the changes Rain brings whether they are using a Rain team or not. Still, it surprisingly gives players even more versatility when choosing Pokemon for Pokemon VGC battles.

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What Happens When It Rains

Weather changes triggered on the battlefield have game-changing effects on stats and moves. Rain on the field causes the following major effects:

• Water Type Moves' power is increased by 50%
• Fire Type Moves' power is decreased by 50%
  • Solar Beam and Solar Blade also see a 50% power decrease

• Some moves bypass accuracy checks
• Certain Pokemon abilities are activated

How To Set Up Rain

The environment determines the weather in-game, but abilities, items, and moves can also change it. In battle, there are a few key ways to make it rain. The ability Drizzle is the most common method used in competitive play to trigger Rain. However, the move Rain Dance can also create Rain. While both Drizzle and Rain Dance activate Rain for 5 turns, players that bring items into their competitive play can use a Damp Rock to extend the power of Rain Dance for 8 turns.

When Dynamax was introduced in Gen VIII, the move Max Geyser became available to any Dynamaxed Pokemon with Water-Type moves. Max Geyser also triggers Rain for 5 turns.

Build A Rain Team Core

Rain teams stem from a strong Core. A Core is typically a group of three Pokemon that are the team's heart. They are great match-ups and can support each other in many ways. Rain team Cores, obviously, feature some Water-Type Pokemon. For example, Politoed, Pelipper, and Kyogre all have the ability Drizzle in games. Kyogre, when allowed, is particularly common in the VGC Meta due to its sheer strength in both Attack and Defense.

Regarding Rain Dance, Gastrodon and Milotic are solid team choices for setting up Rain while serving other vital roles. However, not only Water-Types have this capability. For example, the Electric-Type Zapdos and the Steel/Psychic-Type Jirachi can learn Rain Dance and get boosts from the Rain. They can also learn the move Thunder, which usually has a low success rate but can bypass accuracy checks in the Rain.

An alternative strategy is the ability to play Pokemon that are weak against Fire-types on the field due to the decrease in power to Fire moves that the Rain brings on. Teams that rely on Pokemon like Incineroar, Charizard, or Heatran don't pose as much of a threat against Steel and Grass types like Bronzong or Venusaur when it's raining.

Important Abilities That Need Rain

There are a few key abilities that activate in Rain:

• Dry Skin: When Raining, the Pokemon will regain 1/8 of its max HP at the end of each turn.
• Forecast: The Normal-Type weather Pokemon Castform's form changes to Rainy Form in the Rain.
• Hydration: Cures Pokemon of status conditions like Poison and Burn in the Rain.
• Rain Dish: When Raining, the Pokemon will regain 1/16 of its max HP at the end of each turn.
• Swift Swim: Doubles the Speed stat of the Pokemon during Rain.

Swift Swim is the most popular because of its speed control and is ideal for Sweepers like Floatzel and Kingdra. In fast Metas, influencing the turn order makes or breaks a team's strategy. Dry Skin and Rain Dish are good recovery options but don't pay off as well compared to items like Leftovers and Shell Bell or the move Recover. Hydration is helpful, especially on teams that lack other support options, as status conditions can be quickly debilitating in competitive battles; Goodra is an excellent choice for Pokemon with this ability.

Prepare Defenses For Rain Teams

Rain teams have some things they must be wary of, and there are potential issues that come with Rain on the field, the most important being that opponents with Water-types will also reap the benefits.

This also brings forward the problematic ability Storm Drain. Pokemon with the ability Storm Drain become the receiver for all single-hit Water-type moves, but instead of causing damage, it raises their Sp. Atk stat. Shellos and Gastrodon are the most common Pokemon in the Pokemon VGC with this ability, but Finneon and Lumineon also have it. Players can combat this by having Electric-types or Grass-types on their team. Rillaboom is a strong choice for any team, but it is conducive to mitigating some of Rain Team's weaknesses. Its ability Grassy Surge, paired with the move Grassy Terrain, makes it an incredibly hard hitter, so it can easily handle opposing Water-types. With Fire's power weakened, Rillaboom can also withstand more hits.

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